Rogen can’t save day in ‘Green Hornet’ Strong cast not enough to make latest superhero movie franchise University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Tort reform bill passes the Senate By Ariel Shapiro The Daily Cardinal
The Wisconsin State Senate passed Tort Reform legislation Tuesday that would decrease business liability. The bill, aimed at protecting businesses from frivolous lawsuits, includes caps on punitive damages and limitations on what constitutes an “expert opinion” in court. Voting went down party lines, with the 19 senate Republicans voting in favor of the bill and the 14 Democrats voting against it. State Sen. Rich Zipperer, R-Pewaukee, an author of the bill, said Wisconsin’s current liability standards are too flexible and out of line with the mainstream. “No other state in the union has chosen to follow our lead,” he said on the Senate floor Tuesday. Although Republicans say the bill will create a better business climate, state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, said the bill is not the fiscally responsible thing to do, and will place greater financial burden on District Attorney offices statewide.
The bill, Erpenbach told the Senate, “is going to cost our counties a lot of money. And for those of you who ran on fiscal conservatism and fiscal spending … this legislation does not do that.” Walker praised the passing of the bill as part of a larger plan to make Wisconsin more business-friendly. Democrats voiced their opposition to the bill, claiming it hampers victims’ ability to hold businesses accountable for any damages they may have caused. State Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, took particular issue with the component of the bill limiting expert opinion. He said he supports the current system, and said the bill is “an example of legislative malpractice.” “We said there were going to be some changes to the way Wisconsin does business,” state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said in a statement, “but the Democrats made it clear today they won’t let the status quo go without a fight.” The state Assembly will review the bill Thursday.
Obama returning to Wis. in wake of GOP victory Melanie HIghbloom/the daily cardinal
Percussionist Paul Vaillancourt and pianist Jeffery Meyer performed “Strike” Tuesday night as part of the School of Music’s Guest Artist Series.
Dane County sheriff ’s deputies make eight OWI arrests over past weekend In addition to regulating the heavy traffic and helping travelers make it through the severe weather, Dane County Sheriff ’s Deputies made eight arrests involving intoxicated drivers over the past weekend. Deputies responded to a one-vehicle crash at State Trunk Highway 73 and County Trunk Highway A Friday night, Dane County Sheriff Department spokesperson Elise Schaffer said. The driver, Scott Taylor, was pinned inside the vehicle. Taylor sustained serious injuries in the accident and was transported to Janesville’s Mercy Hospital. He was also arrested for his fourth Operating While Intoxicated offense, according to the report. There were also deputies working overtime on an OWI grant Saturday night, Schaffer said. “Deputies working that grant made four OWI arrests, including one felony
arrest,” Schaffer said in a statement. Additionally one of the Sheriff ’s deputies investigated a snowmobiler off a trail in the town of Windsor Monday night. The snowmobiler fled south towards Windsor Road, Schaffer said. The driver, Scott Brumm, then attempted to go into a house, but the deputy caught him before he made it into the house. Brumm was arrested for operating a snowmobile while intoxicated, Schaffer said. Some members of the Assembly including former member of the Dane County Board of Supervisors, state Sen. Terese Bereau, D-Madison, and state Sen. Daniel LeMahieu, R-Cascade, support the lowering of the felony OWI from fifth offense to third offense. “At three times it’s obvious you have a problem,” Bereau said in a statement. —Maggie DeGroot
President Barack Obama plans to visit Manitowoc, Wis., Wednesday, Jan. 26, according to a statement from the White House. Though Obama has visited the state several times during his presidency, this will be his first time back in Wisconsin since a campaign rally on the UW-Madison campus in September.
Obama won Wisconsin by a nearly 14-point margin in 2008, but Republicans took many important offices in the last election, including the governorship and a U.S. Senate seat. The visit will come one day after his State of the Union address, which will take place on Jan. 25.
A rather blustery day
Man arrested, now facing sexual assault charges A 47-year-old intoxicated man threatened to burn down Kelley’s Market, 636 W. Washington Ave., and was arrested on sexual assault charges Thursday. The suspect, Christopher Gates, was arrested on two counts of fourth degree sexual assault and disorderly conduct, according to the police incident report. Gates grabbed the genitals of a female police officer and a female staff member at the Dane County Detoxification Center, Madison Police Department spokesperson Joel DeSpain said.
“The drunken suspect initially wanted a Kelley’s clerk to give him $3 in bills for $2.71 in change,” DeSpain said in a statement. “When the clerk refused the man became enraged.” Gates allegedly threatened the clerk and made remarks about burning the store down. The suspect “aggressively” asked customers for money after being kicked out of the establishment. The assaulted officer said the suspect was drooling and spitting as he was speaking, and his speech was slurred, according to police.
Kathryn Weenig/the daily cardinal
Students brave the cold weather to walk to classes Tuesday. Temperatures will continue to drop throughout the week.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”
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tHURSDAY: chance o’ snow hi 16º / lo -08º dailycardinal.com/page-two
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892
Unless that’s the president, get off your phone!
