This Week in Oshkosh

Black and Voting

2008-02-20T16:26:00.002-06:00

John, a small unassuming gentleman who is retired, lives on the near east side. He is a bit shy, impeccably polite, and always has a pleasant smile. One of John's friends (he has a lot of them) is Kathryn. She planned on voting and in several conversations with John she learned of his desire to vote. John had watched the ads, listened to debates, and liked what B. Obama had to say. On February 19, Kathryn offered to help John through the process of registering and voting. John didn't want to go. She coaxed him for a couple of hours and wouldn't take no for and answer. John finally gave in and got his coat on. They took bus (#1) to Winnebago St and walked several blocks west to Washington School. John was very apprehensive about voting. He lived a considerable part of his life in Milwaukee. The scars of a lifetime of predjudice became very evident to Kathryn as the afternoon wore on. He was terrified of voting due to some bad experiences much earlier in his life. He was very afraid and hesitant when entering the voting place but got through the registration and voting process without a hitch. When leaving John began to get extremely short of breath (he is not well and has been in the hospital several times of late). Kathryn asked a stranger if they would be kind enough to take John home. The good samaritan did.

Kathryn told me that this was the second time that John had ever voted.

Good for John. Thank you Kathryn. Kathryn, who is white, learned a lot about the current state of the black population in Oshkosh today. I did too. Did you?

Peace.

The National Guard

2008-02-13T16:59:00.002-06:00

Let's get this straight. I am in my extremely late 30's staring at the big six-zero. I was declared 1y for the military draft in 1967 due to being very overweight. I never served.

I asked my dad at that time to explain the role of the National Guard. When asked if the National Guard ever went overseas during a war he explained that it was not their purpose. They were to help out in the good old U. S. of A with natural disasters and to assist with keeping order among the citizens. He said they would never go overseas unless there was a major extreme war, a WWIII type disaster.

Readers: We've come a long way baby! I suggest we go back to basics with the Nat'l Guard. Bring 'em home from Iraq and save them and their families from any more separation and grief.

Ann Frisch and others were absolutely right! Paul Esslinger was wrong and I will tell him so when I see him. If you see him first, you can tell him.

George Bush and his president Dick Cheney are wrong wrong wrong for using the National Guard in this fashion.

Peace.

John Lemberger for School Board

2008-01-28T17:52:00.000-06:00

John Lemberger is running for School Board. I do not follow the school board. What little I do read does not bode well. I am fully unqualified to write about the school board, but I do know John.

John is a fifth generation Lemberger who has resided in Oshkosh. He is a very devout Christian who strongly thought about becoming a Roman Catholic Priest as a young man. He stayed in school long enough to get "Dr." in front of his name, raised a family in Oshkosh, and is still just plain "John" to me and you. He is Dr. Lemberger at UWO (where he works) but the rest of the time he is just some guy named John walking a dog on the east side. He cares deeply for this city and all who live here. He is a visionary but very pragmatic.

John has my vote in any endeavor he undertakes and I suggest you vote for him too. Here is the body of an email I received from him:

______________________________

Hello, My name is John Lemberger and I am running for the Oshkosh school board because I care deeply that children have the best learning environment possible. An important part of such an environment is an effective system of neighborhood schools. I believe that children have social and emotional needs that must be met before they are ready to learn. Small, neighborhood schools do the best job of meeting those needs. Consequently, small neighborhood schools also do the best job of raising student achievement, especially for children of poverty and minority children. (I invite you to read the research yourself. A summary can be found at: http://smallschools.cps.k12.il.us/research.html)I was alarmed when I found out that the current Oshkosh school board was planning to close three to six more elementary schools. I have been told that if Oshkosh doesn't consolidate, we will have to lose programs. I have yet to hear a clear explanation of why we will lose programs if we don't consolidate. What is crystal clear (from talking to a wide range of people in Oshkosh) is that the proposed $46-$60 million referendum needed to fund this plan will not pass. Since this isn't slated to go to referendum until 2009 (as reported in the Northwestern), the Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) will have spent several years on an initiative that will leave us with no progress towards bringing equity to the children in several schools that badly need renovation. I am therefore in this race as an advocate for retaining and renovating our neighborhood schools.This will be especially challenging because both nationally and at the state level it is likely that we are heading into a period of inflation and recession. Because of this bleak outlook on the economy, the OASD will have to move forward cautiously. A referendum in the $46-$60 million range at this time would be reckless, and I believe unsuccessful, because the voters in Oshkosh will be feeling the economic pinch. I would support a series of smaller referenda that target one school at a time for renovation over a period of 10 or 20 years, depending on the performance of the economy.To deal with our current problems, we must work through the Wisconsin School Board Association to put pressure on the state legislature to change the school funding formula. The state formula for school funding is a disaster. The Oshkosh school system isn't broken; the state funding formula is. I disagree that we have to "fix" our school system because of the budget problems the funding formula creates. Until the state changes the formula, we should ask through an annual referendum to exceed the state budget caps. The people of Oshkosh are smart and pretty generous. They understand the problem with the state funding formula and budget caps. I think the current BOE is underestimating the people of Oshkosh by not asking for permission to exceed the caps to save our neighborhood schools and programs.Please vote for me on February 19th (primary) and April 1st and I promise that I will be a strong voice for neighborhood schools. Thanks, John

Main Street

2008-01-23T17:08:00.000-06:00

Main Street will be redone in the next few years. There has been far too little attention and interest in what might be done.

Ideas range from the practical cement and curb to closing down the street to all vehicles except buses, cabs, and emergency vehicles (much like Madison's State St.).

One of the most exciting events downtown happened last fall during the Gallery Walk. The Running of the Goats, the student drinkfest, was called off but the gendarmes didn't get the message. The gendarmes were out in force ($$$) walking in pairs ($$$) and had blockaded ($$$) Main Street from the New Moon Cafe to Church St. Note that groups of students had scheduled bar-hopping events before which coincided with the Gallery Walk and there had been no problems.

The students canceled, the gendarmes spent a lot of taxpayer's $$$ needlessly, but the fun part was the street was blocked off. There was expertly done street theater happening downtown. My companion noted that a fellow on very high stilts and a very elaborate costume was far too good to be an amateur. She said it was as good as Cirque du Soleil. I agreed. The next day's Northwestern proved that right. It was Cirque du Soleil doing an impromptu show for the Gallery Walk.

We don't need all the $$$ gendarmes $$$ downtown, but YES: Close Main Street for the Gallery Walk.

Peace.

Rx Drugs for 4-Bucks, You Betcha!

2008-01-06T14:58:00.000-06:00

An ideal way to save money in 2008...

Background...

Target Stores started the $4 Rx program. A week and a half later Mall-Wart produced a copycat version. When these programs started I was asked by the UWO Living Healthy Clinic to use those programs. I of course chose Target and have been very happy with the Oshkosh Target Store Pharmacy...so delighted that I am very hesitant to leave them.

Leave them? Yes. I want to shop at the pharmacies downtown.

On a lark I went into Morton City Center Pharmacy and asked if it was possible for them to compete. I didn't care if it was $4. I just wanted to know if they could come close to that figure. Why should I go way out to Target when there are two pharmacies downtown? I live downtown!

The Pharmacist did some figuring and told me that: YES! One Rx would be $4. The other would be $4.50 due to Wisconsin's minimum mark-up law. She smiled and said: "Merry Christmas Gary".

That's the story folks. Pass it on and SHOP DOWNTOWN.

More detail...

Both downtown pharmacies Mortons and Schultz Drug will attempt to help you bring your drug costs ( and gasoline costs) down.

The minimum mark-up law works. As Gordon Hintz says, it's 70yrs. old and needs tweaking. That may be true, but we still need it. It will assist in keeping those pharmacies downtown. All businesses deserve to make a profit and small businesses need to be protected.

I'm happy. This is great news. Now I'm going to go take some of those Elvis drugs.

Peace.

Thank You Aaron & Jason Baer

2007-12-26T18:42:00.000-06:00

Thank you Aaron & Jason Baer, owners of the New Moon Cafe.

The Salvation Army thanks them too.

Aaron and Jason allowed me to come in anytime during the Salvation Army bellringing season and play piano, substituting a 'tip jar' with the Salvation Army Red Kettle.

Bellringing is common outside or in the entryway of a business, but rarely is the person allowed inside the business to solicit donations.

This is great that we have small business owners that care enough about our community to do this. They are outstanding citizens and this provides a great reason to shop downtown Oshkosh.

Remember that every coin in those red kettles stays in Oshkosh.

Merry Christmas!

Oshkosh Tidbits

2007-12-12T14:40:00.001-06:00

You may see a news sheet around town called Oshkosh Tidbits. It's a friendly nice paper which features poetry and Oshkosh history and more. It is now published on the web and you can read it here.

I hope you enjoy it. I do and I hear many people comment on it. I will say more another day.

Babblemur Beat Me to It

2007-12-09T15:23:00.000-06:00

I had this thought smoldering in my mind for weeks. Babs beat me to it but I'm still gonna talk about it.

Disclaimer: This is about national politics. I like to write local. Our well being on the local level depends a lot on what is happening nationwide. So be it.

Republicans have decided that Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic candidate. Media has also decided that Hillary Clinton will be the candidate for President.

When will someone ask the person on the street?

Tom Paine's 'Common Sense' is the basis for my thoughts today. I re-read that classic and can draw no other conclusion in applying Paine's thoughts on the American Revolution to modern day politics.

No more voting for 'THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS' ! No more holding my nose when I vote. I'm madder the Hell and won't take it anymore.

The only presidential candidate I've seen that has any basis in reality (thus far) is Dennis Kucinich.

I could care less if he gets 1 or 2% of the vote next November. I'm going to vote for the person who is going to cut past the Corporate Crap which has been heaped on us for decades and vote against Halliburton, the Military Industrial Complex, and all of the Ruling Corporations.

Time for a change.

Peace.

Gallery Walk December 2007

2007-11-28T17:58:00.000-06:00

Art Walk - Gallery Walk continues to grow and evolve with the number of locations approaching the fifty mark this fall. Saturday December 1st 6-9pm be downtown, enjoy some brisk fresh winter air along with holiday lights and art of all kinds.

Did you know that the hat store on the corner of Main & High St is the largest retailer of hats in Wisconsin? Their wholesalers are the source of that statement. Curious? Click on the Gallery Walk link on this page to learn more.

I advocate buying NOTHING until at least February 2008 but if the 'Christmas Itch' makes it impossible for you to leave the checkbook and plastic at home, why not cure that itch downtown and try to keep as much of that $$$ right here in Oshkosh.

I will be wearing a Salvation Army smock and ringing a bell somewhere in the neighborhood of the New Moon Cafe Saturday evening. The Red Kettle Campaign is on track: Goal-$150,000 by Dec. 24. Stop by and say hi.

Needed... A few dedicated helpers who will take my smock and bell and give me a break Saturday so I can visit a few galleries. Ever tried ringing a bell for donations? Here's your chance. Leave me a note here:

garyfromoshkosh@hotmail.com

Pray for peace.

Holiday Parade and More

2007-11-09T14:14:00.000-06:00

The annual Christmas Parade is Saturday November 10. Be downtown at 10am for over an hour of fun.

I will be entertaining at the New Moon Cafe on piano before and after the parade. I encourage you to stop by so you can put a 'face' to this blog. Will I be playing for tips? The answer is NO..., but have your wallet out if you make a request.

I am very proud to announce that the New Moon is contributing the place and I am contributing my time to kick-off the Bell Ringing Season for the Oshkosh Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army has a goal of $150,000 this Christmas season. That's a lot of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters in the Red Kettles in the next six weeks. Note that every cent collected in Oshkosh stays right here in Oshkosh!

Please stop by the New Moon and help us kick-start the Red Kettle campaign. Pocket change helps. Feel free to write a check. In fact feel free to match the amount collected this weekend at the New Moon. Call the Oshkosh Salvation Army at (920) 232-7660 and Kendall will assist you.

While I am making dares... I dare the 'Goat Pack' groups to get out and ring bells for the Salvation Army.

This will be the third year in a row that I have worked with the New Moon in doing this. One of the New Moon's owners used the phrase: "becoming a tradition".

I like that.

Ann Frisch to speak on Guatemala

2007-11-09T12:31:00.001-06:00

Ann Frisch will be speaking on Wednesday November 14 about her experiences as peace keeper in Guatemala. She will be speaking at noon at the monthly meeting of the League of Women Voters (China King Restaurant on Koeller Road Oshkosh at noon) and the Feast and Fellowship meeting of the Unitarian Fellowship (2600 E. Philip Lane, Appleton – Calumet and 441 across from Family Video 6 p.m.).
Ann Frisch was a peace keeper for Nonviolent Peaceforce in Guatemala from April through June of this year. With three other team members, she provided protective accompaniment for La Unidád de Protección de Defensoras y Defensores de Derechos Humanos, the Unit of Protection for Human Rights Workers. This group of Guatemalans has braved break-ins to their office and death threats to interview witnesses and victims of human rights violations and to try to get the Guatemalan government to prosecute the violators. The idea behind the protective accompaniment is that would-be assassins are less likely to attack human rights workers if the eyes and conscience of the world are shining a light on them.
The idea for an unarmed nonpartisan peace keeping force first originated with Mahatma Gandhi. If nonviolence works within countries, why not between countries? Nonviolent Peaceforce's aim is to replace the armed peace keeping forces of the world with unarmed protective accompaniment. The NP website is at http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/
Ann will speak about her experiences in Guatemala and the philosophy behind the peace keeping efforts. Her Guatemala blog is at http://www.annfrisch.blogspot.com/

I'm Back, Att. Warren Kraft is Gone

2007-10-11T18:24:00.000-05:00

Welcome back folks. I had a great summer and fall has been even better. Worked hard and played even harder.

I was outed by Jody on Babblemur's space today and decided to clear it up for anyone who saw it. News has it that Google is now worth more than Mall-Wart. The editorial view: Ya can't find porn at Mall-Wart!

Eye on Oshkosh reports that the Fat Lady has Sung! Actually it was a guy. It was Warren Kraft. It's about time. I hope he enjoys his retirement.

You can read my previous rants on Warren Kraft herehttp://www.garyfromoshkosh.blogspot.com/search?q=warren+kraft.

The Death of Father Carr

2007-06-19T19:14:00.000-05:00

I saw the headline about Fr. Carr in the Northwestern Monday morning. Through the first cup of coffee and long before the morning cobwebs disappeared from my head I knew I had a job to do. I had all day at work to think about it and develop a level even attitude regarding it.

I went to the evening meal at the Salvation Army Monday from 4:30 to 5:30. I posed a general question: "What's your thoughts on Father Carr?"

The first person I saw was Bones. He had heard nothing about it. I told him the headline. Bones sez: "You're s%*##in' me." Later. "This is the happiest day I've had in a long time."

Zbobzap sez: "I don't dare use the words I want, (since we're in the Salvation Army Building), but you can guess." Later. "He's going to get pretty hot where he's going."

Female, about age 40: "I could care less. He was nasty to everyone."

Another woman: "I've never heard anyone say a good word about him. Good riddance."

Middle aged man: "I was out there for lunch Sunday with J__. Neither of us were even told Father Carr passed away!" "Typical. Clients are NEVER told anything."

That was the general demeaner of about three dozen comments I received.

I did the same on Tuesday evening. The nicest comment received was from a woman named S__. She said: "It's sad when someone dies, but maybe it's for the better. Maybe things will be run better out there now."

My comment: Father Carr was vicious. He delighted in kicking people who were down. A person would have to speak to thousands of former clients or would be clients to come up with any other answer.

Someone else can write the accolades. I invite any writer (or would be writer) for the Northwestern to stop by the Salvation Army at the noon meal (11am-12:30pm) or evening meal (4:30-5:30pm) and pose questions about Father Carr. Note that citizens of Oshkosh are more than welcome to walk in and inspect the Salvation Army during the public meal times. A small red kettle is usually present and folks are more than welcome to have a bite and chat with people who use the Army facilities.

I implore anyone who is curious about the subject of Father Carr to take time to ask former clients about him.

Next: A public challenge to the Board and Transition Members of the Place 2B.

Peace.

Butt Hunting in the City on the Water

2007-06-07T18:10:00.000-05:00

But first...A way to make the poor homeless!

Dave Zweifel talked about it in The Capital Times on May 30. It goes like this. An elderly or disabled person has direct deposit for their Social Security check. They also have an unpaid bill which they find impossible to pay. (Note that government checks cannot be garnisheed. It's the law.) The creditor seizes the bank account on the 1st of the month.

The retired or disabled person writes their rent and utilities check which bounce when they reach the bank.

Quite a loophole there and it continues to happen.

Isn't life great in Amerika?

You can read the whole story here: www.madison.com/tct/opinion/138565.

Now for the Butt Hunting business...

Butt Hunting has far surpassed Dumpster Diving in my opinion. Some people strip the remaining tobacco and smoke it in a pipe or re-roll it. Others smoke the butt. Some do both. Unsanitary? Yes. Uncommon? No.

Aaaahh. The power of addiction. Some have their favorite ashtrays which they guard during the day. Others have a regular daily route.

As a group the Butt Hunters bemoan the fact that ashtrays have changed. With the new cone design ashtrays the butt disappears who knows where. Butt Hunters are incensed every time another public ashtray changes to this design.

Workforce Development on Algoma put one in and it didn't last very long. It was a plastic affair and some irate Butt Hunter ripped the top off. They are back to using a galvanized pail.

UWO Polk Library installed them and more than one Butt Hunter expressed their distaste about those to me.

Now even the gendarmes are involved.

An elderly man was wandering about the downtown vicinity the other evening after the rains loooking for some dry tobacco. He was on the grounds of a government housing unit, sat down at a picnic table and began picking through the butts for the longest ones. A woman from the housing unit dialed 911 and waited. The gendarmes appeared a few minutes after 9pm. They gently talked to the man and explained to him that since he didn't live there he shouldn't really be on the property. He agreed. He already had what he wanted and got up and left. The police remained at the scene for over another hour and left at 10:14pm.

The police weren't writing reports. They did the park-in-opposite-directions bit so they could talk non-business. They both had their motors running the entire time.

Peace.

Summer's Here

2007-06-01T16:37:00.000-05:00

The June edition of the Greatest Gallery Walk in the Valley is Saturday night from 6-9pm. Their website continues to improve and can be found in the link list on this page. Be there! A good time is had by all and it's cheaper than driving anywhere.

Tony Palmeri wrote a piece on activism for the Scene Magazine and it is posted here. Doug Boone was the subject. The only item I can add is Doug was missed this week at Waterfest. To my knowledge Doug never missed the Waterfest Concert Series. He was a walking encyclopedia of Waterfest trivia going back to the early years.

Speaking of the Valley Scene Magazine, what happened to their website? Anyone have a clue?

I am looking for someone to post restaurant reviews at this site. Oshkosh needs restaurant reviews. The Northwestern does not do them. This is a void that can be filled by the blogosphere. Write about your favorite or your worst restaurant experience and send it to me at garyfromoshkosh@hotmail.com.

I was invited for pizza at Ratch & Deb's the other evening. Cheese and Sausage. It was great! A friendly neighborhood place that I'd go back to anytime. They are located at the corner of Bowen and Merritt. Parking? Forget it. Ride your bicycle. You probably need the exercise. Oh yes. A big thank you to M.M.'s mother for picking up the tab.

Tony Palmeri was asked by Accordian Man to come to the monthly tenants meeting at Mainview Apartments. Mainview is part of the Oshkosh Housing Authority. Tony said that he would make it if he got done grading his students, and Accordian Man was pleasantly surprised to see him. Thanks for doing that Tony. Accordian Man is happy and I bet that the Housing Authority is surprised that a city council member stopped by. Also...Accordian Man has now been 'outed', at least in the partial sense. Tony knows who he is.

Peace.

Cedar Hills Campground

2007-05-24T18:06:00.000-05:00

Ready for a road trip? If you have been thinking about traveling away from the midwest this summer you are thinking about the price at the pump. Why not look in your back yard?

A short drive from Milwaukee, Chicago, or the Twin Cities will bring you to a road less traveled, the road that leads to the top of Wisconsin Heights, between Sauk City and Mazomanie off Wisconsin Hy78. Turn on Dunlap Hollow Road and pull into Carl's place. Carl's place is Cedar Hills Campground. Keep the plastic in your pocket. Carl will laugh at you if you think you can pay that way. He is still holding at $16 a night and about $84 per week. Seasonal campsites are $700 and you can leave the camper there all winter.

Carl's got a website now. I don't think he knows about it or even cares! You can't email him but he does have a phone (which he rarely answers). Carl's been around since about 1927. About all he cares about is feeding his beef cattle, filling the ruts in his road with his Bobcat, and making sure his campers are having a good time. Priorities depend on what the clock says, and whether it has just rained. Sometimes he feeds the campers too. Be there in late July or the beginning of August. Carl will give you some sweet bi-color corn that was probably picked that morning. Sorry. I'm almost drooling over the keyboard as I type this.

Oh yes. The website is here.

Cedar Hills shares that hill know as Wisconsin Heights with the Wisconsin DNR Blackhawk Natural Area. It adjoins the campground and has hiking trails, Native American Mounds, and is great for horseback riding. The most famous battle of the infamous Blackhawk War occurred here on July 21, 1832. The view from virtually every campsite is nothing short of an epiphany.

