Daily Dose of BS March 10 disappearance

I didn’t know Thomas Olsen, but was concerned when he went missing.  I think that many were.  Thomas’s body was found in Lake Mead in Nevada.  About one thousand people end up going missing in Vegas a month.   I am sorry to hear that Thomas ended up being found dead but, I am guessing that the family is relieved to know what had happened to him.  Not knowing would be horrible while at the same time knowing would be bad.  In fact, in Wisconsin there are 1,000 missing person cases, according to the National Crime Information Center.  about 700 hundred of those are children and 300 are adults, and having missing people isn’t just confined to the big cities, in La Crosse County there are missing people as well.  Including one of La Cross’s most infamous cases Evelyn Hartley from the 50’s.  Those left behind are often times left wondering and hoping.  

Daily Dose of BS March 9 self driving cars

The concept of self-driving cars is cool.  Futuristic if you will I think that they are a great concept, I however don’t know if I would trust riding in one.  I don’t even like to be the passenger in some people’s cars, and these are people that I know.  About 54% of American drivers feel less safe with the prospect of sharing the road with a self-driving car.  I think about the what if situations and also think about the people intrigued by the prospect of the driving car and then they themselves are not paying attention to the road because they are too busy looking at the driverless car.  I know I for one would be looking at the car and watching it to see how it reacts in situations, what would it do if a deer were to run out in the road, do like most and swerve to avoid it, if that was the case wouldn’t the car then hit another?  What about getting hacked, we have people trying to get into our computers to mess with our lives what if they could really mess with us with our cars?  I am not sure if I am ready for a self-driving car.  Are you? 

Daily Dose of BS March 8 day without woman

Today is International Women’s Day, and it coincides with the National day without a woman.  Organizers are calling for women and their allies to come together for a “one-day demonstration of economic solidarity.”  I will tell you that I am one who loves the women in my life, all of them.  In fact, one of my favorite women in the world my Mom celebrated her birthday yesterday in California with my youngest brother, and another of my favorite women is my wife of almost 27 years.  I could not do what I do if not for these two great, strong women.  I never really got the feeling that women are lesser than a man, never.  All this talk of equal pay for equal jobs, I agree with that as well.  If you are doing the same the same job the pay should be the same.  

Daily Dose of BS March 7 stuff

A few things that have come up as of late.  A new republican health care program, the new American Health Care Act would allow health insurance companies to charge older people five times as much as they charge younger clients, and instead of subsidies, the plan provides tax credits for people making less than $75,000 a year.  Yesterday, President Trump signed a new executive order that bans immigration from six Muslim-majority countries, dropping Iraq, and reinstates a temporary blanket ban on all refugees. The new ban takes effect March 16.  Also all Sunday and yesterday we heard about how over the weekend President Trump made the explosive claim that his predecessor, President Barack Obama, wiretapped his phones during the 2016 campaign.  The FBI is denying this.  If the Obama team did do this do you think that we would ever know?  I don’t even know where to begin.  

Daily Dose of BS March 6 DOT

A new construction season brings talk of new construction on the south side of La Crosse.  I live on the south side of La Crosse and talk of construction on South Avenue brings mixed feelings, on one hand something needs to be done off of 16^th street at South Avenue, trying to get at any time of the day and head south brings up feelings of anger and disappointment, angry because you can’t get out and disappointed that you didn’t take the chance when you had it and also disappointed because people don’t move over to let you in.  Talk is for that stretch of road is slated for construction in 2022 and is expected to cost between 6 and 10 million dollars, my guess is that it will cost much more than that.  Trouble is once you get too many cooks in the kitchen no one can agree on what needs to be done.  And 9 times out of 10 people get mad over the choices made.  You are in luck the Wisconsin DOT will be presenting the latest tomorrow at Central High School at 5. 

Daily Dose of BS March 3 rides

We have come a long way in La Crosse from when I first moved here.  24 years ago seems like forever ago and like yesterday.  We have changed a bunch and not at all we are still a beautiful river community where for the most part are pretty safe.  The police and fire departments have done a great job keeping us safe.  We have the same problems that many in the county have with drugs and petty crimes.  The biggest change in the past few weeks are quite noticeable if you don’t have a car or if you want a safe ride home.  When I first moved to La Crosse I am not sure that we even had a cab company I just googled cabs in La Crosse Wisconsin and came up with 6 and within the past few weeks we got Lyft and I see that now Uber is making La Crosse home.  I have only taken about 20 cab rides in my life and none of them in La Crosse, and have never taken an Uber of a Lyft.  How has your experience been with any of these?  

