NO - Not Captain Kangaroo

No no no I'm not going to say that Captain Kangaroo was texting anybody.

But I do see that it is an urban legend that Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keeshan) was a war hero. He actually never saw combat. The legend was that Lee Marvin, on the Tonight Show, said he served alongside Keeshan at the Battle of Iwo Jima. Except not only did he never actually say that but Marvin was in the hospital from wounds received in the Battle of Saipan at that time. Keeshan was a Marine but never saw action.

Keeshan was the original "Clarabell the Clown" on the Howdy Doody though which is as scary as fighting in Iwo Jima.

Mr Green Jeans (Hugh Brannum) served in WWII and was in the Marine band (which is where I would want to be in WWII) after the war he was in the group The Four Squires, later moving to Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians where he met Bob Keeshan.

Before joining Captain Kangaroo, Brannum was the host of . . . . wait for it . . . .

UNCLE LUMPY'S CABIN!!

Brannum was NOT the father of musician Frank Zappa as legend has it.
--------------------------------------

Movie Star of the Year goes to Leonardo DiCaprio with Shutter Island (128 million and Inception 293 million).

The critics top 10 movies of the year are

127 Hours
Black Swan
Blue Valentine
Inception
The Kings Speech
Please Give (I've never heard of this one)
The Social Network (also receiving the "Why did't more people see this) award
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winters Bone (receiving the "Worst Title for a Movie" award)

Brainy Movie of the year goes to Inception with Shutter Island and Black Swan close behind.

----------------------------------

They asked TCU defensive coordinator who the Wisconsin Badgers remind him of. He said The 1966 Green Bay Packers, but much bigger!

The front line of the 1966 Packers in Super Bowl 1 averaged 245 pounds! The front line of the Badgers average 327. The #1 defense in the country as never played a team THIS big!

The problem is that TCU's defense is built to stop the spread attacks. While the Badgers just bludgeon there way down the field. TCU is a bunch of super fast Ferrari's and Wisconsin is a bunch of big ass dump trucks!

Nuff Said

Have a Happy New Year and be safe!

Rod

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AHH HAA!!!!

How many dogs do you have to kill to get to go to the Pro Bowl. Micheal Vick get's in and Rogers is an alternate? COME ON MAN!

So now that the Vikings kicked the Keystone cop lookalike Eagles last night the Packers probably won't have to play the Bears twice in a row. HOWEVER - now that might have to play the Eagles which scares the bejesus out of me. Yea - the Eagles looked pitiful last night but I think it was a case of overconfidence.  Of course they DID have to have a miracle comeback against the Giants.

---------------------------------

Every day I go through the same routine with Blake our dog. He get's half a can of food in the morning - another half at night and about 9:00 he gets a big chunk of Fresh Pet Select dog food that comes in a big tube from Hy-Vee (if I ever had to eat dog food this would be the brand to eat).

Well Blake always looks forward to the Fresh Pet as it's like a big chunk of bologna but is REALLY good for a dog (not bad for humans either).  Odd thing is that last night he just did not have an appetite!

This was very very strange. He inhales it normally.

I found out why this morning and playing the night back . . .it all makes sense.

Last night Milo and Blake seemed to want to go out a lot and they spent a good amount of time outside. This morning I let Blake out and he disappeared for a while which was odd because he is like clockwork in the winter. About 10 minutes and he barks to come in after he poops on the driveway. It raised a big "?" above my head when he was AWL after 20 minutes but you know dogs! You just never know.

So DJ and I are about to go to work and I open the door to the garage and - DAMN - I left the garage door open last night, and look, there is a big Turkey Breast in the middle of the garage and garbage all over!

AHH HAA!!!!! No wonder they were out so long!

sigh! 
------------------------------------------

I picked up the shell of my laptop last night after it was restored to factory settings. Got it home and turned it on and noticed that while it has a 200 gig hard drive, only 80 gig were free. WTF! Now I have to take it back and have them delete whatever it is that is clogging it up!

BTW - Grahman Man turned me on to a wonderful free software from Microsoft called SyncToy 2.1 Very easy to use and install. Check it out of you have an external hard drive or flash card and want to automatically back up everything.

Also while I'm getting my desk top into working order I wanted MS Office Pro 2010 which costs a big bundle.   You can get the entire suite at Online Office Software  for $99.  Reason its so cheap is it's all downloadable. 


And if you want cheap music? Go to GoMusicNow.com   OK OK - let me explain a little about this place.  First of all . . . . .it's based in Russia.  You can get entire albums for like $1.40.  What's the catch?  None that I know of - they have been around for a long long time and I've done extensive research on the net and  either a review site totally hates the place or they totally love the place.  I've had zero problems for over a year and MUCH music downloaded.

You will all say "I'm not going to give my CC to a company in Russia". Well - it is WAY more dangerous to give your CC to a stranger waiting on your table at a restaurant.  

Just like any place using your CC you give them $30 and you have instant access to way way more music then iTunes.  

---------------------------------------------

Last thought - from my unofficial count and I'm being serious,  it looks like 10% of the State workforce will retire in the next few months.  I know DPI is retiring 50 and 26 THIS WEEK!!  Thank you Governor Elect Walker.  I'm sure nobody really cares because the people that hate State Workers are not the ones on welfare, or have health problems or in group homes which are the ones that will suffer from programs that will suffer from staff vacancies. 

Have a day
Rod

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Laptops SUCK!

It would be a lie if I said I was not disappointed in the Packers. I mean they can't even get a coach fired anymore! Why even bother playing.

YEA - I'm BACK and cranky!!

Reason is that I got the call of doom last night. My worthless piece of crap laptop has to be "restored" which means I lose all of my photo programs. I can get most of them back but Photoshop CS3 was sort of a gift and now I actually have to purchase it.

Having my laptop restored to factory settings is something like losing your wallet. It's not the end of the world but it's a big freaking headache! As luck would have it I had purchased a new desk top computer and was a weekend away from transferring/copying all important things over to it but . . . FUBR!!
-------------------------------

As you all know Josh got to go into a burning house and was front man on the hose which was pretty cool. What was NOT cool was the people who had the fire hydrant in their yard had not kept snow away and precious minutes were lost shoveling the hydrant out. remember - that fire could be YOUR house!

The BIG thing was that the house that burned was a duplex and keeping the fire away from the other side was a very very good job. Well done Columbus Volunteers!

---------------------------------

We all know that changing a password every few months is a complete waste of time. IF someone knows you password and intends harm they are not going to wait a month and THEY rip you off right?

Well - if you own a WIN XP computer did you know that anyone with a WIN 2000 CD can insert the CD and bypass all your protection? COOL - how handy is that!!

BTW - I LOVE Windows 7.

----------------------------------

Anyway - I'll have exciting news tomorrow . . well . . for our family at least!

Rod

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It was the Night before the Night Before Christmas

It was the Night before the Night Before Christmas
and all through the house
not a creature was stirring
except for

eight large dirty yellow oxygen breathing firefighters from Columbus. One of them looking a lot like Josh.

I heard the fire siren and though, there goes Josh somewhere as he answers ALL fire calls no matter how trivial and about 15 minutes later DJ gets a text saying there is a house fire about a block away from us. 

Then I hear more sirens and figure this might be something larger then a smoke alarm so I go outside and see flames shooting into the air about a block away.  WHOA!!!  

I run up the hill and it's the last duplex on Ridgeway.

While I'm there I shoot a lot of photos - get home and as I'm working on the images my laptop with all the sophisticated software for my little photo business . DIES!!!!

DAMN IT. 

Luckily three days earlier I purchased a NEW desktop computer but it's basically empty and I have no way to get Photoshop CS3 on this computer and all of my photos are shot in RAW which needs special software.  grrrrrrrr

ANYWAY - back to the fire.

LINK to CH15 report

Columbus Firefighters Battled Blaze Thursday Night

---------------------------------------------------

While on vacation I have learned something about blogging and my writing style.  It only happens early in teh morning.  IF I say I'll blog later in the day . . it never happens.  Take today for instance. I've been up literally 10 minutes and BAM - I'm halfway coherent.  If I waited another couple hours . . .for get it.

It's been a busy week.  We help Suz move back to Columbus from California. WELCOME BACK SUZ.   No one ever leaves Columbus! Part of them will always be here. 

OH - I was SO excited to get a new computer and move the weather station to it - HOWEVER - the weather station is so old the only cable that works ONLY WORKS in the old computer - DAMN IT!!  You have to be kidding me! 

I have so much software to try to find.  This new computer is amazing for $399 with 4 gig of RAM - my old desktop I think has 512K  LOL

OH - and there was a Christmas Miracle.  That thing DJ has been looking for of a few years was found - it's all I'm going to say at the moment. But it is a very very good.  HAPPY TIMES!



