How to run for City Council in a small town

Oops - first mistake - Small CITY!!   Since when does a group of homes containing 5000 residents become a CITY anyway.

Today I will hand in my GAB-169 (Nomination Paper for Nonpartisan Office) with 30 signatures.  This is after I filed my GAB-1 (Campaign Registration Statement) and I'll have to submit my GAB-162 (Declaration of Candidacy) and yes, I believe I will bring a hat so I can toss it at someone.   I wonder what the "ring" is at City Hall.  They must have something special so I can toss my hat into it.  Will a "cap" be all right??

So as I was walking around getting signatures and it seems many people have opinions and felt they had to express them to me.

One thing is that everybody hates the City Council!!  I want to be part of that hatred  LOL

Actually what I found interesting was that I would go to one home and they would complain and then next home they would complain on the OPPOSITE side.

Roads were the big issue.  The snow plowing was big but again,  while some people were pissed off at the snow plows others complained about the people complaining saying if you want better plowing you can pay more taxes and to use common sense WE HAD 22 INCHES OF SNOW!!  Of course the streets are not perfect. 

The new school thing was a big topic.  Half the people wanted a new school because it brings families to town.  The other half said it's the teachers that teach not the school and building a new school was insane.

One thing I need to remind people is that Columbus has more then DOUBLED in size (112%) since 1900.  That's 112 years.  We gain 23.5 residents per year.  I'm not sure Columbus is going to all of a sudden BOOM - be a high growth city.  

I WILL push for erecting a Peter R. Morris Museum!! (Peter was a Welsh Major League Baseball shortstop in 1884 for the Washington Nationals of the Union Association). and of course there is  John Falk "Bob" Poser  who played for the White Sox and St. Louis Browns.

BUT - I digress.

60% of the people I talked to thought our taxes were way too high and 40% said taxes were not bad.  Oddly the people complaining about taxes were the blue liberal people while the red conservatives were OK with taxes.   Weird.

I think the one thing I want to do if elected is somehow show people why the taxes are as they are.  WHY do we pay "so much".  I want to show Columbus residents where the money is going.  For instance.  At the last council meeting they were discussing buying some new thingy at the water treatment plant.  

Sounds boring but it's $$$ and being Mr. Curious I would LOVE to see the actual thingy they are buying and to know what it actually does.  OR why does the City spend $5000 on cleaning head stones at the Cemetery.  Not disputing it but . . Mr. Curious wants to know why??   

remember - I blogged about the  Columbus Water Works 

Instead of blindly following maybe I can somehow teach or show residents how the infrastructure of the City operates.  Knowledge is a wonderful thing.
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I'm watching two big crows walking around the base of my bird feeder cleaning up.  remember - FEED THE BIRDS.  They are sort of in a pickle as their food source has been covered up.

I was looking at Wiki about Sparrows of which I have a flock.  It says  " It is extensively, and usually unsuccessfully, persecuted as an agricultural pest, but it has also often been kept as a pet as well as being a food item and a symbol of lust and sexual potency, as well as of commonness and vulgarity."

WHAT?   " a symbol of lust and sexual potency"  What??  oooo baby - I am your sparrow of love!!  Yea - that's hot. 

Saw a Bald Eagle fly overhead near Cnty V yesterday.  I was driving south and saw a bird with a huge wingspan coming towards me.  At first I thought it was like a blue heron or something but they are gone.  Then it flew right over me and it was a bald eagle. SWEET!!

Anybody know what kind of common bird this is?  He/she lives on our neighbors house.  

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I took this photo yesterday.  I have been waiting and waiting for better weather (clouds, blue sky) but that was not happening.  And with snow starting to fall from the trees I decided to take some shots of that black barn as you come into Columbus and make a B&W scene into a B&W photograph. 

So I parked the car beside the road and climbed the 5 foot high snow pile beside the road and then stepped onto the clear sidewalk on the other side.  hmmmmm   forgot that was there LOL  

This is such a great photo but on a tiny computer you can't see the detail as well.  I think that is the great thing about the image.

To give you an idea here is a closer view . . . hmmmmmm . . . I like this crop job also.

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DJ seems to have re-caught the cold that is going around.   Down for the count last night but being a trooper and hated government employee she trucked to work as a good civil servant this morning. 

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Going to ILL for a late Christmas.  If anybody see's moving vans in front of our house please call the Police.  

Cheers

Rod 

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Little Columbus WI in the news AGAIN!!

Gotta love Columbus. 

Let's see.  We had a bank employee stealing money, then we had a computer fix-it place steal hard drives and then the entire computer (next to The Cage), then the Chiropractors Wife allegably was caught using money from the St. Jerome Parish (like hundreds of thousands) to do all sorts of fun things (for her), then someone throwing rat poison onto peoples yards to kill their dogs and then Saturday the City Admin resigned abruptly because his enemy (and many peoples it seems) found some past dirt on him (reasons that are still unknown but I'm sure it will be very interesting) and now it seems Mama Mia's Restaurant (across from The Cage) is closing because it seems the owner was selling cocaine from his restaurant.  I KNEW those meat balls made me extra peppy and numbed my mouth!!

Next thing you will hear is that three people are running for City Council and another one for Mayor.  WAIT - That is actually happening?   Three mostly leaning red right Council members are being challenged by blue leaning common people?  A blue town with a red City Council just seems weird. 

At least that is what I have been told.

What an exciting little city we have here.     

So why am I running for City Council?  Am I crazy?  OH, yes, I AM just crazy enough to run for Council, I think you have to be a little crazy. 

Here is the thing.  Ever since I moved here I have been the #1 cheerleader for Columbus.  From a blog that had 10,000 hits a day from 71 Countries to speeches in front of the CDA and The Odd Fellows and columns in the newspaper that stole every-bodies money and Letters to the Editor in the current newspaper.

I've been pretty outspoken on my views of Columbus.  Saying things like how this town is NOT the weirdo backwards place that people seem to think it is.

Five years ago I said that there is a large silent majority that is just waiting and building momentum.  I knew this because people would come up to me and tell me this.  Over and over and over.  They would say it's so nice to hear from someone that is not of "the old guard". Someone with a fresh perspective, no grudges from the past and yada yada yada.

SO - after I received some phone calls because my name kept coming up in conversations and then Assembly Woman Mary Arnold calls me and asks me if I would run. . . . 

WELL - perhaps it's time I got off my ass and did something for this town (besides getting 17, mostly out of town people to paint the train station). 

Columbus has a pretty interesting governmental history, bizarre is another word.  From the youngest Mayor in US history (people hated the mayor so much they literally voted for anybody) to the Councul buying a bank for $1 and moving it 2 blocks for a few hundred thousand dollars and finding out it was unusable, or buying another building next to City Hall and moving it a couple blocks (now a day care). And don't forget something like 10 straight 1 term Mayors and mayors being kicked out of office and all sorts of squabbling.


Maybe it's time we had some common sense sitting in one of those super polite stiff chairs. Yes Mr. Davidson, that is so astute of you Ms Perkins, Well said Mr. Sneath.  Good God people, this is a town of 5000 where everybody knows everybody. Do people really talk this way?   Hello Mr. Adams may I have a Campfire Porter please, Why yes Mr. Melotte Thank you Mr. Adams.

