"Another Civil Rights Violation Lawsuit Is Filed Against The City of Racine"

From Racine Exposed:

"The City Of Racine is again being sued in Federal Court for alleged civil rights violations, this time it is Northwest Funeral Home out of Milwaukee who is suing Racine City Officials, claiming unfair treatment in their attempt to purchase the old Women’s Club at 740 Lake Ave. across the street from Marsh Meredith Funeral Home.

"The Federal Lawsuit alleges that Northwest Funeral Chapel had gained approval by the proper city commissions and had an accepted offer to purchase the building from the seller for $275K, only to be denied by the Racine Common Council.



"Less than 2 months later, The Marsh Meredith Funeral Home was granted permission by the Racine Common Council to purchase the property at 740 Lake Ave. for $225K and allowed to operate it’s funeral home without the same restrictions applied to Northwest Funeral Home just 2 months prior.

"The Federal Lawsuit alleges The City Of Racine had an ongoing policy and practice of showing favoritism and or bias in administering city government."

Read more:  https://racineexposed.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/another-civil-rights-violation-lawsuit-filed-against-the-city-of-racine/

Also see: http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/114175172458/breaking-news-racine-mayor-john-dickert-and

Open Blog - Weekend

Relax.

Once upon a time, . . .

Sign on my Apartment Door

Crash Landing

What kind of bird lands like that, drew?

Four for Fridays

Hello everyone and welcome back! Another busy week has come and gone.... A perpetual cycle of work, rest and some play. Anyways, your questions....

1) Which relative do you talk to the most?

2) How old were you when you got your first set of glasses?

3) Have you ever worn braces?

4) Do you play computer/video games?

Enjoy your weekend!

Open Blog - Friday

Even though it's now officially spring, winter weather can still hang on. Spring cleaning, of course, takes place only when lizardmom says so.

Alltime10s Thursdays

"Md. woman uses sister's art to break stigma of mental illness"

By Andrea K. McDaniels The Baltimore Sun contact the reporter

 

"The paintings lay everywhere.

"Stacked in neat, methodical piles, they filled every room in the tiny apartment. The dining room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom — all full of artwork.

"Cheryl Maxwell stood near the doorway staring at it all in awe before becoming so overwhelmed with emotion she had to sit down.

"'Surreal,' she thought.

"The paintings were the work of her younger sister, Carolyn Anne Watts, who Maxwell discovered had committed suicide at the age of 56. The family didn't know of the secret art until after her death in 2010.

"Watts had suffered from depression her whole life, but her sister hadn't realized how it had consumed her. She saw all the emotions, and the ups and downs her sister suffered, painted on the canvases. Guilt and sadness filled Maxwell's heart. Maybe, she thought, she could have done more.

"While it was too late for her sister, it wasn't for others. Maxwell soon saw how she could open up a dialogue about mental illness through the paintings that had stopped her in her tracks — and maybe save other lives. There were nearly 170 pieces of artwork, she later counted. Enough to fill a small art gallery."

Read more:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-hs-art-mental-health-20150306-story.html

I was tipped off to this story by http://journaltimes.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/woman-uses-sister-s-art-to-break-stigma-of-mental/article_007db706-b7c3-5ad7-9f8d-b30e8f1803e2.html


This reminds me of Emily Dickinson.  I think the paintings are superb.

Open Blog - Thursday

Composing type gets very boring.

Weekday Funny

From Racine Community Media:

“We are the leaders. We can see things that the average person can’t see.”

-City Of Racine 4th District Alderman Jim Kaplan.

 

http://journaltimes.com/news/local/roundabout-rejected/article_289903fe-3e7e-52b3-9c84-0020c3c52925.html

 

Read more: http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/113961790328/we-are-the-leaders-we-can see-things-that-the

Commentary: "Why Did Mt. Pleasant Giveaway $1M+ In Secret Sewer Amendment?"

From RacineUncovered:

"Commentary from Jerry Garski a Candidate for Mt. Pleasant President. 

"In August of 2014, the Village of Mt. Pleasant Board voted to amend the Caledonia Sewer contract in closed session. The amendment includes forgiving interest owed to Mt. Pleasant by the Village of Caledonia on $5 million in exchange for a lump sum of $150,000 and lowers the interest rate for future payments.

"We know this because of a open records request filed by residents currently living on Highway V in the Village of Mt. Pleasant.

