Daily Dose of BS Oct 21 guns

There is a letter to the editor today in the La Crosse Tribune that suggests that there be a plain clothed defender assigned to each school that could be a familiar face in the school and be trained to protect the innocent.  I like this idea.  I was at a store yesterday and they had the posted no weapons allowed sign hanging on the door.  I thought to myself if I was up to no good and had a gun to bring in, would a sign stop me.  The answer to that is no way.  But if I was up to no good and I knew that the possibility of someone within the walls of where it was posted no weapons had a weapon, I think I would rethink going in to that place.  I think that ideas like this have merit, don’t you?  

Daily Dose of BS October 20 skateboarding

Yesterday was such a beautiful day.  How did you spend it?  I raked, and played outside with my kids.  When the kids got home from school we BS’ed for a few minutes then I asked who wanted to play catch, neither did, but they wanted to play a little basketball, I have got to be the worst hoops player in the world after taking about 50 shots and missing almost all of them I was about ready to hang it up and head inside with my head held low.  My daughter then pulled out the long board and asked if I would pull her around the block, I did, then told her I used to skateboard when I was her age.  She didn’t believe me, I then very nervously mounted the board and did something that I haven’t done in probably 33 years, I skate boarded, slow at first, then a bit faster, and it felt awesome.  I guess that the lesson today is don’t be afraid to try something again for the first time. 

Daily Dose of BS Oct 19 playboy

I heard over the weekend that Playboy magazine is going nude free in the future.  Starting with the issue in March of 2016 there will be no more nude pictures in the magazine.  I guess all those times when people said that they were reading it for the articles really were true.  As a young man it was always a rite of passage for you to sneak a peak of the magazine.  I guess that went away when people stopped buying magazines.  Speaking of change, I am not a fan of the throwback jerseys that the NFL have forced down our throats these past few years, watching the Packers game yesterday brought the comments from more than one that it doesn’t look like they are wearing pants.  To me it is just another way for the NFL to take more money from us fans.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 16 freedom honor flight

I was never in the Military, I do however respect all those who have chosen that path.  Some real important people in my life have gone in the service from my Grandpa Schmidt, to my Dad, to many of my buddies, and more.  We all have special people in our lives who put Country first, many have come back from serving only to not get the thanks that they have deserved, which makes me sad.  If not for the sacrifice of their time and efforts we would not be free as we are today.  The reason I bring this up today rather than on a Veteran’s holiday is that my good friend Lloyd is making the trip tomorrow to Washington DC as a Hero, on board the Freedom Honor Flight.  From the first flight in 2008 FreedomHonorFlight.org has been making this a special day for our Veteran.   To my good friend Lloyd and to the others on the trip, thank you for your service. 

Daily Dose of BS Oct 15 overdose

Why is it news when a celebrity overdoses or is on the verge of death when they brought it on themselves?  There are thousands of cases of regular old people who are struggling with addiction each and every day.  I will bet that you are close with someone who is or is recovering from substance abuse.  When the national media glorifies the fact that this celebrity has gone in to a coma or that celebrity has died I think it takes away from the local problem that we have right here, in our own back yard.  I am sorry that these celebrities have issues, and cannot deal with the celebrity machine that they have built, but it was something that has been done by them, as it is when it happens here with someone you love.  All we can do is reach out and offer a hand, and an ear.  And let them know that there is help.  Let’s stop glorifying drug use and abuse.

Daily Dose of BS Oct 14 phone

I did the software update in my phone sometime in the past two weeks, and my phone has been acting up ever since.  I went in yesterday to ask why my phone was telling me that I had no space left, I don’t have anything on my phone but a few hundred pictures and a handful of songs.  With the update my phone started propagating contact info from all my accounts and it didn’t know when to stop, my contacts ended up eating up over half my phones memory.  I got that fixed.  Ever given much thought to how things change?  Life is what happens in between your planned events.  I got a call from my Dad yesterday afternoon saying I will be there in about 90 minutes we are just outside the Dells.  I had no idea what he was talking about as apparently I wasn’t getting texts because of my phone issue, I am glad that I got to spend some time with my father.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 13 capx

The landscape has changed.  You used to be able to drive about anywhere and see wooden utility poles, now the rural landscape is peppered with monster rusted metal poles holding powerlines high above the terrain.  The CapX power line is done and there is a dedication ceremony today to celebrate the fact that they finished ahead of time.  At a cost of 2.2 billion dollars the cost of these power moving lines will be shared over the 16 states that are receiving service from these lines.  I personally think that they are ugly, and an eye sore.  I do think that it was pretty cool though watching what construction I was able to watch, but that doesn’t change the fact that they look like rusted out dead trees peppered on the roadsides of the Midwest.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 12 dine and dash

Well it took me till 47 years old to dine and dash.  My son and I headed up to the cities over the weekend to hang out with my brothers, and it just happened to be a get together of some of my high school classmates.  My brothers and I headed out to meet up with them to get together to BS about life.  We had a few beers and then left to head back to my brother’s house.  I didn’t think anything of it, till I heard from one of my friends the next day telling me I left without paying.  I honestly thought that my brother was picking up the drinks.  I was wrong.  Needless to say I owe someone 20 bucks because one of my classmates picked up my tab.  My brothers and I also hit up a bar that our Dad and Grandpa’s drank at one time.  Besides forgetting to pay for my beers at the one place it was a pretty awesome weekend.  

Daily Dose of BS money Oct 9

I read sometime in the past week that is costs about 2 cents to make a penny and about a dime to make a nickel.  It got me wondering, are we at a point where we don’t need to make these pieces of money any more, or should we find a better more efficient way of making them?  I for one would bet that if we dropped either or both of these iconic money pieces that prices would go up to the closest dime rather than drop to the closest multiple of ten.  I also thought if the cost is higher than the value isn’t that for the first time use then with each use after we split that cost, and eventually it would be insignificant, right?  I also wonder if the cost of the metal to make the coins is higher than the value of the coin, won’t that cause hording of the money for the value of the metal.  Oh the things I wonder.

Daily Dose of BS texting Oct 8

You know that texting and driving is against the law right?  Daily I look at the people around me the others that are sharing the road with me and my family and friends.  Daily I see distracted drivers plowing through their lives eyes down on a phone or other device while they should be paying attention to the stuff going on around them.  Daily I see a distracted parent texting while in the car with their most precious of cargo in the back seat.  I have even seen senior citizens looking down at a phone while driving.  This is a problem, a serious problem that not only is affecting us, but affecting people all over the country.  The laws have been written to keep people from texting and driving but that hasn’t helped.  The police in La Crosse for 5 days this month will be cracking down on distracted driving including stopping those who are texting and driving.  Remember that whomever you are texting can wait. 

Daily Dose of BS fair? Oct 7

Everybody wants life to be fair, guess what it isn’t, and it never will be.  I think of all the times that things were fair in my life, and really truly they never were.  Someone always has the advantage or the upper hand.  How we deal with that is what makes us who we are.  I recall when I was a kid and my brothers and I would fight over the last piece of anything and mom would always jump in and try to make it fair, offering to cut it up into thirds the “fair” thing to do.  Someone always got the smaller piece or was the last to pick or wasn’t happy for this reason or that reason.  Fast forward to life now, people get opportunities that you never got, how unfair is that?  Guess what life isn’t about being fair it is about making your own opportunities and knowing when to take them.  Quit whining about life and take it. 

Daily Dose of BS breakfast for supper Oct 6

McDonald’s has heard the call and starting today will be offering breakfast all day long.  Breakfast for supper has been a staple around the Schmidt house for many years, who doesn’t like a quick bowl of cereal and toast when there isn’t something else around.  I have made oven bake French toast for dinner and the family loves it when homemade biscuits and gravy is the evening meal.  There is something about having breakfast for supper, it is comfort food at a time when most of us need to be comforted, we are just getting home from a hard day at the office or at school.  McDonalds I’m loving the fact that you are now doing breakfast all day, now you just got to expand the menu to include my favorite McGriddles.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 5 trash

My parents taught me not to litter, to pick up after myself, to leave things in better shape when you are finished using something.  For the most part I believe that I do all of the above.  I really enjoyed Oktoberfest this year, I like that for the most part that people were respectful of others, and of other people’s things, there were a few issues like there always are when your community grows by a hundred thousand for a day, but mostly things were good.  What I don’t get is the litter that is strewn on the parade route and the cyclone of trash that is in the college neighborhoods.  I didn’t venture to deep into college town, but on West Avenue I think that the visitors into our beautiful city forgot to pick up after themselves.  How hard is it to pick up your beer bottle, chip bag, or solo cup when you are finished with it and put it in the trash?  Remember you Mom doesn’t live here, pick up after yourself, in fact even if your Mother did live here, pick up your own stuff.

