Daily Dose of BS Sept 11

We will never forget.  We will never forget.  How often have we heard those words, how often do we reflect on what it is that we will never forget?  I think that with each passing day we tend to forget a bit more about what happened on that Morning of September 11, 2001.  Here it is 13 years since that day, at first we were all patriotic then as the calendar pages turned the patriotism waved and today we are back to the complacent ways that we had prior to September 11.  I think on this day we should reflect and think about the freedoms we have as Americans and not about the hassles that we now have to go through to keep ourselves safe since that day.  September 11th will always be a day of remembrance, and a day of reflection for me.  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 9 NFL

It is never ever, ever, ever ok to hit a woman.  Ever!  I think that the NLF finally got it right by indefinitely suspending Ray Rice from the game.  When I first heard that Rice was suspended for two games for knocking out his then girlfriend I was appalled at the NFL.  A man should never hit a woman and this man is a professional athlete so he works out for a living.  The NFL should have jumped on at least a full year at least suspension to begin with, then went from there.  I feel often that the professional athletes and those that are famous live by different rules than the rest of us.  People often want to be around those that are famous and tend to look the other way too often, I think that that the famous need to be held to a higher set of standards than us common fold.  Way to go NFL but it is a bit late, it feels like you caved to the pressure.  Remember it is never ok to hit a woman or a man.  Let’s stop domestic violence. 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 8 parking

I just got back from vacation.  I had both the big city and the quiet not bothered by anything vacation.  I started off in Chicago for a few days of sightseeing and over paying for parking, I then went to my favorite place in the whole world my cabin, in the middle of nowhere, no running water but peaceful, got a lot of work done, ah but back to reality.  When in LaCrosse you take parking for granted, you want to park by a store you go in you shop you leave, maybe just maybe you pay a few cents for parking.  In Chicago you see where you want to go you see a parking garage, it is either full or priced right out of your budget.  I saw a few places that had 20 dollars an hour for parking, 20 dollars.  I am happy to live in my small town where I only get charged for parking if I am in the lot for over 2 hours then what is it 50 cents an hour?   For parking we have it pretty easy in LaCrosse.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 28 Labor Day Travel

Over 34 million people will be traveling this weekend according to AAA.  I don’t get it, why travel on a holiday weekend especially when we live in God’s Country.  In my mind since we are living in the upper Midwest we are lucky, there are 4 seasons, bluff or coulees, trees, grass, rivers and lakes.  I think we have it all, including high taxes but that is a different topic.  I can understand when people from other parts of the country travel to here, but for us to go elsewhere on a holiday weekend, that is crazy, as everyone is on the road, as I mentioned earlier 34 million people are going to be on the road, I can’t imagine having to deal with idiot drivers from not only here but from across the states rushing to get to their cabin or lake home faster than everyone else, going that extra 15 mph to add an extra hour of drinking time.  If you are one of the millions on the road this weekend please travel safe, slow it down and enjoy what you got.  And if you’re a kid that starts school on Tuesday enjoy your last few days of freedom. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 29 birthday

The more things change the more that they stay the same.  Today marks the beginning of my 47 year on earth.  I am now 46 years old, it has been 7 years since I smoked a cigarette, 19 years since I have become a father, 26 since I have been on my own and 28 since I have been in high school.  Age to me is a state of mind as when you are young you think that 40 is old and now I have many friends who are 50 and even 60 years old.  I saw the Beloit College mindset list, the list that shows what todays college freshmen have known as fact.  I was surprised by what these kids know as fact.  Students heading into their first year of college this year were generally born in 1996. Things that this group of college freshmen know  “Press pound” on the phone is now translated as “hit hashtag.”,  The water cooler is no longer the workplace social center; it’s the place to fill your water bottle. “Good feedback” means getting 30 likes on your last Facebook post in a single afternoon.  Their collection of U.S. quarters has always celebrated the individual states.  I don’t know if things are better or worse off now-a-days but I am interested to see what happens to the world in my next 46 years.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 27 words

Words are important they can make you stop or go, laugh or cry.  Words are what we speak and what we understand.  George Carlin once had a bit of the words you can’t say on television and for the most part I agree with that.  I do find myself saying words on that list too often.  Even though words are powerful they still are only words and we have to power to be offended or to not be offended by what people say.  I think that words have cut deep for most of us but the way we choose to react is what makes us who we are.  Some go over the top to try to prove what you said was wrong or at least partly wrong, some blow it off others try to out talk you or get you to dig yourself into a hole however you respond to words, good for you.  Because after all they are the we communicate.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 25 breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I am a big fan of it and breakfast foods in general.  I have been eating yogurt most weekdays since the beginning of the year and it has made a difference I am down about 25 pounds.  As I mentioned I like a good breakfast and will wander out on weekends to try new and bigger better breakfasts but then back to the healthy yogurt during the week.  If you live in La Crosse you know about the Unk’s mess at Marge’s on Rose it is about five pounds of potatoes with ham, onions, peppers and eggs, enough for a family, and I have fed the family on it.  In Mindoro there is Top Dawg and their Dawg Pile, which is very similar to what they have in the Unk’s Mess.  In Algoma Wisconsin they have a Hash Brown Sandwich at Dean’s Dairy inn.  Yesterday my buddy Tom and I road tripped to Pork’s Bar in Desoto Wisconsin for me to attempt the Pork’s Challenge it consisted of a pancake, four pieces of Texas Toast, 5 biscuits,  4 sausage links, 4 eggs, American Fries, and all smothered in sausage gravy.  I finished about a quarter of it before I tossed in the towel.  Where is your favorite big breakfast?  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 26 Burger King

Does having Burger King talking about moving to Canada make you not want to shop there?  I was thinking about this over the past 24 hours, as a not so often burger fast food eater I came to the conclusion that if Burger King moves its headquarters and in return their corporate tax base to Canada I will no longer shop there.  Not that my few bucks a year will make a difference but every dollar counts, right?  I heard of some other companies are doing this as well like a drug company from the twin cities that was looking to do the same thing.  We as a country are working to heal and to see businesses want to pull out and move to another country is counterproductive.  If they are still working on keeping their brand strong in America I think that they should re-think this decision.   I am betting I am not the only red blooded American to think this. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 21 internet

It is amazing how much we use internet technology in such an old school job.  Our national programming on our talk radio station comes over the internet, all five of our radio stations get special programming and commercials sent over the internet.  News, sports, weather and more - all internet.  So when our internet goes down here there are issues, I also believe that some of our phones are internet based also.  Its kinda scary that when internet is down our show prep goes down also, plus when the internet goes down we can’t check emails, or go on facebook.  Plus how are we supposed to watch cat videos?

Daily Dose of BS Aug 20 Ferguson

Ferguson Missouri is in the national media yet again today.   This protesting is continuing and is reminiscent to me of the Rodney King riots.   I am not sure I get the mob mentality that is going on here; I think that I am getting to old.  When I am unhappy something I work to try to fix the problem not to add to the problem by rioting and pillaging.  I guess I am lucky that I have a soap box to stand on to share my opinions, to share my ideas and thoughts.  Oh wait we all do it is called social media, more specifically facebook and twitter.  Let’s work on starting to mend what ails us and stop trying to drive that wedge deeper than it already is.  In the words of Rodney King, can’t we all just get along?  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 19 payday

I heard this morning that payday is a killer of the 18-35 year old age group.  I tried finding that story to grab info for my daily dose but couldn’t find anything.  Weird I thought immediately about drugs and alcohol but it also said that more young people used payday for more life experiences.  I have always hated payday, don’t get me wrong I like money but I hate the day, cause it shows or actually is written proof that you are not making enough.  Plus I hate going to the bank.   

Daily Dose of BS Aug 18 vote

I read over the weekend that they are now looking into “paying” people to vote.  I am not against it.  With our primary election last week and the low turnout kind of bums me out.  I read that in Los Angeles that they are offering up cash and prizes for those who took the time to vote.  I like it.  Why not offer up a discount on taxes or property tax relief if you show up to vote.  I bet that people would vote for a deal like that.  We need to do something to get people out and to get them to the polls.  What do you think?

