Daily Dose of BS Sept 20 fist bump

Howie Mandel does it, I see political candidates doing in now as well as business owners and sports stars.  I very much dislike the fist bump, and I always get caught with it, meaning I bump back.  I think I am old school when it comes to hellos and meetings I like the good old fashioned hand shake and eye contact, but it has to be a good handshake with a firm grasp, hand not too sweaty.  I had a handshake the other day that I had to wipe off afterward, and I don’t like that.  A while back I was at an event and saw a dad of one of my sons friends and said hi, he turned said hi to the other guy at the table shook his hand gave a few pleasantries to him looked up to me, gave me a fist bump and a nod then moved on.  I have been kicking myself since for allowing this to happen.  After that I have been saying I’m not comfortable with the fist bump.  Is that rude of me to call the fist bump out?    

Daily Dose of BS Sept 19 terrorism

It is 2016 and it is important for us to be vigilant and protect ourselves.  With the terrorism that happened over the weekend we have to go back to the see something say something that was all so important after the past terrorism that was perpetrated against us in the past.  The see something say something is probably something that we shouldn't have ever given up, even in our own neighborhoods.  Tomorrow night I will be hosting a Crime Stoppers Forum at the Weber Center focusing on neighborhoods.  As we look around and see the issues with our world today it makes me wonder are we ever going to find peace, in the world, our country, our own backyards?  What can we do to make our families and our friends safe?  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 16 5 second rule

I think that all of us have heard of the 5 second rule, it was a rule I have been living by for most of my life, from the very first time I heard it as a child at the Burger Chef in Roseville Minnesota when my Grandmothers burger fell on the floor and she actually ate it, to just this past weekend when my family and I were enjoying some family time on the back deck and some of the popcorn that my son was eating fell on the ground he proudly claimed the 5 second rule and picked it up.  New research shows that the 5 second rule isn’t really a thing that bacteria can instantaneously contaminate your food, and with 1 in 6 people in America getting sick due to food borne illnesses each and every year, I don’t think that it is worth it.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 15 household income

The average household income in La Crosse County rose about 7 grand in the past year to just over 73 thousand dollars.  This is the largest 1 year gain in 5 years.  While the average household income rose so did the county’s overall poverty rate from 12.5 percent to 15.2 percent.  Nationwide that number dropped about 1 percent.   While the county of La Crosse had quite a jump in average household income, there is still about 15 percent of our neighbors living in poverty making only $11,770 per individual or $24,257 for a family of four.  Didn’t I hear a few weeks ago that it takes about a quarter of a million dollars to raise a child from birth to 18, how is that even possible with a person living in poverty?   And what about the saying that it takes money to make money, if 15% of our neighbors are in poverty, how are they making money?  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 14 phones

It isn’t the first time that I have heard this, not even the second time.  How often have you heard about a business not wanting your money?  I have been a customer with a cell phone company for 12 years now.  12 years of loyalty to the same company, at the time a when the industry was new and everyone was working to become the go to phone company.  I had a good contract, one that I really didn’t want to let go but then the phones became smart, smarter than us, and the deals changed.  You needed to add on the services that included more than just phone, and phone calls.  Now mind you 12 years ago my wife and kids didn’t have phones, there was just a single phone, with no texting and no data.  Now with 6 people at my house with cell phones and 6 people with data and texting, the bill has definitely inflated.  Inflated to the point where I want to shop my phone contract out to other businesses, to see what kind of a deal I can get or if I am getting the best service I can.  I have asked for information from a company more than twice, and that is unacceptable.  Who have you had good service and a fair price within the cell phone market?   

Daily Dose of BS Sept 13 fests

Soon it will begin, day after tomorrow in fact, with La Crescents Applefest, then the parades hit the area and hit us hard.  This coming Sunday, is the King Apple Parade, and again the La Crosse Radio group will get the chance along with Bauer’s Market to hand out thousands of apples, to parade goers that line the streets of La Crescent.  Up next lighting up the vehicles on September 29^th for the Torchlight Parade on the North Side of La Crosse kicking off Oktoberfest 2016.  The Edelweiss Parade is Friday morning leading to the tapping of the Golden Keg, then the gran-daddy of all parades begins on Saturday Morning with the Mapleleaf Parade.  I always think that the Rumor of almost 250,000 people line the streets of La Crosse for the Mapleleaf, is a little far-fetched.  Don’t forget about the events that speckle in fun for Oktoberbest, like the Slicing of the Golden Brat, at American Legion Post 52, an 8-foot brat that made GMA last year.  I like our celebrations of fall for the area with Applefest and Oktoberfest, what are your favorite memories of fest?  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 12 Hillary

Health is not something to mess with.  Yesterday at the 9/11 memorial in New York City we saw Hillary Clinton swagger and then many step to her rescue.  Then the security team encircled her and didn’t allow her to be photographed.  I get that health is important.  The shared diagnosis of her swagger was that of pneumonia, something that is curable and something that may take on some of the same symptoms of her ordeal, I too have pneumonia and it isn’t something to laugh about in fact when I do laugh I start coughing.  I also have a cough similar to Hillary’s cough and the doctors have been working on fighting that for me.  I haven’t lost my footing or missed any work over it, but it does take a toll on you physically.  Here’s hoping for you to have a healthy day.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 9 September 11th

This weekend will be a weekend filled with emotions from the Steppin Out in Pink walk tomorrow where 6500 people walk for breast cancer, to the Freedom walk Sunday and all the emotions with that.  Fifteen years ago this Sunday is a day that most in our generation will remember like the landing on the moon of the generation before, and the death of President Kennedy of the generation before that.  The patriotism that America felt, the American Pride that you had for the days, weeks and months after the tragic 9/11 attack at the World Trade Center.  I was working on the radio here in LaCrosse when a listener called and said a plane crashed into the World Trade Center and then a few minutes later another caller and then even more callers called with the news.  We reported the news and the feelings of the people who were living it, experiencing it, seeing it.  It was weird to have all air traffic cease after that day and when it finally resumed, remember how weird it felt and sounded?  I hope and pray that we never have to relive another 9/11 type attack on America.  God Bless America. 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 8 suicide

A handful of disability rights groups in the state of Wisconsin are working to stop a 14-year-old Wisconsin girl from killing yourself. The 14-year-old girl Jerika Bolen is in terrible awful pain every single day; the pain is so intense that on the pain scale of 1 to 10 she is at least 7 even on her best days.  Jerika, who has an incurable illness said that she would attend high school and her prom this year then, and enjoy a final summer with her mother, and when that is done she would then kill herself.  A disability rights activists are asking Child Protection agencies to stop the teen from ending her life.  When somebody is in constant pain should they have the right to end their own life? I know that it goes against everything that many believe in but doesn't pain and suffering have some sort of trump card over committing suicide?  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 7 Jacob Wetterling

I don’t recall the date but I do remember the fall of 1989, I was dating my wife and we were planning our wedding, I had left a radio job in Mason City, Iowa to be closer to Marcia.  In the fall of 1989 I was working for a group home that my friends’ family owned, I had learned how to play cribbage and life was carefree.  I don’t remember the exact moment that I had heard that Jacob Wetterling had been abducted but I recall the images of Jacob being shown on the news, in the paper and all over the place.  The abduction happened within 60 miles from where I lived.  I recall the feeling of loss and truly feeling like I couldn’t do anything.  I have often thought of what happened to Jacob, I have interviewed his mother Patty a few times in my radio career and over the years had unfortunately forgotten about him, that is until this week.  The thoughts came flooding back with the recent discovery of his remains, the feelings of these poor parents and the thoughts of I hope that monster who did this burns in HELL.  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 6 trust

I took a break from reality over the past few days, spent 5 days and 4 nights at the family land, it is pretty rustic compared to city living, by rustic I mean no running water and no cable.  There is no shortage of things do there as I have better cell phone service there than I do in the city.  Which brings me to my break, I stepped away from Facebook for a few days and guess what it didn’t kill me, I didn’t go crazy and as a matter of fact I feel a little bit smarter for doing so.  When I turned my computer on this morning I had 87 notifications and a handful of messages to return and a few friend requests, all in all it was a good break.  On my way to the cabin I stopped in New Albin, Iowa at the Valley Ag to pick up a few things for my non-existent garden and wasn’t sure if I had enough cash to pay for all I needed, the guy behind the counter said that is ok, I can bill you.  HUH?  You don’t know me, I said, his response floored me, he said you look honest, I know you’ll pay.  What ever happened to this kind of trust and service?  BTW I did have enough cash to cover it.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 31 internet

The other day at work we lost our internet, It is amazing how much we use internet technology in such an old school job.  The 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 old school corded 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?  On a side note,  I am going to take my yearly break from the internet, well Facebook over the weekend, wish me luck, going to attempt a good 4 day break.

