Daily Dose of BS Dec 22 board games

I read a quick story yesterday that suggested that women could improve their chances of winning board games this Christmas by playing rock music in the background.  Apparently, men became more distracted, and make far more errors if we are forced to listen to AC/DC compared with classical music.  I wonder which men were tested on this theory?  I would be willing to bet that I would do better when listening to rock music rather than classical music.  Either way music to me is soothing, and helps me to focus. I hope that whatever family events that you have planned for this holiday weekend that you are able to enjoy the time either with or without family.  Just enjoy the time.  I know I have had the argument with people in the past about is it Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays, Hanukkah or Seasons Greetings.  Honestly whatever you say, and however you celebrate it I hope that this season brings you the best feelings, and the best Memories.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 21 top ten toys

It’s funny that the list of the 10 bestselling toys of all time are the toys that we grew up with.

10. Hot Wheels

9. Slinky

8. Lincoln Logs

7. Frisbee

6. Erector Set

5. Play-Doh

4. Lionel Trains

3. Barbie

2. Crayons

1. Yo-Yo

Nowhere on that list is there a hatchimal or fingerling or lol surprise I don’t see any electronics or drones, no games or tablets.  I see good old-fashioned toys that are meant to be played with and played with hard, with no worry of breaking.  I see ingenuity and creativity, I also see future careers built from these toys.  The one that I am surprised that isn’t on that list would be Lego and my favorite toy from when I was a kid, the GI Joe with real hair not the ones that came later with the molded plastic hair.  What was your favorite toy as a child? 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 20 Star Wars

Over the past few days we have been bombarded with people saying how wonderful the new Star Wars movie is, and how so many of our friends and peers have enjoyed the series.  I for one don’t get it.  I posted yesterday on my Facebook that I won’t be seeing Star Wars, not now not ever.  I expected to get a backlash of people calling me names and giving me guff.  Instead it was like a holiday miracle, I had a few questions why, one said “You're missing out. Stop living in 77 and remember that was 40 years ago.”  I get that it isn’t 1977, but I never got the hype then and I certainly don’t get the hype now.  Plus, I am more a TV person than a movie person.  I have the chance to watch any movie on Netflix, Hulu or Amazon and I always find myself going back to the good old TV shows.  Are you a movie buff?  If so what type of movies, and if you watch the Star Wars movies, can you please explain to me what I am missing?  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 19 pigeons

Well, La Crosse is at it again, working to get rid of unwanted nuisance life, the life I am talking about is the flying poop machine, otherwise known as pigeons.  Pigeons are filthy birds, causing disease and damage. Their droppings are known for triggering human slips and falls, as well as accelerating the aging of structures and statues, and we are seeing this in La Crosse. Making it important to get rid of the pigeons plus pigeons may carry diseases.  The city council approved paying the USDA $23,201 to do away with them.  May I also suggest that we allow the feral cats do away with them.  In my southside La Crosse neighborhood not only do we have feral pigeons, but we have outdoor cats, tons on rabbits, one neighbor caught a possum, a few times over the summer raccoons were spotted, and there were reports last year about a black bear roaming a few blocks away.  Don’t forget about the mice and other animals that within the border of the city.  I feel that lots of the reason that these birds are taking over the airspace over the city is that people keep feeding them so stop, also we give them so many moving targets, which is why my Dad always said don’t look up with your mouth open.

Daily Dose of BS Dec 18 Atlanta

As we gear up for the busy holiday travel schedule I am shocked to hear that the world’s busiest airport in Atlanta was paralyzed after a power substation explosion.  Kind of weird to think that a power failure was responsible for crippling the super busy airport.  There were thousands of flights that were canceled in the 11 plus hour shutdown in Atlanta, not to mention all the adjoining flights from all over the country and the world.  I am guessing that the power outage showed the vulnerability of airports and that the terrorists will now use that knowledge against us and against all travelers.  I couldn’t imagine being stuck on a plane for any amount of time, it did happen to me about 20 years ago, when flying back to La Crosse from California, and it was only about 2 hours, if I had to sit on the plane for up to 11 like some did yesterday, I am guessing I would be like most and would probably not be the most pleasant person out there.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 15 Kendhammer

12 peers made up of 10 women and 2 men found Todd Kendhammer guilty of the September 2016 murder of his wife Barbra.  Kendhammer faces a life sentence with sentencing set for March 9, 2018.  I am not sure how much you watched of how much you followed along, I didn’t catch too much of the trial, but enough to form an opinion.  From what I saw and heard there seemed like there were a lot of inconsistencies in the story, story changing and things not adding up.  Plus hearing that they never fought, never is a long time.  I have been married to my wife for 27 years and we get along great, however I would never say that we don’t fight.  It happens you can’t always agree with everything.  I have sat in on a few conversations about this death a few times before and during the trial and people feel strongly on both sides.  Was justice served? 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 14 Rodgers back

Brett Hundley did a fair job guiding the Packers, the 2 time MVP Arron Rodgers however is back.  We will see number 12 dress and ready to go on Sunday as the Pack attach the Carolina Panthers.  The Panthers are at 9-4 while the Green and Gold are at 7-6.   Both teams are coming off wins from last week the Panthers beat the Vikings while the Packers beat the bottom of the barrel Cleveland Browns.  Is the return of Arron Rodgers going to be the piece of the puzzle that the Pack need?  I think that there is more wrong with the Pack than just the changing of the quarterback.  This is a team that has for far too long relied on that position.  In the modern era we have been blessed with great quarterbacks and a few other good players, why haven’t the Packers worked on bolstering the rest of the team.  It is after all a team sport not a sport of one.  Is it fair for the quarterback?  Rodgers says that he is not coming back to save the team he is coming back to play the way he knows how to play.  This fan hopes that the rest of the team shows up to help.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 13 don't expect

You never know what is going to happen in a day.  You wake up, you get ready for work and the day goes flawless.  How many times in your life has that happened?  My guess not too often.  This morning a good example, things seemed great, I got to work, I had to replace the water in the water machine, I put the 5-gallon jug in the machine got some water and started back to my studio, all of a sudden, I hear Joanie saying that water is all over the floor and the water machine is glug, glug glugging out water at a good pace, we unplug it, and take the water jug off, problem solved for now.  I guess what I am trying to say is that life happens when you are not expecting it to happen.  How many times in your life did you expect one thing to happen and a totally different outcome happened?  Many times, I bet, come to think of it not too many times has things gone how I have planned, I guess that is the secret of life, be flexible and be ready for anything.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 12 La Crosse and New York

Did you hear about the shooting on the south side of La Crosse on Saturday night?  I didn’t either until today when I read it, apparently, there isn’t a suspect.  What about the group of 6 nine to twelve-year-old’s who ransacked a house and stole some jewelry, a credit card, and a guinea pig, when caught they claimed they thought the house was abandoned.   Um was the guinea pig alive when you took it, were there lights on in the house, and food in the fridge?  Sorry kids but I don’t buy that, if it isn’t yours don’t take it.  What happened to La Crosse being a safe place to live?  Better yet what happened to us feeling safe at home.  Do you feel safe?  I mean yesterday’s news was all about the bomber in New York strapping a pipe bomb to himself and in a failed attempt to blow up some of the subways managed to burn himself and injure a few around him.  I guess we must go back to the whole if you see something say something.  We all need to be involved to live in a safe place.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 11 Santa

So far this season I have played helper for man in the red suit a couple of times, tonight, at The Rotary Lights at Riverside Park, I will be helping again.  Last time I was at the Rotary lights it was 50 degrees and this elf felt the heat, today it will be a bit cooler, but still going to be in a heated shelter.  Once you put on the suit and become the legend if just for a few moments in life, your mind starts to wander, at least mine does, and the slight panic sets in, what if I get too hot, and what if while I am sitting here I have to go to the bathroom, what if a kid uses me as a bathroom, what happens if someone pulls my beard or worse yet my finger?  What should I do?  What if the people show up and call me a phony…. what if this or that or the other thing?  The best thing is to take a couple of deep breaths through the beard, exhale thru your mouth and let out a hardy HO, HO, HO.   So far this year all the kids that came by were on the nice list, and their parents confirmed it.  If you haven’t been down to the Rotary Lights yet, I would suggest you do…bring a food donation to help to stock the food shelves, and Have a Merry Christmas.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 8 cost of life

We had our first measurable snowfall earlier this week, pretty soon It will be that time of year again when kids will be out shoveling show.  When my kids were little and I helped them with their snow shoveling jobs, I expected them to spilt the money with me, I drove them there and they used my shovels.  I took some guff for that from some of my friends, they said your kids should get all that money.  I disagree, they should not.  I took the money that I made from them and used it for us to go somewhere special, we used it to go to Brewer Games, the fair and Wisconsin Dells.  Besides helping a bit with the cost, it showed the kids that things aren’t free and that you should save your money.  I have carried on this trait when the kids got cell phones, they pay for their own cells, and we spilt a family Spotify account.  I just got notice from Netflix that they are raising the prices of membership next year, I wonder if I should pass that cost on to the kids?  Your thoughts? 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 7 Big Indian statue

