Franco Corelli sings "Core 'ngrato"

My dad loved tenors. He loved to listen to them. When he went out to the bars, if he got drunk enough, he would start singing himself. This often got him tossed out of the bars. 

I heard a lot of it at home from scratchy old LPs.  I developed a minor taste for it.  Above is one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite tenors, "NHK Tokyo. November 21, 1973."

Nicholson Wildlife Refuge

In the past couple of months my girlfriend and I have been driving around the county taking pictures of wildlife and flowering plants. We've snapped some photos of some of the common backyard sights as well as some interesting surprises. We are hoping to educate as well as honing in on our photography skills. We are not exactly the Nation Geographic quality type of photographers, but we will sure try.

One of our stops was the little known Nicholson Wildlife Refuge here in Racine County. Located on 5 Mile Road between Nicholson Road and County Truck V, this 127 acre gem offers a paradise for shoreline birds like Great Blue Herons, Snow Geese, Canadian Geese, Tundra Swans, Mallards and Hooded Mergansers as well as Magnolia Warblers, Red Wing Blackbirds and Savanna Sparrows. Deer and Beaver also has been sighted there. Below is video I found on YouTube to give viewers a taste of what can be seen there. Just remember when visiting, it's the luck of the draw in finding anything. Sometimes you'll get very lucky...



This is just a prelude to what is to come...we are presently sorting through photos and taking more along way. So in the upcoming weeks, you'll see photos coming in...

Open Blog - Monday

Mondays do me.

Useless Information

Did you know:


Forrest Gump had sex once and ended up with a son?

Useless Information

Did you know:


Forrest Gump had sex once and ended up with a son?

Van Halen - "Runnin' With The Devil"

"I found the simple life ain't so simple." Diamond Dave and Van Halen at their best.

"Help Positively Racine Day on Friday"

From The Journal Times.com:
 

"RACINE — The A Team for Leadership Racine is sponsoring the Positively Racine Day on Friday.

"A presentation by Mayor John Dickert and Racine County Executive Jim Ladwig, including reading of a state proclamation, will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Monument Square, Main and Sixth streets, during First Friday.

"The team will distribute wristbands to encourage Racine residents to talk positively about the city. Bands are also available at McAuliffe’s on the Square, O & H Bakery and Educators Credit Union on Spring Street.

"A banner will be available for people to sign pledging to talk positively about Racine."

http://www.journaltimes.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/community-briefs-april/article_1666033a-8fd8-11e1-a2c8-0019bb2963f4.html

I think that's great. Should we report someone if they sign the banner pledge and then speak poorly about Racine?  Who do we report them to?

Open Blog - Weekend

Top Cat!

"Hilarious experiment on Monkeys on Fairness"

As "a monkey in a cage" myself, I can empathize with these guys.

Friday Grin

Four for Fridays

Hello everyone! Welcome back to another weekly episode of Four for Fridays. It's been a long and exhausting week of working overtime. Barely can keep my eyes open. Anyways, here are some questions for you...

1) Have you ever wondered what a baby is thinking?

2) What the most hours you have ever worked?

3) What place has the best service? (Restaurant, store-anywhere)

4) What is your favorite dessert?

Enjoy your weekend!

Open Blog - Friday

I think I know some of those cats. 

Open Blog - Thursday

What are you thinking?

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my magnificent magnolias!  How are you?  The splendiferous show of spring marches on.  More and more trees are budding each day.  Daffodils and tulips are everywhere.  I like the colors of fall, but not as much as I like the blooming of spring.  So beautiful, so vibrant, so full of life.

The big news locally, of course, is the settlement of the Mr. Mayor Dickert slander suit.  The trial was scheduled to start next week.  Instead, a confidential agreement has been reached.  Madame Zoltar knows all and sees all, but I also honor the law and will not reveal any details of the settlement.  I am glad that the lawsuit has ended.  It was tawdry to have our mayor’s soiled linen aired in public like that.  It would be nice if for once in Racine there wasn’t some political or business leader being sued or prosecuted or investigated or arrested.  We are far too small a town to host such a large ensemble of major misfits.  Oh my.

