Daily Dose of BS Jan 29 luck

I have heard all too many people say you are lucky.  I am not sure that I believe in luck do you?  I think that we make our own luck, sure great things happen to all of us, but does a 4 leaf clover, a fuzzy troll or a horseshoe make or break your day?  I think that those work because you think that they will work, I am not sure that some people are luckier than others.  Here is why I think that, the people that lots of people think are lucky have worked harder or longer on something, not making them lucky but just more versed.  I think that the same goes for bad luck, I get it that we have bad things that happen to all of us some of us choose to have that derail us others look at it as a step and others just look at it as the cost of doing business.  Which person are you?

Daily Dose of BS Jan 28 school

What an awesome email I got from Western Technical College the day before yesterday, I found out that I received two different scholarships for my schooling this year.  I am humbled by the fact that I received these.  When I was a student in High School and then in radio school I wasn’t the best student, I guess I really didn’t care about school so much, I had other things in life to do, like go out and hang out with friends.  As an adult I still have things to do, more things than I did as youngster, like support a family, go to work every day, run a small business, and hang out with friends, but now have the drive to succeed and find the way to make it happen.  Besides getting the scholarships I also made the Presidents List all three trimesters, ending up with 11 A’s and 1 B, not too shabby.  This past year of school has not been easy but I made it and also made some really great friends as well.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 27 debate

I guess if you don’t want to do something you don’t have to do it.  I get this from Donald Trump backing out of the debate in Iowa.  Whether you like him or not he is garnering tons of free publicity, and it seems as though he is getting the publicity for doing the unheard of standing up and being a bully.  I was bullied when I was a kid but I think that all of us were to some extent.  I decided quite a while ago that that wouldn’t put up with bullying.  We still have 10 months and honestly out of the candidates that we have running for President I am not sure that I like any of them.   As for the bullying and the child like behavior of not doing the debate because you don’t like the commentator, shame on you, if you are running for President you should be able to deal with something you don’t like.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 26 sick

Seems as though just about everyone I know has a cold of some sorts.  I am hacking up a lung and feel run down, some of my fellow employees are doing the same, in fact yesterday it was like an echoing sneeze effect as I started it in the studio, it moved out to the front desk then I heard it ricochet right on down the building.  What are your opinions of calling in sick or coming to work?  I am not a fan of calling in sick and have done so only a few times in my whole career where some people have a hang nail and call.  Also are there any home remedies that work for you?  I am a fan of a hot totty made with brandy, water, honey and lemon, I am not sure if it helps but after a couple I really do sleep well.   

Daily Dose of BS Jan 25 snow

For the majority of my life I have lived in the upper Midwest.  I often complain about people not being able to drive, I am guessing that this is a common thread for most of the country.  The east coast got belted with snow this past weekend, and they basically shut everything down.  I recall a few big storms in the upper Midwest that slowed somethings down, and there were times when some of the roads were suggested not to drive on but, a few years ago I remember driving across the state of Wisconsin to get home from a hockey tournament when 20 plus inches of snow fell and there were drifts about 4 feet high on the sides of the road.  The thing is even when that much snow fell there were still stupid drivers on the roads, I guess including myself for risking it, but at the time I didn’t even think of it. I guess I am trying to say I am glad that the snow that fell in the east didn’t fall here, so we don’t have to deal with idiot drivers in the snow, just regular idiot drivers. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 22 friends

Back in August I proved to myself that I could step away from Facebook for a week, I made it 9 days.  I took the app off my phone and it is still not back there.  I do however look at Facebook on my phone online, but there are more steps to it than the app.  I read today that even though there are tons of people with tons of friends on their “friends” list that we really only have about 4 friends.  Do you know who your four are?  I do but it is funny even though we are friends we really don’t flaunt our friendships on Facebook.  From the 4 real friends we have about 15 we can confide in and about 50 who are close from there we go to our casual friends and then acquaintances tops out at about 500.  Do you who all your friends are? 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 21 school

