Daily Dose of BS June 17 focus

DO you have problems with keeping your focus later in the day?  I sometimes do, ok most the time I do.  I read an article that say we gotta quit multi-tasking, we need to focus on doing one thing and doing it well, we have trained ourselves to be unfocused by allowing ourselves to be distracted.  One of the other things that the article said was to write down a list of things that you hope to accomplish the next day and also a list of what you accomplished today.   And finally it suggested that you treat yourself, I think that we all too often do this, how else would you explain all the unused gotta have it things around your house that you used as your own personal rewards. 

Daily Dose of BS June 16 vivofit

Walking, moving, hoping.  Yesterday I decided to get at wearable.  I did a bit of research and decided to go with the Garmin rather than the Fitbit, the reason is because I am a time watcher, I got to be certain places at certain times, and my show needs to be on time.  I went with the vivofit 2, it does the time, the date, tracks my steps, my sleep, and how many calories that I burn a day.  I was shocked by the time I got into work this morning that I had already walked 770 steps.  I am interested in seeing how many I do in a day and the weekly.  If not more than accountability for me I hope it pushes me to try to better myself.  Have you had success with using one of these devices, what have you done to make yourself more successful in the wearing or yours, or did I just waste a bunch of money? 

Daily Dose of BS June 12 tipping

More than one person in my life has called me frugal.  I like to hang on to my money and there is nothing wrong with that.  I do however tip well (at least 20% for a meal, not as much for just beers), I get embarrassed when I go out with someone and I offer to pick up the check and they offer to leave the tip and they don’t tip well, leaving only 10% or so.  I guess if you are getting good service and service with a smile, drinks topped off, and the little glimpse into the life of the person serving you, its has got to be worth something, right.  I have been out with people that pull the tip card out of their wallet to figure out the tip.  How hard is it to figure out a tip?  Move the decimal point over to the left one, if you have a $27.45 bill and you want to leave a 10% tip it is $2.75, a 20% tip is $5.50, the ten percent tip doubled, and for a 15% tip split the difference.  Not rocket science and for those that serve, it’s rent, it’s  a car payment, it’s groceries, etc.  Be a tipper and be a hero to someone.  

Daily Dose of BS June 11 attire

When my Mom went to school she had a dress code, there are still many kids that do have them, mostly at private schools.  Not a bad idea for school aged kids.  I really dislike the rude clothes that kids now days wear, the ones with cocky sayings, the I’m better than you type clothes, or the ones that draw attention to different underage body parts.  I worked at a radio job in Nebraska that had a dress code, we had to wear a tie when we were at work, I was the overnight guy there and I still had to wear a tie, it made no sense to me, but I liked getting paid so I did what I was told.  Mayo-Franciscan is dropping their required female hosiery requirement, which I think is about time, I really am not a fan of adults being told what to wear.  You are an adult and you should know the proper attire for the situation, right? 

Daily Dose of BS June 10 sleep

Are you average?  Me?  I am above average; the average guy is 34.4-years-old, 5’10, 175 pounds.  I am going to be 47 in about a month and a half and am 6’2 and about double the weight.  The average American get 6.8 hours a sleep a night,  I get somewhere between  5 and 7 depending on the night, last night I got about 4 and a half.  They say about 7 hours is recommended, but for me to get seven hours of sleep I would have to go to be at 9 every night, and that is not even possible.  The weird thing is that I love sleep and if I could sleep longer I would, but my body is used to breaking up my sleep by taking a refreshing 20 minute nap about 2 every afternoon.  How much sleep do you get, and do you think it is enough? 

Daily Dose of BS June 5 Zoo

There is a local group trying to bring back the Myrick Park Zoo.  I had the chance to talk with a couple of the people behind the Facebook page “Bring back the old Myrick Park”.  One of the first things they did was start a gofundme.com page with a goal of 50 thousand dollars, so far they only have raised 770$,  Kind of disappointing that that is all that has been raised.  There are over 6400 members on their Facebook and that number is growing every day.  I have heard from a few unnamed sources that the Zoo will be brought back, I have heard from others that there is no way that the Zoo would ever be brought back because the cost would be too great at a cost of over a million dollars per year.  If you recall 2006 and the grand plans for a new zoo to bring in Wisconsin based animals and find new homes for the existing animals, the monkeys, prairie dogs, bear, and caged deer all got new homes, in fact  I think the monkeys got jobs in the government but I am not sure.  What do you think they should do?

