Daily Dose of BS August 13 stuff

They say 15 percent showed up yesterday to vote, I bet it was less than that.  I went at 6 last night and was voter 54.  At 6 pm I was voter number 54 that is ridicules.  I don’t get it.  I see on that after the latest open meeting to talk about the library that they are now talking about keeping full hours at the library, for the next year because of carryover funds and no health care cost hike.  Ok it is good for this year; let’s come up with a long term plan so we are not talking closing the library every year.  I got some exercise equipment for my radio studio, I got a stability ball, a 70 pound stretch band and have some dumbbells that I have been using for the past few months.  Does anyone have any small area exercises that they could share?

Daily Dose of BS Aug 12 Robin Williams

Today is primary Election Day.  Please vote.  When I saw it posted on facebook that Robin Williams was dead I quickly searched online to see if it was verified.  It is sad that once you make it there are many out there that want to spoof your death, we have seen it with many celebrities.  When I was in high school one of my buddies had a girl friend who committed suicide and I saw the pain first hand from the pain that he went through.  Fast forward many years and one of my wives coworkers’ ex-husband took his own life.  A few years after that brought the death of Kurt Cobain and my Uncle Kenny who was a really good friend of mine while growing up took his own life, that one was the hardest for me.  In the suspected suicide of Robin Williams we can all see that even though you have a smile on your face and a gleam in your eye that there can be pain in your soul.  Today reach out to a friend that you haven’t talked to in a while, or forgive an injustice just because life is too short.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 11 today

I had a heated conversation with my Dad yesterday about life in 2014.  He was saying that life was better in the 50’s.  See he just celebrated his 70^th birthday and I feel as though he was feeling nostalgic.  He was saying that people now a days don’t have meals together that everyone is in such a hurry to get nowhere.  I had to disagree and point out that we have meals as a family and it was something that was taught to me by him and my Mom.  Also brought up was the fact that life moves so fast and that people are not doing things like they used to.  I pointed out that if we continually thought the same that nothing would be solved that new inventions that we use every day for life and living would not have been invented if not for people thinking outside the box, that if we all thought the same we would be stagnant and everyone would think the same thing, how lame would that be?  In your opinion is life better now or when you were a kid?  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 8 passwords

Long gone are the days when you can use the word password as your password.  In fact they are now suggesting that we use 12 characters to keep our things safe, using symbols and numbers and caps.  As we are moving toward a more paperless society I think that there are going to be more and more crooks out there trying to steal our passwords and trying to get into our accounts.  I heard on the national news this morning that the big email guys google and yahoo are now working on making it more difficult for hackers to read your emails.  That is all well and good but isn’t that a little too little a little too late?  I am sick and tired of having to change my passwords then get an email from the company that I just changed it to say we are sorry but we have been compromised, this has happened at least 3x in the past year.   Are there any solutions?  Do you have any tricks to make these 12 digit passwords more memorable?  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 7 primary election

I bet you didn’t know that there is an election coming up next Tuesday.  I think that this election is more important than many of the elections that are coming up, you know why?  Because your vote matters more so with this next election because this election is the primary and the primary is important because it sets the stage for the next big election.  For those of you that didn’t know every vote counts, and especially at this August 12^th primary, it’s because the winner of this election gets to go on to run for next election, in November.  The day after this election,  August 13^th I am guessing we will be hearing lots and lots of the pac ads, Political Action Committee commercials as they don’t have to really follow any rules.  Anyway please take time out of your schedule this coming Tuesday, please schedule it now so that way you can exercise your right as an American and vote. 

Daily Dose of BS August 6 South Side Library

Over 200 people packed the South Side Library to show our support for keeping the library open.  I only heard one person who spoke out against it.  I very much dislike getting up in front of a group, but I got up and asked what about the South Side?  What happens to the kids and community when this branch closes?  I felt myself getting emotional as I explained why I even looked at buying my house 19 years ago it was because of the library being there, information for the taking.  Our little South Side Library has charm, charisma, and is breathing of life.  Following the library meeting was the National Night Out get together and the neighborhood picnic that took place had many from the neighborhood enjoying each others company.  One of the proposed solutions for keeping our library open is have it open 2-6 every weekday, what about families who work a 9-5 how are they to enjoy what the library has to offer?  Also if this neighborhood library goes down to a part time library won’t this library and the whole library system take a hit as many great librarian candidates would want full time work and would look elsewhere?

