Friday, December 28, 2007

Mondo Concreto

The city of Ann Arbor Michigan is under attack by urban development. Here is a satirical look at this development.



Our city administration has encouraged any and all development. As a result, the urban area is being filled with large, low cost construction, medium height buildings. These "big box" residential buildings are often described as Soviet style architecture, but perhaps it is more accurate to consider them copies of the Chicago Cabrini Green housing projects.

A Confusing Interview

Did you ever do an interview where you just did not connect with the subject?


Is there a fork in Robert Hughes thought process?

Or perhaps this is the problem with the politicians in our country today.

The A Squared Environmental Blues

A short musical video about the Allen Creek and the Ann Arbor Greenway



What it is now.

What it can be.

It is up to us. If the citizens lead, the leaders will follow.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Organic Apple Production

Jim Koan describes the methods Almar Orchards use to grow organic apples.

In the spring lures are used to attract insects to trees on the edge of the orchard These select trees are then sprayed with an USDA approved organic insecticide.

Sex attractants are also used to confuse the bugs so that they are less likely to mate and produce subsequent generations of harmful insects.

Sticky traps are used capture insects to prevent them from reaching the fruit.

The Amazing TV Pill

The amazing TV Pill is a commentary on the role of the TV in our society

The screenplay was written and it is presented by Robert Hughes.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

A Greenway interview with Margaret Wong

Margaret Wong describes the proposed an Ann Arbor Greenway to Peggy Rabhi.

The Greenway would be a non-motorized transportation path running along the path of the Allen creek. This is north-south along the western edge of the Ann Arbor central urban district.

The city already owns three of the significant properties along this path: the maintenance yard at 415 Washington, the parking lot at First and William and the maintenance yard at 721 North Main. These could be the beginning of the Greenway with gardens, open spaces for public events and recreational facilities.

The Greenway also provides an opportunity for treatment of storm water in the Allen Creek. By diverting some of the water from entering the creek it could be used for watering plants and gardens reducing the volume in the Allen Creek drain. Settling ponds could remove sediment and clean the water before discharge to the river.