the collective brines.net

GP night

2009-11-30T19:20:00.001-05:00

Really the lifetime mug club membership at Grizzly Peak is quite a good deal. Clubob and Coley seem to agree.

HomeGrown Festival 2009

2009-09-11T17:01:00.001-05:00

Did you know that Mayor Hieftje and Governor Granholm have proclaimed September 2009 is Local Food Month in Ann Arbor and Michigan respectively? Head on down to the HomeGrown Festival and see what all the hub-bub is about.

Legalize rolling stops for bicycles

2009-04-20T15:56:00.001-05:00

Apparently Oregon is considering a law that has been in Idaho for 27 years. Can't see any reason why Michigan shouldn't as well:

Bicycles, Rolling Stops, and the Idaho Stop from Spencer Boomhower on Vimeo.

Carbon Caps = Hard Hats

2009-04-16T10:47:00.003-05:00

Kick Ass! It's about time. I saw this ad last night watching hockey (I believe it was the Pitt vs. Philly game even). What a great ad campaign. Lord knows we need to fight disinformation with some optimistic hope.

High Speed Rail?

2009-04-16T10:38:00.001-05:00

Whoa, did I wake up in a different country? Talk of high-speed rail in this country... and talk of it being overdue?!
More info

Test image posting

2008-10-14T12:59:00.003-05:00

This is up north at Frankfort, Michigan on Friday, August 1st, the day before my friend Karly was getting married.

testing

2008-10-14T12:18:00.002-05:00

this is atest post using a small nokia mini computer like i will have on my upcoming trip to Italy!

Hoophouse Tour and Picnic with "Omnivore's Dilemma" Book Club Discussion

2008-05-08T11:14:00.000-05:00

The local professional chapter of Net Impact asked if they could hold their book club discussion for this month at Brines Farm - you may have heard of the book or read it, Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. So we've sort of turned it into an event: tour, volunteering and potluck lunch/book discussion. Feel free to stop by for the tour and/our book discussion if you have read the book but please RSVP so I have an idea of numbers. More details below.

==============================

Net Impact Book Club: Summer Edition - Omnivores Dilemma
Including Brines Farm tour, volunteering, and picnic potluck

SCHEDULE:
10:00am-10:30am Brines Farm Hoophouse Tour
10:30am-12:30pm Volunteering (with quick re-tour at end for discussion-only arrivals)
12:30pm-2:00pm Lunch and Book Discussion of Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan

DIRECTIONS:
Head about 5 miles west of US 23 exit 49 on N. Territorial Rd. Head about 1 mile north on Donovan Rd to 8218 Donovan Rd, Dexter, MI 48130. Our driveway is in the middle of the woods at the bottom of the second, consecutive hill. Coming over the hill is kind of blind so please drive carefully.

PARKING:
Parking is very tight up by the house but you are welcome to do so but you may be parked in by others. If that is a concern, I recommend parking beyond our mailbox (to the north) on the right side of Donovan Rd. (off the road as much as possible). Then walk up driveway and down easement to field and hoophouse, about 1000 feet. There will be signs.

WHAT TO BRING:
Dish to pass with serving spoon, dish/cutlery/drink for yourself and ideas about the book Omnivore's Dilemma of course. If you will be volunteering: appropriate work clothing (that will get dirty), a hat, water, work gloves, natural-ingredient bug repellent.

ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEER NOTES:
With the recent rain, mosquitoes have begun to appear on the farm and in the hoophouse. They are not as bad outside the hoophouse, during the middle of the day, and if it is sunny out, but you are likely to encounter some. Please note that DEET or chemical based repellents are not allowed inside the hoophouse. Natural-ingredient (e.g. citronella, soaps, natural remedy, etc.) based repellents are allowed. I recommend loose fitting clothes like windbreakers, particularly if it turns out cloudy anyway as currently forecast. Bring clothing layers though as temperatures inside the hoophouse can run anywhere from the same as outside to 20 degrees warmer.

QUESTIONS:
Please contact "book club host" Grace Augustine @ 248-622-9001 or farmer Shannon Brines.

===================================

TH's IS

2008-03-20T09:21:00.000-05:00

I'm sensing it is going to be a big year from TH:

A2 - One of America's Best Walking Cities

2008-03-05T18:32:00.002-05:00

From the American Podiatric Medical Association's 2008 Best Walking Cities in America Competition:

This year, more than 500 U.S. cities, or 10 of the most populated cities in each state, were surveyed to determine each city's walkability. A number of factors were considered, including the number of parks per square mile, use of mass transit and the percentage of adults who walk for fitness reasons. Cambridge, MA has earned the title of number one walking city for 2008, followed closely by New York City and Ann Arbor, MI.
...
The Best Walking Cities in America Competition is a project developed by the APMA to educate the public on the health benefits of walking and the important role that proper foot care plays in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Personally I always like to read the details of a study, so be sure to check out the FAQs, but who doesn't love to tout rankings, especially when your city does well.

Young Singers

2008-02-19T14:03:00.003-05:00

I like music. To me it's fun to discover young, talented musicians before the rest of the world does (if the world ever does). It doesn't really matter I guess but it's kind of analogous to finding a really cool local food purveyor, just adds to the experience. Anyway, some friends of mine and I headed down to the Blind Pig last Monday to see local up and coming Alex Winston and somewhat further along Kate Voegele. Alex is 19 year old singer/songwriter/guitarist from the metro Detroit who fronts an excellent band (that includes the 40 Oz. Sound guys and the former Electric Six bassist "John R. Dequindre" (always liked that stage name)). I've been intrigued since last year when I found her online and bought her EP off of her website. The CD arrived in the mail and I was charmed to find it in a hand addressed envelope. At the end of December some of us caught her semi-acoustic show in Ferndale. When we arrived it was pretty empty and Alex was just standing by the door inviting people to stick around for the show. We told her we were actually there for the show and then proceeded to ask her for food recommendations. I guess one of the reasons I like regional music as well is that you can pretty much interact with the musicians on a regular person level. My best wishes to all of the local musicians I've met, I want them to do well and sell records, but I also hope they are able to maintain their sanity as bigger record labels discover them.

Anyway, last Monday 2/11 was a pretty good concert. I never been a big fan of the sound at the Blind Pig. I don't know what it is exactly, perhaps a combination of things, but the sound is not the greatest and everyone knows it. But a good show nonetheless. Definitely like a couple of the newer tunes Alex and her band have been working on. And my friend Nicole is so right to describe Alex Winston's music as the kind "girls love to sing aloud while driving in their cars"... although I think everyone loves to sing it probably, perhaps only girls admit to it. One highlight of the evening was Nicole actually provided a flexible bandage (to not use the brand name) to the lead guitarist of the Whitest Light who had somehow cut himself and was bleeding all over a rather nice guitar. He later announced that "this beautiful young lady up front can help you with all of your first aid needs." So great sets by Alex Winston, Whitest Light (we weren't really in the mood for a third band but they are pretty tight nonetheless), and Kate Voegele. Kate, who was the elder female lead of the night at 20 years of age, hails from the Cleveland area I guess and has a great voice - she came through Ann Arbor last summer during the Art Fair. As some friends and I discussed, something about her voice suggests that she could turn country in a heartbeat and probably sell a gazillion more records but she seems to be into the rock which is fine by me.

You can see Alex for yourself 3/16 in Detroit when they open for Blind Melon or 3/27 again in Ann Arbor when they open for Electric Six.

1/2008 Radio Interview Now Online

2008-02-19T13:58:00.001-05:00

Well it took a little longer than I thought but mp3s from when I was a guest on Ann Arbor Lifestyles are now online. This aired 1/12/2008 but I blogged about it after it was taped 1/7/2008.

Part 1 - we largely discuss my day job at UofM and my interest in sustainability.
Part 2 - we start to get into my motivation for the hoophouse and four season farming.
Part 3 - we continue hoophouse discussions as well as ideas for anyone to try.

Spinning

2008-02-19T13:57:00.002-05:00

Last Wednesday I attended another event also at the AADL multi-purpose room titled From Ewe to You. They also recorded that one so it will eventually be posted at the library's video on demand list as well. It was a neat discussion from 2 farmers that raise various breeds of sheep in the area and a third panelist who spins from various fiber. I've always been excited about the idea of having livestock and particularly generating products from the fiber from the livestock. Plus, it's nice to have the connection to the history of sheep and spinning that Washtenaw County has. I knew that we were the biggest sheep county in the state. I didn't know that we use to be the second biggest sheep county in the nation back about 1900. Apparently, Washtenaw County being at a key juncture point for trains west was a big staging area for livestock heading out on trains and then people decided to just go ahead and raise the sheep (whether to keep or ship) right here in the county since it has rolling hills, a good river, and green pastures.

Anyway, I don't have the time for livestock currently but it is very exciting to see people continuing the historical traditions of our area. There is even a group that meets once a month regarding all things spinning... they are appropriately named The Spinner's Flock. Some of you might want to check them or some of their sales (I think they just had one) out. According to their website and literature:

We are a group of enthusiastic, friendly and welcoming individualists who practice and promote the art and craft of handspinning, while spreading the word on the wonders of Michigan grown fibers. In addition to those who raise the various breeds of sheep, membership now also includes those who raise angora goats (mohair), llama, alpaca, and angora rabits.

Local Food Interest On The Rise

2008-02-19T13:57:00.001-05:00

If turnout is any measure, then I would say the approximately 160 people (I counted) who packed the AADL multi-purpose room last night for a panel discussion certainly represents an increasing interest in local food. Regardless From the Farm to Your Fork – Why Local Food Can Make Us Healthier, Happier and More Secure was definitely a stimulating and exciting discussion. Very successful, my compliments to Kim who largely organized it. And hopefully we will have more events like this leading up to the HomeGrown Festival to continue the conversation of some of the ideas that were mentioned. (Actually Kim and I have some ideas but feel free to post any event ideas here as a comment.) If you missed this event, don't fret. These days events like this at our library eventually end up as podcasts posted here - thanks to our fabulous library system!

