Daily Dose of BS September 17 racism

According to you do we live in a racist society?  I am not sure that I qualify to answer this question, as I am a middle aged white male.  From what I see I think that we are living in a racist society, I believe that racism has no color boundaries, that there are people in every shade that don’t like or want to talk with another race.  According to Google when you type in define racism the answer you get is “the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, prejudice or discrimination directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.”  After hearing that definition I wonder if people truly are racist or if people are just egotistical and they don’t know about other races or people other than themselves.  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 16 panhandling

Three times this week I ran into panhandlers and it is only Wednesday.  Two over by Walmart on the south side and yesterday while sitting at a light for about 5 minutes out by the Mall.  I want to say get a job.  The effort that is taken standing out there with a sign is more than they would have to do for many jobs.  As I have been getting older I have become more cynical and when I see the sign that says will work for food, or anything will help or down on my luck.  I want to say we all have bad days, how we choose to let those days guide us is up to us.  I have heard from others around town that they have given food and drinks to some of these people and it has been left there on the side of the road.  I also notice that once someone leaves from a particular panhandling place that often that place is left littered with candy bar wrappers and pop cans.   

Daily Dose of BS Sept 15 jerseys

Should major sports allow advertising on jerseys?  The stadiums have almost every inch sponsored, why not use the jersey for advertising, but use it to offset the cost of the tickets.  It is getting to be outrageous for a family to go to a sporting event these days, you need a loan and payoff plan in order to take the whole family to a game, then when you are there don’t forget you gotta eat and drink.  Maybe they should look at sponsoring the jerseys etc.  There are already the Nike swoop on some of the jerseys or the Under Armor x on others, instead of trying to be sly do it like Nascar and have the sponsors all over the jerseys.  Save us fans some money.  

Daily Dose of BS September 10 hs football

By now you have most likely seen the video of the two Texas High School football players who intentionally tackled the referee in last Fridays game.  This was malicious and intentional; I want to know who thought that this was ok?  There was a claim by some of the students that there was some racial slurs said to the two players others are saying it was retaliation against the referee for missed calls, either way it was wrong, and blindsiding this referee is unacceptable.  I think that this incident should be made an example of, so that it doesn’t happen again.  If it was a bad call, you need to live with it because guess what- there are bad calls at each and every game.  Plus you can’t retaliate each and every time that something doesn’t go your way.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 9 fat shamming

Comedian Nichole Arbour stirred the pot last week by introducing a 6 minute video titled “Dear Fat People”.  The video says that obesity is not a disease and that fat shaming is not a thing saying that fat people made that up that it is the race card with no race.  She goes on to say what are you going to do chase me?  Well Nichole, being a fat guy myself I would like to ask this question, who do you think you are making fun of a group of people?  Would you make fun of any other group?  I don’t know who you are but, I would bet that you would most likely be one of the first to stand up for almost any other group, what makes it ok for you to pick on fat people?  You know what if you are happy with who you are, live life and enjoy what you have.

Daily Dose of BS Aug 28 no facebook

Social media and texting have been a big part of my life for the past I would guess 7 years.  I am going to attempt to do something I have never done before, on Monday when my vacation officially starts until Labor Day I am going to attempt to not text or not go on to facebook.  This is going to be tough for me as I have been tied to facebook for work and pleasure for many years, in fact my facebooking and texting have gotten so bad that I will miss parts of life because I am looking at the stupid screen on my phone.  Vacation this time around isn’t anything special just going to be taking a staycation hoping to get a few things done around the house, also plan on carrying on a tradition that my parents started when I was in school, on the first day of school I have always taken the kids out for breakfast, and don’t plan on disrupting that tradition.  I hope I can make it from August 31 – September 7^th without texting and facebooking, any ideas on how to do it?

