Daily Dose of BS Dec 31 end of year

This time of year gives many the chance to reflect and remember.  As we wrap up 2015 and begin our journey of 2016 I just want to hit a few highlights of my 2015, my wife and I celebrated our 25^th wedding anniversary, I was a full time student at Western Technical College, earning a total of 11 A’s and 1 B, in my 1 year of college I achieved better grades than my whole career in High School.  My favorite memory of my family was trumped every Sunday when we all got together and laughed and loved, but if I had to pick one it would have been Father’s Day, just because of the laughter and good times.  My job is awesome and I wouldn’t trade it for the world but I did get to do the coolest thing I have ever got to do as a radio personality, I got to climb down and go inside of the I-90 bridge during the construction phase.  Here is to the memories of 2015 and also to the unpublished pages of 2016, may they be the best ever.  Happy New Year.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 30 pizza

Everyone who eats pizza has a favorite.  Either frozen or fresh.  I have a couple of favorites in the area, but don’t have a favorite La Crosse pizza.  I like Pizza Coral in Holmen and Great River Roadhouse in Desoto, but haven’t found the perfect place to get a pie in La Crosse.  When it comes to frozen I love the Sweet Home Chicago from Lloyd’s Pizza and am really beginning to like most of the Lotsa Motza pizzas that are out there, lots of cheese and a pretty good ratio of toppings to bite.  My question today is what is your favorite restaurant pizza and frozen pizza?

Daily Dose of BS Dec 28 phone

I have had a cell phone for about 15 years give or take, not sure exactly when I ended up with one but I am sure I can count on two hands how many times I have forgotten it at home.  And two of those times were in the past 3 days, and I actually left the home yesterday forgetting my phone and then recalled that it was forgotten before I even hit the garage, so it could have been three for three.  I wonder how often this happens to people when they forget their phones and then obsess about it for the day?  This morning I was about 3 blocks from home when I realized I had forgotten it and thought the heck with it I am going to leave it home.  The weird thing is that it is habit and even though I don’t make many phone calls or text lots it is a security blanket, it will be missed.  I kind of feel naked without it.

Daily Dose of BS Dec 24 Christmas

It’s the day before Christmas and no presents are bought. 

You are feeling quite down, real sad and distraught

What kind of gifts can you buy now and not look real bad

Some last minute presents cause feelings of sad

There are things that can be bought and wrapped or downloaded and shared

And also items that showed that you cared

The trick to shopping last minute is easy

Is to not look like you waited, don’t make it look cheesy

As Boy Scouts have taught me to look all prepared

And when going to buy last minute gifts don’t look scared.

From BS with Bob and crew that work here.

Merry Christmas to all and have a great year. 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 21 pageants

By now I am sure that you heard about Steve Harvey’s Miss Universe flub.  If not he basically read the wrong name, he read the runner up rather than the winner’s name.  Ok it was a mistake, let’s move on.  I get it working in the public when we make a mistake people know, the outcomes are different than those who make mistakes in the privacy of your office cube or the walls of your home.  Steve’s mistake isn’t going to ever make anything that you do any different than what it is was.  Time to let it go and honestly who cares.  With that being should we even have beauty contests anymore?  I can honestly say I have never seen one, and couldn’t tell you who any of the Miss Americas have been with the exception of Vanessa Williams and the only reason I know that name is because of the controversy she was in.  For Steve Harvey I get it man it is tough to mess up in front of people but move on and don’t let this be the defining moment of your career and for the promoters of the Miss contests is it time to hang up the crown?  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 17 economy

The Fed is working on trying to get the economy back to normal.  After 7 years of about 0% interest the Fed is now going to be hiking up the interest rates by a whopping .25% in hopes of stabilizing the economy.  I hope that it works.  The decision to move the rate up reflected the federal officials’ faith in the resilience of the nation’s financial recovery and with the announcement stocks surged.  The biggest change for most of us will be a higher interest rate on our credit cards and our loans that we have outstanding, it will be a long, long time I think until the banks will start paying interest for the savors of the group.  