One thing that I thought was missing from the up front panel presentations and also during the questions period afterward was a mention specifically of the idea of a "farm incubator" to help foster the development of new farmers much in the way new businesses are often fostered. Anyway, new farmers are in short supply and we all need to do something about this. I'll have more to say on this in the future. The other thing I would have liked the panel to re-stress is that you simply need to keep going to the farmers markets and buying shares. And if you are reading this you likely do attend markets - I saw a lot of familiar faces at the event last night as well - but if you keep going even when selection is a little bit low like during the winter you help demonstrate the demand that eventually farmers and new farmers will rise up to meet. Personally, I'm a little bit surprised more winter greens competition hasn't shown up this winter - believe me I'd welcome it, I always feel a little awkward selling out in an hour - but it's coming I'm sure.

What to look for when your candidates go green

2008-02-14T18:18:00.002-05:00

My colleague Tom Princen wrote an recent op-ed in USA Today... What to look for when your candidates go green.

And Tiffany recently posted regarding how Green is your candidate?

Look out Summer Rayne Oakes

2008-02-10T20:47:00.000-05:00

Look out Summer Rayne Oakes... perhaps I could be the next big model who has a passion for sustainability, sustainable style, and the like.

Yeah, maybe not. But I was honored to be invited by friend Britten Stringwell to her Unihood Fashion Bizarre and Dance last night at the yellow barn in A2. I was one of a diverse crowd of models who took turns walking (or strutting as it were) the unique runway and then saying a few words at the mic ... whatever one was moved to say (Note: speaking was not required, one model blew bubbles). Basically what I said was:

Can you picture winter greens? Arugula, spinach, salad mix. Can you picture a team of Unihood-wearing harvesters? I can.

And I really can. The thing about the unihood designs is that unlike a baseball cap or some of my loose fitting stocking caps they really won't fall off as one bends or leans over in the greenhouse. So that alone is enough for me to try them out. Throw in the fact that they are made with quite a bit of reclaimed materials with a nice touch of style from a local artisan and you got yourself a winner.

So friends Tao and K came by and snapped some photos for me (thanks!) during the fashion bizarre. K and I ended up buying a unihood each - K actually choosing to purchase what turned out to be apparently the first unihood Britten ever made. Britten asked to get some photos of us.

Astute radio listeners may note that they have heard of Britten Stringwell recently in the Environment Report story done last year by local reporter and friend Jennifer Guerra (who incidentally was also a unihood model).

Anyway, good times had by all. There was some nice warm up music and good DJ'd dancing afterward (I'll post musicians here if I remember their names), as well as severed unicorn heads and art, and Roos Roast coffee roasting on the yellow barn porch all night long.

Mitigating Climate Change through Organic Agriculture and Localized Food Systems

2008-02-10T20:46:00.001-05:00

Taking a look at research - where I believe we are going to see a rapid increase of people investigating these kinds of questions - this recent press release/report from the Institute of Science in Society caught my eye: Mitigating Climate Change through Organic Agriculture and Localized Food Systems.

This June if anyone wishes to travel to Modena, Italy there is a FAO Workshop on Organic Agriculture and Climate Change as part of the 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress.

Closer to home, the Michigan Organic Farm and Food Alliance is having their 2008 Michigan Organic Conference the first part of March. And there is the Agriculture and Natural Resources week on a certain campus in East Lansing also during the first part of March. Highlights are listed here including a workshop about the role of pollinators in a sustainable environment... a previous theme on my blog: here and here:)

From the Farm to Your Fork

2008-01-29T14:58:00.001-05:00

Panel Discussion: From the Farm to Your Fork – Why Local Food Can Make Us Healthier, Happier and More Secure. Monday, February 18th, 7:00 - 8:30pm. Taking place at the Ann Arbor Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room.

Food is powerful! We need to eat every single day and the choices that we make determine how our world is used. Among the most powerful things we can do to create a secure community and a healthy family is to eat and buy locally grown and produced food.

This event spotlights perspectives from luminaries in our own food community. Featuring local farmers Annie Elder and Paul Bantle, Chef Alex Young (chef and co-owner of Zingerman's Roadhouse), dietician and Farm-to-School Coordinator Ruth Blackburn, and UM research scientist Dr. Catherine Badgley. Along with a big-picture description of how the food system currently works, the panelists will highlight ways in which our vibrant local food system sustains us.

This event is co-sponsored by Slow Food Huron Valley and the Ann Arbor District Library and is one in a series of events leading up to the HomeGrown Festival celebrating local, sustainable food on September 13, 2008. Make this your year to get involved!

Best Album of 2007

2008-01-27T18:35:00.001-05:00

What a year 2007 was for new albums of music. Lots and lots to choose from. I'm talking lots, from big names, to up and coming. Everything from Interpol [Our Love To Admire]; The New Pornographers [Challengers]; Spoon [Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga]; The Shins [Wincing The Night Away]; The Bravery [The Sun And The Moon]; LCD Soundsytem [Sound Of Silver]; to The Great Lakes Myth Society [Compass Rose Bouquet]; Brandi Carlile [The Story]; A Fine Frenzy [One Cell In The Sea]; Down The Line [For All You Break]; Lucy Kaplansky [Over The Hills]; Lucinda Williams [West]; and Norah Jones [Not Too Late]. There were albums from Lyle Lovett [It's Not Big It's Large]; Dean Martin [Forever Cool]; Steve Earle [Washington Square Serenade]; Paul McCartney [Memory Almost Full]; "The Boss" Bruce Springsteen [Magic]; and even Arlo Guthrie [In Times Like These]. Minne Driver had an album [Seastories]. Electric Six may have had the best new album title [I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being The Master].

But alas in the end I had to choose one album and one album only. So I based it upon some simple criteria: which full album (sorry no EPs) was best in terms of both music and lyrics start to finish. In other words, which entire album of 2007 has been stuck on repeat in my mind and on my music players. You know the type of album. The album you start and pretty much have to listen to the whole thing. The album you find it hard to skip tracks on. Anyway, frankly this year that album was an obvious choice for me, but there were lots of other good albums as well including those mentioned above. I'll start with some honorable mentions:

Honorable Mentions

Tori Amos [American Girl Posse]
Emmylou Harris [Songbird]
Patty Griffin [Children Running Through]
Alison Krauss & Robert Plant [Raising Sand]
Feist [The Reminder]

And drum roll please...

Best Album of 2007

Daisy May [Mother Moon]

Now those that follow this blog might claim bias knowing my preference for buying local and supporting local. But true readers of the blog will also note that I very much appreciate quality. In everything. Food, products, relationships, people, etc.. I, for instance, don't want people to only buy my greens in the winter because they are local but also because they are the best greens to be found. So music is no exception and in fact very important to me. The plain truth of the matter is that this album is just awesome. Daisy May has simply matured so much as a singer, songwriter, musician, and artist (as well as the whole Earthwork Music supporting cast) that this album can compete and, in my opinion, surpass albums coming out from big names and big places all over. When you consider the competition the album was up against in 2007 I hope you will consider this sentiment to have some weight and experience her artistry for yourself. Tell you local library to buy a copy.

Preview some of her songs and more about Daisy May at her website:
DaisyMayMusic.com

Buy this album (and others) directly from her music label:
Earthwork Music

Or preview and buy her album (and others) from the indie supportive:
CD Baby

Slow Food > Slow Schools

2008-01-24T23:06:00.000-05:00

A article tip from Nicole (of the previous post)... the Center for Ecoliteracy has some great resources as part of a project called Rethinking School Lunch. They have created a Thinking Outside of the Lunchbox essay series in support of that project. In an interesting essay titled The Nature and Purpose of Education Maurice Holt draws the analogy that perhaps there should be Slow School much in the same way there is Slow Food. As someone who had secondary teacher certification (although I ultimately did not choose public school teaching for a variety of reasons) I can tell you some of the points in this short article really strike some chords with me. An excerpt:

Pausing to ponder the nature and consequences of a burger bar in the center of Rome was how a major eating revolution began. Carlo Petrini, a prominent Italian journalist, was walking past a newly opened McDonald's franchise when he stopped and said: If this is fast food, why not have Slow Food? In much the same way, I was thinking about the standards-based school curriculum, with its emphasis on regurgitated gobbets of knowledge, when I recognized the analogy with fast food. What we have created, with our tests and targets, is the fast school, driven by standardized products. So why not devise a Slow School, driven by an emphasis on how ideas are conceptualized, just as Slow Food is driven by how the innate qualities of ingredients can be realized?

Read the whole article

Farm Based Montessori Schools

2008-01-24T14:53:00.001-05:00

Apparently there is already a farm based Montessori school in Ohio. Over the holidays I had the pleasure of meeting Nicole DeBurton who was up from Tennessee visiting relatives (and who was floored to find (and buy multiple pounds) of fresh greens in Michigan in the winter). Anyway, Nicole is featured in this article discussing the plans for the second farm based Montessori school in the east, for which she is heading the creation of in Louisville, Tennessee. Best of luck to them. I, and many of you reading this I imagine, think it is a fabulous idea. I look forward to hearing more as the roots of this school take hold - and things like the greenhouse, orchards, outdoor classroom and vegetable gardens in the space below begin to grow.

photo: Mark A. Large for The Daily Times

Local Food Economy, Bartering, PDRs and more

2008-01-24T14:52:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Vivienne for pointing out this article titled On Martha’s Vineyard, Using Scallops as Currency. The article is too short but some good talk of local food economies that have many small and diverse parts... including exciting talk of bartering, purchase of development rights (PDR) programs, bioregions, chicken feet, and fatback among others. Also note the beet curry and Long Island heirloom squash recipes linked on the left.

photos: Erik Jacobs for the NY Times

Fool Rooster

2008-01-22T22:52:00.000-05:00

No, not another chicken post. But just a note that I headed on down to Take a Chance Tuesdays at The Ark with some friends this evening for a free show by Joshua Davis. Now I actually knew this show would be good because I've seen Josh play before and his band Steppin' In It but seriously people how can you pass up a free show? Come on down to a fabulous venue to support fabulous (often regional) talent. I'll expect to see more of you on down there for the next Take a Chance Tuesday concert (they're typically the 4th tuesday of the month) on February 26th: Chris Bathgate who is also quite good.