Volume 120, Issue 71
2142 Vilas Communication Hall 821 University Avenue Madison, Wis., 53706-1497 (608) 262-8000 • fax (608) 262-8100
Kathleen Brosnan ’leen back
News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor in Chief Emma Roller Managing Editor Parker Gabriel Campus Editor Kayla Johnson City Editor Maggie DeGroot State Editor Ariel Shapiro Enterprise Editor Alison Dirr Associate News Editor Scott Girard Senior News Reporters Molly Reppen Opinion Editors Dan Tollefson Samantha Witthuhn Editorial Board Chair Hannah Furfaro Arts Editors Jeremy Gartzke Todd Stevens Sports Editors Mark Bennett Ryan Evans Page Two Editor Victoria Statz Life & Style Editor Stephanie Rywak Features Editor Stephanie Lindholm Photo Editors Ben Pierson Kathryn Weenig Graphics Editors Dylan Moriarty Natasha Soglin Multimedia Editors Erin Banco Eddy Cevilla Briana Nava Page Designers Claire Silverstein Joy Shin Copy Chiefs Jacqueline O’Reilly Margaret Raimann Nico Savidge Rachel Schulze Copy Editors Danny Marchewka
Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Cole Wenzel Advertising Manager Mara Greenwald Accounts Receivable Manager Amanda Frankwick Billing Manager Katie Breckenfelder Senior Account Executive Taylor Grubbs Account Executive Nick Bruno Alyssa Flemmer Matt Jablon Anna Jeon Dan Kaplan Mitchell Keuer Becca Krumholz Daniel Rothberg Shnong Wang Graphic Designer Jaime Flynn Web Director Eric Harris Public Relations Manager Becky Tucci Events Manager Bill Clifford Art Director Jaime Flynn Copywriters Dustin Bui Bob Sixsmith The Daily Cardinal is a nonprofit organization run by its staff members and elected editors. It receives no funds from the university. Operating revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales. The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. Capital Newspapers, Inc. is the Cardinal’s printer. The Daily Cardinal is printed on recycled paper. The Cardinal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The Daily Cardinal are the sole property of the Cardinal and may not be reproduced without written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Cardinal accepts advertising representing a wide range of views. This acceptance does not imply agreement with the views expressed. The Cardinal reserves the right to reject advertisements judged offensive based on imagery, wording or both. Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be presented to the editor in chief. Business and advertising complaints should be presented to the business manager. Letters Policy: Letters must be word processed and must include contact information. No anonymous letters will be printed. All letters to the editor will be printed at the discretion of The Daily Cardinal. Letters may be sent to opinion@ dailycardinal.com.
Editorial Board Hannah Furfaro • Miles Kellerman Emma Roller • Samuel Todd Stevens Parker Gabriel • Dan Tollefson Samantha Witthuhn • Nico Savidge
Board of Directors Melissa Anderson, President Emma Roller • Cole Wenzel Parker Gabriel • Vince Filak Janet Larson • Mara Greewald Jenny Sereno • Chris Drosner Ron Luskin • Joan Herzing
© 2011, The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation ISSN 0011-5398
For the record Corrections or clarifications? Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608-262-8000 or send an e-mail to edit@dailycardinal.com.
“You may say I’m a dreamer/ But I’m not the only one/ I hope someday you’ll join us/ And the world will be as one.” I’m not really evoking John Lennon’s “Imagine” lyrics with the purpose to establish world peace; I leave that work for the greats like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa. Rather, I am applying the lyrics to a topic that may seem exhausted, but nonetheless, is still a problem: the abuse/misuse of the cell phone. Since cell phones are ubiquitous in this day and age, I understand that I’m a dreamer for hoping the world can come to a communal agreement about how to use a cell phone. And I know I’m not the only one because yesterday in lecture when the professor asked the class to be respectful and refrain from texting, one student started a slow clap. He and I are on the same page. So, if you are that particular student
who abhors the abuse of the cell phone, then I ask… Can I get a “whoop whoop” or a raising of the roof if you have wanted to hit a cell phone out of the hand of a stranger—or friend for that matter—whom is completely oblivious to cell phone etiquette? Go ahead, you can admit it. If you have had the urge, I’ve concluded that it doesn’t mean you are violent; it just means you are normal.
Each of the six girls was deeply engrossed with her cell phone. The only possible excuse for this would be if they were all playing Scrabble against each other.
My biggest pet peeve regarding cell phone etiquette is when you are with others and they won’t put their phone down. Maybe it’s just because I have an “old school” phone which doesn’t do much, but I pretty much secretly despise people who are clicking away at their phone when I’m having a conversation with them. I’d honestly prefer if people told me to be quiet rather
than stare at their phone, saying“uh huh” and nodding in agreement as if they’re actually listening. Me: “Hey, my dog just farted on your scarf. Isn’t that cool?” Other person: “Uh huh.” (accompanied by a head nod) Me: “You smell like cabbage.” Other person: “Uh (emphatic wedgie pick)
huh.”
