Daily Dose of BS February 20

Every two minutes we take as many photos that were taken in all the 1800’s.  Over 140 billion that’s billion with a B photos are now stored on facebook, if the old saying is true that is equal to a lot of words.  Most of us have a camera with us at all times, wondering what I am talking about check your phone.  We are becoming chronic over sharers, this is why I quit following twitter, I don’t need to know that you are brushing your teeth, getting to work, or eating a salad somewhere, if you were eating bugs or some weird thing, then maybe I would want to know, but why is it that we feel the need to post every little meaningless thing in our lives to social media?  I mean does anyone care?  Also we feel the need to be connected, do you really need to carry on a phone conversation with anyone while you are in line at the grocery store?  Here is something new hang up the damn phone and talk to the person in front or behind you in line, just smile and say hi.  Your hello may make that persons day.  Could you go a day with out being plugged in?  From tv, to phone, to internet could you do a day, two, a week?  I go lots of weekends without checking emails, on the computer, but feel naked with out my phone.  

Daily Dose of BS February 17

I believe I have earned my right to bitch, I vote every time and I think I have only missed a couple of primary election in past 17 years, and no general elections since I was able to vote. Before buying my house in La Crosse, I floated around for the 8 years from High School to home ownership, having worked in Mason City Iowa and Scottsbluff Nebraska. In both of those communities I found out where to vote and voted. The reason I bring this up is that there are some major things coming up both locally, statewide and nationally, locally there is the issue of a city administrator, statewide is the possible recall of the Governor and nationally this is an election year. We soon will be bombarded with lies on the radio, the tv from the different pac groups and via automated phone calls. I thought that if you signed up for the no-call list that these would stop, they didn’t. They are exempt, nice since they are the ones who make the laws, very convenient, allow a back door for their own agenda. Two days ago I got notice that my election place has moved, I live a couple of blocks away from the South Side Public library and now will have to vote at the Hogan Administration building a whole lot further away than the library. The funny thing is I just did a search of the new boundary lines and people who live next door to the South Side Library will have to vote at a new location also, while people who live further south in La Crosse will now vote at the Library. Now if I forget my ID it will take me longer to get home to get it, leave it to the government to make a simple thing more difficult.

Daily Dose of BS February 16

My dad just got back from vacation he spent the last month in California visiting my little brother and his family, my step mom’s family and just some general traveling. I have asked my dad to stop sending me forward emails, he seems to go in streaks of sending them, I talk to him, they stop for a while, he goes somewhere and returns with a box full of email and he finds the need to send the emails on. First of all I do not have the time to go through and watch every video, read every news story or every joke that he sends. I do like the emails that have some thought to them, you know the personally written ones, but these forwards have to stop. At least someone told him how to take the other addresses off the forwards, as they used to be 4 pages long of just addresses of half of America. Does anyone have any ideas for getting these emails to stop? I don’t want to be rude since it is my dad, but enough is enough, the madness needs to stop.

Daily Dose of BS February 15

Food is the sustainer of life. We all need it and some of us crave it. I am not sure about your family but I am the primary cook at my house, when I was younger I used to make lots of kit foods, easy to put together stuff, from there I moved to Hot Dishes (for those of you that don’t have friends from Minnesota, Hot Dish is Minnesotan for Casserole) I used to work with a guy who had a cooking show and I learned a lot about cooking from him and his guests. The best advice I got was to try “refrigerator door cooking” meaning grab bit of this and a bit of that with a dash of this to make the meal. I have been doing and experimenting with this way of cooking for many years now. I always love when the kids say Dad make that chicken, pasta, chili thing you made a couple of weeks ago. Um, impossible since it was a bit of this and a bit of that mixed with left over chicken from the other day. Most days the breakfasts that I bring in to work are a mix of the past few nights dinner, sometimes it is great, sometimes not so good but for the most part if you start with good and add good to it, good will be the outcome. Remember when refrigerator door cooking if you are in doubt add a bag of mixed veggies, and garlic then at least it will have color and flavor.

