Daily Dose of BS Oct 4

Talk about uncomfortable.  Watching the debate last night, was like I felt when I was a kid getting lectured by my parents, the uncomfortable look that each candidate had when the other was talking was at times hard to watch; from the look around, to the awkward smiles, eyebrow raises, and face scratches I am sure that that is what I did when I was getting talked to when I was a kid, heck I bet I do it now when the boss calls me in the office.  Where was the control of the debate?  Jim Lehrer in my eyes didn’t have control of the debate at all, as a friend of mine Chris posted on facebook last night “Jim Lehrer is like the grandpa at dinner table who falls asleep and wakes up randomly shouting.”  I heard a news story yesterday afternoon that said the candidate who blinks less usually wins, so of course I noticed the eye blinking, they both were big blinkers, I felt like I was following a car with the blinker stuck.  The think about these debates is that it seems like the candidates try to get their talking points out for the public to hear rather than answer the questions.  And I don’t know if you caught the bowling hall pin crash toward the end of the debate (what the heck was that?).  I am not sure if these debates help or hurt a candidate, who in your opinion won the debate?  And why?

Want to publish a book?

How many books you think are published yearly?
http://ptbertram.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/how-many-books-are-going-to-be-published-in-2012-prepare-for-a-shock/

Daily Dose of BS Oct 3

I am proud of my friend Jennifer Livingston she was called a bad role model for young girls because of her weight.  Jen has taken an email from a viewer, a negative email and flipped it into a positive thing, Jennifer standing up for herself and using this negative moment in her life as a teaching moment has me and a hundred thousand others including the national news shows, and Ellen standing and cheering in her corner.  As a person in the public eye you get ridiculed and are often put under a more powerful microscope than the average person, also for some reason people feel the need to point out your flaws.  Didn't your mom teach you about those in glass houses?  We all have our crosses to bear, our kryptonite if you will that weighs us down.  As Jennifer so eloquently put it “to all the children out there who feel lost...who are struggling with weight, the color of your skin, your sexual preference, your disability - even the acne on your face...listen to me right now. Do not let yourself worth be defined by bullies.”   Jennifer went on to point out that October in National Anti-Bullying month.  I leave you with this be yourself, live life to its fullest, love yourself, and be proud of who you are.

Movie catch phrases

ALL-TIME BEST MOVIE CATCHPHRASES:
According to a new Now TV poll, these are the best-ever famous lines from films …
5. “Life is like a box of chocolates …” – Tom Hanks in “Forrest Gump” (1994).
4. “May the Force be with you.” – Harrison Ford in “Star Wars” (1977).
3. “Houston, we have a problem.” – Tom Hanks in “Apollo 13” (1995).
2. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” – Clark Gable in “Gone With the Wind” (1939).
1. “I’ll be back!” – Arnold Schwarzenegger in “The Terminator” (1984).
– WENN.com

Daily Dose of BS Oct 2

Today marks the 3^rd anniversary of my life changing.  Three years ago today I got called into the operations managers’ office and my program director was in there, they said sit down.  I think in the back of my mind I knew why I was called in but didn’t want to believe it.  I was working at my former employer for 15 and half years, 15 and a half years all coming crashing down around me.  I was one of a handful of people I knew in the radio business that hadn’t been laid off.  October 2, 2009 that all changed.  It was the biggest kick in the shorts that I could have had at the time, Christmas was coming up and the 4 kids wanted i-pod touches.  It’s funny to look back at it now, I thought that my job was what defined me, I thought of what I did, was who I was.  Getting laid off was in retrospect the best thing that happened to me; it allowed me to know that radio is not the definer of Bob Schmidt.  The reality check was there, it gave me the chance to grow my personal business,  Kooler Promotions LLC and my www.LaCrosseWisconsin.com , it also gave me the chance to work on my relationships with my kids, friends, and family, it gave me the chance to spread my wings and grow as a person.  At the time I wanted to yell and cry and I did do both, but ended up in a better and a place, a place where I am appreciated and that is a much better fit for me.  For the guys that laid me off, thank you for giving me the chance to spread my wings, and for my team at the La Crosse Radio Group thank you for giving me the opportunity to grow.  

If its rusty you must be a teenager....What your car color says about you

Green – You’re an optimistic, well-adjusted joiner who likes the good things in life. (Only someone really materialistic could want a money-colored vehicle.)

Red – You are impulsive, athletic, and quick to speak your mind, but suffer emotional ups and downs. (Most likely to give another driver the dastardly digit.)

Blue – You’re relaxed and at peace with yourself. (No wonder you only drive so damn slow … move it, gramps!)

Brown – You’re conservative and like to plan everything out carefully. (Like never having to wash your car.)

White – You’re honest, nurturing, supportive, and need to feel needed. (You’re a mom.)

Daily Dose of BS Oct 1

Best fest parade ever.  I usually hate parades, I have had to be in them on and off over the past 25 years because of my chosen profession, and they usually are long and the weather is usually less than desirable, this year we got thru the parade in about an hour and a half, with a perfect temperature.  It is funny if you have something to giveaway there are always people with their hands out wanting the freebie, that is fine with me since it is a parade and but when you expect it that is where I have a problem with it.  I don’t owe anybody anything especially someone whom I have never met how is on the parade route asking for a can cooler saying I love your music or you are my favorite station when wearing another stations t-shirt.  First of all we are a Talk station so music wise we don’t play any and when it comes to wearing another stations t-shirt cool I have a bunch of station t-shirts from over the years, but don’t tell me I am your favorite and then not know where we are on the dial.  Got a few beverages from friends both old and new at the parade and Olys Donuts brought me over a bag of mini donuts.   Wrapped up the night at the Duct Tape Lodge with friends, happy rest of fest.  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 28

After living in La Crosse since 1992 I have been around Oktoberfest for 20 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 drove the long way to work yesterday morning to see if there were people lined up on Copeland Park and there were, ok, I understand that the parade is fun and a party in its self but aren’t there things going on, such as life?  Do people take vacation to go stake their claim of park land or boulevard for a 5 hour parade?  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

Went to comedy last night and the comedian and I were BS’ing after the show talking about the economy and how great it is, he mentioned that he has to take a “real” job soon to make ends meet after the price of gas is flirting with 4 bucks, he mentioned that if you think about it we spend more on our cars than on our homes, I called BS of course cause that is what I do, anyway he walked me through it and asked how many cars have you had in your life?  What about the other cars in your household, what was the total cost of all vehicles?  What did you pay for your house?  He continued saying and that is how we spend more on our cars than our houses.  Weird right?

Bad call Monday night....be mad....tell the world

http://www.oppermacher.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=OPP&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=WORST_CALL_EVER

Funny the price is 12.07 what the score would have been without the blown call

Daily Dose of BS Sept 26

They say that parents get stressed out with putting together a kids lunch before school.  Did your mom, or do you get stressed putting together the perfect lunch for jr?   Personally I look forward to the quest to putting together the best quote breakfast that I can, using building blocks of last nights supper, leftovers from the fridge from a day or two ago and possibility a dry good as well.    I do have a fridge when I get to work so if I have leftover meat or vegies and pasta I do have a place to store it before it gets reheated in the microwave.  I think my adventurous way with food began when I was a kid my mom was in a bridge club and when there was left overs we and by we I mean the kids my brothers and I always had creative ways of eating the leftovers, mom used to multi purpose the food, for example one time there was lots of leftover nacho cheese dip, that became a building block for sandwiches, add a few chips to it and you have a crunchy spicy lunch.  I bet if you ask the other Schmidt boys about the pancakes, they will say mom put syrup soaked pancakes on the bottom of a bowl and it got topped with chili when mom and dad went out for dinner that night.  So for that, my adventurous food creations and for the many other great memories I think you Mom.   