Yes - City Council is an important place but perhaps we would not build barriers around each other if MAYBE we could talk as friends?  Not foreign diplomats!  Maybe we should all wear wigs (that would ROCK).    

The problem with being on the City Council is that you can't win. Most of the time every decision will cost the citizens money somehow.  You have to look at the future knowing that whatever you decide will piss someone off.  They will never see 10 years from now how your decision 10 years earlier saved them money.   

For instance - when times are tough, THAT is the time for the City to decide on things like a new school.  Sooner or later Columbus needs a new school if it wants to grow.  Families looking to relocate want a good school system.  Things are cheap now, labor is cheap, building materials are cheap.    Of course what will happen to the old school (no one has answered that yet).

When  the economy is running full steam, that is NOT the time to make bold moves and spend all that excess money.  When labor is expensive, land is expensive, materials is expensive?  Buy High?  No!  If you can save that money save it for the future - but many politicians (of which I am not) believe that is when you should spend money because they might not be around later.  

At least in theory. 

As you know I have zero actual experience in city government but I do have common sense and the ability to look at multiple sides of the problem AND make a decision that is not just going along with everyone else because we have always done it that way.

And that is my spiel (to utter, express, or describe volubly or extravagantly).

RM 



  

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Draco

OK - here are the official totals I posted for CoCoRaHs who reports to NOAA.

Columbus WI - Total storm 21.1 inches with 2.54 inches of Precip..

Looking at other reports coming in, most are from southeastern WI. Seems a lot of late reports from the Madison area.   1.5 inches of precip for yesterday is common with 3 or 4 inches of snow.  Columbus had 1.55 inches YESTERDAY from 7:00AM to 7:00AM.  We had 5.5 inches before 7:00AM yesterday.

NOTE - most Madison reports have storm totals in the 15 range for the entire storm .
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Make sure you put something out there for the birds as most of their food sources are covered up.  Also better fence in you burning bushes and other yummy rabbit food shrubs as they will be looking also.

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Not often I'll snow blow THREE times in a day.  My snow thrower is a little broken.  The handle that engages the blades has a loose cord and I only get 50% power unless I actually pull the cord with my hands.    I was hoping there was so way to tighten the cord but I have not found it yet. 

Just got a call from DJ - as of 8:00   151 between Cbus and Sun Prairie is horrible.  Once you hit Sun Prairie it's dry pavement to Madison 

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Facebook was a gas yesterday.   Here are some photos I relayed to others. 

To my buddies that are stuck living in Florida that are always sending me photos of sunsets.

Yea - We have palm trees and relaxing chairs in Wisconsin also!!

 

SNOWMAN  DOWN    SNOWMAN DOWN.

We will rebuild

Before and after

Yea - we have seagulls.

It's funny watching the crows trying to walk on the snow. 

This is in Madison.

Wisconsin - Closed for Business

That's it.  Probably no many people reading this from work today.

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I was worried that my slightly left leaning blog would be a deterrent in running for CC but then I went to a facebook page of one of the other Aldermen.  OMG - I think it is actually RIGHT of the Tea Party and is circulating around back to the far left.  Let's not only arm the teachers but lets arm the students also  LOL

not really but . . . . you get my point.

So I went to the Columbus Middle School Wednesday and they had a very sweet retired woman at the front door to take the first bullet.  REALLY?  She was checking people into the school . . . not really sure how much of a deterrent she would be.  Maybe she is a black-belt.

I make a joke about taking the 1st bullet but when you work for the government it was a common "joke" that the first cube next to the door was the first bullet cube.  Since Republicans have turned society against all government employees because we are nothing but evil servants sucking on the financial tit of America. Yes - there is stress in government buildings.     That is why I have have nunchuk's hidden all over the building.   I'm like Dwight in The Office. 

Have a very happy warm holiday season from the Melotte Family.

RM 

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I'm IN . . . soon.

Milo to cat slept on my head last night.  His head was on my head and I had such weird confusing dreams.  Big dogs, fast moving sloths, a bear . . . . . .I bet Milo had confusing dreams also like high school, can't find your locker, late for a test and you don't know where the room is.  Very confusing for a cat.
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Today I pick up papers to run for City Council for the 2nd district.   I'll have to get 20+ signatures. 

The big news from the City Council last night was the news about American Packaging.  They are NOT leaving Columbus but relocating to the new Gateway Industrial Park which is currently that big corn field next to the Hospital.   They will expand and move their WORLD HEADQUARTERS to the cornfield. 

Seemed to be a hush hush business deal.

Everybody was talking about how wonderful this would be as this is the "gateway" to Columbus.  My question is will it be a butt ugly addition to the exit? Sort of like the other side of town??  God that is butt ugly and an embarrassment.   Personally I'm not as excited as the mostly right wing City Council was but I don't have all the information.  Not against the right wing at all but a few are REALLY REALLY right wing . . if you know what I mean.

If I'm elected this blog will become a nexus for information on what is happening in your government. I mean - why is the Police Chief MAKING laws.  He should be enforcing them, not making them (speaking of the demerit point thingy for bars). 

I read over the minutes for an entire year of CC meetings in the last few days.  Lots of money just being given away.  $5000 to clean grave stones for instance.  hmmmmm

I'll be running around looking for signature. No worries if you do not want to sign.  I never take anything personally . . .except personal checks.   Want a yard sign????  

Rod
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Here Comes Draco

Winter Storm Draco cometh!

This morning the most accurate model has 10 inches for Madison (which seems to be in a little non-snow hole) and 10-12 in Columbus.  But the snow will not be the real problem.  The heaviest snow will be Thursday morning but the problem will be starting noonish with 35-40mph winds creating blizzard conditions.

This will be a paralyzing winter storm 

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SO - how is the Melotte family preparing for Draco?  First thing I do tonight is run to Pic-N-Save and by ingredients for Haggis!!    What's that Christmas song? 


Here we come a-haggising
Among the sheep so green;
Here we come a-wand'ring
So fair to be seen.
REFRAIN:
Love and joy come to you,
And to you your haggis too;
And God bless you and send you a Happy New Year
And God send you a Happy New Year.


In case you are wondering Haggis is a savory pudding with a nutty flavor. Traditionally Scottish dish, considered the national dish of Scotland and is traditionally served with "neeps and tatties". Alton Brown loves Haggis and here is his ingredients. mmmmm

1 sheep stomach
1 sheep liver
1 sheep heart
1 sheep tongue
1/2 pound suet
minced 3 medium onions
minced 1/2 pound dry oats
toasted 1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried ground herbs

So what is YOUR favorite haggis recipe???

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MELOTTE - Looking Forward with Common Sense. 

YUP - I'm running for City Council Ward 2 (pretty much everything south of Waterloo.  It's all I'm saying at the moment.  

NO IT'S NOT!!!

Here is the deal.  My name KEPT being brought up and all these years I have been whining about how Columbus is such a great city but no one ever participates, they only complain and oddly, they always complained to me!!  Seriously, not sure why but I was always some sort of sounding board. 

WELL -maybe it's time I get off my ass and do something.

