Young musician shielded from praise and acclaim

Here's a shout-out to all my friends in the People's Republic of Wisconsin, where they are protecting an 8-year-old blues guitar prodigy from the horrors of performing in public.

Tallan "T-Man" Latz has "played in bars and clubs, including the House of Blues in Chicago, and even jammed with Les Paul and Jackson Browne. He has a summer of festivals scheduled and has drawn interest from venues worldwide."

He has also drawn interest from venues in Beijing West, which the locals call Madison.

An anonymous e-mail sent to state officials complained that Tallan was too young to perform in taverns and nightclubs because of state child labor laws ...

The lesson can be stiff: Each day he performs, the employer can be fined $25 to $1,000 and the parent from $10 to $250.

Jennifer Ortiz of the state Equal Rights Division said her agency has a responsibility to enforce the law once it becomes aware of a violation.

"Well, the law prohibits it, and the Legislature enacted the laws to protect the health, safety and welfare of all children."

Wow. Just wow. Read and weep here.