Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Late night open thread
If you're looking for Johnny in New Jersey, you can find him, naturally at the Jersey City Desk! There's nothing there yet but there will be. Apparently there is a city council guy out there who was at some cover band show in Washington DC, had too much to drink and took a wee on the people down below. Yeah, we'll be all over that. Going to see a cover band---heinous.
Go Eastern, beat Central on Friday. As long as I live I'll never forgive those CMU assholes for abstaining in their vote to kick us out of the MAC in the early 80's. They knew by abstaining the rest of the league had the votes to bounce us. Western voted to keep us. Every time EMU upsets the Chumpewas, a Huron gets his wings and we stick a finger in their goddamned eyehole.
Interns Zoltron and Kiki have decided to come on out to New Jersey with Johnny. The lure of the internet greasepaint was just too enticing.
Oh, and Donald Trump wants to buy the River Street property and build a casino on it.
May the road rise up to meet you Ypsilanti, at your permanent home on the corner of Elegant Street and Suave Boulevard in Cool City.
Take it away John the Revelator, they're all yours.
Seacrest out
Time for Ypsilanti, After Dark
Borders says they are no longer for sale....
We hope everyone there keeps their jobs and rides this out. Johnny has a lot of good friends at 100 Phoenix. I know there are some bright book business minds in there who truly love the field they are in. Trouble is they keep getting thwarted by the George Jones' in the company. Borders stock was trading under a dollar earlier this week for a short while, it wasn't the merch group or the buyers who did that, it was the higher ups.
Time for a change at the top at Borders we think...
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Giant Space Cat with laser beam eyes attacks a car at Geddes and Leforge
People, here it is yet again and it's becoming more dangerous. We MUST (well YOU must, Johnny's leaving) draw this cat into the Cross Street area near the Tower where it's secret deathray can be used on this cat head. The fate of our fair city rests in the balance. How many must die before we as a community act?
FILE FOOTAGE
Monday, November 24, 2008
Eastern Michigan fires Jeff Genyk as head coach
"Earlier this morning, after consulting President Susan Martin, I informed coach Jeff Genyk of my decision to move our football program in another direction, at the conclusion of the season"
YCD can't say as we're surprised, this year was supposed to be different, a much better team was expected. The EMU football program never really progressed under Genyk, it kinda stayed mired in that same crappy place it was in when he got here. One thing we WILL say in Mr. Genyk's favor, he cleaned out the nere-do-wells from the EMU football program. Football players at EMU now attend classes and aren't the drunken brawlers of yore. For that he deserves credit, making citizenship while at EMU important.
The Free Press also reports former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr will advise EMU in their search for a new head football coach. This should be OK as long as Eastern never schedules Ohio State.
Genyk had a 15-42 record at Eastern in five years with the Central tilt yet to come....
Ha ha ha, you all are gonna be stuck with a traffic roundabout at US-23 and Geddes
A roundabout seems to be the super happy fix of MDOT anymore. Johnny has run solutions through his head there five days a week for four years. His is better.
More on this stupid idea here
Talk about domination; Ann Arbor Pioneer 'gurls' win their NINTH straight swimming championship
The level of high school swimming in this area is incredible as Ann Arbor Huron finished SECOND to the Pioneers.
Congrats Pioneer, job WELL done (again).
As for the Huron gurls, they also went to the state title game in field hockey but came up short.
