Daily Dose of BS Oct 12 Pop

Looks like the government wants to reach deep into our pockets once again this time taking from those who are drinkers of sugary drinks, like sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit punch, sweetened iced tea, and drinks like Kool-Aid and lemonade.  Oh yeah this reach for money of course includes pop, or is it soda, or do you call it Coke?  I grew up in the Twin Cities and I called it pop, now when I ask for a drink it is usually water.  Other people call it soda, and in Georgia they call it Coke.  It is all the same, it is sugary, caffeinated water with carbonation.  Back to the story of the WHO World Health Organization, they are backing a controversial measure to reverse type 2 diabetes, a 20 to 50% soda tax.  I think that they think that an increase in the tax will increase the cost of goods, in turn it will drive the prices up and make people think about buying the pop before they do, in turn making less people buy pop.  I don’t know if it will work, look at the amount of people still smoking with those taxes, and how many of us still drive, look at the gas tax. 

Daily Dose of BS Oct 11 roundabouts

I sometimes feel like I am running around chasing my tail, (in case you are wondering, no I really don’t have a tail) with how busy life is these days do you ever feel like you are running in circles as well?  The government is now adding to that feeling, well even more than they usually do.  More and more communities are getting the run around and the turn around with the roundabout, I go through one now every day on way to work.  I don’t mind when they are in a neighborhood since there are no other cars around when you approach plus you can try for the world record of laps in a quiet roundabout.  I am going to admit this to you, I get anxious when I approach them, what if I do it wrong, it stems from when I first approached one in the Dells, I didn’t know what to do I got off too early and ended up having to go out my way to get back on track.  Personally not a fan of the roundabout, but I am getting better though. 

Daily Dose of BS Oct 10 debate

I didn’t get a chance to watch the Packers game last night.  I was watching the Town Hall style debate.  WOW.  It started off harsh and didn’t let up.  I honestly think that if the first question asked would have been the question that was posed to the candidates at the end of the night the tone would have been set differently.  The final question of the night was what is one thing that you respect about your opponent, Clinton respects Trumps kids and Trump respects Clintons tenacity.   I knew right off the bat that the debate was going to be feisty since they didn’t come out and shake hands, hell they didn’t even look at each other.  But by the end they shook hands, I wonder what was said in that moment and if there was a power play by either for hand dominance?  BTW if that was a Town Hall style debate, it certainly isn’t a town I would like to be a part of.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 7 clowns

I really don’t get the whole clown thing going on across the country.  What?  People are afraid of clowns or is a made up fear since there are weirdos out there dressed up in their creepy macabre clown makeup.  One of my good friends who is a performer of physical comedy and makes his living clowning around.  He wrote a good piece on the current clown bashing starting off saying that “The clown arts are based on the purpose of serving to create joy.  he understands that some don’t like clown entertainment, this is a time when our world could use some extra joy, and that Real clowns are being lumped in with a disturbing group of people, who are sadly perpetuating a sick myth. These terrible people are not clowns.  A simple truth... audiences know a real clown.”  Kenny, I agree.  Be safe out there.  I am not sure why these people are trying to freak people out, maybe just maybe they too are just clowning around.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 6 Obamacare

President Bill Clinton said what a lot of Americans have been thinking for a long time.  Clinton criticized President Barack Obama's signature policy reform Monday calling Obamacare "the craziest thing in the world."  Here’s the deal, a lot of the big insurers are backing out and premiums are going up I have heard over 60% in places. The fix?  Raise the penalty in an effort to FORCE people to buy insurance.  On paper I would think that it would work and would lower the premiums for the masses, but we just aren’t seeing it we are seeing the cost of health care heading even higher.  I feel as though we are lucky living here with two great hospitals and access to some of the best care in the country but at what cost?  And how about the subsidies?  How do they work, or do they?   Has anyone’s health care gone down since this started? 