The big Indian at Riverside park is stirring up controversy.  I remember the first day that I came to La Crosse and got the big tour of what there is here I got brought up to Granddad Bluff, was shown what a Chicken Q was, we visited the zoo at Myrick Park, I was schooled on that it is a bubbler here in Wisconsin and shown the Mississippi River, the La Crosse River and the Black River and where they cross the “Big Indian”.  I for a long time thought that the name of the Hiawatha state at Riverside was just called the “Big Indian”.  There have been calls in the past for the removal of the Hiawatha statue but I think at the time the city just fixed it up, spending about 35 thousand dollars to fix it up.  I do think of the “Big Indian” statue as a point of interest when people come for a visit, but at the same time, have been asked why it is there.  I think that it is time to ask that question, why is it here?  I also have the question, is there anything that can be done to the current statue to make it not offensive to the Native American People?  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 5 food share

Three years ago I was thinking that drug testing for food share was a good idea, today, not so much.  I think what changed for me is that food and shelter are the most basic of needs, if you don’t have food, you die, if you don’t have shelter, up here in the Midwest you could die.  I don’t want drug addicts to die, I would like them to get help.  In Wisconsin drug testing is moving ahead, Governor Scott Walker has approved the rule change to screen food stamp users.  Not sure if this is the best of ideas.  I do think that the basics should be provided for all.  Under this plan, childless food share recipients who fail a drug test would be eligible for state funded rehab if they don’t have any other way of paying for it.  I do think that the program needs an over haul. 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 4 texting

It was 25 years ago yesterday that a big change came to your style of communications, I bet that you didn’t even know.  Twenty-five years ago yesterday was the invention of one of the biggest distractors out there, the reason for many car accidents and broken relationships, 25 years ago yesterday was the first text message.  I know that I was kicking and screaming and refused to use the technology for many years, my kids were using it and I was the typical radio guy and wanted to have conversation rather than text someone.  I will tell you what if the past 8 years or so that I have been texting I have sent thousands of texts and I will bet upwards of a hundred thousand texts.  It honestly is my preferred way of communicating when not face to face, it saves the hassle of picking up the phone for a quick answer, I know what time my kids are going to be home and I can verify an appointment and get a digital coupon for my favorite restaurant.  I like the time-saving element of it, and that if I am thinking about something I can do it now, in fact, sent a birthday text to my brother at 5 this morning, I will follow up with a call later but at least he knows I am thinking about him.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 1 deer hunt

The official numbers for the gun deer hunt are in and so are the Wisconsin’s new no age limit hunting rule saw a few infants in the woods, actually 10 went to kids under the age of one.  I think that this rule is one of the most asinine rules out there.  There were 52 licenses that went to kids 5 and under and the youngest to register a kill was 4 years old.  4.  Seven deer were registered by five year olds.  I wonder if many hunters got licenses for their kids in hopes of only registering the deer under their names.  Of the 7 hunters that were injured 5 of them shot themselves.  The harvest included 98,364 bucks about .4 % less than last year. And a grand total of 195,738 deer in the 9-day hunt.  I am still trying to process how 10 infants were supposed to hunt. 

Daily Dose of BS Nov 30 business

I have a few friends who are very successful in what they do, and they are very giving of their time, and money to help out others and the community.  It made me think, what makes you successful?  Or do you even consider yourself a success?  I consider any day that I am up and out of bed a success.  Lately I have been reading business books, and a few of the common threads in the books have been sharing, thinking outside the box, work on figuring out new ways to do things, don’t expect perfection because you are not going to get it, that ideas will hit you at the weirdest times (I have found this one to be true) and often times the problem isn’t what you think it is.  What are some of the things that you have learned in business?   

Daily Dose of BS Nov 28 Giving Tueday

It started 5 years ago and already has raised millions of dollars in fact last year over 168 million dollars was given on #givingtuesday.  The idea of the day was first introduced back in October of 2012 and has quickly grown into a day of giving, there are local groups and national groups vying for your donation dollars.  Last year worldwide charitable giving was at an all-time high of $168 million dollars topping the previous year by 44% with more donations being given online.  This past year has been a tough year for many as there were the hurricanes in the Texas and Florida as well as the fires in California.  I wonder how we are going to do this year with giving?  I have always said I have more time than money and I try to give of my time.  #givingtuesday is a great way to give back to our community.  I know that there is always a need in La Crosse, look around and dig deep and help if you can.  

Daily Dose of BS Nov 27 cyber monday

Black Friday has come and gone, I have been hearing over the weekend that this is not necessary the best time to buy, in fact one of the worst?  If you are looking for a specific item and it is on sale and the only extra cost to you is your time, isn’t it worth it?  Last week I was off work and enjoyed sleeping in, in fact slept till at least 630 most days and as late as 8 on a couple, that includes Black Friday.  I saw a few things that I wanted at Menards, that was it, so when I finally did get out of bed and headed to the store I wasn’t expecting to get the few things I wanted, guess what I did, and I was out of the store and home within 30 minutes.  I missed the scurrying rats with maps to their predetermined destinations.  When I made my trip, I leisurely walked to what I had on my list and bought nothing else.  Today more buying with cyber Monday, 3.45 billion expected to be spent today, up about triple in the past 7 years, is it all for Christmas gifts you think or is it for personal use?  I bet most is for personal use. 

Daily Dose of BS Nov 17 give it away

Just give it all away man. Free yourself from yourself. What better time than now? It is kind of funny that a song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers had it right.  Think about it for a moment, with the song "Give it away" released back in 1991 "Give It Away" is centered on the philosophy of selflessness and altruistic behavior, and at this time of year there are lots of needs out there from the need of Bell Ringers for the Salvation Army, to non-perishable food items for the Hunger Task Force, to the La Crosse Jaycees Toys for Tots which has their toy drive going on today until 6pm at the La Crosse Center,  to the needs of your neighbors and your church.  Kind of weird that a song from the 90’s gives so much, back to more lyrics “Reeling with the feeling don't stop continue” from reaching into your pocket for change to the time shared to help a child, to holding a door for a stranger at the mall.  I think we get out of life what we give, so “send a smile and show you care. Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Give It Away"

Daily Dose of BS Nov 16 freedom of speech

What are your thoughts on free speech?  Are they that you have the right to say what you want?  What if what someone wanted to say or display had words that you didn’t like perhaps they said the N word or the word that rhymes with my last name.  Perhaps someone used the Lords name in vain?  How about the F word?  There is a truck in Texas with the lettering on the back of its window that says “F--- TRUMP AND F--- YOU FOR VOTING FOR HIM” would you be ok with that?  And honestly I bet that this goes political so just for sake of it not, what if it said “F--- Fill in your any name of a winning candidate here AND F--- YOU FOR VOTING FOR HIM” Would that change your thoughts on it?  I bet for some it would.  There used to be a truck around La Crosse with a big window sticker on it is that said my other toy has tits, (I bet he was a dairy farmer) and believe it or not I was bugged by that one, not only because it was rude but my at the time innocent kids asked me what it meant.  So we say we are for freedom of speech but are we really?  

Daily Dose of BS Nov 15 cards against humanity

For the past few years the card game Cards Against Humanity has had some sort of holiday prank, to get national press for free, this year is no different, this year the card game is making it difficult for the Trump administration to purchase border land by buying up some of the land that borders the United States and Mexico and vows to make it “as time-consuming and expensive” as possible.  To me that is counterproductive on a couple of different levels, first of all it is the United States, there is such a thing as eminent domain, they can sweep in and take land, and I could really see the government doing something like this, all it would take is a “just” compensation, and secondly, if they are making it “as time-consuming and expensive” as possible, doesn’t that just mean more tax dollars out of my pocket fighting for something that isn’t even going to be built anyway?   I have played the game a few times, it was fun, but I don’t think it was that irreverent, but maybe that’s just me.  

Daily Dose of BS Nov 14 Parking

I hope you enjoyed where you parked last night. It was the last night of parking without alternate side parking until March 15th you have 120 days to try to get it right. I like to look at it like a game you can’t win.  And this year since we have less days the city of La Crosse will not be putting warnings on cars.  The annual free for all money grab starts at 1 tonight as the yearly alternate side parking debacle begins.  I am lucky enough to have off street parking but my son isn’t as lucky. Sometimes he can park behind the house but for the most part it is street parking for him.  From today until March 15^th we will have to follow the even, odd parking rules, this is even if we don’t have any snow or even any snow in the forecast.  I wonder where the parking money even goes?  

