The Committee on Un-Oldwestsidian Activities

The Old West Side News profiles Larry Goldstein, editor of the anthology Writing Ann Arbor (which, among other things, contains “several pieces…[that] illustrate how repressive the McCarthy era felt” in A2):

A University of Michigan English professor, editor of the Michigan Quarterly Review, and a poet, Larry is better known in the OWS as the husband of Nancy Goldstein, long-time board member and watchdog on neighborhood issues such as noise, street parking, and parking structures.”

What, nothing about tall buildings, indoor furniture on porches or kids walking on the lawn? Anything goes with these bohemian writer types.

16 Responses to “The Committee on Un-Oldwestsidian Activities”


  1. Wouldn’t parking structures be like a species of which the genus would be tall buildings…?

    And what does “watchdog” mean … is that a polite way of saying she’ll call the cops on you if you play the stereo too loud?


  2. I think this goes beyond irony. We need a new term. Birony?


  3. I guess he knows what McCarthy feels like from his wife? :)


  4. 2000+ people have died in Iraq, the AIDs epidemic is devastating the third world, factory farms are growing in numbers, the amazon rainforest can be written off at this point, James Lovelock says nothing can save the planet…

    Don’t you have anything better to do except bitch and whine about inconsequential crap like this? You are not even completely stupid like the average celebrity junkie/American Idol watching , club hopping underacheiver…
    Cant you spend your writing skills, such as they are, on something more important than this? Seriously, no wonder the world considers Americans the stupidest, laziest, most self-indulgent, self-centred people on the planet.

    You are a whiny, not very bright over-privileged brat…Get a life and a brain! Stop venting your frustrations over repeatedly failing your quals or your classes like this…


  5. Dude, I only failed my quals once, and that was years ago! LmaA! - go find another board to post on.


  6. Gollly. It sounds like they’re involved neighbors. That’s what makes my neighborhood on the OWS rock–and totally reminds me of the neighborhood I grew up in in rural Indiana. Except, of course, my neighborhood now has a lot more European cars and a lot fewer folks who work at “the Chrysler” or at a fast food restaurant.


  7. Quals and classes…now those were the days.


  8. You know, I’ve been meaning to do something about that AIDS epidemic in the Third World, but it’s gotten late. I’ll have to get on it first thing in the morning.


  9. Hey Mr. Stein, lay off the bitch flakes.


  10. Mr. Stein - You have no idea what you’re talking about. You’re such a blowhard. You assume that this is the only focus of the writer. As for me, I need sites like this to temporarily take me out of the misery that the state of the world is in. Lighten up!


  11. People, a Nixon aide is in our midst. We should only be so honored.

    So, let me get this straight: 2000+ people have died in Iraq, the AIDs epidemic is devastating the third world, factory farms are growing in numbers, the amazon rainforest can be written off at this point, James Lovelock says nothing can save the planet, etc.

    Don’t you have anything better to do than to bitch at us and give us a “reality lesson”?


  12. I think you’re failing to see the ironic comedy genius posed by Mr. Stein. He did post a comment using a computer which in the process of being created consumed over 10,000 pounds of raw materials and natural resources, continues to use fossil fuel derived electricity until it is disposed of, eventually contributing to the mercury contamination of our soil and groundwater. Seriously, what world-minded person would preach so loftily if they were doing something so hypocritical and detrimental such as using a computer?

    I could be mistaken. Ben’s comment could not be sarcasm, and may have been posted with a letterpress using soy based inks.


  13. What could be more delightful than the endless struggle of the Puritan to make the joy of the minority unlawful and impossible?


  14. Loved your piece on the Scopes Monkey Trial, btw.


  15. This comment has nothing to do with the post, but I’m dying to know this: Does anyone have the inside info on the creepy alien-like billboard facing southbound traffic on N. Main after you hop off 14?


  16. Another Michigan blogger checking in.

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