Proving that cheese and beer are recession-proof

The news isn't all bad - "Wisconsin exports rise despite bad economy."

Wisconsin’s exports increased by 11.8 percent to $20.6 billion in 2008, ranking the state as the 18th-largest exporter in the nation.

Sure they love our industrial machinery - the world's largest excavator was built here - and our computer stuff and our electrical gadgets.

But we know what Canada, Mexico and China can't get enough of: deep-fried cheese curds and Leinie's!

Survey says

One in seven Britons is a caveman-misogynist.

of Mice and Women

Rhianna's mother, father, brothers, uncles and friends should read the police report of Chris Brown's attack on her.

Then all of Brown's sponsors should read it, and Brown's record company, event planners who have hired him for concerts and his family should all read it.

• He should serve a minimum of three to five for attempted murder.
• She must testify against him.
• Her family should keep her away from him permanently.
• His family should insist he get the help he needs.
• His mother finally become a role model by getting the help she needs
• His mother has to realize that by allowing a man to beat her and for her children to know about it and live with it caused this mess. Brown clearly got the message that men can get as angry as they want, and can control situations with violence.
• Everyone making a buck off Chris Brown should stop all business with him.
• His concerts, albums and radio airplay should all be boycotted.
• If she refuses to testify, everyone, including Cover Girl, should stop all business with her.
• If she refuses to testify, her concerts, albums and radio airplay should all be boycotted.

That it took him nine days to apologize, in a text message to her assistant, is the least of this tragedy.

They can all still be role models - just not the hero-type.

Proving once again that accountants really are smart

A grant from the Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants paid for yesterday's "Reality Check" event for Janesville high school students.

Armed with a checkbook, students went through a series of real life "stations," such as taxes, housing and transportation, writing checks and watching their money disappear.

Other stations collected money for utilities, insurance, clothing, groceries and gas.
Then students had to navigate through a variety of optional stations, including entertainment, family activities and dining out. Other options included charities, spa services and pets.

Finally, "fate" visited students, doling out financial surprises in the form of unexpected expenses or windfalls.

To make everything a little more complicated, a wandering police officer and health official doled out tickets and health-related events. Run through a stop sign? Pay a ticket. Strep throat? Pay the doctor.

Rtwt - some of the students' choices are fun and funny.

Considering the prevailing attitude among younger adults that they deserve a certain quality of life whether they earn it or not,* and considering how society pays for it in bankruptcies, bad debt and unpaid taxes, it's a big favor the accountants are doing us all with this fun but all-too-real exercise.

Plus, they get the perk of expecting a little less whining and a more earnest attempt by their clients to dig out those receipts and to know more about how to reduce their tax debt.

*This is my experience based on years teaching at the college level.

Busy watching UFC matches tonight.In case you think that's

Busy watching UFC matches tonight.

In case you think that's wrong of me, I'm in good company: Apparently, our 16th president was a fan as well.

First strike defense

North Korea: "N. Korea Vows to Punish U.S., S. Korea 'Warmongers'."

South Korea: "How ya gonna do that?"

North Korea: "With bombs!"

South Korea: "So... you're going to stage a mock attack on us."

North Korea: "Yeah!!!"

South Korea: "So... about that whole "warmongers" thing.

North Korea: "Yeah?"

South Korea: ...

North Korea: ...

South Korea: "Well then, okay. In the spirit of the thing, uh, break a leg."

Promises, promises Dept.

Yes we can. We want to just move on.

C'mon, the real enemy isn't congress and their insatiable appetite for pork that's making the Obama break his campaign promises, it's Rush and those lobbyist types!