Daily Dose of BS Nov 13 Facebook

There are over a billion people on Facebook.   About 58% of Americans are on the social media platform, not bad for a company that didn’t even exist 14 years ago.  With the average American spending almost 40 minutes a day on Facebook, about double of the world wide average,  that is a lot of screen time for those little ads to make their way into your brain.  The voyeur in me keeps me looking and the thoughts that plague my mind give me endless topics to post on here on Facebook.  Are we better off now knowing that John had a burger for lunch with his bff?  Does it matter that Sally sold seashells by the seashore, you bet it does, the average person has 338 friends up from a few years ago in 2013 it was 130 friends.  I at one time actually knew all my Facebook friends, and many of my radio friends have two accounts the work one and the real one, I guess I wasn’t smart enough to do that when I started with Facebook, I just started a radio one.   And am slowly getting up to my 338 friends. 

484-535-4601

Daily Dose of BS Nov 10 sexual assault

I get that we are sexual beings.  I really do.  However, I don’t get all these men forcing themselves on others.  It had been going on since the beginning of time and there have been Presidents that were implied did wrong, there was the Bill Cosby stuff, then came Harvey Weinstein, and Kevin Spacey now there are allegations against a few politicians and the comedian Louis C K.  Plus the everyday sexual assault that goes on, each and every day, from schoolyards, to boardrooms, to bedrooms.  I don’t know about you but my parents taught me that no means no, not maybe or yes.  It angers me that these men think that their power gives them the right to be an a-hole.  The thing is that they ruin it for every nice guy out there, every guy that is respectful and loving gets the once over and assumed that he too is a sexual deviant.  Drinking or drugs shouldn’t be used as an excuse either.  We need to respect each other and respect ourselves.  

Daily Dose of BS Nov 9 pot holes

Had a caller yesterday mention how horrible the conditions of the roads in La Crosse are, I will have to agree that some are bad, but not all, in fact not a lot.  According to a few national reports out there the city isn’t alone, the state of Wisconsin has 238,240 miles of road, the 13th most btw, with the 4th highest public roads in poor condition.  Not sure where they are driving.  On my daily commute from south side La Crosse to Onalaska I have great roads all the way here, when going to the mall from my house, same deal, heading downtown, there are a few pockets of crappy roads, but for the most part they are better than the roads in Minnesota where I grew up.  I recall a pothole that about swallowed my car when I was younger.  I think we have work to do to make all the roads smooth as glass but for the many miles of roads that are paved around here, they do a pretty damn good job. 

Daily Dose of BS November 8 deer

Tis the season, not the Christmas season but you wouldn’t know that if you were at any local retailers.  Tis the season for deer crashes in Wisconsin.  There were about 21,000 car vs deer accidents last year.  21,000, that is a lot of white tail being hit and not by hunters.  I think that we have all seen a few of the remains on the side of the road, and after a couple of weeks they aren’t too pretty anymore.  This week is the week were more car vs deer accidents happen on Wisconsin roads than any other.  A little advice when you see a deer slow down, watch the side of the road there may be more following.  Try to avoid taking evasive action by crossing the center line, you may cause more injury or even death.  Last year the average claim after hitting a deer was $3,464 dollars, in fact not a single day went by last year without a single reported deer crash, with an average of 56 per day, and the least being 11 last Christmas and the most being 236 on November 10^th, be safe out there, and remember that the deer crossing sign really isn’t where the deer cross, it is just a reminder to you to be safe. 

Daily Dose of BS Nov 7 flipping off the boss

Do you have the right to express yourself outside of work?  The reason I ask is because Juli Briskman was the unidentified cyclist who flipped off the Presidential motorcade and the picture was seen around the world.  Juli worked for a government contracting firm and when she told her bosses that it was her who was in the picture seen around the world, they fired her for violating a code of conduct policy.  The first amendment will keep you from being punished by the government but it doesn’t protect your paycheck.  Before your praise or chastise her, think about if it was your candidate or a hater of your candidate.  Does it change your way of thinking?  For me I think that she should have kept her job.  Would you like your boss telling you who or who you cannot flip off while you weren’t at work.  Me either. 

Daily Dose of BS Nov 6 more shootings

Another week another shooting, this one at a church.  These shootings are coming at a more rapid pace and are becoming more difficult to understand.  Why?  What is wrong with our society?  Have our lives gone so out of control that in order to be known that you have to do something so bad that your name gets out there?  Maybe the media should vow not to say the names of the shooters more than just once.  Honestly if I thought back to all of the mass shootings that we have heard about over the past decade, I couldn’t name a single one, I may notice a name but for a million dollars I wouldn’t be able to name a name.  I heard this morning that the President called the shooting a "mental health problem," not an issue with US gun laws.  I believe that there is more of a push to recognize mental health issues now more than before, as we are seeing more mental health facilities pop up and more mental health specialists showing up in areas where people gather, especially kids, there has been a push in La Crosse at the YMCA and at the Boys and Girls Clubs.  I hope this helps with our future, and that we don’t continue to see these mass shootings.  

Daily Dose of BS Nov 3 hunting

My kids have participated in the youth hunt as well as the mentored hunt with me and my friends.  A bill was introduced in the Wisconsin state assembly and passed yesterday that would eliminate the minimum hunting age.  Huh?  What are they thinking?  I get that the hunting numbers are dwindling but it isn’t because the age is to high, it is because we are busy being busy and there is no time for the group to get together as they once did.  Plus I am guessing that the scare of chronic wasting disease, and cost for going hunting has stopped many from getting out and enjoying the hunt.  I don’t think that allowing kids that are younger to get out and hunt will help the cause I believe that inviting the people that used to hunt to come back and remember the joys of the hunt, and then the memories will be there to start bringing new people in to hunt.  It is a right of passage in the Midwest, as a young teen, but not having toddlers in the woods.   Please reconsider.  

Daily Dose of BS Nov 2 truck

Yesterday I saw something that nearly drove me off the road, I was driving by a dealership and I saw a window sticker on a new pickup truck in excess of 75,000 dollars.  75 thousand dollars for a pickup?  I am guessing that this is a truck that isn’t for the farmer or the person that needs a truck for work, this is a fashion statement of a truck.  A truck for someone who needs people to see them in a pickup but wants to be surrounded by luxury.  This truck costs more than I paid for my house and almost as much as my house and cabin combined.  I wonder what kind of gas mileage that this truck gets, you know that gas prices just jumped to 2.59 in La Crosse, but I guess if you are driving a 75-thousand-dollar truck that a measly 2.59 a gallon is nothing.  

Daily Dose of BS Nov 1 terrorism

It seems like more and more news is being broke on social media.  I was on Facebook yesterday afternoon and I saw someone post that there is more terrorism on American soil.  I quickly turned on the television not knowing what I was expecting to see.  When I popped it on was shocked to see a mangled-up pickup and many bikes littered on a pathway.  At first it didn’t register as terrorism to me, it looked like someone took a wrong turn down a bike path and panicked.  If the terrorists want us to be confused, then what they are doing is working, I wouldn’t have thought that driving a vehicle down a crowded street is terrorism but if you think about it, it is.  I don’t think I am a fan of every time that there is an event with causalities that the media is quick to call it terrorism, to me that shouldn’t be handed out as freely because I feel the more that the word is tossed out there the more that the people who are perpetrating it win, because it brings fear. 

Daily Dose of BS October 31, Halloween

Let the donning of the masks begin.  Today is Halloween and a day that maybe we show the world who we really are.  Have you ever given that any thought?  Instead of putting on the masks the are meant to entertain, or scare and just be you.  Take off the mask that you put on every morning and be the person you are, it isn’t easy but after a while you will get used to it, and others around you will as well.  I truly try to be me, the same me whether it is around my family, my friends, my coworkers or myself, the Bob you see is the Bob you get.  Be proud of the person you have become, and if you aren’t then change, become the person you want to be.  A quick thought about Halloween, and I am guilty of it also, ever thought that with Halloween we go against everything we teach our kids, don’t beg, don’t talk to strangers and don’t take candy from strangers.  Hmmm.  Happy Halloween. 

Daily Dose of BS Oct 30 opioid

There was an interesting story in the La Crosse Tribune yesterday about the opioid crisis not being the first drug crisis in our history.  I remember the crack problems we had in the 80’s and the Nancy Reagan just say no campaign, followed by this is your brain and this is your brain on drugs egg commercial.  I wonder how many people had the craving for a good omelet after those commercials.  I really wonder what it is going to take to get our kids and our coworkers off drugs.  More than 64,000 Americans died from drug overdoses last year, and I bet we are going to be close to those numbers again this year.  And these numbers don’t include the numbers of people who were given Narcan to bring them back from an overdose.  This truly is an epidemic and I really don’t see an end to it.  We are also still fighting the battle of tobacco and alcohol.  However, I have noticed less people smoking cigarettes there are still a lot of people smoking and drinking, well I live in La Crosse and I like to have a few beers, as do most of my friends.  I guess moderation in the key.  Thoughts? 

