News Net Choose your own fake outrage: Scott Walker’s art collection, or Facebook food stamps?

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 throughout the weekend.

• While the rest of Milwaukee was enjoying a weekend full of sun, drink, and thrillingly skimpy outfits, the more politically minded among us were enjoying what they enjoy best: fake outrage. In one corner, members of the Anti-Scott Walker Fun Club cried foul after learning the boy governor recently removed a painting from his Executive Residence. According to the Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin artist David Lenz’s “Wishes In The Wind” depicts three children of different races romping in the Milwaukee streets, and has hung in the governor’s mansion since late 2010. Walker and his wife, Tonette, apparently weren’t feeling the piece, and replaced it with a century-old painting of an eagle. Of course, this nefarious case of interior decorating has led to all sorts of phony questions: Does Walker hate art? Does he hate multi-racial play dates? Or does he just hate kinda-sorta cheesy paintings?

• Meanwhile, on the other end of the political (and intellectual) spectrum, JS commenters worked themselves into a tizzy over the paper’s investigation into FoodShare fraud. It seems some folks have been using Facebook to buy and sell food stamps, a practice that gives new meaning to the term “low-wattage cyber crime.” So how many instances of local fraud did the JS dig up? Nine. Yes, nine (and “about 70” nationwide). Don’t get us wrong; we love good investigative reporting. But seriously: nine? Give us two minutes, and we can come up nine of anything on Facebook: nine links to ridiculous YouTube videos, nine spam links (“OMG you’ll never believe what my sister did to this squirrel and his nuts!”), or nine events we have no intention of attending even though we clicked the “I’m Attending” button.

• In case you missed Maritime’s triumphant show at Turner Hall this past spring, Milwaukee Public Television has a video of the entire evening (including music from openers Testa Rosa) as part of its Student Ops 2011 series.

• And, in case you missed the recent release party for the third issue of Fine Line Magazine (seriously, don’t you people ever leave the house?), you can now pick up a copy of Milwaukee’s very own international arts magazine at Boswell Book Company.

• Milwaukee hip-hoppers Logic and Raze have released a new single, “Thinking Out Loud,” from their upcoming Unprotected Irresponsibility EP.

• If the loss of Fun World still weighs heavily on your Skee-Ball-loving soul, and you’ve already overdosed on CMP Tactical Lazer Tag, never fear: The Journal Sentinel is reporting that a new paintball and laser tag venue may be coming to Brookfield. (Best comment on the story: “Wisconsin is Open for Business!”)

• Milwaukee’s Red Letter Media—the production company responsible for those epic Star Wars prequel takedowns—now has its very own iPhone app. Come for the insanely popular Mr. Plinkett videos, stay for the insanely terrific Half In The Bag webisodes.