Daily Dose of BS Dec 18 Guns

I think we need more gun control because it has clearly worked in the war on drugs.  I know that when we make something illegal that we no longer do it or want it look at how well prohibition worked.  You can't buy Sudafed for a cold without a note from your mommy, but if you are using it for something illegal you can get as much of it as you want.  Some fireworks are illegal in Wisconsin and Minnesota and we never ever see any of the illegal ones lit off do we.  How about crack, meth, cocaine, heroin, and you can't forget about marijuana I am sure that making those illegal made them more difficult to obtain, right.  If we make guns illegal the law abiding citizens won't have them to protect or to hunt, but I bet that the criminal element has a guy that they could get one if they need.  If we start tightening down on guns the people who are selling legally, and obtaining them legally I think that would be a slippery slope.  What about video games, they are so real now a days, what happened to Donkey Kong, Pac Man and Tron?  I think that the child of today has been desensitized to the killing of characters on the video games that they have no issues with the real thing.  Maybe we should look into this.

Some more BS

• The average person’s DNA has 400 flaws. (We’re all far from perfect.)
– BBC News
• Lobsters sometimes eat each other. (Do they add butter?)
– Salon.com

People don’t judge your generosity by the amount of advice you give away.

Daily Dose of BS Dec 17 Newtown Ct

So sad, I really don’t know how to express myself in the wake of the shooting at Newtown Connecticut.  I along with the rest of the nation and the world are saddened by this unnecessary killing of the most precious of gifts, our children.  When we send our kids off to school we are sending them off to get the foundation, the foundation of life, we expect that when our children are off at school that they are safe, and in good hands, and from what I can see this is truly the case, there are however some cracks in the armor unexpected cracks.  Who could have guessed that a crazed 20 year old would have picked last Friday as a day to make his point, what a coward, going in to an elementary school and shooting at kids in a classroom, hell going anywhere and shooting at people, something is not right with a world where that can happen.  What kind of evil can do this?  Why would someone do this?  Does this make me not want to send my kids to school, absolutely not, as I mentioned we are setting our children’s foundation and that foundation is what our country will continue to be built on.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 14 Reality TV

Dave Hester just told us something I think I have known for a long time, that reality tv is not real.  How could it be?  Have you watched theses shows?  There are many people who are messed up in their minds, and full of drama, but how could they be as messed up as they are portrayed on these shows.  I have to admit they are a guilty pleasure, they didn’t used to be but watching Pawn Stars, and Dirty Jobs, Storage Wars, and Undercover Boss are always fun.  The only one I watch on a regular basis is Undercover Boss cause it is on regular tv, the others I see once in a while on Netflix, really in everyone of these shows, you know that there is going to be drama, an uncovering, some anger, some crying and a lot of hugs and smiles, if the equation didn’t work they wouldn’t do it.  Back to Dave Hester, he claims that the show producers plant valuable items in the units to presumably make the show more interesting. The suit also claims the show rigs the bidding process. Well duh, you didn’t think that this was all real did you?  Reality tv if real would be like following you around for a day, and how much fun would that be?

Safe for the holidays?

http://readywisconsin.wi.gov/news/2012/Holiday_Gift_Ideas_2012.pdf

Daily Dose of BS Dec 13 computers

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 the tvs we watch 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, we used razor blades almost every day and I will bet if you knew a radio person from before 1992 I will bet that if you asked them they carried a razor blade in their wallet.  (for cutting tape in case you’re wondering)   Now the last two radio groups that I have worked for don’t even have record players, cart machines or reel to reel decks and none play music off cd any longer, it 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.  What could possibly be next?