Daily Dose of BS Oct 27 sleep

While scrolling through Facebook this morning I ran across a video of water beds and how in the late 80’s and early 90’s waterbeds were king.  The first bed that my wife and I had was a waterbed that we used for about a year, after that we to had given up on the sloshing around at night and went to a traditional mattress.  We had our first purchased new bed for about 20 years, then we got a single sided mattress that lasted about 5 years, my wife visited her sister a couple of years ago and she had just got a sleep number bed, and bragged about it, my wife tried it, we now have a mattress that should last for 25 years, we’ll see if it does.  So far so good.  I am constantly futzing with mine changing the sleep number usually getting the best nights sleep with a number between 60 and 85, depending on the day.  With the sleep number bed, and the my pillow, I sleep on two unconventional things, throw in my cpap machine and I rock a great sleep look.  How much sleep do you get a night?  My sleep tracker says I get about 6:27 on average per night.  Close to the 7-8 hours that are needed.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 26 heat

There is snow in the forecast in the next couple of days.  I haven’t even turned on my heat yet.  Have you?  I always try to push the limits of my house by counting on it to give me shelter, and by shelter I mean from the high costs of heating and cooling.  About 16 years ago we did a huge remodel on our home we added on about half and then reinsulated the rest of the house, that and the addition of a new high efficient furnace and an efficient central air conditioner and my house has been great at giving me shelter.  My thing is that I am cheap and I don’t mind sitting around the house in sweats and a blanket, my kids and wife on the other hand, they would like the heat on.  I still am holding out until November 1^st but if snow does come, I suppose I will break down and turn on the heat.  Are you a date person or when do you turn on your heat?  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 25 IRS Scam

IRS lawsuit.  Bahahahaha.  I got a call on Monday afternoon from the number 206-866-5761 with a cheesy recorded electronic voice telling me that the IRS was going to sue me.  The recorded voice was in broken English and had some grammatically incorrect speech in it.  I wonder how many people fall for these phone calls?  There must be enough of them for them to keep up with the scam.  I feel sorry for people who do fall for these types of scams especially since they do sound so fake.  I know for a fact that the IRS won’t be making any calls to you, they first reach out via the phone.  I also know that if they were calling you that they wouldn’t use a recorded voice inviting you to call them back.  Come on scammers if you really want to do this, use someone with a half way decent voice and have them call and talk with possible mark.  Actually keep doing what you are doing and I like the rest of the population will just quit answering our phones.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 24 nuclear war

Some top brass are saying that a nuclear war with North Korea is not likely, but the US is putting nuclear bombers on 24 hour alert for the first time since the cold war.  The threat of nuclear war posed by North Korea has grown to an unprecedented level according to a Japanese official, saying that North Korea’s behavior is getting worse and worse.  Kim Jong Un called our president a Lunatic for taking the United States and its poor puppet forces straight into ruin.   Around 22 thousand nuclear weapons can be found around the world today according to the United Nations and their reports so a nuclear attack is not a complete impossibility.  I am guessing if one pulls the trigger, the rest will as well, and if that happens will that be the end of civilization? 

Daily Dose of BS October 23 conferences

I heard a news story this morning about how at schools around the country they are trying something new, having the child lead the school conference.  I hate to say this but in La Crosse they have been doing that for years.  I remember the first time that one of our children was tasked with telling us his progress how scared he was and unsure of how to do it, but by the end of the process he was doing fine, this process lasted through all four of the kids, and now that they are in High School we no longer go to conferences.  One of the people in the story said that when the child is present that the “whole story” doesn’t get out.  Here’s an idea if you have something to say about the child, send them away or you and the teacher step out into the hall.  I think the confidence that it teaches the child as well as the instant accountability that is present because they must tell Mom and Dad what went right and what went wrong is a good thing.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 20 CMNH

Today marks day 2 of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals radioathon in La Crosse. With a goal of over one hundred thousand dollars to help families with kids, those kids facing health challenges. Last year over 8,000 local kids were helped by the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital and each and every child served has a story of courage and perseverance. Please dig deep in your pockets, your seat cushions and piggy banks and help the La Crosse Media Group reach this goal to help thousands of children and their families this year. The phones are manned 6a-6p today and tomorrow 8a-2p. Help the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals radioathon. The number to help is 608-784-KIDS, 784-5437. Please put your money where the miracles are.  100% of your donation goes to help the families.  Please Help!

Daily Dose of BS Oct 19 clutter

I am not the most organized person in the world but I am not worst ever either.  I read this morning that 20% of us have a room that can’t be used because of clutter or junk.  You know how they say that opposites attract.  Well my wife and I are the ying and the yang of clutter.  I have clutter and it doesn’t bother me, my wife on the other hand gets really bothered over clutter.  If I am tasked with uncluttering a room or the garage, I spend hours in that space, looking at everything, thinking about the story of where it came from and why it was there.  I get sweaty and anxious when tasked with that type of a job.  Weird how some can do it and some cannot.  Don’t get me wrong I know where my stuff is, it just may take me a minute to move this over to there and that to here, and well you get the point.  My space is clean just not that organized.  How about you?  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 18 live in the moment

There is a new poll that was just released that asked which decade of the 20th century people would most like to go back to, the one most people pick is the 1950s. It was an age of stay-at-home wives, novel household appliances, and suburbs.  Most people surveyed seem to yearn for their youth. Over 50% of those over 65-plus want to revisit the 1950s or 1960s, while those 45-to-64 look towards the 80s.  It makes sense to me as when I think of the good old days I yearn for the 80’s a time in my life where things were much simpler, a time when I didn’t have to worry about life as it was run by my folks.  I really don’t miss those days but look back to them as a simpler time.  I try to live in the moment and not live in the past.  It is funny that my 19 year old said that to me last night when we were discussing some issues from his past.  Live in the moment and do not dwell in the past, Dad.  I guess we can learn by listening.

Daily Dose of BS Oct 17 license plates

Can we give a little love to those in Wisconsin who are lactose intolerant?  There are grumblings about maybe it is time for a change of the Wisconsin license plate, and I think I agree, the head of the states influential business lobby says that the state should consider getting rid of the “America’s Dairyland” which has been on the bottom of the plates since 1940.  This does make since we are no longer the leading producer of milk, we fall in second behind California, however we are first in cheese, but I don’t think that Cheeseheads would go over on the plate.  They are suggesting that Wisconsin go instead with the state motto “Forward”.   I think that the new plate would be great on the back of the car but maybe put the word reverse on the front of the car so we know which plate to put where.  Do you think that we should change our license plates?

Daily Dose of BS Oct 16 obesity rates

Well we did it again we proved that we can go above and beyond, this time it isn’t so good, this time our above and beyond is our weight.  Nearly 4 in 10 of American adults are not only overweight but are obese, that number is a bit less for kids, that one shows that 2 in 10 kids 2-19 are considered obese as well.  These big numbers mean shortened lives, and higher incidences of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chronic conditions.  It goes to show that life is short, too short in fact.  I have always said that life is too short to be married to someone you don’t love, work a job you don’t like or to drink shitty beer.  But I am going to change that up a bit and also add to that, that life is too short to eat the foods you don’t like.  What foods don’t you like?  For me not a fan of liver, brussel sprouts (however I used to like them), and pie crusts.  You can also add beets, anchovies, and circus peanuts to that list as well.      

Daily Dose of BS Oct 13 city council

How many times have you driven by an old farm and thought to yourself why didn’t they do the maintenance on that building and are allowing it to fall down?  I have driven by many of those buildings over the past umpteen years.  I am glad to see that the city of La Crosse is doing something to some of the structures around La Crosse before they get to dilapidated and beyond repair.  Yesterday I brought up the old Plaid Pantry, last night the city had a city council meeting and they voted to spend money on fixing up the Isle la Plume marina, also to spend some money to fix up the bandshell in Riverside park.  The city council also voted to allow Ron Pishke to tear down the old building on 3^rd street.  In my mind all good decisions. 

