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Carbon Footprint? All The Buzz!

Al Campbell — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:13:22 GMT

The Wall Street Journal published a special section on the environment today and the primary effort was to help us understand the concept of a carbon footprint.

I need the help! I had no ability to visualize what a pound of carbon dioxide would look like. I am a bit of a skeptic about carbon footprints since we're still here and the natural forms of introducing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere have been going on forever. I am a bit of a skeptic because this wasn't talked about until Al Gore began his 'environmental religion'. I am a bit of a skeptic because what started as a 'global warming' crisis has been altered to a 'climate change' crisis. I am a bit of a skeptic since I've yet to be convinced that science supports the broad contentions made by the proponents of 'climate change'.

What have I learned so far? Well, supposedly each of us in the United States releases 118 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every day. That is an awfully precise number considering that science is not in sync as to precisely how carbon footprints ought to be determined.

I learned that an average refrigerator would hold about 2 pounds of carbon dioxide gas. A pound of carbon dioxide has the volume of 8.2 cubic feet. I was reminded that carbon dioxide in its solid form is what we call 'dry ice' and that bubbles in our soda are made from this gas. I learned that if I were to buy a Toyota Prius, to be as good as I could be, that purchase would equate to putting 97,000 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. That number is derived from the following and assumes that I'd drive the car 127,000 miles and get 42 miles per gallon:

making the materials for the car (steel, plastic, etc.) [12.9%]
assembling the car [5.7%]
producing the fuel and transporting it to the gas station [15.8%]
fuel use in the car [52.7%]
maintenance of the car [4.7%]
disposing of the car [8.3%]

Then, I read of Car Free Days (CFDs) in Seattle. This seems to me another fad in the array of fads associated with Eco activism. Seattle closes city streets, posts signs explaining that to drivers, and provides notices to city residents. All this takes labor, and fuel and other energy forms...all for something that no one has yet tried to measure...maybe fearing that the theory would be disproved.

I confess. I continue to be the skeptic. Maybe I will be proved correct, or maybe I'll be proved incorrect. I don't know. I suspect that I probably won't know that answer yet if I live to my normal life expectancy.

All this reminds me of the seeming importance of symbolism. If we can be seen as doing good, it really makes no difference if what we're doing is good, or not good. It is the appearance about which we're concerned.

Then there are the louts of the planet such as me who aren't yet convinced that we ought to be concerned.

Down and Out

Karen Waldkirch — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:44:35 GMT

Man, what a bummer. We Wisconsinites have just experienced the ultimate trifecta of sports downers – losses by the Badgers, Packers and, of course, the playoff loss by the Brewers. And, to add insult to injury, our local marathon was won by a guy from Illinois. Nothing like kicking us while we’re down.

Here in our household, we had the good (or bad) fortune to experience two of these maudlin moments – I was at the Brewer game Sunday with a friend and my husband was at the Packer game. Thanks to the wonders of text messaging, we were able to have a digital conversation that went something like this:

Me: Suppan just gave up a three-run homer in the third.

Him: The Packers can’t stop the Falcons.

Me: We’re losing 5-0.

Him: We’re losing 27-17.

Me: It’s over here.

Him: Done here too.

Sigh. No joy in Mudville…or Milwaukee or Green Bay or Madison.

But I hate being a glass half-empty kind of girl. I need a positive thought or two upon which I can hang my hat. So here goes. My feeble attempt to blow sunshine into a room out of which all the happiness has been removed. My top ten reasons to still be happy about Wisconsin sports:

10. Ryan Braun is signed to a long-term contract.

9. The Bucks are still undefeated.

8. 186 Days till Opening Day.

7. The Brewers open at home against the Cubs, meaning there’s a good chance that for once, Miller Park will not be “Wrigley North.”

6. If you don’t have season tickets, this is an excellent time to get seats at a Packer game.

5. We won’t have that dilemma about whether to watch playoff baseball or our favorite TV shows.

4. Unlike other states, our legislators aren’t arguing the pros and cons of building a new stadium. Oh wait. I forgot about the Bradley Center.

