tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12667253157138277662011-11-27T19:58:46.628-05:00The second 'N' is for knowledgeDonnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.comBlogger711100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-6955615523489299362007-09-25T16:48:00.000-04:002007-09-25T16:54:11.685-04:00

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-50114357036925297032007-09-25T02:01:00.000-04:002007-09-25T14:29:28.167-04:00

A college friend pointed this out: Bill Richardson's campaign is comparing its candidate to Appalachian State in a new fundraising e-mail. That hits a raw nerve for a lot of U-M alumni — which doesn't seem like a good idea, with Michigan holding the earliest primary this year. Then again, this is the candidate who always manages to piss off potential supporters for no apparent reason.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-17972446300642945412007-09-23T15:22:00.001-04:002007-09-23T15:30:43.224-04:00

I think everyone who has a blog has done this post, but hey, it's fun. I was just looking through my Google Analytics, and it shows the hundreds of keywords people have used on search engines to find my blog. Here are some of my favorites:"christopher hitchens" dated anna wintour (note: there are like seven variations on this)"david boyle" "gadfly"donn m. fresard detroit free press liberalhuman

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-50740209069904039022007-09-02T20:20:00.000-04:002007-09-02T23:49:49.433-04:00

Since yesterday, I've put up with a lot of (warranted) gloating from non-Michigan friends.Go ahead, have your fun with us. But have a little mercy, too.Consider this: According to a friend who called me last night from Ann Arbor, Welcome Week festivities have effectively ended three days early. The student ghettos are eerily quiet; the undergrads have lost their stomach for jungle juice and

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-29415368242293581422007-08-31T17:57:00.000-04:002007-08-31T18:11:56.327-04:00

Who made Mitch Albom business editor at the Freep?

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-34738871914248682922007-08-29T20:33:00.000-04:002007-08-29T20:48:01.369-04:00

Ann Arbor is thinking about shutting down the Studio 4 nightclub after a stabbing this past weekend, and Joan Lowenstein says the city is "concerned" about pretty much every clubby bar in the city.Seems like City Council is just posturing here, but the focus on Studio 4 is a little troubling -- maybe I'm being oversensitive, but won't students of color take issue if the city singles out that bar?

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-64920811953282574292007-08-28T19:30:00.000-04:002007-08-28T20:35:01.474-04:00

If you're not following this recent trial proceedings in the former Detroit cops' lawsuit against the mayor, you really should be.Of all the salacious details, this is my favorite so far:Ex-Detroit cop Walter A. Harris Jr. testified the mayor "chuckled" when the winter wind blew open the fur and revealed that the woman was otherwise naked.Here's another good one:Also today, a female Detroit

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-90048531654497750842007-08-28T19:08:00.000-04:002007-08-28T19:29:24.270-04:00

Good news for me: I got a fellowship with the Center for Independent Media's upcoming Michigan site. This changes my plans for the fall. Let's hope the Center for Independent Media likes blog posts about obscure sea creatures.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-40187383212057034682007-08-27T13:20:00.000-04:002007-08-27T15:16:19.957-04:00

Poynter has a new political website called PolitiFact. Seems pretty cool. Here's how its creator describes it:The site is a simple, old newspaper concept that’s been fundamentally redesigned for the web. We’ve taken the political “truth squad” story, where a reporter takes a campaign commercial or a stump speech, fact checks it and writes a story. We’ve taken that concept, blown it apart into it’

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-62872633620670564272007-08-27T02:16:00.000-04:002007-08-27T13:14:16.299-04:00

I was hoping I could work downtown all summer without having my car broken into. No such luck. Someone decided last night to trade me his chunk of concrete for my iPod. Come back later for pictures.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-90520658360489907652007-08-25T14:04:00.000-04:002007-08-26T21:26:46.508-04:00

Just wanted to thank the people at BlogNetNews Michigan for listing my blog on their front page. Check it out — it's a really nice aggregator of Michigan blogs.UPDATE: Apparently I'm the 15th most influential political blogger in Michigan. That's ... kind of pathetic.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-77035359395157391612007-08-24T16:44:00.000-04:002007-08-24T16:58:28.079-04:00

I don't normally go in for Spartan bashing, but this one is too good to pass up. TNR's Jon Chait (a U-M and Michigan Daily alum) points out this great Radar feature on America's worst colleges. Michigan State is highlighted on the first page as the Worst of the Big Ten:It's not surprising that this hard-drinking football school hasn't made it to the Rose Bowl since 1988: Much of its student body

