Another great use of stimulus dollars
Your stimulus tax dollars at work…you know, the money that was supposed to give a struggling economy a shot in the arm, create jobs, and get people back to work.
As the Wall Street Journal reports:
“Most of the stimulus cash going to states is designated for particular needs, such as Medicaid or schools, but about $8.8 billion distributed through the Government Services Fund is for governors to use as they see fit. Many states have added the bulk of this money to education or police budgets and, in a few cases, initiatives such as tax relief for senior citizens or incentives for the film industry.”
And so, in
You can’t make this stuff up.
Previvors: Courageous, heroic women
OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
The following is my blog of September 16, 2007, “Previvors.”
Most people are afraid to take risks.
There is a group of incredible women, however, that bravely take what could be considered one of the biggest risks of all.
They’re called, “previvors,” who exhibit the utmost courage in making excruciatingly difficult decisions about how to fight and conquer breast cancer.
The New York Times just ran an informative and compelling story about one woman’s hard struggle to make the right decision.
Meet Deborah Lindner and walk with her as she attempts to make the most important decision of her life.
After you read the article, watch this emotional video.
Franklin alderman warns about patio doors
Franklin Alderman Kristin Wilhelm warns about break-ins. Here’s her e- newsletter I received this morning:
Dear
Life after breast cancer
OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
“Cancer taught me to slow down.”
“Cancer gave me the guts to be myself.”
“Breast cancer showed me my purpose.”
“Don't call me a survivor.”
“Cancer is a middle, not an end.”
The Ladies Home Journal offers accounts from “five women who've been there (who) share the unexpected ways that cancer has changed them -- body, mind, and soul.”
Here’s an excerpt from one of the women, Shelley Lewis:
“I realize that the term ‘survivor’ is meant to help cancer patients stay strong and optimistic, and that's important. It's also preferable to ‘victim.’ So go ahead and call yourself a survivor; I'll understand. But I won't be joining you. My concern about making this the standard term for every woman with breast cancer is that it conveys a false sense that everything's going to be okay.
If only! This year about 40,000 women in the
Read the entire LHJ article.
"Let them (newspapers) die and get out of the way"
Deeply concerned about the fate of the struggling newspaper industry, President Obama is willing to consider legislation that could eventually result in a bailout. Last month, I blogged the following:
“How comfy, cozy would that be? What kind of coverage do you think the Obamessiah would receive from a doting press that had its collective butt yanked out of the fire?”
At the state level, Representative Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) held a news conference this week to announce his bill to give
“Currently, manufacturing property for newspapers is tax exempt in
I see the demise of newspapers as a very serious threat to our democracy. As a politician I often see things differently from those in the press. Some days I hate your guts. Some days I wonder if I was at the same meeting you were reporting on. Some days I wonder at the almost knee-jerk reaction of the press over open meetings and open records in an age of electronic surveillance. But every day I know that the public would be poorly served by not having you around to keep watch on the affairs of government and to keep the system honest.”
During Schneider’s news conference, he also offered this:
“Many people will ask why we shouldn’t let newspapers die.”
Daniel Lyons at Newsweek.com poses that very question, and doesn’t mince any words.
“Why on earth are people talking about a bailout for newspapers?
Instead of giving newspapers bailouts, we should be hastening their demise. The weak papers need to die. The strong newspapers need to go into bankruptcy and restructure their businesses with smaller staffs and lower cost structures. Yes, it will be painful. But journalists will find jobs—and they'll be working in a better, faster medium.
Meanwhile, all of us need to get over this pious notion about the sanctity of the newspaper.”
Society surely would not be the same without newspapers. However, with a wide array of news sources available to consumers, somehow, we’d find a way to survive.
Right to bear arms advocate pushing to curb straw purchases
Badger Guns on
State Representative Scott Gunderson (R-Waterford) is one of the strongest gun advocates in the state Legislature. He has been attempting to pass legislation to address straw purchases for about 10 years. Currently, the penalty for buying a firearm for someone prohibited by law from possessing a firearm is only a misdemeanor. The maximum sentence is nine months in jail. Gunderson has already authored legislation upping the penalty to a Class H felony with a maximum penalty of six years in prison.