Daily Dose of BS February 14

When it comes to romance LaCrosse is the tops according to movie rentals from the Redbox DVD rental company. From number 2 last year to the top spot this year, we collectively lead the nation when it comes to renting chick flicks, funny how the top 10 renters of romantic dvd rentals are all in the upper midwest. I don’t think that we are just known for our movie rentals but also the places for romance in La Crosse, like a wait a minute I am a guy I know nothing about romance. I think that buying lunch once in a while or saying nice things is romantic. I have never been the candle light dinner walk, on the beach guy, and to hear sweet nothings from me is what you will hear, heavy on the nothings. I admit that I am not a catch, but I have a nice smile and a Redbox account. Happy Valentines Day, or as I like to say Happy VD. Hope your cured of it soon, with a shot from cupids arrow.

Daily Dose of BS February 13

I joined the LaCrosse Jaycees shortly after I moved to town at the urging of a boss I had. He said as a radio guy you should be part of the community. Guess what he was right, the friends that I have to this day most were friends that I met through the La Crosse Jaycees. I am also part of other groups like my church, all the organizations that my kids are involved in, and my Improv group Sum Assembly Reekwired. This past weekend I was involved with most of these groups including being a part of the Old School Entertainment show at the Grand Ball Room with my fellow improvers, btw there are many talented people here in La Crosse. After my show I went on a pub crawl with some of my friends from the Jaycees. If you have never done one of these I would suggest you get a designated driver and take in some local flavor. One of the bars that we hit Saturday night was one of the few in LaCrosse I have never been to, Tailgators, a diamond in the rough if you will, a good jukebox, inexpensive drinks, a diverse group of patrons, including another group on a pub crawl and Bernie the dancing bartender. Take in some local culture and be a visitor in your own community, visit like you have never been in town before. As DMI says about Historic Downtown LaCrosse you can apply to the entire city, Look, Live, Love…speaking of Love don’t forget Valentines day tomorrow.

Daily Dose of BS February 9

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 few years ago, 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 know them? 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 never knew I liked writing until I was challenged to come up with something everyday to post to my facebook account for my job.

Daily Dose of BS February 8

I am set on auto mode in the morning.  I have my alarm set.  I listen to a bit of news, and then get out of bed; I never hit the snooze button.  I have my mornings set to a specific time.  I go from bed to letting out the dog, to checking my emails and playing a game of farkle on facebook.  Next I take care of the 3 S’s, get my lunch, and a cup of coffee ready.  While the cup of coffee is brewing I put in my hearing aids.  I am set on autopilot.  This morning I put the water in the Kerig coffee maker set the mug next to maker and when the last bit of water was pumped through the Kerig I went to get my coffee, guess what I forgot to put the mug under the maker.  The good thing is that the catcher of extra spills under the maker is big enough for an entire cup of hot coffee, so I only had to dump the drawer, lucky.  If that is that is the only thing that goes wrong today then it is going to be a good day.

Daily Dose of BS February 7

I grew up in Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes. I never fished. My first time out was with my buddies Tom and Randy about 16 years ago here in La Crosse. I have loved fishing ever since. I went ice fishing about 13 years ago 1 time and it was cold and we didn’t even have a bite, tried it again about 7 years ago and same results. Anthony from Coulee Region Adventures invited me out to try ice fishing again late last week. It wasn’t so cold and we had quite a few bites and I learned a lot. Its not dirty pool to go where others are and to use a hole that someone else drilled, keep your back to the wind, and if the fish is too big for the hole you can drill a hole next to the existing hole to extract the fish. We didn’t have that problem, but if it ever arises, I will know what to do. My oldest son went ice fishing with his buddies over the weekend, the got 13 keepers, 20 over all, my two other boys want to go out and try it also. Living where it is cold for about 4 months a year does have its advantages if you like winter sports. If you don’t do what they say and wait 15 minutes it will change.