Daily Dose of BS Sept 25

I am not going to lie I am a bit upset this morning.   I thought that each of the touchdowns that are scored are checked and double checked, the Packers lost on a bad call, Rogers was sacked 8 times but they may have been the victim of a bad call.  Now to what has me really upset today, I lock my garage every night before I head in for the night, this morning when I was letting out the dog, the garage door was open.  And I know it was closed since I locked it last night after returning from a birthday dinner with the family, all six of us, it was amazing.  My dog usually barks at things going on outside, last night not so sure either that or I slept really well.  Any way a crow bar was used to break in to the garage, the fridge in the garage was left open, I am glad that I drank all the beers, there were a few pops left in the garage fridge, a few things moved around and my car was gone through, and I mean really gone through they took everything out of the glove box, the ashtray, the arm rest storage and left it all on the seats, I am not sure what they found if anything cause there really wasn’t anything in there, I did get a chance to meet a nice La Crosse Police officer, Officer Roden, she was there in minutes, we went through my garage, looked at the evidence, a cigarette that was left on the top of the car, talked about safety, putting lights up in and around the house.  There have been more and more break-ins in La Crosse we have had murders and drugs making headlines.  What happened to the friendly small community that I moved into 20+ years ago?

Funniest Movies of all time

FUNNIEST FILMS:
A new study of classic film comedies rates them on the number of laughs they generate per minute. Results show that a 1980 Leslie Nielsen film tops all others, generating 3 belly laughs per minute. The top 10, according to their ‘Laugh-A-Minute’ scores …
10. “Life of Brian” (1.2 laughs per minute)
9. “Shaun Of the Dead” (1.3)
8. “Bridesmaids” (1.4)
7. “American Pie” (1.5)
6. “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” (1.6)
5. “Borat” (1.7)
4. “Superbad” (1.9)
3. “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!” (2.3)
2. “The Hangover” (2.4)
1. “Airplane!” (3)

Daily Dose of BS Sept 24

I am 44 years old and still have to sit at the kids table.  This weekend we drove north to East Grand Forks for my Father in Laws 81^st birthday, 8 hours in the car each way.  Gas prices suck there too, speed limit is a bit higher in Minnesota than Wisconsin, you can go 70 on the interstate, and in North Dakota you can go 75.  I drive a minivan, don’t feel to cool going 75.  Back to family time, my wife is the youngest of 6 and I am younger than her by 3 years so when I first fell into the family I was much younger than the rest of the group,  I remember rocking out my zubaz and had long hair and earrings.  My things have changed now no hair and no earrings but I still have my 25 year old zubaz.  The birthday party brought out the usual, everyone brings their A game best pot luck food, I bring my appetite and my smarty pants attitude, the sister inlaws were all sitting around talking about 31 bags ( much more fun at the kids table ), I overheard it that conversation and said 31 bags there are only 6 of you.  I guess I no longer wonder why I have to sit at the kids table.   

More on Absentee voting

http://travel.state.gov/travel/living/overseas_voting/overseas_voting_4754.html

Daily Dose of BS Sept 21

After tomorrow 24 of the 50 states will have absentee ballots available.  Why?  We are 45 days away from November 6^th 2012 I can see if we open it up for a week possibly two weeks before an election, and longer if you are in the service overseas, but why do we need 45 days before an election to open the vote?  I am a huge proponent of getting out to vote in fact I have said countless times in my life on the radio and elsewhere if you don’t vote you can't bitch.  (I’ve been called on the carpet for saying that also since this is America and we can bitch just to bitch ya know) but really why open the vote 45 days before an election?  I have been able to make it to my polling place every single time including primaries for at least the last 15 years and have voted in every single general election since I have been 18.  I even cut a trip early as so I could make it home for a primary election.  I am all for making it easy to cast our vote, maybe online voting, but for one how can we assure that there is no voter fraud when it is mailed out and also how can we make it tamperproof when allowing online voting?  What do you think are the best solutions? 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 20

Got a call from a listener yesterday and he was saying he wasn’t pleased with the parking downtown, that got me thinking and I woke up with a song in my head, want to hear it here it goes.
Parking lots are going away eieio
LHI is going to grow eieio
With a good job here and a decent pay there, here a job there a job Don Webers employing a Mob, mob
Work is done I’m parking here eieio
Guess its time to grab a beer eieio
We’re in Wisconsin this is true, that’s all the song I got for you.

Daily Dose of BS weekdays on 1490 and Magic 105
Thoughts?  Call 608-782-2554

Daily Dose of BS Sept 19

In Cranston Rode Island they took away the Father Daughter dance, saying it violates state law because not all kids have a daddy.  The ACLU moved after receiving a letter from a single mom who complained that her daughter was not able to attend the father daughter dance.  HUH?  I can't throw a football but wanted to be the quarterback when in high school cause they got all the girls, I also want to be the boss here at the station cause I wanna be.  Heck since we are at it I want to get the discounts for AARP but am too young, what if I don’t make it to 50?  Grandparent day was a couple of weeks ago and I don’t have any grandparents anymore so I want the whole holiday taken away.  This is about as stupid as people saying that they don’t want Christmas or Easter because they don’t believe.  Why take away something that others believe in and are enjoying.  This would be a great teaching lesson for the mom she could sit her daughter down and use this as an example of how sometimes life is not fair, that things happen in life.  I am guessing that if the mom had any male friends that one of them would take her daughter.  I have been to the YMCA’s father daughter dance and it was a great bonding time for my daughter and I.  Taking away a special night for all these dads and daughters would be devastating, if it is that big of a deal to this mom, make a special day for your own kid and don’t take away the special day for these other children.  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 18

Getting a bit scared, not sure what to do.  When I was a kid we were able to drive around for the night on 5 bucks and yesterday we inched closer to the 4 dollar mark for gas.  It moved up to 3.969 yesterday 3.969 wow it is kind of upsetting, the prices surged when the hurricane was hitting the Louisiana area because of the refinery’s down there, and I understand it moving up for situations like that but wouldn’t you think that the prices would then drop?  Don’t we have oil sands in North Dakota and aren’t they able to get gas from there for cheaper than it is than it is importing from other countries?  What can we do as a society to bring the prices down?  Will a change in the White House bring change in the pump?  I really don’t see how it could, because if it were possible don’t you think that every president would try their darndest to get the prices as low as possible, especially since the election is just around the corner?  Since I brought up the president I am already sick of the politics as usual.  Is there such a thing as usual anymore?  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 17

If you had any conversation with anyone from La Crosse over the weekend, I will bet that the conversations started off like this, “What the hell is happening here?” or “a double murder wtf?” the word WHY pops in to my head. I have no idea what is going on here, we are supposed to be living in a small town. We now have the most murders locally since 1992 - 4 - I know people who don’t live in a small town think that four isn’t so bad, but when there usually isn’t any, this number is huge (I think that many of us live in a small town for the fact that it is more neighborly, and when murders are happening in the area, it puts a scare into us, makes us feel less safe) , drugs are big problem, robberies are happening more often and we have lots of other crap that is happening here each and every day stuff that used to be exclusive to big cities. What do you blame the rise in crime and drugs on? Got an opinion share it on the radio (608) 782-2554

Daily Dose of BS weekdays on 1490 and Magic 105

Packer fan vows to keep drinking....

Funny video

The guys from the Onion did it again.  Bet you find this funny.
BS

Daily Dose of BS Sept 14

I don’t have the NFL network, I didn’t feel like going to a bar last night, I missed the Packer football game and guess what I didn’t die, don’t feel cheated and am ok this morning.  (the Packers won by the way)  I think that the NFL is pushing us to become even more addicted to the game.  It used to Sundays and Mondays on the networks, the networks that are broadcast, then Monday night football got moved over the ESPN then the NFL came up with their own network offering up everything football and special games, games like the most rivalry teams of all time the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears.  We now have preseason games that people watch and fantasy leagues that are another excuse for us to get together and talk football and imbibe.  Do you think it is all part of a conspiracy?  

Traveling with your dog?

Woof

Daily Dose of BS Sept 13

People love their dogs.  But sometimes it is annoying to watch.  For one I think if you love your dog, love it enough to put in a restraint while in the car or at least in the backseat.  It kind of ticks me off when I see people with their dogs in the front seat, or on their lap while driving, not only do I feel that this is dangerous to the others on the road, but to your puppy as well, if you stop quick little fido will be flat little fido.  Also when you walk your dog clean up after what your dog does, I have had a few times this year while mowing the lawn where I stepped in a land mine, the intials are BS not DS it would however be worse stepping in that big of a pile, but seriously when you have a dog, please pick up after it, keep him leashed while walking, on a leash you can handle, also please try to avoid the retractable leashes, (ask me to see my finger) and travel with her in the back seat not crawling all over you and your steering wheel.   Love your dog, but also love your neighbor. 

