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Saturday, February 04, 2006
Is Joe Dumars fit to run the Pistons?
Sherman, set the wayback machine for 2001 and this excellent dig by Detroit Bad Boys of a story written in 2001 by Chris McCosky (he of yesterday's glowing piece chronicling the stunning moves of Piston president Joe Dumars). His story was titled "Is Joe Dumars fit to run the Pistons?"
Dumars' reputation also has taken a hit across the league. The perception, fair or not, is that Dumars is in over his head and that he isn't willing to put in the time necessary to run a professional organization.No doubt Mr. McCoskey is as happy as anyone that things didn't continue down the path they appeared to be. Read the rest Detroit prepares for Super Bowl snow
The Freep reports:
The city of Detroit is expected to begin preparing Saturday for as much as 9 inches of snow predicted to fall just in time for Super Bowl XL on Sunday at Ford Field.The city does have a plan (and a large number of volunteers). One can't help but recall 1982's Super Bowl XVI at the Silverdome where a major ice storm, whipping winds and subzero wind chills made things ... less than optimal. A good resource for those looking to keep an eye on things is the Campus Martius webcam in the heart of everything Detroit. Friday, February 03, 2006
Five Things You Need to Know for Friday, February 3, 2006
News Bits: GM awards $15 billion for IT, Mike Martz rejects Detroit Lions, Stem-cell supporters hope to bridge partisan divide. And sorry to get all lazy and not post these individually.
Super Bowl Watch: t-minus 2 and CountingQuestion: What will we do when the spotlight goes away??
February is Black History MonthAbsolute Michigan has compiled a huge list of resources and articles about Black History Month in Michigan. In addition to events, sites, photo galleries and state resources, there's also a few articles that ask "Why should the accomplishments of the African-American community be relegated to one month of the year, and the shortest one at that?" Black History Month in Michigan Oh, and About Those League-Leading PistonsChris McCosky of the Detroit News has a truly excellent feature on Joe Dumars and the manner in which he turned the Detroit Pistons around that looks to some of the NBA's most insightful folks to explain what he did to take the Pistons from the train wreck they were in 2000 to the freight train they are in 2006. Five-star reading for all Pistons fans! Read Joe D's reconstruction company in the Detroit News Sherman, set the wayback machine for 2001 and this excellent dig by Detroit Bad Boys of a story by Mr. McCosky written in 2001 called "Is Joe Dumars fit to run the Pistons?" I bet McCosky is plenty happy he was a bit off. Huge Grant to Expand Fuel Cell Development Efforts in MichiganFCW reports that the Mid-Michigan Innovation Alliance has received a $15 million federal grant to help expand fuel cell development in the auto industry. The grant was awarded under the Workforce Innovation for Regional Economic Development (WIRED) program and includes 13 counties stretching from Lansing to Flint to Saginaw. Flint's Kettering University already has a fuel cell research center and is planning a huge research laboratory. Another grant was awarded to a seven-county region in the Grand Rapids area. Michigan Sulfide Mining Rules FinalizedThe Mining Journal reports that Michigan now has regulations in place to oversee deep-shaft sulfide mining, which hasn't yet been done in the state. Numerous companies are exploring underground deposits of nonferrous minerals in the Upper Peninsula, and Kennecott Minerals is preparing to seek a permit to develop a nickel and copper mine in western Marquette County. This and other mines would use a process known as sulfide mining, in which metals such as nickel and zinc are extracted from rock formations containing sulfur. When the rock is brought to the surface and exposed to air and moisture, a chemical reaction generates sulfuric acid laden with dissolved heavy metals, which can leach into surface or ground water. Thursday, February 02, 2006
Campus Martius, 1914 by Michigan in Pictures
Michigan in Pictures writes: The Library of Congress has this amazing panorama of Detroit's Campus Martius taken in 1914.