Down from one soapbox and onto another.  Did you know about this?  Every day kids come up with new ways to alter their consciousness.  It’s demon alcohol, but in a new form:

http://fox8.com/2012/04/24/hand-sanitizer-high-doctors-weigh-in/
 

I’ll never look at a bottle of hand sanitizer the same again.  I was at a store and a kid by the shopping cart rack and sanitizer dispenser was staggering.  What’s the matter with this younger generation?  Why can’t they do it the way we did it?  Get someone to buy/steal beer for you and drink it.  Puke.  Repeat.  That’s normal.  That’s what real American kids do. 

Finally, my dears, have you heard about the DNSChanger malware?  You can read about it here: http://techland.time.com/2012/04/23/dnschanger-fbi-warns-infected-computers-will-lose-web-email-access-in-july/  And you can find out if your computer has it and get rid of it here: http://www.dcwg.org/

My, what a world we live in.  Danger all around us.  Except here.  Here at the JT Irregulars, I feel safe and loved.  That comes from you, my dear, dear readers.  You provide the love which propels me forward in this cruel world.  Thank you so much for that. 

Personal malware?  Find out here: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

Thank you so much for reading my blog.  Have a wondrous week, each and every one of you.  I love you all.  Enjoy the weather and keep thinking, “No frost.  No frost.  No frost.”  Fabulist!

Root River Revitalization

http://rootriverrevitalization.wordpress.com/

This is a local blog produced by a local person who is dedicated to Racine and to Root River.  A couple of people have recommended this blog to me.  It was added to the JTI's blog roll on the sidebar awhile ago.

From the "About" section of RootRiverRevitalization.com:

"My Blog site to talk about the Root River Revitalization effort in Racine WI. All views/thoughts/opinions are my own. Your mileage may Very.

"This site is for entertainment value in the hope of get all of us who come here to think about the Root River and the role fresh water plays in our life

"Warning this is not a PC Blog"

Not a PC blog?  Does that sound familiar?  Check it out: http://rootriverrevitalization.wordpress.com/

Open Blog - Wednesday

 

Boop-Oop-a-Doop.

"New-John Dickert’s Attorney states lawsuit has been settled"

From RacineUncovered.org:

"CCAP records show that the attorney’s representing John Dickert have notified the Racine County Circuit Court that on April 23rd a settlement has been reached. CCAP records show that Atty Tokarz (attorney representing John Dickert) calls to advise that a settlement has been reached will follow up in writing. CC from Dickert’s Atty advising that settlement has been reached. All trial dates have been canceled of CCAP. The lawsuit was filed in February of 2011 after John Dickert allegedly call Bill Bielfeldt and embezzler and that is why he was fired. This was stated during a Mayoral Candidate interview on WRJN in which other Mayoral Candidates appeared. It was scheduled to go to trial next week. The City of Racine was recently dismissed from the case and the judge ruled that the City did not have any part of this lawsuit that it had been filed against John Dickert. More on this story as it develops"

http://racineuncovered.org/2012/04/new-john-dickert-attorneys-state-they-have-settled-lawsuit-against-him/

More twists and turns.  This is the Bielefeldt lawsuit that has been settled?  (Stan Marsh voice;) Really?

Open Blog - Tuesday

And Tuesday loves me. 

"Birth To 12 Years Old In Under 3 Minutes"

"A father films his daughter once a week from birth till she is 12 years old. Great idea for anyone who is about to have a baby."

I Am Going To Have A Second Grandchild!

Yes this is a little late in posting. I found out the Saturday of Easter that my sons girlfriend is three months pregnant again.

When my son called to tell me I told him he better not be joking around with me. He said mom I am serious about this, he says I am not joking around with you. I said I am happy for both of you. Then I said Skylee will only be a year old when this baby is born. He said yes I know that mom. When his girlfriend was pregnant with Skylee they told  the Grandma's first and this time they told the Grandpa's first. We are very happy for my son.

When I told Drew this he said to me WHAT! With his eyes wide open. I told him yes and we sat and talked about this for awhile. Yes Grandpa Drew is going to have another Grandchild too.

It was like it really didn't hit me when my son told me about the baby at first. It took a couple of days to actually sink in my head. I don't know why it really didn't hit me at first. When he called me I had just gotten off of work and I was really tired. That may be the reason it really didn't hist me. But when it did I was like really happy.

I don't know how the other grandparents feel about the new baby. I hope they are not yelling at the kids about this. I know my sons girlfriend has to be really careful during her pregnancy because she was having problems when she was pregnant before. There is nothing we can do about this my son is so happy he is going to have another child. 

