Archive for August, 2008

The Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor is fighting to overturn a Hamtramck ordinance that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation, according to a Detroit News article. The center’s Brian Rooney is quoted: “We believe the radical homosexual agenda goes too far. Usually we see this organizing in more liberal cities. (Hamtramck) is a pretty conservative enclave. It’s going to be overwhelmingly repealed.” [Source]

According to the San Mateo Daily Journal, Curt Nelson, a researcher at UM, conducted DNA testing on the corpse that two Georgia men claim to be Bigfoot. However, no one by that name is listed in UM’s online directory. Another hoax, perhaps? [Source]

The San Jose Mercury News looks at the issue of multiracial identity, and cites an analysis by UM demographer Reynolds Farley that examined how many peple checked more than one racial category on the 2000 census form. Farley says, “I think most people in the United States assume that individuals are in one, and one only, racial group.” [Source]

A Freep article about a birthday party last week for Detroit’s Kwame Kilpatrick quotes UM ethics prof John Chamberlin on the appropriateness of officials giving gifts to the mayor: “(P)eople shouldn’t be placed in positions like this. I’m sure there’s no sense that you can say, ‘No.’ ” [Source]

ComputerWorld quotes Ron Jeffries – an Ann Arbor consultant and editor of XProgramming.com, an online resource for programmers – for an article on “stretch” assignments, projects that ask workers to reach beyond their current skill set. Too often, Jeffries says, managers don’t provide enough support: “Telling a programmer, ‘I bet you can’t implement this compiler by Thursday,’ is not a legitimate stretch goal.” [Source]

A post on Michigan Sportsman notes that coyotes have been active in northwest Washtenaw County this summer. “They seem to have a circuit running between south lake and green lake where they pass through every 4 or 5 days.” [Source]

University Reformed Church has changed its name to Grace Ann Arbor, according to a post on its Web site. “We are still committed to the historic doctrines of the Christian faith as well as to our particular denomination, the Reformed Church in America.” [Source]

Zombie Walk, anyone? The Monroe 2.0 blog invites you to participate “in celebration of punk week” by converging tonight at 7 p.m. at….well, follow the link for details. One more thing: “Bring your own makeup and blood.” [Source]

The Associated Press snags the best quote from Thursday’s media day at Michigan Stadium. The article quotes Stacie Steils, who works across the street at AAA Michigan: “We call it ‘The Shadium.’ It’s just so big.” [Source]

On Thursday, UM opened Michigan Stadium for its first media tour since the start of the massive $226 million renovation. Freep columnist Mark Snyder gives his impressions: “I’ll never forget walking into Michigan Stadium for the first time, standing on the east concourse, the sun shining from above. Thursday, in the same spot 20 years later, it was dark and covered. That’s when I realized – this is not the Michigan Stadium we knew.” [Source] The Ann Arbor News takes a straight news approach to the story. [Source]

The Freep reports on a UM engineering program that partners with GM to keep promising graduates in Michigan. The program focuses on developing a battery for the Chevrolet Volt electric car. UM prof Ann Marie Sastry says: “This is a revolution. We’re just at the beginning of possibly electrifying the vehicle drivetrain. … The good people want to work on the good problems, the problems that feel uncomfortable and hard. This is a way to keep our best and brightest here in Michigan.” [Source]

Rochelle Sturtevant, an ecologist with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, is quoted in an Associated Press article about an invasive snail in Lake Michigan. [Source]

MedPage Today reports that 10 physician groups in a Medicare pay-for-performance pilot project – including the UM Faculty Group Practice – hit their goals and got cash bonuses. Caroline Blaum coordinated the project for UM: “I don’t know if this model can translate into smaller groups. But I think we can find out which clinical interventions work and CMS or another payer could pay for those interventions.” [Source]

The Detroit News reports that Michigan’s unemployment benefits aren’t keeping up with increasing demand. The article quotes Rick McHugh, an Ann Arbor attorney and Midwest coordinator of the National Employment Law Project, a labor advocacy group: “The system hasn’t kept pace with changes in the labor market and the global economy.” [Source]

Emily, author of the Eat Close to Home blog, announces that she’s been hired to blog for Eat Local Eat Natural, a new business that aims to connect farmers with restaurants in the area. “I’ll write stories about their farmers, featured chefs, and aspects of the business (like the delivery truck they’re currently converting to run on veggie oil/biodeisel).” [Source]

Scott Kunst, owner of Old House Gardens in Ann Arbor, is quoted in a New York Times gardening column on different types of lilies. Here’s what he says about martagons, or European mountain lilies: “They stink, actually. Like old socks. Don’t print that!” [Source]

The Perfect Blue Buildings blog posts a clip of the Visa Mobile ad featuring Michael Phelps strolling through the streets of Ann Arbor: “The area featured is State Street, between Liberty and William. You’ll notice Shaman Drum bookstore, and of course Amer’s Deli. Listen close as he’ll say ‘sammitch.’” [Source] And here’s a link to the NBC feature on Phelps’ prodigious eating habits in Ann Arbor. [Source]

The Wall Street Journal reports that Barnes & Noble isn’t interested in buying Ann Arbor-based Borders Group. The article states that “the decision will disappoint investors who have acquired Borders stock in recent months in hopes that Barnes & Noble would move in and buy its most significant bricks-and-mortar rival.” [Source]

MGoBlue hawks the new Sports Illustrated commemorative edition focused on Michigan football. [Source]

David Kiley writes a BusinessWeek column about the tiny Smart Fortwo car, describing his experience test-driving the vehicle in Ann Arbor. [Source]

Ann Arbor resident Hillary Will is driving an 8,000-horsepower dragster this weekend in the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Penn. Interviewed by Auto Racing Daily, she says she’s been inspired by Michael Phelps: “I’ve really enjoyed watching all of the Olympic events that have taken place so far, but the swimming competitions remind me most of what we do in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. They swim in individual lanes and their races are often decided by only thousandths of a second. It’s very exciting, just like our sport.” [Source]

A Ms. Magazine article, posted on the Alternet site, looks at women’s self-image and how it affects their lives. The article mentions that the phrase “self-objectification” was coined in the late 1990s by UM psychology professor Barbara Fredrickson and Colorado College psychology professor Tomi-Ann Roberts, and reports on some of Fredrickson’s more recent research on the issue. [Source]

Apparently, Michael Phelps’ appetite is famous in Ann Arbor, according to an article in today’s Freep. Reporter Jo-Ann Barnas talks with the owner of Benny’s Family Dining, who describes the Olympic swimmer’s typical breakfast: “A bowl of rice pudding, always before the meal. Then came his ‘Hungry Man.’ ” [Source]

The Lansing State Journal reminds us that five years ago today we experienced a massive, multi-state blackout. Washtenaw County, the article notes, was among the worst hit, and was eventually declared as a state of emergency. [Source]

A Forbes magazine article on university students suffering from depression quotes Rachel Glick, a UM clinical professor of psychiatry and former co-chair of the Presidential Task Force on Mental Health on College Campuses: “Kids with depression and anxiety disorders should be able to succeed with good treatment. I think it’s harder, but it shouldn’t be a block to their being successful.” [Source]

Carrie Hensel of Inner Circle Media writes a post about communicating with non-techies, comparing her approach to some local competitors who were in a meeting together with a prospective client. [Source]