I'm at a payphone

And you thought they were dead.....check it out

A new use for a payphone

Daily Dose of BS Sept 12

We have been bombarded with the public service announcements for bicycling in Wisconsin, we just finished up a couple weeks ago with Bikefest and we are seeing more and more bicycles on the road, literally with the painting of the bikes on the streets with the arrows, if you haven’t seen the big white painted signs you are not driving on 16^th street among others in La Crosse, the message is Share the Road, and I agree we should share the road, but shouldn’t we also SHARE THE RULES?  How many times have you been in your car and at a stop sign when a bullet of spandex with a helmet shoots right by you and through the stop sign without regards to the oncoming traffic and when there is a car coming the bicyclist will either flip off the car or yell them?  These people are giving bicyclist a bad name.  I’m ok with share the road, but if you are sharing the road with motorized vehicles, then you should share the road rules.   

A day we will never forget

Ready for a lump in your throat and tear in your eye?  Click Here

Daily Dose of BS September 11th

We will never forget.  We will never forget.  Well we will never forget when it is in our schedule, when it fits in to what we have planned for the day, week, month, or year.  We will never forget.  I hate to be so crass as to say it, but I think many have forgotten.  I think that many of us are busy being busy and do tend to forget what has happened in the past, what lives were lost.  What sacrifices hundreds of thousands of families have made, on and since the date 11 years ago.  I have had many friends who have in the past 11 years been over fighting for us, for our freedoms, thank God that they have all made it home.  What were you doing on September 11^th, 2001?  I was at work, and I remember shedding many tears and still to this day wonder why this had to happen.  It was a day that I will never forget.

Caffeinated lip balm

Feeling sleepy and also have chapped lips? Thanks goodness for caffeinated lip balm!

Click here

Just don't kiss someone with a caffeine allergy.....

Daily Dose of BS Sept 10

It was great to have football back on the television.  I for one enjoy sitting in my living room and watching the Green Bay Packers.  I love going to baseball games and all the sports my kids play but for football you can’t beat a comfortable chair, a refrigerator, a bathroom without lines or at least long lines and a remote to pause the action, or to review plays at your will.  Watching yesterday’s home opener for the Pack was difficult, not only because they lost, and didn’t look as good as I was hoping but ya gotta love all the late flags, missed and bad calls.  Then this morning you wake up and hear that the Chicago school teachers are on strike.  Haven’t they learned by watching the Division 2 refs so far in the NFL?  Have a little give and take between the brass and the workers and work to get a fair contract between all involved so that way people don’t suffer, us as football fans, and fans of good and right calls and the students in Chicago in the other case, there really can't be anything good for the kids to come of the teachers strike, can there be?  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 7

Hang on, strap in and get ready for a bumpy ride.  Working on the air I find myself thankful that the politicians spend money with us, filling up and selling out our air waves, but at the same time I am upset that the politicians are filling up our air with their BS lies, and the negative finger pointing ads, you know the ones I am talking about.  Who are these ads trying to sway?  Most of the people I have spoken with have already made up their mind, they have a politician in mind, a political party they like and are ready to vote on November 6^th.  60 long days till its over.  With Wisconsin being one of the battle ground states and La Crosse being close to 3 states, I am guessing we will get a few political bigwigs stopping in our fair city.  I am all for the national exposure, and for the politicians coming here, because it is beautiful, but there should be a rule of no spreading political BS when you are here.   The BS part is my job.    

Daily Dose of BS Sept 5

Do we have a drinking problem?  You’ve heard the old saying you drink, you get drunk,  you fall down no problem.  We have a couple of Universities in La Crosse and plenty of bars, mix young men and women getting away from home for the first time moving to a new city, coupled with cheap drinks, peer pressure, and you have a recipe for disaster.  We have had many young men end up dead in the river over the years and had a missing student in La Crosse this past Sunday into Monday.  A 22 year old from West Salem went missing for about 8 hours.  As a parent I could not imagine what kind of thoughts went through the parents head.  I am glad that this young man was found alive, but still drunk at 10:30 the next morning.   According to a news release from the La Crosse Police Department at least 7 patrol officers, 2 supervisors, 6 investigators, 2 deputies with k-9, and 8 firefighters were involved in the search, not only did this stunt cause his buddies to worry not to mention his parents but look at the labor costs associated with this.  I am all for going out for a few beers with some friends, but stay with your friends and get a designated driver.  By the way over the weekend La Crosse cops handed out over 50 citations for underage drinking.  

Daily Dose of BS August 31

I have never been a motorhead.  I have had cars, motorcycles, trucks and vans.  The reason I bring this up is that my car that I drive each and everyday I have had for about 5 years my Mom gave it to me because they got a new car and thought this car is on its last legs plus it got better gas mileage than my full sized van.  My Honda Accord has 341,660 miles on it, it starts right up, and moves right along, when my Mom and Step Dad owned it they did all the maintenance, when you were supposed to.   I really believe if you keep up on the maintenance it will keep your vehicles running to their full life.  I am only the second owner of this car.  My truck on the other hand has 203,000 miles and I believe to be on its last legs, which bums me out, I have had this truck for 7 years and my vehicle with the least miles is my full sized van with only 108,000 miles on it, but I can't afford to drive it with gas flirting with 4 bucks a gallon.  I think I could start the Schmidt junk car lot on the south side.  What has your favorite and least favorite car you have had?

Daily Dose of BS Aug 30

Facebook is an amazing beast, yesterday was my birthday and I had over 10% of my “friends” wish me Happy Birthday.  It is heartwarming that someone would take a few seconds out of their day to so that, for that I thank you.  It is funny about birthdays when you are a kid you can't wait for it and can hardly contain yourself with excitement when it comes to the gift time, when older I am not going to lie, I sometime forget how old I am, some days I feel as though I am in my 20’s others I feel in my 60’s I guess that is good that I am now 44 and right in the middle of where I feel.  This weekend is Labor Day weekend the last official weekend of the summer and the last bit of freedom for the public school kids of the area, here is hoping for a great safe weekend for you and yours and also a super learning filled year for the up and coming school year.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 29

As Brewer and Shiply sang about in the 70’s new research is showing that being one toke over the line as a teen is linked to later declines in your IQ.  I have heard the saying don’t be a dope by smoking dope, but now they are saying if you are a teen who routinely smoke marijuana you have a long term risk of having a dropping IQ, the researchers didn’t find the same for those who waited until they were older than 18 to become a frequent pot smoker.  I for one do not smoke pot but know many who do and have routinely thought why don’t they make it legal?  I believe that if we do that the government will get us out of debt or at least or at least on the path to being debt free, the way we could make and save money is through taxes, tax it at a higher rate of tax, in turn it would bring that money in.  The people who are in jail for smoking it would be free to become a productive member of society,(or as productive as a pot smoker can be) those that sell it would be able to focus their skills at selling to other illegal things, and end up in jail again anyway, as you can't save stupid. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 28

As a radio guy in a small market you are not going to get rich.  You can make an ok living but getting rich beyond your wildest dreams ain’t going to happen.  You know what I am ok with that, I made a choice and am happy with the choice that I have made.  I share my office with another guy here at work and I came across a coupon for something I was going to buy later in the week while I was reading the paper, I proceeded to rip the coupon out of the paper.  I got shot the what in the hell are you doing look, then the comment real men don’t use coupons talk.  I would have to disagree, I think that men that don’t use coupons are not the real men, isn’t it part of my job to add to my families wealth?  Add to the bottom line?  Make sure that the family has food on the table and to try to have extra money in the bank account at the end of the week?   Isn’t that part of what a man does?  Plus I am comfortable with who I am and ok with presenting a coupon, I questioned in return, asking what is wrong with it, and got the response at the it just isn’t what a man does.  Your thoughts?