I tried Main Street Org but it was not the right fit.  I tried joining the CDC but was told the Council had to approve it (not sure that was actually true but . . . I got the message).

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I'm in my Fantasy Super Bowl and as typical for the last 4 weeks, I'll have to pull some players out of my ass (also called the waiver wire) to win.  The team I beat WAS the best team in the league.

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Rod

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Weather - guns - politics -sports

Just trying out some things here!!  I'm not REAL sure what YOU see - I like the "Magazine" look best. 

Packers - when trick plays work you look like a genius - when they don't - wow WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!!!   
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WATCH OUT - Winter is on it's way.  According to CIPS, a fairly new research system that takes weather models and compares them to the last 30 years - we got a doozy coming.  20% chance for 12 inches, 60% chance for 6+ inches starting late Wednesday and through Thursday.

Here are two predictions 24 hours apart.  The first was from Sunday morning and the seconds is from this morning - notice not a lot has changed.  Maybe a slight movement north by 50 to 75 miles but things are pretty stable meaning the storm, at the moment, is very predictable.

Right not the heaviest now chances are right over Madison/Columbus.   IT'S ON!!

HOWEVER - some models are saying the storm will more further (farther?) north.

 The latest ( as of late Sunday)estimated snow totals. 

If the LOWS go further north we will have less snow so watch the weather.

This weekend we had 0.47 inches of precip.  

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A cure photo of Josh, Caydence and Sydney 

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I was contacted by Mary Arnold Assembly District 37woman and asked to run for City Council.  This was the 3rd person to approach me.  I'm starting to wear down!  Actually I believe I would do very very well.  Not only am I used to people being mad at me but I've played 1000s of hours of SIM City which some call a game but Minneapolis used the simulation for city planning.   It's a guns and butter simulation of running a city with all the problems that real government have, taxes, roads, strikes, godzilla. 

I'm seriously thinking about this now.   AM I CRAZY???  I hate politicians - or actually what many politicians have become.

And yes - I would actually be a little more serious.  I would LOVE to have Halloween on Halloween but 51-49% pro Halloween on Halloween is not enough to change.   However I would vote to have a dome placed over the town to keep the snow off the streets.


Rod Melotte - Looking Forward with Common Sense.   snort - I just had beer come out my nose (I wrote this Sunday night). 

Hey - it's not like people don't know me! 
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Guns - I said this on facebook and thought it was quotable.

Every few weeks there is a slaughter and every few weeks people say, now is not the time to talk about policy.

Well just when is the fucking time to talk about it. Seems its not between slaughters either.

 ** 
Here is the problem - no one has a solution. All the anti gun people start running around with their hands in the air saying we should melt down all the guns and yada yada yada.   NOT a valid solution. 

Just like the war on drugs is a losing battle through law enforcement - the REAL way is education.  The guns that are killing people are guns that have been taken from someone else (a generalization but . . ).    

A kid accidentally shooting a gun is not because he was able to purchase a gun. It's because whoever owned that gun was a dumb ass and left it out where he could play with it - I KNOW, I've done that (I was the kid part).  There needs to be more education for people that HAVE guns.  Maybe force them to buy a lock box to store them.  Maybe if someone causes harm with YOUR stolen gun, YOU should also have the same consequence and go to jail also. 

Just thinking out loud.   

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Wisconsin is now ranked as the 42nd best state to do business in.  Walkers "Open for Business" is a total failure.  Job growth is now projected to be second worst in the U.S. through 2016.

Wisconsin is Open for Business! What a bunch of baloney.  Walker got everything he wanted and then some, yet it’s not working. Why is that? Could it be that trickle down is the same failure on a state level as it is nationally? 

The thing is I totally understand where Republicans are coming from and on some things I agree. But there has to be a way to have both ways work in unison.  You can't screw the middle class hoping the future will be better and the citizens will all love you in 20 years (like in Sim City).

Lower taxes - everybody is happy, many people move to the town and the infrastructure goes to hell.  Then raise taxes, lots of people will be angry and move away but you will have lots of money to fix things so you can lower taxes again.   Simple.

However - humans don't operate that way in real life.  We are concerned with RIGHT NOW!  Not some promise for wonderful jobs in 5 years.

Whatever - I have bored myself. 

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But otherwise - I'm on a winning streak.   Champion in Fantasy baseball. PROBABLY in the Championship in Fantasy Football (I need Shonn Green to run for 10 yards tonight). 1st place in both Confidence football picking leagues.  Won a huge "A" bet on New Orleans and my NBA system is clicking along.   Life is good sports-wise.

Units won

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UnionEd / Rain / Bridgejumper / sigh Droessler

Want to congratulate my buddy UnionEd for retiring this week after 30+ years with the State. Feels a little weird doesn't it UnionEd.  BTW - lots of people were feeling bad after you left Tuesday without saying a PROPER goodbye.

All your life you look forward to that last day and then when it comes, at least in government work is is so anti-climatic.  "yea, see ya".    Keep in touch.
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Well now - When Columbus was looking for a new Mayor lots of people were chanting Grinder for Mayor.  Last night I got my first formal request to run for city council against David Bomkamp.  Reason being.

"There are a lot of people from town, myself included, upset with the strong arm of the police force, the lack of support for downtown, and behind-closed-door deals for development."

Well, as you all know I'm not a real political guy and I have very few opinions on anything and pretty much keep to myself never wanting to stir the hornets nest.

LOL

actually that is why I would be great on Survivor - I LOVE stirring the hornets nest.  Not going to run though. Seems like a lot of work and meetings. 

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I have been to maybe six chiropractors in my life.  Three were witch doctor quacks that would rattle beads above my shoulder and tap parts of my body with tiny play hammers.  Two were great deep massage therapists and then I found Terry Droessler in Columbus.   

Seriously, he is/was amazing.  Soft spoken and caring and actually cracked bones and made me feel GREAT. Took xrays (see criminal complaint on the mention of xray equipment) which on one else ever did.

I only go to a chiro when I REALLY have too after a few weeks of pain.  The thing was that not only is/was he a good chiro but I LIKED the guy. He has a way of lowing your blood pressure just by talking to him.

WELL - then there is his alleged wife.  Seems she has been a very very naughty person the last nine years and reading the criminal complaint I PREY that Terry was one of those "you take care of all the books honey" people and new nothing about the alleged embezzlement scheme going on at St Jerome Church. But . . . . . .  

So many things were purchased  I won't even want to go into ALL the shenanigans. 

Here is the police report if you want to read it - or read a majority of it or maybe just skim for big number$.

Criminal Complaint

What gets me is that the Columbus Police Department investigated THIS business but did absolutely nothing about when 10 people were having their hard drives stolen.

I have two images on Droessler Chiropractor walls.  I think they were purchased with ill-gotten (is that a word?) funds.   Am I an accomplice?
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The 2013 Rain Year race is getting close.  After last weekends heavy wet snowfall here is the graph.  2009/10 has actually taken the lead with last year on our tail.  OH - IT'S ON BABY!! 

Rain coming this weekend.

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THE MIRACLE AT LAMBEAU!  

Wouldn't it be cool.

Elwood and I were beering last week and talking about the Packer game.  I said there was a chance for fog or haze or mist and then an idea came to me.