Daily Dose of BS Oct 5 taxes

I liked the VP candidates better than their running mates.  One of topic that seemed to bring the most arguments was the not paying taxes of Trump.  Excuse me but as a tax paying American, I always try to pay the least amount of taxes I can.  I have regular conversations with the IRS media people and they want each American to pay their fair share of taxes.  I agree with that assessment.  Heck if we all didn’t want to get a benefit of tax breaks, wouldn’t we just pay the max and call it good?  I work hard for my money and would like to have all that I can to use, wouldn’t you?  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 4 internet selling

We are in an interesting time.  Google is introducing hardware to go with their popular search engine, Facebook is looking for a bigger piece of the pie and my third favorite site Craigslist is an amazing beast.  I get how Google and Facebook make money but when it comes to Craigslist, I wonder what the business model is when it comes to making money on that site.  There is no advertising and no charge for listings.  What am I missing?  I am glad to see this business work because it allows us to upcycle and to have it be new to us yet keeps it out of the land fill.  I also have found that people will be willing to pay a bit more for items on craigslist compared to if you were to sell it at a rummage sale.  Plus you can look for the bargains you are looking for without leaving your house, and if you are selling - the best part of it all is I have sold most of the items I have tried to sell and even better is you don’t have to have a rummage sale.  

Daily Dose of BS Oct 3 56th Oktoberfest

Well we did it.  We made it through the 56^th annual Oktoberfest celebration, what did you think?  I enjoyed this years fest, I think even more than previous fests, I did fest all 4 days and I liked it.  It is funny since fest became a shorter celebration, I didn’t find myself at fest any less than other years, in fact I think I headed down even more.  I took part in the Slicing of the Golden Brat, I drove the Mapleleaf Parade on Saturday, it was typical we were number 102 in the parade and supposed to line up by 930 am for a 10am start to the parade, we didn’t even start to move until after noon, which made for a long morning.  At least the weather was awesome.  I hit a few concerts and yesterday I was a judge in OktoBRATfest featuring 7 chef made brats.  I had fun seeing many people that I haven’t seen in quite a while.   My biggest issues with the fest isn’t with fest at all but with the get as drunk as possible mentality of too many.   The drunk and disorderly folks especially around the college area left their garbage strewn all around.  I thought that West Avenue looked like a dump site.  Pick up after yourself.  And remember a community fest isn’t about getting a drunk as possible and wrecking the beauty around you.  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 30 golden brat

Today is slicing of the golden Brat, and many are hitting up different places getting ready for Oktoberfest.  As we roll through town today hitting up whatever prefest, festivities please think before you hop in a car.  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 24 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 phones

Starting Saturday in Wisconsin it will be illegal talk on a hand held mobile device while driving through a work zone.  This new law is part of the effort to reduce distracted driving and make a safer working environment in Wisconsin.  The first ticket will cost you $40 then it jumps up to $100 after that.  According to the Wisconsin DOT holding a phone up to the ear takes precious attention away from the road, that drivers need to stay focused and alert at all times.   In the four years from 2011 to 2015 there were 47 people killed and 3,592 injured in a total of 9,664 crashes in Wisconsin work zones.  The DOT goes on to say that the more we work to eliminate distractions and focus on driving the safer each of us will be.  This also goes for texting and driving.  Remember it can wait.  Be safe and give your undivided attention to the road.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 28 3rd party candidates

I have been seeing and hearing more people talk about the throwing away of your vote, that if you vote for a third party candidate that it was like throwing your vote away.  Huh?  You are telling me how I can vote now.  There were a few long discussions posted on Facebook and a few conversations that I was a part of that seemed to have no end.  I stepped back and just let the them run their course.  Explain to me how if I do my homework, and believe in a candidate that if I vote for them it is like voting for the opposite of who you want to win?  I am not really sure I get your logic?  First of all, you want me to vote, then you want me to vote for your candidate and if I don’t then we can’t be friends?  WHAT?  This is America, right?  Here’s my deal, do your homework, then vote who you want to.  If it is a 3^rd, 4^th or 5^th tier candidate or a first or second.  VOTE.  Guess what your candidate may or may not win, if they don’t accept the will of the people, then work to change it for the next election.  Don’t try to recall the will of the people, guess what elections are just that there are winners and losers.  Be gracious no matter how it ends.  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 27 debate

They were expecting 100 million people to watch the debate last night.  I was one of them, were you?  I think I expected more from Lester Holt.  As the moderator of a debate I would expect better time management and also better control of the floor.  I don’t think I could have done any better, but I wish there was more professionalism.  I did notice right off the bat that both candidates had a look about them, that Trump looked tired and Clinton looked bored and what was it with the snuffing from Mr Trump and the creepy smile from Mrs Clinton?  I asked on Facebook last night who won the debate and I am not sure who did, but I know who did not.  I don’t think that America has won, not at all with these choices.  The two candidates are polarizing and as a county we do not need people to pull us apart, we need someone to bring us together.  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 26 hackers

