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Classic Italian Parmesan Polenta

Chef Michael Feker — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:07:42 GMT

My fellow food lovers,

I wish you all a Happy New Year and look forward to serving you in 2009!
As a token of my appreciation for your passion and support, I present to you
one of my favorite side dishes, a mouth-watering, creamy traditional Italian Polenta.

Parmesan Polenta

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup of corn meal/Italian polenta preferred
½ cup grated Parmesan
3 cups of half and half
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup of onion diced
1 clove garlic minced
4 tablespoons butter at room temperature
4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
Salt and white pepper to taste

Directions

In a heavy bottom large sauce pan with tall walls (sides) heat butter over medium heat.
Add onions and garlic and cook until are translucent and soft.
Add half-and-half then bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper until you taste the salt and pepper.
Bring mixture to a boil and whisk in polenta little at a time
Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes stirring constantly.
Turn off heat and whisk in cheese and olive oil, cover and let rest for 10 minutes, mix again, serve and enjoy.

Tweens And Healthcare

Janet Evans — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:00:09 GMT

Do you have a teenage who is inbeTWEEN? One who you still can take to the pediatrician until s/he is 18, but could also be taken to your doctor? What should you do? The pediatrician really knows more about your teen, but s/he's uncomfortable going there.

Still, this is the age when your teen really needs to be having regular contact with a physician.

The period between ages 10 and 19 is unique, bringing more rapid biological changes than perhaps any age other than infancy. Even though most of the nation’s 42 million adolescents seem to be thriving, it is a time of risk-taking and pushing boundaries in ways that can mean immediate consequences: Car crashes, experimenting with alcohol or drugs, teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease.

And it’s also an age when many of the habits that determine good health during adulthood are set, or not.

[...]

Yet the system of care for tweens and teens is fragmented and poorly designed. Few doctors specialize in adolescents’ complex needs, or provide comprehensive care that earns their trust, concludes a recent probe by the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. Most at risk are the poor.

Click for complete article

The hottest debate topic of the week

Kevin Fischer — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:46:00 GMT

It has nothing to do with Congressional, state, or local politics, breastfeeding in public, Brittany Spears, or even Brett Favre. But it is a sports topic.

No matter who wins the FedEx National Championship Thursday night, Oklahoma or Florida, the victor won't stop the avalanache of discussion about how Division I college football is the only college sport that's decided without a true playoff format. Polls, computers, subjective analyses by coaches and reporters all have a say in who plays for the so-called national title. Again, it can be argued the game doesn't matter. Just ask the folks in Utah and their undefeated Utes.

While listening to SIRIUS Satellite Radio this week, I heard Tim Brando, often seen on CBS, argue vociferously for a playoff system. I can hear you, loud and clear. Yeh, yeh, yeh, that same, tired old debate. Brando, however, has a different take. His plan would result in what hecalls a Final Four of college football. The words, "Final Four," in sports are madly magical. The NCAA semifinals in basketball are not just games, they are a happening, an event embedded in the fabric of America.

Brando would keep all the bowl games, and then take the winners, and I can't remember from which games, but it would be four of the following five: Rose, Cotton, Sugar, Orange, and Fiesta.

The four teams would be seeded with # 1 facing # 4 and #2 facing #3. The two winners would then meet for the national championship.

As compelling as such a system might sound, it appears a playoff format isn't coming anytime soon. There's just too much love for the current way of doing things.

But a Final Four in college football sounds incredibly appealing.

A Pity

Ken Brosky — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:15:09 GMT

How much does it suck to be Levi Johnson right now? Probably a bunch. Levi's the lucky fella who knocked up the Alaska Governor's daughter, Bristol. *Cue the shotgun wedding* So now Johnson's got Sarah Palin for a mother-in-law (which most conservative males probably envy, I suppose), he's not even old enough to drink and already he's got a baby on the way and he's going to be stuck with his current fling for DECADES. Yes, that's right: poor Levi won't be divorcing...(read more)

A Sky High Nightmare

Pam Stein — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:12:42 GMT

An ornery drunk man, a woman snoring loudly, a woman who wouldn’t shut up, and another woman with a bad cold were sitting in a plane . . .

This sounds like the beginning of a bad joke. Or is it representative of the four people that you NEVER want to sit next to on an airplane? Which of these four people would you have wanted to sit next to on a 2½ hour flight? Let’s face it; you wouldn’t have wanted to be near any of them. You would have asked Miss Perky, the flight attendant, if you could switch seats. The plane is full and you are stuck where you are. It’s your nightmare about flying come true, you are surrounded by people you don’t want to sit near.

