Secrets to a long happy marriage

R.I.P. David Brenner

"David Brenner dies at 78; comedian was a favorite of Johnny Carson"

http://www.latimes.com/obituaries/la-me-david-brenner-20140316,0,6742173.story#axzz2w5pWRtim

Cable Commission Corruption

Racine Community Media has put up numerous posts concerning Racine Cable Commission corruption:

http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/78436399224/breaking-news-city-of-racine-to-ask-caledonia

http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/78585821383/breaking-news-local-group-files-formal-complaint

http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/78856238371/city-of-racine-pushes-formal-ethics-complaint-of

http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/79237830366/what-is-rico-and-what-will-it-mean-for-city-of

http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/79265282822/racine-here-city-official-mary-osterman-who-is

http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/79360572520/racine-city-of-racine-residents-taxpayers-to

http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/79433976852/taking-a-closer-look-into-the-city-of-racine-cable

http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/79438108887/potential-scheme-manipulation-of-bids-in-a

http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/79623671431/in-this-video-clip-racine-alderman-jim-kaplan

http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/

Open Blog - Weekend

Count me in!

"Was The 'Fix' In For Skies Fall Media Group and Jerry Bloom?"

From Racine Exposed:

"In the last post, it was revealed that Jerry, or Gerry Bloom, was a Contributor and Fundraiser to the John Dickert campaign for mayor. In addition, he just so happens to control a warehouse in Mt. Pleasant that Skies Fall Media Group, with the approval of Racine’s Cable Commission, is moving Racine’s cable access TV station to. Racine Exposed has just obtained a copy of the contract between The City of Racine and Skies Fall Media Group and from the contract, it would appear that the 'fix' is in and that John Dickert campaign contributor and fundraiser, Jerry Bloom, knew in advance that he was set to be paid rent once the move to his warehouse was made. Further, it would appear that the amount of rent may not even need oversight or approval by the Common Council, while the residents and taxpayers of Racine wouldn’t be any the wiser."

Read more: http://racineexposed.wordpress.com/2014/03/14/was-the-fix-in-for-skies-fall-media-group-and-jerry-bloom/

Do You Like Your Job?

Do you love it? Do you hate it? Want to strangle your boss? Want to strangle yourself?

Please let us know in the poll below. If you're currently out of a job, consider your last one, or your profession, or the top job you've had.

Please feel free to make comments below the blog. If you're afraid of revealing your job/employer, post anonymously or under an assumed name.

Four for Fridays

Hello everybody and welcome back! Starting to feel wiped out here... The overtime has been creeping up to me this week. Thank God, I can sleep in tomorrow. (I hope) Anyways, some questions for you...

1) Have you ever ordered for anything online?

2) What is your favorite desert?

3) What news story are you currently following?

4) What is your favorite zoo animal?

Enjoy your weekend!

Open Blog - Friday

If you stare at this image long enough, you get a headache.

Neil Young - "Unknown Legend"

Guess I'm on a Neil Young kick.

DECORAH EAGLES 3/9/2014 6:53 PM CDT DAD LEAVES AND MOM COMES IN ...

Open Blog - Thursday

Be careful where you point that thing.

The Boneyard 10K

I have posted pics from Tucson's Boneyard before and many of you seen pics of it. The Boneyeard is the common name for the 339th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG). AMARG prepares military planes for storage, strips old planes for parts and recycles old planes. They have over 4,000 planes parked on site.

Pima Air and Space Museum offers a bus tour of AMARG but you never get off the bus. You can walk or bike outside the fence and look in at some sections (there is even a bike trail and picnic tables around some sections so obviously they expect people to do this) but normally you can't get inside.

I finally got to be inside, not in a bus on March 1st. They sponsored the 2nd Boneyard 5k/10k. I missed the first one...didn't hear about it until I saw pics in the paper the day after. When I saw it announced for this year, I made sure to sign up so I could run around this interesting site.

No spectators were allowed...only registered runners (or walkers...the generous time limit was walker friendly) and they checked tickets at the gate. It was a fun run...there was a clock but they didn't record finish times.