Me: “You suck.” Other person: “Uh huh, I know right?” (affirmative head nod and side glance). This past weekend I ate breakfast at a fine dining establishment by the name of Sunroom Café. If you know anything about Sunroom, then you know that you usually have to wait in line for quite some time to order and then be seated, and if you know anything about me, then you know I like to people watch. So, I’m standing in line and people watching when I spot a table of six girls. Well isn’t that lovely? Just a bunch of college gals get-
ting together to catch up on their winter break escapades! Wrong. Each of the six girls were intensely focused on their cell phones. The only possible excuse for this would be if they were all playing Scrabble against each other. Otherwise, I deem this behavior preposterous. And actually, I don’t know if I’m okay with them even playing Scrabble either. That board game is one of America’s greatest pastimes (no source… AKA I made that up) and it should be played at a table with some Frank Sinatra on in the background. At no point in time during the 15 minutes I waited in line and creeped were all six girls off their cell phone. Kids today. So, when you are with friends or family or WHOMEVER, put your phone down! If you’re just going to play with your cell during a nice breakfast with others, stay at home and make yourself a Pop Tart instead. No one wants to see your greasy fingers smearing up the keyboard. If you actually raised the roof when Kathleen asked you to, then, well, you’re pretty darn cool. Also, if you have any cell phone etiquette complaints or stories, please share them at kqbrosnan@wisc.edu.
We guarantee that rando in Humanties wouldn’t give a shit if you tell everyone he screamed when a cockroach crossed his path Other people’s traumatic experiences are fodder for Overheard in Madison’s
HELLFIRE OF HUMOR. So
SUBMIT SUBMIT SUBMIT
to vstatz@wisc.edu and read them in print next tuesday
dailycardinal.com/news
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
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Signs at the border deem Wisconsin ‘Open for Business’ By Patrick Tricker The Daily Cardinal
Kathryn Weenig/the daily cardinal
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, co-sponsored a resolution for the creation of a Tax Incremental Financing District in the Mansion Hill and James Madison Park neighborhoods.
Council members form an agreement on the public access to Edgewater Hotel’s terrace By Maggie DeGroot The Daily Cardinal
Madison’s Common Council took one step closer Tuesday night to completing the legislative process of the Edgewater Hotel redevelopment project as members approved an agreement to regulate public access to the hotel’s terrace. The agreement passed after Ald. Julia Kerr, District 13, added an amendment concerning event management at the hotel. The amendment stated during certain events managers may restrict the shoreline to a number of people approved by the city of Madison Fire Marshall and city inspection. Ald. Judy Compton, District 16, was the only alder present to vote against the motion. Council members voted to eliminate several other condi-
tions the Plan Commission set. Amy Supple of Hammes Co., the redevelopers of the Edgewater, said it has been a long but good process. Addressing the potential noise problems, Supple said the Edgewater’s primary goal was is to have people sleep at the hotel and said they will be even stricter on noise policies than the Madison city ordinance. Council members also voted in favor of the creation of a Tax Incremental Financing District in the Mansion Hill and James Madison Park neighborhoods. The neighborhoods are now a part of the Tax Incremental District 32, which includes some of the upper portion of State Street. The program would help people who are interested in buying and redeveloping a multi-unit property and converting it into
a property consisting of one to three units. Ald. Jed Sanborn, District 1, who opposed the plan, said the program should be killed. Also at the meeting, Steven Cover was confirmed for a fiveyear term as the Director of Planning and Community and Economic Development. Cover previously worked at Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum, an architecture firm, in Atlanta, Ga. “One of … my goals is to make sure the Planning Division and the Economic Division work very closely together, work well together and come up with some top notch solutions for the city,” Cover said. Council members unanimously approved plans for the construction of a 63-unit apartment building at 1012 Fish Hatchery Rd.
Driver attempts to kidnap Memoral High School student A 16-year-old Memorial High School student reported to Madison police that a male driver contacted her while she was walking on the 600 block of S. Gammon Rd. Tuesday morning. “The girl said she was in a parking lot when the man did a U-turn in his car and approached,” Madison Police Department spokesperson Joel
DeSpain said in a statement. The suspect asked the victim if she needed a ride. The victim ignored the driver and kept walking, police said. The suspect is said to be a white male and was driving an older, brown two-door boxystyle car at the time of the incident. This is the second time this
month that this type of incident has been reported to police. Jan. 4, a 15-year-old male student reported to police that a man offered him a ride as he was walking to school along S. Gammon Road, which is close to where contact was made Tuesday morning. The man was driving a Chevrolet Trailblazer, police said.
Spring Recruitment Meeting Friday, January 28 4 p.m. 2195 Vilas Hall Everyone is welcome to attend!
