WORT is having a block party? As they say on the internets, w00t! That must mean summer is officially here! Hoo-rah! The WORT Block Party returns to South Bedford Street for year number 11 on May 18 officially kicking off not just summer in Madison, but also the city's busy festival season. The event celebrating one of the longest running community radio stations in these United States starts at 11 a.m. and runs until 7 p.m. In between those hours there is beer provided by local breweries, music ranging from celtic rock to bluegrass, and food. The band schedule is below:

The second-annual edition of Classic Cars on State set up shop down and along State Street on Saturday, showcasing the area's best in chrome, convertibles, and classics. The cars on displayed ranged from a "1934 Brewster Town Car to a 1941 Lincoln Continental Convertible, a 1955 Bel Air Convertible official Indy Pace Car, a 1958 Corvette Rag/Hard Top, and a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner. Cars [were] on view on State Street from the Capitol to Gilman St., with additional cars on display on the 200 and 300 blocks of North Henry St., including 'Corvette Corner' on the 200 block of North Henry St."

Madison promoters must have been very busy this weekend because they all missed the Tuesday tickets notification deadline of 5 p.m. Sunday. Thankfully, our friends at Furthermore Beer are making sure we aren't empty-handed. If you don't mind the non-stop action of roller derby or a drive to Milwaukee for some quality music, the below passes can be yours (if you are the first person to comment below). UPDATE: WE HAVE TWO PAIR FOR DERBY AVAILABLE.

May 8: DeVotchKa at The Turner Ballroom (MKE)

During the past three years DeVotchKa had been hard at work making Madison a second home by consistently playing well attended shows and building a strong fan base. You would be hard pressed to find someone in the city who isn't familiar with Eastern European folk roots fusion act. This time they regretfully decided to skip our fine city for a turn at the Turner in Milwaukee. You can catch them by being the first to comment for these tickets.

Unlike my band …I take requests. Here’s a column inspired by a reader. Yes, I was as shocked as anyone to learn that I have readers.

A few weeks ago I wrote a column about the Rules of the Road. Today’s companion piece is about being nice.

There are things that we do in life because the law tells us to, and there are things that we do because they are the right thing to do. Even if we aren’t saints, most of us know that you get more flies with honey (Is getting more flies a good thing? Hmmm…maybe I’m mixing my metaphors here). You don’t have to be altruistic to be nice to others, because when you are nice to others, sometimes it gets paid back.

Dane101 continues to bring quality and unique events to Madison throughout April and May.

Tonight we team up with I'm Just Sayin is All to bring pop/rock/noise act Enon to the Annex. The trio is a perfect compliment for those who enjoy celebrating High Holiday, but prefer less focus on the hippy/hackysack set and more of a focus on the off-kilter party people set. Enon will be joined by Madison's His & Her Vanities and Baltimore's Karmella's Game. Doors at 7 p.m.

Enon :: Shave
Enon :: Natural Disasters
Enon :: Pigeneration (sample)

Good afternoon from Dane101's Department of Better Living! We've put together some quirky, funny, and/or just plain bizarre links to brighten up your lazy Sunday. Click on each description for a laugh (or WTF?! moment)

* Nerve and IFC: The 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches of All Time

* Funny Or Die: Kids in the Hall prep for new tour.

* Cracked: Death Cab for Jimmy :: "I'm Gonna Cut Myself"

* MyDamnChannel: You Suck At Photoshop: D0nn1e's Special Place

* McSweeney: Selections From the Forthcoming Quantum Aesthetics: The Best of The American Journal of Physics' Music-Review Section

* Dickipedia: Lawrence Harvey “Larry King” Zeiger (born November 19, 1933) is an American host (of TV and radio shows), an author, a former newspaper columnist, and a suspenders-wearing wizened old dick.

* Pazienza: 21 Completely Random Comments My Wife and I Made to Each Other While Watching Last Night's Philanthrotainment Extravaganza, Idol Gives Back.

* RickRollRIP: Now that the Rick Roll is officially dead should we move onto the Balky Roll?

The MadPubQuiz of Awesomeness is preparing to board Oceanic 815 with 16 brave teams to see who knows the most about the Island, the Hatch, the Others, the Smoke Monster, the DHARMA Initiative, the Hanso Foundation, the numbers, Driveshaft, Penny, Sawyer's nicknames, the Swan, the polar bears, stuff Locke has blown up, WAAAALLLTTTT!!!, and so much more. Who will navigate the course and win the night?