Daily Dose of BS Oct 2 Oktoberfest

Year two for the shortened Oktoberfest, I said it last year and will say it again.  I liked the fest being whittled down into 4 days of action packed fun instead of dragged out over 9 days.  You know that things need to change or face doom, and this was a step in the right direction.  After living in La Crosse since 1992 I have been around Oktoberfest for 23 years, participating in the Maple Leaf parade and always amazed at the amount of people who come out of the wood work to watch and cheer.  I always wondered though, do people take vacation to go stake their claim of park land or boulevard for a 5 hour parade?  One last thought, no matter how you celebrate Oktoberfest, I hope that great memories are made.  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.  And join us at the American Legion Post #52 for the slicing of the Golden Brat.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 1 prices

I love a bargain, really who doesn’t?  Starting today Target is now matching prices of their online rivals, isn’t this something that has always been done?  I guess I always assumed that when you bought something from a national online store that you automatically got the lowest price.  I do know if you have an ad from somewhere and the price is lower that you bring it to the attention of the cashier that they will often discount the item to the lower price, I guess I always assumed that it was available to online shoppers also.  I like that this feature is now available, but it can’t help to make me think, is this a good thing?  Hear me out, will this end well for us consumers, if everyone is matching everyone else’s prices, won’t that just push all retailers to not have sale prices and just use the manufacturers suggested retail price? 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 30 drinking at fest

We are going to be seeing many people drinking to excess this weekend.  It unfortunately is a fact.  I contend that you can go to Oktoberfest and either drink just a couple to be social or not drink at all.  I have been on both ends of the spectrum over living in La Crosse for the past 23 year, I gotta say the years that involved less drinks were just as fun and maybe even more fun than the ones that had overindulged Bob.  I understand that at festivals and especially ones where everyone seems drunker than the next person, you feel the pressure to drink to excess, as I try to show my kids in moderation it is ok, but don’t let it get away from you.  Think before that last drink. 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 29 animals

On my way into work this morning a possum ran out in the street and under my car.  I somehow missed it.  I also saw a mouse crossing the road, when I saw the mouse I started laughing and thought to myself why would a mouse cross the road, then immediately thought well to get to the other side.  I was lucky that I didn’t hit either of these animals, I have in the past thought about the point value, you know the old game there’s 10 points, but then kept on driving.  One time a squirrel ran right under my wheels and I felt bad, another time a rabbit did the same thing, suicide by car, not a cool game in the animal kingdom.  I especially hate when the person in front of me gets a skunk.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 28 thanksgiving dinner

I got an email on Friday announcing that the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner was going to be cancelled.  Even though I had only attended that diner once, I had always talked about it and thought it was one of the gems about living in our community.  The reason for the cancellation is because of lack of volunteers to step up and help.  I am hopeful that this gem will return even brighter than before.  I guess that this goes to show that even if something is good and helps the community that the community needs to get behind and share their talents with these events, remember that they don’t run on their own.  If there is an event that you like, this could be the wakeup call for maybe you to step up and help out, I know it was a wakeup for me.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 23 happy birthday song

I always thought it was funny whenever there was a birthday on tv or movie that they never sang the happy birthday song there was always some made up song that went along with that birthday.  Well that may change as the holder of the copy write for that piece of music may only own the copy write for the piano music and not the lyrics.  I don’t know I will kind of miss the different renditions of the song that we have grown accustom to.  Speaking of birthdays, my wife has a big one tomorrow she turns the big 5-0.  Happy birthday Marcia and here is too many more birthday tunes for you. 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 22 Christmas in September

I was walking through Shopko last week and they were already pushing Christmas, over the weekend I stopped at Kmart and guess what the same thing.  When is it too early to start pushing Christmas?  Also what do you think the take away for Christmas is these days?  It certainly doesn’t have the same meaning as it did when I was a kid.  Now it seems like the more crap you can get in the hands of the consumer the better.  What about the simple times?  One of my favorite Christmas memories was when my kids were babies and we went to church as a family, had a great meal and good family time.  We did all this with the traditional Christmas décor and of course the classic Christmas carols in the background. Christmas used to be enjoyed in December not pushed down our throats starting in September.  Merry Greedmas, and lets ho ho hope for lots of profits.  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 21 Farm and Fleet

Have you driven from La Crosse north to Farm and Fleet?  How did you get there?  The Wisconsin DOT is working off a grant from 2003 to extend the turning lane on to Kinney Coulee Road.  If I were Farm and Fleet I would be mad as hell, I am mad and I am just an occasional consumer.  I am mad that I have to either go up by Woodman’s and turn around or drive onto the interstate and loop back around to head westbound on Highway 16 to turn into the store.  Not cool, not cool at all.  When the DOT comes up with their plans don’t they look at the impact of businesses around?  I also wonder if now that you have to plan for an extra mile to get to Farm and Fleet if they will get an entrance from parking lot over by Target now?  How inconvenient for consumers and employees.  Also how rude for the planners to shut down access to a business. 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 18 Favre

Big year for Brett Favre first his number 4 is going to be retired on Thanksgiving night and was just announced that he is a nominee for the 2016 pro football hall of fame.  It is funny when you bring up Brett Favres name there are some that love and some that hate him.  One of my good friends Tom never liked him even in his hay day.  Another buddy Jim loves him.  Me I thought that Favre rocked the game and was an iron man and was amazing when he was on.  I remember being like lots of other Packer fans and wondered what the heck were they thinking when they choose to start Rogers over Favre, honestly I was quite mad about it.  I guess that goes to show you what I know – not too much apparently.

Daily Dose of BS September 17 racism

According to you do we live in a racist society?  I am not sure that I qualify to answer this question, as I am a middle aged white male.  From what I see I think that we are living in a racist society, I believe that racism has no color boundaries, that there are people in every shade that don’t like or want to talk with another race.  According to Google when you type in define racism the answer you get is “the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, prejudice or discrimination directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.”  After hearing that definition I wonder if people truly are racist or if people are just egotistical and they don’t know about other races or people other than themselves.  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 16 panhandling

Three times this week I ran into panhandlers and it is only Wednesday.  Two over by Walmart on the south side and yesterday while sitting at a light for about 5 minutes out by the Mall.  I want to say get a job.  The effort that is taken standing out there with a sign is more than they would have to do for many jobs.  As I have been getting older I have become more cynical and when I see the sign that says will work for food, or anything will help or down on my luck.  I want to say we all have bad days, how we choose to let those days guide us is up to us.  I have heard from others around town that they have given food and drinks to some of these people and it has been left there on the side of the road.  I also notice that once someone leaves from a particular panhandling place that often that place is left littered with candy bar wrappers and pop cans.   

Daily Dose of BS Sept 15 jerseys

Should major sports allow advertising on jerseys?  The stadiums have almost every inch sponsored, why not use the jersey for advertising, but use it to offset the cost of the tickets.  It is getting to be outrageous for a family to go to a sporting event these days, you need a loan and payoff plan in order to take the whole family to a game, then when you are there don’t forget you gotta eat and drink.  Maybe they should look at sponsoring the jerseys etc.  There are already the Nike swoop on some of the jerseys or the Under Armor x on others, instead of trying to be sly do it like Nascar and have the sponsors all over the jerseys.  Save us fans some money.  

Daily Dose of BS September 10 hs football

By now you have most likely seen the video of the two Texas High School football players who intentionally tackled the referee in last Fridays game.  This was malicious and intentional; I want to know who thought that this was ok?  There was a claim by some of the students that there was some racial slurs said to the two players others are saying it was retaliation against the referee for missed calls, either way it was wrong, and blindsiding this referee is unacceptable.  I think that this incident should be made an example of, so that it doesn’t happen again.  If it was a bad call, you need to live with it because guess what- there are bad calls at each and every game.  Plus you can’t retaliate each and every time that something doesn’t go your way.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 9 fat shamming

Comedian Nichole Arbour stirred the pot last week by introducing a 6 minute video titled “Dear Fat People”.  The video says that obesity is not a disease and that fat shaming is not a thing saying that fat people made that up that it is the race card with no race.  She goes on to say what are you going to do chase me?  Well Nichole, being a fat guy myself I would like to ask this question, who do you think you are making fun of a group of people?  Would you make fun of any other group?  I don’t know who you are but, I would bet that you would most likely be one of the first to stand up for almost any other group, what makes it ok for you to pick on fat people?  You know what if you are happy with who you are, live life and enjoy what you have.

