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GUSTER LACKS LUSTER Review of Easy Wonderful
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dailycardinal.com
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
NFL demands Feingold change campaign ad
Sleight of band
Nelson Cho/the daily cardinal
The National Football League asked Russ Feingold to remove a new television ad he released Tuesday that uses unauthorized video. “We did not license the footage and have contacted the Senator’s campaign about removing it,” said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy in an e-mail. The ad, titled “Number One,” features multiple clips of football players celebrating in the end zone. However, the only clip that uses NFL game footage features former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss pretending to moon Green Bay Packers fans during a game from January 2005. The NFL brought this to their
attention, and the Feingold campaign agreed to alter the ad. “We are making an edit to the ad to accommodate the NFL’s concern,” said campaign spokesman John Kraus in an e-mail. In the ad, Feingold compared the celebration footage to how Republican Senatorial candidate Ron Johnson is prematurely declaring a victory in the November election. “Senator Feingold’s mask is off,” the Johnson campaign said in a statement. “He’s raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars from radical liberal groups like MoveOn.org and is using NFL licensed footage without permission in his latest attack ad.” —Adam Wollner
Students rocked out their best air guitar reditions during UW Homecoming’s Air Band competition.
2011 Madison Operating Budget proposed, keeps cuts at minimum By Beth Pickhard The Daily Cardinal
Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz presented the 2011 Operating Budget Tuesday, which cuts back on student safety services and provides a 4.8 percent tax increase for the average home. Cieslewicz called the budget “modest” in a statement and said property tax increases are needed to keep basic services available and to maintain financial stability.
The budget will scale back the Downtown Safety Initiative by reducing it to $50,000. The Downtown Safety Plan puts more police on patrol when downtown Madison and the campus area is crowded, including Friday and Saturday nights and campus sporting events. Funds for the Downtown Safety plan were cut from $100,000, when the plan was put in place in 2007, and were further reduced in 2009 to
$80,000. Cieslewicz said the budget does not decrease police, fire or snowplow services overall. Additionally, there will be no change in strategy for how snowplows tackle the downtown area. The mayor’s office has received criticism in the past for its approach to snow removal. There would also be no increases in fares for Madison Metro services and no routes will be cut.
‘College Life’ star and roomates face $86,000 in party fines By Ellen Molina The Daily Cardinal
Gameday on Sept. 11, 2010 may have been a victorious win for the Wisconsin Badgers, but a dramatic loss for three UW-Madison students who face up to $86,000 in fines for allegedly distributing alcohol to minors. Each defendant was cited with 21 counts of procuring alcohol to an underage person, one count of dispensing alcohol without a permit, and 21 counts of an adult encouraging underage alcohol consumption, according to the police report. According to Mitchell Klatt, he and his roommates, Travis Ludy and former MTV “College Life” participant, Kevin Tracy, held a party with approximately 75-100 people that night. However, the City of Madison Incident Report states there were an estimated 200 people in
attendance when officers arrived at their home on 37 N. Brooks St around 11:30 p.m. In total, the students face fines of an estimated $30,000 each, according to the police report. Ald. Mike Veveer, District 4, said he believes the police are making an example of the students. “They want the bust to have a deterrent effect,” said Veveer. “…The press coverage will probably discourage other students from having house parties.” The Central District Community Police Team said big parties, like the one on N. Brooks, often lead to crimes such as sexual assault, battery and theft, according to the police report. Klatt said the fines are excessive and unreasonable. “To put three college kids in a hole like that is over the top,”
said Klatt. With their court date approaching on Oct. 25, the students are in search of good representation in hopes of reducing the charges, according to Klatt. “They want the bust to have a deterrent effect ... discourage other students from having house parties. ” Mike Verveer District 4 Alderman
Veveer said he anticipates the settlements will be smaller than the maximum penalty. “Similar large parties over the year have yielded negotiated settlements that end up being much less fines then what the maximum penalty might be,” said Veveer.
VIctor Bittorf/the daily cardinal
UW-Madison professors addressed history of the “coastie” and “sconnie” stereotypes Tuesday as part of Ethnic Studies week.
UW professors address coastie, sconnie divide and stereotypes By Ben Siegel The Daily Cardinal
Approximately 100 people attended a panel of UW-Madison professors that addressed the historical, linguistic, and contemporary social roots and implications of the “Coastie” and “Sconnie” stereotypes Tuesday as part of Ethnic Studies Week and the Jewish Heritage Lecture Series. Jonathon Pollack, a Professor of history at Madison Technical College and a fellow at the UW Institute for the Humanities, said the Anti-Semitic connotation of coasties can be traced through the history of coastal Jewish student attendance and their reception in Madison. “Jewish students could get in [to
the university throughout the early 1900’s],” Pollack said, “but Jews were not guaranteed campus housing.” According to Pollack, this led to the segregation of many coastal Jewish students in private residence halls off campus. Founder of the popular Sconnie Nation store on State Street, Troy Vosseller, said he believes the primary housing segregation and its subsequent incarnations in private residence halls such as the Towers and Statesider perpetuate the possible economic and social animosity that can charge the usage of the two terms. “To the extent that there is a derogsconnie page 3
“…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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Wednesday, October 6, 2010
A weekend of ups and downs (literally)
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Kathleen Brosnan ‘leen back
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verybody is looking at my face. And no, it’s not because the mug shot accompanying this column has given me unprecedented recognition on campus. Rather, it’s because, as the doctor put it, I have a “severely deep laceration” on my chin. I wish I could say it’s the result of a girl fight in which I kicked some major a$$, but that would be a lie. Unfortunately, the “chincident” (chin + incident) is due to my clumsiness. I had 25 relatives in town for the Austin Peay football game. I was so excited I could barely sit still in class; when the teachers lectured all I heard was “blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.” Once the family showed up, my weekend was quite the dichotomy. Events either made me smile/laugh, or want to bawl my eyes out. (–) I ask my 11-year-old cousin if he wants to go to Madison when he’s older (because obviously he needs to start thinking about these life decisions), he responds, “Eh, I’d probably rank it number eight or nine among my favorite Big Ten schools.” This causes me to quietly pout like a child. (+) After the game, this same cousin reports that Madison is in