On Monday holidays Carl charges a three day minumum. The campground has some sites with electric and water. It is basic with NO camp store. Carl has ice and firewood at the office which is about two miles from the campsites and you can't count on the office being open. Be prepared. Carl's girlfriend Betty is around on the weekends to help. They are wonderful people. Once you meet them you realize that you are not a customer. You are a friend that comes back again and again.

Much of his business is river rats Hell bent on getting an all-over tan at the nearby Mazo Beach but then again people stay there to visit Wis. Dells, American Players Theater, House on the Rock, and the multitude of wonderful places nearby. Did I mention Susie the Duck Days over in Lodi, Wisconsin?

Peace.

Jerry Falwell, Sun Myung Moon, Blackwater and More

2007-05-21T19:29:00.000-05:00

Doug Boone is on my mind. He was ornery, loud, arrogant and right! He will be missed. He was the guy with sign at the corner of 9th and Georgia all by himself. He would be at the sundial on Fridays protesting the Iraq morass. That's where I met him. It takes all kinds to work for social justice. Doug was the 'in your face' guy. I joked on this page that if the Iraq War went on any longer that fatalities and injuries to protesters would be tallied. Doug Boone is our first fatality. He died from a blood clot following a routine operation.

I know firsthand about blood clots having survived three bouts with them. I would venture that Doug would want all of us to continue to Fight the Good Fight. That's what I would want too.

Jerry Falwell died. Good riddance. He singlehandedly did more harm to our country than almost anyone I can think of. I put him in the same group with Adolph Hitler and Jeffrey Dalmer. Falwell was in bed with Sun Myung Moon. The Moonie's once divorced leader gave Falwell a $3.5 million kicker in the '90's when Liberty University was about to go belly up. Moon also gave Falwell a so-called award at a White House prayer breakfast. Oh yes. They are both in bed with Dubya Bush. Falwell did everything he could to get folks to vote Republican (and so has Moon).

In a totally unrelated matter, chalk one up to the Republicans and their mantra of less government and less corporate accountability. The Food and Drug Administration has suffered with less money each year of the last ten. That means less and less food coming from China is checked for toxicity. Food from China you say? Yes. Food additives are coming from the industrial cesspool known as China. Think pets are at risk? Think again. People are too. Falwell did a lot of damage by encouraging folks to vote Republican. Falwell may even be indirectly responsible for people dying from food poisoning in the future.

Last Saturday, May 19, was Armed Forces Day. Camp McCoy over in the western part of our great state held an open house for the occasion (only at one gate, have your ID ready). Many 'consumer-friendly' hands on events took place including free face painting for the kids. Yes. They were painting the kids faces camouflage-style. That's great! Of course you wouldn't want to lose your child at Camp McCoy or on the ride back home if you know what I'm getting at.

I studied Blackwater for Armed Forces Day. Blackwater is our newest branch of the armed services. The MSM (that's Main Stream Media) is beginning to call Blackwater by their proper name: Mercenaries. The 'M'-word is pretty nasty. I grew up hearing exploits of the French Foreign Legion. Mercenaries. Hired killers. They'd work work for anyone with the money to hire them. Blackwater is the largest mercenary firm doing so-called contracting work in Iraq. There are now at least 130,000 private-firm soldiers in Iraq. They carry guns and ammo and deliver and protect things. They kill anything in their way.

Capitalism has hit Blackwater. They have been hiring gun-toters from Chile. The Chileans work much cheaper than their U.S. counterparts which sometimes get $1,000 to $1,500 a day. One of the last groups from Chile arrived in Iraq and were presented contracts 4hrs. before they were to go on duty. It specified $34 a day. They had been promised $4,000 to $7,500 a month!
They were told to sign or find their own way back to Chile.

Peace.

Cranky Pats, the Baer Brothers and more

2007-05-09T21:48:00.000-05:00

At a recent Gallery Walk chatter turned to the state of affairs downtown, as it always does. A fellow told me: "You know, Gary, the Baer brothers are almost singlehandedly changing, creating, and rebuilding the downtown area." I told him I didn't totally agree with that, but after more back-and-forth banter I understood what he was trying to get across. Jason and Aaron Baer have invested their lives on a day to day basis to make Main Street a viable destination. Multitudes of folks want the downtown to succeed and Jason and Aaron are key players.

They own the New Moon Cafe and Cranky Pats. Let's hope that Cranky Pats stays open regardless of any conflicts between the city and the tax bill owed by the owners of the 100 block. There has to be a common sense solution crafted that leaves the Baer brothers out of the equation. Common sense dictates that the Baer brothers not be punished for the actions of their landlord.

I don't want to create a rush downtown but...

Mother's Day is Sunday. Rather than getting dressed up and taking mother out to eat in some fancy gin mill, why not change from the nice clothes worn to church, get into something comfortable and spend some time at the New Moon. The food is excellent with a large variety of beverages. A cold bottle of craft rootbeer sounds good at the moment. If you have been there on a Saturday you know what I am about to say. A baby crying, little urchins underfoot (watch where you step), and the various games and amusements that seem to appear from out of nowhere when parents bring their children. The din of conversations with light jazz in the background. There was a recent letter to the editor in the Northwestern from an elderly lady who came to the New Moon and told how impressed she was with the atmosphere there. It's multi-generational and laid back.

'Nuff said.

Bumper sticker seen on Main: I Served, Bush Deserted

Peace.

The Demise of Deer Lodge Lake

2007-05-06T21:43:00.000-05:00

A fish tale as seen through the eyes of a child circa 1959 on opening day.

Dad promised to take us fishing the first weekend of May. In the days leading up to Saturday we checked and re-checked tackle boxes and played with the new cane poles. The new ones were in two and three sections, a great improvement over the one piece ones that had to be strapped down to the car or the boat. We still had cork bobbers but preferred the new red and white plastic ones. Buds were on the trees and leaves were beginning to come out but the lilacs wouldn't be in bloom until Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as my parents would say. The smell of the fresh wet black dirt in the garden wafted through my nostrils as I dug for worms on Thursday and Friday. I did the same Saturday morning to make sure there was enough.

Dad readied the boat and the trailer. The boat had been built by him in the years before I was born. It was painted bright green and was never in use without the obligatory coffee can and a couple of soup cans. The trailer also was a home made affair with some bald used tires. He wouldn't tell us where we were going but we knew his favorites.

We headed down Hy. 13 toward Adams Friendship. Deer Lodge Lake was a large pond with bluegills and perch. We had been there many times. The access road presented quick thinking and good driving skills. The boat had to be backed in from the state highway which had two lanes and a 65mph limit. After a few nervous moments we were off the highway and slowly backing toward the landing. Moments later the car came to a stop and a couple of very anxious kids jumped out and were greeted by...

The lake had disappeared! Gone. Kaput, like someone pulled the plug. I was amazed. I had never seen a lake bed without a lake and had always wondered what a lake looked like without water. My dad took off his railroad engineer's hat, (he wasn't one but liked the hat), and scratched his head. I ran around the perimeter to where the small dam was. It didn't look right, rotted pieces of wood the size of railroad ties. The dam wasn't any more than a yard wide.

We enjoyed the sunshine and the warming morning weather for a few minutes but it was obvious we would have to go elsewhere to fish. We headed north on Hy.13. Dad calmly explained we were going home. We pleaded with him to go somewhere else, possibly Nepco Lake, but he was adamant about going home. He promised us other times of fishing in the next weeks. I didn't understand this until I was older but his reasoning was that Deer Lodge Lake offered tranquility, peace and quiet. No other lake would be like that on opening day.

That's the end of the story. One story usually leads to another. Here's the 'nother story...

Some years later my dad talked about some high falutin' engineer or group of engineers who figured that they could build a lake much much larger than Deer Lodge Lake. He figured this engineer had probably just graduated from UW Madison, had never gotten his feet wet in a lake, and was probably still wet behind the ears. Land was bought, permits were issued, earth moving equipment was brought in and my dad kept a skeptical wait and see attitude.

Land in the area went for about $100 an acre practically anywhere outside of city limits. That would include land where the casino now stands in Nekoosa.

The new lake was called Lake Sherwood and I remember the signs advertising lake front lots for $19,995 where the land used to sell for a hundred bucks an acre. My dad was right on one count. Lake Sherwood took much longer to fill than was originally anticipated.

Not only did Lake Sherwood become a reality, another lake was built right next to it: Lake Camelot. Later even another was added called Lake Arrowhead plus the golf courses and all the other amenities.

Part of this story can be seen here. Deer Lodge Lake is mentioned in the history section of the same website: "In 1965, successful development of Deer Lodge Lake gave birth to lake Sherwood."

'Successful development' might be an adequate term. Screaming loud powerboats, lawn mowers and snowmobiles might also be adequate terms.

I have retained a file in my mind that brings back the solitude and beauty, the absolute serenity of Deer Lodge Lake.

Peace.

Now it is the 1st of May

2007-04-30T19:16:00.000-05:00

As a young child I looked forward to the 1st of May every year. We did the Maypole thing at school and arts and crafts too. The real fun started after school. We would take the smaller of the wicker baskets we used at Easter, and with mother's help we filled them with homemade cookies, candy, and anything else that was appropriate. An old toy, a Cracker Jack prize, maybe a premium from a cereal box.

Each basket was put together with a particular person in mind. The last item was a tag indicating the person's name. We then would deliver the basket by placing it on the porch. The next step was to ring the doorbell (or knock), and run like hell.

The whole idea was to never acknowledge who the gift came from. I sometimes came back from delivering a basket and found one for me on the front steps.

Later, at about age 12, I learned this: Now it is the 1st of May, Outdoor necking starts today.

Then... If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? (Pilgrims.)

I was never aware until many years later that May Day had political implications. I like that. I was brought up in a house where the term 'by rights' was used on an almost daily basis. My dad would say: "By rights a feller should be able to..." or "by rights a person should be able...(to return a defective toaster) (refuse Sunday work to go to church). "By rights" is a catch-all union term, i.e. "by the rights allowed workers in the union contract."

May Day has been dumbed-down by corporate media for my entire lifetime. There are sparks of life here and there. The Wisconsin Green Party has events scheduled in Milwaukee and Madison concerning immigration and boycotts on May 1. That's great. I'll go along with that. Don't buy anything.

The Mayflower descendants (English Protestants mind you), decided around 1700 to allow Catholics, Germans, Danes, Norwegians and more, to settle in America since they couldn't bring slaves from Africa fast enough.

The same mentality exists today. While the Red Neck Republicans continue to hate new immigrants, the Corporate Republicans, the ones with the cash and power, continue to bring more immigrants into the country to have a source of cheap labor. Red Neck Republicans continue to vote for whoever the Corporate Republicans tell them to which perpetuates the curse. (Note that at least 70% of the Democrats in office are corporate controlled.)

In a complete reversal, the party of Abraham Lincoln rather than freeing the slaves, has decided to bring them back under the kinder and gentler name: Guest Workers.

Horseapples. We don't need no half-citizens! Full citizenship in a reasonable amount of time, say 5yrs, should be able to be obtained by anyone professing to be human that resides here.

America was this grand experiment to try attaining a caste-free society, at least in theory. I have more respect for folks who are bilingual than for those who only know English. My grandmother could speak and write in both English and Norwegian. I can't!

Support those Spanish speaking people from Mexico in their quest for citizenship.

A point to ponder...

One hundred years ago in Oshkosh a new church began. It was called "First English Lutheran Church." It began because many of the younger Lutherans of the time couldn't understand services conducted in German. Late June 1907 was the date. Note that Germans had been present in Oshkosh for well over half a century at that point!

Please allow immigrants time to adjust, generations of time.

Let us re-ignite May 1 as a workers holiday, an anti-corporate holiday, a holiday in which we spend no money and work on schemes to take back this country from the corporations.

Start now. Spread the word.

Adios mi Corazon.

Wages: Private vs. Public Sector

2007-04-24T15:34:00.000-05:00

I received comments regarding public sector wages in the face of declining private sector income. A short history is in order.

After WWII (1945) the economy boomed. Unions asked for and received good wages and benefits. The public sector was slow to catch up. In the latter 1960's high school seniors would go to work in the paper mills in the weeks after graduation and immediately be making more than their high school teachers.

Teachers and municipal employees unionized but never did quite catch up.

Over the years private sector jobs began migrating overseas and wages began to drop.

True. In 2007 public sector jobs look good to many in the private sector.

Question: Should public sector jobs pay less with fewer benefits to more closely mirror the private sector?

Answer: No. We should be constantly working to bring private sector wages and benefits up to a living wage.

I don't have the answers to that riddle, but I refuse to dumb-down anyone who has managed to figure out how to pay their bills. I would want to be brought up to that level of pay, not bring them down to mine.

Also. Only nine states in these Untied Skates of America have lower corporate taxes than Wisconsin and still we have companies moving out.

Dick Cheney's buddies at Halliburton, which keep the war machine oiled, just moved their corporate headquarters to Dubai.

How soon will Oshkosh Truck become DUBAI TRUCK?

Mayor Frank Tower visits Salvation Army

2007-04-18T15:47:00.000-05:00

Hizzonerdamare Frank Tower, who officially became our new mayor yesterday, had lunch and toured the Salvation Army today. It was a cordial visit where the mayor ate lunch in the common dining room and visited and met with many clients who frequent the facility. Captain Johnny Harsh, possibly expecting someone a bit older, was happy to meet Mr. Tower. The Mayor listened carefully to the concerns of the people who wanted to speak to him.

The noise, confusion, and number of people who talked to him in rapid succession may have caused him to lose focus at times, but he was curious about what goes on, genuinely curious. He met quite a cross-section of clients while eating lunch and then was given a tour of the facility by Captain Johnny Harsh.

His visit lasted in excess of an hour and 1/2. I told him I might blog about his visit. He made it clear to me that his visit was not newsworthy. He wanted to learn more about the mission. I applaud him for doing that.

I am sure he learned something today and I thank him for taking the time to do it.

A note to Frank Tower: Rep. Gordon Hintz came to the Salvation Army last Friday and ladled out food at lunchtime. It wasn't a political or photo-op thing for him either.

The people who use the Salvation Army are not likely to vote. A thank you is in order for any elected official who wants to know what is going on with the less fortunate.

The Leach Amphitheater, PMI, Waterfest Too

2007-04-16T19:28:00.000-05:00

Tony Palmeri did a column on PMI today. You can find it here. He did a good job pointing out what the community isn't getting at the Leach.

I have a twenty year background in live performance. I've played far too many places to even begin mentioning. They include dives, or as my black musician friends say, the chitlin' clubs, small country bars, hotel show lounges, the Madison Club, Maple Bluff Country Club, free-standing supper clubs, and backed up a dancing Root Bear at an A&W, nude dancers at times, Bucky Badger and UW cheerleaders, and for Wisconsin Governors and more. I have worked for very responsible and caring bosses, and for some of the most stubborn drunk bar owners you can imagine. Sorting through those bar owners I have learned what works and what doesn't. Here are some pearls of wisdom. See if they apply to PMI, Waterfest, and to the Leach Amphitheater.

A place which sits dark or is rarely used is not a place where folks are comfortable. A place should hum with activity every possible moment (in season). Mondays and Tuesdays don't make money but are extremely important. That's the time to bring in customers who go elsewhere on the weekends. It is also the time to experiment with other types of entertainment such as fashion shows, juggling competitions, chess competitions, arm wrestling...the list is endless. The Leach can lose money every Monday and Tuesday of the summer, get folks used to and comfortable with the idea of the Leach being the destination, and in the process build up other nights. Careful work in building up allegiance to the Leach will result in people going to the Leach rather than going to the Country Fest, the County Fair, or Sawdust Days. (I am not trying to take away from those things, just trying to prove a point.) One group which is comfortable at the Leach is the age group which attends Waterfest. Waterfest has done a good job just being consistent over the years, consistent meaning Thursdays, saleability of acts, etc. Other age groups need consistent entertainment to bring them into the fold.

Waterfest rates high in my opinion. PMI doesn't and should be replaced. The new vendor should be issued general guidelines which instruct them to open the restrooms and turn on the electricity and lights early in the week for a very low fee, even lower for non-profits. Music events could end by 9-9:30pm and low volume events could run a bit later.

There is no reason why the Leach couldn't be used for daytime activities on Saturday and Sunday at a reasonable fee. Wedding ceremonies, receptions, picnics, even Sunday morning revival meetings. Large tarps would take care of the lack of shade.

I would like to see the day when I overhear this conversation: "Bored? Let's go to the Leach to see what's happening tonight." Or: "Let's run by the Leach for a while before we go where we planned to go."

Volume is a serious problem at the Leach. Musicians and sound engineers are to blame. Waterfest is much louder than it used to be. Musicians have been kicking themselves in the butt for decades by being too loud.

Years ago I had a musician question me on why I was continually being asked to come back to a club to perform. I told him that I was the only one smart enough to turn the P.A. speakers around and face them into the wall.

One night last summer I stood at the entrance of the Hooper Building across from the Leach. I didn't stay there long. The volume hurt my ears. A key sign that hearing is being lost is if your ears hurt. When your ears hurt, immediately begin to distance yourself from the origin of the sound.

Musicians and sound engineers are their own worst enemies. Here are some key points.

Speakers hung high in the air project much further than those at ground level. This should be taken into account in dealing with sound levels at nearby residences. Speakers on or near the ground will do damge to the ears of the people who are too close.

Children whose ears have not matured will suffer some level of permanent hearing loss if they are too close to the stage at the Leach. I highly suspect that pregnant women should stay clear of Waterfest, period! You don't get a second chance with ears.

All this from someone with 20% of normal hearing. My hearing is corrected at this point but you don't want to be where I am. It's no fun.

On lights...

PMI scores at the top on this. They hired Steven Dedow. He and his crew do a fantastic job.

Waterfest continues to hire non-union people for lights. Waterfest should hire Steven Dedow to do it. Steve does it right plus the fact that he lives here.

Ann Frisch to Assist Guatemalan Human Rights Workers

2007-04-09T19:13:00.000-05:00

Ann Frisch, who recently retired, is doing anything but. Within a week she should be arriving in Guatemala. She will be part of a small team which will give nonviolent support for local human rights workers. This is under the auspices of Nonviolent Peaceforce. Please take a moment to learn more by clicking on that link.

Will she be facing danger? I asked Ann that question. She replied that danger is always present and told me how we, meaning all of us here in Oshkosh and Wisconsin, can help. The answer is to get out the word about her mission. If large numbers of people know, that improves her level of safety. On a personal level, if more folks in Guatemala know that she is unarmed and nonviolent, the better off she is.

Ann will be blogging from Guatemala in real time and I will have it linked to your left. It is titled Ann Frisch's Journal and the address is http://www.annfrisch.blogspot.com. Ann would like this link available to all. She hopes that all of the local blogs link her site for the next several months. She promised me that she would write a minumum of once a week and more if possible. She hopes to include photos too. Please take it from there Babblemur, Tony, Cheryl...heck I'm not going to list everyone, just link it.

It is my hope that the Northwestern would also link her blog too. It is my understanding that she will be writing some guest columns for them on this very subject.

It doesn't stop there. If you know of a national blog who might be interested, please pass it on. In addition to that please alert Spanish Instructors in the Valley. Some of Ann's columns will be in Spanish and would be great for classroom use.

Did I miss anybody?

If everyone does their job it can only add a bit more safety to her endeavor.

Pass it on. Peace.

A Wedding of Note

2007-04-07T15:28:00.000-05:00

Helen Lord Burr answered my question. She told me that she had been involved with the Oshkosh Salvation Army for 35 years and didn't recall any weddings being held there. A moment later she clarified that. She told me that when she first became involved, that there was a couple who had been married there, but she didn't know when.

Michele Bernard and Marvin Hildebrand were joined in holy matrimony by Captain Johnny Harsh on Friday March 30, becoming the first couple to do so in over 35 years.

Michele became a full-fledged Soldier in the Salvation Army a while back and also went to work for them as a Social Worker. She has lived in Oshkosh a long time. Marvin grew up about 30 miles from Tulsa, OK. He was living in Milwaukee and also was a Soldier in the Army. Michele and Marvin's life led them to a recent convention of sorts in Madison. They hit it off, Marvin decided to come to Oshkosh, and now they tied the knot.

Captain Johnny Harsh was delighted to do a wedding. He told me: "No more funerals please. Thank God! I'd rather do weddings." Captain Johnny explained to me that a wedding between two Salvation Army Soldiers is very special. It incorporates what is called "The Salvation Army Articles of Marriage." I couldn't put a direct link to it, but it is posted online. It encourages the bride and groom to go above and beyond the normal expectations of marriage.

As one person put: The entire affair was simple and elegant. Nothing more, nothing less. The church was nicely decorated and virtually full. Michele's hair was very very pretty. She was given away by George, long time driver of the Salvation Army truck you see about town. It was a serious affair with hints of humor. Marvin dropped the ring when the ring-bearer handed it to him. Captain Johnny remarked on 'jitters' and 'knees shaking' and when it came Michele's turn with the ring, Captain told her not to drop it.

