jbr12

Been awhile since anyone has posted in here, but lets see if anyone is still watching... Anyone know of a scooter rental place in metro Detroit?

Grand Rapids gets on a list in this article about cities looking to add street cars http://www.newurbannews.com/15.3/streetcars.html

Grand Rapids Downtown Alliance posted this Flickr set on their Facebook today in a 'scavenger hunt' to see how many signs people recognize from various downtown businesses. Some pretty cool shots in the set. http://www.flickr.com/photos/downtowngr/sets/72157623218099273/

Being a recent Michigan Alum, I can speak towards the low numbers in Ann Arbor... First, the campus is very nicely interwoven with the city. If you live on central campus, you can easily walk to anything you need. This obviously reduces bus ridership... Secondly, and the #1 reason in my book, is nearly all of the students use the blue Michigan buses to get around campus. These buses do not keep ridership tallies. I did ride the AATA while living in Ann Arbor and that is because I did not live on or near campus. I was about 3 miles away from North Campus (Where my program was) and when my car wasn't functioning or I didn't want to risk the parking ticket, I would walk to the bus stop and take it in. Not sure how it is now, but a few years ago (2005) your student ID only got you free rides on a very select number of routes (mainly Park N Ride Routes) so that could have an affect on reduced ridership numbers also. (I do believe all AATA routes are free for students now)

Here's an animation of the Spartan Stores YMCA to break ground this spring...

http://www.mlive.com/artprize/index.ssf/2010/01/artprize_winning_piece_open_water_no_24_sold_to_devos_foundation_to_remain_at_grand_rapids_art_museu.html

I was shopping at a second-hand shop in Petoskey when I came across this framed poster. Thought some of you might enjoy

When I was up in Petoskey over the Holidays I saw the window power on the roof up there too. I would be very interested to see what kind of power those thing generate and how much that cuts out of the energy bill for a big box like Meijer

Saw this hilarious 'news' story and figured you folks would enjoy... http://www.thenewstribune.com/topstories/story/1006570.html?story_link=email_msg

I noticed that the Spartan 'S' is on the north side of the MSU Building... I'm not a fan. It leaves much to be desired I think

http://sketchupdate.blogspot.com/2009/12/motor-city-goes-3d.html

Forget a new market... lets re-purpose something! http://civileats.com/2009/12/03/inventing-the-suburban-farm/

http://cgi.ebay.com/Loch-Ness-Monster-Nessie-Artprize-Award-Winner_W0QQitemZ330382144326QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArt_Sculptu Nessie is on the Auction Block... Apparently it would be to costly to winterize her. The post from their Facebook site:

GVSU Library Video

Anyone realize they had a construction cam? http://gallery.triangle-inc.com/view/view.shtml