his top two. So now I guess we’re on speaking terms. (–) My uncle keeps calling Bucky a beaver. What!? I don’t think he’s doing this to be funny or be mean, I think he sincerely thinks Bucky is a beaver. (+) My six-year-old cousin wants a tour of my bedroom. She looks at my dresser, points to a shot glass and asks, “What’s that?” I respond, “Uh. You know how when you’re sick you take cough medicine from a little plastic cup? This is the same thing.” (–) At dinner my aunt overhears me call her and the rest of the adults “old fogies.” They travel from Chicago and Florida to see me, and I call them “old fogies”? I feel like a jerk. But I was kidding. I swear!!! (+) My cousins (not the six or 11-year-old—their fakes wouldn’t work) and I go to a bar and hog the jukebox. T.I. and Rihanna’s bumping jam starts to play. I don’t know about you, but when Rihanna instructs me to “live my life,” you bet your bottom that I listen. (–) Somewhere between doing the sprinkler and the lawnmower, I fail to notice that a passerby just spilled their drink. Five seconds later I ate shit like no other. My chin got the brunt of it. (Side note: “eat shit,” means “fall.” I used this term in a previous column, and afterwards I was afraid some people were unfamiliar with the phrase and took it literally. Which would just be… gross.) (+) I get back up on my feet
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that he just called my dad—he’s on his way. Now the crying has amplified to a disgusting/embarrassing level. My dad planned this whole trip; it is three in the morning, meaning he was asleep; NO ONE wants to tell their dad they were doing the sprinkler and just lost control. (–) I don’t see a doctor until six in the morning. (–) I sleep at my parent’s hotel, and at 11:00 a.m. my mom drives me to Panera because I’m craving a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich. I wait in line for 10 minutes only to hear the cashier say, “We stopped serving breakfast a half hour ago.” (Cue the McDonald’s scene from Big Daddy.) I respond, “Do I look like someone who wants to hear that? Do you not see these stitches? Do you not see the blood stain on my Wisconsin football jersey, which, by the way, I’ve been wearing for over 24 hours? Give me my damn egg sandwich!” Well, that’s what it sounded like in my head. In reality, I replied, “Oh,” and walked away. (+/–) When I get home I receive a text from my brother Matt that says, “Kathleen, keep your CHIN up! It’ll be better soon.” That made me laugh. Which is usually a good thing. But when you have stitches on your chin, it kind of hurts to laugh. Do you think Rihanna is to blame for all of this? Me too. But I like her too much to hold a grudge, so share your “Live(ing) Your Life” stories at kqbrosnan@wisc.edu.
The best in fake news delivered in briefs for your reading pleasure Student “rocking” flat brim Yankees hat is actually just some tool from Minnesota According to several sources, Martin Kaysher has been spotted strutting with through campus with self-assured swagger in the past few weeks. His uniform of baggy jeans, North Face jacket and a flat brim Yankees hat has established, without a doubt, that Kaysher is a die-hard coastie and New York Yankees fan. There’s just one problem. Kaysher’s family is from Pittsburgh and they currently reside in Minnesota. Despite this, Kaysher has led many people to believe otherwise. That Yankees hat brought him considerable fortune in the past
weeks including, but not limited to: high fives from coastie “strangers,” the enthusiastic approval of a professor originally from New York and even a new legging-and-crop-top sporting NY-native girlfriend. Kasyer explained how he met the girl of his dreams at a Starbucks just two weeks ago after commenting that he too was from New York. “She was just so hot, so of course I said I was from New York,” the tool said. Next thing I knew she had given me her number. Honestly, I’m originally from Pittsburgh, so I can’t support the Twins. What am I gonna do, root for the Pirates? I’ve got a rep to protect, so I’m rocking the Yankees hat at the moment.” Despite Kaysher’s new-
Did you miss Tuesday’s
For the record
and continue to do the sprinkler because I’m a trooper and a stupid spill isn’t going to stop me from having a good time. I’m no pansy. * Everything from here on out is pretty down hill. (–) Mortified, my cousin says, “We need to go to the bathroom; you’re bleeding and it’s dripping down your neck.” I respond, “I’m not trying to impress anyone.” (Hey Kathleen, you’re an IDIOT.) She replies, “Uh okay. But that doesn’t really have anything to do with this.” (–) The next question is whether or not I need stitches. I insist that I don’t. In a very serious tone, my cousin lays down the law, “Look. As the oldest one here, I’m telling you to go to the hospital. If on your wedding day, you have a huge scar on your face because I didn’t force you to go to the ER, I’ll never be able to forgive myself. I can’t have this on my conscience.” In hindsight, I’m glad she was concerned about my hypothetical wedding and not so concerned about possible infection. (–) My brother Kevin and I arrive at the ER. After giving all my information to the receptionist at UW Hospital, I ask her how much trips to the ER cost. She nonchalantly responds, “Oh, I’d say up to $3,000.” SCREW THE STITCHES! SCREW INFECTIONS! I WANT THE SCAR! GIVE ME THE SCAR! (At this point there is some hardcore crying.) (–) My brother informs me
found friendships with coasties, many people are beginning to grow suspicious. One of Kaysher’s New York friends, Andy Gold, commented on their recent friendship. “Yeah, [Kaysher]’s cool. I mean, he seems to like the Yankees, but to tell you the truth I’m not sure he’s actually from New York,” Gold said. Gold elaborated by explaining that he and his friends have grown suspicious of Kaysher’s native residency after they asked Kaysher where in New York state he was from. Kaysher took a lengthy pause before reportedly responding that he was from “Brooklyn or some shit.” Despite increasing suspicion, Kaysher makes it clear that he has no intention of
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trading in his Yankees hat any time soon. “I bought this [Yankees] hat less than a month ago when I was a nobody. I was a social peasant. And look at me now— I’m a fucking king. How could I explain to [new girlfriend and New York native] Jackie that I’m just a guy who grew up in Pittsburgh and moved to Minnesota? She would never understand,” Kaysher said quietly as a teardrop twinkled in his left eye. But before I could ask any more questions, Kaysher excused himself from the interview, explaining that Jackie had requested new Ugg boots in honor of the couple’s two-week anniversary, and he had yet to purchase them. —Phil Vesselinovitch
Lucky for you they’re online at dailycardinal.com/page-two. So read this weeks’ Overheards, and if you don’t think they’re funny then submit some of your own, damnit!
