The Eyes Have It

From The Shepherd Express:

by Art Kumbalek

Jan. 08, 2019

4:26 p.m.

I’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world, ain’a? So yeah yeah, there was no regular Shepherd issue last week and if you enjoyed my absence, you’re in luck ’cause come next issue I’ll be on a week’s medical leave on account of having one cataract carved out of an eyeball—the other one due to be scraped out in February sometime I’m guessing, what the fock.

And you bet I’m sure as heck looking forward to this schmutz-removal, so much that I’ve been on the inter-focking-net pricing tin cups and canes so that when my procedure somehow gets botched, I’ll have the necessary means to earn a living.
So right now, I’m at the Shepherd office to pick up a couple, three items, whip out this essay and check the mail since I haven’t been here for a while. And lo and behold, I got a package from my would-be guardian angel El Jefe out of Maryland, the “Old Line State,” containing a fabulous tub of Old Crow, I kid you not.
God bless the Jef’ because the Crow is the only thing I got for Christmas that I asked for. Once again this year, Santa, the fat fock, did not deliver to me the busload of Vegas showgirls I asked for. Nor did he deliver the personal butler I requested, the one who would keep me seasonally sartorially correct, manage my daily schedule such as it is, and make me a nice egg sandwich now and then.
So I really ought to cut this essay short and commence taste-testing the Old Crow to make sure it hasn’t gone bad. But before I do, I also got to tell you I noticed I received a letter postmarked sometime before Christmas. The writer asked me for advice, what the fock. He wrote:
Hey Artie, the wife wants a new puppy for Christmas. I know they don’t sell them at your Best Buy or Old Navy. Any idea where I should go?
The letter even contained a self-addressed stamped envelope for my reply. Well, Christmas has come and gone, hasn’t it. Had I been able to reply in a timely fashion, this is what I would’ve wrote:
Yeah, I’ve got an idea where you should go. How ’bout Divorce Court? Full disclosure: My scariest thought is whether or not animals get to go to heaven. For christ sakes, that’s all a guy like me needs is to spend his entire focking life busting his butt, finally gets puking sick, croaks, walks through the Pearly Gates and the first thing that happens is he steps right smack-dab into one heaping, heaving pile of dog-doo. Praise the lord.
And this is supposed to be for eternity ever-after? I’ll tell you’s, I want to be buried with a rolled-up newspaper so that when I’m shaking hands with St. Peter and some canine starts humping my leg, I can give it one good ol’ whack right across the goddamn snout.
I pray they must go to the other place, ’cause spending a couple, three eternities in the company of household pets and assorted animals sure sounds like focking hell to me. Or at least that these creatures would have their own animal heaven where they could all go and sniff each other’s butts and leave mine alone. That I could live with ’cause when it comes to other species—your animal and insect societies to name two—you can call me a “specie-ist,” but I firmly believe in a “separate, the hell with equal” kind of arrangement, you betcha.
So, before I go, I really ought to close-up Art’s Ba-ding! Boutique now that the holidays are mercifully focking kaput. But I see I’ve got one item left, so take it if you can use it. It’s yours:
A very spiritual and holy priest dies and is swept up to heaven. St. Peter greets him at the Pearly Gates, and says, “Hello Father, welcome to Heaven! You are very well known here, and as a special reward because you are such a devout man, we’re going to grant you anything you wish even before we enter the Kingdom. What can I grant you?”
And the priest says, “I am a great admirer of the Virgin Mother. I’ve always wanted to talk to her.” St. Pete nods his head to one side, and who should approach the priest but the Virgin Mary!
The priest is overcome with joy and says, “Mother, I have always been a great admirer of yours and followed your life as best I could. I have studied everything I could about you—every painting and portrait ever made of you, and I’ve noticed without fail that you are portrayed bearing a wistful expression. Forever I’ve wondered what it was that made you seemingly so melancholy.” And Mother Mary says, “Honestly, I was really hoping for a girl.” Ba-ding!
That’s it. See you next time, I hope, ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.

From:  https://shepherdexpress.com/advice/art-kumbalek/the-eyes-have-it/

Open Blog - Tuesday

Happy Tuesday.

New Car

On December 19th Drew and  I got in a car accident with our 2011 Ford Escape XLT on Main St. and Yougt after delivering Christmas cookies. I was waiting for a car to make a left turn then the car made the left turn and another car hit us in the back on the passenger side of the car. The side air bags came down and Drew's glasses flew onto the dashboard. Our car ended up on the double yellow lines in the middle of the street and the other car ended up on the grass. Come to find out the jerk had no insurance so our insurance paid for a rental car. We are so thankful we gave my daughter our HHR so Drew called her and she came and got us. We are fine.

On January 2nd we got a 2009 Ford Escape XLT with 56,000 miles it is gray. Yes it is a couple years older and has everything the same we had in the other one. We both like this kind of car so this is what we looked for. This time we did not get it from the Ford dealership on Washington Ave in Racine. They did try to sell us a 2009 Ford Escape with 106,000 miles on it for the same price and was forcing a Ford Taurus X on us for the same price this think is like a boat and we kept saying no. I wanted to choke these people so bad. We told them that we would think it over and call them back. So Drew and I picked the one that we have and we got it from Budget Motors of Wisconsin in Kenosha. I did call the dealership back and told them we decided on this one and not to call us back at all.

First picture is from the accident and the second one is the new car.

Open Blog - Monday

Smile.

Bethlehem Steel, The People Who Built America

Women working destroys marriage

The social science backs up common sense and observation concerning 
the terrible social policy of encouraging women to work outside the 
home rather than marry and raise children. 
 
http://voxday.blogspot.com/2019/01/women-working-destroys-marriage.html

Eric B. & Rakim - Paid In Full

WI Budget Blog Comment

And why should they? 
 
Taxpayers subsidize low wage workers with State mandated welfare for them. 
 
The Republicans are the biggest profiteers from this scam – Cheap 
labor – financed via taxpayer subsidizes. Those taxes are impressed 
upon the poorest of the poor via consumption taxes – vs. income taxes. 
 
As income tax rates for the rich continue to decline – consumption 
taxes for the poor must be increased! 
 
Minimum Wage? 
 
How about considering Maximum Income – in a fiat money based economy? 
 
It is time to RAISE taxes on high income earners! PERIOD! 
 
The rich get rich – while the poorer get poorer! 
 
http://www.wisconsinbudgetproject.org/nineteen-states-raised-their-minimum-wages-this-week-wisconsin-wasnt-one-of-them#comment-10213

Open Blog - Weekend

Enjoy.

Four for Fridays!

Good morning everyone how are doing? We are doing good this morning and I am just glad that I do not have to go out into the cold weather. Here are your questions.

1) Have you taken down your Christmas decorations?

2) Did you get to visit everyone that you wanted to see for the Holidays?

3) Did you stay up into the New Year?

4) Where you with friends or family to bring in the New Year?

Have a great weekend!

Open Blog - Friday

Fun, fun, fun.

10 Scientists Who Experimented On Themselves

Open Blog - Thursday

Blessings to all.