Daily Dose of BS Aug 27

I hate late.  The fog this morning was horrible; I had a hard time seeing a half a block.  It was bad then good then bad again.  Driving blind is not good.  How safe do you suppose that is?  The one thing about the fog is that slows people down and makes them drive more defensively.  I didn’t even see a single phone out this morning and usually I see the glowing light of a phone in an oncoming car.  The slow down was taken to the extreme while driving through Onalaska, a semi was going 10 miles per hour, 10 miles per hour, it the driver crazy?  There are people that have to be somewhere, cause most people don’t just go driving at 4:45 in the morning.  I felt my blood actually getting warmer as I was stuck behind this person driving at a turtles pace.  I was glad when I got the chance to finally pass.  I was kind of surprised the after I passed that someone didn’t pull out in front of me off one of the side streets only to turn on the next street.  I guess when it is foggy people tend to slow down and pay attention.  

Daily Dose of BS August 24

Is it weird that when I was driving into work I was excited to get to work, not for the fact that I love my job which I do, but for the fact that we have a water cooler with ice cold water, and for some reason this morning I have been craving ice water.  While driving in I heard that Lance Armstrong has given up the fight to clear his name.  I do not get this, I always assumed that we as Americans are innocent until proven guilty, guess we are sometimes.  I got a call and a letter from the DMV about 5 or 6 years ago telling me I owed them money.   Huh are you kidding me what for, they said I way underpaid for a van that I bought, saying I underpaid by 6 thousand dollars and that I owed the taxes on the 6k and also a fine for lying.  I wrote a nice letter back to the state explaining how I got the van and kindly reminded them that I was innocent and that they needed to prove I did wrong, it was dropped.  I think that Lance Armstrong should be cleared for doping also, because he has had to jump through hoops and at every turn he has given up his fluids when ever asked.  Have I mentioned, I am glad to be at work.   

Daily Dose of BS Aug 23

I forgot my watch again, this seems to happen a few times a month.  I am addicted to my watch, not that I look at it lots but I miss it around my wrist, I get a constant wrist hug all day long.  My watch is one that my Mom gave to my Dad when we got his Masters Degree, they are divorced so my Dad gave me the watch.  I bet if you go back and read the Beloit College mindset list that wrist watches made the list long ago, my kids all have watches but never wear them.  Back to the mindset list, a list of things that incoming college freshman have always known.  Like there have always been blue M&M’s and that there are no tan ones.  There has never been a romper room, Starz has always been on Direct TV, Mr Burns replaced JR Ewing as the most shot at man in TV, history has always had their own channel, and the Lambeau Leap has always been.  See the complete list at http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2016/ 

Daily Dose of BS August 22

I hate moving.  Not standing up and moving my body from here to there but the act of packing up all my stuff into boxes and loading it into trucks, vans, cars and into the care of others to a new location.  I bring this up because there are no less than 5 houses within a block of where I live up for sale.  This I don’t get, if we as a whole don’t like change isn’t moving to a new location one of the biggest changes that you can make in your life.  I know that moving to La Crosse was the best move that I ever made, it happened just over 20 years ago.  I moved here to work for the Eagle radio station and have not looked back, when I first moved here it was my goal to get to the Twin Cites as a radio personality, I ended up falling in love with the area and built my life around La Crosse.   Since my move here, I have lived in two locations, I rented for a couple of years and been a home owner for over 17 years, 17 years in the same space, kind of weird I know but new walls have been built others tore down, colors, furniture and the feel has changed, and as I started this out, I hate moving.  

Daily Dose of BS August 21

Ever listened to someone talking, someone who should know better and scratch your head and say to yourself what the hell?   We all have been hearing about Congressman  Todd Akin, the Republican nominee for US Senate in Missouri who is running against Senator Claire McCaskill, and his opposition to abortion rights even in case of rape with a claim that victims of “legitimate rape” have unnamed biological defenses that prevent pregnancy.  HUH?  Did he ever take a science class?  Then claiming he misspoke.   The Republican party is now waiting for him to pull out of the race so that way they can point someone else to run against Senator McCaskill, McCaskill seems to be the only person who wants Akin to stay in the race.  What do you think?

Daily Dose of BS August 20

There are some basics that we need every day like food and sleep.  I get plenty of food because I can control that, but sleep is one thing that I don’t think I get enough of, I go to bed plenty early but of late have been having a harder time sleeping, from not being able to hit the bed sleeping like I used to, to waking up multiple times in each night and then not being able to fall back to sleep, because I have an active mind.  I have even tried to keep a pen and paper by the bed so when I get a life changing idea I can jot it down, well my penmanship is so poor when I am awake it is even worse when sleeping so I stopped doing that, so there is a tape recorder by the bed now, my voice sound lots deeper at 2am than it does when I am at work.  About 5 years ago I got a cpap machine and that has helped, but not as well lately, any advice for a better nights sleep?

Daily Dose of BS August 16

There are a lot of Americans who are not proud to be Americans, there are thousands who could care less about our Country.  People are out there bad talking us, burning flags, committing crimes and not giving a damn about a country that I and millions of others love.  These are people who were born here, raised here and have had the world handed to them, had the best of the best not because of what they did but what our forefathers have done.  There are natural born citizens who don’t care for America and could care less.  This ticks me off.  Then you look at some citizens who fight hard to be in America and bring their kids with them looking for a better life when they come to our country to be in the land of the free, home of the brave, yet they get looked down upon.  Correct me if I am wrong but don’t we all have our roots somewhere else if you go back far enough?  Yesterday was the first day of the Deferred Action Immigration Event, allowing thousands of young undocumented immigrants who want to be here, that want to work that have not been in trouble with the law, are in school, have graduated or have served in our military.  I guess if someone wants to be an American, and follow the rules, I welcome them with open arms.  For those of you who  don’t like it here or don’t want to be here, what is keeping you here? 

Daily Dose of BS August 15

Have you ever happened across any of the slight disappointments in life?  You know the disappointments that I am talking about right.  The ones such as pouring a bowl of frosted mini wheats and finding only a slight amount of frosting on the cereal?  You know what’s worse than that is getting the bowl of cereal ready have the hunger for the cereal then going to the fridge for the milk only to find out that there is either not enough milk for the cereal or worse yet pouring the milk taking the first bite of the cereal and having the milk be bad.  How about after enjoying a Chinese dinner and opening up your fortune cookie only to find you have been jipped out of a fortune?  I know that these are slight things to be upset about but there are many of these slight disappointments that add up to many disappointed people, how about when you finish up a job in the bathroom only to find that the person who was there before you didn’t replace the paper or maybe you’re out of soap or paper towels, not anything that will kill you but make for disappointments.  

Daily Dose of BS August 14

Today is an important day, don’t get me wrong every day is an important day, but today is extra special.  Today you could be part of the solution, you get to help choose many different elected seats from Congressional, to United States Senator federally to Legislative and State Senate, to Representatives to the Assembly, District Attorney and Clerk, Treasurer and Register of Deeds.  Voters may vote for candidates in the primary of ONLY ONE political party, if you do not designate a party preference and vote for candidates of more than one party then no votes will be counted, so please read the directions when going to the polls.  Voting takes only a few minutes, but the results are resounding.  The primary in my opinion is one of the most important votes you will make, since it is less attended than the main election meaning your vote really counts you also get to help to shape the election from a bigger pool.  Please get out and vote.

Daily Dose of BS August 13

 Last week was the first time I got to sleep in every single day for an entire week in over 2 years.  It was also I am assuming the last family vacation I will be taking with my entire family, my oldest goes for his senior year this year and already is growing wings.  I spent a few years in Scottsbluff Nebraska working in radio 20 years ago and would drive thru South Dakota to get home to the Twin Cities a few times a year and saw the signs for Wall Drug and The Worlds only Corn Palace and always just drove by.  On vacation I made sure we stopped at the above places and also many other roadside places.  We did the Corn Palace a week ago Sunday stayed at a great place off the Interstate at The Thunderbird Lodge, it was the first time I have ever stayed in a place with enough beds for the 6 of us.  What a great night’s sleep, plus it was close to the Corn Palace.  Next up was our trek across the state of South Dakota to Custer State park, stopping in the Badlands and if you have never been there, would greatly suggest it.  We were passing and getting passed by the bikers on their way to Sturgis, pretty sad that all the hotels and State Parks boosted their rates for the half million bikers and others coming into their state.  At Custer Park went on a Buffalo Safari and saw up close, close to 200 buffalos it was breath taking.  Off to the faces, and a pioneer dinner.  We then headed south to Scottsbluff to visit some friends we hadn’t seen in 20 years stopped at a restaurant we missed and then off to visit friends in North Platte Nebraska.  It is good to have friends, catching up and reliving the good old days.   