Daily Dose of BS Aug 28 no facebook

Social media and texting have been a big part of my life for the past I would guess 7 years.  I am going to attempt to do something I have never done before, on Monday when my vacation officially starts until Labor Day I am going to attempt to not text or not go on to facebook.  This is going to be tough for me as I have been tied to facebook for work and pleasure for many years, in fact my facebooking and texting have gotten so bad that I will miss parts of life because I am looking at the stupid screen on my phone.  Vacation this time around isn’t anything special just going to be taking a staycation hoping to get a few things done around the house, also plan on carrying on a tradition that my parents started when I was in school, on the first day of school I have always taken the kids out for breakfast, and don’t plan on disrupting that tradition.  I hope I can make it from August 31 – September 7^th without texting and facebooking, any ideas on how to do it?

Daily Dose of BS Aug 27 killing

Work place violence played out yesterday on live tv, kind of hits home to me and my coworkers.  We aren’t on tv but anyone in radio has been on location broadcasting and not really aware of all the surroundings when doing so.  When I heard the audio of the shooting yesterday I got goosebumps then later in the day I saw the tv news coverage unfold, and then seeing the shooters go pro video posted on his social media, this scares me.   What kind of copycat type killing are we going to see now?  What kind of demented, over the top things are we going to see next unfold live right in front of our eyes?   I guess to me hearing and seeing this play out in the same week that we had a murder in La Crosse makes me think that there are people with no regard for life all over the county, and that makes me sad.  Life is a gift we need to live it. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 26 preseason football

Do we really need preseason games in the NFL?  With Jordy Nelson out for the year, I scratch my head and wonder in disbelief and wonder what the reason behind having meaningless games in August.  The NFL expects their players to give it their all for the 16 regular season games, then up to 3 more for a couple of teams leading to the Championship game, the one you cannot say without getting in trouble from the NFL.  Now there are 4 preseason games added to that giving up to 23 weeks’ worth of hurt that could be thrust upon these players.  Most of the time the preseason games are a couple plays with the players that everyone wants to see and then 3 plus quarters of the second and third string players that won’t be around for the whole season.  I guess I look it as have maybe one or two preseason games, then let’s get on with the games that matter. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 25 stocks

I am not a financial planner nor do I play one on the radio, however my dad is one and I have many friends who are.  On Monday the market opened then immediately lost over a thousand points.  What does this mean to the typical person?  Well in my understanding is that if you were to sell your shares of stock when your shares were down, then you lose some money, however if you were to buy stocks when the market was down, it would be like buying those stocks on sale.  When the market has big swings you don’t really lose money or make money unless you decide to make a sale on that day at that time.  My dad once explained it to me if you buy a stock for 100 dollars and you lose 50% you are down to 50 bucks but if you gain 50% you are only at 75 dollars.  I guess the way I look at it for me, is that I don’t need my stocks today, so I am going to just let the shares ride, so no loss, except for on paper.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 24 community

On Friday we had our first murder in La Crosse in almost 2 years.  With all the crazy stuff going on nationally all the anti-cop rhetoric and the whole you shouldn’t talk to the police sentiment that is being preached to youngsters.  There is a fear that is setting in, a kind of challenging fear, one that is almost a fight or flight mentality.  I have heard some say that we as a community are close to a breaking point, some say that the police have no idea what they are doing and others like myself that applaud the local police department for what they are doing.  I had the chance over the weekend to talk to a few people who live in the neighborhood where the shootings have taken place, in fact one of the women I spoke with owned a home right next to the apartment where Randall was finally captured.  And she said her neighborhood has been slipping into the toilet for years.  Are you ready to fight for our community or roll over and play possum?  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 20 weather

I am guessing that you have heard the old saying wait 15 minutes and the weather will change, right?  I saw a report the other day that said that this year we should expect a snowy winter.  Big woo we live in Wisconsin and that what winter is around here.  Funny thing about the weather we all complain about it but there is nothing we can do about it.  My buddy Bill Graul has said many times that with the forecast we always hear what we want for example if the weather guy says we could see a trace to an inch or rain we edit the forecast to benefit our day if you really wanted to go and do something outside and you needed to sell it to someone you would say there is only a trace chance of rain however if you didn’t want to do the outdoor activity you would say that we are getting an inch of rain I heard the weather person say so.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 19 waste

About every eight days I have the same problem the bar of soap is too small to use, I have tried morphing the smaller sliver of soap into the bigger new bar of Irish Spring and you end up with a lump on one side of the soap.  What are we supposed to do with those little slivers of perfectly good soap?  Think about the wastes that go on in the bathroom alone.  Let’s say you’re on the thorn you look at the paper and damn there are about 3 squares left for you to finish your job, three squares are not going to make a dent.  What do you do with those 3 extra squares?  I don’t know, I leave them for the next guy, not really, but sometimes I do.  Think of tooth paste, if you squeeze from the middle you miss lots at bottom and sides,  I squeeze from the bottom then about half way done I start the roll of the tube, then try to get the last drop out, but there is still the bit at the top that you can't get.  Which leaves me with the deodorant pack, if you make it down toward the end of the deodorant you will either break the piece off at the bottom or you will hit the sides of the container with your armpit.  Bathrooms truly are a place full of waste.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 17 shooting

I moved to the 900 block of 5th ave 23 years ago when I first moved into LaCrosse, it wasn’t the nicest neighborhoods, but it was home for a couple years. I never felt unsafe, I never had anything stolen or in the case of this past weekend, I never got shot at nor did my house ever get shot at. What is our city becoming? Our family had discussion at dinner last night about the multiple shootings in the city over the weekend, and my youngest asked if there were shootings everyday like we had in bigger cities like Chicago? I told him unfortunately yes there are shootings in big cities all the time, in which he responded why. That is a dang good question, why? I read a blog yesterday that said if we rode our bikes more and had more green space that this wouldn’t happen. I hope for humanities sake that they were only kidding.

Daily Dose of BS Aug 14 wi dot

Houses didn’t used to have flair and inviting look that they have now, when you go to build a house now or go to remodel an older home you want your home to have a certain look, you want it to be individual and to have the style that the homeowner likes, right?  Sometimes the general contractor makes the look of the home the way they want it, and not taking in the account of the people that are going to be living there.  I kind of feel that is how an entrance to a city should be also, don’t you?  The city of LaCrosse is facing this same type of thing with the exit 3 work that will be going on over the next several years.  The Mayor wanted the city council to reject the Wisconsin DOT plan for rebuild, the city council doesn’t want to spend the money to even have it looked at.  Where were these folks when the plans were being drawn up?  Didn’t they attend the meetings to give their ideas for the planning?  Do you think the city should pony up the cash to make the changes to the exit?

Daily Dose of BS Aug 13 bathroom spray

I am not and have never been a fan of the spray.  I am talking about the masking scent that lots of people spray in the bathroom after destroying a toilet.  Almost every place that has a can sitting there has someone who likes to press the button, and pressing the button is fine for a moment, the goal of having the cover up there is not to see how much of the can you can empty into a little room.  I am not sure why I don’t care for the stuff.  I just know that it doesn’t make the room smell like flowers.  I also don’t care for the natural smell either, but that is what the fan is for.  Speaking of bathrooms, I think that the public restrooms are learning after many use the paper towel to open that door, putting the garbage can by the door- that is a brilliant move.  You know what would be even smarter don’t you, have the doors push out. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 12 forgotten kids

I saw a campaign on facebook to leave your phone in the backseat when your baby is in the car, not so you don’t text and drive but so you don’t forget your baby in the car.  Huh?  Did I read that right, unfortunately I did read that right.  How in the hell can you leave your baby in the car?  I just don’t get it.  When I was a kid we stopped to have dinner at a McDonalds and my brother wouldn’t get into the car, after my parents pleaded with him to hop in, he didn’t so my dad drove around the block and came back to pick him up.  Now days you would probably go to jail for that stunt, which brings me to the family from France who drove 90 miles before realizing that they left their 3 year old daughter at a rest area.  As a dad myself, don’t you check the car seats or look in the mirrors at your kids while you are driving?  This phenomenon of parents forgetting their kids happens so often it has a name it’s called Forgotten Baby Syndrome.  Here’s some advice, look before you get out of your car, and look before you take off.