Daily Dose of BS December 16 snow

I heard something this morning that I hadn’t heard in a while.  The heat was running at my house when I got out of the shower.  We have had a weird 4^th quarter weather wise.  My grass at home is greener now than it was during the summer, but I am guessing that this is because I don’t water my lawn.  I am one of those that use the natural form of watering, when it rains the grass gets wet and when we don’t get rain I end up with a dry brown lawn.  Here we are in December and I have a full lush lawn that is going to need mowing if we keep getting rain.  I grew up in the Twin Cities and it is funny how you just think there is supposed to be snow on Christmas but did you know that in 116 years of snow measuring in Twin Cities, a white Christmas happens about 72% of the time. And there have been 33 years with either a "zero" or a "trace."  In fact the last time the Twin Cities has seen a brown Christmas was 2014.  Are you ok with this weather?  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 11 Debbie Brague

I remember meeting Debbie Brague about 10 years ago at a now Parenting Place event, we started out as competitors working for different radio groups.  Even though she and I were competitors she was friendly.  A little over 5 years ago we began working together with her as my boss, I guess I am not that easy to work with.  Over the past 5 years our forced union of boss and employee became a great friendship.  Today I am sad and happy as my good friend / boss is moving on to a new adventure.  I have no doubt that Deb will rock her new job as a regional manager for Verizon.  Deb will be missed here at La Crosse Radio , she is absolutely the hardest working person I have ever worked with, according to the Deb Brague way of thinking there is nothing that can’t be done.  Also there is nothing that she would ask you to do that she wouldn’t do.  I am glad that I have had the chance to learn from her.  Best of luck for everything in your future Deb, I will miss our conversations….A lot! 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 10 shutdown

Are we headed for another shutdown?  The answer is no, the government just keeps pushing funding through, pushing us further and further into debt.  It makes me sick.  Have you ever thought about your job when they talk about non-essential jobs?  Is your job essential? I’m not sure mine is. In fact I know mine is not. Funny thing when they do have these government shut downs, the non-essential people get some days off, then they get back pay for the time that they didn’t go into work.  Hum.  I call that a vacation.  If the government truly wants to make a difference next time they do one of these instead of a making a point - have the whole government shutdown. I am guessing that that will not happen cause the man never goes without. Could you imagine the people in Congress or the Senate say no to a pay check?   What about the President?  There may be a few out there who will as a gesture give it up but really? It isn’t really going to affect them the way it hurts the common person.

Daily Dose of BS Dec 7 verted?

Introverted or extroverted that is the question.  I am not sure where I fall in the spectrum.  I like people but love my time alone.  Anyway I found an article that could help anyone with networking.  We all have Christmas parties and other family get togethers this time of the year and these tips can be helpful in any social instance.  Don’t label yourself. Some of the labels we assign to ourselves are holding us back. Let go of negative focus. Train your mind to stop focusing on a potential negative outcome.  Imagine the obstacles aren’t there. Most of the time, we tend to imagine the outcome as a worst case scenario.  Find the common ground. Preparation often eases anxiety.  Use self-fulfilling prophecies to your advantage. But what if you appear less nervous and warmer.  New behaviors are like new shoes. When you first wear a new pair of shoes, it’s bound to feel uncomfortable. But the more you break them in, the better you feel wearing them. It’s the same with new behaviors. I think that these ideas and a couple of egg nogs will help with the dreaded Holiday party.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 4 work

I will help my kids with their shoveling and mowing jobs but they have to pay me for my time.  I said that on the air about 10 years ago and took the wrath of many but I got the praises of a few.  I still do help my kids with jobs that they are hired for and still do collect a wage for my time.  What are your thoughts when it comes to this?  I have always had the strong entrepreneurial spirit and have always found new and different ways of making a few bucks, from doing commercial voice overs for businesses, to building and hosting and websites, I even had a couple of candy machines placed around, I have always had the drive and desire to get this done even as a kid and am trying to pass that spirt on to my own kids.  There is nothing wrong with going out and working for your money.  