Daily Dose of BS Aug 27 killing

Work place violence played out yesterday on live tv, kind of hits home to me and my coworkers.  We aren’t on tv but anyone in radio has been on location broadcasting and not really aware of all the surroundings when doing so.  When I heard the audio of the shooting yesterday I got goosebumps then later in the day I saw the tv news coverage unfold, and then seeing the shooters go pro video posted on his social media, this scares me.   What kind of copycat type killing are we going to see now?  What kind of demented, over the top things are we going to see next unfold live right in front of our eyes?   I guess to me hearing and seeing this play out in the same week that we had a murder in La Crosse makes me think that there are people with no regard for life all over the county, and that makes me sad.  Life is a gift we need to live it. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 26 preseason football

Do we really need preseason games in the NFL?  With Jordy Nelson out for the year, I scratch my head and wonder in disbelief and wonder what the reason behind having meaningless games in August.  The NFL expects their players to give it their all for the 16 regular season games, then up to 3 more for a couple of teams leading to the Championship game, the one you cannot say without getting in trouble from the NFL.  Now there are 4 preseason games added to that giving up to 23 weeks’ worth of hurt that could be thrust upon these players.  Most of the time the preseason games are a couple plays with the players that everyone wants to see and then 3 plus quarters of the second and third string players that won’t be around for the whole season.  I guess I look it as have maybe one or two preseason games, then let’s get on with the games that matter. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 25 stocks

I am not a financial planner nor do I play one on the radio, however my dad is one and I have many friends who are.  On Monday the market opened then immediately lost over a thousand points.  What does this mean to the typical person?  Well in my understanding is that if you were to sell your shares of stock when your shares were down, then you lose some money, however if you were to buy stocks when the market was down, it would be like buying those stocks on sale.  When the market has big swings you don’t really lose money or make money unless you decide to make a sale on that day at that time.  My dad once explained it to me if you buy a stock for 100 dollars and you lose 50% you are down to 50 bucks but if you gain 50% you are only at 75 dollars.  I guess the way I look at it for me, is that I don’t need my stocks today, so I am going to just let the shares ride, so no loss, except for on paper.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 24 community

On Friday we had our first murder in La Crosse in almost 2 years.  With all the crazy stuff going on nationally all the anti-cop rhetoric and the whole you shouldn’t talk to the police sentiment that is being preached to youngsters.  There is a fear that is setting in, a kind of challenging fear, one that is almost a fight or flight mentality.  I have heard some say that we as a community are close to a breaking point, some say that the police have no idea what they are doing and others like myself that applaud the local police department for what they are doing.  I had the chance over the weekend to talk to a few people who live in the neighborhood where the shootings have taken place, in fact one of the women I spoke with owned a home right next to the apartment where Randall was finally captured.  And she said her neighborhood has been slipping into the toilet for years.  Are you ready to fight for our community or roll over and play possum?  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 20 weather

I am guessing that you have heard the old saying wait 15 minutes and the weather will change, right?  I saw a report the other day that said that this year we should expect a snowy winter.  Big woo we live in Wisconsin and that what winter is around here.  Funny thing about the weather we all complain about it but there is nothing we can do about it.  My buddy Bill Graul has said many times that with the forecast we always hear what we want for example if the weather guy says we could see a trace to an inch or rain we edit the forecast to benefit our day if you really wanted to go and do something outside and you needed to sell it to someone you would say there is only a trace chance of rain however if you didn’t want to do the outdoor activity you would say that we are getting an inch of rain I heard the weather person say so.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 19 waste

About every eight days I have the same problem the bar of soap is too small to use, I have tried morphing the smaller sliver of soap into the bigger new bar of Irish Spring and you end up with a lump on one side of the soap.  What are we supposed to do with those little slivers of perfectly good soap?  Think about the wastes that go on in the bathroom alone.  Let’s say you’re on the thorn you look at the paper and damn there are about 3 squares left for you to finish your job, three squares are not going to make a dent.  What do you do with those 3 extra squares?  I don’t know, I leave them for the next guy, not really, but sometimes I do.  Think of tooth paste, if you squeeze from the middle you miss lots at bottom and sides,  I squeeze from the bottom then about half way done I start the roll of the tube, then try to get the last drop out, but there is still the bit at the top that you can't get.  Which leaves me with the deodorant pack, if you make it down toward the end of the deodorant you will either break the piece off at the bottom or you will hit the sides of the container with your armpit.  Bathrooms truly are a place full of waste.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 17 shooting

I moved to the 900 block of 5th ave 23 years ago when I first moved into LaCrosse, it wasn’t the nicest neighborhoods, but it was home for a couple years. I never felt unsafe, I never had anything stolen or in the case of this past weekend, I never got shot at nor did my house ever get shot at. What is our city becoming? Our family had discussion at dinner last night about the multiple shootings in the city over the weekend, and my youngest asked if there were shootings everyday like we had in bigger cities like Chicago? I told him unfortunately yes there are shootings in big cities all the time, in which he responded why. That is a dang good question, why? I read a blog yesterday that said if we rode our bikes more and had more green space that this wouldn’t happen. I hope for humanities sake that they were only kidding.