dailycardinal.com/news
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
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Vending Committee talks campus food cart futures By Beth Pickhard The Daily Cardinal
The Madison Vendor Oversight Committee discussed street vendors in UW-Madison southeast campus area Tuesday and said it will release its annual report by Friday. The annual vendor report tells which food carts will maintain their spots next year. VOC members also judged the carts last week and said ranking decisions will be released as soon as the report has been compiled by a city administrative assistant. According to street vending coordinator, Warren Hansen, the new southeast campus region has been profitable for vendors who received permits during the past year. “Right now we’re finding out that the sites that we chose are mostly working and we can add more and see how they go,” said Hansen.
Hansen said the VOC adds areas to the southeastern campus slowly and said UW-Madison has been happy or neutral with the placement of carts. “I think it works to move slowly,” said Karen Foxgrover, a voting member of the VOC. “When you grow too quickly you usually put a break in the foundation.” Austin McClendon, technical adviser and non-voting member of the VOC, said he wishes vendors were able to profit from Kohl Center athletic events. I have been [around the Kohl Center] in the past so I know that the site is good,” he said. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said there would not be much space near the Kohl Center when the proposed UW-Madison athletics ice rink would be constructed behind the Southeast Recreational Facility.
Citizens speak on behalf of Overture Center at Common Council Meeting By Beth Pickhard The Daily Cardinal
Members of the community and local unions spoke at the Common Council meeting to urge the Overture Center to remain open to the City of Madison on Tuesday. The Common Council referred discussion of the Overture Center staffing and ownership model to their Nov. 9 meeting. The Overture Center owes $28 million dollars, but will be forgiven by banks if the city takes partial ownership by the end of the year. Alison Jones Chaim, Wisconsin Book Festival director, said the Overture Center hosted the five day Wisconsin Book Festival and should remain open for the community. “We brought people together for the kind of energetic, civic discourse that is really essential to
a healthy democratic society,” she said. Davin Pickell, of AFSCME Local 60 union and IATSE Local 251 union, said the models presented to the Common Council by the Overture Center Ad Hoc committee are misleading. “[The numbers] trick your brain into thinking it’s a budget and trick your brain into thinking it’s a balanced budget because they’ve used a bunch of flawed math to get there.” Chris Gauthier, business agent of IATSE 251 union, said the success of the Overture Center is important to not only union employees, but to the public. Gauthier said people’s speech has been “twisted” and “politics played.” “I would like to see if we can try to focus a lot of this energy and coming up with a solution … a solution that works,” he said.
City representatives discuss Freakfest changes By Ali Krolicki The Daily Cardinal
Officials from the Madison Mayor’s Office, the Madison Police Department and Frank Productions announced details Tuesday for this year’s Freakfest celebration, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 30. Entrance and exit gates have been changed from last year to address local business and pedestrian concerns. Gilman Street will now have both entrance and exit points. The Johnson and Henry Street intersection will be a major entrance. “The gating changes might relieve some of the pressure points we’ve had in the past,” said Captain Mary Schauf of the Central Madison Police District. According to Chris Klein, aide from the mayor’s office, there will not be any stadium lights this year. He said they are being cut to lower costs because they were not used last year and are extremely expensive. OK Go will be headlining on the main stage on Capitol Square while country bands, Little Big Town and Stealing Angels, will be playing on the Gilman Street stage. DJ Will Calder will be performing on the Frances Street stage. “We are trying country this year, it’s a little different, but it’s Madison, Wisconsin,” Dave Maynard of Frank Productions said. “We’ve got two country radio stations, so some people must listen to [country music].” Event organizers will continue the tradition of a costume contest with prizes donated by local businesses, including a pair of roundtrip tickets to London donated by STA Travel of State Street. The number of arrests during Freakfest has significantly declined since the event became gated and tick-
eted three years ago, Mary Carbine, of Madison’s Central Business Improvement District said. She said there have been great strides towards making Freakfest a fun event and downtown destination. “Last year was so successful that there is very little change … the times are the same, the gate openings are the same, the ticket prices are the same.” Klein said. Tickets are currently on sale and are the same price as last year, $7 dollars if purchased in advance, and $10 dollars if purchased on the day of the event.
Ben Pierson/the daily cardinal
Lt. Gov. Lawton, chair of the Wisconsin Arts Board, emphasized the importance of serving the artistic community and fostering a creative economy at a town hall meeting at Edgewood.