Daily Dose of BS Aug 15 credit cards

I feel violated.  I went to my post office box to pick up mail for my business, in the mail was my visa bill, I have my usual charges, internet, phone, domain names, a few business lunches and a charge for Google and Youtube for an advertising campaign.  Huh?  I use Google as everyone does as a free service, I called my Visa company and talked to a nice lady in Florida, it was raining there yesterday.  I got put over to their fraud department, ya gotta love the music on hold in 2014 it was just noise, no song I have ever heard before with interruptions from a poorly recorded voice telling me to fax my info in.  Who has a fax machine anymore didn’t they go the way of the countertop answering machine or the VCR?  When the dispute people finally answered the phone 25 minutes later they were helpful but if they are that busy because of people filing claims of inappropriate charges don’t you think that they would add more operators?   I hope that I get a positive solution on this, and hope that whomever is hacking in and using others credit cards knows what a hassle this is.  My suggestion is to check and double check your billing statements. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 14 flat tire

When driving into work this morning I heard a noise that I wasn’t used to hearing.  It was grinding and was coming from the back, I was about a mile from work so I continued on, after all it is dark at 5am.  I pulled into the radio station parking lot walked around the back of my car and low and behold I have a flat tire.  I could have swore and carried on but am not going to let this bother or bring me down.  I used to think why me and wtf, but as I am getting older and looking at all that goes on around me I realize that a flat tire every once in a while puts life into perspective, I mean there are people out there, people in my town that can’t afford a car or can’t put food on the table or make ends meet.  Here I have a flat tire on my way to work, meaning I have a car and a job and place where I call home.  If the tire is the worst problem that I have today I would chalk today up to a fantastic day.  I figure that life is all about perspective and how you perceive your problems and deal with the issues that come up daily is how your life will go.  Embrace the day, as it is a gift.  

Daily Dose of BS August 13 stuff

They say 15 percent showed up yesterday to vote, I bet it was less than that.  I went at 6 last night and was voter 54.  At 6 pm I was voter number 54 that is ridicules.  I don’t get it.  I see on that after the latest open meeting to talk about the library that they are now talking about keeping full hours at the library, for the next year because of carryover funds and no health care cost hike.  Ok it is good for this year; let’s come up with a long term plan so we are not talking closing the library every year.  I got some exercise equipment for my radio studio, I got a stability ball, a 70 pound stretch band and have some dumbbells that I have been using for the past few months.  Does anyone have any small area exercises that they could share?

Daily Dose of BS Aug 12 Robin Williams

Today is primary Election Day.  Please vote.  When I saw it posted on facebook that Robin Williams was dead I quickly searched online to see if it was verified.  It is sad that once you make it there are many out there that want to spoof your death, we have seen it with many celebrities.  When I was in high school one of my buddies had a girl friend who committed suicide and I saw the pain first hand from the pain that he went through.  Fast forward many years and one of my wives coworkers’ ex-husband took his own life.  A few years after that brought the death of Kurt Cobain and my Uncle Kenny who was a really good friend of mine while growing up took his own life, that one was the hardest for me.  In the suspected suicide of Robin Williams we can all see that even though you have a smile on your face and a gleam in your eye that there can be pain in your soul.  Today reach out to a friend that you haven’t talked to in a while, or forgive an injustice just because life is too short.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 11 today

I had a heated conversation with my Dad yesterday about life in 2014.  He was saying that life was better in the 50’s.  See he just celebrated his 70^th birthday and I feel as though he was feeling nostalgic.  He was saying that people now a days don’t have meals together that everyone is in such a hurry to get nowhere.  I had to disagree and point out that we have meals as a family and it was something that was taught to me by him and my Mom.  Also brought up was the fact that life moves so fast and that people are not doing things like they used to.  I pointed out that if we continually thought the same that nothing would be solved that new inventions that we use every day for life and living would not have been invented if not for people thinking outside the box, that if we all thought the same we would be stagnant and everyone would think the same thing, how lame would that be?  In your opinion is life better now or when you were a kid?  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 8 passwords

Long gone are the days when you can use the word password as your password.  In fact they are now suggesting that we use 12 characters to keep our things safe, using symbols and numbers and caps.  As we are moving toward a more paperless society I think that there are going to be more and more crooks out there trying to steal our passwords and trying to get into our accounts.  I heard on the national news this morning that the big email guys google and yahoo are now working on making it more difficult for hackers to read your emails.  That is all well and good but isn’t that a little too little a little too late?  I am sick and tired of having to change my passwords then get an email from the company that I just changed it to say we are sorry but we have been compromised, this has happened at least 3x in the past year.   Are there any solutions?  Do you have any tricks to make these 12 digit passwords more memorable?  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 7 primary election

I bet you didn’t know that there is an election coming up next Tuesday.  I think that this election is more important than many of the elections that are coming up, you know why?  Because your vote matters more so with this next election because this election is the primary and the primary is important because it sets the stage for the next big election.  For those of you that didn’t know every vote counts, and especially at this August 12^th primary, it’s because the winner of this election gets to go on to run for next election, in November.  The day after this election,  August 13^th I am guessing we will be hearing lots and lots of the pac ads, Political Action Committee commercials as they don’t have to really follow any rules.  Anyway please take time out of your schedule this coming Tuesday, please schedule it now so that way you can exercise your right as an American and vote. 

Daily Dose of BS August 6 South Side Library

Over 200 people packed the South Side Library to show our support for keeping the library open.  I only heard one person who spoke out against it.  I very much dislike getting up in front of a group, but I got up and asked what about the South Side?  What happens to the kids and community when this branch closes?  I felt myself getting emotional as I explained why I even looked at buying my house 19 years ago it was because of the library being there, information for the taking.  Our little South Side Library has charm, charisma, and is breathing of life.  Following the library meeting was the National Night Out get together and the neighborhood picnic that took place had many from the neighborhood enjoying each others company.  One of the proposed solutions for keeping our library open is have it open 2-6 every weekday, what about families who work a 9-5 how are they to enjoy what the library has to offer?  Also if this neighborhood library goes down to a part time library won’t this library and the whole library system take a hit as many great librarian candidates would want full time work and would look elsewhere?

Daily Dose of BS Aug 5 smoke detectors

I feel like the Grinch and no not because I am crabby, I feel like the Grinch because of the NOISE, NOISE, NOISE.  I fell asleep last night like always, off sawing z’s then it happened the unpredictable beep from the smoke detectors, the beep to tell you that you need a new battery, the beep that can’t be timed, so if you try to ignore it, you can’t.  Ignoring it can not be done, beep,  trust me I have tried and last night I gave it a good effort.  We have three smoke detectors relatively close in proximity because of where the rooms fall and the top of the stairs hallway, so imagine a half asleep groggy Bob, beep, trying to diagnose the problem while in bed, with no hope, pop on the glasses and proceed to stand under the one in the bedroom, beep, ok not that one, flip on the daughters light oops, woke her up, beep, not that one either, it has to be the hallway detector beep again while under it.  Off to find a chair or something to stand on in the middle of the night without having to downstairs, flip on a few other lights, wake up the rest of the family get a chair take out the battery and ahh quiet, back to sleep for Bob.  I wonder if the rest of the family got back to bed? 

Daily Dose of BS August 1 headlines

How often do you click on a stories headline just to read what it is?  I do all the time, if you see the quizzes posted on fb do you click and take the test?  I also do that.  I find that it is a good release from what I am doing like spending time with my family or watching tv.  I didn’t realize that I spend so much time on my phone until I found myself up by myself with everyone else in bed with me taking a test.  I hate tests, always have I guess until now.  It must be my competitive noncompetitive streak coming out.  It’s a streak I really don’t care for.  Are you drawn to these types of tests?  I know I talked about reusing things earlier this week but I am excited about the new restore going in next to the La Crosse County Dump site.  It will be lots bigger and will have more to offer.  Have a super weekend. 

Daily Dose of BS July 31 status quo

How would you like the national media to ask questions of almost everyone that you ever talked to, and have those questions be super personal?  How about every decision that you have ever made in your life be scrutinized and gone over with a fine tooth comb?  Or have no anonymity for the rest of your life?  Have your life in danger every time you go somewhere, or have to worry about the crazies?  All for $400,000 per year I don’t think so.  I don’t know why anyone would want the job of being President of the United States of America.  I just heard on the radio this morning that now the Speaker of the House is suing the President because he was doing his job.  The reason for suing rather than ask for an impeachment is because they think they will have a better chance of winning.  What about us Americans when are we going to win, when there is politicking in DC there is unrest, when there is unrest there is fighting and when there is fighting there is nothing getting done, when there is nothing getting done I guess that is status quo in Washington DC.  Lets stop the fighting.  And lets get things done.

Daily Dose of BS July 30 call back

What is the proper time to return a message?  Is it different for personal rather than professional?  I try to return messages within the next day part, or at least by the next day.  I dislike when I leave either a voice mail message or an email or a text to someone and I don’t hear back from them.  As I am writing this I feel as though I should clarify if it is someone who I am reaching out to for the first time, or someone I am trying to book as a guest on my show, I am ok with them not getting back to me right away but if it is a friend, or a family member I do wish for a return in the communication as soon as possible.  Unless they can’t or there is something wrong.  I tend to have an active imagination and when I don’t hear back from a loved one I tend to awfulize what has happened to them when they don’t call back, and no one likes to picture a friend upside down in a ditch.  