Daily Dose of BS Aug 30 National Anthem

Does Colin Kaepernick have the right to sit out during the National Anthem absolutely he does. Is it going to help him win friends and influence people? Absolutely not is it going to help him to further his stance on whatever it is that he is fighting for absolutely not. Doesn't make him look like a baby yet does Kaepernick sitting down during the National Anthem put him in the bad graces of most around the country? My guess is absolutely it does. I get you have the right to protest what you want, but isn't there a time and a place for that rather than at your job? The 49ers said “The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pregame ceremony. It is an opportunity to honor our country and reflect on the great liberties we are afforded as its citizens. In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose to participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem.” The NFL went more to the point: “Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the National Anthem.”

Daily Dose of BS Aug 29 smoking

Today it has been 9 years since I was a regular smoker.  The reason I say since I was a regular smoker, because I had one cigarette about 2 years ago, and it reminded me why I quit, I wish I had all that money back and the health that went with me starting smoking.  I had been a smoker on and off from the time I was in high school till 9 years ago, I quit for 4 and 5 years in there at different times but 9 years ago I decided after my oldest son caught me smoking to give it up for a year.  I gave it to myself for my birthday, it was a one-year contract that I had with myself.  I then continued to give myself that gift.  That time I quit was easy, as I was doing it for my kids and for me.  Don’t get me wrong there were times when I really wanted to light up, especially when faced with stress, but each day it got a bit easier and the cravings less.   I am happy to say that I am giving myself the gift of non-smoking again this year.  If you are a smoker and you want to quit, I know you can do it, if you really want to. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 25 monopoly

Here's a good case against monopolies.  Look at the EpiPen.  The EpiPen cost has risen 600% in the last 9 years.  There seems to be so many people out there that have allergies these days, and so many people out there that are on the verge of death once they come in contact with their life threatening allergy.  And one of the only things between living and dying is the EpiPen.  Really Mylan officials you are you are going to raise your wages on the backs of those in need?  This doesn’t seem like the right thing to do.   I'm kind of sick of the entire Pharmaceutical industry as a whole, this isn’t the first time that we have heard of big pharm raising prices once they have the consumer where they want them.  I get that there is millions in research and trials but, come on. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 24 homework

I have always hated homework, disliked the fact that we had to do work outside of our school day, and as a parent, I really don’t like it because it shows me what I really don’t know.  I had problems helping my kids with math after the 7^th grade and now my youngest ones start high school in a week.  With school starting and I am assuming that kids today like homework about as much as I did when I was a kid, it was nice to see a viral post yesterday about a teacher who doesn’t believe in homework.  The note begins “After much research this summer, I am trying something new,” then goes on to say “Homework will only consist of work that your student did not finish during the school day. There will be no formally assigned homework this year.”  I would love to have had this teacher.  What are your thoughts on homework?  Personally, I think that the kids get too much when your kids bring home more than 90 minutes a day, that is too much. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 23 lochte

I think if you make a mistake and someone points it out you should fess up.  If Ryan Lochte and his fellow teammates would have just said yes, we were dumb and yes we got drunk and yes we wrecked a bathroom.  I am sorry, I am made a mistake and it will never happen again, I believe that he would have looked like a hero to some and this would have been over for him.  But since he went on and lied about his stupidness that this is going to be in the news for a while longer.  I read this morning that he has lost Speedo and 3 other endorsement deals because of the back lash of his actions.  I have also heard that because of this he stands to lose 11 million dollars.  That is a big loss for a night of stupid.  On top of it all he is in his 30’s and on the tail end of his swimming career so redemption is probably not in the cards.  I hope that with this act of stupidity and his lying to try to cover will at least teach us that you can’t lie your way out of a lie. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 22 crime

Yet another reason I don’t want to be a cop, oh let me count the ways.  My wife woke me up this morning at 2:10, with a nudge and the words there is someone in our house.  It took me a second to respond, after the initial shock of what was said, glasses went on, and heart started racing and I was up and out of bed.  I heard a girl yelling and saw flash lights flailing, my first thought is wtf, then I got to call 911.  I then noticed realized that it was a scuffle outside in my yard, a woman was yelling at police officers in my yard at 2:10 am.  I saw at least 3 cops, in the yard, and another one or two drive by, when the suspect was finally contained I asked one of the officers what went down and why my yard, the as because she took off and we had to pursue her.  I thanked them for doing what they do and tried to go back to sleep for two hours, just try going back to sleep after something like that happened in your yard.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 19 hacks

We were in a meeting the other day talking about using Facebook live, and incorporating it into our radio shows.  Heidi said if you are looking for a way to hold your phone use a coffee mug and it will hold your phone in a perfect angle for going live on Facebook.  I liked that idea, it made me think of other life hacks that are floating around.  I have just seen a few online that work well for this time of the year like turning your steering wheel 180 degrees to keep you from burning your hands when you start driving or using a Ziploc bag for keeping your phone dry on rainy days.  I have also rubbed my house key on a candle to help to lubricate the lock, and that works great.  What life hacks have you tried and had work? 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 18 politics

I think the younger generation hates when us Gen X’er of the Baby Boomers talk about when we were kids, but here is something that I think will straighten up all that is wrong politically in our county.  This is so simple and something that anyone over the age of 40 has heard and heard more than once.  Are you ready for some earth shattering, ear blowing words of advice from days gone by?  Here it is, keep your political opinions to yourself, opinions are like bellybuttons, everybody’s got one.  Back when I was a kid people never talked about religion or politics because it would ruin the family or a friendship.  I think that if we go back to that way of thinking that we would be a better country and not have all this fighting amongst families and friends. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 17 lying

Every morning I get up shower, get ready for work and head to the computer to look at Facebook and then to check the news.  This morning I saw an article that seemed farfetched in fact seemed down right unbelievable, but it had an ABCNews.com web address.  I clicked on it, and it seemed legit.  I then searched a few other media sources and then googled the story, it seems as though I was fooled.  The story was fake.  I then relooked at the story and the domain name of where it came from and it did say abcnews.com.co notice the extra .co on the link.  Why would someone blatantly lie and tell falsehoods.  I don’t care if it is in jest or not, people read just what they want with these stories then pass them on as truth.  I bet that half the stuff that we think is true is not.

Daily Dose of BS Aug 16 libraries

Just over two years ago over 200 people packed the South Side Library to show our support for keeping the library open.  Today the library is in the news again, this time as the topic of merger.  I kind of wondered why there were two library systems so close to each other when I moved here 24 years ago.  Mayor Tim Kabat is suggesting a merger of city and county libraries.  The story claims that the three branches of the library will remain open, I do hope that if this goes through that that remains to be true and that we continue to have the neighborhood libraries.  I know that the south side one gets used as a meeting place, and a safe place for this neighborhood kids, oh yea and a place to get books.