"Buried deep within nearly 250 documents is a copy of the amendment signed by Village President Mark Gleason. Nowhere in Village minutes is this action reported a potential violation of Wisconsin State Statutes.

"When the Board of Trustees goes into a closed session, they are required by law to report back out what they did. This 'secret' vote came as good news to the Village of Caledonia Board of Trustees who commended Village Administrator Janiuk for his 'effective negotiating' a few days later."

Read more:  http://racineuncovered.org/2015/03/why-did-mt-pleasant-giveaway-1m-in-secret-sewer-amendment/

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my fellow travelers on the weather rollercoaster!  How are you?  When it’s been nice outdoors recently, it seems like everyone gets out.  Cabin fever takes some time to cure.  Everybody wants to smell some fresh air and feel warm breezes.  It will take a little time for the cabin fever aftereffects to die down.  Before you know it, we’ll be complaining about the heat.  It’s like there are rituals for every part of the year, except this one.  Unless you consider drinking massive quantities of green beer and then puking it up to be a ritual.  We need to make a bigger deal of the spring and fall equinoxes.  I don’t know that any saint wants to be associated with green gluttony.

However, the green sprouting to life all over the place is good and natural.  The daffodils and tulips near the foundation of our home are already several inches high.  With our climate, we have a way to go before we start planting annuals. It was in the 60’s on Monday and in the 40’s yesterday and today.  I think some vegetables tolerate, or even like, cooler temps.

. . .

And that’s as far as I got on today’s blog when Junior wanted to talk about colleges and Señor Zanza wanted to talk about more adult themes.

Life is just too busy at times.

Look out for the motorcycles making their reappearance on our roads. 

I love you all, each and every one.     

Open Blog - Wednesday

Don't worry, you'll make it.

"AeroMobil 3.0 - official video"

 

"Published on Oct 29, 2014

The current flying car prototype AeroMobil 3.0 incorporates significant improvements and upgrades. It is now being tested in real flight conditions since October 2014. Initially certified by the Slovak Federation of Ultra-Light Flying, it now entered a regular flight-testing program.

"The AeroMobil 3.0 prototype is very close to the final product. It is predominantly built from the same materials as the final product, such as advanced composite materials for the body shell, wings, and wheels. It also contains all the main features that will be incorporated into the final product, such as avionics equipment, autopilot and an advanced parachute deployment system."

Read more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzYb68qXpD0


Once again we are promised a flying car.  I'll believe it when the skies overhead are a big flying traffic jam. 

Aurora Alert!

Big geomagnetic storm in progress today. I am watching aurora photos coming in from Europe right now and they are spectacular!

I just checked the Weather Underground and it is showing clear skies for Racine tonight so I figured I better post this quick!

There were aurora sightings from Wisconsin this morning before sunrise and the storm has intensified since then.

Oh, and it's a big one...no direct danger to people on the ground but strong enough that it could impact radio transmissions and GPS accuracy. Small chance some electrical grids could be tripped but probably not strong enough to cause permanent damage that would require extended downtime to fix.

Let me know if you see anything!

WTF?

What the hell are those for?

Open Blog - Tuesday

I love corned beef, but I don't like cabbage.

"8 Years of History 'Stay Tuned'"

From RacineUncovered:

"Almost 8 years ago I was involved with a little site called Racine News. Well keeping tabs on the local news sources such as Racine Post and The Journal Times I happen to cross paths with Beth David. She was just starting a new site devoted to crime and local politics called Racine Uncovered. Several months went by and I kept tabs on her budding site, she was using wordpress.com and was without a domain to call her own. I watched as her site grew, I was rather amazed at how many people visited her little blog. At times the site was so busy you would get error messages telling you the site was too busy and to try back latter. This is when I reached out and offered to take Beth and Racine Uncovered under my wing.

. . .

"Corey Becker
Site Administrator "

Read more: http://racineuncovered.org/2015/03/8-years-of-history-stay-tuned/


Hear! Hear!  Beth has done more to improve Racine than anyone else I can think of.  I'm grateful that she's active in our community.  Thank you for your service.

Open Blog - Monday

"Wishing you a great week" one great day at a time.

Poll: Have You Ever Driven Drunk?

"Flying snowmobile - 1,5km High mountain"

Can I do that with my truck?