UrbanTiki explains that when it's not hosting the Motown Winter Blast, Campus Martius's hydraulic concert stage allows it to host concerts (photo by ifmuth) and serve as an ice rink (photo by mainegal). The XL Effect - Super Bowl makes downtown Detroit vibrant by PC Mike's E-Journal
PC Mike writes: As Detroit continues to feed off Super Bowl XL frenzy, the downtown area has taken on a new life that has excited a city long resigned to bad news. Good things indeed can happen downtown. As I continue my video reports and podcasts for the Detroit Free Press on the Super Bowl hype, here's a video report that gives a brief glimpse into this week's hoopla.
John by The Snowsuit Effort
The Snowsuit Effort writes: "Who's the Super Bowl for? Not people like me..."
"I've been hurt so much - I'm aching." SB XL in the D Vol. II: Bikinis, Bogus snow, and Beachball by River Rant
River Rant writes: We're counting down the minutes until kick-off, and at this point, the only thing we're awaiting is the arrival of 60,000 people. Or more. With Pittsburgh only 5 hours away, thousands of die-hard Steelers fans will make a pilgrimage to Detroit to watch the game at a bar within punting distance of Ford Field, just so they can brag to their great grandchildren about the year Iron City went to the big show. Also, include thousands of mega-wealthy professional party-goers who could give a shit about football but love a big shindig. And thirdly, add the bored local fools (like RR, who are easily amused and know Detroit + Big Event = Possible Trainwreck), who couldn't stay away if they tried!
1 FEBRUARY, 2006 by East Cross Street
East Cross Street writes: Had Saddam Hussein not turned into a ruthless dictator, it's not unreasonable to imagine him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Had Jerome Bettis not turned into a Hall of Fame football player, it's not unreasonable to imagine him as a ruthless dictator. Shortly after Hussein became the president of Iraq, he donated $250K to Chaldean Sacred Heart church in Detroit. As a reward for his generosity, then-mayor Coleman Young gave Hussein the key to the city in 1980. As thanks for receiving the key to the city, Hussein gave another $200K to the church to pay off their remaining debt. Not to be outdone again, Hussein was rewarded for his charity by having his country attacked by the United States. Twice. Under Cover by detroitblog
detroitblog writes: Last night I roamed downtown briefly, which was eerie because all street parking has been expressly forbidden, making Detroit look like it did about 15 or 20 years ago - absolutely bereft of living beings (and thus their vehicles). On the other hand, there are so many lights - on trees, on buildings, on new lampposts - that it looks like a thriving city whose population mysteriously vanished.
SIGNAGE by dETROITfUNK
dETROITfUNK writes: The City is starting to look like a giant magazine ad.
Podcast #28 by The Buddy Culver Show
Buddy Culver writes: The Motown urban soul of Jamison and the Celtic fun of Murder The Stout.
Yahoo to Feature Links to Super Bowl Ads by Super Bowl XL Detroit 2006
Super Bowl XL Detroit 2006 writes: "Super Bowl party so much fun you've missed some of those vaunted TV commercials? No worries: Just go online.
Yahoo Inc. will feature on its video home page, at http://video.yahoo.com , links to this year's Super Bowl ads, hosted at MTV Networks' ifilm.com. There will be a delay from when the ads air but the first of the ads should start appearing before the game ends, said Ethan Fassett, Yahoo's product manager for video search..." Five Things You Need to Know for Thursday, February 2, 2006
Bits & Pieces: Campus Martius, 1914 panoramic photo from Michigan in Pictures, Bay Harbor homeowners file lawsuit alleging conspiracy over contamination, Forestry tax cut could hurt UP municipalities & schools.
Five Things You (Really) Need to Know About Michigan
1 A Whole Lot of Wonderful People Call Detroit & Michigan Home
2 They Don't Call Detroit the Motor City for Nothing 3 ...but Cars Aren't the Only Things Made in Michigan 4 Michigan is Beautiful, and Accessible 5 ??? Super Bowl Watch: 3 Days and Counting
Can you feel it? Looks like the Spirit of Detroit is in the XL spirit.
Special Olympics Michigan's 2006 State Winter Games Start Today
The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports that the Michigan Special Olympics State Winter Games begin today in the Traverse City area (Feb 1-3). Over 900 athletes will participate in competitions in downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoe races and both figure and speed skating at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Howe Ice Arena in Traverse City and Schuss Village in Bellaire.