Not bad, the local gals seem to dominate at sports, we're very proud of all of you.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Late night open thread
Time for Ypsilanti, After Dark
Farewell dear Ypsi
I came to this town one damned cold December 1st 1982. I hitchhiked down from sleepy Ortonville to register for classes at EMU and loved what I found here and set up shop. I remember almost being out of second chances when I came here, I also vividly remember sitting right outside of Pierce Hall on a cement bench, in a tiny little sitting area to keep out of the wind and cold that was whistling around me at 4 and 5 and then 6 am. It always made me feel good knowing I could always see the blinking red light on Pierce Hall out my bedroom window, the same blinking red light that flashed over my head that cold December morning. At some point you stake your claim and try to make good your life's dreams and aspirations and I've quite happily made mine here, in Ypsilanti. To my fellow Ypsi residents, there may be times for whatever reason you say "I hate this stupid town" or "This place sucks", I understand that, we all feel that way about our towns at some point. Just understand the next time you do say it, there's somebody out there who misses this great community. Somebody misses the rubber duck race, misses walking in the old days to Bowen Field House to watch an EMU basketball game, who misses our great parades, who misses Haabs or Sidetrack or Golden Wall or La Fiesta Mexicana. There's somebody out there who will miss the air shows at Willow Run, and miss lazy spring and summer nights fishing (with NO license mind you) at his secret spot with his buddy Cool Money.
Ypsilanti, you have been very good to me, I can never ever repay that debt. You have all had such a wonderful impact. So when somebody puts Ypsi down because it's not Ann Arbor, do me a favor, get in their grill. If you're an Eastern Michigan University athlete playing on a team having a bad year and you think to yourself "Nobody cares" that's simply not true. A lot of us DO care. We do care about you and your team whether you win lose or draw. Just keep plugging away for us. If you're one who thinks our city's financial situation is hopeless and you should give up, keep going. That's the thing I've learned about Ypsilanti, doing things the hard way if need be, using elbow grease has always gotten us by. Ypsilanti faced huge challenges helping win WWII and we face them again. Keep going friends, work harder, there's not a bone in my body that doesn't think Ypsilanti will rise above the money troubles we have now. We will, we're Ypsilanti.
While I may be leaving, understand I'll check in from time to time, and like I mentioned, you'll be in very good hands with John the Revelator, he's a top flight writer. I'm sure he'll do things different but that's ok too, Ypsilanti's never been scared of a change.
So long, farewell and adios Ypsilanti, you'll never have a bigger fan out there than Johnny Action Space Punk...
Late night open thread
Time for Ypsilanti, After Dark
Saturday, November 22, 2008
"Attention Michigan football fans...
Eastern Michigan football GAMEDAY
That being said, EMU hopes to slow down Temple QB Adam DiMichele who has thrown for 12 TD's against only 4 INT's this season. His favorite receiver is senior Bruce Francis who EMU will have to account for. He has 9 touchdowns this season, very good numbers for a very poor team. Temple is a Jeckyll and Hyde team scoring points and looking great one week while scoring only 7 vs Army and 3 vs Western Michigan.
This is a winnable game for EMU.
IF Andy Schmitt plays well, and keeps the Temple offense off the field, and this will take some doing, Eastern can win. If head coach Jeff Genyk is serious about handing the ball off to Terrence Blevins over 20 times today and playing the short passing game matching up receivers on Temple's suspect linebacking corps, Eastern can win this game. If EMU can execute a ball control offense for 60 minutes and not panic if they get behind early, they can win this game.
Eastern has been close a few times this year with teams we feel are equal to them in talent. They've lost every one of those games. It HAS to change today. HAS to.
Our call?
Eastern Michigan 30
Temple 20
Friday, November 21, 2008
Late night open thread
Time for Ypsilanti, After Dark
Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with STEELY DAN!
This is Johnny's last Friday night running the videos (or anything for that matter) out of the palacial YCD offices. More details in our Sunday chat but Johnny is moving far far away from Ypsilanti next week. Sadly he's gotta follow fame and fortune out to the shadows of New York City (apparently they needed more bloggers). Now, luckily, for you all John the Revelator will be taking control of the day to day happenings here so you'll still have an Ypsi City Desk right here to keep you entertained and informed. More details on Sunday but that's why all the videos tonight. Johnny has loved bringing them to you over this past little while and looked forward to our Friday night concert series.
In honor of Johnny's old school, Eastern Michigan University, here is Steely Dan performing 'My Old School'.
Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with PINK FLOYD!
Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE CLASH!
The Clash with 'Police on My Back'
Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with PAT BENATAR!
Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with NEKO CASE!
If you're looking for something a little different to do tonight, may we suggest ghost hunting?
From Prairie Ghosts:
At a time between dusk on November 21 and dawn on November 22, the ghosts of a father and daughter are said to reunite in this secluded cemetery outside of Jackson, Michigan. The two spirits were the victims of a heinous crime that took place many years ago.... a crime that remains unsolved to this day.
The strange series of events began on November 21, 1883 in the small community of Jackson. A horrible mass murder took place here, claiming seven victims and creating a mystery and a haunting. The victims were Jacob Crouch, his daughter Eunice White, who was in her ninth month of pregnancy, Eunice's husband. and a man named Moses Polley, who had been visiting the Crouch family from out of town. These four people (five, including the unborn child) were all shot to death while sleeping. The crime was carried out during a terrible thunderstorm that muffled the sounds of violence from nearby farms.
Two months later, on January 2, the naked body of Susan Halcomb, Jacob's surviving daughter, was found on the floor of her bedroom. She had been force-fed poison and had died. James Fay, who had worked as a farm hand for Jacob Crouch, was also found dead shortly after. What could these people have done, seen or heard that would have committed them to their horrible deaths? No one knows....
In the years that followed the murders, several men were brought to trial for the crimes but no one was ever convicted. What really happened has never been known, and never will be known, as all of the principals and investigators in the case have long since carried the tales to their graves.
Jacob Crouch was buried in a small cemetery at the corner of Horton and Reynolds Roads, a mile away from the site of the Crouch home. Eunice and her husband lie five miles away in St. John's Cemetery in Jackson. The two burial grounds are very different. Jacob's grave is neglected and forgotten while Eunice's lies in a well-cared for cemetery that is still in operation today. The legend began many years ago that on the anniversary of the murders, Eunice's spirit would leave her grave and travel to Reynolds Cemetery, where it would reunite with the ghost of her father.
Many claim to have witnessed this over the years, including two ghost researchers in 1989, who insist they saw an ectoplasmic cloud appear in the cemetery that night. The glowing mist floated through the cemetery until it reached Jacob's grave, where it suddenly vanished.
Should you be interested, we trust you can use Mapquest or Google maps to find this small and very creepy cemetery at the corner of Reynolds and Horton Rd. just west of Jackson. If you see Eunice Crouch tell her the Ypsi City Desk says hi.
Get ready for an off the wall super fun Friday!
Let's get started with William Shatner utterly butchering Harry Chapin's classic song 'Taxi'.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Late night open thread
The Rolling Stones in Sydney in 1973 with 'Bitch'
Time for Ypsilanti, After Dark
Congratulations Susan Martin, inaugurated as NEW EMU President. Now sell that damned house
Now, sell Samuel Kirkpatrick's folly house, for the good of the University and the community goodwill it would render. It'll fetch something that could help offset student costs. No, it's not NEEDED, and in these tight economic times, every penny counts.
We'll find you a smaller, cozier, and less expensive (and some would say less tainted) place to live.
Say what Desmond? Michigan in title game in a mere 5 years if RichRod given a 'chance'?
What time do you think RichRod has Desmond? You think fans will stick with him past next year if the team is 5-7? What if by year 4 he's 8-4? That's a pretty tall order of wishful thinking if you ask us. We think you were feeling hurt by Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Spielman's comments the other day.
We're also going to need to see better players here, ones who don't leave willy nilly and guys who can handle running and executing the spread offense. 5 years? In our opinion RichRod won't be here for year 4....
The City of Ypsilanti got a 90K grant for fire station upgrades
It's good to know we have a fine command center in case of a dire emergency. As fire chief Jon Ichsco told the A2 News "...we will have a building that can serve the community in even the worst of situations".