This wasn’t a nightmare but was reality in Row 1 aboard a recent Air Tran flight number 652 from Orlando to Milwaukee. Four people, two on each side of the center aisle, each representing persons that you LEAST want to sit next to on an airplane.

Miss Perky offers drinks to the business class passengers prior to take off. She hands the man seated in 1-A a glass of orange juice and a small bottle of vodka which he downs in less time than it took the Concorde to break the sound barrier. This is drink number one for seat 1-A.

It’s take off and as the plane careens down the runway at 300mph your seatbelt better be fastened because this is going to be a rough ride. 1-A is already pushing the flight attendant call button asking for drink number two. Shortly thereafter Miss Perky comes by with a basket of snacks for passengers to choose from; a bag of chips, pretzels or bagel chips. Not just those one handful snack bags that are served in coach but a regular size bag. Along with it, Miss Perky responds to the call button that 1-A pushed. Miss Perky takes drink orders. Make that drink number two for 1-A.

Seat 1-C is occupied by a woman who, immediately after takeoff, takes her seat out of the upright position and falls asleep. Moments later we were treated to a never ending chorus of snoring. It’s hard to hear the plane’s engines over her snoring. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Bring on drink numbers three and four for 1-A.

1-D give us a tough looking woman in her late 50’s who was born in Peoria, Illinois. She is decked out in sports apparel. A Georgia fan that was in Orlando for the Capitol One Bowl. We hear all about her Harley and trips to Sturgis. We learn that she used to bartend, prepare meals for United Airlines, and now works in a hospital sterilizing instruments for surgery. She’s never been married, has no kids, and likes to play darts. Anything else you want to know?

1-A is getting ornery because Miss Perky isn’t getting him drinks quick enough. The perkiness is going away. Now it’s a chore to serve him. Let’s see . . . that’s drink number five.

"Gimme another vodka and orange juice.” Why couldn’t he just call it what it is – a screwdriver. I’m sure that our ex-bartender in 1-D was asking herself this same question. That’s drink number six for 1-A.

Rounding out the people that you love to hate on a flight, was the woman sitting in 1-F. A well tanned woman who obviously enjoyed her vacation. She was happy when Miss Now Not So Perky brought her oj (without vodka) and a box of Kleenex. Achoo, cough, nose blow, achoo. This woman wants to be left alone but 1-D just keeps on talking to her. Achoo. Cough. In her conversation with 1-D, 1-F reveals that she had just returned from a cruise. A cruise, that explains the nice suntan. Achoo. Nose blow.

The captain makes an announcement that we will be landing in Milwaukee in about thirty minutes. The flight attendant call bell goes on. Miss No Longer Perky refuses to serve 1-A, but somehow he manages to convince her that he is not intoxicated. Make that drink number seven for 1-A.

The wheels come down and the end of the flight from hell is almost over. It’s now only minutes before we come to the gate and can get off the plane. No more ornery drunk, no more snoring, no more listening to every detail of someone’s life, and no more coughing and sneezing. On the bright side, thankfully there are no crying babies and kids throwing Cheerios.

Oh by the way, for me the most annoying person on this flight, the “talker” in 1-D. Upon landing I unfasten seatbelt of 1-F hoping that the 1-D talker caught my cold.

Achoo!!!!

Village Buzz - January 6th...

Al Campbell — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:02:46 GMT

Fire Department Staffing Question...

I received an e-mail from a concerned citizen (whom I know, who has no axe to grind and who isn't a 'crackpot' in any way) yesterday who raised the question as to whether we might be at the point where we needed to add to our full-time firefighter staffing numbers. He was talking about the Christmas day fire and his e-mail read like this:

"I can't believe that our Village leaders will not provide us with full-time fire protection. We have many dedicated on-call firefighters upon whom we rely for protection, however, on that Christmas day fire were 3 people who showed up on the 1st truck that went out, and they had to pull an EMT person from the ambulance to be the 2nd person on the other truck that went to the fire. So Germantown had 4 firefighters at the fire and had to rely on mutual aid from surrounding communities. As a result, the home sustained a lot of damage.

I think its time to really push the Village to upgrade the paid fulltime fire positions. As our community has grown, we have seen the increased tax dollars gladly taken in, but not spent on the essential services like fire and police protection, and improved roads."