Which is just as well I stopped to take lots of pictures (and I wasn't the only one taking pics!) I just used my cellphone camera...not going to run with a big DLSR. They had little signs along the course telling you about some of the more significant planes.

We started on the west side of Kolb Road. The west side is where planes go into storage or they store spare parts (like wings). Theoretically, planes on this side of the road could fly again. Here are some pics from the west side.

I am happy I did the 10k the 5k course stayed exclusively on the west side of the road. The 10k, however, crossed the bridge to the east side. The east side is where planes go to die. These planes are frequently missing large, important parts and will never fly again. Here are some east side pics. Look closely at the first one...the folded wing planes are obviously carrier based...and the row on the right have props! Yes, propeller driven carrier based planes. I know the existed but I had never seen one in person.

The show was not done after the race. This was the weekend of the Heritage Fly In.  Shortly after the race, an F-22 took off and started flying around doing all kinds of stunts. Very impressive. The pilot hit the afterburners a couple of time and went ballistic...literally, not figuratively.

As you can see, the day was cloudy. Unfortunately, the weather started deteriorating a little before 11am and I decided it was time to head home for a hot shower. Overall, a great morning and you can bet I will be back next year...and invite friends.

Sunday out Birding!

This past Sunday Drew and  I had to get my daughter to work at 8am so we decided to go out to Kenosha County. Drew has heard that there is a Snowy Owl out there by Cty Rd H and Cty Rd KR.

We did find the Snowy Owl but it was way to far in the field for our camera to get a really good picture. It was funny because we were driving around and could not find it at first then I seen something out of the ordinary on the hill that was white. I took the binoculars and sure enough it was the Female Snowy Owl. It looked like she was sitting on top of a grill and I tried to take pictures but with it to far out you can't tell what it is unless you zoom the picture in.This was on Cty Rd KR that we seen the owl but we thought maybe if we drive around to the other side on Braun Rd maybe we can get a closer picture. So when we had gotten to that side no she was down a hill and we could not see her.

Well there is an up side to our trip out there we did see a lot of different other birds. I had taken a picture of a Female Cardinal in a tree out there. I could hear her calling an I thought it was a male but no I seen her and had to get a picture she was sitting so pretty in the tree.

Then we decided to go to Richard Bong Recreational Area to see if we could find an other birds. With the weather being so nice out Sunday we thought there would be a lot out there to see. When ever you go looking for birds it is a hit and miss with them.

On our way out of there on the road I seen a Red Tailed Hawk in a tree just sitting there looking around. So I took some pictures. I even was able to catch a picture of the hawk taking off.

This was a really great way to enjoy such a beautiful day outside for us with such great weather.

Neil Young - "Piece Of Crap"

)

Sad, but true.

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my sweethearts!  How are you?  Ah, we’ve finally been given a few good days, weather-wise.  It’s wonderful to open your jacket or open a window in your car.  Fresh air.  I forgot what it smelled like.  Of course, “they” are predicting more doom and gloom with the weather.  “They” may be right, but with every day that passes the sun is up a little longer and up a little higher in the sky.  The spring solstice approaches no matter what Old Man Winter does.

I’m wearing my Irish green today because St. Patrick’s Day occurs on Monday, March 17, before my next blog.  If you hurry, you may still have time to enter the St. Patrick’s Day parade that starts in downtown Racine this Saturday at noon.

“Parade entries are being accepted until Wednesday, March 12. To download a copy of the parade application, go to www.racinedowntown.com/St.PatricksDayParade.html. For more information, call the Downtown Racine Corp. at 262-634-6002.”

Read more: http://journaltimes.com/news/local/st-patrick-s-day-parade-is-saturday-entries-accepted-until/article_f5676afa-a8a5-11e3-84a3-001a4bcf887a.html

I think the Señor and I may attend the parade for Junior’s sake.  He loves a parade.  So does the Señor, but he won’t admit it.  I hope the Señor doesn’t drink too much green beer like last year.  That was a mini-disaster. 