Daily Dose of BS June 4 outside couches

Having an indoor couch outside could soon be illegal in La Crosse.   All I can say is about time.  How many times have you driven down a street in La Crosse, or anywhere you have driven and seen a shotty plush couch sitting on the front porch of someone’s house and thought to yourself, gross, that needs to be thrown away?  The La Crosse Common Council is considering an ordinance that would bring upholstered furniture back inside.  I think that this is another of steps in cleaning up our neighborhoods; I think we overcame a huge hurdle in neighborhood cleanup when we got the new garbage cans last year.  Now if we can just get people to clean up behind their garages, pick up their yards, weed eat, and do some edging.  I think we are on the right track. 

Daily Dose of BS June 3 NSA

The National Security Agency lost its authority to collect our phone records because Congress passed a bill yesterday saying that they can’t, instead putting it on the phone companies.  Wait a minute, the phone companies are now going to be in charge of the data on my phone?  There are days when I lose text and emails, how can the nation’s phone collecting security be put on the phone companies?  What I find weird is that 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. There are people stealing our wifi and cloning our phones, there are people watching every move we make, yet if we are law abiding citizens we are worried about the government tracking our phone calls.  To me that is the least of our worries, they know more about us than we know about ourselves.  I guarantee it.  Shutting down the NSA collecting our info will just make them sneakier in collecting our data.  I figure every move we make is being monitored by someone, don’t do bad things and you won’t have to worry.

Daily Dose of BS June 2 TSA

WOW!  I feel safe, the TSA failed miserably in an undercover test of their processes.  Reports this morning say that inspectors were able to sneak fake explosives and banned weapons through different checkpoints exposing a system-wide security failure at America's airports.  This does not make me feel safe, and if the terrorists are watching, and I am sure that they are, here is a huge flaw.  We already have to take off our shoes, have our bodies radiated and x-rayed, what is next a strip search for all?  According to the report I heard this morning, that the TSA screeners failed 67 out of 70 tests or about 95% of the tests carried out by special Department of Homeland Security.  The one case that really has me scratching my head is the an undercover agent with a fake bomb strapped to his back set off the machines but the TSA screener still failed to find it.  Have they just given up?  

Daily Dose of BS June 1 tattoos

If you are on social media you’ve seen the regrettable tattoos that are out there, heck if you have been out in the world any time in the past decade you have most likely seen some regret.  They say that 21% of all adults have a tattoo.   I grew up with a Dad who had tattoos, he has four, two on each bicep, these were tattoos he got when he was a kid.  As a child I always wanted one, and looked into getting one when I turned 18 I didn’t get one, then, fast forward 22 years and I ended up getting my kids initials when I was 40.  When I got it, the tattoo artist said that my skin took the ink well, it made me think that some peoples skin doesn’t take ink well?  Weird.  I didn’t really think about it until I had to write a speech on a social issue and I picked tattoos and allergic reactions, I am shocked on the amount of skin reactions that are out there from allergies to the ink, to infections because of bad needles to burns and more.  Is the risk worth the payoff?  Maybe not but there is some cool body art out there.  

Daily Dose of BS May 29 baseball

New changes at the ball park, last night marked the home opener for the La Crosse Loggers and you could not have asked for a better night of baseball.  Many changes were noticed at the ball park like the addition of a couple of new seating areas, the moving of the kids area, the porta pottys got moved and a few other things upgraded.  What didn’t change was the game and the value to go to the game, I have missed watching our La Crosse Loggers and after cheering them to victory last night I am now ready for summer.  My kids have been practicing for their ball teams already and this weekend marks the first of many weekend tournaments of both baseball and softball.  If you are heading out to any games, Loggers, Brewers, or little league, remember the sun screen, the bug spray, a baseball hat, and don’t forget your manners. 

Daily Dose of BS May 28 parklets

Have you seen any of the parklets?  I parked across from one the other day, walked over and took a look at it, shook my head wondered to myself why, and then went on my merry way.  I guess I don’t get the thought behind the parklet parks taking up street space, maybe it is that we have plenty of green space in the La Crosse area, maybe that we only have so many parking spots that line the streets, maybe it is that I just don’t like them.  I don’t know.  I think the main reason I do not care for the parklets is that I just don’t get them.  I am also concerned about the two possibly three spots that the one spot park is taking up, hear me out, people don’t know how to parallel park either that or they are afraid to do it, so with that they pull in to a spot and when they do they leave plenty of room for the car in front of them or behind them taking up a space and a half, multiply that by the length of the street and sure enough two to three spots are taken up.  Parklets are they a good idea, personally I don’t think so. 