Special Olympics Michigan web site Group Wants to Fire the Senate
WMMT-TV Kalamazoo reports that Unicameral Michigan launched a petition drive to gather 317,000 signatures to put their plan to reduce Michigan's legislature from two houses to just one on the November ballot. The group forecasts savings of $50 million and $80 million a year, but critics counter that the current system provides checks and for thorough review of legislation.
Unicameral Michigan web site January the Warmest on Record for Some
The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports that Traverse City experienced the warmest January in recorded history, with temperatures reaching the freezing mark or higher on 25 days last month. According to the National Weather Service in Gaylord, the average temperature was 31.9 degrees, 12 degrees above the historic average. Sault Ste. Marie had its second-warmest January and Houghton Lake also nearly set a record. Illinois is expected to log the warmest January in history, 14 degrees warmer than any January since 1800.
Also see Past month much milder than any January since 1800 in the Suburban Chicago News Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Detroit's Super Bowl XL Blogosphere Buzz - Wednesday Edition
DetroitWonk writes:
Well, viewing the taping of the Jimmy Kimmel show didn't quite work out, but the Wonk will not be deterred. We shall perservere. We shall be strong. We shall continue to wave and do silly things at the RenCen Media Center behind the ESPN stage. We shall continue to rush up to Kenny Mayne and throw him a high five. (which he returned - sweet!) We shall also crash as many corporate shindigs as humanly possible. We shall also continue to drop as many user-submissions possible to the Late Show with David Letterman's Detroit Top Ten List.DW goes on to offer a solid list of who is blogging about what, including news that David Letterman is asking for the Top Ten Cool Things About Having The Super Bowl In Detroit. Michigan Player's Tour in business by Northern Michigan Detroit Sports Blog
Leelanau Sports Guy writes: Up-and-coming men and women golfers now have a chance to improve their game without going south thanks to the Michigan Player's Tour. The Tour will help bring developmental tour golf to the Great Lakes area.
Lowering Water Quality--Always! by Find The River
Find The River writes: Just in case you needed more reasons to dislike Wal-Mart:
Take salmon. Wal-Mart, which buys all its salmon from Chile, sells more than anyone else in the country and undersells all other retailers by at least $2 per pound. That's a lot of market power, which prompts Fishman to ask: "Does it matter that salmon for $4.84 a pound leaves a layer of toxic sludge on the ocean bottoms of the Pacific fjords of southern Chile?" Sign of the Times by detroitblog
detroitblog writes:...there are smaller, cosmetic changes being made around town too that go largely unnoticed in the flurry leading up to the main event.
Today's Photo of the Week is of one of these cosmetic changes, an old advertising painting on the side of an equally old building that now houses The Grind, a downscale strip club. The sign was painted over last week, after surviving the elements for a century. Statehood by Patrick Wellever
Patrick Wellever writes: The (Michigan Historical Musuem)...held a Statehood Day to celebrate Michigan's 169th year.
Five Things You Need to Know for Wednesday, February 1, 2006
News bits: CORETTA SCOTT KING 1927-2006: King touched lives in metro Detroit, Meeting focuses on Great Lakes health, Divers now need license to explore Edmund Fitzgerald, other wrecks.
Super Bowl Watch - 4 Days & Counting
Be sure to check our Super Bowl XL Guide! The pace gets crazy now as the media begins to get so confused that exotic hairstyles begin to seem like a worthy story.
Michigan Reactions to State of the Union
The Detroit News reports that President Bush focused heavily on the auto industry in his State of the Union address, calling for a major increase in federal research dollars to develop clean energy sources, including ethanol, electric and other nonpetroleum fuels. Although funds called for were relatively small, Ford CEO Bill Ford Jr. praised the commitment. Some critics, including Sen. Carl Levin criticized the proposal as inadequate. Dan Seligman of the Apollo Alliance (an organization that backs a national energy research program on the scale of the moon-exploration effort) asked about the massive investment required to retool for alternative fuels.