So it was a very excellent set - whatever you want to call Josh, roots/americana/blues/folk - definitely excellent and he surrounds himself with the best. Quite fun to have some of the other Earthwork Music label folks - Seth Bernard and Laura Bates - get up there for a few tunes and of course Madcat stepped up to blow his harmonica a bit as well. Josh's two year old danced it up in the aisle a bit too with some nice western looking boots on. All and all, great fun. Eric sitting next to me even won one of the raffle prizes at the end.

Afterward, I went ahead and signed up for GreenCurrents from DTE, one of the sponsors for Take a Chance Tuesdays this year. Heck they were throwing in Josh's CD Fool Rooster and the most basic entry level GreenCurrents option amounts to an extra $2.50 a month so why not. Been meaning to sign up anyway. If I could just editorialize for a second though... [editorial] one thing that bothered me was the DTE guy was saying how renewable costs more, which I'm sure is the official DTE meme they try to propagate. But I'm sorry folks it's just not that cut and dry. I'm here to tell you I saw a presentation by Larry Flowers of NREL a few months ago and newly constructed wind farms are beating newly constructed coal plants, and well ahead of some other newly constructed types of plants. So I think it is a bit disingenuous for DTE to lay it out there like that. Sure they're just trying to keep it "simple" but here is my suggested meme: "Power generated from newly constructed wind farms costs a bit more than power we continue to generate from existing plants using coal and nuclear, since a lot of the costs of that infrastructure has already been spread out and since we tend to not factor in (or externalize) certain costs of those operations. In terms of all new construction, wind is an excellent option and can even be cheaper. Factor in subsidies and the true costs of those things we are externalizing (acid rain, longterm storage of waste, etc.) and we have a winner. An investment in GreenCurrents at the least shows DTE the "market" of people starting to think about these things, and hopefully at the most is an investment of future power generation for future generations." See, DTE that's not so hard, and you don't really come off sounded like a dinosaur to boot. Anyway, I just would like to see diversification of the DTE portfolio happening a little quicker that's all. Please do more than pushing this GreenCurrents. Get out ahead on the issue. Don't wait for government to give you a portfolio mandate. The state of Michigan has ton of wind generation potential - as part of their national plan for the year 2030, one of NREL's most popular scenarios actually has us as the third highest wind generation state. You read that correctly, third. Thats partly because our proximity to transmission infrastructure and markets. Sure they model other scenarios too but we are definitely in the top tier in those as well. Anyway we are close to last among all states right now. We have the potential but a long way to go. [/editorial]

HomeGrown Festival

2008-01-21T23:49:00.000-05:00

I recently joined the steering committee of the first (hopefully to be annual) HomeGrown Festival which is slated to take place in the Kerrytown vicinity Saturday, September 13, 2008. The mission statement of the festival is "to serve as a catalyst to increase local consumption and production of local, sustainably grown foods and products." This festival is still in planning stages of course but you can read a bit more about what is planned at HomeGrownFestival.org.

One thing my graphic designer friends should note is that the Festival is definitely in need of a superb logo and graphic identity for the website. Said logo design would be a paying gig so those interested can contact the person listed here for more info.

Chickens and Political Will: Part Deux

2008-01-21T23:35:00.000-05:00

Back in December, my friend Andrew Cluley, a news reporter at 89.1 WEMU FM, interviewed my friend KT (Kristin Tomey) after she spoke out in favor of Ann Arbor ordinances favorable of chickens. Since I could not find the archive of the audio that ran on WEMU's website I decided to post it myself below:

A2 Chickens
12/28

An Ann Arbor City Council member plans to introduce a resolution sometime early next year that would let residents raise chickens. WEMU's Andrew Cluley has more.

image from luckycluckfarms.blogspot.com/

Top Five Music Concerts of 2007

2008-01-21T21:52:00.000-05:00

I was a little under the weather this weekend so I had a chance to lay back, listen to some music, and recall the year 2007 in music. I didn't really attend any music concerts outside of the state, so this ends up being the best of area concerts I suppose. Probably various things go into making a concert memorable for me, so these are just the ones that stick out. I could be overlooking some since I went to quite a few.

Honorable Mentions:

- All of the free Border's and Ann Arbor's 107.1 shows at Border's in downtown Ann Arbor (as well as the free Ann Arbor Summer Festival and Art Fair shows). Thanks you guys for doing these!
- Eons and The Hard Lessons at the Blind Pig in August. Very good performances.
- The Bravery at the Magic Stick in Detroit in May. Just plain fun.
- Patty Griffin at the Michigan Theater in April. Much better sound crew than the previous time I saw her there.
- Johnny Headband at the Blowout in Hamtramck in March. Great show albeit abbreviated because of Blowout scheduling. Any material from their album Happiness Is Underrated is genious (sorry guys, not sure about the new jam songs during concerts later in the year).
- Chris Thile at The Ark in June. My only complaint was that the concert sounded exactly like the CD versions of everything, their live sound is pretty much as it was recorded.
- LCV benefit concert at The Ark in November. It was a nice mix of artists and a good cause as well as amazing that a politician spoke for less than 5 minutes and amazing to realize I only saw Daisy May live once in 2007 (to be adjusted in 2008).

#5 Greg Brown at The Ark in September. It's Greg Brown, duh.
#4 Johnny Headband & Electric Six at the Blind Pig in January. Fairly classic shows for the both of them really. Lots of energy in the building that night. E6 had to step it up that night so Johnny Headband wouldn't steal the show with a wonderful warm up act.
#3 Dave Boutette & Great Lakes Myth Society at Jack Spack's Summer Barn Concert in Dexter. Dave's collage finale of The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Hey Ya!, and I believe a Beattles song is quite impressive. All the dogs congregating on stage at one point. Definitely the best and longest set I saw from GLMS all year!
#2 Down The Line at The Ark in September. You can listen to a bunch of their music on their website. But you have to see this band live. Trust me. Really this is tied for first. (Note: they are at the friday portion of the Ann Arbor Folk Festival and then back in town in late March.)
#1 Tony Furtado at The Ark in February. His joke that he is not related to Nelly Furtado doesn't say it all, but it probably says quite a bit.

For whatever reason The Ark cleaned up in 2007 for memorable concerts. Wasn't necessarily the case the year before. Of course the intimate setting, non-smoking, and great sound should make other venues (hint, hint, Blind Pig) take note.

Stay tuned for Best Album of 2007 post sometime this week.

DJ Local Audio Archive Available

2008-01-14T13:58:00.001-05:00

Well, what do you know, an archive from my guest spot at WCBN a week ago has been found! You can go here to listen! I begin playing the local music about 39 minutes into the first hour with the young Ann Arbor band My Dear Disco.

(Note: I hope to have an archive of the hour-long show Ann Arbor Lifestyles from this past weekend, when I was the guest for the whole show, posted hopefully sometime this week.)

Media Blitz 2: On The Radio: DJ Local

2008-01-09T20:01:00.001-05:00

My second radio studio experience this past Monday was that I was honored to be the guest DJ on 88.3 WCBN FM Ann Arbor from about 3:40 - 5:30pm. What kind of music did I play? Well, local of course. I essentially previewed some of the Michigan musicians/bands coming to Ann Arbor (or close to Ann Arbor) over the next two weeks. DJ Hugonaut and I also talked about local food and the farmers market briefly, which led to the decision that perhaps I should be referred to as DJ Local with the byline "Local Food, Local Music, I got you covered".

Anyway, I wanted to post an archive of the show (if you didn't happen to catch it live) and initially their archiver was broken but a copy of the show has now been found. You can follow this link to listen! My dj'ing begins about 39 minutes into the first 3pm hour. A playlist is available and some photos below. I had a lot of fun and hopefully you'll be able to hear some more of DJ Local in the future.

Media Blitz: On The Radio: Listen This Saturday!

2008-01-09T20:00:00.000-05:00

So coming on the heels of the Ann Arbor Observer coverage this is going to seem like I have a PR person or send out press releases or something but I assure you this is not the case. But due to some strange fate of timing I was in two different radio studios this past Monday.

First, I was in the studios of 1290 WLBY AM here in Ann Arbor recording an interview with host Jackie Wright for the show Ann Arbor Lifestyles. We chatted about my background and day job as well as hoophouses and winter harvests! It is set to air this Saturday, Jan 12th, from Noon to 1pm so tune in to Ann Arbor Lifestyles. I'm the guest the whole hour (not including commercials of course).

Brines Farm Snowy Wonderland

2008-01-03T13:57:00.001-05:00

Hopefully the greens will have fared the bitter cold last night a little better with the extra blanket of snow on the hoophouse for a little insulation. Regardless, the snowy wonderland that was Brines Farm earlier this week was truly a sight to behold. These photos will have to suffice.

Meet the Locavores

2008-01-02T23:45:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year everyone! Here's to a new year of fun, particularly with fresh local food, not to mention freshly expanding awareness in our community and economy. Keep up the great work and best wishes for your sustainable goals (and mini-goals) in this fine year 2008.

Start the year off right by reading this nice article by Vivienne Armentrout in the January 2008 Ann Arbor Observer: Meet the Locavores. "Eating mostly locally grown food takes a lot of work, especially in January. Yet some Ann Arborites wouldn't have it any other way."

Winter may not be the season when most people think of fresh local produce, but Shannon Brines is growing it. He has his spinach, fancy lettuces, Asian greens, and hakurei turnips on sale Saturdays through the winter at the Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market. Brines may not grow a lot — his typical weekly harvest is twenty-five to seventy-five pounds—but he is motivated. "I like good food and wanted to try and produce good food in a sustainable way," he says. "My end goal is to offer the best-tasting produce that just so happens to be carbon neutral when the customer buys it."

Read the whole article....