The flight leaves on April 23 the night before the start of the second half of Season Four. The questions will cover all 3 1/2 seasons and then some. The format is just like previous quizzes; eight rounds, 10 questions per round. The boarding location is Sundance Cinemas upstairs in the Bistro. Flight leaves at 8 p.m. Your ticket price is $2 per person with a cap of four persons per team. Pre-register with your team name to Jesse with "Lost Quiz" in the subject line. Either through Facebook (while at it, join the MadPubQuiz Facebook group) or by emailing "info @ dane101.com." Prizes include Sundance VIP tickets, a Lost box set, Lost swag, and much more...

The MadPubQuiz of Awesomeness returns to Sundance Cinemas on March 26, 2008 at 8 p.m. for a special "loser's advantage" and Wisconsin Film Festival edition. How does it work?

As always there will be eight rounds. However, we will have nearly 24 categories 33 categories to choose from for each round. The last place team for each round will be able to choose the category for the next round, hypothetically giving that team an advantage in the next round.

Some of the prizes for this quiz will be provided by the Wisconsin Film Festival and Sundance. With that in mind the overarching theme will be film. All of the categories are now listed below...

The Dentmobile was in town today promoting the new Batman film and Bessie Cherry sent in these pictures as they attempted to set up a campaign stop for District Attorney Harvey Dent on State Street. They were booted by the police and then proceeded to get the Dentmobile stuck in the little bit of snow still remaining. Some Madisonians made like Batman and helped get the van moving again. If you have no idea what the Dentmobile is all about, read more here. As for music around Madison, as usual, there is plenty a-poppin', however, our normal writer is indisposed and I'm having a frustrating battle with my wireless card and need to head off to the PC repair shop so we are phoning it in this week. I bring you this handful of "best bets." Feel free to call me names and promote anything you are excited about this weekend in the comments section below.

On Saturday the Project Lodge will be hosting Michigan's This is Deer Country. Deer Country is one of Michigan's best kept secrets which likely won't be kept a secret much longer. A little bit of Sufjan, a little bit of Cat Power, and a dribble of Neil young make this some poignant stuff that should be on your radar. They will be joined by Welcome to the Woods and Madison's Crane Your Swan Neck. Early show, starts at 7 p.m.

Gary Gygax, Wisconsin resident and creator of Dungeons and Dragons, passed away on Tuesday. I grew up playing that and similar games, spending whole weekends with friends immersed in fantasy worlds and fueled by Doritos and Mountain Dew. I had been struggling with how to sum up the weird emotion wrapping itself around one of my childhood memories when John Kovalic, creator of Dork Tower, sent dane101 an email offering his reflection on Gygax and, well, he hit it right on the head. - JR

I found myself at Pegasus Games (the shop Pegasaurus Games in Dork Tower is based on) last night.

It's been a while since I was back there. Too long, in fact.

I was sort of surprised that the store was open as late as it was, as I drove past it. So I stopped in to say "hi" to Suzanne.

I picked up a Swear Bear, and the new edition of Talisman, and realized I was pretty darned charged about getting this. In fact, it's been a while since I've been this excited to buy a game.

Wandering around the store, I noticed a bunch of kids in the back room, playing games.

They were high school age, mostly: few seemed older; a few seemed younger. There were some geeks and nerds, some who seemed the type who'd be social outcasts in school, and some who didn't.

Coming off of a week that was, to say the least, polly wolly crappy, my only expectation for Thursday night was to get a couple of drinks in me and hang out with my good pal Schabow. And also, you know, see some band called Bang Camaro at the Annex. Little did i know, I was about to witness one of the greatest, most rocking, jaw-dropping, metal experiences of my life. No, I'm serious. Totals serious.

Maybe it was the eleven - for real, eleven - stout men on stage, seven of whom were only there to sing. Or maybe it was all the fist pumping, or the sea of devils horns in the air, or the real live head banging on stage. Or, I don't know, maybe it was all the booze a little bit. Whatever the cause, the result was an incredibly grand conclusion:

Every year, Special Olympics Wisconsin puts on the Polar Bear Plunge. Hundreds of participants gather, make merry, and jump into a giant hole in the ice.

Last year I decided to try the plunge. I love polar bears and had a nice layer of winter fat to help me, so what the heck? I tried it and loved it. Well, to tell you the truth, the actual plunging part of the plunge is a little fuzzy in my memory. But I'm doing it again this year and even made an award winning plunge training video. BEWARE! Topless, slightly pudgy topless man ahead: