Thursday, March 30, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 30 bathrooms

I sometimes wonder if I am the only person that ever thinks about restroom doors.  I always wondered why is it you need to pull a handle toward you rather than a push or a kick motion to open.  We have all seen someone in a public place use the facility and walked right out the door without even pretending to wash their hands, last week I used a rest room that had a foot handle, it looks rather odd sitting next to the corner of the door just hanging there.  Had I not seen one in use on a video I wouldn’t have even known what it is.  But it is a saver of touching the door, that is for sure, and that more places need to get these and educate people about using them.  I also think that all the automated things in the bathroom that flush, dispense soap, turn on the water and kick out paper towels or turn on the dryer are nice, but even with all the automation and the door opens in, you still have to grab a dirty door handle and turn and pull.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 29 conceal carry

I am all for gun rights and for concealed carry, absolutely I am.  If you are proficient with a gun, and are safe with it.  The state of Wisconsin wants to be like 26 other states and allow you to conceal carry without a permit.  Right now, the state of Wisconsin requires anyone carrying a concealed weapon to obtain a license and take a training course.  The bill that is currently being proposed would do away with the license requirement for someone that wants to carry a hidden weapon.  Also, bundled into this bill is the allowance to bring a concealed firearm into places where they are currently barred such as a school unless a sign is posted barring them.  I don’t think I have seen a school in La Crosse without those signs.  I still think that this is not a good idea.  I think that the process that we have now is fine and no changes need to be made for allowing someone to carry without the permit.  

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 28 drinking

I was shocked to read that in Wisconsin that a new bill would prohibit adults from permitting underage drinking parties.  I always thought that this was the case.  This new bill would address a social loophole that allows those under 21 to drink alcohol on premises that are owned or control by someone who is of legal drinking age.  Wisconsin already has more than the national average of youngsters drinking about a third of 12 to 20 years olds are drinking alcohol and about 20 percent drank 5 or more at once.  I have seen billboards and yard signs that say Parents who host lose the most, specifically targeting those that allow underage parties in their houses.  Breaking this law would cost you 500 bucks for the first offence and more and increasing fines of up to 10 k and 9 months in prison.  

Monday, March 27, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 27 clothes

A couple of girls were not allowed to board a plane yesterday morning because they were wearing leggings.  I think that this is a good time to look at the fashions that are out there and are unacceptable.  I know I am going to look like the old fuddy duddy here but I am not a fan of many of the clothes that are main stream these days.  I am going to start with the one that drives me the most crazy the pants down below the butt.  My parents always had my brothers and I wear belts, if not Dad would say something to us if we didn’t have on a belt.  Here is another one that bugs me hats that are not worn either front or back and that don’t have a bend in them.  Pants with words on the butt, shirts that show too much and pants with rips.  While I am at it what about people wearing their pajamas out in public?  I know I am not the only one who thinks this way, and maybe it makes me old in saying it but, put on some damn clothes and sit up straight, while you’re at it get off my lawn.  I guess I am getting old. 

Friday, March 24, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 24 Cass Street

You have a week to drive down Cass Street before the construction begins on the newest roundabout in the city of La Crosse.  This roundabout should be called an oval about as it will be more oblong than the typical round about.  I for one was not a fan of the traffic circles but as I now go through one every day coming in to work, I really don’t mind it.  There is a bit of a learning curve but after maneuvering around the circle a few times you realize that they are quite easy to maneuver.  Cass Street will be closed from 4th street to 8th street while the at least 3 month project is being completed.  

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 23 Facebook

Many of us use it, some don’t, I was slow to get to it, but started because of my job.  I am talking social media, maybe it should be called time sucking media. Some love it, some hate it, most of us tolerate it. Since social media became big a handful of years, it seems to be the way that kids and even adults communicate. I am guilty of it, and if you are reading this on Facebook, I am guessing you are also (especially if you respond). It has brought out the voyeur in us. How often have you clicked on someone’s profile to see what they are up to, even if you didn’t really know them?  I have a bunch of Facebook friends who are people in my life from way back in elementary school, to relatives to radio listeners, to friends of friends.  We can check up on our old friends without them even knowing. Follow our favorite celebrity, our kids, or even the local radio guy. I am not saying it is bad, because it is not, it gives many of us an outlet, in fact I don’t know if I could even watch a tv show now without checking on my Facebook.  I am just kidding about that but there are many who I bet can’t. 

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 22 category killer

When Walmart first came to the south side of La Crosse we were all worried about the impact of the small businesses on the South Side of town, I live on the south side and I think that the area has done well with new smaller businesses.  We are now hearing about some of the big box type stores doing things to change up the way they do business because not of Walmart but because of the ultimate category killer, Amazon.  I love my small businesses and not a big fan of the big box stores especially the ones that have poor customer service, for example the Kmart in La Crosse, the last time I was there is the last time I will be there.  The store smelled and had horrible customer service, horrible.  After reading an article this morning that said that they face "substantial doubt" about its ability to stay in business unless it can borrow more.  I don’t think that this is their issue.  Also, look at the Malls losing the anchor stores as they down size, it is weird to think that the ultimate category killer is a business that started in 1994.  

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 21 you are not alone

There is a huge problem sweeping the country and I am assuming the world, if you are affected, know that you are not the only one dealing with this problem.  I was talking with another parent about it and was told that I was not alone, pretty soon other parents were chiming in about their kids and I now realize that it is an epidemic.  Kids just don’t pick up after themselves and if they do it is half-assed.  How many times have you heard yourself telling your children to pick up that plate or toss that wrapper in the trash only to either find that wrapper on the counter next to the garbage can or even worse how about finding the wrapper on the top of the garbage can lid?  How much extra effort is it to lift the lid and toss your piece of trash into the can?  And if the can is overflowing, take the bag out, put a new one in and set the bag outside, you don’t even need to take it out to the trash, the next person out will.  Kids do your parents a favor and look to see what needs to be done and do it without being asked, and do it right.  As a parent of 4 I do know that this too much to ask.

Monday, March 20, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 20 LAX SUX

Over the weekend we got to see some good sports and some poor sportsmanship.  From what I saw the athletes were classy but some of the student spectators were less than classy.  Students in the student section of the state high school basketball game had lots of screaming excited fans from all over cheering on their favorite teams, and I am sure that Cederberg wasn’t the only team to carry a sign that says something derogatory towards a rival team but the sign I saw both on tv and all over Facebook yesterday was “LAX SUX” #pridechs.  Ok, I am not a coach but a parent, but if I saw that as a coach of the team that was holding the banner I would address that as poor sportsmanship like.  I believe I would say something about it.   Congratulations to the boys basketball team at Central High School on your first state championship in 92 years.  And as a person who didn’t grow in La Crosse, but chose to live here I can tell you that LAX doesn’t SUX.  

Friday, March 17, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 17 St Patricks Day

They say that 11 percent of all Americans claim some Irish ancestry, pretty amazing since Ireland is roughly the size of Indiana.  Surveys also say that about 50% of Americans will wear green today, because wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns, ya know. I was thinking about St Patrick’s Day and the parallels with the state of Wisconsin, the two things that most people associate with Saint Patty’s Day is Beer and Whiskey drinking, guess what we are pretty good at that here in Wisconsin.  And wearing of the Green, show me a true Wisconsinite that doesn’t have a Green Bay Packer shirt or hat, also if you think of it on St Patrick’s Day there is green beer sold, and regular beer is gold you put the two next to each other and what do you have? That is correct Packer colors, while we may not all be Irish or have Irish ancestry, today as a Wisconsinite we are all Irish. So top of the morning to ya. 

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 16 parking

The cost for parking in a ramp downtown La Crosse is going to more than double this summer.  Right now, you can park in a one of the cities ramps for just $40 per month, this summer the cost jumps to $100.  That’s right a hundred bucks a month to park your car downtown La Crosse.  A hundred bucks.  According to Mike Giese chair of the Sustainable La Crosse Commission if we were to pay the true cost for that spot that we would be paying $317 a month per stall to cover it.  The average cost per month for a one bedroom apt in downtown La Crosse is about $600 per month, so a place to park your car is a little more than half that and if you live on the north or south side and are renting you can get a one bedroom for $425 a month and I bet that includes a place to park your car.  I don’t get what the city is trying to do, build up downtown, offer parking, then charge the hell out of the parking after you get downtown thriving, to me it seems like the old bait and switch.  Plus, let’s get replacement trees up for the clear cut of the ash trees.  