Gov. Scott Walker unveiled signs Tuesday announcing to Minnesota and Illinois residents that Wisconsin is “open for business,” while reaching an agreement with fellow Republicans to cut taxes for small businesses. The agreement would give a $2,000 to $4,000 tax break to companies for each job created, costing the state an estimated $33 million a year, state Rep. Robin Vos, R-Burlington, told the Associated Press. The signs, placed at the border, and the tax breaks represent part of a broader campaign to attract businesses from other states through lower taxes, in contrast to Illinois, where the House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would raise taxes. “The pro-growth initiatives I support stand in stark contrast to those policies being discussed in our bordering states,” Walker said in a statement. “These signs are aimed directly at job creators to make them aware that they are welcome here.” The 23 signs, which traditionally carry the governor’s name rather
than a slogan, will cost $1,495 and will represent one part of a feud with Wisconsin’s neighboring states over taxes. Last week, Illinois raised its income tax from 3 to 5 percent, still lower than people in Wisconsin making more than $10,000, and its corporate income tax from 7.3 to 9.5 percent, higher than Wisconsin’s 7.9 percent, according to the Tax Foundation, a think tank in Washington D.C. Wisconsin also entered a feud with Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, who wrote a letter to Walker claiming the state owes them $58 million from a tax reciprocity deal and $4,500 per day in interest. Walker remained confident that his tax policies would attract businesses and boost the economy. “Years ago Wisconsin had a tourism advertising campaign targeted to Illinois with the motto, ‘Escape to Wisconsin,’” Walker said in a statement. “Today we renew that call to Illinois businesses, ‘Escape to Wisconsin.’ You are welcome here.”
State challenges Kratz’s immunity claim Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen will join the state in a civil lawsuit against the disgraced former Calumet County District Attorney Ken Kratz, who tried to claim immunity from the suit. Stephanie Van Groll brought about the case against Kratz in October. Van Groll, a domestic abuse victim Kratz represented, claimed he sent her lewd text messages. Soon after, several other women came forward claiming sexual harassment against Kratz. In the weeks that followed, Kratz stepped down from office. Kratz is now claiming he is immune from a civil lawsuit because he was in public office at the time of the offense, according to the Associated Press. The state is challenging whether Kratz’s crimes were committed in an official capacity. Van Hollen is also challenging whether the state is responsible for representing Kratz in court and
whether the state is subject to pay damages to Van Groll. Kratz was replaced in December by Jerilyn Dietz, a former victim of sexual assault who has said she will “restore faith in this office and find justice for other survivors.” —Ariel Shapiro
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Gervais was funny, not playing nice at Globes David Cottrell co-trell it on the mountain
I photo courtesy columbia pictures
Seth Rogen and Jay Chou deliver commendable performances in the underwhelming reboot of “The Green Hornet.”
Buzz wrong about ‘Hornet’ By Mike Kujak the daily cardinal
“The Green Hornet” has just enough talent to keep its mediocre script floating. It might not deliver all the laughs of a typical Seth Rogen project, or all the impressive action sequences of your average superhero flick, but director Michel Gondry’s latest project is an ambitious hybrid of the two genres that delivers just enough kung-fu, exploding buildings and drunken superhero banter to make the film worth seeing. The film’s story is an alternative take on the traditional “crime-fighter” story. Much like in “Spiderman,” the protagonist’s father figure dies and the son is inspired to change the world for the better. The alternative approach begins when our hero Britt Reid, played by Rogen, along with is trusty sidekick Kato (Jay Chou), decides that the best way to avoid the typical foils of the traditional hero will be to pose as the “bad guys” while at the same time taking down the real villains. The pair are able to control the Green Hornet’s story because Reid has inherited his father’s newspaper, and by manipulating the media, they are able to maintain their bad boy image while at the same time riling up a group of L.A. thugs led by an insecure Russian mobster played by Christoph Waltz. The reason the film works is because of the people involved. First off, Gondry has enough visual tricks up his sleep to keep a traditionally paced action film interesting.
He uses several interesting editing tricks that keep the film on its toes, the most noticeable example is a scene where he conveys how “word spreads on the street” by using a slow building screen splitting montage. The three main performances in the film also make “The Green Hornet” worth watching. Seth Rogen is as big reason the audience can connect to this film. Chou, a pop star from China, has enough charisma and talent to make him a viable partner in the film’s main friendship. If the writers did one thing right in this movie it was adding a deep insecurity to their villain. Watching Waltz question his own “badassness” is a true highlight of the film. This is Waltz’s first performance since his brilliant break out role as Hans Landa in “Inglorious Basterds,” and it would have been a shame to waste his talent in a stereotypical villain role. The film also has some inventive action sequences despite its limiting PG-13 rating. The action in the film is a bit jarring when placed immediately after intimate character moments between Kato and Reid. This genre confusion and lack of direction leads to the main problem with film. “The Green Hornet” was written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the comedy writing team that brought us “Superbad” and “Pineapple Express.” Both of the previous films have hilarious screenplays and a unique take on
male friendship that can support the story. Given their past and the fact that “Pineapple Express” somewhat successfully explored the action genre, they seem perfectly equipped to tackle “The Green Hornet” adaption. However, something went wrong. The overall story of the film is poorly executed and stops this film from being something more. This film has been in development for a long time so it’s hard to tell if it suffers from having just too many hands touch it or if it truly is Rogen and Goldberg’s fault. The film again tackles male friendship but in a much weaker fashion than their previous projects do. It’s not hard to imagine that a much better film could have emerged if someone truly immersed in comic book culture, like Kevin Smith, had written the screenplay, or if they’d decided to scrap the Green Hornet altogether and Rogen, Chou, Waltz and Gondry teamed up on something original. Despite the film’s weak writing, everyone has fun with the material and in the end it makes for a film worth seeing. It’s not going to make you laugh like previous Rogen-Goldberg projects. It’s not going to give you the popcorn action of “Spiderman” or the edgy tone of “The Dark Knight.” However, it is a strong enough effort from the people involved, and if you’re a fan of their previous work you’re probably going to get your money’s worth here.