Daily Dose of BS Aug 5 smoke detectors

I feel like the Grinch and no not because I am crabby, I feel like the Grinch because of the NOISE, NOISE, NOISE.  I fell asleep last night like always, off sawing z’s then it happened the unpredictable beep from the smoke detectors, the beep to tell you that you need a new battery, the beep that can’t be timed, so if you try to ignore it, you can’t.  Ignoring it can not be done, beep,  trust me I have tried and last night I gave it a good effort.  We have three smoke detectors relatively close in proximity because of where the rooms fall and the top of the stairs hallway, so imagine a half asleep groggy Bob, beep, trying to diagnose the problem while in bed, with no hope, pop on the glasses and proceed to stand under the one in the bedroom, beep, ok not that one, flip on the daughters light oops, woke her up, beep, not that one either, it has to be the hallway detector beep again while under it.  Off to find a chair or something to stand on in the middle of the night without having to downstairs, flip on a few other lights, wake up the rest of the family get a chair take out the battery and ahh quiet, back to sleep for Bob.  I wonder if the rest of the family got back to bed? 

Daily Dose of BS August 1 headlines

How often do you click on a stories headline just to read what it is?  I do all the time, if you see the quizzes posted on fb do you click and take the test?  I also do that.  I find that it is a good release from what I am doing like spending time with my family or watching tv.  I didn’t realize that I spend so much time on my phone until I found myself up by myself with everyone else in bed with me taking a test.  I hate tests, always have I guess until now.  It must be my competitive noncompetitive streak coming out.  It’s a streak I really don’t care for.  Are you drawn to these types of tests?  I know I talked about reusing things earlier this week but I am excited about the new restore going in next to the La Crosse County Dump site.  It will be lots bigger and will have more to offer.  Have a super weekend. 

Daily Dose of BS July 31 status quo

How would you like the national media to ask questions of almost everyone that you ever talked to, and have those questions be super personal?  How about every decision that you have ever made in your life be scrutinized and gone over with a fine tooth comb?  Or have no anonymity for the rest of your life?  Have your life in danger every time you go somewhere, or have to worry about the crazies?  All for $400,000 per year I don’t think so.  I don’t know why anyone would want the job of being President of the United States of America.  I just heard on the radio this morning that now the Speaker of the House is suing the President because he was doing his job.  The reason for suing rather than ask for an impeachment is because they think they will have a better chance of winning.  What about us Americans when are we going to win, when there is politicking in DC there is unrest, when there is unrest there is fighting and when there is fighting there is nothing getting done, when there is nothing getting done I guess that is status quo in Washington DC.  Lets stop the fighting.  And lets get things done.

Daily Dose of BS July 30 call back

What is the proper time to return a message?  Is it different for personal rather than professional?  I try to return messages within the next day part, or at least by the next day.  I dislike when I leave either a voice mail message or an email or a text to someone and I don’t hear back from them.  As I am writing this I feel as though I should clarify if it is someone who I am reaching out to for the first time, or someone I am trying to book as a guest on my show, I am ok with them not getting back to me right away but if it is a friend, or a family member I do wish for a return in the communication as soon as possible.  Unless they can’t or there is something wrong.  I tend to have an active imagination and when I don’t hear back from a loved one I tend to awfulize what has happened to them when they don’t call back, and no one likes to picture a friend upside down in a ditch.  

Daily Dose of BS July 29 waste

My mom would always say waste not want not.  I have been a believer of this for most my life as I think that we waste too much stuff as Americans.  Look at anyone’s pile on garbage day.  We throw away everything.  I drove by my neighbors the other day and they were throwing away an old waterbed set.  I took the drawers to make bed frames for the family cabin.  It often bugs me at what gets thrown away as there are many people in need that could use much of what is tossed.  I know when the big push for everyone to start using the flat screen tvs that many perfectly good tvs were placed out in the alleys and boulevards.  It really bugs me when bikes get thrown away and the scrappers grab them, I could name 3 kids right now that could use a bike.  And when it comes to food we throw away tons.  What can be done about this problem?

Daily Dose of BS July 28 brothers

I got to hang out with my brothers over the weekend.  It is funny we talked about mostly just stuff from when we were kids, no real life changing stuff but enough to make us laugh most of the night.  I don’t get the chance to just hang out with my brothers very often, in fact I think this was the first time that the three of us have hung out without anyone else probably since we were kids.  There usually is a spouse or kid or friend also in the mix.  We didn’t solve any world issues but we didn’t cause any either, we just kicked back and BS’ed.  Sunday morning brought our Dad into the mix he brought over a bottle of Sunny Brook that used to be his fathers, Grandpa Schmidt has been gone for over 25 years and toasted his life and our lives, and talked smack,  it is good to have family.  Best line of the weekend is when my youngest brother said it sure is great to figure out what to do when there are three type A personalities in the room.  