In July I am going to have my granddaughter down here for a few days. I am watching her so my son can go to Rock U.S.A.. I can't wait to see her and spoil her while she is here.

I Am Going To Have A Second Grandchild!

Open Blog - Monday

Monday is the beginning of a new story.

Backyard Turkey

From TSE:

"Here is a turkey that was in the backyard in Mt. Pleasant the other day."

Men beware of Kohl's....

Useless Information

Did you Know:

In the game of Hockey a term called “Face off” was originally called “Puck off”?

World Clock

From Harry Wait:

http://www.wrldclock.com/

http://www.poodwaddle.com/

Thank you, Harry. 

Open Blog - Weekend

Enjoy.

Four for Fridays

Hello everyone! Welcome back to Four for Fridays after a short, but yet long week. Does that make any sense? Anyways, here are some questions for you.

1) What celebrity death has affected you the most?

2) Do you prefer blogging or Facebook?

3) What chore do you dislike the most?

4) What toppings do like on your pizza?

Enjoy your weekend!

Open Blog - Friday

 

Vroom, Vroom.  Or is it rumble, rumble for a Harley?

"Ralph Williams Bay Shore Chrysler-Plymouth classic TV commercial"

From Harry Wait:

WARNING: Adult Language



Someone must have slipped truth serum into this guy's coffee.

Open Blog - Thursday

 

Only one more day till Friday.

"Forbes Magazine tells the world what Racine is really like"

From RacineUncovered.org:

"This story is featured in the latest FORBES 400 issue, newsstand date October 10, 2011.

"Drive into Racine, Wis. from the north and the first thing you notice are the cheap strip malls and dilapidated houses. Between fast-food joints, Cigarette City sells discounted Marlboros. Almost every storefront on State Street is boarded up. Kids on push bikes hustle passersby for coins outside a Walgreens.

"But get farther downtown and everything changes. The name Johnson pops up everywhere—on signposts, street corners and the shiny Johnson Building on Main Street, which houses the Johnson Financial Group, Johnson Bank and sports retailer Johnson Outdoors.

"Curt has rarely made public appearances. Still, rumors of past drug and alcohol abuse ricochet quietly around Racine, although Curt has never been arrested or charged with any drug-related crime.

"For the complete story visit Forbes magazine at Profligate son a billionaire scions sex crime allegations rock a company town."

http://racineuncovered.org/2012/04/forbes-magazine-tells-the-word-what-racine-is-really-like/

I haven't read the story yet.  I'll comment after I've done so.

Rudeness Needs to End........

I am one of the original bloggers/posters on the JTI site along with a hand full of others.

Lately I have notice there have been a few bloggers/posters who have been rude to others.

One of the main reason which started the JTI site is the abuse from the administrators of the JT web site and bloggers which posted there, all they did and still do is complain about each other and bitch bitch bitch.

We all would love to hear what you have to say about things, but if you want to be rude, stay off this site and go to a bitch/complain site.

You know if you are one of these rude people. Today, I will not list your and their names; but keep it up and I will so everyone knows who you are! And you do know you can be blocked from blogging.


………SER

"Making sure the disclaimer is complete"

http://www.jtirregulars.com/2008/06/making-sure-disclaimer-is-complete.html

The Disclaimer appears at the bottom of every JTI page:

Disclaimer

This website exists for entertainment purposes only. The reader is responsible for discerning the validity of information posted here, be it fictional or based on real events or people. The content of posts on this site, including but not limited to links to other web sites, are the expressed opinion of the original poster and are in no way representative of or endorsed by the owners or administration of this website. The posts on this website are the opinion of the specific author and are not statements of advice, opinion, or factual information on behalf of the owner or administration of JT Irregulars. This site may contain adult content and if you feel you might be offended by such content, you should log off immediately.

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This Disclaimer is subject to change at anytime.

"Mother upset over teacher saying ‘redneck’ is racist"

From The Journal Times.com:

"RACINE — A local mother is 'appalled' that a Racine Unified elementary school teacher allegedly called her son 'racist' but she has so far not talked with the teacher about the incident.

"Instead, Breann Hooser has spoken about it with district officials, transferred her son to a different Unified school, contacted local media and called for the teacher’s removal from the classroom. Hooser has also asked legislators to revise state laws to make educators’ personnel records public.

