Shaman Drum Closes Doors After 29 Years
June 16th 2009
Shameless plug for a friend and new local business…
June 11th 2009
Ann Arbor – Carillon Chocolates, a new coffeehouse and dessert spot downtown, will open on Friday June 12. The new café will be replacing The Chocolate House of Ann Arbor at 330 S. Main. The grand opening festivities will feature free samples of pastries, chocolates, and house-roasted coffee, among other things. There will be free live music on the open-air back patio starting at 7pm.
The space at 330 S. Main was purchased on April 1 by Alex Molnar, 25, formerly of Atlanta but now residing in Ypsilanti. Alex is the nephew of the previous owners, Vicky and Rob Ponitz of Pinckney. Since the acquisition, Alex and his staff have been working non-stop to make the changes needed to open the new Carillon Chocolates.
Carillon Chocolates will still have a wide variety of menu options, just like the Chocolate House, but the business approach will be different. Alex has a commitment to fresh ingredients, hand-made chocolates, and organic and locally sourced products. Alex says, “We want to create a space where locals and visitors can both come and relax with a great cup of coffee and enjoy some unique locally-made chocolates. We’re the only independent chocolate shop left in town, so we’re not tied down with a franchise agreement or a corporate agenda. We can really tailor our space and our menu to the tastes of the Ann Arbor community.”
Carillon Chocolates will open early on weekdays to serve house-roasted coffee and fresh pastries from Café Japon. Ann Arborites looking for gifts can purchase pre-made boxes of chocolates and truffles, or have one custom-made on the spot. Carillon Chocolates will stay open late on weekends, serving hand-made chocolates, cakes and cheesecakes from Old World Bakery in Ypsilanti, Stroh’s ice cream, and espresso drinks.
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www.carillonchocolates.com
Hours:
Mon-Thurs: 9am-10pm
Fri: 9am-midnight
Sat: 11am-midnight
Sun: 11am-10pm
GM Bankruptcy’s Hidden Effects
June 4th 2009
The LA times had an interesting article today about the ramifications of GM’s bankruptcy. While most of the pundits are mentioning the sudden financial burden on parts suppliers and unemployment resulting from dealership closings, few are discussing how GM’s troubles are affecting sports teams and media companies. With GM pulling back advertising in the wake of entering Chapter 11, it appears that these groups (especially newspapers) will face even more struggles to maintain (or acquire) profitability. How much else can newspapers stand?
U-M Graduate Rates Remain High
June 3rd 2009
In a new study by the American Enterprise Institute, four scholars report that the University of Michigan remains a leader in graduation rates for the most competitive state institutions. With 88% of seniors graduating last year, U-M blew away most of the competition (including, as always, Ohio State).
You can view the report by following the link below
http://www.aei.org/docLib/Diplomas%20and%20Dropouts%20final.pdf
Note to Incoming Freshman
May 28th 2009
Sitting in a room filled with several graduates and wise 4th year undergrads, we have come to the conclusion that the best advice we could give to incoming freshman to save a 4 year headache would be to buy a satellite dish freshman year and travel with it from residence to residence.
As many U-M students know, Comcast sucks. It rarely comes in and when it does, it never works properly. It has been heard that the residents at 1522 Geddes frequently used the adjective “Comcastic” to describe pretty much anything sub-par in the house. A given example was: Roommate A=”What’s wrong with the toaster?” Roommate B’s Response=”I don’t know, it’s been acting COMCASTIC all week.”
In addition to the intermittent service, they have a monopoly on a majority of student housing which offers no remedy or other options. Our solution: buy a satellite dish and move it with you to each new house you move into.
6/6 (i.e. 100%)* of students polled agree this would be a student’s best option for sticking it to the man and maintaining amazing service everyday all year. We don’t necessarily have a remedy for the crappy internet service, but perhaps the satellite company can help you with that too. Have fun not missing your favorite shows and having people fight to be your roommate once they hear about your golden cable service! Make sure you mention you heard it here first.
(*I took STATS350 this semester, good thing or I would have had trouble figuring it out. Thanks Prof. Gunderson)
AIG uproar has got Senators in a Twitter
March 19th 2009
Gail Collins from the NY Times hates senators who Twitter.
An excerpt: Senator Chuck Grassley saying the A.I.G. execs should follow the Japanese model and “resign or go commit suicide.” Took him about three seconds to backtrack. “Inteligent journalist can’t recgnize rhetoric,” Grassley twittered.
P.S. Even Senators can’t spell.
P.P.S She says that she is very, very angry. Hope’s so… January.
Obama “Tired and overwhelmed”
March 11th 2009
A quick Google News search tells me that President Obama is constantly coming under fire for all sorts of reasons, the big one being his stimulus package. Of course the Review has several pieces regarding this issue, but for the rest of the news media out there, why are they being so critical of the man that America democratically elected?
This recent article alleges that Obama is too tired to give a proper welcome to British PM Gordon Brown when he visited last week (so that’s why he wasn’t at Downing St when I was in London for spring break…)
Sure, the media is meant to be the fourth estate, but we should lighten up on him.
Funny Earmarks
March 5th 2009
Guess who gets $3.8 million of our money if the omnibus bill passes? Tiger Stadium…..?
Seriously?
Obama’s Economy
March 5th 2009
As the Dow Jones continues to plunge with every muttering of either President Obama, Secretary Giethner, or Chairman Bernanke, we must ask ourselves how long the socialist saber rattling from Congress and the Executive will continue before the capital markets in the United States simply give up. While the President pleaded with consumers and investors to buy stock, there simply is no motivation. The Obama administration has repeatedly thumbed its nose at the free market, at automotive, health care, and financial sectors. Is it any small wonder that money pours away from these areas and other areas fearing nationalization? It is only a matter of time before capital will be on strike against Obama, it seems. I’ve heard more and more people making comparison to the setting of Atlas Shrugged to today’s events.
Even as Democrats begin to question the immense spending, people even like Russ Feingold, can we now saw that the Obama administration has overreached? Is this not what everyone feared would lead to a Republican resurgence? Only if the Republicans remember free markets and reduced spending and smaller government can they prevail.