Investing Millions in Michigan
MITECHNEWS.COM has a pair of stories that are well worth a read. The first reports that a Request for Proposals was issued last week by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. on the first phase of a $396 million capital infusion into the 21st Century Jobs Fund. The money will come as loans to start-ups and small businesses and as grants for universities and non profit research in the areas of life sciences, alternative energy, advanced automotive, manufacturing and materials and homeland security/defense. (Online RFP & Application)
The second story reports that the $150 million Venture Michigan Fund, which will invest in Venture Capital firms that in turn will pour money into promising Michigan technology companies, received its first $5 million cash infusion Monday. The VMF investment policy requires that venture capital funds should have a substantial presence in Michigan and promote at least $2 investment in qualified businesses for every $1 of principal investment. Also see Venture Michigan Fund Gets First $5 Million Investment from MITECHNEWS.COM Venture Michigan Fund web site I-500 Qualifying Begins
The Soo Evening News reports that Unionville's Grant Vermeersch averaged almost 90 MPH in the first day of qualifying for the 38th annual I-500 snowmobile endurance race. Poor freezing conditions throughout January have significantly impeded efforts to build up the 12-18 inches of blue ice considered ideal for the Saturday's run.
Visit the International 500 Snowmobile Race web site (they'll have a webcast Saturday) Detroit Casinos Haul in over a Billion in 2005
Crain's Detroit Business reports that Detroit's three casinos kept almost $1.23 billion in revenue in 2005, a 3.3% increase over 2004. Revenue for MGM Grand Detroit Casino (6%) and Greektown Casino (5%) increased while MotorCity Casino reported a drop of 1%. The casinos paid $294.8 million in gambling taxes, $146.2 million to Detroit and $148.6 million to the state of Michigan.
Detroit Casinos Haul in over a Billion in 2005
Crain's Detroit Business reports that Detroit's three casinos kept almost $1.23 billion in revenue in 2005, a 3.3% increase over 2004. Revenue for MGM Grand Detroit Casino (6%) and Greektown Casino (5%) increased while MotorCity Casino reported a drop of 1%. The casinos paid $294.8 million in gambling taxes, $146.2 million to Detroit and $148.6 million to the state of Michigan.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Five Things You Need to Know About Michigan
For those who haven't noticed, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis is a native of Detroit. No offense to Jerome, the Bettis family or MacKenzie High School, but if that's the story that the rest of the world takes home from Super Bowl XL, we in Michigan have done a poor job of telling you who we are.
Here are some things we really think you need to know about Detroit and the state of Michigan. We hope you will read these over, add your own and send this message along to others in and out of the media. 1 A Whole Lot of Wonderful People Call Detroit & Michigan Home The list includes football player George Gipp aka "the Gipper", Bobby Layne, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Detroit Pistons (past & present), Ty Cobb, Kirk Gibson, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Thomas Hearns, Muhammad Ali, Gordie Howe and Serena Williams. Outside of the world of sports are folks like President Gerald Ford, Malcolm X, Chief Pontiac, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Quimby, Charles Lindbergh, Ernest Hemingway, Bruce Catton, Robert Traver, Jim Harrison, Francis Ford Coppola, James Earl Jones, Lily Tomlin, Jeff Daniels, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Eminem, Ted Nugent, Berry Gordy Jr., Elijah McCoy, William Boeing, Henry Ford, W. K. Kellogg, Lee Iacocca, William Upjohn, and those are just a few of our more famous citizens. On any street in any city or town in Michigan there are exceptional people who work hard every day on the behalf of their families and communities. 