Sounds like a good deal to us.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Late night open thread
Here's a clip of her brilliant performance in Taxi Driver
Time for Ypsilanti, After Dark
OK hippies, dreamers, nere-do-wells and ruffians, some Adam-12 law and order
Rob Schneider is the latest star to begin filming a movie locally
More on this developing celebrity situation HERE in the A2 News
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Late night open thread
Time for Ypsilanti, After Dark
Hey, guess who's 80 today? Mortimer Mouse
This was also the first cartoon with sound ever...
(AP)-He turns 80 this year, but you'd never know it by looking at him. Mickey Mouse is still as sprightly as ever, with not even a laugh line to show his age. Mickey's come a long way since his turn as a deckhand in "Steamboat Willie" on this day in 1928.
Back then, the Disney studio's hopes were pegged to the mischievous rodent. They hoped he would bring the company success after the rights to Walt Disney's first successful character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, were sold to another studio by its distributors.
Walt sketched a mouse -- who looked an awful lot like his predecessor, Oswald -- and his wife, Lilly, christened the mouse Mickey. (Without Lilly's quick thinking, we'd be celebrating the 80th birthday of Mortimer Mouse.)
Mickey was a hit, and soon he had a band of buddies with whom he got into all kinds of scrapes and messes. (He never officially married Minnie Mouse, but they're still the world's most famous animated couple.)
According to Disney, more than 1 million children joined the original Mickey Mouse Club between 1929 and 1932. And his fans ranged from American children to famous names like Mary Pickford, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Benito Mussolini, the Nizam of Hyderabad and King George V of England.
As animation techniques grew more sophisticated, Mickey's appearance changed a bit -- he gained some weight around the middle, donned a pair of white gloves and grew more angular. But his personality never changed from the friendly mouse that Walt Disney created in the 1920s.
Today, Mickey has become the international symbol of the Disney empire -- the three-circle silhouette of his head is one of the most recognized corporate symbols in the world. And his image -- with the famous two-button pants, the big yellow shoes -- has graced every kind of merchandise imaginable, from T-shirts to telephones.
Clearly the world's most beloved animated character, Mickey continues toward the century mark just as he began his life 80 years ago -- full steam ahead.
Anyone here remember November 11, 1918 in Ypsilanti?
It's a good read.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Late night open thread
EMU 58
#10 Purdue 87
(EMU is 1-1)
Lehigh 76
Delaware St. 58
Quinnipiac 66
Army 64
And tonight's YCD feature game:
North Carolina-Wilmington 107
Troy 95
Chad Tomko crushed Troy with 33 points
Time for Ypsilanti, After Dark
According to the National Motorists Association, Ann Arbor ranks #6 nationally in speed traps
The National Motorists Association says Metro Detroit had the most speed traps in the United States in 2007, based on field studies and the number of complaints the Wisconsin-based organization gets. Ann Arbor also finished in the top 10:
1. Detroit suburbs
2. Colorado Springs, Colo.
3. Houston
4. Orlando, Fla.
5. Nashville, Tenn.
6. Ann Arbor
7. Albuquerque, N.M.
8. Washington, D.C.
9. Denver
10. Virginia Beach, Va.
Source: National Motorists Association
OK hepcats, the Ypsi City Desk has the new unreleased Beatles song NOW for you
Check it out HERE
Monday morning open thread
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Late night open thread
Time for Ypsilanti, After Dark
The snow this morning certainly was a nice surprise wasn't it?
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Obama administration adds a new member, Valerie Jarrett, U-M Law School grad
Her position will be to consult with the president and act as a go-between with state and local elected officials and public interest groups. Another U-M Law School grad, Ann Coulter did not get asked by the Obama Administration to do anything but shut her pie hole.
We're about to find out how many die-hard Michigan football fans there are
Oh and since it's now at 40 degrees or below, the no hard liquor in the stadium rule has been waived.
Go Blue
Likewise if you're a crafter and you're not at the Detroit Urban Craft Fair today, you're just dabbling.
Late night open thread
Time for Ypsilanti, After Dark
Friday, November 14, 2008
Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with JOHN MELLENCAMP!
'Pink Houses'
Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with MADONNA!
Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with SHERYL CROW!
Sheryl Crow with 'Out of Our Heads'
An update on yesterday's Espresso Royale Cafe 'get-it-yourself' rant
If you are a deer who enjoys reading the Ypsi City Desk, we have some advice
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Late night open thread
Go Lehigh
Time for Ypsilanti, After Dark
Sadly, it looks like Espresso Royale Cafe on Main St is going SELF SERVE
Is ERC saving money on this long tedious coffee pouring tradition? If you're just gonna hand Johnny a cup and tell him to get it himself why not drop the price? Johnny also hates to think what this'll do to their tips jar. Seriously, why tip when you're getting it yourself?
We hope ERC on Main St. stops this coffee madness right now. Johnny knows Starbucks, 20 steps the other way will pour his coffee and hand it to him like he likes. Just sayin'......
Michigan hoops wins again, this time 76-56 over Northeastern
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Late night open thread
Time for Ypsilanti, After Dark
More Bad News at the The A2 News
The latest blow came today when copy editors, designers and other support staff got the news that they could either:
- Accept a buyout that will amount to something like two weeks' pay for every year of employment (for those with over five year's services;) or
- Move to offices in Kalamazoo or Grand Rapids, where those tasks will be consolidated for among the News' seven sibling papers.
We have a lot of good friends at the News. Hang in there, folks. You deserve better.
Here's a real pressing issue of our times--At Thanksgiving dinner do you want jellied cranberry via the can or real cranberries?
Michigan 77, Michigan Tech 55
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Late night open thread
A man who tried to steal an ATM with a backhoe was arrested when he asked police officers who were chasing him for help after he jumped into the Kansas River, police said.
Police said the man, in his 50s, used the backhoe to break into a convenience store in Kansas City, Kan., then tried to drive away with the Automated Teller Machine. As the man tried to flee, the machine and 12 packs of soda fell from the backhoe, police said.
Police followed the man as he took the backhoe through a wooded area before fleeing on foot.
After jumping into the Kansas River, the man swam out about 15 feet from shore, then called for help, saying he was drowning, the police department said.
Two officers jumped into the river, rescued him and arrested him, police said.
Time for Ypsilanti, After Dark
BusinessWeek magazine names Ann Arbor one of the best places to raise a kid in 2009
Royal Oak came in second. Probably because they are not near Ypsilanti...
Monday, November 10, 2008
Late night open thread
Time for Ypsilanti, After Dark
You don't need to be a hippie to see Joan Baez at the Michigan Theater tonight
Do you have a vision for Ypsilanti? These meetings are for you
Ypsilanti goal-setting meetings
• Tonight: Presentation by Dan Gilmartin, chief executive of the Michigan Municipal League, to discuss changes facing local governments. 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1 S. Huron St.
• Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Haab Medical Building, 111 N. Huron St.
• Monday, Dec. 8, at 6 p.m. at the Haab Medical Building.
• Saturday, Dec. 13, at 9 a.m. at the Haab Medical Building.
Black ice warning out there this morning kids
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Late night open thread
Time for Ypsilanti, After Dark
YCD Action Weather Team confirms "Yep, that's snow"
Weather reporter Kiki has it easy compared to some action news weather stiffs
Dreary EMU basketball news on a dreary Sunday
Eastern will attempt to get a medical hardship which would allow him to play next year as his senior season.
Ouch, this sucks...
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Late night open thread
Time for Ypsilanti, After Dark
Johnny's alright, if anybody cares
Well Johnny put the Empire State Building in his rearview mirror about 7:30 am (really, driving out on the 1&9 Pulaski Skyway you can watch it disappear but don't stare or nuthin, you'll wreck) and rolled into Ypsilanti around 5:15 pm. Just a note to you silly New Jersey State troopers trying to stop Johnny from getting away into Pennsylvania--THREE? You sent only THREE cars to stop him? It's take more than three New Jersey State troopers to lock him up, even if you did, no jail can hold him. It was hilarious to watch them have to stop right at the state line as Johnny's Vibe streaked across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania, sssssssuckers.