I own a handful of websites, and host many others through my business.  I hate hackers.  I don’t get what hackers get out of putting malicious programs on someone’s site.  I also don’t know why these hackers are always trying to hack someone’s email?  We heard last week that 500 million yahoo accounts were hacked.  This one hit close to home for me as I have used a yahoo account since I have had email I really think that hackers are making our world a tougher place to live.  Thank goodness I listen to the radio or I wouldn’t have known that yahoo got hacked.  I got no email from them this past week saying that my email may have also been compromised.  We hear of other hacks or compromises in business about every other day.  I am not a fan.  These all compromises all hurt us, especially the attacks on small businesses.  Lots of hackers are breaking into small business websites and emails.  This is costing us all, time, effort and energy.  And what are they getting out of some of the hacks?  I don’t get it.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 23 rain

An umbrella wouldn’t have helped the last few days.  If you were outside in the rain you got wet, if that is all that happened to you, you were lucky.  In the 24 years I have lived here I have never seen rains like these, there have been some big rains and many multiple days of rains but I really don’t recall these types of rains.  And I am not sure if we are just seeing more pictures faster now than we did in the past but everywhere you looked the past couple of days there were pictures of over flooded streets, yards that are now water front property, trees down, mudslides into many different areas from yards, to streets, to the woods to the DeSoto football field.  Not to mention the deadly mudslide that took a house down and closed the roads.  The old nursery rhyme keeps playing in my head, it’s raining its pouring the old man is snoring he bumped his head and went to bed and couldn’t get up in the morning. 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 22 working

Things are moving, the earth, the roads, the economy.  If you have driven anywhere in the La Crosse area lately you will notice construction, be it road, home, business or industry.  I hope that with all the work being done in and around our little piece of heaven – that the work now will add some good paying jobs to the work force in the future.  We have a 3.5 % unemployment rate which is sixth lowest in the state.  But while we have such low unemployment we also have many who can not afford to pay their bills.  My hope with all this construction that we will build some good paying, skilled jobs, that will afford people to do the things that they would want to do with their free times rather than the things that they do because it is all that they can afford. 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 21 phone books

Ever thought about things that you used to use that have gone away?  I am thinking about the phone book. I don’t know about you but I used to look forward to the phone book being delivered.  I would grab it and look through it to see what new information was being offered this year.  I was a weird kid, and sure I am a bit weird now as well, that is ok as I am ok with who I am.  Back to the phone book thing, I would read about the city, the county and the state.  The information was right at my fingertips.  Plus I always checked to see if our listing was right, I would then check on my Grandparents numbers and my friends, I even remember looking for “famous” peoples phone numbers they were never in there.  The world at least my community was right at my fingertips.  I grew up in the Twin Cities so the phone book was lots bigger than the La Crosse phone book.  I remember going to look up the family’s information and finding another person with the same name as my dad who lived on the same block name and almost the same address for example they were on 1235 east Main Street when we were on 1234 west Main Street.  I am sure I wouldn’t find that now…because no one uses the phone book anymore, infact I don’t remember the last time I grabbed one.  Do you?  I like now that any info you need for the world is at your fingertips…on the internet.  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 20 fist bump

Howie Mandel does it, I see political candidates doing in now as well as business owners and sports stars.  I very much dislike the fist bump, and I always get caught with it, meaning I bump back.  I think I am old school when it comes to hellos and meetings I like the good old fashioned hand shake and eye contact, but it has to be a good handshake with a firm grasp, hand not too sweaty.  I had a handshake the other day that I had to wipe off afterward, and I don’t like that.  A while back I was at an event and saw a dad of one of my sons friends and said hi, he turned said hi to the other guy at the table shook his hand gave a few pleasantries to him looked up to me, gave me a fist bump and a nod then moved on.  I have been kicking myself since for allowing this to happen.  After that I have been saying I’m not comfortable with the fist bump.  Is that rude of me to call the fist bump out?    