Daily Dose of BS March 2 best of

As a community we have been hit with a few of these best of this and best of that surveys, the La Crosse County Convention and Visitors Bureau has one the La Crosse Tribune now has one.  I am not a fan of these because only the businesses that they want to have listed are listed in their surveys.  I would like to hear what you think the best of the best are?  For example, I think that the best place to grab a beer is at Snuffy’s and the best bar burger is at the Barrel Inn.  We have many bests and my favorite isn’t necessarily your favorite.  What is your favorite and best of list for the area?  Best grocery store is Festival, and best pizza is South Lanes.  Of course these are mine.  My favorite dentist is Dr Uss.  For breakfast I got three favorites.  Rosie’s, Hungry Peddler and Marge’s.  Who is the best in your opinion and why?

Daily Dose of BS March 1 Trump

Seeing Donald Trump come out and look presidential was a welcome relief, I wasn’t sure if he could do it.  In watching the speech last night, I was surprised and happy to see that the president wasn’t the poppas egotistical man that most of us had seen up to this point.  I enjoyed listening to him, I like most found some to be on par and other parts not so much.  I had to google the meaning of all the white outfits that many of the democratic women were wearing it was for purity in case you were wondering.  I am wondering am I the only person who thinks that it is weird that some in Congress and in the Senate are asking the President for his autograph as he is walking by?  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 28 drinking in Minnesota

Growing up in Minnesota we had weird drinking laws, like you can only buy 3.2 beer at the grocery store and that you had to go to the liquor store to buy booze and any beer that wasn’t labeled 3.2 you also couldn’t buy beer or alcohol on a Sunday.  This is about to change thanks to Winona Senator Jeremy Miller.  I remember meeting family for a family outing a few years back when I got a call from my brother-in-law asking me to pick up some Spotted Cow on my way up to Duluth because they couldn’t get it up there and because it was a Sunday and they couldn’t buy beer there.  I told him to go to Superior to buy his beer then told him I was kidding and brought him his beer.  Do you think that more Minnesotans will be drinking now because of beer and alcohol sales on a Sunday?  I wonder also if opening this up will also open up car sales on a Sunday as well?  I guess that time will tell.  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 27 line in the sand

Have you ever made that line in the sand and said I am not going to cross that line.  I promise myself I will never do..fill in the blank?  I have and I bet that you have as well.  I wonder if it is a sign of the times, of our society or that we are weak or maybe we are making lines in the sand that can’t possibly be kept.  There are some that are hard and fast rules that we should not do, but some do.  Every single day we hear of people who have killed someone or robbed a bank or even embezzled money from you name it work, club, church, school..the list is as long as my arm.  When I was young and would get disciplined by my Dad I remember saying I will never yell at my kids.  Guess what if you have kids sometimes you yell.  Does this make a failure?  No way.  Sometimes we make the “nevers” in our lives unattainable.  How do you set and stay with a goal?

Daily Dose of BS Feb 24 fake news

I know I am going to take some crap for this but do you think that the media sources out there are more about reporting the news or making the news?  We have been hearing lots about fake news and I too sometimes fall for the click bait to read a story about this or the 10 reasons why this that or the other things.  But do you really feel as though the media is out to report fake news?  if you can’t trust the media, who can you trust?  Now, hear me out, I chose a profession where integrity and honesty are key, I chose to work in the media.  I have been given crap from everyone from my Dad who loves me to my friends to people I don’t even know about the integrity of the media, calling us a bunch of liars and news fabricators.  I think that when some people have a real news story about them break that they don’t like or that they don’t get shown in the best light they are calling it fake news.  I agree that some stuff out there is fake but news from trusted sources isn’t. 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 23 nails

I have heard from a family friend in La Crosse that their house has been targeted by some group of people who apparently doesn’t like them.  Our friends house has had nails tossed on their driveway many times over the past 6 months or so.  I saw a picture of the nails that they have cleaned up and they have about enough to shingle a roof.  Not only has nails been tossed on their driveway but also put in the gutter by their house, and wine bottle and a pickle jar were also tossed in their yard.  Yesterday another friend sent me an article of someone putting nails face up on a running trail in North Carolina also on the same trail there have been nails put into tree roots so to hurt a runner.  To me both of these incidents are forms of bullying and at least one leaning towards domestic terrorism.  Here is the definition, acts of domestic terrorism are those which: "(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State; (B) appear to be intended – (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, sounds terroristic to me.  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 22 advice

Yesterday my youngest son bought his first car, he doesn’t even have his permit yet.  While we were driving it around town, we were talking about things and how dangerous driving can be, I went over many of the driving rules, and mentioned as we were about to hit the highway that speed and inattentive driving kill.  We went on to talk about how texting and driving also is a deadly combination.  Our conversation made me think about the things or the words of wisdom that our parents pass on to us.  My Dad always used to say that a moment of laxity can cause an eternity of regret, and that the youth is wasted on the young, use your head for more than just a place for your glasses or hat.  My parents were also big on taking responsibility for what you have done.  What are some of the bits of advice that you have received over the years that you still live by today?  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 21 welcome

