There's no denying that marketing has become more sophisticated. Relying solely on data like age, race and sex has become inadequate. In this age of narrowcasting, it has become easier to target consumers based on their address. Utilizing sources such as Census data, automobile registration records, subscription lists, consumer surveys, and other records, it is possible to identify neighborhoods around the country which have similar characteristics.

What geodemographic segment are you in?

Cost overruns on the Marquette interchange repair project? I'm shocked. Just wait until they actually rebuild the thing.

Gov. Jim Doyle's approval rating has slipped since entering office just three months ago.

When it comes to the balancing the state budget, the loudest opposition has predictably come from Republicans, and university students who see the governor balancing the budget by raising tuition.

Republicans have raised a valid point by stating that it's a quick fix to use additional payments from Indian tribes to balance the budget. After all, didn't the governor chastise former Gov. McCallum for blowing the tobacco settlement money to balance the budget?

Some may say it serves him right for pushing back the GOP convention in order to score political points over the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City.

Sounds like Gov. Jeb Bush's staff need to better understand how to properly route letters dealing with federal election laws. Most state officials would forward a letter such as this to their Congressman or Senator instead of a political party.

Link courtesy of Sir Thomas.

Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) says he'll fight the renewal of key provisions in the USA Patriot Act, passed by Congress in the wake of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. In this article, written by Craig Gilbert, the Wisconsin Congressman uses some pretty tough language targeted at Attorney General John Ashcroft and his Justice Department.

With Sensenbrenner and Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) on the same side of the issue, it could signal bad tidings for the Bush Administration, both in terms of future "anti-terrorism" legislation and the renewal of the Patriot Act itself.

Plans are moving forward on the possible extension of the Metra commuter rail line to downtown Milwaukee. Currently, the Metra line runs from downtown Chicago, and makes its most northerly stop in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The plan has bipartisan support in Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha counties and could be a major boost to industry and tourism in the communities where Metra stops would be built.

Roundy's is moving to downtown Milwaukee.

The company will close locations in Pewaukee and Wauwatosa in favor of locating in the downtown office building under construction at 875 East Wisconsin Ave. The company's employees will join employees of US Bank, Northwestern Mutual Life and many other companies in being a stone's throw away from the Milwaukee Art Museum, the lakefront, and other amenities in easttown.

One regiment of the British Army you don't hear enough about in the media's war coverage is the Brigade of Gurkhas. The Nepalese troops have participated in many wars for the UK and are currently stationed in Iraq fighting alongside coalition forces.

In addition to the recent war in Iraq, they recently fought in Afghanistan during the military action against the Taliban government. A telling quote in the article comes from Major Charles Heyman: "You wouldn't want to meet the Gurkhas on a dark night, especially when they've got their bloodlust up."

Saddam Hussein's top weapons advisor has surrendered to coalition troops. Perhaps now we'll get some answers regarding Iraq's weapons arsenal.

Meanwhile, the search continues for the proverbial smoking gun.

Waukesha is running out of water. After losing a legal battle with the feds over radium levels, the city has to decide whether to appeal, excavate for water elsewhere, or seek water from Milwaukee. The third option is the most unlikely since international treaty prohibits Waukesha and other nearby suburbs from obtaining water across the subcontinental divide.

Perhaps all these backers of suburban development need to start factoring in the availabilility and sustainability of affordable, uncontaminated water before they continue to pave over their landscape.

Big plans are in the works for the Port of Milwaukee.

Considering the development already underway, and despite skepticism about the market for all this office and residential building, it's still fun to think about the potential for the land. Like the Menomonee Valley, the port appears poised for a major facelift.

Senator John Kerry is now getting heat from the right over his comments calling for regime change at the White House (well he is running for president).

Senator Tom Daschle also got some major flack after his comments about the war a few weeks back.

Kerry is a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. Daschle himself served as an Air Force intelligence officer from 1969 to 1972.

How much experience do Trent Lott, Tom DeLay, Dennis Hastert, Bill Frist and Vice President Dick Cheney have in the military? None. They're really good at ranting (perhaps they should've been radio talk show hosts rather than politicians), but these guys should let up on this idea that guys like Kerry and Daschle are somehow "unpatriotic." Of course, it's always easier to resort to such tactics rather than actually debating the issues.

British PM Tony Blair has taken some major political risks in the UK with his support for war with Iraq. Regardless of your opinion of the war, we should be thanking Blair for keeping the extremist hawks like Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld at bay after 9/11.

The big question on everyone's mind is what happens when the war is over and Iraq needs to be rebuilt. The early signs of a rift between Bush and Blair over the role of the United Nations are already being revealed. If Blair draws the line in the sand and the coalition fractures, will Bush give in and go along with the UN or will he defer to his Vice President and the imperialist faction over at the Defense Department? To Be Determined...

War, famine, poverty, disease, terrorism, genocide, crime, pollution, urban sprawl, bad schools, alcoholism, television, xenophobic right wing, flakey left wing, guns, space shuttle, national debt, death, obesity, religion, domestic abuse, smoking, violence, travel warnings, taxes, shark attacks, gentrification, fast food, pop culture, stock market, drugs, junk mail, nightclub fires, pompous jerks, bills, final exams, credit cards, local news, guy yelling at his girlfriend on the phone in the hallway, Brewers losing again...

Yeah, sometimes you just have to say "screw it" and play some Mini-Putt.

There's no shortage of happenings within the East Side Business Improvement District these days.

Ma Fischer's is moving full speed ahead on its new digs on Farwell and Kenilworth, the Twisted Fork restaurant is opening up on the other end of the same block, the 24 hour coffee shop Node is open for business on North Ave, and Izumi's Japanese restaurant is looking to move next door to its current building on Prospect. The Small Animal Hospital on Farwell has purchased new space on Newhall, and across the street from its current location, UWM's Kenilworth building will soon begin a major facelift.

Amidst these and other developments, there are casualties to report. Heiser Ford has officially moved to Glendale vacating a major space, and the Globe East nightclub has announced it will close its doors for good on April 30, 2003.