Following the ceremony CJ's at the Wayside (Ripon) catered the meal. The dining room at the Salvation Army had been transformed for the occasion. The meal included Prime Rib cut to order and Chicken Breasts Cordon Bleu. There was lots of laughter and good natured kidding directed at Michele and Marvin.

The only sour note was that the Army's regular Friday hours ended at 2pm and no regular meal was served. This irritated people who normally come for that.

Captain Johnny Harsh told me that three more weddings are scheduled this year. That's quite a change from years past.

First Tuesdays at First Congregational

2007-04-01T19:57:00.000-05:00

First and foremost exercise your right to VOTE on Tuesday.

A community wide invite comes from First Congregational Church on Algoma. Be there Tuesday at noon for a mini-concert and lunch. The event is absolutely free of charge. Donations are encouraged and discreetly taken but don't let lack of funds stop you from being there.

This month's musical entree is an organ-harp combo. Joanne Peterson is playing the pipe organ and Sarah Thrush plays the harp. Sarah comes from the UWO Music Dept. and you can sneek a look at her background from this web article from seven years ago.

The music is the draw, but there is more! We're talking food today. I will print verbatim the menu from last month's First Tuesday affair...

Soups

Aunt Julie's Italian Wedding Soup

Hungarian Cream of Mushroom

Breads

Parisienne Flat Bread

Ciabatta Bread

Turkish Sesame Bread

Chocolate Brad

Curry Chicken Salad

Coffee, Punch, and Desserts

---

Now that's a menu for Soup and Sandwich! The Curry Chicken Salad was served on the side and you could choose from the fresh breads at the table. Desserts included at least seven flavors of cheescake.

The chefs were Susan Heft, Jack Talin, and Chris Laufer accompanied by dozens of volunteers.

When you get up from your computer now and head for the fridge mark Tuesday at noon on your calendar.

Wisconsin DNR Does a 180

2007-04-01T15:39:00.000-05:00

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has announced a complete reversal on its 'no camping' policy on the Lower Wisconsin River south of Sauk City in the vicinity of the Mazomanie Bottoms and the Ferry Bluff natural units. Campers will again be welcome under a new program being introduced this year.

Turtle reproduction is the problem. They are not producing enough offspring. The DNR is working hard to find solutions concerning turtle sex.

Enter: Turtles In Transition Society.

The Turtles in Transition Society was formed to assist the DNR in making sure the turtles properly mate. Members of this group will be camping on the sandbars of Mazomanie Bottoms for weeks on end, braving all elements of weather and being away from their families and homes, just to prove a point. Turtles do it in the water. Then they come ashore and deposit their eggs in the sand. Taking a clue from other groups around the world, the paid volunteers will discreetly watch where the turtles deposit their eggs, marking the spot with caution tape. Each of the paid volunteers will be issued infrared night-vision goggles which along with Huber beer and cheap whiskey will keep them focused on the job.

I interviewed Barbara Wolf, who holds the prestigious title of State of Wisconsin, Department of Natural Resources, South Central Regional Warden, and when asked about turtle sex she replied: "Do bears s**t in the woods?"

Spiritual adviser to the group, the Rev. Ralph Ovadal, could not be reached regarding the issue of turtle sex. Ruth Bender remains clueless.

Disclaimers...

Although this blog originates in Oshkosh it has no ties to the Naturist Society which is headquartered here and never will.

The Turtles In Transition Society is the brainchild of the Friends of Gary (FOG). There are many Garys' and they will all tell you that they would refuse to become a member of any organization that would have them.

If you would like to take part in promoting turtle sex just email me (or any other Gary) and have your checkbook ready.

Thanks.

Monster of a Story

2007-03-31T14:11:00.000-05:00

B'gosh, it's dead in the water. Oshkosh 'on the water' is about as dead as WOSH on a March day. To paraphrase that guy from Lake Wobegon: "March exists so that people who don't drink know what a hangover is like." The 20th of April sometimes feels like it's still March.

I was force fed WOSH for about five minutes one morning. It was like all you can eat for $1.99, but a dollars' worth was all I could stand! Then came some public service type ad from the National Chamber of Commerce spreading vitriol about union bosses taking money. The union bosses are about the only reason the common person has ever had any money. There ain't many left and the C. of C. wants to do away with all of 'em. I'm glad though about being force-fed WOSH. It reminded me why I never have that station on.

I've got news for the Chamber of Commerce. Oshkosh is dead in the water. Look around you. Foreclosures are up, people can't afford to bring their old houses up to code, and the students from the Milwaukee vicinity refer to the downtown area as a (whispered) slum.

'On the water' brings about as many tourists to town...Well. Let me put it this way: The Women's Sumo Wrestling Championships might be a better draw.

It's never been about what's 'on the water', it's about what lies below. 747's full of tourists from Scotland renting watercraft and sonar looking for the elusive monster of Lake Winnebago, teaching the locals down at Oblios the finer points of single malt Scotch, spending incredible sums of money in the local restaurants. This has got legs, at least the story does, and don't expect it to go away anytime soon.

Expect to see artists renditions of this lake creature(s) sometime soon at the Gallery Walk and I wouldn't doubt that sculptures will follow at major intersections, and contests in the schools. Don't forget the naming contest. My hands down favorite is:

Winney the Lake Winnebago Monster.

Would someone kindly tell the Chamber of Commerce to lighten up, quit spending money on ads that demean our citizens, and realize that we have the ($$$) largest inland lake ($$$) in the country to draw upon. If ya can't use the lake ya might as well sell it to the Saudis.

Can't you see Geraldo in a wet suit preparing to get to the bottom of this monster thing?

I have spoken about this to a couple of our local politicians but I won't divulge a thing until Wednesday after the elections.

In the meantime please remind young children not to get too close to the water lest the monster might get 'em.

Fishy Fact: The DNR claims that living organisms in Lake Winnebago exceed 200lbs. You can take that one to the bank.

Fr. Carr's Place 2B

2007-03-27T19:35:00.000-05:00

Father Carr's Homeless Shelter: number of people using the facilities in the past month.

Note that these numbers are not exact. They are not pinned down to the exact date. This is to allow users of the shelter to remain anonymous. If they were found to have 'leaked' information to someone outside the property they would probably be on the street within the hour. I use the Watergate style of collecting information, i.e. three separate sources as a rule and two sources if they have been 100% reliable in the past.

Men's Shelter...
Population: 14. Shelter capacity: 75.

Women and Children's Shelter...
Population: 7. Shelter capacity: 75.

Note that the women's shelter also houses a dozen nuns. They are from another country and are attending school in Oshkosh. I have it on good authority that the relations between the nuns and the women staying in the shelter is very stressed of late.

Father Carr has not been well. He was in the hospital weeks ago. One leg was amputated below the knee.

What follows today should be taken with a grain of salt.

I use track-back software on this blog. I don't hide it. Scroll down to the bottom and click on the number in the box. Stat-Counter tells me a lot about the readers of my blog. Much of it is rather mundane. Then again it brings more questions than answers.

About two weeks ago someone Googled this: ["father carr's place" oshkosh].

I 'drilled down' to get more detailed info...
Host Name: WDCsun17.usdoj.gov
IP number: 149.101.?.???

This computer is located in Potomac, Maryland. It was someone from the United States Department of Justice. They spent exactly 20 minutes and 40 seconds reading previous columns I had written about Father Carr.

What does this tell me? Someone from the U.S. Dept. of Justice is investigating Father Carr? Someone with ties to the Oshkosh area who works for the Dept. of Justice put Father Carr's name in the search engine while eating lunch and doodling at the computer? The latter one sounds more likely to me. Let's hope it isn't the first. (I do not wish to get that employee in trouble. I have the exact IP-number but entered 'question marks' for the last four digits.)

Like I said. Take it with a grain of salt.

What happens now? Tomorrow someone from the U.S. Dept. of Justice will Google [ u.s. dept. of justice ]. They will find this blog-post at the top of the list.

They will 'click' on it and read it.

Tomorrow night my trackback software will tell me they did.

So what and who gives a rat's behind?

Peace.

Living Healthy Clinic Loses Grant

2007-03-27T18:59:00.000-05:00

The UWO Living Healthy Clinic, located at Doctor's Court (off Bowen St.) was to receive a $150,000 'earmark' from the Federal Government. An 'earmark' is an amendment tacked on to the end of a bill. Earmarks may or may not relate to the main bill, but may appease a lawmaker. In this case Sen. Herb Kohl (D) pushed for the money.

I attempted to follow through on the bill (Health and Human Services #109-HR5647) and found that the Republicans had stalled it for three months. That was September 2006. I do not understand the web site well enough to proceed further.

At any rate I needed to go to the clinic, (an off-shoot of the UWO Nursing Program), the other day. A new sign graced the door...shorter hours. Another new sign: No New Patients.

I asked if they had received the 'earmark' and was told that they "were not going to get it after all."

I was also told that a lot of questionable pork-barrel type 'earmarks' still went through.

Folks. This is a damn shame. A lot of low income folks depend on this clinic.

My primary source today was Leona Whitman who very capably runs the clinic. Got a few thousand lying around? Got an idea for a fundraiser? Call the clinic at (920) 424-1242.

Iraq War: A Town Hall Forum

2007-03-23T13:36:00.000-05:00

TOWN HALL FORUM

on the

IRAQ WAR

Monday March 26

7:00 P.M.

United Steelworkers Building

1244A Midway Road

Menasha, WI 54952

Citizen Action Wisconsin

Don Wadle

920.496.1188

Wisconsin in the News

2007-03-23T13:28:00.001-05:00

I sometimes wonder what impression people in the other 49 states have of Wisconsin. At times I have posted or been picked up on a national blog. It however did not happen this time. All Hat No Cattle, which is in my link list on this page, is my favorite place to send items. Lisa, who runs this popular national blog, did not publish my blurb (below), but did reply personally via email.

All Hat No Cattle has had in excess of 12 and 1/2 million views! Lisa is currently running her site from an island south of Florida and recently was threatened with a lawsuit by Scarborough of MSNBC.

No comment on this from me. Read on...

From: Lisa lisa@allhatnocattle.net
To: Gary
Subject: Re: Deer Sex / Superior, Wisconsin
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 11:12:04 -0700 (PDT)

Eeeewwww.

Maybe we can get Dick Cheney to go hunting with him!

Thanks for writing.
Later,
Lisa

Gary wrote:
Dear Lisa,
Please don't judge Wisconsinites by the actions of that fellow in Superior who had sex with a deer. The rest of us are holding our own just fine, thank you.
Gary from Oshkosh

First Congregational to Remember War Dead

2007-03-18T16:07:00.000-05:00

The 10:00am service at the First Congregational Church (UCC) on Algoma, Sunday March 25, will be musical in nature. Please click on the links to learn more.

__________

REQUIEM FOR THE FALLEN

A Service to Remember All Those

Who Die in War

A moving new Requiem composed just four years ago by Bradley Ellingboe will be presented here in our 10:00 worship service by our Chancel Choir, accompanied by organ Violin, and cello, with soloist Laurel Sanders.

The work includes the texts of John Donne's poem "Death Be Not Proud", "Psalm 22", the "Lord's Prayer", and George Herbert's poem "Evensong".

___________

I am not a member of First Congregational. I believe this may be a very ambitious and provocative service, a service that other churches and musical groups might like to tackle. Visitors are always welcome at First Congregational.

Peace.

On the Edge of Town

2007-03-16T14:59:00.000-05:00

Spent some time west of town on the lake. Serene, calm, late winter provides a bleak landscape from which emerges signs of a brighter season. Went to feed the birds at sunup, but waited while three young healthy bambi's wandered through and foraged a bit. The deer were pretty against the backdrop of remaining snow, gentle and ever watchful. The bluejays were first, scaring away all others. Then the robins, cardinals, and yellow finches and more including gray squirrels working the ground under the feeder. All disappeared and when I looked to the sky I saw a red-tailed hawk and then a second.

My return around sunset brought with it a couple more deer who by straining their necks managed to eat what was left on the feeder.

Box-elder bugs are active in the house. I pick them up on paper and deposit them in the garage. They are so pretty with the orange-red markings on their wings. They resemble roaches but are inane and not scary at all. As a child I used to play with them and watch them for hours.

Spring is coming...sometime. An old jazz tune travels through my mind: "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most".

Peace.

Maybe a little crazy...

2007-03-11T15:48:00.000-05:00

What's with the flags at half-staff again. They have been that way so much of the last four years that I don't bother to investigate. Speaking of that, another item I won't investigate is telescoping flagpoles. Every time flags are to be put at half staff it would be much easier to leave the flag right where it is and raise the pole twice as high. Think about how a car or boombox aerial works. Presto! Pole moves, flag doesn't.

Spring forward, Fall back. This will drop into obscurity. It's nowhere near Spring. How about: March ahead, Fall back? (A tip of the hat to Miles McGuire with March Forth i.e. March 4.) Here's an old Irish saying: March 17th, sleep 18th.

Daylight Savings Time is going to save energy? I think not. It will encourage more energy use before daylight and tease people who 'want to go buy something before it's dark out'. Yes. Burn more gas after work and buy more cheap plastic crap from Mall-Wart. My guess would be that if everyone stayed at home after work for the next three weeks and didn't spend any money, Daylight Savings Time would start later in the spring.

Heard on the streets...

Newcomer: You look familiar. Did you ever spend time in a mental institution?
Resident: ??? (shakes head while walking away)

Peace.

Dick Cheney, Back to Work?

2007-03-07T18:56:00.000-06:00

It doesn't surprise me that Cheney has a blood clot. What does is that the wire services said he returned to the office for the rest of the afternoon after learning this. I find this virtually impossible, highly improbable.

The medical name is deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Blood clots usually form in the upper calf behind the knee. They slow down or cut blood circulation to the lower leg. A person feels only minor discomfort. The ankle may swell. A trip to a clinic or emergency room usually results in going through an ultrasound type test to pinpoint the clot.

Since pain is minimal the presence of a clot is more likely to raise the blood pressure of the medical personnel than the patient. The medical people know that at any moment the clot may decide to move northward in the body. If the clot chooses to move to the lung or heart area you may have a good chance of survival if you are in the hospital. If the clot chooses to move to your brain (aneurysm) you will become roadkill in under eight minutes.

I have been through DVT three times and know the procedure well. If the ultrasound is positive you do not pass GO, you do not collect $200, and you can forget even leaving the hospital to go to your car, or going home to pack a bag. The next step after the ultrasound is to lay down on a gurney or hospital bed with your feet elevated higher than your heart or lungs. This tremendously lowers the likelihood that the clot will move. You will remain on your back for about four days and not be allowed to even bring your legs down to walk to a restroom! Clots are not operated on. Blood thinners are administered orally and by I.V. until the clot begins to disintegrate on its own.

That Cheney claimed to go back to his undisclosed location to finish the workday is preponderous! This is proof to me that reporters didn't even do basic investigation. They could've asked an M.D., a nurse, a relative, an uncle, their own parents, or me! Do your own investigation. Contact a relative or friend who has gone through this and you can confirm what you are reading here. Cheney went back to work: BOGUS! The Northwestern took the wire service item and printed it verbatim in their new 'all the news fitted to print' format.

I looked for outrage about this on the web and found nothing. It could be that no one even cares or bothers to challenge the MSM. It is one more time that reporters take the bait and publish without doing the simplest of fact-checking.

So now Dick Lon Cheney will be on Warfarin (brand name: Coumadin). Warfarin is rat poison. It was invented in Wisconsin. WARF stands for Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

In the 1930's farmers had cows bleed to death from eating spoiled clover silage. The UW Ag. Dept. in Madison figured this out, then put it to use. Warfarin was developed to kill rats and mice on farms. When the rats didn't die their blood became extremely thin. This info made it to the UW Medical School in Madison next. Soon they began using Warfarin in small dosages on humans. Warfarin is the most used blood thinner in the world and many buildings on the Madison campus have been paid for with residuals.

I would not be surprised if Cheney is kept on Warfarin the rest of his life. I am. I've been on it most of the time since 1994.

Warfarin has few side effects. One is use of alcohol. Alcohol thins blood and when combined with the blood thinner Warfarin you get a very quick and enhanced buzz. Someone who is on Warfarin should not drink their lunch and then go hunting quail with a friend. Warfarin, alcohol, and guns do not mix well. Ask Dick Cheney. You may have seen web chatter on this. I have personal knowledge of what happens when alcohol and Warfarin are used together. It's a fact.

A couple of Cheney's buddies from Halliburton are execs in the private company that has been running Walter Reed Hospital for two years. Yes! Walter Reed Army Hospital was outsourced to a private-for-profit corporation. Rats, mice, and mold greet our returning injured Vets. These two former Halliburton big-wigs are receiving $123 million in wages for basically gutting Walter Reed. They cut the number of employees there from 300 to 100 to SAVE THE TAXPAYERS SOME MONEY!

Oh, by the way: In an unrelated story...if the Bush Cheney REPUBLICAN bunch get their way and eliminate the death tax ONE FAMILY ALONE WILL RECEIVE A $32 BILLION TAX SAVING! That family is the one that owns Mall-Wart, the Waltons.

There you have it folks. Reporters who pass on Cheney lies as fact. Passive MSM. Former and present Halliburton employees who are hurtful to people in the armed services, the same Halliburton that Cheney ran for years. A Republican party which says 'support the troops' and has cut V.A. funds since 2000 in the name of 'saving the taxpayers some money'. Those taxpayers are some of the richest folks (Waltons) on the planet. Do you see your taxes being cut?

I find it hard to believe but there are still right-wing religious wacko redneck pickup truck loser wanna-be-Republicans who don't get it. Nothing is left-right. It's corporate / non-corporate.

The big question remains: Who will become President if Cheney dies?

Peace.

(By the way...Why am I humming 'Werewolves of London'? Nevermind. It just dawned on me.)

Gallery Walk Recap

2007-03-05T20:57:00.000-06:00

But first...

First Tuesdays at First Congregational. Tuesday at noon. 'Flute Salad' is the musical offering. The mini-concert is followed by a soup and sandwich lunch with yummy desserts. The entire event is free and open to the public. If you are inclined, a goodwill offering is taken. Chef Sue Heft will direct some thirty helpers. They will not be named here but they are the stars in that they make it possible to enjoy the concert, eat, and be back to work at 1pm! THANK YOU HELPERS!

Last Saturday took me to Guten Tag as my first stop. I had been meaning to go there for three months. It is a large gallery on the 2nd floor at 316 Court St. Start at the New Moon, go east on Washington St. past the library and turn right. Gracious Tracy Heckel runs the gallery which features several artists. The high ceiling gives it an airy feeling, a 'good inside' feeling which brings out the best in the artworks. I was awed by the building itself. It is well over 100yrs old. The wooden floors are beautiful. A stage graces one end. Tracy told me it used to be a Labor Hall. I could visualize wedding dances from years ago. I was curious, went to the Oshkosh Public Library tonight and one of the crack Reference Librarians was able to direct me in finding details. It is a brick building, brick being common after the great fires of the latter 1800's. It was built circa 1890-93 and the first tenant I found was the 'Sons of Hermann' Lodge. The Son's of Hermann group began 1850 in Oshkosh and dissolved 1913. It was re-dedicated the Oshkosh Moose Lodge January 9, 1914. Much later it became the Building Trades and Labor Hall. The librarian told me of her first visit to the Labor Hall circa 1967 when Hubert H. Humphrey(D), Senator from Minnesota (and later VP) spoke there. 'Fact sheets', derogatory ones printed on pink paper were being passed around to insinuate that he was a 'pinko'. Such was life in Oshkosh at that time. At any rate the building and gallery is beautiful and tasteful, a delight to the eye, and I will be back. You do the same.

Jambalaya on Main again had some members of the soon to be famous Oshkosh Drum Circle and at one point featured a belly dancer. The Drum Circle is damn good. They should routinely be asked to open and take part in community events. Anybody listening?

I ended the night at Jacinda's Spa & Salon, 440 N. Main. They offer all manner of Salon services and have taken to the Gallery Walk like a duck takes to water. Stop there during the next 'Walk' and get introduced. You may want to make your next hair appointment there. They had live entertainment par excellence! A thirty year old fellow named Todd Bergquist. Todd is a relative of one of the beauticians. He is somewhere between James Taylor, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Johnny Cash, and Boxcar Willie. Then again it's as if he is all of them at the same time. He has top notch sound re-enforcement and knows how to correctly use it: Bose. Martin is the name on his ax, a top notch acoustic-electric model. Intonation was perfect, a great voice, a sense of humor, a good ear for sound, and common sense in adjusting the volume to perfectly fit the room. Fine job Todd! Note: Every single person there was clapping their hands, singing along, yodeling, etc. with the exception of one young lady who sat in a barber chair, perfectly still, with a gloomy demeanor. What's up with her? She stuck out like a sore thumb.

Art is subjective. I don't often comment on artists and particular works of art. It's a very individual and 'point in time' feeling. I enjoy it. I am very comfortable writing about live music since I have a lifetime intense background in it.

Watch for upcoming columns on the Leach, Waterfest and more. I am not happy with PMI. Waterfest is good, but there is a lot of room for improvement. It will be offensive to some. I hope someone listens to this seasoned veteran.

Peace.