Daily Dose of BS Aug 15 death

Tell me something.  How is violent protesting going to solve anything?  In case you haven’t heard over the weekend in Milwaukee there was another police shooting, and as we have grown accustom to more violence in the wake of that shooting.  According to the Washington Post website Fatal Force there have been 587 police shooting so far this year.  So far this year 38 police officers have been killed in the line of duty.  There have been 10457 homicides, and 15564 drug abuse deaths so far this year.  Why aren’t people protesting this number there have been 909 domestic violence deaths so far in 2016.  Here is an idea, if you have contact with the police, listen to what they say, and don’t run or act like you have a gun.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 12 rides

Three of my 4 kids like to go on rides, the other not so much.  I remember about 10 years ago we went to Navy Pier in Chicago and took the kids to the Ferris Wheel, I was bound and determined to get my son onto the ride, he went but he wasn’t happy.  I look back on that day and cringe a bit, I was trying to force him to be not afraid of something that he was scared of, and at the same time annoying all the others around us.  I fast forward to just this week and perhaps he was right to be afraid of the rides, 4 amusement park ride issues in 5 days including a decapitation.  Plus, if I remember correctly a couple of years ago at a park we visited a park here in Wisconsin there was an issue with a ride within a few days.  Are you a fan of amusement parks, or rides in general?  I like the roller coaster and wild rails, also a fan of the rides that move your stomach from here to here.  How about you? 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 11 credit cards

I have the chip on a couple of my credit cards, it really doesn’t bug me that I have to put it in the hole and wait for the card reader to read the chip, I bet there have been a few times that people have left that card in the machine and walked away.  Most of my purchases are done with a credit card, as I don’t carry cash and I haven’t written a check in over a year.  When you purchase things are you more likely to pay with cash, check or credit?  I find if I have cash in my pocket it burns a hole in my pocket but if I have to take out that card for some reason it makes me think.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 10 words

The word pixelated bugs me so do made up words like amazballs, and redonkadonk, generally I dislike made up words.  There used to be a commercial that said people judge you by the words you use, they really do.  There is no avoiding it, but there is changing it.  A while back I was hanging with some friends and found out that a couple of my friends hate a few words from the English language.  I would have thought that these words were going to be reminiscent of the old George Carlin routine you know the seven words you can't say on TV, but none of the words that they had issue with include a single bad word.  In fact, one that is a marketing tool for Betty Crocker, and this word, the word moist, is one of the least favorite words out there, and the other word these friends of mine had an issue with was the word panties, and they weren’t even brought up together.  I wonder if they were compounded if they would have more of a revolting reaction?  When it comes to words, I don’t care for slang words for any group of people, I am not a fan of labels that people place on people but they are words, and I always remember my mom telling me that sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me.  What words do you dislike?  

Daily Dose of BS August 9 neighbors

They say that 12 % of people hate their neighbors, that a third have never met their neighbors and that half don’t know their neighbors’ names.  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 Aug 8 road construction

We have all become accustomed to the orange barrels littered throughout our fair community.  Starting on Wednesday there will be even more.  But for the ones starting on Wednesday it is about time.  The road in between La Crosse Street and Monitor Street that runs through the marsh otherwise known as Lang Drive will be resurfaced with the outside two lanes completely removed and redone and the inside lanes patched then resurfaced.  The project is expected to take only about 2 months.  I for one am happy to see this project getting done and can say it is about time.  My car has been bouncing down that road for about a year now.  Expect overnight closures, and single lanes during the day.  I think the memories of 2016 will be the summer of road construction.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 4 republican party

I think we are seeing the eroding of the republican party.  There is fighting and dissension among the top players, the state top republicans are not even going to see their presidential candidate when he visits the state.  To me that spells trouble in paradise.  I heard a story this morning saying that there are rumblings that Donald Trump may quit the race.  If that happens then what?  I am fed up with this year’s political malarkey and I don’t know about you I am looking forward to November 9^th so that way the election and this cycle of beat down will go away only to have it start again for another cycle in 4 years.  What happened to the government of for the people by the people?  The people running our country are not like any of the people I know.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 3 birds

The city of La Crosse is discussing what to do with the feral pigeons, I suggest that we allow the feral cats do away with them.  In my south side La Crosse neighborhood not only do we have feral pigeons, but we have outdoor cats, tons on rabbits, one neighbor caught a possum, this morning I saw a raccoon, and there were reports earlier about a black bear roaming a few blocks away.  Don’t forget about the mice and other animals that within the border of the city.  I failed to mention the bird problem a few weeks ago when we made national news, and the talk show circuit with the forced sterilization program putting contraceptives in the food of the pigeons, but I feel that lots of the reason that these birds are taking over the air space over the city is that people keep feeding them and also we give them so many moving targets. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 2 technology will be the death of us

I am not too often a doom and gloom person, but I was thinking that our technology is going to someday be the death of us.  I have written about texting and driving and pokemoning and driving and generally just not paying attention but I haven’t talked about some of the other dangers of technology.  For example, just this morning there is a story about a person in Australia who had their cell phone battery blow up and cause 3^rd degree burns on their body.  My brother had his cell phone battery expand to the point that the glass shattered in his pocket.  These are just a couple of the things that have happened in just the past few days.  I really think that our technology will be the death of us maybe not all but some.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 1 gas tax

I have an idea, I think a pretty good idea, we hear of people bitchen about the roads all the time and we are also paying historically low gas prices, what if we have a gas tax that is rolled out that kicks in when the price per gallon of gas hits a certain mark.  As I have mentioned on my show in the past that I feel a fair price to pay for gas is $2.50 per gallon, so if that was the agreed upon price then the tax would kick in when the prices fall lower than $2.50 per gallon, that money in turn will pay for our roads and once all the roads are fixed which would be never we could take that tax off the gas.  I know it is a crazy idea, but it would help us to fix our roads without having it be a huge burden.  And those that use the roads the most would be helping to pay the most by paying more fuel tax.  What do you think about this idea? 

Daily Dose of BS July 29 garbage

Parents are our first teachers, for example my mom would always say waste not want not.  I have been a believer of this for most my life, but I think that we waste too much stuff as Americans.  Look at anyone’s pile on garbage day.  We throw away everything.  Wednesday was my garbage day, and driving though the alleys around my house it would look like the economy is doing pretty well, boxes for new tvs, a couch, a few chairs and a kitchen table.  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 a few kids right now that could use a bike.  And when it comes to food we throw away tons, and my family is probably worse, we throw away lots of food each week.  What can be done about this problem?

Daily Dose of BS July 28 age of consent

In the land of make believe who is at fault?  Are young girls who at the age of 12 committed murder really going to be tried as adults?  I have serious questions about this, why are girls who are now 14 going to be charged as adults.  I have two 14 year olds at home and I can tell you even though they are mature that they are no way capable of being adults, they are still kids, sure they know right from wrong but I am not sure if they see the big picture, we all know adults who don’t quite see the big picture.  I think that once we charge these two girls as adults we open up a slippery slope that who knows where it will stop, will we charge 10 year olds or 8 year olds?  When do we start charging kids as adults?  Should we then move the age of consent to that age? 

Daily Dose of BS July 27 comunication

With voicemail I miss out on returning calls, because either they don’t show up on my phone or I forget to check, one or the other, what is the proper time to return a message?  Is it different for personal rather than professional?  When I know I have a message, 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.  I wonder if others have the same issues as me with their voice mail.  What about a text is the protocol the same?  I know that I send out and receive way more texts nowadays than I do phone calls, and wonder what the protocol for texts are?   Do you think it matters who they are on how fast they get back or don’t get back?  A friend would get back sooner than an acquaintance or other way around?  I think if 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 26 VCR

I remember when they first became popular and were priced at where people could buy them.  My buddy Jim and his family had one and little Bobby Schmidt was amazed and jealous.  The VCR changed my life and the life of millions of other people.  You no longer had to be glued to the couch to watch your favorite program, you didn’t have to be home to catch the latest show.  When there were free preview weekends of the movie channels you could build up your movie collection.  My parents were always the last to jump on a new technology, we were the last to get the microwave oven, the dishwasher, and VCR, but when we got the VCR my brothers and I learned it and learned it well, we could make it display the right time, and get it to record the shows that mom and dad wanted and eventually we were able to have it record our shows as well.  A sad day for VCR purists the last of them are going to be rolled off the assembly line this week.  I haven’t used a VCR since my kids were little and wanted to watch Disney movies, but I do love the door that VCRs opened up for all of us.  

Daily Dose of BS July 25 weather

Over the weekend I was in Dubuque, Iowa for a baseball tournament, my sons team took second in the consolation bracket.  I bring up the trip because while we were there many of our phones went off with severe alerts and an extreme alert.  No sooner than my phone went off the sirens all around went off and we got moved from the lobby of the hotel where we were staying into an inner conference room with no windows and a tv that lost image while we were tracking the storm.  The sky was dark and the air was thick and calm.  Then the sky opened up and the winds came water was coming in the windows and doors it was raining so hard.  No sooner had it started it was done.  I guess what I am saying is it is good to listen to the weather people when they tell you to move, move.  We missed the big one this weekend, but it is better to be safe than sorry.  