Have a wonderful weekend and Merry Merry Christmas.

Rod

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Sports

I remember in the Packer exhibition games Fuzzy Thurston was talking about Matt Flynn and he commented that among people that would know such things, they considered Matt Flynn "the best back-up Quarterback in the NFL".

Well - of course I sort of took this with a grain of salt because we all know that the truth tends to stretch a little with homey announcers. Such as JJ Hardy being one the the best fielding Shortstops in the majors (more on that later).

WELL - I gotta say I was impressed last night!

I was also impressed on just how inept our Special Teams unit is but that has never been a surprise.

But lost in all the Packer news is the Brewers. They got a fantastic deam and a blockbuster trade and ESPN suggested that this trade just put the Brewers in the World Series hunt.

Zack Greinke joins Gallardo and Marcum as the right handers on the staff with Wold Wolf and Narveson (who both finished very strong) as the lefties.

Greinke is the 2009 AL CY Young winner who went off his meds last year (Social Anxiety Disorder) because he hated playing for a perennial loser (Kansas City) and is excited to Come to Milwaukee.

He is no Don Sutton and is a WONDERFUL pitcher who starts 30+ games every year!

Brewer have an actual contending Starting staff.
-------------------------------

Here is something Google-licious. Google now has 5.5 millions books online and you can search how many times a certain word has been used in literature since like 1820.

For instance - the word GREEN. I figured green was a pretty hot word lately.  Here is the results.

Check out  Google Ngram Viewer

It's all I have for today - I'm off this week so probably shorty blogs because I don't have copious amounts of coffee in me!

Be careful this afternoon - drizzle and a few inches of snow.

Rod

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American Packaging Expands

I was on a Home Brew Forum yesterday talking about my being a home brew consultant at Cannery Wine and Spirits when a guy from Indiana responds that he will be in Columbus next week to spend a week doing something at American Packaging!

I tell him that the only place to get craft beer is either at Bobs Liqueur or the BP Station has a few.

Then I see that American Packaging is expanding. They received a $350,000 grant from Wisc Commerce to help implement a $17 million plant expansion which will create 47 new jobs!

SWEET!

Who says the American economy is in bad shape. Who? FOX News that's who. A project conducted by the World Public Opinion, managed by the Program on International Policy Attitudes found that FOX News will actually make you more stupid!

Fox News viewers are significantly more misinformed than consumers of news from other sources. In fact . .

91% percent believe the stimulus legislation lost jobs
72% percent believe the economy is getting worse
60% percent believe climate change is not occurring
49% percent believe income taxes have gone up
63% percent believe the stimulus legislation did not include any tax cuts
56% percent believe Obama initiated the GM/Chrysler bailout
38% percent believe that most Republicans opposed TARP

Of course this is all a liberal lie and as one person told me Fox News is the ONLY News Corp that tells the truth. I said what about the BBC and he said that the BBC was just another liberal lie spreader!

--------------------------------------

Speaking of Minnesota Vikings! Seems the new Monday Night Stadium will be a WONDERFUL venue to watch a football game. Game time temps will be about 10 degree and alcohol will not be allowed in the Stadium. WOW - that just sounds like a great time!

---------------------------------------

WHERE IS THE FREAKING WARM AIR!!

Man it's been cold way to early! Alaska is still full of cold air so there is no big warm push on it's way. We should be nearing 30 next week for a few days. Just get past the cold weekend and we will moderate and MAYBE hit . . "average".
--------------------------------------

Have a nice weekend and stay warm! Cuddle up with a loved one in one big Family size Snuggie. It would have like 8 arms in it for the entire family!

Rod

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wee-tah-kah-wee-loo

Larry King will have his last broadcast tonight which is fine since I rarely watched him. However how will people know what the terrorist threat level is if we can not see his suspenders.

Speaking of terrorism - remember after 911 and all the weirdness that went on. We were at JJand C's house and they had a Furby on their TV. There were 40 million Furby's sold with speaking capabilities that were translated into 24 languages.

I remember when Furby's were being linked to terrorism because they could remember secrets and it was thought that the Taliban would collect Furby's and using a Furby kill all the American infidels. Furby's were banned from all intelligence offices.

--------------------------------------------

SO - you have seen the Dunkin'Donut Coffee ave you not? Well DJ and I were talking and we decided to buy a pound and try it. WOW - if you like Folgers Coffee which is the best part of waking up or Maxwell House which is good to the last drop you will love Dunkin'Donut Coffee.

If I had to compare Dunkin'Donut Coffee to a beer the beer would be Miller Lite except with a more green grassy taste. Also instead of 4 scoops for 2 cups I'm up to 6 scoops and will go 7 scoops tomorrow to start getting SOME taste!
--------------------------------------

Of course we have all heard about the Union Contracts not passing last night because the Top Democrat went against his party and voted NO!

Odd - Why is it the Democrats are better then Republicans because they have the ability to vote Republican! Does not seem right! I actually applaud the guy - here we are talking about thinking on your own and not always going lock step along Party lines - yet - when someone DOES think for his self he gets castrated.

Maybe the Unions will get some backbone and start pounding with their glass hammers to make a point. Maybe we will all start making $7 an hour with no benefits.

-----------------------------

BUT - we're not Minnesota who no longer have a Stadium OR a Quarterback. At least Green Bay has a Stadium! Time for Minnesota to move to San Antonio and buy a Quarterback. Why do I keep thinking Matt Flynn will be on Minnesota next year!

Also - the Vikings want an outdoor Stadium?? ARE THEY MADD.

Here is the thing - in Green Bay there is tradition. It's freaking cold at Packer games but because of tradition it's a thing of pride. In Minnesota which is colder then Green Bay there is no tradition. They are used to nice warm games - let's see how many season ticket holders will re-up knowing that instead of a nice warm game they can now sit outside in freezing drizzle for 4 hours.

I'm PRETTY sure if Green Bay fans had a choice of drinking and partying in a 70 degree enclosed Stadium or a 10 degree with -20 wind chill game . . . .they would go with the indoor option.

Yea - The Metrodome had more roof collapse last night! LOL - why is that so funny! NOW they have an outdoor stadium!

Rogers probably not playing Sunday night, Pack are 11 point dogs. Minnesota is favored over the Bears. I believe it's time to put the Packers to bed and look towards next year when we are not playing 22 members of the practice squad. Let the Bears have their one year wonder.
----------------------------------------

If God is omnipotent and knows what we will do before he created us, how can we have free will?

Just sayin'
------------------------------------------

Have a fine day - turning cold again!

Rod

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All the news from Columbus

There is a new Computer Fix It Store opening in Columbus on 131 E. James Street called "Diversified Utility and Communications". Pretty catchy name!
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The Fire department had a pretty busy day yesterday! I wonder if any of the "volunteers" showed up! That's all I'm going to say!
---------------
Charlie Shortino, was at Cbus Elementary the other day for their shout out! While I like Charlie as a person . . .he is one of the  . . . least accurate, I feel for forecasting weather. David George, even though he has two first names, which always scares me (must be phobia name for that) on CH 15, I consider the best although in the morning we watch CH3.
-----------------------
There are 229 property taxpayers in Columbus that have not payed their 2009 taxes and Mayor Bob Link said "it's sobering" which makes me think that perhaps we need sobriety tests before the City Council convenes again!
-------------------
Udey Dam continues to be worked on and I'll see if I can get some photos if I ever get out in the daylight again! They are waiting for spill way gates to arrive.
-----------------------
I guess there is a grievance involving the Police Department. A woman had a scheduled sick day BUT THEN responded as a first responder emergency medical person (EMS) in Fall River. MY GOD - you can not be allowed to save a person on your sick day! WHAT WAS SHE THINKING!!

There are rules against saving people on your sick day you know! Policies are in place to cover saving people.
 --------------------------------
Check out this cereal - apparently it will change your skin to white!   

You are invited to an Open House and Ribbon Cutting

Avalon Commons Townhome Development on 590 West Avalon Road

Monday December 20 4:30pm—5:30pm

Visit with Santa as he delivers presents to the children!

Help Celebrate the success of Brookstone Homes and the City of Columbus in developing this exciting new residential development!

Columbus Business Roundtable

Thursday, December 16

11:00am-Noon    NOTE TIME!

Napoli Italian Restaurant

128 E. James Street, Columbus

Update on James Street Sewer and Reconstruction Projects

Jason Lietha, City Engineer

  

it's all I got for today! 

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Packers Raise Alert Levels

Well - I place 100% blame on yesterdays Packer game squarely on McCarthy's head.   Seems The Packers are RIPE for not getting up for easy games and even though they were not UP, McCarthy managed to find so many ways to grasp defeat out of the jaws of victory.

