Arbor Update

Local

15th Annual Smithee Awards

Posted by MarkDilley on 20. April 2006

I have a friend who is involved with this and it sounds like a smashing time! Since I am out of town, I thought I would let others know about this Ann Arbor gem:

Do you like bad movies? Are your friends always groaning at your choices from the video store? Do you cheer for cheesy action, and stupid looking monsters?

If so, you are cordially invited to become part of the voting audience
at the 15th Annual Smithee Awards which will be taking place in Ann
Arbor on April 22nd from 7pm to Midnight at 801 N. University (U of M chemistry building) Room 1800 (the big lecture hall on the first
floor. Look for the signs). This show encourages audience participation in determining the winners in 19 different catagories like: Worst Science, Worst Special Effect, Stupidest Looking Monster, Whoops, and What.

A note of caution to parents: the Smithee Awards are not a ‘child
safe’ show. Many clips involve nudity, bad language and violence.

Admission is FREE.
Unhealthy snackfood and drinks provided.

>also see the official website

Comment [1]

Local

JWP Activists "Hijack" Interfaith Meeting

Posted by Ari Paul on 19. April 2006

Did the Interfaith Round Table of Washtenaw County have a problem with a group that protests a local synagogue?

From the Ann Arbor News

The Interfaith Round Table of Washtenaw County gathered for its monthly meeting Tuesday afternoon, but canceled it when about half a dozen JWP members and people sympathetic to their cause took seats.

The Rev. Susan King, chairwoman of the Round Table’s steering committee, announced the cancellation to about two dozen people assembled for the meeting at Genesis, the Round Table’s usual venue and the joint property of St. Clare’s Episcopal Church and Temple Beth Emeth, a Reform synagogue.

The Round Table had told JWP members their presence is disruptive and they are no longer welcome at meetings. Notices regarding future meetings will be sent via e-mail, King said. She declined, after the meeting, to discuss reasons for the Round Table steering committee’s decision.

One more question: How disruptive were the activists?

Comment [505]

City Council

City Council, Ho Hum Edition

Posted by Dale Winling on 18. April 2006

Lost in the excitement and intrigue of annual city council primaries and election speculation is the bi-weekly grind of caucus and council meetings, the actual work of elected officials.

Tonight City Council’s agenda seems to lack controversy, but includes a number of hearings and discussions that bear scrutiny.

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Local

Fundraiser - Katrina Relief Work

Posted by MarkDilley on 14. April 2006

We would like to invite you to attend a benefit evening with music this Sunday, April 16 to raise money for relief work for victims of Hurricaine Katrina in Pass Christian, Mississippi.

Place: Hathaway’s Hidaway, 310 South Ashley
Date: Sunday, April 16
Time: 7 PM
What? Good music, people, fun, etc.

Odile Hugonot Haber, Michaela Brennan, Riley Brennan, Anastasia Fedorova and Zoe Vanessa Sibbald are headed down to Mississippi on April 19, to donate our time to hurricaine relief and to document the damage that still obstructs locals from being able to regain their lives as it was before Katrina. It is now about 7 months after the hurricaine struck, and while we are hearing less about troubles in the media, people in Mississippi and Louisiana are still suffering daily.

We are hoping to raise money for our trip, and if possible, extra for supplies, as well as remind people that the devastation caused by Hurricaine Katrina is still ongoing.

There will be a report back from this international team of women, May 11, 7pm, at the next program meeting of the “Ann Arbor Town Meeting,” also at 310 South Ashley

Comment [3]

Campus

The Coke Coalition Responds

Posted by Ari Paul on 12. April 2006

Here is a selection from the UM Coalition to Cut Contracts with Coca-Cola’s official statement:

The University of Michigan’s decision to immediately reinstate the Coca-Cola contracts is nothing short of an affront to democracy, justice, and accountability. Not only was the decision made without the mandatory consent of students as required by the Dispute Review Board recommendation; but by making this decision with a complete lack of transparency the administration violated its own established due process.

...Coca-Cola has had to do nothing to get this contract back, aside from calling their friends at the International Labor Organization to create the façade of an independent investigation. Ed Potter, Coke’s Director of Global Labor Relations and author of the full-page ads placed (at great expense) in the Michigan Daily, is a long-time employer-representative to the ILO. He has worked for the ILO for decades. This personal and financial relationship alone completely erases any possibility for a truly independent investigation on the part of the ILO. Even if the investigation uncovers Coke’s true crimes, bringing back Coke’s contract before an investigation is even formulated provides Coke with absolutely no incentive to take any corrective action. The administration has been made aware of the conflict of interest between Ed Potter and the ILO.