Daily Dose of BS Aug 11 neighbors

They say that 12 % of people hate their neighbors.  How are yours?  At one time I was living in the neighborhood that I had always dreamed of, great neighbors who care about their lawns, we took care of the elderly that lived close by helping with window washing and lawn mowing.  I still know most of my neighbors but not all, at one time I knew every single family that lived on my side of the block and about half of those across the street.  With our society as it is with it being so fluid, people have moved in and out of the neighborhood, and I don’t know if I just got lazy and content with my space, but the friendships that I once had with lots of neighbors has whittled down to the few of the neighbors who I’ve become good friends with.  Do you reach out to know your neighbors, or not?  

Daily Dose of BS toys

Remember growing up and the boys got GI Joes and the girls got Barbie’s?  I never had sisters so we never had the traditional girl’s toys at our house.  The toys at the Schmidt house were always gender specific towards boys, my brothers and I used to play also with Legos, and cars and trucks.  Target is now going to be removing the boy and girl label from most of their children’s department toys, after complaints from some shoppers.  For quite a while retailers have been moving away from boy and girl type of label on toys, and quite honestly having 3 boys and a girl at my house, while my kids were growing up, I often wondered why some of the things were labeled with either sex.  I thought the more creative items were always labeled with the girl label and more the cars and trucks with the boy label.  My kids played with both until they got to the age where they started to notice that this is a girl toy or a boy toy.  I get it with some of the toys, but really.  Who cares, as long as a toy or activity can help with the developmental growth of a child, let them play. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 7 staycation

Often times our own backyards are overlooked.  I am talking about taking a vacationing at home or a staycation.  My buddy Smiley from Nebraska and his family are coming to La Crosse for a visit, and I want to show them the best of our area.  They have been here a handful of times over the past 23 years, and we have done the bluff, gone on the river, walked the marsh and had ice cream at a couple places, hit the bars downtown the places that we think of first.  If you were showing off our city where would you take your guests?  I am proud of where we live and don’t want to miss out on that overlooked gem of Western Wisconsin.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 6 forgetful

My memory is not what it used to be.  I forget the most basic of things, for example this morning I was trying to remember to bring a um…thing this morning.  I got about to work and I swore to myself for forgetting my um thing.  My dad tells a joke where one of his clients stopped halfway on the staircase and called out to his wife, honey, um do you remember if I was heading up or down.  That makes you smirk because we have all felt like that at times, forgetting the most basic things.  How often have you set your keys down and forgot where they were, or didn’t grab your phone or watch as you headed out the door?  What about your car in a parking lot.  We have all forgotten things, but as I am getting older it seems to me that those forgetful moments are coming more often.  You?  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 5 to many

Is it to early to care?  I am thinking about the 23 declared candidates for President.  There are 18 on the Republican side and 5 on the Democratic side.  Are we focusing too early on who these people are?   I find it weird that FOX picked the top 10 republicans for debate, while the other 8 have a different slot to fill.  I wonder if the earlier slot for these candidates is because of the equal time rule.  I do know that the primary is an important vote as you get to help to whittle down the amount of candidates from 23 to two.  Even though I think it is way too early to even be thinking of this stuff, we do need to pay attention and be informed on what policies are important to us. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 3 facts

I find this odd more than 50% of the people in the world have never made or received a telephone call.  I found that stat over the weekend, then I started to do the math in my head, ok most under let’s say 3 have never made or received a phone call, then what?  I like these kind of stats if they can be backed up.  The internet spews out lots of useless knowledge and lots of people who think that they are experts, heck anyone can write a book and claim expert status.  What are some of the weird facts that you have found that you know to be true?  I know that A 2 X 4 is really 1-1/2 by 3-1/2, and that each king in a deck of cards represents a king from history.  What strange facts do you know?

Daily Dose of BS July 31 hunting

Every once in a while we get reminded that there are hunters that sometimes aren’t ethical, this past week for example, we heard of the dentist from Minnesota that went safari hunting and took out a giant cat.  There are people who hunt out of necessity, there are people who hunt for the camaraderie, there are some who go for the history and family time, and there are people who hunt for the trophy.  I guess I don’t get the trophy hunter.  If you are only going for the trophy or the kill aren’t you kind of defeating the purpose?  I admit I have gone on a few charter fishing trips and have enjoyed my catch, I have had friends who have gone on guided hunts and they too have enjoyed the bounty from the hunt, but to hunt just for the pelt or the trophy, I guess that I don’t get that, am I missing something?  

Daily Dose of BS July 30 brady

Does someone innocent bust up their cell phone and wreck their sim card?  Nope, no way, not at all.  I think that the NFL should take away the Super Bowl from the Patriots for lying, and cheating.   If Tom Brady wasn’t guilty why would he bust up his phone?  I think that the NFL and all sports leagues should put their foot down and make examples out of players who cheat.  Not only did he cheat, but he changed the course of NFL history.   I don’t think that a 4 game suspension is enough.  

Daily Dose of BS July 29 dads

I was lucky over the weekend to spend some quality time with my Dad.   Dad and I have not always seen eye to eye, in fact we differ on many things still.  However, I wouldn’t trade our relationship for anything.  I now know why I like to talk and tell stories; he is a story teller and doesn’t like a quiet car ride.  I think it is funny when he says something now I can either beat him to the punch or question why he does something a certain way since when I was a kid it was this way and only this way.  I guess it shows that I have always been a listener.  With Dads comes advice, and lessons, what was the one lesson that resonates when you think of your parents?  For me a couple stand out like always be thinking a few steps out, and always pay off your credit card.  

Daily Dose of BS July 24 another shooting

Another movie theater shooting last night, a month ago a church shooting, and for what reason?  I wonder what the reason this time will be?  It seems like every time there is a tragedy that we feel like we need to blame someone other than the person or persons involved?  If you get caught speeding is it the fault of the designer of the road because if they hadn’t built the road to handle the speed, or the maker of the radar device that clocked you at that speed, or better yet the police officer that was doing their job?  No it is the fault of the person doing the crime.  We need to stop making excuses and trying to find someone other than the shooters to blame and we need to figure out the reasons that they made these horrible choices.  

Daily Dose of BS July 23 people

There are lots of people that work, they work hard for their money.  Lots of us go to work each and every day, fighting for the chance to survive.  We choose to live within our means, don’t overspend, we try to get a handle on the money we have coming in, so we know what we can spend.  I get that we sometimes need a hand up or a hand out.  There are government agencies and private funded agencies that will help you out.  Yesterday two different people stopped me to say that they have been noticing more and more people with a sign saying that they are down on their luck and would like to work for food, or can you help me because I’ve lost everything.  I just wonder why these people who don’t have any problem sitting by the side of the road holding a sign, couldn’t get a job doing something.  I mean if I were in that situation, I would, I believe take anything and work my ass off to try to achieve success, wouldn’t you?  

Daily Dose of BS July 22 dt

Am I the only one that thinks that Donald Trump is making a mockery out of the mockery that politics has become?  His throwing people under the bus from saying that John McCain isn’t a hero, to his disparaging words about Mexicans, and all the other bang on the drum yell at the top of his lungs antics to get his point across.  I don’t like the fact the he says let’s make America great again.  I think we are great and have always been great, sure there are politicians I don’t like and don’t agree with but guess what a few politicians don’t make or break a country.  There are people that don’t like you, does that make you a bad person or make your family bad or where you work bad?  No.  I for one wish that the media wouldn’t even talk about Trump, but since he is making the biggest waves right now he is the story of the day, put the gloves back on Donald and fight fair.  Also I still believe that America is great, and will continue to be so no matter who wins the election in 2016. 

Daily Dose of BS July 21 front seat

It is a rite of passage for a child to call shotgun on a car ride with mom or dad.  My kids always did, and still do to this day, sitting in the back seat sucks.  In Massachusetts they are talking about making it illegal for kids under the age of 13 to ride in the front seat, under fear of a 25 dollar fine for violating the law.  So if you have a pick up and no extended cab are us supposed to put the kids in the back of the truck?  If so that could be cool.  Data show that back seat riding is 40% safer than the front seat for children under 13.  You know what is 100% safer right?  Every kids should be staying home, never going outside, living in a bubble, never watching tv.  Come on, let the kids live a little and share the front seat with their moms and dads every once in a while.  

Daily Dose of BS July 20 what would you do

There is a college professor at the University of Maryland that posed this question on a test.  “Here you have the opportunity to earn some extra credit on your final paper grade.  Select whether you want 2 points or 6 points added onto your final paper grade.  But there is a small catch: if more than 10% of the class selects 6 points, then no one gets any points.  Your responses will be anonymous to the rest of the class, only I will see the responses. “  How would you  answer that question, and why?  I find that what we do when no one is watching is who we really are as people.  Sure anyone can do or say the right thing when there is an audience, but when you are doing something without the watchful, eye, how do you respond?  I also find when you don’t think people are watching, they are.  