Lawton promotes the arts at Edgewood campus By Ariel Shapiro The Daily Cardinal
As chair of the Wisconsin Arts Board, Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton addressed Madison’s art community Tuesday night on the Board’s plan to amp up artistic activity in the state and provide for a “creative economy.” The meeting at the Edgewood College campus was the second in a statewide tour by Lawton and WAB Executive Director George Tzougros to present their plan draft for 20122014 and receive input from artists and art enthusiasts around the state. The plan entails four general goals: to engage the community through arts opportunities, promote lifelong imaginative learning, give creative industries the tools to engage in sustainable economic development, and insist on funds and policies to achieve these goals. Tzougros said the development of the creative arts is essential in providing for what he called an “expressive life” for Wisconsinites. The expressive life is not only in “the fine arts,
sconnie from page 1 atory usage of the word [“coastie”], I think that a lot of it lies in the first year student experience geographically: where they live, and I really think that it’s worth looking into,” Vosseller said. James Leary, a Professor of folklore and Scandinavian studies, said the term and stereotype of the “sconnie” represents Wisconsinites
but the folk arts. It’s not only non-profit arts, it’s for profit creative industries. The picture of what we mean by expressive life also takes people from being simply and audience member to get active and to participate,” Tzougros said. Lawton said a major component of fostering the “expressive life” is to change the way schools handle arts education. “We can no longer think of the arts and development of creative capacities as enrichment,” she said. “It has to be thought of as core curriculum.” Lawton said that developing this kind of thinking is essential to support a resilient economy. Director of the School of Music at UW-Madison John Schaffer, who was sitting in the crowd, said there is a sense that investment in the arts happens mainly in K-12 education, and that it needs to be encouraged at the university level, where it is lacking. The plan as it stands is a draft and subject to change, according to Lawton. as all “jack-pine savages” or fresh off the farm. Leary said this stereotype fails to represent the culturally diversity within the state. Argyle Wade, the Associate Dean of Students, said recent controversial usage of “coastie”, such as Anti-Semitic comments led to the formation of this panel. “Students need to think about the language they use and the way it impacts other people,” Wade said.
life&style
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dailycardinal.com/life-style
What’s in the Fridge? Sage pork chops and cheese tortellini By Alec Walker The DAILY CARDINAL
Do you find yourself purposefully and frequently rushing up from your desk to use the bathroom, unabashedly scoffing through boxes upon boxes of Cheez-its, and compulsively checking Facebook into the wee hours of the night? Oh, that’s right, you have midterms on the way and you’re procrastinating. Well, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, eh? Buried under piles of molecular models, stacks of lab reports and a sea of dirty dishes this week, I decided to assuage my stress by whipping up a hearty, homecooked meal. Reflecting upon just how much time my cooking endeavors usually devour, I decided to go with something quick yet delicious—browned pork chops over a bed of sage-buttered tortellini. This may sound fancy, but it only contains six ingredients: pork chops, cheese-filled tortellini, butter, sage, black pepper and salt. And for those of you who want to procrastinate “just a little” via the culinary arts, this recipe only takes
about twenty minutes. Oh yeah, you heard right Rachel Ray!
Ingredients:
2 lbs boneless pork chops 1 lb cheese-filled tortellini 1 stick butter Dried or fresh sage Freshly ground black pepper Salt Efficiency is the name of the game for this recipe. Bring four quarts of water to a boil and add your tortellini. Allow it to cook for six to eight minutes (or until al dente), during which time you can start preparing your pork chops. With a sharp knife, butterfly the chops by slicing widthwise from one edge to the other. This should give you two thinner pork chops. Cover the chops with foil or plastic wrap, and pound them flat with a meat hammer or the back edge of a knife blade. Once they are a quarter-inch thick, season each side liberally with sage, salt and black pepper. Melt two to three
tablespoons of butter in a pan, and add the pork chops. Brown on each side for approximately two minutes. Meanwhile, drain your tortellini and melt another four to five tablespoons of butter in a different pan, allowing the butter to brown slightly before you add the tortellini. Once added, season the tortellini with sage, black pepper and salt, and sauté it to a crispy, golden-brown color. If you’ve timed the meal well (which I seldom accomplish with any meal), the chops and tortellini will finish cooking at the same time, and you can plate them up with a few sprigs of fresh parsley for garnish. Round off this savory meal with your favorite microbrew— I chose a New Glarus Staghorn Oktoberfest—and you should be back to tapping your pencil, staring aimlessly into space, and religiously checking your email in no time—provided you didn’t consume too many Oktoberfests. Enjoy!
Eddy Cevilla/ THE DAILY CARDINAL
Looking for a delicious homemade meal you can whip up quickly? Alec’s recipe for sage pork chops can satisfy any evening appetite.
arts
Wednesday, October 6, 2010 • 5
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Don Draper knows how to keep the people ‘Mad’ for his antics Todd Stevens the todday show
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Photo Courtesy Aware Records
Because they’ve been around since 1991, people have grown very comfortable and happy with the product Guster delivers. Their latest album takes a change of pace, one that won’t be appreciated by fans.
Guster loses its gusto, makes annoying album By Nick Cusatis
ing. The song has a hymnal vibe, especially when the band Was I just in church or at a starts belting out “Hallelujah, Beach Boy’s concert? This is the Hallelujah.” This is not to question people will ask them- say religious themes in music selves after hearing Guster’s is always a bad thing, but new album, Easy Wonderful. if you know Guster, this is This may sound intriguing, but an unpleasant change of tone. in fact is a question raised by When you expect to hear music an album that is just too damn from a band you know and love happy. Every one of the album’s but then get something totally pop songs ooze love and hap- different, the change is diffipiness. It’s nauseating. Guster cult to handle. loyals be warned: this album is Another track on the album sure to disappoint. is “Bad Bad World.” With a title like that, one would think the song to be heartfelt and emotional, when in reality it is anything but. With cheesy and unoriginal lyrics like, “There People don’t go to Guster for is love / There is peace in this pop music. They go to world,” the song (and the whole Guster for Guster. album) feels very superficial. When an album is produced by a guy like Steve Lillywhite, who has worked with artists Since their 1991 start, Guster ranging from Dave Matthews has always been on the poppier Band to Peter Gabriel to U2 to side of the rock ‘n’ roll scene, but The Rolling Stones, one might on Easy Wonderful, the playful expect the album to be superb. band crosses the line. If an album If a guy has worked with such leaves Guster respectable faithfuls conand infamous CD REVIEW fused about musicians, whether they’re surly whatevlistening to a er he touches Beach Boy’s turns to gold. album or a Wrong. Easy Guster album, Wo n d e r f u l you know falls incredyou’ve messed ibly short of Easy Wonderful up somewhere. these impresGuster “Do You sive expectaLove Me” is a tions. Not great example of this problem. even Lillywhite can balance out The song is an overly pop- the gratuitously or melodies influenced song with happy- that make it impossible to take go-lucky lyrics like, “I wanna anything Guster does seriously. wake you from your dream / Suddenly lyrics like “I caught a I wanna know just who you’re piece of the sun” from the song talking to when your singing in “What You Call Love” seem like your sleep.” a joke. Easy Wonderful’s fifth track So, what happened to the continues on this. It even old Guster that played real rock gets slightly religious at some music, that came out with albums points. Perhaps with a title that exemplified their musicianlike “Stay With Me Jesus,” this ship and their capability to write should be expected, but from great lyrics? Easy Wonderful does Guster? It’s certainly surpris- periodically hint that they are
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still around. On “Hercules,” Guster finally demonstrates that they have a little gasoline left in the tanks. The song gives hope that Guster has not completely sold out to the pop-driven music industry. The lyric, “peel back my skin and make my ribs a xylophone,” reminds us that Guster knows what kind of music they’re best at. The only question is why they didn’t allow it to make up the total album.