As we move toward Racine’s celebration season (spring and summer), I do hope that the pall cast by the federal civil rights lawsuit against our Mr. Mayor Dickert and his associates won’t darken festivities too much.  Even if Mr. Mayor is a crook, let’s party!  Nothing or no one in Racine is so big that it can’t be partied away.  That’s a lesson taught by Mr. Mayor himself. 

The cost of the lawsuit and its fallout are not a hindrance to Mr. Mayor.  No mater what it costs us, he’ll wiggle out of it one way or another.  I have faith in him.

Over the weekend, the Journal Sentinel said that federal agents are probably already in Racine, investigating into whether any federal crimes were committed.  (http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/247655031.html#ixzz2vVcVEAVJ)  I would say that now is a good time for anyone involved who feels like he or she may go down with the rats on ship to step up and admit your part.  I, Madame Zoltar®, will personally guarantee your leniency in court.  I know all of the judges in Racine.  Tell everything that you know now and you’ll receive only a slap on the wrist. 

The people at the top of these scandals never go down with the ship.  At worst, they receive a couple of years at a federal minimum security resort.  It’s always the people below them who take the hits.  Some of the hits can destroy your career, or even your life.  Step up, now, and attest to what you know.  You won’t be hurt.  Madame Zoltar® commands it!

Thanks for stopping by to peruse my prose.  Visitors and readers bring me joy.  Together our love and joy amplify the good in life.  Together, we can do anything.

Psst, Men in Black, get the real lowdown here: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com

Please continue to be cautious in your winter driving.  As the snow and ice melt, they’re revealing some teeth-jarring potholes.  It also gets kind of ugly out there as the melting snow reveals all of the dirty debris hidden in the snow banks.  March may be muddy, but we still march on.  Paleomnesia!

Open Blog - Wednesday

Uh, Betty must moonlight as a fairy, or something.

Local & Area Blogs & Sites

Blogs and sites listed under our sidebar list now include the title of the last item posted on the blog or site.

We may add the post times (like in the Local News list), too, but first I have to clean out the dead wood in the links.

"Tools Or Fools? The Tragic Irony Of Racine’s Cable Commission"

From Racine Exposed:

http://racineexposed.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/tools-or-fools-the-tragic-irony-of-racines-cable-commission/

Open Blog - Tuesday

This is another one of those "you-figure-it-out" images.

"European Air Traffic in 24 Hour Period"

http://www.nats.aero/

It's kind of amazing that more of them don't crash into each other.

Local Loyalty - Larsen's Bakery

Welcome back!
This week's edition is about

 

Larsen's Bakery 

3311 Washington Ave

Racine 

6am-5:30pm Mon.- Fri. 

6am-4

Larsen's is run by a brother and sister team, 

Don and Debie. 

I got quite a history lesson, doing this interview!
The building has been around since the early 1900's, 

originally Washington Bread Company, then Hendrickson's Bakery.

In 1947, Don and Debie's dad was 19 years old, and was a delivery driver for Hendrickson's Bakery. It became Larsen's when it was bought by Einer Larsen, who came here straight from Denmark, (how cool is that?!)

who then sold it to Don and Debie's mom and dad in 1969.

Don and Debie have been running it for the last 6 years or so. 

I have a little connection to this place, 24 1/2 years ago, we got our wedding cake from Larsen's! I was digging, trying to find our wedding pictures, I had to wonder if there was a freak chance Don may have been one of the 2 guys to actually deliver our cake. The hunt will continue until I find that album!

What makes Larsen's unique, is not only the kringles, but also the unique specialty items they make. Recently, they added a vegan line, that has been gaining popularity. 

Again, the "3 words" question was a stumper, so it's a goody!
After much thought, here are Don's 3 - 

1. Challenging - the economy definitely impacts things

2. Fulfilling - having personal connections with people

3. Fun - any business where sugar is involved can't help but to be fun :)

Stop in and try some goodies, you'll be glad you did!
Don't forget to tell them you saw it here!