Daily Dose of BS July 17 roundabouts

Remember the game Frogger?  I used to love playing that game trying to get the frog across the street, and over the logs on the river, we are going to be able to play the game of Frogger for real on Cass Street.  How so you ask?  Well, the city and the state will spend close to a million dollars to acquire land, and then build a roundabout connecting the offset 7^th street and Cass Street, causing a cluster for drivers and pedestrians alike.  I get anxious when I approach them, what if I do it wrong, what to do I got off too early and ended up having to go out my way, how do I get back on track?  Personally not a fan of the roundabout, and am not looking forward to the roundabout on Cass Street, are you?  Maybe we could kill two birds with one stone and put a parklet in the middle of the roundabout.  

Daily Dose of BS July 16 pizza

When I grew up we used to get Totino’s Pizza it was inexpensive and it was what we knew.  Every once in a while Mom would splurge and we ended up with a Tombstone Pizza, those pizza days were awesome.  I loved the Tombstone Pizza.  As I got older and started cooking for myself, I decided that I would no longer buy Totino’s Pizza, it was just a plain old boring pizza with little or no topping, Tombstone was still a treat when I could afford it, and other brands caught my eye.  I am a big fan of the Lloyds Pizza, and really like the Lotzza Motzza Pizza.  Which brings me back to the Tombstone Pizza, is it just me or did the quality of the Tombstone go way down?  As I said it used to be a treat to have one, and last night we popped a couple of them in the oven, and memories from my childhood came flooding back, how disappointed was I when the pizza curled up looking taco like and the taste was disgusting.  What is your favorite frozen pizza? 

Daily Dose of BS July 15 pete rose

People still love Pete Rose.  74 year old banned for life former Cincinnati Reds ball player was cheered when he was introduced at the All Star Game last night.  Do you think that this is the opening that he needs to regain a foothold with MLB?  Rose as you know was caught betting on the game of baseball, and as we all know that if you break a rule in a major sport and you are caught they change the rules.  I often laugh at the things the professional sports leagues say about rules because the severity of the punishment depends on who you are.  Do you think that Pete Rose should be allowed to enter back into the game of baseball, or should the lifetime ban mean a lifetime?  

Daily Dose of BS July 14 Walker

Like it or not Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has now announced his intentions to be the next President of the United States of America.  Living in Wisconsin I have seen those who love him and those who hate him.  Walker said yesterday during his announcement speech that he will fight for America’s interests and for his conservative policies while in Washington.  I have had the chance to interview the Governor quite a few times in the past 3 years, and I like that he will answer whatever you ask him, lots of politicians want to know what you are going to ask before the interview, with Walker that has never been the case, one time I asked Marianne or Ginger, his answer was Marianne.  Do you think that Governor Scott Walker has a chance at the republican nomination? 

Daily Dose of BS July 13 keeping items

Do you hang on to things that should have long been tossed?  Things that have no useful meaning or purpose, I do.  And I am not proud.  I don’t know why but I will keep stupid things like old notebooks, receipts, magazines, books, and old electronics.  I can tell you why with every one of the things in that group too, I keep the old notebooks in case I ever want to go back and look at my notes, which is crazy because my writing it so horrible that even if I wanted to read what I wrote, I wouldn’t be able to.  I keep the receipts for my business, I keep books and magazines because they are filled with information and we all need information and keep the electronics because when I bought that stuff it was expensive.  I know I really need to toss some of these things, what items do you keep just because you can justify it? 

Daily Dose of BS July 10 data breach

We need to redo the system.  We heard last night about the Government data breach that they said was  4 million records is now 21 million records.  Of the over 21 million records that were stolen most  belonged to individuals who had undergone background investigations, the compromised data included sensitive background information, such as employment history, relatives, addresses, and past drug abuse or emotional disorders and over a million of the compromised files included fingerprints.  There were also family members information that was breached.  What can we do to really lock down our information?  Live in solitude, no phones, tv, electricity, get rid of all our worldly possessions?  I don’t think that is the answer.  Or do we just need to spill the beans on everything, and hope that no one stumbles on to our stuff?

Daily Dose of BS July 9 WI Budget

The Wisconsin state budget is expected to pass today and then go to Governor Walker.  I have had many conversations about the budget with both sides of the political spectrum, and someone close to the middle I feel that both sides are full of my initials.  What I don’t understand with these budgets is that they need to do a budget every two year and yet feet get dragged, sleeves get rolled up and the boxing gloves get put on.  These budgets are a power play by the party in charge.  I don’t like that fluff gets added to the budget, lots of pet projects get thrown in as part of the budget to help it along and to get it passed.  I wonder why this is even allowed to go on, I would think that there has to be some “truth” in budgets right?  Is the Wisconsin Budget an introduction of Scott Walker as a presidential candidate?  

Daily Dose of BS July 8 right to die

If you are terminally ill and in pain and you’re not going to get better not even with a miracle, why can’t you decide to die?  I think that it is inhumane to keep people alive when someone is terminal and wants to die, it is costing the families and the insurance companies millions of dollars, let people die with dignity.  No one wants to remember their loved ones last few months being hooked up to ventilators and having wires coming out of here and there.  When a patient is beyond a point, inches from death, allow them to go in peace, in their own terms.  I love life and enjoy living but, when it comes to pain and knowing that there is no positive outcome, wouldn’t it be easier and better for a the patient to be allow to administer a final dose?

Daily Dose of BS July 7 late

Yesterday I posted this simple question on Facebook.  When you're meeting somebody for lunch, how long do you wait before you leave?  I am not a patient man, I despise waiting and I hate late.  I am pretty sure that my job plays quite a lot into that, as if I am not here by show time, then there is dead air.  I think I have always had these feelings about keeping to a schedule, well ever since after high school.  I remember my senior year I don’t think that I made it to class on time the whole year.  Since then I’ve come to the decision that you get to where you want to go and get there at the time you said you would be there.  I guess I feel as though it is disrespectful to the person waiting if you are always late.  If you are every once in a while late, eh, it’s ok, but if you’re always late, then you need to change your priorities.  

Daily Dose of BS July 6 hourly vs salary

When President Barack Obama was in town on Thursday he was talking about money because doesn’t everything revolve around money.  The big question is hourly vs salary.  The Department of Labor’s proposal would have most salaried workers earning less than $50,440 to be paid time and a half for hours greater than 40 per week.   I have worked for some places that were slave drivers when it came down to getting paid.  Being a radio personality I have been a salaried employee for most of my career, and only in the past two jobs have I been treated fairly when it came down to wage.  There were times when I first started in this crazy business that I was working seven days a week and about 10-12 hours a day, but I was salaried and they didn’t worry about it.  I did, but that is what pushed me to try to find a better gig.  Do you think that hourly is better than salary or other way around?  Why?

Daily Dose of BS July 2 the President

For the 4^th time in 23 years I am going to see a sitting President of the United States of America.  President Barrack Obama will be at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse Campus this afternoon.  In the 23 year that I have lived in La Crosse this will be another opportunity to watch the President of the United States woo the people.  I am amazed at the speaking power that these men have portrayed, I was lucky enough to sit on stage with President Clinton and watched from behind the scenes how that man worked the crowd, with President George W Bush he controlled the Omni center with his Texas charm, and President Barrack Obama I am sure will not disappoint.  I am pretty sure why La Crosse keeps getting sitting Presidents to come and visit, it’s because of the people and the beauty.  Enjoy the day of national exposure La Crosse.

Daily Dose of BS July 1 todays talk 1490

Three years ago today my life changed for what I believe to be the better.  On July 1^st 2012 the La Crosse Radio Group flipped the format of Original Hits 1490WLFN to Today’s Talk 1490, with me as the anchor.  It’s funny how this adventure started, I was at a La Crosse Jaycee event about 20 years ago when I met Pat Smith the managing partner of the La Crosse Radio group, we had conversation, and went on our merry way.  A few years later I was involved in a huge radio promotion for the competition and I got a letter from Pat Smith thanking me for what I was doing and to keep up the good work.  In 2009 I was laid off, one of the first calls I made was to Pat Smith we chatted, he didn’t have any openings at the time.  Five months later I was working for Pat and two years after that we were building Today’s Talk 1490.  I guess the lesson I learned is to treat everyone with respect including your competition, and if you work hard you will succeed.  I hope that this first three years is a building block for many more great years at Today’s Talk 1490.