Daily Dose of BS Oct 12 Plaid Pantry

When I first moved to La Crosse I rented a place on 5^th avenue, it wasn’t the best neighborhood I ever lived in but for a couple years it was home.  While living there if I needed a few grocery items mostly canned goods at that time, I would walk a few blocks to the Plaid Pantry and buy them.  Most of the time I went to Quillins and once in a while I would go to Stritmatters,  and Cub for my big shopping.  Funny how none of those grocery stores are even around La Crosse any more, I guess that Quillins has a small presence but the others are long gone.  New life will be breathed into the former Plaid Pantry as the city of La Crosse will purchase that builing for 55 thousand dollars with the usage as a neighborhood center.  I like that our city notices a need like this and works to help a neighborhood rehab.  It is sad that it has taken so long for this to happen, but am happy to see something finally go in that spot.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 11 recall election

Today is the 9^th day after the recall papers were turned in to try to recall Onalaska school board member Jake Speed.  The organizers who started this drive ended up with 613 more signatures on the recall papers than needed.  I don’t live in Onalaska but if I did and I was asked to sign the papers I would have said no.  I never do sign them, in fact when they have a recall election I make sure I go and vote for the person who they are trying to recall, I think that a lot of people do this.  The person got elected by a majority and deserves to fulfill the term elected.   I really think that if this much effort would have been put forth in the general election then a different candidate would have won.  If the outcome comes back not the way the recall committee wanted this time around, are they going to want another recall?  A recall of the recall?  I am not a fan of this recall or any recall that requires a special election, we get the chance to recall every candidate every election cycle.

Daily Dose of BS Oct 10 new holidays

We didn’t get mail yesterday I don’t know the reason why.  So I asked, did you know that yesterday was Columbus Day?  Or you more likely know it is the newly renamed Indigenous people day.  Indigenous people what?  I don’t even know what that is.  I had to work did you?  I was thinking about this, not for very long mind you but what if we got rid of all the holidays that are out there, and just had a couple of random Monday or Fridays off per quarter giving us 8 3 day weekends a year.  That may make things easier for everyone.  We wouldn’t have to deal with people saying Merry Christmas if we didn’t want to hear it.  We wouldn’t have someone getting mad over the name of this holiday or that one, we would all have the day off and you if you didn’t get the day off you would make double time or you could choose the following Friday off or something.  If this idea went through we could name the 3 day weekends based on the quarter and which break it is for example quarter one one, and quarter one two, etc.  much easier don’t you think?  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 9 Pence

It seems like the Vice president leaving of the Colts game was a PR stunt from the get go, the political stunt that sent Pence went from the game to an evening fundraiser in Los Angeles, and flying Air Force Two to Indianapolis and back from the West cost taxpayers over $250,000.  I can think of plenty of other things that could use that kind of funds.  Just think all that taxes that your family and mine paid last year plus most of my friend’s tax dollars were spent to make a statement.  Hummm.  Waste of money.  I think that if you want to protest the games then protest the games, don’t watch them, don’t talk about them, just don’t.  My Dad quit watching baseball after the strike many years ago, and I believe that he still is a hold out.  I protested the way I was treated at a store by not shopping there, but I returned.  It is hard to protest something that you like.  I think that we want to offer second and third chances, I guess for the NFL we will give 16 chances and maybe more depending if our team goes all the way.

Daily Dose of BS Oct 6 are we free

In the wake of the shootings in Vegas do we want gun control?  I’ve read many headlines saying that Americans are calling for tighter gun control, but are they?  Not all Americans, I think that some Americans are calling for tighter gun control.  I am not sure that is the answer.  We have called for strict speed limits, no texting and driving, not talking on the phone in a construction area, have you driven without your seat belt, peed outside, jaywalked, or sang Happy Birthday in public?  If you have done any of those things you have broken the law.  At what point is a law only a law in the books, and when does it become one that you listen to?  They say that “Freedom is not Free”.  Do you agree?  Are our freedoms free?  We are free at what costs? 

Daily Dose of BS Oct 5 Christmas

It is not even Halloween and already we are seeing signs of Christmas. What the heck? I am wondering why we are seeing the commercial part of the holiday creep into our sights earlier and earlier each year, yet the religious part fade away? When is it too early to start pushing Christmas?  Also, what do you think the take away for Christmas is these days?  It certainly doesn’t have the same meaning as it did when I was a kid.  Christmas used to be enjoyed in December not pushed down our throats starting in October.  Are the people who hate Christmas going to not shop at these stores or is it a conspiracy for all of us to be so unsensitized to Christmas and everything to do with Christmas that we start to not pay attention to it? If you know please explain cause I am at a loss. Ho Ho Ho happy October.

Daily Dose of BS Oct 4 Joshua Coburn

A good friend of mine who is a motivational speaker posted on his Facebook yesterday that he was looking for videos of how he made a difference in people’s lives, how the things that he is preaching and teaching has helped his Facebook friends.  As soon as I saw that post I immediately thought of the smiles that he brings just by being in a room, the shunning of conformity that he displays, the nonjudgmental attitude that not only does he display, but the rush to judgement that I will be willing to be that he gets.  You see my friend is covered in tattoos from head to toe, he has gages which have stretched out earlobes, he has scarification on his face and implants on his hands.  My friend Joshua has helped me to not notice the art but to notice the man.  By having Josh in my life has helped me to open my heart and my mind to explore those that are not like me.  Manners and Motivation a couple of things that we all could work on.   

Daily Dose of BS Oct 3 Vegas

I always thought that we could be safe at work, church or school.  I thought we could go and enjoy a concert or a walk in the park.  Is there really anywhere that we can go and be safe?  59 people killed, over 527 injured, and a nation in shock.  When I woke yesterday to the news of the shooting in Vegas I was like the rest of us, I was in disbelief, wondering how something like this could happen and what kind of a monster would do something like this.  Serious question where can we go for safety?  Is there any place where you could go be out of someone’s line of fire?  This shooting also brings up the gun control question, how can we civilly have a conversation that includes both side?  I am not sure that this is even possible.  Not that you asked but In my opinion I don’t think that there is a good reason for anyone to own a fully automatic gun.

Daily Dose of BS Oct 2 Oktoberfest

Over the weekend the size of La Crosse swelled to about double the normal amounts of people, unless you were in a coma, you know that Oktoberfest swooped in on Thursday and left after the last band last night, I would be interested in knowing the economic impact on the area that this fest has.  I heard from at least one board member yesterday that the tapping of the golden keg on Friday was about 35% larger than it was last year, I wonder if it had to do anything with the weather?  The things that I love about Oktoberfest is that it is a chance for people to get together and laugh and have fun.  It is great when people flock to our city and then are excited to see all the sights and sounds.  The one thing that I hate about Oktoberfest is some of the people and the fact that they think of our city as a trash can, if you were anywhere along the parade route after the parade on Saturday you know what I am talking about and if you were on West Avenue between King and La Crosse Streets you also know, and don’t get me started on Vine and Pine.  Enjoyed another fest, disappointed in people not picking up after themselves.  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 29 Golden Brat

Today is slicing of the golden Brat at the American Legion Post 52 on 6th Street in La Crosse, and many are hitting up different places getting ready for Oktoberfest. As we roll through town today hitting up whatever prefest, festivities please think before you hop in a car. We are going to be seeing many people drinking to excess this weekend. It unfortunately is a fact. I know that you can go to Oktoberfest and either drink just a couple to be social or not drink at all. I have been on both ends of the spectrum over living in La Crosse for the past 25 year, I gotta say the years that involved less drinks were just as fun and maybe even more fun than the ones that had overindulged Bob. I understand that at festivals and especially ones where everyone seems drunker than the next person, you feel the pressure to drink to excess, as I try to show my kids that moderation is ok, but don’t let it get away from you. Think before that last drink.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 28 Oktoverfest

Are you ready for the annual La Crosse holiday?  Oktoberfest begins this afternoon with the Lederhosen Luncheon, the special fester carnival after that and the torchlight parade tonight.  Tomorrow morning swing by the American Legion for the annual slicing of the Golden Brat an over 90 pound brat severed up with all the fixings.  After living in La Crosse since 1992 I have been around Oktoberfest for 25 years, participating in the parade many, many times over those years, watching it multiple times and always amazed at the amount of people who come out of the wood work to watch and cheer.  I have never staked my claim to city property for parade watching, I am more of a floater.  On the years when I didn’t ride in the parade I would start in one area, and kind of party hop.  I hope that this years parade is more manageable in time than some of the years when it ended up being a 5 plus hour parade.  Here is to a safe, fun, trouble free Oktoberfest.  Gemütlichkeit, Ein Prosit and Old McDonald has a farm, ummm I mean EiEiEio…have a great fest.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 27 Google Birthday

Think back to 19 years and one day ago, there was no google, there was no easy search for your computer, no google maps, no chrome, no google play, no you tube, no android system for your phone, heck not many mobile phones back then no gmail there is a lot that this 19 year old company has done.  Think back to when you turned 19, what had you accomplished?  By 19 I had graduated high school, earned my Eagle Scout, but I am not sure of any global events I was part of.  Heck I would be hard pressed to say I have had that big of an impact on the world outside of my circle and maybe a bit further, but I wonder how many have that bigger influence?  I guess one of the ways we can make a bigger impact is to try new things, and not be afraid to fail, because I think that often times our failure leads to bigger and better things.  Happy 19^th Google, I am excited to see what you do in the next 19 years.  Oh and I did try something new yesterday, had honeycomb for the first time, I liked it.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 26 Trump Tweet

