An entomologist at UW-Madison says our Wisconsin weather, this summer, has been perfect for Yellowjackets. Lots of "stingers" in the air so be on the look-out!
AUGUST 2014
Saturday, August 11, 2012
I guess this is what happens when Ole travels without Lena.
A Norwegian traveler is trying to get back to Oslo. The ticket counter is closed when he arrives at the airport in Rome. He takes his luggage (and beer can) to the carousel and puts it, himself and the beer on the conveyor belt, passes out and goes through all the baggage x-ray screening area and is curled up with his beer and suitcase for a good 15 minutes before somebody notices HE isn't baggage! Read the full story here.
A Norwegian traveler is trying to get back to Oslo. The ticket counter is closed when he arrives at the airport in Rome. He takes his luggage (and beer can) to the carousel and puts it, himself and the beer on the conveyor belt, passes out and goes through all the baggage x-ray screening area and is curled up with his beer and suitcase for a good 15 minutes before somebody notices HE isn't baggage! Read the full story here.
Know somebody at University of Wisconsin-Madison? You will be interested in this article about UW HISTORY. There are several famous people, who went there, that I didn't know about. There are other interesting items too.
I just ran across an excellent article in the NEW YORK TIMES about the questions and answers you give and get while your doctor is examining you. It's a good article for us old folks who spend more time with the doctor than we do with family.
In honor of National Garage Sale Day here is a list of big time garage sales coming up in Wisconsin. I see we have a couple close to home. Trempealeau will hold their FALL VILLAGE WIDE RUMMAGE SALE on September 29 and Viroqua has their city wide rummage sale October 4. Better mark those on your calendar!
Friday, August 10, 2012
BankRate.com lists the 10 worst states for retirement. Guess what. I don't see Wisconsin but I do see Texas made the list.
FlightAware.com sent me an email telling me that Donnie's flight arrived, safe and sound, in Baltimore this morning.
If you want to keep track of a flight your friends or family are on, try FlightAware. They let you know, by e-mail when the flight leaves its point of origin and when it arrives at its destination. You can also follow flights with great maps at their website.
While we're talking about airlines today, in case you haven't heard, American Airlines is now offering Baggage delivery service to your final destination, be it home, hotel or office. It's $29.95 for the first bag and then you pay more for each additional bag. It might be a bit pricey but if you're in a hurry to get to your destination it will save you waiting at the carousel....a wait that can seem like an eternity. The service is available at around 200 U.S. airports and a few International locations.
It's a bird, it's a plane....yes it is a plane and Donnie is flying east.
"3:30 a.m., and I am up and dressed and headed for Austin airport. Braun will meet me in Baltimore, and we'll drive to Ocean City for dinner with Goughs.
Tomorrow we brunch with Goughs, then Braun drops me back at Balto airport for flight home, arriving at midnight. A lightning trip, and it's been so long since I've flown that I am anxious about it, not the flying, but all the hassle of it."
"3:30 a.m., and I am up and dressed and headed for Austin airport. Braun will meet me in Baltimore, and we'll drive to Ocean City for dinner with Goughs.
Tomorrow we brunch with Goughs, then Braun drops me back at Balto airport for flight home, arriving at midnight. A lightning trip, and it's been so long since I've flown that I am anxious about it, not the flying, but all the hassle of it."
I just ran across a quote from Mamie Van Doren that I love. Is anyone, besides me, old enough to remember Mamie Van Doren? She came from Rowena, South Dakota, a little town just a few miles east of Sioux Falls.
She said, "All the great sex symbols are dead. Harlow is dead; Mae West is dead; Dietrich is dead; Marilyn is dead and I'm not feeling too well myself." It's a paraphrase on a line from Mark Twain but it's still funny. Mamie is still alive and kickin' at the age of 81.
She has a blog with some great pictures and her outspoken thoughts. It's a bit kooky but there is some great Hollywood history to read. You can access the blog here.