Daily Dose of BS Dec 3 shootings

Another day another shooting in America.  Do you feel safe?  Are we as Americans safe?  I don’t know if it is naivety on my part but up until yesterday I think I felt safe, like I am an American and this is my home.  This morning I woke up to the realization that these shootings can happen anywhere, and that no one and no place is safe.  There have been shootings in schools, churches, malls, neighborhoods, homes, work places, movie theaters, parks, when did this happen?  What made us as a society susceptible to all the violence?  September 11^th showed us what could happen, but it was in a big city, but these shootings we are now seeing are middle America.  What can be done? 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 2 names

In my 47 years of being on this earth we have seen a lot of changes from our cars, and houses to the things we buy and eat…heck about 15 years ago I would have never bought bottled water, now water is one of my favorite drinks.  I would have never thought I would be able to have a phone with me at all times let alone a computer in my pocket.  When facebook came into existence I avoided it like the plaque now I post on facebook everyday, It is kind of weird when I don’t.  The reason I bring this up is because I was thinking I don’t know any kid named Bob, when I was growing up there where about 15 of us in my class from Rob, to Robby, and Bob to Bobby and don’t forget about Robert.  I was born in 1968 and then the top names were Michael, David, John, James and Robert….for the boys and Lisa, Michelle, Kimberly, Jennifer and Melissa for the girls.  Number one for 2010 was Jackson for boys and Sophia for girls and Robert was no where in the top 50.  Michael or Lisa the top names from 1968 haven’t even broke the top 10 in this generation.  To see where your name ranks check out the Social Security Administrations website http://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/

Daily Dose of BS Nov 25 thankful

Everyone is thankful for something, for example family, job, and the people in your life.  I get those things to be happy and thankful for, I really do.  I am also thankful for shelter, the food in my belly, the fact that I have modern conveniences all around me.  I am thankful for the media, I get my news, my laughter, my tears, my excitement, my livelihood from the newspaper, tv and the radio.  I am also thankful for education and learning, if not for that we would be stagnant.  I am thankful for the newer technologies that are all around us, even though I get irritated by people being on their computers and their phones all the time, I am grateful that this technology is here and within reach of most of us.  I think that it is fantastic that we live in a free society where if we want to complain about something, we can and that the government doesn’t throw us in jail, I am thankful for the men and women who protect us both at home and away.  The fact that I can turn on a light and have it flip on and flush a toilet and not have to worry about where it goes, that refrigeration keeps my food safe and that heat keeps me warm through the day.  It is great that we can hop into our cars and go.  When you are feeling down and that life sucks, step back and think, then thank.  Most off all I am thankful for you for reading this.  Have a Happy Thanksgiving.  

Daily Dose of BS Nov 18 Syrian refugees

Unless every state says no to the Syrian refugees, the refugees can come flooding in right?  And what I mean by that is that if someone is in the United States there is nothing stopping them from freely traveling from state to state.  If there are fears of letting evil in why risk it?  On the other hand if the boarders were never open where would all of us be today?  There are not too many that don’t have some other nationality as part of our heritage.  On this topic I really don’t have an opinion, on one hand I would like the boarders closed, but on the other most of us wouldn’t be the people we are unless someone in our linage wouldn’t have seen America for what it is.  What do we do?  I am glad I am not a politician.  

Daily Dose of BS Nov 17 HIV

You know talking about HIV isn’t the most popular thing in the world, but lots of talk on HIV and AIDS will be talked about in the next few days because of Charlie Sheen and his revelation to the world that he is HIV positive.  I wonder if his diagnosis of HIV is what pushed him over the edge while on the show 2 and a half men.  I could see something like that making someone want to drink to forget.  I was growing up in the 80’s when the AIDS virus was first diagnosed and was of the generation that learned that you should always practice safe sex.  The thing that bugs me the most about this is that if Charlie Sheen did in fact have unprotected sex with people after getting diagnosed with HIV and didn’t tell them about it, if that was the case how many unsuspecting people may have the virus that causes AIDS due to his indiscretions, or for that matter anyone who has the diagnosis and doesn’t share their status.  

Daily Dose of BS Nov 16 senseless attacks

I don’t get the senseless violence that is spread across the world.  The latest the attacks of concert venues in Paris.  What did those venues do to anyone?  129 dead and for what.  This is the kind of stuff that angers the world and makes people want to ban together not tear them apart.  I get that we are all different and have different beliefs but sane group has the bombing of unarmed innocents as the target?  What is trying to be accomplished here?  Anger the world and make people not trust?  With these attacks brings consequences, what do you suppose those will be?  