Top o' the Mornin' Oshkosh

2007-02-26T20:51:00.000-06:00

St. Patrick's Day will be here sooner than a leprechaun's twinkle o' the eye, March 17, which just happens to be on a Saturday this year. UWO recesses on Friday March 16 for spring break. Let your imagination take it from there.

Whoa! Wait a minute! Don't connect UWO with past disturbances in Oshkosh on St. Patrick's Day.

I have done my homework on this and can say up front that;

Arrests on this day in the past have been typically 1/2 -out of town non-students, 1/4 -city residents, and 1/4 -(or less) UWO students.
The university may have acted as a focal point (I hate the word magnet) for young adults seeking to be around other young adults.

The UWO students have a right to 'youthful exuberance'. That locals and out-of-towners joined them and at times took it beyond the legal limits of exuberance, surely can't be blamed on the university. Thanks. Now, where did I set that bottle of Guinness?

Oshkosh did have that reputation for imbibing on March 17 some years. There's no question about that. Wisconsin has that reputation. Other people come to Wisconsin to have an excuse to drink. (Ask someone from Iowa or Illinois and they will tell you that.) Wisconsinites drink so they have an excuse to do other things!

Back in the '60's Stevens Point had a corner on this. The students commandeered a beer truck one day. The driver's bosses told the gendarmes in short order to let the students have the beer in order to save the truck. At least that's the way I remember it. The end result was some very cheap advertising and lots of good will for the beer company. (Don't get any ideas kids!) Oshkosh stole that title from Stevens Point in the '70's. The early 1960's gave Lake Geneva notoriety due to the number of Chicagoans who came across to drink there. The lure: a lower drinking age. That peaked when the governor called out the National Guard to patrol Lake Geneva on a July 4th weekend. I remember it well. I watched the footage on the CBS evening news with Walter Cronkite and hoped it would still be as exciting a few years later after I had my driver's license and was out of high school. (It wasn't.) Sheboygan held the 'party' connotation for several years with it's Bratwurst Festival with beer stands every half a block and people passing out on blankets along the Lake Michigan shoreline. That party had no choice but to cool down. The Stoughton Syttende de Mai (May 17 Norwegian Independence Day) celebration reached the point of being an excuse to drink sometime in the '60's and early '70's. They toned down the emphasis on alcohol and it is a great family style festival to this day. The La Crosse Octoberfest continues to be a drinking party. How about Halloween on State St. in Madison, not to mention the springtime Miffland Block Party?

Highlights from the Past

Previous to 1700 the English Protestants who were murdering native Americans refused to allow Roman Catholics into New England and routinely murdered entire settlements of them, men, women, and children. No Catholic blood was to mix with the English, Irish or otherwise. After 1700 they eased up on this practice, realizing that the country was big enough for all, but more likely came to the conclusion that they couldn't bring in slaves fast enough and needed a cheap labor pool.

Large numbers of Irish were in cities such as Chicago circa 1900. They had a rough time. Newspaper Want Ads of the day routinely were tagged: Irish need not apply.

The Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh) of Monday March 18, 1901 had this headline on page 1: "No Disorder Reported on St. Patrick's Day." It detailed that no drunken arrests occurred on Sunday the 17th implying that this behavior happened in other years.

A Century Ago

The Daily Northwestern of Monday March 18, 1907 had a headline: "Many Wear the Green." The sub-headline: "Patron Saint of Ireland is Honored in a Quiet Way." It noted that the 17th was a "rather cold, raw day", "Main Street was crowded with people during the afternoon and early evening." "Many wore rosettes or streamers of green ribbon, or else a tiny shamrock out of respect to the good saint of Ireland." It also noted that the wearin' of the green was not limited to folks of Irish descent.

"Sermon On St. Patrick" was another headline with "Work of Irish Saint Is Praised" as the sub-headline. Rev. J. W. Greenwood, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, "regarded the work of St. Patrick as fully as great as that of any other religious worker of the early Christian days." He described "the early life of the boy, his kidnapping by pirates, his studies for the priesthood in Paris, and his return to Ireland to preach the gospel to all." "St. Patrick, he said, although not dying a martyr's death, lived the martyr's life, enduring privation and persecution for the sake of the call."

Next to that article was a large block ad which proclaimed: "Drink BEER". "Doctor's declare that the great prevalence of typhoid fever in the city at present is due to impure water. We therefore recommend you to drink beer. Our beer is absolutely pure, healthful, and wholesome." Oshkosh Brewing Co., Office No. 31 Doty Street. Tel. No. 11.

1970...

Articles in The Northwestern and it's competitor The Paper told of Wisconsin St. being closed from about 4-7pm on March 17. Young people were throwing snowballs, cans, and bottles at motorists and broken glass was a threat to tires. Zero to four arrests were reported.

1974...

Saturday March 16, one arrest, four hurt. Police called to Tosh's, 122 Wisconsin, Mar's Restaurant, 150 Wisconsin, Mr. Lucky's, 539 Pearl, and Dino's Titan, 667 N. Main.

The Monday, March 18, Northwestern reported a litany of weekend antics: 19 arrests, 5 policemen injured, 4 squad cars damaged, and a Courthouse window broken. Arrests were made on Wisconsin Street, the crowd followed the squad carrying the arrestees' back to the courthouse and demanded they be released. Cops were heckled and pelted with firecrackers, bottles, cans, and snow and mud balls The taverns on Wisconsin St., with police assistance, closed around 10pm Saturday night. One tavern on Main St. closed for the weekend around 3pm Sunday afternoon citing 'diminishing returns' due to wear and tear. They had sold 10 cases of liquor, 100 cases cans, and 200 half barrels. Many tavern owners were afraid to open Sunday. One arrest was at The Dilemma, 25 N. Main - a nude man dancing on the bar. An ambulance was called to the dorms. They couldn't get to the patient and had to call police for backup. The police had to move partiers who had passed out in the hallway so the ambulance crew could get the stretcher through. That the floor was sticky and slippery with beer, paper cups and cans didn't help. Mercy Hospital Emergency Room recorded their busiest night ever!

1975... 27 arrests but split up around town. Much quieter than '74. A new law had been passed outlawing drinking off premises (on sidewalks).

1976... March 17th was a Wednesday, a yawner.

1977... The 17th was a Thursday, snow and ice balls and few arrests.

1978... March 17th was on a Friday. The weather was nice and there were 15 arrests.

1979...

"Wildest in Five Years" was The Northwestern's headline. The 17th was Saturday with a heavy concentration of revelers in the area of Irving and Main St. Out of the weekends' 38 arrests, 9 were students at the university.

1980...

March 17th fell on a Monday. The party began on Friday the 14th. The drinking age was still at age 18. 50 were arrested Friday night. By Monday morning that number had risen to 350 with one more night to go. Someone managed to break a window at Scott Hall. The crowd cheered. About thirty windows later the damage ceased.

On Tuesday March 18 The Northwestern reported that over 400 people had been arrested! City Manager Wm. Frueh suggested the city work with the university to allow for spring break over March 17th in the future.

The Milwaukee Journal of Monday March 17th had a page one story on Oshkosh which was a bit different than The Northwestern. They said that there were 343 arrests and counting. One witness told of a woman with two children being arrested for jaywalking when she stepped into the street to retrieve her child's toy. The woman pleaded with the police to wait to take her to the station until she could find someone to care for her kids. By the way, 93 of those 343 arrests were for jaywalking. The Oshkosh Chief of Police was quoted as saying he had no pity at all for anyone who was arrested.

The St. Pat's holiday quieted down after that year.

I welcome readers responses and stories about the various years. Most of the people I interviewed could remember events but couldn't associate them with a given year. Maybe it was the green beer?

The best way to end a St. Patrick's party is to hire a Bagpiper. Ever heard one of those indoors? Oshkosh has one. You can watch and listen to him at this link. Who is he? Where can he be found? This guy's got a future.

Circa 1975-77 around St. Patrick's day the Tonight Show's Johnny Carson said that there was only two places in the world to celebrate it: Dublin, Ireland and Oshkosh! Would anyone know the year and the date (or have a tape)?

'Begorrah!

Sources: Unless otherwise noted I used the Oshkosh Northwestern which can be found on microfilm at the Oshkosh Public Library.

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro

2007-02-19T21:34:00.000-06:00

The party recipe goes like this...

Take a couple million of the poorest people on the planet. Spend 51 weeks planning the most outlandish all-out party. Let the drums begin. A week later, haggard, broke and lucky to be alive, go home and live in misery and poverty for another year. Repeat.

Why is it that the poorest of the poor own the recipe for the best party on earth?

Such color, such dancing, and the music pounds on for days.

Way back in 1975-76 I studied and absorbed what I could and put it to work for me. The Disco craze had begun to sweep the country and sound systems for DJ's began to sound respectable. My work in the gin mills demanded that I study it to stay viable in the live music tavern business.

Disco music (1976-79) virtually drowned out everything else on the air waves. It eventually led to the saying: Disco Sucks.

Disco is good and wonderful happy music and I love it. Yes I do. It died in 1979. It didn't so much die but took a break and peeks through here and there without the 'Disco' title attached.

What is Disco? It was a North American adaptation of Samba from Brazil. To a trained percussionist it is Samba reworked with Paso Doble. This is all time party music! Listened to for several hours with bright colors and certain liquid refreshments it sends you into another world which lasts until the head-throbbing headache the next day (or the next week). It is the happiest music I have ever heard in my life.

The bar owner would say: Keep 'em happy and keep 'em drinking. Disco was the perfect solution to this. 120 bpm (beats per minute) for the most part with a jump to 128 bpm the rest of the time. We never ran out of tunes to play. Any song can be rearranged to fit. The latter 70's saw a revival of standards which dated to the 1920's. Example: Baby Face.

Latin American music just keeps coming back again and again. Perez Prado did it in the 1950's with "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" and then with a tune called "Patricia". Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass did it in the '60's. Santana brought forth another twist with songs such as "Evil Ways" and "Oye Como Va". "Oye Como Va" was a remake first made popular by Tito Puente. Sergio Mendes and the Brazil '66 was another rebirth.

The death of Antonio Carlos Jobim was front page news for the Chicago Tribune in 1994. Jobim was to Brazil what John Denver was to the U.S. for many years, a national mainstream icon. Jobim's first U.S. hit (1962-63) was "The Girl from Ipanema". His music was exciting in its original format but was diluted for American easy listening formats and what is called 'elevator music'. Any dozen of Jobim's tunes would sound familiar to a U.S. citizen today.

At one point Frank Zappa saw fit to 'pimp' Disco and his "Sheik Yerbouti" (Shake Your Booty) album is still one of my all time favorites.

To take a trip to Rio tonight go to You Tube and type in: rio nesmith. See the guy who invented MTV (Michael Nesmith) in one of the first stereo-videos ever recorded. Very few of us saw it back in '80-'81 since no one had a stereo TV. No need to go to Rio. Just listen to this video.

I'm hearing the lights from the window,
I'm seeing the sound of the sea,
My feet have gone loose from their moorings,
I'm feeling quite wonderfully free.

It's only a whimsical notion...to fly down to Rio tonight...

Enjoy.

Tuesday's Duty: VOTE!

2007-02-18T18:02:00.000-06:00

Ya can't complain if you don't bother to vote.

Bryan Bain will get my vote Tuesday. He takes the time and effort to consider issues. In fact he takes too long. It is my hope that he takes a more authoritive stance in the council this time around, that of a seasoned veteran and not that of a newcomer. When contacted about city issues he responds in a timely manner and takes care of business.

Tony Palmeri will get my vote. To some Tony may appear a bit brash. Horseapples. Tony does not fit into the 1950's Lake Wobegon mode of gentle-mannered dry quips. He will argue passionately for what is right and is a willing listener to boot. Expect Tony to be confrontational at times but also expect him to make unexpected allies. He would be a positive force in any elected capacity and we are very lucky to have him in Oshkosh.

See you at the polls Tuesday.

The Race to the Bottom Continues

2007-02-15T19:54:00.000-06:00

We hear the term 'race to the bottom' on occasion. This story is local to the Fox Valley and echoed in various forms across the country. Background is important so that's where I start.

After WWII (1945) men came home and worked in paper mills, foundries, and all manner of manufacturing. Good union jobs with benefits were the order of the day. Other groups soon followed: teachers, city and county workers and more. Grocery workers also began to organize. Grocery workers never made much in terms of hourly wages but the union negotiated benefits to compensate for the low wages. Health insurance was always at the top in terms of importance.

Workers in the paper mills were happy to shop at unionized groceries. They knew the value of having their low wage counterparts with good health coverage. It meant that the grocery workers were not a burden on the community, i.e. their hospital stays and ambulance costs were covered and unlikely to raise rates for others.

Grocery stores grudgingly went along with the union demands. It was good for business and good for the communities.

Fleming Inc.

Fleming was at one point in the recent past the largest wholesaler of groceries in the country. They also did retail. In Oshkosh they delivered food to the BP convenience store at Bowen and Merritt. They also delivered to Festival Foods. They partnered with the Skogen family to build Festival here and other places. Fleming's largest account was with Kmart nationwide. Kmart was also their downfall.

Mall-Wart, Kmart, Fleming & Festival

Mall-Wart intensely hurt Kmart, which did not have good management. Kmart became a ghost town. Fleming Inc. continued to supply Kmart and extend them credit, multi-million dollar credit. One day a few years back Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A judge Ok'd slower repayments to Fleming. Fleming in turn was forced to file for Chapter 11 and a short time later filed Chapter 7 (total bankruptcy).

In short order the BP on Merritt and Bowen needed a new supplier. Festival's silent owner was in total bankruptcy and the Fleming warehouse closed. Festival was in big trouble. It needed a supplier and someone who could buy into the store.

Supervalu, Cub Foods, and Festival

Supervalu, which owns Cub Foods, was in the process of closing Cub on Witzel in 2003. When Fleming Inc. tanked that same year, Supervalu stepped in and became a silent owner of Festival and began supplying them with food too.

Let it be said that Cub Foods never left Oshkosh. Supervalu just closed up shop on Witzel and moved to the other side of Hy.41 (Festival Foods).

When Supervalu cherry-picked Fleming Inc. during the bankruptcy they also acquired something else. They now own exclusive use of the Festival Foods name.

Appleton: Cub Foods and Festival Foods

The Post Crescent and the Oshkosh Northwestern recently reported that Cub Foods in Appleton will close March 11 and Festival Foods will open in the same location in June. If the reporter would've taken a moment to check web sites they would've figured out that the Cub name would come down, the Festival name would go up, and the trucks parked in back would still say Super Valu!

There are many conclusions that can be drawn. I will dwell on the 'people' one. In Appleton, as in Oshkosh, a number of union jobs will be lost. People with a lot of years toiling for Supervalu will now be figuratively screwed by Supervalu.

Some 47 million Americans are without health insurance and the number increases every day due to corporate greed. The above story is being repeated all over the nation with different names and different players.

Do your part. Don't shop Mall-Wart. Tell Mall-Wart employees and grocery workers that they can have good health insurance. Tell them to call the UFCW (United Food and Commercial Workers) for help. Grant Withers is the guy to talk to in Oshkosh.

Shop where you know the employees are taken care of. That would be Woodmans in Appleton. In Oshkosh shop the Pig on Murdock. The Pig has half-gallons of premium ice-cream for under $2 bucks this week. Try to find that cheaper somewhere else in Oshkosh.

Our nation needs more people with health insurance, and not the other way around.

Peace.

Here are the links: Cub Foods, Festival Foods, SuperValu, and UFCW.

I am the Father of Anna Nicole's Baby

2007-02-10T16:26:00.000-06:00

Just to set the record straight I am the father of that baby. To learn more please click on this link. That, of course, is the most important news I have for you today.

In other news my mechanic told me I had a screw loose. It was later determined that old loose belts were the culprit and I may soon be able to travel minus the jumper cables.

I have a whopper of a story to report. It will appear in full in several days after I have the links and the detail in place. The MSM, namely Gannett operating out of Appleton, the Post Crescent don't ya know, took the Corporate Hook Line & Sinker on this one, without an iota of investigation.

Here's the scoop without the nitty gritty detail...

Cub Foods is closing in Appleton. Big deal. They closed in Oshkosh in 2003.

Festival Foods opened in Oshkosh a few years back. Festival is now opening in Appleton in the old Cub Foods building.

Cub is owned by Super Valu.

The Festival name is owned by Super Valu.

Cub Foods, being union, had good HEALTH INSURANCE for all employees.

Non-union Festival does not!

Watch this space to learn more, and yes, I am the father!

First Tuesday at First Congregational

2007-02-01T19:25:00.000-06:00

Bring on the brass. But first...

The frigid February Gallery Walk is Saturday night 6-9pm. May the brave endure and be rewarded with a taste of wine to warm the soul. It will be remembered as the Art Walk Challenge. Check the link to your left to learn more.

Molly Ivins is gone. I read Molly over the years and never had the pleasure of meeting her. She became required reading in the latter '90's. She had covered the Bush League Regime after they made their move to Texas in an attempt to hide their eastern establishment Ivy League roots. She had the goods on them and nicknamed Dubya "schrub". Her writing inspired me due to her ability to present the most atrocious stories while keeping a smile on her face, and more than that, keeping our attention.

I met many folks who had the pleasure of meeting her. It wasn't all pleasure. She was a big woman (not fat just big) who wore cowboy boots, swore like a sailor, told off color stories, drank whiskey 'till the cows came home, had no inclination to marry, and would yell four letter words at friends across large gatherings of socialites. She also stood up for the poor and disenfranchised every time.

Of all the columns I read about her today I liked Tony Palmeri's take the best!

Thank you Molly.

To learn more about Molly Ivins fighting the good fight go here.

TUBA-RIFFIC is the program this month at First Congregational's First Tuesday Concert. For more go here and here.

Peace.

Delusions or Disillusioned?

2007-01-30T19:43:00.000-06:00

Winter can make one a bit delusional. Cabin fever enters into this, although lack of same can do it too. Having a cabin is the answer. Go there, pray for snow. Enough white stuff to force you to hole up for three days with no TV and internet. Food, firewood, a lantern and a few good books would do.

Delusion is the word that came to mind when I listened to Accordian Man detail his latest rant about society in front of the Oshkosh Public Library. He detailed his love for Hillary Clinton and his unwavering support for her. He told me of the MSM asking her if she had the wherewithal to deal with stubborn world leaders who might lie on occasion. She mentioned something to the effect of having some first-hand knowledge in this area. This cracks up Accordian Man. He wants more. Tells me Hillary should run the country for eight years followed by Obama for another eight. He sez that Hillary already ran the country for an eight year span in the '90's, at least every Republican he knows convinced him of this, and he doesn't remember anyone being out of work then!

People are asking me about this War thing with Iran. Back up and do the homework. Read the Project for the New American Century. John Lemberger told me two or three years ago that Iran was next. It's nothing new. The Bush League is merchandising it the same way they did Iraq.

But wait?

Isn't Iraq in a Civil War? Two sides fighting each other? Of course! Iran is financing one side. Faux Knews tells us this several times an hour. The Bush League Merchandising Team doesn't want you to know this but someone's financing the other side. That would be Saudi Arabia. MSM is not going to detail this until CITIZEN BLOGGERS force the issue.

Get it. The Sunnis and Shiites murder each other with U.S. soldiers standing inbetween. One side is financed by Iran, the other by Saudi Arabia. MSM (and others) are terrified over dealing with the Saudi Arabian end of this. It comes down to this: Free flow of oil to the U.S.

Anyone in Oshkosh who has attempted to keep their neighbors awake half the night around July 4 knows it takes hard cash (or plastic) to pay for those loud noises. Bombs Bursting over Bagdad costs big bucks. Iran and Saudi Arabia pay part of it and the U.S. is going in debt for the rest.

Do everyone a big favor the next time Iran is mentioned in conversation (or on the news). Demand that Saudi Arabia gets equal time.

Time to bring this home. A soldier from north of Oshkosh has died. His name: Jon St. John. Thus ends life for him, the dreams of his parents and all the things that might have been. A tragedy.

Another family in Oshkosh is facing a crisis. Mom and dad have two children, just lost their health insurance due to Oshkosh Public Library cutbacks, and mom just found out she is pregnant. A third child on the way along with a whopping medical bill. Another tragedy.

I know none of the above mentioned people. The stories are as different as life and death but a common thread weaves its way through them. The serviceman deserved to live. The library employee needed the insurance to keep a sense of calm in the family. That thread is a government which has an open wallet for war and a closed wallet at home.

It's time to close the wallet abroad and open it at home. Everyone will be a lot happier.

Accordian Man might be happier too, that is if his disability claim comes through before he's dead.

Peace.

Emergency Food & Shelter (FEMA) Board Meeting

2007-01-26T15:27:00.000-06:00

On Wednesday January 24, 2007 the Board meeting was held for the allotment of funds provided to Winnebago County by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The funds are distributed by the Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP) Board. It was held at the Hooper Community Center, 36 Broad Street.

The 2007 award for Winnebago County is $86,833, a significant increase of 91.6% in funding from 2006.

A general review of emergency food and shelter needs preceded a review of funding requests by various agencies and then award amounts were determined and voted upon.

