a2mi - Ed Vielmetti in Ann Arbor

How to add your AADL library card to Google Wallet

It's pretty easy to add your AADL library card to Google Wallet, though there may be minor variations in the process depending on exactly which Android version you have.

First, get an Ann Arbor District Library card and log in to the https://aadl.org web site. Your "My Account" page will have your library card number and a bar code.

Second, take a screen shot of the screen showing your library card. On my phone I did this by pressing the "power" and "volume down" buttons simultaneously. The Google documentation on this feature is here: https://support.google.com/android/answer/9075928?hl=en

Third, open Google Wallet and select the "Add to Wallet" button at the bottom of the screen. The bottom selection on that on my screen is "Photo", captioned "Create a pass using a photo with a barcode or QR code". Select the option to use stored images, select the screen capture you did in step two.

Google Wallet will scan and recognize the bar code, which is in the format "Codabar mod 10". When you go to the library to self-check a book, open Wallet and scan your phone and you're good to go.

(I tried to do the same routine with Samsung Wallet and failed on the first go; there may be other wallets out there where something like this will work.)

Bike Every Park 2024: 102 in the books

I did a field trip to Fuller Park to the Give365 office to pick up my "Visit Every Park" swag for visiting 100 parks. I have biked to each of them (the total is 102 and counting). The loot includes a couple of pins and a first aid kit.

I was told a story of some folks who spent an entire day - 17 hours and 90+ miles - biking to all 162 parks in a single day. Now that's one way to do it! It's going to take me longer than that to get them all.

City of Ann Arbor executive salaries, 2023 - from a FOIA request

The request (2271) reads:

Current Annual Salary and car allowance for each Department Head and member of the City's Executive Team. This request covers each department head and member of the executive team listed on the organizational chart and any member of the City Administrator's Office holding the title of Assistant/Deputy City Administrator.

The provided document covers 14 individuals and can be retrieved from a2docs

https://a2docs.org/view/599

circling the stadium after a Michigan victory over Ohio State, 2023

The aircraft that was circling overhead above Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor after the Michigan football victory over Ohio State is N312ST, a Bell 407 helicopter registered to the Michigan State Police.

ADS-B Exchange has the flight track for ICAO A34FE1, though FlightAware has the tail number blocked.

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=a34fe1

I spotted it in the air and then went to look it up. I have an ADS-B receiver in the attic, and it was easy to pick out this copter from the other planes seen because my receiver had seen more than 1000 messages from it (most aircraft leave the spotting range within 100 messages) and because it the lowest flying aircraft visible to the system.

Protest and police presence at the University of Michigan admin building, 2023-11-17 (updated)

Updated 2023-11-18 after some news comes in. Original post follows.

An occupation of the U of Michigan admin building ("Ruthven") ended on Friday night, 2023-11-17, with arrests. Some news coverage:

MLive "40 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at University of Michigan". Posted 1053a. "Those arrested were processed and released at the scene, said University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security Deputy Chief Melissa Overton, after the demonstrators “forcefully gained access” to a locked administration building that houses the president’s office." MLive coverage quotes law enforcement at the top of the article, references below the fold to the protesters social media accounts.

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/11/40-pro-palestinian-protesters-arrested-at-university-of-michigan.html

MLive "Pro-Palestine protestors force their way into University of Michigan administration building". Posted 852p the night of the protest. "Starting around 4 p.m., Nov. 17, at least 200 protesters rallied inside and outside the Ruthven Administration Building, 1109 Geddes Ave., protesting for the university to divest from Israel." Quotes from University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security Deputy Chief Melissa Overton and university spokesman Rick Fitzgerald.

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/11/pro-palestine-protestors-force-their-way-into-university-of-michigan-administration-building.html

Freep no coverage.

WDIV Channel 4. "U-M students, protesters storm administration building in Ann Arbor with message for school’s president". Relies on unnamed officials for this part of the story: "In a violent wave, officials say pro-Palestinian protestors pushed, shoved, grabbed, and pulled their way past security and police in a violent surge to get inside." With video.

https://www.clickondetroit.com/all-about-ann-arbor/2023/11/18/u-m-students-protesters-storm-administration-building-in-ann-arbor-with-message-for-schools-president/

University of Michigan web site: nothing.