Daily Dose of BS May 27 4 days

Why do the short work weeks always seem to last longer to you than the regular five day work week?  I have long pondered this phenomenon, and have come to the conclusion that we are used to working 5 days a week and divide our days accordingly, when we only have four days to get our five days’ worth of stuff it takes a toll on us, this is why in my mind these short weeks equal a longer feel.  Why do you think it is?

Daily Dose of BS May 26 stay in school

I have a brother-in-law that retired as a teacher and years ago we had conversation about kids staying in school.   I was of the belief that kids should have to stay in school while here a teacher said that kids should be allowed to drop out.  I was dumbfounded I didn’t understand, here someone whose job it is to mold and shape minds said that if you want to drop, drop.  It made no sense to me, until he explained it to me, then the light came on and now I agree.  He explained to me if you don’t want to be somewhere let’s say a classroom and everyone else wants to be there, what are you doing?  You are being disruptive and causing other around you to not learn, right?  So this is how my brother-in-law changed my way of thinking when it comes to staying in school.  With that being said, Wisconsin graduation rates are rising and local rates are high than the statewide average, Holmen and Onalaska have rates close to 97% and LaCrosse graduation rates are about 91%.  Personally I don’t think if hurts to never stop learning. 

Daily Dose of BS May 22 Memorial Day

This extended weekend please take some time to reflect on those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives for us to be free.  Thank you to the families of these brave men and women who selflessly marched on to battle for the rest of us Americans.  Memorial Day is also known as unofficial start to summer, and all the activities that go with summer.   I for one will be looking forward to time with my family and friends enjoying all that our beautiful area has to offer this summer.  Every day I drive by the Mississippi River and enjoy looking out across the water and I also have the bluffs to enjoy each day.  You know something I have lived in La Crosse for 23 years now and still enjoy the views.  Enjoy what you have and remember the meaning of Memorial Day.

Daily Dose of BS May 21 speed

We will be spending less time on the highways.  In fact we will be spending less time on about 726 miles of highways in the state of Wisconsin.  The Wisconsin State Department of Transportation is going to begin putting up signs and once they are placed, the speed limit is as posted.  We will now match our neighboring states with speed, I feel we should have gone for the gold and went for 80, but as the Movie What about Bob taught us, baby steps.  I think in no time we will be driving that fast anyway as we always feel the need to push the envelope and since we raised the speed limit to 70 you know that it will mean 75-80.  We have the technology for safety right?

Daily Dose of BS May 20 air bags

The Takata company from Japan that makes air bags is recalling over 35 million air bags, air bags from every car company out there.  The reason is because six people have died and about a hundred have gotten hurt worldwide.  These people got hurt because of the force in which the air bag deploys.  I wonder if doing this will put that business out of business.  I wonder how many lives that those airbags saved?  Will this massive recall make other businesses not try to bring safety to the market over fears of being sued?  I understand that we want safe cars but at what cost?  Is it cold and insensitive of me to wonder about this?  Do you think that the government is doing the right thing with this recall?  I don’t think that they are.  

Daily Dose of BS May 19 dumb things

Some stupid things that lots of us do; don’t save enough, foolishly spend on things we don’t need, don’t spend enough time with our families, don’t prioritize our lives, don’t give enough time for ourselves and our mental wellbeing.  There are hundreds of things that we do on a regular basis that most just roll their eyes at or think what a dumbass.  One of the trends that I have been noticing more and more is the idiots who text and drive, and I am not talking about the quick glance down at the phone while at a stop light, but the person who is obviously carrying on a conversation via text with someone while driving.  If you want to be a dummy don’t do it while I’m on the road or anyone else.  Here is an idea, have everyone who gets busted texting and driving do it on a race track going 55 miles per hour and see if they can do it without crashing.  

Daily Dose of BS May 18th time

Time slips through your fingertips at an alarming rate.   Ever really thought of it, you are younger than you will ever be at this moment, but at the same time you are the oldest you have ever been.  Every day we have 24 hours to do what we need to do, 24 hours to make a difference, the choices that you make today, will make a difference in your future.  Kind of a weird thing to think about it, but our time is limited.  We have all lost some loved ones in our past, and will lose more in the future, it is sad to think, but we are limited to the amount of time we have here, and we all have things in our lives that wastes time.  I am guiltier of wasting time than most.  I really enjoy watching tv, and spend hours every week watching the tube.  I also spend time taking naps, and drinking beer too.  What are your biggest wastes of time?

