Fall Break Roundup
A few quick thoughts on our return from fall break:
- “My nice, solid building facade has become a mess of shards of color from one corner to the other,” writes Dale about his problems with urban-planning software tool Sketchup. Well, that’s what happens when you prioritize solid buildings over green space in your urban design! Without a linear park in which to expand, the creative energy of the community explodes into smithereens of color fragments. (We’re angling for a job writing copy for the Friends of the Greenway.)
- Does anyone know why all those Court TV and ABC trucks have been camped outside of the Washtenaw County buildings for the last couple days? Are they there to cover county clerk Larry Kestenbaum’s latest instant-runoff voting proposal?
- Today’s Daily carries a story about an attempt to close loopholes in the early-lease-pressure ordinance. Landlord Fred Gruber offers his thoughts: “It really doesn’t matter because the law itself is based on a flawed premise.” This is the same Fred Gruber who “jumped up and screamed” at an MSA meeting about some property management websites, until councilmember Wendy Woods “had to calm him down.” (Does anyone think that Woods’ replacement Mike Anglin would be up to that task?)
EMU murder trial.
Sounds like Dale’s designing the tile scheme for the facade of the latest McKinley monstrosity.
posted by . on October 18th, 2007 at 10:14 amCourt TV is in town to cover Orange Taylor’s murder trial.
My staff has found the Court TV folks to be very cooperative and easy to work with. Of course, that probably comes from their experience dealing with courts in past show trials all over the country.
If you want to see a real spectacle — what Bruce Schneier would call “security theater” — come to the courthouse at 7am to see Orange Taylor’s motorcade arrive from the jail.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on October 18th, 2007 at 10:27 amAn extended run in with Fred Gruber several years ago left me with the distinct impression that he’s a paranoid dick. And so malacious that I’m reluctant to even sign this with a pseudonym.
posted by Anonymous on October 18th, 2007 at 12:29 pmLarry -
Wait, Orange Taylor’s in jail? From the wild-eyed way people talk about the trial, I had figured he was staying in Ms. Dickinson’s dorm room…
posted by Anon. on October 18th, 2007 at 2:39 pmOrange’s got the greatest defense known to man: “I didn’t kill that white woman, I just jerked off on her corpse!”
posted by js on October 18th, 2007 at 5:06 pmps.— Current has a new publisher. Y’all will tell me if it suddenly declines, right?
posted by js on October 18th, 2007 at 5:12 pmYeah, I gotta say that this murder trial definitely deserves Court TV. Larry, thanks for the tip about the motorcade. I’ll bet it’s a better scene than watching the UM football team leave the Campus Inn and get on the bus the stadium.
posted by Just a homeowner on October 18th, 2007 at 7:43 pmI know we’re all having a hard time letting go, but why are you still living in A2? You graduated, right? I keep expecting to see a post with you giving the finger to one of those “Village of Annarbour” signs.
posted by Nick on October 19th, 2007 at 12:33 amI don’t know about Fred Gruber but I loved his cousin Hans in that movie…
posted by byproxy on October 19th, 2007 at 9:15 pmI have no doubt it’s the same Fred Gruber.
His organization is much better at property management than most AA landlords, but, as any former tenant can tell you, they tend to have a paternalistic and obnoxiously “nickel-and-dime” attitude towards their tenants - many of whom are mature grad students and living off of loans.
I’ve probably worked with worse landlords, but I wouldn’t recommend them.
Can someone post a link to the story about the jumping and screaming? Was it a property web site that rated landlords? Because that would make sense.
posted by Former Gruber Tenant on October 19th, 2007 at 11:17 pm“Orange’s got the greatest defense known to man: “I didn’t kill that white woman, I just jerked off on her corpse!—
A little racist humor to lighten the day, for those whose day is lightened by racist humor?
posted by David Boyle on October 20th, 2007 at 3:15 amMr Boyle…how is that statement racist? That is basically what Orange Taylor had his attorney tell the jury.
Why aren’t you protesting the fact that the Detroit news media and the stupid Ann Arbor news are making this trail all about Mr. Taylor and not mention Laura Dickinson THE VICTIM? The only newpaper that interviewed Laura’s family was the Detroit Free Press and they wrote a non-sensational and sympathetic article about Laura and her father and family. (they interviewed her father)
WXYZ Channel 7 is running their news reports like some sick and demented tabloid like Fox/Faux news and it makes me sick….
