That was what the bumper-sticker said...spotted on Algoma and Jackson St. this morning.
Cheryl Hentz is in the news today. She scooped the Northwestern. Good for her. It is apparent to me from this terminal at the Oshkosh Public Library that blogging is changing the way that news is done. It may seem like slow change to some, but to others the change is abrupt and rocky at times. My own mini-revelation came when the Northwestern put a news item on page one about six days after I posted the same item on my blog. About December 27 I told how the Salvation Army bell-ringers had collected in excess of $113,000 in the kettles with more money to be counted. This was 'news' almost a week later in the Northwestern. Stew Reickman sez: "...Call us lazy, call us incompetent, call us corporate stooges...". Do I need to?
CHEAP SHOTS
The Oshkosh Public Library now closes at 6pm on Fridays. Many haven't got the message and traffic is steady between 6 and 7 and folks are unhappy. The cheap shot is to stand by the entrance and remind people that someone has to pay for the Iraq War and those tax cuts for the rich.
SMOKING
Education about smoking might help, but the real education is at the transfer center for the Oshkosh Transit System. Our young impressionable children get to watch the bus drivers race off the bus between runs and light up. Would it be too hard to ban smoking on the transfer center property? This was done in Appleton. It works.
In Appleton
When the transfer center banned smoking the smokers went across the street to the Appleton Public Library to light up. Then the library banned smoking in the parking lot.
Oshkosh Public Library
Why is it that there is not one, but two big smelly ashtrays right by the entrance?
Any ideas folks?
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Gender and Sexual Identity
A forum was held two Sunday evenings at the First Congregational (UCC) Church on this subject. I missed the first one but was very glad I went to the second one on January 22. I frankly didn't know what to expect. Intimidation and disgust are two things which have never occurred to me in the presence of gay people, but I feel both of those things when I hear the name Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and that Oshkosh oozer of viscious hate: Teno Groppi.
In my years in the barroom music business in Madison I routinely went to the Monday night jams at the Washington Hotel on West Washington St. The hotel was gay-owned, the patrons were gay-straight, and it attracted a university crowd. The Monday night blues rivaled the finest Chicago might offer. It was a moment in time, cherished and never to be repeated since the hotel went up in flames some time ago.
Music is a common bond among people, it was music that brought the races together in the last century and this fellow feels that music will play a big part in breaking down gender barriers and ending needless hate.
Susan Allen led the forum. She is the faculty advisor for "Support the Rainbow", the gay-straight alliance at Southwest High School in Green Bay. 'From Right Wing Evangelist to Advocate for Gay Youth' was the forum title. Kay Springstroh sent me a formal invitation and greeted me at the door about 5:50pm. There was a wonderful snack table with several tasty soft cheeses. The program started late and I don't think the public address system was on.
A kiosk next to the podium advised the audience of 'rules'. It advised participants to be courteous and to have respect toward others. The first rule was a new one for me: NO BIBLE BINGO. I never asked what this was supposed to mean but I caught on. Bible Bingo is when people argue over particular verses to prove points. It never works. Many different points of view can be 'proven' by using bible verses which seemingly contradict each other. I like the term Bible Bingo.
Sue Allen has an interesting story to tell. She was a bible-thumping evangelical right-wing Republican for 20yrs and believed homosexuality was a sin. In her words: "So how in the world did I ever get from that point of being such a self-righteous, intolerant, born-again Christian living in Milwaukee, to being a single mother of three in Green Bay, who is an active ally and supporter of homosexual rights?" She then detailed in increments how her thoughts changed over the years.
She had the audience play games. One scenario had the 'most macho man' stand on one side of the room and the 'most feminine woman' on the other. Then she looked straight ahead at the audience and commented that the rest of us were somewhere between the man and the woman. (I have always felt that all women were 10% male and all men 10% female.)
Things I learned...
In my years in the barroom music business in Madison I routinely went to the Monday night jams at the Washington Hotel on West Washington St. The hotel was gay-owned, the patrons were gay-straight, and it attracted a university crowd. The Monday night blues rivaled the finest Chicago might offer. It was a moment in time, cherished and never to be repeated since the hotel went up in flames some time ago.
Music is a common bond among people, it was music that brought the races together in the last century and this fellow feels that music will play a big part in breaking down gender barriers and ending needless hate.
Susan Allen led the forum. She is the faculty advisor for "Support the Rainbow", the gay-straight alliance at Southwest High School in Green Bay. 'From Right Wing Evangelist to Advocate for Gay Youth' was the forum title. Kay Springstroh sent me a formal invitation and greeted me at the door about 5:50pm. There was a wonderful snack table with several tasty soft cheeses. The program started late and I don't think the public address system was on.