Let's see - how about NOT throwing a red flag on Jennings non-TD catch.  He saw exactly what we saw on TV and what WE was was inclusive. However - the Packers were in desprit need for a lift and EVEN if they lost the review . . . how much could that hurt!  The UPSIDE was so so much greater then the assumed downside.

Then after a commercial - it do look like did was a catch.

Then - 4th and 1 with plenty of time and he has our new QB go for it all?  ARE YOU CRAZY????

Yea - the Packers played pretty piss poor but it's the coach that is suppose to motivate the team to be up for EVERY GAME!!

Now we have basically a playoff game next week.  Let's hope the Patriots have a down game as it's meaningless . . . somehow I don't see that happening with a Bill Belichick.

The GOOD news is that Matt Flynn - the quarterback that will take over Rogers spot for the next 13 years is no T.J. Rubley! 

You remember T.J. Rubley don't you?  The worst Packer Quarterback of all time? 

In 1995 Brett Favre AND Ty Detmir were both injured in the same game against Minnesota so in comes QB #3,  T.J. Rubley.  Luckily the game was tied and the Packers were in Field Goal range.  It was 3rd and 1 and all Rubley had to do was take the hike and fall and the Packers were basically win the game on the Field Goal.

So what happened?   Rubley audibled and called a roll-out. He passed the ball and it was quickly intercepted, giving Minnesota the ball and eventually, the win.  Rubley was cut the next morning.
----------------------------------------------------

Speaking of ALERT LEVELS

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats, and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved". Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross". The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940, when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance". The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.

The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards". They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender". The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing". Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides".

The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs". They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose".

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

The Spanish are excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Americans meanwhile, and as usual, are carrying out pre-emptive strikes on all of their allies "just in case".

Canada doesn't have any alert levels.

New Zealand has raised its security levels - from "baaa" to "BAAAA". Due to continuing defense cutbacks, New Zealand has only one more level of escalation, which is "I hope Australia will come and rescue us".

Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be alright, mate". Three more escalation levels remain: "Crikey!", "I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend" and "The barbie is cancelled". So far no situation has ever warranted use of this final escalation level.
-----------------------------------------------

The Blizzard.

Saturday I was in Elwood's place hooking up his new computer! All was going well and I got a text message saying BLIZZARD WARNING starting at 6:00. It was pouring rain (as I had predicted) and I felt I still had some time to "play". About 4:00 Elwood wants to be alone with his new toy so I take off.

It's still raining and as I reach the city limits the rain has a little substance to it, not slush but it was . . . . "thick". Reaching the outskirts of Sun Prairie it's starting to snow and on the other side of Sun Prairie it's now all snow. Still, not a problem.

Driving north there are 5 cars ahead of me in a little caravan with the 1st car going a little too slow. Then car #2 decided he has had enough and starts to pass slow car #1. He get's in the left lane and . . . nothing, he stays there and then going back into the right!

Car #3 then does the same thing and after a few minutes, back to the right lane.

"Morons" I say and I go to pass and as soon as my car is is solid in the left lane I start to pass and . . . . I feel like I'm now walking on a tight rope sort of like running trying to get to the end before I fall off.

Back I go to the right lane.

It's dark, the wind is howling and my exit is coming up . . somewhere, THERE IT IS . DAMN - too late as my HWY N73 slides past me! GRRRRRRRR Ok, I'll take 60 in and I drive and all of a sudden I see the Pic-N-Save sign going past my right side window WTF - I missed THAT exit!!!

OK OK - all of a sudden I'm now a Navy Pilot trying to make a night landing on a pitching aircraft carrier! I have one more exit until it's a 20 drive to Beaver Dam. HWY S73 is my last chance!

As luck would have it the 1st car in the caravan goes to the right and starts to fly! AHH HAA! Must be the exit as it goes up the hill. I tip toe into the lane and am basically safe.

OF course I reach Cbus and the Amtrak is right there so I have to stop. I actually turn into Julies Java House and snapped some very un-amazing photos which I played with for a while.

And finally home.
-------------------------------------------------

Driving to work today I heard the Christmas Macrama song which I feel Tim Burton somehow had his hands on!  I believe this is a once in a lifetime song . . .  all you want to do is hear this once in your lifetime and that is enough!




Stay warm today

Cheers
Rod

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Good-Bye Chedder Heads

OK - I'm looking for ANY review of The Tourist that does not say this is one of the worst movies of 2010. The 2nd review I read today says this is the worst performance of Johnny Depp EVER in a movie and Jolie is basically a mannequin.

On TV last night was Brew Masters and watching my man crush Sam Calagione agonize over having to dump $500,000 of his signature 120 IPA made me cry inside. If you have never watched Brew Masters it's now on Thursday nights and is very very entertaining. Even DJ loves the show and she is not a beer drinker.

If you have missed any shows check out their site

Brew Masters 

 -----------------------------------------------------

Cheddar Heads Pizza will no longer exist after Saturday!   I talked to the dude and  he is closing. Man they/he had good pizza but it's going belly up.  With  WONDERFUL Nepoli's opening down the block and now the Snack Shack making pizza right next door he just can not sell enough.  He did say that the store could stay open IF there was not so much debt.

It seems that most things that open and then close in Columbus is not for the lack of customers, it's the lack of a good (or any) business plan!  He just had to buy to much equipment and could not make up the difference.   Sad.

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Had about 3 inches of snow yesterday and tomorrow could be messy - I believe Columbus will be adding maybe 5 inches with less south.  This storm keeps sliding north which is good.

Drive Carefully.

OH - has anyone have any experience with OpenOffice?  Looks like an open source MS Office - sort of a free clone.

Rod

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a little of this and that

So Governor Elect Walker said yesterday that if State Employees to now bow and take MORE involuntary pay cuts he will just absorb all of them into his body! "GET IN MY BELLY!" he was heard saying after the press conference. 

On Keith Olbermann's Countdown - Walker has been "The Worst Person in the World" twice!

-------------------------------------------------

Drive safely tonight going home, 2-4 inches at drive time and 3-6 inches Saturday before we drop to -30F wind chills Sunday night.
-------------------------------------------------

Get this - there was a dude, Arnold Schonberg, that suffered from triskaidecphobia, the fear of the number thirteen.  He died thirteen minutes to midnight on Friday the thirteenth.

I have Tonsurphobia - the fear of haircuts, but I'm getting my semi annual one tonight I think.

Phobatrivaphobia is the fear of phobias and Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the fear of long words.  SOMEONE has a sense of humor!!!

Speaking of Kentucky!  Did you know that by law every citizen of Kentucky is required to take a bath at least once a year?   They also have a law that reads

"No female shall appear in a bathing suit on any highway within this state unless she be escorted by at least two officers or unless she be armed with a club." The law was later amended with: "The provisions of this statute shall not apply to females weighing less than 90 pounds nor exceeding 200 pounds, nor shall it apply to female horses."

Well at least we got THAT straight!!

And speaking of laws - the new tax-cut bill that Obama signed I believe is a good thing. While on the outside it LOOKS like he caved in to the Republicans in the long run it is a sweet deal.  A screen pass per say. 

By 2012 the deal's "big new stimulus" component will most certainly lower unemployment and help the economy in the short term. By MAKING Obama cut this deal they have basically helped Obama win re-election in 2012 and Obama knows that!

The GOP has won the battle but in doing so is losing the war. The bill contains all sorts of GOOD things for Joe Common, unemployment insurance for another 13 months, EITC expansion, college tax credits, and a pay-roll tax cut.

As the far left get all anal about Obama moving towards the Center by not making the uber-wealty not pay taxes the GOP all of a sudden can not vilify him by being stubborn.  

I think most democrats are dumbass's and most republicans are just angry cry babies and the tea party . . .well . . . sigh . . . ANYWAY - the GOP got played on this one!

And that bill which is HUGE?  HA!   Internet Poker players are watching this as there might be a tiny little bill slipped into the middle that would allow Las Vegas Casinos to have their own internet poker rooms!  Sort of like how the Republicans slipped the anti-poker bill into the anti-terrorism just after midnight!

Have a warm day - we should hit 30F degrees (T-shirt weather finally) tomorrow.

Rod    

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It Was 30 Years Ago Today That Sgt Pepper Passed Away!

When I was younger I would see "old" people with their tray of pills and vowed never to be one of THOSE kind of old people. Now that I'm nearing "old" I see that before bedtime I have my little tray of pills. Nothing dramatic, a couple pills to boost my lack of GOOD cholesterol and one pill to raise (or lower) my triglycerides and an aspirin and then I see I have a Vitimin E and if I remember I take a Ginko for my memory . . . if I remember.