“'I’m very concerned we’re not allowed to know what happens with the teachers. I’m appalled this teacher did not lose any work,' said Hooser, 32, of Racine, a stay-at-home mom. 'I don’t know if she was talked to, if she was reprimanded, if she was suspended.'

"The incident in question happened on March 23 at Knapp Elementary School, 2701 17th St., when Hooser’s fourth-grade son, who is white, completed a class assignment by writing, 'I like country music because I’m a redneck hillbilly,' Hooser said.

"The teacher, who is black, then told the boy in front of the class that 'redneck' was racist against black people, Hooser said.

“'To us, it’s a family joke,' Hooser said, explaining they use the term 'redneck' to make fun of themselves for being 'country.' 'It wasn’t meant to be offensive.'”

Read more: http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/mother-upset-over-teacher-saying-redneck-is-racist/article_aedb0a98-8880-11e1-9764-001a4bcf887a.html#ixzz1sNxV0Xxg

When I think of redneck, I think of Jeff Foxworthy's "You might be a redneck if . . . " routine.  How is it "racist against black people"?   If it is, then isn't black people referring to themselves as "niggers" racist against white people?

I usually disagree with the Politically Correct Police.  This time is no exception.

What do you think?

"Make Mine Freedom" (1948)

Hear, hear!

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my harmonious honeydews!  How are you?  The warm weather continues.  It seems like everything is in bloom.  Trees, shrubs, flowers: all blooming, all over the place.  Everywhere you look in the landscape, something is putting on a show.  So pretty, and, yet, there is still that lingering fear that the environment is screwed up big time.  That old margarine commercial said, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.” I say, it’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature.  She can be a b**ch.

   

A perusal of the news brought up this tidbit from the JSOnline: “DNR cracks down on sex at nude beach,” http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/dnr-cracks-down-on-sex-at-nude-beach-g851ptp-147791535.html  Oh my.  I didn’t know there is a nude beach near Madison.  I will have to investigate this further, for journalistic purposes.  Perhaps Señor Zanza will join me, for journalistic purposes.  Junior will have to stay home, for voyeuristic purposes. 

Closer to home, I saw this in The Journal Times.com: “Hot dog stand owner takes over boat launch concession,” http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/hot-dog-stand-owner-takes-over-boat-launch-concession/article_23cfbdf0-83ca-11e1-95a6-0019bb2963f4.html Mr. Caleb Robinson, the owner of Top Dog Hot Dogs in downtown Racine, is going to run the city’s boat launch concession stand.  I predict success and a fantastic future for Mr. Robinson.  He is an outstanding young man.  He also serves up some very tasty food.  I am forever grateful to Mr. OrbsCorbs for telling me about Top Dog and their delicious Chicago-style hotdogs.  Oh dear, I get hungry just thinking about them. 

Speaking of Mr. OrbsCorbs, he submitted an email this week:

Dear Madame Zoltar,

Did you know that there are “professional” cat and dog whisperers out there?  Some claim they can communicate with any animal.  They charge up to $50, and more, for a “reading” done over the telephone.  I can’t afford that.  How the heck can they read your pet’s mind over the telephone?

Anyway, I was wondering if you aren’t also an animal whisperer, Madame Zoltar, in addition to your vast array of other powers.  And if you are, would you be willing to tell me what Charlie, my cat, thinks of me?

Thank you very much,

OrbsCorbs

Dear Mr. OrbsCorbs, thank you so much for submitting a question. 

Nobody can give a proper reading of anyone or anything over the telephone.  However, I am what you call an “animal whisperer.”  That is, I can communicate with animals.  Many pets are more pleasant to talk to than their owners.  Unlike some of my other psychic powers, which I consider gifts from a Higher Power, I believe that anyone can learn animal communication with enough time and practice. 

In any case, I’ve had the good fortune to have met Charlie and I know what he thinks.  As for you, Mr. OrbsCorbs, he thinks you’re crazy.  Do not be too discouraged by that.  Most cats think humans are crazy.  The important thing is that Charlie loves you (he told me so) and you love him.  The rest are details.

That same love is the love I have for my readers.  Thank you, dears, for reading my blog today.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Stop by next week, please.

If you need to contact me before next week, I am always available here: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy the mild weather.  Get out and about.  Or stay at home and nod in the sun.  Be grateful for what we have.  Every day is a gift.  Every Irregular is a miracle. Decarchy!

Open Blog - Wednesday

Flashy. 

Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project

From Harry Wait (http://www.racinecountycorruption.com/):

Remember this lady?

 Irena Sendler

Died: May 12, 2008 (aged 98)

Warsaw, Poland

During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the Warsaw ghetto, as a Plumbing/Sewer specialist.

She had an ulterior motive.

Irena smuggled Jewish infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried.

She also carried a burlap sack in the back of her truck, for larger kids.

Irena kept a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto.

The soldiers, of course, wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the kids/infants noises.

During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants.

Ultimately, she was caught, however, and the Nazi's broke both of her legs and arms and beat her severely.

Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she had smuggled out, in a glass jar that she buried under a tree in her back yard.

After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived and tried to reunite the family.

Most had been gassed. Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes or adopted.

In 2007 Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize. She was not selected.

http://www.irenasendler.com/default.asp

Open Blog - Tuesday

Surprise!

The Curse of My Grandma

My grandma passed away about this time of year in 2007. She loved the comic strip Family Circus. She would go on about how cute it was and family members would give her Family Circus books for birthdays/Christmas etc. I find the Family Circus to be incredibly lame and overly sweet and wholesome to the point of being infuriating.

Yet I read the damn thing every day because of her! I can't get my morning paper and not look at that comic strip and think of my grandmother for a minute.

A lifetime of reading the Family Circus: the Curse of My Grandma.

Useless Information

Did you know:

The first and orginal "wet bike" aka Jet Ski was built for a James Bond movie.

Since it has become and multi million dollar industry.

Hot Air Balloon Festival in Immokalee, Florida

The Hot Air Balloon Show in Immokalee, Florida

Here are a couple of the photos we took yesterday of the Hot Air Balloon show we attended in Immokalee, FL Unfortunately, it was too windy for them to get air-bound...I found the different designs rather interesting. Loved the Pig and the Purple Monster! LOL. The rest of the photos posted on a separate Blog...

kk, if you can consolidate, go ahead and if you need to reformat the photos, be my guest!

"How It Feels To Sell Instagram For A Billion Dollars"

Fake or real? I say fake.

Open Blog - Monday

Hey! It's you...

The JTI on Facebook

Click to visit JTI Facebook

The JTI has a new look on Facebook. We've been automatically switched to the new Timeline Version. 

The sheriff needs to get with the program and learn the new features. Technology is good..... 
Updates? Not so much!


 Do you Facebook?
If so, take a look, and as it says, 
"Write something!"

"Meteor shoots across sky, spotted by some in southeastern Wisconsin"

http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/meteor-shoots-across-sky-spotted-by-some-in-southeastern-wisconsin/article_31752f0c-84fc-11e1-94e3-001a4bcf887a.html

Did any of our stargazers see this? 

Four for Fridays

Hello everybody! Welcome back to Four for Fridays after a short and productive week. Isn't that the way things should be? Anyways, here are some questions for you....

1) What is the crappiest car you have ever driven?

2) What pets you ever had?

3) Do you think our laws are tough enough?

4) If you were browsing around Wal-Mart, what area of the store where you most likely to be found?

Enjoy your weekend!

Open Blog - Friday & Weekend

Uh-oh!

Hale-Bopp: 1996-2012

Hale-Bopp finally passed away on Monday night (with the help of the vet) at my place. Many of you at the gathering last summer knew she had cancer and the vet said most cats with this form of cancer pass within 30-60 days, so she definitely beat the odds for a while. But she finally quit eating, was losing weight and getting weak. It was the right time.

I got her in the fall of 1996. Found her at the end of a cross country practice. A student suggested the name Hale-Bopp since I had been using this new fangled thing called the "internet" and showing them pictures of this incoming comet since the beginning of the 95-96 school year.

A few days after taking her home, I got the chicken pox. This little (still unnamed at the time) furball wouldn't leave me alone, fearful that I would die on her and she would be homeless again. Staying home from work for a week was kind of fortunate in the long run, provided great bonding time.

Bopp was my first cat and different than pets we had growing up. We had dogs. We got one when I was about five and it died only a few weeks after we got it. I barely remember it. Second one we got shortly thereafter and it only lived about three years. I was the one who found it dead in the morning (heart defect the autopsy said). I remember that, but I was still young. Third dog lived until I graduated college and moved out before she passed.