Thanks Vivienne! It was nice to meet and talk with you.

upcoming music

2007-12-22T20:06:00.000-05:00

where i'm considering being with decent probability (heisenberg uncertainty principle in effect on some nights, especially when there is more than one show the same night :)

Wed Dec 26 - The Hard Lessons/The Muggs/GLMS - St. Andrews Hall, Detroit
Fri Dec 28 - Alex Winston/The Satin Peaches/Mich Bassett - AJ's Cafe, Ferndale
Sat Dec 29 - Macpodz - Elbow Room, Ypsi
Sun Dec 30 - Awesome Color/Human Eye - Bohemian National Home, Detroit
Mon Dec 31 - Electric Six - The Majestic, Detroit
Mon Dec 31 - Pop Project/Childbite/Friendly Foes - Elbow Room, Ypsi, free
Sat Jan 05 - My Dear Disco - Blind Pig, A2, $7
Wed Jan 09 - Von Bondies/SSM/Freer - Bling Pig, A2, $14
Thu Jan 10 - The Hard Lessons/Bingo with Tally Hall/2 others - Blind Pig, A2, $5
Sat Jan 12 - The Satin Peaches/Alex Winston/Starling Electric/others - Blind Pig, A2
Thu Jan 17 - GLMS/Javelins/Childbite/Pop Project - Blind Pig, A2, $5
Sat Jan 19 - Daisy May and others - Scene Metroplace, East Lansing
Tue Jan 22 - Joshua Davis - The Ark, A2, free
Fri Jan 25 - Mason Proper/Via Audio/Eons - Blind Pig, A2, $7
Fri Jan 25 - Ben Folds/Toad the Wet Sprocket/Down The Line/and more - Hill, A2
Sat Jan 26 - Editors - The Majestic, Detroit
Sat Jan 26 - Emmylou Harris/Patty Griffin/Shawn Colvin/and more - Hill, A2

It's All Downhill From Here

2007-12-22T19:46:00.001-05:00

Me and the greens are so excited, particularly the greens. Tomorrow's length of daylight is 4 seconds longer. Happy Solstice everyone!

[Update: To be clear, I come from a distance running background... downhill is a good analogy, as in things get easier. Not quality gets worse:) ]

Daisy May & Greens

2007-12-22T13:21:00.001-05:00

Since it is impossible to not fall in love with her voice, I thought I'd go ahead and share another Daisy May song where she sings about a different topic, a little more fun and certainly dear to my heart. If you go to her main webpage her wonderful song Greens is the fifth song on the music player on the left side of the page.

Or you hear it here (albeit with somewhat poor audio/video quality):

You can actually get a copy of this song on a really neat compilation CD & cookbooklet titled Something Fresh which was a true collaboration between SEEDS and Earthwork Music, both of which you should check out as well. Great Lakes, Great Food, Great Music!

A Letter From Downstream

2007-12-22T12:40:00.000-05:00

If you have not heard of Daisy May or the proposed metallic sulfide mine in the UP, here is your chance. Listen to A Letter From Downstream which Daisy May donated to SaveTheWildUP.org.

Open (Hoop) House a Success Again

2007-11-28T01:55:00.000-05:00

While the turn out of people was much more modest this year (compared to the more than a hundred people that showed up last year), I found this year's Brines Farm open (hoop) house on the afternoon of November 18th to be just as successful, if not more so. I felt like I had a good chance to talk to people who seemed sincerely interested and excited about trying something like this out, albeit at a smaller backyard scale. Hopefully I conveyed to them this methodology is not that difficult as long as you're not afraid of a little possible failure. It doesn't require that expensive of materials although it will require an investment of time. But you are rewarded with the freshest and best-tasting food. And the people you get to meet as you try to share that food feel like a true community. Not to mention they make you feel like what you are doing is valued and important. So a heartfelt thanks to all of you who came out this time, or other times, as well as to those of you who keep coming back to my stall at the farmers market. You are a big part of this.

You can read more about the open house from the perspective of people who visited: a) here at The Farmer's Marketer, b) here at the blog Pickles (which includes some nice photos from the open house), and c) apparently in the near future here at this blog Garden of Babylon. Thanks bloggers!

For more photos (thanks to Kim Bayer) you can have a look here.

There are also photos from last year's 2006 open house.

Ratatouille

2007-11-28T00:57:00.001-05:00

Calling all foodies, if you haven't seen the movie Ratatouille, you might as well. It is true I paid 50 cents to see it, but I still think there is enough in there about food (as well as a few good tips on how to live ones life) to make it quite worth your while. Cute and fun. Check out the ~10 minute preview below from Pixar.

Backlog Post - RePlayGround Press

2007-11-28T00:32:00.000-05:00

While I'm kudo'ing Tiffany Tomato I might as well catch up on a little backlog I have in things I've been meaning to post.... so I'll go right on and say kudos for this Treehugger press coverage of making toss-and-catchers out of materials formerly known as garbage

Out-Local'd by Tiffany Tomato....again

2007-11-28T00:31:00.000-05:00

While I was the first to blog last year about doing a 100-mile Thanksgiving, it seems I was out-local'd (which is a new term I am coining) this year by Tiffany Tomato with her extravagant 100-mile Thanksgiving. Definitely better than my Thanksgiving dinner this year (although I did notice her meal may have been lacking fresh greens:). And be sure to note, her post includes recipes. Seems like she has been out-local'ing me a lot actually. Oh well, plenty of room for local'ing behavior from all of us in this here virtual local town I guess. Keep it up localvores!

Open (Hoop)House Again

2007-11-15T13:09:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone! Once again I will open up the Brines Farm hoophouse to the general public in chilly November to see an example process for harvesting fresh, local food during the winter seasons. The "Open (Hoop) House" will be this coming Sunday (following a Michigan victory the previous day), from 2-4pm. Please spread the word and see brines.org for further details. Hope to see you out there. And don't be afraid to tell me you read the blog:)

Keeping Up With the Local Scene

2007-11-15T13:07:00.001-05:00

FIFA World Cup

2007-09-30T20:04:00.001-05:00

Congrats to the USA women's team on its third place finish. Of course, it wasn't what we all had in mind. But hey, you can think of it this way, at least during the game with Brazil the other day it's not like they had a bunch of blown opportunities as in the video below:

Oktoberfest In The Streets

2007-09-28T13:32:00.001-05:00

I will partake at least some of this:

Friday and Saturday, Sep 28 and 29, 2007. 5 – 11 pm. No Cover. Live music. Traditional Munich-style Oktoberfest with German bands, bratwurst, polkas, drinking songs. Family-friendly. This is an outdoor street party complete with beer tents and festival seating. Sponsored by Arbor Brewing Company.

The Chronic-What-Cles of Narnia

2007-09-28T13:24:00.000-05:00

And this is just 2 minutes 21 seconds wasted. But you might find it funny.

Seeds, Hope, and Concrete

2007-09-28T13:17:00.001-05:00

This is a well spent 14 minutes, particularly if you are interested in urban agriculture etc..

Kids get fresh in the cafeteria

2007-09-25T09:47:00.000-05:00

Hey, I didn't write the headline... but this is always good news. I hope school districts continue to get involved in this way: Kids get fresh in the cafeteria - Locally grown fruits, veggies a hit.

Shizen Nouhou, or Natural Agriculture

2007-09-07T14:16:00.000-05:00

Hello, I've been away on a vacation to the Northeast US the last 2 weeks before this one... so some exciting photos of gardens, farms, and restaurants I visited while away are to come. Stay tuned for that.

In the meantime, I read in Orion magazine this very interesting story regarding shizen nouhou farmers in Japan: farmers who say farming is more than farming and whose end goals are nothing short of world peace. For the record, I agree with them on most things, most certainly with the world peace goal. I do add a healthy compost soil to my intensive beds in my hoophouse at Brines Farm, but other than that I pretty much don't add anything - just working with nature as they do. Here is the online version of the story.

AA News Coverage of Westside Farmers Market

2007-08-15T22:24:00.000-05:00

The Ann Arbor News did a piece on the Westside Farmers Market, which Brines Farm sells at on Thursdays from 3pm-7pm. The Westside Farmers Market is located in the Zingerman's Roadhouse parking lot on the corner of Jackson and Maple.

DIY Root Cellar and Eco-Gardening Tips

2007-08-08T17:59:00.001-05:00

Shout out to treehugger.com for calling my attention to this DIY Root Cellar

and this 10 Rule of Eco-Gardening from across the Atlantic

These seem to make a excellent basis for your backyard gardener and landscaper.

Farm Aid 2007

2007-08-08T17:51:00.001-05:00

Farm Aid 2007 is nearing...

Detroit Urban Gardens and Farms Tour

2007-08-01T11:58:00.001-05:00

OK, talk about a last second posting... but this tour of Detroit urban gardens and farms is totally worth your while. If you could get to registration by about 5:30 this evening you could probably join up:

the Farm Bill

2007-07-31T09:20:00.001-05:00

If only the Farm Bill was what most people think a Farm Bill should be... I have many opinions on the farm bill but effectively I essentially agree with Slow Food USA in urging all people who eat honest to goodness food (or who would like to) to write to congressional representatives to share views about supporting food systems that place value on diversified crops and community-based solutions along with sustainable stewardship of our land.

To see more information, go to:
http://www.slowfoodusa.org/farmbill/index.html

And to take action today, go to:
http://www.slowfoodusa.org/farmbill/sample_letter.html

Walk Score

2007-07-27T16:41:00.001-05:00

While there of course are a lot of things missing from their algorithm to determine the walkability of your address - it pretty much just calculates distances to a variety of potential of destinations - I think it still has quite a bit of value at least as a way of comparing addresses. This Walk Score site is definitely worth trying out.

Detroit Urban Craft Fair

2007-07-27T16:20:00.000-05:00

In a little over a week on August 4th some really cool indie artists from the area are going to converge on the Majestic Theater complex on Woodward Avenue for the Detroit Urban Craft Fair. Don't miss it.

Michigan Sounds

2007-07-27T14:12:00.000-05:00

I will be doing a bunch o music reviews in the near future... primarily reviews of music from the highly under-rated, over-looked, under-appreciated Michigan artists and bands. Seriously. The unique sounds coming out of here are knocking the socks off of plenty arenas. Of course it doesn't help that as soon as they make it big they move away (yeah, I'm talking to you and others, you know who you are and I'm sure you're reading my blog!). So Tally Hally please take note and stay put!

Anyway, like I said, reviews and more coming soon. For now you should consider checking out Zoos Of Berlin, Freer, and The Sights at the Magic Stick tonight (my emphasis on Zoos Of Berlin) and Johnny Headband has posted a show at the Belmont August 18th.

Pledge to Eat Locally Grown

2007-07-19T15:49:00.000-05:00

As the above video suggests, take newdream.org's carbon conscious consumer pledge to eat locally grown food this month and have a chance to win a 1500 square foot landscape design.

