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Beyond the poll: join the "shop local" conversation

Submitted 10-11-2011 under OPINION

Normally the weekly Rapidian poll is designed to stand on its own: created for fun, to offer an idea for quiet consideration, or to encourage brief exchanges between fellow Rapidians. This time though, I want to personally encourage everyone to use...

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Long live the People's Mic

Submitted 10-11-2011 under OPINION

A headline in the Sunday, Oct. 9 Grand Rapids Press, published hours after Occupy Grand Rapids held its first general assembly, read: “Occupy Michigan Street may be next,” with the subheading: “Protestors gather in GR to brainstorm...

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Occupy Grand Rapids in context

Submitted 10-08-2011 under OPINION

Occupy Wall Street is in its third week in New York City, with sister movements popping up in solidarity all over the country, including right here in Grand Rapids. In this past week, over 800 peaceful occupiers were arrested and...

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On the Eve of Protest; An Open Letter to the City of Grand Rapids

Submitted 10-07-2011 under OPINION

On the Eve of Protest; An Open Letter to the City of Grand Rapids:  In regards to the upcoming "Occupy Grand Rapids" campaign, I believe that our city has a great opportunity to once again prove to the rest of the world what our...

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Why we do what we do: categorization on The Rapidian

Submitted 10-06-2011 under OPINION

It’s been over two weeks since The Rapidian relaunched, high time we start talking about what we did and why we did it. This is the first part in a brief series of recaps detailing recent technical changes on The Rapidian, both behind the...

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Grand opening for Nourish Organic Market set for Saturday

Submitted 10-06-2011 under OPINION

Wondering how to buy food locally, but not sure where to start? Look no further than Nourish Organic Market. Located at 634 Wealthy St SE, Nourish sells products that are organic and locally produced. Here you will find items from Michigan farms...

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Local manufacturing workers react to Austin Bunn's "RUST"

Submitted 10-04-2011 under OPINION

"It was a good run," said Marty Green, former employee of the General Motors Metal Fabrication plant in Wyoming, Mich. Marty sums up much of the sentiment radiating from "RUST." Namely, that the era of Michigan-as-titan-of-industry—of sweaty, hard-...

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What does this year's Top 10 say about our public?

Submitted 10-03-2011 under OPINION

Let me first clarify by saying that I realize the term public is general and does not directly represent the many who didn’t participate in the ArtPrize hullabaloo. If all of Grand Rapids cast their votes for what they deemed “good...

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Art and dying cities: What does “Top Ten” really mean?

Submitted 10-03-2011 under OPINION

ArtPrize: This event opens many cans of worms for me from the nature of art (and craft) to the value of success. I’m questioning the concept and the nature of the Top Ten. In this article, I ask the question: How do Top Ten lists come to be,...

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RUST: A sympathetic portrait of post-industrial Michigan

Submitted 10-02-2011 under OPINION

If the stories of individuals impacted by the closing of the Wyoming General Motors plant were not told with the actual words of those interviewed, Austin Bunn’s play RUST could be reduced to a narrative of nostalgia or fatalism...

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