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Comments:
Leighton - 2004-10-20 10:01:54 You must have a lot of ulcers.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 10:12:55 Because...he has to book bands to the bar...? I don't get it. Missing something here.* * * * * * * * * * * * Eric * - 2004-10-20 10:14:06 Wrong reference. Sorry about that.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 10:19:24 (looks askance at Eric *, wonders what he's babbling about). Ikea, Eric *. The topic is Ikea.* * * * * * * * * * * * Green can? - 2004-10-20 10:45:01 So who took the dame metal trash can out of Leforge park anyway. I don't have a target for my beer cap flipping anymore.* * * * * * * * * * * * Dam - 2004-10-20 10:45:33 Dam* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 10:46:36 We're losing focus here, people--stay with me please.* * * * * * * * * * * * Murph - 2004-10-20 10:48:55 *head...hit...keyboard* Of all the big boxes, IKEA is the planner's number one enemy. More than even Walmart, IKEA will tolerate no interference with their plans. They come to the locals with a plan in hand, and if the local planners try to change anything about it, IKEA bails--Walmart is at least willing to bargain: change the architecture a little to fit in more, provide pedestrian access that doesn't involve walking a mile across a parking lot, orient their parking lots so that the driveways have minimal impact on the roadway they're tying into. Ann Arbor will love it, though. I don't know how many times I've heard newbies ask where the closest IKEA is; in the past I've always been able to gleefully say "Chicago".* * * * * * * * * * * * snapdragon - 2004-10-20 10:49:00 Beer cap flipping takes extreme focus.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 10:52:11 Murph: Uh-oh...that's much worse than I thought it would be. How soon before Canton's hideous sprawl and big-box monstrositites spread to and swallow up Ypsi? How many years have I got before the local government bends over for Ikea and eminent-domains me right out of the picture? snapdragon: if you are who I think you are, I'm glad to see you again after your prolonged absence.* * * * * * * * * * * * flipflop - 2004-10-20 10:53:26 Someone gave me a Ikea coffee table for free cause they got a good deal on it. I wanted to leave it in the garage to gather dust but was coerced into assembling it on the back deck in the wind. I almost lost my mind chasing the symbol instructions around the yard canstantly. Then thhe top was bowed and I had to sit on it as I screwed. It don't look that bad though, and holds my finger nail cutter, sewing stuff cigar boxes rather well.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 10:55:37 (good urban-planning expert info, Murph, by the way--I didn't know there were degrees of planning friendliness among the big-boxers, thinking erroneously that they were all universally and equally bad). Wondering: Why is Ikea so rigid?* * * * * * * * * * * * laura as always - 2004-10-20 10:58:57 oops, sorry, flipflop, you beat me to the comments. Funny story; thank you.* * * * * * * * * * * * Wednesday - 2004-10-20 10:59:51 At least the Canton sprawl will make our rotting little Ypsi cabins more charming.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 11:03:37 Now, now, dear Wednesday, there are tons of lovely homes in Ypsi, and even my street of modest 700-square-footers is nice-looking. * * * * * * * * * * * * saltbox - 2004-10-20 11:14:25 700 sq ft makes a good fyer mud room when you add a 7000 sq ft addition. But we can get PETA to stop them. The construction would displace too many mice families* * * * * * * * * * * * foy-yea - 2004-10-20 11:14:56 foyer* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 11:16:06 That's a rather inventive dodge--I'll have to keep that in mind. Equal rights for spiders, too.* * * * * * * * * * * * clawfoot - 2004-10-20 11:17:30 Spidey is over 5 years old now. How he loves the corner by the toilet. He gets so many moths there. I bet he has over 5000 children now.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 11:20:18 "He" has children? Hmm...spiders aren't hermaphroditic, unless I'm mistaken. Is he really 5 years old? (not doubting, just astonished). I had no idea a spider could be so venerable.* * * * * * * * * * * * Phil - 2004-10-20 11:23:23 This is probably one of the best stores I have ever been to. The product is very nice and the prices are amazing. I can see why everyone is excited, honestly.