A kiosk next to the podium advised the audience of 'rules'. It advised participants to be courteous and to have respect toward others. The first rule was a new one for me: NO BIBLE BINGO. I never asked what this was supposed to mean but I caught on. Bible Bingo is when people argue over particular verses to prove points. It never works. Many different points of view can be 'proven' by using bible verses which seemingly contradict each other. I like the term Bible Bingo.
Sue Allen has an interesting story to tell. She was a bible-thumping evangelical right-wing Republican for 20yrs and believed homosexuality was a sin. In her words: "So how in the world did I ever get from that point of being such a self-righteous, intolerant, born-again Christian living in Milwaukee, to being a single mother of three in Green Bay, who is an active ally and supporter of homosexual rights?" She then detailed in increments how her thoughts changed over the years.
She had the audience play games. One scenario had the 'most macho man' stand on one side of the room and the 'most feminine woman' on the other. Then she looked straight ahead at the audience and commented that the rest of us were somewhere between the man and the woman. (I have always felt that all women were 10% male and all men 10% female.)
Things I learned...
- One baby in 2,000 is born with Down's Syndrome.
- One baby in 1,600 is born with damage or disfigurement in the groin area.
Disfigurement in the groin area is more common than Down's Syndrome. We are, of course, familiar with Down's Syndrome since we can see it! We can't see the other.
M.D.'s are sometimes at a loss which sex to check on a birth certificate. Sometimes they must act immediately to make the excretory organs work to save the life of a baby. Years ago the slip of a knife during a circumcision might lead the Doc to 'make' the baby boy a girl. Life is not black and white but many shades of grey. Add color and it's a rainbow.
Co-Pastors Ralph and Carol DiBiasio-Snyder made everyone feel at home. Go here:http://www.fccoshkosh.org/copastor.html
The United Church of Christ (Congregational) has been at the forefront of social change as long as I can remember. Their theme "That They may all be One" is demonstrated constantly by their actions.
One man who attended has a gay son who teaches High School in another state. This man worries for his son. Every person hopes the best for their children.
Peace.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Mall-Wart
Unfinished business...
There will be some answers to the Mein Kampf / Omro item in my column later this week, possibly Thursday or Friday. Stay tuned.
I heard this next story on the streets downtown Saturday. Funny how little it takes to amuse me. A mentally challenged man who wanders around downtown is the focus of this. He has a beard and a large belly which precedes him by quite a distance. OK. He looks quite pregnant. He needed to do some shopping Friday and found an individual who would take him out to the bright lights and sounds of the frontage roads of Hy. 41. While going down Koeller he remembered he needed a 12-pack of Pepsi. Copp's being handy the driver offered to stop there. "No, no", was the reply. "Take me to Mall-Wart. It's cheaper there." The driver navigated over '41 at 9th St. and pulled into the parking lot. A 1/2-mile walk later they arrived at the Pepsi display and trudged back toward the checkout. Nearing the van he exclaimed what a rip-off it was...over 4-bucks for a 12-er of Pepsi with tax. The driver looked over the receipt: $3.88 plus tax. They sat in the van for a few minutes and having no where to go---and all day to do it in, got out and trekked the 1/2-mile back to the Pepsi display, receipt in hand. Sure enough the sign said $3.88 and not the $2.88 they imagined. They left Mall-Wart. The mentally challenged man has pretty good control of his wallet and knew he had paid far too much for the soda. He's not so sure he'll go to Mall-Wart anymore.
The moral: Even folks with half a brain know they aren't getting any deals at Mall-Wart.
A quick check of this morning's Northwestern shows those Pepsi 12-packs are $2.50 over at Target. Don't get trampled in the rush.
Those of us with slightly more than half a brain, (I hope this includes me), realize that when the Mall-Wart supercenter opened, about 250 local people lost their health insurance, i.e. the employees of Cub Foods and the Pig by the airport. At Wal-Mart a very low percentage have their high-priced, low payout health plan.
The net result of this is that some folks are not receiving needed health care and the ones that do are unable to pay. This forces health costs upwards.
Remind a Wal-Mart employee that changes are possible. Have them contact Grant Withers at the local office of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). It's in the phone book.
There will be some answers to the Mein Kampf / Omro item in my column later this week, possibly Thursday or Friday. Stay tuned.