Jurassic Park Cat Raptor

Tonight -Pattern or Practice - Second Showing at the Oriental Theatre

 

 http://patternorpractice.com/showing-at-the-oriental-theatre/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Controversial Documentary About Civil Rights Violations Commented by Southeastern Politicians Announces Showing at the Oriental Theater in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE – (Feb. 28, 2014) – Jim Spodick, producers of the much-talked about documentary, Pattern or Practice, has announced a second showing will take place on March 10, 2014 at 7 PM at Milwaukee’s Oriental Theater. Pattern or Practice shows the life-changing side of racism and how denial and disbelief  smooth one's conscience, but does nothing to prevent the damages brought by bigotry and prejudice.

Pattern or Practice features restaurant bar owners who had their licenses and businesses taken by city of Racine, Wis., elected officials. The footage includes interviews with business owners who, with their own words and emotions, outline the abuse and harassment they experienced at the hands of the city of Racine.. The film uses documentation from actual committee meetings, network news casts and articles that ran in the local newspaper.

“As a property owner in Racine, I have been seeing firsthand the abuse and mishandling of power that our elected officials have been implementing on our city and citizens,” said Spodick. “I’d say things really starting escalating over the past ten years. I was hearing and seeing stories of the travesties that were taking place to business owners and knew I had to get involved to bring awareness to what these politicians were and continue to do to our city.”

The title, Pattern or Practice, comes from the Justice Department term meaning: pattern of discrimination that has been conducted against a group of persons or an issue of general public importance. The film focuses on the practice of selective legal enforcement that is enabled by a passive public perception of "I'm glad it's not me". Racine County Supervisor and owner of the local black newspaper, Ken Lumpkin, states "I was raised in Montgomery Alabama during the marches for freedom with Dr. King and thought this type of activity was dead.”

“You can’t turn on the news at night without hearing about political corruption in one form or another and it’s not party-specific,” said Spodick. I want the viewers of Pattern or Practice to see the faces of these victims, listen to their stories and get angry….very angry. I’m hoping this film will be a platform for citizens throughout the country to send a message to their elected officials: “No more. Not on our watch and certainly not with our vote!”

For more information on the Pattern or Practice, contact Jim Spodick at (262) 930-5467, patternorpractice@gmail.com or visit patternorpractice.com. 

# # #

Open Blog - Monday

Have a Garfield Monday.

"Feds likely already on the Racine liquor licensing case"

From JSOnline:

"When reputable lawyers sue Racine city officials, tavern league members and a downtown business development group claiming they conspired to run minority bar owners out of business, there are going to be questions.

"One of the first from many people who heard about the case's claims was 'Are prosecutors on this?'
 
"Oddly for this sort of blockbuster suit, the lawyers weren't saying much (perhaps letting a recently screened documentary film tell the plaintiffs' version) But from a series of 'can't comments,'  suggest some government authorities, like the federal Department of Justice, are indeed looking hard at liquor license regulation in Racine, and maybe some campaign finances too.

"The lawsuit portrays a racially biased effort by white business owners and downtown Racine boosters to force out the minority tavern owners, or even white tavern owners if their bars attract mostly minority customers. Specifically, it accuses Mayor John Dickert of accepting bribes from those concerns and then using the city's regulatory and police functions to accomplish that goal. It claims excessive contributions to Dickert's mayoral campaigns went either unreported or were laundered through his private bank accounts and reported as personal loans to his campaign."

Read more from Journal Sentinel: http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/247655031.html#ixzz2vVcVEAVJ

The news is going to be full of lying John's bullshit in the months to come.  I feel a duty to report these things, but at the same time I'm concerned about this sewage affecting our site.  Dickert has been a gangster in City Hall from day one.  He's destroying our city and this federal lawsuit may be what finally does us in.  All because of Dickert's lies.  His narcissism will take us down with him. 

I'll try not to post too much negativity, but there are going to be many stories on this lawsuit.  We can only hope that the truth will be discovered.  If the feds are here, I cheer them on.  What took you guys so long?

"Has The City Of Racine Morphed Into a Criminal Syndicate?"