Daily Dose of BS July 25 media race

In the race to be the first to report on something is the media airing info that shouldn’t be aired?  Yesterday there was a horrific accident on I-90 where there was a fatality it was all over the media, including this radio station.  We reported what had happened and painted the picture as radio can.  On facebook there were photos of the crash site, and the smoke and fire the engulfed the area.  Our local tv stations had crews on the scene shortly after it happened reporting what had happened and today the newspaper has the pictures on the front page of the paper, are we thinking of the families when something like this happens?   Or in our rush to get the news or big story out first we overlook the people involved?  As I look at those pictures as a father and can’t help but to wonder what if that was my child, or a loved one, or someone that was my best friend and I saw it somewhere in the media or heard about it from an acquaintance that happened.   It makes me wonder if in our race to the top if we are on a race to the bottom?  

Daily Dose of BS July 24 drugs

I see we have mobile meth labs now in La Crosse, not that they are new to the area but are now more brought to the forefront of attention with the arrest earlier this week.  I had a chance to talk with the Police Chief about this on the air yesterday and am angered that we as tax payers have to pay for the cleanup from the chemical mess that these drugs cause.  If a drug manufacturer is making their meth in a hotel room or any enclosed space it costs thousands of dollars to clean that room afterward because of the chemicals and the health hazards that it cost to fix.  How do we stop the drugs?  Since I am talking about drugs I have a question about the Len Bias law, if it states that if someone dies because of drugs you gave to them, you get charged with murder why wouldn’t it also have in there if a person you gave drugs to who almost died that you get charged with attempted murder?

Daily Dose of BS Jule 23 customer service

What ever happened to customer service?  I went into a well-known business and waited 25 minutes before anyone from the business even said hello.  As a consumer it is annoying to go to a place that you spend hundreds of dollars a month just to have their service, and have them offer you no hello.  The deals that these businesses put out are for new consumers if you read their small print, what about keeping a long time customer happy and keeping them as a lifelong customer?  I think that this category of business needs to learn customer service, since the majority of us use their services.  I would also bet that this category of business would have the worst of customer service records in the industry.  Which businesses do you think have the worst of customer service and what should they do to fix this problem?  

Daily Dose of BS July 22 air conditioning

I broke down yesterday and turned on the air.  I had only had it on one other day this year but with the heat and the humidity it was time.  When growing up in Roseville, Minnesota we had central air, however I can only recall a handful of days that the air got turned on at the Schmidt house, if we were hot we could go in the basement, it was always cooler down there and there was a ping pong table and a tv.  Fast forward 25 years and I can hear my Dad coming out of me, if you are hot you can go down stairs to watch tv or ride your bike over to the pool.  Anyway I broke down and closed up the house, shut the shades and set the air to 78.  It is still much cooler than outside and with the fans on it isn’t bad and if I need it cooler I can always go downstairs to watch tv, or go to the frozen foods isle at the grocery store.  

Daily Dose of BS July 21 checks

A friend of mine posted on facebook yesterday that she was stuck behind someone writing a check.  And then continued to ask who still uses checks.  The check book comes out when paying bills but when it comes to purchasing things in stores I tend to either use my debit card or credit card that way I have proof that I bought it.  There have been many times that I misplace or loose a receipt and want to return it, so for me using a card works for my purchases.  Are you still a check writer or are you using plastic or cash to make your purchases?  And do you think that it is bad to write checks?

Daily Dose of BS July 18 KISS

Kiss is my favorite band.  I have liked them since the first time I heard Beth.  In fact I remember in 4^th grade Mr Gray had a Beth 45 and I won it somehow.  I don’t remember how but it was mine all mine.  When I first started off in radio I got the chance to meet the band as an intern at Hot Rockin 104 in Minneapolis.  It was a dream come true, I got to hang out in the same room as Paul Stanley.  I later got to go back stage at the show with my buddy Jason, who was wearing leather pants, it was the 80’s after all, and Gene Simmons said to him cool pants, Jason started to tell him about the pants Gene just said I didn’t ask for the story but thought they were cool.  I later got to meet some other bands, lots of authors, and politicians, and a sitting president, but my memory of meeting Kiss will always rank up toward the top.  Who have you met?  

Daily Dose of BS July 17 lights

The light at Market and West needs to be fixed.  Almost every morning it is red and there are no cars around.  Why not turn it to flash yellow, or weight it like some of the others around there but to have the light cycle through at 5 in the morning is ridiculous.  Who should I contact?  What stink do I need to make, should I picket?  If I do are you in?  My Mom and Step Dad were down from the cities to watch the kids play ball and yesterday we had a game at Trempealeau so we stopped to eat at the Trempealeau Hotel, I have never been there before, but it was funny first person I saw when I walked in was my buddy Todd, then later in the evening I ran into Lisa.  I like to try new things when at a new place and heard of the walnut burger at the Trempealeau Hotel, I tried it with the potato wedges, and washed it down with a New Glarus Moon Man.  What a great night, btw my daughters softball team won.  