Daily Dose of BS August 2

The .9 isn’t fooling anyone, when gas is 3.64.9 why don’t they just say 3.65?  I am not fooled and most of the American public isn’t either, if that is the case why do it?  I guess that is why cars are 44,999 or other things are 1.99.  Why not make it 45 grand or 2 dollars.  The extra cent isn’t going to make or break anyone will it?  Wait let me take that back, we are getting nickel and dimed these days at the pump these days.  Gas prices are up again this week, we are up about 15 cents in the past couple weeks.  At 10 gallons that is a buck fifty every time you fill up, and if you thing back to about 14 years ago we had a bit of time when gas was 99.9 cents a gallon, my wages haven’t gone up 4 x in the past 14 years has yours?  In fact I think my wages have gone up .9% a year.

Daily Dose of BS August 1

All too often we get upset with service, either bad service for this or bad customer service for that.  We have all had our share of bad service.  If we get bad service we tend to complain under our breath and move one, only to return to that store to spend our money there again.  Kind of a sad commentary of us I think.  I am as guilty of it as the next guy.  When we get good service or even exceptional service when have we even said anything about it to the manager or whomever it was that gave us that service, I think in the back of our heads we expect that service every time we go somewhere right?  Unfortunately it isn’t the case; I so rarely receive superb service that when I do I say something, like thank you or you are doing a good job.  I went through the drive thru lane at Taco Johns last night on way to Logger game and blown away by the customer service that was given to me.  I had three contacts with the young lady working the drive thru, from the loud speaker to the purchase to the handing off of my food and each of contacts was better than the last.  I mentioned to her, thank you for doing your job well, for the positive attitude and for making it easy to be a customer.  I made an effort to save the receipt but must have tossed it, I think the name on the receipt said Chelsy but I may be mistaken, but whatever business ends up with this young lady working for them in the future, will be lucky.

Daily Dose of BS July 31

The James Holmes shootings in Aurora Colorado has brought up some interesting topics.  I believe that we all have the right to bear arms.  I feel that we should be able to conceal carry if we are properly trained.  I also think that guns are too easy to get.  Why would anyone other than a police officer or someone in the service need or even want a rapid fire semi or automatic gun.  If you are a hunter these take out the sport of the hunt and the only other reason I can see you having one is so that you can shoot something many, many times.  Why?  Also why do we need to buy 1000’s of bullets at a time?  Why can we buy them without ever having to see anyone, or register your bullets?  If you are buying over a certain amount of ammo don’t you think that it would be safer for us all if the person who bought massive amounts of ammo should have to register it somewhere, or at least see someone?  Don’t get me wrong, I think we should all have guns if we want but they should be registered legal guns.  If you’re not causing problems or plan on doing something illegal why would you care if your bullets are registered and why would you care if someone knows you have the bullets?

Daily Dose of BS July 30

The rabbits in La Crosse have been doing what is expected of them.  I don’t think I have ever seen more rabbits in my life as I have around my neighborhood.  I remember when I was a kid growing up in the Twin Cities, that my buddies and I tried catching rabbits with a box and some carrots, never having enough patience to wait until they actually jumped into the box so that the string could be pulled.  To be honest with you I don’t know what I would have done with the rabbit if I would have ever caught one.  The reason I bring these pesky four legged luck bringers up is that the luck on at least one ran out this morning, it was on the other side of the road and wasn’t moving, it didn’t move that is until I drove by then I am guessing the boredom of being a rabbit overtook the rabbit and he decided to play chicken with my tires, the car won.  Too bad that he chose my car to play it with, cause when it happened I felt bad, bad enough to think about it for more than a minute, bad enough to write about it and talk about it.  Ok, I’m over it now, but come on rabbits it’s not cool to play rabbit roulette with the four tires of a car, eventually you will tire.  

Daily Dose of BS July 27

We are going to be seeing the best of the best after the Olympic opening ceremony opens up the annual 4 year games tonight.  There has already been some controversy with the uniforms that the American Athletes will be wearing; in fact Harry Reid called for the burning of all uniforms and start over.  I don’t know about you but most of the clothing I am wearing unfortunately is made overseas.  I would more likely say lets burn the uniforms because they are ugly rather than that they are made overseas.  I am hoping for lots of positive stories to come from the Olympics, but as we know from prior years there competition sometimes brings out the worst of the worst.  Remember the Olympics from 18 years ago, if I say skating and Olympics what is your first image?  I think of Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, I was ok with their friendly rivalry but once the clubbing happened, come on.  This isn’t the only time that controversy has taken center stage at the Olympics either.  Let’s hope for more of the positive stories to come from the next couple of weeks as thousands of amateur athletes and hundreds of professional athletes take center stage, here is to good sportsmanship and positive outcomes.  

Daily Dose of BS July 26

Couple of things I am thinking about this morning there are so many times that we let things go, for example I have a piece of siding that got blown not off my garage but is not in the track and is about 16 feet off the ground this happened last March when the tornado went through my neighborhood, I see it once in a while, but it’s one of those things that doesn’t bother me, it’s on the honey do list but is not at the top and someday it will get done, most likely today since I am making a deal about it, but there are many things on that honey do list that just keep sitting there like, paint the door jamb in the basement or build shelves for the cabin I have a list that keeps growing.  I sometimes get to the list but more often than not, the list grows, and I am guessing that mine isn’t the only list to keep growing.  Do you have items on your list, if so what kind of items are on it?  The second thing that is on my mind is that I put together a lunch most nights so I don’t have to do it in the morning, I went to grab my lunch this morning and over half of it was eaten, thanks to my 17 year old son.  

Daily Dose of BS July 25

I really dislike the phrase No Worries.  It implies that I was going to worry about whatever it was that I said that made someone say not to worry.  To me that is very presumptuous of you to think I was worried about it to begin with I would have said something or I would have just worried about it but now I have the free pass of not worrying about it at all.  Well thank you, thank you  very much thank you for the free pass thank you for allowing me off the hook, thanks for the chance for me to have a free conscious.  Thanks for making me not think about what I did anymore, what if I wanted to worry, what if that was my main purpose in life at that moment.  I sometimes like to worry about things that may or may not have been I sometimes sit and think what if they would not have said no worries and then thought what if I did worry after they said not to, it is no wonder that I go through so many tums and rolaids and other antacids.  All this because someone offered me two words after I answered them an answer, the two words of no worries, is what started it all. 

Daily Dose of BS July 24

A six year old is among the 12 dead, I am sickened by the fact that this monster James Holmes went in guns blazing to a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises, last Friday in Aurora Colorado.  This is unacceptable, a travesty, a horrible chain of events.  I am not claiming to be a great parent, we all have our own situations that we have to deal with as a parent but I don’t think that I would have brought my 6 year old or my 4 year old to a movie at midnight.  Especially to The Dark Knight Rises, these movies are made for an older crowd; a crowd that understands what it going on.  I sometimes get questioned by my own kids when we are watching things if they are real (and they are older than six), and when you see things that are in the movies that are presented as real we sometimes get caught up in the “realness” events, then bringing your kids to a midnight showing which is way past the bed time of a typical 6 year old.  I am not trying to start anything with this especially with 71 people shot and 12 dead, but don’t you think that having kids at that young age in the movie theater is inappropriate.  I am angry, actually mad as hell that this happened, just like the rest of the nation but come on there is a reason that Bambi isn’t playing at midnight, it is not a movie show time for kids.   

