Friday, December 30, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 30 end of year

This time of year gives many the chance to reflect and remember.  As we wrap up 2016 and begin our journey of 2017 I just want to hit a few highlights of my 2016, my oldest son and I took a trip to Boston, to celebrate his 21st birthday, he also graduated from Western Technical College, my middle son is now a senior and the twins started high school.  My favorite memory of my family was trumped every Sunday when we all got together and laughed and loved, topped by a family hike on Christmas day making a snowman.  My job is awesome and I wouldn’t trade it for the world but I did get to do the coolest thing I have ever got to do as a radio personality, this year brought lots of great interviews including talking to Paul Stanley from my favorite band in the world KISS.  Here is to the memories of 2016 and also to the unpublished pages of 2017, may they be the best ever.  Happy New Year.  

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 29 travel

Over the river and though the woods, on your way overnight somewhere…. doesn’t matter where next door or across country.  Picture what you have to bring.  Why is it as Americans we feel the need to bring everything we could ever think of for the trip?  You have to pack your toiletry bag, a book, a swim suit, a change of clothes for each day, a laptop, some snacks, my cpap machine, an extra pair of shoes…. what else did I forget?  Oh yea my phone, my charger, the gps, coffee mug, winter hat, gloves, oh my goodness where does the list end?   Why do we need to bring so much crap then if there is more than just you, you need to multiply all that by however many are traveling with you, and if kids are along you need toys, videos, games more snacks etc.  As Americans we have too much stuff.  I feel bad for the people with those little wind up cars, how do you get all your stuff for your overnight in the vehicle?  Downsize, now there is a novel concept, would you NOT like fries with that?  Speaking of downsizing, what are your New Year goals?  

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 28 death

Everybody dies.  I hate to sound like a crass uncaring person. But I have been seeing so many people curse the year for taking so many of our iconic celebrities. You know that every year we're blessed with new life and good news as well as death and bad news. Every year we have celebrity deaths.  I find as I am getting older there are more and more of my aged people dying and the celebrities that I grew up watching are getting older as well, with age comes death.  I was challenged yesterday when I posted something about this on my personal page that there are more celebrities that have passed in 2016 than other years, I google searched it, there are many who die every year.  It's not like we're losing more people were just losing more of the people that we grew up watching. It's sad when people die but it's also an opportunity for us to remember and memorialize. There really are only two certainties in life birth and unfortunately death.

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 27 technology

As we were together this weekend for Christmas, watching movies on demand, I looked up from my phone at my kids and they were all on their phones also, we then had a discussion about how we are all addicted to our phones and technology.  Can you make it a week without using any computers at all?  My guess is that most of us can't make it a day, from our cell phones, to our cars, to our tvs to our watches, computers are everywhere.  I know I can't go a day without mine, I am an information junkie, I love that I can go to a computer or my phone or a tablet and go to a site like google and find out pretty much anything I want right at my fingertips, if I want to hear a certain song, watch a clip of tv or read a passage of a book, I could find just about anything I would ever want right there.  My job has come a long way from when I started in 1987, we used to play records and carts and recorded on to a reel to reel deck, now we don’t even have record players, cart machines or reel to reel decks our music is all computerized.  I bet your job is different now than it was 20 years ago as well.  Here’s to the past, the present and the future.  I am excited to see what could possibly be next?

Friday, December 23, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 23 Christmas

It’s the friday before Christmas and no presents are bought.
You are feeling quite down, real sad and distraught
What kind of gifts can you buy now and not look real bad
Some last minute presents cause feelings of sad
There are things that can be bought and wrapped or downloaded and shared
And also items that showed that you cared
The trick to shopping last minute is easy
Is to not look like you waited, don’t make it look cheesy
As Boy Scouts have taught me to look all prepared
And when going to buy last minute gifts don’t look scared.
From BS with Bob and crew that work here.