Daily Dose of BS Sept 19 terrorism

It is 2016 and it is important for us to be vigilant and protect ourselves.  With the terrorism that happened over the weekend we have to go back to the see something say something that was all so important after the past terrorism that was perpetrated against us in the past.  The see something say something is probably something that we shouldn't have ever given up, even in our own neighborhoods.  Tomorrow night I will be hosting a Crime Stoppers Forum at the Weber Center focusing on neighborhoods.  As we look around and see the issues with our world today it makes me wonder are we ever going to find peace, in the world, our country, our own backyards?  What can we do to make our families and our friends safe?  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 16 5 second rule

I think that all of us have heard of the 5 second rule, it was a rule I have been living by for most of my life, from the very first time I heard it as a child at the Burger Chef in Roseville Minnesota when my Grandmothers burger fell on the floor and she actually ate it, to just this past weekend when my family and I were enjoying some family time on the back deck and some of the popcorn that my son was eating fell on the ground he proudly claimed the 5 second rule and picked it up.  New research shows that the 5 second rule isn’t really a thing that bacteria can instantaneously contaminate your food, and with 1 in 6 people in America getting sick due to food borne illnesses each and every year, I don’t think that it is worth it.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 15 household income

The average household income in La Crosse County rose about 7 grand in the past year to just over 73 thousand dollars.  This is the largest 1 year gain in 5 years.  While the average household income rose so did the county’s overall poverty rate from 12.5 percent to 15.2 percent.  Nationwide that number dropped about 1 percent.   While the county of La Crosse had quite a jump in average household income, there is still about 15 percent of our neighbors living in poverty making only $11,770 per individual or $24,257 for a family of four.  Didn’t I hear a few weeks ago that it takes about a quarter of a million dollars to raise a child from birth to 18, how is that even possible with a person living in poverty?   And what about the saying that it takes money to make money, if 15% of our neighbors are in poverty, how are they making money?  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 14 phones

It isn’t the first time that I have heard this, not even the second time.  How often have you heard about a business not wanting your money?  I have been a customer with a cell phone company for 12 years now.  12 years of loyalty to the same company, at the time a when the industry was new and everyone was working to become the go to phone company.  I had a good contract, one that I really didn’t want to let go but then the phones became smart, smarter than us, and the deals changed.  You needed to add on the services that included more than just phone, and phone calls.  Now mind you 12 years ago my wife and kids didn’t have phones, there was just a single phone, with no texting and no data.  Now with 6 people at my house with cell phones and 6 people with data and texting, the bill has definitely inflated.  Inflated to the point where I want to shop my phone contract out to other businesses, to see what kind of a deal I can get or if I am getting the best service I can.  I have asked for information from a company more than twice, and that is unacceptable.  Who have you had good service and a fair price within the cell phone market?   

Daily Dose of BS Sept 13 fests

Soon it will begin, day after tomorrow in fact, with La Crescents Applefest, then the parades hit the area and hit us hard.  This coming Sunday, is the King Apple Parade, and again the La Crosse Radio group will get the chance along with Bauer’s Market to hand out thousands of apples, to parade goers that line the streets of La Crescent.  Up next lighting up the vehicles on September 29^th for the Torchlight Parade on the North Side of La Crosse kicking off Oktoberfest 2016.  The Edelweiss Parade is Friday morning leading to the tapping of the Golden Keg, then the gran-daddy of all parades begins on Saturday Morning with the Mapleleaf Parade.  I always think that the Rumor of almost 250,000 people line the streets of La Crosse for the Mapleleaf, is a little far-fetched.  Don’t forget about the events that speckle in fun for Oktoberbest, like the Slicing of the Golden Brat, at American Legion Post 52, an 8-foot brat that made GMA last year.  I like our celebrations of fall for the area with Applefest and Oktoberfest, what are your favorite memories of fest?  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 12 Hillary

Health is not something to mess with.  Yesterday at the 9/11 memorial in New York City we saw Hillary Clinton swagger and then many step to her rescue.  Then the security team encircled her and didn’t allow her to be photographed.  I get that health is important.  The shared diagnosis of her swagger was that of pneumonia, something that is curable and something that may take on some of the same symptoms of her ordeal, I too have pneumonia and it isn’t something to laugh about in fact when I do laugh I start coughing.  I also have a cough similar to Hillary’s cough and the doctors have been working on fighting that for me.  I haven’t lost my footing or missed any work over it, but it does take a toll on you physically.  Here’s hoping for you to have a healthy day.

Daily Dose of BS Sept 9 September 11th

This weekend will be a weekend filled with emotions from the Steppin Out in Pink walk tomorrow where 6500 people walk for breast cancer, to the Freedom walk Sunday and all the emotions with that.  Fifteen years ago this Sunday is a day that most in our generation will remember like the landing on the moon of the generation before, and the death of President Kennedy of the generation before that.  The patriotism that America felt, the American Pride that you had for the days, weeks and months after the tragic 9/11 attack at the World Trade Center.  I was working on the radio here in LaCrosse when a listener called and said a plane crashed into the World Trade Center and then a few minutes later another caller and then even more callers called with the news.  We reported the news and the feelings of the people who were living it, experiencing it, seeing it.  It was weird to have all air traffic cease after that day and when it finally resumed, remember how weird it felt and sounded?  I hope and pray that we never have to relive another 9/11 type attack on America.  God Bless America. 