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 11:24:34 Phil, I've never been to the store...don't you have to follow arrows on the floor and move in one direction only? Why is that? That alone would make me swear off the place.* * * * * * * * * * * * Phil - 2004-10-20 11:27:18 Laura you don't have to worry about the Canton sprawl effecting Ypsi. Everyone I know in Canton thinks Ypsi is the ghetto and that is why people are moving there instead of the south side of I-94. I welcome IKEA to Canton since I will drive there and come home to Ypsi while THEY worry about the above issues :)* * * * * * * * * * * * Phil - 2004-10-20 11:28:53 In Chicago and and believe it or not it was one of the coolest things I went to. As far as the arrows, not sure because I walked any and everywhere and did not notice anything odd except the cool designs and the value.* * * * * * * * * * * * Milflover - 2004-10-20 11:29:28 You gotta love all the "screw-me" PANTS IN cANTON THOUGH.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura (laughs) - 2004-10-20 11:30:35 Ah, someone with a good memory, I see. How delightful.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 11:32:38 oh, and Phil: you are right about it being in Canton & that's their headache...but it's still a possible planning nightmare for them, according to what Murph says, and I never like to see heavy-handed corporations like that.* * * * * * * * * * * * DaveD. - 2004-10-20 11:41:55 I like Ikea. Been to the one in Pittsburgh, and the stuff is cheap, functional and minimalist, which pretty much coincides with my outlook on life. As far as Ypsi becoming another Canton? Not..going..to..happen. Peoples misconceptions about Ypsi serve it well by keeping all the burbanites away. * * * * * * * * * * * * Phil - 2004-10-20 11:43:11 I will tell you this, it is like a Cabella's of an attraction. It will draw people to Canton from hours away. The locals will not be happy I can guarantee you that. The person I was in Chicago with makes it a point to visit this store anytime she is in town or near it.* * * * * * * * * * * * Phil - 2004-10-20 11:44:26 "As far as Ypsi becoming another Canton? Not..going..to..happen. Peoples misconceptions about Ypsi serve it well by keeping all the burbanites away". So very true! * * * * * * * * * * * * Lemming - 2004-10-20 11:45:29 Forgive them lord, for they know not what they do..* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 11:45:32 Cabelaburgh used to be a sleepy little historical town called Dundee, with a downtown around the size of Depot Town and a pretty river vista. It was quiet and charming. Of course, that was a long time ago (strokes beard reflectively).* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-10-20 11:49:53 I don't know what Ikea is and I'm not going to look it up. As Jerry Helmer the auctioneer used to say, "Sir, if you don't know what it is, chances are you don't need it."* * * * * * * * * * * * Coho - 2004-10-20 11:50:40 I like the bargain cave. And the asian tourists taking pictures of themselves with the stuffed animals. And of course the turkeyburgers. And all of us need more wristrockets.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 11:52:44 I was there not too long ago. Bought minnows for my pond. The bargain cave is always fun to look through. My favorite item? Chocolates shaped like shotgun shells. Appetizing.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-10-20 11:52:44 I don't know what Ikea is and I'm not going to look it up. As Jerry Helmer the auctioneer used to say, "Sir, if you don't know what it is, chances are you don't need it."* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 11:57:48 That's a good common-sense approach, I'd say. Ikea is a Swedish-furniture store that was kinda edgy, urban, and hip--quite some time ago. Now it's....well, in Canton.* * * * * * * * * * * * Chinook - 2004-10-20 11:57:59 My favorite bargain cave item: The drink mixer powered with a gas weedwhipper engine.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 11:59:39 No way. Stuff like that just makes me glad we're destroying this planet for such good reasons.* * * * * * * * * * * * Harley - 2004-10-20 12:03:49 Probably most of the Dundee area residents gladly welcomed another place to squander disposable income. Good union jobs at the prison nearby. Plus you need a new bassboat and 3-d bear archery target to put in the backyard next to the harley, the pop-up camper, and three non-working snowmobiles. Plus grandma loves those chocolate shotgun shells while grandpa whips up some vodka gimlets in the blue smoke. A harley in the yard beats two in the showroom.