3. It would be a stretch, but the Packers could still match last season’s record.

2. There’s no wait for tables at TGI Friday’s at Miller Park.

1. The Brewers won one more playoff games than the Cubs who were SWEPT. Ahhh….

What about you? What are you looking forward to in local sports?

She had caught some pretty good ones.

Joe Mangiamele — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:57:00 GMT

The consequence of our emphasis on education within school institutions that have developed over the years turns out to be an ostracism or a banishment of children from the world of adults, let alone that of the oldest adults. (Hannah Arendt).

On the other hand our perception of older adults as people on the path to marked physical and mental deteriorating conditions steer all generations away from much involvement with the oldest generations.

Our society has succeeded in the actual separation of generations both from a physical standpoint and one where social engagement becomes next to impossible.

School teachers are primarily the only members of the adult society who deal with children. And health care givers are the younger adults who casually deal with older adults. In both cases the relationships with other generations are virtually absent.

Although Shorewood has what might be considered to be the type of normal age distribution found in small towns of rural-like states, even the smallest intergeneration activity likely to occur in small towns cannot be found in suburbs such as ours.

Shorewood's urban character appears to operate against intergenerational activity even more that in some city neighborhoods.

Given this background, if we here in Shorewood are to work more toward intergenerational activity, we need to find the methods or vehicles for achieving these goals both in the short and long run.

I believe that this can best be done at first by the close interaction of those involved in the carrying out of services for older adults together with those in our community's school system. Even the school facilities can become the physical basis and location point and source for much of this interaction.

I would suggest that we establish an Academy for the purpose of implementing integration among people of all ages and go from there. This concept should encourage the development of many ideas, which I of course would like to hear about.

So simply what is being said here is, let's develop some programs within the school system that will bring older adults together with school children on a rather regular social basis.

Early this Fall, I experienced a grandfather overseeing his very young grand-daughter while she was fishing from the pier on a small lake,.

I asked, “has she caught any?”

He said proudly, " yes, she had caught 'some pretty good ones'.”

A Big Pile of Dirt and The Lessons It Can Teach

Foyne Mahaffey — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:31:59 GMT

As we all go forward with more of a thirst for financial reassurance, we see the importance of teaching our children the value of a dollar as well as the risk and importance of stoking the furnace here, because it keeps a fire burning everywhere else. Still, in regards to the bailout/rescue, the knee jerk reaction on ubiquitous Main Street was to punish the rich and have a people’s uprising. Then 700 points of reality dropped on our kitchen tables right between the gas bill and the new car brochures. I wonder if people are talking to kids about this.

I think that in Shorewood, if we want to talk with our students about the whole economic mess we can take advantage of what I see as a wonderfully serendipitous art installation on the lower playground of Lake Bluff School. While it may just look like a huge pile of dirt, it is the powerful half of an artistic, organic art installation. It and the hole it came from should be shipped up to Kohler Art Center and be put on display next to the Rhinestone Cowboy's house.

Let’s say we change the name of “Capitol Drive” to “Ball Street” at least in front of the gentrifiable high school. We must understand that if they do well, we all do well. They get additions, we get free dirt. That’s how things work. We ought to be excited about the truck dumps of dirt because they make our lives better. With it, we can fill the dips and holes that have made America’s game a bit like little league rice-paddy-ball after a downpour, and you have to appreciate the metaphorical value of the orange plastic fence corralling the dirt, thwarting any plans it may have to sneak back to the whole it once filled just a few blocks away.

I think we all learned a little lesson this past couple weeks. We don’t know much about the food chain that is our economy. We need to do better with our kids at home and in our classrooms. So teachers and parents, take your kids over and show them the hole where the new and costly stadium will be. Stop at the site and thank the ground that has been broken for the good of our village and its taxpayers. Imagine how home values will soar when people get a look of that! Talk about investment, gains and losses. Then go back to the fence and stand at attention as you consider all the things we can use leftover dirt for. Revel in the power of money. Teach its value, talk about priorities, necessities, need vs. want, show vs. substance and how to say the word no once in awhile. Then tell them that if they want to play on the dirt, they will have to pay for it.