Daily Dose of BS July 16 library

How much does the location of a library or a school play into where you live?  Is it really all about location, location, location when you do buy a house?  I specifically bought my house on the south side of La Crosse because it was located close to a library.  When I grew up in Roseville Minnesota we lived about a block from the local library and I was there often, it was in the late 70’s and early 80’s a place to go that was safe, a place for meeting friends and a place for information and I have always craved information.  When I was looking to buy a house in La Crosse I was looking for that as well, I knew I wanted kids and wanted them to have the same opportunity that I had growing up living close to a library.  About a year ago there was talk about closing my south side library and I see that it got a reprieve of a year.  This reprieve includes less hours and no weekend hours.  I guess I will take it but isn’t there a better solution?  

Daily Dose of BS July 15 comic books

If you were like me when you were a kid and didn’t really like reading but read cause you had to then today will be a sad day for you.  I remember buying a box of old comics at a garage sale it was jammed full of old Archie comics, there were Garfield and old Snoopy comic books in the box, also old Ripley’s Believe it or Not and lots of Guinness Book of World Records, it was a non-readers dream come true, I could pretend to be looking at the pictures and really read what was going on with the characters.  That box was my entry into reading, and into facts as I read and reread the Guinness and the Ripley’s I also enjoyed the antics of the gang from Riverdale, I read this morning with sadness that they have killed off Archie.  What has the world become when a non-violent comic book hero is killed?  

Daily Dose of BS July 14 police

As a home owner I enjoy seeing the cops roam the neighborhoods.  But as a driver, I do not. I saw three police cars this morning and a sheriff’s car on my way into work.  In fact one of the cop cars was sitting at the end of my alley as I was turning out he did a y turn and ended up following me, he was on my tail for over a mile on three different streets, even though I was doing nothing wrong I had the feeling I was going to be pulled over, I wasn’t.  I really dislike when a cop is driving behind you cause you feel like any little deviation of the norm the light will be flipped on.  Ever wish you had ticket writing ability?  I often do, it is funny when you are minding your own business, any witnessing some stupid blatant disregard of the law there is never a police officer to see, and you want to step in to write it up.  I know I would like to write up a few tickets but would certainly never like to be a cop.  If you could write a ticket what would it be for?  

Daily Dose of BS July 11 gas

It just hit me that the summer for kids is just about half way done.  Have you done anything yet this summer to write home about?  There have been the local fests like Riverfest,  June Dairy Days, Freedomfest,  Logger Games, kids ball games, camping, boating and summer picnics.  It seems like more and more that once it gets here, it is gone.  I remember when I was a kid that summer seemed to last forever by the time August rolled around that I was so ready to go back to school.  Kids now a days have so much stuff packed in to their lives are they even getting a chance to be kids?  Yesterday for example had to go to Winona for a baseball game, stopped by Bloedows, the Fleet store and got gas, amazing that gas just 30 miles to the north was 28 cents cheaper than in La Crosse. I filled up all nine gallons worth.  

Daily Dose of BS July 10 IRS

I am able to access my emails from 10 or more years ago.  Most of the things I have said on the radio have been archived as well.  I am guessing if you go to my mom’s house there will be art from when I was a kid.  I don’t understand how a governmental agency an agency that is in charge of our payments to the government, loses its emails unless it has something to hide.   There is also information that is being talked about today about an instant messaging system that was being used for off the record communication.  I don’t get this what about being transparent or being the new better irs.  Will justice be served, will we ever find out what was said in the confines of the irs?  I guess only the walls will know.  

Daily Dose of BS July 9

Couple things I am thinking about today.  First of all the other day I heard the TSA in other countries are going to make sure that cell phones, computers and tablets turn on before allowing them to be brought on to a plane as checked luggage for people flying into America, that doesn’t make any sense as if someone who could make a bomb that small couldn’t make it so that a piece of electronics that could power on.  We really need to think about things before we say them.  If I thought of this I am guessing that a terrorist has also thought of this.  Also the US government is going to start deporting children who end up crossing the border without a parent or guardian, I thought that this was already happening?  