The members of the Coalition to Cut Contracts with Coca-Cola have engaged constructively with the administration on this issue for over a year. In our most recent meeting on March 31st, students were assured that: 1) no action would be taken regarding the Coca-Cola company without first consulting with students, in accordance with the Dispute Review Board recommendation; 2) the administration would outline in writing the procedure by which Coca-Cola would be eligible for renewing its contract with the University; and 3) that the University would not renew the contract unless plans were formulated and implemented for investigations into both Colombia and India. No such plans exist. “Active dialogue” does not constitute a meaningful commitment to a comprehensive, independent investigation or by any stretch of the imagination meet the requirements set by the University’s own Dispute Review Board.

Comment [26]

Labor

Coke Back at U-M

Posted by Ari Paul on 12. April 2006

According to the U-M News Service, “U-M Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Timothy P. Slottow stated that the University will resume procurement of Coca-Cola products, effective immediately.”

Comment [10]

Local

Express Bus Service to Chicago

Posted by MarkDilley on 11. April 2006

megabus, but it is leaves from Detroit…

First four seats are $1.

via Detroit News

Comment [9]

Local

Dance for the Earth, benefit concert

Posted by MarkDilley on 9. April 2006

What?:
Dance for the Earth
An Earth Day benefit concert and costume party for the Ecology Center’s Mary Beth Doyle Environmental Health Fund

When?:
Friday, April 21, 2006 (8-11p.m.)

Where?:
Downtown Home & Garden
210 S. Ashley, Ann Arbor

More Info…
Join us for live music, dancing, costumes, refreshments, door prizes, and more! Tickets are $25 plus cash bar. All proceeds benefit the Ecology Center’s Mary Beth Doyle Environmental Health Fund.

The Ecology Center is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization that works for safe and healthy communities where people live, work, and play.

The Mary Beth Doyle Environmental Health Fund is named after the Ecology Center’s Environmental Health Campaign Director of 12 years who was tragically killed in a car accident in November 2004. Mary Beth was a tireless advocate for the environmental movement and lived her life with courage, hope, and a gloriously infectious joy. The Fund will be used to support Ecology Center campaigns that are exceptionally important and urgent but could otherwise not be funded, focusing on environmental health issues that were important to Mary Beth, such as working for clean air, safe consumer products, and women’s and children’s health.

To learn more or purchase tickets, contact Stephanie Feldstein at (734) 761-3186 ext. 110 or stephanie@ecocenter.org

Comment [2]

Local

Ann Arbor Greenway Workshops

Posted by Juliew on 7. April 2006

Want to have a say in the Ann Arbor Greenway? The Greenway Task Force is holding two public workshops and two public lectures in April. The input from the public workshops will help form the Task Force’s final recommendations report.

Public Workshops:
Workshop “A” (focus: overview of the Greenway)
Date: Saturday, April 22
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12 noon
Place: Courthouse Square (100 S. 4th Ave. at Huron), 2nd floor ballroom

Workshop “B” (focus: 3 city-owned sites)
Date: Saturday, April 29
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12 noon
Place: Courthouse Square (100 S. 4th Ave. at Huron), 2nd floor ballroom

Public Lectures:
Joan Nassauer, U-M SNRE, Ecological and Community Benefits of Greenways
Date: Tuesday, April 11
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Edison Center (425 South Main St., southeast corner of Main and William), main level Community Room

Tom Woiwode, Director, Greenways Initiative, Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan
Date: Tuesday, April 25
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: TO BE DETERMINED

Comment [20]

Culture

the yes men are coming, the yes men are coming!

Posted by MarkDilley on 6. April 2006

Thursday, April 6 at 5:00 pm – Michigan Theater – Free

via the ever cool Mark Maynard

The event starts at 5:00, and, as it’s being presented as part of the Penny W. Stamps Distinguished Visitors Series, it’s absolutely free. So, if you liked their film, appreciated their “Yes, Bush Can” campaign (featuring Smokey the Log), or felt inspired by any of their other politically and economically motivated pranks, come on out and join us in welcoming Crimewave’s favorite corporate impersonators.

Comment [3]