"10 years after Becker's arrest, Journal Times to release podcast; trailer avail"

From The Journal Times.com:

Special report

Journal Times staff

Racine Mayor Gary Becker is shown in a Kenosha County Jail booking photo.

"RACINE — It might be hard for some people to believe it has been 10 years since then-Racine Mayor Gary Becker was arrested on disturbing sex charges.

"For a city the size of Racine, when a key municipal official is arrested it tends to bring chaos and many questions in the wake of the incident. Will the mayor be removed from office? If so, how? Who will fill the role as interim mayor? What will happen to current city projects? When will there be a new election to fill the position if the person arrested steps down or is forced from office?

"Today, The Journal Times is releasing a promotional audio trailer of an original podcast called 'The City,' which relives what that time was like in Racine. 'The City' is scheduled to be released in its entirety later in January. It will tell the behind-the-scenes story of a tense time in Racine’s history and how the city moved past it."

Read more and listen to trailer: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/years-after-becker-s-arrest-journal-times-to-release-podcast/article_a303e84c-1a2b-52f5-921a-cc0b13f42753.html

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my nuts and bolts!  Happy New Year!  How are you?  Another year older begins to take a toll after awhile.  I'm too old to go out partying on New Year's Eve.  This year Señor Zanza and I shared a quiet evening on New Year's Eve.  Junior went out and I'm sure he got drunk and high and whatever.  He's at the perfect age for it.

Well, the injury-prone Aaron "Ow" Rodgers left the last game early with a concussion.  They took him to the hospital, but brought him back to the dressing room right after the game, which the Packers lost by another embarrassing margin.  "Big changes" next year.  Best change would be to get rid of Ow Rodgers at all costs.  If we can't dump him, make him a passing coach or something.  Meanwhile, let's find a real quarterback for the Packers, not just another pretty face.

My wish for the new year is a house cleaning at Racine's corrupt and lousy courts.  As if that could ever happen . . .  No one cares unless they get sucked into the criminal justice system.  They are less than 0.1% of us.  No one cares, and the "public servants" do as they wish.  A prime example is the sealing of the Weidner case.  What the hell happened there?  Another backfire from our courts,

In fact, those dishing out time should be serving it.  Dirty, dirty piggies.

In national news, Trump declared himself invisible and stuck his tongue out at the Democrats.  He insulted someone in China.  He shut down the government over his Wall.  His staff come and go quickly.  No one sticks by him because he's crazy.  Dangerously crazy.  Bit, what else is new?

Nutjobs and idiots have often served as president.  So Trump fits in, kinda.  If nothing else, he'll bribe his way in.

Junior cracked up his car again.  It must be, like, the 100th time.  What he does to Señor Zanza's insurance I can't imagine.  A million dollars a month premium?  I'm surprised he's still driving at all.  Sooner or later all those accidents will lead to the suspension of his license.  We'll see if Señor Zanza is willing then to take Junior wherever he wants to go, whenever he wants to.  I think Junior better fix up his bicycle (he cracked that up, too).

At least the weather hasn't been too horrible.  We have a couple more months of winter left , though, so who knows?

Thanks for reading my blog today.  I love my readers.

 madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com

There are all sorts of winter activities available, though I don't know what they are.  I stay active with work and housework.
 _________________________ 
Please donate: paypal.me/jgmazelis 
If you don't like PayPal, send me a note at madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com and I'll send you my street address so you can send a check or money order.  Thank you.

Open Blog - Wednesday

Have a good day.

Foxconn Debt Trap?

Dear City of Racine Alderpersons, 
 
What product is Foxconn going to manufacture at it's bright and shiny 
MTP plant? Does anybody know? It's not a Gen 10 LCD TV. Likely not a 
Gen 6 LCD TV. Why - Foxconn can't even tell City of Racine Water 
Manager Keith Haas what it intends to build there. 
 
But Foxconn, a foreign Corporation,  is now entrenched in MTP - and 
has special rights. 
 
Let's see what is happening today, in Africa: 
 
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – China may be preparing to seize some major 
assets in the African nation of Kenya, as a result of debt-trap 
diplomacy. 
 
African media reports that Kenya may soon be forced to relinquish 
control of its largest and most lucrative port in Mombasa to Chinese 
control. 
 
Other assets related to the inland shipment of goods from the port, 
including the Inland Container Depot in Nairobi, and the Standard 
Gauge Railway (SGR), may also be compromised in the event of a Chinese 
port takeover. 
 
Kenya has reportedly taken extremely large loans from the Communist 
government for the development of some major highways, and especially 
for the SGR, which forms a crucial transport link to and from Nairobi 
for the import and export of goods through Mombasa. 
 
In November, Moody’s noted that Kenya is at high risk of losing 
strategic assets because of debts owed to Beijing. 
 
After a subsequent report from the country's Auditor General, local 
media began to express concern that Chinese lenders may be angling to 
seize assets, since it does not appear the Kenyan government will be 
capable to repaying the loans. 
 
Now, one month later, ahead of the New Year, it’s been reported that 
the Chinese may be preparing to take over the Mombasa Port 
infrastructure soon. 
 
The African Stand also seems to suggest that the SGR, which is 
operated by the Chinese, may have been designed to be a “loss-making 
venture.” 
 
With a reported loss of KES 10 billion (US$98 million) in its first 
year of operation, it would be nearly impossible to repay the loans 
taken for its construction in the time requested. Kenya reportedly 
accepted loans of KES 500 billion (US$4.9 billion) for the SGR’s 
construction. 
 
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3605624 
 
And: 
 
The Kenyan government risks losing the lucrative Mombasa port to China 
should the country fail to repay huge loans advanced by Chinese 
lenders. 
 
In November, African Stand reported on how Kenya is at high risk of 
Losing strategic assets over huge Chinese debt and just after some few 
month the Chinese are about to take action. [1] 
 
The loans have been granted for the development of the Standard Gauge 
Railway (SGR). 
 
Also at stake is the Inland Container Depot in Nairobi, which receives 
and dispatches freight hauled on the new cargo trains from the sea 
port. 
 
Implications of a takeover would be grave, including the thousands of 
port workers who would be forced to work under the Chinese lenders. 
 
Management changes would immediately follow the port seizure since the 
Chinese would naturally want to secure their interests. 
 
Further, revenues from the port would be directly sent to China for 
the servicing of an estimated Sh500 billion lent for the construction 
of the two sections of the SGR. 
 
http://internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article5859 
 
How China Got Sri Lanka to Cough Up a Port 
 
HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka — Every time Sri Lanka’s president, Mahinda 
Rajapaksa, turned to his Chinese allies for loans and assistance with 
an ambitious port project, the answer was yes. 
 
Yes, though feasibility studies said the port wouldn’t work. Yes, 
though other frequent lenders like India had refused. Yes, though Sri 
Lanka’s debt was ballooning rapidly under Mr. Rajapaksa. 
 
Over years of construction and renegotiation with China Harbor 
Engineering Company, one of Beijing’s largest state-owned enterprises, 
the Hambantota Port Development Project distinguished itself mostly by 
failing, as predicted. With tens of thousands of ships passing by 
along one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, the port drew only 34 
ships in 2012. 
 