’d bet that after his caustic performance emceeing the 68th Golden Globe Awards this past Sunday, Ricky Gervais won’t be invited back for a hosting three-peat. Personally, I loved him, but the room definitely didn’t. While his numerous humorous barbs touched on Charlie Sheen’s recent hotel tirade, Mel Gibson’s notorious antiSemitism, Hugh Hefner’s newest fiancée, Robert Downey Jr.’s past transgressions and even the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association himself, I doubt it was any of these that really doomed Gervais’ chance to return. Rather, it was his ridicule of the Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp film “The Tourist” and the nominations it received, because, in doing so, Gervais was really calling attention to the Golden Globe’s dirty little secret—they don’t really matter, or, at least, they are a lot less prestigious than the HFPA wants people to believe. For those who didn’t watch, here is what Gervais actually said: “It was a big year for 3-D movies. Seems like everything this year was three-dimensional, except the characters in ‘The Tourist.’ I’m jumping on the bandwagon ‘cause I haven’t even seen ‘The Tourist.’ Who has? I’d like to squash this ridiculous rumor going around that the only reason ‘The Tourist’ was nominated was so the Hollywood Foreign Press Association could hang out with Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp. That is rubbish. That is not the only reason. They also accepted bribes.” The HFPA is an organization of journalists who write about the U.S. film industry for a wide variety of press outlets in foreign countries. While the average viewer likely considers the Golden Globes to be almost on par with the Oscars in terms of prestige, the reality is that the two are in totally different leagues. The Academy Awards are voted on by members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences including actors, directors, writers and cinematographers, people who actually make movies. But the Golden Globes are voted on by foreign journalists—outsiders who for the most part
have no experience inside the actual Hollywood film industry other than writing about it. Furthermore, while over 6,000 Academy members vote for Academy Awards, only 90 people vote for the Golden Globes. And those 90 are notoriously easy to sway with big names and invites for intimate press coverage—doubtlessly what resulted in the critically panned, box-office failing film “The Tourist” snagging three nominations. In case the best picture nomination didn’t stick out enough already, the movie was inexplicably nominated in the “Comedy or Musical” category despite being billed as a “Thriller.” And while “The Tourist” was being needlessly praised, the HFPA also managed to snub several of the year’s best pictures and performances that will hopefully get the limelight during the Academy Awards. “True Grit”, another masterpiece from the Coen Brothers and undoubtedly one of the best films of the year did not garner a single nomination from the Globes. “True Grit” was likely a victim of the HFPA’s notorious international-bias. Even though their entire foundation is writing about American film, the HFPA has always seemed to have a soft-spot for foreign stories and, as such, the unequivocally-American “True Grit” probably didn’t earn their praise because it was too American, which is a damn shame. Taking this into account, I was actually surprised that “The Social Network” won Best Motion Picture - Drama, even though it is my pick for Best Picture at the Oscars. My reasoning here was that “The King’s Speech,” a British historical drama, just seemed more inline with the HFPA’s voting tendencies. In the last five years only one of the films that won Best Picture at the Golden Globes, “Slumdog Millionaire” in 2008, went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars. Last year the Globes picked “Avatar” over “The Hurt Locker;” in 2007 they picked “Atonement” over “No Country for Old Men;” in 2006 they picked “Babel” over “The Departed;” and in 2005 they picked “Brokeback Mountain” over “Crash.” So while the Golden Globes have traditionally been viewed as a forerunner to the Oscars, the reality is that recently they have been anything but. Let’s just consider them a guilty pleasure. Would you be friends with Ricky Gervais after Sunday Night? Tell Dave at dcottrell@wisc.edu.
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Amazing! The lyrics of “Amazing Grace” work surprisingly well to the tune of the “Gilligan’s Island” theme. Wednesday, January 19, 2011 dailycardinal.com/comics
Peeling an orange in one continous strip.
Today’s Sudoku
Evil Bird
By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu
© Puzzles by Pappocom
Hot Sauce
By Oliver Buchino buchino@wisc.edu
Solution, tips and computer program available at www.sudoku.com.