When you welcome someone into your home you try to show them the best of the best, you want them to feel welcome.  You greet them at the door you offer them a drink, as well as something to eat.  I wonder if we are doing this to our visitors to La Crosse, you get off on exit 3 to be welcomed by a few fast food places, a mall and some hotels, where is the welcome to our wonderful community sign, our hey this is a great place to visit placard or the welcoming committee letting our guests know that this a wonderful place to live.  We don’t really have this.  City planners are forming a plan that will outline a new vision for the northern entrance to the city of La Crosse, and I for one hope that it is much more welcoming than the look now.  There is talk of walkways, crosswalks and bike trails, as well as adding the pavers and decorative lighting.  I think all well spent money.  I just wish that some of the other river towns would take this idea and run with it for their small communities. 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 20 presidents day

I had to smile when I saw the headline not my president’s day.  So if the president isn’t your president and you work for a company or for the government who gives you the day off are you expected to work then?  That is the first thing that popped into my head when I read that.  Ok would someone please explain to me what is meant by that statement?  I really do not understand it.  The day is not honoring one president but all the people who have served as president.  Pick your favorite one, you have 45 select the one you like or the ones you like and celebrate them, and if you really have a beef with the system, work to change it.  We all have skin in the game many of us voted, many of us are unhappy but on the other hand there are still many who are happy.  And if this isn’t your president’s day and you can’t find one of the 45 to celebrate, maybe you just need to dig further, because I am pretty sure that they have all done something worth celebrating.   

Daily Dose of BS feb 17 paper

I am a loyal reader of the La Crosse Tribune, I have been a newspaper reader for my whole life, my love for the snap of the paper came as a young boy first for the comics, then for the money as a paperboy.  Newspapers have always been a part of my life.  Over the years we have seen changes in the way that people get their news, of course my career choice, the radio, tv, the newspaper and of course the new guy in the room, the internet.  Digital news has cut into the amount of people who enjoy all the “Old School” types of media.  We have all had to change the way that we do things.  We all have - from cut backs, to program and publication changes, we have all had to go with the ebb and flow.  With changes sometimes come costs, and with costs I would assume that a contract in place would be honored, I got a letter from the Tribune saying that effective February 2017 they will be implementing a subscription rate increase, and that this increase may accelerate the end of my current subscription period.  HUH?  I thought it was a paid in full contract. 

Daily Dose of BS feb 16 pop

Our pop machine at work had a 25% increase last week sometime I am not much of a pop drinker but every once in a while I will crack open a pop.  Is it pop or soda?  I grew up in Minnesota and I have always called it pop, when I moved around at the beginning of my career I ran into people that looked at me like I was a back woods hick, I assure you that I am not.  But back to the whole pop vs soda argument, most of the country calls it soda, some of us call it pop and in Georgia I heard that they call it all Coke.  What if you wanted a Mt Dew would you order a Mt Dew Coke?  I am not sure.  Anyway I am not sure how much longer we will be having this argument as the taxes for the cost of pop are going up at many locations and I am guessing that the government will someday step in and tell us no more pop.  What are your thoughts on the whole pop vs soda wars and are you still drinking the stuff?

Daily Dose of BS Feb 15 ash trees

A few years ago we were told that the city of La Crosse was going to be taking down trees in certain neighborhoods, they even closed Losey for a day a couple years ago to do it.  That was then, back when we got a public notice of trees coming down.  Over the past week or so the city has been silently thinning the herd.  They are dropping Ash left and right, in just the past 10 or so days in the 3 blocks of my street I think I counted that the city fell 13 trees.  I talked with one of my neighbors who had 4 trees taken from his boulevard 4 trees.  The city of La Crosse is eradicating the Ash Tree from the fabric of the city.  I am guessing by end of the spring that when we drive down any La Crosse neighborhood we will notice the clear cutting of the Ash trees.  Besides the loss of the trees we will be viewing the exposed stumps of the Ash trees that have been cut down in hopes of eradicating the Emerald Ash Borer.  It saddens me to think that all these trees will soon be gone from our beautiful city, and that our lovely canopy of leaves will for a long time be missing from the city streets.  We at one time had the designation of Tree City USA, what will the new designation be? 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 14 Valentines Day

I choo’choo’ choose you.  Best Simpsons episodes ever.  I used to feel like Ralph when I was a kid as we handed out store bought valentines cards and put conversation hearts into a little place baggie or cellophane cut into squares and synched together with a bit of ribbon. Valentine’s day is today, don’t say I didn’t warn you.  What do you get someone you have been married to for almost 27 years?  Flowers, a card, chocolates or other candies, I know candy conversation hearts, actually to me Valentine’s Day to me it is a made up holiday in order to sell cards and candy.  I know, call me Mr Romantic, 50 shades of blah, I am going to stimulate the local economy and take my wife out for dinner, and maybe a movie, if not it’s hot pockets and Netflix.  By the way what’s good on Netflix these days?