Every one of the album’s pop songs ooze love and happiness. It’s nauseating.
Prior to the track “Do What You Want,” the album was predominantly acoustic driven songs with some electric guitar and vocal alterations, but nothing too crazy. This provided a great cohesiveness. Out of nowhere, “Do What You Want” switches it up and resorts to synthesizers, distorted guitars and loud vocals. This jarring change of pace might seem unappetizing, but in reality, it may be the best song on the album. The problem is that it just doesn’t fit in. Maybe if Guster had saved this song for the next release, it could have served as a starting point for what would have undoubtedly been a great album. Instead, the cheese stands alone. Is Easy Wonderful a decent pop album? Perhaps, but true Guster fans, those who have been listening to them for years, there is bound to be disappointment. People don’t go to Guster for pop music. They go to Guster for Guster, i.e. rock songs that have connection to the outside world, not idyllic images of fields of daisies. For this reason, Easy Wonderful is everything but wonderful.
s it sits, “Mad Men” has two episodes left in its fourth season. But until recently, this season has had little in terms of plot and a lot of establishing the new setting of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce and its characters’ new roles within it. But the action has been very contained, with plotlines involving Don Draper’s true identity and a budding relationship with an SCDP consultant, Joan and Roger’s briefly rekindled and rapidly unkindled romance and the very survival of the new firm only rolling into view recently. This begs the question: why do Mad Men viewers not only tolerate this, but seemingly love it? I would fit right into the camp, as so far season four is my favorite yet for AMC’s critically acclaimed keystone show. However, this isn’t a particularly new development for “Mad Men.” Other than season one, each year the show has gone through multi-episode stretches dedicated almost exclusively to character building while little develops in the plot. Without a doubt, “Mad Men” has to be the most meditative show on TV (with perhaps the exception of AMC’s recent labyrinthine debut, “Rubicon”). Yet it’s still a hit. Granted, it’s a hit mostly by basic cable standards—the show’s latest season premiere attracted 2.9 million viewers, which is less than a quarter the draw of your average episode of “Two and a Half Men,” a statistic that makes me cry myself to sleep on a nightly basis. But it’s still a sizable draw for a series that moves along at a slower pace than your average calculus lecture. It’s probably not appropriate to compare “Mad Men” to a network drama where any audience would be wailing in the writers’ ears about the lack of forward motion. But “Mad Men” has the advantage of appealing to a college educated, upper middle class audience with plenty of cash on hand, a very appealing
market for advertisers. So appealing, in fact, that companies have developed ads specifically for “Mad Men” designed to trick those watching on DVR by copying the show’s lighting and set design. Then again, this may just be real life Madison Avenue creative types simply lauding a show that shine the spotlight on their chosen profession, but that’s a slightly ridiculous notion. So the audience for “Mad Men” is naturally more understanding of slow-building plotlines, but even the most understanding viewership has a breaking point. “Lost” had a fairly affluent audience for a network show, but fans still cried that it was churning its wheels at various points. “The Sopranos” was also called out late in its run for failing to advance the stories people most wanted to see. And “Mad Men” doesn’t have the pulsepounding action to make up for such gaps in plot development. What does separate “Mad Men” from these other shows is the sheer complexity of its ensemble. While Tony Soprano was arguably the most complex character ever seen on television, the rest of “The Sopranos” characters didn’t have the same depth as he did. The same can’t be said with “Mad Men,” where protégé Peggy Olson, up-and-comer Pete Campbell or office vixen Joan Holloway (nee Harris) are just as complicated as the fabulous Mr. Draper. The numerous episodes of character exploration are necessary to wrap your head around everybody’s conflicting motivations; the story just doesn’t make sense without it. And thankfully, any “Mad Men” character building episode is much more riveting than a typical murder investigation on “CSI.” In fact, this season in particular seemed to have an awkward shift once the plot kicked in with the episode “Hands and Knees.” But if the end of last season is any indication, the one thing “Mad Men” can do just as well as character development is finales. And after all the build up in season four, chances are “Mad Men” viewers are in for one hell of a finale in two weeks.
Photo Courtesy AMC
Season four of AMC’s “Mad Men” is getting ready to wrap up. With the show still going strong, it’s worth asking why viewers are so in love with it.
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Except for “y”: “Rhythm” is the longest English word without a vowel. dailycardinal.com/comics
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Slightly more difficult than pie
Today’s Sudoku
Evil Bird
By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu
© Puzzles by Pappocom
Branching Out
By Brendan Sullivan bsullivan3@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.