Daily Dose of BS Aug 14 wi dot

Houses didn’t used to have flair and inviting look that they have now, when you go to build a house now or go to remodel an older home you want your home to have a certain look, you want it to be individual and to have the style that the homeowner likes, right?  Sometimes the general contractor makes the look of the home the way they want it, and not taking in the account of the people that are going to be living there.  I kind of feel that is how an entrance to a city should be also, don’t you?  The city of LaCrosse is facing this same type of thing with the exit 3 work that will be going on over the next several years.  The Mayor wanted the city council to reject the Wisconsin DOT plan for rebuild, the city council doesn’t want to spend the money to even have it looked at.  Where were these folks when the plans were being drawn up?  Didn’t they attend the meetings to give their ideas for the planning?  Do you think the city should pony up the cash to make the changes to the exit?

Daily Dose of BS Aug 13 bathroom spray

I am not and have never been a fan of the spray.  I am talking about the masking scent that lots of people spray in the bathroom after destroying a toilet.  Almost every place that has a can sitting there has someone who likes to press the button, and pressing the button is fine for a moment, the goal of having the cover up there is not to see how much of the can you can empty into a little room.  I am not sure why I don’t care for the stuff.  I just know that it doesn’t make the room smell like flowers.  I also don’t care for the natural smell either, but that is what the fan is for.  Speaking of bathrooms, I think that the public restrooms are learning after many use the paper towel to open that door, putting the garbage can by the door- that is a brilliant move.  You know what would be even smarter don’t you, have the doors push out. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 12 forgotten kids

I saw a campaign on facebook to leave your phone in the backseat when your baby is in the car, not so you don’t text and drive but so you don’t forget your baby in the car.  Huh?  Did I read that right, unfortunately I did read that right.  How in the hell can you leave your baby in the car?  I just don’t get it.  When I was a kid we stopped to have dinner at a McDonalds and my brother wouldn’t get into the car, after my parents pleaded with him to hop in, he didn’t so my dad drove around the block and came back to pick him up.  Now days you would probably go to jail for that stunt, which brings me to the family from France who drove 90 miles before realizing that they left their 3 year old daughter at a rest area.  As a dad myself, don’t you check the car seats or look in the mirrors at your kids while you are driving?  This phenomenon of parents forgetting their kids happens so often it has a name it’s called Forgotten Baby Syndrome.  Here’s some advice, look before you get out of your car, and look before you take off.

Daily Dose of BS Aug 11 neighbors

They say that 12 % of people hate their neighbors.  How are yours?  At one time I was living in the neighborhood that I had always dreamed of, great neighbors who care about their lawns, we took care of the elderly that lived close by helping with window washing and lawn mowing.  I still know most of my neighbors but not all, at one time I knew every single family that lived on my side of the block and about half of those across the street.  With our society as it is with it being so fluid, people have moved in and out of the neighborhood, and I don’t know if I just got lazy and content with my space, but the friendships that I once had with lots of neighbors has whittled down to the few of the neighbors who I’ve become good friends with.  Do you reach out to know your neighbors, or not?  

Daily Dose of BS toys

Remember growing up and the boys got GI Joes and the girls got Barbie’s?  I never had sisters so we never had the traditional girl’s toys at our house.  The toys at the Schmidt house were always gender specific towards boys, my brothers and I used to play also with Legos, and cars and trucks.  Target is now going to be removing the boy and girl label from most of their children’s department toys, after complaints from some shoppers.  For quite a while retailers have been moving away from boy and girl type of label on toys, and quite honestly having 3 boys and a girl at my house, while my kids were growing up, I often wondered why some of the things were labeled with either sex.  I thought the more creative items were always labeled with the girl label and more the cars and trucks with the boy label.  My kids played with both until they got to the age where they started to notice that this is a girl toy or a boy toy.  I get it with some of the toys, but really.  Who cares, as long as a toy or activity can help with the developmental growth of a child, let them play. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 7 staycation

Often times our own backyards are overlooked.  I am talking about taking a vacationing at home or a staycation.  My buddy Smiley from Nebraska and his family are coming to La Crosse for a visit, and I want to show them the best of our area.  They have been here a handful of times over the past 23 years, and we have done the bluff, gone on the river, walked the marsh and had ice cream at a couple places, hit the bars downtown the places that we think of first.  If you were showing off our city where would you take your guests?  I am proud of where we live and don’t want to miss out on that overlooked gem of Western Wisconsin.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 6 forgetful