I think that once you hit a certain age you realize that if you have not been killed by a bone head blunder YET - it's only a matter of time. BUT - why risk dieing of natural causes (which would be SOOO boring).

This is also why my little cubical at work is now full of bubble warp. Some people think it's just leftover from hanging my artwork on the 7th floor but in reality - it's going to save my life when Scott Walker or Governor elect (although he believes he is already our Governor) car bombs our building to get rid of his State employees who are the cause of the budget deficit.

I will be protected by huge quantities of bubble wrap.

Although I will need massive skin graphs as the plastic will melt to my body but after a year of intense pain I'll be back at my gray desk and gray chair living the dream of a being a civil servant.

I hope it happens soon as I have an early retirement coming up in late March.
-----------------------------------------

Do you remember where you were when John Lennon was gunned down 30 years ago today? There are a few dates I remember from the past. JFK's death I was cleaning erasers in school at lunch time (I had been naughty and put a box over a door so when the teacher walked in the box fall on her - but it was not the teacher that walked in it was the Principle which was funny for only a few seconds).

I remember Princess Di's death (which was odd because I really had zero reason to care at the time). I remember JFK Junior (what was his real name anyway) dieing in a plane crash because he interrupted the British Open.

I remember the Space Shuttle Exploding because I was cheating taking  an Accounting test at the time.

Man that Ginko is really working!
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It was one year ago today when I did not come to work because of copious amounts of snow (13.5 inches). 

At least it felt warm yesterday wit ha high of 23 I believe.  Next week we will have highs near 5F above (at least it's ABOVE).    Couple inches of snow tomorrow late.

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Work  . . . . . . . . hmmmm . . . .maybe the Ginko is NOT working.  I typed "work" and went for coffee!!  Not a clue what that thought linewas - perhaps it was telling me to GET TO WORK!!

Cheers!

OH - BTW - I ordered a  A 13 shot venti soy hazelnut vanilla cinnamon white mocha with extra white mocha and caramel.  Only cost $13.76.  Tastes like I only got 12 shots though. What a rip off!

 MAN I'M WIRED!!!   

Rod

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Ginko is making me

Trivia Question.

Who caught Brett Favre's last TD catch in Lambeau Field- answer at the end.
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Josh and Jenny went to a symposium about Ginko and how it has shown to help kids with Down Syndrome. Something about how it get's rid of plaque which causes Alzheimer's.  Seems one of the odd things about kids with Down Syndrome is that they all get Alzheimer's at a very early age (like teens or something and I'm sure Jenny will correct me) but THEN by some sort of miracle they cure themselves.

Well - I figured what the heck - I'll buy some Ginko and pop one every day and I won't forget stuff as I grow old and decrepit.

Ever since I start taking the Ginko I forget what I'm going to write blog about!  At least I still know what a blog is!
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We went to Millers to kill our Christmas tree and this year we went with a Concolor Fir.  What?  Concolor Fir? Yea - I had never heard of it either, it's also called a White Fir.  It's not a long needle and not a short needed - sort of an inbetweener.
 
While we were at the farm they were having sleigh rides which would transport you to different parts of the farm (it's pretty big).  They have like 4 or 5 different areas with different trees and to get there you take the horse drawn sleigh. 

We had our tree already but what the heck - let's take a ride. So we did a circuit and then I felt I had to get my camera so we went again.  This time I took some photos along the bouncy trail. I can't remember what the names of these Belgian Work Horse's were, (Matt and Mike?) but each weigh 2000 pounds and one pooped like a MoFo once.  Talk about a close up education as I sat in front of the sleigh! (no photos).

Belgian Work Horse's are the strongest of the heavy breeds of horses and a team of two can pull 17,000 pounds for up to 7 feet if  . . . . you needed to have something moved 7 feet and had two of these horses standing around doing nothing.

Here is Mike and Matt(?) taking us down the trail towards the Douglas Firs 

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Man the Bears are so lucky - everywhere I read they got a game changing break from the refs on a bad call by Ed "Hochules" Hochuli, who seems to be making a lot of bad calls this year.

Ever wonder what these refs do when not blowing calls that go against the Packers?

Ed is a lawyer for a HUGE firm in Phoenix and he specializes in . . . . civil litigation in  Bad Faith and Extra-Contractual Liability, Complex Litigation, Insurance Coverage and Fraud, Legal Malpractice and Professional Liability, Product Liability Defense, Trucking and Transportation Industry Defense, and Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Defense.

Yea- very very specialized, I wonder how much he would charge for Traffic Ticket Defense.

Actually "Hochules" is a very good ref for the most part, just bad timing as far as the Packers are concerned.
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I was watching Inside Lambeau Field Saturday night as I was feeling very ill (thought I was getting the flu) and the guest was Desmond Bishop.  They ask what he was the most proud of and he said he was proud to be the guy that caught Brett Favres last TD pass in Lambeau.  

THAT was funny!

Did Favre AGAIN end a season with an interception? In fact I think this will be the third time he has ended his career with an INT?  
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Who could have predicted THIS.

I want to see what happened next!  

Sort of reminds me of when Elwood and I were landscaping and with a wheelbarrow full of dirt we decided to share the load.  He took one side and I took the other side.

LIFT!

Lasted for less then 1/2 second!   Lesson Learned. No one was injured! 

And THAT reminds me of when I was on a bike and wanted to see if I could put my right hand on the left handle bar and left hand on the right handle bar. What could possibly go wrong.   I believe that was another 1/2 second event.  I was amazed how fast that experiment failed.

Maybe I need MORE Ginko

Keep warm.

Rod

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Gas up the blower

Here we go - the winter of 2010-11 is about to hit us with both fists! POW - right in the kisser! I'm thinking in Columbus we will be in the 5 inch range and Madison an inch or two more! Mostly coming on Saturday and THEN C C C Cold and sunny! For our house sunny is the key word. We have so much passive solar heating that our heating bills are directly related to how much sun we get.
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In other news the Packers will be wearing their butt ugly blue and yellow polka-dot uniforms this Sunday.

As far as the playoffs go - it's all going to rest on the final game of the season with Da Bears in teh FORZEN TUNDRA January 2nd unless either team collapse. I the Pack do beat the Bears we own most if not all the tie breakers!

If both teams end up 12-4, they would both be 5-1 in the division. The next tiebreaker would be record vs. common opponents, they'd both be 10-2. Tiebreaker #4 is record within the conference. The Packers would be 9-3, the Bears 8-4.

If both teams end up 8-8, the Packers would be 4-2 in division, the Bears 3-3.

If both teams end up 11-5, the Packers win on most of the combinations of how the teams could get there, either on division record, record vs. common opponents or conference record. There is also one way in which it could come down to the 5th or 6th tiebreakers (strength of victory and strength of schedule). In both cases the Bears would almost certainly lose because of their win against 1-10 Carolina.

And if both teams end up 10-6 or 9-7, the Packers could still win the tiebreakers.

SO - the Pack just have to keep winning.

Up dar north Brett Favre has announced that he's done after this year! Which, weirdly I have to think is probably true this time . . . unless the Vikings run the table and Brett feels he is once again a superhuman.

In case you are wondering Favre has a TD to INT ratio the game after he retires of 22to25.
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Survivor - I'm just pissed WIMPS!!!

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Did you see the moon this morning? That is Venus shining next to it. Very beautiful.  Another cool feature in the night sky is the constellation Orion and you will recongize the three stars which comprise Orion's Belt. The bottom star is Alnitak and is 100,000 times brighter then our sun. It's 800 light years away. Alnilam is the middle star and is 1340 light years away. The top star is actually the double star Mintaka and is 90,000 brighter then our sun.

We all know that the universe is expanding and sooner or later the sky will be basically void of all stars (a long long long time from now) as we all drift apart.

As the stars drift new patterns will emerge, yet Orion is in such an area that it will be around for much longer then other constellations. So . . . . .get used to it.

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Check out this supercell thunderstorm that rolled across Montana.  I would seriously wet my pants if I saw that!  

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For you guys out there - check out this new "game changing" weapon that squads are beingn equipped with in Afghanistan.

The XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System a pinpoint accurate and programmable grenade launcher. I feel manly just saying that!

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I'm not sure how I feel about this story but I gotta say the quotes are rather  . . . . funny?

An illegal immigrant in Polk County Florida who got pulled over in a routine traffic stop ended up killing the deputy who stopped him. The deputy was shot eight times, including once behind his right ear at close range.
Another deputy was wounded and a police dog killed.

A state-wide manhunt ensued. The murderer was found hiding in a wooded area and as soon as he took a shot at the SWAT team, officers opened fire on him. They hit the guy 68 times. Naturally, the media went nuts and asked why they had to shoot the poor undocumented immigrant 68 times.