But when you look at it a certain way, Bopp was my first pet. When you are a kid, your parents really dictate the pet situation. They choose the pets, care for them (even if they make some of the pet care your chores) take them to the vet and ultimately decide end of life issues. When you are finally on your own, then you get the full responsibility for the health and well being of an animal, including doing the right thing at the end.

The vet came over Monday night around 7pm (yes, my vet makes housecalls in the evening if needed). Bopp didn't even fight when they shaved her leg for the IV, a sure sign it was the right time. As sad as it was, I still laughed a little at how loopy she got from the first sedative. There can be humor even at that time. She passed sitting in my lap.

My vet is a good guy. Vets deal with grieving pet owners on a regular basis. He did start getting a little spiritual, but not in a pushy/evangelizing way. I gently told him that was not necessary, I was an atheist and would take comfort in this being a natural part of life (although maybe not right now). He did the right thing and let me grieve my own way.

Bopp is being cremated and I will take her ashes to Florida and scatter her ashes after a run where I found her.

Good bye, Bopp. You will always be lovingly remembered.

Flight of the Conchords - "Business Time"

Wednesday night is business time.

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my dew-dappled dandies!  How are you?  I am so sorry that I was out of it for the past two weeks.  I only jokingly referred to Mr. OrbsCorbs as the source of my malady.   I am still unsure what hit me, but I’m glad it’s gone.  As I get older, I get more “things” like that: aches, pains, sudden illness, etc.  Even my powers cannot stave off Father Time.  But I can sure slow him down: don’t forget to check out my full line of Madame Zoltar® brand potions, tonics, and concoctions.

Speaking of Mr. OrbsCorbs, I want to thank him for posting last week about our reading months previous.  The blog helped fill a void, I believe.  Mr. OrbsCorbs’ time approaches.  Fortune or failure?  It’s up to him.

I hope that you all had a Happy Easter.  Easter is a wonderful holiday that represents spring and rebirth and renewal and jelly beans and baked ham and Easter eggs.  Now, what do you do with all the leftover eggs?  Can I donate them to some charity?

So far, so good, with our nightly temperatures flirting with the freezing point again.  So many plants are now budding and flowering.  A killing frost would be disastrous.  Keep your buckets and leaf piles or mulch handy.  Just covering a plant protects it considerably.

I’d like to give a “howl out” to Racine’s Wolf Man from Romania’s Werewolf Man.  He is a faithful reader.  My blog is very popular in the homeland.

[Confidential to JayTeeDee: if you want to know what your enemies are really saying behind your back, I’ll need an additional $250.]

Finally, if you don’t want to scare children, then don’t wear purple:

Thank you one and all for stopping by to read my blog this week.  I’m overflowing with love for my readers because I haven’t been able to express it properly for awhile.  A big smooch for each of you, my dear, dear friends. 

What are your financial prospects after the impending apocalypse?  Madame Zoltar knows. madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

Keep the good weather, keep the good karma, keep the good times rolling irregularly along. Take care of yourselves, my sweets.  If you can’t be kind, at least be civil. Testudineous!

Open Blog - Wednesday & Thursday

Happy humping.

Spring ISS Pass

The International Space Station (ISS) is making evening passes over much of the United States this week. The best pass for Tucson was tonight (although we get more, tonight's was the brightest). I drove down to Saguaro National Park East and snapped a few shots.

Those are my favorite pics from tonight (for more, you can always check out my Flickr Stream).

As we approach summer, it is sometimes possible to see more than one ISS pass per night, especially as you go farther north. We had two passes last night in Tucson. I have seen up to four passes per night listed for Seattle. To find out when to see the ISS, be sure to check Heavens-Above or the Spaceweather Simple Satellite Tracker.

Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicist Blog.

Spring ISS Pass

The International Space Station (ISS) is making evening passes over much of the United States this week. The best pass for Tucson was tonight (although we get more, tonight's was the brightest). I drove down to Saguaro National Park East and snapped a few shots.

Those are my favorite pics from tonight (for more, you can always check out my Flickr Stream).

As we approach summer, it is sometimes possible to see more than one ISS pass per night, especially as you go farther north. We had two passes last night in Tucson. I have seen up to four passes per night listed for Seattle. To find out when to see the ISS, be sure to check Heavens-Above or the Spaceweather Simple Satellite Tracker.

Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicist Blog.

The Three Stooges: The Movie

 http://www.threestooges.com/

It premieres this Friday. Nyuk, nyuk.