I recall having broached this subject some months ago with nothing much coming from it at that time.

What are the thoughts from those in the community? Is it time for this subject to be aired fully? Are you willing to see some of your tax dollars put to this use?

Firefighting in their blood

Katie Derksen — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:44:45 GMT

I never have a case of the Mondays … mostly because, Monday is my Sunday. I work a Tuesday through Saturday schedule.
But this story, especially, was worth making an exception. If I can get paid to photograph guys who volunteer their time and save lives, working on my day off is the least I can do to tell their story.
As I walked into the Muskego Volunteer Fire Company, Station 1, last Monday evening, I sensed a whole lot of sadness in the air. After nearly a half-century of service, in just a few short days, the MVFC would take its last fire call. Effective Jan. 1, due to budgeting restrictions, the Muskego station closed and the Tess Corners Volunteer Fire Department is covering all of Muskego. MVFC members met one last time to wash their trucks and meet with Fire Chief Andy Mack.
Although most of Muskego’s firefighters — some of who’ve given nearly 50 years of service — will reluctantly apply at Tess Corners, a few will stay behind.
“We are known throughout the area for aggressive firefighting,” said Capt. Jim Gaffney, a 12-year veteran of the fire company who will not be making the move to Tess Corners. “We set our standards high. We don’t want to lower them.”
As a community photojournalist, I love local news. No matter how big or small a city is, there are always people who need their story to be told. And more often than not, a small community allows journalists far better access. I wasn’t at President Elect Barack Obama’s election night victory, and I’ve never covered a Super Bowl. Unless a miracle of God occurs, I won’t be at the historic presidential inauguration this month. But I felt as though I made a difference and witnessed a little piece of Muskego’s history — however small it may be — by telling the story of a couple guys who have firefighting in their blood.
I had something in common with every firefighter in the station that night — passion for our professions.
Check out Thursday’s paper for John Schultz’s complete story.

Nikon D3, 17 mm, 4000 ISO, f2.8, 1/200, Manual
Tony Schwegel, a member of the Muskego Volunteer Fire Company, goes through some of his firefighting gear Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, at the Muskego Fire Department, Station 1, located on Janesville Road. Members of the MVFC gathered one last time Monday to wash the trucks and meet with Fire Chief Andy Mack.

Nikon D3, 17 mm, 2000 ISO, f2.8, 1/250, Manual
Tony Schwegel (second from left) and Will Schaefer, both members of the Muskego Volunteer Fire Company, wash a MVFC fire truck one last time Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, at the Muskego Fire Department, Station 1, located on Janesville Road. Members of the MVFC gathered Monday to wash the trucks and meet with Fire Chief Andy Mack.

Nikon D3, 200 mm, 4000 ISO, f2.8, 1/160, Manual
Delbert Holtz, who has been a member of the Muskego Volunteer Fire Company for 47 years, talks with fellow MVFC members one last time Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, at the Muskego Fire Department, Station 1, located on Janesville Road.

Nikon D3, 17 mm, 2500 ISO, f2.8, 1/400, Manual
Andy Mack (right), fire chief for the Muskego Volunteer Fire Company, meets with Skip Wojnowski, fire chief for the Tess Corners Volunteer Fire Department, one last time Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, at the Muskego Fire Department, Station 1, located on Janesville Road.

Nikon D3, 17 mm, 2000 ISO, f2.8, 1/160, Manual

Nikon D3, 17 mm, 2000 ISO, f2.8, 1/160, Manual
Tony Schwegel, a member of the Muskego Volunteer Fire Company, washes a MVFC fire truck one last time Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, at the Muskego Fire Department, Station 1, located on Janesville Road.

Nikon D3, 17 mm, 2000 ISO, f2.8, 1/250, Manual
Will Schaefer (center), a member of the Muskego Volunteer Fire Company, washes a MVFC fire truck one last time Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, at the Muskego Fire Department, Station 1, located on Janesville Road.

One more update on the WFB Trustee Race..

Kevin Buckley — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:44:00 GMT

I filed my papers over the lunch hour, and am officially on the ballot. Trustee Richard Foster is also on the 3-year term slate. If no one registers by the deadline, the race will be uncontested for the two 3-year Trustee positions.

However .. the 1-year Trustee slot now has a contested race!