Daily Dose of BS May 14 food stamps

Let the flood gates open.  3,2,1 GO!  The Wisconsin assembly passed bill that would limit the amount of junk food that food stamp recipients can get.  Food stamps can be used for some junk food but two thirds of it has to be nutritional foods such as beef, chicken, pork, potatoes, dairy products, fresh produce and the items that are included in the WIC program.  Added to this that the assembly also passed a pair of bills that would require drug testing for state job training programs such as Wisconsin Works and for certain applicants for unemployment benefits.   Both of these need to pass the Senate to become law.  What are your thoughts on this?  I am guessing that my social media page will be busting at the seams with people from both sides weighing in on how the other side is wrong.  Please be nice in your comments.

Daily Dose of BS May 13 money

Are we ready for new money?  There is talk about introducing new 20 dollar bills by 2020 with influential women on them instead of Alexander Hamilton.  I bet that you don’t even know who Alexander Hamilton is.  I wrote about the need to keep pennies many years ago, I think I am going to rethink that one, either round it up or round it down to the nearest nickel.  Also since I am talking about money I think we need larger than the one hundred dollar bill, cause when you make a bigger purchase and it is a cash purchase, you got a pretty big wad of cash, and also with the way inflation is, to buy your weekly groceries you need at least a hundred bucks and if the gas prices keep sneaking up we will for sure see the prices we saw before, and that means a c-note for a fill.  

Daily Dose of BS May12 anniversary

Today I celebrate my 25^th wedding anniversary, and I always think it is cheesy when people say 25 years ago I married my best friend.  When we were dating we often talked about the future, I think that most people do, we often have grand illusions to what we wanted, places we want to go and things we want to achieve.  I remember right after we got engaged we were talking about kids and that Marcia said she wanted to have four kids with twins.  I laughed, well she got her wish, and I am glad for that.  I wanted to be successful in my radio career, I think I have achieved that goal, I also wanted to be retired at 50, but I don’t think that that will happen.  I want to take my little space here today to thank Marcia for allowing me to spread my wings and fly to where our dreams would take us.  As in every relationship we have had our ups and our downs, and I think if we were really keeping track that there have been more ups than downs.  I also think that we are more than friends, we are partners.  Happy Anniversary.  

Daily Dose of BS May 11 tv shows

I have a couple of things on my mind today.  First off on Saturday I was driving under the I-90 Bridge and a small something dropped from one of the beams that they were working on and cracked my windshield.  Who is responsible for that?  Also where does one go to get that fixed?   Secondly tis the season for cancelled tv shows, this is always a sad time for me as I get hooked on the some of the new shows and no sooner am I hooked they get cancelled.  I even started just recording a few of the iffy shows and don’t start watching them until after the forth show just so I don’t get stuck.  That didn’t work on a few of the shows this year.  I kind of liked the show Backstrom, and also Forever both got cancelled.  I was starting to enjoy Allegiance and that was cancelled in midseason, at least the network continued to play it online.  Don’t the networks know that we watch tv differently now than before, they should give shows a chance to survive.  

Daily Dose of BS May 8 weird stuff

We all do weird things and have weird habits, for example I always grab 3 paper towels when drying my hands.  I also will say ouch when someone fake punches me, I check the fridge for new and different food even though I know there is only the same old stuff.  I am constantly checking the time because I forgot what time it was when I just checked it a few minutes ago.  I go back and retype a sentence rather than trying to just fix the word that is misspelled.  When I send out an important email, that I have read and reread about 10 times go back and reread it again right after I send it, and most of the time I am like, damn why did I send that.  When I sit down to watch tv at lunch I don’t start eating until the show is starting. I meow at cats and bark at dogs and finally I occasionally check to see if I can move things with your mind.  Are any of these things that you do? 

Daily Dose of BS May 7 unfriended

I lost a facebook friend because of what I do for a living.  Now don’t get me wrong that doesn’t bother me but the reason it does bother me is the excuse that I was given.   Here is what transpired -We can't be Facebook friends or whatever as long as you have those lying politicians on your radio show.  I responded that I talk to all politicians on my radio show; his response was that's why we are done. You let politicians on the air.  He went on to say that the Country I served in the Military to defend is Gone.  I should refuse to let those who ruined it be on a radio program I have any part of.  I guess all I can say is thank you for your service to our country and if you are going to have what I do for a living bug you that much it is probably for the best that we are no longer friends.   