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.
Eatin’ Cake
By Dylan Moriarty eatincake@gmail.com
Today’s Crossword Puzzle
Crustaches
By Patrick Remington premington@wisc.edu
By Dan Tollefson dtollefson@wisc.edu
Hoop Dreams Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com
A BITTER PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Some Glaswegians wear them 5 When to do rush jobs 9 Whacks sharply 14 “Regrets, I’ve had ___ ...” 15 High C, for one 16 First episode in a TV series 17 Traditional tales 18 It’ll stink up the place 19 Related through the mother 20 Heat waves’ opposites 22 PC drive insert 23 Cold and hard 24 Grand in scale 26 Run ___ (go berserk) 29 Go over again 33 Have reservations about 37 MasterCard rival 39 Dot in the ocean 40 Niche at Notre Dame 41 Chips collection 42 Property claim 43 Film vault holding 44 Mental germ 45 Natural weapons 46 Sign up for a class 48 Flood preventer 50 Big tippler
2 To some extent 5 57 Composer of the Mephisto Waltzes 60 It’s caused by arctic conditions 63 Narrow water passage 64 They may be kept in chests 65 Exploring a la Columbus 66 Blazing 67 Sporting weapon 68 Box for practice 69 Whirlybird whirler 70 Egghead 71 Song in praise of God DOWN 1 Rash preventers 2 “The game is ___!” (Sherlock Holmes line) 3 Singer Haggard 4 Krona spender 5 Assumed name 6 Malt shop offering 7 On the roof of 8 Latin for “in itself” 9 Coined money 10 Freezing weather factor 11 Off-the-market fruit spray 12 Dorothy’s dog 13 ___ the tide
1 Lattice piece 2 25 Make supplication 27 Roman love poet 28 Wrote bad checks 30 Where most humans reside 31 Did in, as a dragon 32 Female lobsters 33 Throw caution to the wind 34 Dentist’s request 35 ___ name (computer ID) 36 Frigid temperature range 38 Blackjack option 41 Fixture at a pottery 45 Smallest postage hike 47 Wayside waste 49 Exchanged smacks 51 More than occasionally 53 Put to shame 54 Like thin smoke rings 55 “Hannibal” Smith’s group 56 Ache 57 Polygraph victim 58 The I in FYI, for short 59 Small opening 61 Mountain-climbing aid 62 ___ and terminer (criminal court)
Washington and the Bear
By Derek Sandberg kalarooka@gmail.com
opinion Words not at fault in Tucson
dailycardinal.com/opinion Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Matt Payne opinion columnist
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n the aftermath of the shootings in Tucson, Ariz., last week, Americans of all races, ideologies, and creeds came together to remember those who lost their lives and those who were still recovering. President Obama called for prayer and reflection in a moving speech shortly after the incident. Not everyone shared the President’s sentiments however. Immediately after the shooting, some on the far-left began blaming Sarah Palin, the Tea Party and “right-wing rhetoric,” for the tragedies. Michael Daly of the New York Daily News claimed Sarah Palin now has “the blood of more than some poor caribou on her hands.” The comments weren’t just from far-left instigators who are paid to make outlandish comments. Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill., both claimed it was the rhetoric of Sarah Palin and the Tea Party that was to blame for the shootings. While political rhetoric that incites acts of violence is deplorable, to blame the tragedy that occurred in Tucson on such rhetoric is more than inaccurate, it’s ignorant. All the facts we know about the
shooter, 22-year-old Jared Loughner, indicate he was clearly an unstable person. Among his favorite books were “Mein Kampf ” and “The Communist Manifesto,” hardly Tea Party reading material. He worshiped a replica skull in his backyard and was convinced the government was controlling people’s grammar, things that I doubt were encouraged by the likes of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. He dropped out of college and had recently broken up with his girlfriend, obviously adding two stressors to an already troubled individual. It seems as though any rational person would conclude that it was a combination of these influences that caused the shooter to act. Some, however, have made the ridiculous claim that Sarah Palin’s website which showed “targeted districts,” in the 2010 election season influenced the shooter. Who are these people and where did they find that information? Others have stated that it was talk radio and Fox News that inspired this crazed man to kill. The facts state otherwise. High school classmates of the shooter said he was a deeply troubled kid who needed help. An abuser of drugs and alcohol, he clearly lacked social skills. According to friends, he didn’t listen to talk radio, never cared for news in general and was no fan of the Tea Party. He didn’t vote in 2010 and was a registered Independent. I would, like most Americans,