Daily Dose of BS July 8 cell phones

July is cell phone courtesy month.  What are some of the things you have seen people do on their cell phone?  I really dislike when people talk loud on their cell.  That is one of my biggest pet peeves well that and when the phone is answered at the most inappropriate times, like any time there is conversation going on, or when standing in line at the store or at church.  Yep I saw that, and boy was it inappropriate.  Other irritants when dealing with a phone has to do with texting while having conversation or looking at facebook or playing games when you are supposed to be paying attention. How are you going to be celebrating the rest of cell phone courtesy month?

HOW TO BREEZE THROUGH THE ER:

Tips from an Emergency Room physician on how to speed up your treatment …

Always have a wallet card that lists your health history. Often, during the panic of an ER visit, patients are either physically unable to relate it or too anxious to remember details. Wallet cards should contain the following data-

 Name, address, date of birth, insurance information.

 Next of kin, who to contact in case of emergency.

 Past health conditions, since birth (even childhood asthma).

 Past surgeries, since birth.

 All medications, including recent short term treatments.

 Allergies.

Pre-treating your symptoms can shave hours off your ER visit. Treatments might include …

 Acetaminophen (ie: Tylenol) for fever.

 Gravol for nausea and/or vomiting.

 Diphenhydramine (DPH) antihistamine for allergic reaction.

Bring in all your assistive devices, whether they be corrective eyeglasses, a special brace to walk, or a hearing aid to hear. It allows doctors to compare your function in the ER to your baseline function at home.

Stick to the real emergency. Trying to also sneak in a reassessment of a chronic condition can distract and delay an ER doc from recognizing the acute emergency condition that you actually came to the hospital to have treated.

From the “Huffington Post”

Daily Dose of BS July 7 water

As I was driving in to work this morning I heard a story about how in Detroit that they are now requiring homeowners to pay for their water or risk getting it turned off.  The news guy then played a clip of a woman that said what kind of government would allow this.  My question is what kind of government wouldn’t do this?  It is not the government’s job to keep you in food and shelter is it?  What kind of government would allow for water to be shut off?  Really?  I think any responsible government.  The more I think of this the more it bugs me.  I pay my bills when they come if I can’t afford something I don’t buy it.  If I still can’t afford it I find a second or a third job.  If we all had the mentality of what kind of government, we would be in a lot worse situation than we are now.  I think that the city of Detroit is doing the right thing, pay your bills or risk losing whatever it is that you are supposed to be paying for shut off. 

Daily Dose of BS July 3rd - 4th of July

God bless America.  Land that I love.  We are blessed to live in a great country, a country that lets us be who we want to be and a country that gives us the freedom to stand up for what we believe in, a country that offers opportunity, and equal rights.  America, the freest nation on earth, let’s all enjoy each other’s company over the 4^th of July.  Independence Day.  A time for family and friends, I remember as a kid having family kick ball tournaments at my mom’s cousin’s family.  I also recall have watermelon seed spitting contests and great barbeque food and pot lucks.  I also remember falling in love with deviled eggs at these picnics and you can’t forget about the fireworks.  Enjoy the Independence day celebration that you celebrate.  

Daily Dose of BS July 2nd lack of respect

Total lack of respect.  I am seeing more people with lack of respect to not only themselves but too many around them.  I was driving down West Avenue the other day heading south and in the north bound lane there were two punks on long boards holding up traffic kind of doing a little free styling in the middle of the road.  Really?  Get off the road and allow cars to pass.  This goes for anyone holding up traffic.  As for the lack of respect for themselves look at the pants, it is not only disrespectful to themselves but to others around them.  I am all for being unique, being outside the box, I do get that.  March to the beat of your own drum, that is cool, but to follow the lead of others and to have your pants hanging so low that I see your entire ass, not cool at all.  I have no time for that, and also what would your mother think?  

Daily Dose of BS July 1 2 years and counting

Two years ago today we started with a new radio station Today’s Talk 1490.  I was hired as the morning guy and charged with making a show.  Here it is two years later and still loving it.  There were some growing pains, and some changes and swaps but after all said and done, I am pleased with the direction of things.  Those first few days were scary, I wasn’t sure if I had made the right decision but I do believe that I have.  I would like to take this moment to thank all that made this possible from Pat Smith, Deb Brague, and Tom Nankival to all the sales, programming, traffic and bookkeeping at the station, you can’t forget about the awesome front end people as well.  I have an awesome supportive family and friends that are second to none.  If not for all of the above and the countless others who have made these last two years the best ever, I thank you.   It is the guests that I have interviewed who have taught us and I can’t forget the best listeners anywhere.  Thanks for making this past two years so great and here is to 22 more years.  