They also have an advocacy tool to Speak Up for Local Food and a kit and promotional materials to organize your community.

GREEN DRINKS @ Art Fair

2007-07-17T14:35:00.000-05:00

If that Slow Food Huron Valley Meet-Up isn't enough for you, venture on over to the Ann Arbor South University Art Fair and join O2-Michigan's monthly Green Drinks social gathering at 7:30pm in the refreshment tent in front of the AnnArbors107one.com entertainment mainstage.

Slow Food Huron Valley Meet-Up

2007-07-17T14:32:00.000-05:00

Slow Food Huron Valley has been upgraded, both virtually and non-virtually. Lots of activities this year, including movie viewings, farmers market walks, and farm tours, all on top of a gorgeously remodeled website.

Plus, Slow Food Huron Valley is teaming up with Growing Hope and a host of local organizations to host the Sustainable Table's only stop in Michigan on their national local, sustainable food tour! It will be September 1st and they are called it Pie Lovers Unite! A Sustainable Table and Pie Across America Hootenanny! So stay tuned for that.

Don't know what all this talk about Slow Food is... well check it out. Great group - movement really - that I've been a member and supporter of for a bit now.

So come meet up with like minded folks... Slow Food Huron Valley is having a Meet-up tomorrow, Wednesday July 18th at Grizzly Peak at 5:30pm. Just ask the hostess for the Slow Food table.

One Day. 40+ Artists. 9000 Gallons of Beer.

2007-07-10T15:50:00.000-05:00

If you like to buy local food, you might be interested in buying local in general. So get ye to the Shadow Art Fair this Saturday at the Corner Brewery in Ypsi and support some of the great folks who are a part of our local economy. See you there.

Cute Chicks

2007-07-10T15:46:00.000-05:00

My friend Khem is surrounded by the cutest chicks. He is part of Lucky Cluck Farms in the Newport, Oregon area. You can read all about them at their farm blog The Lucky Clucker. You can even watch a video of cute chicks I've embedded below.

Happy Independence Day!

2007-07-04T13:18:00.000-05:00

Hopefully you're taking part of the day (or upcoming day) considering how to declare more independence from your carbon footprint. C'mon, it's pretty fun. If you are in the A2 or Detroit areas try walking/biking/commuting to the Ann Arbor Summer Festival (which hopefully you have been enjoying) or the 2007 Detroit CityFest (over the next few days in shadow of the Fisher Building). Two great festivals which the festival organizers (hint, hint) should really consider making more carbon neutral.

On a different topic, anyone ever done a life cycle analysis of fireworks? I like fireworks. The big shows that is, backyard scale fireworks seem kind of pointless and dangerous to me. But the big shows they're pretty entertaining. Can't think of a way to make them themselves sustainable so curious what has to be done to offset them.

(Apparently 252 million pounds of fireworks were sold in 2006 to individuals for "backyard" celebrations and there were 9200 injuries in 2006 from fireworks. Stats from Wisebread.)

Happy (Belated) Solstice!

2007-07-02T17:23:00.000-05:00

Whoa, time warp. How did a half a year to a year just go by so fast? Freaky. Well, anyway, more regular postings are forthcoming. Won't be able to cover recent history very well (you could check out the Brines Farm Blog and a few other places...). But one highlight of the first half of the year, and if this doesn't give Brines.net legitimacy, I don't know what will... but I was interviewed by Homeless Dave for his famous Teeter Talk - warming up the teeter totter for a later interview with the former President of the United States William Jefferson Clinton.

I assure you the graphic on the right is real:)

Happy New Year!

2006-12-27T12:21:00.000-05:00

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, fruitful, and green New Year!

Get Spooked!

2006-10-25T14:30:00.000-05:00

It's here, Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!
Shannon's All Hallow's Eve Eve Eve Eve: The Party

a real-world conundrum

2006-07-24T09:02:00.000-05:00

Subvert

2006-07-12T10:50:00.000-05:00

Just in case my methodology for helping make the world a more sustainable place hasn't been clear.

This guy is funny: Robert Newman

2006-06-13T13:09:00.000-05:00

I try to make foreign policy history, peak oil, climate change and desperately needed future sustainability funny myself - I've never figured out a better way to get people to take notice - but this guy may be a better comedian. And he trys to be carbon neutral. Check out his website, his interview with The Guardian, and this Google video of his History of Oil. (Note in History of Oil: Chapter 7 that he talks about the 2000:1 ratio of oil energy gone into making food energy in our "modern day" food system.)

Music Video Review

2006-05-18T13:08:00.000-05:00

Roast

2006-05-01T13:39:00.000-05:00

I know nobody is really reading this blog anymore but this is too good not to document somewhere... Stephen Colbert at the White House Correspondent Dinner:

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcIRXur61II

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN0INDOkFuo

Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJvar7BKwvQ

100 mile diet

2006-04-30T16:08:00.000-05:00

hey there,
some of you might have already run into this on treehugger but looks like some folks from BC have made a website collecting their experiences on the 100 mile diet. fascinating stuff, especially the "does vegetarianism make ecological sense" section.

eco-packaging

2006-04-04T12:13:00.000-05:00

Tiffany Tomato is a finalist in an "Eco-Packaging" Contest put on by treehugger.com. See all the finalists and vote here!

whoa, chicken feathers and soybeans!?

2006-03-30T17:11:00.000-05:00

What can you make with chicken feathers and soybeans? How about a circuit board. Seriously. This just blows my mind. Supposedly the circuit board is faster than conventional ones also.

And where should all those soybeans and chicken feathers come from? Hopefully, evenutally sustainable ag of course. Currently Tyson was helping with the project... which brings me to a final note, be sure to check out the The Meatrix II: Revolting which was just released.

Local vs. Organic III

2006-03-27T11:02:00.000-05:00

Whoa, this topic is (as Andy would say) hot. Here is another article, My Saudi Arabian Breakfast by Chad Heeter, posted late last week discussing the same idea. It describes the "caloric input" that goes into making the "caloric output" you get from your food with our current basic food system - and the subsequent idea that you are in a lot of ways consuming oil (or fossile fuels). So, how much oil do you want to eat? Includes some good shopping tips:

So how do you gauge how much oil went into your food?

First check out how far it traveled. The further it traveled, the more oil it required. Next, gauge how much processing went into the food. A fresh apple is not processed, but Kellogg's Apple Jacks cereal requires enormous amounts of energy to process. The more processed the food, the more oil it required. Then consider how much packaging is wrapped around your food. Buy fresh vegetables instead of canned, and buy bulk beans, grains, and flour if you want to reduce that packaging.

Which gave me a good marketing idea... "Try Brines Farm produce - it's fossil fuel lite.".

Local vs. Organic II

2006-03-24T11:35:00.000-05:00

Not to belabor the point but just to be clear the previous post was primarily about forcing people to think a little deeper about where their food comes from. Certainly, you may eat strictly veggies for multiple reasons, e.g. you simply don't want to eat animals as well as you would like to be good to Mother Earth. Just keep in mind whatever you do the best thing you can do bar none is to try and go local when possible. Also, it's admittingly tough to always be on top of where your food comes (although what might help a little is getting politicians to go along with the COOL - country of origin labeling - law that apparently passed and yet now has mostly been delayed til 2008 so they undoubtedly have time to figure out how to kill something people overwhelmingly favor). Anyway, so everything is still largely up to the consumer.

Fortunately it can be fun, as Slow Food conveys as well as the Earth Dinner I plan on hosting in the near future (stay tuned!). Plus, it's fun to search for local producers and users of local produce at things like Local Harvest (interested in meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs? Check out Eat Well Guide).

Local vs. Organic

2006-03-21T16:45:00.000-05:00

Finally. A nice insightful, must-read article in slate.com discusses local versus big Organic labeled food sold at a certain posh supermarket chain: their example touching on the embodied energy in local tomatoes compared to certified Organic tomatoes shipped from Chile. This is something I've been grumbling about for a while (the misleading marketing that insinuates they're selling local small farmer products is the double-whammy). In fact, I'd like to take this energy thought a little further... is one more virtuous to eat apples grown and shipped from New Zealand and veggie frozen dinners from China compared to a happily raised turkey (or maybe even cow) from nearby in Pinckney, Michigan at Garden Patch Farm. In terms of embodied energy (arguably a proxy for the resulting global climate change impact) the first two exceed the last, in fact its probably not even close according to my calculations. Thus, an extreme example to think about, one should not make the blanket generalization that it takes less energy to make a veggie meal (or the standard raising grain takes less energy versus beef meme). In a pure local economy this can be true but today it depends on where everything has come from on the globe - the whole system in fact. Transporting alone has huge often hidden energy costs. It's not just what and how it was produced, it's where it's from. As per Eliot Coleman, Authentic food is what should be the ideal. (Hey, I'm currently looking for funding to use GIS to map local foodsheds. Anyone have any funding ideas?) And actually these thoughts can be applied to everything, not just food.

Happy bird named Ralph from gardenpatchfarm.com

Biased and shameless self-promoting plug: the author would like to note that it is always more virtuous to eat produce from Brines Farm. Always.

Shannon's Ceilidh O'Fun II

2006-03-14T14:06:00.000-05:00

Come celebrate the greenest day of the year with the only person we know that grows greens this time of year. No alternative but to come or suffer being green with envy.

Ok, 'nuff green talk for now. Here's the details: This Friday is not only Shannon's birthday, but apparently it's St. Patrick's Day. So come drink beer or other stuff and celebrate. Woo hoo! "Shannon's Ceilidh O'Fun II" will begin at Leopold Bros around 9pm.

FAQs

Q: What the heck is "Ceilidh"?
A: A Ceilidh (usually pronounced "Kay-lee" with emphasis on the first syllable) can be many things. Derived from the Gaelic word meaning a visit, it can also mean a house party, a concert or the dictionary definition: an informal social gathering at which there is Irish or Scottish folk music, singing, dancing and, story telling. While there will likely be limited traditional Irish stuff at my Ceilidh (you never know) anyone wishing to contest my use of the word should consider that my name is Shannon, I was born on St. Patrick's Day, and I am part Irish.

Q: Will there be some good Craic at your Ceilidh?
A: Ah, I'm glad you brought this up. I'll put it this way, I would have used Craic in the name but I didn't want to have to explain two words to people and I didn't want the police to hear about it and come looking for the Craic house. But, yes, you will not want to miss it.