Sheriff Grady Judd told the Orlando Sentinel: "Because that's all the ammunition we had."

The Coroner also reported that the illegal man died of natural causes. When asked by a reporter how that could be since there were 68 bullet wounds in his body, he simply replied "When you are shot 68 times, you are, naturally, gonna die."
  
See what I mean?   Those wile and whacky Floridians! 


Enjoy the last full day of no snow on teh ground for . . how long?


Rod

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COPS - They're Everywhere and game changing virus's

Last night as I was driving to Cannery Wine and Spirits to go to work (part time - I owe them so much money I needed another job)  there were Police cars EVERYWHERE. I guess they pulled over a car for some tiny thing and three juveniles ran out of the car and scattered with money bags in hand.  hmmmmmm!

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That house explosion in Sun Prairie? There are rumors about a meth lab which would make sense. Nothing confirmed!

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In Columbus a couple weeks ago Kim was taking down the decorative corn stalks that were downtown when a deer runs down the middle of James Street! Didn't see THAT in the Columbus Journal did ya!

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There is a WONDERFUL story in the Miami Harold titled "Fla. Down syndrome teen crowned Homecoming queen" If you want to read a truly heart warming story that will get you all misty eyed this is the one. All she wanted was one friend, and she got an entire school!

It seems when you get older and are not around teenagers anymore except for being  a parent and like even then all you know about teens is Hello, Goodbye and drive safely so all you hear are the bad things on the news.  But in reality teenagers are just like adults . . but younger  (there was a 30 year government study that proves this conclusively - I guess they followed some teenagers for 30 years and 100% of then became adults, except for one guy).

But teens are basically good!!  This High School proves it.  

Except teens do not have the skills of reading facial expressions!  That is weird isn't it?  Teenagers do not have the skill for non-verbal communications yet and 93% of all communication is non-verbal!  


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The mission: Infiltrate the highly advanced, securely guarded enemy headquarters where scientists in the clutches of an evil master are secretly building a weapon that can destroy the world. Then render that weapon harmless and escape undetected.

And in the world of super high level James Bondish espionage comes a story about the Iran Nuclear problems - Uncle Sam You got some splanning to do!

But in the 21st century, Bond doesn't get the call. Instead, the job is handled by a suave and very sophisticated secret computer worm, a jumble of code called Stuxnet, which in the last year has not only crippled Iran's nuclear program but has caused a major rethinking of computer security around the globe.

Mystery Surrounds Cyber Missile That Crippled Iran's Nuclear Weapons Ambitions

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And you think today is cold?  There is no bottom to the temperature today - wait until tomorrow to see a bottom.

Cheers
Rod

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Wisconsin Film School needs you help

The Wisconsin Film School is doing a fundraiser and I was contacted for some help.  They would like some help in identifying scenes in Public Enemies which people would recognize as Wisconsin.  One is the inside and outside of the State Capitol.  Can anyone spot any other blatantly Wisconsiny scenes?
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Hey - I had an Obama loan when we refinanced.  Seems many people wanted to refinance but if you are upside down (meaning your loan is now more then your house is worth) you would be denied AND you would have to pay the $300 for having your house inspected.  

So Obama's Home Affordable Modification Program says that if you feel your house is not 80% yours yet you can get refinance BY THE SAME MORTGAGE HOLDER without all the paper work.

Cool - so along with the extra money we have been getting in our checks for 2 years we saved another $200 a month in mortgage.
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On November 24 1960 the first natural gas lines reached Columbus . . . .WHAT???  did everybody have wood stoves to heat their houses?  Did Columbus get electricity 10 years later?  When do we get DSL???
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The Chamber of Commerce now has a weekly blurb explaining they are moving forward and the website is under construction.  How long does it take??

I swear - Parliamentary Procedure, when it comes to small clubs and groups is SUCH a tremendous waste of time.  Seriously - because of this adherence to rules nothing ever gets done.  OR at least everything is slowed by at LEAST 75%.

Plus the fact that in a small group one person is always the leader  which goes completely against the whole Parliamentary Procedure thing.  Sure there is voting but . . . no one wants to vote against the leader right?

Just get things done - don't sit around and analysis and discuss everything for months.  10 things done with small problems is WAY WAY better then NOTHING done perfectly.
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Columbus Family Dental has their new website up with all photos (except 1 . . . .oops - a few) by little ol' me!  Let them know how awesome it looks. Here is the email - just say - "WOW - nice website - love the photos".  :-) 

I can't believe they did not use this one.  I think if they had a big one of these hanging in their waiting area kids would love it.

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Packers - a lot of people will blame Special Teams for losing (actually for EVERY loss this year) but if that guy had not of grabbed the face mask the dude would have run for 30 more yards anyway.  In reality it was the lack of a running game where you can be 3rd and 1 and you don't have a clue how you will get that one more yard.

THAT was the reason the Packers lost.

Yea - the Vikings win and now will win the next 5 games and Brett's will say - I CAN BE GREAT AGAIN and will come back next year.

I heard that if Oregon and Auburn both lose next week the Badgers could be in the National Championship game. Just reporting what I heard. 

Steelers linebacker James Harrison has been fined $100,000 this year on illegal hits!  This is like some guy still driving with 8 DWI's. Get some balls and crack down!!
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Weight Watchers is having a sale.  Fruits and Veggies are now FREE OF POINTS on the PointPlus System!!! 
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As I was driving back from Fort Atkinson I was looking at Christmas Lights of all the towns I went through.  Fort Atkinson had really pretty lights and Lake Mills was WONDERFUL, well done Lake Mills. Waterloo just looked hidious - they have zero decorations and those GHASTLY street lights.  Those downtown street lights have to be the worst in the world!!   Columbus is nice in a simple way.

I'll see Sun Prairies tonight! I should make a little project out of this . . . if I only had more time before it got dark (which is like 4:30 now).   I have so so many projects just waiting for when I have time.

Any other towns worth noting? 

OK - gotta run - have a great Monday - watch for rain later and a mammoth cold front coming our way tomorrow.

OH - looking for Christmas trees?  Found a great place called Millers Christmas Trees   they have 10 different trees, Fraser, Balsam, Cannann & Concolor Fir; Scotch, White & Red Pine; Blue, White & Serbian Spruce - highest price is $6 a foot for.


The #1 best Christmas tree (from a vote) is a Fraser Fir and has excellent needle retention along with a nice scent. Fraser fir was named for Scot botanist John Fraser.

 Here is a nice site that talks about all the different pines and what to expect.

Top Ten Christmas Trees

Have a great Monday! Remember - Monday is the #1 Heart Attack day - be careful out there.

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So long Minnesota - Happy Trails to You

Well - I typed in public enemies .blogspot . com and found a totally different website this morning. Forgot to add Columbus. OOPS
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I'm off all this week and today I woke up to the tiny pitter patter of hail stones on my window! It's going to be a very warm day today getting to near 60 and getting C C C C COLD later this week!!

I might come to Madison later today near sundown if the streets will be went as I'd like to get some State Street shots with inclement weather . . or at least wet streets.

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Then there are the Vikings, actually Minneapolis as a whole when it comes to sports. The Timberwolves are known through out the NBA world as the worst team in the NBA.

But the Vikings - the Star Tribune has headlines "Vikings play 'atrocious, bad football' in lopsided loss'"

Not only could it be Favres last start, Chilly's last game to coach but this COULD be the last year the Vikings are in Minnesota as their owner is looking for a new stadium and the people of Minnesota might not want to pay for it after this years . . . year.

It was the 8th worse home loss in 50 years and it's probably never good when players are bickering and yelling "F*uck you" to each other on the sidelines!

BUT - if you are a Packer fan let's not ignore the defense that had a shut out, then a meaningless TD that voided a 2nd straight shut out and then one field goal that voided a third straight shut out. Before yesterdays game after simulations were run the Pack had a 18.8% chance to get to the superbowl but the schedule ahead is not kind.

Here are the remainder of the games with the team efficiency rankings.

@ Atlanta (11)
San Francisco (16)
@ Detroit (20)
@ New England (3)
New York Giants ((5)
Da Bears (25)

Yea - the worst team we play are the Bears (who are in 1st place).
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The Holiday Parade (don't call it Christmas or you will insult somebody) will be this Friday.

If you look in the Columbus pharmacy's, Julie's Java House of Kim's West James Gallery you will see new Christmas post cards.

You can see this 20x30 image at Julie's. 

And I'd like to thank the people who purchased my two images of Columbus at the Columbus High Reunion as $500 went to a very good cause.
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I hope some of you saw the new show on Discovery last night called Brew Master.  I thought it was a great new show and featured the head dude from Dogfish Head Brewery which is known as the most extreme of the Craft Beer genre.   The guy started as a 10 gallon brewery making two batches a day every day and is now one of the leading brewery's when it comes to exciting new beer.