Beeramid Classic
By Ryan Matthes graphics@dailycardinal.com
Today’s Crossword Puzzle
Crustaches
First in Twenty
By Patrick Remington premington@wisc.edu
By Angel Lee alee23@wisc.edu
Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com
TELLING A TAIL ACROSS 1 Urban legend 5 Arboreal abode 9 “Slow and steady wins the race,” for one 14 Banshee’s land 15 Ice cream topping, sometimes 16 Battery pole 17 Like spider webs 18 Yo-yo trick 20 Reaches from point A to point B 22 Sit-down affairs 23 Rebirth 26 Recipient of a Bugs Bunny question 29 Workplace for an actor 30 Word in genealogy 31 Big Brother’s creator 33 Spanish restaurant staple 36 Hipbone parts 37 Emulate March 42 State with confidence 43 Butter or oleo 44 Pick and choose 47 Ontario-born hockey legend Bobby 48 Airplane Flying Handbook org. 51 What boring things never seem to do 52 Southern breakfast
dish Washbowl Stops mid-march Perform a daring act Do a quick turnaround Not just up Yups’ opposites William with a state named after him 67 Westminster attraction 68 Suddenly lose it 69 “Do not change,” to an editor 56 57 58 63 64 65 66
DOWN 1 Abbr. at the head of a letter, sometimes 2 “Hooray!” 3 AWOL 4 Dye-yielding shrub 5 When brats want something 6 Big Band, for one 7 Alabama city in 1965 headlines 8 Battleship on a Monopoly board, e.g. 9 “The Song of the Earth” composer Gustav 10 Tip jar fillers, typically 11 Angler’s buy 12 “And now, without further ___ ...” 13 A joker might pull yours 19 Snack in a tortilla 21 Where Moses received
24 25 26 27 28 32 33 34 35 37 38 39 40 41 45 46 48 49 50 53 54 55 56 58 59 60 61 62
two tablets Visualized Flies off the shelves It may be kosher Eclectic assortment “The ___ of the Cave Bear” From the jungle The older Dumas It may be glossed over Birthplace of LeBron James Matter for a judge It might be selfcleaning Canasta combination Macabre (Var.) Comic strip cry of frustration Inclined to conversation Reggae great Peter Boneless cut of meat Bring into accord What a green light may represent Outward appearances Machu Picchu native Abrades Color of Angels and Devils? That’s what ewes say Tidal movement Easy tennis return “Eureka!” Sugar amt., perhaps
Washington and the Bear
By Derek Sandberg kalarooka@gmail.com
opinion dailycardinal.com/opinion
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
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Historic grounds at Colbert brings humor in defense of LSU deserve respect AgJobs bill before House Judiciary Mark Bennett opinion columnist
I
t’s not often that a college campus a thousand miles away can affect students in Madison, but that is not to say that we shouldn’t be concerned with what other students are doing outside of our little bubble. Two weeks ago, an issue arose on the Louisiana State University campus that really should demand our attention. It seems that LSU football fans have a long standing tradition of both tailgating on top of and eventually sliding down a set of Native American mounds on campus. As it turns out, these relatively unknown 6,000-yearold mounds are the oldest structures of their kind in all of North America—even older than Stonehenge in England. For the record, our very own UW-Madison campus has one of the most extensive collections of burial mounds in all of the United States. In fact, two of the most significant burial sites can be found right atop of Observatory Hill next to the Washburn Observatory. Concerned students and faculty at the university in Baton Rouge worry that the abusive activity inflicted by game day crowds will cause damage to the already old and fragile mounds. And they aren’t without good reason. They convinced administrative officials to rope off the area for the team’s first football game against Mississippi State on Sept. 18. These protective ropes appeared again only a week later for the Tiger’s next home game against West Virginia.
This idea of trampling over a ceremonial site three millennia old for recreation is simply puzzling.
However, on the morning of that second game, LSU Landscape Services were ordered to remove the ropes. Once again, football fans were allowed to storm these Native American ceremonial sites and continue their usual traditions of tailgating on top of the ancient mounds. Some professors and a large group of concerned anthropology and geology students were understandably upset with the university’s decision to remove the ropes. The university did allow the concerned group of students and faculty to leave signs near the site reading, “Help preserve the mounds.” Within hours though, the signs themselves became sleds for fans and children playing on the hill. While the LSU administration later said the ropes were removed for safety concerns, they still did
nothing to otherwise prevent or discourage the tailgating masses from trampling all over the mounds on game day. It is time for LSU students, alumni and visitors to have some respect for the ancient Native American mounds on their campus. These sites, officially on the National Register of Historic places, will not remain a part of Louisiana’s history much longer if people continue to treat them the way they are now. And no, respect does not include beers and hamburgers.
The LSU administration has made the right move by fencing off the site.
Following the situation during the West Virginia game, university officials announced that from now on, they would fence off the area on game days in hopes of preventing further significant damage and disrespect. Though the greater community may not completely agree, this administrative decision shows sensitivity to the culture and the historic sites. The issue remains though of those fans who argue and whine about the inconvenient role these mounds play in terms of interfereing with the tradition of game day. Some critics say their children have been sliding down the mounds their whole lives, and to prevent fans from playing on them would destroy the fabrics of their own histories. But really, this idea of trampling over a ceremonial site three millennia old for recreation today is simply puzzling. Do people not realize, or rather just not care about the importance and historical significance of these structures, especially the two on LSU’s campus which have stood for so many centuries? Are they really worth sledding and some hot dogs? Some people say it’s a tradition. Sure, I’ll give you that one. For those of you who do argue from that perspective, you have some real fine traditions in Louisiana of disrespect, ignorance and insensitivity. While I appreciate the efforts of those working to preserve these historical structures, unfortunately, to the rest of the country, the people of LSU and the Baton Rouge community come off as incredibly insensitive and degrading idiots. The LSU administration has made the right move by fencing off the site during football games. But for the rest of those who insist on destroying historical landmarks, I challenge you to adopt a few new traditions—traditions of understanding, traditions of self-control, and a tradition of respect. Mark Bennett is a sophomore majoring in political science and journalsim. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com
Jaime Brackeen opinion columnist
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t is a rare occurrence that a person of my age would watch C-SPAN and laugh (unless it’s at the old representatives who like to nod off on the job). Quite honestly it’s rare that I would go out of my way to watch C-SPAN at all. Yet on Friday, Sept. 24th pseudo-GOP pundit, Stephen Colbert got my attention along with thousands of others both young and old when he spoke in front of the House Judiciary Committee in support of the AgJobs bill. The bill advocates for reform of labor laws that would make it easier for illegal migrant laborers to obtain a visa for work. It would also aim to improve working conditions and treatment of the millions of people who work hard to help put food on our American tables every day. But there is nothing new about immigration reform issues in the United States. Instead, most of the uproar caused by this hearing stems from the antics of guest speaker Colbert, who hosts the satirical talk show the “Colbert Report.”