Daily Dose of BS May 1 coupons

Is it less manly to use coupons?  Is writing checks a thing of the past?  Do self serve checkouts really make it faster?  Are you easily swayed to try a new product if it is priced lots less than what your normal item is priced at?  Are you brand loyal to any brands?  I gotta say I am loyal to just a few brands and they have plenty of competition my must use products are Q-tips and Charmin extra strong.  I am a frugal guy so I use coupons and comparison shop except when it comes to certain items, gas for example, I won’t drive out of the way to save a buck on a fill up especially when you will spend more than that when purchasing.  What sways your shopping habits?  

Daily Dose of BS April 30 pay attention

Well I did it.  I did exactly what I said I would never do.  I pulled out on hwy 35 to cross the highway in the line of a speeding car.  My heart stopped and skipped a few beats and I saw in slow motion the look of terror in the women’s face as she was mouthing something that I can’t repeat without getting in trouble.  The thing is it was accidental, I was seriously looking where I was going, I thought I was paying attention, and I thought I did the look l learned many years ago the left, right, left, right, left look.  I may have but I did it, I pulled right out in the line of an oncoming car.  Thank God that she was paying attention and avoided hitting me.  I tell you what I was shaken the rest of the day yesterday.  I guess it shows me that even if you aren’t texting, and are paying attention that you can still be involved in an accident, I was not but it was a matter of moments that saved me.  Drive safe and pay attention.  

Daily Dose of BS April 29 drunk

I am sad that a young woman in La Crosse has died after drinking too much, and taking a fall.  Why is it that the legal drug- alcohol causes so much pain, and is so widely abused?  I bet that most of the people of age who read or hear this have at one time or another been drunk, yet that seems to be ok.  We make excuses for people saying that they are young, or that they are depressed.  I have done it more times than I wish to remember, but I have cut way back on my drinking, and now it isn’t a quest to see how many brain cells that I can kill, but more a social thing.  We tend to drink way too much and then think that we are bullet proof and that we can do anything, this makes me sad, and worried as a dad.  Look after each other and make sure your buddies make it home safely; we don’t need any more drunken deaths.

Daily Dose of BS April 28 riotous nation

When did we become a riotous nation of thugs?  Why do thugs of every color take a sad situation and make it worse?  There are families hurting around the country, not just the families of the hurt or killed, but look around.  The communities that have been affected by riots have been savaged by those who claim to love those communities.  I really don’t get it.  If you want to make a statement, turn around and go home.  That’s right, turn around and go home, and the keep peace.  Instead of destroying the community around you, build it up.  Those that are rioting and looting are destroying these cities, and at what cost.  Since when did we become a riotous nation of thugs, turn around and go home.   

Daily Dose of BS April 27 phones

My cell phone just quit on Friday.  I was checking out facebook, clicked on a story, my phone shut down, restarted and just stuck on the G3 logo.  I took out the battery, put it back in, and nothing.  I then switched batteries, tried plugging in to the wall and finally the computer, and nothing.  I have a worthless smart phone.  I posted I was looking for a phone on Friday and my friend Dawn came through with the same phone I had before, but in lots better shape.   Thanks to the cloud I was able to back my phone up to basically what I had on it before.  All of my contacts have been saved on google contacts, my calendar the same, in fact because I use the google play store all of my apps were also saved.  I have always used dropbox to back up my photos.  The service person at US Cellular got my phone switched over in about 15 minutes, I guess the only thing that I really missed is about 6 hours of texts and phone calls, and we all need a break right.  On your next phone what app could you not live without? 

Daily Dose of BS April 24 time

Time stands still for no one.  My folks used to say don’t wish your life away.  They also used to say that you are the oldest you have ever been right now and the youngest you will ever be.  Time doesn’t stand still for anyone.  This weekend you will notice that the 48 hours of your Saturday and Sunday will go by so much faster than your Monday and Tuesday.  Why is that?  Time doesn’t stand still for anyone.  How are you going to be spending your time…helping or hurting?  Me I choose to hopefully make a difference.  Have a great weekend.

Daily Dose of BS April 23 working the system

Did you hear about Clarence David Moore?  He is the guy who escaped jail a few times and just turned himself in, because he is dying.  He had a stroke last year and couldn’t get medical help because he doesn’t have a social security number, because he was incarcerated.  In my mind the only reason he turned himself in is because he is dying and needs the help.  Does it make me a cold person that he is playing the system?  In my mind there are way too many people working the system.