Teens get taken to the cleaners on texting
Astounding stats from TIME magazine:
"The average U.S. mobile teen now sends or receives an average of 2,899 text messages per month, according to Nielsen Mobile.”
“Srinivasan Keshav, a professor at the
“With a carrier cost of one-third of a penny, when a customer pays 15 cents to send a message, 98% of that 15 cents is pure profit."
Tonight on InterCHANGE
Here are the topics we discuss tonight on InterCHANGE on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10 at 6:30 with a repeat Sunday morning at 11:00:
1 – OBAMA AFGHANISTAN.
Rio beats out Chicago for 2016 Olympics....I'm not surprised
Maybe
Or maybe the Olympic committee just didn't like the smell of what Barack.....was cookin’.
Happy weekend!
I hope you'll check out our regular weekend features on This Just In, starting with our soft, smooth, mellow Friday night music entry this evening, not too long after the sun goes down.
Wake up Saturday to The Barking Lot with our dog-walking forecast and DOGS IN THE NEWS, including the amazing story of this family:
Also Saturday, our weekly week in review, Week-ends. This woman gets a mention even though she thinks she shouldn't:
Which Wisconsin high school football team gets my weekly POO Award for the worst display of sportsmanship?
Recommended reading on Saturday, too......always good stuff.
Then on Sunday, My Most Popualr Blogs, because after all, what's popular is popular, The MJS Scorecard, and Photos of the Week. I kinda like this one:
Oh, and I can't forget...
Sunday.....
Could this bunch....
Somehow be involved in a Culinary no-no?
Thanks for checking us out this weekend!
Goodnight everyone, and have a smoooooooooth weekend
It's Friday night. Time to unwind with our regular Friday night feature on This Just In.
The weekend has finally arrived.
The sun has set.
The evening sky has erupted.
Let's put controversy and provocative blogs aside for the rest of this work week and smooth our way into Saturday and Sunday.
Tonight, we really mean it when we say let's smooth our way into the long-awaited weekend.
On the night of the Grammy Awards in 2000, Mexican-born guitarist Carlos Santana hadn't won a trophy in 13 years. That all changed, big time.
Santana took home 8 Grammy awards that night, tying him with Michael Jackson for the most awards in a single year.
Among the awards he won were Record of the Year, Best Rock Album, Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal, and Album of the Year ("Supernatural").
The Song of the Year went to Rob Thomas/Itaal Shur of Matchbox 20 for writing the album's smash single "Smooth". Some critics wondered if the judges were too sentimental and sympathetic in being so generous to the 52-year old guitarist. Were the album and the hit single really that deserving?
While I appreciate Santana's effort, I prefer Nestor Torres' instrumental version.
Born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, Torres came to the
Torres’ father would move to
"It was a cold, rainy December winter Sunday. And after [my father] was done [playing], we go to the Cabo Rojeno because Manchito and Tito Puente were playing there. I have no idea how I got the nerve to ask Puente's band to let me sit in. They let me! ... and after that, Tito would always ask me how I was doing with the music because he knew I was going to the conservatory in
After recording some solo albums, Torres moved to
The Barking Lot (10/03/09)
THE WEEKEND DOG-WALKING FORECAST: We grade the weather outlook for taking your pet outdoors.
TODAY: Scattered showers. High of 55. "D"
SUNDAY: Partly cloudy. High of 56. High of 56. "C"
(TRUMPETS BLARING)
Dah Dah Dah Dahhhhhhh!!!
Loving, adorable hubby to the rescue!
YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE!
NOW BATTING FOR JENNIFER FISCHER, # 00 (Hey, how’d I get stuck with that jersey?), KEVINNNNNNNNNN FISCHERRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!
Bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark.
Thank you, thank you.
Sit!
