"Are City of Racine BUS Pensions and OPEB Headed Towards Bankruptcy?"

From Racine Exposed:

"On This Labor Day Weekend: While the City of Racine continues to play Real Estate Games and Failed Developer, there has been a quiet disaster building in the background – that of it’s seriously underfunded BUS Pensions and OPEB, which stands for Other Post Employment Benefits. These alarming financial facts come from the 2012 Audited Financial Statements, which can be found HERE."

Read more:  http://racineexposed.wordpress.com/2014/08/31/are-city-of-racine-bus-pensions-and-opeb-headed-towards-bankruptcy/

"How Wolves Change Rivers"

Arooo!

Open Blog - Weekend

I'm ready.

"Gateway Issues Another $3M in GO Bonds!"

From Racine Exposed:

"Slowly but surely, and one GO (General Obligation) Bond at a time,  Bryan Albrecht and his unelected Board are making progress towards borrowing the $49M  requested by Gateway in a Referendum, and which the Taxpayers of the Gateway District rejected.

"Ever since April 2, 2013, when District voters turned down Gateway’s referendum to borrow $49M, Bryan Albrecht and his unelected Board have been making steady progress to turn their failed referendum into a reality through back-door borrowing that goes unreported in local media channels."

Read more:  http://racineexposed.wordpress.com/2014/08/29/gateway-issues-another-3m-in-go-bonds/

Four for Fridays

Hello everyone and welcome back! There are some weeks that drag and others that go quickly by... The week was a little bit of both. Looking forward to the three day weekend. Anyways, your questions...

1) Would you want to be immortal?

2) What is the most depressing movie you have ever seen?

3) Would you rather work for a small business or a large corporation?

4) What magazine do you look for when you are stuck in the waiting room?

Enjoy your weekend!

Open Blog - Friday

Damn straight!

"To Engineer is Human"

"Alderman Ed Diehl Running for Racine Mayor"

From Racine County Eye:



By Heather Asiyanbi in Government · August 27, 2014

"Racine Alderman Edward Diehl announced Wednesday that he is running for mayor against incumbent Mayor John Dickert.

“'I am not from Racine, not Wisconsin, not even the Midwest but my wife and I have adopted Racine as our home. Now I am asking the taxpayers of the city of Racine to adopt me as the next Mayor of Racine,' he told Racine County Eye.

"Diehl is originally from a Northeast Pennsylvania but has lived in Racine for 10 years. He was elected to the city council last year and says he was encouraged to run for the city’s highest office by residents.

“'I have received many, many phone calls and emails over the last four or five months and it has been humbling and empowering,' he added. 

"Diehl says he will be a servant-leader if elected, which means he plans on connecting with as many facets of the community as possible and leading 'through service and being an example.'”

Read more:  http://racinecountyeye.com/2014/08/27/ed-diehl-running-racine-mayor/

Related: http://journaltimes.com/news/local/alderman-diehl-announces-official-bid-for-mayor/article_78ef959d-3ac0-57be-a62e-1405176425a8.html

Alltime10s Thursdays

Open Blog - Thursday

NO U!

Wildflowers Pt 10!

I just can't believe that the fall is coming already and all the wildflowers will be gone soon. I don't know if it is me or not it just seems that the Summer has gone by quick. I am still going out there and looking for some wildflowers that I may have missed or some new wildflowers that I have never seen before. I do have a couple of new ones for everyone this week. Here are some pictures I would like to share with everyone:

This is a Yellow Crown Imperial the picture was taken on the corner by Colonial Park in Racine Wi. I took this picture back in May and just found out what it was with the help of friends on Flickr'. They do come in different colors too. Below will be a Orange Crown Imperial.

                    I just thought they are so different and I too a picture of them to share with you.

This is a Hollow Joe-Pye Weed with a Monarch Butterfly this picture was taken at Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie Wi.

           This is a Cardinal Flower the picture was taken at Chiwaukee Prairie in Pleasant Prairie Wi.

              This is a March Violet the picture was taken at Grant Park in South Milwaukee Wi.

   This is a Wood Rose the picture was taken at Richard Bong State Recreational Area in Brighton Wi.

This is a Yellow Columbine the picture was taken at Richard Bong State Recreational Area in Brighton Wi.

                This is a Cornflower the picture was taken at Whitewater College in Whitewater Wi

              This is a Wood Poppy the picture was taken at Whitewater College in Whitewater Wi.

This is a Milk Thistle the picture was taken at Richard Bong State Recreational Area in Brighton Wi.

