We're #1

But it's not a good thing. See, culture is not always a good thing, but the lack of culture is worse, or, to put it another way, the lack of culture leads to a culture of beer, sort of a Church of Beer. Apologies or thanks, as the case may be, to my friend, JF.

Culture?

Obama Wins Wisconsin

For better or worse, looks like we helped Obama today.

Wisconsin -

Obama 58%
Clinton 41

85% reporting

Actually, quite a convincing win.

Weird

& up here in the far north of Wisco, we have, well, not much snow. Madison is close to a record. Go figure.

Obey To Vote For Obama

During Wisco's primary I'm putting Edwards name down, but this move by Obey signals where I'll put my vote in November, providing Clinton doesn't get the Democratic nomination. Don't misconstrue that last statement to mean I will not vote for the Democratic nominee.

And Obey has made that choice.

"For eight long years, in extreme partisanship, George W. Bush has governed this country by dividing it," the senior Democrat from Wisconsin explained in an email sent to this reporter after we spoke about the race Thursday. "(Bush) has pursued disastrous foreign and domestic policies and has stubbornly refused to listen to anyone's views except those who march in lockstep with him. America desperately needs a new president who can reach across old barriers to form new alliances that can produce a new era of optimism and a healthier respect for the needs of others. I had originally supported John Edwards for President, but with his withdrawal I am voting for Barack Obama."

I Did Not Know This

Funny how Johnny Carson pops up when I realize I've just formed a new nueral pathway in my brain. Anyhoo, this article in today's NYT was quite interesting. &, as a Wiscoite, I learned another way that we are progressive. I know, we must atone for the evil Joe McCarthy, &, of course, Ed Gein, well know lampshade maker, but I think we are making a stab at it with, well, the UW-Madison, the Green Bay Packers, & beer, & the abolishment of for profit bail bondspersons, among other things.

“It’s a very American invention,” John Goldkamp, a professor of criminal justice at Temple University, said of the commercial bail bond system. “It’s really the only place in the criminal justice system where a liberty decision is governed by a profit-making businessman who will or will not take your business.”

Although the system is remarkably effective at what it does, four states — Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon and Wisconsin — have abolished commercial bail bonds, relying instead on systems that require deposits to courts instead of payments to private businesses, or that simply trust defendants to return for trial.

Most of the legal establishment, including the American Bar Association and the National District Attorneys Association, hates the bail bond business, saying it discriminates against poor and middle-class defendants, does nothing for public safety, and usurps decisions that ought to be made by the justice system.

Interesting

Mrs. coldH2O is a German & a lapsed-Roman Catholic. Please send me sympathy money. Just kidding, dearheart. Here's an interesting story from one of the McClatchy papers. I didn't know about this particular strain of Germanness in the country, too bad it didn't have the progressive effect the Germans had in Wisco.

Funny

The National Transportation Safety Board recently divulged they had "covertly" funded a project with the U.S. automakers for the past 5 years, whereby the automakers were installing black-box voice recorders in 4-wheel drive pickup trucks and SUV's in an effort to determine fatal accidents, the circumstances in the last 15 seconds before the crash.

They were surprised to find in 48 of the 50 states the recorded last words of drivers in 61.2 percent of fatal crashes were, "Oh Shit!"

Only Wisconsin and Minnesota were different, where 89.3 percent of the final words were: "Hold my beer, I'm gonna try something."

Thanks to my friend HW for this good joke.

Bye Bye Namakagon River

This is no good.

The spills took place during construction of a 320-mile pipeline by Enbridge Inc. of Calgary, Canada, alongside its existing pipeline from Superior to near Whitewater.

Local Hero

Via M.R., another local do-gooder, this news arrived at the local coffee house, the coffee house without WIFI, but with a demented, but quite hot owner.

Roscoe and Evelyn Churchill

Roscoe Churchill passed away after 90 years of a full life. He and his wife Evelyn stood strong against the mining companies who intended to mine metallic sulfide ores in Wisconsin (a type of ore that always creates acid mine drainage, which is like adding battery acid to our waters of the state). Over the years they had thousands of people who loved them and followed their lead.

They were like two huge oak trees that sent thousands of acorns scattering to the earth. Those "acorns" have now taken root and the largest, longest lasting, and most sincere "grassroots" environmental movement continues to this day and will long into the future generations. They were truly the "grandparents of the anti-metallic sulfide mining movement in Wisconsin", and now their followers have spread to other states.