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 15 voting

The last couple of times I voted I had to show my driver’s license.  There are reports that some 17 year olds voted during the presidential primaries last year.  Wouldn’t you think that if you had to show your driver’s license that you would have the person working the table notice the date?  I would think so.  I am one of the hand full of people who votes almost every time I can.  I would say every time but I am sure I have missed a primary or two in my years.  I find voting fascinating; I have the chance to make the future.  In fact since we have such a low voter turnout, perhaps we should open voting up to those that are 16, this way the voters of tomorrow will have a running start on knowing the satisfaction of having their voice be heard.  Of the 30 Wisconsin underage teenagers who voted including one in La Crosse County, they may have been swayed by Bernie Sanders social media posts, I know that the 17 year old from La Crosse County won’t be charged, and I hope that the others aren’t either, but I think that this is a good reason to have ids checked before voting.  

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 14 hate crime

The definition of hate crime is a crime motivated by racial, sexual, or is a prejudice-motivated crime, which occurs when a perpetrator targets a victim because of his or her membership (or perceived membership) in a certain social group.  This is what happened to a group of about 20 Trump supporters after someone stole Martin Sellers lawn sign supporting a democratic candidate.  Sellers has been arrested for criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct after admitting to throwing roofing nails into driveways of residents who supported republican candidates.  Sellers said he did it out of anger for the political system.  To me this adds to the anger, and brings forth the question of why?  

Monday, March 13, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 13 drink specials

When I first moved to La Crosse in 1992 I was challenged to try to drink a beer at each of the bars on 3rd street.  I thought challenge accepted.  For the record I didn’t make it.  I don’t recall how many of the bars I hit before I quit but there used to be a lot of bars.  Fast forward 25 years and guess what there are still lot of bars downtown and plenty of them have the Thursday wristband special pay a few bucks and drink all night.  City Council member Bob Seaquist wants to do away with the specials that promote too much drinking.  Adding that you can go out and have a good time without getting blind, puking drunk.  He also said that binge drinking is a public health crisis in the upper Midwest.  The proposal suggests that anyone who has a license issued under this chapter of the La Crosse Municipal code, it should be unlawful to sell an unlimited number of drinks for a fixed price or an all you can drink basis.  Huh why not just say no more all you can drink specials.  How do you fell about no more drink specials?

Friday, March 10, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 10 disappearance

I didn’t know Thomas Olsen, but was concerned when he went missing.  I think that many were.  Thomas’s body was found in Lake Mead in Nevada.  About one thousand people end up going missing in Vegas a month.   I am sorry to hear that Thomas ended up being found dead but, I am guessing that the family is relieved to know what had happened to him.  Not knowing would be horrible while at the same time knowing would be bad.  In fact, in Wisconsin there are 1,000 missing person cases, according to the National Crime Information Center.  about 700 hundred of those are children and 300 are adults, and having missing people isn’t just confined to the big cities, in La Crosse County there are missing people as well.  Including one of La Cross’s most infamous cases Evelyn Hartley from the 50’s.  Those left behind are often times left wondering and hoping.  

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 9 self driving cars

The concept of self-driving cars is cool.  Futuristic if you will I think that they are a great concept, I however don’t know if I would trust riding in one.  I don’t even like to be the passenger in some people’s cars, and these are people that I know.  About 54% of American drivers feel less safe with the prospect of sharing the road with a self-driving car.  I think about the what if situations and also think about the people intrigued by the prospect of the driving car and then they themselves are not paying attention to the road because they are too busy looking at the driverless car.  I know I for one would be looking at the car and watching it to see how it reacts in situations, what would it do if a deer were to run out in the road, do like most and swerve to avoid it, if that was the case wouldn’t the car then hit another?  What about getting hacked, we have people trying to get into our computers to mess with our lives what if they could really mess with us with our cars?  I am not sure if I am ready for a self-driving car.  Are you? 

