So, what would you like to talk about?

As it’s been a while since I asked, and as there’s absolutely nothing that I feel compelled to write about at the moment, I thought that I’d open things up and see if, perhaps, there’s something that you’d like to talk about. So, is there?

Do you have have a complaint about the site that’s been eating away at you? If so, now would be the time to mention it. Do you have a personal problem that you think the markmaynard.com community could help with? If so, this would be the time to ask. Anything goes. Do you have a life-afirming holiday story to share? Is there a neighbor that you’d like to beat up? Do you want to brag about your kids? Do you want to air your dirty laundry? Seriously, these chances don’t come around too often. If I were you, I’d take advantage of this opportunity… This is my Christmas gift to you, America.

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32 Comments

  1. DanL
    Posted December 17, 2012 at 11:29 pm | Permalink

    Is it a crazy idea to push for a referendum for non-partisan redistricting in Michigan, and also push for a referendum that institutes jungle primaries in state and federal level races?

  2. anon
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 8:11 am | Permalink

    it looks like obama really shall become a wall street exec in 2016.

    or maybe he a snyder will partner on some innovative government-business hybrid venture.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/18/obama-social-security-fiscal-cliff_n_2319850.html

  3. Edward
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 8:57 am | Permalink

    Looking at this image, it occurs to me that I would rather not be strangled by a robot.

  4. Mr. Y
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 9:19 am | Permalink

    A robot capable of strangling, I suspect, would also be able to dole out handjobs. If I had such a robot, I would let it loose in the inner city of Detroit to bring joy to the men and women of that struggling metropolis. They could use it.

    As for my kids, they are great. Anything could go wrong, of course, but, as of right now, my sense is that they’ll do more for society than I ever could. That makes me happy. Unfortunately, through them, I’ve met a lot of kids who kind of suck. Such is life.

    I need to read a new book. I only read about one a year, so it has to be really good. If you have a suggestion, let me know.

    I don’t aspire to be wealthy. I have no use for money. It would be nice, however, to be able to travel and experience different places. And I’d like to have an enormous indoor pool that’s full of octopi. And it would be cool to have a secret fortress somewhere, that you’d have to swim underwater to get to. It would be staffed with robots that look like Mr. French. Do you remember him from Family Affair?

    That is all for now.

    God bless us, each and every one.

  5. Meta
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 9:24 am | Permalink

    A holiday ad for the gun that just killed 20 children.

    http://www.upworthy.com/this-is-a-real-ad-for-a-real-gun-that-killed-real-people?c=ufb1

  6. Posted December 18, 2012 at 9:33 am | Permalink

    I’ve been really conflicted about dog mouths lately.

    How can something that smells so bad have such curative properties? It defies all conventional logic. That said, I remain an avid fan of dogs in general. Thank you for the opportunity to share.

  7. K2
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 9:38 am | Permalink

    I’m curious to know if anyone really thinks that the world is going to end on the 21st. I know that they keep talking about it on the news, like it’s a real thing, but I’ve yet to meet anyone who really believes that it’s even a remote possibility.

  8. K2
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 9:39 am | Permalink

    And the robot in the photo looks like a modified Segway.

  9. anonymous
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 9:58 am | Permalink

    Somewhere, in the deepest, darkest part of Ypsilanti, at this very moment, Steve Pierce is modifying one of his Segways to come after you, Mr. Maynard.

  10. Meta
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 10:07 am | Permalink

    Does anyone know what’s up with this? There’s scant information in the A2.com article.

    Robert Belous, principal at Ypsilanti High School, recently resigned from the school district after more than two months on administrative leave.

    The school board approved his resignation at Monday’s regular meeting.

    Belous was placed on paid administrative leave on Oct. 2 pending an investigation into his behavior while serving as the high school principal.

    Director of Human Resources Sharon Irvine said in October that Belous’ leave was to allow the district time to look into various ongoing concerns.

    She said the concerns were “not egregious” but rather involved a series of cumulative complaints, not a singular incident.

    Read more:
    http://annarbor.com/news/ypsilanti/ypsilanti-high-school-principal-resigns-after-two-months-on-administrative-leave/

  11. XXX
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 10:18 am | Permalink

    I can’t remember the context, Matt, but I once had a women say to me, “A woman’s vagina is cleaner than a dog’s mouth.” Those were her exact works. It’s seared into my brain. She said it as though it was a good thing, like I’d be blown away by that fact. It was like she expected me to hear that fact and respond, “Wow, vaginas are super clean.” Personally, if I were trying to make the case that vaginas are clean, I’d choose something else to compare them to, like a surgical tool, or the inner workings of the Hubble telescope. A dog’s mouth doesn’t communicate “clean” to me. I should add that I don’t think vaginas are unclean. So, I’m not sure how the point of conversation even came up. It’s not like I introduced myself and said, “Vaginas are unclean.”

  12. Citywatch
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 10:25 am | Permalink

    I want to talk about splitting away from the Ann Arbor Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce based on their decision to support the recently passed “Right to Work” legislation. I do not believe that people here in Ypsilanti generally support this legislation and we should recognize that fact and finally seperate ourselves from the ANN ARBOR/ypsilanti CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Ypsilanti has been the ugly step sister of the Ann Arbor Chamber from the time our Chambers of Commerce were combined (many years ago). Supporting “Right to Work” legislation should be the thing that finally motivates our city council and other officials to separate from the AACC, and to do so ASAP. Once again, our interests are not being represented. Another motivating factor should be that Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti are increasingly different and Ypsilanti is different in a good way all it’s own. Actually, as the two cities diverge, it becomes increasingly difficult to represent, advocate and market the two cities together anyway. Supporting Right to Work is wrong both in the short and long run (for both cities actually) whether we are supportive of unions or not. The AAYCC is just shortsighted in it’s decision. So, citizens and officials of Ypsilanti should stand by our unions, our individuality and our convictions and follow Ypsilanti’s motto
    “Pride, Heritage and Diversity” and get the heck out of the AACC!