Daily Dose of BS Nov 13 fear

The fear of something new and unknown those are the things that scare me, a few weeks ago we had Halloween, that is not scary, Today’s date Friday the 13^th, or triskaidekaphobia, not scary.  The fear of black cats crossing the road, or any other fears or phobias.  Again not scary.  For me it is speaking in public, which I am working on and new technology at work.  I was dragged kicking and screaming to move from the old days of producing commercials on tape to digital, in about a week I was able to surpass what I could do old school with the new technology.  The newest step or bit of technology that I need to embrace is twitter, I have had an account since 2009 however it has mostly been dormant.  According to my boss it is time for the butterfly to emerge from the cocoon.  If you can help me.  Please do.  Please follow me on twitter @bswithbob

Daily Dose of BS Nov 9 trains

Little old Alma Wisconsin made national news. 18,500 gallons of denatured alcohol spilled from tanker cars into our beloved Mississippi. The train was heading south bound, isn’t La Crosse south of Alma? I know that having the double tracks in La Crosse now means that more trains are moving through our community but do you ever really wonder what is being run through our town? This ethanol that spilled into the river could have serious implications to the habitat in the Mississippi, and all the water ways south. I kind of find it ironic that the day after the Keystone XL pipeline was vetoed by the President that 2 tankers end up in the ol Miss.

Daily Dose of BS Nov 10 cam

Before the game on Sunday between the then 6 -1 Green Bay Packers and 7 – 0 Carolina Panthers NFL quarterback Cam Newton took a banner down that said North Carolina Cheesehead, with a Packer Logo over the state. Newton claimed that it was disrespect in the home of the Panthers, I don’t disagree that it was disrespect but isn’t that what sports has become? Disrespecting the other teams? I am all for the friendly rooting for your team, wear your team colors and show the pride of your team but you shouldn’t be worried that someone will take your sign. Especially a multi-millionaire prima donna quarterback. I would be willing to bet if it was a fan that took the sign down that the fan would have been tossed out of the stadium and also be criminally charged. I guess I would like to know if you think that it is wrong for a fan to show support for their team when in the house of another team? Did Cam Newton do wrong? I think that he should man up and pay the guy for the sign, and apologize.

Daily Dose of BS Nov 11 veterans day

Some in the service saw combat.  Some of the veterans were behind the scenes.  Some of the brave never returned.  Each and every one of the stories are different, but for the men and women who lived them, their time serving was unforgettable.  Today is Veterans Day, a day to celebrate our freedoms, and the Men and Women who have given of themselves to keep us free.  This Veterans Day, we honor all those who've made sacrifices many of us can only imagine - If you are serving or have served, thank you, if anyone in your family is or has served, thanks to you as well, because with that service came sacrifice to your family.  When you see a Veteran today or ever thank them for their service to our country.  God Bless America, and remember that our freedom is not free; someone paid the price for your freedom.  

Daily Dose of BS November 6 crowdfunding

It seems as though more and more are turning to crowd funding these days.  From people looking to fund movies, to those that are trying to get an idea off the ground to those that are trying to beautify a neighborhood, to those looking to fund their college education.  When is enough – enough?  Are we going to keep going to the well looking for more and more funds for things that in the old days you would either have to go to the bank of friends and family or a true bank?  Last year there was a guy who used kickstarter to try to raise ten dollars to learn how to make potato salad, he ended up making $55,492.  Come to think of it, I would like to learn how to make a killer coleslaw, any ideas?  

Daily Dose of BS Nov 3 music

The way we add music to our libraries has changed.  I used to have 8 tracks, cassettes, albums including 45’s and cd’s.  Now I don’t even have a player for any of those mediums at my house.  I have a cd and cassette player in my cars, but none of the others.  I used to be a big fan of the Sony Walkman and then the Discman, now most of my non radio music comes from either my phone or a radio I bought a while ago that accepts SD cards.  Where our music used to be tangible now it is just a bunch of zeros and ones.  Movies the same thing, we just don’t have the collections of audio and video that we once had. 

Daily Dose of BS Oct 29 parking

The one thing you hear people complain about most in La Crosse is parking and that will soon be at the top of minds when alternate side parking is implemented next month.  We always have alternate side parking November 1st through April 1st if there is snow or no snow.  151 days to try to get it right. I like to look at it like a game you can’t win. I am lucky enough to have garage parking but my son isn’t as lucky. He gets to park behind the house, at least it isn’t on the street.  I personally dislike the alternate side parking law.  I have been living in LaCrosse for 23 but have only had 2 tickets for parking on the wrong side of the street.  With all this fine money collected, I wonder where it all goes? 