Q: Can one really have 'nuff green talk?
A: No, not really, but this post has to end at some point.

Q: So you grow greens? How greens? Why greens? Where greens? When greens? What greens?
A: The Brines Farm brines.org site should answer some of that anyway.

Q: I won't be able to make it, any other opportunities to wish you a happy birthday?
A: Well, you just missed one in this question. You could probably come over the following day, Saturday 3/18, when we plan on part II of Ceilidh II, playing some board and card games and such after 8ish.

Q: Is Brines an Irish name?
A: Yes. While I personally might be considered a mutt (although don't even think of questioning my Irish authenticity, please refer to first FAQ above) the Brines name in my family descends from a couple of Brines brothers who came to the new world in the late 1700s from Ireland. Brines is believed to be a variation of the old Gaelic surname O Briain ("descendent of Brian") with other variations including Brine, McBrine, McBrien, O'Brien, OBrine, O'Brion, O'Bryan, O'Bryen, Brian, Briand, Briant, Briens, etc... My uncle could provide much more detail. For now, go to houseofnames.com and search For Surname "Brines" to see our kicking Coat of Arms. You can do your name after that.

Q: What's the longest amount of time Andy has gone without drinking any alcohol since he started drinking alcohol?
A: I can't say exactly but it is less than 2.1158 x 10^6 seconds.

Q: What gives? There must be a story behind that number?
A: Yes. You got me. Upon first reading the previous question I was a bit offended, should I really devote valuable FAQ space to a question which did not appear to have any particular relevance to my Ceilidh. Or anything for that matter. Perhaps you thought this too dear reader. Of course, it didn't take long before I realized I should at least contact the daughter of a pro baseball pitcher to ensure that Leopolds would have enough volume of liquids for friday night. Then as I continued to think more about this, an eerie feeling came over me: there is something distinctly omnipresent about his drinking and something distinctly infinitesimally small about his, er, time gap between drinking. (Note: I also noted the correlation between time gaps to his public mentions of times he got or desired to get naked.) On a whim, I contacted some of my physics friends from a previous life. It didn't take long to get a little scared for they confessed to me that this indeed is a topic of the utmost importance that has been under secret research. Eventually I was put into contact with Dr. Claudia Sintermann of a secret wing of the extragalactic research group, a joint effort between the Max Planck Institut fur extraterrestriche Physik and the Universitaets-Sternwarte Muenchen (Europeans are always ahead on these matters). She quickly conveyed to me the unbelievably amazing situation beginning with the fact that since Andy started drinking it is theoretically impossible that he has gone more than 2.1158 x 10^6 seconds without drinking. You might ask how she could be so sure, which is indeed what I asked. "We're still here," was Dr. Sintermann's astonishing reply. As it turns out, Andy has been her soul body of research and remote observation since that fateful day he started drinking - a day that is tremendously more historic than any of us would have ever guessed. That day coincides with the first ever detection of weakly interacting massive particles by the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search detector at the Soudan Mine in Minnesota. These weakly interacting massive particles, or WIMPs, were previously theoretical so their detection really caught a lot of attention, but there has been much more to come. Since that time more WIMPs have been detected and tracked to their source of accretion or emission: Andy's gut. Way more surprising than that according to Dr. Sintermann has been the detection and observation of one or more massive compact halo object, or MACHO, also seemingly in Andy's gut. While many are shocked and awed and at a loss to explain this woven coexistance of particles and astronomical bodies at such a minute scale, let alone here on earth (to say nothing of in a human body), Dr. Sintermann appears to be the purveyor of the leading theory. She believes that somehow that first ingestion of alcohol caused the proverbial rupture or tear in the fabric of space-time (an oft overused and cliche plotline in horrible hollywood creations and cheap sci-fi novels (although occasionally used with stellar style on exquisite blogs)). She cannot say with any certainty what caused the tear and what happened immediately following but she adamantly theorized that a black hole formed in Andy's gut, or in other words, a door to another universe was opened. What she can say with certainty about Andy's gut is that there are observable WIMPs surrounding an observable inner MACHO, which again she theorizes is likely shrouding a unique singularity or black hole. The formation of all of this was not an inherently stable situation by any stretch of the imagination she mused, noting that she was part of a camp that believed a perfect balance has been or is close to being achieved. It all comes back to the aforementioned 2.1158 x 10^6 seconds. According to Dr. Sintermann's calculations, for the forseeable future, the continued ingestion of alcohol, or dark matter (albeit generally a fairly light matter typically originating in Canada) within that timeframe supplies enough for lack of a better word to "feed" the black hole. Otherwise, it would collapse upon itself leading to a supernova or modern day big bang, in other words, irrevocably altering the universe as we know it. So, we should all be simply grateful beyond limits that Andy does indeed ingest alcohol, and do not need to meddle in the exact longest amount of time or shortest amount of time for that matter between consumption, as long as it's less than 2.1158 x 10^6 seconds of course, that we know is imperative. So cheers to Andy and cheers to you dear reader. Oh, by the way, leave a seat open next to Andy at the Ceilidh - gonna try to hook him up with Dr. Claudia Sintermann.

Q: My question is not listed here, can I ask it?
A: Yes. FAQ sections are always under construction. Ask away to sjbrines at umich dot edu.

State of the Union

2006-02-07T14:00:00.000-05:00

Did you happen to miss W's State of the Union address? If the answer is yes, than you spared yourself from putting your fist through your TV screen. So I suggest you watch THIS instead. You will get a good laugh out of it.... an then you can put your fist through the computer monitor.

"The State of the Union is RAD!"

Aerotecture

2006-01-26T16:25:00.000-05:00

This is cool - "urban wind power" ideas. About time. .

Snake Befriends Snack Hamster

2006-01-19T11:48:00.000-05:00

Seriously. Love your food?

How W Got His Groove Back

2006-01-18T15:19:00.000-05:00

I did not know this but apparently W is quite the fan of John Lennon (as well as Lou Reed). Take a listen. Plus, in case you've missed it, check out the video of his statements on Global Warmings here. Happy New Year!

Genius ... or.... Lucky?

2005-12-08T10:59:00.000-05:00

Okay for those of you lamenting the fact that we have to wait til January for new Gilmore Girls episodes, some entertainment questions for you... On this 25th anniversary of John Lennon's unfortunate shooting, was John Lennon a genius? For that matter, how about Johnny Cash? Or The King? Some would argue that these people were more lucky for lack of a better word, in the right place at the right time. Some might even concede they had talent but stress what was more important was that things fell into place for whatever reasons and they received the opportunity to communicate to the world. Perhaps there was a void and the record labels filled it? It begs to question, how much does luck and timing have to do with it? How many other John Lennons and Elvises has the world been deprived of? What would have become of Buddy Holly had he not died at such an early age in that fateful plane crash over Iowa? (Perhaps not much more because 'the man' didn't think he had Elvis's looks. Why does 'the man' have so much power surrounding who gets to communicate to the world?) Seriously, are the writers of GG geniuses or did they luck out and there was a void of teleplays with witty/clever character banter at the time and people were willing to tune to a station with a frog mascot? Anyway, this may not be philosophically worth the discussion (or worth a damn for that matter)... but I do put this to the world, is there a genius inside everyone or are you only a genius if you are able to communicate your inner genius to the world?

Either way, you are certainly free to enjoy the works of these geniuses and others who were and are definitely only human. Enjoy John Lennon many places today including wdetfm.org.

images from warnerbros.com, bbcnews.com, maninblack.net, and elvisphotos.com respectively

GG Code Red Alert cancelled!

2005-11-01T12:20:00.000-05:00

Call off the dogs, turn down the sirens. In case you were worried that you would miss tonight's GG episode due to a freak power outage, miss-set VCR timer due to daylight savings, or a couch falling on your TV.... relax. 2 credible sources have confirmed that tonight's episode is a rerun. You can still catch tonight's episode entitled "Jews and Chinese Food", but for you die-hard fans out there - chances are you've seen this one.

git yer Halloween pictures here

2005-11-01T08:08:00.000-05:00

check out these lovely, uh, men? click here.

pay no attention to the people selling vegetables in the middle pictures.
but isn't that 4 year old witch absolutely adorable?

Shannon's All Hallow's Eve Eve Eve Party

2005-10-21T08:53:00.000-05:00

It's nearly upon us!! All Hallow's Eve Eve Eve: The Party - costume required! Saturday, October 29th, after 8pm. 810 Sunrise Ct., Ann Arbor, MI 48103

You and anyone you would like to invite also are cordially invited to our All Hallow's Eve Eve Eve Party. Come celebrate fall colors, fall harvest, the fabulous year since the last party and of course Halloween. There will be refreshment including local beer, homebrews, apple cider, various apple related snacks (bobbing optional), pumpkin pie, and more. As an added bonus, there will also be taste tests of freshly harvested baby greens currently enduring their first season in the Brines Farm Hoophouse! Halloween costumes are mandatory and we will be voting on the best costumes (between 10-11pm) - winners will receive real prizes (of real value). There will also be the All Hallow's Eve Eve Eve Party DanceOFF and the All Hallow's Eve Eve Eve Party StarSURCH. So come ready to get your groove on - on our highly esteemed particle board dance floor - And bring your guitar, harmonica, bagpipes, singing voice, tap shoes, drama routine, poetry, or whatever to compete - winners will receive a real prize (of real value). There's a lot going on that weekend but what other party is offering this much with no cover charge and real prizes of real value. Seriously, you'll regret it if you miss it, so hit this party and you'll still have time to catch that other party later on, go back to your party, or go waste money at a club, etc., etc..

Detailed directions here.

Party FAQs (under construction, email me sjbrines@umich.edu your Qs)

Q: Do I have to wear a costume?
A: Yes.

Q: Is it okay if my costume sucks then?
A: Yes. But you will have less of a chance of winning a real prize of real value.

Q: I don't know what to be.
A: Is that a question? Do you mean when you grow up?