Merry Christmas to all and have a great year.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 22 real or fake

I love the real ones and I love the fake ones.  I just like them.  The real ones are perky and look good at first then they start to droop as they get older, while the fake ones look good right out of the box but sometimes can be to perfect, and after looking at them for a while you can tell that they are fake.  We have had both in our house, but for the past few years we have used a smaller artificial tree for Christmas, with lights and some keepsake ornaments.  In years past we have gone to tree farms to harvest our tree and the last few times we have had real trees we got them from our family land.  So around the Schmidt household we have had successful Christmases with both real and fake.  I grew up with an artificial tree but honestly don’t care what we have in house at Christmas as they are both beautiful.  Which do you prefer? 

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 21 beer

If you drive down Lang Drive and looked at the billboard there you probably noticed the billboard for Milwaukee Ice and that it now has 6.9% alcohol.  Prior to that billboard I don’t recall ever seeing a beer point out the fact that the alcohol content is higher, I am used to seeing advertising about the taste or the experience that you may get after trying a product.  Not the alcohol content.  The company claims that they are aiming for transparency so that way consumers can make informed choice, I call BS if Miller Coors wants customers to make informed choices then they should advertise all of their family of beers the same way and see what happens to the sales of their flagship beers.  I am guessing the reason for the 6.9% advertisement is so that way they can reach the beer drinker on the budget that is out for the buzz rather than the camaraderie of having a few beers. 

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 20 movies

When the holidays roll around my kids always like watching the Home Alone series.  Over the weekend I watched two of the 3 Hangover movies.  I have always been a person who loves the slap stick movies like Happy Gilmore or the Naked Gun movies franchise.  There are lots of great movies out there that either bring a smile to your face or a tear to your eye.  Our family is more the funny movie family than the tear jerker movie watcher.  Holiday traditions are everywhere this time of year including the family getting together to watch a holiday favorite.  What is your favorite movie and is there a story that goes with why you like it?  I think that our family likes the Home Alone movies because we watched it when the kids were little because it dealt with Christmas and was funny enough to grab everyone’s attention. 

Monday, December 19, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 19 politics

I was thinking about it over the weekend that if we as a country put any doubt into the presidential election that we are then diluting the process.  Think about it whether your candidate won or not if we put into question the outcome of this past election and we keep questioning it that it will put our whole process into question and if that process is in question than our whole government comes into question we must accept the outcomes of the elections and then fight to change them the next time.  We had our family Christmas over the weekend and it is funny even though I had mentioned to a few of the guests that I didn’t want to talk politics since I talk about politics and other events as my job, I like weekends and especially family time to be politic free, it was brought up.  I don’t think that we can ever please everyone when it comes to politics or anything for that matter.  Hope your politically correct holiday time is peaceful. 

Friday, December 16, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 16 breakfast

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  I will have to admit that breakfast is probably my favorite weekend meal because I get the chance to enjoy it.  I think that we are pretty blessed here as there are a lot of great breakfast places out there.  I have my favorite and I am guessing that you do as well.  I have a favorite for which ever food I am craving.  I got to say my favorite to get out to eat is American fries, with mushrooms, peppers, and onions add a couple of over easy eggs, a piece of ham and some rye toast and you have a happy Bob.  If you really want to be on my good side add some hollandaise sauce over the top and you have nirvana.  What is your favorite breakfast food and where do you like to go for breakfast? 

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 15 yahoo

Yahoo has suffered yet another hack.  The breach is believed to be separate and distinct from the theft of data from 500 million accounts that Yahoo reported this September.  The stuff taken this time user account information including names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords and possible encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers.  I used exclusively Yahoo for my emails up until the last time they were hacked since then I have moved to Gmail.  I hate hackers.  I don’t get what hackers get out of putting malicious programs on someone’s site.  I really think that hackers are making our world a tougher place to live.  The real sad thing about Yahoo getting hacked is that I saw on Facebook before I got an email from the company letting me know.  Are they working on covering their own asses?  What about all the ones that they left exposed?  All these hackers breaking into small business websites and emails, is costing us all, time, effort and energy.  And what are they getting out of some of the hacks?  I don’t get it.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 13 America is great

