Daily Dose of BS April 12 life

Have you ever thought about life, I mean really thought about what we do on a regular basis?  I do and I must be getting older because I think about life and the after life often.  I spent some time with my mom a couple of weeks ago and was enjoying having conversation with her when we started talking about getting older and the pains that come with getting older.  My mom and step dad mentioned that they had gone and bought burial spots and were excited that they were by a tree, I asked if that really mattered?  It is funny but once I am gone I figure I am gone it doesn’t matter where my remains end up does it.  I have told my wife that when I go I want to have a party and invite everyone, and have an open bar.  What the hell, one last toast.  Have you ever given any thought about this?  I really try to live my life to the fullest and try to enjoy each and every day.  

Daily Dose of BS April 11 sticks and stones

A couple of lessons learned as a kid would have helped out with yesterday’s shooting in La Crosse.  First of all sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me.  Which I know isn’t always the case because sometimes words do hurt, but don’t you think that we have a raised a bunch of thin skinned kids?  I was picked on a lot as a kid, I really think that is what made me the man I am today.  If you are reading this and were one of the people that did some of that picking, I forgive you.  And thanks.  Secondly this still rings in my ears, no playing with guns.  I will say this again, no playing with guns.  How hard is that?  Let the crap roll off your back and don’t play with guns, two of the things my Mom would always say, would have diverted yesterday’s shooting in La Crosse.  Apparently, the shooting was over a post on Facebook.  Someone posted yesterday to watch what you say on Facebook, I guess that they weren’t kidding.  

Daily Dose of BS April 10 old school

I am kind of old school.  I don’t have cable tv and I still have a land line.  It isn’t that I never had cable, I just thought that the expense of having it wasn’t worth it especially since there is services such as Hulu and Netflix out there and if you get Amazon Prime you also get streaming with that.  There really isn’t too much that I can’t see within a short time of it being broadcast.  As for the home phone I bought Ooma a couple of years ago and it hooks right into my internet and uses that to make it work.  And really how many people do you know that have home lines anymore?  My Dad got rid of his a few years ago, my Mom and one brother still have a land line but other than a few others that I know the land line is only in their homes because they get a bargain on getting their cable and internet if they have a home line.  In fact less than 40 % of American homes have telephones and one in 5 have dumped cable.  

Daily Dose of BS April 7 Syria

I don’t know too much about the Syrian conflict but I do know what I have heard, and those reports say between 80 and 84 people were killed, including 27 children and 19 women. Another 546 people were injured, with chemicals that bombed an apartment building.  In response, The United States fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Syria overnight, according to the Pentagon, civilians were not targeted -Syria says at least six people were killed at a military airfield, a spokesman for the Defense Department said that aircraft and infrastructure at the site were hit, including the runway and gas fuel pumps. and that the airfield was severely damaged, reducing Syria's capability to deliver chemical weapons.  Should we have taken this step, why or why not? 

Daily Dose of BS April 6 shooting

Another shooting in La Crosse.  This was another one that was all too close to my home, I guess that all are too close to our homes.  I was in class last night when I heard about the shooting?  I excused myself and called my son who was at home at the time, and found out what he knew.  One of his friends was working at the restaurant close to where it happened.  Thank goodness that no innocent bystanders were harmed when this shooting took place.  I am impressed with how quickly the La Crosse police took control of the situation and quickly 3 were in custody, I know that they were in active negotiations when I went to bed last night with a 4^th suspect.  When I interviewed one of the Sergeants last night I asked why the police were canvasing neighborhoods so far from the shooting as mine is about a mile from the crime scene he said they were following up on leads.  It is weird to look out your front door, and see armed police officers in tactical gear walking and standing guard where your kids play ball, or ice skate. 

Daily Dose of BS April 5 PRAT Tax

Did you vote yesterday?  Did you know that the PRAT Tax proposal passed its first hurdle to being passed?  La Crosse county voters voted at a rate of 55 to 45 percent in the election yesterday to support of adding .5 percent sales tax to many of the things that we buy in order to generate money to repair the county highway system.  According to the Wisconsin Revenue Department that this new tax would generate about 6.6 million dollars’ worth of money with the county planning on using about 5 million of it for road repair and the other 1.6 million being divvied up between the 18 municipalities in the county.  I don’t even understand how this got on the ballot as the PRAT Tax was designed for communities not counties and is supposed to be based on the area getting 40% of their equalized property value from “tourism related business” I thought that the La Crosse area had about a 5%.  This is only the first step but I am interested to see where it goes.  

Daily Dose of BS April 4 giveback

I think that it is important to be involved in your community, from getting out and voting on election day to getting involved in a civic organization or a church.  One of the things my parents instilled in my brothers and I, was to give back either monetarily or with time. I chose to work in radio so I have more time than money. There are tons great organizations out there that are in need of your time, and your money. Find one and help when you can. Today is Kiwanis radio day so as you pop around to the different radio stations in the La Crosse Market you will hear lots of different unfamiliar voices, talking about the benefits of being in the Kiwanis. The best thing about being a part of a service group is that if you are active in the group you are pretty much guaranteed to make some good lifelong friends, I am still friends with some of the guys I was in Boy Scouts with and my best friends are people that I was in the Jaycees with. My suggestion to you is be active within our community and let us all work to make our great communities an even better place to live, just a reminder that today is election day.  

Daily Dose of BS April 3 environment

My son likes watching the show Gold Rush and I have sat in on it a few times, you do get caught up in the drama on the show, even if it is manufactured by the tv production people.  I bring this show up because I really had no idea that the mining of gold was done by the stripping of the earth.  I guess I just assumed that the gold was panned as it used to be.  The big machines come in and strip away the earth and that earth gets run through a machine that washes away the rocks and the gravel leaving behind gold flecks.  A ton of work and a from what I have seen on the show not a huge payout for the long strenuous hours.  It appears there are strippers of the land in the upper Midwest as well as I heard this morning that there are people armed with chainsaws cutting down birch trees all over Minnesota and Wisconsin.  Apparently, there are many who like the look of birch trees and birch bard inside their homes.  I am not an environmentalist but after seeing shows like Gold Rush and hearing of the clear cut of the birch tree I think I am beginning to know what it feels like to be one.  