Sean Finnigan, whose name should be familiar. Finnigan and Richard Foster were the final 2 back in September when the Trustees were appointing a replacement Trustee. Finnigan lost on the 5th ballot. Here's his work website.
Jay Miller .. Miller is currently on the Plan Commission for WFB. No other information is known at this time.

Trustee Rita Cheng has unofficially given up her seat, as she does not intend to file the non-candidacy papers, nor the nomination papers.

Wal-Mart Community Contributions

Randy Hollenbeck — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:48:43 GMT

The Salvation Army - Wal-Mart donation Press Release.

Christmas Toy Drive Brightened by Wal-Mart Donation

MILWAUKEE, WI, December 18, 2008 –

The Salvation Army’s annual toy drive has received a major helping hand from Wal-Mart’s four city of Milwaukee stores. The four stores have collaborated in making an $11,000 donation, responding to The Salvation Army’s need to accommodate twice the usual number of requests for gifts for needy Milwaukee area families.

Additionally, The Salvation Army’s toy barrels will be at each of the four Milwaukee stores from Friday through Sunday (Dec. 19-21) where last minute shoppers can contribute toys for the annual drive. Included are the company’s stores at 401 E. Capitol Dr.; 5825 W Hope Ave.; 8700 N. Servite Dr., and 3355 S. 27th St.

“The donation and timely toy collection are greatly needed and appreciated especially this year with the economic downturn and the substantial increase in requests for toys. It will help brighten Christmas for thousands of families,” said Major Jesse Collins, Salvation Army Milwaukee County Commander.

He added Wal-Mart’s contribution and full cooperation surfaced after recent news reports regarding the challenges facing The Salvation Army for this year’s campaign.

About Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart discount stores, supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Club locations in the United States. The Company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom and, through a joint venture, in India. The Company's securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com

and www.samsclub.com.

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination since 1865. Nearly 33 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 87 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in nearly 9,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to http://www.SAmilwaukee.org

If you didn’t catch that - $11,000 donated from Wal-Mart to the Salvation Army locally in Milwaukee from four stores.

Now let’s look at this article from Forbes.com - America's Most Generous Corporations for a national prospective.

The No. 1 most generous company overall, Wal-Mart Stores (nyse: WMT - news - people), gave away $301 million in 2007, including total cash donations from the company foundation, and excluding free product and service offerings, otherwise called "in-kind" donations. That amounts to 1.3% of the company's 2006 operating income.

Beneficiaries of Wal-Mart's goodwill include the Children's Miracle Network, America's Second Harvest, the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, the United Way of America and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Just how much of that untapped amount could have been donated to Cudahy? Maybe for Parks, streets, put in the sidewalk I have been requesting, schools, churches, and other charities. The thoughts are endless of what could be asked for!

Is the Mayor and the Alderpersons that voted NO and sent Wal-Mart packing, going to make up the difference?

That is a foolish question because we all know they could NOT!

Love, Oprah

Marjorie Pagel — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:29:05 GMT

In the caption for this blog there’s a comma between Love and Oprah – like the signature of a letter. Whether you’re one of her fans or not, you have to admit Oprah is a woman who has made her mark: her own TV show, her own multi-layered website, her own magazine – just a stand-alone “O” is enough to establish her identity.

Yesterday she looked out at millions of viewers who tune in to her 4 p.m. show, to confess that the reason she had gained so much weight in the past year is that she did not love herself enough. Now the first reaction of some people, myself included, is to laugh. Oprah! How could she love herself any more?

But then again, who are we to judge? Just because Oprah conveys the impression she loves herself a whole lot, none of us can really know what goes on in another person’s mind. Oprah talks about “falling off the wagon” in her efforts to maintain the slim image she had captured a few years ago, and she talks about her embarrassment to face up to the “brown elephant in the room,” her chagrin at standing next to Cher (another one-name celebrity) on stage. In fact, all this week Oprah is featuring a "live your best life" series, focusing on a different topic each day. “Love yourself” was a good start.

What I find funny about my brief report of Oprah’s TV show yesterday is where I was while watching it – since I very seldom watch day-time TV. I was on one of the new treadmills at Innovative Health and Fitness, located on Loomis Road in Franklin. Each machine is equipped with an individual TV screen so exercisers can choose their favorite channel and focus on something other than their own movement. It makes the time go faster. So there I was (huff-puff) thinking some of these same Oprah thoughts: Why did I let that weight creep up on me again? (huff-puff) and Why can’t I fit in those favorite jeans any more? (huff-puff) Then I saw the connection: berating myself wasn’t really a helpful attitude for this new year. Oprah’s idea to start with a “Love Thyself” philosophy suited me just fine. Why beat a person when she’s down?