Daily Dose of BS Dec 12 right to work states

I heard this morning on the way to work that Michigan is now a right to work state.  I have never been in a union so I don’t get it.  I am not too sure I like someone telling me how to vote or where my money is spent.  The definition from the National Right to work website is A Right to Work law secures the right of employees to decide for themselves whether or not to join or financially support a union. However, employees who work in the railway or airline industries are not protected by a Right to Work law.  To me this makes since.  If you want to support it do so if not, why should you have to?  I guess it falls into my basic beliefs, like if you are don’t like someone don’t hang out with them, if you don’t like your job quit, if an apple is bruised or a grape is squishy, or the toast is burnt don’t eat it grab something else, oh yea and life is too short to drink crappy beer.

Daily Dose of BS Dec 11 Rotary Lights

While walking through the Rotary Lights last night I was taking in the beauty of the season, the freshly fallen snow the Santa Claus, the football player, the dragon, the sounds and the 2.6 million lights.  I read the La Crosse Tribunes article on Sunday that said in its title “Religious display? City says Rotary Lights do not cross line separating church and state” I agree, I think that this is a nice display of many service groups getting together to light up riverside park.  With a mission of feeding the hungry, and collecting thousands of canned goods and thousands of dollars every year, how can this be taken as anything other than the beauty that it is.  According to the Tribunes article Hank Zumach an outspoken opponent of organized religion says this is no longer a holiday display it obviously is all about Jesus his problem: The display is on public property.   (to read the trib article http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/religious-display-city-says-rotary-lights-do-not-cross-line/article_aacc55a6-41c1-11e2-9577-0019bb2963f4.html) The Rotary Lights group rents the park, pays for the electricity and is an inspiration to most that see it.  Yesterday we went because my 14 year old wanted to go and this isn’t the first time the kids have asked to see the lights, also whenever we have guests in town this time of year we make a trip to the lights, for those who think it is a religious display, I disagree, there are some religious items there but there are many more non-religious displays there, and I think it is beautiful, and a great asset to the community because of the smiles it brings. 

Bad toys

Advocacy group ‘World Against Toys Causing Harm’ (WATCH) has just published its 40th annual list of toys that could be dangerous to kids. This year’s warnings include …
✗ ‘Magnetic Fishing Game’ – A yummy-looking metal lure on a fishing line intended for children just 16-months-old … what could possibly go wrong?
✗ ‘Bongo Ball’ – Children as young as 3-years-old are encouraged to climb inside this colorful inflatable ball. No mention of how they’re supposed to breathe.
✗ ‘Dart Zone Quick Fire 12 Dart Gun’ – It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye.
✗ ‘Spinner Shark 4-Wheel Kneeboard’ – The product’s own instructions warn: “Kneeboard riding can be a hazardous activity.”
✗ ‘Explore & Learn Helicopter’ – Said to reward ‘baby’s curiosity’ … with a cord measuring approximately 24-inches-long.
✗ ‘N-Force Vendetta Double Sword’ – A 4-and-a-half foot long weapon that comes with the warning: “Do not poke or swing at people or animals.” Gee, can’t imagine kids ever doing that.
✗ ‘Water Balloon Launcher’ – It’s actually marketed as having the capability to shoot water balloons at speeds of up to … 75 mph.
✗ ‘Power Rangers Super Samurai Shogun Helmet’ – This headgear includes an attachable ‘crown’ with pointed, rigid plastic tips as long as 9 inches.
✗ ‘The Avengers Gamma Green Smash Fists’ – Oversized fists to enable 3-year-olds to ‘smash everything that gets in the way!’. Are cute little brass knuckles also being developed?
✗ ‘Playful Xylophone’ – Tots as young as 12-months-old are encouraged to use an unattached slender, 5-inch long wooden dowel as a drumstick. No one would try to eat that, right?
NET: http://toysafety.org/worstToyList_index.shtml
– ToySafety.org