Daily Dose of BS April 22 parents parties

Trouble brewing for those who host underage drinking parties or social hosting, the county is taking steps against those who intentionally set up, aid, or conspires to commit - and the fines aren’t cheap.  First offence carries a fine of 500 bucks with fines up to 2 thousand for subsequent violations.   A prohibited act entails a teenage drinking party at the parents’ home or at a place set up for by an adult, and the parent or person doesn’t have to be at home.  The issue I have with this, is what about a parent who goes out of town leaves their kids home, the kids have a party and steal the parents beers, or other booze, they get busted, and the parents have no idea until the cops call to say that little Johnny had a raging party that got busted.  The parent didn’t set it up, but the ingredients were all there with the shelter, the booze, and the food.  Not a good idea in my opinion.  

Daily Dose of BS April 16 cigarette butts

Earth day is tomorrow, what will you be doing to celebrate it?  Our world is much like our bodies if we abuse it, it won’t be around forever.  I know we do many things to the earth that we shouldn’t but I want to just focus on one thing, one little piece, the cigarette butt.   I hate let me repeat that I hate with extreme prejudice when someone who smokes tosses out the cigarette butt out the window of a car, tosses that butt on the ground, basically doesn’t dispose of the cigarette butt in a way that litters.  While I am on it I really dislike any litter, it annoys me to no end.  You have garbage find a receptacle do not just toss on the ground, you are making needless work for someone else and you are polluting our world.  Also remember to pitch your gum where someone isn’t going to be stepping on it.

Daily Dose of BS April 20 pot

I am not sure what 4:20 means when the dope smokers use it.  I have asked a few times never got a straight answer.  I really don’t think that they even know, it is just something that has been said.  I have brought this topic up before and what better day than today to bring it up again.  Legalize pot and tax the hell out of it.  I don’t smoke, nor do I plan on it, but I am unsure why we don’t tap into this seemingly bottomless pit of funds.  I also look at it this way that we would be getting tax dollars from some who never has, nor ever will pay taxes, I am talking about the pot pushers.  The money raised will be able to pay off some of America’s debt; it would also allow much of the extra funds to go toward treatment for those that have problems, much like the lottery has gone to help those with gambling addictions.  Just look at the amount of funds that have been brought into the states that have legalized marijuana. I know much of the argument is that it is the gateway drug, I disagree, I feel that smoking tobacco is the gate way drug.  

Daily Dose of BS April 17 ad

Not sure if you read the paper?  I do.  If you do, do you dislike the sticker ad that started out as a Sunday only thing then creeped into the Saturday paper and now graces the paper each and every day.  I get that advertising needs to be sold, but at what cost?  I would think that the paper wouldn’t want that placed over the front page, headline and story.  Plus when you go to take it off, if you have big clumsy hands like I got, you rip the paper and then what do you do with the scrap of paper with semi-sticky stuff on the back?  I know there are much bigger issues out there but this has been bugging me for a while.  

Daily Dose of BS April 16 15$ an hour

I don’t know how many stories that I saw pop up yesterday about the 15$ minimum wage, and how many around the country want it.  I don’t, let me repeat myself I do not want the minimum wage to go to 15$ an hour, and it is not because I want to hold anybody down, it’s not because I wouldn’t like more money for myself.  It is for the plain and simple reason of if the minimum wage doubles won’t that mean that every price will double, rent, gas, food, electricity, internet, cable, hospital visits, everything.  I wish that we had business leaders who instead of huge profits rolled some of that money into wages.  I heard of a local business that had such a great year last year that they bumped everyone’s wage up a buck.  You know that those employees are happy.  The federal minimum wage isn’t a maximum wage, and if we impose a 15$ wage as a minimum I fear that many who are in the ball park of that now will see their potential for higher wages.  A fifteen dollar an hour minimum wage will stifle the economy.  

Daily Dose of BS April 15 tax day

This is it; you have until midnight tonight to send in your taxes.  Since 1955 tax day has been on April 15^th.  What started out as a simple thing, turned into a complicated pile of mess.  I am glad I have an awesome tax accountant, and would suggest that everyone get someone that they trust to look over personal and business taxes.  If you cannot get your taxes done by today you should submit IRS Form 4868 so that you can get an automatic six-month filing extension, you can find that form and others at irs.gov.  As for the scammers and cheaters that are out there, shame on you there are lots of people depending on your money.  See yesterday’s entitlement Daily Dose of BS.  Happy Tax Day, here’s for many happy returns.  Get it?