It is funny the difference between a child starting school and an adult starting a new year of school.  As the college students head back to LaCrosse and college classes starting all over the country, myself included.  Yesterday I started year number two as a student at Western Technical College, working toward my Associates Degree in sales and sales management.  While driving to class last night I was laughing to myself as I thought about the pomp and circumstance that goes into a child’s first day of school you get a new backpack, have new clothes, maybe Mom and Dad will take you out for breakfast, you most likely will be measured with your back up against a door jam.  At least that is the way it is for my kids on the first day of school, and it didn’t matter if it was the first day of kindergarten or your senior year, every year the same routine.  I guess when you start college the second year you get none of that, come to think of it I didn’t get any of it last year either I guess.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 19 not fast sandwiches

You need a password for just about everything these days, long gone are the days when you can use the word password as your password.  In fact they are now suggesting that we use 12 characters to keep our things safe, using symbols and numbers and caps.  As we are moving toward a more person-less and paperless society with more and more businesses offering apps for us to order, in fact I used a sandwich ordering app yesterday to show my kids I am hip, and know how to use my phone, we ordered sandwiches online, drove to the store, told the people working we were there to pick up the sandwiches, watched 4 other customers come in and order and pick up their sandwiches, and wonder in amazement how that could be freaklishly fast.  It wasn’t, on top of having to wait we got a wrong sandwich and I now have to remember another user name and password to order a sandwich that was proven I could order there, and pay for it in about a third the time.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 18 cold

As I drove in this morning I was worried what if I get a flat tire, or what the freezing point of rubber is, what if my tires hit a pot hole and just blow out. Then I thought nah it won’t happen, guess what it didn’t. It is weird how our minds sometimes start building up scenarios in our heads then we end up convincing ourselves that that may happen. I knew in the back of my mind that there was no way that this would happen but there was the shadow of doubt that it may. I guess what I am trying to say that even though it is 10 below outside that my mind is still active and being active on a day like today is great. Get up and do something, inside, it is way too cold outside to do anything.  By the way do you warm your car on a cold winter’s day?  I do for about 15 seconds.  Stay warm.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 15 customer service

All this talk nationally about Zulily and how they told a customer to give their wrongly ordered item to someone who needs it is all good and gives me hope for customer service into the future, but we didn’t have to go nationally to hear a story like this.  My friend Kenny’s wife had the same issue happen to her, she accidentally ordered three extra items from Zulily. When she called to return the items, the customer rep said, "No problem, we will credit your account and please give the extra ordered items to someone who could use them or donate." I find this to be outstanding customer service.  I have also had super customer from Amazon, and quite often the customer service at many of the big box stores is great as well.  Now not everyone has great customer service, but I believe in order for companies to grow, great customer service needs to be present.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 14 lottery

Imagine my surprise this morning when I didn’t win the lottery.  I am not much of a lottery player and I thought that the guys that never plays wins, sure- I throw in my two bucks every time that work has a buy, just so I am not left out when everyone else gets to quit.  But yesterday I asked my wife to do something that she had never done in her life, I asked her to pick up a few lottery tickets.  During dinner last night we talked about how our lives would change if we did win.  Funny how the first thing that the majority of the family said we would move.  I love where I live and don’t think I would have moved from the city, I don’t even think I would quit my job.  Any way it was fun to dream for a few hours and it actually influenced my dreams last night.  I didn’t win and neither did you, so off to work.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 13 sportsmanship

Poor sportsmanship was the theme of an email that went out to all WIAA schools last week. April Gehl a student at Hilbert High School had an opinion of her own about the email that said the schools need to step back up in enforcing what the WIAA sees as disrespectful fan chatter.  Aprils response was “Eat shit WIAA” and she was subsequently suspended by her school for 5 games, the same amount of suspension as a player caught drinking or smoking pot.  The email suggested that the typical banter that is commonly heard at games is detrimental to the players of the opposing teams - chatter such as “You can’t do that,” “Fundamentals,” “Air ball,” “There’s a net there,” “We can’t hear you,” “scoreboard,” ‘Warm up the bus’” and “season’s over” during tournament play.  I am all for respect of all players and teams but suspending a player for her right to freedom of speech is, in my opinion, BS.

Daily Dose of BS Jan 12 pet peeve

I am sure I have my faults, and I do things that annoy others, there are days that I feel as though I do some of these things just to do them.  Sometimes though they just happen, like forgetting to close the cupboard after getting a plate, or not hanging up my coat in the closet when I get home, I am sure that my wife can come up with hundreds of things that I do wrong, or that she finds annoying.  None of us are without our faults, not a single one of us.  What is your biggest pet peeve?  I have a couple, when someone leaves the roll without toilet paper and when there is only a little bit of coffee left in the pot, because someone can’t be bothered to make more.  When someone annoys you do you point it out or are you Teflon and don’t let it bug you?  For me it depends on where I am, and who I am with.   