I heard this next story on the streets downtown Saturday. Funny how little it takes to amuse me. A mentally challenged man who wanders around downtown is the focus of this. He has a beard and a large belly which precedes him by quite a distance. OK. He looks quite pregnant. He needed to do some shopping Friday and found an individual who would take him out to the bright lights and sounds of the frontage roads of Hy. 41. While going down Koeller he remembered he needed a 12-pack of Pepsi. Copp's being handy the driver offered to stop there. "No, no", was the reply. "Take me to Mall-Wart. It's cheaper there." The driver navigated over '41 at 9th St. and pulled into the parking lot. A 1/2-mile walk later they arrived at the Pepsi display and trudged back toward the checkout. Nearing the van he exclaimed what a rip-off it was...over 4-bucks for a 12-er of Pepsi with tax. The driver looked over the receipt: $3.88 plus tax. They sat in the van for a few minutes and having no where to go---and all day to do it in, got out and trekked the 1/2-mile back to the Pepsi display, receipt in hand. Sure enough the sign said $3.88 and not the $2.88 they imagined. They left Mall-Wart. The mentally challenged man has pretty good control of his wallet and knew he had paid far too much for the soda. He's not so sure he'll go to Mall-Wart anymore.
The moral: Even folks with half a brain know they aren't getting any deals at Mall-Wart.
A quick check of this morning's Northwestern shows those Pepsi 12-packs are $2.50 over at Target. Don't get trampled in the rush.
Those of us with slightly more than half a brain, (I hope this includes me), realize that when the Mall-Wart supercenter opened, about 250 local people lost their health insurance, i.e. the employees of Cub Foods and the Pig by the airport. At Wal-Mart a very low percentage have their high-priced, low payout health plan.
The net result of this is that some folks are not receiving needed health care and the ones that do are unable to pay. This forces health costs upwards.
Remind a Wal-Mart employee that changes are possible. Have them contact Grant Withers at the local office of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). It's in the phone book.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
May You Live in Interesting Times
Google has about 133,000 hits for the above term. I clicked on the first one and after ten minutes gave up. It may be Scottish in origin but also may be a Sci-Fi invention. The one thing it isn't: Chinese!
Lots of news...
Attendance at Father Carr's Mens Shelter over the weekend: about 11. The numbers increased by Monday and he housed about 20 men. My moles tell me that this is the largest number of men housed since the current shelter opened (Capacity 75-beds). I was also told that numbers were up in the Women's Shelter (same capacity), but I have no idea what 'up' means. This is good news. Desperate folks have a roof over their heads. Anyone who has checked job listings in the valley will note that the jobs are in Neenah, Menasha, and Appleton; not Oshkosh. I will continue to post, review, and update these numbers. Thanks to all that keep me informed.
I wish that Stew Reickman would begin blogging again. I enjoyed his writing. It gave a degree of depth to how his mind was working in regards to what went in the Northwestern. At the moment he appears to be putting to practical use the philosophy of Xavier Onassis. At various times in each one of our lives I think we all have used this modus operandi.
The first but not the last...
I am breaking this story. Remember you heard it here first. I have it on good authority but haven't tracked back on each part of it so will not be publishing many details today, just the skeleton outline. It is scary and will reverberate throughout the state.
A high school English student from Omro was given an assignment which involved the student picking their own source material. The student decided to use 'Mein Kampf'. A book on this was checked out from a library and internet sources were also used. (Reader: Please brace yourself.) 'A' national security agency called the student's parents and questioned why the student was studying this subject.
I'm going to leave it there today while the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and you shiver. You won't hear the end of this one for quite a while. Is that what we want our tax dollars used for?
Peace.
Lots of news...
Attendance at Father Carr's Mens Shelter over the weekend: about 11. The numbers increased by Monday and he housed about 20 men. My moles tell me that this is the largest number of men housed since the current shelter opened (Capacity 75-beds). I was also told that numbers were up in the Women's Shelter (same capacity), but I have no idea what 'up' means. This is good news. Desperate folks have a roof over their heads. Anyone who has checked job listings in the valley will note that the jobs are in Neenah, Menasha, and Appleton; not Oshkosh. I will continue to post, review, and update these numbers. Thanks to all that keep me informed.
I wish that Stew Reickman would begin blogging again. I enjoyed his writing. It gave a degree of depth to how his mind was working in regards to what went in the Northwestern. At the moment he appears to be putting to practical use the philosophy of Xavier Onassis. At various times in each one of our lives I think we all have used this modus operandi.
The first but not the last...
I am breaking this story. Remember you heard it here first. I have it on good authority but haven't tracked back on each part of it so will not be publishing many details today, just the skeleton outline. It is scary and will reverberate throughout the state.
A high school English student from Omro was given an assignment which involved the student picking their own source material. The student decided to use 'Mein Kampf'. A book on this was checked out from a library and internet sources were also used. (Reader: Please brace yourself.) 'A' national security agency called the student's parents and questioned why the student was studying this subject.
I'm going to leave it there today while the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and you shiver. You won't hear the end of this one for quite a while. Is that what we want our tax dollars used for?
Peace.
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