Detroit becoming an "artist's haven, hipster's hotspot" says LA Times

Downtown Detroit could perhaps evolve into something interesting but only if they do something about all those icky, nasty neighborhoods (and the people that live in them) that surround it.

"Yet Detroit is evolving," says the LA Time's Andrew Bender, "not unlike late 1990s downtown Los Angeles. Cheap rents and an urban pioneering spirit are attracting young artists, and new restaurants, nightspots and even urban farms are serving this growing community and its hipster fans. It's still the early days, but change is palpable, even to the casual visitor."


Yeah well we've seen this sort of thing before Mr. Bender. The last time Detroit had a cultural renaissance back in the 1960's all the artistes and their parasites moved off to Los Angeles and New York  just as fast as their checks cleared. I'm not trying to be a buzz-kill here but there needs to be a sobering reminder of how things go in real life injected into this fog of optimism.

Detroit Lions fan objects to Nickleback as Thanksgiving Day game half-time entertainment

The Lions are doing well right now (6-2 as this is written). But a new controversy has arisen! Some fan boy objects to Nickleback being the half-time entertainment at the annual Thanksgiving Day Lions home game at Ford Field.

"..[A]n online petition has emerged" reports Rolling Stone, "to protest this year's Lions Turkey Day game. Specifically, some fans are clamoring for the team to take back its offer to have Nickelback perform as the game's halftime entertainment. What, no Stevie Wonder, Bob Seger, Eminem, Aretha, Kid Rock?"

Well, yes we have those musically talented Detroiters and more. But still considering all Detroit's problems right now isn't this a silly kerfuffle? And what did the Roman sage Juvenal say about people being distracted from real issues by bread & circuses?  I can't remember and I don't speak Latin but as sci-fi writer and populist philosopher Robert Anson Heinlein is reputed to have said: "Once the monkeys learn they can vote themselves bananas, they'll never climb another tree." Now ain't that the truth.