And then the port became China’s. 
 
Mr. Rajapaksa was voted out of office in 2015, but Sri Lanka’s new 
government struggled to make payments on the debt he had taken on. 
Under heavy pressure and after months of negotiations with the 
Chinese, the government handed over the port and 15,000 acres of land 
around it for 99 years in December. 
 
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/world/asia/china-sri-lanka-port.html 
 
Is it possible that  Foxconn scammed Governor Scott Walker, 
Representative Robin Vos, Racine County Executive Jonathon Delagrave, 
City of Racine Mayor Cory Mason, and MTP President David DeGroot? 
 
Racine County residents will be forced to continue to pay for Foxconn 
even if the alleged 13,000 jobs paying $53,000 each don't appear. 
 
What then? 
 
Bankruptcy? 
 
And who will, in Bankruptcy - have first rights? 
 
Still desperately waiting on those 13,000 jobs paying $53,000 each. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Tim & Cindy

Dear Village Board,

What product is Foxconn going to manufacture at it's bright and shiny 
MTP plant? Does anybody know? It's not a Gen 10 LCD TV. Likely not a 
Gen 6 LCD TV. Why - Foxconn can't even tell City of Racine Water 
Manager Keith Haas what it intends to build there. 
 
But Foxconn, a foreign Corporation,  is now entrenched in MTP - and 
has special rights. 
 
Let's see what is happening today, in Africa: 
 
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – China may be preparing to seize some major 
assets in the African nation of Kenya, as a result of debt-trap 
diplomacy. 
 
African media reports that Kenya may soon be forced to relinquish 
control of its largest and most lucrative port in Mombasa to Chinese 
control. 
 
Other assets related to the inland shipment of goods from the port, 
including the Inland Container Depot in Nairobi, and the Standard 
Gauge Railway (SGR), may also be compromised in the event of a Chinese 
port takeover. 
 
Kenya has reportedly taken extremely large loans from the Communist 
government for the development of some major highways, and especially 
for the SGR, which forms a crucial transport link to and from Nairobi 
for the import and export of goods through Mombasa. 
 
In November, Moody’s noted that Kenya is at high risk of losing 
strategic assets because of debts owed to Beijing. 
 
After a subsequent report from the country's Auditor General, local 
media began to express concern that Chinese lenders may be angling to 
seize assets, since it does not appear the Kenyan government will be 
capable to repaying the loans. 
 
Now, one month later, ahead of the New Year, it’s been reported that 
the Chinese may be preparing to take over the Mombasa Port 
infrastructure soon. 
 
The African Stand also seems to suggest that the SGR, which is 
operated by the Chinese, may have been designed to be a “loss-making 
venture.” 
 
With a reported loss of KES 10 billion (US$98 million) in its first 
year of operation, it would be nearly impossible to repay the loans 
taken for its construction in the time requested. Kenya reportedly 
accepted loans of KES 500 billion (US$4.9 billion) for the SGR’s 
construction. 
 
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3605624 
 
And: 
 
The Kenyan government risks losing the lucrative Mombasa port to China 
should the country fail to repay huge loans advanced by Chinese 
lenders. 
 
In November, African Stand reported on how Kenya is at high risk of 
Losing strategic assets over huge Chinese debt and just after some few 
month the Chinese are about to take action. [1] 
 
The loans have been granted for the development of the Standard Gauge 
Railway (SGR). 
 
Also at stake is the Inland Container Depot in Nairobi, which receives 
and dispatches freight hauled on the new cargo trains from the sea 
port. 
 
Implications of a takeover would be grave, including the thousands of 
port workers who would be forced to work under the Chinese lenders. 
 
Management changes would immediately follow the port seizure since the 
Chinese would naturally want to secure their interests. 
 
Further, revenues from the port would be directly sent to China for 
the servicing of an estimated Sh500 billion lent for the construction 
of the two sections of the SGR. 
 
http://internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article5859 
 
How China Got Sri Lanka to Cough Up a Port 
 
HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka — Every time Sri Lanka’s president, Mahinda 
Rajapaksa, turned to his Chinese allies for loans and assistance with 
an ambitious port project, the answer was yes. 
 
Yes, though feasibility studies said the port wouldn’t work. Yes, 
though other frequent lenders like India had refused. Yes, though Sri 
Lanka’s debt was ballooning rapidly under Mr. Rajapaksa. 
 
Over years of construction and renegotiation with China Harbor 
Engineering Company, one of Beijing’s largest state-owned enterprises, 
the Hambantota Port Development Project distinguished itself mostly by 
failing, as predicted. With tens of thousands of ships passing by 
along one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, the port drew only 34 
ships in 2012. 
 
And then the port became China’s. 
 
Mr. Rajapaksa was voted out of office in 2015, but Sri Lanka’s new 
government struggled to make payments on the debt he had taken on. 
Under heavy pressure and after months of negotiations with the 
Chinese, the government handed over the port and 15,000 acres of land 
around it for 99 years in December.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/world/asia/china-sri-lanka-port.html 
 
Is it possible that  Foxconn scammed Governor Scott Walker, 
Representative Robin Vos, Racine County Executive Jonathon Delagrave, 
City of Racine Mayor Cory Mason, and MTP President David DeGroot? 
 
Racine County residents will be forced to continue to pay for Foxconn 
even if the alleged 13,000 jobs paying $53,000 each don't appear. 
 
What then? 
 
Bankruptcy? 
 
And who will, in Bankruptcy - have first rights? 
 
Just wondering.... 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Tim & Cindy 

Ten Years After - I'd Love to Change the World - Alvin Lee

Everybody Knows

ROAD RAGE IN AMERICA - BEST OF THE YEAR | BAD DRIVERS USA, CANADA

Open Blog - New Year's Day

Happy New Year!

A timely story

RACINE COUNTY — Judgments of just when the Great Recession began and 
when it pulled out of sight vary. But there’s no doubt it had gained a 
full head of steam in Racine County by this date 10 years ago. 
 
For many people, the recession was a time of loss and financial, 
mental and emotional strain. 
 
From 2008 to well into 2010, the economy was a landscape of dominoes, 
each one that tipped knocking over others in a massive, seemingly 
unstoppable chain reaction that left almost no part of the economy 
untouched. 
 
Throughout that time, businesses here, like everywhere else in the 
country, were forced into making agonizing choices. Many of those 
decisions were savage in their impact, yanking people’s jobs out from 
under their feet at the worst possible time for them to go seeking 
other employment. 
 
About midway through that chaotic time, in 2009, the City of Racine’s 
jobless rate hit 17 percent, dropped a bit, then chugged back up to 17 
percent before improving a bit that fall. Countywide, at the peak, 
about one in every nine people was unemployed and looking for work. 
 
During those Great Recession years, the economy dominated local news 
with a torrent of job layoffs, business closings, constricted business 
spending and deflated investments. Some businesses shrank to withered 
versions of their former selves, their services unwanted and unneeded 
when most others were slashing spending in attempts to keep their 
books in balance. 
 