I hope everyone enjoys the pictures as much as I enjoy going out and taken the pictures. Like I said there are some new wildflowers this week. The first two pictures I could not believe it took me that long to figure out. Enjoy the rest of the week everyone!

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my fabulous friends!  How are you?

I'm pretty crabby and don't want to start any fights.

Because of this, I'm not blogging today.

Well, accurately, I'm blogging about not blogging.

Have a beautiful day filled with My Little Ponies and Smurfs. 

I love you all!

Kakistocracy!

Open Blog - Wednesday

 

Have we done 'Big Wednesday' before?

"Women: Know Your Limits!"

Off with her head!

Referendum of RUSD

They talk about the money they need. They had money for building maintenance and repair that they spent on other things. So again they are asking for more. BUT, they don't give any guarantee that the money will be spent on what the say!

“After listening to the community, the Racine Unified School District Board of Education decided that holding the line on taxes and an investment in our community and our kids is the right way to go. Tonight, the Board voted unanimously to place a referendum on the November 4 ballot, asking voters to approve a set amount of money for a specific time period – $8.5 million each year for 15 years – with no tax increase. This will address significant education, technology and building needs facing our District and is a much-needed investment in our kids and our schools.

The money will be used to address ongoing school building maintenance problems like roofs and heating systems that have long been deferred because of a lack of funds.

  Source Racine Unified School District

Open Blog - Tuesday

Run for the hills!

My Ice Bucket Challenge

Enough said?

"FAMILY REUNION" (get-together)

BUMPING IT UP!!
Come on guys, we miss each other, time to catch up!
 
ok, it's "family reunion" time, 

yes, we're an eclectic group, with vast differences, 

just like any family. 

This irregular family is in big need of a reunion!

THE IMPORTANT INFO - 

Saturday, Sept. 6th

1:30pm, rain or shine

DESTINATION will be emailed to you. 

I can tell you that food will be available, 

drinks will be available

it is outdoors, but has a covered area so rain isn't an issue.

Nice area, nice scenery, one of my favorite places!

IF YOU CAN MAKE IT  -

 Please shoot me an email 

(this email link is to a different address than I've used before, I'm having trouble with getting them thru that on)

EMAIL ME!!! 

Feel free to bring out somebody and introduce them to the family!

We'll try to behave hehehe!  

Open Blog - Monday

Head for the hills!

"July Property Report"

"According to the Wisconsin IPAS system, 184 documents were recorded during June of 2014 for the City of Racine. There were 20 foreclosures, while most homes sold for tens of thousands less than the assessed value. So far in 2014 there have been 209 foreclosures in the City of Racine during the first  212 days of 2014."

Readmore:  http://racinesales.wordpress.com/2014/08/24/july-property-report/

"August 24th-Racine’s Peacefest to be held at Quarry Lake Park"

Originally published on 7/24/14 at 4:31 PM:

From RacineUncovered:

"Due to the overwhelming support from the community, we have moved Racine’s Peacefest to the Quarry Lake Park located at 3800 Northwestern Ave. It will still be on Sunday August 24th from noon-4 p.m. We feel this will be a great location allowing everyone to participate without an admission fee to the festival and will help bring the entire community together for a day of fun, friendship and also raise funds for the RAPD COP Unit."

Read more: http://racineuncovered.org/2014/07/august-24th-racines-peacefest-to-be-held-at-quarry-lake-park/

Related: http://weareracine.org/2014/07/racines-peacefest-to-be-held-at-quarry-lake-park/

Related: http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/92711033088/racine-organizers-of-racines-peacefest-move

Open Bog - Weekend

There's not too many left before it starts to get frigid.

Too late. . .

I suddenly had an inspiration for the name of one of the cubs at the zoo: Lion John.

Mozilla FireFox vs IE

I normally use Firefox for my browser.  Today, I thought I would try the IE to see if I could get rid of an error message concerning Microsoft Essentials. 

Immediately, there is a flash on my screen, telling me to contact support at 844...blah, blah, blah.  forget you, buddy.  This is a sales gimmick and I know it.  I'm so sure of it.  I log off of IE, go in with Firefox...no problem. 

Now my real problem is I keep getting this stupid error message whenever I totally shut  my machine off and then start it up at a later time.  It concerns this MSI update for Miscrosoft Essentials.  I have to tell it six or seven times not to make any changes...(it can't find Miscrosoft Essentials...I have it, but it can't seem to find it).  I have tried searching for a solution as to how to get rid of this dumb update that obviously I don't need.  Nothing. 