Does America need a reboot?  The calls during the election were let’s make America great again, are we really not great anymore?  I have spent my entire life in America minus a few days and I for one feel like we are great.  Are there a few things that I would change, oh yeah, but even in the best scenario of the best events in your life there are still things that you would like to change.  I think that in our constant strive to always be bigger, better, faster, stronger that we don’t take the time to enjoy what has been built up.   Do we have things to do to make our county even better, yes we do, but is America not great?  I kind of think that we are but then again I am kind of biased. 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 14 online shopping

When is the last time you ordered something online?  25% of Black Friday purchases were online.  Free shipping day is coming up on Friday this week.  Many are shopping Amazon prime and all the deal websites out there are being shopped more than ever.  I see the UPS truck, the Fed Ex truck and of course the Mail truck hit up my neighborhood every day.  A couple of weeks before Thanksgiving I ordered something online from the biggest of big box stores because I couldn’t find what I was looking for locally, and I did look.  I was supposed to get my package on the 28th of November and I ended up getting it on the 23rd I was happy because it was a new wig for playing the man in red.  My gig was to be on the 3rd.  I eagerly opened my package and it was the wrong wig, they sent me the Mrs. Claus wig.  (insert jokes here) I immediately jumped online filled out a return request and waited.  I thought that they would get me the wig I ordered in time for the gig.  Guess what it didn’t happen.  In fact I am still waiting after 4 times of contacting the company.   I guess long story short is if you are dealing with a company and ordering it online, be ready for disappointment.  

Monday, December 12, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 12 shoveling

Obviously over the weekend snow fell, funny how soon we forget, I of course am talking about driving in the snow, I am sure I am not the only person that noticed that people do not remember how to drive in the snow. With the snow came some other events like shoveling and salting, and if you wanted to be young again snowball fights, forts and snowmen. Back to the business of snow, I shovel my walk when we get any amount of snow but I was wondering when other people shovel, my guess is that most people shoveled with the snowfall we just received but in your mind when is the right time to shovel the walk or plow the parking lot? I also wonder when the city decides to bring out the plows? Up through the weekend they didn’t have much practice time, but all the way to work today I had great driving, thanks to the hard working road crew.

Friday, December 9, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 9 Big Mac

Do you have a favorite food?  I have a few favorite types of food but I don’t think that I could narrow it down to a one specific food.  "Big Mac Daddy" Don Gorske from Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin did something that I don’t think anyone will beat, he ate his 29,000 big mac sandwich from Mc Donalds.  29,0000 of the same thing.  Don has been having 2 a day for a long, long, long time.  I took 29,000 and divided it by 2 for the 2 a day and then divided it by 365 for the number of days in a year and came up with the number 39.72 so if my math is right Don has eaten 2 Big Macs a day for almost 40 years.  There is nothing that I like that much that would have me doing it two times a day for 40 years.  Nothing.  Back to the whole favorite food thing, what is your favorite food?  For me?  Mexican food, not a particular item but the category.  

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 8 food

I made chicken noodle soup on Sunday.  Yesterday I went to reheat the leftovers for dinner.  I opened the bowl and cleared out the kitchen.  How did 3 day old soup turn from delicious to deadly?  I hate to waste food.  I usually make enough food for 2 meals when I cook so that way a day in the future will be a bit easier with the leftovers.  Have you ever taken out a bigger pack of meat and and forgot it on the counter, then went to bed?  I have also done that, thank goodness that this doesn’t happen too often.  I also dislike when other food gets tossed because of improper putting away like bread, or fruits of veggies. I searched for food wasted on google and it says that about twenty five percent of our food budget is tossed away every year. For a family of six they say the average food bill per week is $291 so about 15 thousand dollars per year. Wasting about 4 grand per year on throw away. It just hurts to think that, that much is wasted.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 7 earworms