After listening to his account ... no one can say he didn’t do his research.
This master of satire was invited to speak on behalf of the bill by Representative Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., who met Colbert while working on a farm in upstate New York. This job was far from permanent for each of them, as they both made statementst for the United Farm Workers’ “Take Our Jobs” program. This title can be taken quite literally as the program invites any American to literally sign up to work in a
Editorial Cartoon
field picking crops that would normally be manned by illegal laborers from a foreign country, assuring legal citizens that their jobs are not actually being taken by migrant workers. Thus far the UFW’s point has been overwhelmingly proven, as Colbert and Lofgren were only two out of a total of seven Americans to take up the challenge.
If Colbert hadn’t come to speak, how much attention would this very important issue actually have received?
With only one day in the field, Colbert joked about his in-depth expertise on the subject However, that is one more day than any other congressman, aside from Lofgren, has spent experiencing the life of a farm worker firsthand. And after listening to his account and the many statistics he brought to the table (even if they were presented sarcastically), no one can say he didn’t do his research. Yet, before giving his statement, several Republican Representatives and even one Democrat requested that Colbert remove himself from speaking. They did not want our very austere, decision-making system of law and governing to be made into a mockery. I’m sure that when Republicans brought the Muppets and Elmo, from “Sesame Street” to testify before the House Appropriations Subcommittee in 2002, that it was a much more serious presentation, completely lacking any humor. At least Colbert is a human. So I ask, why all the Comedy Central host hate, Representatives? If Colbert hadn’t come to speak in front of the committee, how much attention would this very important issue have actually received? Even though it took place over a week ago, it still comes up in discussions across the nation.
Not to mention the entirely new audience it brings to Judiciary Committee hearings. Not as many college students are watching C-SPAN as they are “Jersey Shore” or “The Office,” but they still make time to watch the Colbert Report. Some Representatives recognized the beneficial celebrity power of Colbert in representing this issue and thanked him for the national spotlight he put on the hearing, but still did not want him to speak and “waste” any more of their precious time. That was just plain unfair. Although he stayed in character throughout, submitted a video of his colonoscopy to the Congressional record and poked a bit of fun at mainly Republicans, Colbert was there to make some very valid points. And in that effort, he was actually successful. Colbert suggested that when left to the free market, these agriculture jobs have been shipped to other countries by the thousands, “because apparently, even the invisible hand [of the market] doesn’t want to pick beans.” I know I don’t.
Colbert was there to make some valid points. And in that effort, he was successful.
Just because Colbert is a different brand of politics from what the Judiciary Committee is accustomed to doesn’t mean he should be disregarded as completely irrelevant. He brought widespread, national attention to an important bill for our economy and workers’ rights, and proved you don’t have to always be serious to make a serious impact. Watch his speech— not only is it funny, but it truly is worth your time. Jaime Brackeen is a sophomore majoring in journalism. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com
By John Liesveld opinion@dailycardinal.com
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dailycardinal.com/sports
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Football
Men’s Soccer
Badgers look to build on recent improvements with strong defense By Matthew Kleist the daily cardinal
Matt Marheine/Cardinal File Photo
Freshman running back James White currently ranks fifth nationally in yards per carry at 8.34. The shifty back also ranks fourth among freshmen in rushing yards and has six touchdowns in his last two games.
Production from young players a nice surprise By Tom Czaja the daily cardinal
In a season filled with inconsistency on the offensive side of the ball, the Badgers’ football team has found a youthful surge beginning to emerge through the first five games. Freshman wide receiver Jared Abbrederis and freshman running back James White have both made unforeseen impacts, Abbrederis is currently the second leading receiver with 12 catches for 139 yards, and White has produced the same number of touchdowns (6) as the highly-touted junior running back John Clay while averaging 8.3 rushing yards per attempt. “Recruiting-wise, this year’s guys as a whole have an approach about them,” assistant and running backs coach John Settle said. “They are smart guys, smart players and just make better plays.” White especially has been on a tear in the ground game, breaking out with multiple touchdowns against Michigan State on outside runs, and falling just short of 100 yards on the day. “We’re all just going out there doing the best we can,” White said. “We can all perform out
there on Saturday.” When players come in as freshmen, many redshirt or only see time on the field in practice. It can take years to get a chance.If his number is called, though, he has to be ready. “Coming in, I thought I’d have an opportunity at special teams, but I didn’t know I’d have this opportunity,” Abbrederis said. “Everyone wants to see themselves do [well] in the future, so I plan on working hard, not making any mistakes and going 110 percent every play.” While Abbrederis’ numbers have been modest so far—his best game to date came against San Jose State with five catches for 58 yards—the young receiver has been steady and made key catches for crucial first downs. White, meanwhile, talked about younger players having to correct mistakes and growing pains that come with learning the intricacies of the offense both in practice and in the film room. The season will only continue to grind as a formidable Big Ten schedule unfolds, and conditioning plays huge for younger players who may hit the proverbial wall. So far,
Abbrederis and White feel comfortable they can handle the workload. Abbrederis said being a regular in the weight room is key to holding up physically through the season, while motivation from teammates helps him stay mentally sharp. “We have a lot of the wide receivers, guys in general, helping us young guys every second with routes and what to do in different situations,” Abbrederis said. “They keep us ready.” Going into the future, whether Abbrederis and White continue to chip in at the rates they have remains to be seen. To be fair, White had his best statistical game against Austin Peay, who the Badgers easily disposed of and did not provide a true indication of readiness. Abbrederis, White and other young players will get their first taste of the historic rivalry with Minnesota this Saturday when the two teams square off at Camp Randall. Settle feels the young men are up to the test and will succeed in big pressure games. “They give themselves the opportunity, which in turn helps the team compete and makes us more successful,” Settle said.
