Locally, many people were hopping in their cars to drive to Detroit or Chicago to dance the night away. We had been battling a big disease with a little name: AIDS. to other shores or over neighboring boarders. We had survived decades of policies where the inner cities of most urban centers were abandoned as many, many jobs were shipped from the U.S. When it opened on Division Avenue in the early '90s, the city was different because we as a people were different. His responses, in many ways, perfectly suits my thoughts, as well as many others', as I wander the streets thinking, “What’s the frequency, Grand Rapids?”Īs I dial up my editorial this week, it is with the hazy glow of questions from the night before that will be at the forefront of my thoughts (and others') who attended Stella’s tribute event for the '90s ultimate hipster club, The Reptile House. I wish I knew who did it and why, but I have no idea," he said. I didn't make a lot of it at the time, and I don't now. Who understands these things? I didn't, and I don't now. In a post-mugging interview, Rather addressed a question about the meaning behind this strange line of random and disconnected questioning posed by the muggers. However, a third item has always lingered in the back of my mind, and, apparently, in Mr. That song was, of course, inspired by the second: a question poised by a couple of unknown muggers who who beat the crap out of CBS News anchor Dan Rather in 1986 as he was walking home in New York City. The first is the obvious pop music reference from the R.E.M. When people hear the question, “What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,” most typically think of one of two things.