From Racine Exposed:

More wrongdoing by our "leaders."

http://racineexposed.wordpress.com/2014/03/09/has-the-city-of-racine-morphed-into-a-criminal-syndicate/

"February 2014 Property Report"

From Property Reports:

"According to the Wisconsin IPAS system, 124 documents were recorded during February of 2014 for the City of Racine. There were 27 foreclosures, and most homes sold for tens of thousands less than the assessed value."

Read more: http://racinesales.wordpress.com/2014/03/09/february-2014-property-report/

Spring Forward

Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 AM this morning. Turn your clocks an hour ahead.

Disclaimer

Every year when we change our clocks for Daylight Saving Time, we should also check the batteries in our smoke alarms and read the JT Irregulars Disclaimer at the bottom of our webpages.

It's a beautiful piece of work.  It discourages us from taking ourselves too seriously.  If you haven't read it, you should. 

My favorite line from the Disclaimer is, "We do not discriminate against the mentally ill!"

Thank God, or I wouldn't be here.

"Rubber band Babies"

This video is 9 months old, but it was new to me.

The first thing my mother would've said would be, "Stop it! You'll hit somebody in the eye!"

"Racine WI Scanner"

Submitted by Richard Head:

Racine WI Scanner (http://racinescanner.com/) and

Racine County Scanner on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/RacineCountyScanner)

Both have been added to our sidebar Local News sites

Grins

More Problems with Racine's Ethics Board and Cable Commission

From Racine Community Media:

"City of Racine pushes Formal Ethics Complaint of Mary Osterman to Cable Commission, which Mary Osterman (the accused) is a member!!!!!!! And also the secretary!!!!

"All this was done prior to any action or discussion by the City of Racine Ethics Board!!! The community is asking questions as to the procedure used, and just how a Formal Ethics Complaint could be discussed in a City Cable Meeting with the person being accused in the complaint, without it going to the Ethics Board first?"

Read more:  http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/78856238371/city-of-racine-pushes-formal-ethics-complaint-of

Open Blog - Weekend

Enjoy yourselves!

Ice Can See for Miles Too

Here are the latest pictures taken of Lake Michigan from Shoop Park, Thursday afternoon. As you can see, the ice reaches beyond the Racine Reef Lighthouse, which is two miles out there. I saw NO open water...

This is the worse I have seen the ice! The latest ice cover is at 92 percent for Lake Michigan. Wow..

While I'm on this subject here, I'd bring to your attention the rapidly declining duck population. Reports have poured from all over of dead diving ducks on the ice.With this ice cover, there is really no place to go for these hungry birds! If anyone sees a stranded or and injured duck, please call the humane society or the DNR. Thanks! (Below, a Red Breasted Merganser, photo taken at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee 2/22/2014)

More Double Dealing from Racine's Ethics Board and Cable Commission

Four for Fridays

Hello everybody and welcome back! Do I feel spring in the air? I hope so... I think we are all getting a little sick of winter. Anyways... here are your questions....

1) When do you think the ice will finally melt on Lake Michigan?

2) Would you ever take a Polar Bear plunge?

3) If you found a $100 bill on the ground what would you do with it?

4) What is your stance on hunting?

Enjoy your weekend!

"This Is What War Does To Children"

http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

A chilling and effective video. Will humans ever learn to live in peace?

Open Blog - Friday

Have a great day.

BINGO....

http://charlotte.cbslocal.com/2014/03/05/scientists-build-orgasm-machine-for-women/

Open Blog - Thursday

I'm thankful for the JT Irregulars.

this coming weekend....

Don't Forget to Move Your Clocks Ahead on March 9th Daylight Savings Time Begins

"Racine firefighters collecting supplies for Mitchell students & staff"

From RacineUncovered:

http://racineuncovered.org/2014/03/racine-firefighters-collecting-supplies-for-mitchell-students-staff/

Also

From Racine County Eye:

"How You Can Help The Students From Mitchell Elementary"

http://racinecountyeye.com/2014/03/02/can-help-students-mitchell-elementary/

ZZ Top - "Pearl Necklace"

In honor of this week's Bedtime Games.