Daily Dose of BS Dec 10 first snowfall

How soon we forget.  How soon we forget, I of course am talking about driving in the snow, yesterday while out I noticed that people do not remember how to drive in the snow.  I rode with my son to see how he did and how his truck handled in the snow, btw he did well his truck did not.  We will have to get some weight for the back of the truck.  But while driving down Mormon Coulee people do not remember how to drive, one young driver sped by us like we were racing at the La Crosse Fairground Speedway, my 17 year old son said I bet that person causes an accident.  I am glad that he is noticing that a car can be dangerous.  While driving into work today and every day, remember to be careful, not take chances and by all means quit texting.  With the snow came some other events like shoveling and salting, and if you wanted to be young again snowball fights, forts and snowmen, my kids made a huge snowman last night it was over 7 feet tall and took snow from all over the yard, they rolled from the back yard to build in the front, the snowman was huge with arms, and a face, the reason I say was huge, is that between 815 last night and 445 this morning someone knocked over and smashed the head of the snowman, that was mean Mr Grinch.  

Cyberstalking to the nth degree

I am deeply disturbed by this story.  I can't believe that this is going on.  Cyber and phone stalking

Daily Dose of BS Dec 7 What the Fa-riday

It’s a what the Fa-riday I walked out the door this morning without my breakfast, I remembered that I forgot it about 2 blocks from home and decided not to go back home to get it.  Learned last night from a friend of mine that people are milking the system, I know big shock right, but was told that some people he works with have kids with their significant other but are not married, because they are not married the girlfriend and the child are on badgercare, and food stamps, the guy gets hit with child support but it doesn’t matter as he and his girlfriend are living together like a married couple.  I am not super sure on all the details but to me it seems as though the system is getting milked by this.  I just heard a news story about who you need to tip and how much.  Ok when people are doing their jobs do you need to tip?  I do understand when you go out for dinner and someone is bringing you food and making sure that everything is ok, albeit they always come by and ask how things are when your mouth is full but at least they are checking on you.  Since when do other types of business need to get tipped for doing their job?  Do we tip the weather guy for telling us it is going to be sunny, the dj for playing the song you want, the gas station attendant because the price of gas dropped?  Do you tip the bus driver for getting you to your destination?  Let’s stop the madness. 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 6 teaching

I am friends on facebook with lots of people I went to high school with and at least one of my high school teachers, I’m not sure if they remember or not that I was not a great student, or remember that I was not one who loved school too much, in fact I hated english and social studies and I now talk for a living.  I am guessing that not many students loved school, my oldest is a senior this year and senioritis has hit hard.  The reason I bring this up is that I would have never thought that teaching would be something that I would like, besides being a dad that is, but anyone who is a parent is a teacher rather you like it or not.  A friend of mine owns a radio school in La Crosse and a few years ago he asked me to fill in when he was going to be gone a day here and a day there.  I never thought I would like it but I love teaching, since then I have had opportunities to teach more than just radio also, I have got to share some knowledge that I have picked up about improv as well.  I guess it goes to show if you have a passion for something, you can help others to understand it.  I do not think I would be able to do it every day, but teaching a few days a month has been a great outlet, if you are a teacher, thank you for spreading your gift. 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 5 non holiday gift giving

We have too much….we all do, that is why it is hard to gift give.   If I want something I will find a way to get it rather than wait for either Christmas or a Birthday.  I am guessing that most of us do the same, which is why we have so much credit card debt.  Many times though out the year we are surprised by the good that people do and shocked when doors are opened or when we get a dozen roses or a candy bouquet just because, maybe that is how gift giving should be.  Instead of giving on the expected days, be a surprise giver and celebrate the holidays with your friends and families but gift at different times of the year.  This way we are spreading our dollars out when we can afford them, don’t over extend ourselves and can bring a smile at a different unexpected time, for example if you have a lunch with someone and they surprise you by buying they could say happy day, gift back or pay it forward.  I think we may be onto something here. 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 4 graffiti

I saw some graffiti yesterday that rattled in my mind since I saw it, someone wrote in black marker on a street sign on West ave the F word then God under it.  Is this someone who is going through a hard time right now, a believer that has hit a snag?  Someone who needs a hug?  Seeing this really bugged me to see this, first of all because it is blasphemous which means in its rawest form A contemptuous or profane act, utterance, or writing concerning God or a sacred entity.  Secondly this upsets me because kids will see this graffiti and repeat it without knowing what they are saying, thirdly because it is defacing property.  I am not here today to argue the existence of God or not.  I am not a fan of when people push their beliefs on others, either way.  We need to learn how to respect and to argue fairly, all too often we try to change others by yelling the loudest or slamming your beliefs, this is not the way to do it.