Daily Dose of BS March 30 bathrooms

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

Daily Dose of BS March 29 conceal carry

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

Daily Dose of BS March 28 drinking

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

Daily Dose of BS March 27 clothes

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

Daily Dose of BS March 24 Cass Street

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

Daily Dose of BS March 23 Facebook

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

Daily Dose of BS March 22 category killer

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

Daily Dose of BS March 21 you are not alone

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

Daily Dose of BS March 20 LAX SUX

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

Daily Dose of BS March 17 St Patricks Day

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

Daily Dose of BS March 16 parking

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

Daily Dose of BS March 15 voting

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

Daily Dose of BS March 14 hate crime

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

Daily Dose of BS March 13 drink specials

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

Daily Dose of BS March 10 disappearance

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

Daily Dose of BS March 9 self driving cars

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

Daily Dose of BS March 8 day without woman

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

Daily Dose of BS March 7 stuff

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

Daily Dose of BS March 6 DOT

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

Daily Dose of BS March 3 rides

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

Daily Dose of BS March 2 best of

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

Daily Dose of BS March 1 Trump

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

Daily Dose of BS Feb 28 drinking in Minnesota

Growing up in Minnesota we had weird drinking laws, like you can only buy 3.2 beer at the grocery store and that you had to go to the liquor store to buy booze and any beer that wasn’t labeled 3.2 you also couldn’t buy beer or alcohol on a Sunday.  This is about to change thanks to Winona Senator Jeremy Miller.  I remember meeting family for a family outing a few years back when I got a call from my brother-in-law asking me to pick up some Spotted Cow on my way up to Duluth because they couldn’t get it up there and because it was a Sunday and they couldn’t buy beer there.  I told him to go to Superior to buy his beer then told him I was kidding and brought him his beer.  Do you think that more Minnesotans will be drinking now because of beer and alcohol sales on a Sunday?  I wonder also if opening this up will also open up car sales on a Sunday as well?  I guess that time will tell.  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 27 line in the sand

Have you ever made that line in the sand and said I am not going to cross that line.  I promise myself I will never do..fill in the blank?  I have and I bet that you have as well.  I wonder if it is a sign of the times, of our society or that we are weak or maybe we are making lines in the sand that can’t possibly be kept.  There are some that are hard and fast rules that we should not do, but some do.  Every single day we hear of people who have killed someone or robbed a bank or even embezzled money from you name it work, club, church, school..the list is as long as my arm.  When I was young and would get disciplined by my Dad I remember saying I will never yell at my kids.  Guess what if you have kids sometimes you yell.  Does this make a failure?  No way.  Sometimes we make the “nevers” in our lives unattainable.  How do you set and stay with a goal?

Daily Dose of BS Feb 24 fake news

I know I am going to take some crap for this but do you think that the media sources out there are more about reporting the news or making the news?  We have been hearing lots about fake news and I too sometimes fall for the click bait to read a story about this or the 10 reasons why this that or the other things.  But do you really feel as though the media is out to report fake news?  if you can’t trust the media, who can you trust?  Now, hear me out, I chose a profession where integrity and honesty are key, I chose to work in the media.  I have been given crap from everyone from my Dad who loves me to my friends to people I don’t even know about the integrity of the media, calling us a bunch of liars and news fabricators.  I think that when some people have a real news story about them break that they don’t like or that they don’t get shown in the best light they are calling it fake news.  I agree that some stuff out there is fake but news from trusted sources isn’t. 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 23 nails

I have heard from a family friend in La Crosse that their house has been targeted by some group of people who apparently doesn’t like them.  Our friends house has had nails tossed on their driveway many times over the past 6 months or so.  I saw a picture of the nails that they have cleaned up and they have about enough to shingle a roof.  Not only has nails been tossed on their driveway but also put in the gutter by their house, and wine bottle and a pickle jar were also tossed in their yard.  Yesterday another friend sent me an article of someone putting nails face up on a running trail in North Carolina also on the same trail there have been nails put into tree roots so to hurt a runner.  To me both of these incidents are forms of bullying and at least one leaning towards domestic terrorism.  Here is the definition, acts of domestic terrorism are those which: "(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State; (B) appear to be intended – (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, sounds terroristic to me.  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 22 advice

Yesterday my youngest son bought his first car, he doesn’t even have his permit yet.  While we were driving it around town, we were talking about things and how dangerous driving can be, I went over many of the driving rules, and mentioned as we were about to hit the highway that speed and inattentive driving kill.  We went on to talk about how texting and driving also is a deadly combination.  Our conversation made me think about the things or the words of wisdom that our parents pass on to us.  My Dad always used to say that a moment of laxity can cause an eternity of regret, and that the youth is wasted on the young, use your head for more than just a place for your glasses or hat.  My parents were also big on taking responsibility for what you have done.  What are some of the bits of advice that you have received over the years that you still live by today?  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 21 welcome

When you welcome someone into your home you try to show them the best of the best, you want them to feel welcome.  You greet them at the door you offer them a drink, as well as something to eat.  I wonder if we are doing this to our visitors to La Crosse, you get off on exit 3 to be welcomed by a few fast food places, a mall and some hotels, where is the welcome to our wonderful community sign, our hey this is a great place to visit placard or the welcoming committee letting our guests know that this a wonderful place to live.  We don’t really have this.  City planners are forming a plan that will outline a new vision for the northern entrance to the city of La Crosse, and I for one hope that it is much more welcoming than the look now.  There is talk of walkways, crosswalks and bike trails, as well as adding the pavers and decorative lighting.  I think all well spent money.  I just wish that some of the other river towns would take this idea and run with it for their small communities. 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 20 presidents day

I had to smile when I saw the headline not my president’s day.  So if the president isn’t your president and you work for a company or for the government who gives you the day off are you expected to work then?  That is the first thing that popped into my head when I read that.  Ok would someone please explain to me what is meant by that statement?  I really do not understand it.  The day is not honoring one president but all the people who have served as president.  Pick your favorite one, you have 45 select the one you like or the ones you like and celebrate them, and if you really have a beef with the system, work to change it.  We all have skin in the game many of us voted, many of us are unhappy but on the other hand there are still many who are happy.  And if this isn’t your president’s day and you can’t find one of the 45 to celebrate, maybe you just need to dig further, because I am pretty sure that they have all done something worth celebrating.   

Daily Dose of BS feb 17 paper

I am a loyal reader of the La Crosse Tribune, I have been a newspaper reader for my whole life, my love for the snap of the paper came as a young boy first for the comics, then for the money as a paperboy.  Newspapers have always been a part of my life.  Over the years we have seen changes in the way that people get their news, of course my career choice, the radio, tv, the newspaper and of course the new guy in the room, the internet.  Digital news has cut into the amount of people who enjoy all the “Old School” types of media.  We have all had to change the way that we do things.  We all have - from cut backs, to program and publication changes, we have all had to go with the ebb and flow.  With changes sometimes come costs, and with costs I would assume that a contract in place would be honored, I got a letter from the Tribune saying that effective February 2017 they will be implementing a subscription rate increase, and that this increase may accelerate the end of my current subscription period.  HUH?  I thought it was a paid in full contract. 

