UP: Death's Door Spirits. This civic-minded Door County- and Madison-based maker of vodka and gin tried to do a good turn by sponsoring a cocktail contest to raise money for AIDS Network. When critics objected, saying the company's name, taken from a legendary waterway, was insensitive to people with HIV/AIDS (see "What's in a Name?," Isthmus, 9/21/07), it promptly withdrew, with apologies to "anyone who was offended." The company says it will "seek other ways" to support AIDS Network. Live responsibly, baby.
DOWN: Dave Cieslewicz. Madison's mayor loses a key ally when Mark Bugher resigns in protest as chair of the Economic Development Commission. Bugher and commission member Tom Still, who also resigned, are upset by the mayor's choice of Bill Clingan as the city's new economic and community development director. Both say Clingan is not qualified and complain that a screening committee voted 4-1 for another candidate, Matthew Wagner.
