Schadenfreude-tacular, part 2

NOTE: This is the second half of our series of Schadenfreude stories, or news items that make me rejoice in the misfortune of others.

A random comment by the Frau the other day reminded me of the Tiger Spot, the funniest and most expensive eyesore in central Missouri. There's no time for the full, detailed history that I would love to write, so that will have to wait for another day. Basically, it was unveiled by local artist/crackpot Paul Jackson in October 2001, severely damaged by Mother Nature in December 2001, and has been either falling apart or under construction ever since.

Anyway, after a check on its more recent history, in 2006 Chancellor Brady Deaton finally threw in the towel and called for its removal. Paul Jackson apologized, and in August 2007 the Tiger Spot was covered up by a very tasteful white tarp.

ABOVE: Yeah, that's much better.

In February 2008, the Maneater, MU's student newspaper, printed an uncharacteristically thorough and well-written report on the Tiger Spot saga. As a mildly bitter former employee who knows some of the people involved, it was a most enjoyable read.

Anyway, according to a follow-up report printed a month later, the new plan is for "a 12- to 20-foot wall to take Tiger Spot’s place." So the mosaic that has been blocking pedestrians' way for almost eight years is to be replaced with a wall???

Now that's what I call progress.

In other Columbia related news, the YouZeum has finally opened. It has officially replaced the Maneater as the most badly-named thing in Columbia.