Requests came from seven agencies:

American Red Cross, East Central WI
American Red Cross, Neenah-Menasha
Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services
Ecumenical Food Pantry (located at Trinity Episcopal Church)
Emergency Shelter of Fox Valley
LEAVEN (Menasha)
Salvation Army-Oshkosh

Highlights include the Christine Ann Center which was awarded $15,900 for 2007. The Ecumenical Food Pantry was awarded $2,232. About seven area churches contribute and run the pantry which operates out of Trinity Episcopal. $6,675 was awarded to the Emergency Shelter of Fox Valley, located in Appleton, which assists in housing Oshkosh homeless. The Oshkosh Salvation Army received almost $6,000 in 2006 but scaled back their request for $1,000 this coming year. Captain Johnny Harsh remarked that the people of Oshkosh came through in great fashion this past year and not as much was needed. The Salv. Army served over 64,000 meals in 2006.

A new application was made by the Trinity Episcopal Church 'Loaves and Fishes' program. They serve about 70 meals twice a month on Saturdays. This is the first time they applied. Their meal program complements the Salvation Army program in that the Army is not open on Saturdays. Discussion followed the presentation which asked for $1,000. Further discussion centered around the possibility of them expanding their program to all Saturdays. Eventually a vote was taken and it was decided to award them $1,000, and possibly award them another $1,000 if the program expands. They served an estimated 1,118 meals in 2006.

The EFSP Board includes members of many social service organizations in the area and yes, I am on this board as an advocate for the homeless.

If anyone would like detailed reports on the EFSP Board and FEMA allotments, please use the email address on the top left and I will assist in directing you.

Lake Winnebago Ice Depth

2007-01-23T16:01:00.000-06:00

The Lake Winnebago Ice Depth Chart is finally online and you can check it by clicking on the link directly to your left. It says 3-inches today. That's based on reports of fishermen and would certainly not be true of the entire lake. Timely reports on fishing activity can be found by clicking on 'fish reports' on the same page. Question: Would a fisherman really let on the location of the best fishing?

In another fish story...

Dubya is gonna speak on the State of the Onion tonight. My advice is FOLLOW THE MONEY! 20,000 more troops is good for Halliburton's lunch program and not much else. The health care proposal will dumb down many great health programs by lowering benefits. Does anyone really think premiums will come down? The number of uninsured is 47 million and rising and Dubya won't touch that...blah...blah...blah.

I wouldn't doubt that TV news programs may suffer for viewers tonight. Good night to tune in the Nat'l Geographic channel, -or maybe just turn on the weather channel and read a book.

Peace.

Eagle Watching Days - Sauk City,WI

2007-01-18T15:22:00.001-06:00

"There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot." Those are the opening words of Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac.

The ones who cannot may be drawn to the Sauk City, Prairie du Sac area this weekend for Eagle Watching Days. For more information please click here.

The official program can be found at this site.

Sauk Prairie, a name which refers to the twin cities, is much more than just a home for the widely known Cow Chip Toss. There is something of value going on year round. Take Hy60 west of Columbus and don't spend too much time looking for Susie the Duck in Lodi. Once a person gets west of the intersection with the Interstate System the countryside changes. The driftless area is hills and valleys, a nice change from Oshkosh.

I have been re-reading George Vukelich's A North Country Notebook this month. George called his radio personality Papa Hambone and had a radio show on WPR for many years. He would often open the show with the above Aldo Leopold quote and like Leopold, speak to those hills and valleys in the southwest area of the state. Papa Hambone's voice became silent with the death of George V. in 1995. Silence speaks volumes and Papa Hambone was the master of the 'pregnant pause'. He could say more with that pause after a comma, than anyone I know.

Papa Hambone spoke often of Wisconsin's John Muir, also Leopold's beloved Shack on the Wisconsin River, and also of the mid-west's most prolific writer: August Derleth, who spent almost every day of his life in the Sauk City area.

The Oshkosh Public Library catalog shows way over 100 items for August Derleth. I am reprinting today one page from his book "Wisconsin Country -A Sac Prairie Journal", in the hope that more readers take an interest in him.

This entry concerns Ferry Bluff, which now allows no human activity in the winter. It is an Eagle Preserve south of Sauk City.

Notes: This came out in 1965, from a journal kept in the 40's/50's. It is the story of a trip to Ferry Bluff. The Author, August Derleth, had been there many times..., but never in winter. I reprint here the entirety of Page 21 from this book. It begins with a reference to a previous work. Enjoy.

________________________________________________________________________

25 JANUARY: Lee Galpin wrote today that a certain kindhearted matron in one of the state hospitals was in the habit of reading my books to the patients, "when they're strapped down and can't do anything about it."

I went out this afternoon with George Henn, Carl Lachsmund, and Rob Seitz to climb the Cactus and Ferry Bluffs along the Wisconsin, marking the boundaries of property there. The afternoon was mellow, and the sun shone brightly. Snow, unbroken by any human footprint, lay deep over everthing, making the hill slopes singularly beautiful, especially in the contrast of snowy slopes and dark boles set against the Wisconsin's cobalt and the lighter blue of heaven. But though no human tracks broke the snow, there were marks of animals everywhere---mink tracks, a deer run, the signs of rabbits, squirrels, mice, birds, of fox trails crossing and criss-crossing among the trees. The climb was exhilarating, though for a time tiring. If one sits too long at a desk without deviation from the pattern, even the most pleasurable of diversions can become wearing. I had not before been on top of the bluffs in winter, perhaps in fear of the danger of slipping and sliding down the treacherous declivity into the Wisconsin, and at the crest of the hill I stood for a long time looking out over the snow-covered land to the villages---Sac Prairie, Roxbury, Mazomanie---and the Baraboo bluffs along the northern rim of sky and earth, in a kind of blue sheen, that familiar winter blue of snow and air, following the great curve of the Wisconsin from the northwest into the southwest, and reflecting anew in this soundless vastness upon the transitory insignificance of man against the enduring earth.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

2007-01-13T16:09:00.000-06:00

I did a very unscientific poll on Dubya's announcement that he wants to send 21,000 more troops to Iraq. Got remarks such as... "is he nuts?", "he should send his daughters", "the 21,000 should refuse to go", "the 21,000 should go over there and escort the rest back home", and many more likewise comments.

The weather outside is...

What's happening? The Merrimac Ferry is still running! Lake Mendota is open, same for Winnebago. The ice depth chart for Lake Winnebago is not online yet. Strange - strange.

In the scheme of life here in the not-so-frozen tundra it goes like this:

After January 15th the temperature no longer stays below zero for 24 hours.
After February 15th the temperature seldom goes below zero.
After March 15th it still snows but melts within days if you don't shovel.

March 17th will be the day to watch this spring. Johnny Carson once remarked that there were only two places to be on St. Pat's Day...Dublin, Ireland and Oshkosh, Wisconsin. That was before UWO moved spring break to coincide with the Patron's Day of drinking green beer and doing property damage. This year UWO decided to keep class in session and here's my prediction:

A quiet night, lots of overtime for the gendarmes, and the usual complaining about that overtime.

The employees of the Salvation Army have a paid holiday Monday. Good for them. This should serve as an inspiration for other employers to do the same.

"A nation that continues, year after year, to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death" -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

I borrowed that from the Side Street. Thanks Jody. Jody brought up something that I'd never thought about. I always thought that Dr. King was speaking to everyone, not just blacks.

Peace.

Martin Luther King Event

2007-01-08T13:54:00.001-06:00

The Winnebago Peace & Justice Center has organized the 5th Annual March with Martin, MLK event and Town Hall Forum.

On Monday, January 15 members of the Oshkosh Community will gather at the New Moon Cafe, 410 N. Main Street, at 4pm for sign making and an event kick off speech just the way Martin would do it. At 4:20 p.m. the crowd will march down Algoma Blvd. to Reeve Memorial Union, 748 Algoma Blvd., to remember the life and the dreams of Martin Luther King Jr.
At 4:45 p.m. members of the community, city of Oshkosh Candidates and Officials as well as community leaders and organizations will meet in Reeve Union 202 to talk about King's legacy and discuss how our community struggles to make King's dreams our realities. A Town Hall Forum will follow and the focus will be poverty, social, and economic justice issues within the greater Oshkosh area. The public is invited to attend, we encourage their participation, and we look forward to discussing issues important to our community. This will be a great opportunity to come together and address these important topics.
At 6:30 p.m. there will be a FREE community dinner at the Winnebago Peace and Justice Center, 321 Market St.. Everyone is invited to enjoy this home cooked meal.
Monday January 15, 2007 Schedule of Events:
4:00 Kickoff at the New Moon, Downtown Oshkosh
4:20 March down Algoma Blvd. to Reeve Union
4:45 Keynote speaker at Reeve Union, Room 202
5:00: Town Hall Forum on Poverty at Reeve Union, Room 202
6:30 FREE Community Dinner at Winnebago Peace & Justice Center, 321 Market St.
For More information please contact Drew Mueske at 920-292-0386 or Jenni Ryan at 920-379-5746.

Gallery Walk January 6,2007

2007-01-05T16:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome the start of a new year with a visit to the Oshkosh Gallery Walk Saturday January 6,2007 from 6-9pm. Twenty-Five locations are shown on the Map/Program which can be found at any of the participating galleries.

A much needed addition to the Art Walk has finally happened and you can view it here:
http://www.oshkoshgallerywalk.com

Our balmy weather is due to end anytime now and you can see the latest forecast by clicking on the link at your left. I suggest starting the walk in two different ways. Begin on the south side at the Blue Room Studio at 800 Oregon St. and make a stop at the other two locations south of the Main St. bridge. An alternate way is to start on North Main at Mod Bod, 683 N. Main and Pedestrian Arts at 664 N. Main. These two galleries on North Main are open from 5pm.

Many other shops are open Saturday evening including Upscale Resale on Market Street. I suspect some of the people running for City Council will be out and about too. Voice your concerns in person and meet the candidates. This ain't the mall. There's no suppression of free speech downtown. It's the new 'in place' to be.

See you there.

Peace Vigil Wednesday 6PM

2007-01-02T17:55:00.000-06:00

For updates on any local Oshkosh News item go here: http://www.oshkoshnews.org

There will be a Peace Vigil at 6pm Wednesday evening.

WHY? To remember the 3,000-plus deceased soldiers of the Iraq War, the 20 to 30,000 injured soldiers, and the Iraqi dead and injured.
WHEN? 6pm Wednesday evening January 3rd.
WHERE? Peace Park, Oshkosh. Downtown, corner of Main & Algoma, by the Sundial.
Program? Five minutes of silence followed by comments. Everyone welcome.

Informal discussion before and after at the New Moon Cafe.

Detail...

Bring a flashlight in lieu of candles. Weather conditions as of this writing: Temperature 40, Wind 13mph-sw.

Other vigils may be held in Oshkosh later this week. If I hear about them I will post them here.

Peace.

The 2007 Year in Review

2006-12-30T15:38:00.000-06:00

The Chicken Dumpling Dinner for Derelicts has been canceled for the third year in a row. The culprit: a garbage can. Plenty of newspaper to burn, braised collie haunches are very appetizing, but the cheap plastic garbage cans melt. Foraging continues for an old fashioned galvanized aluminum one.

The Northwestern has bucked the national trend. Their resident marketing dept. genius dreamed up the perfect circulation builder. A free parakeet with cage for a 13-week subscription. Renewal comes with bird seed. While Gannett nationally continues to see a drop in circulation, the only thing dropping on The Northwestern is...well...droppings.

The Mideast crisis continues with no end in sight. Republicans and Democrats both afraid to back out while the death toll continues to rise. The strain is showing with the addition of new categories. War protesters now count their own. They are divided into natural causes such as heat stroke and pneumonia, accidental - such as tripping into traffic, and combat. No war protesters have lost their lives in Oshkosh thus far, but if the war goes on much longer old age might enter into it.

UWO Polk Library had such success with offering free coffee during finals last year that students demanded free coffee all the time. The library, quite frankly, hasn't been this busy since the advent of the laptop and wireless access. Students also demanded that the library be open 24/7 all semester and the line for coffee never ends. Parents are complaining that their children stay up all week and do nothing but sleep at home weekends. Some don't even bother to go home, preferring to study at Polk and drink endless pots of coffee. When asked about the brew, the Director of Acquisitions said only that it is "fair trade coffee from South America." He became irritated when I pressed him on this and muttered something about "what the hell else are they going to send us? Laced beans?" At any rate students are spending a lot more time cracking the books.

I promised Bob Poeschl that I would never again make him the butt of my cruel humor and that goes double after his garage went up in flames in early August. A large cooking fire in the back yard kindled the blaze around midnight. What is it that vegetarians cook that takes that big of a fire?

Dr. Tony Palmeri's winning a seat on the city council was small potatoes next to what the local Green Party did. The Greens, deciding to outdo the Kevin Barrett visit of last year, invited Hugo Chavez to speak at UWO. Who'd a thought that inviting a Socialist would become a Capitalist's dream. Every motel room from Green Bay to Milwaukee full, restaurants SRO, more overtime for cops. Much bigger than the Air Show ever thought of being!

To be continued...

Salvation Army Wrap-Up

2006-12-28T15:23:00.000-06:00

Captain Johnny Harsh told me today that the Kettle Campaign netted about $124,300. He and co-Captain Yoley Harsh both said at the same time: "Thank you Oshkosh!"

Some background...

The 2005 goal was $100,000 with $120,000 actually collected. The goal this year was $120,000.

It's a group effort which includes everyone who dropped a coin in a kettle, bellringers, and people behind the scenes who placed and picked up those kettles and more. A cast of hundreds, maybe thousands, and I'll name a few today.

Jim Barthel

The Chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, Jim was the 'nerve center' of the campaign. He volunteered to arrange locations and schedule bell ringers. He coordinated this effort from beginning to end spending countless hours on the phone while eyeing a master chart which covered an entire wall of his temporary office. Thank you James Barthel!

Bob Hennick

Bob, an old hand at ringing bells, spent upwards of ten hours per day in the cold. Thanks Bob!

Helen Lloyd Burr

She's got her own special way of filling the kettles. She calls her friends and tells them to write checks. Helen came in with over $6,000 in one day!

Chuck Jones

Chuck decided to 'give it all' this year and rang bells for some ninety-one hours! Thanks Chuck!

...And thanks to everyone else who helped! Captain Johnny says "Praise the Lord! The 2007 budget is covered!"

Clyde Stubblefield and James Brown

2006-12-26T13:05:00.000-06:00

James Brown's death brings the name Clyde Stubblefield to mind. Clyde was the drummer on the classic "I Feel Good."

Clyde saw the country while doing gigs and chose Madison, Wisconsin as his place to live. Clyde has been a fixture in the Madison scene for decades and on occasion plays on Michael Feldman's Saturday morning show on public radio.

His health has not been too good of late. He has been treated for cancer and benefits have been held in his honor. I understand that Clyde will be doing a gig tonight (12/26/06) at the King Club, 114 King St., near the Capitol in Madison.

A little more about Clyde can be gleaned here.

I worked with Clyde one time. It was a Music Performance Trust Fund job a long long time ago. It was a hastily put together combo which entertained the Stoughton Senior Citizens at lunchtime. It was low key and fun, not the kind of job that made Clyde famous, just a routine job which proved to me that Clyde could play anything for anyone and do it well.

Salvation Army Kettle Drive UPDATED!

2006-12-26T12:57:00.000-06:00

Preliminary reports indicate that the Kettle Campaign has reached its goal and then some. The goal was $120,000. Bell ringing ended over the weekend. I was told that Saturday was a record day for kettle collections. I will post more as I get the figures.

Collections now top $122,000. This number will rise through the week. Some kettles are not yet in and a lot of change has not been counted. Final figures should be out by early next week.

Merry and Happy

2006-12-22T16:17:00.000-06:00

I will take a break for several days and then post: The 2007 Year in Review. A lot of amazing things happened in 2007. Please help me with this by giving me all the news that fitted to print from the coming year.

Feel free to submit items for this. Word of warning! If you don't submit items it may be YOU that I write about.

I've got to get going now. I promised that I would be one of the "Three Wise Guys."

Peace.

Mass Murder Being Planned over Christmas

2006-12-19T15:42:00.000-06:00

Murder, maim, torture: welcome to the American way. No joy at this blog today. No matter what I attempt to do, a very haunting blog post prevents me from thinking about anything else.

Dennis Rahkonen of Superior, Wisconsin wrote it. It's called "While we celebrate the birth of Jesus, mass murder is being planned." You can read it here and be just as depressed as I am.

I wanted to post this last night but thought I'd do the proverbial 'count to ten' first. Headlines everywhere are mentioning that Bush may increase troop levels in January. It's over. That's even coming from Republicans such as Colin Powell. U.S. troop deaths approach 3,000. The Saudis are funding one group in Iraq, with Iran funding the other, and U.S. troops singing "Stuck in the Middle With You." The U.S. can't even keep the Bagdad Airport Road open much less Bagdad, much less the entirety of Iraq.

Nancy Pelosi saying "impeachment is off the table." What I am hearing on the streets of Oshkosh is: "What are the Democrats waiting for? Impeach him."

I keep picturing in my mind that sign James Genisio is apt to carry: "No One Died When Clinton Lied."

I'll be at the sundial early in the evening the day after the U.S. troop deaths hit 3,000. Join me there.

Peace.

The Salvation Army and More...

2006-12-18T19:02:00.000-06:00

Bell ringing for the Salvation Army ends this weekend and more volunteers are needed in these last few days. Please call Jim at (920) 232-7660 to schedule a time and place. If you have never done this, here are some hints. Dress warm. The best you can hope for is a drafty store entrance. Ask a couple of friends to help you. An ideal number at a site might be three. Two can alternate ringing the bell while the third is warming up in the store. Ringing a bell constantly will be very tiring. Trade off often and keep the bell ringing! Note that the Salvation Army is a church but also a social service agency. Folks from many area churches are out ringing bells. Try something new. Call that number today.

Ya. Sure. Person of the year! That's my picture on the cover of Time magazine! It's your picture on the cover of Time if you are reading this. There is quite an interesting take on that which you can read about here. It was written by a UWO student. I have no idea who this person is but I enjoyed it. It forced me to think, which in most cases makes my head hurt, but that's good; the thinking part, not my head.

Why did I know about that person's blog? I'll tell you why. My trackback software told me that they lurk on my blog. They (or a friend) live in Malone, Wisconsin. I could tell you the coordinates of latitude and longitude too but it's not important (or maybe it is). Even weirder: If I know this much, how much do they know. After all, I'm 17yrs past the age of 40. People over forty don't understand computers. People under forty know a lot more. Scary thought.

Just in...

Rudolph will not be leading the pack Sunday night. He checked himself into the Betty Ford Clinic. I don't care to explain but it's got something to do with the nose. He has friends there. Spuds McKenzie is there as is Mr. Ed. Mr. Ed says: "OOOH Wilber, it was the Duckweed, the Duckweed."

Peace.

What's Gary Smokin' Now?

2006-12-14T21:18:00.000-06:00

There's been talk about freebies in higher education in return for a guarantee that the recipient remain in Wisconsin ten years. Come now. Ten more years of bratwurst and cow tipping? Whoa!

I've got a better idea. It isn't mine and it isn't new but it's progressive. Hold on! Here's my take...

Every human being that has graduated from a Wisconsin High School should be guaranteed a "free ride" to a Wisconsin university or technical college. That includes:

FREE tuition
FREE room and board
and FREE books

Any questions?

Oh yeah. How to pay for it. Okay! Watch this...

TAX the students

Cool. How does that work?

Joe from outer Eureka wants to learn metalworking. After one semester at the tech. he manages to learn how to drink but not much else. On Joe's next minimum wage job he contributes 5% for a couple of years to pay for his schooling.

Sally, on the other hand, goes into Nursing School at UWO, continues into post-grad at Madison and becomes a world class surgeon. When Sally finally takes a paying job she pays 5% of her pay for 20 years or more to pay for her schooling.

This would put the rich and the poor, black or white, all on the same plateau.

It would also benefit the MD who wants to work a rural area. The MD would still pay 5% of wages yearly just like his richer classmate in a large city. A social worker or a civil engineer working in a poor country would still pay 5% of wages while their much wealthier classmates in the U.S. would also pay 5%.

A program such as this would take 10-15yrs to become solvent. Who would finance the start-up? The State Investment Board.

As this program becomes solvent it would free up money for elementary and secondary schools.

To take this a step further...

I'm a great believer in doing either of two things between the ages of 6 and 70: Either a person works or is in training for work. No other answer is appropriate.

As jobs change, and/or the person's ability to do them, this same plan would guarantee free tuition, room and board, books, etc. no matter what the person's age.

Want to know more? James Jung, retired President of the Great Lakes Higher Education Corp. is a proponent of this. He was in the business of student loans. He's an expert. This is what he said in February 2003.

Please pass this link around. It's worth consideration.

Hark! The Hair!

2006-12-14T19:36:00.000-06:00

Life's been pretty good for Carol Hunt and Jennifer Lloyd. Both grew up in Oshkosh, like it here, and some time ago partnered in a business venture. Business is good, no complaints there.