Wisconsin taxpayers lose in Ho-Chunk settlement

Mary Lazich — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:30:00 GMT

Wisconsin’s dispute with the Ho-Chunk Nation might be over after a four year battle, and Wisconsin taxpayers got the short end of the stick in the gambling compact settlement.

The Ho-Chunk stopped making payments to the state in 2004 after signing a compact with Governor Doyle in 2003. The tribe argued that because a 2004 state Supreme Court ruling invalidated a similar compact agreement with the Forest County Potawatomi, it owed the state nothing.

Since 2004, Ho-Chunk halted payments with the exception of a one-time $30-million payment during 2006 it claimed demonstrated good faith bargaining. Here are the details of the recent settlement that should have taxpayers quizzically shaking their heads wondering, is that all there is?

The state contended the Ho-Chunk owed $72 million. Ho-Chunk has agreed to pay $60 million. That is a $12 million jolt to Wisconsin taxpayers.

Terms of the old compact had the Ho-Chunk paying the state a six percent tax of its take. Under the new compact, the Ho-Chunk will make payments of five percent if net earnings are below $350 million and 5.5 percent if earnings exceed $350 million. The reduced percentage means a loss of millions of dollars to the state. By contrast, the Potawatomi pay 6.5 percent of winnings.

The new compact also allows the Ho-Chunk to make reductions in their annual payments to the state:

Beginning May 1, 2010, the tribe can deduct payments made to counties totaling $1,000 for every acre of land owned by the U.S. government in trust for the tribe located within each county’s jurisdiction in July, 2003. The LFB informs me that during July 2003 the Ho-Chunk had approximately 2,300 acres of trust land that could result in a reduction in their annual state payment of $2.3 million.
During a 10-year period from May 1, 2009 to May 1, 2019, the tribe could deduct the amounts it paid for public works projects that benefit both the tribe and the state. Deductions would be limited to no more than $1.0 million in any one year and the total deductions for the period could not exceed $5.0 million. That means there could be an average annual deduction of $500,000.
The tribe can also deduct any additional amounts paid by the tribe for projects that the state and the tribe agree provide a substantial public benefit in areas of economic development, infrastructure, health, safety, or welfare. These deductions would begin May 1, 2019, would be limited to a total of $4 million, with annual deductions limited to a maximum of $1 million.

The casinos are arguably some of the most lucrative, profitable businesses in Wisconsin, yet their payments to the state are questionable. I asked the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) to prepare a memo that provides information that compares the imposition of the state corporate income and franchise tax, general sales tax, and local property taxes on private businesses to tribal casino operations in Wisconsin.

The LFB writes a “tax rate of 7.9 percent is applied to Wisconsin net taxable income to determine gross tax. The annual payment negotiated with the Ho-Chunk Nation is five percent of net win (5.5 percent if net win is greater than $350 million). Since net win generally does not include deductions used in determining net income, the net-win amount is likely larger than would be the case if the Ho-Chunk Nation casino was subject to the state corporate income and franchise tax. In addition, corporate income and franchise taxes can be offset by state tax credits. However, the corporate income and franchise tax rate is 7.9 percent which is higher than the 5.0 percent or 5.5 percent rate applied to net win.”

On the matter of the sales tax, the LFB writes, Due to restrictions in federal law, the state sales tax is not imposed on purchases or leases of otherwise taxable items by the tribes for use in the casinos. In addition tribal gaming proceeds generally are not subject to the sales tax. Sales of lodging, food and beverages, and admissions to the entertainment events at the casino are taxable if the purchaser is not a member of the tribe that is operating the casino, but exempt if the purchaser is a tribal member.”

Finally, on property taxes, the LFB writes, “Casinos owned by Native Americans are exempt from the property tax.”