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 12:10:21 (snorts with laughter, guesses who this commentor really is)* * * * * * * * * * * * Ifyoucanreadthisthebitchfelloff - 2004-10-20 12:16:40 And lifting that big ring of keys all day at the prison leads to shoulder surgery or two, or three. Then permanent disability ie: more time to hunt, fish and ride the Harley. Doctor said no lifting arm over shoulder height, but the harley handle-bars are less than that. I did 400 miles yesterday!* * * * * * * * * * * * T. S. - 2004-10-20 12:17:54 This is the way the world ends, This is the way the world ends, This is the way the world ends, Not with a bang but with a gas-powered gimlet-whipper.* * * * * * * * * * * * Helmetlawssuck - 2004-10-20 12:20:14 Can I bring it to Larrys Mower Shop when it breaks down?* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 12:21:50 Yes. And don't forget the leaf-blower (grinds teeth).* * * * * * * * * * * * Yew sculpter - 2004-10-20 12:28:23 People that use leaf blowers should have knitting needles slowly pushed into their ears. I love to pop blisters.* * * * * * * * * * * * Skidoo - 2004-10-20 12:29:28 Same goes for waverunner owners* * * * * * * * * * * * addiann - 2004-10-20 12:32:28 lolol, Raymond* * * * * * * * * * * * addiann - 2004-10-20 12:35:12 referring to the Harley comments, not the knitting needles comment, which majorly grosses me out.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 12:35:15 Raymond's in there somewhere...but a lot of new visitors are too; my head is spinning a la a gas-powered gimlet-whipper.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 12:36:26 oops, you beat me to the comments, addiann. Yes, that image made me somewhat queasy, also.* * * * * * * * * * * * 2 cycle - 2004-10-20 12:39:26 It's just punishment for the a-holes that use those things* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 12:45:06 You'd think that watching their kids and grandkids grow up with lead poisoning, asthma, and heavy metal poisoning, Heaven forbid, would be punishment enough. When the aliens are looking around for proof of the stupidity of man, I'll just hand them a gas-powered gimlet-whipper.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-10-20 12:54:40 3rd World Dundee still exists. Go to the auction Saturday at the feed mill. Buy a bundle of quacking ducks. Or a bleating frightened goat. Throw the animals into the trunk of your car or pack 'em in a cardboard box. Take 'em home and chop their heads off. That'll shut 'em up. Mmmm, bar-b-q. 3rd World Canton however seems extinct.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 12:58:14 Nothing wrong with slaughtering your own meat. Some vegetarians (I'm not a vegetarian) say that everyone who eats meat should be forced to kill it themself, and there's something to that.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-10-20 13:05:46 I don't eat meat. I kill my own tomatoes and basil.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 13:07:42 I guess we do kill vegetables to eat them...never thought of it that way. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura again - 2004-10-20 13:15:28 (Interested and flattered to note that the blog is being read at many places this fine October day--at the Wyandotte Library, over at Ford, at the U-M Hospital--a bit weird somehow to imagine the little green screen of Ypsidixit appearing hither and yon. At any rate).* * * * * * * * * * * * totaltestosterone - 2004-10-20 14:29:33 http://www.gasblender.com/ http://www.totallygross.com/ For those that thought I might make this %&$(&% up......* * * * * * * * * * * * Gimlet - 2004-10-20 14:31:58 At only 10 lbs., the Totally Portable TailGator� sports a 24cc 2-stroke engine which generates enough torque to whip up a pitcher of your favorite frozen beverage in just about 15 seconds. Its 60 oz. plastic pitcher is light-weight and detachable for easy pouring and clean-up. Now, could making girlie drinks be any more manly? * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 14:32:41 Unbelievable. The blender tagline says, "Every now and then, a product comes along that makes you proud to be a guy!" Yah.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 14:36:40 "girlie drinks"?! Heaven help us. I do, admittedly, for a special occasion, treat myself to one of the Sidetrack's wonderful margueritas. Not because it's a "girlie drink." Just because they're so good. One wonders what a "little boy's drink" might be.