according to a recent Quinnipiac poll, dismiss the attempts to politicize the events of last week. The problem, though, is that the comments by people like Daly and Hoyer are themselves inciting violence and hatred. Well-known figures like Sarah Palin and U.S. Rep. Michelle Bachman, R-Minn., are receiving even more threats on their life than they already do. What’s more disturbing is that local Tea Party leaders in Arizona are receiving these threats as well. To say in one breath we should stop ratcheting up political rhetoric, while in the very next encouraging it is repugnant. While contention has long been a part of politics, the part it has played in this tragedy is outright wrong. A 9-year-old girl along with five other people lie dead, and a beloved congresswoman is fighting for her life. While a call for civility in public discourse is no doubt a good thing, doing so at the expense of the victims of this tragedy is appalling. If the Tucson shooting can teach us anything, it is that we must come together as a nation no matter what adversity befalls us. Insidious and baseless attacks do not and will not heal the wounds of tragedy. We must mourn and remember the victims of the Tucson shootings, not use them to score cheap political points. Matt Payne is a junior majoring in Chinese and economics. We welcome all feedback. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
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ALRC seeks student rep Dear Students of Madison: I am writing to you today to urge you to apply for Madison’s Alcohol License Review Committee (ALRC). About a year ago, I made a commitment to you to place a student on the ALRC and I intend on keeping that commitment. With Mark Woulf becoming our new Alcohol Policy Coordinator, the seat on the ALRC is once again open, and
I welcome any and all students that have a passion to make our community a better place to apply for the position. Applications are available on our website (cityofmadison.com). I look forward to reviewing your applications. On Wisconsin! —Mayor Dave Cieslewicz
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dailycardinal.com/sports
Wednesday January 19, 2011
Packers-Bears should provide fans with a classic NFC title game
Women’s Hockey
Parker Gabriel
parks and rec
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danny Marchewka/The Daily Cardinal
Hilary Knight led the way for Wisconsin against the Huskies, recording five goals and three assists over the weekend as the Badgers ouscored St. Cloud State 16-0 over the course of their two games.
High-scoring Badgers sweep aside St. Cloud Nico Savdige The Daily Cardinal
It had been weeks since the Wisconsin women’s hockey team last took the ice as a complete group when it faced off against St. Cloud State Friday night. Over the winter break, opportunities to play with USA Hockey and Hockey Canada resulted in a musical chairs game that saw 12 players miss time with the Badgers. After the opening 20 minutes of the series opener, however, any questions about working out the kinks as players got back together were answered. Wisconsin came out firing, taking a 6-0 lead into the first intermission. The period set the tone for the rest of the weekend, as the Badgers went on to win 10-0 Friday and outscored hapless St. Cloud 16-0 over the series. “The start of the game and certainly the first period was reflective of how we worked hard and prepared Wednesday and Thursday,” head coach Mark Johnson said, referring to the two days of practice Wisconsin had as a complete unit before the series. Junior forward Hilary Knight was a big reason for the Badgers’ offensive success against St. Cloud, as she racked up five goals and three assists
over the weekend. After breaking the program’s career goals record Jan. 8 in a win against Ohio State, Knight has not shown any sign of slowing down, as she scored twice in the first period Friday on her way to a hat trick. The diversity of Knight’s goalscoring talents was on full display in the game. Knight scored the game’s opening tally just over three minutes in to the first period, firing a wrist shot from the faceoff circle to beat St. Cloud goaltender Ashley Nixon. On her second goal, Knight let loose a powerful shot from the top of the slot that seemed to blow through Nixon’s glove and into the net. “If she gets to the top of the circle she can beat goaltenders, as we’ve seen now for two and a half years,” Johnson said. “Whether she scores high or low she can beat you in all areas.” Although Nixon struggled Friday, giving up five goals before being pulled less than 15 minutes into the game, she was much improved Sunday and kept the Wisconsin offense at bay for much of the afternoon. The Huskies’ netminder made 20 saves in the first period, frustrating a Badger attack that relentlessly pressured the St. Cloud net but had just one goal to show for it through 35 minutes. Wisconsin eventually broke
through, however, and wore Nixon down to claim a 6-0 win. “She’s a great goalie and she played well today; we just had to find a way to beat her,” said senior forward Meghan Duggan, who scored the Badgers’ first goal. Along with the high-powered offense, the Wisconsin defense was equally dominant. St. Cloud managed just 17 shots on goal in the series and had only one shot through the first two periods of Sunday’s game. The dominant series sweep over St. Cloud–-the winless Huskies’ 21st and 22nd losses of the season–-sets the Badgers up for a much tougher four-game stretch against two of women’s hockey’s elite programs. Wisconsin will first face a road test against defending national champion Minnesota-Duluth this weekend before returning home to take on Minnesota Jan. 28 and 29. “Our success here this past weekend is definitely going to fuel us for our competition coming up,” Knight said. Given Knight’s scoring ability, Duggan joked the team will look for Wisconsin’s new all-time goals leader to play a big part in their upcoming games. “It would be great if she could get five next weekend too,” Duggan said.