Daily Dose of BS February 6

Waffles they are not just a warm breakfast at a hotel.  For the past umpteen years my family and I have enjoyed a waffle supper on Super Bowl Sunday.  It happened when my oldest was a baby, I was reading the paper that Sunday morning and saw a waffle maker at some store, went to the store and bought one and have made waffles every year since, one time a year.  I have turned down going to Super Bowl parties because of the family tradition.  As a matter of fact I was not going to make them yesterday but the kids all said I gotta.  Last year was tough as my buddies had a Super Bowl card party since the Packers were in the big game.  I showed up for the card game prior to kick off then headed home for waffles and the Packers victory.  For me it is hard to watch the game when I don’t know the players, I watch it when my team isn’t in it for the commercials which is odd since I usually skip past them with my Tivo.  What was your favorite spot in the big game yesterday?  I liked the Hyundia cheetah one and the Dorritos sling baby.  I even liked the half time this year, I usually go do something else when the half time is on, there is some controversy over the MIA slip of the word that rhymes with Schmidt and the Flip of the Bird.  I didn’t see it till I went back and looked at it, and had to watch a few times to get it.  The waffle maker is put away and the buttermilk waffle recipe is too till next year when the Packers win Super Bowl 47.

Daily Dose of BS February 3

Ever leave the house without something and remember about two blocks away and then contemplate going back to get said item? I have many things to remember to do everyday like glasses that is a no brainer no glasses can’t see. I recently got hearing aids from Beltone and again getting to be a no brainer, in fact I have been forgetting to take them out before bed every once in awhile. But every once in awhile I will forget to put my hearing aids in. I remember getting my first real watch for my first communion when I was in first grade, I still have that watch but don’t use it I got another watch that my Mom gave to my Dad that I wear everyday, everyday but today that is. I left the house this morning without my watch. It is a weird and eerie feeling being without my watch, my wrist feels light and I find myself looking at my blank wrist almost non-stop. I am guessing if it was on my wrist I wouldn’t even notice it being there. Ever heard that time flies, not when you don’t know the time.

Daily Dose of BS February 2

Do you ever have those days like in the movie Ground Hogs day? When you wake up and repeat the same boring as hell tasks day after miserable day? I know when I was younger and had other people looking over me, I had days like that, gotta do what the man says. Guess what you don’t need to be stuck in the same remedial job, the same dead end place the most boring existence, you don’t need to and I will tell you why. You and you alone are in charge of your own destiny; unless of course you are under 18 then it’s up to your parents. You can get the ball moving in the right direction though. You can not and should not blame others for your failures. Cause guess what it is your decision to do this that or the other thing, quit blaming your spouse, boss, kids, parents, your social standings etc because you can get up and move, take off and never look back or take off and help those in need with a hand up. I have had one good quote in my life and try to live by it everyday so that I do not have a ground hog day moment. As I try to live by, "Life is too short to hang out with people you don’t love, work at a job you don’t like, to eat foods you don’t want and to drink s#!ty beer."

Daily Dose of BS February 1

Those three little words that made a difference in someone’s life. You know the three words I am talking about right, the 3 words that are right on the tip of your tongue, the words that mean more to you if you are in my age group than if you are young. The three words that the young have heard, but don’t truly know the meaning of. The three words I am talking about are, wait a second lets say them together, in 3, 2, 1. Ok here we go those three words are "where’s the beef" amazing what picture those words brought to your head right. You can now picture the old lady saying those ever famous words where’s the beef. It’s amazing that those words were written by someone we may never know, some nameless copy writer that put those words out there for us all to enjoy, like the other famous three words "hold the pickles, or hold the lettuce". Since today is the 1st of February there are 3 other words you should be thinking about since it is coming up in 13 days, you should practice these and make sure you have them down well and can say them with out stuttering, lets all practice saying. "Here’s your gift"