What if it was a hazy foggy game and when the stadium lights were on the light waves would hit the Packer helmets and bounce up making little halos above the players heads.   SWEET!!!


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Got an "A" game in my Bridgejumper system.  BET THE FARM on the New Orleans Saints at -3.5.  System is 61-16 in 22 years ATS.

Elwood and I are doing awesome in my NBA scheme.  Up 35ish units.  Had some stress lately but got through it.  And when trying to unstress myself I found two side bets that came through for me.  I love numbers!   When one team was an 8 point fav the UNDER hit 14 out of 17 times. When the other was 8 point dog the UNDER won 12 out of 16 times!!  I played the Under and won.

Going to branch out into my 3rd Sportsbook - I think 5Dimes will get my $$. Elwood is investing more also.  He is actually running a reverse labby on the system . . . but now I'm getting technical.

BTW - I've been working on a project that proves - NEVER EVER buy a 1/2 point in the NBA. 
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Josh and Jenny went to the big meeting about the school referendum and came away saying "WHY would anybody NOT want a new school".  Fixing the Middle school makes absolutely zero sense which is my feeling also. 

For some reason I am so proud of those two going to that meeting.  Caydence and Sydney could not ask for better parents.  Both are doing great.
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OH - that warm lemon water trick I mentioned?  DO NOT try that if you have a sore throat.  Seems the acid in the lemon and a raw sore throat do not mix well AT ALL.

 Also - in an attempted to Hydrate Naturally DJ and I tried VITA COCO - pure coconut water with orange.  OMG - it tasted like dirty laundry water.   I love coconut juice (from a coconut) but this stuff.  yuck.

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keep dry this weekend.

Rod

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Lemons / Walker / Old Fashions

Interesting things going on in Michigan - sort of like Wisconsin politics except for ALL Unions.  This whole Right to Work deal.   The Republicans do not believe they should have to pay to be in a union that has money going toward the Democrats .

Well - I don't believe I should have to merchandise from businesses that are in the Chamber of Commerce because their money goes towards the Republicans.  

Statistically being a "right to work" state DOES bring more business to a State.  However those business pay less for their employees.  It's all about what is more important.  More business or poorer citizens. 
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And then their is Walker.  Remember that John Doe thing?  Walker-Gate?  Some of you might think that it's almost over.  No Way - it's getting to the good part.

Landgraf (the head dude) is conducting this probe EXACTLY the way District Attorney's do when attacking the mob.  They find the lowest fruit on the tree and squeeze them until they give up the next guy on the chain. 

Tim Russell and Kelly Rindfleisch really got off nicely with slaps on the wrist.  Russell 2.5 years for embezzling (not caramelizing as my spelling corrector wanted me to type . . . that would be a totally different story)  $21,000 from a Veterans group and Rindfleisch 6 months in jail for only one of four  felony counts of misconduct in office.

Both those crooks were 2 degrees of separation from Walker and  now we come to the Cindy Archer - Walker's Administration Director of Administration.  Remember her?  The woman who had her house raided?  ONE degree of separation from Walker.


Seems  Tim Russell and Kelly Rindfleisch might have thrown Archer under the bus to get sweet deals.  Her and the Chief of Staff ,Tom Nardelli who says he had no idea what was going on in his office (although he DID hire her) are the next targets for Landgraf. 

Archer and Nardelli take orders directly Lord Walker.

And lets not forget that dumpster of material the Walker Administration illegally attempted to dispose but was found?  OOPS!  This has not come into play yet.

No one can predict if Walker will ever be charged with a crime.  But if I was a betting man the chances of him BEING charged are greater then him NOT being charged. 

As a friend of mine says "All signs point to a vibrant and ongoing investigation into an Administration that appears to have engaged in improper no-bid leasing and sales of County property to Republican aligned business interests at the expense of the average Milwaukee taxpayer."
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Warm Water and Lemon.    WOW - who knew this was a miracle drink. What an amazing way to kick start your day.  10 reason you should drink warm water and 1/2 a lemon every day.

Boosts your immune system: Lemons are high in vitamin C, which is great for fighting colds.  They’re high in potassium, which stimulates brain and nerve function. Potassium also helps control blood pressure.

Balances pH: Drink lemon water everyday and you’ll reduce your body’s overall acidity (a very good thing).

Helps with weight loss:   Lemons are high in pectin fiber, which helps fight hunger cravings.

Aids digestion:  Lemon juice helps flush out unwanted materials. It encourages the liver to produce bile which is an acid that required for digestion.

Is a diuretic: Lemons increase the rate of urination in the body, which helps purify it.

Clears skin:  The vitamin C component helps decrease wrinkles and blemishes.

Freshens breath: Not only this, but it can help relieve tooth pain and gingivitis.

Relieves respiratory problems: Warm lemon water helps get rid of chest infections and halt those pesky coughs (man do I need that right now).

Keeps you zen: Vitamin C is one of the first things depleted when you subject your mind and body to stress.

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Brandy Old Fashions.  

Or you could start every day with a Brandy Old Fashion.  DJ has discovered  Brandy Old Fashion  ("OMG this is the best drink EVER").

So if you have a Brandy Old Fashion recipe that has been handed down through generations let us know about it.

I like what a NY Times writer says about this drink.

Your past always catches up with you. Growing up in Wisconsin, I had an ingrained awareness — and disgust — of the state’s insular signature drink, the brandy old-fashioned. It was what people drank before and after football games or ice fishing. I considered it insipidly sweet and townie lowbrow, and I left before I was enough of a drinker to be proven otherwise.  

Case Study | The Old-Fashioned, Wisconsin Style

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OH - looking for Christmas Presents for people that cook?  We discovered Penzys Spices.  On the east side of Madison right next to Half Price Books.  WOW - what a wonderful place to go.  The store has over 100 zillion spices and each one has a big jar you can thrust your nose into for a smell.

I've never been able to compare 5 different kinds of Cinnamon before (I chose the Vietnamese Extra Fancy).

Awesome place.




 

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The SO CALLED Fiscal Cliff

I like how all the news people now put "SO CALLED" in front of "Fiscal Cliff" (which is more of a slope in reality).

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Been fighting this cold for a while now - thought I had it beat over the weekend but then BAM - Sunday night there it was again but this time a little stronger.  Not a bad cold but one of those  almost colds . The kind that makes sleeping a hassle because you can't breath but once you are up you feel 80% good.
****
SO - yesterday I spent time installing 5 canvas images on the walls of Filene Research Institute.  I used french cleats for attaching to the walls.   Looks a little out of the way but when you enter the main office that is the first thing you see. 

I also saw their finished conference room where I have my B17 hanging.

And one more thing I had a hand in is their direct enterence.

This was originally taken from an iPhone and was about 100K in size.  Really tiny.  They asked if I could blow it up and I said how big and they said - Oh maybe 3 x 4 feet?   ummm  ahhh!

So I worked on it and once I was done they printed it on aluminum (about $1300 to do that).

Sadly their walls are filling up.
-----------------------------------------------

Odd thing about the SO CALLED Fiscal Cliff.

If Obama passes what he wants to pass it will actually hurt the blue states.  If the Republicans pass what they want it will have the most impact on hurting the red states. Ya gotta love politics.