She has a blog with some great pictures and her outspoken thoughts. It's a bit kooky but there is some great Hollywood history to read. You can access the blog here.
Willard has some really nice cookie jars for sale. These are collectors items. Great for Christmas gifts! CHECK THEM OUT HERE.
Thursday, August 09, 2012
Lynne brought this to my attention. Read the story in USA TODAY about a man who ordered a TV on AMAZON and got an Assult rifle instead. All I can do is shake my head.
NOTE FROM DONNIE:
This enterprise was started by an Austin friend and her daughter. TINY PIES ON A STICK
These are so neat. They're mentioned in the September issue of Oprah's magazine with a 20% discount.
Donnie added: Among the questions asked by Oprah's staff when they first contacted "Tiny Pies" about the mention in the magazine, "Are you prepared to handle the flood of orders you'll get after this appears?" Now we'll see if they are.
This enterprise was started by an Austin friend and her daughter. TINY PIES ON A STICK
These are so neat. They're mentioned in the September issue of Oprah's magazine with a 20% discount.
Donnie added: Among the questions asked by Oprah's staff when they first contacted "Tiny Pies" about the mention in the magazine, "Are you prepared to handle the flood of orders you'll get after this appears?" Now we'll see if they are.
This article in TIME MAGAZINE about using name and password to log on to certain sites caught my eye. With what little memory I have, I can barely remember my own name and you'd have to be crazy to think I'd remember a password. It's one of my great frustrations with the Internet.
Now, the TIME article says the system doesn't work very well, anyway, since hackers don't have much of a problem stealing your name and passwords. They're working on some new ways of confirming your identity that sound interesting.
I guess this is why I don't go swimming. Both Phelps and Lochte say the pee in the pool and so does everybody else. Read the story here.
Wednesday, August 08, 2012
Love the SIDE SHOW ON YAHOO! this morning that lists the most unfortunate town names in the USA. Donnie gets a kick out of towns with strange names and this list has about the strangest names you could, possibly, think of!
One of the town listed is Climax, Georgia but we're closer to Climax than Georga. Believe it or not, there's a CLIMAX IN MINNESOTA!
One of the town listed is Climax, Georgia but we're closer to Climax than Georga. Believe it or not, there's a CLIMAX IN MINNESOTA!
A Texas A & M professor says hospitals, around the country, could learn a lot from Gunderson Hospital in La Crosse. He's very impressed with the quality of health care in Wisconsin. Read the story in todays LA CROSSE TRIBUNE.
Tuesday, August 07, 2012
Did you know? The largest collection of Rembrandt paintings ever assembled in the USA is now on display at the MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ARTS through September 16.
Another day. Another billion brain cells gone: I had chicken in the oven. I put water on the stove to make some rice. I walked away to do a couple of things, came back and no boil yet. I stood there and looked at it, like a fool. Walked away..did a few more things. Came back. No boil.
This went on for, at least 5 minutes or more. I had never seen it take that long for water to boil. I started to panic, thinking something was wrong with the stove. Maybe it was just that burner? Maybe I should try another? I had to do something or the chicken would be done before the rice was.
I finally thought to look down and, immediately, saw the problem. Let me tell you, it takes forever to boil water if you don't turn the stove on.
This went on for, at least 5 minutes or more. I had never seen it take that long for water to boil. I started to panic, thinking something was wrong with the stove. Maybe it was just that burner? Maybe I should try another? I had to do something or the chicken would be done before the rice was.
Who ever heard of having Oktoberfest in September? They march to the beat of a different drummer in California and Monterey Bay will celebrate their Oktoberfest next month!
A 1st grade school teacher had twenty-six students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the 1st half of a well-known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders. Their insight may surprise you.
While reading, keep in mind that these are first-graders, 6-year-olds, because the last one is a classic!
1. Don't change horses....
until they stop running.
2. Strike while.....
the bug is close.
3. It's always darkest before....
Daylight Saving Time.