To re-cap, Wisconsin businesses pay a higher tax rate than the rate Ho-Chunk and other tribes pay the state from their earnings. The tribes do not pay sales taxes or property taxes.

At first blush, the amount of the payments being made to the state through negotiated compacts may sound sizeable. However, there are significant societal costs due to gambling.

Serious problem gamblers lose or quit their jobs, steal money to support their gambling habit, think about and actually plan suicide, and some even make suicide attempts. Children of problem gamblers develop behavior and adjustment problems suffering from depression, anxiety, and cynicism.

The Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling Helpline Executive Director Rose Gruber says the average debt of callers to her hotline during 2007 was $43,000, up from $37,000 during 2006. Wisconsin has over 332,000 serious problem gamblers reported during 2007, up from 265,000 the previous year.

A Wisconsin Policy Research Institute study in 1996 reported the average serious problem gambler imposed costs close to $10,000 upon Wisconsin each year with a total annual social cost impact of over $307 million. The same study reports the average serious problem casino gambler imposed costs of over $10,000 upon Wisconsin each year with a total annual social cost impact of over $138 million.

The Ho-Chunk’s deal with the state can be renegotiated after 25 years. Meanwhile, for the next two and half decades, the Ho-Chunk can offer Las Vegas-style games at its casinos in Baraboo, Black River Falls, Nekoosa and Tomah. It operates a bingo parlor in Madison and a new casino is scheduled to open in Wittenburg in October.

Governor Doyle negotiated a deal that brings in less money at a smaller percentage to the state and allows huge expansion of gambling in the state.

Renaissance Students of the Month for September

Cudahy School District — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:26:04 GMT

Every month, the Renaissance Program at the Cudahy High School recognizes one student from each grade as the student of the month. The first Renaissance Students of the Month winners of this school year were recently selected. They are:

Senior - Amanda Janik
Junior - Samantha Farvour
Sophomore - Thong Xiong
Freshman: Gillian Miner

A Message From Common Council President Taylor Re: Franklin's Athletic Facilities

Janet Evans — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:30:00 GMT

The school year has been underway for a little over a month now and something has been brought to my attention. The condition of Franklin High School's athletic facilities are in rough shape. When comparing them to neighboring city's they rank near or at the bottom. A committee has been formed that I am a member of. I am participating because I feel there should be some city representation, although I am not looking to spend any city tax dollars on new facilities. All other funding types need to be looked into.

I believe that high school athletics bring communities closer together. We all rally together and cheer on our student athletes whether they are our children or not. Please take a moment and click on the link below and fill out the survey. It will help us rank our wants and needs.

Thank you for your time and cooperation. Please let me know if you would be interested in serving on this worthwhile committee.

Steve F. Taylor

Franklin Athletic Facilities Survey ç

The University of Wisconsin Marching Band

Tom Gehl — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:01:00 GMT

I was on the UW campus Saturday afternoon and at the Badger game Saturday evening. It was a beautiful autumn day, and I was again reminded of the myriad reasons that for me, make the pageantry of college football superior to any other sport.

The fans narrowley missed out on a Badger victory. They also missed out on the tremendous and always entertaining performance of the spectacular UW Marching Band. The band, already on probation from an incident two years ago, was suspended from this game for activity occuring on the previous week's trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Officials are interviewing band members "one at a time" to investigate "allegations of serious hazing", alcohol consumption, and "inappropriate sexual behavior".

Now here are a few quick thoughts. First, for the University to suspend a band that is almost as much a part of the football program as the team itself, is a very serious step. The timing of the suspension reveals this with even greater emphasis, for this was no afternoon game against South Dakota State. It was a night game against the mighty Ohio State Buckeyes, served up to our sports-frenzied nation on live, prime-time television. For officials to deny the kids this chance, and the invaluable publicity attendant with such a show, indicates that the alleged behavior went well beyond college kids just having some exuberant road-trip fun.

Further, the suspension of the band prior to the results of the investigation being completed, tells us that what has been alleged was not only serious, but dangerous. If the allegations are true, the University was probably exposed to enormous financial liability. And worse, students may have been subjected to risk of emotional or physical harm.

