*In my mind, here's the operative question next time you get steamed about the potential loss of a government service due to budget constraints: What would you cut instead? You may have an answer, but it's likely to rile supporters of your alternative. The recession is painful. And it certainly isn't business as usual.

*The Masters golf tournament sure did make for excellent theater Sunday. But I could have done without the usual sanctification of the event and the golf course. By the way, is Augusta National the only club at which birds chirp, or just the only one at which microphones are strategically placed to pick up the pastoral noise?

*Interesting story in our paper today about a traffic accident involving an unnamed Ulster County sheriff's deputy. I hope the Sheriff's Department is forthcoming this afternoon when our reporter seeks answers to a host of unanswered questions.

*You may not know the name Harry Kalas. But if you're a sports fan, you know his voice. For years, Kalas has been the play-by-play man for baseball's Phillies. Fans elsewhere are likely more familiar with him as the narrator on National Football League films. Sadly, Kalas died this afternoon in the broadcast booth prior to a game in Washington. Phillies games and NFL films won't be the same without him.

*First shameless plug of the week: Must-see TV at 9:30 p.m. Sunday (April 19) on Fox. It's "American Dad" (from Seth MacFarlane's "Family Guy" stable), this episode written by Matt Fusfeld and Alex Cuthbertson.