4. Never underestimate the power of.....
termites.
5. You can lead a horse to water but....
how?
6. Don't bite the hand that.....
looks dirty.
7. No news is......
impossible.
8. A miss is as good as a....
Mr.
9. You can't teach an old dog new.....
math.
10. If you lie down with dogs, you'll...
stink in the morning.
11. Love all, trust....
me.
12. The pen is mightier than.....
the pigs.
13. An idle mind is....
the best way to relax.
14. Where there's smoke there's....
pollution.
15. Happy the bride who.......
gets all the presents.
16. A penny saved is.....
not much.
17. Two's company, three's....
the Musketeers.
18. Don't put off till tomorrow what you.....
put on to go to bed.
19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry......
and you have to blow your nose.
20. There are none so blind as......
Stevie Wonder.
21. Children should be seen and not.....
spanked or grounded.
22. If at first you don't succeed.....
get new batteries.
23. You get out of something only what you....
see in the picture on the box.
24. When the blind lead the blind.....
get out of the way.
25. A bird in the hand is.....
going to poop on you.
And the WINNER and last one!
26. Better late than....
pregnant.
While reading, keep in mind that these are first-graders, 6-year-olds, because the last one is a classic!
1. Don't change horses....
until they stop running.
2. Strike while.....
the bug is close.
3. It's always darkest before....
Daylight Saving Time.
4. Never underestimate the power of.....
termites.
5. You can lead a horse to water but....
how?
6. Don't bite the hand that.....
looks dirty.
7. No news is......
impossible.
8. A miss is as good as a....
Mr.
9. You can't teach an old dog new.....
math.
10. If you lie down with dogs, you'll...
stink in the morning.
11. Love all, trust....
me.
12. The pen is mightier than.....
the pigs.
13. An idle mind is....
the best way to relax.
14. Where there's smoke there's....
pollution.
15. Happy the bride who.......
gets all the presents.
16. A penny saved is.....
not much.
17. Two's company, three's....
the Musketeers.
18. Don't put off till tomorrow what you.....
put on to go to bed.
19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry......
and you have to blow your nose.
20. There are none so blind as......
Stevie Wonder.
21. Children should be seen and not.....
spanked or grounded.
22. If at first you don't succeed.....
get new batteries.
23. You get out of something only what you....
see in the picture on the box.
24. When the blind lead the blind.....
get out of the way.
25. A bird in the hand is.....
going to poop on you.
And the WINNER and last one!
26. Better late than....
pregnant.
An engineer dies and reports to the pearly gates. St. Peter checks his dossier and says, "Ah, you're an engineer -- you're in the wrong place."
So the engineer reports to the gates of hell and is let in.
Pretty soon, the engineer gets dissatisfied with the level of comfort in hell, and starts designing and building improvements. After a while, they've got air conditioning and flush toilets and escalators, and the engineer is a pretty popular guy.
One day God calls Satan up on the telephone and says with a sneer, "So, how's it going down there in hell?"
Satan replies, "Hey, things are going great. We've got air conditioning and flush toilets and escalators, and there's no telling what this engineer is going to come up with next."
God replies, "What??? You've got an engineer? That's a mistake--he should never have gotten down there; send him up here."
Satan says, "No way. I like having an engineer on the staff, and I'm keeping him."
God says, "Send him back up here or I'll sue."
Satan laughs uproariously and answers, "Yeah, right. And just where are YOU going to get a lawyer?"
Pretty soon, the engineer gets dissatisfied with the level of comfort in hell, and starts designing and building improvements. After a while, they've got air conditioning and flush toilets and escalators, and the engineer is a pretty popular guy.
One day God calls Satan up on the telephone and says with a sneer, "So, how's it going down there in hell?"
Satan replies, "Hey, things are going great. We've got air conditioning and flush toilets and escalators, and there's no telling what this engineer is going to come up with next."
God replies, "What??? You've got an engineer? That's a mistake--he should never have gotten down there; send him up here."