Daily Dose of BS July 29 waste

My mom would always say waste not want not.  I have been a believer of this for most my life as I think that we waste too much stuff as Americans.  Look at anyone’s pile on garbage day.  We throw away everything.  I drove by my neighbors the other day and they were throwing away an old waterbed set.  I took the drawers to make bed frames for the family cabin.  It often bugs me at what gets thrown away as there are many people in need that could use much of what is tossed.  I know when the big push for everyone to start using the flat screen tvs that many perfectly good tvs were placed out in the alleys and boulevards.  It really bugs me when bikes get thrown away and the scrappers grab them, I could name 3 kids right now that could use a bike.  And when it comes to food we throw away tons.  What can be done about this problem?

Daily Dose of BS July 28 brothers

I got to hang out with my brothers over the weekend.  It is funny we talked about mostly just stuff from when we were kids, no real life changing stuff but enough to make us laugh most of the night.  I don’t get the chance to just hang out with my brothers very often, in fact I think this was the first time that the three of us have hung out without anyone else probably since we were kids.  There usually is a spouse or kid or friend also in the mix.  We didn’t solve any world issues but we didn’t cause any either, we just kicked back and BS’ed.  Sunday morning brought our Dad into the mix he brought over a bottle of Sunny Brook that used to be his fathers, Grandpa Schmidt has been gone for over 25 years and toasted his life and our lives, and talked smack,  it is good to have family.  Best line of the weekend is when my youngest brother said it sure is great to figure out what to do when there are three type A personalities in the room.  

Daily Dose of BS July 25 media race

In the race to be the first to report on something is the media airing info that shouldn’t be aired?  Yesterday there was a horrific accident on I-90 where there was a fatality it was all over the media, including this radio station.  We reported what had happened and painted the picture as radio can.  On facebook there were photos of the crash site, and the smoke and fire the engulfed the area.  Our local tv stations had crews on the scene shortly after it happened reporting what had happened and today the newspaper has the pictures on the front page of the paper, are we thinking of the families when something like this happens?   Or in our rush to get the news or big story out first we overlook the people involved?  As I look at those pictures as a father and can’t help but to wonder what if that was my child, or a loved one, or someone that was my best friend and I saw it somewhere in the media or heard about it from an acquaintance that happened.   It makes me wonder if in our race to the top if we are on a race to the bottom?  

Daily Dose of BS July 24 drugs

I see we have mobile meth labs now in La Crosse, not that they are new to the area but are now more brought to the forefront of attention with the arrest earlier this week.  I had a chance to talk with the Police Chief about this on the air yesterday and am angered that we as tax payers have to pay for the cleanup from the chemical mess that these drugs cause.  If a drug manufacturer is making their meth in a hotel room or any enclosed space it costs thousands of dollars to clean that room afterward because of the chemicals and the health hazards that it cost to fix.  How do we stop the drugs?  Since I am talking about drugs I have a question about the Len Bias law, if it states that if someone dies because of drugs you gave to them, you get charged with murder why wouldn’t it also have in there if a person you gave drugs to who almost died that you get charged with attempted murder?

Daily Dose of BS Jule 23 customer service

What ever happened to customer service?  I went into a well-known business and waited 25 minutes before anyone from the business even said hello.  As a consumer it is annoying to go to a place that you spend hundreds of dollars a month just to have their service, and have them offer you no hello.  The deals that these businesses put out are for new consumers if you read their small print, what about keeping a long time customer happy and keeping them as a lifelong customer?  I think that this category of business needs to learn customer service, since the majority of us use their services.  I would also bet that this category of business would have the worst of customer service records in the industry.  Which businesses do you think have the worst of customer service and what should they do to fix this problem?  

Daily Dose of BS July 22 air conditioning

I broke down yesterday and turned on the air.  I had only had it on one other day this year but with the heat and the humidity it was time.  When growing up in Roseville, Minnesota we had central air, however I can only recall a handful of days that the air got turned on at the Schmidt house, if we were hot we could go in the basement, it was always cooler down there and there was a ping pong table and a tv.  Fast forward 25 years and I can hear my Dad coming out of me, if you are hot you can go down stairs to watch tv or ride your bike over to the pool.  Anyway I broke down and closed up the house, shut the shades and set the air to 78.  It is still much cooler than outside and with the fans on it isn’t bad and if I need it cooler I can always go downstairs to watch tv, or go to the frozen foods isle at the grocery store.  

Daily Dose of BS July 21 checks

A friend of mine posted on facebook yesterday that she was stuck behind someone writing a check.  And then continued to ask who still uses checks.  The check book comes out when paying bills but when it comes to purchasing things in stores I tend to either use my debit card or credit card that way I have proof that I bought it.  There have been many times that I misplace or loose a receipt and want to return it, so for me using a card works for my purchases.  Are you still a check writer or are you using plastic or cash to make your purchases?  And do you think that it is bad to write checks?

Daily Dose of BS July 18 KISS

Kiss is my favorite band.  I have liked them since the first time I heard Beth.  In fact I remember in 4^th grade Mr Gray had a Beth 45 and I won it somehow.  I don’t remember how but it was mine all mine.  When I first started off in radio I got the chance to meet the band as an intern at Hot Rockin 104 in Minneapolis.  It was a dream come true, I got to hang out in the same room as Paul Stanley.  I later got to go back stage at the show with my buddy Jason, who was wearing leather pants, it was the 80’s after all, and Gene Simmons said to him cool pants, Jason started to tell him about the pants Gene just said I didn’t ask for the story but thought they were cool.  I later got to meet some other bands, lots of authors, and politicians, and a sitting president, but my memory of meeting Kiss will always rank up toward the top.  Who have you met?  

Daily Dose of BS July 17 lights

The light at Market and West needs to be fixed.  Almost every morning it is red and there are no cars around.  Why not turn it to flash yellow, or weight it like some of the others around there but to have the light cycle through at 5 in the morning is ridiculous.  Who should I contact?  What stink do I need to make, should I picket?  If I do are you in?  My Mom and Step Dad were down from the cities to watch the kids play ball and yesterday we had a game at Trempealeau so we stopped to eat at the Trempealeau Hotel, I have never been there before, but it was funny first person I saw when I walked in was my buddy Todd, then later in the evening I ran into Lisa.  I like to try new things when at a new place and heard of the walnut burger at the Trempealeau Hotel, I tried it with the potato wedges, and washed it down with a New Glarus Moon Man.  What a great night, btw my daughters softball team won.  

Daily Dose of BS July 16 library

How much does the location of a library or a school play into where you live?  Is it really all about location, location, location when you do buy a house?  I specifically bought my house on the south side of La Crosse because it was located close to a library.  When I grew up in Roseville Minnesota we lived about a block from the local library and I was there often, it was in the late 70’s and early 80’s a place to go that was safe, a place for meeting friends and a place for information and I have always craved information.  When I was looking to buy a house in La Crosse I was looking for that as well, I knew I wanted kids and wanted them to have the same opportunity that I had growing up living close to a library.  About a year ago there was talk about closing my south side library and I see that it got a reprieve of a year.  This reprieve includes less hours and no weekend hours.  I guess I will take it but isn’t there a better solution?  

Daily Dose of BS July 15 comic books

If you were like me when you were a kid and didn’t really like reading but read cause you had to then today will be a sad day for you.  I remember buying a box of old comics at a garage sale it was jammed full of old Archie comics, there were Garfield and old Snoopy comic books in the box, also old Ripley’s Believe it or Not and lots of Guinness Book of World Records, it was a non-readers dream come true, I could pretend to be looking at the pictures and really read what was going on with the characters.  That box was my entry into reading, and into facts as I read and reread the Guinness and the Ripley’s I also enjoyed the antics of the gang from Riverdale, I read this morning with sadness that they have killed off Archie.  What has the world become when a non-violent comic book hero is killed?  

Daily Dose of BS July 14 police

As a home owner I enjoy seeing the cops roam the neighborhoods.  But as a driver, I do not. I saw three police cars this morning and a sheriff’s car on my way into work.  In fact one of the cop cars was sitting at the end of my alley as I was turning out he did a y turn and ended up following me, he was on my tail for over a mile on three different streets, even though I was doing nothing wrong I had the feeling I was going to be pulled over, I wasn’t.  I really dislike when a cop is driving behind you cause you feel like any little deviation of the norm the light will be flipped on.  Ever wish you had ticket writing ability?  I often do, it is funny when you are minding your own business, any witnessing some stupid blatant disregard of the law there is never a police officer to see, and you want to step in to write it up.  I know I would like to write up a few tickets but would certainly never like to be a cop.  If you could write a ticket what would it be for?  