Here is why.

If Obama raises taxes on the $250,000 people, the majority of the quarter mils are in blue states.  And really, it will have very little effect on the super duper rich because they get most of their income from capitol gains which have a much lower tax rate and won't be touched.

Obama also wants to end deductions on mortgage interest which hurts the people with high property values . . . also in blue states. 

So Obama will raise taxes on business owners while keeping the capital gains taxes low for the uber rich. He will then take out the itemized deductions on mortgage interest and state and local taxes. All of his plans hurt the blue states more then the red states.

HOWEVER - then you have what the red-publicans want to do.

The right want to make huge cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Those "unfair" entitlements that many many more people in the red southern states depend on.  Then they want to cut $300 billion in farm subsidies and $300 billion in cuts to discretionary spending.  Again hurting the red farm rich states.

The red states get much more federal money then they send in.  The blue states send much more money to the fed but get little in return as it all goes south.

Romney and the Republicans were the overwhelming choice for people that receive the most free federal money.

The people that were so against Obama will lose the most money if the Republicans get their way and the people that voted for Obama will lose the most money if he gets his way.

Don't get me wrong - for me it was all about the social aspect of the election, not the fiscal aspect.

SIGH - gotta love politics. 
------------------------------------

The Victories Secret Fashion Show.

I love it. Seriously. And it will be rerun on 57 the CBW(?) next Wednesday.  Many people have closed minds about the VS show but they have never actually watched it and only see little snip-its. 

Yea - gotta hate beauty.

But if you watch the show look at the outfits. They are engineering marvels.  Really, it takes a TON of talent making 30 pound suits that really look like works of art.  Watch the show for the art, not the sex.

When someone see's a million dollar bra some people are blinded and say why should I care, it's not real. No, it's not real, it's art.  

Last year one model was getting zapped from a short circuit as she walked the runway.  Who wouldn't want to see someone smiling as she is getting zapped.   

Plus the music - Last year Jay Z, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj and Maroon 5, this year  Rihanna, Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber.   

Maybe because seeing absolutely flawless woman wearing the worlds most high tech slinky outfits is  intimating to some as they sit on their couch eating popcorn dripping in butter but heck, if people are that unsure about themselves when they see the top 1% of the top 1% maybe they should not even watch television at all.

Just putting these things on is a major engineering feat.

Won't see THAT on a beach

 
OH - 275 days without snow - only 2 days away from a record!!!  

nuff said

Rod

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sTAY cALM

I guess I was sort of on a rant yesterday  LOL   No worries, I took my pills and am in my happy place.   Did I say anything about the Police Department yesterday??  I hear they are looking for recruits!  I wonder if I could be grandfathered in.
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Big day for Josh yesterday.  He got to be pepper sprayed AND tear gassed!  MAN - I wish I had a job like that!!

Morning Rod, Good Morning   SPRAAAAAY!!! AAAAGH!   Better then a cup of coffee to wake you up.

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

So this years Christmas decorations on our house will be more ground display.     I don't want to go on the roof and lean over the side installing lights.  Our front yard not only slopes downhill but also slopes sideways so the ladder has no level place except the sidewalk.   

So this year I thought I would put white icicle lights on the front porch.   I strung them all up nicely, turn them on and half were out.   I ripped them up, went to the basement and found another string. Plugged them in, all was well, took them up, nicely, plugged them in and.  BAH!!!  half are out.

I HATE YOU old school lights!!  Nothing but expensive LEDs for me from now on.

OH - ShopKo will soon have music.  I "complained" at the check out last week.  Actually I just commented about how quiet it was and it was creepy.  The check out said they have been getting A LOT of complaints but it was ShopKo policy to have no music.

HOWEVER - they said that they have received an OK from the top and  in "a couple weeks" they would not be so creepy.

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Warmest day EVER in December yesterday (in Madison which I would assume also in Columbus).  22 years ago yesterday Madison had 17 inches of snow.

So if we are so warm where is the cold??  Alaska and it's waiting it's turn to move south.  You really do not like seeing Alaska BELOW their average.  Yea - we're gonna pay for this warmth.  Pretty cold in Europe also.  

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

What if the Royal baby is twins.  Is it who comes out first?  WOW - what bad luck for #2 . . . unless they are identical twins which would be awesome.

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A blind guy on a bar stool shouts to the bartender, "Wanna hear a blond joke?"

In a hushed voice, the guy next to him says, "Before you tell that joke, you should know something. Our bartender is blond, the bouncer is blond. I'm a 6' tall, 200 lb black belt. The guy sitting next to me is 6'2", weighs 225, and he's a rugby player. The fella to your right is 6'5" pushing 300 and he's a wrestler. Each one of US is blond. Think about it, Mister. Do you still wanna tell that joke?"

The blind guy says, "Nah, not if I'm gonna have to explain it five times."

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

You Did hear about what happened in North Korea didn't you?

This news article in The Onion

Kim Jong-Un Named The Onion's Sexiest Man Alive For 2012 

was picked up by the North Koreans and they believed it was real. The Peoples Daily Newspaper then published a 55 page exclusive on Kim Jong-Un ad his sexiness!

OK - off I go.

Tally Ho
rm

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Walgreens.

hmmmm what should I whine and complain about today!

Gilda's Club - I'm a little pissed of at Gilda's Club as they are changing the name from Gilda's Club to CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY!

I'm a cancer survivor as I had a malignant melanoma so I can talk about this with a little knowledge.

I think it is a travesty how they can use Gilda Radner's name for their group but THEN come out and say, well, some people don't know who Gilda is so we're going to dump her.   WOW!  So they are basically famous name whores. Use'm up and throw it out!
  
I sent an email to info@GildasClubMadison.org saying

So once you have used up a woman's personality and name and she is no longer relevant and making money for you you just toss her out?  Even though she lost her life to cancer and helped your organization you just say "you are no longer needed"? 

I can't believe you are so uncaring at using Gilda's name but now just dump her.

I'm a cancer survivor and now I see your true colors.

I never used Gilda's Club. When I had cancer they sent me to a therapist and after 3 sessions I was sort of fired because I was not worried and depressed enough. Seriously, they kept telling me how I was blocking my feelings and not being all depressed and so forth.   I kept telling them that geez, I had the best technique (MOHS Chemo Surgery) in the world and they said they got 100% . . .why should I be worried and depressed??

Life is way to short to worry about something that I have no control of (basically). 

ANYWAY - back on topic.  If I was talking to someone about my cancer I would MUCH rather say I was attending Gilda's Club rather then saying I go to THE CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY!  I think they want people to be depressed and make them say the word cancer over and over and over again.

Send Gilda's Club an email.  Let's not forget Gilda.
------------------------------------------------------------

OH - Summit Credit Union now charges you to exchange dollars for pennies!   F U Summit

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

Walgreen's - first I have to jump through hoops to sell postcards to Walgreen's.  Then they never actually get paid for those postcards (although they say they did but you would think I would remember getting two $80 checks) and then they cancel my account and I go to Walgreen' to get my postcard rack and they threw it out!


Sharrow Drugs left downtown Columbus because insurance companies were starting to drop small town drugstores and it was getting harder and harder to deal with them.  So when ShopKo said we will work with you and want Sharrow to be inside our store Nick was all for it.  All employees were be hired and so forth.

