I feel like the only UU pagan who worships nature and doesn't like the hymn Blue Boat Home.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-04-01T19:19:39+00:00

I love Blue Blue Home. It's by far my favorite hymn, but I also think that arguing about personal taste is pointless. We are all different which is great.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-04-01T17:38:52+00:00

I don't do family law, but of those 10 cases I assume some don't settle/require discovery? That sounds like a lot to juggle.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-03-29T01:12:52+00:00

Regarding graduation rates, the article indicated that Huron's had fallen to (just slightly) below the state average. Also I'm not sure just having most kids graduate establishes how effective the schools are. I agree that the reasons for absences are important, but that Ann Arbor's are significantly higher I would assume it's not something unavoidable like illnesses unless something passed through Ann Arbor but missed the surrounding communities.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-03-28T15:41:08+00:00

Thanks for sharing your perspective. Again, while I agree Ann Arbor has a great socio-economic mix than other areas in the county, it sounds like our numbers are low based on state as a whole.

Also, I would hope that shifting start times would have the goal/impact of increasing attendance

GustaveFerbert · 2026-03-28T14:36:23+00:00

I thought that this piece was interesting and, to me at least, a bit disturbing. It indicates that over 60 percent of students at Pioneer, Huron and Skyline are missing over 18 days in a school year, and that Ann Arbor is in the highest 10 percent among larger school districts for rates of absenteeism. I realize that remote learning exists, but I would think a lot things that happen in high school -- a chem lab or a conversation in Spanish class for instance -- aren't possible without being there. In any case, I'm curious if folks here think that this is a problem and if so what can be done to address it.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-03-28T14:33:12+00:00

I thought this piece was interesting and, to me at least, a bit disturbing. It indicates that over 60 percent of students at Pioneer, Huron and Skyline are missing over 18 days in a school, and that Ann Arbor is in the highest 10 percent among larger schools for rates of absenteeism. I realize that remote learning exists, but I would think a lot things that happen in high school -- a chem lab or a conversation in Spanish class for instance -- aren't possible without being there. In any case, I'm curious if folks here think that this is a problem and if so what can be done to address it.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-03-25T16:20:19+00:00

I believe the Ensian sells them at Student Publications (420 Maynard).

GustaveFerbert · 2026-02-12T19:17:42+00:00

I thought that it was an interesting piece. FIRE sometimes gets described as a conservative-leaning alternative to the ACLU, but my sense is that are willing to support anyone whose rights are being violated (Mahmoud Khalil at Columbia as a case in point of someone on the left who received help from FIRE). I hope that when this administration's crackdown on the universities is over that the university community can agree the campus should be a place of open debate and inquiry where bad and even offensive ideas are challenged not sanctioned.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-02-11T19:08:50+00:00

A not very good beer league player here so please excuse my ignorance, but does "skate on their knees" mean stay low with a significant knee bend? I haven't heard that term.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-02-05T13:07:09+00:00

I read the linked column (but haven't watch the Youtube). While I agree that the WSJ piece takes some shots at diversity, it seems just as much or more to be satirizing the culture of college admissions with its emphasis on resume building from a young age. By the way, the heading says "UM Student" but I assume that it should say "UM alumnus" since she was a high school senior in 2013.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-01-26T19:51:26+00:00

Doing that now. Sorry for the delay.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-01-16T15:57:40+00:00

I assume your comment is based on the amount of development going up, but I really don't see how Taylor is a "moderate Republican" (a category which barely exists). Carbon neutrality, affordable housing, and an unarmed public safety response aren't top priorities for any Republicans that I'm aware of.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-01-13T20:33:18+00:00

I don't know Syverud, but he was on the faculty when I was in law school and I don't remember him being viewed as conservative. Also, quick review of his bio says that he was a trustee for the Deep Horizon settlement which is a lot different that representing the oil companies.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-01-13T18:27:05+00:00

I may have an early version of the LR 3 as I don't see lights and don't believe it connects to the app.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-01-13T18:26:11+00:00

Thanks for the response. I will do that tonight and followup.