Daily Dose of BS Sept 8 suicide

A handful of disability rights groups in the state of Wisconsin are working to stop a 14-year-old Wisconsin girl from killing yourself. The 14-year-old girl Jerika Bolen is in terrible awful pain every single day; the pain is so intense that on the pain scale of 1 to 10 she is at least 7 even on her best days.  Jerika, who has an incurable illness said that she would attend high school and her prom this year then, and enjoy a final summer with her mother, and when that is done she would then kill herself.  A disability rights activists are asking Child Protection agencies to stop the teen from ending her life.  When somebody is in constant pain should they have the right to end their own life? I know that it goes against everything that many believe in but doesn't pain and suffering have some sort of trump card over committing suicide?  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 7 Jacob Wetterling

I don’t recall the date but I do remember the fall of 1989, I was dating my wife and we were planning our wedding, I had left a radio job in Mason City, Iowa to be closer to Marcia.  In the fall of 1989 I was working for a group home that my friends’ family owned, I had learned how to play cribbage and life was carefree.  I don’t remember the exact moment that I had heard that Jacob Wetterling had been abducted but I recall the images of Jacob being shown on the news, in the paper and all over the place.  The abduction happened within 60 miles from where I lived.  I recall the feeling of loss and truly feeling like I couldn’t do anything.  I have often thought of what happened to Jacob, I have interviewed his mother Patty a few times in my radio career and over the years had unfortunately forgotten about him, that is until this week.  The thoughts came flooding back with the recent discovery of his remains, the feelings of these poor parents and the thoughts of I hope that monster who did this burns in HELL.  

Daily Dose of BS Sept 6 trust

I took a break from reality over the past few days, spent 5 days and 4 nights at the family land, it is pretty rustic compared to city living, by rustic I mean no running water and no cable.  There is no shortage of things do there as I have better cell phone service there than I do in the city.  Which brings me to my break, I stepped away from Facebook for a few days and guess what it didn’t kill me, I didn’t go crazy and as a matter of fact I feel a little bit smarter for doing so.  When I turned my computer on this morning I had 87 notifications and a handful of messages to return and a few friend requests, all in all it was a good break.  On my way to the cabin I stopped in New Albin, Iowa at the Valley Ag to pick up a few things for my non-existent garden and wasn’t sure if I had enough cash to pay for all I needed, the guy behind the counter said that is ok, I can bill you.  HUH?  You don’t know me, I said, his response floored me, he said you look honest, I know you’ll pay.  What ever happened to this kind of trust and service?  BTW I did have enough cash to cover it.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 31 internet

The other day at work we lost our internet, It is amazing how much we use internet technology in such an old school job.  The national programming on our talk radio station comes over the internet, all five of our radio stations get special programming and commercials sent over the internet.  News, sports, weather and more - all internet.  So when our internet goes down here there are issues, I also believe that some of our old school corded phones are internet based also. Its kinda scary that when internet is down our show prep goes down also, plus when the internet goes down we can’t check emails, or go on facebook.  Plus how are we supposed to watch cat videos?  On a side note,  I am going to take my yearly break from the internet, well Facebook over the weekend, wish me luck, going to attempt a good 4 day break.

Daily Dose of BS Aug 30 National Anthem

Does Colin Kaepernick have the right to sit out during the National Anthem absolutely he does. Is it going to help him win friends and influence people? Absolutely not is it going to help him to further his stance on whatever it is that he is fighting for absolutely not. Doesn't make him look like a baby yet does Kaepernick sitting down during the National Anthem put him in the bad graces of most around the country? My guess is absolutely it does. I get you have the right to protest what you want, but isn't there a time and a place for that rather than at your job? The 49ers said “The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pregame ceremony. It is an opportunity to honor our country and reflect on the great liberties we are afforded as its citizens. In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose to participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem.” The NFL went more to the point: “Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the National Anthem.”