Daily Dose of BS July 23

Be a tourist in your own community.  In the economy we are enduring and gas prices un the upward swing again I think we should look at the great things we have in our own back yard the things that we take for granted like the rivers, and lakes.  When was the last time you were out on the water here in our backyard?  How about the bluffs and the many miles of trails both on the bluffs and through the parks, I have been exploring these trails more in the past year than I did in the first 19 years that I have lived in Gods Country.  I also invite you to take in the great local shops in Downtown La Crosse or a short drive to the north there is the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, many different foods can be found here and you can't forget the salute to this that and the other thing, almost every single weekend we are blessed to live in an area that has fest fairs and fun weekly.  So look around and take in what is around and live life to its fullest.  And share what you have found, don’t just sit on that diamond, let everyone know.   The reason I bring this up is I was in Stevens Point over the weekend for a baseball tournament and when I told a few people I was going there, everyone mentioned to go to Belt’s for ice cream and when I posted on fb I was going to Stevens Point everyone there said go to Belt’s when someone says I am going to La Crosse what do you tell people to check out?

Daily Dose of BS July 20

When you are in line at the grocery store and you write a check, why would you not put the name of the store, the date, and your signature on the check while you are in line instead of waiting until the last possible second to do it?  I have been stuck behind people in the shortest line at the grocery store and 9 out of 10 times this will happen.  Why do the people writing the checks not use the debt card and why would they wait until the last second to fill in what could have been done earlier?  And why is it that these people who wait do not seem to have a care in the world that maybe just maybe this is why they are buying cat food for 10 and food for one.

Daily Dose of BS July 19

I got a new toilet at my house it is a 10 when it comes to the flush at least according to the flush scale, why in the world would anyone get anything less than the best when it comes to flush power?  Do you like to embarrass your guests by putting it as the guest bathroom toilet and see who comes out and asks for the plunger?  For my top of the line 10 flusher I paid under 200 bucks, 200 bucks for a piece of equipment that takes everyone’s ummm Schmidt.  The reason I bring this up is that the sound of the toilet is not a nice flushing sound of cascading waters gently flowing around the bowl but a hack if you will of trying to get something unstuck from the back of your throat, forcing the mess to its final resting place, the noise will wake the dog and the kids from a quiet nights sleep, scare the heck out of you the first time it happens and when you happen to be napping on the recliner in the other room.  It may be a low water user and it may be a 10 on the flush scale, but on a decibel scale it is deafening, so next time you flush one of the new toilets flush and plug, I better clarify flush and plug your ears.   

Daily Dose of BS July 18

Move over; don’t wait until the last possible second.  Where there is road construction there are going to be idiots.  I don’t get it.  You know that when there is road construction that you need to move over especially when there is construction that is ongoing like the Hwy 35 construction in Onalaska or the Losey Blvd construction in La Crosse, it should not come to a surprise to you that you are going to have to switch to either the right or left lane, you should know that.  Unless today is your first day in the city, or your first day driving, when you are the car that waits until the last possible second to merge how did that make you feel?   Did you feel like the b.m.o.c?  Was it a feeling of power?  Was it your winning moment of the day, if so I am sorry that your life is so boring that you need to put yourself and your passengers in harm’s way along the way putting my life in danger and in turn ticking me and everyone else behind me in a bad mood at least for a second.  Um if I am talking to you when was the last time that someone did that same thing to you?  Did it tick you off?  I bet it did and here you are doing the same thing, wonderful.  Have a pleasant day, and don’t let the idiots tick ya off. 

Daily Dose of BS July 17

If you listened to any radio over the weekend, you may have heard that the credit card companies are now going to allow stores to pass on the 3% usage fee to the customer.  Now correct me if I am wrong, isn’t that cost already being passed on to us as the cost of business?  I guess I can honestly say this right now that I for one will try not to spend my money with businesses that are adding the credit card fees to my bottom line.  I can say as of right now this is how I feel, but in the grand scheme of things, I hope that this fails miserably and falls back on the credit card companies and every business that implements this outrageous fee, unless of course they drop the fees straight across the board for all the prices at the store for people who pay cash.  I can say this now but will most likely it will be about as meaningful as a celebrity saying that they will move from the country if x is elected, I don’t recall anyone of these loud mouthed celebrities moving from the county.  If they did move would we miss them, most likely not but if we all complain about this, maybe just maybe we can make a difference.   

Daily Dose of BS July 16

Do we give in to our kids too much; are we taking too much crap from our kids?  Are the inmates running the asylum?  I see it at my house and at others around, when I misbehaved I got the look and if that didn’t work I got the threat of wait until your father gets home.  That was about all it took, I am sure I was a good kid, not like the many that are running all over their parents now.  I am not pointing fingers at least not too much but when was the last time you saw a kid ask either mom or dad for something heard the parent say no and then the kid turns on the tears, attitude, and anger only to have mom or dad give in to the kid.  It kind of makes me a bit mad to see this, because what is this teaching these kids, that if they have a fit they will get what they want.  I am sorry to burst your bubble kid but that is not going to work once you get in life.  In fact I am not against punishment for misbehaving, I am not saying beat your child or even raise your hand but what is wrong with a few days break from the tv, computer, gaming system or even a day or two off of spending time with friends.  I feel we need to get our lives back and it can start at home, getting respect from our kids.  It really does hurt to see a kid walk all over their care giver, parents do your kids and yourself a favor and take back the house. 

Daily Dose of BS July 13

Billboards are great reminders, the one that stands out the most to me is the one that ran a few years ago that said “Buzzed driving is Drunk Driving.”  I am not a stupid man and never really thought about it but it made sense to me.  It was a wake up call that made me realize just that.  Since that billboard came into my life, I have changed the way I drive, and when I will get into a car.  I lucked out and I am guessing that you may have also.  It was an easy and simple message but it hit home, the people who put that message followed it up with a few car crash billboards with the caption under each that said drunk driving and showing a smashed car and the same picture with the caption buzzed driving under it.  Bam wake up call.  As I said in a few moments ago, wasn’t something I even though of, so for the people who put up that campaign thank you for saving some lives.

Daily Dose of BS July 12

I know a guy who gave up his smart phone since he couldn’t not look at his phone while he was driving.  I think that if you know you can't not look, this is a smart thing to do.  I am not sure how many times throughout the day that I notice someone texting while driving, and it is both men and women, young and old.  I am often looking at my phone when I am stopped but have been tempted to look at it I am not going to lie.  I heard on the radio yesterday morning that there is new technology out there that will stop your phone from being able to text while driving but only if you are the driver.  I like this, I think that this kind of technology will be a good thing for our younger drivers and heck even the more seasoned drivers like myself who are tempted to look at the phone while driving.  The only thing is how does the phone know that you are the driver and not just a passenger.  I was making a phone call the other day from my phone in my car and the guy who was in the truck next to me laid on the horn, at first I was mad, but then realized that he assumed that I was texting, and I was still mad, but I got over it and understand why he was upset.  

Daily Dose of BS July 11

Are you as irritated as I am when you call a business to talk to someone and they come on with a recorded voice saying we are trying to make it easier on you by streamlining the process by automating?  I call BS I do not recall a single time in my life that the automated phone answerer has made my life or anyone’s life easier.  How can listening to an answering machine telling me to listen as our options have changed possibly make it easier for me to get my job done?  I called a huge business that every one of you have heard of the other day a number that I had memorized as I have talked to these people for many years, only to end up 7 minutes later still trying to navigate their stupid time saver, the only saver of time that was saved was the person on their end of the line answering the phone and putting me thru to the person that I wanted to talk to.  This reminds me of another Midwest business that has a generic number out there, and the listing for you to talk to this department push this etc and I thought I would beat the system and push zero to get the operator, guess what that just repeated the message and then I was on a mission to find the operator number so that I could voice my opinion on how I loved the system, it was a double digit number and when I hit it I was transferred to a full mail box and hung up on.  Needless to say I voiced my opinion next time I visited the store; the voice mail however is still the same.  Damn. 

Daily Dose of BS July 10

I had the most surreal week last week.  I always wanted to have a 3 hour long morning talk show, I have been doing radio for much of the past 25 years, and in that time I have had a 30 minute talk show for about 5 years and produced a talk show for over 15 years, and filled in for that talk show many times., but the past week was one of trial and error, more error than trial.  I learned a lot, for example you cannot walk in to a new situation thinking you are able to BS your way through an hour if someone was not available to talk.   I also learned that a billboard is huge, especially if your mug is on it.  It is so surreal to look at a 12 foot high mug shot on a billboard.   It is also weird to have people be totally blunt with you, for example someone said you are horrible on the radio and I am glad you got fired from your last job, another person told me I have the face for radio, I have also heard that I love your voice and I think you are funny.  I guess when you have a media job and you are in the public that you can expect the unexpected.  But when you are totally blunt with someone try to remember that we do have feelings, and maybe try to tone it down a bit, and I know I got the face for radio and the voice for newspaper.