Are we headed for war?  A North Korea Diplomat say that his country has the right to retaliate and shoot down United States planes.  President Donald Trump tweeted that the North Korean Government led by Kim Jong Un “won’t be around much longer” was taken by North Korea as a declaration of war.  I knew that random posts on Twitter would end up getting us into trouble.  How can this tweet by the President be taken any other way than what was said and I quote “Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won’t be around much longer!”  To you is this legit, or is it drawing the line in the sand, or is it school yard name calling or bullying?  Any way you look at it, the rhetoric and exchanging of threats and insults from both sides has reached a new level in recent days.  Who is going to step in and moderate this? 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 25 end of the world

Well we dodged another bullet, I think there were 2 bullets that we have dodged in the past week, wasn’t the world supposed to end either last Wednesday or on Saturday?  If you are reading this I guess it didn’t happen.  I think at one time in my life I was worried about the world coming to an end, but now.  Not so much.  I wonder how many people based their life on a life expectancy of an arbitrary day or date that someone has picked?  I think if we live our lives to their fullest, do the things we like to do with people that we like to do things with, it really won’t matter when your clock expires.  Would you really want to know when the world is going to end?  I can think of at least a dozen days that have come and gone where I have heard that this is going to happen or that is going to happen, but really, I think if you live your life to its fullest each and every day, take advantage of opportunities that are put your way and try to smile and pass on your knowledge by either teaching, or mentoring you are doing well.  Holding grudges is a waste of time and so Is worrying, I am not saying I don’t do these things but I do try.  Have a great Monday.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 22 look

To the entitled college girl who threw up your hands after you walked out into the middle of street on West Avenue yesterday afternoon wondering why no one stopped for you, I am sorry I am one of those people who didn’t stop.  Apparently, you are not familiar with the physics of a car, if you are traveling at let’s say the speed limit of 25 miles per hour, and no one is truly driving at 25 but let’s say it is a perfect world.  So, for my car to stop at 25 Mph, there is a Thinking Distance of 25 ft a Braking Distance of 31 ft and a Stopping Distance of 56 ft, You and your college mind may have forgotten this, you expect when your dumb ass walks out into the busy street to immediately stop.  I will tell you this entitled college student one of the first things I taught my kids was to look both ways, and wait for a safe time to cross.  Don’t be stupid, because apparently, you were smart enough to make it to your ripe age of 19 and obviously, you were smart enough to make it to college.  Stop and look before crossing, it is only common sense. 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 21 world troubles

In-between the hurricanes, the earthquakes and the political turmoil around the state, the country and the world are we going to be able to rebuild and grown as a world?  I look at just what the hurricanes have done in the continental United States then add the most recent Puerto Rico hit by Hurricane Maria add to that the devastation that hit Mexico with the earthquake and sprinkle in the political unrest in the rest of world and we have the potential for unraveling, if you look the thread is hanging there and it will just take a couple of pulls to send us into either an economic crash, a world war or ultimately an implosion with the mad grab for everything.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 20 wash your hands

I have talked in the past about how too many people have been witnessed just walking out of a restroom and sharing with the world what they just deposited.  I just saw a report that said that our cell phones are pretty dirty also because we are on the things all the time including while on the throne.  But did you know that your money is one of the dirtiest things out there?  $1 bills from a bank in New York City were swabbed to see what was living on paper money. The scientists found hundreds of microorganisms with the most abundant were ones that cause acne, they also identified vaginal bacteria, bacteria from mouths, DNA from pets and plenty of other viruses.  They also found that nearly 80% of our money has traces of cocaine.  By the sounds of it we need to wash our hands way more often. 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 19 foxconn

Well he did it.  Governor Scott Walker signed the Foxconn incentive bill worth 3 billion dollars to help to bring the flat screen group to the state of Wisconsin.  If you think about the dollar amount 3 billion dollars that is a scary number considering that it is a 3 with 9 zeros after it, but if you divide that number by the amount of people in the state it is a lot smaller number it ends up being $519.12 per person still that is $519.12 that I personally don’t have and that money won’t be helping me at all.  What are your thoughts about the state going after this type of business?  Foxconn is the world’s largest contract manufacture of electronics and they will have that technology here in Wisconsin and will have the opportunity for our kids and our children’s children to have the opportunity to work with cutting edge technology.  But the big question is one that I learned in economics class, at what cost? 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 18 to kneel or to stand

Another weekend another protest, there were a few over the weekend with the what started off as peaceful protests in St Louis ended up in violence and the continuation of protesting on the field has many professional foolball players taking a knee during the National Anthem.  Did Colin Kaepernick start something that will continue for the ages, I believe that he may have.  Do you think that NFL players or anyone for that matter have the right to sit out during the National Anthem?  I think that he absolutely does have the right to do so, but we also see that he isn’t playing this year either.  Reports say that he wants to play, I guess time will tell if he does. There are lots of other players who are choosing not to stand or acknowledge the singing of the National Anthem The NFL went more to the point: “Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the National Anthem.”  I saw something go around on Facebook yesterday encouraging fans to protest the games because of this, I wonder how many did.  I didn’t watch the game last night, not out of protest but because NBC wouldn’t come in. 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 15 alternate side parking

The one thing you hear people complain about most in La Crosse is parking either that we must pay for parking downtown or that we don’t have enough spots or that we have the stupid alternate side parking from November till April.  The city council changed all that yesterday with a shortened alternate side parking season we now will have from November 15 through March 15^th to move our cars back and forth across the street to avoid the annoying parking ticket.  I was thinking about this and wondering about how the city will make up for all the lost revenue from the parking tickets, but I figured that they have made so much more on speeding tickets on Losey Boulevard that they can give us a few extra free days of parking on the streets in front of our homes that our taxes pay for.  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 14 shootings

Reports of a high school shooting in Washington state from yesterday has one dead 3 injured and a school janitor a hero.  There is also a report of a 19-year-old that killed his mom because she wouldn’t let her son keep a puppy.  I don’t get the anger that goes with these kids.  I am not sure if the coping mechanism is different with today’s kids then it was when I was a kid but I tell you what when I was a kid I was disappointed many times.  I never shot and killed anyone I never pulled a gun on anyone, I never wanted to kill or maim anyone.  I was brought up with the mantra of sticks and stone can break my bones but words will never hurt me.  I have said that nursery rhyme many times while growing up.  Guess what it worked, I made it through my childhood.  But the one lie is that sometimes words do hurt, I think that we and by we I mean us all we do need to watch what we say but we also need to have thicker skin and not take everything to heart, I do realize that is easier said than done. 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 12 community

I think that it is important to be involved in your community, from writing a check to help, or getting involved in a civic organization or a church. One of the things my parents instilled in my brothers and I, was to give back either monetarily or with time. I chose to work in radio so I have more time than money. There are tons great organizations out there that are in need of your time, and your money. Find one and help when you can. Today is the United Way Kick of Breakfast, and I have the opportunity to talk with many of the people involved in the United Way, and many of the organizations that benefit from the United Way. With the world the way that it is, the best thing we can do is to help out as we can, either with your check book, or by rolling up your sleeves, and being a part of the solutions. The best thing about rolling up your sleeves is that if you are active in the group you are pretty much guaranteed to make some good lifelong friends, I am still friends with some of the guys I was in Boy Scouts with and my best friends are people that I was in the Jaycees with. My suggestion to you is be active within our community and let us all work to make our great community an even better place to live.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 11 emotions

This weekend was a weekend filled with emotions from the Steppin Out in Pink walk where 7000 people walked for breast cancer, Hurricane Irma reigned terror and destruction in Florida and is now headed to Georgia, and sixteen years ago today is a day that most in our generation will remember like the landing on the moon of the generation before, and the death of President Kennedy of the generation before that.  The patriotism that America felt, the American Pride that you had for the days, weeks and months after the tragic 9/11 attack at the World Trade Center.  I was working on the radio here in LaCrosse when a listener called and said a plane crashed into the World Trade Center and then a few minutes later another caller and then even more callers called with the news.  We reported the news and the feelings of the people who were living it, experiencing it, seeing it.  It was weird to have all air traffic cease after that day and when it finally resumed, remember how weird it felt and sounded?  I hope and pray that we never have to relive another 9/11 type attack on America.  God Bless America.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 8 equifax

I think that it is time for us to come up with a new system for identity, here is the reason why how many of our transactions have been hacked?  We had some big companywide hacks in the past few years of Home Depot and Target and today we hear of Equifax the company that basically handles our credit scores, saying that they had a security breach back and July and are only letting us know about it now.  The things taken in their breach were Names, Social Security Numbers, Birth Dates, Addresses and other information that could potentially leave consumers vulnerable to identity theft.  If the “big” guy is getting hacked with the loads of security that they have on their systems, how can we possibly keep out data out of the wrong hands?  I wonder if any of our stuff is safe anymore?  

