The fight against factory farms in Wisconsin Large-scale operations become focal points of community opposition Roger Bybee on Friday 08/14/2009, (3) Recommendations John Peck, only half-joking, suggests Wisconsin's longtime slogan, "America's Dairyland," may need to be updated. The new slogan: "The Land of 10,000 Animal-Waste Lagoons." He also offers this nightmare scenario: "Can you imagine tourists driving up to Door County," asks Peck, executive director of Family Farm Defenders, a national organization based in Madison, "and having to endure the stench from manure lagoons produced by factory farms?" >More
NEWS
Wisconsin state employee union stewards say the Jim Doyle's furlough math is faulty Joe Tarr on Thursday 08/13/2009 When Gov. Jim Doyle announced that all state employees would have to take mandatory 16-day furloughs to help balance the state budget, Diane Tieman was a little confused. The state doesn't pay her salary, so her forced vacation won't save Wisconsin taxpayers a dime. >MoreGetting an education behind bars Oakhill program gives inmates skills they need to succeed Anita Weier on Thursday 08/13/2009, (1) Recommendation A 13.5-foot-high electrical fence keeps prisoners in the Oakhill Correctional Institution in Fitchburg. Something electrifying is also happening inside. Men who flunked out or zoned out are now learning from dedicated teachers, obtaining a vital key to their future lives. The prison teaches basic reading and math skills, as well as vocations including horticulture, building services and computer skills. >MoreThree Madison city commissions seek more power Joe Tarr on Thursday 08/13/2009 The city of Madison has some 80 committees, commissions and boards composed mostly of private citizens who draft, debate and refine important city policies. But, in order for the Common Council to consider commission proposals, they have to be sponsored by an alder — usually the one who serves on it. >MoreWhat happened to video of the July 7 Madison city council meeting? Joe Tarr on Thursday 08/13/2009, (1) Comment, (1) Recommendation It was probably the most in-demand video of a Madison Common Council meeting ever. Yet when people clicked on the video on Madison City Channel's website, all they got was an error message >More
Jessi Lynn became a Wisconsin country star after Nashville said no The long way home Rich Albertoni on Friday 08/14/2009, (3) Comments, (1) Recommendation Months after Jessi Lynn moved to Nashville in 2000 to fulfill her country music dream, a vice president of a major record label took her to dinner and told her this: She was too old, too fat, too dated-looking and too hardheaded to make it as a country music artist. Then he added something else. >MoreFrom New Wave to brain waves with Chris Bocast UW grad student merges art and science Jessica Steinhoff on Friday 08/14/2009, (2) Recommendations There are thousands of doctoral students in Madison at any given time, but few of them have the claim to fame that Chris Bocast does. While some Ph.D.s-to-be were still learning to crawl in the mid-'80s, Bocast had already made a name for himself as guitarist in the California New Wave band Tokyo Vogue. >MoreFlatbear: Flying Days Jessica Steinhoff on Friday 08/14/2009, (1) Recommendation Flying Days, the debut album of Jentri Colello's newest band, proves that the local singer could be the ruby in the dust Neil Young wrote about in "Cowgirl in the Sand." >More
In line for Jimmy Fallon A Cheesehead takes Manhattan Andy Moore on Thursday 08/13/2009, (1) Comment, (1) Recommendation I was 10 the last time I visited New York City. My father stowed my sister and me away to a convention, a businessman and two tiny illegals on a business account. "Climb in," he said, opening the door to our first taxi ride. The inside of the cab was as dark and deep as a German U-boat. >MoreI love my therapist Do I tell her or not? on Thursday 08/13/2009, (4) Comments Dear Tell All: I don't know how it happened, but I'm totally crushed out on my therapist. I've always really liked and respected her, but have recently found myself very physically and emotionally attracted to her. I feel totally blindsided, especially given that I have never actually fallen for a woman before. >More
Why Woodstock worked It was more than just grooviness Dean Robbins on Friday 08/14/2009, (1) Recommendation Everyone knows that 1969's Woodstock festival was three days of peace and music. As MC/cook/nurse/mascot Wavy Gravy put it at the time: "We're gonna try to be groovy, and to spread that grooviness to everyone." >MoreMildly fun G-Force moves gaming forward with 3-D DS, PlayStation 2 & 3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360 (Rated Everyone 10+) Doug Elfman on Friday 08/14/2009, (1) Recommendation To me, G-Force is a mildly fun video game based on that movie -- and the game's technology is a step in a bold direction for the video game world at large. >More
MOVIES
District 9 is a science-fiction classic Aliens among us, yet apart Marc Savlov on Friday 08/14/2009, (4) Recommendations District 9 is a riveting, occasionally violent, often heartbreaking and, above all, socially conscious science fiction film featuring seamlessly integrated CGI effects alongside flat-out perfect performances from its flesh-and-blood actors. And, best of all, it's a love story. >MoreBandslam: High school musical Kimberley Jones on Friday 08/14/2009 From the beginning of time, or at least the roots of rock 'n' roll, outcast teens have found comfort and companionship in music when neither is to be had in their peer circle. >More
Bluephies is sometimes good and sometimes just weird Fun in the extreme Ann Shaffer on Friday 08/14/2009, (2) Comments, (1) Recommendation It's got the booths. It's got the quick, friendly service. It has some good food. But I always leave thinking, about one dish or another: That was weird.w >MoreThe American South meets Japan It's a culture-defying approach to fresh greens Marcelle Richards on Friday 08/14/2009, (3) Recommendations Sometimes I try to experience a region vicariously by replicating its cuisine in my home. One region in the U.S. where I've never been is the South, yet I have a major soft spot for Southern cuisine. As I've toyed with some of the foods of that region, I've lost authenticity to hybridization. I like to think of it as a melting-pot approach. >More
SPORTS & RECREATION
Brewers' to-do list: Win Jason Joyce on Thursday 08/13/2009 Remember May? The Brewers fans in your life probably do. It's the month they spent far more time pumping their fists than shaking their heads. The Crew won 18 games in May, decisively taking series against teams like Chicago (2-1), Florida (3-0) and St. Louis (4-2), all of which are above .500 and in contention for playoff spots. On June 1, Milwaukee was 30-21, first in the National League's Central Division, a game in front of St. Louis and four in front of Chicago. >More
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