Carol and Jennifer are co-owners of CJ's Murdoch Avenue Salon located at 1302 West Murdoch. They offer an array of beauty services with basic haircuts at $17 for men and $20 for women. As with small businesses anywhere, Carol and Jennifer are interested in the local community. This fall, with a hat-tip to "something they saw on Ophrah", they decided it was time to do a 'give back' to Oshkosh. After some thought the answer was easy: "Do what you do best." Cut hair that is!

On Monday, December 18, they will be giving about 40 haircuts free of charge to low-income people. They enlisted the Salvation Army to assist them in distributing coupons. Each person must call ahead for an appointment. It is their feeling that a fresh haircut would be a nice present to give and to receive just in the time of Nick.

Questions? More information? (920) 651-0870

Civic minded people inhabit our town and now we know of two more...

Thank you Carol Hunt.

Thank you Jennifer Lloyd.

Merry Christmas!

Adults Only Please, not for kids

2006-12-12T22:39:00.000-06:00

In the interest of fairness to people not of my political or religious leanings I am turning this space over to others, just for today...

There are folks who are a bit to the right of my Unitarian Universalist leanings and I try to be considerate of them. Some of them even vote. Some of them even voted for Bush, the most moral.

I turn to Reverend James Rutz for food for thought today. Jim warns us to beware of the Devil's food. I trust Jim because he's the whitest ol' boy I read today and his whole story can be read here.

He sez the devil's food is soy. He sez "soybean products are feminizing."

More things Jim sez:

Soy causes homosexuality
Soy produces heart problems
Soy causes excess fat and obesity
Soy causes cancer in children
Soy causes breast cancer

Rev. Jim sez a bit more, with the last two words being: "avoid tofu."

Beginning tomorrow I go back to being a liberal and will again belittle stupid right-wing evangelical mind---ks.

AMEN!

Free Advice for Council and Mayor Wannabes

2006-12-10T20:22:00.000-06:00

You can pay lip service or ignore this column and still get elected.

You can pay attention to this column and possibly make a difference.

The former will render you ineffectual. The latter will make you remembered as a true leader and someone who cared for the overall well being of Oshkosh.

There are three subjects to remember in leading Oshkosh into the future:

Poverty
Poverty
Poverty

There is a definite connection between poverty and crime. No matter what the official unemployment figures say, the percentage of unemployed is far higher. When a person no longer receives an unemployment check they are no longer counted. The situation in Oshkosh is not dire but could very easily get worse. Some areas of town look pretty drab. Wages are much lower now than a couple of decades ago and the cost of a roof, heat, and lights is through the ceiling.

It's a good idea to look around us to cities that are a bit bigger and observe their thoughts and ideas. Paul Soglin was recently asked what he thought of the mayor's race in Madison. Soglin, a student activist in the 1960's there, and Mayor of Madison several times over the years is convinced that poverty should be on the front burner. You can read the Capital Times article here and Soglin's own site "Waxing America" here.

He tells how Madison's crime rate has dramatically increased over the years and what might be done to change it. His ideas deserve careful consideration.

Oshkosh Truck will not be on an upward curve forever. Dependence on defense related industries is a recipe for disaster. For the community's sake they should diversify further into non-defense items but capitalism's ugly head will rear and the quick buck will take precedence over community needs. Jobs will disappear in coming years. Ed Garvey, writing at FightingBob.com, says today that: "There really is no Iraq to save" and "Time to face reality. We have indeed lost in Iraq. Bring the troops home now!"

Timothy J. Bowers of Columbus,OH is a person who found a personal answer to poverty. He was three years away from collecting full Social Security. At age 62 partial S.S. payments wouldn't do it. He robbed a bank of $80, handed it to the security guard, and calmly waited for the gendarmes to arrive. He asked the judge for exactly three years in the prison system so he could then collect full Social Security. The judge obliged. You can find a number of articles here. Mr. Bowers was too old for a paper route and too young for Social Security. A lot of Boomers including me are toughing it out that way. Physical work is too taxing but we're not old enough to retire.

The Progressive Magazine (print edition) talks about Mr. Bowers. Over 2 million souls are now incarcerated in our country and the number grows every day. 1.3 million living units are covered by Section 8 housing and the number drops every day. The Progressive asks: "Could the prison system be the new Section 8?"

Ways to lessen poverty will hold down crime. Non-defense related industries would assist in lessening poverty.

Ignoring poverty in Oshkosh is a recipe for disaster.

Peace.

Morton Pharmacy, City Center, Wins!

2006-12-09T16:33:00.000-06:00

Anyone who knows me well knows better than to say 'boo' to me before I've started my third cup in the morning, not to mention my utter hatred of telephones. Friday morning I was jolted by the phone after only one cup. The voice on the other end said something like:

Wal-Mart.
Me: Mall Wart?
Wal-Mart.
Me: Mall Wart??

We went back and forth this way until I convinced her not to use nasty words. It was the Living Healthy Clinic. They were calling about my prescriptions and suggesting I go to Mall Wart. I reiterated that I don't go there. I don't do Mall Wart!

She finally got it across to me that she wanted me to take advantage of their $4 Rx plan. My reply was that Target has the same plan. She disputed this. I finally told her I would do the legwork locally and reminded her that the Target plan and Rx list is posted online.

Living Healthy Clinic...background...

Located at 510 Doctors Court off Bowen Street, it is the place of last resort among the uninsured. Many of its clients are low income working folk. It is an off-shoot of the UWO Nursing School and gives practical hands-on experience for students. There are no MD's there. NP's see patients, that is Nurse Practioners; nurses with extra training but below that of an MD. They are able to prescribe drugs. It is funded by Affinity, Aurora, and Theda Care Medical Groups. Funding also comes from Winnebago County (your tax money at work) and recently an 'earmark' courtesy of Sen. Herb Kohl.

I have used this clinic since losing group health insurance in 2003. I was Wal-Marted out of my insurance by the closing of Cub Foods after the Big Box Mall Wart opened. They have extra-ordinary people staffing the Living Healthy Clinic. They go the extra mile to help patients, a courteous and very professional staff.

I went to Target and spoke to a pharmacist. Of course they have the $4 program. It was introduced in Wisconsin one and one-half to two weeks before Mall Wart did theirs! The printout was front and center on the Pharmacy counter and I was given one. He referred me to the store manager who made it clear to me that they would contact the Living Healthy Clinic and provide them with the information.

When I got to the car I thought: I'll go price-check Mall Wart. I parked in the handicapped zone and made the short walk into the store. Saw a lady I know coming out. She said "Hi Gary." I replied "You shop in this rat hole?" With a quizzical expression she said "You're going in there". I explained that I was doing a price check and that I've never spent a dime there.

Price check in hand I went downtown to Morton Pharmacy, City Center. I did the same price check there.

DRUM ROLL.......................................

Hydrochlorothiazide 25mg. A simple water pill often used for high blood pressure.
30-count: $4 bucks at Target and Mall Wart.

Anyone knows that the best prices are often in even numbers such as a 100-count bottle.
Mall Wart 100-count: $11.36
(Note that I'm saving the best for last)

DRUM ROLL and RIMSHOT..................................

Morton Pharmacy 100-count: $10.95 !!!

Morton Pharmacy wins! Morton is no big chain operation. It's a small group of stores in northeast Wisconsin. I find the pharmacists helpful and at least one remembers my first name. They come in 4% cheaper than the "Always High Prices, Always, MALL WART.

That ends my price checking expedition but more detail follows...
__________________________________________

Looking for a wonderful charity? Look no further than Living Healthy Clinic, 510 Doctors Court, Oshkosh,WI. 54901. Write them a check today. They do a lot of good in Oshkosh.

Pharmacists... First year grads will earn about $90,000 at Walgreens with a $20,000 'kicker' as a sign-on bonus. Mall Wart is paying $60,000 plus. Who do you want dispensing your pills? I certainly would not want the one at the bottom of the pay scale. That would be the Always Low Wages, Always, MALL WART.

Shop downtown Oshkosh when you can. Remember: If you can't find it at Fleet Farm and Target, you can probably get by without it.

Stay well.

Poverty in Oshberg

2006-12-05T21:47:00.000-06:00

I sift through the blogs at Oshkosh News at least twice a week. Babblemur's title Turn Left at the Citgo is funny. We'll see if it's still funny when I steal it for a later post. I lurk at Jef Hall's site. I am very glad he alerted me to Bill Moyer's recent speech to the West Point grads. It was great reading. Thank you Jef. I highly recommend reading Moyer's entire speech. The one post that really lit a fire under my butt was at Lake Winneblogo. I thought about posting a reply there but hell, I got my own blog! Here goes...

Capitalism with a conscience? Fighting Bob LaFollette thought it was possible. Ask the clerks at our local Mall-Wart what they go through to see a doctor. How do they pay? I asked a greeter why she worked. She replied: To pay Medicare premiums. Others will spout Badger Care. Others use the UWO Living Healthy Clinic. All of these are government supported, i.e. tax money... your money.

I highly suspect that the Waltons who take up five of the top ten slots on Forbes Richest would stay firm on that list even if they paid the complete medical bills of every one of their million plus employees.

I saw a real M.D. for the first time in three years last summer. He ordered some tests done. The various lab tests immediately shot into the five-figure category. I couldn't afford the first office call much less any lab work. I am of the feeling that those with health insurance and taxpayers (meaning you) will pay more to help defray that $10,000 plus lab bill of mine and many other uninsured bills.

I firmly believe in forcing the obscenely rich to take some of the load off from our rapidly disappearing middle class. Matt Rothchild, writing half a block from the Capitol in Madison, lays out the story here, in that magazine inspired by Republican Robert LaFollette.

Father Carr's Place 2B

2006-12-04T21:45:00.000-06:00

It has been my habit to post numbers concerning the local shelter. I generally limit myself to homeless issues at Father Carr's, and not to his medical clinic or food pantry.

These are current numbers from over the past weekend...

Men's Shelter

Number of rooms available: 75
Number of rooms in use: 12 (approx.)

Women's Shelter

Number of rooms available: 75
Number of rooms in use: 4 or 5

Note that several of the men are working and one or two of the women have jobs. That's encouraging.

Readers should note that shelters in Fond du Lac, Appleton, and Green Bay are running at maximum or near maximum capacity. The woman who runs the Appleton shelter is irate every time a person is brought to her from Oshkosh!

There is something wrong with this picture. What can be done?

Suggestions...

Call your favorite Social Service Agency and ask questions.
Make a donation to the Appleton shelter?
Do not donate to Father Carr.

Note that Father Carr took in $1.1 million in donations in the last year reported.

Folks. Take it from there.

Peace.

Oshkosh Peace Wreaths in the Denver Post

2006-12-03T18:48:00.000-06:00

Babblemur talked about it here. The MSM and the blogosphere was buzzin' with the news. Nancy Lofholm from the Denver Post in the great state of Colorado asked even more questions and talked to someone from the Winnebago Peace and Justice Center in Oshkosh. She learned that a record 20 Peace Wreaths were sold on November 28. You can read the Denver Post article here.

Jenni Ryan, local peace activist, tipped me off about this at Saturday's Gallery Walk. Sales of the Peace Wreaths shot up with the hoopla in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

The Home Owners Association (HOA) in a subdivision of Pagosa Springs got their panties in a bundle over a peace wreath and threatened the homeowner with a $25 per day fine. The HOA suffered the wrath of the blogosphere and later backed off. Folks entering "peace wreath" into search engines soon found the Oshkosh based Winnebago Peace and Justice Center fundraiser which accounted for an immediate jump in sales.

This is where I toot my own horn. Over a year ago it was 'I' who suggested this as a fundraiser for WPJC. The idea took off and anyone who drove past the sundial at night a year ago got treated to a super large lighted peace wreath above the WPJC headquarters at 123 Market Street. Other people did all the work. I supervised. Sorry to say the large peace wreath didn't get put up this year. (Whatever happened to that oversized hula hoop?)

The wreaths are much better this year and sales are way up. There is still time to get one. Please contact:

Jenni Ryan (920) 379-5746 jenniryan@hotmail.com
or Drew (920) 292-0386

Mention my name and they might give you a discount (just kidding). You can learn more about the wreaths here and here.

Peace on Earth!

First Tuesdays at First Congregational

2006-12-02T15:17:00.000-06:00

Tuesday December 5 at noon marks the last of this year's free concert series at First Congregational (UCC) Church, 137 Algoma. A lunch follows. Donations are appreciated but the concert and lunch are free! Everyone is welcome. This is a community-wide event.

This month's program is an opera, Christmas oriented, which was first broadcast on network television in the early 1960's. It was re-broadcast many times over the years, and most will find it quite familiar. It is called "Amahl and the Night Visitors." The singing will be done by Joyce Andrews, Frank Hoffmeister, and Elizabeth Thomas with Nancy Schmalz on piano. Don't let the word 'opera' scare you. Trust me. The music is wonderful.

For more on this the First Congregational website is here, the concert schedule is here, and wikipedia has a nice article on 'Amahl' which can be seen here.

_______________________________________

I have had a number of comments regarding the fact that I link Al Jazeera News from this blog. Al Jazeera covered the Pope's recent trip to Turkey with four very nice articles. I have linked one of the articles right here. You can read the others by clicking on Al Jazeera on your left and entering 'Pope' on their search line.

Al Jazeera passes my litmus test for objectivity in reporting and I suspect you might agree. Reporting about Christians in the Arab world from an Arab news source is certainly a good test. Al Jazeera has passed this one with ease. Don't be afraid to go there!

Peace.

Gallery Walk December 2, 2006

2006-11-30T16:58:00.000-06:00

It's that time again! The holiday edition of the popular Art Walk. This Saturday 6-9pm. If you have never been there (shame-shame), come to the downtown area by the sundial and wander in any place with the lights on. Most galleries have maps. Take that map and proceed to visit some of the thirty locations.

Galleries farther north on North Main are opening at 5pm and provide a good starting point. Work your way south on North Main and leave some time to go over the bridge and visit the south side galleries.

Remember that artwork and sculpture might make a perfect present. Jacinda's Spa and Salon, 440 N. Main will be open. Ask for a tour. They have Gift Certificates!

The New Moon Cafe has Jason Moon entertaining during the Gallery Walk. Bring the kids. Have a warm beverage and check out the latest artwork on the walls. Jason Moon has a great voice and message.

The Oshkosh Bead Market has a new selection of Christmas beads and for those who don't have the time they have put together a selection of Pre-made Boxed Jewelry.

Around the corner from the Bead Market is Sweet Usoapia. A nice selection of aromatic Gift Bath Sets will tempt you.

The Salvation Army hopes to have bell-ringers present Saturday evening. If you would like to ring bells for an hour call Jim at 232-7660.

Look for your's truly at the keys Saturday morning at the New Moon and if you say 'Hi' be prepared to drop something in the Salvation Army Kettle right in front of the piano.

Peace.

Bell Ringers Urgently Needed

2006-11-29T15:21:00.000-06:00

Get out the long undies, mittens and scarves, and your Santa hat!

The Salvation Army needs volunteers to ring bells. If you or a group of friends can give a few hours to charity it would be greatly appreciated. Do it once, do it once a week. Do it as your schedule allows.

PLEASE CALL JIM: (920) 232-7660

Remember that all money collected in Oshkosh stays in Oshkosh. The Salvation Army makes very wise use of their funds.

Bell Ringers are needed downtown for the Gallery Walk Saturday December 2. Call today!

Deer Hunting, Killing Cats, and Blowing up Frogs

2006-11-20T21:00:00.000-06:00

If ya can't laugh at yourself, poke fun of other people! That's what a guy used to tell me and that's what I'm going to do today.

Deer Hunting...

Age 79, suffering from dementia, search party finds hunter lost since Saturday. What's an old fart like that doing with a loaded gun? Would you like to meet him in the woods? Might he be a WWII vet who could possibly suffer from a flashback? Maybe we could pair this fellow with Vice Chancellor Dick 'Lon' Cheney for an afternoon in the woods after a light lunch and a few martoonies. Can you imagine trying to follow them around with a video camera?

Kittens 'Just Psycho'...

There's no byline on this item in the Oshkosh Northwestern. The article could run as-is in The Onion. Congrats' to the reporter. It takes special talent to write for The Onion and you may have a future there. I'm not sure exactly what 'good writing' is, but I know it when I see it.

Saw a couple of letters about these kittens in the Northwestern last week, good letters I might add. They brought out good points: recognizing the link between violence against animals and violence against humans, which brings me to the next story...

Blowing up Frogs...

It works like this. You put the firecracker in the mouth or any other orifice you happen to find, light it, and toss that frog as high as you can in the air. This is what George Dubya Bush did as a child in Texas. He didn't do it once. He and his friends did it many times. I've linked one for your viewing enjoyment. The other 25,000 mentions of this activity can be found here.
________________________________

As a child of 11 or 12, maybe younger, I took a Scouts NRA safety course, wandered down the street with my new BB-gun and about three blocks from home started shooting at songbirds sitting on the telephone wire. One of the neighbors down that way called my parents. My dad, very calmly and in a pleasant way, taught me about the morality of killing anything. I never shot another bird and learned to respect and enjoy all animals.

Peace.

Reverend Billy and Shopocalypse

2006-11-19T20:47:00.000-06:00

Wash your hands and say yer' prayers, cause germs and Jesus are everywhere. -Kinky Friedman

Rev. Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping is my present church home. The Stop Shopping Gospel Choir is shouting Amen!

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is the target (Did I say Target?). That's the day when you can join Rev. Billy, the choir, and yours truly, and many more in not shopping. Don't spend money on Friday. Revolt! Don't take the bait. Stay home, visit a friend, take your lunch to work. Don't spend a dime!

Make sure the car is gassed up on Wednesday. Purchase what you need beforehand and spend no money anywhere on Black Friday. If you can: Make it Friday and Saturday.

Wouldn't it be nice if the mega-retailers had a bad weekend following Thanksgiving. Prices would drop more in the following weeks.

I have practiced this type of consumerism for years. I even hand-draw Christmas greetings one at a time.

All across the country revolts will happen in Mall-Wart and other selected locations. It might involve pushing an empty cart around a store for a couple of hours, or possibly filling one to overflowing, leaving it in an aisle or telling the checkout person you left your wallet in the car. This is sometimes given the name Commerce Jamming.

You can learn more about Black Friday at the Adbusters site.

More than you'll ever need to know about Rev. Billy can be found at The Revealer, a daily review of religion and the press.

Will something happen in Oshkosh? I don't know yet. Send me a note and I'll let you know.

Donna Lohry's remarks to the Winnebago County Board

2006-11-17T15:54:00.000-06:00

The Northwestern has declined to speak to this thus far so it is being posted here...

Text of Winnebago County Board Supervisor Donna Lohry¹s remarks to the
Winnebago County Board November 14, 2006, with regard to Resolution
112112006, Support Repeal of Recent Amendments to Section 59.10(2) and (3),
Wisconsin Statutes (County Board Redistricting).

Mr. Chairman, I¹d like to say a few words to the viewing audience. This is
a contentious issue, but given this law was conceived and birthed in
Winnebago County, I feel it is Winnebago County¹s duty to address the
frailties in it, as it now affects the entire state.

Our friends and neighbors can be commended for their diligent work in
gathering signatures calling for referendum. As a life-long advocate, I can
appreciate their dedication. However, this is an assault on County
Government, our most basic and personal form of democracy. It is County
Government to which we turrn when ills fall upon us.

Now to address this particular law and its shortcomings:

It uses a predetermined arbitrary number that seems to be neatly selected at
one half in order to meet the balance of constitutional law requirements of
one person-one vote. It is difficult to redistrict mid-census because whole
wards in existence at census time cannot be separated when trying to
redistrict.

This is another unfunded mandate which ignores the cost of manpower.
Approximately one month¹s salary for a cartographer plus County Clerk¹s
staff. Referendums can run as high as $4,000.

The Statute allowing the referendum for a cut in the county boards
completely neglects the fact that redistricting will once again occur in
2010 and more redistricting under the new law can occur as early as two
years after that in 2012.

The likely effect of this statute could result in a continuous folding of
rural town districts into districts populated by city residents, thus
minimizing town input in County Government, despite the fact that County
Government provides many services to town residents which are traditionally
provided to city residents by their City Government such as zoning, public
health, police protection, land and water services.

But most importantly there is no recourse to correct any error if a Board is
reduced and then found to be dysfunctional. There is no safety net until
the 2010 census.

For these reasons I ask passage of this resolution so the entire State can
evaluate and decide if this law is worthy to stay on the books. Small sized
government boards or councils do not appear to work any better than larger
ones that have more voices. Thank you.

The resolution to ask the State to repeal the law is at
http://www.co.winnebago.wi.us/countyclerk/countyboard/Resolution%20No.%20112-112006.pdf

Father Carr's Place 2B Homeless Shelter

2006-11-16T21:46:00.000-06:00

I have been asked lately why I haven't written about Fr. Carr's. My number one source of information recently died. I am getting some bits and pieces but not enough to warrant writing a column.

I can say that there were about ten people in the men's shelter 10 to 15 days ago. That is much better than two or three 2-years ago. Note that Fr. Carr has 75 rooms for men and another 75 for women and children. I have no information on the women's shelter. Also note that in the last year reported, Fr. Carr had collected $1.1 million!