  13. Mr. X
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 10:34 am | Permalink

    I think we determined the other day that the Ann Arbor Ypsi Chamber did not support right-to-work. That’s not to say that they haven’t done other things that work against the interests of the city though.

  14. Mr. X
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 10:37 am | Permalink

    For those of you who don’t already have plans, there’s a fundraiser for Ozone House at Bona Sera on New Year’s Eve.

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151205769353026&set=a.483083033025.264034.777353025&type=1&theater

  15. Mr. X
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 10:38 am | Permalink

    Citywatch, here’s the link to the earlier conversation on whether or not we should divest ourselves from the Chamber.

    http://markmaynard.com/2012/12/should-ypsi-withdraw-from-the-ann-arbor-ypsilanti-chamber-of-commerce/

    If I’m not mistaken, City Council will be voting on it tonight.

  16. 734
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 12:13 pm | Permalink

    If the evil guy in the corner is Steve Pierce, and you’re the guy being strangled, who is the man being restrained?

  17. 734
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 12:15 pm | Permalink

    FWIW, I find it hard to believe that anyone would come to your aid if Steve Pierce set a robot assassin on you. I think it would play out like “High Noon” on the streets of Ypsilanti with everyone just looking the other way.

  18. Posted December 18, 2012 at 12:32 pm | Permalink

    This is serious.. But people can answer not seriously.. How do you stay engaged in the political process, stay informed without burning out or being too cynical or obnoxious. It might be too late for me..

  19. ELf
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 1:08 pm | Permalink

    I know that firearm sales have been way up this week, but I’ve yet to see any data on specific weapons, and I’m interested to see how the Bushmaster has been selling. It makes me sick but my guess is that what happened in Connecticut is good for business.

  20. Knox
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 1:15 pm | Permalink

    Is there a focused effort to kill for-profit charter schools in Michigan? Has legislation been proposed? Any information would be appreciated.

  21. Kari S.
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 4:58 pm | Permalink

    Has anyone had the flu yet this year? And, if so, how was it?

  22. James Madison
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 9:06 pm | Permalink

    Everybody should know that when I wrote the Second Amendment 220 years ago, neither I nor anybody then living claimed that this Amendment created a constitutional right for individuals to have or possess firearms of any sort. It was about allowing the states to arm their well-regulated Militias. Fools and ideologues deny this, and gun-makers profit and children die as a result.

  23. Tammy
    Posted December 18, 2012 at 9:13 pm | Permalink

    Mike King’s new piece at CounterPunch is the smartest piece yet published on Sandy Hook.

  24. Anonymatt
    Posted December 19, 2012 at 8:20 am | Permalink

    A rather suggestive place for a kickstand on a robot.

  25. anonymous
    Posted December 19, 2012 at 12:08 pm | Permalink

    At least Pierce is attempting to kill people with a modified Segway, and not a modified Washlet.

    http://markmaynard.com/2007/09/the-washlet-elevating-peku-cleaning-to-a-whole-new-level/

  26. josh
    Posted December 19, 2012 at 12:35 pm | Permalink

    I am the owner of the domain name: butterfingers.net. I am taking suggestions as to what I should put there.

  27. Eel
    Posted December 19, 2012 at 12:57 pm | Permalink

    Pictures of people squishing bars of butter between their fingers, naturally.

  28. Elliott
    Posted December 19, 2012 at 3:09 pm | Permalink

    ButterToe.com is kinkier.

  29. Posted December 19, 2012 at 8:48 pm | Permalink

    Wiped to death by a ambulatory Japanese toilet robot would not be my chosen fashion of passing.

    As for the man being restrained in the photo, as I’m being strangled, I think it’s the ghost of Houdini. He may not have returned for his with, but, when the time comes, I’m sure that he’ll return for me.

  30. Posted December 19, 2012 at 8:53 pm | Permalink

    Marcia, I burn out repeatedly. My OCD is restorative, though. If I take a day off, I start to feel guilty, and I return to the work at hand. It also helps that I clearly have an overinflated sense of the importance concerning what I do here. Because of this, most of my life is spent beating myself up for not doing more. Right now, for instance, I’m telling myself that, instead of responding to you, I should be writing about the potential for an assault weapons ban… as though one more article on that subject is really needed right now. So, I guess my short answer is to get a mental illness which compels you to stay engaged.

  31. TeacherPatti
    Posted December 19, 2012 at 9:02 pm | Permalink

    Hyperactivity is a fun mental illness, too! It really only sucks when you are bouncing and people start to look at you funny or when it is 2am and you cannot sleep.

  32. Oliva
    Posted December 20, 2012 at 2:24 pm | Permalink

    One tiny antidote to the horribleness of Michigan politics–and our phenomenally crafty, depressing governor, someone who has the audacity to try “reinventing” our state, when what should happen is that he be replaced asap and given an opportunity to live in a gated community in, say, Mississippi–the tiny antidote but big and powerful in its deliciousness and great effects on one’s spirits: the foul mudames (“foul” pronounced “fool”) at Chef Restaurant at 1098 N, Huron River Dr., in that little shopping center just west of the McDonald’s, 734-544-1161. I cannot recommend it enough.

    I’ve been tasting (and trying recipes for) foul from Dearborn to Ann Arbor over the last several months and can say that the very best is right here at Chef Restaurant, so worth a try (messy to take-out but fine). I love that foul is typically a breakfast dish–what a robust start to the day. Here’s to good foul. For the love of fava beans, lemon, plentiful olive oil, and beyond.

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