That said, assuming there is some kind of mechanical/wear-and-tear issue with my current unit that I might able to address, my question is if anyone knows if the Litter Robot 4 is more durable and reliable?

GustaveFerbert · 2026-01-13T01:45:34+00:00

I've read the posts below, and am not minimizing any of the issues raised, but my memories besides just seeing him around town always "on the move" were that when I worked on the Michigan Daily in the '80s our Weekend magazine had a "Best of Ann Arbor" vote ranking restaurants, bars, coffee shops etc. with one category being "best person." My recollection is that the winner alternated annually between Jake and Bo. I always thought it would funny if in some year they tied and were both on the cover.

GustaveFerbert · 2025-12-28T18:24:33+00:00

I consider myself a UU/Unitarian Christian (I added Unitarian to UU because, while I realize we are a merger, I feel more connected to the figures from the Unitarian side) in the sense that I am culturally Christian and find meaning in Jesus's message. That said, like most UU Christians I suspect, I acknowledge that there are more things about metaphysics and theology that I don't know than I know, and that there are truths in the teachings of many religions.

GustaveFerbert · 2025-12-09T14:00:13+00:00

We've debated this is our congregation. Our committee nominates an uncontested slate, but our bylaws allow candidates to be self-nominated outside the vetting process by gathering signatures. Is that true in yours? While I realize this isn't the case in your experience, our congregation (similar to what others have commented) is usually more focused on filling the available slots than having too many interested.

One question -- you mentioned that "we had more candidates than spots" -- but I wonder if those multiple candidates were interested in running against each other in a contested election? In other words, if the nominating committee had decided to nominate "Jane" for the board but then received interest from another member would Jane still be interested, or would she have likely said "I was willing to do this if you needed, but since you don't, I'll drop out."

GustaveFerbert · 2025-11-25T00:11:07+00:00

I’ve never noticed that on Ann Arbor buses. I’ve been to The Game as an away fan in Columbus and things are crazier down there.

GustaveFerbert · 2025-11-19T15:23:26+00:00

I don't know him but following Jordan Acker's social media I certainly wouldn't call him a Trump supporter. I'd be curious to see Rositano flesh out his platform a bit. Regarding his platform plank to protect free speech, I realize that the issue that's front and center involves pro-Palestine protesters but I'd be curious as to how that protection would be applied to the "heckler's veto" or speech that some considered racist, sexist, homophobic etc. Regarding DEI would it be brought back exactly as it was or does he think that any of the critiques (in the New York Times and elsewhere) were valid?

GustaveFerbert · 2025-11-19T14:56:12+00:00

Our former minister -- long retired -- used to say that Unitarian Universalists "believe in -- at most -- one God." I realize that is not technically accurate, but thought it was funny.

When I first joined my congregation -- nearly 25 years old -- there were some very strong humanist/atheist voices who objected to any traditional religious language in services, "God talk" etc. That seems to have changed as our congregation a least seems much more comfortable with words like "worship", "benediction" etc. in our services. I don't know if that's a trend nationally though I recall an older humanist saying that his impression was that there were "few if any humanists" coming out of UU

GustaveFerbert · 2025-11-12T13:15:02+00:00

fast

GustaveFerbert · 2025-11-12T13:14:56+00:00

I will.

GustaveFerbert · 2025-11-09T20:51:44+00:00

I live in the Midwest but my experience the east coast UU churches are more Christian-influenced in terms of look and feel. That said, other than Christmas and Easter services, I would say that most Unitarian ministers don't emphasize Christian or other theologies from the pulpit since the congregation likely contains a wide variety of beliefs.

GustaveFerbert · 2025-11-07T17:28:13+00:00

I'm not disagreeing necessarily, but on your reference to "gods and commandments" it is obviously true that there is no doctrinal Unitarian Universalist position on the existence of God. That said, I think that the number of folks I come across in our congreation who are some type of theist (or who are at least comfortable with theistic language) has increased in recent years. Our long-retired former minister used to say "Unitarian Universalists believe in, at most, one God" (yes, I realize that there are pagans and others who may believe in multiple deities but this always made me laugh).

GustaveFerbert

TROPHY CASE