There is a wonderful article in the Appleton Post Crescent, Nov.16, 2006, about the Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley. You can read it here. It is a seventy-five bed facility at the max, and 65 people are currently housed there. It is full for all practical purposes and has a waiting list. The Appleton shelter was running a $200,000 shortfall in June and has been trying to catch up ever since. The J.J. Keller people have generously given a $50,000 challenge grant.

The Salvation Army shelter in Appleton is not in operation at this time. No reason given.

There you have it folks. The Appleton shelter is busting at the seams and apparently spending money on clients. The shelter in Oshkosh has twice as many rooms and is virtually dark at night.

I don't know quite what to say folks. If you or your church is planning on doing something for the homeless in Oshkosh you can contribute to the Christine Ann Center. Two more suggestions. The Captains at the Oshkosh Salvation Army have found ways to put people up. Father Steve from the Episcopal Church also has helped folks in a pinch. Consider those places for donations.

The St. Vincent de Paul Store on Bowen also works with the Red Cross on housing.

Peace.

Al Jazeera to debut 24hr News Channel in English

2006-11-13T20:50:00.000-06:00

Al Jazeera just celebrated its 10th anniversary. On November 15 the English speaking television news channel will debut worldwide. It was a bit of a mystery to most of us until the English version website became common. I have that site linked to your left.

I have always looked to Al Jazeera English as just one more place to find news on the web. That all changes this week. The new English television version will have four main broadcast centers. One will be in Washington D.C.

Don't look for Al Jazeera quite yet on local cable. I frankly don't know how many are going to call Time Warner locally and exclaim: "We want our Al Jazeera!" The cable system certainly has room for it... right alongside CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC and the rest.

France is debuting a 24hr news channel ( in French), and the Danes are right behind them. India, with three times the population of the United States, has 32 TV-news channels.

You can click here to view Al Jazeera's official news release, and here to learn another perspective.

The Al Jazeera English website, linked at left, will change in the coming weeks and months as they work hand in hand with the new news channel. Streaming video is one of those. I like the cartoons on the lower left of the website. They run up to a minute and each tells a story.

Do I fear Al Jazeera. No.

I fear FAUX News and Drivel and would trust Al Jazeera over Fox any day. 'Fox News' -is a contradiction in terms.

Peace.

Train Death early Sunday morning

2006-11-13T12:56:00.000-06:00

Jack Peterson was the fellow who was hit by the train. This developed from a conversation at the American Family Table Restaurant about 6am Sunday morning.

I knew Jack. He was one of those folks who wandered the streets of downtown. He was a quiet person who kept to himself most of the time, had mental issues, lived on token disability payments, and most recently lived at a rooming house on Broad Street. On occasion Jack would drink. Put that together with the time, bar closing time on a Saturday night, and Jack may have been coming from someone's house or a tavern. I bounced around the 'suicide word.' No one thinks that. The prevailing thought is that he tried to beat the train.

Jack was a nice person and went out of his way to help people at times. He would become confused and paranoid if he drank.

I understand that he was dragged a block or more along Washington to Waugoo Streets.

Politics, Warren Kraft, John Gard, Russ Feingold, Tommy Thompson, and Alfred E. Neuman

2006-11-12T20:31:00.000-06:00

Warren Kraft still doesn't get it. The word arrogance has been used elsewhere. It's worse than that. He's figuratively 'flipping the bird' at the Wisconsin Attorney General's office. The only assumption can be that meetings are open and not the other way around. I wrote about this in late February and I stand by it. You can read it here.

John Gard did something no politician should do. Politicians make mistakes. Garrison Keillor used one before the election. It goes something like this: Never, never, never tell the voters that you are going to turn over a new page in politics next year. Back to John Gard now. It wasn't anything Gard said. It was something he did. Someone shot a picture of him in the back of a limo holding a can of beer. The darling of the Christian Right Wing drinking beer? No! It wasn't the beer. It was much worse than that. It was the brand of beer. It was that cheap rice beer made in Saint Louis. Missouri you say? Yes!

You can't run for political office in Wisconsin, talk about bringing jobs and industry to the state, and have your photo taken with an out-of-state beer in your hand! That pretty well wraps it up for Mr. Gard. Go here to see the photo.

Russ Feingold has announced that he will not run for president in 2008. It's all over the news. I think the more important news is about Tommy Thompson. Tommy's going to take a crack at the 2008 presidential race. He was in Iowa last Saturday for the Badger Hawkeye game. He was shaking hands with as many Iowans as he could. You can read about it here in the Capital Times.

Neither Russ Feingold nor Tommy Thompson will become president. Get used to it. Russ is a Jew. Tommy an Irish Catholic.

Presidents are older white males who can trace their roots to England. They don't call England the mother country for nothing. There are few presidents who don't fit this mold. Two had the last name Roosevelt. They were of Dutch ancestry. Another one was an Irish Catholic named Kennedy. He was murdered. Reagan was Irish but that was different. He was non-Catholic, in fact he rarely ever went to church.

A woman for president. Who's kidding who? A person of color?

Nothing will change until enough of us force that change.

I would like nothing more than to see retired General Powell and Barack Obama lead the major tickets in '08.

I don't want to end this on a bad note. Please go here to see the best use ever for that t-shirt that says: I'm With Stupid.

Peace.

HOLIDAY PARADE Saturday November 11, 2006

2006-11-09T16:01:00.000-06:00

Be downtown on Main or on Oregon St. for the annual Christmas Parade at 10am Saturday. About ninety units are expected to entertain us. The weather forecast as I write this calls for sunshine, 33 degrees, and a 10-12mph breeze. There should be snow on the ground left from Friday afternoon. Perfect weather for a Wisconsin winter parade!

The New Moon Cafe at 401 N. Main St. by the Sundial and Cranky Pat's Pizza on the 100 block of North Main will be open to accomodate everyone looking for a hot beverage and a place to warm up. The Baer brothers who own both of these establishments will also feature entertainment before and after the parade.

The entertainers are donating their services to help kick-start the Salvation Army Kettle and bell ringing season. Salvation Army Kettles will be present at both the New Moon and Cranky Pat's.

Note that all monies collected in the Kettle Campaign are used locally in Oshkosh. Every penny!

Yours truly will be on the piano at the New Moon for this event so you can donate to the Salvation Army and personally complain about postings you see in this blog.

Congrats goes to the Baer brothers who are committed to local charities and the community at large.

A big thank you to everyone associated with the parade.

To the rest of you...

BAH HUMBUG!

Laptops & Lattes / Oshkosh Public Library

2006-11-09T15:12:00.000-06:00

Many of you are aware that I do all of my blogging at the Oshkosh Public Library or UWO Polk Library. I am not among the ranks of those who can afford home internet service. The Oshkosh Public Library has recently instituted a new service for those of us who are constantly half-a-cup-short.

Patrons can now bring in a cup of coffee or a 'pop', as many of us say, to keep the caffeine level up. They suggest containers which are capped with the small openings on top. Snacks are also now allowed. Pizza deliveries and meals are not.

Here is the link to their site.

Acetaminophen Recall

2006-11-09T14:53:00.000-06:00

Eleven million bottles of generic Tylenol have been recalled. Note that brand name Tylenol is not affected. You can read the article from CNN here.

A list of stores and wholesalers can be found here. Some names I immediately recognize: Walmart, Woodmans, Super Valu (i.e. Festival Foods), Roundy's (i.e. Copps and Pick & Save), Piggly Wiggly, Kwik Trip, and Dollar General.

If you have the bottle handy you can check this site against the numbers on the bottle.

Go Gordon Go

2006-11-08T16:11:00.000-06:00

It's good to see that Gordon Hintz won. His Democrat affiliation will give him flexibility and freedom of thought that no Republican would have.

My advice to Gordon:

Do your best to comfort the afflicted.
Afflict the comfortable.

Along with that make sure you keep in contact with John Nichols. John is co-editor of the Capital Times and writes for The Nation Magazine. John has an Oshkosh connection. His sister runs the Red Cross here in Oshkosh. John is always interested in what's happening in the valley.

Be damn careful of the lobbyists. Do not let them overtake your agenda. Your agenda should remain the needs and wants of the folks in and around Oshkosh.

Peace.

Not Quite the Same Old Story

2006-11-06T22:34:00.000-06:00

There's nobody worth voting for.

They're all crooks.

It's a choice between worse and worser.

The Democrat and the Republican are just like each other.

I'd vote if I thought my vote would make a difference.
___________________________________

We are all influenced by media. That will be the focus today.

Newspapers and TV are dealing with a very outmoded set of presumptions when they report on politics. This leads to disinteresting blandness from the reader's vantage point.

The presumption, ongoing for at least a century, is that politics is left / right, Democrat / Republican, with a 3rd party thrown in for amusement once in a while. It may have been that way for a while but certainly is no more.

The Republican Party is not a party of people. It is a party of faceless corporations.

The Democrats are a party that is 70 to 80% controlled by faceless corporations.

It's similar to asking someone who owns the Kansas City Chiefs, who owns the Chicago Bears, or the Atlanta Braves. Name the principal owner of Target Stores.

Politics is the ultra-rich versus the really disgusting ultra, ultra rich; leaving the poor and the rapidly disappearing middle class to watch from the sidelines to see which group of workers in this country will take the next hit...losing their health insurance, having their pay halved, or losing their jobs.

Many voters, come election day, hold their noses and complain about no choices. They're right. There is no choice between corporation X and corporation Y. They're both going to take the money and run.

The media person, the Northwestern reporter for instance, if told to interview candidates for an office, would immediately interview the Democrat and Republican assuming there would be a difference when in reality the reporter is interviewing the pawns of Corporation XY.

$250,000 is being spent on a job which Ms Leschke or Mr Hintz will have for a few years. The person that wins will have to immediately start raising money to fend off issue ads and recalls from the corporation that lost.

The reporter needs a new set of presumptions. Throw the old ones out the window, challenge the status quo, and change the rules. Reporters should ask readers for questions, then dog the candidates repeatedly for answers.

Glossy answers will come forth from the corporate candidates, who should be given that title, and down to earth answers might come from non-corporate candidates.

The newspaper would be much more entertaining if the reporter used wealth and poverty to describe candidates opinions. Right now they try to distinguish wealth from wealth which leaves a bunch of apathetic non-voters on the sidelines complaining about 'nobody to vote for.'

News by the Numbers

2006-11-05T21:12:00.000-06:00

A check of news sources and blogs tonight shows them making comparisons of dead people and their relationship to George Dubya Bush and his partner in crime Saddam Hussein.

I'm not going to make those comparisons. You are. I'm going to provide the numbers. You the reader can make any inference or interpretation you like.

140-plus: The number of dead Saddam is convicted of killing in his 9-month trial which will result in his death by hanging.

155: The number of people executed in the state of Texas during the reign of Governor George Dubya Bush.

655,000: The estimated number of Iraqis killed, most of them violently, since George Dubya Bush decided to illegally invade Iraq.

3,000: The number killed in New York City by some renegade without a country who was hiding in Afghanistan. I think his name was Osama.

My sole comment...

Hussein will hang. George and Osama are hiding under your bed.

Write In RON HARDY for County Clerk

2006-11-05T15:13:00.000-06:00

VOTE TUESDAY NOVEMBER 7

Join me in writing in Ron Hardy for County Clerk of Winnebago County.

Note that Sue Ertmer is running unopposed for County Clerk. Note that Sue Ertmer wholeheartedly endorsed spending Hundreds-of-thousands of Dollars for the flawed Diebold voting machines which didn't work properly in the September Primary Election.

Sue Ertmer was informed by many people that Diebold machines had problems and could be hacked in a minute by a high-schooler. She was asked to take a wait-and-see attitude but instead went full-steam ahead in spending taxpayer dollars.

Many in the community opposed this, not just Ron Hardy. Since Sue Ertmer is running unopposed chances are high that Ron Hardy won't affect the election.

Writing in Ron Hardy's name for County Clerk is a great way to send the message out about the flawed Diebold voting machines and the rushed bad decision to spend all that money on them.

On Tuesday

Write In

RON HARDY

for

COUNTY CLERK

Wedgies for Julie Pung Leschke

2006-11-03T16:00:00.000-06:00

I have never met Julie Pung Leschke. I'm sure she is an engaging, polite, and bright person. I feel sorry for her. It's hard to look in the mirror and see an elephant.

You can vote Republican, but you can't be one.

Does the elephant always remember?

Keep in mind that conservatives kept women from owning property for centuries.

Keep in mind that black males were given the right to vote a half century before women. Liberals helped women gain that right circa 1920. It's the conservatives in our society that are responsible for the longstanding practice of keeping women's wages below mens thus keeping most women from owning property.

It's conservatives who maintained that condoms could only be sold by a pharmacist, (under the counter), who could demand proof of marriage. That ended in the late 1960's when truck stops along the I-system sued to allow condom machines in their restrooms. One Republican state rep. even asked: Where are we going to get the boys we need to join the Army?

Fast forward to 2006 and the conservatives want to limit stem cell research. In generations to come the stem cell thing will look as stupid as the condom idiocy in the latter 1960's. Do you want to be a part of that Julie Pung Leschke?

Here's a classic Republican 'cut taxes and save the government money strategy': Cut the $10 to $15 food stamp stipend to folks on S.S. Disability and give another tax cut to the rich. This just doesn't cut it Julie!

The Republicans have been in charge nationally since 1994. Have we lost jobs to other countries? Have real wages gone up? Has health care become more affordable?

This is where the 'WEDGIES' come in... (i.e. How to get people to vote against their best interests).

WEDGIES

Abortion. Instead of fixing potholes, improving wages, fixing bridges, etc...Let's get people fired up over an issue best left to a woman and her Dr. Does anyone really believe that women should be kept barefoot and pregnant?
God. Foget God. Leave that for the churches. Just fix the potholes please.
Guns. Republicans named Brady and Bush passed the big bill I remember. Please fix the potholes. Don't mess with guns.
Gays. Wisconsin law already prevents gay marriage. What's the problem? Please fix the potholes.

Julie Pung Leschke. If you win you will be stuck with these wedgies. Deviate even slightly and you may suffer the fate of Kathleen Harris.

Being Republican means that any entity with 'Corp.' at the end of its name owns you.

Wisconsin has some of the highest personal taxes in the nation.

Wisconsin has some of the lowest corporate taxes in the nation.

If elected you will have to serve your corporate masters.

Now please excuse me while I go regurgitate.

Peace.

November 4th Gallery Walk, An Update

2006-11-02T21:08:00.000-06:00

There are THIRTY ONE galleries listed on the map for this month's Art Walk! This may be some sort of a record! It's great news, kudos to all who are involved in this community event.

Everyone has their own approach to the Gallery Walk. Today's column will speak to one which I would never try, but admire from a distance. There is a small dedicated group which takes the Gallery Walk as an endurance test...with the clock running. The aim is to be present at each and every gallery in the allotted three hour time limit (6-9pm). It becomes more like a Gallery WALK-RUN! I find it amusing and I do envy them although they miss something in the process. Nuances are missed. One cannot assess the mellifluous meanderings of an artist with a short walk-through.

(Mellifluous: I had to work that one in. Jody from the Side Street used that word in a recent posting. I liked it. I hope she's copacetic.)

THE OSHKOSH GALLERY WALK-RUN

Spectators and runners alike will receive an extra hour Saturday. Pedestrian Arts at 664 N. Main is celebrating their 16th Anniversary with an open house that begins at 5pm. With that in mind start slowly on North Main and work your way south toward the bridge. Movin' Shoes, 511 N. Main always has some interesting items by UWO students. A highlight this month is a 'Huge Art Sale' -Edsel LaBillois, at the Art Space Collective, 7 Merritt Ave. Jacinda's Spa and Solon, 440 N. Main is having a Fashion Show (Kelly Gierach). Jambalaya Co-op, 433 N. Main, is consistently interesting, month after month.

The New Moon Cafe has live music. Jenna Larson is showing at Limelite Studios, 101 Algoma Blvd. You be the judge: Will Jenna's art or Jenna's baby get more attention? Upscale Resale on Market decided some months ago to be open for every gallery walk. Other stores are beginning to take note and see the potential for business. Upscale Resale always has good treats too!

Two new stops are Madqueens at 115 Washington Ave. and Guten Tag Studio and Gallery, 316 Court St. (Leslie Trewyn). Atomic Katz, 17 Waugoo St, is celebrating their 3rd anniversary.

Going down Market St. the Oshkosh Bead Market will be open. Sweet Usoapia is music to one's nose and the Sparr Gallery is a treat to the eyes. The lower level of the Sparr Gallery is not to be missed, especially this time of year.

Don't get tied down to the north side of the bridge. Special mention to the four galleries on the near south side. 6th Avenue Arts, 601 S. Main, Oswald Photography at 615 S. Main. Also the Gallery at 8th & Main at that same address, and the Blue Room Studio at 800 Oregon St. (Alex Becerra and Cal Jones).
______________________________

If the Gallery Walk gets much larger it could become the Gallery Walk-Run. If anyone chooses to try this I will be happy to post the results, the trips-falls, best wine, best treats, etc.

Weather, as I write this, might include snow. I love walking in the first snow of the winter. If you choose to rest and relax after 9pm I would suggest Oblios on N. Main and Brooklyn on S. Main.

Peace.

Art Walk / Gallery Walk, This Saturday Night

2006-10-31T20:09:00.000-06:00

November 4, 2006, six to nine P.M. is the monthly Gallery Walk. Maps are available at most of the 25 locations. Come downtown and enjoy. Locations are primarily along North Main but also over the bridge on the south side. Last month's art displays were enjoyed by hundreds and hundreds! Yours truly entertained at one of the largest venues, the New Moon also had live music, at least one band entertained behind the Exclusive Company, and street musicians were at work too. The Gallery Walk, as always, is free. Enjoy.

While you are marking your calendar for the Art Walk note that the annual Holiday Parade is Saturday November 11 at 10a.m. Another great excuse to stay away from the Mall and the Big Box Stores!
____________________________________

"THIS WALL WILL FALL. FOR IT CANNOT WITHSTAND FAITH; IT CANNOT WITHSTAND TRUTH. THE WALL CANNOT WITHSTAND FREEDOM." ---Ronald Reagan, 1987

"Let's build a fence." -George Bush 2006

____________________________________

Halloween Hijinks...

The Freak Fest in our state capitol of Madison did not get out of hand as it had in past years. Here is a link to some 200-photos from Halloween in Madison.

Key West, Florida has a ten day fest which culminates on Halloween. You can take an online tour by clicking here: Key West Fantasy Fest 2006.

Alert readers will note that it is warmer in Key West than in Madison.

See you Saturday. Dress warm.

Peace.

Happy Halloween

2006-10-29T19:34:00.000-06:00

The worms crawl in,
The worms crawl out,
The worms play pinochle on your snout.

The rest of the lyrics can be found here.

There will be some scares between now and election day but only the weak and the timid will fall for the fear crap that will be spread by the Republicans.

The scary stuff can be found right here. If that doesn't scare you enough try this link.

Whatever you do don't go bobbing for apples at Dick Cheney's house. You might learn what water-boarding is.

You might try bobbing for french fries, but don't come to me about the way your nose looks in the mirror!

Peace.

Being Brought up Small Town Democrat in Wisconsin

2006-10-26T21:31:00.000-05:00

Eisenhower was President. Radios took forever to warm up and the furnace alternately was fed wood and coal. Taking a walk through the railroad switch-yard meant carrying a bag (paper of course, plastic didn't exist) to pick up coal that had conveniently bounced out of the rail cars. Natural gas was coming but not yet to our neighborhood. Television was something the taverns and a few wealthier people had. Everyone subscribed to the daily newspaper and I was learning to read. I never heard a bad word uttered towards President Eisenhower (IKE), Ed Gein (rhymes with fiend) had been caught, and the Milwaukee Braves always won. Through the miracle electronics of the day the newspaper carried a photo of Hank Aaron and I learned that my baseball hero was black, in black and white of course.

Sunday after church the chicken or the beef roast in the oven was turned up and stomachs growled in anticipation. The radio was warmed up for the noon news and the reading of the obituaries. At 12:15 my dad shushed up everyone at the table and the meal was finished in silence while we listened to the radio. William T. Evjue's voice would boom out of Madison as if he had to yell to make it heard across the state. The chief honcho of the Capital Times would exclaim: "Hellooooooo Wisconsin!", and for fifteen minutes we learned what went on in the state capitol and the nation's capitol. We knew it was safe to carry on conversation after he ended with, most notably: "Let the people have the truth, and the freedom to discuss it, and all will go well."

My dad, who rarely spoke, would on occasion be moved enough to comment. He liked Social Security and appreciated that those pennies were taken out of his paycheck to pay for it. Born 1913 he would talk about how things were before 1940 and the stories he heard about the years before he was born. He would tell that around the turn of the century (circa 1900) life was different for older folks. It was hard with a farm and a large family to take care of a grandparent who had dementia and couldn't control their bowels. (The term Alzheimers and the product Adult Diapers didn't exist.)

The solution, difficult as it was, was to hitch up the horses and drive grandma or grandpa to the next county, drop them off at the long entrance to the Poor Farm, yell 'giddy-up' and get away as fast as possible.