Q: I don't know what to be for your stupid party. Any costume ideas?
A: Ah, yes. Let's just say, thinking of a cool costume can be a challenge these days (not to say that getting older can zap ones creativity). But we've solved your problems. For those undecideds, we have a theme. Simply create a costume that fits Angry Andy.arg Clueless's clues of his mysterious costume. That way you get a costume and as an added bonus get to steal some of the thunder of his costume (although in truth you will simply accentuate the mystique of that which is already ascended to the 8th wonder of the world ).

Q: How come this sounds an awful lot like last year's All Hallow's Eve Eve Party?
A: Hmmm, I'd say it's just mere coincidence that the All Hallow's Eve Eve Eve Party sounds an awful lot like last year's All Hallow's Eve Eve Party, which was a smashing success by at least one account mind you.

Q: Do I have to partake in the All Hallow's Eve Eve Eve Party DanceOFF or the Arll Hallow's Eve Eve Eve Party StarSURCH competitions?
A: Yes. Your really should. It would be fun and you would have another chance to win a real prize of real value.

Q: What are these real prizes of real value?
A: It's a secret. I don't even know.

Q: Do I have to bring any food or drink?
A: No, unless I've begged you for something specific. You may of course bring some food or drink to share - there is a fall harvest theme going if you can match that.

Q: Who are you?
A: Thanks for asking. I'm the guy who's having the All Hallow's Eve Eve Eve Party you are going to Saturday October 29th and who last year had a coincidently named All Hallow's Eve Eve Party that was a smashing success. It's okay if you don't really know me, you can still come. You probably know someone who knows me. Some of you know me as the guy who manages the ESA Lab at SNRE, some of you know me as the guy with a small hoophouse farm up and running on the side of my day job, and some of you just know me other ways. I guarantee a nice diverse crowd.

Q: Can I get a ride home if I need to?
A: Yes. Unless you live too far away, then, you can sleep on the carpeted floor and I'll figure out what to do with you in the morning.

Q: Why'd you have your party the same night as mine?
A: Well last year there were no hard feelings, truly, just happened. But this year I would have thought you would have caught on. My party is just superior. The timing of mine is such that you can still stop by, your guests won't miss you.

Q: I live in another state, do you really expect me to come?
A: Yes. Of course, I also expect COS indictments followed by impeachment so what do I know.

Q: Will your costume have any relevance to a certain show you allegedly watch tuesdays on a certain crappy network that has a frog mascot?
A: I'm certain I have no idea what you are talking about. As an added bonus however (all these added bonuses!) I heard a rumour that Las Vegas has 2:1 odds that my costume will incorporate plaid and/or flannel.

Q: What is all this talk about a hoophouse?
A: Oh, nothing really. I just constructed with the help of my loyal and dedicated friends and family a hoophouse, passive solar greenhouse, that is providing the Ann Arbor area with the best freshest baby greens and salad mix this winter. For more details see brines.org.

Q: Seriously, what are these real prizes of real value?
A: Seriously, I'm not going to tell you. Do you know nothing about building suspense? You can try guessing if you think you know me well. All I'll say is that their "retail value" may exceed $100 (or it may not this year, hard to tell).

Q: Are you aware Michigan is playing Northwestern that night starting at 7/7:30? Will the game be on?
A: I am aware and to miss a game this year when every game has the potential to be crazily crazy would be blasphemous. It will be on, likely upstairs on a fairly sizeable color tv, but I can't guarantee projected onto a wall or anything.

Q: As part of the StarSURCH competition can a talent simply be the most obnoxious Michigan fan and the entire evening of my screaming and yelling be mine (I mean
any potential candidate's talent)?
A: I'll say that talent may be entered into the StarSURCH competition and reviewed by the judging committee. I will also say that I do believe one person has a "corner on the market" of that talent.

Clueless about the Clueless

2005-10-12T13:32:00.000-05:00

OK, we need some group brainstorming about Angry Andy.arg Clueless's costume mystery.

To date the clues we have to work with are france, kate beckinsale, gay action, goldfish, our nation's capitol, the star wars cantina band, famous US presidents, tony award winning musical, the middle ages, the bible, and more than 2.1 million as well as the following movies: Top Gun, School Ties, James And The Giant Peach, Notting Hill, Canadian Bacon, Copland. The final week of clues has brought us what we are told are key clues of Lack of Courtesy.

Remember, I think these clues are loosely connected - not unlike the clueless himself (I kid, I kid). Also, if you're looking for a costume idea, I challenge you to come up with one using Andy's clues above.

clues updated 10/25/05. Disclaimer: the collective blog disavows any connection to, appreciation of, or understanding of AngryAndy.arg's clues.

All Hallow's Eve Eve Eve

2005-10-12T13:27:00.000-05:00

It is coming. The second annual All Hallow's Eve Eve Eve Party. Same venue. Stay tuned. Email me any FAQs or party logo ideas.

Help save the Clueless

2005-09-19T12:25:00.000-05:00

Our favorite NPR newscaster may not be so good at playing basketball, but he is great at hosting the noon edition of Fresh Air on our local NPR stations - WEMU 89.1.

Sadly, Andy Cluley has been taken off his regular noon time slot and an old fogey guy has taken his place. Help bring Andy back to the show by emailing your concern to the station by going here - http://wemu.org/contact.php?push=22#email and filling out WEMU's online contact form.

By the way - refer to him as Andrew Cluley, not Andy Cluless like we usually call him since this is supposedly coming from outside sources and not just his friends.

Thanks for helping make Angry Andy a little less angry. Arrrrgghh.

a very fondue farewell

2005-08-30T19:31:00.000-05:00

We're all very sad to see this hairy man go.

I guess there's only room for one cheese man in this town.
check out more pics here.

Not just pictures of Wiley and cheese... bonus niece and Hello Kitty products.

Bike Sales Up!

2005-08-11T15:13:00.000-05:00

This is kind of cool.

Americans purchased more bicycles than new cars and trucks combined in the past year -- and all without employee discounts or zero-percent financing.

image from trekbikes.com

Slogan Contest for Lefties

2005-07-29T12:44:00.000-05:00

Hey all of you fun loving left-leaning liberals! It's time to stretch your Slogan Writing muscles because MoveOn.org is holding a contest to create the perfect FIRE KARL ROVE slogan. Check it out here-> ROVE BLOWS!

Happy Campers

2005-06-29T16:08:00.000-05:00

It's summer so start using up your vacation time because we are going CAMPING! Come join the fun of Nature-Gone-Wild the weekend of July 16th (update: now likely leaving July 21 and back July 23) at the Nordhouse Dunes. Camping, hiking, swimming, cookouts, and canoeing plus the company of good friends... and strangers too if they read this post. Nordhouse Dunes are on the upper west side of Michigan about a 4 to 5 hour drive from Ann Arbor. Check here for a map. I have the whole week off so as long as there are people there I will be camping. Check back here for more updates or call me here: Rob 734-975-4404.

throw a tomato fest - coming this august!

2005-06-29T11:47:00.000-05:00

ever want to throw around a bunch of tomatoes with a bunch of shirtless men in spain? Well then click here.

Tiffany Tomato

The Life of a Vegetarian in a Meat-Eating World

2005-06-27T12:16:00.000-05:00

Hello. My name is Rob and I am a Vegetarian.

Yes, I said Vegetarian. Not self-righteous hippie, flaming homosexual or country hating left-wing liberal. However, some people still seem to think that the word Vegetarian must imply one or all of these labels. As was the case, yet again, as I was enjoying a recent meal with some friends. While shoving a kielbasa into his mouth, a friend stopped long enough to question my sexuality and then suggest that I must be part of the female anatomy because I don't eat meat. Since there had been several beers consumed and I was the only vegetarian present I chose to laugh off the insult rather then get into a heated debate. However, the comments stuck with me along with all of the other sarcastic remarks I have received since giving up meat. This led me to an article I had read about being a Veggie in a world of Carnivores. I think it illustrates quite well what it is like.... without being too preachy of course. -Enjoy.

The Life of a Vegetarian in a Meat-Eating World
by Rob Daugherty

After my first year of teaching, I took advantage of the summer off and drove across the USA. It may surprise you, but there are people in our modern world that really don’t know what a vegetarian is. I stopped at a diner deep in the heart of cattle country, where healthy eating is trimming the fat off the steak and sopping the gravy with wheat bread instead of white. When I asked if they had any vegetarian dishes the waitress responded, “Oh sure! Turkey or chicken?”

I smiled politely, shook my head, and ordered what some of my friends call ‘rabbit food’ (a tossed salad). After a loud clanging of pots and pans, the waitress arrived at my table with a sheepish grin, “The cook tossed the salad alright - all over the floor.” Then she leaned in to whisper, “It’s probably better anyway. Most people around here don’t eat lettuce unless it’s on their burgers and I’m sure the stuff was a few days old.”

What’s a vegetarian to do? I was starving and the nearest town was 70-80 miles away. I searched the menu and found the “heart attack on a plate”-deep-fried mushrooms, onions, zucchini, okra... beer-battered whatever. Instead of these or a casket of fried mozzarella sticks (did I just say ‘casket’? Freudian slip), I was happy to choose mashed potatoes, homemade macaroni and cheese, and green bean casserole. Not a bad meal, I thought, as a few folks glanced my way from beneath John Deere caps and cowboy hats.

After eyeing this odd stranger for a bit, the waitress yelled across the counter, “You’re a veg’tarian? How come you don’t eat meat?” The room became silent. Eyes slowly lifted. Trigger fingers itched. My cautious response was heard by all: “I don’t eat meat because each time we ingest the flesh of a once living being, our souls slightly weaken, making it more difficult to achieve enlightenment.”

The waitress stared at me blankly, but I felt the booth behind me shake. “You saying I’m going to HELL because I eat MEAT?” I escaped thanks to the conveniently greasy floor between myself and a very large belt buckle. I realized on my way out that telling the full truth every time in every setting is NOT the best thing. I made a personal pact as I saw a small crowd of flannel shirts and cowboy boots through the dust in my rear-view mirror: to make my explanations for not eating meat fit the circumstances. My next opportunity came a few weeks later.