Daily Dose of BS June 30 as seen on tv

Ever had the tv on late at night and woke up to an infomercial?  I have been drawn into a couple of them, hook, line and sinker.  I bought a magic jack so I could have a second line at my home for my home business and I was watching the one for the ninja cooking system and mentioned to my wife that was cool but too expensive to buy, I got it for Christmas the next year and I love it.  I also saw this cool wheel barrel being advertised earlier this year and told the kids that, that is pretty cool; I ended up getting it for Father’s Day.  I am glad since I have about 20 yards of gravel to move on uneven ground, so looking forward to busting out that bad boy.  Have you ever been drawn in to buy any of the as seen on tv items?  If so which ones?  Did they work?   

Daily Dose of BS June 29 gay marriage

I believe that everyone deserves the chance at love?  On Friday the U.S. Supreme Court declared same-sex couples can marry in all 50 states.  I know many gay people and I know that most did not choose this way of life.  The bible gets thrown out as the main reason that we should be against being gay, guess what it also says that divorce is a sin.  How many listening to this has a loved one who has been divorced?  Do you look down on them?  Just because someone is gay doesn’t mean that they are any less of a person.  I don’t know this to be fact but isn’t the discrimination of what the gay population is going through now, the same thing that women went through, and blacks went through, and what other populations of people that  were discriminated against have endured?  You don’t have to embrace the gay lifestyle but try to accept is the first step.  I am confused don’t we all want happiness and love why try to stop anyone from achieving this? 

Daily Dose of BS June 26 baseball

If the goal of my day off yesterday was to have fun, then mission accomplished.  I had the opportunity to enjoy the day with my youngest son at La Crosse day at the Brewers game.   Going to Milwaukee on a coach bus has become a Schmidt tradition, it started back about 15 years ago with my oldest, since then each of the Schmidt kids have had at least a special trip with Dad to a Brewers game, it has always been a day about them.  Yesterday was no different; we started off by making a couple of sandwiches for after the game, this is key for a bus trip.  We then enjoyed each other’s company the whole day.  Our adventure will be engrained in my memory forever.  Our bus was hosted by 3 Tim’s and a not Tim (his name was Ryan) we watched a total of 6 partial movies during the trip, took a wrong turn out of Miller Park, met a bunch of new people on the bus, talked to old friends at the La Crosse tailgate party and oh yea saw a baseball game.  The outcome wasn’t what the Brewers fans had hoped for but the memories of the day – priceless.

Daily Dose of BS June 24 confederate flag

Several retailers have decided to pull the confederate flag from the shelves, really the only times I saw the flag and really noticed it was when I was a kid and watched the Dukes of Hazzard.  I see that the Warner Brothers who licenses the Dukes, General Lee is no longer going to allow that version of the car to be manufactured.  The big hitters are all taking the Confederate Flag off the shelves and the politicians have made it their personal stand to do away with the Confederate Flag.  The threat of it going away has put a run on the flag.  Is the removing of the flag kind of the same as filtering history?  Only bringing up the good.  Because not all of history was pretty nor will all the future be rosy.  

Daily Dose of BS June 23 frisbee

Last night my daughter had another softball game, and before the game my son and I were playing catch with a Frisbee that we found there at Logan.  We used it for about 15 minutes then tossed it back, in the field where we found it.  Before we left he said we should grab it, I said no, but then did grab it, cause it was there.  I brought it to my car with me and one of the Dads said to me at least you got a Frisbee.  That got me thinking; I should have stuck with my original no and left it.  I thought about that Frisbee all night and on my way into work this morning I swung back by Logan High School and tossed the Frisbee over close to where it was when my son and I found it.  My question to you is would you have kept that toy, why or why not?  Also should I have let my conscience get the better of me?  

Daily Dose of BS June 22 winning

Here is a very flawed statement - winning isn’t everything it is the only thing.  My daughter’s softball team had a B softball tournament over the weekend.  Her team isn’t horrible, there are moments of brilliance followed by moments of collapse.  This weekend no difference.  I don’t get why an A team would want to play in a B tournament.  Our first game was a 28 to 3 blowout, it was hard to watch and made me angry that it was allowed to go on.  First of all how can a game that lopsided be good for anyone, from the morale and the confidence of the girls who lost to the feelings that they are superior from the team that won, I am sure that they have had some losses as well?  If you are an A team and you decide to play in a B tournament, than maybe you should play up into the next age group or not play in the tournament, because no one gets anything out of such a blow out of a game.  No one. 

Daily Dose of BS June 19th Hayden

I rode my motorcycle to work on Father’s day 1995 I remember that day because a bird used me as target practice, a direct facial hit.  That Father’s Day was the last time I didn’t celebrate Father’s Day as a Dad.   Ya see my oldest son Hayden was born two days later, a month before his due date.  This weekend we will both be celebrating, me as a father, Hayden will be celebrating his golden birthday, 20 on the 20^th.  It is amazing to see the growth of your kids, I am so proud of the man he has become, from his getting up to be at work by 6 every morning, to his sales internship to going to school full-time and maintaining good grades.  These first 20 years have been amazing, I wonder what the next 20 years will bring?  Hayden, happy golden birthday, I love you.  And for the Dads out there, enjoy your weekend, and have a great Father’s Day.  

Daily Dose of BS June 18 crime

I woke up this morning listening to the news about a hate crime with 9 dead in South Carolina, we hear about crime almost every time we turn on the radio, the tv or open the newspaper.  I hosted the La Crosse Areas Crimestoppers public forum last night and was pleasantly surprised to hear that the 9 groups represented on the panel all work well together.  I was happy to hear that there is plenty of collaboration between many of the communities and their local police departments.  I heard that many of the police departments are pushing their police officers to get out and meet the people of their communities, to work with the different neighborhood organizations.  I was also happy to hear about ongoing training in the different departments.  Onalaska Chief Trotnic said the city has the broken window approach, that if a broken window remains broken, there soon are many broken windows and pretty soon something nice is no longer nice, but if the window gets replaced quickly,  it doesn’t have a negative impact.   We all need to work together to make our communities stronger. 

Daily Dose of BS June 17 focus

DO you have problems with keeping your focus later in the day?  I sometimes do, ok most the time I do.  I read an article that say we gotta quit multi-tasking, we need to focus on doing one thing and doing it well, we have trained ourselves to be unfocused by allowing ourselves to be distracted.  One of the other things that the article said was to write down a list of things that you hope to accomplish the next day and also a list of what you accomplished today.   And finally it suggested that you treat yourself, I think that we all too often do this, how else would you explain all the unused gotta have it things around your house that you used as your own personal rewards. 

Daily Dose of BS June 16 vivofit

Walking, moving, hoping.  Yesterday I decided to get at wearable.  I did a bit of research and decided to go with the Garmin rather than the Fitbit, the reason is because I am a time watcher, I got to be certain places at certain times, and my show needs to be on time.  I went with the vivofit 2, it does the time, the date, tracks my steps, my sleep, and how many calories that I burn a day.  I was shocked by the time I got into work this morning that I had already walked 770 steps.  I am interested in seeing how many I do in a day and the weekly.  If not more than accountability for me I hope it pushes me to try to better myself.  Have you had success with using one of these devices, what have you done to make yourself more successful in the wearing or yours, or did I just waste a bunch of money? 

Daily Dose of BS June 12 tipping

More than one person in my life has called me frugal.  I like to hang on to my money and there is nothing wrong with that.  I do however tip well (at least 20% for a meal, not as much for just beers), I get embarrassed when I go out with someone and I offer to pick up the check and they offer to leave the tip and they don’t tip well, leaving only 10% or so.  I guess if you are getting good service and service with a smile, drinks topped off, and the little glimpse into the life of the person serving you, its has got to be worth something, right.  I have been out with people that pull the tip card out of their wallet to figure out the tip.  How hard is it to figure out a tip?  Move the decimal point over to the left one, if you have a $27.45 bill and you want to leave a 10% tip it is $2.75, a 20% tip is $5.50, the ten percent tip doubled, and for a 15% tip split the difference.  Not rocket science and for those that serve, it’s rent, it’s  a car payment, it’s groceries, etc.  Be a tipper and be a hero to someone.  

Daily Dose of BS June 11 attire

When my Mom went to school she had a dress code, there are still many kids that do have them, mostly at private schools.  Not a bad idea for school aged kids.  I really dislike the rude clothes that kids now days wear, the ones with cocky sayings, the I’m better than you type clothes, or the ones that draw attention to different underage body parts.  I worked at a radio job in Nebraska that had a dress code, we had to wear a tie when we were at work, I was the overnight guy there and I still had to wear a tie, it made no sense to me, but I liked getting paid so I did what I was told.  Mayo-Franciscan is dropping their required female hosiery requirement, which I think is about time, I really am not a fan of adults being told what to wear.  You are an adult and you should know the proper attire for the situation, right? 