Tis the season, for Christmas songs to be playing on the radio, in stores, as backgrounds in tv commercials, at church and generally hummed as people go about their daily business.  Yesterday I had the chance to be at a lunch meeting and one of the guys started humming fla la la la, well that song stayed in my head throughout the day and on my way into work this morning.  Ever had a song or jingle roll through your head at the moment you are ready to sleep, talk to someone, close a sale or just about any other activity?  These types of songs are called earworms.  According to Wikipedia an earworm is a catchy piece of music that continually repeats through a person's mind after it is no longer playing.  What are some of the songs that are the earworms for you, this time of year Christmas songs are mine, what are yours? 

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 6 porch pirates

A lot of us have had packages delivered to our homes either from ordering online or gifts that have been delivered.  I know I have and with teenagers wanting to have the latest and greatest of things we have quite a bit delivered to our homes plus with the way the insurance companies are and the bulk medicines that are prescribed there are packages being delivered all the time.  I have been hearing of some big cities having problems with porch pirates, and by porch pirates I mean the people who help themselves to the items that you have ordered.  I really only thought that this type of thing only happens in big cities but no.  I was talking with my neighbor and she said that it had happened to her a couple of different times but when she told me she laughed a bit saying that they only got toilet paper both times.  

Monday, December 5, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 5 Santa

In my 48 years I have seen some good Santa’s and some bad Santa’s.  You know the character I am talking about the jolly old elf in red with the white beard.  I too have played the part.  My favorite question is are you the real Santa?  I have always followed it up with what do you think?  If they say yes then I mention I just say yes just like you are real child and if they say no I follow up with why would you think that, and when pushed will say that there are many helpers.  Playing the part of Santa is not an easy job you have to listen, laugh, engage and smile.  The Mall of America is taking some heat for the hiring of their Santa.  The Mall has hired their first black Santa Larry Jefferson and from what I have seen a fantastic Santa.  Remember that Santa is a fictitious and legendary figure who brings gifts to the homes of well-behaved, as long as the part is played well, does it matter who plays the part?  And aren’t we all a little Santa this time of the year?  

Friday, December 2, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 2 shoes

Here is something weird to think about but think about your shoes for a minute.  When is the last time you bought a new pair?  I just picked up a new pair of shoes.  I like a good pair of slip in shoes for heading into work, and for a quick shoe to throw on when around home or if I gotta run and do a few errands.  I found a pair of slip ons that I found super comfortable and wore them about the past 9 months only to have them wear out.  I returned to the same store where I originally bought them and they didn’t have the same color that I had but had black, I bought them, they aren’t the same, not as comfortable and don’t fit as well.  Same thing has happened with tennis shoes over the years, you find a pair you really like, your feet get used to the feel and you know the quality, you wear the heck out of the shoes, and when it comes time to replace you head to your favorite shoe store, you go looking for your shoes, and either they don’t have them or they have them and the quality has changed.  Why?  We spend most of our days with shoes on, you would think that the shoe people would want us to keep buying their shoes.  Wouldn’t you? 

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Daily Dose of BS Dec 1 smiles

Ever looked at old family photos, or some real old school pictures of people from the 1800’s?  I have often wondered why aren’t the smiling?  Why are most old pictures people just flat faced, no smile no cheer in the eyes and just cranky looking.  I remember my wedding day 8.3 million photos with the fake smile, I could see not smiling for many of these.  Nowadays people have more smiles on their faces, just look around and watch people have conversations, the smiles come more free, and why wouldn’t they, we have much better dental nowadays than they had the past and with the better dental comes better teeth, both whiter and straighter, plus we have access to cameras all the time, I challenge you to go a day outside of your home to not be caught on someone’s camera.  I was downtown yesterday afternoon and I know there are a bunch of cameras placed around down there, guess what I didn’t look for them nor did I notice them, but you are damn sure I was walking around with a smile on my face.  I gotta keep them wondering what I am up to.