Daily Dose of BS July 22 wearables

I have been wearing a Garmin Vivo Fit 2 for over a year now, using it to monitor my steps and my sleep, giving me something to compare and something to keep me accountable for my actions on the day.  I hate to admit it but yesterday was probably my most slug like day I have ever had.  All I did yesterday was come to work, and go home, my only outside was home to car, car to work then in reverse on the way home, with the exception of bringing out dinner to my wife to deliver to our son at work.  About 2800, when I should be doing about 10 thousand.  Kind of sad considering when I was on vacation I was walking about 16000 steps a day.  Do you wear a step tracker, and if so do you check your steps?  

Daily Dose of BS July 21 old style

What goes around comes around and what is old is new again.  Good news for fans of Old Style, Pabst Brewing is returning to the roots of Old Style and rolling out the new Old Style Oktoberfest just in time for the festival that Old Style helped to start 56 years ago.  I had even heard but not confirmed that the City Brewery was going to re-brand the World’s Largest 6 Pack, personally I think that would be cool as the La Crosse Lager rap that is on it now needs work.  Another thing that Old Style will be doing is taking a page from Miller Lite and going back to the old style of the Old Style cans.  I hope that this marketing idea works for them.  I also hope that the 60 pack that I saw Coors Light was coming out with works as well.  I guess that with today being as hot as it is going to be I am just looking to stay cool with a couple of brews.  Have a great day and enjoy life responsibly.  

Daily Dose of BS July 20 political bashing

I read a post on Facebook yesterday that said “can’t listen to anymore Hillary bashing.  Especially from women.”   At first I scrolled right by it then had to go back and find it, because, to me that would be the same thing as someone saying I can’t listen to anymore Trump bashing, especially from men.  I think with national politics thrown in all of our faces and the republican convention being broadcast this week and the democratic convention on the air next week, we are all at the tipping point of no more politics.  When I think about the post I read from yesterday I just chuckle to myself and think there is going to be a whole lot of political bashing between now and November, as a matter of fact there will be a whole lotta political bashing between now and the rest of our lives.  

Daily Dose of BS July 19 found purse

I read a story yesterday about a forgotten purse being returned with about 12 grand left untouched.  To hear this brings a smile to my heart because being in the media we are often blamed for bringing nothing but bad news, the news of dregs of society and the bad things in life.  I also smile because I would have also turned it back in.  In my life I have found two purses and have brought them to the customer service areas of the stores.  I really believe that most people would turn in a purse.  It is the right thing to do and I do believe that people are generally good.  Think to yourself would you return a found purse of wallet?  If so why, if not why not?  Here is another scenario if you found a 100-dollar bill on the ground with no one around would you pocket it, what is there were people around would that make a difference?  

Daily Dose of BS July 18th cops

I wouldn’t want to be a cop, not a chance in the world.  People don’t respect them, they get called names and there is a hate for them.  I don’t understand why people don’t like cops.  I have a few good friends who choose this line a work and they are great people.  It is funny a few years ago we went on vacation with a cops family and I asked why there is such a distain for police officers, he responded that people remember the ticket they got or the time their innocent grandma got pulled over.   Well I for one respect the job that they are doing, it isn’t easy, especially in todays political climate and the distrust of everyone in a uniform.  Over the weekend a handful of officers were shot, and a couple died in the line of duty, my heart goes out to the families of these people doing their job, trying to make their cities safe.  

Daily Dose of BS July 14th pokeman

I played in a pinball tournament back when I was a teenager, I loved pinball, my first real job that wasn’t at a restaurant was as at an arcade in Har Mar Mall in Roseville, Minnesota.  Pinball was my game, I had a couple of machines at my parents’ house and new the basics of fixing them.  They got sold off, I got a real job and I haven’t played pinball in years.  After I got married I had a Nintendo and used to love the game of Tetris, I loved that game so much that I used to dream about it, I then grew up and didn’t really play any other games until Farkle was on Facebook and then Angry Birds but nothing is as big and blew up as fast as the Pokémon Go game.  The nice thing about this game is that it gets its players outside and in the fresh air, the bad thing is that I guess that is super addictive, so much so that the players are walking into things such as the street and into lakes.  I didn’t think that that would be possible, never mind we see people all the time looking down at their phones.   

Daily Dose of BS July 13 violence.

From the sounds of the national media there is violence everywhere.  That everyone hates everyone else.  I just got back from a trip out east and I didn’t see it there, I have been all over the Midwest and I haven’t seen it here either.  Of course there is going to be pockets of anger and pockets of violence but that is like any given group.  Look at the group that you are most familiar with, be it your family, your job, your friends there will always be a pot stirrer, the one who likes to push buttons, and rock the boat.  I bet that everyone either reading or hearing this, has been the cause of a fight or two in their lives.  Just because there is violence and fighting in some areas doesn’t mean that there is violence everywhere and it certainly doesn’t mean that we all hate each other, because we don’t.  I feel as though the national media is building the violence up and causing much of the fighting that is happening all around us. 

Daily Dose of BS July 5 selfdriving cars

I used to watch the Jetsons and think it was cool that they had tubes to get somewhere rather than walking and cars that flew, but the thing I thought was the coolest was the phones where you could see the person you were talking to.  In a weird way the stuff shown on that kids cartoon came to fruition, we have moving sidewalks at the bigger airports, there are personal flying machines, and you can talk to anyone via skype.  The video phone to me was a huge disappointment in theory I thought it was cool but in practicality I don’t like it because it feels old school where you have to sit and talk.  Who has time for that?  Another technology that has been making headlines of late is the self-driving car, which I think is cool, but would I trust it, I am not sure.  Would you? 

Daily Dose of BS July 1 job

I am not much of a job jumper.  In the 23 year I have lived in La Crosse I have worked for 4 different companies, the longest for 15 and a half years.  The reason I bring this up is I have been working for the La Crosse Radio Group for 6 years and the station that I anchor every morning was switched over from Adult Standards to Talk Radio 4 years ago today.  I have said it many times on my show that if you find a job you love doing it isn’t like you are working, and I still believe that today.  Sometimes getting up at 4 am sucks, I am not going to lie but getting home for lunch most days is fantastic.  When I started things off 4 years ago my goal was to entertain, educate or inspire with each of the guests that I have had on the show, I believe that is what I have done.  For those of you who have taken the ride, I hope that it wasn’t to bumpy, and I hope that the future is even smoother sailing than the past.  Thanks for hanging with me this past 4 years and here’s hoping for a long future. 

Daily Dose of BS June 29 big fine

15.3 billion or a little more than 2 dollars per person in the world.  Volkswagen could spend up to $15.3 billion settling lawsuits and government allegations that it cheated on emissions tests.  According to some they are ruining the world’s air quality.  Really?  Aren’t there millions of drivers out there driving millions of miles a day, and factories pumping unsafe exhaust into our environment, don’t forget about power plants and who knows what is spewed into our air systems, fires, people smoking, fireworks.  The list of contaminants flying into our environment every day is a lot.  I don’t think you can blame our poor air quality on just one company.  But I do think that they should be held responsible for lying to the world.  You don’t just lie to everyone and you don’t just go faking tests.  For that the punishment should be harsh, but for causing an environmental distraction, I think we are all to blame for part of that. 

Daily Dose of BS June 28 job

Have you ever taken any online tests?  I took one this morning to see what my ideal job would be, it pegged me to be either a MUSICIANS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, ACTORS, MUSIC COMPOSERS AND ARRANGERS, SINGERS, RADIO AND TELEVISION ANNOUNCER.  Well at least I know I am doing the right job for me.  I am glad that it wasn’t only music because I can’t carry a tune not even in a bag.  I have had many conversations with my kids about what they want to be for a living.  And they know then they don’t know.  I told them to not worry about it because chances are what they choose to do for a living will probably not be what they either study for or will end up retiring from.  I happened to luck out in finding a job that I love doing and have fun doing.  If you can do that you are golden, it isn’t like working a day in your life.  BTW here is that link to the test I took this morning http://time.com/4343767/job-personality-work/?xid=newsletter-brief how did you come out? 

Daily Dose of BS June 27 toothbrush

Ever had your toothbrush fall into either the garbage or the toilet?  I have.  This morning I went to grab my toothbrush off the ledge where it sits and it slipped right out of my hands I reached for it and it bobbled right into the garbage, needless to say I left it there.  I wonder why when you drop things that about half the time they do what you don’t want them to do meaning I thought please don’t fall into the toilet, it didn’t, but it fell right into the garbage.  Here is a better example, how many times have you dropped something and had it roll behind something or under something or worse yet fell right into a hole and it was lost and not found without some effort.  I hope that your day is filled with finding things that were lost and for things not falling or getting lost. 