Lastly, it tells us that someone was so alarmed by what they saw that they took it upon themselves to come forward with an anonymous tip to Band Director Mike Leckrone. We will probably never know, but in all likelihood it was a student of small group of students that took this step. If that is the case it was an act of tremendous courage, for doing so put the wildly popular and successful program in serious jeopardy.

As is typical in such matters, we can surmise that most of the kids in the band are great students and musicians, and that the alleged behavior is a case of a minority emperiling the entire group. The protection of that majority is all the more reason to take swift and definitive action, along with protecting the University from potentially staggering litigation.

The competition to be a member of the UW Marching Band is enormous, and those who wear the red and white have earned that spot with hard work and talent. UW officials are correct in conducting a thorough and confidential investigation. They are to be encouraged to take firm and decisive action against any members of the UW Staff or band that may have emperiled its collective good standing and health.

Membership in the elite UW Marching Band is an honor and a privilege.

One that should be revoked if necessary.

In the interests of disclosure, I have no formal or informal relationship with the UW Marching Band, nor do I know any individuals currently associated with it.

Lost in time

John Manke — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Did you ever drive by a cemetery and wonder who is all buried there? Many times in the past, I have visited some cemeteries in various locations in our state. There are sections for children who died while very young. There are sections for rich and famous people with large grave stones. There are graves of people who have served their country in war and peace, and many who died in action while we were at war. There are people from all walks of life, both rich and poor, in the same cemetery. Many times this is a way to study our ancesters. Many relatives that we have known and have not known are buried here. We all know that one day we will end up in a place like this. Many cemeteries were used as picnic parks in the past. Forest Home Cemetery, at S. 27th St. and W. Forest Home Ave. is one of these. In fact it was an Indian burial ground with effigy mounds at one time. Many cemeteries were once farm land. Potter's Field was located at the County Institutions grounds in Wauwatosa in the past. In some of the old places, we can find pioneers who founded our area. On the Major Seminary grounds in St. Francis are buried the early clergy, brothers, sisters who built the Milwaukee Archdiocese. In the old Protestant Cemetery located on E. Norwich (E. Thompson) and S. Barland Ave., pioneers from the Town of Lake, the Village of Bay View and the City of Cudahy are buried. Many pioneers and famous people are buried in Forest Home Cemetery ( once part of the Town of Lake ). Old cemeteries that were eliminated had their remains moved there. At least we know that these people are at peace and lay in a serene location. Someday in your quest for knowledge, visit a cemetery with respect and dignity and study the tombstones. You might enjoy doing this study.

Caption? It's A Winner

Janet Evans — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:25:00 GMT

"Hundreds of thousands of "landscarpers" pouring into
this country every year, and I HAVE TO PLANT THIS TREE?!"

Congratulations, Fred Keller!

Your caption made me laugh and helped me get out of my blog blahs.

It was close though…the mention of Charlie Gibson, by StubbornOldMan, from West Allis made me smile. As for Bryan…he made me raise an eyebrow (or at least try to raise an eyebrow...I never could do that).

Dancing Horses

Rachel Schickowski — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:19:00 GMT

My mom turned 50 this month and rather than a party we wanted to plan something she would really love to do. This is how I found myself in the outskirts of Lake Geneva watching a “Dancing Horses” show.

To be honest, I am still a bit speechless. I am not sure if I’m impressed at the effort attempts or horrified that they felt secure enough about their production to charge $25 a person to attend.

On the day of the show, we drove through the boonies and arrived at a gigantic farm. As we walked down a gravel path toward the horse area, we passed a donkey with big sad eyes, a playful ring tailed lemur, Alaskan sheep and other animal folk.

Eventually, the path wound its way to the auditorium. As we entered the large barn, the horse odor almost knocked me over. I knew we were in for a real treat.

The show consisted of several themed acts that were accompanied by popular hits from Barbara Streisand, Celine Deon, Cher and many others.