What did Walgreens do?  They put up a big sign saying WE WILL ACCEPT ALL SHARROW DRUG CUSTOMERS.

WOW -   Stealing Nicks customers?   Really?  Not very town friendly are you.  Nick Sharrow said (getting this like 12th hand) that he would have have gone out of business rather then work with Walgreens.
------------------------

Had a little rain this weekend - finally.  Here is the race so far.  Remember - for NOAA the Water year begins October 1st. It's around that date when evapotranspiration diminishes and ground water starts to reload for next summer.   Here is the 4 year graph from October 1st for Columbus.

In case you are wondering - November was 3.3 degrees above the average high and 0.6 degrees above the average low.  1.49 inches below average in precipitation.

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

I brewed my Double Chocolate Stout Friday and watched Snow White and the Huntsmen.  Good movie.  Not really a mind bending plot twisty adventure but it was OK. 

I might be getting a man crush on Chris Hemsworth. 

Everything I have seen him in he seems to be a perfect fit.  Although I can't remember him in Star Trek as Jim Kirks dad.  









So I seem to be watching a lot TV shows where the characters have big accents.  In Copper all the actors have a huge Irish accent and in Hell On Wheels there are all sorts of conversation where I don't have a clue what they just said.   Is it me?  Have I lost the ability to hear the nuances of different dialects?  

Am I getting old?? WHAT DID YOU SAY SONNY??   

  --------------------------------

On this day in 1818 Illinois became the 21st State . . . .sigh . . . .so so many things I could say. 

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Our refrigerator continues to rot the floor under it.  I believe it is the defrost heater that melts ice and the melted ice drips onto our floor. 

I THINK.  We had a Sears repairman come out when it was still under warranty and he basically threw his arms up and said I DON'T KNOW.   It only does this at like midnight and by the time I get around to looking for the problem, no sign of water.  

I can't figure out how to find the problem. The back for the frig does not come off. How can I get in there to look for anything loose. 

And our dishwasher is not dripping water every so often.  

No water coming out of our stove . . . yet!! 

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BTW - Packer fans should now be worried about Russel Wilson and the Seahawks because they have the tie breaker.  

Rod

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Birds and Mouses

In the mornings I sit here and fill in my basketball spreadsheets and look at my database and procrastinate about taking my course in Access and while I do this I can watch the birch tree where I have my bird feeder. 

Note - thinking about adding a birch at the corner of the property since the golf course let a tree did with Jap Beetles.

Elwood calls it my ecosystem.

The last few weeks I have had five Blue Jays along with 20 or 30 sparrows attending my soup kitchen (a bird entitlement program) .  The one thing the Blue Jays do is they can make a sound that is exactly like a Red Tail Hawk.  I was reading about them and other birds benefit from Blue Jays.  Seems they will make this sound either as a warning, looking to see if any hawks yell back or to scare the sparrows.  Blue Jays are slow flyers and hawks will attack them

But - there is a pecking order with sparrows on the bottom of the list.  In fact it looks like it's a size thing as when the crows come walking in they are the kings and all watch them strut their stuff on the ground.  Have not seen the cardinals lately.

Odd thing about the Jays is that they sometimes migrate south and sometimes not.   They are monogamous, picking a mate for life and the male will feed the female as she broods (isn't that always the case?  LOL).  Both males and females will build the nest together.   

Life span can go to 17 years in the wild if they are careful. I don't believe birds ever die. I mean how often to you come across a dead bird just laying there.  Do they have grave yards? You would think with so many birds you would see dead ones more often.
--------------------------------  

NBA Chase is doing well except for that one stumble.

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Lots of driving today.  Picking up matted prints in Madison, picking up 5 large canvas's in Sun Prairie.

Visited the Middle School yesterday to have my photo taken for their yearbook with Collin. The 6th grade art class made a special gift for me which is really cool (refrigerator art).

OH - I have to put some orders in today.

I was contacted and asked if I could do anything with a photo so I took it and  . . .augmented it slightly so I could enlarge it and make it look more presentable.  While at Hobby Lobby today I'll have to look for a good size frame.

I had thought about making this a tall slim image like a vertical pano but that green slash of glass was just too good to pass up. I had to get that in there somehow. Not sure why it was green but I loved the reflection being green.

I hope that dude does not read the blog  LOL
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OK - I gotta get my football picks in for this week.  I'm in 1st place in two confidence pools and tied for 1st in fantasy football but I feel I peaked and am now going down.  Too many injuries, just like the Packers.

WHY did I pick LeSean McCoy as my 1st pick. He is killing me!  And my 3rd pick Jennings - a no show  sigh!   My best player was my 4th pick, the Bear Defense. . . .actually my BEST player has been Steve Ridlay my 11th pick.
------------------------

Anyone know about mouses??  My mouse will just stop sometimes as I'm moving the cursor across the screen.   Is this a mouse problem?  Software?  It's an corded optical mouse on felt mouse pad.

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OK - gotta make picks - cheers

Rod

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Faith and Butter

I know I'm the only guy in Wisconsin that follows pro basketball but it's only because I wager on it. I had a relatively large game last night not betting ON the Milwaukee Bucks but betting AGAINST the Chicago  Bulls.

Well late in the 3rd quarter the Bucks were losing by 27 and they put  all of their bench in to get playing time.  I had marked the game off as  a loss and was looking at the Bulls schedule.

Then a funny thing happened. The Bucks bench outscored the Bulls weary starters 31-4 and they won the game. WHOA!!  This happens a lot when a team comes home after a long road trip and relax with home cooking.  BUT  NOT WHEN UP BY 27!!    

So I'm 30-1 now.  Although 1 loss is actually 16 losses so I'm 30-16 in the NBA.  The 16 losses were tough to take but with backtesting I should  only lose the BIG game 4 or 5 times in a year.

I have faith.  And you know what Faith is?  Faith is Believe without evidence.  But Elwood and I have been backtesting every team with the last 10 years of data and we have faith.
----------------------------

The Fiscal Cliff. I'm so confused.  OK are both sides now giving a little or not.  Every hour I hear something different.   And come on - IT'S NOT A CLIFF.  It's a fiscal slope and actually a gentle slope at that. But slopes are not good.

On slightly the same subject. I'm reading a new book called "Patriots, A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse".  A work of fiction about a group of friends that bands together when the worlds financial infrastructure goes 100% belly up. Lots of great survival information (don't use hybrid seeds).

The thing is the book explains WHY the collapse (called The Crunch) happens and the author says It is a worse case scenario and could never actually happen.  1000% inflation, the dollar is worthless, the power grid is down  and so forth. 

So if you are one of those that collects things waiting for anarchy - better hope for a natural disaster.   
Here is a fun fact that was just told to me by a co-worker. 

When Social Security was established it was deemed that at 65 you could have social security, the average wage of a black male was 62.

When the average age of a black male was raised to 65 the government raised the SS age to 67.  Now that the average age of a black male is 67  the Government is talking about raising the SS age to 70.

Although it's 66 for me. I just made it!!  If you were born 1960 or later it's 67.