Satan says, "No way. I like having an engineer on the staff, and I'm keeping him."
God says, "Send him back up here or I'll sue."
Satan laughs uproariously and answers, "Yeah, right. And just where are YOU going to get a lawyer?"
What is National Night Out?
It's a night to.........
It's a night to.........
- Highten crime and drug preventon awareness.
- Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs
- Strengthin neighborhood spirit and police/community parternerships
- Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back
Monday, August 06, 2012
I'm putting the STURGIS WEB CAM on again. Just look at the motorcycles on Main Street. And that's just SOME of the motorcycles on the Black Hills roads this week. If you've never been to the rally, you're missing a real experience!
THINGS THAT WILL DISAPPEAR IN YOUR LIFETIME...IF YOU'RE MUCH YOUNGER THAN I AM:
1. The Post Office Get ready to imagine a world without the Post Office. They are so deeply in financial trouble that there is probably no way to sustain it long term. Email, Fed Ex, and UPS have just about wiped out the minimum revenue needed to keep the Post Office alive. Most of your mail every day is junk mail and bills. 2. The Check Britain is already laying the groundwork to do away with check by 2018. It costs the financial system billions of dollars a year to process checks. Plastic cards and online transactions will lead to the eventual demise of the check. This plays right into the death of the Post Office. If you never paid your bills by mail and never received them by mail, the Post Office would absolutely go out of business. 3. The Newspaper The younger generation simply doesn't read the newspaper. They certainly don't subscribe to a daily delivered print edition. That may go the way of the milkman and the laundry man. As for reading the paper online, get ready to pay for it. The rise in mobile Internet devices and e-readers has caused all the newspaper and magazine publishers to form an alliance. They have met with Apple, Amazon, and the major cell phone companies to develop a model for paid subscription services. 4. The Book You say you will never give up the physical book that you hold in your hand and turn the literal pages. I said the same thing about downloading music from iTunes. I wanted my hard copy CD. But I quickly changed my mind when I discovered that I could get albums for half the price without ever leaving home to get the latest music. The same thing will happen with books. You can browse a bookstore online and even read a preview chapter before you buy. And the price is less than half that of a real book. And think of the convenience! Once you start flicking your fingers on the screen instead of the book, you find that you are lost in the story, can't wait to see what happens next, and you forget that you're holding a gadget instead of a book. 5. The Land Line Telephone Unless you have a large family and make a lot of local calls, you don't need it anymore. Most people keep it simply because they've always had it. But you are paying double charges for that extra service. All the cell phone companies will let you call customers using the same cell provider for no charge against your minutes. 6. Music This is one of the saddest parts of the change story. The music industry is dying a slow death. Not just because of illegal downloading. It's the lack of innovative new music being given a chance to get to the people who would like to hear it. Greed and corruption is the problem. The record labels and the radio conglomerates are simply self-destructing. Over 40% of the music purchased today is "catalog items," meaning traditional music that the public is familiar with. Older established artists. This is also true on the live concert circuit. To explore this fascinating and disturbing topic further, check out the book, "Appetite for Self-Destruction" by Steve Knopper, and the video documentary, "Before the Music Dies." 7. Television Revenues to the networks are down dramatically. Not just because of the economy. People are watching TV and movies streamed from their computers. And they're playing games and doing lots of other things that take up the time that used to be spent watching TV. Prime time shows have degenerated down to lower than the lowest common denominator. Cable rates are skyrocketing and commercials run about every 4 minutes and 30 seconds. I say good riddance to most of it. It's time for the cable companies to be put out of our misery. Let the people choose what they want to watch online and through Netflix. 