Daily Dose of BS Feb 13 fast life

I saw a couple of posts on Facebook over the weekend about how fast life is and how things can change immediately.  I agree things can change in an instant sometimes for the good other times for bad.  One of my friends had the latter happen this weekend to her and her family.  The apartment building that my friend lived in was ravaged by fire over the weekend, and not only did she and her family lose all of their personal belongings but so did their over 7 neighbors, I couldn’t imagine losing everything in a blink of an eye.  When I was growing up my brother put some paper into the furnace because he had seen flames in there and wanted to see more, it was quickly extinguished and he never did this again.  Over the weekend I thought a lot about this and how fast life can change, I know for one I need to slow down and relearn how to smell the roses.  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 10 scouts

I read an article today that brings up the question of girls joining Boy Scouts.  I am an Eagle Scout and I learned a lot from the Boy Scouts and I honestly think that there should be separated groups of kids at that age just to get away from the pressures of trying to be someone who you are not.  Hear me out, when you are a teenage boy you have lots going on school life, home life, church life, friend life and in your mind dating life someday.  If you put the groups together, you are taking away that chance for a boy to be a boy without distractions around.  And if you introduce girls to Boy Scouts you will soon have to introduce boys to Girls Scouts.  And then you will see distractions there as well.  I have read, in many schools around the country schools have been experimenting with separating the different sexes to see how it works in education.  I say leave it be the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts and let’s open the Selective Service to everyone. 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 9 budget

Governor Scott Walker is known for being a pretty conservative Governor.  His new budget is anything but conservative in fact a few news organizations are calling it a surprisingly liberal budget with a huge boost in funding for schools, sizable tuition cuts for college students and increased tax breaks for the working poor.  Not that I like taxes but I would like to see an increase in gas tax to help to pay the roads, I for one can only bitch so many times about the dang pot holes, these holes are large enough to swallow a car whole and spit out just the axel, but back to the budget.  The proposed state budget includes raises for state workers, the elimination of the prevailing wage and nearly 600 million dollars in tax cuts.  All this while saving a family of four $70 a year in state property tax.  I wonder where this money is coming from?  I am going to ask that question of the Governor at 6:45 this morning. 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 8 game of life

Our lives are really like a game, there is strategy and there is luck.  We all play it sometimes we win and sometimes we lose.  As I was thinking about what to write for my daily dose of BS this morning I kept going back to Sundays big game and how in the first quarter I heard Joe Buck and Troy Aikman talk about no team has ever comeback from a 2 touchdown deficit in the Super Bowl and how Tom Brady ended up pulling out a huge win for the Patriots.  And in November during the election when we kept hearing that there is no way Donald Trump could win, no way.  Here are a couple of examples of where the impossible happened, I guess what I am trying to say is never count anyone out, there is always hope for people and situations.  And in our continual game of life we just keep playing the cards we are dealt and bluffing our ways to victories.  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 7 driving

Every parent’s worst nightmare was realized by Justin McElwain’s parents yesterday as the body of the 22-year-old was pulled up from Swift Creek.  As a parent of four kids hearing that a car went over the embankment last Wednesday morning the first thing I did was to call my son who lives with his buddies to make sure that everything was ok.  I don’t mean to awful-ize here but as a parent you worry, at least I do and I am thinking that this feeling doesn’t go away when your kids get older, my Mom and Dad worry about my brothers and I am sure of it.  Back to the car going down the embankment, I do not know what caused the car to lose control, I do not know what caused the car to end up on the ice, I didn’t know him but I do know that the outcome is sad for all who knew this young man.  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 6 sidewalks

Reaching above freezing yesterday brought my wife and I out for a walk around the neighborhood, we haven’t hit the streets for about a month in a half and I’ll tell you what there are lots of people out there that have not shoveled their sidewalks and don’t even get me started on the corners, there were only 2 or 3 that were cleared enough for us to not have to climb over them and only one that would have allowed a wheelchair to pass.  I thought that the city insisted that the sidewalks get cleared within 24 hours of a snow fall?  Also when the corners aren’t cleaned the water that needs to flow to the sewers get backed up and then causes pooling and eventually more potholes.  And I think that we have enough of those already.  