I was in northern California, home of the redwoods, Bigfoot, environmentalists and crusaders for legalizing marijuana. I had chosen a hip-looking café for lunch. After they saw my east coast license plates, an appropriately hip-looking group invited me to join them. This time I was prepared. “I’m a vegetarian because it bothers me that there are people starving to death while we waste 16 pounds of grain to make one pound of beef. Why not use those 16 pounds of grain to make 16 pounds of food?” I began to feel the warmth of admiration and continued with even more passion, “If Americans ate just 10% less meat, the amount of grain saved would feed the starving of the world.” The cool people with eyebrow rings and tattoos nodded with approval as they ordered veggie burgers and plates of steamed vegetables. I left this town high on hipness, surfing the sea of cool.

Sometimes, though, no matter what I say, no matter how many points I make, I am wrong. Wrong wrong wrong, dammit. Such a time came one evening, as I was having dinner with a friend and her buff, thick-haired, knows-everything-because-his-daddy’s-a-doctor, drives-a-BMW boyfriend. When my friend asked if I was still a vegetarian, I was laughed at and subjected to a lengthy tirade about what a complete imbecile I was. After my usual brief explanations were shot down, I had heard enough. I began MY tirade…

“You need to eat meat because you’re a serious athlete? The strongest animals in the world - elephants and gorillas to name but two - are herbivores. Studies have shown that most people eat too much protein and this blocks the body’s absorption of vitamins and minerals. All amino acids can be supplied by plant sources alone and fiber comes only from plants. A vegetarian diet isn’t healthy?” I picked up speed. “Vegetarians are less likely to form kidney or gall stones, have lower risk of getting osteoporosis, have drastically lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and almost no heart disease. Cancer death rates for vegetarians are one-half to three-quarters of those of non-vegetarians. The most respected oncologist in my town is a vegetarian and raised his children that way. Hmmm… I wonder why? Maybe he’s just not all that educated on the subject...”

To my surprise, a young woman sitting behind us interrupted me: “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation. I just published an article on chicken farms and the beef industry. If you saw how disgusting and unsanitary things are, if you had any compassion whatsoever for animals, you’d never eat flesh foods again.”

I think Mr. Studmuffin was overwhelmed by all the reasons not to eat meat, but he wasn’t giving up. He tried another angle. “But what do you eat? There’s really nothing but salad and vegetables.” He continued in a condescending, belittling manner, “What would you do at business or social functions if you don’t eat meat? Or you’re on the road and in a hurry?” He looked at me as though I must not get out much.

“Nothing to eat?” It was my turn for condescension. I smiled sympathetically. “The variety of foods is limited only by one’s lack of creativity.” I began speaking quickly with little pause between sentences. I was inspired.

“Let’s start with Italian. Any kind of pasta will work. On pizza you have onions, peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, pineapple... you name it. Mexican-there’s nothing better than a free bowl of warm tortilla chips and salsa while I wait for my bean burrito, cheese and onion enchilada, refried beans, and Spanish rice. Chinese? Vegetable Lo Mien, vegetable stir-fries--broccoli, snap peas, leeks, carrots, those tiny corn cobbies served over rice... even egg rolls. Oh, and don’t forget Indian restaurants.

“But if I have a meeting in a good old hot dogs, apple pie establishment? Hmmm… I love grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches. And soup... do I love soup! Tomato, broccoli and cheese, corn chowder, cream of potato, vegetable rice, minestrone, vegetarian split pea...

“You can order a submarine sandwich - or ‘grinder’ if you live in the northeast - and fill it with lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, cucumbers, carrots and olives. You can completely forget that you used to put a slice of meat on the thing.

“You’ve got breads and grains in general. You’ve got hummus, peanut butter, nuts, legumes... sorbet, frozen yogurt, watermelon, bananas, strawberries… I shouldn’t mention some foods but I will: chocolate, cinnamon rolls, donuts, ice cream, potato chips, biscuits, baklava, cheesecake, pudding…

“While we’re on the subject of deadly foods, what options does a vegetarian have in fast food restaurants other than french fries and salad? Veggie Whoppers and grilled cheese are on some Burger King menus. McDonald’s cheeseburgers are actually quite good without the meat. Wendy’s offers vegetable pitas and baked potatoes. Kentucky Fried Chicken has corn-on-the-cob, mashed potatoes, green beans, and excellent potato wedges. You can order Taco Bell bean burritos, rice, and Nachos Supreme or Mexican Pizza without the meat.

“And if you can’t live your life without the taste of meat, vegetarian ‘meats’ now taste so much like the real thing you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference. Chicken patties, chicken nuggets, hamburger patties, ham and cheese rolls, sausage, bacon, hot dogs - you actually know what’s in the veggie ones - and more.”

By the time I’d finished, I had an audience begging for more and a BMW guy openmouthed and speechless. I left the premises amongst applause and with the satisfaction of knowing that another opinionated butt-wipe has been set straight by my brilliance.

My mother-in-law (notice the transitional element) is annually offended that we don’t eat her slaved-over-for-hours Thanksgiving turkey. She has often chided me for raising my children as vegetarians. “You should let them eat right until they are old enough to decide on their own.” My response is that I wholeheartedly agree! When my children are old enough to increase their chances for disease by choosing less healthy foods, they can do so. Until then, I have the responsibility of providing them with their best chance for good health.

I’ll admit that before switching some ten years ago, I thought that being a vegetarian meant I would eat only salads, tofu, fruits, and bread. I thought that I would die of meat-withdrawal symptoms, quickly tire of leafy green vegetables and go crazy as I fruitlessly (no pun intended) search for places to eat. On the contrary, I’ve found that it’s actually quite easy to simply not add meat to my meals.

And if you’re ever deep in the heart of cattle country and you find yourself waist-deep in cowboy boots and belt buckles, remember the lessons learned; cater your answer to those around you. “My mother died just last year from eating bad meat, OK?” And then cry. Crying while mentioning your mother ALWAYS does the trick!

Rob Daugherty has managed to live an active lifestyle for the last ten years as a vegetarian despite dire warnings from the neighbors and in-laws. As much as he tries to eat perfectly he still has a weakness for pineapple and onion pizza and Reese’s Peanut Butter cups. For more humor and enlightenment, check out Rob’s short stories on his two sites www.manlythoughts.com and www.hypnosite.com

This article appears in New Renaissance, Volume 11, Number 1. Copyright © 2002 by Renaissance Universal, all rights reserved. Posted on the web on March 2002.

Q: What is best in life? A: Wiffleball!

2005-06-22T08:24:00.000-05:00

WIFFLEBALL: Gift from the Gods?

This question is still being debated by religious leaders and historians around the world. The only thing that we know for sure is that it is really, really FUN! The new season is in full swing (sorry, bad pun) so come out and catch the fun (oof, another pun) before the season comes to a close. Join in our friendly game every Thursday night (or any that you can). No skill or talent is required. Bring yourself, your kids, your parents, grandparents, neighbors, pets, friends (real or imagined), it doesn’t matter. If they WANT to play they CAN play. The only rule is No Meanies! So if you are a poor sport, like to yell, put other people down, or are in any other way just unpleasant to be around, we suggest looking for something else to do on Thursday nights. Anger management classes perhaps. The whole point of Wiffleball is to have fun. After all, isn't that what the Gods had intended? (The last comment does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Wiffleball council)
Hope to see you there!

The Wiffleball Facts:

Where: Wurster Park, Ann Arbor. 4th Street and W. Madison. Need a map? Just e-mail robt@giddyup.com for one.

When: Every Thursday starting at 6:30.

Why: Because it’s fun.

FAQ’s:

Q: What is Wiffleball?
A: It’s softball with a plastic ball and bat.

Q: What do I need to bring?
A: Just yourself. We will supply the equipment.

Q: What happens if it rains?
A: If it is too lousy to play then the players move to Leopold Brothers for Foosball, Pool, boardgames or just binge drinking. This is also the home for most After Parties.

One of our bloggers gets noticed...

2005-06-20T10:34:00.000-05:00

Hey all, one of our own was a feature story on the front page of treehugger.com. I'll give you a hinTT, iTT wasn'TT me.

I think I would run out of ink

2005-06-16T14:42:00.000-05:00

3 sheets to the wind

2005-06-15T15:47:00.000-05:00

does anyone have any idea where this phrase came from?
Andy? You're full of useless knowledge.

Mmm....SPAM!

2005-06-10T08:30:00.000-05:00

No, I'm NOT talking about the processed meat in a can or making some sort of Monty Python reference. I'm talking about everyone's favorite side dish...e-mail SPAM! Yummy yum yum. It seems that you just can't enjoy the internets without a heaping helping of this stuff shoved down your throat. However, it seems that someone has decided to play with their food. With such great subject lines like,"U are Stupid Dumbass If U Pay Retail Price For Softwares mentioned" and "can't beat this....ox" artist Steven Frank created Spamusement.com. Now you can see all of you favorite SPAM in cartoon form... It's much funnier than it sounds.
Check it out!

Movie Review?

2005-06-09T17:00:00.000-05:00

So what did you all think of Episode III? I've heard various reviews but not necessarily from this crowd (and didn't many of you get paid to see it). I saw it (for free I might add) last night. I've heard some mention the horrendous acting, writing, and directing. Did they miss all the other 5 episodes? Frankly, that's never been a strong suit of the series. In the end, there's not much we can all do in this matter, we just have to take what they've given us so I just sat back with an open mind and enjoyed the ride. I felt like it was fun and bridged the story and was quite impressive visually. No real surprises but how can there be, we sort of knew how it had to turn out. I sort of like Ewan as Obi. I definitely liked some modern day political undertones that seemed to be in there, anyone else agree? Favorite line "Only the Sith think in absolutes". All and all, I'd say all 6 episodes were way better in our imaginative minds then they present themselves on film - that is, Lucas sort of lucked into where he is today i.e. very rich person. But I say oh well, as long as we all had fun. I think I will always be a fan of the original trilogy. With this episode, I was able to have some fun though unlike the first 2 that blew chunks. Let's just hope Lucas never tries to make anything else along the Star Wars story line.

Alright, who's the thief?

2005-06-02T11:30:00.000-05:00

So this American Apparel store is under construction downtown A2 next to the Michigan Theater, not a local merchant but next best thing perhaps. Anyway, I saw these easy-on-the-eyes posters the day they put them up earlier in the week on the outside of the construction site. (I can't find the same pictures on their website but you kind of get the idea from the pic above.) Apparently later that night someone stole the posters. So who's the thief? Andy?