Daily Dose of BS July 11 gas

It just hit me that the summer for kids is just about half way done.  Have you done anything yet this summer to write home about?  There have been the local fests like Riverfest,  June Dairy Days, Freedomfest,  Logger Games, kids ball games, camping, boating and summer picnics.  It seems like more and more that once it gets here, it is gone.  I remember when I was a kid that summer seemed to last forever by the time August rolled around that I was so ready to go back to school.  Kids now a days have so much stuff packed in to their lives are they even getting a chance to be kids?  Yesterday for example had to go to Winona for a baseball game, stopped by Bloedows, the Fleet store and got gas, amazing that gas just 30 miles to the north was 28 cents cheaper than in La Crosse. I filled up all nine gallons worth.  

Daily Dose of BS July 10 IRS

I am able to access my emails from 10 or more years ago.  Most of the things I have said on the radio have been archived as well.  I am guessing if you go to my mom’s house there will be art from when I was a kid.  I don’t understand how a governmental agency an agency that is in charge of our payments to the government, loses its emails unless it has something to hide.   There is also information that is being talked about today about an instant messaging system that was being used for off the record communication.  I don’t get this what about being transparent or being the new better irs.  Will justice be served, will we ever find out what was said in the confines of the irs?  I guess only the walls will know.  

Daily Dose of BS July 9

Couple things I am thinking about today.  First of all the other day I heard the TSA in other countries are going to make sure that cell phones, computers and tablets turn on before allowing them to be brought on to a plane as checked luggage for people flying into America, that doesn’t make any sense as if someone who could make a bomb that small couldn’t make it so that a piece of electronics that could power on.  We really need to think about things before we say them.  If I thought of this I am guessing that a terrorist has also thought of this.  Also the US government is going to start deporting children who end up crossing the border without a parent or guardian, I thought that this was already happening?  

Daily Dose of BS July 8 cell phones

July is cell phone courtesy month.  What are some of the things you have seen people do on their cell phone?  I really dislike when people talk loud on their cell.  That is one of my biggest pet peeves well that and when the phone is answered at the most inappropriate times, like any time there is conversation going on, or when standing in line at the store or at church.  Yep I saw that, and boy was it inappropriate.  Other irritants when dealing with a phone has to do with texting while having conversation or looking at facebook or playing games when you are supposed to be paying attention. How are you going to be celebrating the rest of cell phone courtesy month?

HOW TO BREEZE THROUGH THE ER:

Tips from an Emergency Room physician on how to speed up your treatment …

Always have a wallet card that lists your health history. Often, during the panic of an ER visit, patients are either physically unable to relate it or too anxious to remember details. Wallet cards should contain the following data-

 Name, address, date of birth, insurance information.

 Next of kin, who to contact in case of emergency.

 Past health conditions, since birth (even childhood asthma).

 Past surgeries, since birth.

 All medications, including recent short term treatments.

 Allergies.

Pre-treating your symptoms can shave hours off your ER visit. Treatments might include …

 Acetaminophen (ie: Tylenol) for fever.

 Gravol for nausea and/or vomiting.

 Diphenhydramine (DPH) antihistamine for allergic reaction.

Bring in all your assistive devices, whether they be corrective eyeglasses, a special brace to walk, or a hearing aid to hear. It allows doctors to compare your function in the ER to your baseline function at home.

Stick to the real emergency. Trying to also sneak in a reassessment of a chronic condition can distract and delay an ER doc from recognizing the acute emergency condition that you actually came to the hospital to have treated.

From the “Huffington Post”

Daily Dose of BS July 7 water

As I was driving in to work this morning I heard a story about how in Detroit that they are now requiring homeowners to pay for their water or risk getting it turned off.  The news guy then played a clip of a woman that said what kind of government would allow this.  My question is what kind of government wouldn’t do this?  It is not the government’s job to keep you in food and shelter is it?  What kind of government would allow for water to be shut off?  Really?  I think any responsible government.  The more I think of this the more it bugs me.  I pay my bills when they come if I can’t afford something I don’t buy it.  If I still can’t afford it I find a second or a third job.  If we all had the mentality of what kind of government, we would be in a lot worse situation than we are now.  I think that the city of Detroit is doing the right thing, pay your bills or risk losing whatever it is that you are supposed to be paying for shut off. 

Daily Dose of BS July 3rd - 4th of July

God bless America.  Land that I love.  We are blessed to live in a great country, a country that lets us be who we want to be and a country that gives us the freedom to stand up for what we believe in, a country that offers opportunity, and equal rights.  America, the freest nation on earth, let’s all enjoy each other’s company over the 4^th of July.  Independence Day.  A time for family and friends, I remember as a kid having family kick ball tournaments at my mom’s cousin’s family.  I also recall have watermelon seed spitting contests and great barbeque food and pot lucks.  I also remember falling in love with deviled eggs at these picnics and you can’t forget about the fireworks.  Enjoy the Independence day celebration that you celebrate.  

Daily Dose of BS July 2nd lack of respect

Total lack of respect.  I am seeing more people with lack of respect to not only themselves but too many around them.  I was driving down West Avenue the other day heading south and in the north bound lane there were two punks on long boards holding up traffic kind of doing a little free styling in the middle of the road.  Really?  Get off the road and allow cars to pass.  This goes for anyone holding up traffic.  As for the lack of respect for themselves look at the pants, it is not only disrespectful to themselves but to others around them.  I am all for being unique, being outside the box, I do get that.  March to the beat of your own drum, that is cool, but to follow the lead of others and to have your pants hanging so low that I see your entire ass, not cool at all.  I have no time for that, and also what would your mother think?  

Daily Dose of BS July 1 2 years and counting

Two years ago today we started with a new radio station Today’s Talk 1490.  I was hired as the morning guy and charged with making a show.  Here it is two years later and still loving it.  There were some growing pains, and some changes and swaps but after all said and done, I am pleased with the direction of things.  Those first few days were scary, I wasn’t sure if I had made the right decision but I do believe that I have.  I would like to take this moment to thank all that made this possible from Pat Smith, Deb Brague, and Tom Nankival to all the sales, programming, traffic and bookkeeping at the station, you can’t forget about the awesome front end people as well.  I have an awesome supportive family and friends that are second to none.  If not for all of the above and the countless others who have made these last two years the best ever, I thank you.   It is the guests that I have interviewed who have taught us and I can’t forget the best listeners anywhere.  Thanks for making this past two years so great and here is to 22 more years.  

Daily Dose of BS June 30 storms

It is amazing what some rain and wind can do to a community.  I don’t know about your neighborhood but in my south side La Crosse neighborhood we had some damage.  I was watching tv with a couple of my kids when my son said dad a tree just fell outside, he has lots better hearing than I.  We looked in between rain drops and sure enough a large branch from the house across the street came down.  We waited the storm out then did a bit of exploring in the hood, from lots of loose branches littering the streets to big limbs that have been blown off decades old trees.  In the alley a half a tree blew across the street and landed in the apron of my alley.  The garbage cans from both sides of 16^th up and down my alley were bowled over, thank goodness for the big cans and that garbage day was only a few days before otherwise there would have been stuff strewn as far as you could see.  I hope your cleanup is fast and painless. 

Daily Dose of BS June 27 car rides

I was talking to my buddy suit last night at our twice weekly meet up at the ball field, in between watching the kids play ball we were telling stories of being a kid growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, how we thought we had it tougher than our kids do now.  The biggest laughs were when we were talking about trips -the dreaded car trip.  I so remember jumping in the little hatchback with my two brothers and I in the back seat and mom and dad in front, dad always drove and mom was the co-pilot it was way before gps, it was all maps and bad smelling coffee.  There was a trip when my brothers and I were particularly rambunctious and both mom and dad asked us many times to quiet down.  Finally the breaking point was when dad raised his voice saying if I hear one more word I am pulling the car over.  We were quiet for what seemed like hours, my brother Frank finally reached over to my side of the car and smacked Brian in the head while his eyes were closed, he yelled at me, dad yelled at us all and did as he promised and pulled the car over, a cop happened to see us pull over and did as well.  This is the reason I am friends with cops to this day. 