Daily Dose of BS January 30

If you do any traveling you are going to see the inside of a restroom or two.  There are the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to restrooms.  In 43 years I have been in my share of all.  I get grossed out at dirty ones, I am impressed at the clean ones, laughed at the one when I saw the Blue Man Group in Chicago and think it is weird when you go in to one and there is an attendant on duty.  When I went to Jimmy Buffet a few years ago at Alpine Valley there was a guy in the restroom handing out paper towels looking for tips.  There is a joke there but will let it go.  What a job, hanging out in the can and watching people at their most vulnerable.  Not only does that job kind of have the creeper quality to it, your sense of smell has to be shot for you to do that for a job.  I remember when my kids were young and they walked into the home bathroom after use and they would make a comment, they were told it was roses.  It is amazing that telling your kids that as a joke and to have them put that together with practical knowledge for example having the family go the conservatory at Como Park and in to the rose room and have the kids say we don’t want to go in there because they were afraid of the smell of roses.    

Daily Does of BS January 27

The dumbing down of America. You have heard that phrase before haven’t you? I have many times, and started to thing about what is the cause of the dumbing down? Is it the countless hours of so called reality tv that pollutes our air waves each and every day? There are people who are stars because of these shows. Like the Kardashians, I still have no idea who these people are and why they are stars, can someone fill me in? Kate plus 8 to me that equals 9 and about the amount of people that I would think would even watch these shows. I found out the other day that Jersey Shore has been on the air since 2009 and has been the most watched show ever on MTV. Isn’t MTV music television? It was when I watched it. There are shows about Hell’s Kitchen, Hoarders, Gene Simons and his family jewels, huh? I have never seen a whole episode of American Idol, millions of people have though. Why not put yourself out there and be on Bachelor and Bachelorette, I am sure you will find true love there. On your way to finding your true love you can be 16 and pregnant, go Dancing with the Stars, then after you find true love you can go on Wife Swap, there is the new version of this show that has celebrities swapping their wives, I am guessing with some this isn’t the first time that has been suggested. Are you a Survivor?(of what, most of us are of one thing or another) I have to admit I do watch Undercover Boss, and at times I must have been chopping onions when the reveal comes in.

Daily Dose of BS January 26

When you got to sit down and write something everyday, sometimes the pickings are slim, you are scraping the bottom of the barrel. There are days when I have no idea what I am going to write about till I sit down and start typing then an idea shows up out of thin air. If I start typing something usually comes to me, today however I am at a loss, the proverbial cat has got my tongue better yet my brain. I sat down with no idea what to write and as I am just typing nothing is filling in the space the only thing I can type is about how I have nothing to write about, I may as well been a writer on the show Seinfeld, since that show was about nothing and they made a career off the show, if my blatant attempt of filling space was as successful as the 22 minutes of nothing that they had week after funny week, I could have made a living off my writing, but it is not. I wish I had something to write, however I have brain freeze and not a dang thing I can do about it but to keep typing and hope that the old monkey theorem that states if you put a monkey hitting random keys for an infinite amount of time we most certainly will type the complete works of Shakespeare, today not so much just a monkey flinging poop.

Daily Dose of BS January 25

You’ve heard the saying “Tipping is not just a city in China.”  Guess what it really isn’t.  There is no city in China called Tipping.  I grew up in Minnesota, got my first radio job in Mason City and my buddy James told me about cow tipping.  We attempted it after a few bottles of liquid encouragement, the farmer came out with a shot gun and fired in the air, it was more than air that I passed that night.  I later found that you can’t tip a cow, I tried, they are big animals, you can’t moo-ve them.  I have been called frugal at times, by more than one person.  I like to hang on to my money and there is nothing wrong with that.  I do however tip well (at least 20% for a meal, not as much for just beers), I get embarrassed when I go out with someone and I offer to pick up the check and they offer to leave the tip and they don’t tip well, leaving only 10% or so.  I guess if you are getting good service and service with a smile, drinks topped off, and the little glimpse into the life of the person serving you, its gotta be worth something, right.  I have been out with people that pull the tip card out of their wallet to figure out the tip.  How hard is it to figure out a tip?  Move the decimal point over to the left one, if you have a $23.45 bill and you wan to leave a 10% tip it is $2.35, a 20% tip is $4.70, the ten percent tip doubled, and for a 15% tip spilt the difference.  Not rocket science, its rent, a car payment, groceries, etc. 