James Bond Music beat mixed

Bond, James Bond

Daily Dose of BS Dec 3 Toilet Paper

I use coupons when I shop, it doesn’t bother me to do it, my kids started watching this extreme couponing show and wow, these people are hoarders.  Who in their right mind needs 57 bottles of bbq sauce?   I love bbq sauce but would never go through that many bottles even in a decade.  Enough of the madness.  These shows got me thinking about buying multi products just because they are on sale or because you have a coupon, what about the toilet paper, you know the latest charmin commercials have bears in the woods using toilet paper, what ever happened to Mr Whipple and please don’t squeeze the charmin.  Is toilet paper embarrassing to buy?   I don’t think so, but you don’t need to buy 50 packages of 100 rolls do you.  Toilet paper is a necessity and a necessity that you can't skimp on, if you buy crappy toilet paper you may be touching what you are trying to wipe away.  

Daily Dose of BS Nov 30 Supertramp Give a Little Bit

Supertramp had it right with their song "Give a Little bit" back in the 70’s although they were singing about love, it applies to so many other things like your resources, think about it, the lyrics continue to say “give a little bit of your time to me” and at this time of year there are lots of needs out there from the need of Bell Ringers for the Salvation Army, to non-perishable food items for the many food pantries, to the La Crosse Jaycees Toys for Tots,  to the needs of your neighbors and your church.  Kind of weird that a song from the 70’s gives so much, back to more lyrics “now’s the time we need to share” from reaching into your pocket for change to the time shared to help a child, to holding a door for a stranger at the mall.  I think we get out of life what we give, so “send a smile and show you care.”

Daily Dose of BS Nov 29 the big disappointment

I did not buy into the big disappointment.  Did you?  The lottery drawing was last night and I did not buy a ticket so I am plus 2 dollars this morning.  I call it the big disappointment because I know if I won the whole 500 million I would be bombarded with calls and requests from every person with their hand out.  Not only that but think if you won the million dollar prize like 58 people did last night, they picked the right numbers minus the power ball number, and let’s say you were trying to decide to pick this number or that one, and you chose wrong, so instead of 500 million you only won a million, I am telling you it’s the big disappointment.  I was given a ticket by a random stranger at the bar down by my cabin with the words live the dream, and as I said I do not buy tickets but I did dream about the multi-million dollar prize when I slept that night only to be disappointed when I found out I didn’t even get a single number.  If you got a ticket or a handful of tickets, are you sad that you didn’t win?  Like I said the lottery to me is the big disappointment.  

Daily Dose of BS Nov 28 seeing red

I got new glasses yesterday, it takes a while to get used to the way they fit and how you don’t have to squint to see anymore.  The reason I mention this is that if you see me later today you may notice the different look, you may also notice that my right eye is a bit blood shot at least as I write this it is, weird cause I used the kids body wash to shave my head this morning and some of the soap got in my eye, I thought it was kids stuff, you know no tears, I didn’t cry so I guess it was technically no tears.  I did see red on Monday though as I had to drive down to the family cabin to get my sons I-pod touch that he thought he dropped out of his pocket while getting in to the car on Sunday, it was where he thought it was, we checked the deer cams and had 3 different deer on the cameras, nice.  The reason I saw red was on the drive home I passed a car going just under the speed limit and as I passed him I glanced over at the car to notice that the driver had his IQ showing, flipping me the bird, for what passing?  Give me a break, it wasn’t as if I pulled out in front of him only to turn on the next road.  Needless to say I saw red and wanted to pull over to see what his deal was, I didn’t but it took will power.