Read more at: 
 
https://journaltimes.com/business/local/ten-years-later-a-look-back-at-the-great-recession/article_5ad44db6-9a4d-5900-8b33-490063f341fb.html#tncms-source=infinity-scroll-summary-siderail-latest

Open Blog - New Year's Eve

 Don't get too loaded.

The Wall Street Crash

"This BBC documentary from 2009 takes a fresh view of the 'Crash of 1929' and the subsequent global Depression, comparing aspects of that event with the most recent turbulence in 2008."

Video of the Punch

He must have hit him really hard. 
 
Claims he punched him to stop him from fleeing - He must have known he 
was good and drunk and just wanted to hide until that wore off. It 
will be interesting to see the claimed BAC. They can extrapolate 
backwards in time - he had two hours to burn some juice up. 
 
Gotta wonder too - if the guy will get charged for punching him. 
 
We'll see if the fix is in.... 

JT Advertising...

LOL! 

Promoting Economic Growth In City of Racine

Dear Alderpersons, 
 
Since City of Racine Prides Itself by Responding to the Needs of Our 
Citizens by Enhancing the Quality of Life and Promoting Economic 
Growth - per the City of Racine website - see attached, City of Racine 
Logo. 
 
I am asking that City of Racine reduce my property tax burden and fund 
more City services by properly re-assessing the Lakefront property 
owned by Mayor Cory Mason and Municipal Judge Rebecca Mason. Their 
Lakefront property shouldn't be assessed at a distressed value of only 
$440,000 - it should be closer to $1,000,000 - that is - One Million 
Dollars. Lakefront property is a rare and valuable commodity. 
 
Since when has a Racine Lakefront property declined in assessed value 
by nearly 50% - from 2013 to 2019? It hasn't. 
 
Clearly - the 'fix" was in. 
 
See the Post: https://arrestrecordsofracinewipublicofficials.wordpress.com/2018/08/19/lifestyles-of-racines-rich-famous-politically-connected/ 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Tim & Cindy 

*WOW*

A report from Reason reveals not a single New Jersey resident has 
surrendered their “high capacity” magazines to state police since the 
implementation of the magazine ban. 
 
Breitbart News reported that New Jersey’s “high capacity” magazine ban 
took effect December 11, 2018, making the mere possession of such a 
magazine a fourth degree felony. 
 
At first, the New Jersey State Police refused to rule out door-to-door 
enforcement of the ban, then made clear that they had no plans to go 
house-to-house. 
 
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/28/report-nj-residents-not-surrendering-high-capacity-magazines-state-police/

Who's the Boss in Racine?

Dear City of Racine Alderpersons, 
 
Gotta LOL at this one.... 
 
A city police officer stopped Mayor John Dickert for speeding Dec. 12, 
2009 in the 1200 block of North Main Street. Dickert was going 40 mph 
in a 30 mph zone at about 10 a.m. on a Saturday. He did not receive a 
ticket. There is no police report on the stop. 
 
Video of the traffic stop, obtained with a records request to the 
police department, shows a brief, cordial encounter between Officer 
Bob Bojcic and Dickert near Jane Elementary School. Bojcic was 
conducting a speed wave near the school after the department received 
complaints about traffic. 
 
Here’a transcript of the video: 
 
    Prior to exiting squad car: 
 
    Officer Bojcic: 1200 block of North Main (indecipherable) 
 
    Talking to Dickert: 
 
    Dickert: Hello, boss. 
    Officer: (indecipherable) You’re the boss, aren’t you? 
    Dickert: (laughs) Not always 
    Officer: Not always? 
    Dickert: What’s going on? 
    Officer: Not much. We had a Speed Wave back here 40 in 30 
    Dickert: Oh (indecipherable) Sorry … I was going to a radio show 
down in Kenosha 
    Officer: Yeah. Because of the school over there and the crossing 
guard always has fits over there so we come out here to do a speed 
wave out here to try and slow the traffic down it’s like a race track 
out here, you know? 
    Dickert: It’s actually a good idea. 
    Officer: Keep it down. 
    Dickert: You got it. 
 
Sgt. Martin Pavilonis, spokesman for the Racine Police Department who 
had watched the video, said proper procedures were handled during the 
stop. 
 
It’s up to the officer’s discretion on whether a driver gets a ticket, 
Pavilonis said. He said it was not unusual for a stop to take about 3 
minutes when the officer does not issue a ticket. 
 
There is no set policy on an officer’s actions when they pull over an 
elected official like the mayor, Pavilonis said. If a police officer 
stops another police officer there is a policy to follow, he said, but 
that doesn’t apply to the mayor. 
 
As for the mayor’s conduct, Pavilonis said he acted appropriately. “I 
don’t think he asserted his rank as mayor,” he said. “I don’t think 
that’s the case at all.” 
 
Meanwhile.... Not one person around can find a crime Sgt. Stulo may 
have committed when he was allegedly involved in a hit and run, 
injuring an elderly woman! 
 
Where is the Bearded Lady? 
 
The lack of accountability - and complicity is so in the face - that 
most can see it. 
 
See more at: https://arrestrecordsofracinewipublicofficials.wordpress.com/2018/12/30/whos-the-boss-in-racine-mayor-cory-mason-an-oldie-but-goodie/ 
 
*FREE SANDY* 
 
Mayor Cory Mason - HELLO - this is your wake up call.... 
 
We have an un-elected, that is appointed Chief of Police and his 
Officers – overseen by an un-elected, that is appointed Police & Fire 
Commission, whose appointments are yours, and yours alone to make – 
Mayor Cory Mason. And now one of those appointed members of the Police 
& Fire Commission – Attorney Patrick Cafferty, is representing Racine 
Police Department Officers who are having legal issues because they 
are alleged to have been involved with potential criminal activity. 
While the only charges filed, in the Stulo case – have been minor 
traffic tickets. *WOW* 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Tim & Cindy

An oldie but a goodie

An oldie but a goodie from Racine Post: 
http://racinepost.blogspot.com/2010/06/video-mayor-dickert-stopped-for.html 
 
A city police officer stopped Mayor John Dickert for speeding Dec. 12, 
2009 in the 1200 block of North Main Street. Dickert was going 40 mph 
in a 30 mph zone at about 10 a.m. on a Saturday. He did not receive a 
ticket. There is no police report on the stop. 
 
Video of the traffic stop, obtained with a records request to the 
police department, shows a brief, cordial encounter between Officer 
Bob Bojcic and Dickert near Jane Elementary School. Bojcic was 
conducting a speed wave near the school after the department received 
complaints about traffic. 
 
Here’a transcript of the video: 
 
    Prior to exiting squad car: 
 
 
    Officer Bojcic: 1200 block of North Main (indecipherable) 
 
    Talking to Dickert: 
 
 
    Dickert: Hello, boss. 
    Officer: (indecipherable) You’re the boss, aren’t you? 
    Dickert: (laughs) Not always 
    Officer: Not always? 
    Dickert: What’s going on? 
    Officer: Not much. We had a Speed Wave back here 40 in 30 
    Dickert: Oh (indecipherable) Sorry … I was going to a radio show 
down in Kenosha 
    Officer: Yeah. Because of the school over there and the crossing 
guard always has fits over there so we come out here to do a speed 
wave out here to try and slow the traffic down it’s like a race track 
out here, you know? 
    Dickert: It’s actually a good idea. 
    Officer: Keep it down. 
    Dickert: You got it. 
 
