Veteran’s Park, July 3, 2005
Like in the early settler days of the old west, people have rushed to Veteran’s Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront to stake their claim—some actually roping off areas so they have a nice ‘yard’ in front of their tent—greedy, patriotic bastards.
It’s so sad that you have to dedicate (read: waste) you’re whole day if you want to go and enjoy a community event such as the 3rd of July fireworks (wow, our schools really are failing!). And what really pisses me off is when ‘clever’ people start playing the game of throwing down some lawnchairs or putting up a tent and leaving for the rest of the day while that spot sits unused until the claimants mosey on back in the evening to watch the show. During the Great Circus Parade, I remember seeing chairs taped to the sidewalk the night before the parade day.
I think Star-Wars-nerds rules apply here—if you’re going to ‘get in line’ early for a good view, then you have to make more of a sacrifice and effort to get it. Do you know what rabid Star Wars fans would do to you if you simply threw down some chairs, or if you left the line and went home for dinner and a nap without another body replacing yours in the line?? Well, nothing… I mean, they’re weak, greasy Star Wars nerds, but you can be damn sure that there’d be some rattling of plastic lightsabers from all the indignation!
So, unless you want a plastic lightsaber upside the head, please, stay in your cheap-ass lawn chairs all day and don’t try to validate your petty life by ‘out-smarting’ everyone else.
Image from Gift of Wings webcam.
Happy New Year, everyone. My resolutions are set and I hope 2005 brings peace to many areas around the world, and relief to southern asia and eastern africa.
Sincerely,
Donald Rumsfeld (oops, left the machine on)
Matt
Here’s a little poem for your holiday cheer:
T’was the night before T’wan’s Christmas,
and all thru the house,
not a creature was stirring,
not even my fuckin’ Social Security because goddamn Bush is gonna privatized it and it’s all going to one corporation because Americans are soo fuckin’ stupid for voting him in for a second term when we all know that he doesn’t give a fuck about you or your granny or our veterans especially when he keeps “Machine Signature” Rumsfeld on the team and placing soldiers (who should be home and not on extended tours) in harm’s way,
Santa said with a wink,
then the fat jolly man,
took off with my drink,
To all, a good night!
Ho ho ho.
Earlier in the month I checked out the Christmas In The Ward shindig down in the Old (Olde? Olde Timey?) Third Ward. People gathered around a large pine tree as it was ceremoniously lit, and then they blew shit up—the universal symbol of noel.
Blowing off fireworks seems out of place for a Christmas celebration. It seems, nowadays, that a lot of stuff is being celebrated by explosives. I guess I’m old fashioned and think that fireworks should be reserved for the Fourth of July festivities. Especially because of all of the festivals that go on around here during the summer—each weekend there’s a new festival detonating and the organizers want you to know it—fireworks have become a bit blah and predictable.
Exciting video of said blah, predictable Xmas fireworks! (mp4, 2 MB)
Lemme know if that mp4 doesn’t play correctly
If you enjoyed those weird Yeti sports games, you might enjoy this penguin game from those oh-so-trendy people over at Macromedia.
Last night was the same as last year—two family events held at the same time.
The first event was the Slice of Ice event at Red Arrow Park, where they officially open the ice skating rink. This started at 4 p.m. when people are still at work. Japan Junior Nationals medalist Nanoha Sato was there, and joined by the Greater Milwaukee Figure Skating Club for a figure skating demo. But at 5:30 another event was happening down in the 3rd Ward.
This event was Christmas in the Ward, where the main events were the lighting of a large pine tree and a fireworks display. Last year, Mayor Norquist continued the tradition of the ‘singing mayor’. This year, Mayor Barrett was silent (I don’t know if he was even there).
So after the fireworks in the Third Ward, the only other thing to do is to drive back to Red Arrow Park and partake in the free skate rentals… and free hot chocolate samples from Starbucks (while supplies last).
So I find it odd that for a second year these two events (the only half-fun city events for the holidays) are scheduled on the same day and at overlapping times. I think the Slice of Ice event is the new-comer and probably should move their time, but I think they purposely schedule it early so they can grab people who work in the city, before they drive home. I dunno.
(Blurry, grainy photos here)
Be careful on the roads… and on the sidewalks, the front lawns, people’s living rooms, and in court.