ewly inaugurated Wisconsin governor Scott Walker recently announced a plan to poach jobs from Illinois, citing rising taxes in the vast flatlands to Wisconsin’s south as an opportunity to get competitive. You want competition with Illinois, governor? You don’t need to go putting up signs, blowing up Chicago radio and generally pronouncing superiority over a neighbor (though I do support the third wholeheartedly). We’ve got an NFC championship matchup on our hands that will make the Wisconsin leader’s lack of compassion for Illinoisans look pedestrian by the time Sunday afternoon rolls around. If you’ve watched ESPN for more than two minutes this week, you’re probably aware of the fact that the Bears and Packers have not met in the playoffs since 1941, the same year as Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, which was a really long time ago. Speaking of history, since that 1941 post-season matchup, Chicago has five championships (four NFL championships and one Super Bowl) and Green Bay has nine (six NFL championships and three Super Bowls). But enough boasting about the past—actually, let me also say that Mike Ditka was not a better coach than Vince Lombardi—OK, there. Let’s talk this season. A quick note: I’m going to try my best not to completely trash the Bears here, but if it comes off that way, just know that I don’t feel too bad about it. As is the case in all NFL games, this one could very easily boil down to which quarterback handles the situation better. Unless you have been living under a rock—or maybe within the Windy City limits—it is hard to think Jay Cutler will top Aaron Rodgers. I don’t even care if you discount Rodgers’ insane numbers from last week on the argument that playing indoors is nothing like Soldier Field in January. He threw for 813 yards, eight touchdowns and just one interception in three consecutive outdoor games prior to last weekend. More importantly, his mental game is razor sharp and he’s putting everybody else in the right places virtually every play.
Cutler is no slouch. He slouches, but that’s not what I mean. Actually, he played well above my expectations last week in a trap-game against the Seahawks. He is capable of beating Rodgers and the Packers, as he showed in a 20-17 Bears win on Sept. 27. The key will be whether or not he can keep his jersey clean through the game. Both Green Bay and Chicago feature defensive fronts that are different in fundamental structure but similarly destructive. The respective fan bases have wrangled all year about the pecking order between Julius Peppers and Clay Matthews, but most teams would love to have either. Each defense has had a marquee performance this year (think Green Bay shutting out the Jets and Chicago blanking Miami). In a division that features four daunting defensive fronts, the Packers and Bears easily stood out above Minnesota and Detroit (Ndamukong Suh notwithstanding) and they’re in the playoffs because of it. The Bears finished the regular season second in the league in rushing defense and fourth in scoring defense. The Packers finished fifth in passing defense and second in scoring defense. Basically, what I’m getting at is that it is hard to find a clear advantage either way. I would say the closest is Rodgers over Cutler. One valiant attempt I’ve heard from more than one Bears fan is that Chicago has a rushing game and Green Bay does not. Wrong. Neither team does. Green Bay compiled 1606 yards (3.8 per carry) and 11 rushing TDs on the year while Chicago had 1616 (3.9) and 10. Some advantage. There are a few things that really cannot be denied. One is that the Packers’ overall statistics, both offensively and defensively, were, in large part, better than Chicago’s this year. Another is that the Bears won 11 games in the regular season and the Packers only won 10. Both made the playoffs and both won a game against the other, again making declarations of supremacy difficult. Luckily, we get a rubber match. The field quality will be bad, the temperature cold and the stakes somewhere between the stratosphere and the moon. It’s the Packers and Bears and with a Super Bowl berth awaiting the victor. This ought to be fun. Who are you cheering for on Sunday? Cutler? Really? E-mail Parker at pjgabriel@dailycardinal.com.
Football
Bielema and Chryst agree to new compensation packages after historic season Ryan Evans THe Daily Cardinal
If you have success in the world of college football, more likely than not, you are going to be rewarded for it. For Wisconsin football head coach Bret Bielema, and offensive coordinator Paul Chryst that was the case, as it was announced yesterday that both had agreed to new compensation packages for the 2011-’12 season. Both coaches will see their pay increase substantially from last season.
Last year Bielema earned a base team to one of their most sucsalary of $400,000, and was able to cessful sesasons ever this past year, earn a total of $1,781,759 under the finishing with an 11-2 record that terms of his previous compensation included a share of the Big Ten package. The terms of conference title for the first his new 2011 deal stiputime since 1999, and a trip to late that Bielema’s new the Rose Bowl where they fell package will be worh to TCU, 21-19. about $2.5 million. With Chryst controlling Bielema has a record the offense, the Badgers had of 49-16 in his five the most prolific offensive seaseasons at the helm of son in school history. They set the Wisconsin football program records for points BIELEMA program and led the scored, points per game and
rushing touchdowns. The offense averaged 41.5 points per game, which ranked tops in the Big Ten and fifth in the country, as well as ranking 21st in the nation in yards per game with 445.2. After the season, Chryst’s name came up in the conversation for several job openings around the country, including an intervie with Mack Brown for the offensive coordinator position at the Univeristy of Texas. Though, Chryst said before the Rose Bowl
that he is happy at UW. With a new deal in place, he should be even happier. Chryst will see his base salary jump from $305,000 to $405,000 under the teams of his new contract. The money for these pay raises will be coming from unrestricted gifts in the UW Founadtion. The two new compensation packages still have to be approved by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. The board next meets on Feb. 10 and 11.