Someday, due to their loving diligence mining companies will have to do what they hate to do.....clean up their mess and listen to the local communities.

Over the next week we will be gathering photos and stories of these two wonderful people who worked so hard to protect the earth for the future generations.

In the meantime, here is the obituary for Roscoe Churchill

Roscoe Lee Churchill passed from this life on Friday, February 9, 2007. A loving father, devoted husband and inspired educator, Roscoe retained a clear mind and strong commitment to preserving and protecting the earth until the age of 90.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 16, 2007 at the First Church of Christ, located at 701 Menasha Avenue, Ladysmith. Pastor Donn Schroeder and Pastor Ramon Hunt will officiate. Visitation will be at the Nash-Jackan Funeral Home in Ladysmith, Thursday, February 15, 2007 from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m., with a 10:00 a.m. visitation on Friday prior to the funeral service. In addition, a “Fond Farwell” memorial will be held at the Stefan Pavilion at the Grant Town Shops (South of Ladysmith on Hwy. 27), beginning at 2:00 p.m. (following the burial). There will be songs in celebration of Roscoe’s life, sharing of memories, dedications by Native American Tribal Members and a special Eagle Feather Ceremony.

Roscoe is survived by his brother Edwin (Milwaukee), his five children – Arlene Sellereite (Seattle), Edwin (Augusta, Maine), George (Conrath), Susan (Madison), and Hazel Ann Jerry (Ladysmith), ten grand children, seven great-grand children, his virtual son Kwabena Amoh (Minneapolis), and his special friends, Laura and Greg Furtman (Webster). Roscoe was preceded in death by his beloved wife Evelyn and his grandson, Zachary.

Roscoe was born on June 28, 1916 to George and Arminda Churchill, the 10th of 11 children. He grew up on the farm, and learned early to work hard, and to love nature. He thrived on splitting wood, riding and driving horses, and eating berry pies. His proudest moment was when, as a young man, he was able to purchase a Model A Ford for his parents, with money he earned cutting and selling wood. He completed County Normal (teachers’ training) in 1937 at the age of 21. In the same year he got his first teaching position and married Evelyn Dorothy Haase, the love of his life. He and Evelyn were happily married for nearly 59 years. Roscoe was a member and elder of the First Church of Christ in Ladysmith, and also, in later life, a member of the Congregational Church in Conrath. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge.

Roscoe’s most profound moment of fulfillment was when he was able to buy back the family farm south of Ladysmith, which was pioneered by his parents in 1900, and lost during the Depression. With his family, he enjoyed operating the farm while pursuing his career as an educator. He raised beef and dairy cattle, took great pleasure in working with his horses, often driving his favorite mare, April, in local parades. Roscoe enjoyed listening to and singing music from the Big Band era, liked to play the harmonica, and took pleasure in playing the ukulele to waken his kids before chores in the morning.

Other favorite activities included making maple syrup and playing cribbage with his friend Bob Bricco, writing poetry and refining his skill at darning socks.

During his teaching career, which spanned over thirty years, Roscoe continued his education, and was the first in his family to obtain a Masters Degree. He took great pride and pleasure in nurturing an appreciation of nature in his students. Through the “Trees for Tomorrow” program, he introduced many youngsters to the wonder of Wisconsin’s forests and woodlands, and to the importance of caring for our natural world.

In partnership with Evelyn, Roscoe worked tirelessly to protect Wisconsin’s environment. They drafted and promoted important legislation to protect Wisconsin’s waters, including the Flambeau River, from the impacts of mining. Further, Roscoe and Evelyn provided guidance, support and inspiration to countless others across the state and nation who shared their desire to preserve the environment. Roscoe and Evelyn received numerous awards and recognition for their dedicated service and environmental leadership.

Roscoe loved spending time outdoors, planting crops, caring for his animals, and occasionally hunting for deer. At age 86, he bagged a prize buck, which he mounted on his living room wall. Thirty-five years ago Roscoe and his family planted thousands of pine, spruce and balsam trees on the “back forty” of the farm. Today those trees stand tall, providing habitat to deer, bear, owls and other wildlife - a living legacy to a man who lived his life according to his ideals. Roscoe will be long remembered – a leader, visionary and inspiration to us all.

