Friday, March 11, 2016

"Donald Trump’s Rally in Chicago Canceled After Violent Scuffles"


Four for Fridays!

Hello everyone another week that just went by to fast for me. I hope everyone was able to go out and enjoy the nice weather we had. Here are the questions for today.

1) Have you be able to get your Spring cleaning done or even started yet?

2) Are you on the computer or watch t.v. more?

3) Which way do you prefer to cook you food in the summer out on the grill or in the your house?

4) In the Summer do prefer to be in the house or be outside?

I hope everyone enjoys the weekend!

Open Blog - Friday


We all are.

Thursday, March 10, 2016

"Racine Mayor John Dickert gives Racine residents, a less than 24 hour notice of his so called 'Resident meeting'"

From Racine Community Media:


"Racine Mayor John Dickert gives Racine residents, a less than 24 hour notice of his so called 'Resident meeting,' choosing to hold his community discussion meeting from 1:30pm-2:30pm on Wednesday (tomorrow) when most residents are either at work or school. Mayor Dickert, as he puts it, chose a less 'intimidating' meeting place this time and chose SC Johnson’s downtown building at 555 Main Street in the common area. Mayor Dickert’s last attempt at a community meeting failed. It took place two months ago at Wilson’s Coffee shop."

Read more: http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/140725329188/racine-mayor-john-dickert-gives-racine-residents

"National District Attorney Wall of Shame"

There's a new blog in town:

http://nationaldistrictattorneywallofshame.blogspot.com/

Check it regularly for updates.

"Op/Ed: A Picture worth $1.187 Million"

From Racine County Eye:

By Rees Roberts in Breaking · March 10, 2016 · No comments 


"This item should deeply matter to every single property owner in Mount Pleasant.  It could set a dangerous precedent.  Please read, like and share but also call up your friends and relatives who also own property in Mount Pleasant and tell them about this Op/Ed.

"The following graphic shows actual numbers for property assessments received yesterday (March 9, 2016) by property owners on Hwy V.  This should scare everyone!

"Remember, this property assessment to the Hwy V folks (who live in Mount Pleasant) is for CALEDONIA development.  You read that right.  You add their numbers up just between Hwy C and Hwy 20 and you get $1,187,000.00.  How would you feel if you collectively received bills like this?  Between sewer and water this represents over $100 per linear foot of frontage property assessment.  That is crazy.

"Pick a property on the Hwy V photo of Mt. Pleasant – the number in red is the bill you are getting which will go to pay for sewer and water going to Caledonia so Caledonia can proceed with their development of their Village. But you aren’t even hooking up to it because you already have well water and a working (and paid for) septic tank. The number in black is the value of your property. That sewer/water bill (in red) gets paid in full first if you sell your property – and then you have to pay to hook up to the water and sewer. That is easily another $10,000 more.  Imagine if this was your house – any hope of financial equity in your property is gone for a very, very long time.

HWY V Price TagGraphics by K. Gallaher

"This is just plain wrong.  What is wrong with the majority of the current board of trustees of Mount Pleasant?  Only Gary Feest and President Jerry Garski voted against this.

"This is THE reason why everyone in Mount Pleasant should come out and vote for Ken Otwaska, Gary Feest and Jon Hansen in the April 5th, 2016 election.  They will protect your investment in your home.  It should matter to you because if it can happen to the Hwy V folks it can happen very easily to YOU.  Make a difference…..  VOTE on April 5, 2016!!!!

"This Opinion by Rees Roberts.  A Mount Pleasant property owner."

Read more: http://racinecountyeye.com/picture-worth-1-187-million/

My bride-to-be



She just doesn't know it yet.

Bald Eagle

Saturday afternoon Drew was out at Myers Park in Racine Wi birding and he seen a Bald Eagle. He did not know that the Bald Eagle was eating it's dinner at the time so he was going to try and get some pictures with the new camera. When he was about to get some pictures the Bald Eagle took off with his dinner which was a Gull. Here is a picture of the Bald Eagle with the Gull.


My office assistant.

Top 10 Media Thursdays

Partial Eclipse

Very busy trip so having a hard time keeping up. A partial solar eclipse was visible from Hawaii yesterday. We set up an event at Lava Lava Beach Club to watch it. Lots of people there. A few scopes were out and there were some thin clouds which made the viewing a bit soft but at least you could see it. I got some pics as usual.






Tonight I went up Mauna Kea but it was cloudy so I have an early evening to catch up a little bit!

This is a work trip for a program called Journey Through The Universe. The local paper had a story about it and even gave me a shout out. You can read it here.

Open Blog - Thursday


What if you want boots on Monday, or Tuesday?

