Author Archives: dave cieslewicz

The biggest story of 2023 happened in 2021. I intended to write my annual column about the biggest state and local stories of the past year. Candidates include the takeover of the Supreme Court by liberals, the grand compromise between UW President Jay Rothman and Speaker Robin Vos, the decision by a Dane County judgeContinue reading “The Big Story of 2023”

Readership here at YSDA was up 15% from 2022 after being up 30% from 2021 to 2022. So, we’re sort of like a cannon ball. Gravity is catching up with us, but we might have a couple more years before we slow so much that we fall harmlessly to the ground. In reverse order, hereContinue reading “Top Posts of 2023”

It’s time for my annual list of words and phrases that have been overused and need a rest for next year or, better yet, for all eternity. Let’s get started.  Bandwidth. This is a fancy way of saying capacity. It used to be impressive when digital stuff was new — approximately back in 1919. ByContinue reading “Don’t Say This”

It’s Boxing Day in Britain, so-called because it’s the day of the traditional bout between the English monarch and the Archbishop of Canterbury. Queen Elizabeth held a 55-15 lifetime record, but Vegas oddsmakers have King Charles a two-to-one underdog. Actually, nobody knows for sure why its called Boxing Day, but if you care you canContinue reading “The Catch Up: The Racist, Colonialist Poinsettia”

For my money the best Christmas skit ever is Steve Martin’s Christmas Wish from Saturday Night Live. It begins: “If I had one wish to wish this holiday season it would be for all the children of the world to join hands together and sing in a spirit of harmony and peace.“ A) That PaulContinue reading “The Q&Q For 12/22/23”

Nobody runs for the Madison City Council for the pay and perks. So, why should we want to change that? In a move that is breathtaking in its cluelessness, Council Vice President Yannette Figueroa Cole is proposing an increase from $15,000 to $24,000 a year, or a whopping 60%. It would be even more forContinue reading “Don’t Increase Council Pay”

Hard on the heels of doing the right thing the UW found a way to do the wrong thing. Only days after reaching — after lots of unnecessary twists and turns — an historic agreement to move forward on the much-needed new engineering building on the Madison campus that had been held up over concernsContinue reading “The UW Still Doesn’t Get It”

I worry about nuclear war. In fact, I’m amazed that in the 70 years or so that we’ve had the capability to blow everything to smithereens we haven’t taken advantage of the opportunity. You could take that to mean that since we haven’t done it in the last span of a human lifetime we won’tContinue reading “Armageddon May Only Be a Hack Away”

Another busy week last week. You’d expect things to slow down now that we’re getting close to the holidays. We’ll see. Anyway, here are some of the big stories from state news in the week gone by. Regents come around. Last week was a crowded one for the University of Wisconsin. Lots of twists andContinue reading “Monday Catch Up: GOP Taps Foxes to Guard Chicken Coops”

This week’s quote comes to us from pro golfer Keegan Bradley who, in reacting to a new USGA rule that will make golf balls fly shorter distances, said: “For the amateur world to hit the ball shorter is monstrous. I can’t think of anything more stupid than that.” A) 20 – 25 yards. B) 10Continue reading “The Q&Q for 12/15/23”