tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20425442009-08-30T14:24:39.505-04:00<strong>liberal politics.<br /> family life.<br /> new music.<br /> ypsilanti living.</strong>Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.comBlogger275125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-72304879224364745922009-01-26T13:01:00.001-05:002009-01-26T14:45:18.215-05:00

The French's have done well in the Ypsilanti restaurant scene, no doubt. But they're talking about turning Cady's Grill into a BBQ place. Ypsi doesn't have its own style of BBQ, so what are they going to sell? Charred meat slathered in Open Pit? Or will they mimic the famous BBQ of Texas, Kansas City, Memphis or North Carolina?Maybe the proposed name will clue us in: Wild Willy's.Or maybe

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-87559746010967418252009-01-26T09:33:00.002-05:002009-01-26T09:38:15.379-05:00

No word yet on whether it will come in maize and blue.

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-5221968301389373982009-01-19T18:10:00.001-05:002009-01-19T18:12:50.638-05:00

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-84209491214200979182009-01-19T09:26:00.003-05:002009-01-19T13:01:30.158-05:00

Read Tony Hendra's We See That Now. I suppose I should warn you that it's not for the faint of heart or for conservatives who are feeling neglected today, the day before Obama's inauguration.Hendra's piece recalls the rage that so many of us felt at the time of Bush's second inauguration. If he could be re-elected after all he did, was there any realistic alternative but to give up and become

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-4539409289331560092009-01-11T15:49:00.003-05:002009-01-11T22:25:55.262-05:00

I smoked my last cigarette at 1:00 a.m. on 1 /1. No ceremony, no drama. Just a Camel Wide on my front porch after ringing in the new year at Cam and Meredith's, then off to bed. All done.I've tried a few of the stop-smoking aids -- patches, inhalers, nasal spray, gum -- to no avail. The idea, of course, is to make an easier, softer way for addicts to go straight. Just gradually reduce your

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-89101332405259753482009-01-11T15:43:00.003-05:002009-01-11T15:50:16.623-05:00

It's been several years since I signed up with Facebook. Back then, you needed an email address ending in "edu." My job at Michigan qualified me even though I didn't have anyone to talk to. But Facebook opened up to the world at large, which was a spectacularly popular idea.Now, after several years of trying to keep up with friends through blogs and MySpace and LiveJournal and classmates.com and

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-23498854744673494092008-11-03T11:36:00.003-05:002008-11-03T11:59:30.400-05:00

This is one of the best reports by The Daily Show this year -- and it's been a banner year. (Their coverage of the second night of the Republican National Convention -- from the Larry Craig Bathroom at Minneapolis International Airport -- is still my favorite.)I don't think you'll get a better taxonomy of Stupid.

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-5297975707591599452008-10-22T13:19:00.001-04:002008-10-22T13:22:38.573-04:00

HT to my sister, Karen, for this breaking news update. :^)

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-29224236368665839402008-10-20T09:13:00.004-04:002008-10-22T13:28:23.408-04:00

Whenever I called, Mom greeted me with "Hi, Sugar." I don't know that I could ever adequately describe the comfort and the love that those two words conveyed over many years and over many more miles. But "Hi, Sugar" meant home, regardless of latitude and longitude, and unconditional love, regardless of tempests in our family teapot. It was hot chocolate after a hard day of sledding and a cool

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-65188538930537165402008-09-25T15:36:00.004-04:002008-09-25T16:12:02.119-04:00

Tonight's CBS Evening News with Katie Couric will broadcast an interview with Gov. Sarah "Heartbeat Away" Palin. Here's a teaser where Katie gives her the opportunity to sell us all on her foreign policy credentials, but there's no there there:Watch CBS Videos OnlineTruthfully, I don't fault Gov. Palin for being who she is. I fault Sen. McCain for elevating her to the national scene. He chose

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-30699024215803706782008-09-17T09:38:00.003-04:002008-09-17T10:02:46.071-04:00

I think it goes without saying that our disastrous economy is the result of laissez-faire (a.k.a. Republican) economic policy. The party of "government isn't the solution, it's the problem" has proven yet again that markets need regulation. Frankly, I think we need a new New Deal to replace our current hypercapitalism with a system of fiscal responsibility, and we need it soon.But the idea that

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-31150483183278163752008-08-12T20:29:00.002-04:002008-08-12T21:09:10.048-04:00

There were handbills and posters seemingly everywhere inviting people to come to the rally against the Texas on Hiroshima Day. We were told to stay as far away from it as possible, but one of the guys in my engineroom saw the gathering from down the block. Breathlessly he estimated there were 100,000 -- no, 200,000! -- people out there, all hating America and showing how ignorant they were

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-52211429348094188512008-08-07T21:31:00.009-04:002008-08-12T20:27:27.206-04:00