Daily Dose of BS June 26 cell phones

I think that the US Supreme Court has it right.  I agree with their ruling that the police cannot search your phone without a warrant.  I am not a bad guy a trouble maker but I think that my phone should be private.  If I ever get arrested and I hope that I don’t but if that ever happens I would hope that my phone would be off limits, it seems as though now it is.  I wonder though if this also pertains to texting and driving laws.  No officer I was not texting and no you may not see my phone.  I also wonder if it is the same if I am in a secure place where you are not supposed to take pictures let’s say the White House, and I do take a selfie, or a cool sighting of something, and my phone gets taken away forever if they would go through my phone.  I guess it is nice that the ruling is there but will it really be taken seriously, I just came up with two holes in the ruling while I was typing this.  But I really do think this is the right direction. 

Daily Dose of BS June 24 bad bosses

Is your boss a wimp or a coward?  I used to work at a place where I do believe that they were, at least some of the time.  The boss I am thinking about came across as an ass so you ended up being afraid of him.  I was talking to a friend of mine who just got a new job that went to this boss and asked for a raise, and was told no, because he was already making more than he should, and that if he did more he would get paid more.  I am telling you that this friend of mine is a hard worker and was always ready to bust his hump to help out and to pick up an extra shift or help when he could.  The above example is what is wrong with many businesses they put people in charge that have no business being in charge and do not know how to manage people, when you are afraid to approach your boss or have fear that you are going to lose your job because you have a suggestion.  That is a sign of a bad boss.  I would think to be a good boss you need to listen, and then react like my boss does not react without listening like too many other bosses do.  

Daily Dose of BS June 23 bathroom rules

I got an early morning text from a friend of mine asking me two questions, one of them is something I have heard of before and the other, well you decide.  The questions were if you and your significant other goes to a friends house and the man has to use the facilities, do you sit as to avoid collateral splashing?  My first reaction is huh?  What?  And lose my man card.  Nope, nada, no way.  The second part of that text was do you look in the medicine cabinet when you are at someone’s house?  For me it is the same answer no way.  There are privacy issues there plus I really don’t care what type toothpaste or aspirin that someone uses.  I don’t even like to go into my wives purse to get something or look at her phone.  That is her business, just like medicine cabinets are the home owners business.  I guess what I’m trying to say is mind your business.  

Daily Dose of BS June 20 gas prices

Pharrell Williams hit song is Happy.  The American population as a whole I bet will not be too happy with a new Congress bipartisan bill that would raise the federal gas tax by 12 cents per gallon, in two annual hikes of 6 cents each.  The reason they are giving is for highway road repair and bridge work.  I guess I understand the higher taxes for each of these items, because we do all benefit from the use of the roads.  Even if you are a die-hard I don’t drive person, you eat don’t you or use the roads in some form or another right?  What I don’t agree with is the ever increasing gas prices.  I have heard that we as Americans are sitting on a huge gas reserve and that there is more gas under the state of North Dakota than there is in Iraq, if that is the case why don’t we work on effectively getting the gas from here, stop paying other countries governments money and then work on trying to wean ourselves off of gas by the time that our gas runs out?

Daily Dose of BS June 19 power and cable

We take our power for granted.  You turn on a light and the light goes on, you flip on the tv same thing.  Many of us have lost power either with a glitch or a full fledge power out.  Hard to imagine life without the daily habits that we have come accustom to.  Could you imagine life without your lights, computer, oven or fridge.  Many of us use devices to help us sleep like a c-pap or similar device, if we were without power we couldn’t get a good nights sleep, have lights or computer.  I am taking a huge step, today I am quitting cable tv, I have been a subscriber of wire for many, many years, in fact I don’t remember a time as an adult that I didn’t have cable tv.  So to the people in charge at the wire, I hold you responsible for this, as you changed the deal, you imposed new rules and raised the rates, and stopped caring for the us the customer.  I just got to figure out how to dvr my shows.  

Daily Dose of BS June 18 gnats

There is a reason they are called bugs, they bug you.  With two of my four kids playing ball this summer and my love of sitting the deck in my back yard, I have been inundated with the pesky little flying gnats.  I have heard from different people about their secret sauce for getting rid of these flying pests but none of the ways have worked for me, I have tried vanilla, a soapy concoction of water, I have sprayed the yard and the deck, I have tried burning citronella candles, and bug spray.  I am out of ideas.  These gnats have spread everywhere they get in your eyes up your nose and in your hair, for me it is my beard.  If anyone has a sure fire way of getting rid of the gnats, or at least how to make them stop bugging you please share.  By the way why is there a silent G in gnat, and gnome, and a phonetically modified ph in phone and psychologist?  I know it’s to bug us. 

Daily Dose of BS June 17 life can change

Life can change in a moment.  I was driving into work this morning when I came across a huge house fire in Onalaska.  I stopped and asked a few questions for my job, it was a new construction and no one was living there according to the Onalaska Police Department.  It made me think about how life can change in a snap a blink of an eye a look away from the steering wheel.  Life is short we don’t need to add to the shortness by adding to our own demise, I am talking about the choices we make daily, to pull out in front of the car on the highway, to text and drive to just not pay attention.  We do stupid things that can affect our lives each and every day.  

Daily Dose of BS June 16 fathers day thanks

I hope that the Dad’s out there enjoyed their day as much as I did.  I woke up to the dog barking and let him out read the paper, talked to a neighbor walking by, by the time the first family member got up.  I was showered with love through-out the day from Happy Father’s day to cards to the oldest taking the family out to breakfast to a can of my favorite iced tea and a bag of chips.  Not only did I get to spend the day being showered with love by my kids I also got to spend time with my own Dad, and we had the chance to double BS since I am Bob junior he is the master BS’er.  I also got asked from one of the kids the question I think that every kid asks- when is kids day.  I had the same answer that I was given and am sure everyone of you got as an answer when you asked it.  Every day is kids day, so kids enjoy your todays.  

Daily Dose of BS June 13 fathers day

Do dads get the short end of the stick?  I always remember on Mothers Day when I was a kid that we and by we I mean my brothers and I would always do something above and beyond for our Mom, we would be nice to each other and offer up our services to help with chores around the house pick flowers and give plenty of hugs and kisses.  For Fathers Day we would punch the oldman in the arm, and tell him Happy Fathers day and move on.  When I look back on those times I don’t feel as though I did anything wrong, but now I try to do the same for both my Mom and my Dad.  This year for Fathers Day my Dad is going to be coming down to La Crosse and I am going to be taking him out on the Mississippi river.  Dad’s are often over looked as a caregiver as well, I recall when my kids were little and I would watch the kids, and someone would always say oh you are babysitting, how nice.  As a parent it is my job to parent not baby sit.  For all the lessons taught both when I was a child and now I thank you Dad and remember I love you.  Happy Fathers Day. 

Daily Dose of BS June 12 not my job

On Lang drive there are two pieces of wood that have been there for at least the last two days.   I have driven over, around and past these two pieces of wood at least 15 times.  I have contemplated on stopping and picking them up, but whose job is it?  As a citizen of a community is it your responsibility to stop and right a wrong?  Is it the street departments?  Is it the police or fire departments?  I guess I would like to know.  It is kind of funny to see this get driven over thousands of times, I am guessing at least 50 thousand time maybe even more and not have anyone pull it off the road.  How many different city employees have driven over it or highway workers have seen it and not stopped to pull it off.  Heck I have been by it at least 15 times.  Whose job is it to pick it up?

Daily Dose of BS June 11 cable tv

So I missed Inside Edition and America’s Got Talent last night.  I turned on my TV yesterday after work and to my dismay it didn’t work.  I checked the other TV in the house and guess what it didn’t work either, and then I remembered what a listener told me the other day about the cable company charging for digital boxes.  I didn’t think I had to worry about them because I have the basic-ist of the basic cable, guess what I do.  I called the cable company and talked to a great customer service person who really did help me.  Said all I had to do was go to the cable company and pick up my box not a problem.  Here was where the problem came, I was north of Onalaska and thought I could come down 12^th Ave under the interstate, it was closed off  (had to drive a couple miles out of the way just to drive back).  I got the cable company had to park in the grass, I guess I wasn’t the only one who waited till the TV didn’t work to fix it.  I walked in saw a bunch of people I knew, was directed to take a number, I chose not to and to just leave, I hope today is faster.  I really dislike that the cable company has us jumping through hoops to just watch TV.

Daily Dose of BS June 10 county admin

As a tax payer, is it good money for the county of La Crosse to pay $4.6 million for the Associated Bank building in downtown La Crosse to become the new administrative center.  Apparently this is a fair price since it is based on an assessed value for the 50,000-square-foot building, and a total of 184 parking spaces.  I read that this will spur new development that will bring as much as $38 million more in tax base with the new buildings.  Do you think this will be a good investment?  Will it pay off in the future for the county and in return the city since it is in the city of La Crosse? 