Daily Dose of BS Oct 28 not my job

I can’t be the only one who notices when signs are messed up can I? For about the past week and perhaps even longer the sign for Highway 35 / Great River Road at the curve on George street right in front of Kwik Trip is upside down.  This isn’t the first time that I have talked about a sign in the city that is messed up.  These types of noticed bug me because I wait a few days to see if it gets fixed before I mention it, and I know I am not.  Speaking of signs there is a sign on the Western La Crosse Sign that someone scrawled the F word.  I know I am not perfect nor do I claim to be but I do try my best and if I notice something within my personal or work space I try to take care of it.  I guess that today’s lesson is open your eyes and notice things around you.

Daily Dose of BS Oct 26 mustard

There are those who do and those who don’t.   Which type of person are you?  Personally I am one who doesn’t, well let me clarify that, I don’t most of the time.  I will occasionally use, but only in a rare case.  There are many out there that are using every day.  They are putting the stuff on everything from fries to sandwiches and bananas, I have even heard of some putting it in their hair.  Really the only time I ever use mayo is when making egg salad, tuna salad or a blt.  Now for me I am of the other camp, I love a good hardy mustard.  There are many flavors of the yellow stuff out there, but I prefer either a whole grain mustard, a stone ground, regular or horseradish mustard but not a honey mustard, yuck to sweet.  Which is weird because I love peanut butter and honey.  Anyway which camp are you a mayo, or mustard person, or the rare bird, both?

Daily Dose of BS October 23 ethical question

An ethical question was raised yesterday in class.  If you were a engineering a train and on the track ahead of you were 5 workers and they couldn’t get out your way and would die if you continued down that track, and on another track that you noticed had only one worker that would die if you switched tracks at the last second what would you do?  I spoke first and said I would let the train continue to go down the first track instead of switching to the other track because the original track was something that I had no control of, if I were to switch tracks I would be the one who killed that one person.  After I explained my logic I had a handful of classmates agree with my way of thinking.  If you were in that situation what would you do?  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 22 CMNH

Today marks the start of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals radioathon in La Crosse. With a goal of over one hundred thousand dollars to help families with kids, those kids facing health challenges. Last year over 8,000 local kids were helped by the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital and each and every child served has a story of courage and perseverance. Please dig deep in your pockets, your seat cushions and piggy banks and help the La Crosse Radio Group reach this goal to help thousands of children and their families this year. The phones are manned 6a-6p today and tomorrow and 8a-3p on Saturday. Help the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals radioathon. The number to help is toll free 800-853-6889. Please put your money where the miracles are.

Daily Dose of BS Oct 21 guns

There is a letter to the editor today in the La Crosse Tribune that suggests that there be a plain clothed defender assigned to each school that could be a familiar face in the school and be trained to protect the innocent.  I like this idea.  I was at a store yesterday and they had the posted no weapons allowed sign hanging on the door.  I thought to myself if I was up to no good and had a gun to bring in, would a sign stop me.  The answer to that is no way.  But if I was up to no good and I knew that the possibility of someone within the walls of where it was posted no weapons had a weapon, I think I would rethink going in to that place.  I think that ideas like this have merit, don’t you?  

Daily Dose of BS October 20 skateboarding

Yesterday was such a beautiful day.  How did you spend it?  I raked, and played outside with my kids.  When the kids got home from school we BS’ed for a few minutes then I asked who wanted to play catch, neither did, but they wanted to play a little basketball, I have got to be the worst hoops player in the world after taking about 50 shots and missing almost all of them I was about ready to hang it up and head inside with my head held low.  My daughter then pulled out the long board and asked if I would pull her around the block, I did, then told her I used to skateboard when I was her age.  She didn’t believe me, I then very nervously mounted the board and did something that I haven’t done in probably 33 years, I skate boarded, slow at first, then a bit faster, and it felt awesome.  I guess that the lesson today is don’t be afraid to try something again for the first time. 

