BLOGS
We’ve Been Here Before
The current crisis caught many off guard, although it probably should not have
Oakland and Detroit: A Tale of Two Sports Towns
We hang banners, wear gear, tailgate and attend games with our dads and children, knowing our teams will be there when the puck drops, the first pitch pops, the first big hit sets Sunday right and the first triple splashes.
Inhumanity And The Small Things
Think about that. Visually. Logistically. Where are the bodies being kept? What condition are they in? Who is tasked with watching them? Who’s keeping track of their identities?
Shrinking Michigan
“People have to be cognizant of the fact that there is not one issue that drives this,” said Jim Holcomb, President of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. “It’s many issues. Michigan can’t just change one thing and fix the problem.”
Governor’s Race Heats Up On Eve of Republican Primary
The bubbling cauldron that is Michigan’s Republican gubernatorial primary race will be fueled by yet another log on the fire beneath it as five candidates prepare to debate at press time.
Ruining Baseball One Rule Change At A Time
Baseball needs to attract younger fans. The game is too slow. Contests are way too long. How many times have we heard these criticisms about the most ancient of American spectator sports?
Turning a Stroke Into a Compelling Second Act
In August I had a stroke. The southwest zone of my brain exploded and left a bright white relief map of the Great Lakes on a CT scan. Blood pressure of 220 over 110—twice the normal measure—powered what is politely called a “cerebrovascular accident.”
The Nuanced Nature of Messages From the Queer Community
The myriad mass of identity labels and the puzzling potpourri of personal pronouns. Both noble in origin and all overwhelmingly obfuscating when used as self-righteous political and social weapons rather than as clearly focused agents of social change to help give shape and voice to marginalized populations.
If patience and perspective are stirred into these movements, their effectiveness will be magnified. As has long been the case, prior generations are courser, less refined and more exclusionary than the latest rendition of humanity.
The Power of Living in the Moment
People in their 50s and 60s are arguably more vital and capable than they have ever been. Advances in medicine, the popularity of health conscious lifestyles and modern vibrant images of people playing life’s back nine have endowed this group with new possibilities.
But these same people often date themselves with aged perspectives, archaic references and ancient anecdotes. Despite their continued energy, industry knowledge and people skills developed outside of the digital veil, older professionals have a tendency to talk about old, better ways of doing things and drop cultural references lost on 30-year-olds.
Digital As A Second Language
A few months ago I pushed back in my desk chair and had a long think about how much things had changed since I began my work life. The dawn of the digital age marked my emergence into the work world. Newspapers and magazines were the main conduits of information. Letter writing was still en vogue. Articles and op ed pieces were strong and authoritative sources of fact and seeds of influence. The written word had a heavy footprint and direct, in person communication skills were highly valued.