Daily Dose of BS feb 16 pop

Our pop machine at work had a 25% increase last week sometime I am not much of a pop drinker but every once in a while I will crack open a pop.  Is it pop or soda?  I grew up in Minnesota and I have always called it pop, when I moved around at the beginning of my career I ran into people that looked at me like I was a back woods hick, I assure you that I am not.  But back to the whole pop vs soda argument, most of the country calls it soda, some of us call it pop and in Georgia I heard that they call it all Coke.  What if you wanted a Mt Dew would you order a Mt Dew Coke?  I am not sure.  Anyway I am not sure how much longer we will be having this argument as the taxes for the cost of pop are going up at many locations and I am guessing that the government will someday step in and tell us no more pop.  What are your thoughts on the whole pop vs soda wars and are you still drinking the stuff?

Daily Dose of BS Feb 15 ash trees

A few years ago we were told that the city of La Crosse was going to be taking down trees in certain neighborhoods, they even closed Losey for a day a couple years ago to do it.  That was then, back when we got a public notice of trees coming down.  Over the past week or so the city has been silently thinning the herd.  They are dropping Ash left and right, in just the past 10 or so days in the 3 blocks of my street I think I counted that the city fell 13 trees.  I talked with one of my neighbors who had 4 trees taken from his boulevard 4 trees.  The city of La Crosse is eradicating the Ash Tree from the fabric of the city.  I am guessing by end of the spring that when we drive down any La Crosse neighborhood we will notice the clear cutting of the Ash trees.  Besides the loss of the trees we will be viewing the exposed stumps of the Ash trees that have been cut down in hopes of eradicating the Emerald Ash Borer.  It saddens me to think that all these trees will soon be gone from our beautiful city, and that our lovely canopy of leaves will for a long time be missing from the city streets.  We at one time had the designation of Tree City USA, what will the new designation be? 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 14 Valentines Day

I choo’choo’ choose you.  Best Simpsons episodes ever.  I used to feel like Ralph when I was a kid as we handed out store bought valentines cards and put conversation hearts into a little place baggie or cellophane cut into squares and synched together with a bit of ribbon. Valentine’s day is today, don’t say I didn’t warn you.  What do you get someone you have been married to for almost 27 years?  Flowers, a card, chocolates or other candies, I know candy conversation hearts, actually to me Valentine’s Day to me it is a made up holiday in order to sell cards and candy.  I know, call me Mr Romantic, 50 shades of blah, I am going to stimulate the local economy and take my wife out for dinner, and maybe a movie, if not it’s hot pockets and Netflix.  By the way what’s good on Netflix these days?

Daily Dose of BS Feb 13 fast life

I saw a couple of posts on Facebook over the weekend about how fast life is and how things can change immediately.  I agree things can change in an instant sometimes for the good other times for bad.  One of my friends had the latter happen this weekend to her and her family.  The apartment building that my friend lived in was ravaged by fire over the weekend, and not only did she and her family lose all of their personal belongings but so did their over 7 neighbors, I couldn’t imagine losing everything in a blink of an eye.  When I was growing up my brother put some paper into the furnace because he had seen flames in there and wanted to see more, it was quickly extinguished and he never did this again.  Over the weekend I thought a lot about this and how fast life can change, I know for one I need to slow down and relearn how to smell the roses.  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 10 scouts

I read an article today that brings up the question of girls joining Boy Scouts.  I am an Eagle Scout and I learned a lot from the Boy Scouts and I honestly think that there should be separated groups of kids at that age just to get away from the pressures of trying to be someone who you are not.  Hear me out, when you are a teenage boy you have lots going on school life, home life, church life, friend life and in your mind dating life someday.  If you put the groups together, you are taking away that chance for a boy to be a boy without distractions around.  And if you introduce girls to Boy Scouts you will soon have to introduce boys to Girls Scouts.  And then you will see distractions there as well.  I have read, in many schools around the country schools have been experimenting with separating the different sexes to see how it works in education.  I say leave it be the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts and let’s open the Selective Service to everyone. 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 9 budget

Governor Scott Walker is known for being a pretty conservative Governor.  His new budget is anything but conservative in fact a few news organizations are calling it a surprisingly liberal budget with a huge boost in funding for schools, sizable tuition cuts for college students and increased tax breaks for the working poor.  Not that I like taxes but I would like to see an increase in gas tax to help to pay the roads, I for one can only bitch so many times about the dang pot holes, these holes are large enough to swallow a car whole and spit out just the axel, but back to the budget.  The proposed state budget includes raises for state workers, the elimination of the prevailing wage and nearly 600 million dollars in tax cuts.  All this while saving a family of four $70 a year in state property tax.  I wonder where this money is coming from?  I am going to ask that question of the Governor at 6:45 this morning. 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 8 game of life

Our lives are really like a game, there is strategy and there is luck.  We all play it sometimes we win and sometimes we lose.  As I was thinking about what to write for my daily dose of BS this morning I kept going back to Sundays big game and how in the first quarter I heard Joe Buck and Troy Aikman talk about no team has ever comeback from a 2 touchdown deficit in the Super Bowl and how Tom Brady ended up pulling out a huge win for the Patriots.  And in November during the election when we kept hearing that there is no way Donald Trump could win, no way.  Here are a couple of examples of where the impossible happened, I guess what I am trying to say is never count anyone out, there is always hope for people and situations.  And in our continual game of life we just keep playing the cards we are dealt and bluffing our ways to victories.  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 7 driving

Every parent’s worst nightmare was realized by Justin McElwain’s parents yesterday as the body of the 22-year-old was pulled up from Swift Creek.  As a parent of four kids hearing that a car went over the embankment last Wednesday morning the first thing I did was to call my son who lives with his buddies to make sure that everything was ok.  I don’t mean to awful-ize here but as a parent you worry, at least I do and I am thinking that this feeling doesn’t go away when your kids get older, my Mom and Dad worry about my brothers and I am sure of it.  Back to the car going down the embankment, I do not know what caused the car to lose control, I do not know what caused the car to end up on the ice, I didn’t know him but I do know that the outcome is sad for all who knew this young man.  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 6 sidewalks

Reaching above freezing yesterday brought my wife and I out for a walk around the neighborhood, we haven’t hit the streets for about a month in a half and I’ll tell you what there are lots of people out there that have not shoveled their sidewalks and don’t even get me started on the corners, there were only 2 or 3 that were cleared enough for us to not have to climb over them and only one that would have allowed a wheelchair to pass.  I thought that the city insisted that the sidewalks get cleared within 24 hours of a snow fall?  Also when the corners aren’t cleaned the water that needs to flow to the sewers get backed up and then causes pooling and eventually more potholes.  And I think that we have enough of those already.  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 3 waffle bowl

This Sunday at the Schmidt house won’t be having wings, pizza or nachos.  We have a family tradition of waffles for the big game.  Waffles are not just a warm breakfast at a hotel.  We started this family tradition when our oldest was young then it just stuck.  We have renamed this coming Sunday Waffle Bowl Sunday because we will waffle over which team to cheer for and which commercial is the best.  For me it is hard to watch the game when I don’t know the players.  I will mostly be watching on Sunday for the commercials and this year I haven’t heard about too many of what is being offered for our viewing pleasure.  Hard to believe that the going rate for a 30 second commercial is over 5 million dollars and that is only for the air time not the production costs and the cost for talent.  Hope your weekend is great and whatever you and your family does during the big game that it is safe and fun.  Have a great Waffle Bowl Sunday and go team go.