Daily Dose of BS June 10 sleep

Are you average?  Me?  I am above average; the average guy is 34.4-years-old, 5’10, 175 pounds.  I am going to be 47 in about a month and a half and am 6’2 and about double the weight.  The average American get 6.8 hours a sleep a night,  I get somewhere between  5 and 7 depending on the night, last night I got about 4 and a half.  They say about 7 hours is recommended, but for me to get seven hours of sleep I would have to go to be at 9 every night, and that is not even possible.  The weird thing is that I love sleep and if I could sleep longer I would, but my body is used to breaking up my sleep by taking a refreshing 20 minute nap about 2 every afternoon.  How much sleep do you get, and do you think it is enough? 

Daily Dose of BS June 5 Zoo

There is a local group trying to bring back the Myrick Park Zoo.  I had the chance to talk with a couple of the people behind the Facebook page “Bring back the old Myrick Park”.  One of the first things they did was start a gofundme.com page with a goal of 50 thousand dollars, so far they only have raised 770$,  Kind of disappointing that that is all that has been raised.  There are over 6400 members on their Facebook and that number is growing every day.  I have heard from a few unnamed sources that the Zoo will be brought back, I have heard from others that there is no way that the Zoo would ever be brought back because the cost would be too great at a cost of over a million dollars per year.  If you recall 2006 and the grand plans for a new zoo to bring in Wisconsin based animals and find new homes for the existing animals, the monkeys, prairie dogs, bear, and caged deer all got new homes, in fact  I think the monkeys got jobs in the government but I am not sure.  What do you think they should do?

Daily Dose of BS June 4 outside couches

Having an indoor couch outside could soon be illegal in La Crosse.   All I can say is about time.  How many times have you driven down a street in La Crosse, or anywhere you have driven and seen a shotty plush couch sitting on the front porch of someone’s house and thought to yourself, gross, that needs to be thrown away?  The La Crosse Common Council is considering an ordinance that would bring upholstered furniture back inside.  I think that this is another of steps in cleaning up our neighborhoods; I think we overcame a huge hurdle in neighborhood cleanup when we got the new garbage cans last year.  Now if we can just get people to clean up behind their garages, pick up their yards, weed eat, and do some edging.  I think we are on the right track. 

Daily Dose of BS June 3 NSA

The National Security Agency lost its authority to collect our phone records because Congress passed a bill yesterday saying that they can’t, instead putting it on the phone companies.  Wait a minute, the phone companies are now going to be in charge of the data on my phone?  There are days when I lose text and emails, how can the nation’s phone collecting security be put on the phone companies?  What I find weird is that 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. There are people stealing our wifi and cloning our phones, there are people watching every move we make, yet if we are law abiding citizens we are worried about the government tracking our phone calls.  To me that is the least of our worries, they know more about us than we know about ourselves.  I guarantee it.  Shutting down the NSA collecting our info will just make them sneakier in collecting our data.  I figure every move we make is being monitored by someone, don’t do bad things and you won’t have to worry.

Daily Dose of BS June 2 TSA

WOW!  I feel safe, the TSA failed miserably in an undercover test of their processes.  Reports this morning say that inspectors were able to sneak fake explosives and banned weapons through different checkpoints exposing a system-wide security failure at America's airports.  This does not make me feel safe, and if the terrorists are watching, and I am sure that they are, here is a huge flaw.  We already have to take off our shoes, have our bodies radiated and x-rayed, what is next a strip search for all?  According to the report I heard this morning, that the TSA screeners failed 67 out of 70 tests or about 95% of the tests carried out by special Department of Homeland Security.  The one case that really has me scratching my head is the an undercover agent with a fake bomb strapped to his back set off the machines but the TSA screener still failed to find it.  Have they just given up?  

Daily Dose of BS June 1 tattoos

If you are on social media you’ve seen the regrettable tattoos that are out there, heck if you have been out in the world any time in the past decade you have most likely seen some regret.  They say that 21% of all adults have a tattoo.   I grew up with a Dad who had tattoos, he has four, two on each bicep, these were tattoos he got when he was a kid.  As a child I always wanted one, and looked into getting one when I turned 18 I didn’t get one, then, fast forward 22 years and I ended up getting my kids initials when I was 40.  When I got it, the tattoo artist said that my skin took the ink well, it made me think that some peoples skin doesn’t take ink well?  Weird.  I didn’t really think about it until I had to write a speech on a social issue and I picked tattoos and allergic reactions, I am shocked on the amount of skin reactions that are out there from allergies to the ink, to infections because of bad needles to burns and more.  Is the risk worth the payoff?  Maybe not but there is some cool body art out there.  

Daily Dose of BS May 29 baseball

New changes at the ball park, last night marked the home opener for the La Crosse Loggers and you could not have asked for a better night of baseball.  Many changes were noticed at the ball park like the addition of a couple of new seating areas, the moving of the kids area, the porta pottys got moved and a few other things upgraded.  What didn’t change was the game and the value to go to the game, I have missed watching our La Crosse Loggers and after cheering them to victory last night I am now ready for summer.  My kids have been practicing for their ball teams already and this weekend marks the first of many weekend tournaments of both baseball and softball.  If you are heading out to any games, Loggers, Brewers, or little league, remember the sun screen, the bug spray, a baseball hat, and don’t forget your manners. 

Daily Dose of BS May 28 parklets

Have you seen any of the parklets?  I parked across from one the other day, walked over and took a look at it, shook my head wondered to myself why, and then went on my merry way.  I guess I don’t get the thought behind the parklet parks taking up street space, maybe it is that we have plenty of green space in the La Crosse area, maybe that we only have so many parking spots that line the streets, maybe it is that I just don’t like them.  I don’t know.  I think the main reason I do not care for the parklets is that I just don’t get them.  I am also concerned about the two possibly three spots that the one spot park is taking up, hear me out, people don’t know how to parallel park either that or they are afraid to do it, so with that they pull in to a spot and when they do they leave plenty of room for the car in front of them or behind them taking up a space and a half, multiply that by the length of the street and sure enough two to three spots are taken up.  Parklets are they a good idea, personally I don’t think so. 

Daily Dose of BS May 27 4 days

Why do the short work weeks always seem to last longer to you than the regular five day work week?  I have long pondered this phenomenon, and have come to the conclusion that we are used to working 5 days a week and divide our days accordingly, when we only have four days to get our five days’ worth of stuff it takes a toll on us, this is why in my mind these short weeks equal a longer feel.  Why do you think it is?

Daily Dose of BS May 26 stay in school

I have a brother-in-law that retired as a teacher and years ago we had conversation about kids staying in school.   I was of the belief that kids should have to stay in school while here a teacher said that kids should be allowed to drop out.  I was dumbfounded I didn’t understand, here someone whose job it is to mold and shape minds said that if you want to drop, drop.  It made no sense to me, until he explained it to me, then the light came on and now I agree.  He explained to me if you don’t want to be somewhere let’s say a classroom and everyone else wants to be there, what are you doing?  You are being disruptive and causing other around you to not learn, right?  So this is how my brother-in-law changed my way of thinking when it comes to staying in school.  With that being said, Wisconsin graduation rates are rising and local rates are high than the statewide average, Holmen and Onalaska have rates close to 97% and LaCrosse graduation rates are about 91%.  Personally I don’t think if hurts to never stop learning. 

Daily Dose of BS May 22 Memorial Day

This extended weekend please take some time to reflect on those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives for us to be free.  Thank you to the families of these brave men and women who selflessly marched on to battle for the rest of us Americans.  Memorial Day is also known as unofficial start to summer, and all the activities that go with summer.   I for one will be looking forward to time with my family and friends enjoying all that our beautiful area has to offer this summer.  Every day I drive by the Mississippi River and enjoy looking out across the water and I also have the bluffs to enjoy each day.  You know something I have lived in La Crosse for 23 years now and still enjoy the views.  Enjoy what you have and remember the meaning of Memorial Day.

Daily Dose of BS May 21 speed

We will be spending less time on the highways.  In fact we will be spending less time on about 726 miles of highways in the state of Wisconsin.  The Wisconsin State Department of Transportation is going to begin putting up signs and once they are placed, the speed limit is as posted.  We will now match our neighboring states with speed, I feel we should have gone for the gold and went for 80, but as the Movie What about Bob taught us, baby steps.  I think in no time we will be driving that fast anyway as we always feel the need to push the envelope and since we raised the speed limit to 70 you know that it will mean 75-80.  We have the technology for safety right?