During a commercial break, there was an ad for the “50 Million Pound Challenge.” Now that particular weight-loss effort has been around since April 2007, but I’m not always up on the latest popular culture news. Staring me in the face, though (huff-puff) it got my attention. 50 million pounds? I wondered. What’s that all about? I saw a “dot-com” website address and made a mental note to check it out.

That’s what I did this morning, before writing my overdue blog. (I’ve been sick and before that, I was out of state celebrating Christmas.) I learned that the 50 Million Pound Challenge has a lot of supporters, and it’s an effort anyone can participate in without spending a dime – though if you want the free CD, you have to consult a State Farm insurance agent. Anyway, I registered. It helps me put things in perspective – the weight I want to lose in 2009 is a drop in the bucket compared to those millions.

Locally, Franklin residents can join the “Get Healthy Challenge” at Innovative Health and Fitness if they register by January 10th. The program, which lasts through June 30, 2009, is free, though participants must purchase a personal record keeper. For more information, stop at the fitness center or call Phyllis Hanson, personal trainer, 414-529-9900, ext. 717. Twelve Franklin residents who registered early for the “Get Healthy Challenge” were selected in a drawing on Jan. 2 to receive a free 6-month membership. We’ll cheer them on – and you too, if you take up the “challenge” – in coming months.

Tales of a Germantown "Ghost Wife"

Donna Nash — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:23:00 GMT

We moved to Germantown in 1997. My kids were two and four and we knew no one. My husband threw himself into the community mix due to the nature of his business and met many great people. He volunteered at parades, chamber events, Leadership Germantown, and many others I can’t remember – he was (and still is) Mr. Germantown.

I, on the other hand, was the “ghost wife”, working and taking care of the kids for many years (at least five). And then I started realizing that my husband was having all the fun. So he got me to join my first community organization - Leadership Germantown. And I got to meet all the great people in the community and see what they do to make Germantown the great place that it is. I’ve made many good friends and have had lots of fun along the way. Our family has been involved in many other organizations through the years.

So what’s my point?

The point is this blog will be for anyone looking for things to do and ways to get involved in the Germantown community. Whether you are single, married without kids or married with kids, a senior citizen, a pet owner or someone who is new to the Germantown area, this blog will help get you connected with our community.

Maybe this blog will inspire you to get involved, or maybe it will get you to attend a parade, or to get you to think about what it takes to make our community work. My goal is to share stories about people, events and organizations that you can connect with that will make a positive impact on how you view our village. Take it from a former “ghost wife”, it’s a lot more fun being in the mix!

I look forward to getting to know you as you get to know Germantown!

January key month for Brewers' Melvin

Tom "Sky" Skibosh — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:57:38 GMT

With the high school winter season about to pick up again this week, I thought it might be a good time for a blog on the Brewers.

Many fans are starting to panic because the Brewers have not done much to improve last year's Wild Card team. Everyone knew that C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets wouldn't be coming back, but they figured Melvin would do something to add some arms - you are not going to replace them with similar talent, of course. Not much as been done - but except for the Yankees, Mets and Angels - no one has done too much.

Let's take a closer look at the problem areas.

PITCHING

Starters: The Brewers need starting pitching and starting pitching depth desperately. So far, no good. Bullpen: Jorge Julio (FA) and Eduardo Morlan (Rule 5) from the right side and R.J. Swindle (FA) from the left have been the roster additions - all bullpen candidates. The Brewers don't have a closer, but that never seems to bother Melvin who feels like he can just pull one out of his hat when he needs one. That was fine when you were building a team, but not when you're openly telling the fans your team can contend.

HITTING

Same old, same old. This team will hit home runs and strike out a lot and have an embarrassing on base percentage. Prince Fielder and JJ Hardy are fine, although the former won't win any games with his glove. The Brewers are counting on Willie Randolph to help Rickie Weeks at the bat and in the field. Weeks is too good a talent to give up on yet. There is this tremendous fear in the front office that if they trade Weeks he will finally reach his potential. Mike Lamb has averaged 12 homers and 46 RBIs the past three years, but does have a .363 OBA the past two years. Hopefully Bill Hall's eye surgery will help his batting eye this year.