Daily Dose of BS Aug 29 smoking

Today it has been 9 years since I was a regular smoker.  The reason I say since I was a regular smoker, because I had one cigarette about 2 years ago, and it reminded me why I quit, I wish I had all that money back and the health that went with me starting smoking.  I had been a smoker on and off from the time I was in high school till 9 years ago, I quit for 4 and 5 years in there at different times but 9 years ago I decided after my oldest son caught me smoking to give it up for a year.  I gave it to myself for my birthday, it was a one-year contract that I had with myself.  I then continued to give myself that gift.  That time I quit was easy, as I was doing it for my kids and for me.  Don’t get me wrong there were times when I really wanted to light up, especially when faced with stress, but each day it got a bit easier and the cravings less.   I am happy to say that I am giving myself the gift of non-smoking again this year.  If you are a smoker and you want to quit, I know you can do it, if you really want to. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 25 monopoly

Here's a good case against monopolies.  Look at the EpiPen.  The EpiPen cost has risen 600% in the last 9 years.  There seems to be so many people out there that have allergies these days, and so many people out there that are on the verge of death once they come in contact with their life threatening allergy.  And one of the only things between living and dying is the EpiPen.  Really Mylan officials you are you are going to raise your wages on the backs of those in need?  This doesn’t seem like the right thing to do.   I'm kind of sick of the entire Pharmaceutical industry as a whole, this isn’t the first time that we have heard of big pharm raising prices once they have the consumer where they want them.  I get that there is millions in research and trials but, come on. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 24 homework

I have always hated homework, disliked the fact that we had to do work outside of our school day, and as a parent, I really don’t like it because it shows me what I really don’t know.  I had problems helping my kids with math after the 7^th grade and now my youngest ones start high school in a week.  With school starting and I am assuming that kids today like homework about as much as I did when I was a kid, it was nice to see a viral post yesterday about a teacher who doesn’t believe in homework.  The note begins “After much research this summer, I am trying something new,” then goes on to say “Homework will only consist of work that your student did not finish during the school day. There will be no formally assigned homework this year.”  I would love to have had this teacher.  What are your thoughts on homework?  Personally, I think that the kids get too much when your kids bring home more than 90 minutes a day, that is too much. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 23 lochte

I think if you make a mistake and someone points it out you should fess up.  If Ryan Lochte and his fellow teammates would have just said yes, we were dumb and yes we got drunk and yes we wrecked a bathroom.  I am sorry, I am made a mistake and it will never happen again, I believe that he would have looked like a hero to some and this would have been over for him.  But since he went on and lied about his stupidness that this is going to be in the news for a while longer.  I read this morning that he has lost Speedo and 3 other endorsement deals because of the back lash of his actions.  I have also heard that because of this he stands to lose 11 million dollars.  That is a big loss for a night of stupid.  On top of it all he is in his 30’s and on the tail end of his swimming career so redemption is probably not in the cards.  I hope that with this act of stupidity and his lying to try to cover will at least teach us that you can’t lie your way out of a lie. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 22 crime

Yet another reason I don’t want to be a cop, oh let me count the ways.  My wife woke me up this morning at 2:10, with a nudge and the words there is someone in our house.  It took me a second to respond, after the initial shock of what was said, glasses went on, and heart started racing and I was up and out of bed.  I heard a girl yelling and saw flash lights flailing, my first thought is wtf, then I got to call 911.  I then noticed realized that it was a scuffle outside in my yard, a woman was yelling at police officers in my yard at 2:10 am.  I saw at least 3 cops, in the yard, and another one or two drive by, when the suspect was finally contained I asked one of the officers what went down and why my yard, the as because she took off and we had to pursue her.  I thanked them for doing what they do and tried to go back to sleep for two hours, just try going back to sleep after something like that happened in your yard.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 19 hacks

We were in a meeting the other day talking about using Facebook live, and incorporating it into our radio shows.  Heidi said if you are looking for a way to hold your phone use a coffee mug and it will hold your phone in a perfect angle for going live on Facebook.  I liked that idea, it made me think of other life hacks that are floating around.  I have just seen a few online that work well for this time of the year like turning your steering wheel 180 degrees to keep you from burning your hands when you start driving or using a Ziploc bag for keeping your phone dry on rainy days.  I have also rubbed my house key on a candle to help to lubricate the lock, and that works great.  What life hacks have you tried and had work? 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 18 politics

I think the younger generation hates when us Gen X’er of the Baby Boomers talk about when we were kids, but here is something that I think will straighten up all that is wrong politically in our county.  This is so simple and something that anyone over the age of 40 has heard and heard more than once.  Are you ready for some earth shattering, ear blowing words of advice from days gone by?  Here it is, keep your political opinions to yourself, opinions are like bellybuttons, everybody’s got one.  Back when I was a kid people never talked about religion or politics because it would ruin the family or a friendship.  I think that if we go back to that way of thinking that we would be a better country and not have all this fighting amongst families and friends. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 17 lying