Daily Dose of BS sept 7 what would you keep?

With this being hurricane season and us seeing the devastation of what was left in the path of these monsters, I have been thinking the last few days what if?  What if I lived in the line of the hurricane, would I leave my possessions behind, would I stay and weather the storm?  If did leave what would I take?  I came up with not a lot that I would take, I would want to make sure that my wife and kids were safe, and what else, I am not really sure, I have a lot of stuff, I think that we all do.  Besides the pictures that I have from my childhood, that I really never look at btw, most of the things that are memories are saved online somewhere.  Think of the pictures that you have taken over the past 2 decades, I bet now you take a whole bunch more because they are saved in the cloud, you have them, but you don’t have them, same as our money, we may have some savings but the records of all that stuff is in a computer somewhere.  When it comes to having to leave somewhere quick, I would grab my essentials, phone, meds, laptop, and then hope and pray that nothing happed to my home.  What would you grab?

Daily Dose of BS Sept 6 world end?

I have heard a few people say that the world is ending why else would there be these hurricanes, why would there be all this fighting, why would the drug epidemic be so bad.  So sorry to burst your bubble but people have been fighting all through the history of the world, there have been natural disasters, and people have been medicating and self-medicating for many, many years and will be sure to for all of times.  Why do you think that there is such a party when you are able to legally drink?  But let’s say that the world does end, let’s say that these are the “signs” of the end of times, what would you do any differently?  Me, I am not sure, I try to do the right thing each and every day and I also try to live my life to the fullest.  Any changes for you?  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 29 FU

What ever happened to respect? Not only of others around you but respect for yourself? My kids and I were out yesterday running errands and decided to drive down 5th Avenue in La Crosse. There was a group of people standing on the opposite side of the road when we approached in our car, they stopped talking and one of the kids walked slowly in front of my car, greeting me with a big FU. What the heck did I do? Drove down a side street, this is now something that you aren’t allowed to do? I should have known that it was a weird day when we started off on our adventure I didn’t pull away from the stoplight fast enough and the guy behind me didn’t lay on the horn but threw up his arms and mouthed WTF. Are we in that big of a hurry or is there that much anger in the world? I am not sure, but what ever happened to our nice small town?

Daily Dose of BS Aug 30 problems

There was a study done on what millennials find to be the most troubling things facing the world and surprisingly it has some well thought out issues.  On the list is lack of economic opportunity, safety issues, lack of education, food and water security, government accountability, religious conflicts, poverty, inequality, wars, and climate change.     I agree that many of these are problems, large problems.  But some of the biggest problems I feel we are dealing with are terrorism, dishonest politicians, lying media, people not being able to work together, addiction (all kinds from heroin, to alcohol, to technology) laziness and greed.  What do you feel are the biggest troubles facing the world today?

Daily Dose of BS Aug 28 hurricane

After seeing some of the pictures and videos of Hurricane Harvey and the torrential rains that hit Texas over the past couple of days, it brings me to 20 years ago when the banks of the Red River flooded and my wife’s family home in East Grand Forks Minnesota had 4 feet of water on the main floor of their family home.  One thing that I do know about people is that we are resilient and do overcome the obstacles that are thrown at us.  Every time that we hear of some community taken to the brink of obscurity we see the town and the surrounding people pull together and team up to fix what is the problem, look at what Hurricane Katrina did 12 years ago in New Orleans and how that community pulled together to rebuild.  I look at Grand Forks and how they rebuilt.  Even though there is devastation in Houston Texas, they too will overcome, rebuild and come together.  I have faith.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 25 amazon

There is a new list of Kmart stores that are closing, and quite honestly, I am not surprised.  I was thinking about shopping and the future of shopping the other day.  I had purchased a hammock from Amazon during Amazon Prime day I got the set up for about half price.  It was a super comfortable hammock, in fact it was napped on many times.  In between uses I took the fabric part of the hammock in and put it in the garage.  Well mice had got into the garage and had chewed a hole in the fabric, I wasn’t happy but thought ok it on the foot side, what harm can come of that, I laid on my hammock and the thing ripped right in half, down to the ground I went with a thud, my son laughed but then helped me up, I contacted Amazon explained my story I got a new one about 24 hours after I spoke with the company.  No questions asked.  No hoops to jump though just good customer service.  Why can’t we see more of that with the brick and mortar stores?  If this keeps Amazon will rule the world.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 24 didnt win the lottery

Imagine my surprise this morning when I didn’t win the lottery.  I am not much of a lottery player and I thought that the guys that never plays wins, sure- I throw in my two bucks every time that work has a buy, just so I am not left out when everyone else gets to quit.  But yesterday I did something that I have only done a handful of times in my life, I bought 6 lottery tickets.  The last time I bought tickets I dreamt that I won the lottery, I didn’t dream that last night.  In the past when my family and I talked about the lottery and if we won we talked of moving, I don’t think we would move out of the area, I love it here it is after all God’s Country.  A lot of people say that they wouldn’t quit their jobs, I am not sure I buy that one, but then I didn’t win and neither did you, so off to work.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 22 Trumps Speech

A 16 year war will be an even longer war after last night.  President Donald Trump spoke to the country in prime time last night  saying “Our troops will fight to win. We will fight to win. From now on, victory will have a clear definition. — attacking our enemies, obliterating ISIS, crushing al Qaeda, preventing the Taliban from taking over Afghanistan, and stopping mass terror attacks against America before they emerge. We will ask our NATO allies and global partners to support our new strategy, with additional troop and funding increases in line with our own. We are confident they will,” “Ultimately, it is up to the people of Afghanistan to take ownership of their future, to govern their society, and to achieve an everlasting peace. We are a partner and a friend, but we will not dictate to the Afghan people how to live or how to govern their own complex society. We are not nation building again. We are killing terrorists,”  The US has about 8,400 forces in Afghanistan now.

Daily Dose of BS Aug 21 eclipse

Many millions of people will have their heads tilted away from their cell phones later this afternoon.  About 1:11 is when the eclipse will be at its peak in La Crosse, Wisconsin.  I remember when the eclipse of 1979 got us out of class and in the playground at Falcon Heights elementary school with our homemade solar projectors.  What a cool memory.  It really irritates me that there are scammers out there selling fake eclipse glasses.  But you can always go old school and poke a hole in a note card then grab another note card as the screen and line them up in order to see the eclipse.  In La Crosse, Wisconsin, we will get about an 85% covering and from what I have seen from the National Weather Service that we will have a 42% cloud cover.  The DOT also reminds us that motorists should also be prepared, and spend time focusing on the road, in fact some DOT dynamic message signs in Wisconsin are flashing this message: Don't Have an Eclipse in Judgment. Drive Safely.

Daily Dose of BS Aug 18 buy local

I have been noticing a disturbing trend with work being done around the city.  There are a lot of out of town and out of state work trucks working on local projects such as roads, water and parks.  The other day I was watching the work being done at the new ball field at Houska Park.  I didn’t even know there was a new field going in over there, it looks great, but I noticed that there was a Winona business doing the landscaping.  I am guessing that there are a lot of La Crosse based businesses that pay taxes right here in La Crosse that would have loved to do that job.  I get that some of the other work that is farmed out to other businesses from other communities and states because you have to be competitive but for a smaller business that is putting in trees, and doing beautifying an area, wouldn’t you think that even within a range that giving the job to a local person that will be spending money locally would make more sense?  I haven’t noticed for a while but a few years ago the police cars came from a dealership in Eau Clarie again, wouldn’t it be better to buy from a local dealership?  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 17 Burzinski

Roger Burzinski the man who was shot and killed by the La Crosse Police Department on Sunday evening wasn’t a stranger to breaking the law.  Burzinski was a career felon, with an extensive arrest record which includes convictions for possession of a firearm by a felon, second-degree sexual assault of a child, battery to police, second-degree recklessly endangering safety, fleeing police and armed robbery.  And if I recall correctly his brother also tried killing a La Crosse cop by swinging a knife at him.  It is too bad that Burzinski’s actions ended his life the way that they did, but it is also crappy that he put the child in danger that was in the car that he hijacked and the stress that he put on the parents of that 1 year old child and the stress that the shooting has now put on the 2 police officers that were involved in the shooting and also the stress to the families of all involved.  Was the right action taken?    