* * * * * * * * * * * * formerlonleyguy - 2004-10-20 14:37:12 Imagine, you're at a pro football tailgate party or in the infield of the Daytona 500 or even just out camping. You decide it's about time to have a margarita and make some new friends. So, you whip out the party supplies and your Totally Portable TailGator�. You'll never be lonely again. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura's sorely tempted by this ad quote, but... - 2004-10-20 14:40:33 a. I'd go to a football game over my dead body b. why would I want to attract people who would lack sufficient judgement to refrain from drinking some concoction a total stranger whipped up c. relationships originated and forged via alcohol might not be the most lasting or satisfying ones.* * * * * * * * * * * * lastbutnotleast - 2004-10-20 14:47:29 http://www.cafepress.com/ybiaw.6601327* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 14:49:58 Perfect. Ypsidixit's adventurous friend's birthday is coming up. Next August. Hopefully I'll have forgotten about this little gem by then.* * * * * * * * * * * * vvvrrroooommm.. - 2004-10-20 14:51:25 The tailgator will be much better anyway.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura, examining the TailGator - 2004-10-20 14:53:20 "Each time you fire it up for someone new, the reaction is always the same... first total disbelief, and then the belly-laughs. Finally, the light clicks on and they start rambling about all of its practical uses." Later, much later, as the smoke rises from an apocalypse-charred, oil-drained wasteland where there was once a verdant Earth--look! Something's whirring! Over there! Why, it's a TailGator, polluting the last free square inch of air as it mixes up a margarita for no one. The End.* * * * * * * * * * * * Leforge dam - 2004-10-20 14:59:56 Who took the dam metal garbage can????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????* * * * * * * * * * * * stillthere5years later - 2004-10-20 15:01:42 Who threw the microwave off the Superior rd bridge into the water?* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-10-20 15:38:02 Is the microwave afloat? Does it pose a danger to watercraft? Where do people think they are, anyway? Ypsilanti? * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 15:40:05 And a microwave has nasties in it too, nicely leaching into the water maybe.* * * * * * * * * * * * toxicman - 2004-10-20 15:45:11 The microwave is half showing. AT the northside of bridge. East side too. I bumped into it with my watercraft and tried to pull it out. But the mighty Hurons muck won't give it up.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 15:49:48 The most thought-provoking comment I've heard recently about throwing stuff away is that "there is no 'away'". Just that one comment made me stop using paper cups at work and bring a travel mug instead.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-10-20 16:03:37 I miss dumps. When I was a kid up north the town dump was a major attraction. If you were a lucky kid you'd get a glimpse of the hermit who lived out there. Watch out for bears, though, and bring your .22 to plink rats. The dump out by Howell was nice, too. You could drop stuff off and bring stuff home. I used to use my dad's beautiful '56 Ford pickup to go out there with my neighbor, the assistant superintendant of schools. His wife was a fun drunk. I was reading last week about a fire in the Ypsi city dump in 1961. The smoke was so bad on the "US-12 Expressway" that a multi-car crash resulted in one fatality. Thirteen cars, I recall. I took stuff out to Salem before it was a mountain. I hauled many loads to Rawsonville Road in my old '69 Ford 1-ton van. Roofing material, even. What a mess. Can't do either anymore. When I was involved in a South Grove clean-up effort in the mid-80s, Andy Smith brought a C-60 dump which we filled. He drove around for half a day trying to find a place to unload the crap. He ended having to shell out a few hundred bucks up in Salem. He was a fine man, devoted to Ypsilanti. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-20 16:10:47 When I was doing some informal research on Michigan Superfund sites I saw quite a number of them are former town dumps. I understand what you mean, though, and can see the appeal, especially the chance to find something re-useable.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-10-20 16:24:30 ...and curiously, Andy Smith (A&F Smith Electric) was an electrician. He and another old guy had been out cutting weeds around town one day, playgrounds and such, just to keep the town looking nice. They decided to break for lunch. Andy found that the microwave oven wouldn't work. He tried to fix it. He was electrocuted. Maybe it's that same microwave out there in the river, burbling up to the surface for Halloween.