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

"Chick-fil-A traditional opening day event draws crowds"

From RacineUncovered:

Filed under: Local News |

"It appears people are taking Chik-fil-A up on their offer! This afternoon there was a crowd of 100 people, but only 46 people were registered for the opening day event. It was announced that starting at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday March 9th – 24 hours before the new restaurant opens – Chick-fil-A will hold its traditional opening-day event, an offer of free food to the first 100 people to register and camp out on site. Those first 100 people ages 18 and older will also be served free breakfast, lunch and dinner during the event."

Read more:  http://racineuncovered.org/2016/03/chick-fil-a-traditional-opening-day-event-draws-crowds/


The Journal Times article (http://journaltimes.com/news/local/customers-camp-out-for-free-chick-fil-a/article_4f3cf50c-695a-5c59-b92a-08a01494d9b9.html) says the first 100 people get a free meal a week for a year.  That's sounds good.

I've never been to a Chik-fil-A, although I walked past the one in the mall every time I went for a Chicago dog when Top Dog was there.  Are they that good?

"County officials bemoan pace of removing teens from Lincoln Hills"

From JSOnline:

By Don Behm of the Journal Sentinel   March 9, 2016 2:28 p.m. 

"Milwaukee County juvenile court judges in the past month have approved transferring only four teens from the troubled Lincoln Hills juvenile prison back to the county after reviewing the criminal histories of 20 youth along with needs for education, behavioral and health services, officials said Wednesday.

"The slow progress in removing all county youth from both Lincoln Hills School for Boys and the adjacent Copper Lake School for Girls, located 30 miles north of Wausau, is due to a lack of capacity in the county to treat juvenile offenders, Circuit Court Chief Judge Maxine White said.

"White said she is pushing the county Department of Health and Human Services to speed up its multiyear timetable for adding capacity in both detention facilities and community-based services. She spoke Wednesday at a meeting of the County Board's health and human needs committee.

"Concern for safety of the youth at the state-run prison was prompted by an ongoing federal and state investigation into allegations of abuse, neglect, sexual assault and excessive use of force. The investigation was revealed publicly after an early December law enforcement raid of the prison in Irma in Lincoln County.

"In January, after visiting the prison, White described treatment of youth there as 'inhumane.'

"On Feb. 4, the County Board declared a "state of emergency" and agreed to remove all county teenagers from Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake. The number at the time was reported at 170 to 172.

"Although county juvenile court judges have sentenced a few of the most serious juvenile offenders to the northern prison since that time, the most recent census provided by state corrections officials reported the number of Milwaukee County youth there at 140, according to Health and Human Services Director Hector Colon.

"But county court and human services officials were not notified of where those juveniles were taken after their release from prison, White said. 'Where are the 32?' she said."

Read more: http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/county-officials-bemoan-pace-of-removing-teens-from-lincoln-hills-b99684627z1-371561461.html


Put them up in fancy hotels.  The costs are about the same.

"Dalai Lama brings message of peace, nonviolence to Madison"

From JSOnline:

Darren Hauck / for the Center for Healthy Minds

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, speaks at the “World We Make” event, in the Capitol Theater at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison.

 

Translated Tattoos


I so want the tattoo that says, "Meanie Crime Poet."

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my spring buds and buddies!  How are you?  Isn't this weather something?  It was in the 70's yesterday.  Dear Ms. OAKIE: send us more!  People were out everywhere, raking leaves, cleaning gutters, driving LOUD boom cars and motorcycles with straight pipes.  I couldn't hear if there were any birds because of all the other noise.  Cabin fever exploded and it wasn't very pretty, but it's necessary.  Homes had windows open all over.  Even at night, as I write this, I can hear police sirens and tires squealing.  I guess the bad boys got a taste of the weather, too.

A sure sign of spring: don't forget to set you clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night.  Daylight Saving Time dates always make me "loggy" for about a week.  It takes time to adjust to the new time.  Then, a week after that, spring officially starts.  I know we're not out of the woods yet, but this winter has been very acceptable to me.  We didn't have that much snow (which is not good for the landscape) or days below zero.  Like Ms. OAKIE says: the bugs will probably be intolerable this year because not enough got killed off in the mild winter.  I don't hang out outside that much, so that's OK with me.  And the bugs are more bird food. But I don't want to get stung or bit.  I wonder if our mosquitoes will be carrying some of those nasty blood viruses?  Thank heaven for SC Johnson and Off, and their other anti-insect products.  I grew up watching those Raid commercials on TV.  Even after a can of insecticide is empty, you can still use the can to crush bugs.  Or get an insect eating cat.  Most of them are. They'll chase down a bug on the floor or wall, eat it, and then puke it up later for you.  How convenient.