Daily Dose of BS June 9 don't we all deserve love?

Doesn’t everyone deserve the chance at love?  I think that they do.   On Friday the state of Wisconsin joined the growing number of states where federal judges have struck down same-sex marriage bans.  Over the weekend many same sex couples stood in line in attempt to obtain a marriage license, and get married.  I know many gay people and I know that most did not choose this way of life, why would you choose to be constantly ridiculed and looked down on by so many.  I don’t know this to be fact but wouldn’t the discrimination that the gay population is going through now what women went through and blacks went through and other people who are or were discriminated against have gone through?  I don’t think that you have to embrace the lifestyle but to accept is the first step.  I am confused don’t we all want happiness and love?

Daily Dose of BS June 6 sleep

We all have our tricks for fooling ourselves into a longer night’s sleep. I do not get when people knowingly set their bed room clocks ahead, so they get the illusion of sleeping in. Can’t you do math when your alarm rings, you know that it is really whatever time you set your alarm for minus what you set your clock ahead, to me this doesn’t work. What about the person who sets their alarm for an hour earlier than when they are supposed to get up and then reset the alarm for a later time? What, why would you do this, you are losing that hour of good sleep by disrupting it. Do not even get me started on the snooze, again you are losing that extra time of good sleep with what a 9 minute nap, and if you add your moved ahead clock to the time you have on the snooze wouldn’t it just be easier to not trick your mind, and get up when your alarm rings? I wake up when my alarm rings, I listen to a couple of news stories then I get up and go. What is you early morning wake up trick?

Daily Dose of BS June 5 under watch

You can’t scratch yourself without someone knowing. There are cameras here and there and there and there and they seem like just about everywhere. More and more people are getting cameras on their private property, there are hidden cameras in lots of stores and even soon cameras on the streets of La Crosse. Google has given us neighborhood pictures and NSA has given us satellite pictures, who is to say that there is someone out there that can stream those images? We are under constant surveillance, so with all this technology why is it that we still have to wait for a stop light to change from red to green when we are the only ones there? I know someone is watching and they getting their kicks.

Daily Dose of BS June 4 out to eat

Living in a smaller town we miss out on some of the restaurant chains that are out there, I really like to go to Noodles when traveling, I have seen the ads for Chili’s never been I would like try them, also would like to try Long John Slivers.  I like eating at Pot Bellys in Madison and Chicago, for a great sub sandwich.  The In and Out Burger was the hit of the trip out to California.  Growing up I loved Ferrells, Bridgemans, Zantigo and Burger Chef.  Don’t get me wrong I love all the locally owned home cooking place that we have around here, and I do have my favorites.  But, what restaurant chain would you like to see come into the La Crosse area?  

Daily Dose of BS June 3 graffiti

For the second time in four months someone broke in to the construction site of the new North Side Elementary School. This time someone spray painted “teach safe sex” then smeared paint with a gloved hand on an untreated wall, meaning that even though the wall was scrubbed, the graffiti was still visible. The cynic in me wants to say maybe your parents should have followed your message, but that would be rude. There are other ways to get your message across, go to social media, hold up a sign, buy some ads, join a civic group, I could go on. What happen to the golden rule and why would you want to deface someone else’s property? This little trick is going to cost between 5 and ten thousand dollars to clean up.

Daily Dose of BS June 2 negotiate

What happened to “We will not negotiate with terrorists?”  Do not get me wrong, I am glad that Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has been released after almost five years in captivity, I think it is awesome and inspiring that Sgt. Bergdahl went into the service and I also feel for his parents and the rest of his family, BUT why did we negotiate with terrorists?  Won’t this just open doors for others to come in and take a hostage, or come up with another demands.  I expect this to keep happening because I we all know once that a wedge is started, once an inch is given, the foundation begins to erode fast.   

Daily Dose of BS May 30 sales

Weekends are famous in the Midwest for garage sales, I used to be a big rummage saler, I used to like to pick through someone’s sale tables and try to find the best deal possible, the once in a lifetime find. Those were the days, you used to be able to go to a rummage sale and find some really good deals, now I don’t think as much. Some people who have these sales get an unrealistic value that they place on things based on what I don’t know, but how often have you been to a sale and one of these four things were there, prices so high that you could buy new for cheaper, that the stuff was dirty, or junky or they were selling things like old cool whip and margarine tub and you wondered why they even bothered with the sale. Every once in a while you come across the holy grail of a sale but for the most part at least the ones I have seen lately have been stuff that I would probably just throw away.

Daily Dose of BS May 29 cybercrimes

I got an email from ebay the other day saying I should change my password; I have got other emails from other companies in the past with the same request. I think that they are winning; I really think that the hackers are winning. I saw a report that was released yesterday that said that same thing. The annual survey on cybercrimes found that hackers are breaking into computers and stealing information. How can we stop them, go off the grid? I don’t think that this is a possibility as we are all tied into the world wide web with everything from our phone, both home and cell, to our tv to our internet, are we too tied in and is there hope of ever getting back our privacy?

Daily Dose of BS May 28 do you trust your phone

Do you trust your phone? There are more and more covert aps that are on the market and people are using them to spy on each other. I don’t think I have too much to hid but this bothers me, would I like if someone knows where I am 24/7? Not at all there are something’s that we need to do that don’t need prying eyes. I have had a few guests on in the past talking about cyber stalking but this phone stalking to me takes it to a new level, like a constant eye, and I don’t like it. We are already telling the world where we are and when we are not at home but to have someone actually know that you are in the dairy food isle at the grocery store, enough is enough. Now I am not sure if I trust my phone.

Daily Dose of BS May 27 shooting

The shooting over the weekend in Santa Clara, California had a shooter that posted on youtube and had a manifesto of 140 pages long. I don’t get it, if every person who has felt rejected, alone or sad went on a rampage, there would be things like this happening all the time, because I know that when I was a teenage boy I felt much of the same, when you get rejected you just got to pick yourself up by your bootstraps and jump back on the horse. I think that all too often people blame their surroundings, their situation, their failures on others, guess what you don’t like those items, change them. There are millions of stories and millions of positive outcomes that are lived out daily. If you are having a hard time with life, don’t I repeat do not grab a sniper rifle or any other weapon, talk to someone because there is help, and believe it or not people care.

Daily Dose of BS May 23 mowing

Well I did it and it worked on the first try.  With our weather getting better and better my lawn started to wake up and do what it was supposed to do, grow.  I had about ankle high grass yesterday afternoon and a nice carpet of green when done.  I was leery of the mower starting after the cold winter that we had, but I filled the tank, pulled once and the mower coughed twice, then purred like a kitten.  Don’t get me wrong, I miss my old Lawn Boy mower without all the safety levers but this Briggs and Stratton mower is pretty good.  This weekend I will attempt to get the weed eater working, I can tell you right now that it won’t start on the first pull or even the 15^th and I will smell of exhaust when done, but the weed eating will be done. 

Daily Dose of BS May 22 panhandlers

How many people actually give money or food to the panhandlers that are standing on the medians as we drive into town?  I have an uncle who lives on the streets in Chicago and he makes his living by washing windows and other odd jobs, is it strange that it bugs me seeing people standing with a sign asking for a handout?  I don’t mind helping someone out I do believe that this is human nature, but if you are going to get something shouldn’t you offer something in return?  

Daily Dose of BS May 21 the big game

The big game, the big football game, that game that is played the first weekend in February crowning the champion with that trophy, you know the trophy.  You also know the game, the one where people who don’t even care about the game watch for the commercials.   This game will be played in Minnesota 2018, the new Minnesota team stadium beat out team stadiums from others around the country.  Cities like New Orleans and Indianapolis.  The game will be played that cold winters day in Minneapolis, in their new multi-million dollar supported by some tax payer money stadium.  I guess if you want to have the big game to be played in your city, you either have to be warm, have a dome, or willing to take from the tax payer dollars to get a stadium.  I am sure you noticed I didn’t say the name of the league, the name of the big game or anything else that could be construed as a negative toward that league, I just don’t have the time or the money to defend myself against their rule of saying the names of the teams or the big game.  Plus I don’t have written consent.  

Daily Dose of BS May 20 everyday achievements

I am a simple man, there are little games that I play every once in a while trying to either beat the clock on the microwave, by trying to get a chore done, or trying to open the microwave door at the moment the thing is ready to beep.  How about grabbing your usb drive and getting it into the slot the first time, I loose this game often.  I like to time my driving either to or home from work so that way I don’t hit any red lights, it happens more often on way to work than on way home.  But the ultimate win is waking up looking at the alarm clock right as it goes off, when then happens I buy a lottery ticket.  That one has yet to pay off.  What are the little games you play? Or better yet what’s the most satisfying everyday achievement? 

