text: On a charitable day I might have given Isthmus stars but I also felt the need to balance out the inflated marks it is gotten so far Every Madisonsize or larger community benefits from having a free weekly alternative newspaper and The Isthmus is definitely handy for concert and show listings farmers market schedules restaurant reviews etc etc But by and large the content is kind of weak Bill Lueders occasionally has an interesting article in his watchdog column also occasionally gets apoplectic about rather trivial issues The media reviewers Dean Robbins Kenneth Burns are consistently lousy Every so often there is an interesting feature article The Isthmus also likes to play up its independence but takes potshots at other local media on a regular basis n I am glad there is a free weekly in Madison but I really wish there was a better one than The Isthmus Madisons an interesting and dynamic community and it deserves better