My memory is not what it used to be.  I forget the most basic of things, for example this morning I was trying to remember to bring a um…thing this morning.  I got about to work and I swore to myself for forgetting my um thing.  My dad tells a joke where one of his clients stopped halfway on the staircase and called out to his wife, honey, um do you remember if I was heading up or down.  That makes you smirk because we have all felt like that at times, forgetting the most basic things.  How often have you set your keys down and forgot where they were, or didn’t grab your phone or watch as you headed out the door?  What about your car in a parking lot.  We have all forgotten things, but as I am getting older it seems to me that those forgetful moments are coming more often.  You?  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 5 to many

Is it to early to care?  I am thinking about the 23 declared candidates for President.  There are 18 on the Republican side and 5 on the Democratic side.  Are we focusing too early on who these people are?   I find it weird that FOX picked the top 10 republicans for debate, while the other 8 have a different slot to fill.  I wonder if the earlier slot for these candidates is because of the equal time rule.  I do know that the primary is an important vote as you get to help to whittle down the amount of candidates from 23 to two.  Even though I think it is way too early to even be thinking of this stuff, we do need to pay attention and be informed on what policies are important to us. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 3 facts

I find this odd more than 50% of the people in the world have never made or received a telephone call.  I found that stat over the weekend, then I started to do the math in my head, ok most under let’s say 3 have never made or received a phone call, then what?  I like these kind of stats if they can be backed up.  The internet spews out lots of useless knowledge and lots of people who think that they are experts, heck anyone can write a book and claim expert status.  What are some of the weird facts that you have found that you know to be true?  I know that A 2 X 4 is really 1-1/2 by 3-1/2, and that each king in a deck of cards represents a king from history.  What strange facts do you know?

Daily Dose of BS July 31 hunting

Every once in a while we get reminded that there are hunters that sometimes aren’t ethical, this past week for example, we heard of the dentist from Minnesota that went safari hunting and took out a giant cat.  There are people who hunt out of necessity, there are people who hunt for the camaraderie, there are some who go for the history and family time, and there are people who hunt for the trophy.  I guess I don’t get the trophy hunter.  If you are only going for the trophy or the kill aren’t you kind of defeating the purpose?  I admit I have gone on a few charter fishing trips and have enjoyed my catch, I have had friends who have gone on guided hunts and they too have enjoyed the bounty from the hunt, but to hunt just for the pelt or the trophy, I guess that I don’t get that, am I missing something?  

Daily Dose of BS July 30 brady

Does someone innocent bust up their cell phone and wreck their sim card?  Nope, no way, not at all.  I think that the NFL should take away the Super Bowl from the Patriots for lying, and cheating.   If Tom Brady wasn’t guilty why would he bust up his phone?  I think that the NFL and all sports leagues should put their foot down and make examples out of players who cheat.  Not only did he cheat, but he changed the course of NFL history.   I don’t think that a 4 game suspension is enough.  

Daily Dose of BS July 29 dads

I was lucky over the weekend to spend some quality time with my Dad.   Dad and I have not always seen eye to eye, in fact we differ on many things still.  However, I wouldn’t trade our relationship for anything.  I now know why I like to talk and tell stories; he is a story teller and doesn’t like a quiet car ride.  I think it is funny when he says something now I can either beat him to the punch or question why he does something a certain way since when I was a kid it was this way and only this way.  I guess it shows that I have always been a listener.  With Dads comes advice, and lessons, what was the one lesson that resonates when you think of your parents?  For me a couple stand out like always be thinking a few steps out, and always pay off your credit card.  

Daily Dose of BS July 24 another shooting

Another movie theater shooting last night, a month ago a church shooting, and for what reason?  I wonder what the reason this time will be?  It seems like every time there is a tragedy that we feel like we need to blame someone other than the person or persons involved?  If you get caught speeding is it the fault of the designer of the road because if they hadn’t built the road to handle the speed, or the maker of the radar device that clocked you at that speed, or better yet the police officer that was doing their job?  No it is the fault of the person doing the crime.  We need to stop making excuses and trying to find someone other than the shooters to blame and we need to figure out the reasons that they made these horrible choices.  