Daily Dose of BS May 19 love my job

Is it weird that I like work? I was just on vacation and was looking forward to getting back to work, where there is structure. Don’t get me wrong I look forward to the times when I can leave the office and go away for a few days but I am a fan of what I do for a living, it know what to expect and I am used to the surroundings, plus I get to sleep in my own bed. Are you a fan of work or do you hate what you do? I think that life is too short to be at a job you hate as we all put in many hours a week doing what pays us. If you do not love it, why do it? Is it the money, is the hours, is it cause it fits your schedule? If so start looking for the next one, you can find something else. Life it too short to settle.

Daily Dose of BS May 12 parking

Did ya see what the city of La Crosse is proposing for parking? I call BS. Meaning Bad Stuff, I dislike alternate side parking November through April now there is talk of year round alternate side parking, no thank you. The city is always talking about doing this or that to bring more people in to the city, this could push me and a bunch of people out of La Crosse. I am guessing that when they poll anyone no one has ever said you know what will help with economic growth, let’s have alternate side parking – year round. Bad idea folks, really bad idea. This is a grand idea to go with the great river grand city slogan. Let’s change that to parking is going to stink but the rest of the city is ok, and we have a grand river.

Daily Dose of BS May 9 armrests

Being a bigger guy I am always looking for the best place to sit in a movie theater or plane.  I very much dislike sitting next to another big guy cause there is always the fight for the arm rest.  When was the last time you were at the you name it and the person that sits down next to you sneaks in and steals the arm rest?  I don’t know where to put my arms if I can’t use the rest, do I fold them across my chest, do I sit on my hands where to these arms hang if they can’t use the rest?  Why can’t airlines and movie theaters next time they upgrade the seats upgrade them to comfortable double arm rest seats?  While we are on the topic of seating why is it that some restaurants have the high back no lean chairs, they are super uncomfortable, also when seated at a booth, as a bigger guy and I am guessing a big chested woman also has to worry about getting stuck.  I don’t know how many times I have had to switch sides on a booth when the table and the seat is bolted down.  You do know it is all about comfort, right.  

Daily Dose of BS May 8 money

I think it is time that we rethink our money system.  Personally I believe that we need to bring in a bigger than a 100 dollar bill, if you go to buy a 30 thousand dollar car and you want to pay cash you have to come up with 300 100 dollar bills.  The c-note doesn’t have the same prestige that it once did, I remember the first time I held one and the awe I was in and the power I felt, now it doesn’t even cover a week’s groceries for the family.  I think that the US government should look into bringing back the 500 and the thousand dollar bill.  While we are on money we should also do away with pennies.  A penny used to buy something now even penny candy is two for five cents.  Plus tax eats away at the extra few cents that we think we are saving by buying something that ends in 99.  

Daily Dose of BS May 7 carpet

We had new carpet installed the other day in a bedroom, a hallway and the stairs. The installers had it set up like cable install saying that they would be there between 1 and 3. They split the difference they got there at 2. Tear out, clean up, install and clean they thought 2 to 3 hours, I thought great I have evening plans should be great. When I left the house at 6 for my evening plans they were still working, when I got home they at 9 they were just finishing up. Apparently there are 3 different businesses in play here, the carpet store, the measurer, and the installer. The measurer measured wrong causing the installer to seam my carpet in a few spots, it is in but there are seams in the carpet, seams that I didn’t want. Also I have about 15 yards of carpet that was left behind. My questions are should I get money back on the left over carpet, should the installers get paid more for working longer and harder should the measurer be fired and what if there was so much carpet left over what happed to the extra pad?

Daily Dose of BS May 5 tv shows

It’s that time of the year again when the shows that you fell in love with over the spring book are getting canceled.  I am a big fan of the Robin Williams show “The Crazy Ones”, I also like “About a Boy”, “Enlisted” and “The Trophy Wife” and these four shows are on the bubble to get cancelled.  It bugs me that these networks put so much into getting us as consumers to start liking a show then pulling the plug, to do what fill the time with yet another annoying singing competition or some wacky but untrue reality type program?  I just don’t get it.  Do you? 

Daily Dose of BS May 2 best foods

Best foods?  There is always a list telling us what some people think is the greatest burger, pizza, donut or sandwich.  Those lists are based on what?  On what people like, right?  I don’t want to sway you one way or another on this so I am not even going to even give you any categories, who in your mind has the best food?  What foods do you crave, and what is your favorite beverage?  Who has the best servers or bartenders?  Who is the best of the best?  Also what food or restaurant would you like to see where you live?  

Daily Dose of BS May 1 minumum wage

There will always be poverty and always be exorbitant wages, I will always be closer to the first. The Minimum wage hike was shot down in the Senate yesterday. And even though I am closer to the minimum wage than a decent wage I for one am glad, let me explain myself. If the wage goes up to 10.10 an hour like they are calling for, everything else will also go up, how are the businesses going to recoup that wage, either raise prices or let people go. If the wage goes up and the cost of goods and services goes up then wouldn’t the cost of living go up and with the cost of living going up won’t that push the poverty level back up to wherever the minimum wage hike is? I also look at it this way if you are working an entry level job and you have been there for 10 years and you worked yourself up to 10.25 an hour now a new person comes in and is making 10.10 an hour only 15 cents less than you are after learning and doing the job for 10 years, it hardly seems fair. I think that the businesses here need to step up dig in to the profit and pay better and not have the government tell them what to pay. They should bump the pay on their own.

Daily Dose of BS April 30

I understand being banned from the NBA for life for racist comments. I understand being fined 2.5 million dollars for saying stupid things. I do not understand someone forcing you to sell your business. If I were Donald Sterling I would want to sell if I was being banned, but being forced to sell, WTH? If Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet or any other big businessman were to say some racist comment would they be forced to sell their businesses off? Isn’t this America? I do not condone what Sterling said but I do believe in America. I do believe in free enterprise, I do believe that if he were not to sell the Clippers that we as Americans would most likely boycott or not buy Clippers gear but why would go down but why force someone to sell their lively hood over them being ignorant and arrogant?

Daily Dose of BS April 29 hic-ups

We often get them, and at the most inopportune time. I am talking about hic-ups. What’s your secret way to cure hiccups? Some old faves listed by “Mental Floss” magazine …
– Place a teaspoonful of sugar on the back of your tongue.
– Stick your fingers in your ears.
– Gargle with water long enough to interrupt the hiccup cycle.
– Eat a big spoonful of peanut butter or powdered chocolate mix.
– Hold the top of a door frame and then lean forward.
– A long, passionate kiss also supposedly does the trick.
My question to you is what do you do to cure your hic-ups?

Daily Dose of BS April 28 calls and trash

Unless you are my Mom or Dad or one of my kids please leave me your name when you call. I had a message left for me Sunday afternoon on my voice mail saying Bob you are a hard person to get ahold of, give me a call back later. I called and texted about 10 people and it was none of them. I was always taught when you call someone to leave your name and number, and I do even leave my name to people I call regularly. We got new garbage cans earlier this year, uniform cans for the entire city. On Saturday I was noticing my alley and how clean it looked with the new cans. Add the wind from yesterday’s storm to big garbage cans makes for a littered street. There were only about 5 cans in my alley that were still standing after those winds, and there were no less than 3 in the middle of the alley.

Daily Dose of BS April 25 best invention

In the early 1900’s there was talk with doing away with the patent office since there, in their words were no more things that could ever be invented. We see new inventions pop up all the time, in fact I have interviewed many inventors. I know I asked this question before but in your mind what is the best invention that has happened in your lifetime? I Think for me it is the computer in my pocket that does all. Never before were people able to have the world literally at their fingertips than within the past 10 years. The phones keep getting smaller and have the ability to do more. What is the best invention to come around since you were born?

Daily Dose of BS April 24 what apps do you use?

I have had my smarter than me phone for over a year now and was looking through it yesterday, I noticed that I have a lot of apps that I have no idea what they are. It got me thinking what are the apps that you cannot live without? I think that the only ones that I feel as though I am looking at all the time are facebook, texting, phone, and google. I also use my weather ap and a recording ap that I bought for my job. I also use an ap that sends me news feeds and map my walk. There is the calendar and don’t forget about the google chrome to phone app that allows me to send links right to my phone. I also use the browser on my phone. I just now realized that I use my phone a lot. The one thing I do not use my phone for is games. But we play lots of games in life, right?

