yoSAMite says

Way to go Eastbrook Academy

2009-11-02T16:43:00.002-06:00

My grandson, a sophomore, attends there and he'll be taking 3 AP tests later this year. Here's a couple of links.

MJS story.

Buddy James T Harris & Charlie Sykes discuss. Starts about the 10 minute mark.

Super Letter to Ed about MPS

2009-10-31T15:32:00.004-05:00

Gregory D. Molzahn, who is the Chair, English department, Cudahy High School
Cudahy wrote a wonderful letter to the editor in todays MJS concerning MPS.

It's been my belief that the system needs to build from the bottom up, not top down. This would concentrate funds on what is important and that is the education of the students.

His observation about testing makes total sense. I recently talked with an educator who's concern is the growth of his students. He tests at the beginning of the year, about what he feels the kids need to know to move up a grade level. Then he issues the same test at the end of the year to see if "he" and the students have accomplished the goal he set out.

Maybe that is the way to have teacher pay tied to testing, on the success they have on a yearly basis to prepare the students to progress.

Be Safe

2009-10-31T15:10:00.003-05:00

On your travels tonight be responsible and safe.

Doyle announces bill to let mayor take over MPS

2009-10-28T08:35:00.002-05:00

Am I the only wondering why Gov Doyle used a "choice" school to talk about MPS school governance?

Should be an interesting battle.

No Dem In

2009-10-26T13:04:00.003-05:00

Lt Gov Barb Lawton announced today in an email that she is not going to run for Governor of Wisconsin. Hugely interesting and also not expected. Even the liberal blogs are at a loss as to what to say. Check out WisPolitics, The Wheeler Report, and Journal Sentinel Online for more information.

With 2 very competent Republicans running, maybe we can borrow them one.

Orionid Meteor Shower Peaks Overnight

2009-10-20T14:59:00.002-05:00

Since it's an inventory night at work I'll be up and on the road anyway. May hit the boony burbs for a better look.

The best time to watch will be between 1 a.m. and dawn local time Wednesday morning, regardless of your location. That's when the patch of Earth you are standing on is barreling headlong into space on Earth's orbital track, and meteors get scooped up like bugs on a windshield.

Free Dinner

2009-10-19T12:16:00.002-05:00

Sounds like common sense legislation to me if there is no recourse to sue the state or local government. You take the carcass "as is."

Under current law, a motorist who accidentally kills a deer or a person who finds a deer carcass on the side of the road can get a tag and claim the animal at no price.

But other critters — bears, turkeys or foxes, for example — only can be claimed after paying fees. Rep. Ann Hraychuck, D-Balsam Lake, says her bill would eliminate those fees

MPS Mayoral Discussion

2009-10-14T14:03:00.004-05:00

Wisconsin Eye brought together Reps Pedro Colon, Polly Williams and Leah Vukmir along with MPS School Board President Michael Bonds for a discussion of the Mayoral takeover of MPS. It's an excellent 1 hour discussion.

I've heard Dr. Bonds speak a few times and I have to admit he is impressive and if the board would follow his lead I do believe we would see improvement in MPS. In his closing statement he said MPS needs to shrink the district, maximize resources, duplicate successful programs, and "I don't think the state should give us another penny until we clean up our own house financially."

I must say that Dr. Bonds attitude makes it easy for a fiscal conservative to support his viewpoint. Now if the rest of the board will follow the lead something positive may come out of this discussion.

Under Control

2009-10-14T11:32:00.001-05:00

My thought for the day while reading the Drudge Report and all the weather issues people are having. "God is in Control"

Select Club

2009-10-13T13:40:00.002-05:00

From the MJS,

Rep. Pedro Colon (D-Milwaukee) said no one has found organized, widespread voter fraud in Wisconsin. He charged that Republicans wanted only a "select club" to vote in elections.

He's correct, it's those who are eligible to vote.

UPDATE: Former ACORN voter registrar sentenced for fraud

Alan J. Borsuk

2009-10-11T16:30:00.003-05:00

Alan J. Borsuk writes about education for the MJS and was part of the massive exodus a few months back. Since the changes he's been writing a weekly column covering education that runs on Sundays.

I have to say, that he's been doing a bang up job that I didn't notice before the employment status change. The articles seem to be very balanced in their presentation of the issues and do a great job of explaining more than just what is on the surface of the discussion.

I sure hope this trend continues.

Shepherd Depressed

2009-10-09T15:33:00.002-05:00

Took some time to catch up on reading today and was 2 weeks behind in my Shepherd Expressing. I came across this ad for Planned Parenthood and had myself quite the giggle.

If you haven't clicked on it, it's an ad for contraception that not only offers Emergency Contraception, but also delivers.

What made me laugh were the multitude of comedy skits one could up with about deliverable emergency contraception. Go on, give it a thought and enjoy your own gigglefest. I'm almost tempted to give the 800 number a call to see if they deliver Domino's quick and if they are late, what other services do they offer.

Barack Peace Prize

2009-10-09T11:25:00.003-05:00

It really was a matter of "when" he would win this award, not if. Interesting to me is that he was nominated two weeks after taking office. Seems a bit contrived.

Olympics 2016

2009-09-28T13:37:00.003-05:00

I've always wanted to attend the Olympics. It was an event that dominated the TV as a child. For that reason I wanted Chicago to win the bid for the 2016 games.

Then I read the MJS article in Sunday's paper and saw something in the article that somewhat changed my mind.

Both (Madison Mayor Dave) Cieslewicz and (Milwaukee Mayor Tom) Barrett also hope that a Chicago Games would speed development of high-speed rail on a corridor from Chicago to Milwaukee to Madison.