Daily Dose of BS April 13 construction

Its construction season!  On your mark, get set, STOP!  I for one am not ready for the backups and hurry up and wait mentality of the spring fix up the road time that comes our way every year.  It seems sometimes that there are construction projects that happen just to slow the traffic down.  Have you ever driven from Minnesota to Chicago, through Wisconsin?  Has there ever been a time where there wasn’t construction?  I honestly think that they are still working on the freeway in Rockford Illinois that they were working on when I was a little kid.  I think lets finish the jobs we are working on and then put new things on our plate.  What do you think?  On the bright side of this spring driving, gas prices are down again a few cents from last week, which is good since we are going to be idling while waiting for  construction this summer.  

Daily Dose of BS April 7 election day

Couple things I am thinking about today.  Today is Election Day, meaning you should go to your polling place and cast your vote.  Here is where I am going to back track just a bit, I do feel that you should vote to bitch, but if you don’t know who or what you are voting for then maybe you shouldn’t vote.  I think that is the first time I have ever said that.  I kind of feel a little dirty saying it, as for the past um-teen years I have been pushing you should vote.  All too often people just vote the populace without doing the research or thinking of the retributions.  Second thing on my mind today, congrats to the Badgers and making it to the big game, the outcome wasn’t what you wanted but you did the state proud, and you got a guy who normally doesn’t watch basketball to root for Bucky.  Also, it was nice to have a local athlete in the starting lineup.  

Daily Dose of BS April 2 tv

Yesterday was April Fools day, I saw a few online photos, read a few stories about how Brett Farve was coming back to play for the Packers but that was about it.  I remember when April Fools day was something more than just a few print jokes.  Oh well times change, I also recall when I was a kid we never had cable tv, all my buddies did, but the Schmidt Family did not.  That changed once I got out on my own, I for a while had it all, but never used it.  Dropped to basic, had kids got some back and about a year ago decided to cut the cord all together, at first the kids weren’t happy but it is funny how things change.  Now they are ok with it having found other things to do with their time.  For me cutting the cord was easy, the shows I liked were all on the networks.  I bought a few antennas, got Netflix and hooked up PlayOn and PlayLater, combine the PlayOn and PlayLater with my Tivo and all is well and good at the Schmidt house.  How do you get your tv?

Daily Dose of BS April 1 pet rock

Remember the pet rock?  How about the chi-pet or the clapper?  Ever thought how did that ever get to market?  I have had lots of ideas that I thought could be the next pet rock, guess what none of them ever hit.  All it takes is the right place and right time for many products to go from insignificant to significant and then back.  What makes someone buy a pet rock or a chi-pet or any of the other millions of things that we as consumers buy, but don’t need?  Because who ever needed a pet rock?  I guess they are a lot easier to clean up than a dog, right?  By the way this week is International Pooper Scooper week, again, a job that who would have thought would have existed.

Daily Dose of BS March 31 parking

The Schmidt family made it through the parking debauchery again this year.  Tonight we are going to be able to park on either side of the street, for the first time in five months, and I for one am glad.  I am always happy when April 1st comes around as it is the end of the joke perpetuated on the tax payers of the city of La Crosse, April 1st means no more alternate side parking, well at least until November 1st.  We didn’t really have much of a winter snow wise this year, and for us to have an additional fee of parking in front of our own house, well that kind of sucks.  I can see if we get big snowfalls but this past winter our biggest snow came this month and it was melted within 24 hours.  I am guessing that all our parking money helps to subsidies something, but I am not sure what, as my taxes are still through the roof.   Every year I wonder how many alternate side parking tickets will litter the windshield at the Schmidt house, and I am proud to say that this year we got none, zero, zip, nada, and that includes my 16 year old and that makes a dad proud.

Daily Dose of BS March 30 livable wage

The state of Wisconsin is looking to do-away-with the prevailing wage law.  I am all for saving money, on items, but I do not want a disgruntled underpaid worker working on the bridge that I drive over every day.  The state, in their infinite wisdom is looking to get rid of an eighty year old law that requires paying a living wage to workers on state buildings and roads.  I don’t like it.  I want to know that the best person for the job put together the buildings I am in and that the best of the best are also working on the roads I am traveling and bridges I am crossing or going under.  I do get saving money, but at what cost?  If we are going to have to replace the roads or buildings more often, or if we end up having less people get into the fields of construction, what have we accomplished?  