Really Neat Video

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my fellow snow souls!  How are you?  Snow and cold, snow and cold, snow and cold, it never ends.  We’re trapped in some hideous time loop that makes winter forever.  Or at least until August when it’ll be hot and dry, hot and dry, hot and dry.  Wisconsin is that land of extremes.  Polarization in politics now affects our weather.  Neat trick, when you consider the roots of “polarization.”  In any case, the polar vortex owns us.  We are slaves to it until spring kicks it in the yo-yos.  Go, spring!  Any day now!  Send those yo-yos spinning.

Right after posting my blog last week, Mr. Mayor Dickert and many of his associates were named as the defendants in a federal civil rights lawsuit brought against the city by minority former bar owners.  This is considered to be one of the aftershocks of Pattern or Practice (http://patternorpractice.com/), the film which documents the treatment of said bar owners by the city.  Oh my, oh dear, oh my.  I hope that wrongs can be righted, but it’s a shame that the citizens have to pay for the sins of our leaders. 

The fire at Mitchell School was devastating.  I hope that RUSD is up to the challenge.  Blessings to the firefighters and emergency personnel, blessings to the students, their families, and their teachers.  God bless you all and protect you.  Let’s come together to overcome this tragedy.  Here's a link from Racine County Eye to how you can help: http://racinecountyeye.com/2014/03/02/can-help-students-mitchell-elementary/

“March Madness” is what sets in with basketball now, correct?  Truly, I need little to go mad.  A gentleman I didn’t know recently held the door open for me as we entered a restaurant.  As it turned out, we both left at the same time, too.  Again, he held the door open for me.  I thanked him.  He tapped me on the shoulder and said, “You know the world is changing.”  My, oh my, did I ponder on that.  Was he speaking of the deterioration of civility in the present day, or was he referring to my profession?  Or something else?  It’s a mystery rolled up in an enigma tied off with a conundrum.

I have cabin fever.  I don’t care if it’s snowing or cold outside; I want to go out and do something, anything.  The Señor shares my sentiment and Junior hasn’t stopped bouncing off of the walls since Christmas.  I want to picnic someplace pleasant and then go to a drive-in movie.  I want to lie back and look at the stars.  I want to do anything which will destroy the drudgery of these cold, gray, snowy days and nights.  Anything, that is, except for a Polar Plunge.  Just because Jimmy Fallon does it, doesn’t mean I’m going to do it.

What a nice way to bring people together, in the ER.

Take my advice: avoid anything that says “polar,” “plunge,” or “vortex.”  That will take care of half of the weather problems in your life.

Thank you, my Sons and Lovers, for reading my blog today.  You energize me with your visits. But I’m no Energizer Bunny®.  I’m a dynamo who gives as freely as she gets, who regenerates the love that you give to me and returns it you a thousand fold.

It’s Ash Wednesday.  Repent now: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com

Watch out for the March slush and mush and mud.  Roads that look safe can have a layer of black ice.  Take it slow, enjoy the view, and have a lovely week, my lovely loves.  Sciapodous!

Open Blog - Wednesday

B & B and P & P.

Another Complaint Filed Against Dickert & Cohorts

From Racine Community Media:

"BREAKING NEWS: LOCAL GROUP FILES FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH RACINE DISTRICT ATTORNEY ASKING FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CITY OF RACINE FOR FAILING TO FILL PUBLIC OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS, AND ALSO FAILING TO NOTICE A FORMAL COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST CABLE COMMISSIONER AND MAYOR JOHN DICKERT’S CAMPAIGN TREASURER MARY JERGER OSTERMAN."

Read more: http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/78585821383/breaking-news-local-group-files-formal-complaint

Open Blog - Tuesday

Is that Charlie again?

Thank You, JT Irregulars!

Thank you all for your recent support of me and especially for being my friends.  I've never known a finer group of people.  I'm proud to be a member.  I encourage others to join.

You've already saved my life more times than you know. 

Are you pooping right??

This guy makes me laugh, the things he comes up with,

enjoy!