If this is one of the "benefits" to Milwaukee for Chicago winning the 2016 games, I say come on Rio.

Roundabout

2009-09-27T16:19:00.002-05:00

Today's Journal Sentinel had an ad in it today from the DOT about how to navigate a roundabout. It was similar to this.

Maybe on those overcrowded ones they could have someone standing there passing out brouchers. Just a thought.

Just Say No - to logo

2009-09-25T11:24:00.002-05:00

Somehow Charlie Radtke decided the Packers needed a new logo. He's wrong.

Tea for 2 or 10,000

2009-09-22T02:01:00.003-05:00

I had the privilege to attend the Tea Party in Milwaukee on Saturday. It was my first one. Overall a very good time and most of the messages were outstanding, all were good.

Most impressive to me was Sheriff David Clarke.

Mark Block did a nice job keeping the program moving along (I guess he has some experience at these things). Joe the Plumber was straight forward and told us we needed to make changes. Messages about global warming by Dr. Willie Soon and Marc Marano on the Health Care bill were encouraging. Manny Perez opened the door to the Hispanic community and Republican Party. Michelle Malkin issued a "call out" to politicians. Local favs James T. Harris, Apostle David King and Vicki McKenna were spot on.

Given the opportunity I'd go again. The anger by the people is toward policies. I think Americans are tired of getting taxed and taxed and taxed for every political whim. These were middle class people who have had enough. It's a warning politicians should take heed of.

For more videos like the one of Sheriff Clarke, visit Badger Blogger's You Tube Page. Nice job for a first time out with the new camera.

I Like George W. Bush

2009-09-21T23:09:00.002-05:00

I can't help it. We don't always agree on politics, but the guy seems more sensible than not.

A couple of quotes from the Huffington Post.

Bush on Jimmy Carter: "If I'm ever eighty-two years old and acting like that have someone put me away."

For a commencement address at Furman University in spring 2008, Ed Gillespie wanted to insert a few lines condemning gay marriage. Bush called the speech too "condemnatory" and said, "I'm not going to tell some gay kid in the audience that he can't get married." (Of course, Bush ran his 2004 campaign telling that kid just that.)

ht/Althouse

Wisconsin "Buttleggers"?

2009-09-17T00:06:00.002-05:00

Smokers looking for a break on cigs from the Indian Reservation may be in for a shock soon.

Dismayed by the lost tax revenue, New York City has waged a legal battle that could put shops like Morrison's out of business. This month, Poospatuck stores may have to begin collecting taxes for the first time because of a federal judge's ruling that untaxed sales to non-Indians are illegal.

New York has lost $700 million in tax revenue and the sale of buttlegger cigs looks to be a heck of tax free business.

Can Wisconsin and other states be far behind in enforcing this law? It will be interesting to see if the legislature and the governor are willing to look into this revenue stream.

What's a few million people among friends?

2009-09-13T00:07:00.004-05:00

Here's the headline at the WISN-TV.com "Thousands Of Downtown DC Protesters Blast Obama".

The lead line at the story?
"Tens of thousands of protesters fed up with government spending marched ...."

The reality?

12:34pm Eastern: Police estimate 1.2 million in attendance. ABC News reporting crowd at 2 million — tweets Tabitha Hale from D.C.

Posted by: Sister Toldjah on September 12, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Memeorandum has links galore of stories, photos, and videos from citizen journalists from today’s massive Tea Party rallies in DC. Estimates are that as many as 2 million marched on DC today

MailOnline via Drudge
Up to two million march to US Capitol to protest against Obama's spending in 'tea-party' demonstration

Who you gonna believe?

Good News for Business

2009-09-11T20:35:00.001-05:00

City attorney chooses not to appeal sick day ordinance ruling

We do remember

2009-09-11T18:55:00.003-05:00

The anniversary of what happened on 9/11/01 is full of memorials and rightly so. What impressed me most of the that time is how it drew our country together. What I felt at the time and still do now is that what drew us together the most was prayer. Everyone encouraged it. There was no separation clause invoked. As a country we went back to the basics of humanity. We do actually care about each other no matter what our political or cultural differences. This reality needs to be remembered as much the tragedy of the infamous day.

Heinz Vacation

2009-09-10T20:50:00.008-05:00

Last year my oldest grandson and I took a football vacation. One of our stops was Heinz field. Here's a few shots, some you won't see anywhere else.

The scoreboard from the opposite side bleachers.

The scoreboard controls.

The bat phone.

The locker room. Not allowed to step on logo.

A word of warning. Great WC Fields paraphrase line.
Wife - Is this gambling?
WC Fields - Not the way I play.

I Hear You

2009-09-09T23:40:00.003-05:00

I had to work tonight so I caught only a small amount of the President's speech tonight, and that was on the radio on the ride home.

Most everyone agrees that President Obama is a heck of a speaker. Not tonight. The teleprompter must have been moving slow or erratically because it was truly a labor to hear him. Very choppy, he didn't speak in full sentences and from what I could tell not very inspiring.

I'm not talking about the substance here, just the delivery. Maybe he's over practiced. A speech hiatus might be in order.

Happy Labor Day & Drinking Right Day

2009-09-07T14:19:00.005-05:00

I will be laboring today. I hope everyone had a safe holiday.

Tomorrow night is Drinking Right at Papa's on 77th & Burleigh. I unfortunately will be working at the 7pm start time and will try to make an appearance after work, say 10:15-10:30. Enjoy yourself blogging friends.