Here's the article and link to the article that appeared in the Detroit News on August 27, 2009.  My slogan won!  Enjoy.  Tom

http://detnews.com/article/20090827/OPINION03/908270386/1383/OPINION0308
Thursday, August 27, 2009

Detroit News 

Neal Rubin

'Kiss the Fist': Readers respond to call for Detroit motto

If you're the sort who thinks crossing into Detroit is like sailing off the end of the Earth, Thomas Page's motto is sardonic and it's for you.
If you're the sort who thinks crossing out of Detroit is like flopping face-first into a tub of Wonder Bread, his motto is serious and it's for you, too.
Best of all, whichever way you read it, you can buy it on a T-shirt and support a good cause.
A few weeks ago, we put out a call for a newer, zippier city motto. Nothing against Speramus meliora; resurget cineribus("We hope for better things; it will arise from the ashes"), but it just doesn't make your heart race when you see it on a bumper sticker. Besides, we've always been good at laughing at ourselves, and in those dark, pre-Cash-for-Clunkers days, that seemed like a particularly good idea.Hundreds of people responded, spurred by civic pride, potential immortality and our promise of cheesy prizes. We heard from boosters, detractors, tractor drivers who don't seem to have ever even been south of Grayling, and even the governor's brother-in-law. We liked the entries so much that we've put the three finalists on the market, with the proceeds bound for our Newspapers in Education program.
Our winning motto-maker was a 60-year-old ex-cop who lives in Brush Park, drives a little red Smart, and likes the volume control on his life turned high.
"Every day is an event in Detroit," Page says. That might mean a Tigers game, and OK, he concedes, it might mean a gunshot. But it's interesting, and that's what inspired ...
Detroit: The Fun Side of 8 Mile
Page wins his own creation on a T-shirt, along with a cheap plastic Detroit News cell phone holder and some other promotional stuff like sticky notes and a keychain. The two runners-up win the same thing, except for the cell phone holder; we only had one of those left.
Maybe Steve Gross of Ypsilanti can turn his Detroit News mini-notebook into cash. He's an auctioneer. He's also a sloganeer, with a list of mottos that included "Kiss the Fist" and "Bribe me. I'm from Detroit."
"I spent all kinds of time on a bunch of them," he says, but his prize-winner just popped into his head:
Detroit: Our School's ain't that bad
Entries tended to fall into several broad categories, including blight, bribery, geography and the Lions. Native Detroiter Ron Maki of Troy, closing in on retirement with the post office, summed up the urban landscape in 11 words:
Detroit: Where you can't find the house you grew up in
Among our other favorites:
Detroit: Don't Try to Win a World War Without It
Mark Sweetman, Los Angeles
Detroit: Because I Can't Afford to Move
Gayle W., Detroit
Detroit: Warming the Globe 'Til 2009
Jim Mulhern, brother of First Gentleman Dan Mulhern
Detroit: Yes, We Possibly Can!
Tinley Daniel, Detroit

nrubin@detnews.com (313) 222-1874

X Marks the Spot:  An anti-Road Bling idea!


Nothing says "don't move here," "don't invest here," "don't visit here," and "don't start a business here" like piles of broken auto glass. Today, I swept up five piles of auto glass (Road Bling) on John R between Edmund and Adelaide. These piles, which were next to the west curb, certainly were the result of auto window smashes that occurred during Tiger games. I called the Central District of the Detroit Police Department and asked for special attention during games. I don't expect any results from this. I wonder if a guerrilla tactic of "X marks the spot" would help. I envision spray painting a big "X" with temporary paint at the sites of broken auto glass. Maybe this would encourage visitors to be vigilant and could encourage the DPD to take this crime seriously.

Update September 25, 2009

Well, I cleaned up five piles of auto glass fragments today.  One was directly in front of the Carola.  One of my building neighbors was victimized.  The other piles were on John R. between Edmund and Alfred.  In addition, there were numerous visible piles on Edmund west of John R.  I can only think that this problem will worsen if the Tigers make the playoffs.

I think insurance companies may be amenable to supporting a grass-roots to combat this problem.  My goal is to have something in place by the Spring of next year.  I wonder if I should wait.

Ernie Harwell speech - did he avoid saying "Detroit?"

Legendary Hall of Fame Detroit Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell gave a moving farewell speech at Comerica Park yesterday. Harwell has announced that he is dying of cancer. He thanked the people of Michigan, saying that he would die in Michigan. He never said the word "Detroit" even when referring to the Tigers. I wonder if he avoided thanking the City of Detroit since the City has been hell-bent on tearing down the old Tiger Stadium. Ernie was one of the supporters of preserving the old stadium.

Posted: Sept. 16, 2009

Detroit Free Press

LETTERS

Focus on the basics to turn city around

I am thrilled to read that Detroit Mayor Dave Bing will concentrate the city's limited resources on providing core services such as public safety and water. I also encourage the mayor to continue the movement toward the privatization of those services that can be handled more efficiently by the private sector.

At the same time, I hope the mayor genuinely considers consolidating some city departments with Wayne County departments. Many areas around the country, including Indianapolis, Nashville and Miami, have consolidated their law enforcement agencies.

Given the abysmal police services provided by the Detroit Police Department and its embarrasingly low homicide clearance rate, in spite of many outstanding officers, I believe it's time to merge the Detroit Police Department and the Wayne County Sheriff's Department.

Thomas Page, Detroit

Hell IS other people

Today's nominee is: Serena Williams

Primary Basis: Her obscenity laced tirade against the line judge during the U.S. Tennis open. Her tirade was followed by a half-hearted smirking apology. She says she "keeps it real" because she's from Compton, California.

Hell IS other people

Today's designee is:

Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina

Primary Basis:

For showing a total lack of class by interrupting the President's address on health care. Wilson yelled out "You lie" while the president was speaking.

September 14, 2009

Hell IS other people

Today's designee is:

Kanye West

Primary Basis:

For rushing the stage at the Video Music Awards while Taylor Swift was accepting an award, and for once again demonstrating that planet earth is too small for his inflated ego.