Feature: Mitt 'n Caboodle

Michigan has, fairly or not, found itself in the media crosshairs, playing the role of America's Recession Case Study. As national unemployment numbers reached double digits, Michiganders had long been there.

The news around the state may be bleak, but it doesn't change exactly how much the state has to offer. Many states can offer cultural diversity, distinct agriculture, or beautiful landscape. Michigan is one of those areas that offer all of those. Detroit has some incredibly breathtaking architecture. It's just a shame many of those buildings are abandoned.

As the former automotive capital of the world tries to rebuild its economy and reinvent its image, the writers of Mitt'n Caboodle will discuss Michigan topics and why occurrences in the Wolverine State matter at all to the rest of the country.

Joanne Huspek runs a business in Royal Oak with her husband, and Matt Sussman is an unemployed blogger/techie in Ann Arbor.

Columnists

Joanne Huspek

Matthew T. Sussman

Articles in this feature

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• Dear Mr. Obama: Here’s a Real War You Can Wage

  A war on unemployment would be a much better crusade than warring with everyone else.

  Opinion by Joanne Huspek — on Oct 23, 2009

• State Budget Escapades, or Me and Marie

  Emailing your state representative may be an escapade, but it's no friend pool.

  Opinion by Joanne Huspek — on Oct 12, 2009

• Budget Woes: Michigan State Fair Bites the Dust After 160 Years

  The Michigan State Fair is the latest casualty in these tenuous economic times.

  Opinion by Joanne Huspek — on Sep 07, 2009

• First Family’s Summer Vacation Ends Up Dissin’ the Mitten

  Michigan retains its crown as the poor stepchild of vacationing presidents.

  Satire by Joanne Huspek — on Aug 25, 2009

• Pedestrian in Michigan

  The oddity of public walking in Southeastern Michigan.

  Opinion by Joanne Huspek — on Aug 05, 2009

• Michigan Drives Me Crazy, Doesn't Use Blinker

  If the state needs a new stereotype, let's work toward "safe drivers."

  News by Matthew T. Sussman — on Aug 05, 2009

• Buick Open’s Last Dance a Swan Song for Warwick Hills

  So long, Buick Open. Michigan will miss you.

  Opinion by Joanne Huspek — on Aug 01, 2009

• John Conyers: Lazy, Illiterate or Just Full of Chutzpah? You Make the Call

  John Conyers comes clean. He doesn't read and it sounds like he can't or won't.

  Opinion by Joanne Huspek — on Jul 29, 2009

• My Junk is Not That Interesting

  A visit to the World's Largest Garage Sale results in a revelation.

  Opinion by Joanne Huspek — on Jul 20, 2009

• Deadly Car/Train Accident: Driving is Not a Right

  Driving a car is a privilege, not a right.

  Opinion by Joanne Huspek — on Jul 13, 2009

• Restaurant Closures: Another Sign of Our Faltering Economy

  Restaurants all over the country are biting the dust as the recession continues.

  Opinion by Joanne Huspek — on Jul 02, 2009

• The Zen of Dirt

  Weeding the garden — not a chore but the Zen of dirt.

  Opinion by Joanne Huspek — on Jun 06, 2009

• Squeezing Blood From a Turnip: Small Town Royal Oak Hires Big Guns to Ensure a Steady Flow of Tax Cash

  Michigan turns Vampira and hires crack legal team to suck out our blood, er, tax dollars.

  Opinion by Joanne Huspek — on May 05, 2009

• Michigan’s Economic Contraction: A Case Study for the Other 49

  The rest of the country should take a look at the Mitten State and learn from our failure.

  Opinion by Joanne Huspek — on Apr 12, 2009

• Life is Just a Dance with Death

  Dance well.

  Opinion by Joanne Huspek — on Mar 24, 2009

• Kelly Abdo and How Not to Sleep with a Student

  At the very least, don't do it in the car.

  Opinion by Matthew T. Sussman — on Feb 14, 2009

• Looking at the World From the Top of the Bottom of the Barrel

  It's not so easy being at the bottom of the barrel, but at least you can look up.

  Opinion by Joanne Huspek — on Jan 25, 2009

• The Next Big Ripple in the Housing Crisis

  Tax foreclosures may be the next big ripple in the financial crisis to affect us all.

  Opinion by Joanne Huspek — on Jan 10, 2009

• Fall From Grace: Mayor Pleads Guilty

  Hallelujah! Kwame's gone. Now let's get to healing Detroit.

  News by Joanne Huspek — on Sep 04, 2008

• Hip Hop Mayor Goes to Jail, and the Angels Still Refuse to Sing

  Kwame goes to jail today, and things slide from worse to worser.

  Opinion by Joanne Huspek — on Aug 07, 2008