2 They Don't Call Detroit the Motor City for Nothing In the first part of the 20th Century, Detroit became synonymous with the automobile. For over 100 years, entrepreneurs like Henry Leland, Ransom E. Olds, John and Horace Dodge and Henry Ford and the companies they founded drove Detroit, Michigan and the nation with innovations like the assembly line, minimum wage and rebates. During World War II, the Motor City retooled for the war effort. Now the auto industry and its workers are facing the hardest times yet ... we could use a little less "woulda, coulda, shoulda" and a little more help with addressing difficult issues like cheap foreign labor & materials, skyrocketing insurance and benefits, and the cost of transforming to meet the needs of the modern world. 3 ...but Cars Aren't the Only Things Made in Michigan Michigan's agricultural industry grows everything from corn and soybeans to cherries and gourmet mushrooms and also adds turns grapes into wine and markets a host of other food products. We are home to companies large and small that are manufacturing a wide range of products including furniture, appliances, airplanes and food products and also performing vital exploration in life sciences, alternative energy and bio-technology. Our state government is offering phenomenal business incentives and our trained workforce can assist any venture. 4 Michigan is Beautiful ... and a Whole Lot of Fun Surrounding Michigan is the water of four mighty Great Lakes: Erie, Huron, Superior & Michigan and amidst it are over 11,000 inland lakes and 36,000 miles of streams. You are never more than six miles from water in Michigan and our coastline is as long as the distance from Maine to Florida. In addition to all this water are millions of acres of forest, parkland, dunes and beach - all providing countless opportunities for fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, skiing, sailing, boating and more. When the weather isn't as nice, we have museums, performing halls, galleries and a host of other cultural experiences for all ages. 5 ??? The fifth thing, we're leaving up to you. For that matter, feel free to change any or all of the preceding points. The important thing is to take some time to tell people what you think they really need to know about the state of Michigan. If you would, please send us an email (or post a comment) with that fifth thing so we can keep a list for folks to read at Absolute Michigan. Day One in Detroit by Ben Roethlisberger - Official Blog
Ben Roethlisberger writes: So this morning, we departed Pittsburgh with an awesome send off from supportive fans. Our team had a nice surprise for Bussie (that's Jerome, obviously) when we got on the plane... about half the team was decked out in his green throwback #6 Notre Dame jerseys. Jerome is the greatest guy and means so much to this team, and taking him home to Detroit has been an emotional ride for all of us.
Trade Increasing Number of Exotic Species by GLRC
GLRC writes: Exotic insects and diseases that attack plants can be very destructive and cost millions of dollars to fight. Just ask those cities fighting the invasion of the emerald ash borer and the Asian longhorned beetle.
Daniel by The Snowsuit Effort
The Snowsuit Effort writes: "I'm a layman ~ I've studied with priests, prophets, chaplins and ministers."
Listen to the Dropcast of Ryan Keberly from Snowsuit.net Bowl of Soup XL by dETROITfUNK
dETROITfUNK writes: I had to make it all the way downtown before work yesterday - and that was crazy. It was only Monday but already chaos insued in the Martial Law Football Zone.
Check out the Inflatable Photographers Post too. "Crowns" at Riverwalk Theatre by NOISE PhotoBlog
NOISE writes: Riverwalk Theatre production of "Crowns," a gospel musical about Black women in church hats.
The Guardian Building by BikeBlog
BikeBlog writes: Downtown's Art Deco Jewel. I could spend hours in this place my jaw hanging slack from all the Deco gorgeousness.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Jerome Bettis Ate Detroit A google search for "jerome bettis" + detroit returns 237,000 results. Friends in Detroit say that this story has begun to eclipse all others leading up to the big game. The above results tell us that Detroit is considering designating this week as "Jerome Bettis Week", Jerome played running back & linebacker in high school, Jerome was a youthful geek who became a star jock (I didn't know that) and that the Motor City has turned into Steel City based on the Bettis association. They also say, thousands upon thousands of times, Jerome Bettis is from Detroit. Now, no offense to Jerome Bettis, but could we perhaps DIG for a story every so often?? Technorati tags: jerome bettis, detroit, michigan, super bowl xl 27 januari 2006 by ypsi~dixit