From a bad-to-the-bone spike-laden horse named Harley to a white flowing horse wearing jewels and feathers, the creativity of each act took me by surprise. It was pretty impressive.

So, did the horses really dance, you ask?

Well….not really. However, they were quite synchronized and performed some cool tricks. There were a lot of leg kicks and sideways stepping. They even did some fancy jumps and showed their belly.

The music selections were the icing on the cake. I could not help but smile as the music filled the air and the large Arabian, Lipizzan and show horses jumped, ran, stomped and followed their leader sporting a sequined bodysuit and go-go boots.

Long story short, if you are a horse lover or just need some light-hearted fun, check out this show!

Culinary no-no #79

Kevin Fischer — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:48:00 GMT

Last week’s edition of Culinary no-no, # 78 for the record, focused on those gimmicky restaurant promotions where your gargantuan meal is free if you can down it within a certain time frame.

On the scale of egregious no-no’s, this doesn’t rank very high, especially the Gus’ Mexican Cantina example. Stuffing food into our gas tanks while food prices soar and people go hungry……now that’s a serious no-no. However, making a pig of yourself in public, while not a “10” is a no-no nonetheless.

Restaurants that offer such “challenges” should also consider if they want to turn their really nice place (Like Gus’) into a gorge-fest.

Here’s an example of one of these contests, if you will, gone seriously wrong.

Dateline: The Brussels of the Northeast, Greenville, Maine.

That’s the home of the Black Frog, featuring food, spirits and lodging. I’m going to link to their menu and I want you to scroll down (it’s rather large) to the section labeled, “Sammiches.”

When you get there, read the description for the final Sammich listed.

Go ahead. I’ll wait. Here’s the menu. (Read that whole menu...it's a hoot).

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Did you read the sammich description?

Skinny Dip: Thinly sliced prime rib served in a baguette roll with au jus on the side for dipping. If you run down the long dock naked and jump in the lake, the sandwich is free......10.95

Here’s a food and lodging establishment that I surmise is fairly well-known in Greenville, Maine that advertises, right there, right out in the open, right there on their blasted menus, a free sandwich in exchange for public nudity.

A couple of questions come to mind.

At the risk of sounding like a Sarah Palin opponent, in other words, sexist, do I really want to see a female resident of Greenville, Maine shed her clothing? I definitely vote no to witnessing any full frontal male Greenville nakedness.

Most importantly, is it worth a whole honkin’ $10.95 to risk my pride and self-respect? I mean, they didn’t even throw in horseradish with that prime rib sammich.

OK, let’s have a look at that sandwich and the owner of the Black Frog, Leigh Turner.

Looks like a harmless gent, a regular Joe. And a guy who knows when the jig is up, or, in culinary terms, his goose is cooked.

In a town of 1300, when you encourage people to take off their clothes and skinny dip in a public waterway, chances are some townsfolk are going to notice and some might actually not fully appreciate the attempt at entrepreneurship and might actually, oh, I don’t know……..........................complain!

The Black Frog heard the angry voices. The restaurant decided to do………………nothing.

But the restaurant did take action after………........

Well...................................................................

Read for yourself.

And wouldn’t you know, like those wussy guys that moan and groan that it’s unfair for clubs to have Ladies’ Nights, even in Greenville, Maine, they’ve heard of sex discrimination.

From now on in this not so humble hamlet, the answer to, “Where’s the beef?” is no longer some overweight slob running off a pier.

As it should be.

Thunderous Surroundings For Disappointing Game

Janet Evans — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:26:00 GMT

So, were you there?

When I entered the stadium and was handed the thunder sticks I thought, "Oh, boy…these Brewers fans are not going to ever give the Phillies a moment of peace." The amount of noise that can be generated from over 43,000 fans banging two of those thunder sticks together is unbelievable. It is nothing like what is portrayed on television. Another reason for me to cringe at the sight of little babies being carted around in the stadium…some who may have broken eardrums after today’s game.