If I go into Microsoft Essentials, it tells me to use IE...I feel like a hamster on a wheel!

Suggestions? 

Four for Fridays

Hello everyone and welcome back! This has been a crazy week... Busy, busy at work plus the humid weather. I'm looking forward to the weekend. Anyways, your questions...

1) Which TV shows do you watch reruns of?

2) What musician do you consider an icon?

3) Would you be willing to do the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge?

4) Are you ready for the football season?

Enjoy your weekend!

Open Blog - Friday

Anonymous sure gets around.

"Racine tavern owners re-file discrimination suit"

From JSOnline:

By Bruce Vielmetti of the Journal Sentinel 

"Just weeks after their first effort was thrown out of court, several minority bar owners have filed a new lawsuit that accuses Racine city officials and the tavern league of violating their civil rights by corruptly conspiring to run them out of business.

"The new suit sharpens its accusations that white tavern owners bribed the Racine mayor to tilt the city's enforcement efforts in their favor.

 "A federal judge just last month dismissed the plaintiffs' first lawsuit, calling it so broad and vague as to be 'virtually functionless.' But U.S. District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller said their underlying claims may have merit, and should be investigated further through the discovery process. He allowed them to amend, narrow and clarify their complaint.

 "At 119 pages, the new complaint would not appear much narrower or more focused, though it has fewer plaintiffs and fewer defendants. The length comes from the extra detail that purports to show a conspiracy among some Racine officials and area business owners to make it harder for minority-owned bars to make it in the city, including claimed cash bribes and false campaign finance reports."

Read more:  http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/racine-tavern-owners-re-file-discrimination-suit-b99335580z1-272196241.html

Online link to the amended complaint: http://issuu.com/communicatornews/docs/amended_complaint_2/0

Related: http://racineexposed.wordpress.com/2014/08/21/meet-the-defendants-part-ii/

Wildflowers Pt 9!

Yes I have more wildflowers to share with all of you today. I am trying to get everyone caught up with all the pictures I have of the different wildflowers that are out there. I am also trying to go and get pictures of the Fall Wildflowers that are coming out. It is hard to do with everything else that is going on for us. I will try to get one post up a week of my pictures to share. Here are some I thought everyone would like to see:

This is a Butterweed flower this picture was taken at Richard Bong State Recreational Area in Brighton Wi.

            This is a Common Mullein this picture was taken at Pikes Pathway in Mount Pleasant Wi

This is a Drummond's Skullcap this picture was taken at Chiwaukee Wildlife Refuge in Pleasant Prairie Wi.

             This is a Eastern Daisy Fleabane this picture was taken at Bender Park Oak Creek Wi.

               This is a Ground Ivy this picture was taken at Trout Ponds Conservesy Caledonia Wi.

                          This is Ironweed this picture was taken at Bender Park Oak Creek Wi.

               This is a Lardspur this picture was taken at Whitewater College in Whitewater Wi.

          This is a Moss Pink Phlox this picture was taken at Whitewater College in Whitewater Wi.

          This is a Spotted Jeweled Touch-Me-Not this picture was taken at Bender Park Oak Creek Wi.

                  This is a Yellow Monkey flower this picture was taken at Meyers Park in Racine Wi.

I hope everyone enjoys these pictures and be sure there a lot more to come. I will let you know a lot of the pictures I am sharing are some new ones for me to find this year and it is taking me some time to find out what kind they are with my couple of sites I use.

Have a great day!

Alltime10s Thursdays

Open Blog - Thursday

I hope you have a good one.

"Meet The Clowns of Racine’s Non-Stop Three Ring Circus – Mayor John Dickert and Alderman Greg Helding"

From Racine Exposed:

"First up is Racine Mayor John Dickert – who says he is secretly recording conversations and has Alderman Sandy Weidner on tape negotiating with a Mound Avenue Property Owner."

Read more: http://racineexposed.wordpress.com/2014/08/19/meet-the-clowns-of-racines-non-stop-three-ring-circus-mayor-john-dickert-and-alderman-greg-helding/

William Tell Overture

When was the first time you heard the William Tell Overture?

For me I'm sure it was the first time I watch the Lone Ranger. When that was I have no idea but I'm sure I was knee high to a grasshopper.



Orbs, with any luck you'll be humming this while you're blazing through town in your truck.

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my lovely friends!  How are you?  It almost feels like autumn at times.  This has been one of those summers that didn’t happen.  Over the years, we’ve had a  few winters that didn’t happen, too.  I’m just waiting for a majority of the Irregulars to winter south.  That’s when I move.

