Red Pill

iTablet? Macbook Touch? iMac Tablet? My guess is iBook!

Looks like my prediction is coming true, the new "Tablet" Mac will be in direct competition with the Kindle from Amazon. Yet no one seems to be calling it "iBook" yet. We shall see!

Ten New Details on the Apple Tablet | iLounge Backstage

Project M Detroit - (Part 2) Myths and Realities

The first few days in Detroit were tough on everyone. The unknown of what living and working in the center of Detroit would be like for the next two weeks was looming in the air. Wayne State University and CCS were on summer break when we arrived, adding to the general feeling of desolation. Besides a quick visit to 5e Gallery where many young locals gather for music and art, the night was earily quiet. I expected to hear sirens and thump'in bass, but we mostly only heard crickets and night creatures. It sounded like rural Alabama in the middle of summer.

The first day in the lab at CSS we decided to set out to see the city together. We explored the old Hudson's warehouse which was originally the home of Packard Automobiles until 1956. We ventured into neighborhoods that looked like ghost towns. Littered with crumbling buildings, thugs on some corners but mostly vast swathes of emptiness. We also took in some high culture from Detroit's grand past, we visited the DIA to experience Diego Rivera's "Detroit Industry" mural, followed by some Eastern Market Coney Island hot dogs. 

Soon we had the M'er split up to explore separate neighborhoods on their own, gathering anything that contributed to making each place unique. Interviewing locals, taking photos, and gathering artifacts while immersing themselves in the local culture.

One of the M'ers landed a ride to a local Coney Island and a free lunch, while another drank shots of Seagram's and played a game of horseshoes with some thugish fellows. The M'ers each challenged themselves to look past the myths that surrounded Detroit and break through perceived barriers to get to the real core of Detroit. They met many interesting and unique individuals who were mostly warm and inviting, not the expected result. On this breakthrough day, everyone felt empowered, doing something that they wouldn't normally do. 

Riding the high from a productive day the M'ers decided to meet up and go shopping for groceries. Armed with a new confidence they let their guard down and left a couple of backpacks in the back seat of their car. Fifteen minutes later they had a Detroit reality slap them in the face. Their bags where swiped, containing two laptops and a camera which where probably part of the local economy within an hour.

True, this could happen in any city, and yes they shouldn't have left bags sitting out in plain site. But when you have a crime happen to you in Detroit it becomes part of the myth, locals react with comments like, "Welcome to the D!" and "At least they left the car". It's as if there's a grand script titled "the Detroit Myth", and everyone from the media to the locals rich and poor, white and black know their lines.

5e Gallery

Sicari, owner 5e Gallery.

M Lab at CCS

Diego Rivera's "Detroit Industry" mural
 

Local from Mexican Town

The Russell Industrial Complex
 

 

The old Hudson's warehouse. Yes that is a bus on the second floor.

Project M Detroit - (Part 1) Two weeks later.

I thought I would be able to post on the Red Pill everyday while I was conducting Project M in Detroit, not even close, I didn't get a single posting in! From the second I set foot in my hometown I was over run with responsibility and the pain of transitioning away from clients. I left Detroit ten years ago, and though I've returned many times the city seemed completely new to me this trip. Maybe it's because we were based in Corktown, or the fact that we explored many places that I had never visited while growing up here. Mostly I think it was because the city itself seemed deserted, many parts completely void of people.  

Since I have thousands of photos and many stories I'm going to break this up into as many postings as it takes to tell our story.

So here it is...

The first thing we did as a group was meet up at Slows BBQ, famous in Detroit not only for the best BBQ but also for the simple fact that they chose Corktown as their home. Void of businesses and people, Slows relies on a steady stream of clients from the burbs, with some locals mixed in. The fence around back is made from repurposed wood from an abandoned home. Owner Phil Cooley is regarded as a Saint by most of the locals we talked to, donating time, and money to the community, plus some spectacular Q. Besides a few Irish bars in the vicinity, Slows is pretty much alone on the former strip that catered to the old Tiger Stadium. I'm puzzled as to why there aren't more businesses riding the success of Slows, filling up the vacancies surrounding their little oasis.

Next we went to our new home base at 1414 Bagley where we accidently set off the house alarm. Police promptly arrived at the front door, along with the owner's brother and a few neighbors. Our street felt unsafe until this very moment, when we experienced a true community that looked out for one another, watching each others backs. Corktown is an oasis with a post apocalyptic back drop, empty streets and crumbling buildings in every direction. After a second visit from the police and a call from the owner, Project M was fully moved in and we knew immediately that this was going to be a life experience that will never be forgotten. Much more to come...

Project M Detroit Blog

Metropolis Article

Welcome to Corktown..

Final remains of the old Tiger stadium.

 

 

The abandoned Train Depot looming over Corktown.

 

View down Michigan Ave.

Slows BBQ

Doug, Jory, Achille, Mark, Jen and Jasen. Project M (Midwest)