Daily Dose of BS Dec 12 right to work states

I heard this morning on the way to work that Michigan is now a right to work state.  I have never been in a union so I don’t get it.  I am not too sure I like someone telling me how to vote or where my money is spent.  The definition from the National Right to work website is A Right to Work law secures the right of employees to decide for themselves whether or not to join or financially support a union. However, employees who work in the railway or airline industries are not protected by a Right to Work law.  To me this makes since.  If you want to support it do so if not, why should you have to?  I guess it falls into my basic beliefs, like if you are don’t like someone don’t hang out with them, if you don’t like your job quit, if an apple is bruised or a grape is squishy, or the toast is burnt don’t eat it grab something else, oh yea and life is too short to drink crappy beer.

Daily Dose of BS Dec 11 Rotary Lights

While walking through the Rotary Lights last night I was taking in the beauty of the season, the freshly fallen snow the Santa Claus, the football player, the dragon, the sounds and the 2.6 million lights.  I read the La Crosse Tribunes article on Sunday that said in its title “Religious display? City says Rotary Lights do not cross line separating church and state” I agree, I think that this is a nice display of many service groups getting together to light up riverside park.  With a mission of feeding the hungry, and collecting thousands of canned goods and thousands of dollars every year, how can this be taken as anything other than the beauty that it is.  According to the Tribunes article Hank Zumach an outspoken opponent of organized religion says this is no longer a holiday display it obviously is all about Jesus his problem: The display is on public property.   (to read the trib article http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/religious-display-city-says-rotary-lights-do-not-cross-line/article_aacc55a6-41c1-11e2-9577-0019bb2963f4.html) The Rotary Lights group rents the park, pays for the electricity and is an inspiration to most that see it.  Yesterday we went because my 14 year old wanted to go and this isn’t the first time the kids have asked to see the lights, also whenever we have guests in town this time of year we make a trip to the lights, for those who think it is a religious display, I disagree, there are some religious items there but there are many more non-religious displays there, and I think it is beautiful, and a great asset to the community because of the smiles it brings. 

Bad toys

Advocacy group ‘World Against Toys Causing Harm’ (WATCH) has just published its 40th annual list of toys that could be dangerous to kids. This year’s warnings include …
✗ ‘Magnetic Fishing Game’ – A yummy-looking metal lure on a fishing line intended for children just 16-months-old … what could possibly go wrong?
✗ ‘Bongo Ball’ – Children as young as 3-years-old are encouraged to climb inside this colorful inflatable ball. No mention of how they’re supposed to breathe.
✗ ‘Dart Zone Quick Fire 12 Dart Gun’ – It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye.
✗ ‘Spinner Shark 4-Wheel Kneeboard’ – The product’s own instructions warn: “Kneeboard riding can be a hazardous activity.”
✗ ‘Explore & Learn Helicopter’ – Said to reward ‘baby’s curiosity’ … with a cord measuring approximately 24-inches-long.
✗ ‘N-Force Vendetta Double Sword’ – A 4-and-a-half foot long weapon that comes with the warning: “Do not poke or swing at people or animals.” Gee, can’t imagine kids ever doing that.
✗ ‘Water Balloon Launcher’ – It’s actually marketed as having the capability to shoot water balloons at speeds of up to … 75 mph.
✗ ‘Power Rangers Super Samurai Shogun Helmet’ – This headgear includes an attachable ‘crown’ with pointed, rigid plastic tips as long as 9 inches.
✗ ‘The Avengers Gamma Green Smash Fists’ – Oversized fists to enable 3-year-olds to ‘smash everything that gets in the way!’. Are cute little brass knuckles also being developed?
✗ ‘Playful Xylophone’ – Tots as young as 12-months-old are encouraged to use an unattached slender, 5-inch long wooden dowel as a drumstick. No one would try to eat that, right?
NET: http://toysafety.org/worstToyList_index.shtml
– ToySafety.org

Daily Dose of BS Dec 10 first snowfall

How soon we forget.  How soon we forget, I of course am talking about driving in the snow, yesterday while out I noticed that people do not remember how to drive in the snow.  I rode with my son to see how he did and how his truck handled in the snow, btw he did well his truck did not.  We will have to get some weight for the back of the truck.  But while driving down Mormon Coulee people do not remember how to drive, one young driver sped by us like we were racing at the La Crosse Fairground Speedway, my 17 year old son said I bet that person causes an accident.  I am glad that he is noticing that a car can be dangerous.  While driving into work today and every day, remember to be careful, not take chances and by all means quit texting.  With the snow came some other events like shoveling and salting, and if you wanted to be young again snowball fights, forts and snowmen, my kids made a huge snowman last night it was over 7 feet tall and took snow from all over the yard, they rolled from the back yard to build in the front, the snowman was huge with arms, and a face, the reason I say was huge, is that between 815 last night and 445 this morning someone knocked over and smashed the head of the snowman, that was mean Mr Grinch.  

Cyberstalking to the nth degree

I am deeply disturbed by this story.  I can't believe that this is going on.  Cyber and phone stalking

Daily Dose of BS Dec 7 What the Fa-riday

It’s a what the Fa-riday I walked out the door this morning without my breakfast, I remembered that I forgot it about 2 blocks from home and decided not to go back home to get it.  Learned last night from a friend of mine that people are milking the system, I know big shock right, but was told that some people he works with have kids with their significant other but are not married, because they are not married the girlfriend and the child are on badgercare, and food stamps, the guy gets hit with child support but it doesn’t matter as he and his girlfriend are living together like a married couple.  I am not super sure on all the details but to me it seems as though the system is getting milked by this.  I just heard a news story about who you need to tip and how much.  Ok when people are doing their jobs do you need to tip?  I do understand when you go out for dinner and someone is bringing you food and making sure that everything is ok, albeit they always come by and ask how things are when your mouth is full but at least they are checking on you.  Since when do other types of business need to get tipped for doing their job?  Do we tip the weather guy for telling us it is going to be sunny, the dj for playing the song you want, the gas station attendant because the price of gas dropped?  Do you tip the bus driver for getting you to your destination?  Let’s stop the madness. 

Daily Dose of BS Dec 6 teaching

I am friends on facebook with lots of people I went to high school with and at least one of my high school teachers, I’m not sure if they remember or not that I was not a great student, or remember that I was not one who loved school too much, in fact I hated english and social studies and I now talk for a living.  I am guessing that not many students loved school, my oldest is a senior this year and senioritis has hit hard.  The reason I bring this up is that I would have never thought that teaching would be something that I would like, besides being a dad that is, but anyone who is a parent is a teacher rather you like it or not.  A friend of mine owns a radio school in La Crosse and a few years ago he asked me to fill in when he was going to be gone a day here and a day there.  I never thought I would like it but I love teaching, since then I have had opportunities to teach more than just radio also, I have got to share some knowledge that I have picked up about improv as well.  I guess it goes to show if you have a passion for something, you can help others to understand it.  I do not think I would be able to do it every day, but teaching a few days a month has been a great outlet, if you are a teacher, thank you for spreading your gift.