Daily Dose of BS Feb 3 waffle bowl

This Sunday at the Schmidt house won’t be having wings, pizza or nachos.  We have a family tradition of waffles for the big game.  Waffles are not just a warm breakfast at a hotel.  We started this family tradition when our oldest was young then it just stuck.  We have renamed this coming Sunday Waffle Bowl Sunday because we will waffle over which team to cheer for and which commercial is the best.  For me it is hard to watch the game when I don’t know the players.  I will mostly be watching on Sunday for the commercials and this year I haven’t heard about too many of what is being offered for our viewing pleasure.  Hard to believe that the going rate for a 30 second commercial is over 5 million dollars and that is only for the air time not the production costs and the cost for talent.  Hope your weekend is great and whatever you and your family does during the big game that it is safe and fun.  Have a great Waffle Bowl Sunday and go team go.

Daily Dose of BS Feb 2 Girl Scout Cookies

Back when I was in Scouts I went door to door to sell first coupon books then popcorn.  I was one of the top sales people in my pack then troop, I had a goal.  I really wanted this cool pocket knife and I worked for it.  Knocking on doors and ringing doorbells, it taught a skill, one that to this day I use daily.  Make eye contact and don’t mumble.  Getting in front of people helps to build confidence, and teaches you think on your feet, if not for learning those skills back in the 80’s I am not sure what I would be doing today.  This Saturday the local Girl Scouts are going to be starting their cookie sales, I talked with Sally Egan about the cookies yesterday and found out they even have an app this year to find where you can buy them, I have also heard that the Girl Scouts are selling online, great but don’t expect me to buy any cookies from a website.  I don’t even buy from the sheet that is brought to work and put up with a note asking you to buy.  Want me to buy your cookies or popcorn come and sell me your stuff.  I buy from almost every kid that comes to the door unless my kids are selling the same item.  Having kids build up confidence is not a bad thing. 

Daily Dose of BS Feb 1 Len Bias

Yesterday I commented on the Len Bias law and pointed out the law was used recently in La Crosse to charge a dealer with homicide.  Do you think that the law should be used especially now since we are seeing more and more heroin and other drug overdoses?  Also where should it stop?  Should the law walk all the way to the top?  Should it stop with the farmer or the drug store where the chemicals were bought to make the drug?  Or does it boil down to personal responsibility?  If you take it and you die it is on you?  I am now and have always been a big proponent of personal responsibility but there is a point where someone sold you bad drugs mixed with something else that maybe takes some of that responsibility off the addict?  What are your thoughts?  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 31

There are a lot of things to talk about today from the travel ban to the amount of people who are so tied up in the political hate to the Len Bias law.  I don’t know where to start.  I think I am going to piss about half off by saying Trump won get over it.  You can’t hate that much, can you?  (So you know if Clinton would have won I would be writing the same thing) The election is over the cards are played and there is no reason to lose friends over the already divided landscape of America.  We should all work on trying to build the bridges of our friends, our families and our communities.  There is a political divided in Washington DC but does there need to be a political divide in La Crosse Wisconsin?  I don’t believe so, we can work toward change instead of protesting everything.  On to the Len Bias law, do you think that the drug dealer should be charged with homicide when someone overdoses on the drug sold?  And if so should it go right up the drug ladder to the top with each person charged with homicide?  And if we do this is it like charging Hersey Chocolate for each person who ends up with diabetes or fat? 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 30 great things

When I turned on my laptop this morning the picture was of a beach somewhere and for a moment I was transformed there then my eyes caught the words that were above the login button it said do great things.  Do Great Things, these are words that we should all strive for each and every day, I don’t always achieve this goal, but in the back of my mind it is something that I try to do.  I do try to do the things that put me in the right frame of mind to at least try to do great things.  I heard a quote quite a while ago saying something like this you don’t see successful people leaving the grocery cart outside the cart coral, and that got me thinking, you really don’t see that.  I guess if you start small and focus you truly can do great things.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 27 border

Over the past couple days if you heard the news or looked online to any news sites you most likely have heard that the proposal for paying for a fence between the United States and Mexico could possibly be paid for by a 20% tax on Mexican imports, now I know I am not a mathematician or an economist but when I think of that kind of math, one that taxes things being brought in, my mind automatically goes to I am going to have to foot that bill when I buy things that were imported from Mexico.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 26 tv

I like watching tv maybe even love watching tv.  I am finding that more and more there are moments on some sitcoms that push the limits, and I thought I had some pretty liberal limits.  There is lots on the television that push the limits of what should be available to the mass audience.  Don’t get me wrong I don’t want to censor anything or anybody but do you think that there should be censorship on tv?  There are many situations that are shown in tv that make the younger watcher question the reality of what they are seeing.  I recall watching shows with my kids in the room and having one or more ask to explain the situation or the question that arose often was “Is that person a good guy or bad person?”  The lines most certainly are blurred.  What are your thoughts on today’s tv? 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 25 telemarketing