Time to get serious. In preparation for each week’s DOGS IN THE NEWS segment, I see, read, and reject numerous dog-related articles. Most are about some ornery out of control dog that just don’t fit my criteria for mention on The Barking Lot.
The sad reality is that around the country each and every week, there are all kinds of stories of dogs biting, maiming, injuring, killing. I haven’t kept records, but I’m willing to bet that the overwhelming majority of these sad and sometimes tragic stories involve pit bulls.
I find myself thinking that if I had a magic wand, I would rid the entire planet of pit bulls. I am of the opinion that pit bulls are no damn good. Are they not the most dangerous dog breed in the world?
So let’s do something about it. How about an all-out ban?
No.
I’ve always been opposed in virtually every instance to the “B” word. Why? Because there’s always an exception.
Are there good pit bulls maintained by conscientious owners? Probably.
But not as many as pit bulls that would tear your throat out or chew your child into shreds in seconds if given the chance.
So how do we approach those breeds like pit bulls that pose a serious threat? The answer is breed specific laws that target "vicious" and "dangerous" animals like pit bulls. Owners of such dogs, like pit bulls face stiffer fines and education requirements.
Don’t like it? Tough. I’m tired of hearing about pit bulls attacking innocent children.
Of course, whenever such a debate ensues, you can always count on a certain someone entering the fray.
That would be, “Little Goodie Two Shoes.”
You know who I’m talking about. The person always sees the sunshine, loves everyone and everything.
Cue Annie. “The sun‘ll come out, tomorrow!!!”
A pit bull attacking an entire nursing home? Couldn’t possibly be the poor dog’s fault. Those old folks must have done something to provoke sweet, pure, harmless Spike.
Enter Cindy Holliday of
When Holliday sees a pit bull, she sees a St. Bernard to the rescue with wings.
I said she lives in
In
Should pit bulls be treated differently than other breeds? Little Goodie Two Shoes doesn’t think so. I’ve got news for her. German shepherds and
You can read more about the
No, we can’t ban pit bulls and I wouldn’t suggest it. But I’m all for the toughest breed-specific laws we can put on the books.
It is time now for DOGS IN THE NEWS, canines that made headlines the past week.
Who or what killed Otis?
Heroic dog Taz has died.
Woman gets tangled in dog leash, falls and dies.
Michael Vick tells crowd not to dog-fight.
Former French president gives away violent dog..
Owners of noisy dogs could face big fines in Chicago.
The EPA is sued over prairie dog poison.
The best dogs for allergy sufferers....
New York dog park is composting.
Truman survived a police shooting in 2006, but....
A sheriff wants a compassionate release for Kez.
Think you know a dog's DNA?
Are you naughty? Back on the leash for you!
What is ugly, smells and kills dogs? The answer is right here.
How long is it ok to chain a dog?
KLEENEX ALERT: Lost dog gathers clues to find its family.
Dog helps rescue elderly man from mud, water.
An Idaho cowboy finishes a five-day trek with a surprise companion.
Dog days help college students adapt.
Dog wash and a cuppa joe to go.
A doggie hotel with a Presidential Suite?
Can a dog be a supermodel?
How many people can you get to walk invisible dogs?
Do you love your dog too much?
Who's reigning, cats or dogs? In Ireland, it's no contest.
Former Olympian heavily involved in dog agility.
Which pooch won the online dog beauty pageant?
Nintendo Wii Fit has gone to the dogs.
"Super Fetch" premieres later tonight on Animal Planet.
That's it for this week. Jennifer returns next Saturday. Thank you for stopping by.
Our closing video:
Dog bites man, as we've always heard, isn't news.
But man bites dog.........
Now that's a different story.
Defending the American Dream Summit underway
Even if you are not able to join us at AFP Foundation's national Defending the American Dream Summit, I want to give you a sense of the energy here.
Saturday morning we'll hear from Newt Gingrich, John Fund and Steve Moore from The Wall Street Journal and Fox News, Senator Jim DeMint, Larry Kudlow, Herman Cain, Hugh Hewitt and yours truly!