Daily Dose of BS Feb 2 Girl Scout Cookies

Back when I was in Scouts I went door to door to sell first coupon books then popcorn.  I was one of the top sales people in my pack then troop, I had a goal.  I really wanted this cool pocket knife and I worked for it.  Knocking on doors and ringing doorbells, it taught a skill, one that to this day I use daily.  Make eye contact and don’t mumble.  Getting in front of people helps to build confidence, and teaches you think on your feet, if not for learning those skills back in the 80’s I am not sure what I would be doing today.  This Saturday the local Girl Scouts are going to be starting their cookie sales, I talked with Sally Egan about the cookies yesterday and found out they even have an app this year to find where you can buy them, I have also heard that the Girl Scouts are selling online, great but don’t expect me to buy any cookies from a website.  I don’t even buy from the sheet that is brought to work and put up with a note asking you to buy.  Want me to buy your cookies or popcorn come and sell me your stuff.  I buy from almost every kid that comes to the door unless my kids are selling the same item.  Having kids build up confidence is not a bad thing. 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 1 Len Bias

Yesterday I commented on the Len Bias law and pointed out the law was used recently in La Crosse to charge a dealer with homicide.  Do you think that the law should be used especially now since we are seeing more and more heroin and other drug overdoses?  Also where should it stop?  Should the law walk all the way to the top?  Should it stop with the farmer or the drug store where the chemicals were bought to make the drug?  Or does it boil down to personal responsibility?  If you take it and you die it is on you?  I am now and have always been a big proponent of personal responsibility but there is a point where someone sold you bad drugs mixed with something else that maybe takes some of that responsibility off the addict?  What are your thoughts?  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 31

There are a lot of things to talk about today from the travel ban to the amount of people who are so tied up in the political hate to the Len Bias law.  I don’t know where to start.  I think I am going to piss about half off by saying Trump won get over it.  You can’t hate that much, can you?  (So you know if Clinton would have won I would be writing the same thing) The election is over the cards are played and there is no reason to lose friends over the already divided landscape of America.  We should all work on trying to build the bridges of our friends, our families and our communities.  There is a political divided in Washington DC but does there need to be a political divide in La Crosse Wisconsin?  I don’t believe so, we can work toward change instead of protesting everything.  On to the Len Bias law, do you think that the drug dealer should be charged with homicide when someone overdoses on the drug sold?  And if so should it go right up the drug ladder to the top with each person charged with homicide?  And if we do this is it like charging Hersey Chocolate for each person who ends up with diabetes or fat? 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 30 great things

When I turned on my laptop this morning the picture was of a beach somewhere and for a moment I was transformed there then my eyes caught the words that were above the login button it said do great things.  Do Great Things, these are words that we should all strive for each and every day, I don’t always achieve this goal, but in the back of my mind it is something that I try to do.  I do try to do the things that put me in the right frame of mind to at least try to do great things.  I heard a quote quite a while ago saying something like this you don’t see successful people leaving the grocery cart outside the cart coral, and that got me thinking, you really don’t see that.  I guess if you start small and focus you truly can do great things.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 27 border

Over the past couple days if you heard the news or looked online to any news sites you most likely have heard that the proposal for paying for a fence between the United States and Mexico could possibly be paid for by a 20% tax on Mexican imports, now I know I am not a mathematician or an economist but when I think of that kind of math, one that taxes things being brought in, my mind automatically goes to I am going to have to foot that bill when I buy things that were imported from Mexico.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 26 tv

I like watching tv maybe even love watching tv.  I am finding that more and more there are moments on some sitcoms that push the limits, and I thought I had some pretty liberal limits.  There is lots on the television that push the limits of what should be available to the mass audience.  Don’t get me wrong I don’t want to censor anything or anybody but do you think that there should be censorship on tv?  There are many situations that are shown in tv that make the younger watcher question the reality of what they are seeing.  I recall watching shows with my kids in the room and having one or more ask to explain the situation or the question that arose often was “Is that person a good guy or bad person?”  The lines most certainly are blurred.  What are your thoughts on today’s tv? 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 25 telemarketing

I don’t know about you but I get phone calls just about everyday on my home phone and my cell phone from automated sales people.  I for one am sick of it.  I am on the no call list and I tell the people to take my name off the list, they don’t.   I thought that the government has put into play fines and other punishments for those that push the limits and call your home phone and your personal cell.  Apparently they are not doing anything about it as I still get calls everyday.  Lately they are telling me that they are about my credit card.   Umm not true it is paid off every month.  I am getting so sick of picking up the phone only to say hello twice and then have a good recorded voice tell me oh I’m sorry my headset slipped, and then go into a prerecorded spiel of bs.  It is getting to the point where I don’t even like to answer my phone anymore.  Stop the madness.  I hate telemarketing.

Daily Dose of BS Jan 24 Trump

Cut the guy some slack.  I said it 8 years ago and I will say it when the next administration takes over, give the guy a break.  You never ever stepped into a new job and were wonderful at it.  NEVER.  And add to it the eyes of the world on your every move.  I expect there to be mistakes, and tests pushing the limits of things, as with every new person in every new position.  Being a person who works in the public eye but not nearly as much as the president I know that there are going to be people who like you, and people who hate you.  I had a boss once that told me that you are not nearly as good as your biggest fan and not as bad as your biggest detractor, you are somewhere in the middle.  Give the man a break for the first few weeks, he is going to make some mistakes, we all do when we start out on a job.  I will however give one suggestion to the new administration, don’t lie to us, we and by we I mean Americans are pretty smart and can take a lot, however, lying isn’t an easily forgiven crime.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 23 swearing at work