Daily Dose of BS June 24 staycation

This morning I am broadcasting at Lock and Dam 7.  When was the last time that you came over to the dam to check it out?  For me it has been many years, here is a reminder be a tourist in your own community.  I think we should look at the great things we have in our own back yard the things that we take for granted like the rivers, and lakes.  When was the last time you were out on the water?  How about the bluffs and the many miles of trails both on the bluffs and through the parks.  I also invite you to take in the great local shops in Downtown La Crosse or a short drive to the north there is the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, many different foods can be found here and you can't forget the salute to this that and the other thing, almost every single weekend we are blessed to live in an area that has fest fairs and fun weekly.  So look around and take in what is around and live life to its fullest.  And share what you have found.   When someone says I am going to La Crosse what do you tell people to check out?

Daily Dose of BS June 23 protests

What started off as a 16 hour sit in with many of the democrats protesting, dwindled down to just a few protesters.  The cameras were shut off, however a few of the Democrats vowed to keep it going, do protests work?  I was listening to the Democrats sit in demanding action on gun control.  There are protests all time.  Do they work?  Have you ever changed your mind on something because someone protested?  I am not sure that I have.  I may have had my mind changed for me because of a protest or two, with businesses giving in in the long run, or maybe driving a different way to somewhere because of a protest going on, or something I was at was started later than it should have because of protesters but have I been a part of a protest not that I can think of.  Have you?

Daily Dose of BS June 22 traffic

Last night I saw what people are talking about.  We had to be in Galesville last night by 6:15 for my sons baseball game, we left our house by 5:25 to give ourselves a few minutes of wiggle room.  We needed that extra time, the traffic from about Clinton Street all the way north to highway 53 was stop and go.  I was getting irritated and thought to myself how do people deal with this each and every day?  I only usually have to deal with traffic at Christmas time by the mall and when traveling so this was a different feeling for me living in Western Wisconsin.  For those who drive this daily, how do you put up with it?  And for those that don’t ever see it, I wish I could go back to just thinking that we don’t have traffic in La Crosse. 

Daily Dose of BS June 21 computers

For the past 3 years the La Crosse Schools had I-Pads for the middle schoolers, I know for a fact that bringing this technology into the class rooms has helped out and brought our kids to the front of the class when it comes to technology and computing, as well as finding information and how to use the technology that is available to them.  The La Crosse School District just signed a lease with Apple to pay them 814,378 dollars per year for laptop computers for our current high schoolers.  I think that this a great idea because it levels the playing field for the kids who maybe don’t have the availability of a computer at home.  I do wonder about the exclusive use of Apple computers with the kids though, because in my line of work as well as my wives work we use PC’s rather than Apple computers.  I don’t know if there is a compatibility issue with the two platforms.  And if maybe this may be a hindrance. 

Daily Dose of BS June 20 Hayden

1995 was the last time that I didn’t get to celebrate Father’s Day since then, I have been a Dad.  Yesterday was an awesome day, I got greetings and presents from my four children.  The biggest joy of being a Dad is the birth of your child, I had been in love before but never loved so much as when my son Hayden was born.  Hayden paved the way for me to be a Dad, he came into the world a month early after my wife Marcia sent 3 months on bed rest.  But it was all worth it.  Usually these birthday greetings are filled with mushy things like In the past 21 years it has been amazing to see him grow into a responsible young man.  How Hayden has been on the Honor Roll every quarter and trimester of his School Career.  As his dad I am so proud of this guy.  He has great friends, who all have high aspirations in life.  He is polite, caring and has a great scene of humor, he is also smart-alecky at times and people always throw at me where do you think he got that.  I don’t know, can you pick that up off a toilet seat somewhere?  I expect many great and exciting things for this young man.  I don’t mean for this to be embarrassing but I am so proud of him.  Hayden I hope you have a great birthday, and remember I always love you buddy. 

Daily Dose of BS June 17 Fathers Day

With Father’s Day coming up on Sunday, have you ever thought that Dads get the short end of the stick?  When I was a kid Mother’s Day was that special day of the year when 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 Father’s Day we would punch the old man in the arm, and tell him Happy Father’s day and move on.  Dads are an important piece of the puzzle, they help you to become the person you are, as a Dad we are often over looked as a caregivers, I recall when my kids were little and I would watch the kids, and someone would always say oh you are babysitting, how nice.  Not the case, I am a Father and I was parenting my children, as my Father did for my brothers and I.  Parents do not babysit their own children.  For all the lessons taught both when I was a child and the lessons in life that you teach me now I thank you Dad and remember I love you.  Happy Father’s Day.

Daily Dose of BS June 16 roads

It has to be true I read it on the internet and heard it on the radio, Wisconsin has some worst roads in the country, ranked number 47^th out of 50^th.  I am not sure where these people are driving, I for one have driven on much worse roads than the roads here in Wisconsin.  Growing up in Minnesota the roads there are much worse.  My brother in law lives on a dirt road, to get to my parents you have to dodge pot holes that will swallow a car and like here there is road construction all the time.  I lived in Iowa where there were bigger pot holes than there are here.  I am thinking that it depended on where you drive on how you think the roads are.  If you only drive on Lang Drive everyday then your perspective is different than most.  There is talk in Wisconsin of toll roads, and gas tax, and a registration fee increase for your license.  I get that there are bad roads out there, but being at the bottom of list when it comes to driving conditions, I disagree, there are much worse.

Daily Dose of BS June 15 Packer Hat

Last winter my son saw the Packers wearing their cool camo winter hats, he asked for one, and received it for Christmas.  We looked around to get it and finally bought it from a company in Wisconsin.  We purchased it from packertime.com, well after wearing it a few times the elastic in the headband was wrecked, he got it for Christmas 2015 and my January 15^th I was contacting the company for exchange, they claimed it was not their fault and put me onto the company New Era Hats I contacted them, the customer service person there was amazing, she took my information and said send it back we will take a look and help you out.  I did just that.  Fast forward to yesterday, I was wondering about the winter hat that I sent back to the New Era Hat Company and called them, the customer service person was pleasant but couldn’t help me even though I had a trail of emails from both the companies involved.  Not that I am telling you not to use either of these companies, because I am not but I know for one I won’t be purchasing anything from either of these two companies ever again, and if you asked me I would suggest against it.

Daily Dose of BS June 14 restaurants

Don’t get me wrong we have some of the greatest local restaurants in La Crosse but 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 while traveling, I have seen the ads for Chili’s but I have never been, and I would like try them, also would like to try Sonic.  For a great sandwich I like eating at Pot Belly’s in Madison and Chicago, but also while in Chicago I love the pizza and the hot dogs.  The In and Out Burger was the hit of the trip last time I was in California.  Growing up I loved White Castle, Bridgemans, The Pizza Factory 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 13 shooting

In the four years that I have been doing this radio show, this isn’t the first time that I am writing about mass shootings on American soil, this isn’t the first time that many have been shot and killed at the hands of someone not mentally all there.  I am both sad and mad that someone could walk into a club and open fire.  It hurts me to see this happen.  Personally I feel as though this isn’t a gay issue or a gun issue this is a the shooter is crazy issue and that obviously he was out of his mind.  I don’t think that taking away people’s rights for bearing arms would have stopped this shooting or for that matter any shooting.  Maybe if we put more guns in the hands of regular folks, someone looking to shoot up a place may have second thoughts doing it.  I think when you buy a gun that education will help, I also feel that mental and welfare checks are important, and should be done, but how? 