8. The "Things" That You Own Many of the very possessions that we used to own are still in our lives, but we may not actually own them in the future. They may simply reside in "the cloud." Today your computer has a hard drive and you store your pictures, music, movies, and documents. Your software is on a CD or DVD, and you can always re-install it if need be. But all of that is changing. Apple, Microsoft, and Google are all finishing up their latest "cloud services." That means that when you turn on a computer, the Internet will be built into the operating system. So, Windows, Google, and the Mac OS will be tied straight into the Internet. If you click an icon, it will open something in the Internet cloud. If you save something, it will be saved to the cloud. And you may pay a monthly subscription fee to the cloud provider. In this virtual world, you can access your music or your books, or your whatever from any laptop or handheld device. That's the good news. But, will you actually own any of this "stuff" or will it all be able to disappear at any moment in a big "Poof?" Will most of the things in our lives be disposable and whimsical? It makes you want to run to the closet and pull out that photo album, grab a book from the shelf, or open up a CD case and pull out the insert. 9. Privacy If there ever was a concept that we can look back on nostalgically, it would be privacy. That's gone. It's been gone for a long time anyway. There are cameras on the street, in most of the buildings, and even built into your computer and cell phone. But you can be sure that 24/7, "They" know who you are and where you are, right down to the GPS coordinates, and the Google Street View. If you buy something, your habit is put into a zillion profiles, and your ads will change to reflect those habits. "They" will try to get you to buy something else. Again and again. |
Who would have thought a sushi restaurant would be a hit in La Crosse? Sounds like it is in this article in the La Crosse Tribune. I see they have fried bananas. Rita and I were introduced to fried bananas on the San Blas Islands, off the coast of Panama, about (what seems like) a hundred years ago. I don't think I've had any since.
There's a nice photo from the 1930's, and a caption, of a tug boat on the river in the La Crosse Tribune this morning.
The cooler weather is sure giving me a good nights sleep. The past couple of nights I've slept soundly, like Thunder sleeps. I envy him. He can be running around and playing, like crazy. The next minute he's curled up, sound asleep.
It's the good life for house cats. Thunder expects something just above the good life and he, ususally, gets it.
Sunday, August 05, 2012
There was a feature story in the LA CROSSE TRIBUNE about a day trip to Lake Wazee which is Wisconsin's deepest inland lake. It's located near Black River Falls and has a really interesting history. Looks like it would be a fun outing.
I had never heard of the lake before. I like to learn something new every day. This should qualify. Now, I'd like to find out how they came up with the name.
Here's an interesting story about a mini-climate change that lead to the death of thousands of people in merry old England in 1258. The culprit was a volcano.
The GREAT MIDWEST PRO RODEO is August 18 and 19 in Elkhorn, Wisconsin which is east of Janesville, not far from Bob and Lynne. Click here for more details. One of my favorite events is Rodeo and I haven't been to one for so long. One of the best things about living in Deadwood was the Days of '76 Rodeo every year.
We used to do broadcasts from the rodeo.
A rodeo on radio isn't the best way to enjoy the action but, back in those ancient days, television stations were very few and far between, in the west, and televising an event from such a remote location, surrounded by hills, was just a dream in the far distant future so radio was as good as it got if you couldn't be there.
What a relief this week is going to be. High's in the mid 70's today and the low 80's the rest of the week. The cold front that went through really did a number on the hot July temperatures!
The storms that came with the front caused a lot of damage from North and South Dakota through Wisconsin and beyond. 169,000 homes lost power in the Chicago area. In Wisconsin, Rock County and Beloit were hit hard with lots of car windows blown out and trees down. In South Dakota, 30 vehicles had windows blown out on the north side of Mitchell.
I think this is a sign of the changing seasons.
The storms that came with the front caused a lot of damage from North and South Dakota through Wisconsin and beyond. 169,000 homes lost power in the Chicago area. In Wisconsin, Rock County and Beloit were hit hard with lots of car windows blown out and trees down. In South Dakota, 30 vehicles had windows blown out on the north side of Mitchell.
I think this is a sign of the changing seasons.
I'LL DRINK TO THAT
TODAY'S THE DAY
They're celebrating around the world and you an read all about it right here!
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