Every morning I get up shower, get ready for work and head to the computer to look at Facebook and then to check the news.  This morning I saw an article that seemed farfetched in fact seemed down right unbelievable, but it had an ABCNews.com web address.  I clicked on it, and it seemed legit.  I then searched a few other media sources and then googled the story, it seems as though I was fooled.  The story was fake.  I then relooked at the story and the domain name of where it came from and it did say abcnews.com.co notice the extra .co on the link.  Why would someone blatantly lie and tell falsehoods.  I don’t care if it is in jest or not, people read just what they want with these stories then pass them on as truth.  I bet that half the stuff that we think is true is not.

Daily Dose of BS Aug 16 libraries

Just over two years ago over 200 people packed the South Side Library to show our support for keeping the library open.  Today the library is in the news again, this time as the topic of merger.  I kind of wondered why there were two library systems so close to each other when I moved here 24 years ago.  Mayor Tim Kabat is suggesting a merger of city and county libraries.  The story claims that the three branches of the library will remain open, I do hope that if this goes through that that remains to be true and that we continue to have the neighborhood libraries.  I know that the south side one gets used as a meeting place, and a safe place for this neighborhood kids, oh yea and a place to get books.

Daily Dose of BS Aug 15 death

Tell me something.  How is violent protesting going to solve anything?  In case you haven’t heard over the weekend in Milwaukee there was another police shooting, and as we have grown accustom to more violence in the wake of that shooting.  According to the Washington Post website Fatal Force there have been 587 police shooting so far this year.  So far this year 38 police officers have been killed in the line of duty.  There have been 10457 homicides, and 15564 drug abuse deaths so far this year.  Why aren’t people protesting this number there have been 909 domestic violence deaths so far in 2016.  Here is an idea, if you have contact with the police, listen to what they say, and don’t run or act like you have a gun.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 12 rides

Three of my 4 kids like to go on rides, the other not so much.  I remember about 10 years ago we went to Navy Pier in Chicago and took the kids to the Ferris Wheel, I was bound and determined to get my son onto the ride, he went but he wasn’t happy.  I look back on that day and cringe a bit, I was trying to force him to be not afraid of something that he was scared of, and at the same time annoying all the others around us.  I fast forward to just this week and perhaps he was right to be afraid of the rides, 4 amusement park ride issues in 5 days including a decapitation.  Plus, if I remember correctly a couple of years ago at a park we visited a park here in Wisconsin there was an issue with a ride within a few days.  Are you a fan of amusement parks, or rides in general?  I like the roller coaster and wild rails, also a fan of the rides that move your stomach from here to here.  How about you? 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 11 credit cards

I have the chip on a couple of my credit cards, it really doesn’t bug me that I have to put it in the hole and wait for the card reader to read the chip, I bet there have been a few times that people have left that card in the machine and walked away.  Most of my purchases are done with a credit card, as I don’t carry cash and I haven’t written a check in over a year.  When you purchase things are you more likely to pay with cash, check or credit?  I find if I have cash in my pocket it burns a hole in my pocket but if I have to take out that card for some reason it makes me think.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 10 words

The word pixelated bugs me so do made up words like amazballs, and redonkadonk, generally I dislike made up words.  There used to be a commercial that said people judge you by the words you use, they really do.  There is no avoiding it, but there is changing it.  A while back I was hanging with some friends and found out that a couple of my friends hate a few words from the English language.  I would have thought that these words were going to be reminiscent of the old George Carlin routine you know the seven words you can't say on TV, but none of the words that they had issue with include a single bad word.  In fact, one that is a marketing tool for Betty Crocker, and this word, the word moist, is one of the least favorite words out there, and the other word these friends of mine had an issue with was the word panties, and they weren’t even brought up together.  I wonder if they were compounded if they would have more of a revolting reaction?  When it comes to words, I don’t care for slang words for any group of people, I am not a fan of labels that people place on people but they are words, and I always remember my mom telling me that sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me.  What words do you dislike?  

