Roundabouts

This love affair with roundabouts is getting out of hand. Now they want to place a whole bunch on south 27th street at some very interesting locations. The one that gets me is Sycamore Street which is the entrance and exit for Wal-mart and Sam's Club. Right now its bad enough to get in and out of those lots, the roundabout would make things worse (in my opinion).

Real Boredom

It is starting to really suck to be off all this time. I'm running out of ideas to keep myself occupied (besides packing).

Flooding

I do not feel sorry for those who live adjacent to any body of water that is prone to flooding. Sure the view from your back door is nice most of the time, but there is the high risk you took when you bought the property that you would be flooded out at least once or twice a year. BTW you should not whine about the high premium for flood insurance or expect the government to bail you out every time your property gets damaged from the floods.
My solution to these people is:

• the first claim is paid so you can rebuild

• The second claim the State or the Federal government now owns the property

This would save the taxpayers and insurance companies money, create a buffer zone around the river/creek or lake. By creating the buffer zone it would help in cleaning up the pollution that plagues the area water bodies.

Taxes

Just bought some legal tobacco, the price doubled due to the state wanting more $$$$. It was $21 for 2 pounds and now it is $44. I can't wait to leave this tax hell known as Wisconsin.

Media CEO pay

Where is the outrage from the media on this exec?

Mar. 19, 2009 | Total compensation increased almost 22% last year for Journal Communications Inc. chairman and chief executive Steven J. Smith, according to a regulatory filing by the company Thursday.

Smith earned no bonus, but his salary rose 3.7% to $798,077. He received stock awards worth $1,672 and option awards valued at $397,003, a proxy statement for the Milwaukee-based media company and publisher of the Journal Sentinel said. The biggest change in compensation was in the value of Smith's retirement benefits, which grew to $233,110, compared with $74,782 in 2007. He received other compensation last year worth $16,095.

Journal Communications posted a $224.4 million loss in 2008, largely due to $228.7 million in non-cash charges in the fourth quarter as the company wrote down the value of goodwill and some of its television and radio licenses. The company's newspaper, radio and TV operations also saw declines in revenue because of the recession and the ongoing migration of ads to the Internet. Its stock price fell 72.6% during 2008.

With all the talk from the editorial board and from the other media outlets about capping CEO pay at 500k they are letting this slide. Why? Oh thats right its one of there own.

Tired and Sore

Me and the better half were in Arkansas from Wednesday until Monday helping my pops do clean up from the ice storm that hit back in late January.

What I need

This little poem by Keats sums up what I am feeling right now.

O soft embalmer of the still midnight!
Shutting, with careful fingers and benign,
Our gloom-pleased eyes, embowered from the light,
Enshaded in forgetfulness divine;
O soothest Sleep! if so it please thee, close,
In midst of this thine hymn, my willing eyes,
Or wait the amen, ere thy poppy throws
Around my bed its lulling charities;
Then save me, or the passed day will shine
Upon my pillow, breeding many woes;
Save me from curious conscience, that still lords
Its strength, for darkness burrowing like a mole;
Turn the key deftly in the oiled wards,
And seal the hushed casket of my soul.

Question for Catholics

Can anyone explain to me that "Fat Tuesday" is the big party then from Ash Wednesday to Easter is lent and you all are supposed to abstain during, but in between is St. Patty's day which is nothing but a big drinking day?

Nanny State

I saw this on Fox 6

ATV ban

funny bit

A little old but still funny

2009 Motorcycle Rant

I feel I need to bring this up again since riding season is about to start.

Tailgating: this is not acceptable unless you are on a race track. Tailgating a bike is dangerous to the biker. If we have to stop in a hurry,the truck/car/minivan/SUV behind a bike will severely injure the biker and passenger.

Secure/cover your load: this one applies to all those dump trucks, pickups, and those who haul stuff to the dump. Please cover your load so it is not blowing out of the truck. It's not so bad when you are in a car, but on a bike it can be very bad. I have been pelted by a fine dust from the back of a dump truck and it felt like I was in a sandblaster.

Awareness: be aware that there are motorcycles out there. Just because you don't here one, there might be one.

Blindspots: On a bike the blindspots are larger. They have no rear view mirror, just the 2 that are on the handlebars. If we can't see you, we don't know you are there.
Racing: Just because I have a sportier looking motorcycle does not mean I will race you down the road.
Respect: When you see a motorcycle rider either on the road or in a restaurant,bar, or where ever treat them the same way you want to be treated. They could be a doctor, lawyer, judge, engineer or any in other profession. We are not all in the Hells Angels.

Multi Tasking

I'm playing a game,listing to Sykes and reading/writing on the blogs

Another WTH moment

My wife got a letter over the weekend from the State Patrol. According to them they linked via the driver license database and vehicle registration database and found that she is a part owner of a motorcycle and does not have the proper endorsement to operate it. I am the only one in the house that rides the motorcycle and she is on the title of the bike because this is a community property state.
My thinking is ... WT H, They can do this but they can not do the Real ID checks?

New Look

I'm trying to update the look around this place

More bloomin Snow

Just as the alley got clear again we got more snow

Sonic Drive-In

WTH?? People are actually waiting over an hour to eat at the new Sonics on Miller Park Way.