Johnny actually did a little hand jive curse as he passed the Bellefonte exit, the way one gets to Penn State University in State College. Then, they lost to Iowa. That had to be the reason. Johnny PWNED the Nittany Lions.
So, what happened around here? The interns are gone and John the Revelator is drinking out of a paper bag so you all are gonna have to fill Johnny in...
Friday, November 7, 2008
Rock 'n' Roll Art
But here's something more. Dan's a really gifted collage artist and he currently has 20 or so of his pieces on display -- and for sale -- at the Ugly Mug coffee shop at the corner of Cross and Hamilton Streets.
Dan's work collides hot-rod culture, rock 'n' roll and Art Deco design into intriguing pieces that we think are pretty cool. Cool enough, anyways, that we have several hanging in our home.
Stop by and check it out and have a cup of the Ugly Mug's fine, roasted-on-site coffee.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Nathaniel Mayer, R.I.P.
But what a tune.
In recent years, Mayer had seen something of a rebirth. He hooked up with younger
All that ended with his death over the weekend. Gone is that killer smile, those twinkling, mischievous eyes and one of the greatest, raspiest, most-emotive voices in soul music. Another voice of
From a personal perspective, I can say that I was fortunate enough to know Naydog a little. He played a couple of absolutely killer shows at my record store some years back and I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to knock back a couple of beers with someone I consider to be a true hero.
Here’s Nate performing “I Had a Dream” with the Shanks. (For all you trainspotters out there, extra points to the first who can name the
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Ypsilanti After Dark
Sorry ...
So you're sick for a couple of days and you reemerge to discover that everything's different. There's the promise of real, meaningful stem-cell research in your state, not to mention a new provision for medical marijuana. And there's this new thing sweeping the country called "Hope."
Dig it! Now, as our president elect reminded us, let's all do everything we can to make sure that there's more than just rhetoric to this historic moment.
No big surprises in the local races, as the city of Ypsilanti's and Ypsilanti Township's races were pretty much decided at at the primary level in August. Nonetheless, congratulations to Pete Murdock on his return to City Council to and to Charlie Pope, who has waited patiently to step up to the bench at 14B District Court.
(Likewise, a big thanks and fare-the-well to outgoing 14B District Judge John B. Collins -- a great man, who was a true friend and mentor to a certain young journalist getting his first taste of covering the courts back in the early 1990s. Thanks for everything, John. Here's to lots of great fishing in your retirement!)
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Late night open thread
You all have a good week, make sure you vote. We said we wouldn't endorse people here (John the Revelator is free to, he's a co-writer) as many are our neighbors and we try hard to play things up the middle for the most part but Johnny WILL go on record as supporting, and hoping you will too, proposals 1 & 2. Medical marijuana offers a great benefit to some, some of our less fortunate citizens who would find a great benefit from it. People who qualify for it really do need it. Walk a mile in their shoes before you vote no. Stem cell research to Johnny is a no brainer. It too offers help to those with definite needs. Hope, that's a very powerful word to a paralyzed person. It might not help them but it might help someone after them. Alzheimer's doesn't just affect Republicans of Democrats, it affects human beings. It wrecks families. There is no moral high ground in being against it, sorry, there's simply not. There is great benefit to humanity in seeking cures from something that was ready to be thrown out anyway. Michigan has some of the greatest scientific minds around, let's put them to work.
Good luck to all you local candidates. Pick up your signs when you're done and we thank you in advance.
See ya next weekend.
Time for Ypsilanti, After Dark
Eastern Michigan football GAMEDAY!!
If EMU can keep this game close, and history says they can, the Broncos may just seize up and think back to last year and watch their MAC title hopes die inside the confines of Waldo Stadium.
Our call?
WMU Sissy Broncos 31
Eastern Michigan 20
Come on EMU, win your last three games and you can salvage something from this season. Over, did you say over??