Those who wish to express sympathy may consider a donation to:

* Northwest Wisconsin Homecare (Hospice)
* The Evelyn Churchill Memorial Environmental Scholarship Fund

This Is What Happens

When ReThuglicans rule. Global warming is exacerbated by policies from a once progressive state. & that asshole J.B. Van Hollen just pulled us out of a suit against the EPA.

Wisconsin generates greenhouse gases linked to global warming at a rate that is about one-third faster than the national average, a Journal Sentinel analysis found.

This trend will only escalate because the state's utilities are on the leading edge of a national building boom of coal-burning power plants, fueled by an ever-increasing appetite for electricity.

Power plants under construction in Oak Creek and Wausau will cost utility customers almost $3 billion, representing the most such construction activity in any state, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Once the plants fire up, Wisconsin's coal plants will pump 10% more carbon dioxide into the air by 2012, state energy planning figures show.

And those emissions will increase. Last week, Alliant Energy Corp. of Madison announced plans to build a 300-megawatt coal plant on the Mississippi River in Grant County at a cost of nearly $800 million.

Is J.B. van Hollen An Asshole?

You decide. Oh, & stop breathing, it is bad for your health.

Farming In Wisconsin

While the monster farms continue to get huge federal subsidies, the small, family farms die. & yet, in the article, the lamentation is for the loss of cropland that could be used for growing the bio- in biofuels. But, you see, small farms just aren't profitable, in other words, not worth worrying about.

Good

& about time.

MADISON, Wis. - Gov. Jim Doyle plans to appoint a global warming task force and create an energy independence office to coordinate an effort to dramatically expand the state's use of renewable energy by 2025.

& an almost immediate UPDATE: News from the Winter Carnival in MN.

(WCCO) St. Paul During Day Two of the St. Paul Winter Carnival, a home-grown Minnesotan and world-renown Arctic explorer used the "coolest celebration on earth" to raise awareness of global warming.

Will Steger and a self-proclaimed team of explorers/educators plan to embark on a four-month, 1,200-mile dogsled expedition of Baffin Island in the northern most Canadian territory of Nunavut.

During Saturday's appearance at the carnival, he stressed the need to increase awareness of global warming -- it's real and it's happening.

"I never thought in my lifetime I would see these great changes in the Arctic," he said -- commenting on rising temperatures at the polar ice cap, rising sea levels and changes in migratory patterns among indigenous animals. "I really have to show these changes in the arctic to everyday people to show this is real."

Strange

This was listed under state news in Rhinelander, WI's daily paper.

death of manDogs help La Crosse students learn to read

Shoulda

Local law enforcement tainted by local ReThug H. Craig Haukaas. While suspended D.A. Haukaas supported Van Hollen, those of us who knew him best voted 2 to 1 against him. That ought to tell the rest of the state something. Kathleen Falk's narrow defeat will prove to be disastrous for Wisco.

Oh, &

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Lucky For Us

This Van Hollen is on our side. There are two links in that first sentence.

This one isn't.


Is J.B. Van Hollen the devil of cranberry pollution? I need answers.

J.B. Von Hollen A Crook?

We may never know.

Attorney General-elect J-B Van Hollen is drawing scrutiny for allowing donors who give 500 dollars to join a special club of contributors.

Van Hollen, Again

Good job, you loser.

Despite the narrow margin of his win, however, Van Hollen is now sending signals that he intends to review roughly two dozen environmental actions brought by the state Department of Justice against the federal government, local governments and private parties. That's a review that the WMC wants, as do the many business interests that have benefited from lax enforcement of environmental laws by the Bush administration and by some local governments.

Emphasis added.

Idiots

Just what we need. Some people are just too stupid to believe. & a president of a school board, an adoption lawyer, go figure, who hasn't read Angelou's book. Now there is a reason to recall the dimwit.

Some Fond du Lac parents have asked school officials to remove former U.S. poet laureate Maya Angelou's autobiography from the high school curriculum.

Van Hollen - Is He A Crook?

We may never know.

Van Hollen's campaign finance reports show he has accepted about $3,500 from donors affiliated with cranberry operations since 2005, including $600 from Zawistowski's wife, Rosalind.