Ryan Braun is a stud and Corey Hart will hopefully bounce back from a terrible September. Mike Cameron is a good defensive player, a home run hitter, a stolen base threat, and a strikeout king. Melvin said the Brewers felt he was the fourth-best CFer in baseball, which means it must be the weakest position in the game.

Melvin has gone bargain shopping for a lefthanded hitter - Trot Nixon, Scott Thorman and Chris Duffy - which once again is something a building team might do, not a team that is pretending to be a contender. The Brewers could be better off with Brad Nelson or Mat Gamel making the team than those guys.

WAIT AND SEE

I believe in Doug Melvin, so let's give him the month of January to see what he can get done. Let's also hope that Mark Attanasio uses a little - just a little - of that $100 million dollars they offered to C.C. - a $100 million dollars that was never really going anywhere - to help improve this club.

Years ago, a former Brewer player who was also a WTMJ TV and radio broadcaster in the offseason - Mike Hegan - said then Brewer owner Bud Selig would go shopping at Marshall Fields with a JC Penney's credit card.

Let's hope Attanasio doesn't do the same thing this winter.

Democrat Control In Wisconsin Has Begun...

Al Campbell — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:49:37 GMT

Let's see how they do with their newfound control.

The state has a record deficit totaling some $2.5 billion using GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) as those of us in the real world must.

The lust to use the power vested in any political party is very strong; it is, in fact, often irresistible to the detriment of both that particular party and the citizens of the state.

Governor Doyle has proved to be a master at maneuvering through the political maze. He has yet to admit that he'll again be a candidate for the office of Governor but that is a foregone conclusion. Unless he is tapped for a Washington job or there is some 'pay for play' scandal yet to unfold in our state, he is a shoe-in to run for another term.

The Republicans will be challenged as the 'loyal opposition' to have any discernible impact on the important items even though both houses' leaders claim they'll run their domains on an 'inclusive' basis (don't waste a lot of money betting on that).

Those of us who follow the 'ins' and the 'outs' will have much to occupy our time. Those of us who don't follow the machinations of our state government will likely come to wish they had paid closer attention. There are new taxes to be levied. There are existing taxes to be increased. There are any number of old fees to be increased; and, there are a number of new fees to be created.

The idea of balancing our state's budget through reductions in expenditures and through elimination of programs and through improvements in efficiency simply is a none starter in Wisconsin. The only thing we seem to know is creating new programs that require even more funding.

You and me are the only people who can change that...and we only get that opportunity when we walk into the voting booth. In the meantime, we can do our best to hold feet to fires.

“DOG GONE IT'

Joe Mangiamele — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:42:23 GMT

Hi. This is your imaginary dog, Sport, reporting back.

Are you going to be surprised with what I've discovered! Only a dog (and especially an imaginary dog) would have found the reality of what is going on at Village Hall.

No. It is difficult to keep claim about this. This is worse than anything you would have imagined.

Of course, I've got your attention. And I'm going to give it to you as easily as possible. Sit back.

One of the basic truths about dogs is that we can smell humans from long distances. And although there appeared to be 7 human beings at Village Hall at this particular meeting, with about 3 or 4 assisting, I was getting only a rather slight human scent from the area. This seemed strange.

Okay, just wait, I'm going to give it to you as easily as possible. Stay in your chair. Out of that group, I sniffed out only three real human beings. Yes, only three.

Before you ask any questions, here is the summary of my report to you. The rest were robots. Three human beings and the remainder only excellent appearing human robots. What a superb production of human robots.

Are you getting the true reality of this? All your talk about decisions and action by consensus is all wrong. What appears as consensus is built into these robots in such a perfect way that not even humans can tell the robots from other humans. Which one is which?

Even the three humans can't seem to the tell the difference. Yes, I know that I've aready said that. It deserves to be repeated. That's why trustees are NOT responding to your questions and suggestions. Only a dog, a specie with such special relationship with human beings and with such sniffing skills could really discover this secret.

All robots except three. Wow! Sure I'm proud of this discovery. Bow, wow! If I weren't imaginary, you wouldn't have known either. Why, only three human beings? Who knows? The robots were evenly distributed.

If I were you, and I know your are a human being not only because I can smell your special smell but because of the stupid way you forgive anything I do, and always say “good dog” when I please you, I would ask why would anyone want to have robots at the head of local government instead of real human beings?

Okay, I know you think I just made this all up. You think it's so delicate that your are not going to post it? I understand. You don't think I went to the meeting? But you've got a good excuse and say that its all fiction.