Daily Dose of BS May 20 air bags

The Takata company from Japan that makes air bags is recalling over 35 million air bags, air bags from every car company out there.  The reason is because six people have died and about a hundred have gotten hurt worldwide.  These people got hurt because of the force in which the air bag deploys.  I wonder if doing this will put that business out of business.  I wonder how many lives that those airbags saved?  Will this massive recall make other businesses not try to bring safety to the market over fears of being sued?  I understand that we want safe cars but at what cost?  Is it cold and insensitive of me to wonder about this?  Do you think that the government is doing the right thing with this recall?  I don’t think that they are.  

Daily Dose of BS May 19 dumb things

Some stupid things that lots of us do; don’t save enough, foolishly spend on things we don’t need, don’t spend enough time with our families, don’t prioritize our lives, don’t give enough time for ourselves and our mental wellbeing.  There are hundreds of things that we do on a regular basis that most just roll their eyes at or think what a dumbass.  One of the trends that I have been noticing more and more is the idiots who text and drive, and I am not talking about the quick glance down at the phone while at a stop light, but the person who is obviously carrying on a conversation via text with someone while driving.  If you want to be a dummy don’t do it while I’m on the road or anyone else.  Here is an idea, have everyone who gets busted texting and driving do it on a race track going 55 miles per hour and see if they can do it without crashing.  

Daily Dose of BS May 18th time

Time slips through your fingertips at an alarming rate.   Ever really thought of it, you are younger than you will ever be at this moment, but at the same time you are the oldest you have ever been.  Every day we have 24 hours to do what we need to do, 24 hours to make a difference, the choices that you make today, will make a difference in your future.  Kind of a weird thing to think about it, but our time is limited.  We have all lost some loved ones in our past, and will lose more in the future, it is sad to think, but we are limited to the amount of time we have here, and we all have things in our lives that wastes time.  I am guiltier of wasting time than most.  I really enjoy watching tv, and spend hours every week watching the tube.  I also spend time taking naps, and drinking beer too.  What are your biggest wastes of time?

Daily Dose of BS May 14 food stamps

Let the flood gates open.  3,2,1 GO!  The Wisconsin assembly passed bill that would limit the amount of junk food that food stamp recipients can get.  Food stamps can be used for some junk food but two thirds of it has to be nutritional foods such as beef, chicken, pork, potatoes, dairy products, fresh produce and the items that are included in the WIC program.  Added to this that the assembly also passed a pair of bills that would require drug testing for state job training programs such as Wisconsin Works and for certain applicants for unemployment benefits.   Both of these need to pass the Senate to become law.  What are your thoughts on this?  I am guessing that my social media page will be busting at the seams with people from both sides weighing in on how the other side is wrong.  Please be nice in your comments.

Daily Dose of BS May 13 money

Are we ready for new money?  There is talk about introducing new 20 dollar bills by 2020 with influential women on them instead of Alexander Hamilton.  I bet that you don’t even know who Alexander Hamilton is.  I wrote about the need to keep pennies many years ago, I think I am going to rethink that one, either round it up or round it down to the nearest nickel.  Also since I am talking about money I think we need larger than the one hundred dollar bill, cause when you make a bigger purchase and it is a cash purchase, you got a pretty big wad of cash, and also with the way inflation is, to buy your weekly groceries you need at least a hundred bucks and if the gas prices keep sneaking up we will for sure see the prices we saw before, and that means a c-note for a fill.  

Daily Dose of BS May12 anniversary

Today I celebrate my 25^th wedding anniversary, and I always think it is cheesy when people say 25 years ago I married my best friend.  When we were dating we often talked about the future, I think that most people do, we often have grand illusions to what we wanted, places we want to go and things we want to achieve.  I remember right after we got engaged we were talking about kids and that Marcia said she wanted to have four kids with twins.  I laughed, well she got her wish, and I am glad for that.  I wanted to be successful in my radio career, I think I have achieved that goal, I also wanted to be retired at 50, but I don’t think that that will happen.  I want to take my little space here today to thank Marcia for allowing me to spread my wings and fly to where our dreams would take us.  As in every relationship we have had our ups and our downs, and I think if we were really keeping track that there have been more ups than downs.  I also think that we are more than friends, we are partners.  Happy Anniversary.  

Daily Dose of BS May 11 tv shows

I have a couple of things on my mind today.  First off on Saturday I was driving under the I-90 Bridge and a small something dropped from one of the beams that they were working on and cracked my windshield.  Who is responsible for that?  Also where does one go to get that fixed?   Secondly tis the season for cancelled tv shows, this is always a sad time for me as I get hooked on the some of the new shows and no sooner am I hooked they get cancelled.  I even started just recording a few of the iffy shows and don’t start watching them until after the forth show just so I don’t get stuck.  That didn’t work on a few of the shows this year.  I kind of liked the show Backstrom, and also Forever both got cancelled.  I was starting to enjoy Allegiance and that was cancelled in midseason, at least the network continued to play it online.  Don’t the networks know that we watch tv differently now than before, they should give shows a chance to survive.  

Daily Dose of BS May 8 weird stuff

We all do weird things and have weird habits, for example I always grab 3 paper towels when drying my hands.  I also will say ouch when someone fake punches me, I check the fridge for new and different food even though I know there is only the same old stuff.  I am constantly checking the time because I forgot what time it was when I just checked it a few minutes ago.  I go back and retype a sentence rather than trying to just fix the word that is misspelled.  When I send out an important email, that I have read and reread about 10 times go back and reread it again right after I send it, and most of the time I am like, damn why did I send that.  When I sit down to watch tv at lunch I don’t start eating until the show is starting. I meow at cats and bark at dogs and finally I occasionally check to see if I can move things with your mind.  Are any of these things that you do? 

Daily Dose of BS May 7 unfriended

I lost a facebook friend because of what I do for a living.  Now don’t get me wrong that doesn’t bother me but the reason it does bother me is the excuse that I was given.   Here is what transpired -We can't be Facebook friends or whatever as long as you have those lying politicians on your radio show.  I responded that I talk to all politicians on my radio show; his response was that's why we are done. You let politicians on the air.  He went on to say that the Country I served in the Military to defend is Gone.  I should refuse to let those who ruined it be on a radio program I have any part of.  I guess all I can say is thank you for your service to our country and if you are going to have what I do for a living bug you that much it is probably for the best that we are no longer friends.   

Daily Dose of BS May 1 coupons

Is it less manly to use coupons?  Is writing checks a thing of the past?  Do self serve checkouts really make it faster?  Are you easily swayed to try a new product if it is priced lots less than what your normal item is priced at?  Are you brand loyal to any brands?  I gotta say I am loyal to just a few brands and they have plenty of competition my must use products are Q-tips and Charmin extra strong.  I am a frugal guy so I use coupons and comparison shop except when it comes to certain items, gas for example, I won’t drive out of the way to save a buck on a fill up especially when you will spend more than that when purchasing.  What sways your shopping habits?  

Daily Dose of BS April 30 pay attention

Well I did it.  I did exactly what I said I would never do.  I pulled out on hwy 35 to cross the highway in the line of a speeding car.  My heart stopped and skipped a few beats and I saw in slow motion the look of terror in the women’s face as she was mouthing something that I can’t repeat without getting in trouble.  The thing is it was accidental, I was seriously looking where I was going, I thought I was paying attention, and I thought I did the look l learned many years ago the left, right, left, right, left look.  I may have but I did it, I pulled right out in the line of an oncoming car.  Thank God that she was paying attention and avoided hitting me.  I tell you what I was shaken the rest of the day yesterday.  I guess it shows me that even if you aren’t texting, and are paying attention that you can still be involved in an accident, I was not but it was a matter of moments that saved me.  Drive safe and pay attention.  

Daily Dose of BS April 29 drunk

I am sad that a young woman in La Crosse has died after drinking too much, and taking a fall.  Why is it that the legal drug- alcohol causes so much pain, and is so widely abused?  I bet that most of the people of age who read or hear this have at one time or another been drunk, yet that seems to be ok.  We make excuses for people saying that they are young, or that they are depressed.  I have done it more times than I wish to remember, but I have cut way back on my drinking, and now it isn’t a quest to see how many brain cells that I can kill, but more a social thing.  We tend to drink way too much and then think that we are bullet proof and that we can do anything, this makes me sad, and worried as a dad.  Look after each other and make sure your buddies make it home safely; we don’t need any more drunken deaths.