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-8152997310098486292007-08-24T16:24:00.000-04:002007-08-24T16:37:41.671-04:00

Music video of the day:Happy Mondays — "Step On" (Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches, 1990)

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-88611478929369858822007-08-24T15:05:00.000-04:002007-08-24T15:17:38.954-04:00

... was pretty wild. Power is out in Grosse Pointe, and this is what's going on in my backyard:

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-22000819650980900012007-08-23T20:22:00.000-04:002007-08-23T21:26:05.691-04:00

John Edwards's campaign is using "Throw the Bums Out" as the slogan for its petition demanding that federal candidates stop accepting money from lobbyists.Unfortunate choice of words for someone running on an anti-poverty platform, don't you think?

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-17968395416032469172007-08-23T15:55:00.000-04:002007-08-23T16:07:51.821-04:00

Scientists have proven what we knew intuitively all along — dinosaurs were scary fast:"Our research, which used the minimum leg-muscle mass T-rex required for movement, suggests that while not incredibly fast, this carnivore was certainly capable of running and would have little difficulty in chasing down footballer David Beckham, for instance," said Phil Manning, a paleontologist at the

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-37521705361841351312007-08-23T14:55:00.000-04:002007-08-23T21:26:44.601-04:00

... is happening Sept. 9 this year. In case you don't know, it's an annual block party/art festival with vendors and live music near the Wayne State campus (here's a map). You can get more info on the Dally here. I haven't been there before, but after attending Fourth Street Fair this summer (my photos and impressions of the fair are here), I'm pretty excited to check it out. Let me know if you

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-54199428506307519682007-08-22T23:45:00.000-04:002007-08-22T23:46:04.725-04:00

Michigan doesn't have a particularly robust media market, so if you're into local journalism, you should be encouraged by two recent developments.First, the Center for Independent Media is getting ready to launch Michigan's first serious state-focused Web publication. The center already runs left-leaning, investigative sites in Minnesota, Colorado and Iowa, and those sites have been breaking big

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-23986210509925776552007-08-22T23:20:00.000-04:002007-08-22T23:45:43.050-04:00

... after looking over The Sartorialist's recent blog posts from Stockholm. The people and the city just look awesome. Yeah, I'm shallow like that.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-80828650261735767632007-08-22T20:22:00.000-04:002007-08-22T21:18:32.424-04:00

I don't watch a lot of local TV news, so I was disappointed when M.L. Elrick left the Free Press to report for WDIV in January 2006. Elrick's and Jim Schaefer's exposés on Kwame Kilpatrick during his first term were some of the best Detroit investigative pieces in recent memory. So I was glad to see his byline start appearing in the Freep again last Sunday.If you're curious about what's going on,

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-53775288158400596512007-08-21T15:46:00.000-04:002007-08-21T15:56:09.610-04:00

Rumors have been spreading this summer that Rick's, the premier trashy upperclassmen's bar in Ann Arbor, lost its lease and is closing or moving to somewhere near Necto. According to sources close to Rick's, there's no truth to them — in fact, the owners just recently signed a 10-year extension on the lease. Just thought it was important to clear this up.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-7959088389471976112007-08-19T20:09:00.000-04:002007-08-20T00:50:16.134-04:00

Alyse links to a Ms. Pacman-themed music video. I'll take this opportunity to plug the UM Patriots' excellent Pacman video (read Forest Casey's Daily story on the group here.)Anyone hear anything on whether they're going to be around in the fall? I'm a huge fan of elaborate college pranks, and I think there aren't nearly enough of them at Michigan. Hopefully after UM Patriots' successes last year

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-18846054666667012852007-08-19T19:39:00.000-04:002007-08-19T20:09:44.248-04:00

I liked this quote from Wings coach Mike Babcock on Dallas Drake:"He's not going to be happy on the fourth line; he is going to want someone's job -- I love that. ... I believe, in life in general, people are put out to pasture too early -- the Detroit Red Wings don't believe in that. Dallas has a lot of hockey left in him. When you talk to him, you get excited because he's that passionate. He's

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-9655936704782497892007-08-19T19:17:00.000-04:002007-08-19T19:37:31.764-04:00

Getting off the Lodge on my way to work today, I saw someone drive the wrong way at least 30 yards down a one-way street -- in reverse. How bad-ass is that?