City of Racine to Ask Surrounding Communities to Help Pay for City's CAR25/BelleTV Public Access Station

From Racine Community Media:

"BREAKING NEWS: CITY OF RACINE TO ASK CALEDONIA, MT. PLEASANT, WIND POINT, AND OTHER SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES TO HELP PAY FOR CITY’S CAR25/BELLETV ACCESS STATION!!!!" 

"Racine- According to Racine Aldermen and Cable Commissioners, the surrounding communites have had access to the City Of Racine’s cable access tv station, for free, long enough. Despite The City Of Racine residents paying $160K a year for the under utilized channel, The City Of Racine will ask outlying communities to pay 3 percent for CAR25/BelleTV. It’s a very suprising move considering the 2012 budget was $80K a year and they currently have no sponsors, and currently have less than 6 community members producing programming. It’s mostly old 3 Stooges, Andy Griffith and Bonanza re-runs airing on the channel now days, and that’s when the channel is even functioning or on-air. In a move that was sold to the community and residents 10 months ago by Mayor John Dickert and others, outsourcing the community channel was to SAVE MONEY and be SELF SUFFICIENT. In less than one year, the budget has doubled and the City Of Racine will now ask outlying communites to contribute 3 percent. When asked what the surrounding communities would recieve in return, the answer from the Racine Cable Commission? NOTHING!!!!" 

Read more: http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/78436399224/breaking-news-city-of-racine-to-ask-caledonia

Bed Bug Apocalypse - Epilog

Today marks four weeks since the last sighting of a bed bug in my apartment.  Four weeks is notable because that’s how long it takes for a bedbug to grow from egg to adult.  I’ve seen none of the bugs or their telltale poop.

I sleep on a blanket on the floor where my bed will be.  My pillows are next to the wall’s baseboard, where bed bugs love to nest.  There’s a nightstand to one side of me and a dresser to the other.  Again, good places to live.  Even the folds in the blanket are good places for them to hide.

I’ve seen nothing.  Especially the poop, I haven’t seen the poop.  Bed bugs move and hide, but their poop remains.

I thought I’d let you all in on this.  However, I don’t consider my place cleared of bed bugs.  Not yet.  I’ll wait another week before I finally start putting things in the basement storage, I think.  Just to be sure.  Just to be double-sure.

I’m still hypervigilant.  I still don’t believe.

It would be an exaggeration to say that bed bugs destroyed my life, but they did considerable damage to both my property and my psyche.  If, God willing, they are gone from my apartment, I pray that I never see another one, anywhere.  I also pray that this curse never visits my friends or my enemies.

Maybe I'll have a pool party to celebrate: Bed Bug Beach Blanket Bingo.


Related: http://www.jtirregulars.com/2014/01/bed-bugs-pests-from-hell.html

http://www.jtirregulars.com/2014/01/bed-bugs-pests-from-hell-saga-continues.html

Local Loyalty - Dragon Flies and Dreams

Welcome back for another instalment of Local Loyalty!

Today's feature is - 

 Dragon Flies and Dreams

9415 Durand Ave. 

Sturtevant.

884-7970

Mon-Sat. 9-5, 

closed Sundays.

This was a new find for me, as I 1st saw the sign a couple weeks ago, coming home from Kenosha. The name caught my eye and piqued my curiosity. 

How unobservant am I? I've gone past it many, many times, and I found out that it's been there since 2000! Now my eyes are actively trying to find what else I've been missing, geez! 

If any of you, like me, didn't even know this was there, here's the scoop!

Dragon Flies and Dreams is a really cool, quaint, stamping shop. 

I had the best time visiting with Sande, the owner. She knows everything you could possibly want to know about stampers, ink, projects and what anybody could need, whether they're a newby like me, 

or a very creative, super talented person. 

She opened up at this location back in 2000, 

when her craft room at home was full and she decided to open up a shop. 

She has classes a couple days a week, and also has a card making workshop once a month, where you go in and make 10 cards in 2 hours. 