Daily Dose of BS August 16 statues

Racist? Villain? Hero? You cannot change history.  You can’t, I know many have tried with their own, but what we have done are things that we have done.  I don’t know my family’s history when it comes to slavery, I hope that we never had any slaves, I am not sure if my family has ever been involved in the creation of any positives in the world either.  I only know what I know.  If we were involved in any wrong doings that I haven’t been a part of there is really nothing I can do about it at this time.  Sure, I can say that I don’t agree with what they did but there is not a thing I can do to change it.  I get that there are statues up all over the country honoring the memory of this person or that person, but how many of the statues are really seen?  I just spent a week in Washington DC where there is a statue on just about every corner, and I really couldn’t tell you what statues I saw or where they are or who they honored. Maybe it is just me but if there is a statue that you don’t like or don’t agree with, isn’t it just as easy to ignore it or not search it out than to bring it down and try to change the past?  We can’t deny that it happened, we can only try to not let it happen again.    

Daily Dose of BS August 14 shootings in La Crosse

More gun violence in La Crosse, last week there was a home invader shot, yesterday there was an armed carjacker that was shot and killed by the police.  Whatever happened to La Crosse being a quiet community with everything swept under the carpet?  Isn’t that the way it used to be?  If there was a problem we looked the other way?  Now it seems that the world has different glasses on instead of looking the other way we are looking at another way to make everything a problem, I don’t feel that either of these ways of looking at things are the right way to look at the world.  I think that political bias and political correction has snuck into every aspect of our lives and that because of that we are not able to get things done.  Are things spiraling out of control because we offer too many breaks, a slap on the wrist instead of sentencing worthy of a crime?  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 3 shopping carts

I once heard someone say you never see a successful person leave a shopping cart in the parking lot.  Ever since I heard that I have tried to put my cart away.  Not that I didn’t put my cart away before but there have been times I am sure in the past where I have left it to do what it wants.  No more.  When you put away your cart it kind of makes you a servant leader, you see others first and the big picture, it also shows that you have discipline, you see it is the simple things that add up to the big things, if you put away your shopping cart you have a goal, when you finish that goal you have simple success, with that success you have a feeling of accomplishment, with that accomplishment, you have the feeling as though you can do the next big thing, you set another bigger goal and go through the same steps, the snowball effect is amazing.  And to think that it all starts with putting away your shopping cart.  If you are not a cart returner, I grant you a clean slate, move forward putting away carts, remember it is the simple things.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 2 Right NOW

Simple question today.  Do you trust the government?  Any government?  I remember the Van Halen song Right Now and on the video there is an animation of someone pushing someone over with the words “Right Now, our government is doing things that we think only other countries do” Those words have stuck with me since that video has come out.  Now we see all the turmoil in Washington DC and even in our states, it makes me think that they weren’t really that far off.   In the news today Rex Tillerson Says the U.S. Wants Dialogue With North Korea at 'Some Point'.  What do you suppose that this means?  There are 3 Americans being held there.  Are we going to negotiate with them?  

Daily Dose of BS August 1 waking up

Waking up on the wrong side of the bed seems like a stupid thing to say, I get up every morning on the same side of the bed, if I were to get up on the wrong side I would have to crawl over my wife and that I am sure would go over like a lead balloon.  Most mornings I feel as though my attitude first thing in the morning is going to dictate where my day goes, if I start off with a crappy attitude then the day seems to go the way I thought it would go, therefore I try to have a good attitude for the day.  I read an article awhile back touting Purpose, Control, and Optimism.  If you feel a sense purpose, and control and you are optimistic you can tackle anything.  So when your day is derailed from the start, look at reigning it back in by refocusing your day and start with purpose, control and optimism. 

Daily Dose of BS July 28 buying time

The old Jimmy Soul song “If you want to be happy” Starts off with if you wanna be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife, so from my personal point of view, get an ugly girl to marry you.  This doesn’t really hold true these days, firstly because there are no ugly people we all have redeeming qualities, secondly because studies say that money can’t buy happiness but at sure can buy you free time and that is what makes people happy.  In our 24 hour a day world the thing that makes us most happy is time.  A study published from the National Academy of Science, found that people who spent money on time-saving investments like having things delivered or hiring someone to do your yard instead of tending to the yard themselves, or paying for a cleaning person to come in a couple times a month makes for greater life satisfaction. That wasn’t only true for only the rich, but everybody benefited from buying time.  What time savor can you not live without?  For me it is the Tivo, dishwasher and when the kids mow the lawn. 

Daily dose of BS July 27 transgender

I have to admit I was kind of shocked when I heard the tweet storm from the President yesterday regarding the ban on transgendered people from being in the military.  His 3 tweets said this “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow ... Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming ... victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you,” his decision reverses a decision from former President Obama and caught the Pentagon off guard.  I wonder what happens to the already enlisted men and women in our military that are struggling with their identity.  I read one report that one soldier felt fired.  The Pentagon hasn’t released data on how many transgender troops there are, however the Human Rights Campaign says the military the “largest employer of transgender people in America.”

Daily Dose of BS July 26 rfid

I don’t think my employer could pay me enough to implant a chip into my body.  Employees at Three Square Market a vending company out of River Falls will starting next month be implanting RFID chips in the hands of employees.  The chip will allow the employees the chance to long in to office tools like copiers, unlock doors and pay for items in the vending machines.  I have nothing to hide but there is no way on Gods Green Earth that I would want my employer or anyone for that matter to know where I am all the time.  I don’t like that Google tracks my everything don’t believe me check out this link.  https://www.google.com/maps/timeline  Google knows where we were, who we saw, I am guessing that Big Brother knows what we bought.  So the those who own companies and want to start chipping your employees, you better look past this guy, or start paying a whole lot more.  

Daily Dose of BS July 25 war eagle

Sure, I think that the war eagle on the side of the old meat market looks cool.  Does it mean anything to me?  Nope.  Will its destruction make me lose any sleep?  Nope.  Is the building kind of an eye sore?  Yep.  In the 25 years that I have lived in La Crosse sure I have seen that painting on the side of the crappy building, do I know anything about it?  Nope, I didn’t even know it was on the old Weagel Schubert Meat Market until I read it in the paper.  Come to think of it I am not even sure what the meaning or history of the old painting is.  I know it looks cool, and after they were talking about taking down the building and the historic effort to try to save it came out, I have been thinking that there has to be a way to save the painting, not that I think that it should be but because there has to be a way and I like to figure stuff out.  The nomination of the building to be an historic landmark by someone who doesn’t own it, I don’t think is right.  If the building’s owner wanted to look into it I think that is a whole different story.  Thoughts on someone else trying to push an agenda?  

Daily Dose of BS July 24 class reunion

Some I knew some, I didn’t, all of us had something in common, we all graduated 30 years ago.  Over the weekend, I drove to the cites on a mission, not quite a mission from God but it was a self-discovery if you will.  I really enjoyed getting together and talking with these familiar strangers, familiar because we all had the joy and the burden of being the first graduating class of Roseville Area High School.   And strangers because our lives have taken us to different places, we have all experienced different paths in our lives and yet somehow even though 30 years ago we were basically made to be classmates, 30 years later we came together on our own to enjoy the stories that have made us, us.  Funny I heard from a few there, that the word was be careful what you say to Bob as it would end up on the radio on Monday.  Sorry to disappoint, but what happened at the 30 reunion will stay at the reunion, not because it was a code, but because I had so many conversations that I forgot what details go with what story.  If you have the chance to go to your reunion, please go, you will be surprised that as you get older the playing field levels.  

Daily Dose of BS July 21 juice

Do you remember June 17, 1994?  I bet the date doesn’t ring a bell but if I say slow speed chase featuring a white bronco, I bet you immediately recall the OJ Simpson chase through LA.  I remember being glued to the television and then watched the OJ Simpson trial, then the shock when OJ was found not guilty for the murders of his wife Nicole and her friend Ron.  Fast forward a few years when the juice was in trouble with the law again, and by this time I believe that he thought that he was Teflon, was jailed in 2007 for conspiracy to commit a crime, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, conspiracy to commit robbery, burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon, two counts of first-degree kidnapping with a deadly weapon, two counts of robbery with use of a deadly weapon and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.  Yesterday we heard that the Juice will be loose.  Did he pay the price for his crimes? 

Daily Dose of BS July 20 weather

Even though we think we are we are not in control, let me repeat that, we are not in control.  If you have ever been through a storm you begin to realize this.  I was sleeping like a baby after last nights storm, I ended up heading out and about to check out the local damage after it stopped raining last night as to have something to talk about this morning, as I mentioned I was sleeping like a baby when my wife’s phone went off this morning at 2:20 saying a flash flood warning I just laid there in bed listing to the rain come down in sheets and when I finally was able to reach the point of sleep again there were loud thunder boom.  In this latest round of stroms to hit La Crosse, I have seen a blue cooler overturned on the street, manhole covers moved, down trees, a few cars where they shouldn’t be, neighborhoods without power, water over the roads, mud on the highway and a tipped over outhouse.  Be careful in your travels, also be aware of changing road conditions and remember to not try driving though flooded streets.