Concentrate Media is a website and email newsletter that's put out by the Issue Media Group. They…read moredo half a dozen of these for different metro areas, and Concentrate is the one for Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County. I subscribe to the newsletter and like it a lot. It's colorful and fun and packed full of local business news. I got onto the newsletter mailing list when I was job-hunting, but I continue to subscribe because they have a lot of fun features about cool local businesses and fun places to shop and eat in addition to having a list of businesses that are expanding and/or hiring. Each week, in addition to their major business news stories, they feature a city or town in Washtenaw County and give a few recommendations for places to eat, drink and shop. This is how I found several cool places in Saline and Dexter to shop or eat at, so I've already gotten a lot of value out of the newsletter.

WCBN is the University of Michigan's non-commercial freeform radio station that's run by students…read more What they focus on is bringing things on the radio that you normally wouldn't hear on other stations. My favorite night is late Saturday nights, they usually play some excellent hip hop if you catch it at the right time. By "nomally wouldn't hear", I'm not talking about an obscure noise/basement medley/karaoke cover/whatever-else-obscure 24/7 (though maybe sometimes) fest. For instance, just giving it a listen randomly, they were going over some local events (big kid kickball!) inbetween Kraftwerk and Jean Grae. Currently, my good friend Dustin does Freeform on Thursday nights. He knows a lot about music and is a local musician. I've learned a lot about local music and much more through him, and thanks to him I've opened my scope to being more than a hip hop head. Once, he created an entire playlist for me on my birthday -- one of the coolest birthday gifts, ever. I've also taken a walk through the station itself. It's a great place adorned with decades of history on the walls -- Post-Its, scribbin', photos -- along with a well-loved couch and tech stuff like turntables, cassette decks, reel to reels, amps. Those walls are totally made to house sound. If you're curious about a certain DJ, they playlists are posted online. You can also connect through their website -- no need to sit in the car with the top down and an Icee.

Detroit Auto Scene advertises itself as "The Oldest Free newspaper in the United States." It still…read morehas a distinctly old-fashioned flavor to it. The layout is a bit cramped and gray on the inside, but the reporting is pretty good, especially if you're into cars. I picked up a July edition for free while I was waiting to be served at a restaurant and enjoyed a package of stories and lots of photos on the centennial of the Model T. They also ran stories about what's new at the Woodward Dream Cruise this year, the exhibit of an amphibious vehicle that, like a James Bond creation, can drive on land or double as a motorboat and other automotive news specific to the greater Detroit area. Detroit might not be the automotive giant that it was in its heyday, but the Detroit Auto Scene showcases the fact that there's still interesting auto news coming out of the Motor City.

Not the nicest household. Showed up to their house looking for mike. But I didn't see him at all…read more Their psycho daughter who thinks her dog dog loves her the most more than her parents combined. FYI dog dog is a stuffed animal that their insane (again) daughter has had for years (don't ask how I know). Just to reiterate the daughter is the worst but the son is a cool guy. The Mom is kind soul who respects us but looked weird at me from the window. They have a nice real dog that's super cute that brings the rating up. Otherwise would be a -1 star rating.

Just read Alfred R.'s review of Mike Tirico's performance on ESPN. Mike lives in Ann Arbor. Ann…read moreArbor has been rated the best place to live in America many times. These ratings include how well a city treats and provides for minorities of all kinds. I have lived and worked in Ann Arbor most of my adult life. Ann Arbor is probably the most politically correct city in America. If Mike was a racist he would have been drummed out of town a long time ago. Alfred, you have to look at the big picture. In the NFL the percentage of black skilled-position players compared to the percentage of all non-black skilled-position players is much higher than the percentage of all black people as a percentage of the total American population. Some of these black players arose from disadvantaged families and neighborhoods. With big money, fame, and temptation around all the time some of these players screw up. The media focus on these players much more than on non-black players whose personal lives have far fewer problems of interest to fans and thus to the media. It is all about ratings. Most of the personal problems of all NFL players are due to bad judgement and immoral behavior, and are NOT DUE TO MISTAKES. Fumbling the football is a mistake. Committing murder and beating up your wife or girlfriend are conscious, immoral decisions made ahead of the act.