Daily Dose of BS June 30 storms

It is amazing what some rain and wind can do to a community.  I don’t know about your neighborhood but in my south side La Crosse neighborhood we had some damage.  I was watching tv with a couple of my kids when my son said dad a tree just fell outside, he has lots better hearing than I.  We looked in between rain drops and sure enough a large branch from the house across the street came down.  We waited the storm out then did a bit of exploring in the hood, from lots of loose branches littering the streets to big limbs that have been blown off decades old trees.  In the alley a half a tree blew across the street and landed in the apron of my alley.  The garbage cans from both sides of 16^th up and down my alley were bowled over, thank goodness for the big cans and that garbage day was only a few days before otherwise there would have been stuff strewn as far as you could see.  I hope your cleanup is fast and painless. 

Daily Dose of BS June 27 car rides

I was talking to my buddy suit last night at our twice weekly meet up at the ball field, in between watching the kids play ball we were telling stories of being a kid growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, how we thought we had it tougher than our kids do now.  The biggest laughs were when we were talking about trips -the dreaded car trip.  I so remember jumping in the little hatchback with my two brothers and I in the back seat and mom and dad in front, dad always drove and mom was the co-pilot it was way before gps, it was all maps and bad smelling coffee.  There was a trip when my brothers and I were particularly rambunctious and both mom and dad asked us many times to quiet down.  Finally the breaking point was when dad raised his voice saying if I hear one more word I am pulling the car over.  We were quiet for what seemed like hours, my brother Frank finally reached over to my side of the car and smacked Brian in the head while his eyes were closed, he yelled at me, dad yelled at us all and did as he promised and pulled the car over, a cop happened to see us pull over and did as well.  This is the reason I am friends with cops to this day. 

Daily Dose of BS June 26 cell phones

I think that the US Supreme Court has it right.  I agree with their ruling that the police cannot search your phone without a warrant.  I am not a bad guy a trouble maker but I think that my phone should be private.  If I ever get arrested and I hope that I don’t but if that ever happens I would hope that my phone would be off limits, it seems as though now it is.  I wonder though if this also pertains to texting and driving laws.  No officer I was not texting and no you may not see my phone.  I also wonder if it is the same if I am in a secure place where you are not supposed to take pictures let’s say the White House, and I do take a selfie, or a cool sighting of something, and my phone gets taken away forever if they would go through my phone.  I guess it is nice that the ruling is there but will it really be taken seriously, I just came up with two holes in the ruling while I was typing this.  But I really do think this is the right direction. 

Daily Dose of BS June 24 bad bosses

Is your boss a wimp or a coward?  I used to work at a place where I do believe that they were, at least some of the time.  The boss I am thinking about came across as an ass so you ended up being afraid of him.  I was talking to a friend of mine who just got a new job that went to this boss and asked for a raise, and was told no, because he was already making more than he should, and that if he did more he would get paid more.  I am telling you that this friend of mine is a hard worker and was always ready to bust his hump to help out and to pick up an extra shift or help when he could.  The above example is what is wrong with many businesses they put people in charge that have no business being in charge and do not know how to manage people, when you are afraid to approach your boss or have fear that you are going to lose your job because you have a suggestion.  That is a sign of a bad boss.  I would think to be a good boss you need to listen, and then react like my boss does not react without listening like too many other bosses do.  

Daily Dose of BS June 23 bathroom rules

I got an early morning text from a friend of mine asking me two questions, one of them is something I have heard of before and the other, well you decide.  The questions were if you and your significant other goes to a friends house and the man has to use the facilities, do you sit as to avoid collateral splashing?  My first reaction is huh?  What?  And lose my man card.  Nope, nada, no way.  The second part of that text was do you look in the medicine cabinet when you are at someone’s house?  For me it is the same answer no way.  There are privacy issues there plus I really don’t care what type toothpaste or aspirin that someone uses.  I don’t even like to go into my wives purse to get something or look at her phone.  That is her business, just like medicine cabinets are the home owners business.  I guess what I’m trying to say is mind your business.  

Daily Dose of BS June 20 gas prices

Pharrell Williams hit song is Happy.  The American population as a whole I bet will not be too happy with a new Congress bipartisan bill that would raise the federal gas tax by 12 cents per gallon, in two annual hikes of 6 cents each.  The reason they are giving is for highway road repair and bridge work.  I guess I understand the higher taxes for each of these items, because we do all benefit from the use of the roads.  Even if you are a die-hard I don’t drive person, you eat don’t you or use the roads in some form or another right?  What I don’t agree with is the ever increasing gas prices.  I have heard that we as Americans are sitting on a huge gas reserve and that there is more gas under the state of North Dakota than there is in Iraq, if that is the case why don’t we work on effectively getting the gas from here, stop paying other countries governments money and then work on trying to wean ourselves off of gas by the time that our gas runs out?

