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.