I don’t know about you but I get phone calls just about everyday on my home phone and my cell phone from automated sales people.  I for one am sick of it.  I am on the no call list and I tell the people to take my name off the list, they don’t.   I thought that the government has put into play fines and other punishments for those that push the limits and call your home phone and your personal cell.  Apparently they are not doing anything about it as I still get calls everyday.  Lately they are telling me that they are about my credit card.   Umm not true it is paid off every month.  I am getting so sick of picking up the phone only to say hello twice and then have a good recorded voice tell me oh I’m sorry my headset slipped, and then go into a prerecorded spiel of bs.  It is getting to the point where I don’t even like to answer my phone anymore.  Stop the madness.  I hate telemarketing.

Daily Dose of BS Jan 24 Trump

Cut the guy some slack.  I said it 8 years ago and I will say it when the next administration takes over, give the guy a break.  You never ever stepped into a new job and were wonderful at it.  NEVER.  And add to it the eyes of the world on your every move.  I expect there to be mistakes, and tests pushing the limits of things, as with every new person in every new position.  Being a person who works in the public eye but not nearly as much as the president I know that there are going to be people who like you, and people who hate you.  I had a boss once that told me that you are not nearly as good as your biggest fan and not as bad as your biggest detractor, you are somewhere in the middle.  Give the man a break for the first few weeks, he is going to make some mistakes, we all do when we start out on a job.  I will however give one suggestion to the new administration, don’t lie to us, we and by we I mean Americans are pretty smart and can take a lot, however, lying isn’t an easily forgiven crime.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 23 swearing at work

I read in the La Crosse Tribune yesterday, an article, that says swearing is just fine in the workplace.  I don’t know about your work place but at mine it is considered unacceptable.  Don’t get me wrong there is swearing that goes on at work, and sometimes it happens on the air, hell sometimes I even slip, but the words that are said on the air are the G or the PG of the swear words.  I have accidently said Schmidt on a shingle when talking about favorite breakfast foods, and one time when I was first in radio I let the granddaddy of all swear words slip off mike and far enough away but still it made an impression to not say that word in the studio.  Words really are important and help people to decide if they want to listen to you.  There are even some studies out there that say it is ok to swear and when you do you are above average intelligence. (as a person who knows my way around the swear word I am not sure I believe this, But)  http://thefreethoughtproject.com/studies-swear-messy-intelligence/  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, we have to remember they are words, and my mom always said that sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me.  What words do you dislike?  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 20 Trump

I have heard he is not my president most of my life, I seem to recall when I started getting politically educated that even back in the 80’s people used to say he’s not my president.  I have to disagree with you, he is our president.  Whomever gets elected and then sworn in as the commander in chief is indeed your president.  You may not agree with much of what that person stands for but that elected person is your president.  With that being said, today marks the swearing in of our 45^th president and you bet there are many protesting, demonstrating and marching in Washington DC and around the country.  But on the other hand there are many cheering, celebrating and rejoicing as Donald Trump gets sworn in.  I am unsure of how things are going to go under a Trump administration but as with any change at the top there will be some shake up and some uncertainty.  I wish for nothing but the best for all in politics, as I do not want our country to fail.  God Bless America. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 19 stamps

I can remember when it cost 14 cents to mail a letter either next door or across the country.  I recall walking to school through a parking lot when that thought hit me.  I have no idea why I remember that exact moment and who knows if it even is a real thought but I can vividly picture thinking it is only 14 cents to mail a letter and I am walking to school.  Like I said I was a weird child.  The reason I bring up the cost of stamps is if you are a saver and want to save some money before the big hike, you better purchase your stamps before the big hike on Sunday.  We are going back up to the 49 cents per stamp that we saw in 2014.   For some reason the price of a stamp went down to 47 cents in April of last year now returning to the 49 cents from before, I still think that the price of travel for our cards and letters is cheap.  If you want to save that 4% you better head to the post office before Sunday and buy your forever stamps.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 18 stolen tires

I have always thought of La Crosse, Wisconsin as a safe place to live, low crime, low murder rate, good people.  Imagine my surprise when on Tuesday I heard from a co-worker that someone stole the four tires and rims right off her car.  I immediately thought that she has to have a cool car with super expensive tires and rims, it has to be the case right.  Wrong, someone stole the 4 tires and rims off a 2003 Toyota Corolla.  Who the hell steals the tires off a car to begin with?  But a Toyota Corolla?   What the?  The car was in her alley behind her house.  If this would have happened to my car my neighbors would have been awaked by me yelling.  This isn’t Chicago, or New York but La Crosse, Wisconsin who the hell steals the tires off a car?  By the way if you are missing a couple of car jacks I know where they are, contact me for that information, better yet call the La Crosse Police, I am sure that they would like to talk with you. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 17 ice skaing on street