This should be one of your verbal cartoons that you like to create. After all, it was reported to you by an imaginary dog. Why don't you title it “dog gone it?” Or “good dog?”

Keep Your Hands To Yourself

Janet Evans — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:49:27 GMT

Should schools be allowed to use corporal punishment?

Are you surprised I would even be asking that question?

Approximately 20 states across the country still allow corporal punishment.

Even Wisconsin doesn't "prohibit" the practice, but states it is "generally prohibited."

Is it prohibited or isn't it?

State	Code Section	Punishment Allowed
WISCONSIN	118.31	Corporal punishment generally prohibited; reasonable and necessary force allowed in self-defense, to protect others, etc., and as proscribed by school board policy.

The states most often still allowing corporal punishment? Southern states.

You can view the list and clarification of codes via the following link:

Corporal Punishment in Public Schools laws - Information on the law about Corporal Punishment in Public Schools

Making Time

Humane Animal Welfare Society — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:33:59 GMT

Time is a precious commodity at animal shelters, including HAWS. There's never enough hours in the day to do all that we want to do, and to reach everyone we want to reach!

The other day, while paging through an animal rescue publication, I came across something very interesting in the "letters to the editor" section. When referring to animals the writers' had acquired from animal shelters, a single phrase was used repeatedly: "...when his time was up..."

That made me think of 2 things.

We are very fortunate at HAWS that our animal residents don't face a time limit for adoption!
How many people in our community are aware of that fact?

While we are not considered a "no kill" shelter, our animals are not on a schedule with a cut-off date for adoption. We evaluate the health and temperament of each animal that comes through our doors, then make the best decision on a course of action. Should this animal go into foster care for behavioral issues? Should this pet be kept in our medical ward to treat any health concerns - including positive heartworm? Can this pet be placed in our adoption ward immediately? What type of home will this animal be best suited to? Is this animal a risk? Are we acting humanely and in the pet's best interest? Do we need to re-evaluate our initial decision?

Difficult decisions are made on a daily basis by the trained, knowledgeable animal welfare professionals at HAWS. Those difficult decisions are made easier, however, by a network of caring volunteers, dedicated breed rescue groups and even other shelters who want to help us and share our mission of providing sanctuary for animals in need.

Together, we are able to make the most of the time we have.

By the way - did you resolve this New Year to get involved, or exercise more, or meet new people? HAWS can help you with all three (and more)! Become a volunteer or member, join our Friends group, organize a fundraiser/supply drive at work...give us a call or log onto www.hawspets.org for ideas.

Children with allergies

John Manke — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:00:00 GMT

It is no fun going to a restaurant or getting something to eat when your child has an allergy. Some children are allergic to nuts. Some are allergic to eggs. Others are allergic to other things. You must always examine the menu and ask questions on what is inside of the food and how was it made. Carrying special medicine to counter act the allergy is standard procedure.. If an allergic attack comes, then you must use the medicine and go to an emergency medical center for specialized help. An allergy can be a life and death situation for a child. When a child with an allergy comes into your house, prepare to remove anything that could cause an allergic reaction from the reach of the child. You sometimes feel like a fool asking all of these questions, but preventing a trip to an emergency room is the best policy. Please do not make fun of people with allergies. Sometimes a person can die in a short period of time without proper care. Preventative action is always best for these matters. It is no fun to have to wash your hands after petting the family dog, so that you can touch or hold the little child in your arms. When you see a rash coming after touching the child and forgetting to wash your hands, you can understand the frustration of the child's parents. Allergies to animals is common in children. Hopefully, the child will outgrow the allergies, but allergy to nuts can be a lifetime affair. Be kind to a family that has children with allergies. They have no control over the situation, except to know how to handle an emergency crisis with their child. I wish luck to all parents with children with allergies. I would like to give special thanks to David, Kristy and Maddie Manke and Kurt, Olivia and Sam Manke for their advice on this matter. Allergies are a serious matter to all children.

Memo to Big Ten Conference football teams...

Kevin Fischer — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:16:58 GMT

Next year, when you get invited to bowl games, do yourselves a favor.

Say no.

Stay home.

Save yourselves a lot of embarassment.

The government wants to regulate your TV

Kevin Fischer — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:30:00 GMT

Last year, state Senator Mary Lazich blogged that the government is going to regulate your lawnmower.

You can add “television” to the list.