KeepDiscoEvil

Edited for our eyes plus further edit bringing the Qs down to their respective answers:

Q1: How do you feel about Steve from the Motor City Muckraker?

• Steve works hard. Gets some good stories. Doesn't get paid enough.

Q2: Do you feel that the historically racist feelings/assumptions (specific to the metro region) are becoming more or less prevalent? In what way?

• Long way to go on race relations here. But like my mom says, people aren't running away from each other anymore.

Q3: Firefighter Walter Harris was killed during an arson but was NOT rescued promptly because his pass alarm wasn't working. Today, fewer pass alarms are working. Michigan's strong workers comp. laws barred recovery based on negligence so what do you think would have to happen for the state or anyone to act with the slightest bit of urgency to tackle this problem?

• The mayor is promising a lot here with the fire department. But I don't see much happening. What's it gonna take? A calamity?

Q4: Ilitch is the BIG winner in the new hockey rink. Olympia has no obligation to do ANYTHING the surrounding community has requested e.g. extra security during off seasons. What actions could counsel take to buttress the authority of the affected residents?

• Minimum, the council should enact a tax on the tickets so Olympia is required to pay for public safety at its events.

Q5: Professor Peter Hammer has been the loudest voice of opposition to the Detroit Future City Plan. Have you reviewed it and what are your thoughts?

• Lots of good ideas. Where's the beef? The concrete? The action. The money?

Q6: Even Thomas Sugrue has opined that Detroit's REAL problem is extreme poverty and a lack of low-skilled, high-paying jobs. What actions could the state reasonably take to address this issue? (NOT including the bullshit 'job development' rhetoric Snyder touts)

• To be honest, what I see out of Lansing is a move to push the unskilled out of Michigan. Detroit was based on excess unskilled southern labor for the factories. The factories are gone. And there are no heating bills in Alabama. See what I'm saying?

Q7: Do you think the newly formed 'Blight Task Force' (chaired by Dan Gilbert and his buddies) is simply a way to spend the $150million federal funds for rich land owners and speculators to clear areas of the city they deem 'salvageable'?

• Don't know. But I will say federal money comes with a lot of strings and attachments. Demolition will not happen as quickly as people hope.

Q8: Without the 'support' of the business community, how could a person be elected Mayor of Detroit? What would the campaign strategy entail?

• Without the business community, it would be quite difficult, and quite frankly nonsensical to run for mayor. Business means jobs and taxes. Having said that, an affinity for the people would help. And a demonstrable skill set to run a municipality. Detroit is a no-joke major American city. The popularity contest ruined us.

Q9: Why has no media organization (that I know of) reported that the philanthropic foundations boards, which are 'pouring money into Detroit', are almost ENTIRELY comprised of bankers and for-profit entities?

• I don't know. Frankly, TV doesn't handle those stories very well. And newspapers...well...they barely vetted the candidates during the last election here.

Q10: Where do you see Detroit in 25 years if the rate of privatization continues or increases?

• A Johannesburg West.

Q11: Given that the Detroit Police Department STILL has only 2 functional car cameras (under DOJ agreement, DPD 'can't' operate ANY car without functioning equipment), do you think that the DOJ will lift the various mandates because of the 'tough on crime' stance the newest chief has adopted?

• I believe the DOJ gave dispensation to the department for some of the new cars that the private industry gave the city because they can't seem to get cameras working. don't take that as fact, but if true, what does that tell you about the true state of things?

Again, he answered all the questions, bro. That's legit.

Between the two of you, who would you say is a more tender lover?

Just wanted to share that VLOOKUP is the best thing ever. Very serious.

Also, whose responsible for Pivot Tables? How did that come about? And also, thank you for that, too.

As a New Yorker, Pee Wee Herman's Big Adventure is the only reason why I know about this song.

This is a pretty fantastic post/story - thanks for sharing!

Can you tell us more about the motorcycle you used for your trip? And did you plan to stop at various mechanic shops around the country on your trip, or was it something that you took it as it went in regards to making sure your bike was running well and good?