Sunday nights at 9:00.

I have not had a chance to make beer for a while but with the Odd Fellows (is that one or two words) calling for a Brew 101 class  the Wort Hogs (home brew club) are getting some special brews going.

 If anyone wants to attend a Wort Hog meeting you are all welcome.  While home brewing is the common link we are a craft beer club also and just talk beer.   Come on down, the next meetign will be December 16th at Cannery Wine and Spirits in Sun Prairie.

If you have never been to the liqueur store it is a wonderful place for gifts like special cheeses and a GREAT selection of craft beer (rated "A-" in Beer Advocate).


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That's it - I seem to have a small writers cramp of late.  Just not much to say.

Have a nice Monday and a short week and remember - eat aggressively.

rod

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bad news and then good news and then excellent news - Kangaroo care

Now I know why Walker is trying to get all Wisconsin retiree's back to Wisconsin - he is trying to save us!

Randy has been on the waiting list for a heart transplant for years because of cardiomyopathy, his heart muscle is deteriorating. The condition is the result of rheumatic fever he had as a child (exactly like what I had in the 3rd grade).

Because a heart transplant costs $997,000 his insurance would not cover the entire amount but in Arizona a State Agency would cover the extra cost for low-income people (like Badger Care in Wisconsin). He was forced to quit his plumbing job so. . he was low income.

FINALLY after years of waiting he was next in line and the 36 year old with a 3 year old son was excited.

BUT - the very next day the State cut out all funding for heart transplants in order to save money (like Walker wants to do)! Sorry Randy!

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Then there is Target the Afghanistan war hero dog. Perhaps you saw him on Oprah a few weeks ago? She was a stray Afghanistan dog that befriended American solders and she and a couple of her friend dogs chased away a suicide bomber who tried to blow up a military base. The bomber did blow himself up along with a friend dog and severally injured Target.

Well, Target and Rufus were on tour in America and Target escaped out of her yard on Friday. They found her at the shelter but thought the shelter was closed on the weekend. So Monday the handler and his 3 kids went to pick her up but . . .

the shelter accidentally euthanized Target her Sunday.
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ENOUGH BAD NEWS

There is a sapphire frenzy with the engagement of Prince Willy and Princess Elect Kate. I believe now is the right time to try to corner the market on ALL sapphires!!
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In West Virginia a guy was rummaging through his attic and found an old painting depicting the Texas Revolution's decisive 1836 Battle of San Jacinto.

Seems it's been missing for more then 100 years and is worth $100,000.


More good news

It was a final chance to say goodbye for grieving mother Kate Ogg after doctors gave up hope of saving her premature baby.

She tearfully told her lifeless son - born at 27 weeks weighing 2lb - how much she loved him and cuddled him tightly, not wanting to let him go.

Although little Jamie's twin sister Emily had been delivered successfully, doctors had given Mrs Ogg the news all mothers dread - that after 20 minutes of battling to get her son to breathe, they had declared him dead.

Having given up on a miracle, Mrs Ogg unwrapped the baby from his blanket and held him against her skin when an extraordinary thing happened.

After two hours of being hugged, touched and spoken to by his mother, the little boy began showing signs of life.

At first, it was just a gasp for air that was dismissed by doctors as a reflex action.

But then the startled mother fed him a little breast milk on her finger and he started breathing normally.

'I thought, "Oh my God, what's going on",' said Mrs Ogg.

'A short time later he opened his eyes. It was a miracle. Then he held out his hand and grabbed my finger.'

'He opened his eyes and moved his head from side to side. The doctor kept shaking his head saying, "I don't believe it, I don't believe it".'

The Australian mother spoke publicly for the first time yesterday to highlight the importance of skin-on-skin care for sick babies, which is being used at an increasing number of British hospitals.

In most cases, babies are rushed off to intensive care if there is a serious problem during the birth.

But the 'kangaroo care' technique, named after the way kangaroos hold their young in a pouch next to their bodies, allows the mother to act as a human incubator to keep babies warm, stimulated and fed.

Pre-term and low birth-weight babies treated with the skin-to-skin method have also been shown to have lower infection rates, less severe illness, improved sleep patterns and are at reduced risk of hypothermia.

and that is the good news!

Rod

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They Shoot Horses Don't They

There is a food cart on the square who's owner used to be a big advertising dude in Chicago. He really loves my photography and is making a new food cart. This will be a vegetarian solar green cart and he would love to have an image by me that go onto his cart (like a mural).

If anybody has any ideas what would look good on a veggie/solar/green food cart I would love to hear them. Plus - remember IT'S WINTER, not like I can run outside and take photos of lush green crops or anything.

On the same subject I was reading the Art Fair forum and they wanted to know the best wisecrack a person has had to listen to and I mentioned the woman who said

"How do you get that "paint by number" look.

To be honest at the time I thought it was a valid question for that particular image. She was not actually insulting because I knew EXACTLY what she was talking about. Yet - as the day wore on that line kept going through my head.

About a half hour later on the forum a guy comments on that particular wise crack

"OK, I gotta admit, this is one of the best I ever heard. It's insulting on
so many levels!"

Of course THEN I had to tell the story about what Kitty B'Gosh did to me at the NEXT Art Fair.

A woman comes into my booth and looks around and then seriously ask's "How do you get that paint by number look".

The blood was rushing from my brain when she breaks out laughing and introduces herself as a bloggette.

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Remember that youtube video a few days about of the tower falling the wrong way? Stop Light dude lives just a few miles from that place. The reporter who interviewed him about Public Enemies was slightly injured by a falling wire.

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I had a real LOL moment today while reading the USA Today. One article is talking about the Vikings and Favre saying the movie "They Shoot Horses Don't They" comes to mind!

This next game on Sunday COULD be Favres last game of his career. He is already positioning himself with an MRI today and I'm wondering if in the 3rd quarter after Mathews sacks him for the 4th time, if all the coaches will gather around him, shielding him from the crowd and we will hear a gunshot.

JUST KIDDING!!!      (they would not shield him)

Then after my fantasy ends I read on. They say his passer rating is 72 which reads like a cadavers body temperature.

I really think that Green Bay will be his last game.
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Speaking of republicans - there is one I like and would actually vote for, but then I would have to move to Alaska. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski.   Any republican that does NOT want Obama to fail is a good one. She says why would anybody want our President to fail!

Also "Palin lacks the "leadership qualities" and "intellectual curiosity" to craft great policy. "

Not all Republicans are bad and not all Democrats are good. I have never voted one party but I do seem to vote mostly Democratic.
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Rod

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No More TV after this week!

The last meaningful game in Farves career is next Sunday. There is no line yet as the linemakers are waiting for the Brett Farve injury of the week announcement, or whether Chilly will be fired or maybe the entire team quits leaving only Chilly (who hates Brett) and Brett (who hates Chilly) to play the game by themselves.

The Bears are in 1st place over the Packers because of the tie breaker but even though the Bears have 6 wins they will end up with MAYBE 8. You see the only game they have won against a REAL opponent are the Packers who pretty much gave them the game. Otherwise the Bears have beaten teams with a combined record of like 9-36. Now granted they can only do what the schedule permits them to do but . . .
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I worked a shift at Cannery Wine and Spirits Friday night and it's an interesting brain challenge. Long ago I was a wine enthusiasts and knew pretty much everything about wine, but . . . . . that was 20 years ago. American tastes have changed and it seems Gewürztraminer is much much more popular then it was 20 years ago.

If you have a spicy food, a Gewürz is the perfect compliment. I have not had a Gewürz in like 20 years, I'll have to get one!

The aroma of Gewürz is distinctive with a mix of lychee nut, rose petals, peach, and spice while the flavors are delicate with rich spice and fruit flavors of honeysuckle, peaches, apricots, grapefruit, gingerbread, vanilla, clove, nutmeg and allspice peach, apricot, and tropical fruit, you get the idea!!  It is FULL of delicate flavor.

Personally - I do not believe it goes well with Turkey or fish. I would go with a Chardonnay or a Sauvignon Blanc if I was forced to drink a white wine for Thanksgiving. If you are having Ham I would certainly go with a Gewürz.

It's just me but I don't think a white wine goes with Turkey - just to much whiteness for me. I would rather have a red with Turkey,  not a heavy tannic Cab, but a Merlot or Pinot Noir.  Pinot Noir has very little tannin so it will not overpower Turkey.

One note - if serving a red, open the bottle a good hour before the meal (2 hours would be better) and then 20 minutes before serving put the bottle in the refrig, this will bring out the fruit and repress the alcohol!