Sgt. Martin Pavilonis, spokesman for the Racine Police Department who 
had watched the video, said proper procedures were handled during the 
stop. 
 
It’s up to the officer’s discretion on whether a driver gets a ticket, 
Pavilonis said. He said it was not unusual for a stop to take about 3 
minutes when the officer does not issue a ticket. 
 
There is no set policy on an officer’s actions when they pull over an 
elected official like the mayor, Pavilonis said. If a police officer 
stops another police officer there is a policy to follow, he said, but 
that doesn’t apply to the mayor. 
 https://arrestrecordsofracinewipublicofficials.wordpress.com/2018/12/30/whos-the-boss-in-racine-mayor-cory-mason-an-oldie-but-goodie/ 

Eric Marcus

Anyone remember former Alderman Eric Marcus - who went against the 
Establishment? 
 
I do. 

The True Story of the Black Sheep Squadron

DETROIT EXTREME GHETTOS AND GAS STATIONS

Climate Stabilization

This paper examines and compares two dramatically divergent approaches 
to climate stabilization developed by analysts and activists on the 
left. The first, which the author Robert Pollin advocates, is called 
the "Green New Deal." The second has been termed 'degrowth' by its 
proponents. The Green New Deal approach is focused, on a global scale, 
on advancing investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy at 
a rate of about 1.5 – 2 percent of global GDP per year, so that clean 
energy can supplant the existing dominant fossil fuel energy 
infrastructure. Through this approach, economies can continue to grow 
but economic growth becomes absolutely decoupled from fossil fuel 
consumption and the resulting generation of CO2 emissions. The 
prospects are realistic for driving down CO2 emissions by 40 percent 
within 20 years and eliminating them altogether within 40 years within 
the Green New Deal framework. The Green New Deal also produces 
expanding job opportunities through the building of a global clean 
energy infrastructure. By contrast, the degrowth approach relies 
primarily on contractions of economic activity—measured by GDP—as the 
means to cut fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. But as Pollin 
points out and the degrowth model by leading proponent Peter Victor 
confirms, in this approach, considered on its own, CO2 emissions will 
only fall to the extent that GDP itself declines. Thus, in Victor's 
degrowth scenario for Canada, CO2 emissions fall by about 80 percent 
within 30 years, but average per capita income also falls by roughly 
the same amount. An 80 percent contraction in per capita income would 
represent an unprecedented economic depression, which in turn would 
likely engender a wide range of severe social and political responses. 
Contrary to degrowth proponents, Pollin argues that some categories of 
economic activity must now grow massively—those associated with the 
production and distribution of clean energy. Concurrently, the global 
fossil fuel industry needs to contract massively—i.e. to 'de-grow' 
steadily and dramatically until it has almost completely shut down 
within the next 40 – 50 years 
 
https://www.peri.umass.edu/publication/item/1101-degrowth-vs-a-green-new-deal

No doubt, the Collapse is upon u

"The report underscored that cheap energy flows are the lifeblood of 
economic growth: and that as we shift into an era of declining 
resource quality, we are likely to continue seeing slow, weak if not 
declining economic growth. 
 
This is happening at a global scale. EROI is already beginning to 
approach levels seen in the nineteenth century — demonstrating how 
constrained global economic growth might be due to declining net 
energy returns to society". 
 
The shift to non-fossil fuels - the abundance of the Sun's stored 
energy - will diminish - costs increase - and it will mean death - for 
Billions. William Catton summed it up in one word - "Overshoot". 
 
"The crisis of Brexit and the eruption of the riots in France are 
symptoms of a great unfolding civilizational transition, in which an 
old reductionist paradigm of materialist self-maximation is dying. 
Citizens and policymakers, activists and business leaders, need to 
wake up to what is actually happening to have the conversations that 
can kick-start meaningful approaches to systemic transformation. 
 
This is not a far-flung crisis that is going to happen years in the 
future. This is now. This is happening and it is affecting you, your 
children, and those you love the most. And it will affect their 
children, and their children. 
 
This is your legacy. This is your choice. This is your chance to 
engage with and become an agent of a new paradigm, one that speaks for 
all humans, all species, and the Earth itself. Maybe we don’t know 
exactly what the emerging paradigms will look like. But we know that 
it’s time to ask ourselves: where do we stand? With the old, or with 
the new?" 
 
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-12-28/brexit-stage-one-europes-slow-burn-energy-collapse 
 
666 
 
https://youtu.be/r_Ra5LUh6ng 

Open Blog - Weekend

I hope that your weekend is great.

Eyewitness walks through an alleged OWI hit-and-run caused by a Racine police officer

Dear Village Board,

Let's do the math! 
 
OK - please check my figures.... 
 
So according to MTP Village President, along with many other SE 
Wisconsin and Racine County Residents – Foxconn will employ 13,000 
people being paid an average of $53,000 per year. 
 
13,000 employees times $53,000 = $689,000,000 – per year! 
 
So what is the price point which Foxconn must sell those LCD TV’s at 
to at least break even? (This does not take into consideration WI tax 
credits or Pollution credits) Foxconn’s  actual cost to produce LCD 
TV’s is not able to be determined at this time – so we will have to 
deal with raw numbers – based upon projections provided by MTP Village 
President David DeGroot….. 
 
Let us assume a price point of $250 per LCD TV – does that sound reasonable? 
 
So we have 13,000 employees times $53,000 = $689,000,000 – per year 
divided by $250 LCD TV’s sold annually. Remember that this amount does 
not allow for profit – or consider what is the actual price point at 
which Consumers can afford to purchase the LCD TV’s in the quantity 
required to be produced….. 
 
Which comes to: 2,756,000 TV’s which must be sold annually. But we 
still haven’t actually determined the cost to manufacture the LCD TV’s 
due to the cost of raw materials and production. Along with 
distribution and handling. 
 
While producing 2,756,000 TV’s in 12 months = 645 LCD TV’s per day – 
if the factory is operating 7 days a week. Working anything less only 
increases demands for increased productivity per hour/day . At what 
point is the Worker – “over worked”? What happens when a bathroom 
break interferes with production? 
 
Raising the price point only increases the demand for less wages to be 
paid with hopes for increased efficiency and less cost for 
labor/materials. 
 
In Asia, workers usually labor 12 hours a day, 7 days a week – so 
$53,000 per year comes to 365 X 12 divided by $53,000 =  $12.10 per 
hour. Which is way far more than Foxconn pays it’s Chinese and Indian 
Workers! And Foxconn has already stated that it didn’t take into 
account the higher US wage requirements, which it won’t pay…. 
 
Workers in Asia and India sleep in shifts at Company owned dorms – 
often only earning $2.50 day Compare that with taxpayer subsidized 
section 8 housing in Racine – which starts at $460/month. Who says 
Republicans hate state sponsored welfare – they are it’s biggest 
beneficiaries. 
 
In addition, every Consumer of the Foxconn manufactured product must 
be able to afford the cost of the (usually) subscribed TV service. 
While in areas where subscribed TV service is unavailable – the LCD TV 
will be….. worthless 
 
https://concernedracinecountyresidentsjustsaynotofoxconn.wordpress.com/2018/12/28/lets-do-the-math/ 
 
Perhaps I am wrong - but it seems that SE WI is doomed to an 
increasing deflationary spiral which means that taxpayer funded 
expenses must be curtailed. Or - at least, so we think. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Tim & Cindy 

Let’s Do the Math

From a Better Mount Pleasant: https://www.facebook.com/abettermtpleasant/

MESSAGE FROM VILLAGE PRESIDENT

Seasons Greetings!

This year, we’ve continued our work to move the transformational Foxconn project forward and have celebrated numerous milestones. Site preparation and utility and road work is underway, as is vertical construction on the first of many buildings on what is becoming the Wisconn Valley Science and Technology Park. We are already seeing the positive results of Foxconn’s investment in our community, including new jobs and business for local companies, increased opportunities for area residents who have been connected with employment and training and the announcement of significant new developments right here in Mount Pleasant.

Read more: https://concernedracinecountyresidentsjustsaynotofoxconn.wordpress.com/2018/12/28/lets-do-the-math/ 

Four for Fridays!

Good morning everyone I hope you had a good week and I hope you also enjoyed your Christmas. We really enjoyed being with our families for Christmas. Here are your questions.

1) Do you have plans for New Year's Eve?

2) If your plans are to go out for New Year's Eve how far will you travel?

3) If you are going out for New Year's Eve do you have a safe way to get home?

4) If you plan on staying home for New Year's Eve are you having friends or family over?

Have a great weekend!

Open Blog - Friday

Have a delicious day.

10 Insane News Stories You May Have Missed In 2018

5 Worst Times & Places To Be Alive In Human History

Open Blog - Thursday

Love to all.

Redd Foxx - The True Hollywood Story (1999)

Happy Solstice to ALL!

Good Ol' George...

Britain bans puppy and kitten sales by pet shops

Britain is forbidding puppies and kittens from being sold by pet shops 
in a bid to crack down on animal exploitation and abuse. 
 
The government said it will roll out the legislation next year after 
holding public consultations that showed 95-percent support for the 
ban. 
 
"This will mean that anyone looking to buy or adopt a puppy or kitten 
under six months must either deal directly with the breeder or with an 
animal re-homing centre," the Department of Environment Food and Rural 
Affairs (Defra) said on Sunday as part of its Christmas animal welfare 
push. 
 
Britain is forbidding puppies and kittens from being sold by pet shops 
in a bid to crack down on animal exploitation and abuse. 
 
The government said it will roll out the legislation next year after 
holding public consultations that showed 95-percent support for the 
ban. 
 
"This will mean that anyone looking to buy or adopt a puppy or kitten 
under six months must either deal directly with the breeder or with an 
animal re-homing centre," the Department of Environment Food and Rural 
Affairs (Defra) said on Sunday as part of its Christmas animal welfare 
push.

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hi, my friends, and enemies!  How are you?  I had a wonderful Christmas at home with my boys.  I expect the same on New Year's Eve, though I figure Junior will take off later.  He's going to usher in the New Year with a babe on his arm.  Or elsewhere.

The weather has fallen into that pattern of gray, winter days.  I hate that.  Three months of this, if we're lucky.  We had some snow but that's long gone.

The Packers did something.  I think they won.  Hurrah.  Rodgers is earning his keep.  Ha!

Here are the final standings from the Irregular Football League:

Oh well, there's always next year.  Next year I'll cheat.

Señor Zanza and Junior are lobbying hard for a New Year's Party.  They said that they'd take care of everything, from start to finish.  Everything, that is, except me.  I'm not interested in a party, so I suppose I'll have to hide upstairs.  Better stock up on goodies.

Instead of my usual rant at the corruption in Racine politics, I thought I'd wish everyone a great Christmas, even if it is a day late.

"Ho!  Ho!  Ho!"

I hope uou got what you wanted.  Be grateful whatever you get.  You've seen so much.

I'm sorry, but I'm beat from Christmas cleanups.  Even with the boys doing the majority of the work, it's still a pain in the butt.

It was wonderful to see everyone.  That's the best part of Christmas: the people (and dogs).  I love you all and wish you good luck on the rest of your vacation.

madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com

I hope to see you when you're not so preoccupied with money.
 _________________________ 
Please donate: paypal.me/jgmazelis 
If you don't like PayPal, send me a note at madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com and I'll send you my street address so you can send a check or money order.  Thank you.

Open Blog - Wednesday

Happy Kwanzaa.

Poor Mans Speedball

Post; 
 
Alcohol and coffee can help you live past 90, study says 
 
Readers, we are honored and privileged to bring you the single 
greatest piece of news you've heard in your entire life. 
 
A study out of the University of California-Irvine has revealed that 
consumption of moderate amounts of alcohol and coffee is linked to 
living a longer life. 
 
Re-read that last sentence. There are no typos. There are no jokes. 
 
The key word is "moderate," of course. The study, called "The 90+ 
Study," started in 2003 and examined "the oldest-old" age group - 
about 1,700 nonagenarians - to determine what is key to living to your 
90th birthday and beyond. 

https://www.freep.com/story/news/nation/2018/02/22/alcohol-near-me/362510002/ 
 
Fuk that - I've gone foot first! 
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97ECZMvbLxg 

How can the NY Times celebrate so many atrocities?

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/22/world/asia/mongolia-golden-eagle-festival.html

Should Be Forgot, Again

From The Shepherd Express:

by Art Kumbalek

Dec. 24, 2018

10:47 a.m.

I’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world, ain’a? So listen, I know the hub-and-bub of the holiday season is always a big deal this time of year for the people. But for a guy like me, hey, every day is just another focking holiday, each and every day of the year. Oh yeah, nothing but seashells, balloons, topped with a generous dollop of you got to be jerking my beefaroni. I kid you not.

And this old year, this time 2018, is practically expired and again I’m thinking the less said about it the better.
But I will tell you’s I recall that at the beginning of this dying year I looked back at 2017 and said it had sucked, and my crystal ball told me to say that the future-2018 would also suck, but even more. Cripes, I should’ve put my money where my mouth was ’cause if I had, I’d be living the luxury life on Easy Street and lighting my Pall Malls with $20-dollar bills, what the fock.
So yeah, the less said about 2018 the better and I’m sticking to it, this week anyways. But before I go, I got to say once again that if you’re out and about New Year’s Eve so’s to kick 2018 out the door, maybe I’ll see you over by the North Shore American Legion Post #331 up there in Shorewood on Wilson Drive just north of Capitol, 9 p.m. to midnight with the John Schneider Orchestra, Claire Morkin and MRS. FUN, ring-a-ding-ding. It’s a suggested donation of $15, but as always, if you’d rather drop a couple, three grand at the door, there’d be no complaints.
So to the limit of my optimism, it bears repeating that I wish you all a happy focking New Year, and good luck with that, what the fock, ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.