I read in the La Crosse Tribune yesterday, an article, that says swearing is just fine in the workplace.  I don’t know about your work place but at mine it is considered unacceptable.  Don’t get me wrong there is swearing that goes on at work, and sometimes it happens on the air, hell sometimes I even slip, but the words that are said on the air are the G or the PG of the swear words.  I have accidently said Schmidt on a shingle when talking about favorite breakfast foods, and one time when I was first in radio I let the granddaddy of all swear words slip off mike and far enough away but still it made an impression to not say that word in the studio.  Words really are important and help people to decide if they want to listen to you.  There are even some studies out there that say it is ok to swear and when you do you are above average intelligence. (as a person who knows my way around the swear word I am not sure I believe this, But)  http://thefreethoughtproject.com/studies-swear-messy-intelligence/  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, we have to remember they are words, and my mom always said that sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me.  What words do you dislike?  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 20 Trump

I have heard he is not my president most of my life, I seem to recall when I started getting politically educated that even back in the 80’s people used to say he’s not my president.  I have to disagree with you, he is our president.  Whomever gets elected and then sworn in as the commander in chief is indeed your president.  You may not agree with much of what that person stands for but that elected person is your president.  With that being said, today marks the swearing in of our 45^th president and you bet there are many protesting, demonstrating and marching in Washington DC and around the country.  But on the other hand there are many cheering, celebrating and rejoicing as Donald Trump gets sworn in.  I am unsure of how things are going to go under a Trump administration but as with any change at the top there will be some shake up and some uncertainty.  I wish for nothing but the best for all in politics, as I do not want our country to fail.  God Bless America. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 19 stamps

I can remember when it cost 14 cents to mail a letter either next door or across the country.  I recall walking to school through a parking lot when that thought hit me.  I have no idea why I remember that exact moment and who knows if it even is a real thought but I can vividly picture thinking it is only 14 cents to mail a letter and I am walking to school.  Like I said I was a weird child.  The reason I bring up the cost of stamps is if you are a saver and want to save some money before the big hike, you better purchase your stamps before the big hike on Sunday.  We are going back up to the 49 cents per stamp that we saw in 2014.   For some reason the price of a stamp went down to 47 cents in April of last year now returning to the 49 cents from before, I still think that the price of travel for our cards and letters is cheap.  If you want to save that 4% you better head to the post office before Sunday and buy your forever stamps.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 18 stolen tires

I have always thought of La Crosse, Wisconsin as a safe place to live, low crime, low murder rate, good people.  Imagine my surprise when on Tuesday I heard from a co-worker that someone stole the four tires and rims right off her car.  I immediately thought that she has to have a cool car with super expensive tires and rims, it has to be the case right.  Wrong, someone stole the 4 tires and rims off a 2003 Toyota Corolla.  Who the hell steals the tires off a car to begin with?  But a Toyota Corolla?   What the?  The car was in her alley behind her house.  If this would have happened to my car my neighbors would have been awaked by me yelling.  This isn’t Chicago, or New York but La Crosse, Wisconsin who the hell steals the tires off a car?  By the way if you are missing a couple of car jacks I know where they are, contact me for that information, better yet call the La Crosse Police, I am sure that they would like to talk with you. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 17 ice skaing on street

A weird thing happened in La Crosse, we had an ice storm like one that I have never seen in my 48 years.  I glanced out the front window about 4 yesterday afternoon and noticed that the street in front of my house was sheer ice.  I mentioned it to my son who asked if he could go out and skate on it, I said no so he went and slid on the ice with his shoes on.  When his brother got home he had a pair of his old skates on and said I’m going skating on the street and his brother then piped up saying me too, they grabbed their skates, I videoed them on my phone uploaded to Facebook and by this morning over a half a million people have seen the video, my kids were pretty pumped last night constantly giving us updates on how many people have seen the video, a friend of mine said it was on the national news.  Crazy.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 16 gps

Over the weekend I wanted to go to a funeral to pay my last respects.  I found the address of this rural church and proceeded to go to google maps to find the driving directions, using the gps on my phone to navigate me to the rural church.  I didn’t make it to the funeral heck I couldn’t even find the church.  I have heard how people have had bad luck with the different maps out there and how gps units have told people to turn down wrong streets, but this is the first time I have experienced it where it had me miles away from my true destination.  Needless to say I missed the wake and the funeral, instead of getting upset about missing these events, we decided to explore some of the small towns we went through.  Not really what was planned for Saturday but wasn’t the worst thing going either.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 13 Buck and Aikman

Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are Fox broadcasting number one broadcast team.  Some Packer fans are not happy with the duo calling the Packer games.  As a Packer fan I say to those fans that are complaining about having Buck and Aikman calling the games to get over it.  I personally like to watch the games when these guys are calling the games, and in fact don’t like when we get stuck with another broadcast duo.  At least when I am watching the Packers on Fox I know what I am going to get, when they move the games to a Sunday, Thursday or Monday night I don’t know who is going to be calling it, and not sure if I will even be able to watch the game since I don’t have cable.  I think that the 24 thousand fans who signed the petition to get Buck and Aikman off the Packers broadcast have it wrong.  If you want to not hear what they have to say, either turn down your tv and listen to the game on the radio or go to the game yourself and see the action.  I say keep Buck and Aikman.  Go Pack Go!!!!

Daily Dose of BS Jan 12 netflix cheating

Infidelity, the cheating spouse, it isn’t what it seems.  It didn’t mean anything.  I really only enjoy it when it is us.  It won’t happen again, I promise.  But the draw is there and the lines have been drawn in the sand.  You are home alone and that urge gets you, you are weak, you can fight her power, you can fight her draw, you can – never mind only one more time, yeah right.  The TV is already on and you have Netflix turned on and you have already started watching the show you and your spouse were watching together.  That draw is real, I feel it on a fairly regular basis, I am home alone often and the tv is on, and sometimes, I can’t help myself I want to only watch one episode, just one she will never know, but guess what she will.  It isn’t worth it, you can watch these shows together.  Speaking of Netflix cheating, what services do you have besides Netflix?  I also have Hulu and Amazon prime, and we just are finishing up Agent X.  What shows are you currently watching? 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 11 presidential

As we are getting ready to turn the page on American history as we say good bye to the first African American President and hello to a president who has had no background in politics except for donating to campaigns and parties to get things done for his businesses.  Are we ready to look back at the last eight years and think about the good and the bad?  I can honestly say that in the Obama presidency that I have had my career worst day and my career worst day.  I have seen the stock market make money and lose money, I have seen people at the top of their game and people at their worst.  There have been times that I wondered what the heck is going on and then how cool is this.  I guess what I am trying to say is that even though one President is getting ready to step aside, a person who if you remember was a pot stirrer and another person who is a pot stirrer getting ready to take over, that we are better off than we were 8 years ago, I worried about the next 4 years, no not at all.  Because we always find a way to persevere, a way to succeed, and always find a way to show the strength of our country.  God bless America. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 10 follow through