---

Original post 2023-11-17 as the incident was happening:

A protest at the University of Michigan admin building led to protestors occupying the building and the U-M president's office. In response, there is a very heavy police presence.

This is a developing event, and I'm not planning to unpack all of it. But you could start here and find out more.

Broadcastify has a live stream of public safety communications. The alert message posted has this detail:

"[LE/Officer Assist] Protest: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 920 North University, Panic alarms are going off, Over 150 ppl in the Building, They took over the Presidential Suite Admin building (38 minutes ago)"

At its recent peak over 1000 people were listening to the stream.

https://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/32245

Reddit (yeah, Reddit) /r/AnnArbor thread

"What is going on with all the cops heading towards campus right now?"

https://www.reddit.com/r/AnnArbor/comments/17xpv6e/what_is_going_on_with_all_the_cops_heading/

I don't link to threads on X, but you can look up the posts by @geo3550 which have photographs from inside the building. There is nothing specific on the GEO web site though (yet).

https://www.geo3550.org

MLive has nothing at 545p.

Freep has nothing I can see.

All About Ann Arbor? Nil.

University of Michigan web site? Nothing I can see.

Festifools is back in 2024

The news came out a few weeks ago, but just for completeness: Festifools is back for 2024.

CBS Detroit says "Tucker shared that two local artists reached out and offered to fund the event."

https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/festifools-parade-to-make-full-return-to-ann-arbor-in-spring-2024/

The FestiFools Studio page on Facebook says "We've now got dates for our upcoming events in 2024: FoolMoon will be on April 5th and FestiFools takes place on April 7th."

Two sidewalk gaps on the 2023-10-02 Ann Arbor City Council agenda (and a third that should be)

I was very happy to see CA-7 and CA-15 on the city council agenda for 2023-10-02 to close sidewalk gaps. The full meeting agenda has a lot more detail.

The sidewalk along S Main near Pioneer HS is very long overdue, though I expect you'll hear pushback from AAGO members. Anything to improve pedestrian / bicycle safety near the high school is welcomed and necessary. There is a "goat path" in the weeds behind the curb there, and it's a path to the high school and to Michigan Stadium.

The same goes for the Stone School sidewalk, designed to replace a gap between Packard and Eisenhower. There wil probably be pushback from township residents affected. (And why haven't we annexed those township parcels yet?).

Another sidewalk issue of note is on Third St at Krause, where there's a set of steps at the corner which is no where near ADA compliant.

https://seeclickfix.com/issues/1415213

This was first reported in 2014 (!!!) and supposedly is going to get an item on the city Capital Improvement Plan - it has been too big a job to do under the miscellaneous sidewalk improvements part of the CIP, so it's been ignored/neglected except for putting up warning signs.

Southtown Trail - proposed landmarks on the way

From north to south:

• Graydon Park trailhead
• Stadium Bridges underpass
• Stimson Street sidewalk
• Frisinger Park gravel path
• Woodbury Park sidewalk
• Harpst Street cut-through
• Page Avenue
• Esch Avenue
• Esch Park
• King George Blvd
• Clinton Park
• Mary Beth Doyle Park
• I-94 Overpass
• Bicentennial Park (SE Area Park)
• Swift Run Dog Park
• Lillie Park trailhead (Pittsfield Township)

route (approximate only) on Strava:

Ann Arbor Farmers Market report, 15 July 2023

Ann Arbor Farmers Market: Garlic, green onions, green beans, tomatoes, dinosaur kale, basil, blueberries, ham and brie croissant. Also seen but not purchased: apricots, cherries, early plums, peaches, Howell melons, new potatoes.

"Never eat more than you can lift" - Miss Piggy.

Ann Arbor Farmers Market report, 2023-05-06, rhubarb, and rumors of asparagus

At Ann Arbor Farmers Market for Saturday, 2023-05-06.

Rhubarb! From Wasem's. I was tasked with getting two bunches of rhubarb, and succeeded. We have plans for baking.

I also found green onions and a purple daikon radish, and a few croissants from White Lotus.

I am told that there was asparagus, but it vanished soon after it appeared when the market opened at 700a.

Afterwards, a lovely cardamon cortado at Roos.

Market is open again Wednesdays for the summer! Hoping to make it there.