A weird thing happened in La Crosse, we had an ice storm like one that I have never seen in my 48 years.  I glanced out the front window about 4 yesterday afternoon and noticed that the street in front of my house was sheer ice.  I mentioned it to my son who asked if he could go out and skate on it, I said no so he went and slid on the ice with his shoes on.  When his brother got home he had a pair of his old skates on and said I’m going skating on the street and his brother then piped up saying me too, they grabbed their skates, I videoed them on my phone uploaded to Facebook and by this morning over a half a million people have seen the video, my kids were pretty pumped last night constantly giving us updates on how many people have seen the video, a friend of mine said it was on the national news.  Crazy.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 16 gps

Over the weekend I wanted to go to a funeral to pay my last respects.  I found the address of this rural church and proceeded to go to google maps to find the driving directions, using the gps on my phone to navigate me to the rural church.  I didn’t make it to the funeral heck I couldn’t even find the church.  I have heard how people have had bad luck with the different maps out there and how gps units have told people to turn down wrong streets, but this is the first time I have experienced it where it had me miles away from my true destination.  Needless to say I missed the wake and the funeral, instead of getting upset about missing these events, we decided to explore some of the small towns we went through.  Not really what was planned for Saturday but wasn’t the worst thing going either.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 13 Buck and Aikman

Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are Fox broadcasting number one broadcast team.  Some Packer fans are not happy with the duo calling the Packer games.  As a Packer fan I say to those fans that are complaining about having Buck and Aikman calling the games to get over it.  I personally like to watch the games when these guys are calling the games, and in fact don’t like when we get stuck with another broadcast duo.  At least when I am watching the Packers on Fox I know what I am going to get, when they move the games to a Sunday, Thursday or Monday night I don’t know who is going to be calling it, and not sure if I will even be able to watch the game since I don’t have cable.  I think that the 24 thousand fans who signed the petition to get Buck and Aikman off the Packers broadcast have it wrong.  If you want to not hear what they have to say, either turn down your tv and listen to the game on the radio or go to the game yourself and see the action.  I say keep Buck and Aikman.  Go Pack Go!!!!

Daily Dose of BS Jan 12 netflix cheating

Infidelity, the cheating spouse, it isn’t what it seems.  It didn’t mean anything.  I really only enjoy it when it is us.  It won’t happen again, I promise.  But the draw is there and the lines have been drawn in the sand.  You are home alone and that urge gets you, you are weak, you can fight her power, you can fight her draw, you can – never mind only one more time, yeah right.  The TV is already on and you have Netflix turned on and you have already started watching the show you and your spouse were watching together.  That draw is real, I feel it on a fairly regular basis, I am home alone often and the tv is on, and sometimes, I can’t help myself I want to only watch one episode, just one she will never know, but guess what she will.  It isn’t worth it, you can watch these shows together.  Speaking of Netflix cheating, what services do you have besides Netflix?  I also have Hulu and Amazon prime, and we just are finishing up Agent X.  What shows are you currently watching? 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 11 presidential

As we are getting ready to turn the page on American history as we say good bye to the first African American President and hello to a president who has had no background in politics except for donating to campaigns and parties to get things done for his businesses.  Are we ready to look back at the last eight years and think about the good and the bad?  I can honestly say that in the Obama presidency that I have had my career worst day and my career worst day.  I have seen the stock market make money and lose money, I have seen people at the top of their game and people at their worst.  There have been times that I wondered what the heck is going on and then how cool is this.  I guess what I am trying to say is that even though one President is getting ready to step aside, a person who if you remember was a pot stirrer and another person who is a pot stirrer getting ready to take over, that we are better off than we were 8 years ago, I worried about the next 4 years, no not at all.  Because we always find a way to persevere, a way to succeed, and always find a way to show the strength of our country.  God bless America. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 10 follow through

What ever happened to follow through?  I bought a Santa beard and hair back in November from the world’s biggest box store.  I looked locally.  Couldn’t find it.  Long story short I got some hair but it was a Mrs. Claus hair set.  What the heck am I supposed to do with that?  I immediately contacted the company to try to get my hair problem taken care of.  Here it is 3 weeks after Christmas and I still have not got closure on this.  I did talk via email to at least 4 customer service people the person before yesterday’s conversation said yes they saw the mistake and yes I will be getting a refund in 5 to 7 days I waited 9 days before I contacted them again, yesterday’s person said to me I need to call the customer service number.  I didn’t have time to do that yesterday, but why have I had to jump through so many hoops for a 42-dollar refund?  At this point it is the principle of the thing.  I just always thought that when you tell someone you are going to do something you follow through with it.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 9 racism