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-18571214445713882192007-08-17T23:26:00.000-04:002007-08-17T23:53:53.062-04:00

I never knew this: The International Space Station is visible to the naked eye. It's in low Earth orbit, so it's only in the sky for a few minutes at a time. According to this guy, recent hardware additions have made it easier to see, and it's especially bright now because Endeavour is docked at the station shiny-side down.If this sort of thing gets you geeked up like it does me, go here to find

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-2650594222405996512007-08-15T22:15:00.000-04:002007-08-15T22:28:27.866-04:00

An American Spectator writer, in a roundup of embarrassing comments by lefty bloggers at the YearlyKos convention, found this gem by the always-bizarre David Boyle:"St. Augustine's heavenly 'City of God' is not wholly different from the 'City of Kos' or the 'City of Blog' that the orange (not clockwork) cooperative 'we' blog Daily Kos is." Boyle writes. "The blog is just too progressive not to be

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-82082096745237496922007-08-15T20:26:00.001-04:002007-08-15T20:45:46.439-04:00

... is 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament on Woodward. It's open to the public. I don't know if Cardinal Maida will celebrate the Mass, but either way, it's worth attending. (For more on Bailey, see these posts.)

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-19006448021657506022007-08-14T17:04:00.000-04:002007-08-15T21:59:22.939-04:00

Ben just directed me to this YouTube video where some guy runs across Christopher Hitchens on the street and asks him what Anna Wintour was like in the the '70s. It's pretty awesome. I had no idea they'd dated, but this Guardian piece confirms it.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-88152810994230840532007-08-13T22:35:00.001-04:002007-08-15T21:59:15.326-04:00

I want to work for Us Weekly. What could be more satisfying than crafting lines like "Britney Spears is on a tramp-age!"?

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-11361395676301474302007-08-13T21:50:00.000-04:002007-08-13T22:17:39.732-04:00

The Chinese Yangtze river dolphin has been declared extinct, making it the first large vertebrate to die off in half a century. Who would've guessed this guy might have a hard time adapting to human fishing activity:Seriously, though, it's a blow to those of us who like our large aquatic populations bio-diverse. (via Mark Maynard)

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-32231864099175332342007-08-10T21:24:00.000-04:002007-08-15T21:58:59.179-04:00

Group name: Prop #2 is the best thing in Michigan since sliced breadType: Student Groups - Political GroupsMembers: 96Description: Everyone that is happy that the minorities finally stop complaining and are now considered equal to whites then join this group because this is how i feel. So join the group if your happy about it cause I know I am. Also if your mad about every interview against prop

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-15575923089836269862007-08-09T20:26:00.000-04:002007-08-15T21:58:28.337-04:00

The recently elected chair of the Young Republican National Federation is under investigation for, uh, violating a sleeping male Young Republican after a house party for the group (via Michigan Conservative Dossier).This comes a few weeks after Michael Flory, the former Michigan Young Republicans chair, pleaded guilty to raping a college student at a national YR convention. At least he was sorry:

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-43012652752072816232007-08-09T15:40:00.000-04:002007-08-09T16:05:30.061-04:00

This column by Daily alum Mike Rosenberg is probably the best I've seen about Bonds. I also liked this earlier, 300-word piece by Rosenberg — it doesn't say anything that's not in the more recent one, but it's still worth reading for the impressive word economy and the nice Simon and Garfunkel reference.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-37680126890051102132007-08-08T19:51:00.000-04:002007-08-15T20:42:42.036-04:00

On Slate, Hitchens weighs in on Your Black Muslim Bakery:Now, again, I am just asking, but what if this racket had been named the White Christian or Aryan Nations Cookie Parlor? (Motto and mission statement: "Don't F*** With Us.") I think that Oakland's mayor, Ron Dellums—who I was startled to find was still alive—would have joined a picket line around the store (as would I). The same would

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-15974056305620800622007-08-08T13:09:00.000-04:002007-08-08T13:24:34.675-04:00

Maybe it's just me, but the first thing I thought of when I saw this ad was American Psycho.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-10860359183797001872007-08-06T23:40:00.000-04:002007-08-07T00:28:17.746-04:00

There's been a lot of buzz today about how Rudy Giuliani's daughter Caroline, a Harvard pre-frosh, belonged to a pro-Barack Obama Facebook group. The national news outlets have taken this as an endorsement, and another sign that Rudy's kids hate him.OK, maybe. But here's the thing: What people say in their Facebook profiles isn't necessarily true. Especially among neurotic, pseudo-intellectual