POO Awards- Week 6
This season, I’m handing out a weekly POO Award to the
POO stands for Piling On Offensively (Or if you prefer, Pouring it On Offensively).
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Waunakee 72, Baraboo 7
(My apologies to a dear friend, Jen-Jen the Engine, my favorite Waunakee graduate)
Week 4
Milwaukee Riverside 75, Milwaukee Pulaski 0
Week 5
Shell Lake 60, Siren 0
It was homecoming at Shell Lake, so I guess that makes this drubbing okay.
Week 6
De Soto 62, Wauzeka 0
Week-ends (10/03/09)
A look back at the people and events that made news the past week.
Week-ends is a regular weekly feature of This Just In...
HEROES OF THE WEEK
Rebecca Kahlenberg and MoverMoms
Cameron Aulner
Tina Graham
Jonathan McCoy
VILLAINS OF THE WEEK
The state of Michigan
Big time spenders in Washington
Robert Halderman
Baltimore twins
Martez Anderson
Enrique Gonzalez
Indiiana officials
Chris Daniel
The Milwaukee Burger Co.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
"I never played or would play for revenge. It's too long of a season. It's only one, maybe two games. What do you do the rest of the time? This stage of my career, it definitely is not worth it to do that. It's human nature to feel, I didn't use the word revenge, but to prove that you still could play. To prove someone wrong, or prove a group wrong. So you can call it what you want. I'm proud of the career I had there. So if there are people at this point that have picked sides, I'm not surprised by it. But you can't take that away. So it is what it is. But I can't control that.”
Minnesota Vikings QB Brett Favre
“I think this is a superficial move. I don't care whose name is on the door. I want real reform.”
State Representative Tamara Grigsby(D-Milwaukee), an opponent of mayoral contro of MPS, speaking at a panel discussion about the proposal.
“It is surprising to me a program was developed with such loose oversight at the state level.”
Department of Children and Families Secretary Reggie Bicha speaking before the Joint Finance Committee on
“If the changes fail, who do we hold accountable?”
State Representative Phil Montgomery (R-Ashwaubenon) asking when Bicha would be taking responsibility for the problems in
“They’re going it alone, they don’t want bipartisanship, they’re writing Republicans off. That’s been the word to us from Day 1, and they’re sticking with that.”
Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) on the debate over health care.
“The fact of the matter is that Mr. Butler lost a state-wide election, held by the people of
Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (
OUTRAGE OF THE WEEK
Senate Democrats reject health care ID requirement for immigrants.
The TSA......why don't they just make us all get naked?
MOST UNDER-REPORTED STORY OF THE WEEK
Florida Congressman Alan Grayson (D) insists that Republicans stand behind a health care "holocaust.”
MOST OVER-HYPED STORY OF THE WEEK
This week, is there any doubt?
STRANGEST, MOST UNUSUAL STORY OF THE WEEK
9-1-1 operator takes call about his own home.
Thank goodness this stuff just doesn't happen in Franklin.
WTF
REMEMBER: Your suggestions/nominations for any of these categories every week are welcome, especially for HEROES OF THE WEEK. If you know of anyone in the community deserving of recognition, please e-mail me.
Recommended reading (10/03/09)
Here are, in my view, interesting, noteworthy columns and articles from the past week that I highly recommend (You will note that on occasion, I do not endorse the opinions of the author and may point that out. Despite my disagreements, I still feel the piece is worth a read).
Obama's Olympic Failure Will Test the
“Now is the time for the mainstream media to show it’s not totally in President Obama’s pocket. The
Whatever happened to Billy Lee Morford?
Our friend and colleague over at Badger Blogger, Patrick Dorwin poses the following:
“Remember back about three years ago when the state of
Morford is still alive and dangerous.
Read the details at Badger Blogger.
I recall very well that this was a hot topic on Milwaukee Public Television’s InterCHANGE during December 2006 (Joel McNally actually laughs about it).