Daily Dose of BS Oct 19 playboy

I heard over the weekend that Playboy magazine is going nude free in the future.  Starting with the issue in March of 2016 there will be no more nude pictures in the magazine.  I guess all those times when people said that they were reading it for the articles really were true.  As a young man it was always a rite of passage for you to sneak a peak of the magazine.  I guess that went away when people stopped buying magazines.  Speaking of change, I am not a fan of the throwback jerseys that the NFL have forced down our throats these past few years, watching the Packers game yesterday brought the comments from more than one that it doesn’t look like they are wearing pants.  To me it is just another way for the NFL to take more money from us fans.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 16 freedom honor flight

I was never in the Military, I do however respect all those who have chosen that path.  Some real important people in my life have gone in the service from my Grandpa Schmidt, to my Dad, to many of my buddies, and more.  We all have special people in our lives who put Country first, many have come back from serving only to not get the thanks that they have deserved, which makes me sad.  If not for the sacrifice of their time and efforts we would not be free as we are today.  The reason I bring this up today rather than on a Veteran’s holiday is that my good friend Lloyd is making the trip tomorrow to Washington DC as a Hero, on board the Freedom Honor Flight.  From the first flight in 2008 FreedomHonorFlight.org has been making this a special day for our Veteran.   To my good friend Lloyd and to the others on the trip, thank you for your service. 

Daily Dose of BS Oct 15 overdose

Why is it news when a celebrity overdoses or is on the verge of death when they brought it on themselves?  There are thousands of cases of regular old people who are struggling with addiction each and every day.  I will bet that you are close with someone who is or is recovering from substance abuse.  When the national media glorifies the fact that this celebrity has gone in to a coma or that celebrity has died I think it takes away from the local problem that we have right here, in our own back yard.  I am sorry that these celebrities have issues, and cannot deal with the celebrity machine that they have built, but it was something that has been done by them, as it is when it happens here with someone you love.  All we can do is reach out and offer a hand, and an ear.  And let them know that there is help.  Let’s stop glorifying drug use and abuse.

Daily Dose of BS Oct 14 phone

I did the software update in my phone sometime in the past two weeks, and my phone has been acting up ever since.  I went in yesterday to ask why my phone was telling me that I had no space left, I don’t have anything on my phone but a few hundred pictures and a handful of songs.  With the update my phone started propagating contact info from all my accounts and it didn’t know when to stop, my contacts ended up eating up over half my phones memory.  I got that fixed.  Ever given much thought to how things change?  Life is what happens in between your planned events.  I got a call from my Dad yesterday afternoon saying I will be there in about 90 minutes we are just outside the Dells.  I had no idea what he was talking about as apparently I wasn’t getting texts because of my phone issue, I am glad that I got to spend some time with my father.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 13 capx

The landscape has changed.  You used to be able to drive about anywhere and see wooden utility poles, now the rural landscape is peppered with monster rusted metal poles holding powerlines high above the terrain.  The CapX power line is done and there is a dedication ceremony today to celebrate the fact that they finished ahead of time.  At a cost of 2.2 billion dollars the cost of these power moving lines will be shared over the 16 states that are receiving service from these lines.  I personally think that they are ugly, and an eye sore.  I do think that it was pretty cool though watching what construction I was able to watch, but that doesn’t change the fact that they look like rusted out dead trees peppered on the roadsides of the Midwest.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 12 dine and dash

Well it took me till 47 years old to dine and dash.  My son and I headed up to the cities over the weekend to hang out with my brothers, and it just happened to be a get together of some of my high school classmates.  My brothers and I headed out to meet up with them to get together to BS about life.  We had a few beers and then left to head back to my brother’s house.  I didn’t think anything of it, till I heard from one of my friends the next day telling me I left without paying.  I honestly thought that my brother was picking up the drinks.  I was wrong.  Needless to say I owe someone 20 bucks because one of my classmates picked up my tab.  My brothers and I also hit up a bar that our Dad and Grandpa’s drank at one time.  Besides forgetting to pay for my beers at the one place it was a pretty awesome weekend.  

Daily Dose of BS money Oct 9

I read sometime in the past week that is costs about 2 cents to make a penny and about a dime to make a nickel.  It got me wondering, are we at a point where we don’t need to make these pieces of money any more, or should we find a better more efficient way of making them?  I for one would bet that if we dropped either or both of these iconic money pieces that prices would go up to the closest dime rather than drop to the closest multiple of ten.  I also thought if the cost is higher than the value isn’t that for the first time use then with each use after we split that cost, and eventually it would be insignificant, right?  I also wonder if the cost of the metal to make the coins is higher than the value of the coin, won’t that cause hording of the money for the value of the metal.  Oh the things I wonder.