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-46277929083197719332007-08-05T23:03:00.000-04:002007-08-15T20:42:42.037-04:00

His killer was a member (a "good soldier," he says) of Your Black Muslim Bakery, a black Muslim splinter group with a violent streak. It's the worst-case scenario: He was murdered because he'd written critically about the group, and at least one member wanted to silence him.Here's some background on the group, and a scathing essay on its founder, Yusuf Bey, printed shortly after he died in 2003.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-22445358630523886152007-08-03T22:59:00.000-04:002007-08-04T00:20:25.168-04:00

From Slate:When I check into a hotel room and send my free and unsolicited copy of the Gideon Bible or the Book of Mormon spinning out of the window, I infringe no law, except perhaps the one concerning litter.Jesus, Hitchens.For more, see this Onion article.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-15589347454326077372007-08-03T20:41:00.000-04:002007-08-03T22:33:51.030-04:00

Chetly Zarko, the anti-affirmative action crusader and former Michigan Review writer, has launched a new "cross-partisan" blog about affirmative action and racial equality. According to this intro page, the site is supposed to be a place for opponents and proponents of racial preferences to find some common ground.So far, it seems like Zarko is the only poster. Still, it's not a bad idea, and I

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-84715093280609075482007-08-03T20:03:00.000-04:002007-08-03T22:33:25.448-04:00

Donald Hall, the U.S. poet laureate and former U-M professor, is stepping down after only one term. Here's a good article on his successor, Charles Simic.From Slate, here's a poem by Hall and one by Simic.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-85144462878471375332007-08-03T14:52:00.000-04:002007-08-03T22:23:39.217-04:00

David Lynch's tips for a great prom.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-10174626197134927762007-08-02T23:00:00.000-04:002007-08-15T20:42:42.037-04:00

Chauncey Bailey, the editor of the Oakland Post in California and a former reporter and columnist for The Detroit News, was apparently assassinated this morning. I hope this story gets the attention it deserves.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-67296942777500652382007-08-02T22:51:00.001-04:002007-08-02T22:52:52.263-04:00

Mike Hart is not happy with former U-M quarterback and current Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-78786761253153336412007-08-02T13:23:00.000-04:002007-08-03T22:35:25.790-04:00

On liberals and progressives, reader Chet makes a good point:Interesting point about the difference between liberals and progressives - especially the part about demanding adherence to the party line. The "netroots" - coming from a more academic background to start - certainly has carried with it much of the authoritarian nature and theory of their academic peers.I think it's probably a better

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-85114596967502105282007-08-01T00:10:00.000-04:002007-08-01T22:11:29.512-04:00

This guy has never seen a monster movie.This won't end well.The Humboldt squid -- a creature, much smaller than the giant squid but just as ferocious, that traditionally prowls the Pacific coasts of Mexico and South America -- has expanded its domain to California's Monterey Bay.Admittedly, this leaves humans near the bay with few good options -- a complete evacuation of the area isn't practical

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-7843107458372274312007-07-31T22:43:00.000-04:002007-08-03T22:35:02.915-04:00

Andrew Sullivan has a great post today on one of the biggest reasons Obama is so much more exciting than Hillary. Excerpt:They are of different Democratic generations. Clinton is from the traumatized generation; Obama isn't. Clinton has internalized to her bones the 1990s sense that conservatism is ascendant, that what she really believes is unpopular, that the Republicans have structural, latent

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-38020401634828493092007-07-30T15:15:00.000-04:002007-07-30T17:06:31.005-04:00

Group name: Shaky JakeNetwork: GlobalMembers: 880Description: Ann Arbor's lovable hobo.If you're on Facebook (and I imagine almost all of you are), check out the "Jake is not a 'hobo'!" thread for a lively discussion on the celebrated busker's mysterious lifestyle.There are plenty of competing theories -- some insist he has a summer home in Florida, while others say Ann Arbor pays for his lodging

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-23226922028145706282007-07-30T05:42:00.000-04:002007-07-30T14:37:24.176-04:00

Alyse asked reader Kingson what Wes Anderson "represents." He responds:i could do a really good take down of him, but it's too hot in my room to think. in short, wes represents the fashionable caustic irony that is ruining america.i can see his appeal to certain types - he describes his fans as "outsiders" and "misfits". his message is irresistible, i guess, to those who pride themselves on