Daily Dose of BS June 10 video

Have you ever been sucked right into a video?  A friend of mine posted a video on my facebook page about a homeless guy who gave up his brand new sleeping bag for someone else because the homeless man said that the other guy needed it more than him, and that he could do without.  I watched that video and had a weepy eye.  I think that sometimes we get wrapped up into our own little world of our own problems and don’t pay attention to the needs of the others around us.  I don’t know if it possible to open our eyes and start seeing the things that need to be changed around us.  Do you do as most of us do and walk by someone with their hand out?  I know that I do, and I am skeptical of someones bs story as well, however there are times that I do stop.  If you want to watch the video, here is the link, if not that is ok also.  Have a great day and keep cool.

https://www.facebook.com/dave.foster.7549/posts/1089129207800740?notif_t=mention&notif_id=1465525273252396

Daily Dose of BS June 9 bear

I don’t know about you but when I saw the video of the black bear walking through a neighborhood on the south side of LaCrosse I was a bit concerned, but then I thought about it, I bet that there are a lot of other critters that are more dangerous than the black bear, let’s look at the everyday pests that are right here and in full force and in full view of us on a daily regular basis.  I am talking about the mice and rats that live in La Crosse, or the ticks, especially the deer ticks and the mosquito and the common house fly, all of these spread disease.  We can’t forget about the spiders and the also one that I like least of all the drug dealers in the city.  We have a lot more to fear than the black bear.  

Daily Does of BS June 8 pick up

I know I talked about large item pick up last week, but this week I want to talk about trash and yard waste.  I live on the South Side of La Crosse and I drive by West and Adams at least one time every day.  There has been a pile of sticks sitting on that corner for at least 3 weeks and I would bet even longer than that.  I would think that someone who lives by there, or one of the businesses that are in the vicinity would bend over and pick up to put in the trash.  Also across from Gordy’s where the Johnny Aloha’s service used to be there is a caution work sign and holder just sitting on the street, like it got hit and then left, this has been here for at least a couple of days.  I get that this isn’t your job to pick it up, it isn’t mine either, but is me having this attitude part of the problem?  If we all keep looking past these issues, won’t the issues become bigger, and worse?  I have said it before and I will say it again, we need to keep our surroundings picked up and respectable. 

Daily Dose of BS June 7 Clinton

Hillary Clinton clinches the nomination, becoming first woman to top a major party ticket, and Bernie Sanders is under no obligation to drop out.   Now with the presumed presidential candidates for both parties locked up, that means that everyone is happy right?  Ha, I think that the American voter is angrier now than they were before.  We are getting to be more of a polarized society than ever before as well.  I look at the way that we despise our neighbors and those that think different than us.  There are even those that think the same as us irritate us.  I have about 2 thousand “friends” on Facebook, and I would say about 45% are democrats, and 45% are republicans and about 10% are undecided.  And I have seen some posts saying if you support one candidate or another you will be unfriended.  I guess that if you get unfriended you really weren’t that good a friend now were you.  What people say and post online or rant and rave about in public isn’t going to pull an undecided voter in, I think that it will repel a perspective voter.  I guess I am ready to see the worst in people for the next few months.  

Daily Dose of BS June 6 food disappeared

Ever had anything just disappear from your fridge?  I went out for Chinese food the other day and had a take-out container leftover.  I put it in my fridge and was looking forward to enjoying it when I got home from work on Friday afternoon.  I used to have to put my name on my leftovers in the fridge but as my kids got trained to not eat other people’s food in the fridge I didn’t have to do that anymore.  I don’t know what happened to that Chinese food as I saw it on Friday morning and by Friday midday it was gone.  I asked everyone in my house, including my son who doesn’t even live there if they grabbed the food and no body grabbed it.  Weird thing is that I looked in the garbage to see if someone accidently had thought it was trash or maybe ate it but lied to dad, but nope can’t even find the evidence that I was even at the Chinese restaurant.  Maybe I wasn’t there and maybe I didn’t have Chinese food, then again maybe I don’t have sunburn either.  Nope I got that.  Have a great day, and I hope that the mysterious food eater doesn’t stop by your house. 

Daily Dose of BS June 3 things i do

I wanted to revisit a topic from before, one that made me smile, one that talks about the weird things and have weird habits that we have, 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 will sometimes look into a window at the store to just to see if I can catch my reflection.  I put the music on my phone on shuffle but then hit skip until I find a song that I really want to hear.  I sit on the step in the kitchen to put on my socks, I have to reread things often because I wasn’t really paying attention when I read it the first time or sometimes even the second time.  When I sit down to watch tv at lunch I don’t start eating until the show is starting. I baby talk to babies 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 June 2 last day of school

Is there too much pressure on students these days?  There was another school shooting yesterday this time in California at the UCLA campus.  I get that there is pressure on students to get good grades, but who does it ultimately fall back on?  That’s right the student.  Work harder, get better grades.  I think that it boils down to taking personal responsibility for your actions and reactions.  With that being said, today is the final day of school for local kids, some moving on to new schools in September others moving on to new careers and others just moving on.  I remember the huge dreams that I had as a kid the first few days of summer were spent planning out what great adventures that were going to be out there for me and my friends.  We always had huge plans, we were going to start our own lawn mowing business, and we were going to have fun camping trips, ride our bikes everywhere, and stay up all night.  I am sure we accomplished a few of those goals, but it never worked out quite how you had it planned.  That is ok, life doesn’t always turn out as planned, it turns out how you make it.  Kids, enjoy your summer and parents, let your kids live.  Be safe in all your adventures. 

Daily Dose of BS June 1 trash

Is it just me or has La Crosse become more littered with trash?  I know we had the large trash pick-up over the past couple of weeks but it seems like we have more and more things just piled on the boulevards, and by the colleges it is worse.  There are also the junkers or pickers that comb through your trash in search for the ultimate treasure, and then leave the trash where it lands.  There are a few of the pickers that live on Jackson Street as you see their overflowing garbage spilling out of their half-assed trailers.  Isn’t there some sort of a beautification law in La Crosse where this garbage has a place and that place isn’t on one of the main thoroughfares in the city?  If you are going to be a picker, pick and clean up after yourself, if you are going to throw away big items put them out on trash day, or take them to the dump.  It is time that we pick up our community. 

Daily Dose of BS May 31 gorilla

You had to have seen or at least heard about the silverback gorilla from the Cincinnati Zoo.  Saturday a 4 year old boy struggled to find a better vantage point to see the gorilla the boy lost his footing and down he went into a moat around the gorillas, the 400 pound gorilla grabbed the 4 year old and began dragging him through the concrete moat.  To save the boy from further harm, the staff fatally shot the ape.  To me the weird thing about this whole story is that there are people outraged about the fact that the gorilla was shot, a 4 year old boys life was at stake, the zoo did what needed to be done. 

Daily Dose of BS May 27 staycation

It is the first big weekend of the summer season.  Be a tourist in your own community.  I think we should look at the great things we have in our own back yard the things that we take for granted like the rivers, and lakes.  When was the last time you were out on the water here in our backyard?  How about the bluffs and the many miles of trails both on the bluffs and through the parks.  I also invite you to take in the great local shops in Downtown La Crosse or a short drive to the north there is the La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, many different foods can be found here and you can't forget the salute to this that and the other thing, almost every single weekend we are blessed to live in an area that has fest fairs and fun weekly.  So look around and take in what is around and live life to its fullest.  And share what you have found, don’t just sit on that diamond, let everyone know.   When someone says I am going to La Crosse what do you tell people to check out?

Daily Dose of BS May 26 emails

I don’t know about you but there are a lot of emails that I have deleted in my many years of using emails, emails that I have accidently deleted to emails that I deleted than immediately wanted to know why I hit delete.  As a matter of fact, I accidently deleted some emails I meant to keep the other day.  So when Hillary Clinton says that she didn’t delete anything that she shouldn’t have I don’t believe her, add to that this that she is a politician and I really don’t believe her.  Should she get a bye on the email issue I don’t think so.  But I do believe that this should be an eye opener and should bring on new rules for people who work for the government, if you have a government job and you are required to have email, all your work email should go through a server that has been set up for your official government correspondence.  Also if they really wanted to know what those emails said, I am guessing that there is a trail somewhere, like in the NSA’s servers.  

Daily Dose of BS May 25 sticks and stones

The bible says do to others as you would have done to you.  I guess there are a lot of people out there that would prefer violence against them.  I often wonder when I hear the news of protesters doing their thing, often times what we hear people protesting is politics and often those protests turn ugly.  Look at last night’s political protest against Donald Trump, the protesters broke through a door and smashed through barriers.  If you are trying to bring your word of peace, this isn’t the way to do it.  I think that we have become a crazy political not only country but a crazy political world.  My biggest wonder is do you think that we will ever have a world filled with peace and people using just words to fight rather than sticks and stones?

