flight fright
The Southwest Airlines air emergency had to be scary. Loss of cabin pressure when a hole opens up in the roof at 36,000 feet. I can imagine more than one of the 118 passengers thought they wouldn't live to see tomorrow.
I had a totally unrelated fright this morning when Bailey took off. She flew to the backyard after something caught her eye. We picked up the paper from the front stoop then she ran around the corner so fast that I lost sight of her. It doesn't help that her coloring isn't too unlike the surrounding leaves, twigs and brown grass.
How many cranes do you see?
If you see four then you're a crane counter, and counters are needed for the Annual Midwest Crane Count. The count this year is Saturday, April 16th, less than one week before Earth Day. I've found this a perfect way to kick off spring and celebrate nature.
What's Happening: Apr 4 to Apr 11
04/07/11- 04/10/11
State Fair
Join Abel, Melissa, Wayne, and Margie Frake in the summer of 1946 as they leave behind the routine of the farm for an adventure at the annual Iowa State Fair.- Waukesha Civic Theatre, 262-547-0708, www.waukeshacivictheatre.org
04/08/11
Carroll Vocal Collective and Carroll Jazz Ensemble concert
Concert by student choir and orchestra.- Shattuck Music Center, 262-524-7182, www.carrollu.edu
I'm a Butler Bulldog
We surely were underdog bulldogs, but Butler Middle School in Waukesha never made it to the NCAA Final Four.
I'll be spending 16 hours at the polls today so you can vote. So vote!
Local students win C-Span documentary competition
Ten students from four southeastern Wisconsin schools won recognition in C-Span's annual "studentcam" documentary competition, according to the cable television network.
Jake Berg, a senior at Waukesha West High School, was interviewed on C-Span this morning about his third-place documentary, "The Affordable Health Care Act: A Program of Action."
State elections officials headed to Waukesha County
Madison -- The state's top elections official said Friday he is sending state staff to examine results in Waukesha County, where thousands of untallied votes were revealed Thursday affecting the tight Supreme Court race.
"Because of the attention on vote totals from Brookfield, I am dispatching G.A.B. staff to Waukesha County today to review the business processes and verify the reported results in the election for Supreme Court justice," Kevin Kennedy, director of the state Government Accountability Board, said in a statement. "I have been in close contact with Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus since her news conference on Thursday, and have directed her to make the official returns from the polling places available for public inspection. These documents are public records. I believe she is now taking steps to ensure transparency and public confidence in the official results."
Wisconsin has Made the News Again
Wisconsin has once again made the news in Southern California, but unfortunately the news is not very good.
Baldwin calls for investigation of Waukesha County vote reporting
U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder asking for a federal investigation into the handling of vote records in Waukesha County in the wake of Tuesday's election for the state Supreme Court.
Baldwin's office said she sent the letter Friday night.
Government Can Help Transportation Costs
Make no mistake about it. I'm a Tea Party supporter. I believe that if it isn't in the Constitution, the federal government shouldn't be doing it. That is to say, there are things that they are doing that I think enough states would approve of that they would become amendments. There are things that would never make it. Energy is something the federal government should have a policy on. At the moment I'm inspired by the article in Sunday's business section about compressed natural gas.
Compressed natural gas, CNG, can fuel a car at a fraction of the cost of gasoline. An added plus is that it burns much cleaner. Just think about your kitchen and your gas stove burning right into the air that you breath. Would you do that with a stove burning petroleum? Right off the bat a car burning CNG could probably shed many pollution devices, such as a catalytic converter. I had to replace one in my Pontiac and most recently one in my Subaru, to a tune of over $1,000.
Takin' slower walks
Bailey had her female surgery last week. The Humane Society was nice enough to give us a break on the price. They sent home four pain pills, one for each of the next four days. We mixed the first one with banana and she wouldn't go near it. Turns out she likes the taste of the pills and will take it out of your hand. She just doesn't care for banana... yet. We're trying to keep her calm. Not supposed to let her run for ten days. Ever try keeping a puppy from running? At least there's plenty of investigating to do close to home. The smell of the grass, the first bumble bee of the year. . . she likes being outside. What great weekend weather we had!