Daily Dose of BS April 23 comfort foods

What’s your favorite comfort food?  For me I have a comfort meal it is meatloaf, baked potato and acorn squash.  I remember as a kid we got to pick our favorite meal for supper on our birthday and that is what I picked and still would today if offered any meal prepared for me by my Mom.  My bothers picked lasagna and a hot dish that my Mom used to call Good Hot Dish.  If you are not from the Midwest you probably don’t know what I mean when I say Hot Dish, what it is a casserole or a potluck food.  What is your favorite comfort food?

Daily Dose of BS April 22 earth day

Happy earth day to you….Happy earth day to you…happy better gas mileage to me.  I got a new to me 1999 Accord and over the past 500 miles I have averaged 25.9 mpg, not too bad for a car that is 15 years old.  If I get close to my last cars total mileage I will be doing pretty well.  My last Accord got close to 350 thousand miles.  Today is earth day and a day to celebrate Mother Earth, what are you going to be doing to save her for the future generations?  I came into this year kicking and screaming with the new garbage cans in La Crosse because we had to start recycling, I am here to say that it has been pretty painless, and that I didn’t mind that change.  

Daily Dose of BS April 21 ikea

I felt like a sheep being herded in and around the store with the ranchers carefully placed around the edges and in the fields.  That is right over the weekend I made the trip to IKEA.  It started with the mind numbing slither through the parking lot searching for the ever diminishing 275 square feet of parking space.  After about 7 and a half minutes of searching one of the coveted spots opened, yeah!  Then it was off to fight the crowds to get in to the store when we finally reached the grand entrance up the escalator to the map and pencil area.  Then the herding began the ranchers were standing around with their yellow stripped shirts with their brand proudly showing on their back the lighted arrows were on the floor and the mind numbed shoppers where piling things that they don’t need into carts that push straight or sideways, following arrows weaving in and out of areas of the store that you didn’t even know were there, finally after 90 minutes of weaving and bobbing we finally reached the area we were looking for picked up some drawers and shelves, then off to the check out.  We got into the wrong line got cattle prodded to the end of the line, waited for about 45 minutes to check out only to have to fight the crowed to get out the store then fight the parking lot in reverse.  All for what?  When I attempt to put together my closet organizer I will let you know.  

Daily Dose of BS April 18 truth

Why not have total truth in pricing?  And I am talking about total cost if something costs 50 cents then have tax on it why not say 53 cents?  Thing about how much easier it would be for all of us.  No more adding the cost of tax in your head to see if you are within your budget, you would know if you are getting close to your ultimate buying power because of the math.  I also don’t like when you go to a clothing store and the tag says $17.97 on a rack for 60% off.  Tell us what the cost is, the total cost including tax so that way we are in the know and not in fear of over shooting our budget.  

Daily Dose of BS April 17 eating right

My goal at the beginning of the year was to eat better, not diet, but to eat less and be aware of what I was putting in my mouth. I made it a pact to myself to only have one donut when they are at work, to eat yogurt for breakfast rather than bringing leftovers in to work and to try to eat more fruit and veggies. I am happy to say that I have been doing pretty good, I have had yogurt almost every day, I have been trying to not snack as much at home and I have been trying to move a couple times a week. I think I have able to do most of those things, my problem is now that I have done for about 4 months I have found myself this past week slipping into old habits like eating way too much in fact eating until I am beyond full. Are there any secrets that you have for keeping with it? My goal wasn’t to go on a diet or loose weight, but if I did I wouldn’t complain. Any help would be great.

Daily Dose of BS April 16 shades of gray

I spent some time with my Mom last weekend, I now realize what my kids say when they say you just don’t get it. I think the older that people get the less likely that they are going to change. In my Moms case it is black and white, same with my Dad and just about every other older generation that I get the pleasure of talking with. I am in my mid-forties and I don’t think that I am too stuck into only black and white for answers, but I think I see a blue and a grey and a few shades of more. I could be wrong though because I am in that circle. My kids and I am guessing your kids as well and that most other younger people are seeing way more possibilities than us in the older generation. What color do you see?

Daily Dose of BS April 14 snow

I really enjoy the first snowfall of the season; everything looks clean and sparkly as you get ready for the cool then cold weather as winter sets in, people re-learning how to drive in the snowy slick covered roads. Ahh winter. But wait it is the middle of April and there is snow on the ground, what the hell. Not a fan of snow this time of year, I am ready to turn off my heat and sleep with the windows open, not bundled up with blankets. The bright note is that with this never ending winter we do know how to drive in this crap.

Daily Dose of BS April 11 getting old

I hate to admit it, I am tired. I have been an early morning person for the past 22 years and for some reason as I am getting older 4am is starting to drag on me. I try to keep regular hours and keep my schedule most of the days. I remember when I was in my 30’s I could stay up late a few nights a week and not feel it the next day but as I am getting older those late night hours get seen less and less. I recall being in my 20’s and able to pull an all nighter and not be affected, now if I stay up past 10:30 on a school night I feel it, and if I push later than that, I am definitely feeling it the next day. I feel a nap coming on later.

Daily Dose of BS April 10 shootings and stabbings

Are we safe anywhere? Movie theaters, malls, schools and military posts? Shootings and stabbings, and why? Because someone was picked on or feel like they have no where to turn? There have been people getting picked on for as long as there has been people. What is the cause? What can be done to stop it? Is an insane plea fair? I look at these situations and get mad, why does this type of nonsensical violence have to happen all around us? Is there a place to turn?

Daily Dose of BS April 8 needles and pins

When I was a kid and on the way to the hardware store with my dad on a Saturday morning he would always play rock and roll. I think that is why I love rock to this day, a pleasant memory from when I was a kid hanging with my dad. I always remember the song Bad Bad LeRoy Brown, cause he was the baddest man in the whole damn town, the song told a story. He was badder than a junk yard dog, he was one bad dude. Another song that pops into my head is the one from the Searchers “Needles and Pins”, these days you don’t need to do much searching for either of those just look in the alleys in certain neighborhoods in La Crosse and you will find them. My kids were playing out at the basketball hoop and guess what they found. Yep a needle, be safe and talk to your kids about not touching the hypodermic needles or in fact any sharp thing they find in the alleys or streets.

Daily Dose of BS April 7 buy used

When I was first starting out in life I lucked out at an auction and picked up lots of my tools there. The reason I lucked out is that it was raining and it was an outdoor auction. Over the years I have misplaced and replaced many of them but at the time they were good enough for what I needed them for. I also like to hit up rummage sales, and look on eBay. The reason I bring this up is that when it comes to buying some things it is ok to purchase used. The list I found had cars, kid clothes, books, movies and tools on it. Guess what. I have bought all 5 of these things used over my life, and will continue to do so. I guess I am a recycler, or at least a repurposer or re-user.

Daily Dose of BS April 4 people

We all have someone that we look up to either professionally or just look up to because who they are. It is funny as we became adults and our perceptions of people changed. I still look up to many of the people who have shaped my mind and my career but it is different when you get within the inner circle of a certain group you realize that people are people regardless of who they are or what they do. I have a pretty wide group of friend from civil servants, to teachers, to police and fire fighters, to business professionals and friends in the medical field, and you know what with each and every group there is the same thoughts about society, the same worries about life and the same family issues. I guess this goes to show us that as we grow in our professions that we can choose to grow apart from our friends or we can choose to grow together. I choose choice two.

Daily Dose of BS April 3 kiwanis radio day

One of the things my folks taught my brothers and I was to give back either monetarily or with time. I chose to work in radio so I have more time than money. There are many great organizations out there that are in need of your time. Find one and help when you can. Today is Kiwanis radio day so as you pop around to the different radio stations in the La Crosse Market you will hear lots of different voices. And later this month we will be celebrating volunteers from all over the area with the 20th Annual Coulee Region Volunteer Coordinators Recognition Breakfast. My suggestion to you is be active within our community and lets work to make this an even better place to live.

Daily Dose of BS April 2

I am disappointed and proud at the same time. I waited until 5:30 yesterday to vote to see how the turnout was, and wow was it sad. We have the responsibility as Americans to vote and not too many people took that responsibility to heart yesterday, at 5:40 I was voter number 61 in ward 18. Number 61 what a sad state of affairs. People complain that our country is going to hell, but what are we doing to stop that? We have elections in the spring and in the fall, don’t like the way that things are going vote. I also mentioned that I was proud as well, my son registered and voted for the first time yesterday. I am proud that he didn’t take his civic duty for granted. For those complainers you have the next opportunity to exercise your duty as an American in November.