Mr. Mayor Dickert is holding "office hours" today from 1:30 to 2:30 PM at the Johnson Building downtown: http://journaltimes.com/news/local/dickert-holding-neighborhood-office-hours-wednesday/article_dff76f69-aa0b-5819-b4fc-8d15d1bd52a2.html  People can convey their concerns to him in this way.  Really, though, only one hour long?  I could take up an hour bitching by myself.  I think Mr. Mayor looks at downtown Racine as his personal Monopoly board, and he's rigged the game.  The rest of Racine doesn't even exist as far as he is concerned.  Anyone taking bets on whether or not Machinery Row will happen?  Remember Pointe Blue?  Remember Porter's?  As a psychic, I feel compelled to let you all know that Machinery Row will "happen" much differently than is currently planned.  More of Mr. Mayor's cronies need to steal more of our money for this project to proceed.  Then it will not be completed and it'll look half-assed.  But the important thing is that more political thieves get more of our money.

Junior got his "temps" and Señor Zanza has taken it upon himself to teach Junior how to drive.  My God.  I've never seen a man look like Señor Zanza does after taking Junior out for a lesson.  He looks like someone who has somehow survived a massive natural disaster.  I think I saw him kissing the ground after the last lesson.  Why he continues, I don't know.  Maybe he sees it as some sort of challenge.  As long as they're using Señor Zanza's car, I don't mind.  Junior will never get the keys to my car.  Never.

Forever: my love for you.  Thank you for reading my blog and thank you for being you.  I very much appreciate my readers and encourage more to try my blog out.  It won't hurt, I guarantee you.

Have a question?  Sure you do: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com

It's supposed to cool off for the rest of the week, so enjoy the weather while you can.  Watch out for oblivious people who are lost in the weather.  Watch out for kids playing in or near the street.  Watch out for Madame Zoltar readers - they're the nuttiest bunch out there.  Good thing I love nuts.  And I love you.

Open Blog - Wednesday


Don't meet, or else!

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

"Patti Smith, Bowie releases set for Record Store Day"

"Rare or new releases by musical giants including Patti Smith, David Bowie and The Doors will come out next month for Record Store Day, the growing celebration of vinyl's resurgence.

"Created in 2007 by independent US stores as a quirky tribute to their existence, Record Store Day has developed into an annual rite for shops around the world seizing on the growing market for vinyl.

"The latest Record Store Day will take place on April 16 and feature more than 300 special releases in the US market."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-3483059/Patti-Smith-Bowie-releases-set-Record-Store-Day.html


David Bowie and Patti Smith are two of my favorite musical artists. 

First Two Nights On Hawaii

I am on Hawaii this week for work but still getting out at night. Here are a few shots from Mauna Kea last night. I took a couple of shots of the volcano in the distance.




Tonight after a big reception I took off and went for a closer view of the volcano.



Tomorrow will be busy...after visiting some schools, heading out to an event for the partial solar eclipse that will be visible from Hawaii...sorry, not in the mainland!

"Suvivors of Loved Ones Suicide Support Group"

From RacineUncovered:

Filed under: Community Calendar,Local News |


HELP, HOPE , HEALING
You are not alone
SOLOS-Survivors of Loved Ones Suicide

Support Group

NAMI RACINE COUNTY will be holding a support group for
adults at the AURORA MEDICAL BUILDING
Located at 8400 Washington Avenue – EAST building Parking in back lot.
Enter at the Walk-In Clinic

Signs will guide you to the support group
March 9th and March 23rd
April 13th and April 27th
May 11th and May 25?h
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Please contact NAMI Racine County for questions on support group at 262-637-0582 or 262-637-6200

Open Blog - Tuesday


Do something outstanding.

Monday, March 7, 2016

"Substitute Teacher Accused of Sexual Contact with Students"

From Racine County Eye:


"Mount Pleasant police say a 28-year-old substitute teacher is behind bars facing multiple felonies for having inappropriate sexual contact with at least one student.

"The teacher has been booked into the Racine County Jail on felony counts of child enticement, sexual assault of a child by a school staff person, and exposing a child to harmful materials.

"According to a press release from MPPD Sgt. David Stroupe, the first encounter between the teacher and the student occurred at Case High School, but subsequent incidents took place away from school and outside school hours.

"We are not naming the teacher until he is formally charged.

"In his written statement, Stroupe notes that Racine Unified administration and the police have been conducting an investigation into the allegations.

"'The Mount Pleasant Police Department along with Racine Unified School District Administration has been conducting an investigation regarding allegations of a substitute school teacher having inappropriate sexual contact with at least one student,' the statement reads. 'The inappropriate sexual contact was reported to have occurred away from school and after school hours.

"RUSD spokesperson Stacy Tapp confirmed the district took immediate action.

"'(The teacher) is no longer an employee of the District. We took immediate action and are working with authorities on the investigation,' she told Racine County Eye in an email.

"After the first situation was reported, additional incidents were discovered. The teacher was contacting additional female students via social media and setting up meetings where illegal, sexual contact was taking place.

"The teacher was taken into custody Friday.

"We will update this story when we additional details become available."

Read more:  http://racinecountyeye.com/substitute-teacher-accused-sexual-contact-students/

Open Blog - Monday


Have a good one.