BS water cooler question of the day

We all know that youtube is huge but how huge is it? 

YouTube users now upload over 60 hours of video per minute!

A really funny but offensive criagslist posting.  Lots of swearing http://imgur.com/gallery/KqIme

Daily Dose of BS January 24

We got reminded again Sunday why celebrities should not sing the National Anthem. If he would have been a contestant on American Idol, he would have been chastised and put in the same category as William Hung, I am talking about the singing if you want to call it that of the National Anthem, by Idol Judge Steven Tyler before the Patriots-Ravens NFL playoff game. Besides Tyler’s screeching, he gave us his best guess of the lyrics, singing "as bomb bursting in air" instead of "the bombs bursting in air." Areosmith front man Steven Tyler's National Anthem ear plugging event isn't the first time a celebrity has butchered the Francis Scott Key tune. I know when I am in the stands of a game it is a hard song to sing along with, but if you can’t do it, don’t. Some other notable celebrity mess ups include Christiana Aguilera’s mess up at the Super Bowl last year, the July 1990 Padres game when Rosanne Barr not only did she sound like my neighbor kids garage band but, she grabbed her crotch and spit after being boo'ed by thousands of fans. How about when Michael Bolton completely blanked out and froze, legendary jazz singer Anita Baker hit a bad note with the National Anthem during the NBA Finals. Mike Eli of the Eli Young Band completely blanked on the lyrics while singing the anthem at a Kansas City Chiefs game. Or Olympic gold medal winner Carl Lewis, not only did he forget the words and sang off-key he had the audacity to stop mid-anthem and talk for a moment stating "Uh oh, I'll make up for it now!" before delivering the final line. Since we are on the topic of the National Anthem, when you hear it, please stand up straight, take off your hat, put your hand over your heart and reflect on what this great Nation means to you.

Daily Dose of BS January 23

The more things change the more they stay the same.  We used to have big cars then small cars then big cars now small cars again.  Records went away with cds then the big format in music, then mp3’s now people are buying albums again.  People used to sit at a typewriter and type out letters to send off, now people are using computers to do the same.  But what got me thinking about how backwards we have become is that lots of us are texting.  I just started about a month ago, I know late in the game, and to me it seems like a backward progression from where we where before texting.  Didn’t people used to send carrier pigeons to send messages?  It seems to me that we are going back to those days in a conversation that used to take a few seconds on the phone is now  dragged out into a half hour of texting.  I find it to be a distraction in life as well as many are doing it when they should be working, driving, paying attention - you name it they are texting instead, in fact I saw a lady at church texting the other day.  It has also made us oblivious to spelling when does l-8-r spell later, or b-r-b mean be right back, or semi colon parentheses mean smiley face.  And the sideways v with a 3 means I love you, It has been a lot of years since I had math class, now is that less than 3 or greater than 3?

Daily Dose of BS January 20

Everyday we get bombarded with hundreds if not thousands of junk emails.  I for one am sick of it.  I have a few email accounts, my yahoo one, my business one and my radio station one.  Between the different accounts and texts and various things that we get everyday I am guessing that we are reading a book a day, and that is just the messages that don’t get kicked out of our message in box from the spam filter.  After the first round of defense, I for one look at my inbox and delete about ¾ of my emails before even opening them up.  Who is reading this email?  Who is thinking this is a really good idea, send our account numbers to some Nigerian Prince so that they can smuggle money out of their country?  Why would I want to buy counterfeit prescriptions from Canada, Mexico or Alabama?   Why is some company in India trying to sell me SEO products for my business?  This type of marketing must be working because they are still trying to get us to pony up and buy this that and the other thing, or to send our social security numbers so that we can claim our 4.6 million pound prize from Google Belgium.  I hope your smarter than to send your information to someone asking for your info via the internet with a Dear Sir or Madam, or a phone call, but  if your not please send your check or money order to Daily Dose of BS 1407 2^nd Ave N, Onalaska Wisconsin 54650.