Daily Dose of BS texting Oct 8

You know that texting and driving is against the law right?  Daily I look at the people around me the others that are sharing the road with me and my family and friends.  Daily I see distracted drivers plowing through their lives eyes down on a phone or other device while they should be paying attention to the stuff going on around them.  Daily I see a distracted parent texting while in the car with their most precious of cargo in the back seat.  I have even seen senior citizens looking down at a phone while driving.  This is a problem, a serious problem that not only is affecting us, but affecting people all over the country.  The laws have been written to keep people from texting and driving but that hasn’t helped.  The police in La Crosse for 5 days this month will be cracking down on distracted driving including stopping those who are texting and driving.  Remember that whomever you are texting can wait. 

Daily Dose of BS fair? Oct 7

Everybody wants life to be fair, guess what it isn’t, and it never will be.  I think of all the times that things were fair in my life, and really truly they never were.  Someone always has the advantage or the upper hand.  How we deal with that is what makes us who we are.  I recall when I was a kid and my brothers and I would fight over the last piece of anything and mom would always jump in and try to make it fair, offering to cut it up into thirds the “fair” thing to do.  Someone always got the smaller piece or was the last to pick or wasn’t happy for this reason or that reason.  Fast forward to life now, people get opportunities that you never got, how unfair is that?  Guess what life isn’t about being fair it is about making your own opportunities and knowing when to take them.  Quit whining about life and take it. 

Daily Dose of BS breakfast for supper Oct 6

McDonald’s has heard the call and starting today will be offering breakfast all day long.  Breakfast for supper has been a staple around the Schmidt house for many years, who doesn’t like a quick bowl of cereal and toast when there isn’t something else around.  I have made oven bake French toast for dinner and the family loves it when homemade biscuits and gravy is the evening meal.  There is something about having breakfast for supper, it is comfort food at a time when most of us need to be comforted, we are just getting home from a hard day at the office or at school.  McDonalds I’m loving the fact that you are now doing breakfast all day, now you just got to expand the menu to include my favorite McGriddles.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 5 trash

My parents taught me not to litter, to pick up after myself, to leave things in better shape when you are finished using something.  For the most part I believe that I do all of the above.  I really enjoyed Oktoberfest this year, I like that for the most part that people were respectful of others, and of other people’s things, there were a few issues like there always are when your community grows by a hundred thousand for a day, but mostly things were good.  What I don’t get is the litter that is strewn on the parade route and the cyclone of trash that is in the college neighborhoods.  I didn’t venture to deep into college town, but on West Avenue I think that the visitors into our beautiful city forgot to pick up after themselves.  How hard is it to pick up your beer bottle, chip bag, or solo cup when you are finished with it and put it in the trash?  Remember you Mom doesn’t live here, pick up after yourself, in fact even if your Mother did live here, pick up your own stuff.

Daily Dose of BS Oct 2 Oktoberfest

Year two for the shortened Oktoberfest, I said it last year and will say it again.  I liked the fest being whittled down into 4 days of action packed fun instead of dragged out over 9 days.  You know that things need to change or face doom, and this was a step in the right direction.  After living in La Crosse since 1992 I have been around Oktoberfest for 23 years, participating in the Maple Leaf parade and always amazed at the amount of people who come out of the wood work to watch and cheer.  I always wondered though, do people take vacation to go stake their claim of park land or boulevard for a 5 hour parade?  One last thought, no matter how you celebrate Oktoberfest, I hope that great memories are made.  Here is to a safe, fun, trouble free Oktoberfest.  Gemütlichkeit, Ein Prosit and Old McDonald has a farm, ummm I mean EiEiEio…have a great fest.  And join us at the American Legion Post #52 for the slicing of the Golden Brat.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 1 prices

I love a bargain, really who doesn’t?  Starting today Target is now matching prices of their online rivals, isn’t this something that has always been done?  I guess I always assumed that when you bought something from a national online store that you automatically got the lowest price.  I do know if you have an ad from somewhere and the price is lower that you bring it to the attention of the cashier that they will often discount the item to the lower price, I guess I always assumed that it was available to online shoppers also.  I like that this feature is now available, but it can’t help to make me think, is this a good thing?  Hear me out, will this end well for us consumers, if everyone is matching everyone else’s prices, won’t that just push all retailers to not have sale prices and just use the manufacturers suggested retail price? 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 30 drinking at fest

