Caffeinated Politics

August 30, 2026

Doty Land Podcast: How Do We Find Happiness? Or Does It Find Us?

Here is the link to this podcast episode. Musicians, singers, and songwriters Tim Grimm and Sergio Webb performed in Madison, Wisconsin. The outdoor house concert was especially special, but the larger message about how life presents people and moments in such random designs begs the question to be pondered. Do we find happiness, or does… Continue reading

madison, music, Nashville, Social Commentary, Society
August 30, 2026

How To Create A Winning School Year For Children

Parents are gearing up to send their children back to school in just a matter of days. Backpacks with school supplies, a new shirt, and fresh jeans. While many school supply stores list what each grade level needs for notebooks and folders, no list is provided for what families need to supply at home to… Continue reading

Dane County, Education, madison, wisconsin

Education, family, learning, parenting, schools
August 29, 2026

Letter From Home: “Early Retirement Allows Gentle Pull To The Next Chapter Of Life” 8/29/26

It has been in the offing for a while, but now it is official. James Wilson, my husband, retired effective yesterday. Smiles abound. And the opening hours of that new chapter could not have started in a more serene, tranquil, and unexpected way. We were both reading books on the front lawn (James with early Maine… Continue reading

Isthmus, Lake Monona, Letter From Home, madison, Social Commentary, Society, Uncategorized

early-retirement, family, Isthmus, life, love, madison
August 28, 2026

Nancy Kassebaum Not Forgotten By Politicos And Readers Of Newspapers

Nancy Kassebaum died last Friday, and unless you’re one of the dwindling Americans who still read newspapers, you might have missed it. Television news, with its breathless devotion to storms with rain or planes that blew a tire, largely shrugged. A former U.S. senator with an amazing history passed away, and the national broadcast networks… Continue reading

history, media, Obits, republicans

history, howard-baker, media, nancy-kassebaum, news, politics, republicans
August 27, 2026

New Berlin Mayor Dave Ament And His Overt Racism

When a declining population sees their time on the stage running out, when they see diversity and color taking hold of the white domain they once controlled, it is no surprise that attacks on the new faces come to the fore. But that does not mean we should accept it or not call out the… Continue reading

conservatives, ethics, Racism, republicans, wisconsin

dave-ament, history, islam, politics, Racism, Religion, white-nationalism
August 26, 2026

Dolly’s Open Hand vs. Trump’s Closed Grifting Fist

A lesson in genuinely meaningful ethics. Two very different American stories are in focus this week: rich people and what they do with their wealth. One belongs to Dolly Parton, an iconic superstar who lived a life that treated success like a resource to be shared. The other belongs to Donald Trump, who treats financial… Continue reading

dolly-parton, donald-trump, ethics, Social Commentary, Society, Uncategorized

dolly-parton, donald-trump, ethics, life, news, politics, Society
August 25, 2026

Dolly Parton: Music And Heart On Display In Madison Concerts

Dolly Parton took the stage at the Dane County Coliseum on October 29, 2005. It was the first major concert that my husband, James, had ever attended. Walking down an onstage staircase, she held the audience in the palm of her hand from the first note. I know that sounds trite. Except it is the… Continue reading

grand-ole-opry, music, Obits, Social Commentary, Society

music, madison, reviews, grand-ole-opry, country-music, dolly-parton
August 24, 2026

The Larger Message About Jed York, Owner Of San Francisco 49ers, Arrested In Prostitution Sting

Here we are again with a story about the unseemly side of the NFL. Just in time for the start of a new season, when many Americans will opt to sit inside on beautiful fall Sunday afternoons to watch television. San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York pleaded no contest to a pair of misdemeanor charges… Continue reading

ethics, Morals, Social Commentary, Society, Sports

ethics, football, jed-york, Morals, NFL, Sports
August 23, 2026

A Prime Minister With a Spine, And A Tariff War Wisconsin Didn’t Ask For

I noticed a few Canadian flags flying in Madison this weekend. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one relishing watching Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney take on Donald Trump by saying, essentially, “No.” to his demands in trade talks. Many Americans are tired of heads of state who tiptoe around the bombast and bluster from this… Continue reading

Canada, donald-trump, Economics, wisconsin, Wisconsin Politics

Canada, donald-trump, Economics, mark-carney, politics, tariffs, wisconsin
August 22, 2026

One City School Wants In, Madison Taxpayers Shouldn’t Foot Kaleem Caire’s Bill At The Expense Of Our Public Schools

I strongly support our public school system. I am not a proponent of charter schools, as they undermine our public schools. So, I am concerned about the news this week that an independent charter school, One City Schools, is seeking to be absorbed by the Madison School District. I trust that the School Board members… Continue reading

Charter Schools, Education, madison, Taxes

Education, learning, madison, one-city-school, politics, teachers, teaching

David Crowley For Governor

Josh Kaul for Attorney General

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Nine Memorable People Worth Knowing – Doty Land

Send us Fan MailWith humor and honesty, Gregory Humphrey gives short presentations about nine people who will leave you smiling and feeling a bit better about life. Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, Doug Fieger, James Howard "Jim" Bartelt, Dennis Peebles, Geneva Rode and Ruth Schohl, Bill Kraus, Fran Tate, and Eva Nell Brooks. With a professional studio-quality production, this podcast is meant to lift sails.

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My book is about a rural family, finding a way through the years of being bullied, and the suicide of my best friend. Many recollections about the days in broadcasting, the state legislature, and coming out as a gay man.