Daily Dose of BS Jan 11 sneezing

God bless you, gesundheit, bless you or don’t acknowledge it.  What do you do when some sneezes?  I have always said either God bless you or just bless you.  It is funny but I think that there is some sort of protocol for saying something after a sneeze.  I think it is weird when someone doesn’t say anything, for example have you ever been in a group of people and someone sneezes, my first inkling is to blurt out the quick blessing, but time has shown me that you must give the person that that person is with ample time to give their blessing, if you don’t then you have committed an improper sneeze etiquette, or a sneeze foul.  And no one wants to have that on their permeant record, now do they.  I guess what I am trying to say is if someone sneezes give the proper amount of time before acknowledging it however you acknowledge it.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 8 credit cards

My folks always used to say those that understand interest make it and those that don’t pay it.  According to polls 71% of us have credit cards.  When I was younger I thought I was rich I got a credit card with a large limit, and I spent it, and spent it, I was maxed out by 21 and it sucked.  I took out a loan paid it off and have been a smart credit user since.  When my bill comes I pay it and at most only carry a little balance.  That brings us to Walter Cavananagh otherwise known as Mr Plastic Fantastic he has 1,497 valid credit cards, with a line of credit at 1.7 million dollars.  I have 3 cards myself one reward card, my business card and one issued by our bank.  In your mind how many cards are to many?

Daily Dose of BS Jan 7 Netflix documentary

I have not watched the Netflix series “Making a Murderer”, well not yet.  It seems as though every person out there has an opinion on the series.  My dad told me when I was a kid a couple of different things about opinions first of all that everybody has got one, and a couple times I was told that my opinion was wrong, that is a story for another day.  Back to this series, the thing about this “documentary” is that it casts doubt yet again on the media and the media that covered the story in the first place.  As with many documentaries the makers have an agenda, and I am guessing that the film maker of this piece also has an agenda that they want to push.  Think about it this way, anyone can go in after the fact and twist things to fit into the framework of what they want.  How many times were you able to explain away something that you did? 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 6 e-cig

I used to be a smoker, I look back at it now on it and wonder why.  I see many young kids picking up the habit and think the same thing, why.  I heard the other day that smokes are going to be even closer to ten bucks a pack real soon. One of the smarter things I have done was to quit.  I have a few friends who still partake in the habit but for the most part they have all quit as well.  I have been seeing the e-cigarettes more and more and in the weirdest places, like while walking through the grocery store and in the movie theater.  I am now hearing that these are causing cancer similar to regular cigarettes.  Why is it ok to smoke these in public but not a regular cigarette?  I understand that these are only water vapor or steam but I don’t want to smell it.  I get offended when I see someone walking through the grocery store puffing away at their vape pen.  You don’t like walking through my sneeze do you?

Daily Dose of BS Jan 5

Too many people have the entitlement mentality, the I deserve it, and the you owe it to me mentality.  How do we break free of that?  We have the affluenza teen, the kid that has had everything handed to him and he doesn’t know right from wrong.  Whatever happened to teaching your kids right from wrong, whatever happened to the stand up and fight for yourself, what happened to take responsibility for yourself?  I am not sure I like the way that the world is going, and I am sure that my kids are looking at me the way I looked at my parents when they said that, but I really do believe that we are growing a bunch of kids with the sense of entitlement, and it doesn’t make me happy.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 4 fight for it

As we settle in to work in the New Year, and think about the up and coming year, get our goals set and our budgets ready.  We think about the things that we want to change and the things that we did pretty well over the past while, it is the time for us to reset our priorities.  I read an article over the weekend that hits on this exactly an article that invites us to look at it in a different way, rather than what do we want for the New Year but to ask ourselves what would we fight for?   This is a whole different way of looking at the same ol same ol.  Maybe a chance for us to reexamine our life and existence.  I know what I want out of life but do I know what I am willing to fight for?  That is question I have been pondering since I read that article.  In 2016 ask yourself what are you willing to fight for?

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.