Daily Dose of BS July 23 people

There are lots of people that work, they work hard for their money.  Lots of us go to work each and every day, fighting for the chance to survive.  We choose to live within our means, don’t overspend, we try to get a handle on the money we have coming in, so we know what we can spend.  I get that we sometimes need a hand up or a hand out.  There are government agencies and private funded agencies that will help you out.  Yesterday two different people stopped me to say that they have been noticing more and more people with a sign saying that they are down on their luck and would like to work for food, or can you help me because I’ve lost everything.  I just wonder why these people who don’t have any problem sitting by the side of the road holding a sign, couldn’t get a job doing something.  I mean if I were in that situation, I would, I believe take anything and work my ass off to try to achieve success, wouldn’t you?  

Daily Dose of BS July 22 dt

Am I the only one that thinks that Donald Trump is making a mockery out of the mockery that politics has become?  His throwing people under the bus from saying that John McCain isn’t a hero, to his disparaging words about Mexicans, and all the other bang on the drum yell at the top of his lungs antics to get his point across.  I don’t like the fact the he says let’s make America great again.  I think we are great and have always been great, sure there are politicians I don’t like and don’t agree with but guess what a few politicians don’t make or break a country.  There are people that don’t like you, does that make you a bad person or make your family bad or where you work bad?  No.  I for one wish that the media wouldn’t even talk about Trump, but since he is making the biggest waves right now he is the story of the day, put the gloves back on Donald and fight fair.  Also I still believe that America is great, and will continue to be so no matter who wins the election in 2016. 

Daily Dose of BS July 21 front seat

It is a rite of passage for a child to call shotgun on a car ride with mom or dad.  My kids always did, and still do to this day, sitting in the back seat sucks.  In Massachusetts they are talking about making it illegal for kids under the age of 13 to ride in the front seat, under fear of a 25 dollar fine for violating the law.  So if you have a pick up and no extended cab are us supposed to put the kids in the back of the truck?  If so that could be cool.  Data show that back seat riding is 40% safer than the front seat for children under 13.  You know what is 100% safer right?  Every kids should be staying home, never going outside, living in a bubble, never watching tv.  Come on, let the kids live a little and share the front seat with their moms and dads every once in a while.  

Daily Dose of BS July 20 what would you do

There is a college professor at the University of Maryland that posed this question on a test.  “Here you have the opportunity to earn some extra credit on your final paper grade.  Select whether you want 2 points or 6 points added onto your final paper grade.  But there is a small catch: if more than 10% of the class selects 6 points, then no one gets any points.  Your responses will be anonymous to the rest of the class, only I will see the responses. “  How would you  answer that question, and why?  I find that what we do when no one is watching is who we really are as people.  Sure anyone can do or say the right thing when there is an audience, but when you are doing something without the watchful, eye, how do you respond?  I also find when you don’t think people are watching, they are.  

Daily Dose of BS July 17 roundabouts

Remember the game Frogger?  I used to love playing that game trying to get the frog across the street, and over the logs on the river, we are going to be able to play the game of Frogger for real on Cass Street.  How so you ask?  Well, the city and the state will spend close to a million dollars to acquire land, and then build a roundabout connecting the offset 7^th street and Cass Street, causing a cluster for drivers and pedestrians alike.  I get anxious when I approach them, what if I do it wrong, what to do I got off too early and ended up having to go out my way, how do I get back on track?  Personally not a fan of the roundabout, and am not looking forward to the roundabout on Cass Street, are you?  Maybe we could kill two birds with one stone and put a parklet in the middle of the roundabout.  

Daily Dose of BS July 16 pizza

When I grew up we used to get Totino’s Pizza it was inexpensive and it was what we knew.  Every once in a while Mom would splurge and we ended up with a Tombstone Pizza, those pizza days were awesome.  I loved the Tombstone Pizza.  As I got older and started cooking for myself, I decided that I would no longer buy Totino’s Pizza, it was just a plain old boring pizza with little or no topping, Tombstone was still a treat when I could afford it, and other brands caught my eye.  I am a big fan of the Lloyds Pizza, and really like the Lotzza Motzza Pizza.  Which brings me back to the Tombstone Pizza, is it just me or did the quality of the Tombstone go way down?  As I said it used to be a treat to have one, and last night we popped a couple of them in the oven, and memories from my childhood came flooding back, how disappointed was I when the pizza curled up looking taco like and the taste was disgusting.  What is your favorite frozen pizza? 