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-21 09:12:26 I've sworn off microwaves I'm afraid...just the gas oven-stove is enough for me.* * * * * * * * * * * * Murph - 2004-10-21 16:55:34 Sheesh--this is quite the thread. Laura, IKEA is the most opportunistic of the big boxes; they'll swoop in on the towns that are desperate for development, saying, "We'll bring shoppers to your town from a hundred miles around!" (Unspoken followup--"because we'll have to go twice that far to find another town stupid enough to let us build our next store!") This usually flashes dollar signs in the municipalities beady little eyes, and IKEA says, "But first, we'll need a property tax abatement, we'll need you to lobby the state government to give us additional tax abatements (the Elizabeth (Newark) IKEA has its own little sales-tax-abatement zone; I think the sales tax for that store and the Toys-R-Us across the parking lot is 1/3 the state's regular sales tax), and you'll need to rubber stamp this site plan sight unseen." For all of these concessions, the local government gets to host a big ugly blue corrugated metal box, a ridiculous parking lot (hey, if you expect shoppers to drive from hours away, you'll need *lots* of pavement!), often new traffic lights to serve the parking lot entrance, lots of extra truck traffic, and a whole passel of new low-wage, low-skill jobs. Hooray for IKEA!* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-21 16:57:55 Wow. That's a side of the issue that's new to me, and very informative. The municipality would have to pay for the traffic light, I take it. I seem to remember the one they put up at Huron High School was $80,000. Phew. Thanks for the info, Murph.* * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2004-10-21 17:12:23 Murph, We had an IKEA come in just a few months ago, and it's been GREAT for our city. Our local paper was heavily involved in bringing all of the issues into the open, forcing our city government to bargain with IKEA to sweeten the deal. IKEA compromised on a lot of things; for one, the property they bought has an "historic" (but BUTT-UGLY) building on it. They saved the building and re-sited theirs. They worked the road around in the direction the city wanted it. They changed the orientation of the parking lot. They offered courses at our local community college, and they stuck to their word about hiring locals. The jobs aren't what I would want, but it all depends on how unskilled your labor force is (ours is VERY unskilled; many haven't ever held a job -- the local courses on "how to be an employee" were great for them). Not everyone is cut out for a "good" job. Plus, they're supplying our city wtih much-needed tax revenue, and yes, a lot of people do come in from out of state to shop here, which seems to have been helping local businesses (which aren't as far away as in some cities). Plus, they took a site that was already light industrial and looked like hell -- the blue box isn't any worse. I think it's unfair to say that IKEA is always bad. I would say that part of whether or not they are bad depends on the local planners and how much IKEA wants to be in that location. I'm not much into Sweedish modern, but they do have nice plants and inexpensive window coverings, rugs, and kitchen-ware. I'd much rather shop there than at a lot of other places, and unless we're going to rid ourselves entirely of box stores, on the whole, I'm glad IKEA is here.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-21 19:05:21 I think that is a good and much-needed alternative viewpoint; thanks Anna. You mention lots of valid good points to the store--at least, to the one in your neighborhood. I note that the newspaper probably played a key role in informing the citizens about the issues and ultimately leveraging the changes, reminding me of the comment Eric * made the other day about a paper's primary function being to inform its readers about such local community issues (hope I'm not misrepresenting what E * said). * * * * * * * * * * * * Tuesday - 2004-10-23 13:29:30 But I don't think the Canton Gazette, or whatever it's called is qoing to quite go that far. Canton is a hole where rational, free thought is lost for all eternity. Canton is full of Sheeple. White trash with a little bit of cash. (I apologize to anyone stuck in Canton that is not like this)* * * * * * * * * * * * add your comment: |