ann arbor is overrated.

The Daily strikes with the latest in a series of pieces about how students are fleeced, overcharged and taken advantage of - a look at convenience stores around campus, one of which charges $5.69 for a box of cereal. But the writer actually floats, with a straight face, the explanation that these stores, some of which are run out of residence halls at an institution that’s often described as a “megaversity,” simply lack the “bargaining power” to keep prices to levels that don’t recall that grocery store scene in Innerspace. Could it be that the University’s policy of officially “discouraging” students from bringing cars to campus and the lack of an actual grocery store anywhere within about two miles of Central or North Campus (which, to be fair, the writer mentioned) also have something to do with propping up these merchants?

Well, we’re not sure what to do tonight. We were going to go to that big electroclash festival at the Blind Pig, but then we found out about the Malkmus show at Scorekeepers. And the whole staff of McSweeney’s offshoot The Believer appearing at Borders in Arborland sounds like a good time too. Living here gets downright exhausting sometimes!

We (heart) Tree Town!