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?