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-72221247775865124922007-07-29T21:45:00.000-04:002007-07-29T23:19:39.531-04:00

In today's Times, an apologia for adult emoticon users:“In a perfect world, we would have time to compose e-mails that made it clear through our language that we are being cheerful and friendly, but we’re doing these things hundreds of times a day under pressure,” said Will Schwalbe, an author of “Send: The Essential Guide to Email for Office and Home” (Knopf, 2007), written with David Shipley,

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-62423200048140675452007-07-27T23:51:00.001-04:002007-08-04T00:20:25.168-04:00

The GOP front-runners are backing out of their CNN/YouTube debate. Why? The second point here is a good one. (via Dan Savage)

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-16801512273326593302007-07-27T23:37:00.000-04:002007-07-27T23:50:59.356-04:00

I just used this phrase in a conversation, then realized I had no idea what a shrift is. Turns out it's a penance, and the phrase has really cool medieval Catholic roots:In early medieval times penances were long and arduous—lengthy pilgrimages and even lifelong exile were not uncommon — and had to be performed before absolution, not after as today. However, less demanding penances could be given

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-66843798118413971932007-07-27T22:51:00.001-04:002007-07-28T00:11:04.982-04:00

I think U-M is often unfairly criticized for being out of touch with the rest of the state. But from a PR standpoint, buying foreign cars for administrators while the Detroit auto industry withers away is just stupid.This is typical of Michigan, though:U-M would not release the make and model of the vehicles employees drive. U-M was the only university to deny The News' Freedom of Information

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-66825337815636024152007-07-26T20:34:00.000-04:002007-07-27T22:42:42.823-04:00

I'm a big fan of the U-M LGBT office, but this is just silly.UPDATE: Thanks to Dan Savage at The Stranger for the link. There's an interesting debate going on in that blog's comments section over whether Michigan's LGBT office is, in fact, being silly, and whether Savage and Andrew Sullivan are being assholes for making fun of it. Check it out.This was my contribution on Savage's blog, by the way

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-36357977332918941252007-07-26T20:23:00.000-04:002007-07-26T20:31:40.106-04:00

The more I think about it, the more excited I get about these YouTube debates. It's one thing for a moderator to ask the Republican candidates to explain why they still support "don't ask, don't tell," but it would be quite another to have this guy ask them.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-14353707280847402992007-07-26T18:46:00.000-04:002007-07-26T20:23:51.217-04:00

I hadn't seen this until just now. Seems useful. There are also maps of Royal Oak and Birmingham. (via Metroblogging Detroit)

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-53632323126459231812007-07-25T23:37:00.000-04:002007-07-26T00:06:07.290-04:00

Something else that bothered me from Monday night's debate was when Hillary Clinton pulled out this "I'm a progressive, not a liberal" deal. I don't know if this is new for her, but I don't like it.Being a liberal means something -- it implies a set of values and a political philosophy going back to the Enlightenment. Saying you're a progressive, from what I've seen on campus and among

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-44841692659596872672007-07-25T21:06:00.001-04:002007-08-04T00:20:25.168-04:00

In case you haven't heard, the trailer for "The Darjeeling Limited" came out yesterday. (via Alyse)

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-13020679435465393602007-07-25T18:22:00.000-04:002007-07-25T21:06:03.789-04:00

The Michigan House just passed a Democratic package of bills that would, among other things, make it easier for college students to vote.The most important bills here are HB 4447 and 4448, sponsored by Ann Arbor's freshman Rep. Rebekah Warren. They would effectively overturn "Rogers's Law," which requires people to vote at the precinct for the address on their driver's license.(That law makes it

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-66231599653915071912007-07-23T20:06:00.000-04:002007-08-04T00:20:25.169-04:00

Just watched the Democratic CNN/YouTube debate. A few thoughts:I expected this format to be worthless, especially after some hipster doofus opened the debate by lecturing the candidates on how to answer questions. It's actually not bad, though. This Reggie Longcrier guy, who called out the candidates for using religion to justify opposing gay marriage, was fantastic -- you'd never see a moderator

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-43359815599558346602007-07-23T14:59:00.000-04:002007-07-23T16:02:06.796-04:00

Looking through the "missed connections" on Ann Arbor Craigslist today reminded me what a strange, confusing sense of humor Ann Arborites have. Sometimes I can't tell whether they're sharply ironic and self-effacing or just oblivious and bizarre.A few highlights:"It was during the art fair weekend, but it wasn't near the fair, as I suspect even though both townies (either transplant or native),

