Small children have their uses

Writes Bookish Barbara (who's now a mom -- congrats, BB!):

Tip of the week: take small smiley baby shopping with you. Checkout girl will be so busy cooing and talking to the baby that she will completely forget to scan everything in your basket and you'll save a few quid.

Good word

"Jesus wept, he felt abandoned."

-- Elvis Costello, "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror"

Don't touch

My museum series on the Daily Page continues with a report from the UW-Madison geology museum. And looky, now my museum reviews have a page all their own.

Good word

"I learned how to swim, and I learned who I was."

-- Alan Jackson & Jimmie Ray McBride, "Chattahoochee"

A little off the top

These are my people.

Be heard

Polling has begun for Madison's Favorites, Isthmus newspaper's annual reader survey. So do your part and go here to vote. Note that one of the categories is Local Newspaper Writer. I'm not sayin'; I'm just sayin'; is all. Deadline is June 21.

Distant early warning

Mark your calendar for July 27, when my country group the World's Greatest Lovers will play its first Madison-area club date this year (and so far the only one scheduled): a happy hour gig at Tyranena Brewing Company in Lake Mills. The brewery, a lovely spot, is at 1025 Owen St. in that fair burg about half an hour east of Madison.

Showtime is 6 p.m. There is no cover charge.