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Friday,
March 12, 2004
Madison burning For some reason, over the last few days I've stumbled over several news stories and mentions of the UW's, shall we say, rocky periods. Obviously it's a sign that I should blog about it. So here are a few incidents you may find interesting: Everyone's heard the story about how Humanities was supposedly built to be riot-proof, but who knew this about Chadbourne? It's hard to imagine this happening now; the most exciting thing that happens in that dorm now is LAN gaming. I particularly like how the story is brought out so nonchalantly in the last paragraph of the link. (Additionally, it's rumored that the architect responsible for Humanities, upon seeing the ugliness of the completed building, killed himself. I'm convinced this is urban legend, but I will say that were I that architect, I would have at least gone in for some self-flagellation. Humanities is uuuuuuug-ly.) The Red Gym and Amory (picture) was damaged in a Vietnam War protest-related firebombing in 1970; supposedly one is still able to see the scars, although I for one have never spotted them. Also in 1970 was the Sterling Hall bombing. With the campus the way it is today - generally, almost unnervingly calm and quiet, despite the 40,000-odd undergrads swarming about - it's hard to imagine a time when going to class or walking through Library Mall could actually be hazardous. It's also hard to imagine the student body feeling so dramatically, admantly about anything. Oh, sure, UW is comparatively politically active, but only when you look at the rest of the nation. Protesters now wave some hastily-made signs for a half-hour or so and then go home and watch MSNBC. I abhor violence, be it government-sponsored, personal or terrorist, and thus I applaud the passing of Madison's firebombing era - but a little part of me...well...laments the loss of the city's fire. Yeah, now we only riot over Halloween festivities.  Sterling Hall, 1970 - declared by Liusia @ 2:59 PM Thursday,
March 11, 2004
And now for a poem by Ambat Delaso My friend, you are not graceful -- not at all; Your gait's between a stagger and a sprawl. Nor are you beautiful: your head's a snake's To look at, and I do not doubt it aches. As to your feet, they'd make an angel weep. 'Tis true you take them in whene'er you sleep. No, you're not pretty, but you have, I own, A certain firmness -- mostly you're [sic] backbone. Firmness and strength (you have a giant's thews) Are virtues that the great know how to use -- I wish that they did not; yet, on the whole, You lack -- excuse my mentioning it -- Soul. So, to be candid, unreserved and true, I'd rather you were I than I were you. Perhaps, however, in a time to be, When Man's extinct, a better world may see Your progeny in power and control, Due to the genesis and growth of Soul. So I salute you as a reptile grand Predestined to regenerate the land. Father of Possibilities, O deign To accept the homage of a dying reign! In the far region of the unforeknown I dream a tortoise upon every throne. I see an Emperor his head withdraw Into his carapace for fear of Law; A King who carries something else than fat, Howe'er acceptably he carries that; A President not strenuously bent On punishment of audible dissent -- Who never shot (it were a vain attack) An armed or unarmed tortoise in the back; Subject and citizens that feel no need To make the March of Mind a wild stampede; All progress slow, contemplative, sedate, And "Take your time" the word, in Church and State. O Tortoise, 'tis a happy, happy dream, My glorious testudinous regime! I wish in Eden you'd brought this about By slouching in and chasing Adam out. I hope this stunning work of poetry has contributed greatly to improving your literary educations, my dear readers. - declared by Liusia @ 10:47 PM In which Ambrose performs the dangerous and ill-considered act of insulting a pirate A fine pirate called Dante posted below: and that if he doesn't respect himself, how does he expect girls to respect him? To which Ambrose replies: happy as when thrust into the affairs of others, from which some physiologists have drawn the inference that the nose is devoid of the sense of smell. Whoa! Burn! I must apologize for Ambrose's rudeness, Dante. He's is feeling a little snippier than usual today, I think. He hasn't heard from Sully in days. - declared by Liusia @ 10:27 PM What other bloggers are saying about madison.com's Soviet makeover: Voices include the bemused, the angry, the badly punctuated and the people who quote Jay Nordlinger. Am I the only one who thinks it's a truly clever advertising ploy (and a damn visually appealing layout)? Hey, you know what they say, there's no such thing as bad publicity... - declared by Liusia @ 6:38 PM Big Trouble in Little Narcissistic E-trend I'm finding this inordinately funny. Indeed! Hee hee hee.  For Big Trouble Valour above and beyond the call of duty, I hereby present you with the Lo Pan Indeed Award! - declared by Liusia @ 6:03 PM Wednesday,
March 10, 2004
Davaitye lyudi Madisonskiye! Oh, Madison. How I love thee. 
To explain a bit: This is a billboard for Madison.com, the webspace for Madison's two local dailies. Now, both newspapers are well left of the national average in editorial slant (The Capital Times is considered the "liberal" paper and The Wisconsin State Journal the "conservative," but in Madison, "conservative" pretty much means you aren't, like, a total Commie), but they're not particularly politically charged. But the website recently underwent a vaguely Soviet-themed redesign (the front page isn't that hardcore, but the other pages, like the archive page, are subtly inspired) and now they're putting up this billboard and others like it all over the city. "Forward" is the Wisconsin state motto, and the building behind the emokid is the top dome of the capitol building, with its female statue, who is pointing toward the bold new future. (Kinda like Lenin, which I'm sure the designers of this poster fully appreciated.) I'm not sure what their message is, whether they're making a joke on the fact that Madison is well-known for it's socialist tendencies, trying to grab attention, or maybe just like the Socialist Realist art...but they are getting some attention. Check out this article for an example of the hullabaloo. Whatever. I certainly don't think Wisconsin should follow the USSR's example in any way (the USSR was an ass place to live for most people - I have no illusions) but this campaign is just genius. And I do have a soft spot in my heart for the Socialist Realism. So lovely and stylized. These billboards are awesome. - declared by Liusia @ 8:46 PM Tuesday,
March 09, 2004
Ambrose says: Ambrose and I were talking about how Martin Sheen should be Head Poobah of the United States. Well, I was talking about how he should be Head Poobah, and Ambrose was being bitter. 
So I guess Sheen is out. - declared by Liusia @ 11:34 PM Conquering the world Dude, this movie version of Alexander has to be a joke, right? Jared Leto as Hephaestion? Val Kilmer as King Phillip? Angelina Jolie...as anyone?! Who am I kidding? I'll probably be there opening night. Mmm, Colin Farrell. My favorite skeezy poseur. I'm posting from the stupid Business School building. This place makes me uneasy, not to mention a bit queasy. It's a citadel of capitalism. Now, I'm not against capitalism per se, but there's an aura of money-grubbing around here that I find unnerving. Ironically, this is where I have my Mass Media in Developing Nations (a.k.a. White People are Imperialist Bastards) class. So we sit here and talk about how international trade is eating certain third world nations alive, while the people in the classroom next door learn how to eat third world nations alive. Yagh. Supposedly this building is shaped like a dollar sign if you view it from the air. It's possible. I think some kind of satanic symbol is more likely, honestly. I want Martin Sheen to run for president. Not because he makes a nice president on The West Wing, but because he's cool. Not that'd he'd ever get elected. Because the fine people of this nation, like the fine people of all other nations, suck. Did you know that when the be-business-suit-ed business students by the doors of this building try to give you informational fliers about their evil organizations and convince you to go to their occult meetings, it really shuts them up if you reply politely, "No, thank you, I'm a Marxo-Catholic"? - declared by Liusia @ 1:13 PM |
