That's it for the Badgers

The Wisconsin men's basketball team got bounced out of the NCAA tournament by the red-hot Davidson squad. Their season is over. But it was fun while it lasted.

Weird websearch of the day

pat paulsen for president blogspot "password ="

And what about the time you played hookey, Governor?

First the new New York State governor, David Paterson, revealed he and his wife had had extra-marital affairs. There was nothing illegal about this (unlike his predecessor's paying for sex), but I'm sure he wanted to make sure no one could blackmail him about it.

Now he's admitting to having used illegal drugs 30 years ago or so. Presumably this is to prevent any blackmail on this subject also--though it's something he already admitted to when he was running for lieutenant governor in 2006. But no one took any notice back then.

Now I'm waiting for his admission that he stole a candy bar when he was 8.

Semi-random thoughts

● Honduran cantaloupes have been identified as the source of an outbreak of salmonella poisoning. So it's very nice that the FreshDirect customer service could immediately assure me that the cantaloupes we got from them yesterday were from Costa Rica.

● Where has all the spam gone? The last couple days I've only been getting a handful of spam e-mails. Usually it's dozens. Not that I'm complaining, mind you.

● Wisconsin is quietly making its way through the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Already it has surpassed the number 2 seed in its region, which has been eliminated. The selection committee's making the Badgers number three was clearly wrong. Next up, Davidson on Friday. (I notice that all three teams that beat Wisconsin this year are already out of the tournament.)

Living with bears XXXVIII

Canada: Residents riled after police shoot black bear in northwestern Ont, Polar bears in your yard? Call the Polar Bear Hotline

Nevada: Bear biologist will be added to basin

Switzerland: Problem bear wakes from winter slumber

Number three for Wal-Mart

Pepper Spray Discharged at Long Island Wal-Mart
So now, instead of getting shot at Wal-Mart, they'll just pepper-spray you. I guess that's an improvement.