What's Happening: Apr 11 to Apr 18
04/13/11
Lunch & Learn
Be inspired to jump up on your feet, step back in time, and maybe practice some swing steps like the Lindy Hop with music from the Big Band/World War II era with local performers. $8 registration fee includes lunch, talk, tour, and admission to museum.- Waukesha CountyMuseum, (262) 521-2859, www.waukeshacountymuseum.org
04/13/11- 04/16/11
"Food Interpreted through Art" exhibtion
Mixed media created by students on the theme of food.- Otteson Theatre lobby, 262-524-7195, www.carrollu.edu
Have you hugged the earth today?
Fifty years ago Yuri Gagarin was the first person to orbit earth. This movie was shot from the International Space Station at the same time of day and over the same flight path as Gagarin's.
State Democratic Party calls for expanded investigation of Nickolaus
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin on Thursday asked the state Government Accountability Board to expand its investigation of Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus’ election procedures to include a review of the county’s vote totals from the Nov. 7, 2006, general election.
Democratic Party Chair Mike Tate says there is an apparent discrepancy in 2006 results posted on the county clerk website between the number of votes in the attorney general’s race and the number of ballots cast.
no crane no pain
I neither saw nor heard cranes during yesterday's early morning damp and overcast Annual Midwest Crane Count. Yes, counting was easier, but I really don't think you can have a bad day at Retzer Nature Center.
What's Happening: Apr 18 to Apr 23
04/18/11- 05/09/11
Senior Art Majors Thesis Exhibition
Mixed media exhibit by senior artists. Reception: Sunday, April 18, 3-5 p.m.- Rowe Art Gallery, Humphrey Art Center, 262-524-7195, www.carrollu.edu
04/18/11- 06/06/11
Memories of World War II
Almost two hundred reporters and photographers fanned out around the globe to cover WWII for The Associated Press. The best of these images make up for important exhibition.- Waukesha County Museum, 262-521-2859, www.waukeshacountymuseum.org
More Bicycle Laws Uneeded
Who of us have not been a bicyclist at onetime of another? As a kid I road my Schwinn around the northwest side of Milwaukee often. I'd frequently ride as far as Mequon and frequently into Fox Point and River Hills, ending down by the lake to see the “spooky yard” with artwork done by an art instructor.
As a young bicyclist, I had my share of mishaps. The only collision that I ever endured was when a driver suddenly opened their car door in front of me and I had no time to react, crashing right into the door.
Waukesha Target remodel to be unveiled in June
The transformation of the Target store on Kossow Road in Waukesha will be complete by June 2, according to a sign in the store.
The store is one of many around the country that is being reconfigured to offer a full grocery department, including fresh produce and meats. Target has been taking market share from traditional supermarkets with this new format.
What do Quad/Graphics, Waukesha Memorial Hospital, the drummer for rock supergroup U2, black raspberries, and Kathy Bero have in common? NuGenesis Farm in Delafield!
My pre-conceived notions of organic foods revolved around "healthy lifestyle, home-grown, and free of pesticides". I never really gave thought to organic foodstuffs as "disease preventers". The NuGenesis Farm Project in Delafield is ambitiously working to heighten awareness while expanding the knowledge base of the tremendous potential in selecting foods in the fights against crippling diseases including cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, MS, asthma, and a legion of others.
Looking back a few years, I viewed the field of medicine in a singular plane - Traditional Western medical treatment, and faith in the same. This changed when I was challenged with a diagnosis of Stage IV Squamous Cell Tongue Cancer. Radiation and Chemo treatments were successful, but there were residual effects, specifically lack of saliva, which cannot be significantly improved by drugs. Enter Dr. Wu and the Chinese-originated art of acupuncture at Froedtert Hospital's Pain and Rehab Center. Sixteen months after my treatment start, and I am a walking, talking advocate for acupuncture, and of respecting "outside the box" concepts for relief.
What's Happening: Apr 25 to May 2
04/30/11
All Beethoven Concert
Ludwig van Beethoven was the most crucial figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western classical music, and remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time. In the “All Beethoven Concert,” Wauk- Shattuck Auditorium, Carroll University, 414-297-9310, www.ChoralUnion.org
04/30/11
Peaceful Delights in Oil Art Exhibit
Contemporary Oil paintings by 6 artists are on display.- River's End Gallery, Historic Downtown Waukesha, 262-896-8875, www.RiversEndGallery.com
Waukesha West finishes 3rd in national academic competition
Waukesha West High School's team finished third in the national Academic Decathlon meet, it was announced Saturday.
Coach Duane Stein said he was extremely proud of his students, who also finished atop their division in the academic competition held in Charlotte, N.C.