ANYWAY - while I know beer I'm having to access my wine brain cells again (glad those were not killed, or maybe I should say  . . some survived!).

Pat and Kathy who own Cannery Wine and Spirits  really have a good thing going and I can see that they won't actually have to PAY me as I'll keep buying cheese, bacon,  alligator meat (yes, they have alligator meat) kringle,  beer and wine along with home brew supplies. (OH OH - this is sounding line an infomercial).

Maybe it was not a smart move on their end to hire me.  They were making a nice profit from me! 

BTW - have you ever seen their floor? I had always found it curious but never enough to ask . . .why???? The place was a carpet store before they purchased it. Their floor is all samples of  . . stuff, check it out, tell them Rod sent you for carpet scraps!

The building was built about 1890ish and the store is ACTUALLY the 2nd floor of the building. In the basement (more like a catacombs*) are bricked up windows for the 1st floor! The streets have been built up so much that the 2nd floor is now 1st floor.

** to the right the security camera catches Pat and Rod looking for more Miller Lite! 

**Catacomb = ancient, human-made subterranean passageways for burial or protection of beer and wine.

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I'll have to see if I can find my camera again.   It's been a while since I clicked a photo. So GRAY out!  AND DARK!!!

Also - this will be the last week for TV shows until January as we move into holiday season. This is actually a good thing as I can catch up an all the shows on the DVR!!

OK - have a great day.  OH - I see Scott Walker will solve the budget problems by taking funds away from  education!  He wants everybody in en equal footing with him!  After all, he didn't  need an education to become Governor.

nuff said

Rod

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We have a new "W" and "DJ - FacebookDetective".

Here is a trivia question.

Who was the first man to pee his pants on the moon!
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What a day for Scott Walker our Governor elect! This is going to be an awesome 4 years!

First he sends out a very very arrogant letter telling Doyle what he should do and tells the Unions to STOP negotiating immediately if the Unions want to have a working relationship with the new administration. Then tells DOA how to do business until he is sworn in.

THEN - he says he is going to Florida (on tax payer money) and Arizona to talk retiree's into coming back to Wisconsin because they are spending Wisconsin money in Florida and Arizona.

THEN he bullies the Governor of Illinois by telling ILL business about how bad Governor Quinn is and how Walker will try to lure ILL business into Wisconsin. So now Illinois hates us.

geez - this is right out of Rod Blagojevich's playbook! The guy is a freaking lunatic!

So far the Mayor's of Wisconsin two largest Cities are telling him he is wrong about High Speed Rail. The Obama administration is telling Walker he is wrong AND now Walker’s fellow Republicans — at least the honest ones — are telling the governor elect that he is wrong about High Speed Rail.

The only ones that are telling him it's GOOD to cancel High Speed Rail are the ones that donated money to him because they were told the money from the Rail would instead go towards pet projects (road building).
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You know how when you shut down your computer the background loses color? Well I did that and geez - this image looks sort of nice in Black and White.

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I was sitting in the car waiting for DJ after work and she was crossing the street. All of a sudden she bowed and I thought it was nice of her to bow to me but then I realized she was picking something up. It was a billfold and it was full of credit cards and all sorts of ID cards. Like crazy full of cards, health cards, ID's, Credit Cards, Social Security card, library card , drivers license, more cards then I have ever seen before.

Yet - not one phone number. It was some 22 year of college dude.

We did not want to give it to the police as they seem to lose things (my phone). So DJ thought, he is 22, has to be on Facebook!

We get home and can not find him at first but she does find a relative but the number is disconnected. More searching and after about an hour - BINGO!!! She PM's him and later last night they make contact!

a Facebook Victory!

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This weekend I HOPE to get more mulch thrown down - I think 4 cubic yards might have been to much. Have to do it before it freezes in to a big lump! Blake thinks it's a big poop so he poops next to it!

Did you know that a cubic mile of fog is made of less then one gallon of water?

. . . . Buzz Aldren!

Have a great weekend

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The Carnival Cruise Line Diet

Next time you think you are having a bad day . . . . . . turn up the volume and listen to the voices!

Why do I chuckle inside when I watch this !! LOL



So Scott Walker found out that the money he thought he would have when he nixed High Speed Rail is not really going to flow into Wisconsin. Illinois wants it if we don't want it.

At least his next plan - to rescind the smoking ban and create toll ways are moving forward! I can already see this administration will have all sorts of brilliant ideas!

Of course I suppose many of you think I'm just anti-Republican and I'm not. I actually do not blame Bush for many of the things many Democrats blame him for!

I don't blame Bush for our economy as much as I do not blame Obama for the BP Oil Spill. It's normally just who is in the chair when bad things happen.

It's the many many small things that take place which most Americans never know about.  That is the power of the Presidency. There are really only a few BIG things which a President can do that change our lives. Supreme Court Justices and so forth.

The economy is way way to large for one guy to really have any BIG impact. All a President can do is try to nudge it one way or the other and with every nudge the results will show up in 5 or 6 years!

Now you say that the War in Iraq killed the economy. Partly true but can you really blame Bush? Both sides of the aisle were raising their hands and saluting after 911 and I'm pretty sure a very large majority of Americans were not THAT against the war . . . in the beginning!  

In fact there was a greater percentage of Americans PRO Iraq War there were Pro WWII. 

I'm not saying I thought the Bushpublicans were right, in fact I feel they were idiots how they actually went about goign to war, they were blundering fools! 

All I'm saying is that you can not ALWAYS blame the other side of the aisle for bad things happening.  Remember - while Republicans blame Obama for the Bank Bailout and while Democrats say the Bank Bailout WORKED.  Remember that it was Bush that actually started the bailout! too weird!

People get so worked up on blaming that they no longer see clearly.
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I'm going to go on the Carnival Cruise Line Diet.  Spam, Pop Tarts and water!

I had to laugh when I saw that the cruise ship that broke in mid cruise had no electricity, plumbing or anything and the only food they could get were, Spam, Pop Tarts and water.  AWESOME CRUISE!!!

nuff said

BTW - I'm a rock star over at the Sports Handicapping blog (Grinders Warehouse).  My picks are an unheard of 41-19 in the NBA Against The Spread.

Rod

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Scott Walker LOL

I have to laugh at Walker. I guess he wrote a rather aggressive note to the Fed explaining how stupid it was to make Wisconsin use their free 300 million for High Speed Rail and we should use the free money to fix roads.

The Fed comes back and says - it's our money and we will give you 300 million for high speed rail, if you don't want it - screw you!

The Fed's vision is to have High Speed Rail all across the U.S. like forward thinking Europe. And this is a way to get it started. Walker said he has the backing of other States that do not want the rail system.

I've looked into other States that High Speed Rail and reviews are pretty good. People like it! I really don't care. But seems to me that that extra few hundred million would go towards jobs and create revenue.

Walker is an idiot.
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OOPS - was I not suppose to press the red button?



The official response is that it is an optical illusion and it's a plane flying TOWARDS the camera. Yea - good one.

LUCY? YOU GOT SOME SPLAININ TO DO!
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Because I'm spending a good amount at Grinders Warehouse, a different blog, which deals with Sports Handicapping and my entire life now revolves around the NBA in which I am the only person that cares about the Milwaukee Bucks West of Racine!

With that said and not wanting to vacate Columbus, the Woodwidow had an excellent review of Nepoli's. I know many of you do not read the comments and missed this!

The Wood Fairy and the Woodwidow are kind of food snobs, so we weren't sure what type of evening we would end up with when we took a chance on Napoli Friday night.

Wow! Even with your raves, we weren't expecting that!

Although it was past 7pm, the waiting area (bar) was jam-packed. We did find a place to sit, and had a chance to admire the refurbishing. Really nice, elegant taste in colors and furnishings and whatnot. The WF figured he'd have to keep pressing through the crowd to get to the bar to renew our drinks (beer and wine)... but surprisingly, one of the bartenders kept coming to the back corner herself to make sure everyone was taken care of regularly.

Our indicated wait of 30 min. ended up being only 20 min., and we were whisked to a fabulous table by the window. Throughout our meal, all the tables remained filled. Good for them!!

And our meal? Wood Fairy reserves his praise with pizzas, but he loved the one he received. I took a big leap and ordered the salmon, and then cursed my adventurousness-- never expect a decent piece of fish in anything other than a place where you expect a decent piece of fish...

And so, shock! It was wonderful! Fresh, flaky, delicately flavored, and the topping was just right. Side veggies perfectly done. Just delicious.

The Wood Fairy is a tiramisu connoisseur, and this one was rave-worthy-- maybe even the best in a long time, if not ever...

The surprises weren't done yet. Even though we noticed that the prices were low, we still weren't expecting a tally akin to, say, a Laredo's or a burger pub.