Daily Dose of BS July 15 pete rose

People still love Pete Rose.  74 year old banned for life former Cincinnati Reds ball player was cheered when he was introduced at the All Star Game last night.  Do you think that this is the opening that he needs to regain a foothold with MLB?  Rose as you know was caught betting on the game of baseball, and as we all know that if you break a rule in a major sport and you are caught they change the rules.  I often laugh at the things the professional sports leagues say about rules because the severity of the punishment depends on who you are.  Do you think that Pete Rose should be allowed to enter back into the game of baseball, or should the lifetime ban mean a lifetime?  

Daily Dose of BS July 14 Walker

Like it or not Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has now announced his intentions to be the next President of the United States of America.  Living in Wisconsin I have seen those who love him and those who hate him.  Walker said yesterday during his announcement speech that he will fight for America’s interests and for his conservative policies while in Washington.  I have had the chance to interview the Governor quite a few times in the past 3 years, and I like that he will answer whatever you ask him, lots of politicians want to know what you are going to ask before the interview, with Walker that has never been the case, one time I asked Marianne or Ginger, his answer was Marianne.  Do you think that Governor Scott Walker has a chance at the republican nomination? 

Daily Dose of BS July 13 keeping items

Do you hang on to things that should have long been tossed?  Things that have no useful meaning or purpose, I do.  And I am not proud.  I don’t know why but I will keep stupid things like old notebooks, receipts, magazines, books, and old electronics.  I can tell you why with every one of the things in that group too, I keep the old notebooks in case I ever want to go back and look at my notes, which is crazy because my writing it so horrible that even if I wanted to read what I wrote, I wouldn’t be able to.  I keep the receipts for my business, I keep books and magazines because they are filled with information and we all need information and keep the electronics because when I bought that stuff it was expensive.  I know I really need to toss some of these things, what items do you keep just because you can justify it? 

Daily Dose of BS July 10 data breach

We need to redo the system.  We heard last night about the Government data breach that they said was  4 million records is now 21 million records.  Of the over 21 million records that were stolen most  belonged to individuals who had undergone background investigations, the compromised data included sensitive background information, such as employment history, relatives, addresses, and past drug abuse or emotional disorders and over a million of the compromised files included fingerprints.  There were also family members information that was breached.  What can we do to really lock down our information?  Live in solitude, no phones, tv, electricity, get rid of all our worldly possessions?  I don’t think that is the answer.  Or do we just need to spill the beans on everything, and hope that no one stumbles on to our stuff?

Daily Dose of BS July 9 WI Budget

The Wisconsin state budget is expected to pass today and then go to Governor Walker.  I have had many conversations about the budget with both sides of the political spectrum, and someone close to the middle I feel that both sides are full of my initials.  What I don’t understand with these budgets is that they need to do a budget every two year and yet feet get dragged, sleeves get rolled up and the boxing gloves get put on.  These budgets are a power play by the party in charge.  I don’t like that fluff gets added to the budget, lots of pet projects get thrown in as part of the budget to help it along and to get it passed.  I wonder why this is even allowed to go on, I would think that there has to be some “truth” in budgets right?  Is the Wisconsin Budget an introduction of Scott Walker as a presidential candidate?  

Daily Dose of BS July 8 right to die

If you are terminally ill and in pain and you’re not going to get better not even with a miracle, why can’t you decide to die?  I think that it is inhumane to keep people alive when someone is terminal and wants to die, it is costing the families and the insurance companies millions of dollars, let people die with dignity.  No one wants to remember their loved ones last few months being hooked up to ventilators and having wires coming out of here and there.  When a patient is beyond a point, inches from death, allow them to go in peace, in their own terms.  I love life and enjoy living but, when it comes to pain and knowing that there is no positive outcome, wouldn’t it be easier and better for a the patient to be allow to administer a final dose?

Daily Dose of BS July 7 late

Yesterday I posted this simple question on Facebook.  When you're meeting somebody for lunch, how long do you wait before you leave?  I am not a patient man, I despise waiting and I hate late.  I am pretty sure that my job plays quite a lot into that, as if I am not here by show time, then there is dead air.  I think I have always had these feelings about keeping to a schedule, well ever since after high school.  I remember my senior year I don’t think that I made it to class on time the whole year.  Since then I’ve come to the decision that you get to where you want to go and get there at the time you said you would be there.  I guess I feel as though it is disrespectful to the person waiting if you are always late.  If you are every once in a while late, eh, it’s ok, but if you’re always late, then you need to change your priorities.  