Daily dose of BS July 9

We have all heard someone we know say I long for the good old days when things were much simpler.  Heck I bet that many of you have said it at a point or two in your lives.  Now correct me if I am wrong the good old days meant black and white tv, only am radio, no remotes, cell phones, microwaves, or dvd players and dvrs.  It also meant getting on your hands and knees to trim grass around the fences, washing dishes by hand and hours and hours of research done at the library.  I guess we all love having a hot and humid home especially after last week, and love to cut wood, and stack it only to be woke in the middle of the night to add wood to the fire.  And who can forget the ice cold outhouse seat at 2 in the morning with no lights.  I for one am glad that we have the modern conveniences, and for the every once in a while that I think otherwise, there is nothing stopping me from getting rid of the modern convenience that have made our lives easier and more productive.  If ya don’t like it try spending a day living in the past, winding up your record player, having your phone in your kitchen and having to open your garage door by yourself, oh yea remember men you have to wear a suit to work, with a fancy hat.

Daily Dose of BS July 5

Hot enough for you? I hate when people say that but have been finding myself saying it within the last few days. The temperatures around La Crosse have been unbearable and as I am getting older I am not as tolerant when it comes to heat and humidity. I was thinking that I have had the air on in my house for the past at least 10 days and maybe even longer. I even gave up going to my cabin on Tuesday night because there is no air there, also didn’t go to Riverfest Tuesday night because of the same thing. I did spend much of yesterday there and also will be walking a mile in her shoes for prevention of domestic violence tonight, come down to the fest grounds to cheer us on and to look at over 300 men wearing high heel. And when we are done doing the walk, I expect that the La Crosse Jaycees Beer tent will be full of men with high heels…the picture of that is just scary and disturbing. Daily Dose of BSweekday mornings on Today's Talk 1490 and weekday afternoons on Magic 105

Daily Dose of BS June 25

I have been in radio for most of my adult life; I have worked in many different formats meaning music genera over the past 24 years from top 40, to oldies, from active rock to talk and adult contemporary to country.  I have worked all shifts starting out overnights in Mason City Iowa, moved to Scottsbluff Nebraska and over the 2 ½ years there, worked all the shifts mornings, middays, afternoons and nights.  I have spent the last 20 years here in La Crosse Wisconsin.  Most of that time working in radio; one break I took ,the other was a layoff.  I have been with the La Crosse Radio group since about 6 months after my layoff, I have been here almost 3 years, working in news and doing the afternoon shift on Magic 105.  About 6 months ago I was asked if I wanted to help switch the format of Adult Standards 1490 WLFN to Today’s Talk 1490.  Would I?  It would be a dream come true, as working talk radio was always my favorite.  The dream is getting closer as I will be taking over the morning show calling it BS with Bob Schmidt, 6-9 Monday – Friday.  I have never been part of a format change before, and I am sure some will be upset, hopefully more will love it than hate it.  You know as a person with over half my life on the radio, I am surprisingly nervous as I type this out.  It is getting closer and closer by the day.  I am asking you to please join me when you can weekday mornings on Today’s Talk 1490 and then again weekday afternoons here on The Best Variety Magic 105.  And to all my team members at La Crosse Radio Group thank you for believing in me, I won't let you down.  Daily Dose of BS 

Daily Dose of BS June 22

I did not write this, I don’t know who did, I tried to find the original author, I couldn’t, but I liked it so am sharing it.  Me, behave/normal?  Seriously?  As a child I saw Tarzan almost naked, Cinderella arrived home after midnight, Pinocchio told lies, Aladdin was a thief, Batman drove over 200 miles an hour, Snow White lived in a house with 7 men, Popeye smoked a pipe and had tattoos, Pac Man ran around to digital music while eating pills that enhanced his performance, and Shaggy and Scooby were mystery solving hippies that always had the munchies. The fault is not mine!  Also don't forget that Elmer Fudd didn't practice gun safety.  Fred & Daphne used to head off alone together.  Captain Caveman was a throwback raging on 'roids.  There were like 99 Smurfs, but only one was female....and they lived in shrooms.  It's still unclear what George Jetson did for a living.  A dune buggy had a speech impediment.  And somehow the Harlem Globetrotters ended up in all of the cartoons mentioned.  Captain Kangaroo could see us thru the tv, there was sexual tension between Mr Skinner and Miss Krabapple , the Simpson kids always disrespected their parents, how am I to know any better. As I said I don’t know who originally wrote this, but thought I would share.  It’s just not my fault.

Daily Dose of BS June 21

Is it so bad to want to communicate when you go to the bar or to a restaurant?  It seems like bars and restaurants are trying to hide something by pumping the volume up in their establishments, is there a correlation between the volume of the jukebox, radio or tv in a place and the quality of the food, drink or service?  I haven’t found this to be the case, but  I have poor hearing and am getting older and like to sit and just BS when I go out, communications are the cornerstone of any relationship and if you don’t get a chance to talk when you are out, how do you build friendships?  No wonder the younger generation has a hard time communicating beside with short answers, the art of conversation will be lost forever if we don’t insist on quieter surroundings, I hate conversations that are interrupted with a huh, or a what because of the ambient noise.  And when you have to yell to talk to the person sitting right next to you, it probably isn’t good for the relationship.  

Daily Dose of BS June 20

My oldest turns 17 today.  In the past 17 years it has been amazing to see him grow into a responsible young man.  From his help around the house, to getting and holding a job through his junior year at Bions Service Station to lettering in golf, and getting a job this summer at Forest Hills.  Hayden has done this all while being on the Honor Roll every quarter of his High School Career.  As his dad I am so proud of this guy.  He has great friends, who all have high aspirations in life.  He is polite, caring and has a great scene of humor, he is also smart-alecky at times and people always throw at me where do you think he got that.  I don’t know, can you pick that up off a toilet seat somewhere?  I expect many great and exciting things for this young man.  I don’t mean for this to be embarrassing but I am so proud of him.  Hayden I hope you have a great birthday, and remember I always love you buddy.  

Daily Dose of BS June 19

Two words “thank you” not hard to say but often forgotten, don’t be that person that gets something and doesn’t say the two little words.  How hard is it to thank someone for what they have done for you?  I make a conscience effort to say thank you for everything from the waitress bringing me a glass of water to the person holding the door to the person that is doing their job right, because we all know that, that does not always happen.  (You know who I most often forget to say thank you to, my family, we often take our families for granted, and for that I am sorry.)   Another two words we tend to forget is I’m sorry.  How hard is it to say I’m sorry, it makes a huge difference as we go thru life, it is so easy to say and the repercussions of saying it are huge.  If you made a mistake admit it and move on don’t dwell on it, it will save you heartache later.  So to wrap up this BS thank you for listening and sorry if this topic didn’t sit well with you.

Daily Dose of BS June 18

So there we were, the seven thousand people who weathered the storm at FreedomFest 2012 getting ready for the 3^rd and final band Steve Miller who called himself Stevie Guitar, when Don Weber founder of FreedomFest got up to speak, to remind us again of the reason we were all at FreedomFest, it is for our Veterans, it was a celebration of life for those who made it home after their tours and a celebration of the lives of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives so that we have our freedoms.  This was the first FreedomFest that I have been a part of and am looking forward to enjoying it again next year.  From the moment that the Remainders took the stage, I knew it was going to be an electrifying night, with great music, and I was not disappointed from the cover and original songs from the Remainders to every single hit that Foreigner played to the bluesy renditions of the Steve Miller Band the music did not disappoint.  There was an hour break after Foreigner as the weather decided that the music was too hot and needed to be doused with buckets of rain, besides it being the world’s largest wet t-shirt contest I might add with no winners it was a great concert.  Back to Don Weber and his tribute to the Fallen Heroes, I listened to what he was saying and watched on the screen as Patriotic Music played and a slide show of the Brave Men and Women who lost their lives for our freedoms flashed by onscreen.  I was standing shoulder to shoulder to thousands as we watched and not a dry eye in the crowd, I guess I am not too big to cry.  

