Grayling White Boys

Grayling Middle School 7th & 8th Grade White Boys Basketball will play Kalkaska in Kalkaska

-Crawford County Avalanche, 12/12/2009

The Grayling middle school boys basketball team has inadvertently initiated serious discussions about race in the city of Grayling, demographically over 96% white. For days now, the local newspaper has been receiving letters to the editor in protest of the teams name, the Grayling White Boys. Many community members defend of the name, which they consider a classification system based on the schools colors.

In the '90's, the Middle School basketball teams were dubbed "Team A" and "Team B." According to John Smock, these names did not cause any controversy. The names were later changed to "White Boys" and "Green Boys" by the school principal, who wanted the team names to reflect the school colors. "Most people feel that was a great idea, including myself," says Smock, supporter of the name change. Frustrated with the accusations of racism, the former coach writes, "Is that all people have to do is find something wrong with every little thing?"

Despite the controversy, the game will go on: the Grayling White boys play Kalkaska next Monday at 5pm, in Kalkaska.

X-treme sustainability

Here on Old Lake road, Phyllis and I take sustainability seriously. We are always aware of our ecological footprint, and given constant, unavoidable reminders on how to reduce our impact on the earth.

The key to our energy saving success is a weak circuit. I view the circuit breaker as a metaphor that sustainability is not an option, it is a necessity. It has taught me that what I once considered essential aspects of normal day-to-day functioning are really just excessive conveniences. Why have a lamp and space heater going at the same time when a candle will serve the function of both and not even require a plug? If we slip up and unnecessarily watch TV with the light on and the heaters going, the electricity shuts down. And every time that happens I say to myself 'size nine, live like a size nine' even though my foot is a size ten and a half.

Every energy expenditure is a tradeoff. Two space heaters, a computer, a bedside lamp, and a TV just cannot function at the same time. But when you take a closer look, why would they even have to? A computer screen can also function as a light. Simply tilt the screen towards whatever you are interested in seeing, and the screen will cast a moon-like glow on the target. Today, I took a comfortable walk around the neighborhood, despite the fact that it was thirty degrees. This was because I was dressed appropriately for the weather. So when I get into the house, I refrain from turning on the heater and simply leave the coat on. And the hat. Footprint just dropped half a size. This method also coincides beautifully with the Tao philosophy of conquering with inaction.


So maybe it gets a little cold at night, and maybe a toe or two go numb. But while you're just laying there, who needs 'em anyway? Like I said, we take sustainability serious. Dead serious.