Daily Dose of BS March 27 famous

Ever met anyone famous?  I have had the chance to meet a few rock stars, an actor or two and lots of politicians.  The one who stood out to me as someone I would like to hang out with was Bill Clinton, seemed like a guy that would be fun around the poker table, I guess it is because he was a professional BS’er for a living.  However most of the famous I have met are just shaking hands as a part of their job, not seeming like it was sincere, or that they even wanted to be there.  Would I personally go out of my way to meet any athlete, rock star or movie star, I don’t think so, unless it was to have a real conversation with them.  For me to go to a meet and greet or have a chance for an autograph, I guess I have out grown that.  How has it been when you met someone famous?  

Daily Dose of BS March 26 Trooper Casper

Why is it when a police officer gets shot and killed in the line of duty that this is not a national story, or at least a headline on a national news cast?  I waited the day yesterday to see how it would play out and frankly I am not surprised.  I am disappointed in the media.  A 21 year old Wisconsin State Patrol officer was killed in the line of duty on Tuesday evening during a shootout with a bank robber.  Trevor Casper was just 3 months in to his career as a State Patrolman when he was shot and killed.  Where was the media reporting that a robber shot and killed a cop?  Why is it when the shooter is an officer doing their job, taking down someone who is allegedly fighting back that it is plastered all over the media, but when an officer dies while doing their job, getting shot by a robber that that doesn’t lead the news?  I work in this business and I don’t get it.  All lives matter but do some matter more than others?  Didn’t I read a book like that when I was in school?  

Daily Dose of BS March 25 media

Is traditional media dead?  I am talking about the good old forms of broadcast media?  I am talking radio and tv.  I spend hours a day with good old school media, from my time at work on the radio to my drives listening to music and talk to the comfort of my recliner for screen time catching my favorite tv shows.  I think that the delivery system of both radio and tv have changed but the premise has not.  I now stream more of tv than ever before and my radio station both streams and podcasts our shows.  Heck we even have an app (get it here https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wlfnam.player ) We are changing and evolving but I don’t believe that we are dead.  I think we either need to keep up, reinvent or get out of the way.  How do you listen to the radio or watch tv?

Daily Dose of BS March 24 babysitters

One of the biggest thrills of being a parent is the first time you can leave your children home alone.  It is a whole different ball game now than it was when we were left home the first few times, everyone has a cell phone now and we are reachable.  I recall when my neighbor was babysitting my brothers and I that my youngest brother Brian put paper in the furnace because he saw flames, needless to say that the fire department was called and our house was aired out in the middle of the winter.  With the four kids my wife and I have we have been asked when is the right time to leave the kids alone without a sitter.  My response was always you will know.  And you do.  Which leads me to how much should a babysitter be paid?  My daughter has a few clients where she will watch some children, and she gets paid way more that I used to pay.  I have heard that kids get paid up to 12 bucks an hour, if my mom heard that, we would hear the story how she made 25 cents and had to do the dishes.  Things sure have changed. 

Daily Dose of BS March 23 snow

I am not surprised that we have snow on the ground today.  After the few weeks of nice weather and shorts for a few days, winter has returned to the Upper Midwest.  Funny how on Friday when it wasn’t winter that I didn’t even think of snow now heading into day three of Spring we have a few inches of snow.  By the way because of this snow I lost a lunch bet to my friend at News 8.  I will pay up Michelle.  Were you of the thought that snow was done prior to our last fling with winter?  I was, in fact was ready to put the shovels up in the rafters of the garage a few days ago, I am glad that I wasn’t motivated to do so otherwise I would be back on the ladder bringing them down again.  I know I don’t need to remind you but feel I should say it, drive safe and remember it isn’t a race to get to or from work.  

DailyDose of BS March 13 obese

If you live in Puerto Rico and you have an obese kid, you could be labeled a child abuser.  What?  Their potential new law would allow social workers to open a child neglect case and fine parents 500 bucks if there is no progress in 6 months and even more money if there isn’t progress in a year.  I know as a former fat kid and current big man that shaming people into weight loss is not the way to do it.  If you have confidence and know who you are and are not going to take any guff from people than good for you, maybe these governments should also then start fining parents of bullies and parents of kids that can’t get the presidential fitness award.  Let a kid be a kid, I am guessing it is hard enough being one in today’s society.