What ever happened to follow through?  I bought a Santa beard and hair back in November from the world’s biggest box store.  I looked locally.  Couldn’t find it.  Long story short I got some hair but it was a Mrs. Claus hair set.  What the heck am I supposed to do with that?  I immediately contacted the company to try to get my hair problem taken care of.  Here it is 3 weeks after Christmas and I still have not got closure on this.  I did talk via email to at least 4 customer service people the person before yesterday’s conversation said yes they saw the mistake and yes I will be getting a refund in 5 to 7 days I waited 9 days before I contacted them again, yesterday’s person said to me I need to call the customer service number.  I didn’t have time to do that yesterday, but why have I had to jump through so many hoops for a 42-dollar refund?  At this point it is the principle of the thing.  I just always thought that when you tell someone you are going to do something you follow through with it.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 9 racism

Racism is alive in 2017.  By now we have all seen the video of the 4 black suspects holding a young mentally challenged white man for hours while broadcasting it live on Facebook.  I have heard this act called a hate crime and I agree.  If any group of people pick on someone other than the group doing the picking it is bullying or hate.  I get good natured ribbing, I do it myself in group of friends, heck we sometimes go over the line, but at no time have I ever physically attacked anyone, if I did I would expect to be charged with a crime and if I were saying to them at the same time pointing out why I disliked them and all their differences I would expect to also be charged with a hate crime.  We are in 2017 and  by now you would think that we would like each other or at least get along with each other. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 6 roundabouts

Prior to this morning I was gung ho about the new roundabouts here in Onalaska.  I have been driving thought them effortlessly over the past few months since highway 35 has re-opened, in fact I had conversation with someone from the Wisconsin DOT yesterday about a completely unrelated item and mentioned to him how I thought that the roundabouts were not that big a deal driving though.  Guess what I spoke to soon.  On my drive into work this morning I had to slam on my breaks and hit my horn narrowly avoiding an accident as the guy heading south on highway 35 must have either been in lala land or not paying attention or he had the whole panic what do I do attitude, I know I will just plow through and hope that the smaller vehicle stops to avoid hitting me.  Either way I am guessing it is going to take me a few more weeks before I am comfortable traveling though the roundabouts again. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 5 Alexa

We have been inundated this winter with commercials for the Alexa from Amazon.  I ended up getting one as a gift for Christmas and I’ll tell you what it is pretty cool.  Ask it the question Alexa what is the weather and in her sultry computer voice she says the weather today in Lay Crosse is then she continues with the forecast.  Ask her to tell you a joke and you hear one of the cheesiest jokes you would ever hear, Alexa, do you want to go on a date? I like our relationship the way it is.  I have been having fun with her.  There is a concern now with Alexa always listening and the question is what does she hear?  Alexa is always on and always listening, can she incriminate you?  Also when are they going to roll out the Alexa that can do dishes and laundry?  I already have a house full of people that don’t like doing those chores. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 4 exit 3

The state of Wisconsin just spent millions of dollars re doing the I 90 bridge over highway 35 and now it will be worked on again with big changes for the Exit 3 traffic design.  More stoplights will be added, some business entrances will be moved, some businesses will be moved, there will also be an eagle viewing area and trails added along the Black River.  The transition will be to give the area a new urban feel.  The dot will be getting rid of the cloverleaf loop, being replaced with diamond configurations and controlled intersections, slowing traffic.  There will be added medians, on Rose and West George streets blocking left turns requiring vehicles to travel new roads to gain entrance to existing businesses.  I drive this twice daily and something needs to be done.  I am shocked that it has taken this long to do so.  My biggest complaint is why did it take a couple of steps to get it done, why not do it when the whole thing was tore up over the past few years instead of finishing one project then making a whole new project.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 3 resolutions

Did you set up your yearly lie? We are on day 3 of 2017 have you stuck to it so far?  Lots of us start the year ready for failure. How often have you said to yourself this is the year I am going to...it doesn't matter what the ... is since many of us have filled in the blank with some unrealistic goals. Like this year I am going to Start Exercising, Eat Better, Spend More Time with Family & Friends, Quit Smoking, Enjoy Life More, Quit Drinking, Get Out of Debt, Learn Something New, Have a positive frame of mind, Be Real, Think to the future, Smile more often, Respond to all emails in a timely fashion, or do things for me.  I am not buying that in your mind you think you are going to do those things, but lets get real. How often have you made those little promises to yourself?  To make your resolution better obtainable I would make it realistic, plan ahead, reward yourself, talk about it, remember that most people think that if you make a mistake that you've blown it...use your setbacks as a stepping stone or a learning experience.  Don't beat yourself up and understand that you will have set backs...it is not the end of the world to take a step back when your eye is on the end goal...basically quit lying to yourself and set realistic goals and have a plan of attack.  Good luck in your endeavor to become a better person.

Daily Dose of BS Dec 30 end of year

This time of year gives many the chance to reflect and remember.  As we wrap up 2016 and begin our journey of 2017 I just want to hit a few highlights of my 2016, my oldest son and I took a trip to Boston, to celebrate his 21^st birthday, he also graduated from Western Technical College, my middle son is now a senior and the twins started high school.  My favorite memory of my family was trumped every Sunday when we all got together and laughed and loved, topped by a family hike on Christmas day making a snowman.  My job is awesome and I wouldn’t trade it for the world but I did get to do the coolest thing I have ever got to do as a radio personality, this year brought lots of great interviews including talking to Paul Stanley from my favorite band in the world KISS.  Here is to the memories of 2016 and also to the unpublished pages of 2017, may they be the best ever.  Happy New Year.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 29 travel

Over the river and though the woods, on your way overnight somewhere…. doesn’t matter where next door or across country.  Picture what you have to bring.  Why is it as Americans we feel the need to bring everything we could ever think of for the trip?  You have to pack your toiletry bag, a book, a swim suit, a change of clothes for each day, a laptop, some snacks, my cpap machine, an extra pair of shoes…. what else did I forget?  Oh yea my phone, my charger, the gps, coffee mug, winter hat, gloves, oh my goodness where does the list end?   Why do we need to bring so much crap then if there is more than just you, you need to multiply all that by however many are traveling with you, and if kids are along you need toys, videos, games more snacks etc.  As Americans we have too much stuff.  I feel bad for the people with those little wind up cars, how do you get all your stuff for your overnight in the vehicle?  Downsize, now there is a novel concept, would you NOT like fries with that?  Speaking of downsizing, what are your New Year goals?  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 28 death

Everybody dies.  I hate to sound like a crass uncaring person. But I have been seeing so many people curse the year for taking so many of our iconic celebrities. You know that every year we're blessed with new life and good news as well as death and bad news. Every year we have celebrity deaths.  I find as I am getting older there are more and more of my aged people dying and the celebrities that I grew up watching are getting older as well, with age comes death.  I was challenged yesterday when I posted something about this on my personal page that there are more celebrities that have passed in 2016 than other years, I google searched it, there are many who die every year.  It's not like we're losing more people were just losing more of the people that we grew up watching. It's sad when people die but it's also an opportunity for us to remember and memorialize. There really are only two certainties in life birth and unfortunately death.