Daily Dose of BS July 6 hourly vs salary

When President Barack Obama was in town on Thursday he was talking about money because doesn’t everything revolve around money.  The big question is hourly vs salary.  The Department of Labor’s proposal would have most salaried workers earning less than $50,440 to be paid time and a half for hours greater than 40 per week.   I have worked for some places that were slave drivers when it came down to getting paid.  Being a radio personality I have been a salaried employee for most of my career, and only in the past two jobs have I been treated fairly when it came down to wage.  There were times when I first started in this crazy business that I was working seven days a week and about 10-12 hours a day, but I was salaried and they didn’t worry about it.  I did, but that is what pushed me to try to find a better gig.  Do you think that hourly is better than salary or other way around?  Why?

Daily Dose of BS July 2 the President

For the 4^th time in 23 years I am going to see a sitting President of the United States of America.  President Barrack Obama will be at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse Campus this afternoon.  In the 23 year that I have lived in La Crosse this will be another opportunity to watch the President of the United States woo the people.  I am amazed at the speaking power that these men have portrayed, I was lucky enough to sit on stage with President Clinton and watched from behind the scenes how that man worked the crowd, with President George W Bush he controlled the Omni center with his Texas charm, and President Barrack Obama I am sure will not disappoint.  I am pretty sure why La Crosse keeps getting sitting Presidents to come and visit, it’s because of the people and the beauty.  Enjoy the day of national exposure La Crosse.

Daily Dose of BS July 1 todays talk 1490

Three years ago today my life changed for what I believe to be the better.  On July 1^st 2012 the La Crosse Radio Group flipped the format of Original Hits 1490WLFN to Today’s Talk 1490, with me as the anchor.  It’s funny how this adventure started, I was at a La Crosse Jaycee event about 20 years ago when I met Pat Smith the managing partner of the La Crosse Radio group, we had conversation, and went on our merry way.  A few years later I was involved in a huge radio promotion for the competition and I got a letter from Pat Smith thanking me for what I was doing and to keep up the good work.  In 2009 I was laid off, one of the first calls I made was to Pat Smith we chatted, he didn’t have any openings at the time.  Five months later I was working for Pat and two years after that we were building Today’s Talk 1490.  I guess the lesson I learned is to treat everyone with respect including your competition, and if you work hard you will succeed.  I hope that this first three years is a building block for many more great years at Today’s Talk 1490.

Daily Dose of BS June 30 as seen on tv

Ever had the tv on late at night and woke up to an infomercial?  I have been drawn into a couple of them, hook, line and sinker.  I bought a magic jack so I could have a second line at my home for my home business and I was watching the one for the ninja cooking system and mentioned to my wife that was cool but too expensive to buy, I got it for Christmas the next year and I love it.  I also saw this cool wheel barrel being advertised earlier this year and told the kids that, that is pretty cool; I ended up getting it for Father’s Day.  I am glad since I have about 20 yards of gravel to move on uneven ground, so looking forward to busting out that bad boy.  Have you ever been drawn in to buy any of the as seen on tv items?  If so which ones?  Did they work?   

Daily Dose of BS June 29 gay marriage

I believe that everyone deserves the chance at love?  On Friday the U.S. Supreme Court declared same-sex couples can marry in all 50 states.  I know many gay people and I know that most did not choose this way of life.  The bible gets thrown out as the main reason that we should be against being gay, guess what it also says that divorce is a sin.  How many listening to this has a loved one who has been divorced?  Do you look down on them?  Just because someone is gay doesn’t mean that they are any less of a person.  I don’t know this to be fact but isn’t the discrimination of what the gay population is going through now, the same thing that women went through, and blacks went through, and what other populations of people that  were discriminated against have endured?  You don’t have to embrace the gay lifestyle but try to accept is the first step.  I am confused don’t we all want happiness and love why try to stop anyone from achieving this? 