The 3 words she chose to describe her place - 

1. Unique 

(she carries stamps that the big places don't, 

and she likes to deal with smaller places as well)

2. Friendly - 

yes, most definitely! I had the best time with her!

3. Creative - 

ok, if you, like me, don't have that gene, 

she can still help you!

 

Here are a couple of the stampers I bought. I put together the designs with the words, so each picture is actually of 2 different stamps, that I then used colored pencils to color them in -

(and no, I'm not a crafty kinda person but this isn't bad for a newby!)

My goal is to go back and get some more, and more color ink pads. What a simple, creative way to jazz something up, or just to send a note to somebody with a nice added personal touch.
If I can do this, anybody can! And Sande is just the right person to help you out, stop in and check it out!
Don't forget to tell her you saw it here!

"Journal Times nabs 15 state awards"

Congratulations, Journal Times!

From The Journal Times.com:

15 hours ago  •  By Aaron Knapp

"RACINE — The Journal Times has earned five first-place awards from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association for work including breaking news coverage, business coverage and general web excellence.

"The paper also won six second-place awards and four third-place awards. Two reporters also earned awards from the State Bar of Wisconsin.

"All of the awards were announced during the WNA’s convention Friday.

“'I’m thankful for the hard work and dedication of all of our staff,' said Managing Editor Rob Golub. 'We have won first place in several key categories and we have a lot to be proud of.'

"The Journal Times took first-place awards for:

"- Breaking News Coverage. Current and former reporters Stephanie Jones, Alison Bauter, Luke Feuerherm and Lindsay Bullock as well as photographers Scott Anderson and Gregory Shaver were recognized for their continuing coverage of a fatal fire in Racine that took the lives of three children in November 2012.

"- Business Coverage. Reporter Michael Burke was specifically honored for his January 2013 job skills gap coverage, which analyzed the Racine County businesses’ struggle to find employees qualified for open positions.

"- General Web Excellence. Bridget Thoreson, Brenda Wishau, Greg Giesen, Clint Wiedholz, Jerry Boehme and Golub were specifically recognized for election night coverage.

"- Reporting on Local Government. Reporter Cara Spoto was recognized for her ongoing coverage of the City of Racine’s government.

"- Special Section – Editorial: Michael Burke, Loreen Mohr, Brenda Poppy and Ann Walter were honored for the Modern Manufacturing section.

"The State Bar of Wisconsin also awarded a Golden Gavel to reporters Kristen Zambo and Stephanie Jones for their ongoing coverage of the trial of Curt Johnson, an heir of the Johnson family household product fortune accused of molesting his teenage stepdaughter.

"Zambo also received a Certificate of Commendation from the State Bar for her May article, 'Waiting in Jail,' about individuals having to wait in jail several weeks longer than usual for probation agents to prepare pre-sentence investigations reports for judges."

Read more: http://journaltimes.com/news/local/journal-times-nabs-state-awards/article_e7551006-a0d1-11e3-9ce5-0019bb2963f4.html


Congratulations, Journal Timers!

"Is The Racine City Tavern League a Corrupting Influence?"

From Racine Exposed:

"The latest edition of the  Racine City Tavern League Hospitality Times declares,  RCTL Director Blanca Webers running for 12th. District Alderman!  'Please help us get one of our own elected.'

"But do the People of The City of Racine need yet another Tavern League Member as part of the Dickert Administration? And why is it so important to the  Racine City Tavern League that they place yet another one of their  members into a position of political power who can be counted on to vote 'Team Dickert'?"

Read more: http://racineexposed.wordpress.com/2014/03/02/is-the-racine-city-tavern-league-a-corrupting-influence/

Open Blog - Monday

Good question. Maybe hale-bopp knows

Watching Comedies

Open Blog - Weekend

Hello March!

Michigan Lighthouse compliments of the Polar Vortex

St Joseph Lighthouse, Lake Michigan 1/2014

This is the St. Joseph Lighthouse on Lake Michigan. Today, it is encased in iceas the Midwest was hit with wind chills that reached   -50 degrees.

 

 

What it normally looks like