Racism is alive in 2017.  By now we have all seen the video of the 4 black suspects holding a young mentally challenged white man for hours while broadcasting it live on Facebook.  I have heard this act called a hate crime and I agree.  If any group of people pick on someone other than the group doing the picking it is bullying or hate.  I get good natured ribbing, I do it myself in group of friends, heck we sometimes go over the line, but at no time have I ever physically attacked anyone, if I did I would expect to be charged with a crime and if I were saying to them at the same time pointing out why I disliked them and all their differences I would expect to also be charged with a hate crime.  We are in 2017 and  by now you would think that we would like each other or at least get along with each other. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 6 roundabouts

Prior to this morning I was gung ho about the new roundabouts here in Onalaska.  I have been driving thought them effortlessly over the past few months since highway 35 has re-opened, in fact I had conversation with someone from the Wisconsin DOT yesterday about a completely unrelated item and mentioned to him how I thought that the roundabouts were not that big a deal driving though.  Guess what I spoke to soon.  On my drive into work this morning I had to slam on my breaks and hit my horn narrowly avoiding an accident as the guy heading south on highway 35 must have either been in lala land or not paying attention or he had the whole panic what do I do attitude, I know I will just plow through and hope that the smaller vehicle stops to avoid hitting me.  Either way I am guessing it is going to take me a few more weeks before I am comfortable traveling though the roundabouts again. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 5 Alexa

We have been inundated this winter with commercials for the Alexa from Amazon.  I ended up getting one as a gift for Christmas and I’ll tell you what it is pretty cool.  Ask it the question Alexa what is the weather and in her sultry computer voice she says the weather today in Lay Crosse is then she continues with the forecast.  Ask her to tell you a joke and you hear one of the cheesiest jokes you would ever hear, Alexa, do you want to go on a date? I like our relationship the way it is.  I have been having fun with her.  There is a concern now with Alexa always listening and the question is what does she hear?  Alexa is always on and always listening, can she incriminate you?  Also when are they going to roll out the Alexa that can do dishes and laundry?  I already have a house full of people that don’t like doing those chores. 

Daily Dose of BS Jan 4 exit 3

The state of Wisconsin just spent millions of dollars re doing the I 90 bridge over highway 35 and now it will be worked on again with big changes for the Exit 3 traffic design.  More stoplights will be added, some business entrances will be moved, some businesses will be moved, there will also be an eagle viewing area and trails added along the Black River.  The transition will be to give the area a new urban feel.  The dot will be getting rid of the cloverleaf loop, being replaced with diamond configurations and controlled intersections, slowing traffic.  There will be added medians, on Rose and West George streets blocking left turns requiring vehicles to travel new roads to gain entrance to existing businesses.  I drive this twice daily and something needs to be done.  I am shocked that it has taken this long to do so.  My biggest complaint is why did it take a couple of steps to get it done, why not do it when the whole thing was tore up over the past few years instead of finishing one project then making a whole new project.  

Daily Dose of BS Jan 3 resolutions

Did you set up your yearly lie? We are on day 3 of 2017 have you stuck to it so far?  Lots of us start the year ready for failure. How often have you said to yourself this is the year I am going to...it doesn't matter what the ... is since many of us have filled in the blank with some unrealistic goals. Like this year I am going to Start Exercising, Eat Better, Spend More Time with Family & Friends, Quit Smoking, Enjoy Life More, Quit Drinking, Get Out of Debt, Learn Something New, Have a positive frame of mind, Be Real, Think to the future, Smile more often, Respond to all emails in a timely fashion, or do things for me.  I am not buying that in your mind you think you are going to do those things, but lets get real. How often have you made those little promises to yourself?  To make your resolution better obtainable I would make it realistic, plan ahead, reward yourself, talk about it, remember that most people think that if you make a mistake that you've blown it...use your setbacks as a stepping stone or a learning experience.  Don't beat yourself up and understand that you will have set backs...it is not the end of the world to take a step back when your eye is on the end goal...basically quit lying to yourself and set realistic goals and have a plan of attack.  Good luck in your endeavor to become a better person.

Daily Dose of BS Dec 30 end of year

This time of year gives many the chance to reflect and remember.  As we wrap up 2016 and begin our journey of 2017 I just want to hit a few highlights of my 2016, my oldest son and I took a trip to Boston, to celebrate his 21^st birthday, he also graduated from Western Technical College, my middle son is now a senior and the twins started high school.  My favorite memory of my family was trumped every Sunday when we all got together and laughed and loved, topped by a family hike on Christmas day making a snowman.  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, this year brought lots of great interviews including talking to Paul Stanley from my favorite band in the world KISS.  Here is to the memories of 2016 and also to the unpublished pages of 2017, may they be the best ever.  Happy New Year.