Daily Dose of BS June 26 baseball

If the goal of my day off yesterday was to have fun, then mission accomplished.  I had the opportunity to enjoy the day with my youngest son at La Crosse day at the Brewers game.   Going to Milwaukee on a coach bus has become a Schmidt tradition, it started back about 15 years ago with my oldest, since then each of the Schmidt kids have had at least a special trip with Dad to a Brewers game, it has always been a day about them.  Yesterday was no different; we started off by making a couple of sandwiches for after the game, this is key for a bus trip.  We then enjoyed each other’s company the whole day.  Our adventure will be engrained in my memory forever.  Our bus was hosted by 3 Tim’s and a not Tim (his name was Ryan) we watched a total of 6 partial movies during the trip, took a wrong turn out of Miller Park, met a bunch of new people on the bus, talked to old friends at the La Crosse tailgate party and oh yea saw a baseball game.  The outcome wasn’t what the Brewers fans had hoped for but the memories of the day – priceless.

Daily Dose of BS June 24 confederate flag

Several retailers have decided to pull the confederate flag from the shelves, really the only times I saw the flag and really noticed it was when I was a kid and watched the Dukes of Hazzard.  I see that the Warner Brothers who licenses the Dukes, General Lee is no longer going to allow that version of the car to be manufactured.  The big hitters are all taking the Confederate Flag off the shelves and the politicians have made it their personal stand to do away with the Confederate Flag.  The threat of it going away has put a run on the flag.  Is the removing of the flag kind of the same as filtering history?  Only bringing up the good.  Because not all of history was pretty nor will all the future be rosy.  

Daily Dose of BS June 23 frisbee

Last night my daughter had another softball game, and before the game my son and I were playing catch with a Frisbee that we found there at Logan.  We used it for about 15 minutes then tossed it back, in the field where we found it.  Before we left he said we should grab it, I said no, but then did grab it, cause it was there.  I brought it to my car with me and one of the Dads said to me at least you got a Frisbee.  That got me thinking; I should have stuck with my original no and left it.  I thought about that Frisbee all night and on my way into work this morning I swung back by Logan High School and tossed the Frisbee over close to where it was when my son and I found it.  My question to you is would you have kept that toy, why or why not?  Also should I have let my conscience get the better of me?  

Daily Dose of BS June 22 winning

Here is a very flawed statement - winning isn’t everything it is the only thing.  My daughter’s softball team had a B softball tournament over the weekend.  Her team isn’t horrible, there are moments of brilliance followed by moments of collapse.  This weekend no difference.  I don’t get why an A team would want to play in a B tournament.  Our first game was a 28 to 3 blowout, it was hard to watch and made me angry that it was allowed to go on.  First of all how can a game that lopsided be good for anyone, from the morale and the confidence of the girls who lost to the feelings that they are superior from the team that won, I am sure that they have had some losses as well?  If you are an A team and you decide to play in a B tournament, than maybe you should play up into the next age group or not play in the tournament, because no one gets anything out of such a blow out of a game.  No one. 

Daily Dose of BS June 19th Hayden

I rode my motorcycle to work on Father’s day 1995 I remember that day because a bird used me as target practice, a direct facial hit.  That Father’s Day was the last time I didn’t celebrate Father’s Day as a Dad.   Ya see my oldest son Hayden was born two days later, a month before his due date.  This weekend we will both be celebrating, me as a father, Hayden will be celebrating his golden birthday, 20 on the 20^th.  It is amazing to see the growth of your kids, I am so proud of the man he has become, from his getting up to be at work by 6 every morning, to his sales internship to going to school full-time and maintaining good grades.  These first 20 years have been amazing, I wonder what the next 20 years will bring?  Hayden, happy golden birthday, I love you.  And for the Dads out there, enjoy your weekend, and have a great Father’s Day.  

Daily Dose of BS June 18 crime

I woke up this morning listening to the news about a hate crime with 9 dead in South Carolina, we hear about crime almost every time we turn on the radio, the tv or open the newspaper.  I hosted the La Crosse Areas Crimestoppers public forum last night and was pleasantly surprised to hear that the 9 groups represented on the panel all work well together.  I was happy to hear that there is plenty of collaboration between many of the communities and their local police departments.  I heard that many of the police departments are pushing their police officers to get out and meet the people of their communities, to work with the different neighborhood organizations.  I was also happy to hear about ongoing training in the different departments.  Onalaska Chief Trotnic said the city has the broken window approach, that if a broken window remains broken, there soon are many broken windows and pretty soon something nice is no longer nice, but if the window gets replaced quickly,  it doesn’t have a negative impact.   We all need to work together to make our communities stronger.