Ask an editor: Top ten corners to cut Tom Brooker News-Chronicle Well, it's time to wrap things up for 2002 and put the year to rest; this column is the perfect way to do that. Cliff B. of Two Rivers has this very timely question: "I just read another one of those stupid 'Top 10' lists. At this time of the year, it seems like there's a Top 10 list for everything. Who started this? I want to know who to strangle if I meet him." Answer: Chill out, Cliff. The originator of the Top 10 list is beyond your reach. Some historians speculate that it started with the Code of Hammarabi, a list of 10 simple laws used in ancient times by a ruler (that would be your Hammarabi) to govern his people (that would be your Babylonians). My answer, though, would be God. Surely what Moses carried down the mountain could just as easily be called "The Top 10 No-Nos from Heaven" as well as "The 10 Commandments." To be more current - and I think this is what you're really after, Cliff - end-of-the-year Top 10 lists were popularized by newspaper publishers in the 1930s. It was (and still is) an extremely cheap way of filling space when there's absolutely nothing happening in the world that's worth writing about. Instead of finding out what's new (which costs money), you write about what's old. In fact, The Top 10 list is No. 4. on the "Top 10 Ways for Newspapers to Cut Corners" list. Jamie J. of St. John takes us in a different direction: "The end of the year is coming up fast, and I've got to find a way to dump lots of money or else I take a beating in capital-gains taxes. Any suggestions?" Answer: It would be easy to lose lots of money, Jamie. Starting a daily newspaper in Green Bay immediately comes to mind, but I think you want to find a way to get the money back ... eventually. According to the Top 10 Best Investments list issued by the New York brokerage firm of B.S. and Dodge, the wave of the future is finding replacement game for deer, ducks and geese. When these are all kill- (oops!) harvested or die from CWD or East Nile virus, hunters will have to find something else to kil--, er, harvest. Your goal is to be on top of things when that happens. So, Jamie, start a game farm where hunters can go after new quarry. In Wisconsin, I'm thinking cows and sheep might do it. Granted, they may not be as challenging as traditional game, but eventually hunters will adapt. And who wouldn't want to put lamb chops or steaks on the table instead of stuff like Venison Jell-O Mold and Canada Goose Sherbet? Flossie P. of Institute has the last question of 2002: "Any resolutions for 2003?" Answer: Yes, I have a long list of things I want to change, Flossie. Here are just three on my Top 10 Resolutions for 2003 list. 1. I resolve to stop shamelessly shilling for Leinenkugel's in the hope that the company will send me free gifts. 2. I resolve not to kick living things or smash items made of glass if the Packers lose in the playoffs. 3. I resolve not to say unkind things about Texas, Christian fundamentalists, Catholic clergymen, deer hunters and stock brokerage firms. But, it's NOT 2003 yet, so did you hear the one about the Texan priest who went deer hunting with a Bible-thumping broker ... ? See you next year ... unless Dick Cheney finds my secret hideout. Brooker is editor of The Green Bay News-Chronicle. You can ask him anything through regular mail (P.O. Box 2467, Green Bay, WI 54306) or e-mail, [email protected].