Getting the Vapors
Do the new luxury boxes represent a revival of the Third Reich or 19th-century prisons? The debate rages on the News letters page:
I was horrified recently by a specter on the pages of The Ann Arbor News, Michigan Daily and University Record.
It was as if an archetypal ghost, long repressed, had risen to spread on the drawing boards of the architecture firm HNTB, evoking visions of ghettoed cellblocks and sinister guard towers. Had the sobriquet “Big House'’ touched a tab in the vaporous architectural psyche?
Of course, it’s not clear that modern prisons are any better, reflecting as they do “the privatizing contemporary culture and public fetish for mass incarceration.” No matter what kind of prison the stadium looks like, someone is going to complain.
Not to be outdone, another reader today argues that iPods are the real mind-control menace, in a letter that reads in its entirety:
Regarding the editorial cartoon “The Nation’s Isolation … iPods Mark 5 Years'’ (The Ann Arbor News, Nov. 3): Apple Computer Inc. is doing a good job of brainwashing people.
Something to contemplate in our vaporous psyches.
See, e.g., my Arblogger post McGowan defects, Deitch and White dissent; luxury boxes pass 6-2.
David Boyle
posted by Lux boxes pass 6-2 on November 17th, 2006 at 12:11 pmOr my Bo post here, which would’ve gone up hours ago but for computer trouble…
D. Bo
posted by Bo Schembechler lives on November 17th, 2006 at 5:32 pmAs soon to be noted elsewhere (when WordPress is functioning better), and borrowing from MGoBlue,
“ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The family of Bo Schembechler and the University of Michigan Athletic Department invite all Michigan fans to a Celebration of Bo’s Life on Tuesday (Nov. 21) at Michigan Stadium. The public event honoring Bo will begin at 1 p.m. EST.
posted by Bo viewing/memorial/donations on November 18th, 2006 at 11:16 pmAll the gates of Michigan Stadium will be open for public entrance. Pioneer High School and the University will have the Blue, Blue West, Green and Buffalo lots open for public parking.
The Schembechler Family desires memorial gifts to be made to support the “UM Cardiovascular Center - Bo Schembechler Heart of a Champion Fund.” Please send contributions to:
UM Cardiovascular Center
300 N. Ingalls, #8B02
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
The family will have a public viewing at St. Andrews Episcopal Church tomorrow (Sunday, Nov. 19) from noon to 3 p.m. The church is located at 306 N. Division, Ann Arbor. The family will hold a private funeral service. …”
Yeesh, it posted already there, http://arblogger.com/?p=183 .
posted by David Boyle on November 18th, 2006 at 11:17 pmCan we stop using AAIO as an advertisement for David Boyle’s stupid blog? Thanks.
posted by Dave on November 20th, 2006 at 6:07 pmThat is a little cruel, and during important events such as the death of belove people, a little cross-posting etc. is not all bad.
People are always welcome to cross-post on my blog, within limits of decency, non-obscenity, etc.
I think you need to write your own blog a little more carefully, see your f-word fest at http://tikilounge.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html#5954840333046155637 .
I wish you peace.
posted by David Boyle on November 20th, 2006 at 7:56 pmDude, maybe I’m wrong, but it seems like every other post features you telling people to go to your blog for some un- or barely related reason. Yes, my latest post is an f-bomb fest; it was during the important event of Michigan losing to Ohio State. There’s no other word for that particular obscenity. I’m going to go burn a sweatervest in effigy now.
posted by Dave on November 20th, 2006 at 8:22 pmOh yeah, I also wrote a tribute to Bo with no swear words, but it has nothing to do with the design of the new stadium, which was what this post was about.
posted by Dave on November 20th, 2006 at 8:24 pmWell, one of my posts above mentions both Bo and…the football stadium, since he was a FOOTBALL coach, believe it or not.
Like I said, cross-posting is not at all uncommon; on Daily Kos or other reputed national sites where I post constantly, it certainly happens a lot.
I still wish you peace. We have the same first name, after all…
Also, Freep today, Speakers set for Schembechler memorial,
“…The speaker list includes: U-M president Mary Sue Coleman, U-M athletic director Bill Martin, U-M football coach Lloyd Carr, former Schembechler players Jamie Morris, Reggie McKenzie and Dan Dierdorf, former Schembechler assistant coach Gary Moeller, former USC coach John Robinson and son Shemy Schembechler. Bob Forman, the former director of the U-M Alumni Association, will also speak. …”
posted by David Boyle on November 20th, 2006 at 10:11 pmI think free speech is a squishy thing, but anyone who argues that it shouldn’t include use of the word “fuck” is just being a ridiculous prude.
posted by Jeff Dean on November 22nd, 2006 at 7:45 amBut if (over)use of the word gets “f–king excessive”, that is not necessarily a good thing.
posted by David Boyle on November 22nd, 2006 at 12:37 pmYeah, but I’d put up with a lot I don’t f*&kin’ agree with in order to protect my freedoms. Must cook the (youknow) turkey.
posted by LittleB on November 22nd, 2006 at 2:24 pmf-k? f*&k? wtf?
posted by peter honeyman on November 22nd, 2006 at 6:01 pmIn comics, it is common to make a swear word printable by replacing some of the letters with symbols. This convention, I thought, had moved into the common culture and would be easily understood by most if not all people. In this case it was meant to amuse, and as only too often happens when I attempt to amuse, was merely stupid. To summarize, it is a way to avoid writing out curses. Much like ‘wtf’, actually.
posted by LittleB on November 22nd, 2006 at 8:45 pmIt just struck me that I may have misinterpeted that. Um. Oops if I did. Turkey related stress.
posted by LittleB on November 22nd, 2006 at 8:47 pmSwear-words are the new black.
posted by Brandon on November 22nd, 2006 at 8:55 pmI thought pink was the new black. I can’t get anything right today.
posted by LittleB on November 22nd, 2006 at 9:25 pmi thought cooking the turkey was the new spanking the monkey.
happy fucking thanksgiving!
posted by peter honeyman on November 22nd, 2006 at 10:29 pmHa ha ha ha ah - better now, thanks. Buncha goofy guys. And a happy fucking thanksgiving to as well.
posted by LittleB on November 23rd, 2006 at 8:17 amto YOU that is
posted by LittleB on November 23rd, 2006 at 8:18 am