I offer my condolences to the families of Robin Williams and Lauren Bacall.  I still giggle at that Mork and Mindy stuff.

I don’t know how I missed the start of the NFL Preseason, but I did.  Another step toward senility.   The Green Bay Packers look pretty good with the return of Mr. Aaron Rodgers.  Let’s hope that the new boys in down take up the challenge left by their predecessors.  And let’s doubly hope and pray that injury doesn’t chew up the Pack again. 

In the Yahoo Fantasy Football League, I’m ready to go for the draft.  Don’t forget that my team, The Screaming Psychics, came in second place last year.  This year we are concentrating even harder on sending out bad karma to opponents.  The important thing is that everyone has fun and we win.

I didn’t want to get into the political BS again, but I feel compelled to ask Mr. Mayor Dickert, “Where is the supposed video of Sandy Weidner improperly talking to developers on her own?”

He lies, then everyone just says, “Oh, there goes lying John, again.”    

It’s getting embarrassing to say where I’m from.  I usually say Wisconsin, but if they insist, I say near Milwaukee.

OK, enough of the bad, here’s some of the good:

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/good-news/

I hope that your visit here is wonderful.

Who knows where the time goes? Ask madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com

Some schools have already started, so watch out for the buses and the kids on the road again.  Pray for world peace.  We seem to be entering a nasty spell, so hang on for the ride.  Paizogony!

Open Blog - Wednesday

Is it Camel Day?

"City Attorney: Alleged recording by mayor does not exist"

"RACINE — The city attorney’s office says an alleged recording of an alderman interfering with the city’s plans to acquire property on Mound Avenue does not appear to exist."

Read more:  http://journaltimes.com/news/local/city-attorney-alleged-recording-by-mayor-does-not-exist/article_0ce67853-e942-5f41-ad72-779ff2d87d00.html


The more he opens his mouth, the more he lies.  Once again Dickert broadcast a lie on WRJN.  Does he really believe that he's better than the rest of us and his lies are not to be questioned?  Sad excuse for a man.

Open Blog - Tuesday

New and improved!

Useless Information

Did you know:

Cass Elliot (Mama Cass) of the Mamas & Papas died in her sleep at age 32. Sources state her death was due to a heart attack. Elliot died in a London flat, No. 12 at 9 Curzon Place, Shepherd Market, Mayfair, which was on loan from singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson. Four years later, The Who's drummer Keith Moon died in the same flat at the same age.

Elliot lost 80lbs by 'fasting' 4 days a week. It is believe do to the fasting it made her heart weak which cause the heart attack.  Rumors had it for decades that she die chocking on a ham sandwich which is false. During the autopsy nothing was found in her throat.

Open Blog - Monday

Damn good question.

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - "The Tears of A Clown" (Vinyl)

In Memoriam, Robin Williams:

"Racine Mayor John Dickert cuts Police and Bus Service Yet Funds a Seasonal Lift Bridge for over $.5M"

From Racine Exposed:

"The Dickert Disaster continues on in the City of Racine – which, for a City of it’s size,  doesn’t have a revenue problem, but instead a spending problem. In fact, many would argue that the City is taxing the residents out of their Homes, Businesses and Jobs, simply so that special interest wants can be funded over what is the legitimate function of government – to provide limited essential services to a Community at an affordable cost."

Read more:  http://racineexposed.wordpress.com/2014/08/17/racine-mayor-john-dickert-cuts-police-and-bus-service-yet-funds-a-seasonal-lift-bridge-for-over-5m/

"Yard is for the birds"

August 10, 2014 12:00 am  •  By Steve Batie Special to The Post-Star

"It seems I have become a bird-watcher.

"Don’t get me wrong.

"I don’t have binoculars dangling from my neck, and I don’t carry a little notebook. I do not wear baggy khaki shorts, nor a jacket with ‘leventy-seven pockets.

"(That, at least, is how I imagine a 'real' bird-watcher is tricked out — based on dozens of 1960s sitcoms.)

"But I do spend a lot of time in the backyard and tending the gardens, and there’s seldom anyone to keep me company except the birds."

Read more:  http://poststar.com/lifestyles/columns/natl/houseworks/yard-is-for-the-birds/article_23235db4-1f34-11e4-bda9-001a4bcf887a.html

Related: http://www.jtirregulars.com/2013/08/houseworks-by-steve-batie.html


Does drew have "baggy khaki shorts" or "a jacket with ‘leventy-seven pockets"?

