News Net Capitol rotunda sing-along protest: punched in the face edition

Since sifting through dull newspapers, hyperbolic blogs, and overflowing RSS feeds for meaningful news can be an arduous process, News Net catches and compiles both the amusing and the significant reports that were overlooked over the workweek. Here are some things to think about as the weekend begins.

• Two possible supporters of the new concealed carry law decided they’d had enough of the non-violent sing-along protest under the Capitol rotunda on Wednesday, and opted to silence them in the most mature way possible—they draped “Don’t Tread On Me” flags over some of the singers, and when another singer stepped forward to stick up for them, one of the men punched him square in the jaw. The Capitol police responded by charging the would-be Rocky with battery, and all three men—yes, even the dude that got socked in the face—with disorderly conduct. Perhaps that was just the officer’s way of saying that the singing at the Solidarity Sing Along isn’t very good.

• This was the same day that singers were being taunted by a former Republican legislator who can be seen in this video attempting to run over the non-violent protesters’ toes with his wheelchair while wailing, “Walker for President!” Yes, it’s as ridiculous as it sounds. While the Capitol’s metal detectors were finally removed this week, having video evidence of how gun rights advocates behave with minimal tools of destruction might be part of the reason why the Department Of Administration is still mulling over the idea of whether people should actually be able to bring guns into the Capitol or not.

• In an act of protest to the state budget’s provisions that will have beer snobs raising their obscure Wisconsin microbrews in celebration, The Great Dane Pub and Brewing Co. and the Vintage Brewing Co. have stopped selling all MillerCoors products. None of their brands—including MGD, Miller Lite, Leinenkugel’s, and Blue Moon—will be available at any Great Dane or Vintage location indefinitely, in a display of solidarity with Wisconsin craft brewers who also oppose the budget provision. Banishing the blander, more tasteless beers from the bar is all well and good, but will there be solidarity drink specials on the primo local stuff?

• Bongo Video announced that it is closing up shop later this year, yet another store crushed under the boot heel of Netflix. That brings Madison’s independent video rental store population down to two survivors—Four Star Video Heaven near State Street and Video Station stores on University Avenue. For now, they can live on their awesomely obscure video collections, but perhaps a new business model is in order. Looking at current Wisconsin retail trends, gun sales are exploding in the wake of the concealed carry law. Maybe they should look into that, with some cross-promotion to keep the video business alive. Imagine the success of “The Boomstick Package,” which would include Army Of Darkness and a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun. Deadites, beware.