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-245257094820270552007-07-22T23:30:00.000-04:002007-07-23T16:04:41.420-04:00

I rarely agree with Nolan Finley, but I liked his column today urging Detroit to offer incentives to lure in Iraqi refugees. This comes after the mayor of Warren threw a hissy fit over plans to place Iraqis in his city. Maybe it's just me, but after reading this essay, I couldn't care less whether Iraqis will take jobs from Warren residents.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-80455591136427972502007-07-22T12:06:00.000-04:002007-07-23T16:03:24.651-04:00

Fourth Street Fair last night was fun. I recently got a little camera, so I was the obnoxious picture-taking guy. Now I'm going to be the obnoxious pictures-on-his-blog guy.This car-monster was huge. I couldn't really capture its enormity.The Midnight Cowboy. "Nectar of the Gods," by the way, is a cocktail that people sell out of this house. They put a piece of dry ice in it, which makes it

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-6958358236245151622007-07-21T17:43:00.000-04:002007-07-23T16:03:42.265-04:00

Have you ever compared the Facebook network stats (where they show the top movies, interests, etc. listed in people's profiles in a given network) for Michigan and MSU? It's pretty remarkable. In most cases, they're almost identical -- our top three or four in most categories match up exactly -- so the differences are telling.A few observations:Michigan students skew a little more toward the

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-33856225516402030372007-07-21T16:29:00.001-04:002007-07-23T16:03:04.308-04:00

Ah, copy editors.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-24651901376947711322007-07-21T14:18:00.000-04:002007-07-26T11:51:29.547-04:00

Justin Zatkoff, noted idiot and chair of the Michigan Federation of College Republicans, posed for some racy pictures at the College Republican National Convention last weekend. Scroll down to the comments for some hilarious intraparty backbiting, hand-wringing and anti-Semitism.This raises a serious question, though: How does a person like Justin Zatkoff get elected chair of his party's

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-5022370056031814132007-07-20T20:04:00.000-04:002007-07-22T04:21:54.782-04:00

When I read on a computer, I do this thing -- I click on the words. More specifically, I double-click and highlight words on either edge of the text, in a sweeping pattern that roughly follows my eye movement. If you're not a clicker, I can't explain to you why I have to click on the words. It's just how I do.Why do I bring this up? Because we compulsive clickers are being persecuted. News

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-39025082010805553682007-07-20T19:46:00.000-04:002007-07-20T22:09:44.244-04:00

Students at U-M and MSU are organizing to protest this summer's tuition increases -- but they're putting the blame on Mike Bishop, the Republican state Senate majority leader, for forcing cuts to higher education funding. Seems like a good tactic to me.Here is the YouTube video, and here's the Facebook group ("I'm Pissed that Mike Bishop is Raising My Tuition").

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-41701280036835813282007-07-20T19:37:00.000-04:002007-07-20T22:08:43.318-04:00

Here is a list of Catholic patron saints arranged by topic. My favorite: Maximilian Kolbe, patron saint of journalists and drug addiction.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-61789386341196177972007-07-20T19:24:00.000-04:002007-07-20T19:33:58.397-04:00

Two stories I particularly liked: Cindy Rodriguez's piece on young professionals who are fiercely loyal to Detroit (all of the subjects she profiles are Michigan alums), and Neal Rubin's hilarious column about the Detroit City Council.

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-58439922926727465642007-07-20T00:17:00.000-04:002007-07-21T00:39:49.806-04:00

For this week's issue of Metro Times, the editorial staff took a thermometer to 104 Detroit-area bars to find the coldest beer around. In first place was Lime Light Grill & Bar in Warren, which sells an aluminum bottle of Budweiser cooled to 25.1 degrees for $3.50. (The bar uses Anheuser-Busch's "Chill Chamber," a sophisticated machine that makes shitty beer in aluminum bottles unnaturally cold

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266725315713827766.post-72280173460456240722007-07-19T23:46:00.000-04:002007-07-20T22:10:26.112-04:00

The News is in the middle of a very good series on race relations and racial equality in the Detroit area 40 years after the riot/civil disturbance/rebellion. There's some surprising new polling data, and if you don't know much about the riot, it's a good primer.The series also reminded me I need to man up and read The Origins of the Urban Crisis. From what I understand, you're not even allowed

Donnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12139562155446967594noreply@blogger.com2