Arbor Update

Ann Arbor Area Community News

Music News This Week

Posted by Brandon on 14. March 2006

Three items on the music front:

Tomorrow at the University of Michigan Museum of Art: a free performance by acclaimed duo The Books. Unfortunately, the advance tickets are gone, so you’ll have to beg your way into this one if you didn’t plan ahead.

However, there’s quite the supergroup over at Arbor Brewing Company tomorrow at 6 p.m.:

Misty Lyn (of Dabenport as well as solo fame) accompanied by:
Jim Roll (better than Beck, Steve Earle, and Robert Plant?)
Greg McIntosh (Great Lakes Myth Society, Johnny Headband, The Victrolas)
Matt Jones (Dabenport, The Descent of the Holy Ghost Church, The Great Iron Highway)
Colette Alexander (Rachael Yamagata band, Actual Birds & the High Spirits, Drafted by Minotaurs)
Carol Gray (The Descent of the Holy Ghost Church)

Aaron Dresner opens.

Finally, tickets for international indie-dance-rock superstars Thunderbirds are Now!, who play the Michigan League Underground on March 24, are now onsale at the Michigan Union Ticket Office (and yes, Ticketmaster). $5 with UM ID, $10 without.

Tree Town Retains Sanity for Eighth Straight Year

Posted by Dale Winling on 14. March 2006

Last night the Michigan men’s basketball team learned that they were not selected for the NCAA basketball tournament. After a blistering 16-3 start, the Michigan men fell on hard times, finishing 18-10 for the season and 8-8 in the Big Ten. The Wolverines exceeded expectations for much of the year, including wins over Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Illinois. However, they lost late to Indiana and to Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament.

For the second time in three years, Michigan will host rounds of the National Invitational Tournament, to which they have been extended and accepted a consolation bid.

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Diversity in '06 MSA presidential/vice-pres. tickets

Posted by David Boyle on 14. March 2006

One thing for which to be grateful in this year’s Michigan Student Assembly race is the diversity evinced by the candidates. There are three women running for president out of four candidates, and two of the women are African American. A couple decades ago, this would have been unheard of…

The most diverse ticket is the Students 4 Michigan ticket, Nicole Stallings and Justin Paul: an African-American woman and a Caucasian-American man. (“From what I can tell”) In my AU posts, I have often said that the Michigan Daily should have a woman and/or minority editor-in-chief as soon as possible; I also thought this about MSA, although I may not have bothered explicitly to post that idea. So, whichever party students vote for, it is nice that S4M, the “incumbent” party on the Assembly, was forward-looking enough to choose an African-American young woman for the top spot.
(Too, I see that S4M has a party platform now! That is a positive thing, even though I see nothing about affirmative action/MCRI on it; whatever turns them on, of course…)

Not that any of the other parties is a slouch re diversity, either; in alphabetical order: Defend Affirmative Action Party (DAAP) has not only a fine dedication to affirmative action, but also a diverse top ticket, two women, Monica Smith (Afr.-American) and Kate Stenvig (Cauc.-American); Michigan Progressive Party (MPP) has a woman and a man, Rese Fox (Cau.-Am.) and Walter Nowinski (Cau.-Am.); and Student Conservative Party (SCP) has a man and a woman, Ryan Fantuzzi (C-A) and Tommi Turner (C-A). (“From what I can tell”) Not a single top ticket is lacking a woman! Good!!

Of course, there’s much more than diversity to think about; e.g., a 50 Cent/Ann Coulter or Ludacris/Eva Braun ticket would have “perfect” gender and racial diversity, but would have…”other problems”. Diversity is a definite plus, though.

(There is ideological diversity, too; one conservative-leaning party has “Choice on Coke” or something—plus a foul-mouthed “No BS” or something—on their big poster in the Diag…)

As before, of course, this author is endorsing no candidate or party at all. . . . .

Comment [14]

Democrats Debate Downtown Development

Posted by Brandon on 13. March 2006

Highlights from the Ann Arbor News’ coverage of yesterday’s local Democratic Party meeting:

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Freeze the Frieze: protest tomorrow

Posted by David Boyle on 13. March 2006

Though the planned UM “North Quad” project has some good points—including for the profits of local business, according to a bloated-looking merchant I recall speaking at a Regents’ meeting a while ago—, there is still the matter of demolishing the Frieze Building, which demolition angers many local residents.
So, according to Ann Arbor Is Overrated. , there is a protest outside the Frieze at 12:30 tomorrow, Tuesday if it rains.
Not that I think there is much chance of freezing the demolition; but it is still good to send signals, and also to see if, say, at least the facade of the building can be saved and incorporated into the final design.
See today’s AA News, ‘It belongs to Ann Arbor’: U-M’s plan to demolish Frieze Building fuels man’s crusade , and Art student’s project will be an elegy for the Frieze: People asked to share images and memories from building’s 99-year history .