Daily Dose of BS Dec 27 technology

As we were together this weekend for Christmas, watching movies on demand, I looked up from my phone at my kids and they were all on their phones also, we then had a discussion about how we are all addicted to our phones and technology.  Can you make it a week without using any computers at all?  My guess is that most of us can't make it a day, from our cell phones, to our cars, to our tvs to our watches, computers are everywhere.  I know I can't go a day without mine, I am an information junkie, I love that I can go to a computer or my phone or a tablet and go to a site like google and find out pretty much anything I want right at my fingertips, if I want to hear a certain song, watch a clip of tv or read a passage of a book, I could find just about anything I would ever want right there.  My job has come a long way from when I started in 1987, we used to play records and carts and recorded on to a reel to reel deck, now we don’t even have record players, cart machines or reel to reel decks our music is all computerized.  I bet your job is different now than it was 20 years ago as well.  Here’s to the past, the present and the future.  I am excited to see what could possibly be next?

Daily Dose of BS Dec 23 Christmas

It’s the friday before Christmas and no presents are bought.

You are feeling quite down, real sad and distraught

What kind of gifts can you buy now and not look real bad

Some last minute presents cause feelings of sad

There are things that can be bought and wrapped or downloaded and shared

And also items that showed that you cared

The trick to shopping last minute is easy

Is to not look like you waited, don’t make it look cheesy

As Boy Scouts have taught me to look all prepared

And when going to buy last minute gifts don’t look scared.

From BS with Bob and crew that work here.

Merry Christmas to all and have a great year.

Daily Dose of BS Dec 22 real or fake

I love the real ones and I love the fake ones.  I just like them.  The real ones are perky and look good at first then they start to droop as they get older, while the fake ones look good right out of the box but sometimes can be to perfect, and after looking at them for a while you can tell that they are fake.  We have had both in our house, but for the past few years we have used a smaller artificial tree for Christmas, with lights and some keepsake ornaments.  In years past we have gone to tree farms to harvest our tree and the last few times we have had real trees we got them from our family land.  So around the Schmidt household we have had successful Christmases with both real and fake.  I grew up with an artificial tree but honestly don’t care what we have in house at Christmas as they are both beautiful.  Which do you prefer? 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 21 beer

If you drive down Lang Drive and looked at the billboard there you probably noticed the billboard for Milwaukee Ice and that it now has 6.9% alcohol.  Prior to that billboard I don’t recall ever seeing a beer point out the fact that the alcohol content is higher, I am used to seeing advertising about the taste or the experience that you may get after trying a product.  Not the alcohol content.  The company claims that they are aiming for transparency so that way consumers can make informed choice, I call BS if Miller Coors wants customers to make informed choices then they should advertise all of their family of beers the same way and see what happens to the sales of their flagship beers.  I am guessing the reason for the 6.9% advertisement is so that way they can reach the beer drinker on the budget that is out for the buzz rather than the camaraderie of having a few beers. 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 20 movies

When the holidays roll around my kids always like watching the Home Alone series.  Over the weekend I watched two of the 3 Hangover movies.  I have always been a person who loves the slap stick movies like Happy Gilmore or the Naked Gun movies franchise.  There are lots of great movies out there that either bring a smile to your face or a tear to your eye.  Our family is more the funny movie family than the tear jerker movie watcher.  Holiday traditions are everywhere this time of year including the family getting together to watch a holiday favorite.  What is your favorite movie and is there a story that goes with why you like it?  I think that our family likes the Home Alone movies because we watched it when the kids were little because it dealt with Christmas and was funny enough to grab everyone’s attention. 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 19 politics

I was thinking about it over the weekend that if we as a country put any doubt into the presidential election that we are then diluting the process.  Think about it whether your candidate won or not if we put into question the outcome of this past election and we keep questioning it that it will put our whole process into question and if that process is in question than our whole government comes into question we must accept the outcomes of the elections and then fight to change them the next time.  We had our family Christmas over the weekend and it is funny even though I had mentioned to a few of the guests that I didn’t want to talk politics since I talk about politics and other events as my job, I like weekends and especially family time to be politic free, it was brought up.  I don’t think that we can ever please everyone when it comes to politics or anything for that matter.  Hope your politically correct holiday time is peaceful. 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 16 breakfast

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  I will have to admit that breakfast is probably my favorite weekend meal because I get the chance to enjoy it.  I think that we are pretty blessed here as there are a lot of great breakfast places out there.  I have my favorite and I am guessing that you do as well.  I have a favorite for which ever food I am craving.  I got to say my favorite to get out to eat is American fries, with mushrooms, peppers, and onions add a couple of over easy eggs, a piece of ham and some rye toast and you have a happy Bob.  If you really want to be on my good side add some hollandaise sauce over the top and you have nirvana.  What is your favorite breakfast food and where do you like to go for breakfast? 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 15 yahoo

Yahoo has suffered yet another hack.  The breach is believed to be separate and distinct from the theft of data from 500 million accounts that Yahoo reported this September.  The stuff taken this time user account information including names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords and possible encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers.  I used exclusively Yahoo for my emails up until the last time they were hacked since then I have moved to Gmail.  I hate hackers.  I don’t get what hackers get out of putting malicious programs on someone’s site.  I really think that hackers are making our world a tougher place to live.  The real sad thing about Yahoo getting hacked is that I saw on Facebook before I got an email from the company letting me know.  Are they working on covering their own asses?  What about all the ones that they left exposed?  All these hackers breaking into small business websites and emails, is costing us all, time, effort and energy.  And what are they getting out of some of the hacks?  I don’t get it.