Well, the thunder sticks generated support for our Brewers…and maybe rattled a few nerves at times for the Phillies, but you couldn’t tell. I got a big kick out of the fans that sat over the Phillies dugout and pounded their sticks on top the entire game. Those had to be the best seats in the house. I hope they were cursing at our fans the entire game!

Why am I concentrating on the thunder sticks so much?

To keep my mind off of the actual game…and the very first home run...which quickly silenced the thunder sticks...for a little while.

If there’s one thing the Brewers had going for them this year, it was the fans…over 3 million attended the games. We love our Brewers.

One thing you didn’t see on television that was flashed on the screen at the bottom of the 9^th inning…the scene from Hoosiers where Gene Hackman is in the locker room lecturing his team. He tells them that no matter what the final score is, they’re all winners…well, sorry, guys…this wasn’t high school. While the fans gave you a standing ovation, we didn’t win, and we could have done better in the series. But…we still do love our Brewers. (Imagine hearing 43,000 fans banging their thunder sticks).

The end.

Hey, Fischer's blogging about his cousin again!

Kevin Fischer — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:25:00 GMT

I seem to upset the hateful lefty bloggers. Apparently, my family gets under their skin, too.

Gee, I really feel bad about that.

One of the lefty loony attack dogs wants to know how much I pay the proprietor of this website, Journal Communications, to blog about my cousin, who has the rather cool job of distilling new Wisconsin products. He (or she, I’m not really sure because this coward hides anonymously behind his or her trash), also wants to know if he or she can get the same deal.

I’ll gladly spell it out for the moonbat.

I pay absolutely nothing to Journal Communications to put up stuff like this on my blog.

ZERO.

ZILCH.

NADA.

BUPKISS.

That’s the same amount I receive for directing tons and tons of traffic to this site filled with real ads paid for by Journal Communications.

Can the hateful blogger get a deal like this?

Sorry, chump!

But this whole incident reminds me that I never did blog the details about my cousin’s brand new seasonal product that I’m sure many of you would be most interested in running out and purchasing while supplies last.

So, here’s that information.

And here’s where you can find my cousin’s wonderful products.

Thank you very much, thank you for visiting my blog, and thank you, Journal Communications!

Just in case football fans have forgotten....

Kevin Fischer — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:01:00 GMT

“I don’t feel I need to sell myself to fans. They need to get on board now or keep their mouths shut.”

UPDATE: The Miami Dolphins, one of the worst teams in football last year, have already defeated New England and San Diego this season, two teams that played in the 2007-2008 AFC divisional playoffs.

But Miami was unable to beat the NEW YORK JETS in this year's season opener.

Hmmm…….

UW band investigation: I'd be disappointed, too

Kevin Fischer — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:45:00 GMT

Probably more than disappointed.

In my blog Saturday on the UW band controversy, I wrote:

“One could argue that the suspension is unfair. (Band Director Michael) Leckrone admits a small percentage of the 300- member ensemble is involved. So why punish the entire band? Do your investigation, determine the guilty parties, and then hold them accountable.

Instead, all 300 band members, the vast majority of them innocent, are suspended.”

Buried in today’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a quote from a band member’s parent:

“Stillwater, Minn., resident Danielle Dennison’s daughter Hayley has played clarinet in the band since 2006. Dennison said Saturday that her daughter told her she had no idea what the allegations were and had never experienced hazing.

‘They are taking them individually one at a time into the dean’s office all day today, and all they keep asking is ‘What do you know? What do you know?’ . . . We’re just so disappointed that 300-plus people should be deemed guilty and investigated,’ Dennison said.”

I don’t blame you, Mrs. Dennison.

Follow up on School District Investment

Julie Shea — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:15:04 GMT

Did any of you see the article about the school districts involved in that investment debacle? They are now suing the company who sold them the package. Do you think this will keep the money from coming out of our pockets?

Democrat's donations key to why they think rich must pay more taxes?