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

a few years ago I was in at a Pot Bellys on State Street and was watching a a "panhandler" and starting counting how many times someone gave him money.  I figured he was making at least $30 an hour.

Then on Ch 3 there was a segment and they had a woman with one of those cardboard signs near West town asking for money.  Along with pizza and other food she made about $40 an hour.

There was a dude I would give a buck too on the Square. Really friendly guy with a nice story.  One time I was on the other side of the street and saw him.  He was talking to someone and thinking them for a dollar with God Bless Yous and I was sort of shielded by a car and watching.

He walked across the street and was putting the money into a billfold and I swear there had to be a couple hundred in that wallet. He got no more for me.

I know give a dollar to the guys selling those papers. They are ACTUALLY
 homeless, not beggers making $50,000 a year.

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BUTTER - A friend of mine works in the butter industry. He buys and sells butter by the train load and we were talking the other day and I learned a few things.


Except for the small Craft butter industry - all grocery store butter COMES FROM THE SAME PLACE!!  In your normal convenience/grocery store all the butter is exactly the same butter. zero difference EXCEPT for price.


Some butter will have a Wisconsin sticker and some will have a Fed Sticker and the difference is that it costs 2 cents more to get a Fed Sticker. The same people look at it. 





So when you buy butter buy the cheapest butter you can get WHICH is at Kwik Trip.  Also, Grade A butter has a better flavor then AA.  Sort of like syrup.  The worst syrup when it comes to flavor is the highest grade.

You can freeze butter for a year.  The worst time to buy butter starts in November as this is the busy butter season.   The drought hurt butter this year. Less cows.

Just sayin'

Rod 

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Lincoln - AWESOME

All good things come to an end.  Yesterday in the NBA I lost a big game in my Chase.  O'well.  Here is my graph now.

Still in the black and this is what happens, win lots and lots of small games but when I lose  POW!!
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Packers - Well the injuries are finally starting to add up.  At least The Bears had injuries (5 actually) in their last game.

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For anyone that watches The Amazing Race they understand a little more about Bangladesh. What a horrid country.  Dirty, and crowded.  The fire that killed 100+ reminds me of the fire that happened in New York back in the early 1900's and why Unions are NOT a bad thing.   When the fire in the factory started the managers told workers not to worry.  Exit doors were locked and fire extinguishers were not even working.

The factory made T-shirts and polo shirts for Walmart so Americans could get cheap clothes. 

When the fire alarms went off workers tried to exit the building but their managers blocked the exit and told them to go back to work.  When there were flames they all ran to the one emergency exit and found it locked from the outside. 

OH - the building were inspected and classified as dangerous but the government did not want to get involved (smaller government and all that).

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

Great news for anti-Walker people.  It seems that either Walker is a criminal (which he is) OR, just a very very bad manager.   Everybody below him is being carted off to jail and saying he knew they were breaking the law.  So if the head of organized crime only tells people to break the law, does that not make him a criminal also?  Not according to him.

Seems to me that even if we see Walker being led away in handcuffs the tea party zealots will all blame the liberal media and scream it's not fare.  

BTW - seems the right is looking into toll roads in Wisconsin.  But they won't raise taxes.  But they WILL raise fees! Not the same thing I guess!  LOL 
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Yet another reason to never drink soft drinks. A latest study links soft drinks to knee arthritis.  For some reason soft drink sugar effects the cartilage in peoples knees!
---------------------------------

This is so so true and so so funny


----------------------------
Watched the movie Lincoln Saturday - WOW - what a fantastic movie.   It was odd seeing Lincoln smile, I thought I was the only guy who had see that grin.  But seriously - a very very good movie and David Spader was a hoot!!

It's a movie with mostly dialog but fascinating.  Applause at the end and many people were commenting that it did not feel like a 2.5 hour movie and it didn't.   Speaking of corrupt. Yea he was but . . . . it's what Republicans do I guess!!  LOL  At least he was corrupt for the good of the country and not for himself (unlike a certain Governor) . 

Of course I mentioned OSCAR on Facebook and Jenny said Les Misérables was going to win the OSCAR.  So as I was surfing the web I found this amazing portrait that became a poster.

OMG - this image is so so amazing.  HDR photography at it's best!

If I could have one photo in my life like these I would be a happy man.

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OH - and my rant on Walker and Health Care. Nevermind - what he is actually doing is bringing the US closer to a one payer system which is what the left wants.  You see by having the Fed find insurance for Wisconsin residents we will actually have cheaper insurance.  The reason is that going national you will have a bigger group to choose from.  Wisconsin Insurance companies HATE it that Walker has screwed them and say if we go national they will lose customers and go out of business.

This is a good thing.  With less insurance companies the big ones will get bigger.  Sooner or later we will have ONE insurance company.  Thank You Walker for moving us towards a one payer system.  Walker - not the brightest bulb in the pack.  BUT - Wisconsin likes dumb people in charge.      

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My West Coast Blaster is awesome!!!  I had two bottles this weekend and I impressed myself.  Gotta give Brian my neighbor a few bottles as it was his hops!! 

Cheers

Rod 

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Walker? Really? Come on!

As one person said - Governor Walker is like those Japanese solders that hid in the jungle for years and years after the war was over.  Refusing to quit the fight.  He's a dead-ender.   And now we see he is going to run Wisconsin from California.

By refusing to go along and help the poorest citizens of his state with their Medicaid coverage he is going to let the Federal Government do all the work.  Yet, he himself, along with all the Republicans say a State is better at governing then the Federal Government.  So when the shit hits the fan he bails out like a little child.

I mean come on, the least costly and most consumer friendly thing about Obamacare.  The part where citizens and businesses can compare insurance and features. The one part where people IN Wisconsin could really be helped.  NOPE - Walker says he will let the Fed, who in this case will do a poorer job can do it.  Walker is a freaking uneducated asshole nutcase.

Two states that were against Obamacare, are doing it "in house" and are doing a very good job.    Walker says it will put too much financial strain on Wisconsin.  DUDE - IT'S FREE.  The Fed will cover the cost of letting us do it for the 1st year. After that it will be covered by charging insurers to participate.  There is absolutely no reason to have the fed do this.       

sigh
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Have I mentioned my NBA system?   You know I'm a systems guy and for years have noticed that the NBA, like the game itself, is very streaky and somehow I needed to find a way to profit on it.

I think we found it. Elwood and I have been back testing and we started to run it with real $$ this year.

So far 20-0.  yup - TWENTY Wins and ZERO losses.   Back testing for the last 6 years   1308-414 for a profit of 776 units over 6 years.

The cool thing is I think we can do it in Baseball and Hockey.
------------------------------------

The Benzine Blaster.

My neighbor gave me about 5(?) ounces of hops that he grew so I used them in a beer.  It's one week from being perfect carbonated (I hope) but I tested one Sunday.  GREAT BEER!!   Tastes sort of like Hopilisious but more malty which is what I was hoping for.

It's all logical so it's not some weird-o system. 

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WOW - The earth was lucky last week.  A  ginormous sun flare, one the the biggest ever recorded blasted from the sun and JUST missed us.  I mean this was THE BIG ONE!! 