Y. writes: For your viewing pleasure, the Gallery of Demonic Tots and Deeply Disturbing Cuisine.
Ypsilanti Depot by The Adventures of a Brit Abroad
Brit Abroad writes: (about his photograph) Holga panorama, Tmax 100
American Life in Poetry: Column 043 by Poetry Factory Blog
Marci Rae Johnson writes: BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE
Unlike the calculated expressions of feeling common to its human masters, there is nothing disingenuous about the way a dog praises, celebrates, frets or mourns. In this poem David Baker gives us just such an endearing mutt. Super Idea by Find The River
Find The River writes: Mitch Albom proposed a follow-up plan to the three-day Super Bowl party being organized for Detroit's homless population. Fearing its clientele being squeezed in the city's efforts to clean up the streets for visiting Bowl fans, the Detroit Rescue Mission will be staying open round the clock during Bowl weekend offering food, shelter, and the Game itself on big-screen TV. Revelers will be able to careen from Foxtown to Greektown to Corktown without someone asking for a handout which they would probably spend on alcohol, and the homeless are not consigned to the tender mercies of the DPD.
Michigan's Only Self-Proclaimed King, Still Stirring Things Up by Red Tape Blog
Red Tape Blog writes: James Strang, Michigan's only self-proclaimed king, is stirring things up, 150 years after his assassination on Beaver Island.
The latest dilemma focuses on an historical marker that used to stand in Charlevoix's Bridge Park commemorating Strang's "Mormon Kingdom." The city quietly removed it in the early 1990s and stuck it in storage after a complaint about its language. The Michigan Historical Commission discovered just last year that it was no longer on display. Super Bowl Hoopla by PC Mike's E-Journal
Mike Wendland writes: My town - Detroit - is going nutso with the biggest sports spectacle in the world: The Super Bowl. It's really exciting just being here. There are more than 300 galas, parties and events swcheduled from Monday through game day and the town is electric with the arrival of 100,000 visitors and 4,000 media types.
Five Things You Need to Know for Monday, January 30, 2006
Michigan Monday Miscellany: Inside Muskegon Podcast #11: George Erickcek, an Economist with the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, on Muskegon's Economic Outlook for 2006, Long-closed part of Rouge River re-opens in Greenfield Village, Selling Public lands a lame idea (GR Press)
Super Bowl XL: 6 Days and Counting
Here's a sampling of what the media is serving up this morning about Detroit and the Super Bowl.
GMO Battle Brewing in Michigan
The Lansing State Journal reports on a budding battle in Lansing over legislation that pits natural, chemical-free crops and organic farmers against genetically engineered seeds. Under a bill in the state Senate, Michigan would join 14 other states that have prevented local governments from barring the planting of genetically modified crops. Up to 85 percent of U.S. soybeans are genetically modified, along with 45 percent of corn. It's estimated that 70 percent of processed foods on U.S. grocery shelves contain genetically modified ingredients. The Michigan Farm Bureau and other backers of the bill say safety fears are unfounded and federal officials have proper checkpoints.
Chinese & Muslim New Years
The Lansing State Journal reports that the Chinese calendar's Year of the Dog kicked off Sunday, and many of Greater Lansing's estimated 2,000 Chinese and Chinese-Americans celebrated with great fanfare. The article explores traditions, Asian cuisine and the growing influence of Eastern culture. According to the Census, 11,783 Asians were living in the tri-county region in 2000, a 40% increase over 1990.
The Detroit Free Press reports that as the sun sets tonight, Muslims around the world will welcome the New Year 1427. In Islam, a new year is not a universal cause for the kind of celebrations thrown in many cultures around the world. Read Muslim new year sacred time in the Freep NFL Auction to Benefit SE Michigan Boys & Girls Club
Today's Great Lakes IT Report had a story on an EBay auction that launched on Friday of over 125 plaster footballs, decorated and autographed by athletes from all 32 NFL teams, national and local sports media and football-related personalities. The auction was created by Bloomfield Hills developers Taubman Centers Inc. and proceeds will benefit Detroit's NFL/Youth Education Town - Boys & Girls Club, a new, state-of-the-art youth center.
Figuring Out Employment (and lack thereof) in Michigan
The Detroit News reports that statistics regarding employment in Michigan are expected to take center stage in the 2006 gubernatorial contest. A key consideration is whether or not to include self-employed individuals in the stats. If they are added, Michigan gained 99,000 jobs during Granholm's tenure. Remove them, and the state lost 160,000
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