The Blues Magoos - "(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet"

Just some more of my early influences.

Just Ducky

Seemingly, little do many residents of Racine know about the wildlife here in town. Much of it not in woods but right in front of us! A trip down to the harbor can yield an abundance of birds, mostly waterfowl. Though gulls and Canadian Geese are quite common around here, it's the ducks you've got to watch out for.

Mallards are a dime a dozen around here. Many of them are year round residents, often finding open water to wade in. Pictured above are the drake (left) and the hen (right) .

Looking similar to the Mallards are the Red Breasted Mergansers. Upon closer look, one would notice they are smaller and sleeker than the Mallards. Check out the spiky crest and thin red bill. Unlike the Mallards, they will dive and swim completely underwater for small fish, aquatic incests, crustaceans and frogs. Honestly, I haven't noticed them around till this winter.

Often hanging around the mergansers, I believe are the American Coots. Check out the short white bills on these small birds. These birds can be seen swimming in the open water. They can dive for food and forage for food on land. Coots will pretty much eat anything-plant material, arthropods, fish and other aquatic animals.

Remember, Lake Michigan is a migratory route for many species of birds. I've seen Lesser and Greater Scaups, Buffleheads and Harlequin Ducks on the lake shores over the years. Now, I'm waiting for the terns to arrive. Maybe I'll get a chance to video them dive bomb into the water...

always the noise in the head

always the noise in the head

always the still in the dead

just one moment

between the two

just one word

from you, from you

--OrbsCorbs, Copyright  © 2012

One Punch Homicide

WORLD PREMIERE
of
ONE PUNCH HOMICIDE
Open to the public. $10.00.
At Milwaukee's Oriental Theatre,
2230 North Farwell Avenue,
one of Wisconsin's most beautiful theatres.
April 19, 2012 (Thursday), 7:15 PM.
One night only.

 http://onepunchhomicide.com/

"A documentary that will reduce violence, crime, and murders. It's about those who killed and were killed by one punch, and only one punch, and their loved ones. Most of One Punch Homicide is interviews with five inmates in five U.S. states who killed someone with a single punch. It also has interviews with the loved ones of seven who were killed with one punch, and more, including the death of a 16 year old boy from one punch."

It will also feature information about the Colin Byars murder: 

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/84944422.html

Open Blog - Monday & Tuesday

Wake up, sleepy head!

"Andrew Dickey- Black Bike vol. 1"

I remember when people used to ride those things on streets and around town.

Monday Morning Rally at RUSD

From my email:

"CITIZENS  UNITED  FOR  PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY"

"On April 9, 2012, at the Racine Unified Administrative Service Center, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St,  Racine, WI. starting at approx.  9:00a.m., there will be a Rally by Citizens United For Personal Responsibility and Government Accountability. The Rally is to raise awareness that the School Board incumbents, Plache, Warner and Nielsen , were re-elected solely due to the union public employee  political block of RUSD and WEAC and that concerned citizens and responsible parents, including African American parents, recognize they are incompetent at best and have failed to properly educate children.  Responsible and concerned citizens, parents, and African American families recognize that the RUSD School Board is derelict in their duty and squanders taxpayer dollars to enrich union public employee while children are left to fail. The inability for the public to elect effective Leadership is a direct result of union public employees voting only for their paychecks and bank accounts. 

"Further, RUSD Superintendent Ann Laing’s outrageous statement that 'African-American don’t know how to make good choices for their children' is strongly denounced!  Ms. Laings demands that African-American families disavow voucher schools and do as she commands them  garners her a local 'Plantation Police' award!

"Please join us and demand that the RUSD School Board and RUSD Superintendent Ann Laing put children and education FIRST! NOT union public employee’s paychecks and bank accounts. Union public employee’s are reminded that in this time of recession 'SHARED SACRIFICE' is a mandate and that looting the taxpayers is WRONG!"


I'd like to state that I support the troops in the trenches; i.e., the teachers and assistants and others who have daily contact with our students and try to educate them. I believe that teachers take the blame for many of the parenting problems in our society.

+++++++++++++++++++++

Edit: 4/9/2012, 10:00 PM. Here are a couple of pictures from the rally. 

More, from RacineUncovered.org:

"Racine Wolfman picketing Unifed’s offices with Video!" 

http://racineuncovered.org/2012/04/racine-wolfman-enjoying-the-weather-and-picketing-unifeds-offices/