Daily Dose of BS May 24 adhd

I remember the conversation well, not the date, not the situations that lead up to it, but the words that came from my Dad.  My Dad and I went out for breakfast many years ago after I got off the air, we had the usual small talk that happens when you are sitting with your parents, the small talk that leads up to the big talk.  Well the small talk didn’t take long that day it was mostly I listened to your show this morning, it was good.  Then he jumped into the big talk of your mother and I were glad that you got into radio because we honestly had no idea what you were going to do for a living.  I laughed, and still laugh at it to this day when I think about it.  I am sure that he was referring to the fact that my attention span isn’t very long.  I have often wondered if they had ADHD when I was a kid if I would have been assigned that label.  I for one am glad that they didn’t.   About 11% of U.S. children have been diagnosed with ADHD, and it affects about 5% of U.S. adults.  Here is a good test, squirrel.  Did you look?  I did. 

Daily Dose of BS May 23 annoying things

How often do you run into something that is annoying to you?  I am guessing daily, because daily I am annoyed by something most of the time it is small things that don’t mean anything.  But what I am talking about today is that stuff that makes you cringe, the things that you can’t believe that get done, by adults.  For example a few years ago there was a lady cutting her fingernails at church.  Not only rude but gross, it was so disgusting that I am not even sure what she did with the nails, let them fly or she pocketed them.  I have seen people cut their fingernails at work too, also unacceptable.  Another of the things that bug me is when people don’t treat an item that you loaned to them as their own, most of my friends will, but occasionally someone won’t and that is irritating, also when someone uses the last of something and doesn’t tell you that they did, for example the last of the coffee, milk, or worst of all toilet paper.  I hope that your week is full of non-angering events.

Daily Dose of BS May 20 political system

I think that it is time that we change up the political system, that we throw everything that we know about politics out the window and start over.  Right now we are in the midst of the paring down process, only to have 6 more months of mudslinging for what, to become President of the United States, and whomever the winner is will work hard their first term at getting reelected for a second term.  We see it with Congress now and with the Senate every six.  How about this, for the President let’s change it to a six year term and you only get one, then you move into a past president spot, then let’s move the two year term of Congress to 3 years and you can run a total of 3 times for a 9 year life cycle in that position.  We could leave the Senate at a 6 year term but limit that to two years.  This would mix it up and maybe just maybe we would get rid of the career politicians and then we could get things done in Washington. 

Daily Dose of BS May 19 drunk

Well we did it again, we made the list.  Of the top 10 drunkest cities in the US, Wisconsin has 7 of the top 10 spots.  How do we celebrate this one? By going out and having a few, it looks like we already do that.  I find it hard to believe that we have 4 of the top 5 and 7 of the top 10 drunkest cities, I have been to Vegas.  What the study was looking at was men having 5 or more drinks in one sitting and women having 4 or more drinks in one sitting and 15 or more drinks per week for men and woman having 8 or more drinks per week.  The weird thing is that the national report shows that 18% of adults on average drink unhealthy amounts of alcohol.  Wisconsin is not even in the top five for beer consumption yet we get the bad rap, North Dakota drinks the annual per capita consumption: 43.6 gallons of beer, and we have the drunkest cities.  Do we collectively have a problem, I would say yes.  Are we the drunkest state out there?  I would say no.  What are your thoughts?

Daily Dose of BS May 18 breakfast

I have always heard the best meal of the day is breakfast, yet many of us skip it.  I used to never eat breakfast, but now it is one of my 3 favorite meals of the day.  I don’t have time for a bowl of cereal in the morning on my way into work, since I have the morning commute down to a science, I do however grab a banana or a granola bar as I head out the door.  Breakfast for me usually consists of yogurt and granola or oatmeal.  Every once in a while I will go grab a bite to eat with someone, but for the most part, my morning is filled with culture, yogurt culture that is.  One of my children is the breakfast king, Robert loves his breakfast and has gotten to be quite the breakfast chef, he can mix about anything with eggs and make a tasty breakfast.  Are you a daily breakfast eater or not? 

Daily Dose of BS May 17 parklets

They’re back.  I spent some time downtown La Crosse yesterday and noticed that the parklet is back on 5^th Ave.  Have you seen it?  Last year I talked about not getting the thought behind the parklet, this year no different.  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.  The main difference between last year and this year is that I actually sat in a parklet now and can still say 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.  What are your thoughts on the baby parks?  Are they a good idea?

Daily Dose of BS May 16 big brother

I hate to tell you this but your smart phone is tracking your every move.  I have always wondered if my moves were being tracked by my phone but pushed out the thought of it ever being real by thinking that big brother doesn’t care about Bob Schmidt, why would he?  Turns out I was both right and wrong.  Right about the fact that big brother is watching us, using our phones and our Google accounts to do so and wrong about the fact the he wants to know where I am.  If you follow this link https://maps.google.com/locationhistory/b/0 I think that you will be surprised.  I found out my top 5 places I visit are home, work, Menards, WTC and Festival foods.  I even had my location on my phone turned off.  I have nothing to hide, but it bugs me that my movements are being monitored.  I wonder if it could pinpoint my exact location at my home if it would have a picture of my chair? 

Daily Dose of BS May 13 beer

I am a beer drinker, I love beer.  Moving to La Crosse added to that love as many beer brands have been brewed right down the street.  Not sure if you heard this one or not but a few days ago Budweiser's parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev announced plans to rechristen America's beer just that — "America."  I had to check the calendar on that one because it sure seemed like an April Fools joke, the world’s biggest beer brand isn’t even corporately owned in the United States, they are owned by InBev in fact even the biggest brewer in Wisconsin Miller is owned but a foreign company.  Would it bother you to drink a beer called America that is brewed by a company owned outside of America?  Would a name change of a beer make you want to drink it more or less?  What is your favorite beer brand?  

Daily Dose of BS May 12 anniversary

I always think that it is funny when people say that they married their best friend.  I don’t know about you but I go through fazes of best friends, I have the same core group of friends that I have had for many years, however the friendships do ebb and flow.   Which brings me to May 12^th, 26 years ago I married Marcia Brooks, in that 26 years we have built a great life for ourselves, we have 4 wonderful kids, and nice house and really couldn’t ask for much more of anything.  When we first were going to be married, many people warned us of first of all getting married so young, I was only 21, they said it wouldn’t last.  We have outlasted many marriages, and the thing is we still can tolerate each other, heck we like and love each other.  I don’t know how I got so lucky.  Just think of the 26 years, and how life can change on a dime, or in a split second, our lives have changed many, many times in the past 26 years for both the good and the bad, but what I think makes us work as a team is that we are willing to overlook each other’s short falls and focus on the things that we love about each other.  So no I didn’t marry my best friend, I married Marcia, happy anniversary honey, I love you.   

Daily Dose of BS May 11 patience

They say that patience is a virtue.  As I am getting older I am realizing I am less patient than I was when I was younger and when I was younger I was not very patient.  It is the little things that push my buttons the things that I should let go, the things that don’t even matter but for some reason they matter to me and matter to me a lot.  According to the dictionary. "Patience: the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, difficulty, or annoyance without getting angry or upset."  I guess that I can accept or tolerate delay, difficulty of annoyance without getting angry but sometimes I let myself get upset over the stupidest of stuff because I know that people sometimes just don’t think.  

Daily Dose of BS May 10 dirty jobs

We have seen the show Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe, well how would you like to have one of those jobs? My job is pretty much grab a glass of ice water, head into my studio, turn on my computer do a little reading, write a few things, then talk on the air. I don’t get dirty too often. There were guys working on moving our electrical this morning when I came into work and they were doing it while it was pouring. Not a job I would want, the reason they are moving the power is because of the construction that is going on, on highway 35, also a job that I wouldn’t want. How many times have you driven thru a construction zone and had the person there holding the slow and stop sign? Not the job that I would want, how about the garbage collector or sewer worker, all jobs that I wouldn’t want but all necessary. I think that there are all kinds of jobs out there that I wouldn’t want but I bet that every one of us have a job that someone who has the job that we wouldn’t want that they wouldn’t want. I guess what I am trying to say is that all jobs matter.

Daily Dose of BS May 9 life is short

While off work for the past week I was reminded again of how precious and short that life is.  One of my son’s coworkers was involved in a fatal car accident.  This accident opened the eyes of my son and his siblings that life is short and when it is your time to go, it is your time to go.  I was reminded that when something like this happens it is not only a sad time full of questions from the family who lost a family member but also a time of reflection from those who knew the person who passed.  I also used this tragedy as a teaching experience for my children as we were reminded that seat belts, texting, drinking, and speed are among the things that can and will kill, while driving.  Remember that life is precious and all too quick.  Take the time to stop and smell the roses, because you just never know.  