Daily Dose of BS June 19 power and cable

We take our power for granted.  You turn on a light and the light goes on, you flip on the tv same thing.  Many of us have lost power either with a glitch or a full fledge power out.  Hard to imagine life without the daily habits that we have come accustom to.  Could you imagine life without your lights, computer, oven or fridge.  Many of us use devices to help us sleep like a c-pap or similar device, if we were without power we couldn’t get a good nights sleep, have lights or computer.  I am taking a huge step, today I am quitting cable tv, I have been a subscriber of wire for many, many years, in fact I don’t remember a time as an adult that I didn’t have cable tv.  So to the people in charge at the wire, I hold you responsible for this, as you changed the deal, you imposed new rules and raised the rates, and stopped caring for the us the customer.  I just got to figure out how to dvr my shows.  

Daily Dose of BS June 18 gnats

There is a reason they are called bugs, they bug you.  With two of my four kids playing ball this summer and my love of sitting the deck in my back yard, I have been inundated with the pesky little flying gnats.  I have heard from different people about their secret sauce for getting rid of these flying pests but none of the ways have worked for me, I have tried vanilla, a soapy concoction of water, I have sprayed the yard and the deck, I have tried burning citronella candles, and bug spray.  I am out of ideas.  These gnats have spread everywhere they get in your eyes up your nose and in your hair, for me it is my beard.  If anyone has a sure fire way of getting rid of the gnats, or at least how to make them stop bugging you please share.  By the way why is there a silent G in gnat, and gnome, and a phonetically modified ph in phone and psychologist?  I know it’s to bug us. 

Daily Dose of BS June 17 life can change

Life can change in a moment.  I was driving into work this morning when I came across a huge house fire in Onalaska.  I stopped and asked a few questions for my job, it was a new construction and no one was living there according to the Onalaska Police Department.  It made me think about how life can change in a snap a blink of an eye a look away from the steering wheel.  Life is short we don’t need to add to the shortness by adding to our own demise, I am talking about the choices we make daily, to pull out in front of the car on the highway, to text and drive to just not pay attention.  We do stupid things that can affect our lives each and every day.  

Daily Dose of BS June 16 fathers day thanks

I hope that the Dad’s out there enjoyed their day as much as I did.  I woke up to the dog barking and let him out read the paper, talked to a neighbor walking by, by the time the first family member got up.  I was showered with love through-out the day from Happy Father’s day to cards to the oldest taking the family out to breakfast to a can of my favorite iced tea and a bag of chips.  Not only did I get to spend the day being showered with love by my kids I also got to spend time with my own Dad, and we had the chance to double BS since I am Bob junior he is the master BS’er.  I also got asked from one of the kids the question I think that every kid asks- when is kids day.  I had the same answer that I was given and am sure everyone of you got as an answer when you asked it.  Every day is kids day, so kids enjoy your todays.  

Daily Dose of BS June 13 fathers day

Do dads get the short end of the stick?  I always remember on Mothers Day when I was a kid that we and by we I mean my brothers and I would always do something above and beyond for our Mom, we would be nice to each other and offer up our services to help with chores around the house pick flowers and give plenty of hugs and kisses.  For Fathers Day we would punch the oldman in the arm, and tell him Happy Fathers day and move on.  When I look back on those times I don’t feel as though I did anything wrong, but now I try to do the same for both my Mom and my Dad.  This year for Fathers Day my Dad is going to be coming down to La Crosse and I am going to be taking him out on the Mississippi river.  Dad’s are often over looked as a caregiver as well, I recall when my kids were little and I would watch the kids, and someone would always say oh you are babysitting, how nice.  As a parent it is my job to parent not baby sit.  For all the lessons taught both when I was a child and now I thank you Dad and remember I love you.  Happy Fathers Day. 

Daily Dose of BS June 12 not my job

On Lang drive there are two pieces of wood that have been there for at least the last two days.   I have driven over, around and past these two pieces of wood at least 15 times.  I have contemplated on stopping and picking them up, but whose job is it?  As a citizen of a community is it your responsibility to stop and right a wrong?  Is it the street departments?  Is it the police or fire departments?  I guess I would like to know.  It is kind of funny to see this get driven over thousands of times, I am guessing at least 50 thousand time maybe even more and not have anyone pull it off the road.  How many different city employees have driven over it or highway workers have seen it and not stopped to pull it off.  Heck I have been by it at least 15 times.  Whose job is it to pick it up?