Have you noticed the increase in bird photos and stories in the Journal Times?

Open Blog - Weekend

Enjoy yours!

Tucson Rainbow

Haven't got the chance to do much photography...partly due to schedule, partly due to weather. Tonight got a break...just before I left for the theater, got a couple of shots of a rainbow.

You can see there was a double rainbow in the second shot...never quite got a full double but pretty close. You can also tell this was pretty close to sunset. The center of a rainbow is opposite the Sun. Therefore, as the Sun gets lower in the sky, the rainbow gets higher and you see a taller, wider arc.

Rainbows are usually seen in the west before sunset or the east after sunrise. However they can appear anywhere if the geometry is correct. You can get a rainbow in the north at noon if you get rain at the right time. I saw this shortly after I moved to Tucson and was surprised by it. I wondered why I had never seen it growing up and realized that rain is much more common in the winter in Tucson than where I grew up so it was just probability.

Looking forward to better weather coming up once this rainy season ends!

"THE DONUT QUANDRUM:"

From Racine County Corruption:

THE DONUT QUANDRUM:

Ponder this:

What if donuts were square?

Could it be called the…………

donut quadrum instead?

Donuts are a lot like pendulums……….

As the donut pendulum swings, so does the inference of the donut!

Today we take a break from 50 shades of brown to talk about the “donut pendulum”.

Today in greater Racine, at the Dunkin Donuts on Washington Ave. was an event to raise cash to benefit Special Olympics.

Coffee, donuts and cops have had a long and colorful relationship in the United States, some say going back as far as Benjamin Franklin.

The efforts of numerous government agencies working together to foster donations for the additionally challenged and greater good of our community was a success.

As the donut pendulum goes, the donut pendulum that swung today was a proud donut that represents the good our community servants do for all of us.

Thanks Dunkin Donuts for hosting this community event.

AND

Thanks to all of you for your efforts and for all the public support and contributions to this worthy cause.

Posted by racinecountycorruption at 5:11 PM No comments:

I Tried it

Not sure if you have seen this one or not. To me it looked pretty good until we (My Grandson and I) tried it.

The skins came out tough and the insides were just like having a baked potato, nothing impressive at all.


.......SER

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

A teacher asked the kids in her 3rd grade class, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

 

Little Kevin answered: "I wanna start out as a Marine Pilot, then be a billionaire, go to the most expensive clubs, find me the finest whore, give her a Ferrari worth over a million bucks, an apartment in Copacabana, a mansion in Paris, a jet to travel throughout Europe, an Infinite Visa Card, and all the while banging her like a loose screen door in a hurricane."

 

The teacher, shocked, and not knowing what to do with this horrible response from little Kevin, decided not to acknowledge what he said and simply tried to continue with the lesson . . . .

"And how about you, Sarah?"

"I wanna be Kevin’s whore."

 

"School Answering Machine"

Submitted by legal stranger:

Four for Fridays!

1. What is your favorite Robin Williams movie?

2. When was the last time you had to look a word up in the dictionary?

3. When was the last time you went to the fair?

4. When have you seen history made either in person or on t.v?

Have a good weekend!

Open Blog - Friday

Is your first one "food"?

Get together

One of the coolest things about our "family" here,

is that we are all so different, and yet, have a bond.

This summer has gotten away from me, 

and I'm guessing, from many of you as well. 

HOW in the world is it not only August, but MID August already???

My mind is still in June. Maybe I had a black out?

Who's invited? EVERYBODY!

Can you bring someone? ABSOLUTELY!

Maybe you have a friend that you think 

would be interested in our group. 

Maybe you've been a bystander, 

or haven't come out to meet the gang yet. 

Maybe you have a significant someone 

or family member you'd like to introduce to our gang.

Maybe you're intrigued by us and want to check us out. 

Info, once it's established, will only be sent to those interested. 

While we're open to welcoming in anyone, we also want to not open ourselves to just any nut out in cyber world. 

1st things 1st, we need to find out what day(s) and times work for the majority. We also need your input as to what you'd like to do, whether it be a cookout, a pot luck, something we haven't thought of or tried before, let's get this family reunion rolling!

I would love to see Jed again, as well as hoping to finally meet Dodgeboy and Jeff Hayes. We're not a scary bunch, I promise!
I think that's why we are who we are,most of us have met, so our interactions with each other is on such a different level that other anonymous places. 

Please give input ASAP before the snow comes,

which at the speed of the summer, could be tomorrow!