Daily Dose of BS August 9 neighbors

They say that 12 % of people hate their neighbors, that a third have never met their neighbors and that half don’t know their neighbors’ names.  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 Aug 8 road construction

We have all become accustomed to the orange barrels littered throughout our fair community.  Starting on Wednesday there will be even more.  But for the ones starting on Wednesday it is about time.  The road in between La Crosse Street and Monitor Street that runs through the marsh otherwise known as Lang Drive will be resurfaced with the outside two lanes completely removed and redone and the inside lanes patched then resurfaced.  The project is expected to take only about 2 months.  I for one am happy to see this project getting done and can say it is about time.  My car has been bouncing down that road for about a year now.  Expect overnight closures, and single lanes during the day.  I think the memories of 2016 will be the summer of road construction.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 4 republican party

I think we are seeing the eroding of the republican party.  There is fighting and dissension among the top players, the state top republicans are not even going to see their presidential candidate when he visits the state.  To me that spells trouble in paradise.  I heard a story this morning saying that there are rumblings that Donald Trump may quit the race.  If that happens then what?  I am fed up with this year’s political malarkey and I don’t know about you I am looking forward to November 9^th so that way the election and this cycle of beat down will go away only to have it start again for another cycle in 4 years.  What happened to the government of for the people by the people?  The people running our country are not like any of the people I know.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 3 birds

The city of La Crosse is discussing what to do with the feral pigeons, I suggest that we allow the feral cats do away with them.  In my south side La Crosse neighborhood not only do we have feral pigeons, but we have outdoor cats, tons on rabbits, one neighbor caught a possum, this morning I saw a raccoon, and there were reports earlier about a black bear roaming a few blocks away.  Don’t forget about the mice and other animals that within the border of the city.  I failed to mention the bird problem a few weeks ago when we made national news, and the talk show circuit with the forced sterilization program putting contraceptives in the food of the pigeons, but I feel that lots of the reason that these birds are taking over the air space over the city is that people keep feeding them and also we give them so many moving targets. 

Daily Dose of BS Aug 2 technology will be the death of us

I am not too often a doom and gloom person, but I was thinking that our technology is going to someday be the death of us.  I have written about texting and driving and pokemoning and driving and generally just not paying attention but I haven’t talked about some of the other dangers of technology.  For example, just this morning there is a story about a person in Australia who had their cell phone battery blow up and cause 3^rd degree burns on their body.  My brother had his cell phone battery expand to the point that the glass shattered in his pocket.  These are just a couple of the things that have happened in just the past few days.  I really think that our technology will be the death of us maybe not all but some.  

Daily Dose of BS Aug 1 gas tax

I have an idea, I think a pretty good idea, we hear of people bitchen about the roads all the time and we are also paying historically low gas prices, what if we have a gas tax that is rolled out that kicks in when the price per gallon of gas hits a certain mark.  As I have mentioned on my show in the past that I feel a fair price to pay for gas is $2.50 per gallon, so if that was the agreed upon price then the tax would kick in when the prices fall lower than $2.50 per gallon, that money in turn will pay for our roads and once all the roads are fixed which would be never we could take that tax off the gas.  I know it is a crazy idea, but it would help us to fix our roads without having it be a huge burden.  And those that use the roads the most would be helping to pay the most by paying more fuel tax.  What do you think about this idea? 

Daily Dose of BS July 29 garbage

Parents are our first teachers, for example my mom would always say waste not want not.  I have been a believer of this for most my life, but I think that we waste too much stuff as Americans.  Look at anyone’s pile on garbage day.  We throw away everything.  Wednesday was my garbage day, and driving though the alleys around my house it would look like the economy is doing pretty well, boxes for new tvs, a couch, a few chairs and a kitchen table.  It often bugs me at what gets thrown away as there are many people in need that could use much of what is tossed.  I know when the big push for everyone to start using the flat screen tvs that many perfectly good tvs were placed out in the alleys and boulevards.  It really bugs me when bikes get thrown away and the scrappers grab them, I could name a few kids right now that could use a bike.  And when it comes to food we throw away tons, and my family is probably worse, we throw away lots of food each week.  What can be done about this problem?

Daily Dose of BS July 28 age of consent

In the land of make believe who is at fault?  Are young girls who at the age of 12 committed murder really going to be tried as adults?  I have serious questions about this, why are girls who are now 14 going to be charged as adults.  I have two 14 year olds at home and I can tell you even though they are mature that they are no way capable of being adults, they are still kids, sure they know right from wrong but I am not sure if they see the big picture, we all know adults who don’t quite see the big picture.  I think that once we charge these two girls as adults we open up a slippery slope that who knows where it will stop, will we charge 10 year olds or 8 year olds?  When do we start charging kids as adults?  Should we then move the age of consent to that age?