Daily Dose of BS June 11 cable tv

So I missed Inside Edition and America’s Got Talent last night.  I turned on my TV yesterday after work and to my dismay it didn’t work.  I checked the other TV in the house and guess what it didn’t work either, and then I remembered what a listener told me the other day about the cable company charging for digital boxes.  I didn’t think I had to worry about them because I have the basic-ist of the basic cable, guess what I do.  I called the cable company and talked to a great customer service person who really did help me.  Said all I had to do was go to the cable company and pick up my box not a problem.  Here was where the problem came, I was north of Onalaska and thought I could come down 12^th Ave under the interstate, it was closed off  (had to drive a couple miles out of the way just to drive back).  I got the cable company had to park in the grass, I guess I wasn’t the only one who waited till the TV didn’t work to fix it.  I walked in saw a bunch of people I knew, was directed to take a number, I chose not to and to just leave, I hope today is faster.  I really dislike that the cable company has us jumping through hoops to just watch TV.

Daily Dose of BS June 10 county admin

As a tax payer, is it good money for the county of La Crosse to pay $4.6 million for the Associated Bank building in downtown La Crosse to become the new administrative center.  Apparently this is a fair price since it is based on an assessed value for the 50,000-square-foot building, and a total of 184 parking spaces.  I read that this will spur new development that will bring as much as $38 million more in tax base with the new buildings.  Do you think this will be a good investment?  Will it pay off in the future for the county and in return the city since it is in the city of La Crosse? 

Daily Dose of BS June 9 don't we all deserve love?

Doesn’t everyone deserve the chance at love?  I think that they do.   On Friday the state of Wisconsin joined the growing number of states where federal judges have struck down same-sex marriage bans.  Over the weekend many same sex couples stood in line in attempt to obtain a marriage license, and get married.  I know many gay people and I know that most did not choose this way of life, why would you choose to be constantly ridiculed and looked down on by so many.  I don’t know this to be fact but wouldn’t the discrimination that the gay population is going through now what women went through and blacks went through and other people who are or were discriminated against have gone through?  I don’t think that you have to embrace the lifestyle but to accept is the first step.  I am confused don’t we all want happiness and love?

Daily Dose of BS June 6 sleep

We all have our tricks for fooling ourselves into a longer night’s sleep. I do not get when people knowingly set their bed room clocks ahead, so they get the illusion of sleeping in. Can’t you do math when your alarm rings, you know that it is really whatever time you set your alarm for minus what you set your clock ahead, to me this doesn’t work. What about the person who sets their alarm for an hour earlier than when they are supposed to get up and then reset the alarm for a later time? What, why would you do this, you are losing that hour of good sleep by disrupting it. Do not even get me started on the snooze, again you are losing that extra time of good sleep with what a 9 minute nap, and if you add your moved ahead clock to the time you have on the snooze wouldn’t it just be easier to not trick your mind, and get up when your alarm rings? I wake up when my alarm rings, I listen to a couple of news stories then I get up and go. What is you early morning wake up trick?

Daily Dose of BS June 5 under watch

You can’t scratch yourself without someone knowing. There are cameras here and there and there and there and they seem like just about everywhere. More and more people are getting cameras on their private property, there are hidden cameras in lots of stores and even soon cameras on the streets of La Crosse. Google has given us neighborhood pictures and NSA has given us satellite pictures, who is to say that there is someone out there that can stream those images? We are under constant surveillance, so with all this technology why is it that we still have to wait for a stop light to change from red to green when we are the only ones there? I know someone is watching and they getting their kicks.

Daily Dose of BS June 4 out to eat

Living in a smaller town we miss out on some of the restaurant chains that are out there, I really like to go to Noodles when traveling, I have seen the ads for Chili’s never been I would like try them, also would like to try Long John Slivers.  I like eating at Pot Bellys in Madison and Chicago, for a great sub sandwich.  The In and Out Burger was the hit of the trip out to California.  Growing up I loved Ferrells, Bridgemans, Zantigo and Burger Chef.  Don’t get me wrong I love all the locally owned home cooking place that we have around here, and I do have my favorites.  But, what restaurant chain would you like to see come into the La Crosse area?  

Daily Dose of BS June 3 graffiti

For the second time in four months someone broke in to the construction site of the new North Side Elementary School. This time someone spray painted “teach safe sex” then smeared paint with a gloved hand on an untreated wall, meaning that even though the wall was scrubbed, the graffiti was still visible. The cynic in me wants to say maybe your parents should have followed your message, but that would be rude. There are other ways to get your message across, go to social media, hold up a sign, buy some ads, join a civic group, I could go on. What happen to the golden rule and why would you want to deface someone else’s property? This little trick is going to cost between 5 and ten thousand dollars to clean up.