JUSTICE FOR LAURA! We will know the verdict soon!
posted by JusticeforLaura on October 20th, 2007 at 9:43 pmOne way that ann arbor is overrated is in its delusional preciousness that it can stamp out racism if only every student and TA/GSI maintain constant vigilance and ‘be sure to call people out on their possibly racist stance’—you’ll get more brownie points that way. ‘I’m not a racist: just in case anybody might accuse me of it, I’d better accuse them first. Now where’s my A?’ I hated that crap when I was there and I still hate it. Get over yourselves. Just be decent and quit trying to prove you’re ‘less racist than thou’
In case you misunderstand (and some of you will) I hate racism; I am a sworn enemy of racism; but I also hate delusional preciousness. Now where’s my D minus
posted by ggb on October 21st, 2007 at 1:55 pmActually, it should be “defense known to humanity”, not “man”, too.
…Taylor seems like a hideous person, but I don’t know why Dickinson’s whiteness had to be mentioned here. Unless some people really LIKE the “evil black rapist raping/murdering white girls” meme which has caused so many problems in American history.
The problem is the rape, not the race. Let’s remember that.
And I certainly hope Laura, and everyone else, gets justice, too. Thanks for your opinion.
posted by David Boyle on October 21st, 2007 at 6:44 pmI think the implication was that black men are often falsely accused or convicted of raping/murdering white women — pretty much the opposite of how you took it. (And still a little problematic because I think it can sometimes lead to women like Kobe Bryant’s accuser or the Central Park jogger being vilified as “privileged,” “entitled” white women.)
posted by ann arbor is overrated on October 21st, 2007 at 10:56 pmOf all the trials going on in the USA, the Court TV folks had to pick this one. It’s my understanding that date rape is far more common than a stranger rape/murder (which is alleged in this case.) But even in the case of a home invasion/stranger rape/murder, how often is the crime a mixed race crime? I bet it does not happen a high percentage of the time that it is a black man accused of raping/killing a white woman. This trial brings back memories of the Willy Horton ad Bush 1 ran in 1988. I’m sure they are focusing on this trial because they know the black man/white woman mix will generate ratings. I’m disgusted by this circus!
posted by Chuck L. on October 21st, 2007 at 11:36 pmInteresting, aaio. –Though the whole comment was pretty crude, and needs some elaboration to be taken clearly in the way that you suggest…
posted by David Boyle on October 22nd, 2007 at 2:08 am“Actually, it should be “defense known to humanityâ€, not “manâ€, too.”
…Boyle, seriously. “man” = “mankind” = “humanity” in the commenter’s parlance, obvs.
Your overly-vigilint self-righteousness isn’t going to win a lot of friends. P.C. = so 1995.
posted by Brandon on October 22nd, 2007 at 3:53 amI think this trial is generating the attention it is because of EMU’s coverup.
posted by ann arbor is overrated on October 22nd, 2007 at 7:31 am“I think this trial is generating the attention it is because of EMU’s coverup”
Ding Ding Ding!
posted by todd on October 22nd, 2007 at 9:44 am“vigilint”–is that Martian? Or just vigilant against lint?
…P.C. is 1995, huh. Thanks, Rudy Giuliani. You do your thing, I’ll do my “treating women as equals” thing. Good luck.
(P.S. aaio–good call on the coverup. People should’ve learned from Watergate…)
posted by David Boyle on October 22nd, 2007 at 2:52 pmWow, JS was right Taylor’s I just jerked off on her corpse defense at least won him a hung jury.
So if he’s acquited when he’s retried then was there not really a cover-up? Should Eastern not have to pay a fine?
posted by Andy on October 24th, 2007 at 11:21 pm“A little racist humor to lighten the day, for those whose day is lightened by racist humor?”
Yessir, boss, tha’s exactly what I was doin’. You sho’ know me, boss.
posted by js on October 25th, 2007 at 5:53 pmSo now you do a minstrel show thing. Digging your hole even deeper…
posted by David Boyle on October 25th, 2007 at 6:24 pmLOL.
posted by Brandon on October 25th, 2007 at 6:31 pmThen why don’t we instead address the fact that regardless of the comments alleged racist or humorous (whatever way your wind blows apparently) overtones, it’s actually appears to be plagarised (uncited) from another local blog…
posted by MLA vigilante on October 26th, 2007 at 7:57 amWIKIPEDIA PWNS LOCAL COMMENTOR!
(And no, MLA Vigilante, if it appeared on another local blog, it was likely written by me or arrived at by parallel evolution, since I’ve been following the Dickenson case since it started.)
posted by js on October 26th, 2007 at 12:59 pm