Daily Dose of BS Dec 13 America is great

Does America need a reboot?  The calls during the election were let’s make America great again, are we really not great anymore?  I have spent my entire life in America minus a few days and I for one feel like we are great.  Are there a few things that I would change, oh yeah, but even in the best scenario of the best events in your life there are still things that you would like to change.  I think that in our constant strive to always be bigger, better, faster, stronger that we don’t take the time to enjoy what has been built up.   Do we have things to do to make our county even better, yes we do, but is America not great?  I kind of think that we are but then again I am kind of biased. 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 14 online shopping

When is the last time you ordered something online?  25% of Black Friday purchases were online.  Free shipping day is coming up on Friday this week.  Many are shopping Amazon prime and all the deal websites out there are being shopped more than ever.  I see the UPS truck, the Fed Ex truck and of course the Mail truck hit up my neighborhood every day.  A couple of weeks before Thanksgiving I ordered something online from the biggest of big box stores because I couldn’t find what I was looking for locally, and I did look.  I was supposed to get my package on the 28^th of November and I ended up getting it on the 23^rd I was happy because it was a new wig for playing the man in red.  My gig was to be on the 3^rd.  I eagerly opened my package and it was the wrong wig, they sent me the Mrs. Claus wig.  (insert jokes here) I immediately jumped online filled out a return request and waited.  I thought that they would get me the wig I ordered in time for the gig.  Guess what it didn’t happen.  In fact I am still waiting after 4 times of contacting the company.   I guess long story short is if you are dealing with a company and ordering it online, be ready for disappointment.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 12 shoveling

Obviously over the weekend snow fell, funny how soon we forget, I of course am talking about driving in the snow, I am sure I am not the only person that noticed that people do not remember how to drive in the snow. With the snow came some other events like shoveling and salting, and if you wanted to be young again snowball fights, forts and snowmen. Back to the business of snow, I shovel my walk when we get any amount of snow but I was wondering when other people shovel, my guess is that most people shoveled with the snowfall we just received but in your mind when is the right time to shovel the walk or plow the parking lot? I also wonder when the city decides to bring out the plows? Up through the weekend they didn’t have much practice time, but all the way to work today I had great driving, thanks to the hard working road crew.

Daily Dose of BS Dec 9 Big Mac

Do you have a favorite food?  I have a few favorite types of food but I don’t think that I could narrow it down to a one specific food.  "Big Mac Daddy" Don Gorske from Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin did something that I don’t think anyone will beat, he ate his 29,000 big mac sandwich from Mc Donalds.  29,0000 of the same thing.  Don has been having 2 a day for a long, long, long time.  I took 29,000 and divided it by 2 for the 2 a day and then divided it by 365 for the number of days in a year and came up with the number 39.72 so if my math is right Don has eaten 2 Big Macs a day for almost 40 years.  There is nothing that I like that much that would have me doing it two times a day for 40 years.  Nothing.  Back to the whole favorite food thing, what is your favorite food?  For me?  Mexican food, not a particular item but the category.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 8 food

I made chicken noodle soup on Sunday.  Yesterday I went to reheat the leftovers for dinner.  I opened the bowl and cleared out the kitchen.  How did 3 day old soup turn from delicious to deadly?  I hate to waste food.  I usually make enough food for 2 meals when I cook so that way a day in the future will be a bit easier with the leftovers.  Have you ever taken out a bigger pack of meat and and forgot it on the counter, then went to bed?  I have also done that, thank goodness that this doesn’t happen too often.  I also dislike when other food gets tossed because of improper putting away like bread, or fruits of veggies. I searched for food wasted on google and it says that about twenty five percent of our food budget is tossed away every year. For a family of six they say the average food bill per week is $291 so about 15 thousand dollars per year. Wasting about 4 grand per year on throw away. It just hurts to think that, that much is wasted.

Daily Dose of BS Dec 7 earworms

Tis the season, for Christmas songs to be playing on the radio, in stores, as backgrounds in tv commercials, at church and generally hummed as people go about their daily business.  Yesterday I had the chance to be at a lunch meeting and one of the guys started humming fla la la la, well that song stayed in my head throughout the day and on my way into work this morning.  Ever had a song or jingle roll through your head at the moment you are ready to sleep, talk to someone, close a sale or just about any other activity?  These types of songs are called earworms.  According to Wikipedia an earworm is a catchy piece of music that continually repeats through a person's mind after it is no longer playing.  What are some of the songs that are the earworms for you, this time of year Christmas songs are mine, what are yours? 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 6 porch pirates

A lot of us have had packages delivered to our homes either from ordering online or gifts that have been delivered.  I know I have and with teenagers wanting to have the latest and greatest of things we have quite a bit delivered to our homes plus with the way the insurance companies are and the bulk medicines that are prescribed there are packages being delivered all the time.  I have been hearing of some big cities having problems with porch pirates, and by porch pirates I mean the people who help themselves to the items that you have ordered.  I really only thought that this type of thing only happens in big cities but no.  I was talking with my neighbor and she said that it had happened to her a couple of different times but when she told me she laughed a bit saying that they only got toilet paper both times.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 5 Santa

In my 48 years I have seen some good Santa’s and some bad Santa’s.  You know the character I am talking about the jolly old elf in red with the white beard.  I too have played the part.  My favorite question is are you the real Santa?  I have always followed it up with what do you think?  If they say yes then I mention I just say yes just like you are real child and if they say no I follow up with why would you think that, and when pushed will say that there are many helpers.  Playing the part of Santa is not an easy job you have to listen, laugh, engage and smile.  The Mall of America is taking some heat for the hiring of their Santa.  The Mall has hired their first black Santa Larry Jefferson and from what I have seen a fantastic Santa.  Remember that Santa is a fictitious and legendary figure who brings gifts to the homes of well-behaved, as long as the part is played well, does it matter who plays the part?  And aren’t we all a little Santa this time of the year?  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 2 shoes

Here is something weird to think about but think about your shoes for a minute.  When is the last time you bought a new pair?  I just picked up a new pair of shoes.  I like a good pair of slip in shoes for heading into work, and for a quick shoe to throw on when around home or if I gotta run and do a few errands.  I found a pair of slip ons that I found super comfortable and wore them about the past 9 months only to have them wear out.  I returned to the same store where I originally bought them and they didn’t have the same color that I had but had black, I bought them, they aren’t the same, not as comfortable and don’t fit as well.  Same thing has happened with tennis shoes over the years, you find a pair you really like, your feet get used to the feel and you know the quality, you wear the heck out of the shoes, and when it comes time to replace you head to your favorite shoe store, you go looking for your shoes, and either they don’t have them or they have them and the quality has changed.  Why?  We spend most of our days with shoes on, you would think that the shoe people would want us to keep buying their shoes.  Wouldn’t you? 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 1 smiles

Ever looked at old family photos, or some real old school pictures of people from the 1800’s?  I have often wondered why aren’t the smiling?  Why are most old pictures people just flat faced, no smile no cheer in the eyes and just cranky looking.  I remember my wedding day 8.3 million photos with the fake smile, I could see not smiling for many of these.  Nowadays people have more smiles on their faces, just look around and watch people have conversations, the smiles come more free, and why wouldn’t they, we have much better dental nowadays than they had the past and with the better dental comes better teeth, both whiter and straighter, plus we have access to cameras all the time, I challenge you to go a day outside of your home to not be caught on someone’s camera.  I was downtown yesterday afternoon and I know there are a bunch of cameras placed around down there, guess what I didn’t look for them nor did I notice them, but you are damn sure I was walking around with a smile on my face.  I gotta keep them wondering what I am up to.