Kyle Prast — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:51:00 GMT

I always find it interesting to see how much politicians give to charity. Senator Joe Biden gave a paltry $995 last year, yet he made $2,450,042! And his $995 to nonprofits was over twice his normal yearly giving for the past 9 out of 10 years. Why do I say paltry? Because many teens I know give more money from their part time job income than he gave in his past average donations. Biden made almost $2.5 million but gave such a little amount... amazing.

Actually, I am surprised at his Scrooge-ishness, because Biden says he is a Catholic. I would have thought he would have given his church more. (David Wade, a spokesperson, said the Bidens did give to their church, “The charitable contributions claimed by the Bidens on their tax returns are not the sum of their annual contributions to charity.” That could be the case. But why they wouldn't record these donations and put them on their tax return is beyond me, since that is such a standard practice. It raises the question, if you aren't claiming the entire amount, then why list any at all?)

I was thinking about stinginess vs. generosity again today when I looked at our church bulletin. I usually check the offering report for the previous week and often am pleasantly surprised at the dollar amounts listed. Our congregation almost always gives above the amount needed to stay on budget, and they do this without coercion.

The associate pastor does remind us from time to time that all we have is from God and that He allows us to keep around 90%. But there is no heavy handed tithe requirement or even a hint that giving more makes God love you more. The love is supposed to be coming from us to God in the giving, and it is evident in our church. Often people give more than the usual 10%. Many of these families are not wealthy and some are large, having 4 or more children.

Given that Al Gore and his wife gave a pittance, coupled with Biden's ridiculous amount, and the Obamas only recently gave above their 1% average, to me shows a selfishness. God instructs us to give Him the first of our fruits, not the left-overs. We are to trust Him to take care of us. (In fact, that was the subject of our sermon today, from a series on The Sermon on the Mount, Oct. 5, 2008)*

It's no wonder these politicians think people must be compelled by the government to give to social programs through taxes. They know they would not give voluntarily. From National Revue:

It has become a common practice, when a presidential candidate releases his or her tax returns, for reporters and pundits to examine how much the candidate gave to charity. In September 1992, for example, when the Washington Post reported that Al Gore, then the Democratic candidate for vice president, had released his tax returns, the second paragraph in the story noted that out of income of $183,558, Gore “donated $1,727 — less than 1 percent — to charity.

But thankfully, plenty of Americans do give voluntarily, and they give a lot!

When the government taxes me more, it reduces my ability to give to the good works I think are worthy. Taxes also compel me to support programs I don't agree with or think are immoral, such as Planned Parenthood or ACORN. My "donation" in the form of taxes gets less bang for my buck because it must first travel through the maze of wasteful government bureaucracy.

If politicians like Biden, Obama, and Gore would give more to charity, maybe they would be less eager to increase taxes to pay for government social programs. Maybe then they would be more understanding of how higher taxes impacts voluntary giving. Obviously they have not tried it.

In case you were interested, McCain's giving, Palin's income and giving.

*When my husband was laid off in 1982, we were concerned that we would not be able to meet our charitable donation commitments. Thankfully, we got through it.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

Links:

Brookfield7, Fairly Conservative, Betterbrookfield, Jay Weber, Mark Levin, Vicki Mckenna

At least the Brewers...

Kevin Fischer — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:33:13 GMT

WON a playoff game.

Something To Remember You By

Paul Wickesberg — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:04:08 GMT

Dear Charlene:

Sometime after dark on Saturday night you stopped by my home and left a campaign brochure at my front door for me to see.
It contained the usual yada - experience, leadership, education, family and the like. Thank you.

Unfortunately it was dark and you didn't notice that my sidewalk entrance was blocked off. Never mind that; you apparently walked across the grass from my neighbor's house to do your business with me.

The walkway had been blocked off for a good reason. Earlier that morning a construction crew had finished pouring a new concrete slab which was still somewhat soft when you came by.

Just before going to bed I stuck my head out the door to admire my new investment and found your literature. In the morning I repaired the injury as best I could.

I'll be remembering you for quite some time. Thank goodness that you weren't wearing spike heels.

Your potential constituent,
Paul