NASA warned -

Britain could face widespread power blackouts and be left without critical communication signals for long periods of time, after the earth is hit by this once-in-a-generation “space storm”.

-----------------------------------------------
Holy shit batman - This is like one of my favorite shows Revolution where the earth loses all it's electricity.   I'm wearing my aluminum helmet from now on. 

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My 2nd favorite new show was canceled  :-(  I'm sad    LAST RESORT is no longer.

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Seriously - if you have not watched The Dust Bowl by Ken Burns - it's must see TV.  WOW.  You know I always new what it was and what caused it but Ken Burns really brings it home.  I mean WOW!!  What a freaking nightmare.   PBS!!!  Way to go.  It's like a horror story nightmare that really happened.  I mean having your family sit in the kitchen with wet bags over your everybody's heads to survive.     

Well - since no one is at work no one will read this so . . . .

Have a great Thanksgiving.

Rod

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The Coming War with China

Ferrari S70 - zero to sixty in 2.3 seconds.  You don't  even have time to pucker.  900 horsepower.   I believe this will be my next car.  I hope I can put a trailer hitch on it.
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CLASS   CLASS!!!!

Gave my 1st presentation to the Columbus Middle School (6th grade art class) yesterday and all was well.  Today's presentation will be better as I know have a clue of what 6th graders are interested in with my stuff.   90% were loving what I was saying and 10% were SOOOO BORED!!!   LOL
---------------- 

While the Tea Party right wingers are REALLY interested in who is having sex with who in Washington and the Tea Party 9 in Wisconsin are calling on King Walker to arrest federal judges (seriously that are) something , under the radar has been quietly happening in the South China seas fort the last year.

You see China has been stealthy claiming ownership of the HUGE, strategically vital petroleum rich South and East China seas. And quietly (I guess not REAL quietly) the Pentagon has been slowly but deliberately moving more and more "resources" to the Pacific.

Already six Carriers are in the area.  The B-1 bomber will receive new extended-range air-to-surface missiles next year.  Guam is getting refurbished and fixed up.  At the moment Australia ahs 250 Marines and will expand to 2500 and four brand new Littoral Combat Ships will be cruising around the shores of Singapore.     hmmmmmmmm!

Notice Obama is taking a little trip to South East Asia soon.  China is watching closely.

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PLEASE NOTE - in the comments there is a rebuttal to the below which seems logical.  HEY - just repeating what was told to me by some angry people yesterday (as I was complaining about a parking ticket I had received).   SO - take the below with a grain of salt and thank you for correcting me.   Never a problem being correct!! 

Check out this awesome map.  If cost tax payers in Columbus $1800 to advertise for the Chamber of Commerce.  They told the City Council that it was to bring business to Columbus.  Notice that unless you pay $$ to Chamber you are not mentioned.

I thought that since you had to pay dues to Chamber they would not have to spend Columbus tax dollars to fund themselves.  If all the business that are NOT in Chamber for various reason (like funding the Republican Party) asked the City Council for $1800, would they get it?  I hope so. From the sound of it it might happen.

I know I don't want MY tax dollar going for this map.  OH - the other side lists all of the Chamber companies.       

I'm not anti-map but this is clearly just an advertisement and I do not believe I should have to pay for it UNLESS, other non-chamber businesses are mentioned.   What are they doing with their dues anyway.  I HOPE Main Street Org will receive $1800 also.

But the real news is that Hostess has liquidated and you will never see Twinkies, Cup Cakes, Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, Sno Bals and the like ever again.  SA IT AINT SO!!!  

-----------------
Sunday Night - PBS - Ken Burns  THE DUST BOWL!!!   I saw clips and it looks really interesting
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Five Hour Energy Drink - Come on good grief.  OK - they are investigating 13 deaths allegedly from Five Hour Energy Drink.  While I'm sorry for the loss do you know how much of this is consumed?  In four years 1 billion four hundred thirty million little drinks have been consumed.  And the big worry is from 13 alleged deaths?   Over one million a day are swallowed.

You have a 1 in one hundred eleven million chance of allegedly dieing every time you consume one.  Do you think there are other things we might be exploring.  How many people have died from swallowing their iPads!!     Just sayin'.

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Rod Out


TWINKIES

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Roman Nose

Been a little busy this week.  I got the thumbs up on my latest.  Now I have to figure out how big to make each image. 

The wall is 5 x 8 feet.  Here is my final-ish set of images.  Although I'm going to lighten up Amelia a little.

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

But my real stress is that today and tomorrow I'm giving a lecture to Mrs. McDainal's 6th grade Art Class.   They are doing section on photography and for some reason believe I would be a good person to tweak their imagination.  

I visited the classroom last night and they have things that I would have thought were from the future if I had them when I was in 6th grade. . . . . I suppose it would have been from the future.    Remember when you would see Super 8 films on a white pull down white screen?

Well that screen is now a pull down laptop.  Instead of a mouse I just poke at the screen.  WHAT NEXT!  Speedometers on your windshield??

Mrs. McDanial's said they want to know all about me.  I'm wondering how much I should cover high school . . . . hmmmmmm    Maybe I'll just gloss over that part. 
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Bridgejumper was 6-1 last week (22-13 this year) and up I'm 10.92 units in the NBA. 

Today I have to put a bottle of West Coast Blaster in the fridge to see how it's carbing.

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Did you know there are 63, 8-time AWIs in Wisconsin.  One guy has 15 OWIs  Wait - what is it  DUI?  DWI?  OUI?  OMVI? DUBAL (Driving with an Unlawful Blood Alcohol Level)  DWUI (only Wyoming uses that one).
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OH - The Republicans came up with a new excuse on why they lost.  THE VOTERS!!!  Yesterday Paul Ryan called them the "Urban" voters.   Who gave those guys the right to vote anyway!   

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Look at this photo - DISGUSTING

Yea - Victoria Secret is really taking heat for this fopa.   I, as a quarter blooded American Indian  . . . . . well, I liked it, BUT perhaps I'm not a true test.  They have apologized for their ignorance.

Actually head dresses are a pretty big deal in the American Indian community. 

For American Indians every feather in a head dress has to be earned.

The first feather an Indian receives must be earned for being seen as an adult member of the tribe.  The warrior has to prepare himself to receive such an honor and that often require days of fasting and meditation.

Other feathers are like merit badges of honor, they are not just some sort of decoration and are taken very very seriously.   The odd thing is that in Indian culture the female Indian is held in very very high regard but not allowed to where a headdress.  They are more in-tune with mother earth the ANY male can ever be. This is why Custer was able to escape his first battle.  He captured a bunch of female Indians and used them as human shields (the Warriors did not appreciate it).

So while female Indians are ranked highest on the totem pole the males show their pride with rewarding feathers.  After 10 feathers (rare) you were allowed to go out and get an eagle feather.

If you had 12 feathers you were allowed to have a better horse.

A Chiefs war bonnet was actually feathers from good deeds and worn in very high honor.

Warriors war bonnets (head dresses) were said to protect a warrior in battle.  One warrior chief, Roman Nose, wore his head dress and rode between the tribe and solders and despite being fire upon numerous times was never hit.

Interesting stories about Roman Nose.  

ANYWAY - I gotta run and prepare.

Have a great Thursday

Rod   

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