MeFi post: 25 Most Exquisitely Sad Songs in the Whole World

Clearly Casimir Pulaski Day by Sufjan Stevens is the saddest song in the world. I listened to it over and over and over again when a friend was dying of cancer last Spring and I cried every single time. See also: Funeral by Band of Horses
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 5:13 PM on May 9, 2007

MeFi post: Will The Last Person To Leave Detroit Please Turn Out The Lights?

Detroit is where I grew up, and I lived in the city and attended its public schools from age 5 to age 18. Someday I'd like to come home to it, but at this point I'm at a loss as to what can be done to stop the bleeding that's been going on since the 1960s. (This is my first post to the blue, so be gentle)
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 9:04 AM on March 21, 2007

I personally have relocated to Chicago, but I think a lot of the movement out of Detroit is still to the surrounding suburbs. First it was the white population and now the middle class black families are fleeing the city in droves.
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 9:12 AM on March 21, 2007

There's been a lot of talk of starting some kind of farming in Detroit, but unfortunately a lot of the land is really polluted with heavy metals and the like because of the city's industrial history. Stuff like that can be remediated, but again, it takes money. It's a vicious cycle.
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 9:26 AM on March 21, 2007

Hey Eisbaear, I too went to Cass Tech (and before that Golightly). What years were you there? There's so much about Detroit that is so hard to explain to people who haven't lived there - and is so much worse than anything I've seen in Washington and Chicago where I've lived since there. Going home is like visiting a different planet.
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 10:07 AM on March 21, 2007

K8T - the foreign made car thing is a tough one. People aren't in la-la-land about the economy, but they look around and they see that their dad and their uncles and their grandparents their friend's relatives all worked for the auto industry, and it makes it hard to buy a foreign car. I ended up buying a Ford Focus (which is actually a great little car) last year because I couldn't bring myself to buy a foreign car.
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 10:38 AM on March 21, 2007

That shot of the State Fair neighborhood from the air is incredible. For a slightly less depressing view of the city, here is the neighborhood I grew up in. All of the flat roofs are relatively new condos and town houses.
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 11:26 AM on March 21, 2007

Dr. Jimmy -

I think that's part of why I love The Wire so much. It could so easily be set in Detroit. Especially Season Two.
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 11:40 AM on March 21, 2007

Here's the Zillow data for the neighborhood I grew up in. The only thing in my old zip code is a 3 bedroom townhouse going for $391,000. I'd say that's pretty high for the neighborhood, but not totally out of line. Generally considered one of the most thriving in the city. Downtown and Lafayette Park are the source of a lot of the civic boosterism you see about Detroit these days and a lot of that is deserved. People were genuinely impressed when they came to town for the Super Bowl and... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 12:22 PM on March 21, 2007

Pardonyou -

All of that stuff is great, and I love visiting Detroit to see my Tigers or a show too. But what the city really needs is people to LIVE there, not just come downtown and then leave again. The tax base desperately, desperately needs middle class people to come and live and work in the city. I applaud all of the Downtown/Midtown development. It's amazing how different things look even then the last time I lived in town (2000-ish), but I worry that it's... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 1:23 PM on March 21, 2007

OnlyCoolTim - Detroit is ENORMOUS - almost 150 square miles (Manhattan, by comparison is 23 square miles). That's a lot of walking.
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 2:44 PM on March 21, 2007

Right on, Klang. Corktown's still doing okay though even though the Tigers left. The BBQ joint that opened down there recently, Slows, is phenomenal and there are tons of cool bars. If I were to move back (and if there's ever a job I can do in Detroit I will. Michigan candidates for office, I am an opposition researcher and I am available...) I'd totally live in Corktown. Mexican Village is also doing reasonably okay, especially the Hubbard Farms part. No need to fear for your life.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 4:32 PM on March 21, 2007

MeFi post: Who is Chuck Klosterman?

North Dakota, not Nebraska. Sort of Po-tay-toe, Po-tah-toe, but still worth noting.
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 7:08 PM on March 9, 2007

MeFi post: Goodnight, sweet horse prince.

Those suggesting that Barbaro was only kept alive for his semen are quite incorrect. Artificial insemination is not permitted in thoroughbred racing in this country. You have to do it live and it was apparent soon after Barbaro broke his leg that he was never going to be able to do that. It's listed right here under "breeding practices not approved by the Jockey Club."

Whatever else you might think of them, his owners spent a tremendous amount of money to... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 6:13 AM on January 30, 2007

What biscotti said. Top shelf race horses don't make good pets (although bottom shelf race horses often make wonderful riding horses). They're high strung and not trained to do anything but run. Doesn't make for a very nice ride in the country.

What would be the point of having a Barbaro foal if you couldn't race it?
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 8:59 AM on January 30, 2007

MeFi post: Singing School

Fantastic post. I saw Cold Mountain a few years ago and the scene with the shape note choir got me very interested in the genre.
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 11:41 AM on November 17, 2005

MeFi post: Clay-riffic

Yet another reason to fret over the decline of literature in this country. As reported in the New York Times this morning (registration required).

On a semi-unrelated note.... I really dig your user name Serafinapekkala. I just finished The Amber Spyglass last night. Good stuff.
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 11:39 AM on July 8, 2004

MeFi post: The Godfather dies at 80

I guess the third shoe has dropped. Reagan, Charles, Brando. An odd coalition if ever I've heard one.
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 8:49 AM on July 2, 2004

MeFi post: no talent AZ clowns in 11th place!!

My team (a ragtag collection of environmentalists and youth voting activists) played the NORML team last week and got slaughtered. They were shockingly athletic for a bunch of potheads. ; )

We are also playing the HoosierDaddies in a couple weeks. The entire city of DC pretty much runs on softball during the summer months. On a Thursday evening the games stretch as far as the eye can see down the mall.
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 1:32 PM on June 17, 2004

MeFi post: Bystanders to History

I was always moved by the "napalm girl" in my history classes in school.
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 2:10 PM on April 7, 2004

MeFi post: Tales from the Dean Camp

Dean could have avoided this whole stupid flap by rephrasing the line slightly. For example: "White folks in the South who drive pickup trucks with *gun racks* in the back ought to be voting with us and not them..." Same exact sentiment, controversy avoided. If anyone screwed up here I think it was the staffer that penned that line.
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 8:49 PM on November 9, 2003

MeFi post: old NYer goodness

i always thought fective was the best of these. i'm totally fective.
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 9:54 AM on October 23, 2003

MeFi post: Summer Camp Questions

I worked at a camp all through high school and it's still by far the best job I've ever had. Getting paid to play with kids and your friend all day cannot be beat.
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 2:42 PM on September 24, 2003

MeFi post: Congressman: Go home, you race

For FormlessOne and a few others, I think you have things slightly mixed up: Dingell is FOR affirmative action (and white), Connerly is AGAINST it (and Black). Connerly is attempting to get around the recent Supreme Court ruling and force the University of Michigan to drop its affirmative action program by trying to get a ballot initiative passed. I don't know if this changes the way any of you feel about about Dingell said. I personally think it was blunt and tactless, but that's pretty... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 9:27 AM on July 22, 2003

MeFi post: Bearpath Gated Community.

I've done some research on fear of crime and gated communities and it is true that crime rates are no lower in gated communities than in the surrounding areas, while people's fear of crime is significantly lower. I don't have the statistics right on hand, but if anyone is really interested in the subject, I highly recommend Fortress America by Edward Blakely and Mary Snyder. It's a fascinating look at what motivates people to move to these kinds of places. By the way... this is my first ever... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fancypants at 8:36 AM on December 4, 2002