We left very, very happy! I sure hope the place can keep things going just as they are for a long time to come!

(That pretty much reads like a poorly-disguised owner-planted post one finds on social message boards... but I don't know a soul involved.)

Thanks M - hope you don't mind if I reprinted this.

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So long Al Harris

Looks like the Packers will cut Al Harris - here is the thing - his knee was OK but there are other options and they can save $2 million!.

Remember - good teams cut aging veterans a year early while bad teams keep then a year too long. Packers are a good team and it is a business remember!
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Contrats to Columbus - 65% voter turnout!! WOW - excellent job. I'm also proud to know that Columbus is a progressive town as Barrett beat out Mr. Shifty Pants and Feingold BLASTED Mr Milk Toast Johnson, while Tammy Baldwin beat some teenager.

The legislators won, both Republicans so it seems that while Columbus bends left it's more of the clear thinking people voting. Not just voting one way out of habit.

One one other note - why can't we have write in referendums!

For the straight party voters it was basically 50/50, And it was about 50% of the voters were . . . . straight!

I'm personally disappointed in Fall River as they seem to like Mr. Shifty Pants AND Mr. Milk Toast.
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Saturday night Josh, Jenny and Caydence (and Sydney) were over and we wanted pizza. They had never had Nepoli's pizza so we ordered a TWENTY-TWO INCH Pizza.

Well - we went to get it and - OH MY!!! The box barely fit through the door and it was a problem getting it into the car! I had to shift into drive before Josh could get into the front seat.

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Since when does the Columbus Journal run an entire page of SPAM on page two!! The kind that LOOKS like it 's a real news article. So much for news! Very sad!
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I worked my first hours at Cannery Wine and Spirits in Sun Prairie. Cash registers are way different then 25 years ago when I worked in my last liqueur store.

I really enjoyed it actually. I like being around and talking to people, especially about BEER and WINE. I did learn that Stone Brewery (they make Arrogant Bastard) will be discontinuing selling their beer to Wisconsin, too much competition.
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I'm a little short as a lot of writing is going into my other blog - Grinders Warehouse. My NBA system is clicking along and gamblers want to know the picks so . . . .

Plus what is all this WORK I have to do! ridicules!

Grinders Warehouse

Have a quick day!
Rod

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A View (not The View)

So Scott Walker ( Mr. Shifty Pants) says he will fix Wisconsin by penalizing government employees. How did Wisconsin get into this mess? Simple.

During the years of massive profits everybody was making money including the State Government. So instead of saving money for bleak times, the people in charge said this is the perfect time to create all sorts of new programs such as Badger Care, we finally have the money.

All sorts of things were made to help the people of Wisconsin and nobody complained. The education system reaped huge benefits as class sizes went from 30 to an average of 17 per room and so forth and everybody was happy.

NOW - all of a sudden revenues are not coming in and all of these programs are struggeling to make ends meet. So on one hand Walker is correct - government is too big AT THE MOMENT.

In his campaign he said he would cut government spending. Well - the ONLY way to make a REAL impact would be to cut funds to education, transportation and Health. Those are the three biggest money suckers! All the other programs add up to let's say 5% of the Wisconsin budget. Think he will cut funds to education, transportation and health? Well - he wants to nix Badger Care. Those damn poor people never contribute to the economy!

This was on my mind because I was reading some posts about how Mr. Shifty Pants has already basically cut 300 jobs while he tries to scrub the high speed rail. The reasoning is that it MIGHT cost Wisconsin 12 million dollars a year.

He says - that money can be used to fix transportation.

Here is the problem - Republicans won the elections with a "don't spend what you don't have" attitude. So while he axe's the rail system he is not SAVING any money, he is just not SPENDING money. So he can't use the 12 million to fix the roads - HE DOES NOT HAVE IT.

I know for many of you I am preaching to the choir but here is a wonderful article from the New York Times written by Timothy Egan.  It's a great read.

How Obama Saved Capitalism and Lost the Midterms.

If I were one of the big corporate donors who bankrolled the Republican tide that carried into office more than 50 new Republicans in the House, I would be wary of what you just bought.

For no matter your view of President Obama, he effectively saved capitalism. And for that, he paid a terrible political price.

Suppose you had $100,000 to invest on the day Barack Obama was inaugurated. Why bet on a liberal Democrat? Here’s why: the presidency of George W. Bush produced the worst stock market decline of any president in history. The net worth of American households collapsed as Bush slipped away. And if you needed a loan to buy a house or stay in business, private sector borrowing was dead when he handed over power.

As of election day, Nov. 2, 2010, your $100,000 was worth about $177,000 if invested strictly in the NASDAQ average for the entirety of the Obama administration, and $148,000 if bet on the Standard & Poors 500 major companies. This works out to returns of 77 percent and 48 percent.

But markets, though forward-looking, are not considered accurate measurements of the economy, and the Great Recession skewed the Bush numbers. O.K. How about looking at the big financial institutions that keep the motors of capitalism running — banks and auto companies?

The banking system was resuscitated by $700 billion in bailouts started by Bush (a fact unknown by a majority of Americans), and finished by Obama, with help from the Federal Reserve. It worked. The government is expected to break even on a risky bet to stabilize the global free market system. Had Obama followed the populist instincts of many in his party, the underpinnings of big capitalism could have collapsed. He did this without nationalizing banks, as other Democrats had urged.

Saving the American auto industry, which has been a huge drag on Obama’s political capital, is a monumental achievement that few appreciate, unless you live in Michigan. After getting their taxpayer lifeline from Obama, both General Motors and Chrysler are now making money by making cars. New plants are even scheduled to open. More than 1 million jobs would have disappeared had the domestic auto sector been liquidated.

“An apology is due Barack Obama,” wrote The Economist, which had opposed the $86 billion auto bailout. As for Government Motors: after emerging from bankruptcy, it will go public with a new stock offering in just a few weeks, and the United States government, with its 60 percent share of common stock, stands to make a profit. Yes, an industry was saved, and the government will probably make money on the deal — one of Obama’s signature economic successes.

Interest rates are at record lows. Corporate profits are lighting up boardrooms; it is one of the best years for earnings in a decade.

All of the above is good for capitalism, and should end any serious-minded discussion about Obama the socialist. But more than anything, the fact that the president took on the structural flaws of a broken free enterprise system instead of focusing on things that the average voter could understand explains why his party was routed on Tuesday. Obama got on the wrong side of voter anxiety in a decade of diminished fortunes.

“We have done things that people don’t even know about,” Obama told Jon Stewart. Certainly. The three signature accomplishments of his first two years — a health care law that will make life easier for millions of people, financial reform that attempts to level the playing field with Wall Street, and the $814 billion stimulus package — have all been recast as big government blunders, rejected by the emerging majority.

But each of them, in its way, should strengthen the system. The health law will hold costs down, while giving millions the chance at getting care, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Financial reform seeks to prevent the kind of meltdown that caused the global economic collapse. And the stimulus, though it drastically raised the deficit, saved about 3 million jobs, again according to the CBO. It also gave a majority of taxpayers a one-time cut — even if 90 percent of Americans don’t know that, either.

Of course, nobody gets credit for preventing a plane crash. “It could have been much worse!” is not a rallying cry. And, more telling, despite a meager uptick in job growth this year, the unemployment rate rose from 7.6 percent in the month Obama took office to 9.6 today.

Billions of profits, windfalls in the stock market, a stable banking system — but no jobs.

Of course, the big money interests who benefited from Obama’s initiatives have shown no appreciation. Obama, as a senator, voted against the initial bailout of AIG, the reckless insurance giant. As president, he extended them treasury loans at a time when economists said he must — or risk further meltdown. Their response was to give themselves $165 million in executive bonuses, and funnel money to Republicans this year.

Money flows one way, to power, now held by the party that promises tax cuts and deregulation — which should please big business even more.

President Franklin Roosevelt also saved capitalism, in part by a bank “holiday” in 1933, at a time when the free enterprise system had failed. Unlike Obama, he was rewarded with midterm gains for his own party because a majority liked where he was taking the country. The bank holiday was incidental to a larger public works campaign.

Obama can recast himself as the consumer’s best friend, and welcome the animus of Wall Street. He should hector the companies sitting on piles of cash but not hiring new workers. For those who do hire, and create new jobs, he can offer tax incentives. He should finger the financial giants for refusing to clean up their own mess in the foreclosure crisis. He should point to the long overdue protections for credit card holders that came with reform.

And he should veto, veto, veto any bill that attempts to roll back some of the basic protections for people against the institutions that have so much control over their lives – insurance companies, Wall Street and big oil.

They will whine a fierce storm, the manipulators of great wealth. A war on business, they will claim. Not even close. Obama saved them, and the biggest cost was to him.

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