We are going to be seeing many people drinking to excess this weekend.  It unfortunately is a fact.  I contend that you can go to Oktoberfest and either drink just a couple to be social or not drink at all.  I have been on both ends of the spectrum over living in La Crosse for the past 23 year, I gotta say the years that involved less drinks were just as fun and maybe even more fun than the ones that had overindulged Bob.  I understand that at festivals and especially ones where everyone seems drunker than the next person, you feel the pressure to drink to excess, as I try to show my kids in moderation it is ok, but don’t let it get away from you.  Think before that last drink. 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 29 animals

On my way into work this morning a possum ran out in the street and under my car.  I somehow missed it.  I also saw a mouse crossing the road, when I saw the mouse I started laughing and thought to myself why would a mouse cross the road, then immediately thought well to get to the other side.  I was lucky that I didn’t hit either of these animals, I have in the past thought about the point value, you know the old game there’s 10 points, but then kept on driving.  One time a squirrel ran right under my wheels and I felt bad, another time a rabbit did the same thing, suicide by car, not a cool game in the animal kingdom.  I especially hate when the person in front of me gets a skunk.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 28 thanksgiving dinner

I got an email on Friday announcing that the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner was going to be cancelled.  Even though I had only attended that diner once, I had always talked about it and thought it was one of the gems about living in our community.  The reason for the cancellation is because of lack of volunteers to step up and help.  I am hopeful that this gem will return even brighter than before.  I guess that this goes to show that even if something is good and helps the community that the community needs to get behind and share their talents with these events, remember that they don’t run on their own.  If there is an event that you like, this could be the wakeup call for maybe you to step up and help out, I know it was a wakeup for me.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 23 happy birthday song

I always thought it was funny whenever there was a birthday on tv or movie that they never sang the happy birthday song there was always some made up song that went along with that birthday.  Well that may change as the holder of the copy write for that piece of music may only own the copy write for the piano music and not the lyrics.  I don’t know I will kind of miss the different renditions of the song that we have grown accustom to.  Speaking of birthdays, my wife has a big one tomorrow she turns the big 5-0.  Happy birthday Marcia and here is too many more birthday tunes for you. 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 22 Christmas in September

I was walking through Shopko last week and they were already pushing Christmas, over the weekend I stopped at Kmart and guess what the same thing.  When is it too early to start pushing Christmas?  Also what do you think the take away for Christmas is these days?  It certainly doesn’t have the same meaning as it did when I was a kid.  Now it seems like the more crap you can get in the hands of the consumer the better.  What about the simple times?  One of my favorite Christmas memories was when my kids were babies and we went to church as a family, had a great meal and good family time.  We did all this with the traditional Christmas décor and of course the classic Christmas carols in the background. Christmas used to be enjoyed in December not pushed down our throats starting in September.  Merry Greedmas, and lets ho ho hope for lots of profits.  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 21 Farm and Fleet

Have you driven from La Crosse north to Farm and Fleet?  How did you get there?  The Wisconsin DOT is working off a grant from 2003 to extend the turning lane on to Kinney Coulee Road.  If I were Farm and Fleet I would be mad as hell, I am mad and I am just an occasional consumer.  I am mad that I have to either go up by Woodman’s and turn around or drive onto the interstate and loop back around to head westbound on Highway 16 to turn into the store.  Not cool, not cool at all.  When the DOT comes up with their plans don’t they look at the impact of businesses around?  I also wonder if now that you have to plan for an extra mile to get to Farm and Fleet if they will get an entrance from parking lot over by Target now?  How inconvenient for consumers and employees.  Also how rude for the planners to shut down access to a business. 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 18 Favre

Big year for Brett Favre first his number 4 is going to be retired on Thanksgiving night and was just announced that he is a nominee for the 2016 pro football hall of fame.  It is funny when you bring up Brett Favres name there are some that love and some that hate him.  One of my good friends Tom never liked him even in his hay day.  Another buddy Jim loves him.  Me I thought that Favre rocked the game and was an iron man and was amazing when he was on.  I remember being like lots of other Packer fans and wondered what the heck were they thinking when they choose to start Rogers over Favre, honestly I was quite mad about it.  I guess that goes to show you what I know – not too much apparently.