Daily Dose of BS April 29 put down the glass

Remember to put the glass down.  As we head into a weekend and a new month, reflect on the things around you but also remember to let your big worries go.  Life is short and we don’t know when it will take an unexpected twist or turn, and honestly every time that I have worried about something, every single time I wasted time and energy on negative feelings, what I worried about didn’t happen or if it did it wasn’t as bad as I made it out to be.  Next week I am taking the week off from work to get a few projects done around the house, but if I don’t get them done, or they don’t go the way that I had planned I am going to try to remember that it is ok.  It is ok to not carry the weight of even the smallest of worries, I am going to try to remember to put the glass down. 

Daily Dose of BS April 28 tv

I guess we will have a few months to catch up on our favorites as the end of the season for tv is here.  I always hate when this time of the year comes around and the shows that I enjoy watching disappear into thin air, never getting wrapped up only airing the last show leaving you hanging there waiting for what is going to happen next.  There was a show that was on a few years ago that dealt with 6 degrees of separation and I started watching it on week one, by week 3 I was hooked, the show was cancelled in week four never to be seen again.  This kind of tv programing bugs me since it usually takes a few weeks for a new show to hit.  I see this year in and year out as the network programmers look to fill space.  I have an idea, if you cancel a show in midseason, sell it to Netflix or Hulu, so that way we can at least finish the season.

Daily Dose of BS April 26 ash tress

I just talked about it a month ago, when the city took out the trees in Riverside park, and now they are in the news again, the city of La Crosse has a hate relationship with the Ash Tree, and the Emerald Ash Borer.  The latest plan calls for the removal of 2700 ash trees over the next 5 years.  The city of La Crosse will be eradicating the Ash Tree from the fabric of the city.  I am guessing that when we drive down most of the city streets we will notice the clear cutting of the Ash trees from the roads and boulevards.  It saddens me to think that all these trees will soon be gone from our beautiful city, a tree city, and that our lovely canopy of leaves and shade will for a long time be missing from the city streets.  I think the next time we plant trees for shade that the city should look at different species so that way we don’t get stuck in another Elm and Ash situation.  

Daily Dose of BS April 25 life

Did life turn out as you expected?  I think that mine is better than I expected.  I had dreams early in my career of being a DJ in a major market, and tried finding a few jobs in that, but ultimately decided that I loved talk radio and the city of La Crosse.  Money is not a motivator, but freedom for me is.  Here is something to think about, what is your biggest motivator?  What gets you up in the morning and what sustains you for the day?  As I said for me it is the events going on daily that when done correctly I have the freedom to do what I want later in the day or on the weekends.  

BS With Bob April 22 Earth Day

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 have been recycling, and I am shocked about how painless it is.  Our world is much like our bodies if we abuse it, it won’t be around forever.  I know we do many things to the earth that we shouldn’t but I want to just focus on one thing, one little piece, the cigarette butt.   I hate when someone who smokes tosses out the cigarette butt out the window of a car.  While I am on it I really dislike any litter, it annoys me to no end.  When you have garbage find a receptacle do not just toss on the ground, you are making needless work for someone else and you are polluting our world.  Also remember to pitch your gum where someone isn’t going to be stepping on it.

Daily Dose of BS April 21 money

Are we ready for new money?  For the first time in about a century there will be a big change in money with the proposed replacement of Andrew Jackson on the $20 dollar bill with Harriet Tubman, and also to add women and civil rights leaders to the $5 and $10 dollar bill.  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 with an election coming up and the uncertainty of all that, we will need bigger than a c-note.  

Daily Dose of BS April 20 credit cards

I don’t carry a lot of cash, I use my credit card and then pay it off, as my parents used to say those that understand interest make it those that don’t pay it.  I try and pay things off as the bills come, once in a while it takes an extra month to pay but not too often.  The card that I have been using is one where I get points at a specific store, and then end up getting free stuff the more I spend the more I get.  Since about last year there has been a chip on the front of the card and if you try swiping it when there is a reader present it doesn’t work and you have to insert the card in the slot and wait, and wait and well you get the drift.  How is a chipped card going to help with credit card fraud if everyone isn’t using it and if the old technology is still on the card?  And ever wonder how soon the credit card thieves will learn to steal your new information.  

Daily Dose of BS April 19 police work

Good old police work and a gps chip helped the UWL police department to bust a couple of bike thieves.  Just about 30 bikes were found after a bait bike was placed in with others and was taken by the thieves, I don’t know about you but I am all for using technology and surveillance for stopping thieves from taking what isn’t theirs.  I know that the city of La Crosse has new cameras up down town and that people were complaining about them when they were going through the fund raising process, I guess the way I look at it is if you aren’t doing anything wrong then what do you have to worry about?  You know with more and more people posting things for sale on craigslist and on facebook, we have to be more diligent on making sure that what we buy from a private seller is bought and paid for by them not by someone else. 

Daily Dose of BS April 18 vandals

At 10^th and State Street there is a fenced in piece of property that has been kicked in and beaten down for many years.  You drive by once and it is in great shape like every fence should be then you go by a week or two later, usually after a weekend and there are fence boards missing off the fence.  I have seen this going on and off for the past handful of years, and honestly the more I see it get wrecked the more I get mad about the situation.  I really don’t understand why people have to wreck other people’s property?  It isn’t theirs, it doesn’t belong to them, they don’t maintain it, it has no sentimental value to them, yet people think it is ok to wreck other people’s property.  I just don’t get it.  If you’re a vandal, shame on you. 

Daily Dose of BS April 15 buy American

You hear the chat of buy American, pride for America, but do show that pride with your dollars?  Are you going out of your way to make sure that the products you buy are built in the good old USA?  I am not sure that I have ever looked to see if something that I was buying is made here or globally.  I take that back I will look where my canned mushrooms come from, and I don’t even know why I do but once I saw the can I was buying say that they came from China and that kind of seemed weird to me, and I don’t even know why it was, maybe I was thinking how did they get here, and why are they from China, do they really grow mushrooms that are that much better than the ones grown here, where are they really growing?  Anyway back to the topic at hand, do you search to see where your products are made, and do you buy based on that?  

Daily Dose of BS April 11 positive thinking

I have talked about the power of being positive many times on this show, and that if you are you are goal oriented, optimistic and enthusiastic that people want to be around you.  Research shows that this is exactly right with those that are self-made millionaires.  Most people like to spend time with likeminded people looking for success, and the majority of people enjoy long term success when they have a positive mental outlook.  Looks like what I have told my kids to be true that negativity will derail you from pursuing success, because optimists attract optimists and pessimists just repel. 

Daily Dose of BS April 8 comfort foods

I heard yesterday that we have comfort foods based on who made them and how we felt around that person.  What’s your favorite comfort food?  I have a food and a meal my 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.  If I just need a quick fix I love a good english muffin with butter not margarine, then smothered in peanut butter and drizzled with honey.  Yum.  I also have a new comfort food of banana bread toasted in the toaster and then slathered in butter.  What is your favorite comfort food?

Daily Dose of BS April 7 complaint log

I have a school project of writing down things that I complain about or make me mad for the day.  I have started a list a few times but let it go after I had about a page and it was only noon.  Well I let it slide and it is due today.  So yesterday I was thinking that it is due I am just going to have happy thoughts and not let anything bug me for the day so I can legitimately say that nothing bugged me.  Bahaha, I had complaining thoughts in the shower as my razor wouldn’t clean quickly, my internet wasn’t fast enough, I had to put on my stupid hearing aids, my glasses needed washing, my socks were tight, there was nothing quick to grab for breakfast, my radio was too loud when I got in the car, the road was bumpy, an idiot pulled out in front of me on a green light sped up then slammed on his breaks – that one got me mad, then he pulled off and sped away.  I got to work and my studio was warm, I am sure I have forgotten a few and I have only been up for a couple of hours.  If this stuff is the worst of the day, then it is going to be a terrific day, I am going to try to find the good in today and not sweat the small stuff and I suggest that you do the same, it isn’t like my stuff is life and death, heck it is just first world problems.  Have a terrific day.