Walking past Norlin through main campus can be pretty depressing these days.

Whether it's some guy in a suit trying to hand you a New Testament or a pamphlet outlining the things you are doing that will send you to an eternity in pain, it can be tough to walk to class, keep your conversation with your friends going and ignore the unwelcome distractions, all at the same time.

It's pretty obvious, then, that the war memorial of flags up on these areas right now isn't meant to be intrusive because it's not trying to hand you something. It may be actually doing the opposite, allowing you to walk to class in relative peace while still invoking some sort of thought.

But some people reacted to it in much the same way they react to those handing them pamphlets: Anger.

Any public display, whether political or not (and this display is most definitely political, despite its lack of shrill campaign slogans) is going to be taken as political and polarizing.

The recent vandalism of the memorial seems to be typical of the polarizing effect politics of the extreme has on our psyches.

One person who said that he saw the vandals ripping out flags and writing expletives nearby said that the men appeared 'visibly drunk'. CU still can't dodge drinking problems.

What do you think about what happened to the memorial on Norlin quad? You can post a story about it and take a few photos, or why not start your own blog?

On to a lighter subject: Basketball of the men's and women's varieties.

Men's basketball just wrapped up their exhibitions, winning both handily. In their first game, they beat Concordia (Montreal, Quebec) 97-85 and last night, defeated Regis University 73-37 at the Coors Event Center.

Richard Roby has looked good in both of the Buffs exhibition games. If you remember, Roby decided to stay in school for another year after flirting with the NBA draft last spring. He leads a very young CU team into whatBig 12 coacheshave projected as a 12th place finish in the Big 12 conference.

Women's basketball won both of their exhibition games. They beat CU-Colorado Springs 80-45, followed by a victory over Colorado School of Mines 73-37.

Coach Kathy McConnell-Miller heads into her second season with the Buffs after finishing a disappointing 9-21 last year. Her brother, Tom McConnell, will join her on the coaching staff this season.

Both teams will open their season Friday, Nov. 10 at the Coors Event Center. The women's team will take on San Francisco at 6 p.m., followed by the men's team facing off against the University of Denver at 8:30. Both games will be televised by Fox Sports Rocky Mountain.

If basketball isn't your bag, there are things to do around campus this weekend that don't involve the bouncing and shooting of an orange ball.

-CU WiLD is bringing live tigers and a leopard to campus. Are you afraid yet? If not, then make sure you head on down to the Glenn Miller Ballroom in the UMC at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10. This event is free and open to the public. I'm would be interested to hear CUPD's contingency plan on rounding up tigers if and when they get out.

-Feel like dancing? Why not shimmy and shake your way to the Carlson Gym at 7 p.m. Nov.10 to partake in a little Tango lesson? Admission is $3 and lets you dance the night away. You don't even need a partner, so if your man won't go with you, ladies, go dance with a new one.

-Finally, First Person Cinema will be presenting some George Kuchar films, including Temple of Torment, Queen Conga and Movie Memo. The free fun starts at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 in Fine Arts N141. You've always wanted to take that film class ( you know which one I'm talking about). Why not see what you're missing?

Sometimes you just have to get off campus. Thank the maker that you live in Boulder and not some other city in Colorado that hosts a major university.

-Theater 13, the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art's resident theater group, will present Defiled at 7 p.m Nov. 9 and 8 p.m. Nov. 10 and 11 at the BMoCA, 1750 13th St. Defiled is a comedy about society's obsession with technology and the problems it creates. Tickets are $15 forgeneral admissionand $13 for students. More information is available at www.bmoca.org.

-There will be two Vox Feminista shows at The Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St. at 8 p.m. on Nov. 10 and 11. The group says "'Civil Lies' is an examination of the epic epoch unfolding all around us." Okay, you have my attention. Tickets are on a sliding scale from $10-30 and are available at the door. For more information, call 720-201-0000.

Some good stories this week from your local news sources.

The Campus Press has a story about the Spectacle and Illusion show I mentioned last week.

In addition, the CP also took a few exit polls from students leaving polling places yesterday during the election. You can read them here and here.

The Colorado Daily has an interesting take on the Regent at-large race.

Have a great week! What's the countdown to Thanksgiving break now? Oh yeah, 10 days, 9 , 8...