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 8 day without woman

Today is International Women’s Day, and it coincides with the National day without a woman.  Organizers are calling for women and their allies to come together for a “one-day demonstration of economic solidarity.”  I will tell you that I am one who loves the women in my life, all of them.  In fact, one of my favorite women in the world my Mom celebrated her birthday yesterday in California with my youngest brother, and another of my favorite women is my wife of almost 27 years.  I could not do what I do if not for these two great, strong women.  I never really got the feeling that women are lesser than a man, never.  All this talk of equal pay for equal jobs, I agree with that as well.  If you are doing the same the same job the pay should be the same.  

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 7 stuff

A few things that have come up as of late.  A new republican health care program, the new American Health Care Act would allow health insurance companies to charge older people five times as much as they charge younger clients, and instead of subsidies, the plan provides tax credits for people making less than $75,000 a year.  Yesterday, President Trump signed a new executive order that bans immigration from six Muslim-majority countries, dropping Iraq, and reinstates a temporary blanket ban on all refugees. The new ban takes effect March 16.  Also all Sunday and yesterday we heard about how over the weekend President Trump made the explosive claim that his predecessor, President Barack Obama, wiretapped his phones during the 2016 campaign.  The FBI is denying this.  If the Obama team did do this do you think that we would ever know?  I don’t even know where to begin.  

Monday, March 6, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 6 DOT

A new construction season brings talk of new construction on the south side of La Crosse.  I live on the south side of La Crosse and talk of construction on South Avenue brings mixed feelings, on one hand something needs to be done off of 16th street at South Avenue, trying to get at any time of the day and head south brings up feelings of anger and disappointment, angry because you can’t get out and disappointed that you didn’t take the chance when you had it and also disappointed because people don’t move over to let you in.  Talk is for that stretch of road is slated for construction in 2022 and is expected to cost between 6 and 10 million dollars, my guess is that it will cost much more than that.  Trouble is once you get too many cooks in the kitchen no one can agree on what needs to be done.  And 9 times out of 10 people get mad over the choices made.  You are in luck the Wisconsin DOT will be presenting the latest tomorrow at Central High School at 5. 

Friday, March 3, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 3 rides

We have come a long way in La Crosse from when I first moved here.  24 years ago seems like forever ago and like yesterday.  We have changed a bunch and not at all we are still a beautiful river community where for the most part are pretty safe.  The police and fire departments have done a great job keeping us safe.  We have the same problems that many in the county have with drugs and petty crimes.  The biggest change in the past few weeks are quite noticeable if you don’t have a car or if you want a safe ride home.  When I first moved to La Crosse I am not sure that we even had a cab company I just googled cabs in La Crosse Wisconsin and came up with 6 and within the past few weeks we got Lyft and I see that now Uber is making La Crosse home.  I have only taken about 20 cab rides in my life and none of them in La Crosse, and have never taken an Uber of a Lyft.  How has your experience been with any of these?  

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 2 best of

As a community we have been hit with a few of these best of this and best of that surveys, the La Crosse County Convention and Visitors Bureau has one the La Crosse Tribune now has one.  I am not a fan of these because only the businesses that they want to have listed are listed in their surveys.  I would like to hear what you think the best of the best are?  For example, I think that the best place to grab a beer is at Snuffy’s and the best bar burger is at the Barrel Inn.  We have many bests and my favorite isn’t necessarily your favorite.  What is your favorite and best of list for the area?  Best grocery store is Festival, and best pizza is South Lanes.  Of course these are mine.  My favorite dentist is Dr Uss.  For breakfast I got three favorites.  Rosie’s, Hungry Peddler and Marge’s.  Who is the best in your opinion and why?

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Daily Dose of BS March 1 Trump

Seeing Donald Trump come out and look presidential was a welcome relief, I wasn’t sure if he could do it.  In watching the speech last night, I was surprised and happy to see that the president wasn’t the poppas egotistical man that most of us had seen up to this point.  I enjoyed listening to him, I like most found some to be on par and other parts not so much.  I had to google the meaning of all the white outfits that many of the democratic women were wearing it was for purity in case you were wondering.  I am wondering am I the only person who thinks that it is weird that some in Congress and in the Senate are asking the President for his autograph as he is walking by?