From:  https://shepherdexpress.com/advice/art-kumbalek/should-be-forgot-again/

Open Blog - Christmas Day

Merry Christmas!

Who Gives a Fuk Anyways.

 

Venezuelan Women "As Young As 14" Escape Socialism By Selling Sex, Hair And Breastmilk Women fleeing socialist Venezuela have taken to capitalism in order to survive; selling sex, hair and breastmilk as they make the perilous journey into neighboring Colombia in search of a better life. As Fox News' Hollie McKay reports, the Colombian border city of Cucuta is virtual chaos - as "Rail-thin women cradle their tiny babies, and beg along the trash-strewn gutters. Teens hawk everything from cigarettes to sweets and water for small change." Men buying hair approach groups of women with their young children, offering them enough to feed their families for a short while. Local wigmakers in Colombia will pay between $10 - $30, depending on length and quality. Other Venezuelan women - including girls as young as 14, resort to sex work on the streets of Cucuta - earning around seven dollars per john. Back home in Venezuela, the situation is dire - as the socialist country suffers from starvation, disease, a lack of healthcare and extreme violence. Children have been dying from hepatitis and malaria. "There is a human catastrophe in Venezuela. There is a resurgence of illnesses that were eradicated decades ago. Hundreds have died from measles and diphtheria. Last year, more than 400,000 Venezuelans presented malaria symptoms. Up to now, there are over 10,000 sick people from tuberculosis," said Caracas mayor and former political prisoner Antonio Ledezma, adding: "People have been doomed to death. More than 55,000 cancer patients don’t have access to chemotherapy. Every three hours a woman dies due to breast cancer." Caterine Martinez, an attorney, and director of the Prepara Familias (Ready Families) organization in Venezuela – which endeavors to support hospitalized children and their families and caregivers – concurred that the public health care issue in the country is nothing short of “severe.” “Currently there are no broad-spectrum antibiotics, not even basic antibiotics to treat basic pathogens from children and present chronic illnesses,” she said. “We don’t have x-rays working, they haven’t for a long time. We don’t have a CAT scanner or an MRI scanner. Many other vital medical instruments don’t work. The municipal blood banks don’t have reagents, therefore we have kids who are getting blood transfusions and are getting infected with hepatitis C and could even be injected with HIV.” -Fox News Suicide rates have also skyrocketed according to Fox - even among children. A Venezuelan children's rights group, CECODAP, has estimated an 18% rise in teens killing themselves over the last year. Martinez estimates that over 55 percent of healthcare professionals - including doctors and nurses, have left Venezuela, while resident doctors who have remained make a scant $24 per month. Specialists can make $30. "We also have a severe problem with nutrition. There is no supply of baby formula, nor nutritional supplements. Therefore, we have a lot of malnourished children and the situation is then even more complicated," said Martinez. https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-12-23/venezuelan-women-young-14-escape-socialism-selling-sex-hair-and-breastmilk

White House Christmas Message Featuring Melania Trump

Why Is Everyone Getting So Offended?

The Beatles-Here comes the Sun.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY – The execution of Eddie Slovik is authorized – 1944

On this day, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower endorses the finding of a 
court-martial in the case of Eddie Slovik, who was tried for 
desertion, and authorizes his execution, the first such sentence 
against a U.S. Army soldier since the Civil War, and the only man so 
punished during World War II. 
 
Private Eddie Slovik was a draftee. Originally classified 4-F because 
of a prison record (grand theft auto), he was bumped up to a 1-A 
classification when draft standards were lowered to meet growing 
personnel needs. In January 1944, he was trained to be a rifleman, 
which was not to his liking, as he hated guns. 
 
In August of the same year, Slovik was shipped to France to fight with 
the 28th Infantry Division, which had already suffered massive 
casualties in the fighting there and in Germany. Slovik was a 
replacement, a class of soldier not particular respected by officers. 
As he and a companion were on the way to the front lines, they became 
lost in the chaos of battle, only to stumble upon a Canadian unit that 
took them in. 
 
Slovik stayed on with the Canadians until October 5, when they turned 
him and his buddy over to the American military police, who reunited 
them with the 28th Division, now in Elsenborn, Belgium. No charges 
were brought; replacements getting lost early on in their tours of 
duty were not unusual. But exactly one day after Slovik returned to 
his unit, he claimed he was “too scared and too nervous” to be a 
rifleman and threatened to run away if forced into combat. His 
admission was ignored-and Slovik took off. One day after that he 
returned, and Slovik signed a confession of desertion, claiming he 
would run away again if forced to fight, and submitted it to an 
officer of the 28th. The officer advised Slovik to take the confession 
back, as the consequences would be serious. Slovik refused, and he was 
confined to the stockade. 
 
The 28th Division had seen many cases of soldiers wounding themselves 
or deserting in the hopes of a prison sentence that would at least 
protect them from the perils of combat. So a legal officer of the 28th 
offered Slovik a deal: Dive into combat immediately and avoid the 
court-martial. Slovik refused. He was tried on November 11 for 
desertion and was convicted in less than two hours. The nine-officer 
court-martial panel passed a unanimous sentence: execution-“to be shot 
to death with musketry.” 
 
Slovik’s appeal failed. It was held that he “directly challenged the 
authority” of the United States and that “future discipline depends 
upon a resolute reply to this challenge.” Slovik was to pay for his 
recalcitrant attitude-and he was to be made an example. One last 
appeal was made-to General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied 
Commander. The timing was bad for mercy. The Battle of the Bulge in 
the Ardennes forest was issuing in literally thousands of American 
casualties, not to mention the second largest surrender of an American 
Army unit during the war. Eisenhower upheld the sentence. 
 
Slovik would be shot to death by a 12-man firing squad in eastern 
France in January of 1945. None of the rifleman so much as flinched, 
believing Slovik had gotten what he deserved. 
 
https://www.theburningplatform.com/2018/12/23/this-day-in-history-the-execution-of-eddie-slovik-is-authorized-1944-2/

Good Stuff

Back In The Good Ol’ Days…..

https://www.theburningplatform.com/2018/12/23/back-in-the-good-ol-days/

A Better Mount Pleasant Sends:

“The government you elect is the government you deserve.” 
Thomas Jefferson 
 
“Take a sad song and make it better.” 
The Beatles 
~~~~~~~ 
 
Time to BOOT DEGROOT! (added) 
 
Together - ABMP readers and contributors worked to make the Village 
more accountable and more transparent. It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t 
always fun, but we made things better. 
 
In no particular order: 
 
1. LIVE VIDEO OF VILLAGE MEETINGS: The Village now broadcasts live 
Village meetings and Foxconn informational sessions - because we did 
it first. Oh sure, they say they were going to do it - just like we 
all say we're going to the gym this week. 
 
Videos of Village meetings mean that more people can participate. 
Folks at home don’t have get out to village hall to see what’s 
happening, you can watch from home...or watch later. Preferably with 
cocktails. 
 
We credit the Village for doing a good job in setting up the recording 
- certainly better than Kelly did with her iphone - now if we can just 
get the audio and video synced up correctly. 
 
2. MAKING EXECUTIVE PACKETS PUBLIC: For years, residents were 
strangely prohibited from seeing and reading the executive packets of 
information given to Trustees before meetings - even though it is 
public information. ABMP filed an open records request for all Village 
executive packets - as a result the Village now posts them before 
Village meetings. 
 
Residents can now see the same information trustees see at meetings. 
Go to the Village website and click on Agendas and Minutes, then go 
down to Village Board Packets. 
 
3. APPROVAL AND PUBLISHING OF MEETING MINUTES: Meeting minutes are the 
official record of actions taken by the Village. The approval and 
publishing of minutes as soon as reasonably possible is required by 
law. The purpose is for residents to be appropriately apprised of 
actions taken on their behalf. 
 
Over the last two years, minutes weren’t approved for weeks, even 
months after votes were taken. It wasn’t just bad government - it was 
lazy, disrespectful government. 
 
ABMP made an issue of it in meetings, posts and in a letter to the 
Journal Times. These actions got attention and action. For much of the 
last year, minutes have been approved regularly. Guess it wasn’t so 
hard after all. 
 
4. FOXCONN STORM WATER FAILURE: In late summer, residents began 
remarking on flood water runoff problems at the Foxconn construction 
site. Even a casual observer could see that barriers to protect from 
silt runoff into the Pike River were ridiculously lame. 
 
Sure enough, after a few days of heavy rain, mud and silt began 
pouring into Lamparek Creek leading directly to the Pike River 
watershed. ABMP videotaped the flooding and filed a complaint with the 
DNR. 
 
The DNR said Foxconn contractors had failed to do their job and the 
Village failed to provide the oversight residents were promised. The 
episode didn’t cost Foxconn much money - but it was embarrassing. 
 
In the end, they did a good job correcting their mistake and hopefully 
it won’t happen again - thanks to sharp-eyed readers who alerted us. 
 
5. FOXCONN TRANSPARENCY: Early on in the Foxconn process, the Village 
Project team didn’t seem to think breaking down the bills for various 
contractors was very important. Hundreds of thousands of dollars 
listed as “Foxconn Bills” was supposed to be good enough for you. 
 
ABMP filed an open records request asking for the bills and published 
them right here so residents could see where their money was going. 
 
As a direct result, the Village started including more detailed 
information in the Village Board meetings and on the agendas when it 
came time to approve invoices and make purchases. 
 
6. FREEDOM OF SPEECH: The Village has always had a very odd 
relationship with residents speaking their mind. No example was ever 
more stunning than when the Village CDA tried to keep residents from 
speaking on items listed on the agenda during public comments last 
spring - not once, but twice. 
 
ABMP filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s office who came 
back and gave the Village a clear message they were treading in some 
funky water that wasn’t likely to hold up in court. 
 
So what did our Village leaders do? Apologize? No, they doubled down 
and tried to get the Attorney General to change their written 
guidance. The Attorney General said “nyet.” 
 
That’s your Village, fighting hard (and paying lawyers) to keep you 
from speaking. It didn’t work and we will make sure they never do it 
again. 
 
7. FOXCONN PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETINGS: ABMP held the first Foxconn 
public town hall meeting last June - after residents were promised 
meetings would be scheduled and never were. Close to eighty people 
showed up and many more watched live on Facebook. 
 
Coincidentally, Village Project Manager Claude Lois announced the 
Village’s first town hall at our town hall...yup, totally going to the 
gym this week. The Village has continued to hold meetings each month - 
that's a good thing. 
 
8. FOLLOWING THE MONEY: Our readers and contributors are tireless 
researchers with handy calculators. ABMP has brought residents real, 
useful information about Village spending. 
 
Whether it’s the more than 100% over-budget EMS palace or the insane 
rise in costs for the Village Assessor - our readers get the 
information they deserve to know. 
 
It’s your money - and while the majority of the Village Board is still 
on a spending bender, we’re going to keep bringing you the facts. 
 
9. THE PEOPLE’S VOICE: Over the last year, ABMP has gone from being a 
small town Facebook page to being a legitimate counterpoint to the 
public relations firm hired by the Village to dispatch talking points 
and write press releases for Dave DeGroot. 
 
We’ve been featured not just in Wisconsin print press, radio and TV, 
but in the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, New Yorker, the Guardian, 
the Verge, and of course the Reply All podcast. 
 
Outside the Wisconn Valley “cone of silence,” there is fact-based 
criticism by respected financial experts and investigative journalists 
that the Foxconn deal was too rushed, too generous, and Mt. Pleasant 
was too damn eager to even bother asking questions. 
 
You aren’t going to read those views in the Journal Times - not as 
long as Publisher Mark Lewis sits on the RAMAC Board. You will read 
them here. 
 
Why? Because we hate Foxconn? No. Because you deserve better than to 
be spoon-fed rainbows, pixie dust and “faith-based economics.” Foxconn 
has real life implications for our residents. For some it may be 
great, but for those who have sacrificed, or been treated unfairly, 
they deserve a voice too. 
 
10. APPLYING PRESSURE: We didn’t get everything we were promised. We 
didn’t get annual reports for Police and Fire which were promised. 
Since they make up more than 70% of Village spending you deserve some 
data and some responsible planning. We aren’t giving up on that. 
 
If we have to file open records requests for the information and give 
you the reports ourselves - we will. We’ve already started compiling 
information. 
 
~~~~~~ 
 
A government who doesn’t fear its own people, is a government who 
takes them for granted. Village officials read this page everyday. 
Good. We’re going to keep doing us. 
 
Thank you for reading. Thank you for contributing. Have a great 
holiday and we will see you next year! 
 
A Special Thanks to Kelli for continuing to hold MTP Government accountable! 
 
*SHINE ON* 

Open Blog - Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve.

The New Green Deal

If the recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate 
Change is to be believed, humanity has just over a decade to get 
carbon emissions under control before catastrophic climate change 
impacts become unavoidable. 
 
The Republican Party generally ignores or denies that problem. But the 
Democratic Party claims to accept and understand it. 
 
It is odd, then, that Democrats do not have a plan to address climate change. 
 
Their last big plan — the American Clean Energy and Security Act — 
passed the House in 2009 but went on to die an unceremonious death 
before reaching the Senate floor. Since then, there’s been nothing to 
replace it. 
 
Plenty of Democratic politicians support policies that would reduce 
climate pollution — renewable energy tax credits, fuel economy 
standards, and the like — but those policies do not add up to a 
comprehensive solution, certainly nothing like what the 
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggests is 
necessary. 
 
Young activists, who will be forced to live with the ravages of 
climate change, find this upsetting. So they have proposed a plan of 
their own. It’s called the Green New Deal (GND) — a term purposefully 
reminiscent of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s original New Deal in the 
1930s — 
 
https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/12/21/18144138/green-new-deal-alexandria-ocasio-cortez 
 
NO MAS! NO MAS! NO MAS!