Daily Dose of BS June 15

I am lucky I had a dad to talk to when I was growing up and my dad continues to be my friend to this day.  There were times when we didn’t see eye to eye but I think that is the way it should be, you can't be a puppet of your parents or your boss or your spouse.  My parents were there for me when I needed them to be and surprisingly were absent when I needed my space.  That is the sign of a good parent I guess, it is what I try to do for my children.  What I am trying to say is that this Sunday is Father’s Day, a day for us to call or stop by and talk to our dads.  If your father is still alive, I invite you to give the old man a call and tell him what you think of him, even if you don’t see eye to eye, I would bet that he would like to hear what you have to say.  Dads are a rare breed that sometimes get overlooked especially with the dead beat dads that are out there, it is too bad that these so called donors were there for the fun but when it came time to step up and be a man, they didn’t, they took the low road, not fessing up to or helping out with and not being there for their kids.  We all have heard the stories of these people who want nothing to do with the child that they helped to create.  For you men that stepped up and take care of your children or help your loved one take care of her children, thank you for being there and being a man for your kids and step kids I wish you a happy father’s day.  And to my dad Bob Schmidt, I love you dad Happy Father’s Day, and thanks for being a man.

Daily Dose of BS June 14

I admit it I make mistakes each and every from typing this up to later reading it on the air.  I do and will make mistakes many throughout the day, I guarantee it.  The thing about the mistakes I make is you will hear them when I mess up on a word on the radio, or see them when I use the wrong word posting this on facebook, if not for the automatic spell check on my computer you would see many more mistakes than are showing now.  The reason I bring this up is when I mispronounce a name on the air, I will hear about it.  Names are for me the hardest to pronounce as sometimes, you look at a name like s-m-i-t-h and you say Smith, and nine times out of ten it will be pronounced that way, the person who got their name on the news however will pronounce s-m-i-t-h as Smyth.  And then feel the need to call you to tell you, that you said it wrong.  I want to say if you didn’t do wrong then your name wouldn’t have been pronounced wrong on the radio to begin with.  But I don’t.  Needless to say I do wrong on a regular basis, and if you have a problem with that, then I think it would be your issue as I admit I am wrong and am ok with who I am.  

Daily Dose of BS June 13

Have ya ever broken a mirror, how about, spilled salt, sneezed 3 times, opened an umbrella in the house?  I am guessing unless you have lived in a padded box you have done one or all of these supposed bringers of bad luck.  I had the ultimate BS happen last night, a bird dropped a big old load of BS on my head and shoulder.   If you are wondering what BS stands for in this case it stands for Bird Schmidt.  Right on my head and this isn’t the first time that this has happened to me.  I was riding my motorcycle on Father’s Day 1995, 3 days before my oldest was born when a bird let loose all over my head, face and glasses; thank goodness I was close to my destination.  I am in a long line of Schmidt’s that have been target practice for our winged friends, I remember when I was a kid my Dad told us of a day when he was watching his Dad take a nap on a hammock and Grandpa Schmidt slept with his mouth open, needless to say my Dad saw some awesome maneuvering from the bird and splat right into the open target, I guess Grandpa just moved his mouth a few times and didn’t wake, I asked Dad if he told him, he said no way.   Back to trying to clean up my little mess, I was at the Shelby ball diamonds last night to watch my daughters softball game and the only have the hand dryer there so I was grabbing toilet paper to help with the cleanup I might add that it only came off one sheet at a time, that’s a whole other Daily Dose.  I was able to clean up to the best of my ability, I am thankful that there is no smell.  BTW a great friend of mine told me that getting splattered on by a bird was good luck, yea good luck that cows don’t fly.   

Daily Dose of BS June 12

I have not turned on the air conditioning in my home yet, with shades drawn, and ceiling fans blowing I have avoided the closing up of the house at least for the time being.  It helps that over the 2 hottest weekends so far this year we were out of town.  I am guessing if we reach the expected high of 90 this weekend I will be breaking down and flipping on the air.   I grew up in a house where air wasn’t turned on until it was 100+ with 100 percent humidity.  I like to be comfortable so when the house gets too warm or too humid I turn it on.  Once the air is on for a couple of days for a stretch of heat, I usually leave the air on for an extra day just because, and then when I do finally turn off the air and open the windows it needs to be turned on again, I wish there was a magic home comfortable switch.  It is all about comfort I think, for all of us not just me, we all love comfort and hate it when we are uncomfortable.  We collectively prefer things to go our way and like it when we are not put out too much; I think it is just human nature.  Remember that being uncomfortable pushes you into greatness, that being uncomfortable has brought forth many of the best inventions.  

Daily Dose of BS June 11

Ever have one of those weekends that you couldn’t wait to get back to work? I have had them as well, this past weekend sure wasn’t one of them. The 11th annual Algoma Fishing weekend brought in 3 new faces, two of my boys and a hockey dad joined the usual gang from La Crosse, Milwaukee and St. Louis, Missouri. Friendships have blossomed over the years and not only is it a great time fishing but also a so called brotherhood where many jokes, and one-liners are shared over a cast and a beer. This year no different in fact a few baahd pranks have been pulled on a few of the guys. The guys from Fishin Magician Charters took great care of the gang again this year as we got a total of 24 salmon between the groups and no shortage of fish stories and camaraderie among the fisherman. It was great for me to spend time with my boys and allow them to blossom into young men, and just as great to grow and make new friends. If you are looking for a get away from your regular life and want to spend some time fishing a great lake, I would suggest a trip to Algoma Wisconsin fisherman’s paradise and a trip with family and good friends both old and new. And for the newbies, maybe remember the Dramamine. Daily Dose of BS weekday afternoons on Magic 105 and soon on 1490

Daily Dose of BS June 7

Pick up after yourself.  Don’t throw your cigarette butts on the ground.  Use the trash receptacles, separate your recyclables.  The world is not your garbage can.  I feel like the Dad here, but pick up your crap.  I am sick and tired of going to the park and seeing some rude inconsiderate person leave their garbage on the picnic tables, and by the swing sets and on the walking trails, how about the person that almost made the garbage can, and splattered their mess all over the side of the can, come on how hard is it to make it in the reciprocal it seems like it was more effort to miss the can.  Also the world is not your ashtray.  Do not flick your butts on the ground.  And you who leave your kids dirty diapers in the parking lot, I hope that someone accidently fills your car with crap, but then you probably won't notice it.  

Daily Dose of BS June 6

Voters turned out in droves, I made it to the polling place yesterday at about noon and it took me a whole 7 minutes to get a parking spot, walk in to the polling place, get directed to my ward number from the check in person, stand in my ward line to sign and get my ballot, cast my vote, talk to a couple of neighbors and go home, 7 minutes out of my day, I waste more time everyday during my work day than that.  If your excuse for not voting was you don’t have the time, it is not a big time issue, and your boss has to let you have time off to vote, so in the next election, please vote.  So now that the recall is done and over with, time to start campaigning for the next election, you didn’t think that it was over did you?  If the results were not what you wanted are you prepared for a recall of the recall?  I am not sure I get the whole recall idea anyway.  I thought if you vote for a candidate and you are not happy with their performance that you try harder next election to get your candidate in.  I am also not extremely happy with all the negative ads.  I am sure we all have things in our past that we would not like to come up, why re-hash these candidates past with things that they did 40 years ago, let’s focus on what have they done lately, what ever happened to live and let live and forgive and forget?  For those of you that got out and voted yesterday, pat yourself on the back for doing your duty.  For those that didn’t, and are not happy with the outcome, you could be the reason that the election turned out the way it did.   

Daily Dose of BS June 5

If you are in Wisconsin and are not a convicted felon today you need to vote. Polls are open until 8 tonight and they are expecting a huge turnout. Well 60-70% the other 30-40% can't be bothered. I was trying to think of what reasons you would not go out and vote, if someone you love has passed away in the past few days, if you were in an accident on the way to the polling place, if your kid, parent, loved one got hurt, you died. I really cannot think of any other good reason for you not getting to the polling place. If you are on vacation and didn’t vote, you could have voted with an absentee ballot. Get it, this is important, you need to vote. Make a difference be heard, please vote.