Returning home, the Badgers men’s soccer team (1-6-2) is coming off a 1-1 double overtime draw in their Big Ten opener against Indiana. Wisconsin will play host to the Huskies of Northern Illinois (4-3-2) in a midweek matchup on Wednesday night. In a game that is looking to shape up to be a defensive struggle, it will be crucial to find the back of the net. Entering this week’s game, NIU owns a goals against average of only 0.53, and are ranked 12th in the nation in that category. Even more daunting, Northern Illinois is ranked 10th in shutouts, blanking opponents at a rate of 56 percent. However, the Badger defense, laden with freshmen like Paul Yonga and Luke Goodnetter, is not to be dismissed. Allowing 1.03 goals per game and holding a .808 save percentage, Wisconsin’s back line is not often broken. Starting in goal, freshmen keeper Max Jentsch is no slouch either. In his only start of the season, Jentsch impressed head coach John Trask.
Playing the full 90 minutes, he saved 3 of the 4 shots that he faced. “The young man that played at Marquette, Max Jentsch, who is a true freshman, was outstanding,” Trask said. “He’ll start again on Wednesday night.” Hoping to build on their success in Indiana, Trask feels that his team is ready to continue forward and will start seeing results. “I think this is something that they’ll use as motivation,” Trask said. Seeing improvement every time they take the field, the Badgers are now starting to step up their play. Able to begin to look at games from a more tactical viewpoint, they are starting to play the matchups that will give them the advantage. “Our young guys continue to develop,” Trask said. “Wednesday will be a character game.” Wisconsin is still looking for their second win of the season. Claiming the all-time series 16-11-0, the Badgers have the slight advantage historically. Despite this, the Huskies have taken 4 out of the last 6 decisions, winning the last meeting of these two teams 1-0 at Wisconsin just a season ago.
Danny Marchewka/cardinal file photo
Wisconsin’s staunch defense is solidified by freshmen like Paul Yonga, who has started in all nine games so far this season.
Despite impending labor issues, NFL has competitive balance figured out Parker Gabriel
parks and rec
F
or some reason, football season seems to fly by every year. Maybe it’s because teams can’t play everyday like in baseball. Maybe it’s because the playoffs don’t serve as a regular-season redo like in the NBA and NHL. Whatever the reason may be, it feels like I just woke up from my NFL preseason-induced nap and yet we’re already a quarter of the way through the regular season slate. OK, so maybe one quarter isn’t all that much. At this point on Sunday afternoon, even the St. Louis Rams are probably competitive. But wait, here is where the metaphor gets real. This year, the Rams—
the same team that compiled a 14-50 record and won exactly three divisional games between 2006 and 2009— are actually competitive, and they aren’t alone. There are only two or three teams that have shown the lifelessness that suggests no chance at relevance between now and January. I was watching ESPN the other day and saw some football analyst—I don’t remember who it was, probably because I was distracted by the obnoxiously large knot in Merrill Hodge’s tie—and heard this rash of competitive play explained as a result of inconsistent play among the league’s elite. I disagree. I think the NFL has found it’s most prized P-word. Parity. Now, I’m not trying to say that, come the release of Madden 2012, every team will have an overall rating of 84—some teams are clearly better than others—but this year more than
others it seems that everybody is at risk of losing on Sunday. Entering this weekend, 24 of the league’s 32 teams have at least two wins. Four teams are still winless, but one of those is the San Francisco 49ers, who just four weeks ago sat as a nearunanimous pick to win the NFC West. The only undefeated team remaining is the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs, if you remember, went 4-12 last year and only a breakout year from running back Jamaal Charles prevented complete offensive ineptitude. Elsewhere, the Indianapolis Colts have to deal with a dangerous team in Houston and don’t look like they can waltz to 12 wins and an easy division title—though I still wouldn’t bet against Peyton Manning. The Texans, who came into the league as an expansion team in 2002, didn’t find success overnight, but now appear to be a
franchise coming to fruition through a couple of savvy trades and consistently productive draft classes. This is the beauty of the NFL and the reason why we’re seeing such competitive football this year. There are not one or two ways to build a successful team. It isn’t baseball, where the vast majority of perennial contenders are from the big market cities. Take the New York Jets and the Green Bay Packers as contrasting examples. They rank first and last, respectively, in market size and employ opposite personnel strategies. The Packers hoard draft picks like gold bullion, while the Jets hand out contracts to every free agent they can get on the phone. What do they have in common? They’re both trendy Super Bowl picks and they’ve both started the season 3-1. The same can be said for poorly managed teams. The Lions tried to
build through a slew of high draft picks under former GM Matt Millen, and look where that’s gotten them. The Redskins throw money at free agents like Charles Barkley throws money at the craps table and yet they’ve had two winning seasons since 2001. This competitive balance is something the players and owners should keep in mind during the impending standoff over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Clearly, the current system has flaws. The rookie pay scale, for example, is way out of whack. However, if there’s one thing both sides should realize before this standoff results in a lost 2011 season, it’s that the current system enables a continually exciting league—and that’s the best way to put butts in seats on Sunday. Think the same old teams still rule? E-mail Parker at pjgabriel@ dailycardinal.com