UM is often the regional bully, to be frank; perhaps community action can keep this in check, though.

Comment [50]

Sweat Schwarz on subverting student security

Posted by David Boyle on 12. March 2006

One hears that with the recent $12.7 billion cut to student aid in the budget reconciliation, there may be some hard questions asked (perhaps by you) of Rep. Schwarz during his visit tomorrow,

“The Office of the President is pleased to announce the third forum of the President’s Initiative on Ethics in Public Life:
What Limits Should There Be on American Intelligence-Gathering (Domestic and Foreign) During an Age of International Terrorism?
Congressman Joe Schwarz, 7th Congressional District, will speak followed by comments from Professor Ken Lieberthal and Professor Daniel Halberstam.
Questions from the audience will then be encouraged.
Monday, March 13, 2006
7-9 PM
Pendleton Room, Michigan Union
FREE FOOD
Open to all students.
For further information, please call 734-764-6270”

Fear and Loathing on the MSA Campaign Trail '06

Posted by David Boyle on 12. March 2006

As much as one likes free entertainment I did not bother to attend the student elections debate; busyness called, and the “Daily” could cover the fun anyway, see MSA hopefuls compete for endorsement: Funding groups that lobby is major issue in College Democrats’ forum for MSA candidates .
Even those not attending the meeting for a bit of the old ultra-violence (Clockwork Orange) could smell some of the gang-fight adrenalin and other mayhem in the Michigan Union, though: the Students 4 Michigan army (or part of it) moving out of the Tap Room at 7:56 p.m.; DAAPies intensely last-minute rehearsing their speeches; red MPP sweatshirts flashing dangerously and abundantly; and the distracted computer-clicking SCP candidate I had to remind that maybe she should get to the debate on time…..and any one of these kids could Have Their Finger On The Bomb if they get to the real White House. That would be interesting.
So while unable (not having attended the shindig) to write a brutal personal account à la Simon Hoggart of the London Guardian scribbling about Parliament (but see the Daily article’s mentions of verbal gunfighting between candidates), one shall just note some little things: an ultra-cynical reading would be that College Dems might endorse MPP no matter what, as CD might like the chance for more funding. However, I am no cynic, and the Demmies seem like nice people. So, looking at

”...MPP candidates said they agree with DAAP on MCRI.
[S4M presidential candidate Nicole] Stallings stressed preparing for what would happen if MCRI passes this fall.
‘Regardless of outcome, there needs to be lots of planning,’ Stallings said.”

, one wonders while thinking out loud: that is thoughtful forward-looking to a future hypothetical MCRI victory, but would it hurt S4M (or anyone) that much to have a present actual party platform, and hopefully one which explicitly endorses affirmative action and condemns MCRI? Assuming the Dems really are open-minded about whom to endorse (maybe they’ll endorse nobody!), a platform might, perhaps, not be the worst thing for a party to have…
(This author still intends to make no endorsements, by the way)
No matter how bad the ideas (“We’re Addicted to Coke™”) of certain parties may be though, you still have to salute the indefatigability of anyone daring to run for office at all.
Go Pros!!


“When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro”—Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (RIP), author of “Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ‘72”

Minimum wage madness

Posted by David Boyle on 11. March 2006

Outracing the Democrat-supported ballot initiative to raise the Mitten minimum wage, the Republican-controlled Senate passes a bill themselves to raise it instead .
“Surprise”!!

Thoughts?

Comment [20]

Faz Husain passes on

Posted by MarkDilley on 10. March 2006

via ypsi~dixit

Former Ypsi City Council member Faz Husain, the widely beloved owner of Hello Faz pizza shop on W. Liberty in Ann Arbor, has died at 54.

He was a friendly shining star.

Comment [17]

Sunday: Regionalism Event on Campus

Posted by Brandon on 10. March 2006

REGIONALISM
Can areas work together??

Concerned about urban sprawl?
Local governments wasting money?
Segregating urban and suburban areas?

Please join College Democrats
this Sunday, March 12
1:30 pm, Henderson Room, Michigan League
for a discussion on Regional Planning.

Discuss your concerns with members of:
Conan Smith, Michigan Suburb Alliance
Ben Stupka, Michigan Environmental Council
Robert Bruner, Ypsilanti Assistant City Manager
Matthew Lassiter, University of Michigan Professor
Neil Greenberg, Director of Service Development of airBus

Comment [1]

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