Why the next county? The County Poor Farm would take people in, but would send a bill to the adult children, who were in no shape to pay for it. People, realizing that care would be the same in either county, chose to leave them where there was no chance they would be recognized.

I used to laugh at this story. I never believed it. Later in life during a genealogy search of a distant relative I found an actual case. A man from Auroraville (Waushara County) was 'dumped' at the old Winnebago Poor Farm north of Oshkosh. He died some years after 1900. His wife in Auroraville told the census taker in 1900 that she was a widow...an outright lie!

My dad would always say that he was proud that the country had developed that program called Social Security and for all the complaining the Republicans did, a lot of them were collecting those checks and getting by.

My dad was right. Old folks are taken care of a Hell of a lot better than they were a century ago. The Republicans fought Social Security tooth and nail in the mid-1930's. Dust off the microfilm of any newspaper to read about it.

The Republicans were wrong about it then and they are still complaining about it. Democrats know that Social Security is a resounding success and possibly one of the greatest things to happen to the common person in recorded history.

All those kids born after WWII (1945), the ones now called Aging Baby Boomers are beginning to stress the system and will put pressure on it into the 2040's. The Republicans who can't think beyond that have to be made aware that the birthrate did drop and the Social Security system will not be as stressed as the Boomers die.

It's 2006 and there is an election around the corner. Vote for liberals, whether they be Democrats or Greens.

Vote against the corporations by voting against Republicans and conservative Democrats.

William T Evjue is gone as is my dad along with tube radios and all those wonderful things of the 1950's and 1960's. The Capital Times, the only liberal daily newspaper in America, is strong and getting stronger. There is a link for it on the right side of this blog and you can acquaint or re-acquaint yourself with the legacy, tradition, and future of Wisconsin by going there every day.

Abortion, God, Guns, & Gays / Redneck Republicans & FEAR!

2006-10-24T20:19:00.000-05:00

Defining a Redneck Republican would take far more time and energy than I wish to spend on such a mundane subject. Suffice it to say, Redneck Republicans (RNR's) are fun to pimp.

Question: Is it true that you are against abortion and favor lowering or eliminating welfare payments?
RNR replies: Aaaahh... That's not fair.

Republicans hate children. Get used to it. Corner them like greased pigs. They are.

Abortion is fine or it's not fine. I'll make my own decision about it but I'll be damned if I decide what my neighbor, the family across town, or the family in Armpit, Nebraska is going to do. That's their business. I'm going to assume that they and their MD's have some level of intelligence. In fact they might be a lot smarter than I am.

Maybe the RNR's are right. We could go back to the coathanger and suicide days with no government welfare.

On the subject of God...

RNR's will tell you that liberals are godless. A minute later they'll tell you that if we'd killed a few more Hmongs in 1968 there wouldn't be as many of them here. The next minute it's the FEAR thing. The lightning will strike you dead. The people on the left coast will be swallowed by craters caused by the great quake.

RNR's quote the Bible and often in the same sentence spew hate and fear. I don't buy it.

Introduce them to Rupert Murdoch, the Republican owner of FOX, most responsible for pushing the nasty edge of nasty on the tube. Thank the RNR's for supporting this trend.

On Guns...

The largest most well known gun bill in my lifetime has been the Brady Bill.

Mr Brady was a ________. (Republican)

The Brady bill was signed by a Republican President named _____. (Bush)

Don't like gun laws? Don't vote Republican.

Tell a Redneck Republican that Osama's under his bed.

On Gays...

It's fear. Redneck Republicans are terrified of Gays, terrified of feminism. They live in fear of anything outside their tunnel-vision of life.

Want to strike absolute fear in a Redneck Republican?

Enter the room at the start of the Packer game. Comment on how nicely the make-up has been applied to the sportscasters. Wonder aloud if the announcers trade make-up secrets.

That's all for today. If you have the cash, borrow a Redneck Republican's pickup truck and bring it back painted pink.

Peace.

Wisconsin State Representative Mark Pocan: Use Gard's Webpage to Tell The Truth About Sun Prairie's Favorite Son

2006-10-24T13:16:00.000-05:00

Wisconsin State Representative Mark Pocan: Use Gard's Webpage to Tell The Truth About Sun Prairie's Favorite Son

John Gard's Canoe Trip

2006-10-23T21:08:00.000-05:00

"IT'S MUCH HARDER TO BE A LIBERAL THAN A CONSERVATIVE. WHY? BECAUSE IT IS EASIER TO GIVE SOMEONE THE FINGER THAN A HELPING HAND." -Mike Royko

That's the banner on Wisconsin State Rep. Mark Pocan's blog.

I read Mike Royko in the Chicago newspapers for many years. He was often reprinted in Madison's Capital Times. I looked up to him as the working man's hero. He came across as an equal, a guy you might throw dice with at the corner tap. I never dreamed I'd meet him, and when I did he swore and screamed at me.

I was entertaining at a well known supper club on the southeast side of Madison in the early 1980's. Unknown to me Mike's brother was a Madison resident and ran General Beverage there. Brother brought Mike to the supper club and while I was on break Mike Royko told me what I could do with my 'noise'. It was not in polite language and was not done quietly. I smiled and retreated. I knew his reputation. Never held it against him.
__________________________________________

I have added a new link at right. Oshkosh Gas Prices. Use it as a loose guide. Prices not updated in 36hrs are dropped from the chart. As I write this the Renew station, far north on Jackson past hy41, is not listed. That's because no one posted it. Renew generally runs 5-cents cheaper than the others. Renew's last price: $219.9. The BP across the street usually matches them.

The Citgo Station at Jackson and Snell Rd. offers a 2-cent a gallon discount on Wednesdays for the over 55 crowd. I filled up at $222.9 there last Wednesday.
__________________________________________

While perusing Mark Pocan's blog I found an October 19 column on John Gard. It reminded me of a John Gard story I heard some years back. I searched for it on the web and ProQuest provided me with the answer. I didn't take the time to try to link it.

The article can be found in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel of May 7, 1999. It appeared on Page 2, byline: Richard P. Jones.

This is the story as I heard it...

John Gard, hearing that there was a nude beach operating on state-owned DNR land decided to take his 7yr old son for a canoe ride. They rented a canoe south of Sauk City on the Wisconsin River and proceeded downriver.

Note that the beach is real and has been frequented by skinny-dippers for at least a century or four. It is located on the Dane County side of the river and has an island directly in front of it. Note that the main channel, the navigable part of the river, runs on the far side of the island and canoeists are putting themselves in danger of running aground if they choose to canoe directly past the beach. Most canoeists prefer to stay in the main channel with the island blocking the view.

John Gard, with full knowledge of the goings-on chose to take his young son directly past the skinny-dipping area. Later in the day Gard called a news conference to report his findings. He, of course, was living in Sun Prairie at the time. He complained about the beach.

Gard is damn lucky Social Services didn't yank his son away from him.

John Gard is an idiot.

He's a smart idiot though. He represents Peshtigo,WI where he supposedly lives, but he actually lives in Sun Prairie,Wi where his sons have gone to school for years! Even though he lives in Sun Prairie, 15-minutes from his seat at the Capitol, he gouges the taxpayers $88 per day since he is supposedly coming down from Peshtigo!

John Gard is another great Republican, just like Joe Paulus.

Civil Unions / Gay Marriage

2006-10-22T18:17:00.000-05:00

Forget Civil Unions and Gay Marriage for a minute. A larger overall principle must be in place first...

Our country was derived from English and a smattering of Scots who decided in the latter 1700's that America should not resemble the daily life of a person in England.

England had a ruling class, i.e. Kings, Dukes, Lords, etc. Lords are by example Landowners. The Lords ruled the peons who worked the fields and tended to cattle. The peons were the bottom rung of society and produced the goods which were passed upwards to the titled ones.

A grand experiment in America was a thing called 'Government'. 'Government' was this Giant Wedge that was installed between the peons and the 'Powers that Be'.

In England the peons had no rights and existed at the whim of the Lords, etc. They were bought, traded, raped and cast aside without basic rights. The American idea of using this Giant Wedge called 'Government' attempted to give the peon a base platform of decent human rights while still allowing the Lords, Dukes, etc. (read Corporations), to make money.

To that end the founders of the United States of America put forth a number of glowing documents that in theory would make America utopia. It was no utopia then and still isn't. What it is is a work in progress. Lincoln freeing the slaves. Women getting to vote. Non-landowners getting the vote. Attainment of equality is a never ending task that every person should be vigilant about.

The ideal of a perfect family is horseapples. There have always been stepchildren and various combinations of family groups which don't resemble the 'ideal'.

This Giant Wedge we call Government was designed to enhance and protect the common peons, the working people, the 9/10's of our population against the whims of the monied rest.

The Corporations, i.e. the 'Powers that Be', want to keep the peons interested in Abortion, God, Guns, and Gays. Don't fall for their boloney.

Ordinary people want health insurance for everyone who lives under their roof. That includes stepchildren, grandchildren, a cousin's wayward child, Aunt Nellie whose husband left her, and adult gay liasons. People need health insurance regardless of their situation...period.

People also need to be able to visit loved ones in hospitals, assist in end of life decisions, and much more.

That Giant Wedge called Government should guarantee that one or two adults should be able to carry health insurance for all who live under their roof at no higher a cost than any other family group on the block.

Equality for all races is a no-brainer. Equality for women is a no-brainer. One person, one vote is a no-brainer. Allowing judges to perform (non-religious) marriages is a no-brainer. Equality for same sex civil unions is a no-brainer. Any individual could disagree with any of these. The pragmatist fully realizes that he or she should be concerned what goes on under their own roof and what goes on at someone elses home (castle) is their own business.

I feel that born again right wing evangelicals should have been held under the water longer, quite a bit longer, but the pragmatist in me tells me I have no business telling them how to live. They have no business telling anyone else how to live.

Let us continue to use this Giant Wedge called Government to give all of us a decent base platform of basic human rights, regardless of our race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

VOTE 'NO' ON THE WISCONSIN MARRIAGE AMENDMENT.

Remember that Wisconsin already defines marriage as between a man and a woman. The marriage amendment is not needed and will be derogatory to many.

One example: Voting yes would negate all domestic abuse laws for live-in non-married couples. This is not a good idea.

Dubya Bush to Move to Paraguay?

2006-10-19T19:28:00.000-05:00

Some days this is just too easy. Humor is fun but how does one write serious when the subject matter is so far-fetched and true that laughter holds up the simple act of typing? My ribs hurt.

Jenna Bush has been down in Paraguay meeting with the country's President and the U.S Ambassador to that country. She is there on behalf of UNICEF.

Would that be a cover story? George Bush hates the U.N. which sponsors UNICEF. Oh! Did I mention the Democrats might take Congress in the November elections and if they do, Impeachment Proceedings will probably begin against Bush?

News services are reporting that George Bush has bought almost 100,000 acres of land in Paraguay.

Did I mention possible impeachment proceedings if Democrats win in November?

The Red Cross has filed War Crimes Charges against George W. Bush. The only other time in the history of the Red Cross that these charges have been filed was in the year 1943. Those charges were made against Adolph Hitler.

Did I mention Paraguay has no Extradition Treaties?

George Dubya Bush's new farm in Paraguay will adjoin one owned by one of his close friends. That piece of land, much larger that Bush's, is owned by none other than Rev. Moon. It totals just under 1.5 million acres.

How'd Rev Moon get in here?

Violence and death has increased dramatically in Iraq in the last weeks.

Dubya himself is even making comparisons to Viet Nam.

We still have Redneck Republicans in Wisconsin saying: STAY THE CORPSE!

Some of this came from Wonkette.com. You can go directly to the article which has great links, by clicking here.

Here is another international story on the same subject.

This is far better than fiction. Watergate was never as fun as this. A lot of items are on the web regarding the above items. I picked Wonkette because of the number of good links there.

Have a great weekend and be ready for Iran to erupt.

Elect and re-elect liberals. It's time.

Tommy Thompson to go on Welfare

2006-10-18T18:39:00.000-05:00

Poor Republican Tommy Thompson plans to ask the Oshkosh City Council for a handout in the near future. The amount, undetermined as yet, might be $14 million, $17 million, or as high as $25 million.

The last time in Oshkosh that Tommy Thompson and Welfare were brought up in the same sentence was in the latter half of the 1990's. Tommy, with a waiver from Washington, allowed counties to opt out of the General Relief program. Winnebago County took that option.

TAXPAYER MONEY I

General Relief was a long time Social Service program. It was a safety net when all else failed. If a person or family did not qualify for Old Age Assistance, Aid to Dependent Children, Social Security Disability, etc., General Relief provided a last ditch bare bones program to house and feed people in transition. General Relief was the only assistance program I know of to provide a payback option. When the person died, the county could attach their bank accounts and real estate to recover the funds.

Tommy Thompson tossed General Relief in the garbage without providing an alternative program! The safety net was broken!

TAXPAYER MONEY II

TIF: Tax Incremental Financing. Taxpayers give a wealthy person money up front to help finance large loans to get a project off the ground. If things go well the wealthy person eventually pays back the Taxpayers albeit a lower interest rate than the bank might charge.
_________________________________

Neither of these programs absolutely guarantee that the County will get its money back.

BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE WELFARE!

One, welfare for the poor, the other, welfare for the rich.

Tommy Thompson cut off welfare for the poorest of the poor. Now he's coming to Oshkosh to ask for welfare for he and his friends.

Anyone want to join me at City Hall for this one?

ENDNOTE...

I tried to simplify as much as possible to get the general idea across. TIF's were a noble idea. They have outlived any and all usefulness at this point. Latest casualty: 100 block of North Main which was to have a mix of low, middle, and high rents, which has resulted in high rents only.

Count me out for giving Republican Tommy a welfare check.

The November Surprise

2006-10-17T21:52:00.000-05:00

I recently wrote about the October Surprise. Now comes the one for November.

Our White House con-man Dubya, (actually Karl Rove), has another dirty trick up his sleeve. The one person who had absolutely nothing to do with the bombing in New York City in 2001 will be sentenced just in time for the corrupt Bush Republicans to cash in for more votes.

That person's first name is Saddam. He comes not from Afghanistan (home of the terrorists), but from Iraq. He will no doubt be executed and Dubya will take credit for it.

You can read the story here.

I Think Dubya should also take credit for finding Osama, North Korea, and the useless upcoming invasion of Iran, and the useless invasion of Iraq.

It's time for change. Vote the stalemate Republicans OUT in November.

Pray for peace.

Cassandra Peterson: Unmasked

2006-10-17T20:51:00.000-05:00

It took me a long time to find someone older than I to write about, actually three weeks older. Cassandra Peterson, Scandahuvian no doubt, graduated from High School in 1967 and looked like this.

There are many more right here.

The juicy stuff is here, the official website is here, and for even more you can go here.

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, is humor, caricature, mystery, and so much more.

She says she is in the process of retiring but the name will live on in the form of a hand-picked young lady to take her place. I'm glad. I'd hate to see Elvira die, except maybe by Dracula biting her in the neck. That would be fun.

I had fun doing this. Hope you enjoyed it too.

QUESTION: Would it be politically incorrect to dress up on Halloween as Steve Irwin with the sting ray's snout through the heart?

Bait and Switch, The October Surprise

2006-10-12T21:21:00.000-05:00

As Maxwell Smart might say to Agent 99: "Aha! That's the old bait and switch game."

Can you imagine a Bush as president during WWII.

Hitler invades Poland
Bush retaliates by attacking Japan

Or:

Pearl Harbor is attacked by the Japanese
Bush sends troops to France in retaliation

Or farther into the world of fantasy...

Some guys in Afghanistan bomb New York
Bush invades Iraq

and for the sequel:

North Korea dabbles in 'nookltr' bombs
Bush attacks Iran

Could it get any better than that? Heck yes!

The Bush family spiritual advisor Rev. Sun Myung Moon has given lots of $$$ to the present and past leaders of North Korea. Moon, who is noted for his chairing and leading prayer breakfasts in the Bush White House, has violated sanctions that have been in place against North Korea since the 1950's. With Republican Bush in the White House it is likely that increased sanctions against North Korea will begin to starve the population, opening the door for Rev. Moon to deliver food, medicine, etc. into North Korea. That's what Moon has wanted all along. Get his foot in the door to do business there.

Now that I've pissed off the evangelical right wing Bush Republican lovers, who can't understand or explain away the Bush/Moon marriage of convenience here's more.

Yes. The election is the first Tuesday in November, and the October Surprise is right around the corner. It has nothing to do with North Korea. North Korea has a bomb. Our ChickenHawk president will ignore North Korea and attack a country that has no bomb: IRAN!!!

The attack will commence after October 21 and before the first Tuesday in November.

The large flotilla left the right coast of America days ago and is expected to arrive off the coast of Iran circa October 21. The attack on Iran will be done with missiles, not ground troops. We don't have any. The newly and hurriedly refurbished aircraft carrier Eisenhower is among the ships, submarines, etc.

Yes. The price at the pump will be going up after October 21. Bush will instill FEAR in every GOD-LUBBIN' 'MERICAN so they will vote to STAY THE CURSE. Then Bush will invite Rev. Moon to the White House again.

Now I've got to go look for that plastic and duct tape. (Please click on the links of the article to learn the origin of my thoughts and much more.)

Scarier Than Scary

2006-10-12T19:47:00.000-05:00

Yesterday's column incited a number of comments of which none I dared print. At a very young age I learned the Mad Magazine axiom, All the News Fitted to Print, and nothing's changed. If you didn't get it go back and click on BOO!!.

Johnny Law has chosen to begin pulling in the reins yelling Whoa to the wild webbers on the Writers Wild West. Us cowboys always knew that's what www. stood for.

A virtual insult is worth about $3-million a word. In this case there were four of them: 'crook' 'con artist' and 'fraud'. Nineteen alphabet letters.

I knew this was coming a long time ago. I never thought about this aspect of blogging but always thought the obvious: Never write anything you would feel uncomfortable about your mother reading.

Warren Zevon's Lawyers, Guns, and Money keeps running through my mind. Fifty three million bloggers. Lawyers may stop chasing ambulances, start reading blogs, and who knows where that might lead? Insert a Wisconsin-ism here Gary. Two guys standing out in the cold drizzle. One remarks "If this keeps up it might rain." Whoa! It isn't rain. It's drool on the computer keyboard coming from the mouth of an attorney with $$$-signs in his eyes.

The Media Law Resource Center keeps an updated list of Libel and Related Lawsuits Against Bloggers. There's a lot of room for expansion in the legal trade considering the total number of blogs.

Getting closer to home the State Bar of Wisconsin tells us about the Shifting Legal Landscape of Blogging. Scroll down to the section on Defamation Standards. That's the meat of the article. From the conclusion section of the article, written by Atty. Jennifer L. Peterson, she advises that: ...bloggers should "speak" as though they are potentially liable for false and defamatory speech in their postings... and I most certainly agree with her.

I can sense the urgency that might coincide with reading the last paragraph but what's there to erase? The internet is funny that way. You click delete, come back tomorrow, and it's still there (cached)!

Peace.

Scarier than Halloween

2006-10-11T22:05:00.000-05:00

Be afraid.

Be very afraid!

BOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOT in the Northwestern!

2006-10-04T18:45:00.000-05:00

DESTINATION VENEZUELA

Hizzonerdamare Bill Castle and County Exec. Mark Harris will be leaving next week for sunny Venezuela. Taking a cue from former Madison Mayor Paul Soglin visiting Fidel Castro in Cuba some years ago, Mr. Castle and Mr. Harris will be meeting with none other than Hugo Chavez. They hope that Mr. Chavez can help Oshkosh and Winnebago County worm their way out of the current budget crisis. Preliminary communications indicate that they will get a warm welcome in Curacas.

To put it bluntly they are going to ask Chavez for some cheap gasoline. Horse-trading will be the order of the day. In return for cheap gas there will be a number of trade-offs. 9th Street will be renamed Hugo Chavez Pkwy. along with a number of other name changes, parks, public buildings, schools and the like. A 'sister-city' 'sister county' will be arranged too. The nice thing is that gasoline throughout the county will be selling for about 30-cents a gallon with snowplows running 24/7. Business will take off here and my favorite: Due to the cheap gas direct flights will depart Wittman Field daily for Curacas bringing folks by the thousands from Milwaukee, Chicago, and the Twin Cities.

G.O.P. MIDWEST CONVENTION

A meeting of the minds is scheduled between the Red Neck Republicans and the Log Cabin Republicans. They will be making a sincere attempt to iron out their differences. The convention will be held in Minnesota since Wisconsin still hasn't passed a concealed carry law. Ripon is disappointed.

STOCK MARKET

The DOW reached 11,700 this week. The last time it was this high William Jefferson Clinton was President. Remind a Republican how good their party is at running the economy.

SOCIAL SECURITY

January 1, 2007 will mark the beginning of a new era. Workers will have no deductions for S.S. until their income hits $90,000. At that point deductions kick in. (What the Hell. It's worth a try.)

POPULATION

Sometime this month the U.S. population will reach 300 million. We are spending 8 billion a month in Iraq. Let's see...
$8,000,000,000 divided by 300,ooo,ooo people. You do the math.

GASOLINE

Gas will go up the first Wednesday in November. Whoa! It will start to go up the week before but not enough to scare the Republicans into not staying the curse.

Peace.