The USS Texas (CGN-39) was escorting the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) from Virginia to California the long way around when we were pulled from the carrier group to wave the flag on a tour of the south Pacific. Tough job, that -- four ports in Australia, one in Tonga, and two in New Zealand. Meanwhile, the Vinson was frolicking in the Indian Ocean. But, hey, someone had to drink all that beer and

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-61124107982535725352008-08-05T11:07:00.003-04:002008-08-05T12:04:21.237-04:00

The first full-length album by Fleet Foxes is full of gorgeous five-part harmonies. The intricate acoustic arrangements remind me of later Beach Boys as well as some 70's prog rock bands. Don't try to listen to this one in the car, as we did en route to the Indiana Dunes last weekend -- you'll miss way too much. Definitely headphones, definitely. Fleet Foxes have joined Cat Stevens and Nick

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-88580313110226546422008-08-05T11:00:00.002-04:002008-08-05T11:06:36.679-04:00

You can preview the ballot at publius.org. Remember, Ward 2 precincts 1 & 3 vote at West Middle School. Our normal polling place, Estabrook School, is being renovated.Don't forget your picture ID!

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-58706108659595577372008-07-20T21:04:00.002-04:002008-07-20T21:22:25.100-04:00

You know, I think I'm finally getting over the shutdown of the Ford Nuclear Reactor: I missed the fifth anniversary. At 3:45 p.m. on July 3, 2003 I drove in the rods for the reactor's final shutdown. I still miss the cool blue glow.Speaking of anniversaries, this is the 25th anniversary of my around-the-world cruise on the U.S.S. Texas (CGN-39). The Texas was chopped up into razorblades in

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-26366134624987139142008-07-19T14:24:00.012-04:002008-07-24T09:41:27.569-04:00

I confess. I was surprised to learn that Jim Vick is a leading candidate -- the leading candidate? -- to replace Mike McIntosh as assistant principal/athletic director at YHS. I understand that he has the support of Superintendent Dr. James Hawkins.I like Dr. Hawkins and I trust his judgment. But then I remember former YHS principal Dr. Layne Hunt. And I hesitate. Surely, I say to no one in

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-57875783655938322522008-07-11T15:15:00.000-04:002008-07-11T15:15:58.962-04:00

What does it take to get the mainstream media to break off their luv affair with John McCain? In a week full of missteps, I've seen only a little attention paid to the remarks of McCain's chief economic advisor, Phil Gramm. We can't have free and fair elections with news media like ours, can we?Max Bergmann: The Week That Should Have Ended McCain's Presidential Hopes - Politics on The Huffington

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-86792377136967767962008-06-17T09:36:00.002-04:002008-06-17T09:46:14.578-04:00

Talk about revolutionary... a Japanese company has found a way to power an automobile with water. And not just ultra-pure water -- even tea provides enough hydrogen to power this vehicle. Imagine filling up your car from a rain barrel.

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-37401815812110896312008-06-09T13:40:00.002-04:002008-06-09T14:24:26.243-04:00

The first one is free; you can have more with a donation.https://pol.moveon.org/obamastickers/?id=12818-3869542-UTiId1&t=3

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-11496418424609971992008-05-19T09:46:00.000-04:002008-05-19T09:47:25.470-04:00

Woohoo! Ypsilanti Township has decided to help us celebrate Julie's birthday with fireworks. Truthfully, I thought the Ford Lake fireworks were always a great show. Despite the increased crowds and the congested traffic that seems to encourage drivers to do things they'd never do in the light of day, I look forward to seeing them again.

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-16384987520432751802008-05-10T00:05:00.000-04:002008-05-10T00:05:57.917-04:00

Conspiracy theorists and tin-foil milliners need blogs, too. This one postulates that Obama got 1/6 of a city lot in Chicago for (wait for it) Palestinian homeland for Hamas. Da-yum, that's some twisted logic.Obama Hamas Connection � That’s Right Nate

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-69050174825110191802008-05-09T12:42:00.000-04:002008-05-09T12:42:58.386-04:00

The Ugly Mug, which arguably serves the best coffee roasts around, is now smoke-free. Julie and I really appreciate the smoking ban. We found that we could avoid most of the smoke by sitting at the front counter, but those seats weren't always available.I also like the new paint and flooring. The post-industrial look was good, but I appreciate the new brightness, too.

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-79251496261929463732008-05-06T23:30:00.002-04:002008-05-06T23:48:01.162-04:00

As of 11:30 pm with 100% of precincts counted:Sarah Devaney 1468 44.78%Edward Jackson 930 28.37%Tom Reiber 871 26.57%Kira Berman 1130 56.27%Katherine Weathers 875 43.58%Proposal F Yes 1143 54.09% No 970 45.91%Congratulations to Sarah, Edward

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2042544.post-26063660022906955022008-05-06T12:18:00.000-04:002008-05-06T12:18:42.564-04:00

Please check in on the Huffington Post and read Arianna's withering critique of John McCain and the enabling media.

Eric 3.0http://www.blogger.com/profile/13328080911170517202noreply@blogger.com0