Practically Speaking

It appears Al Franken has truly turned Minnesota election law into a Franken-stein of a monster recount--something the election laws were never intended to do: enable stealing an election.

If you have been following this race since election day 2 months ago, you know that incumbent Senator Coleman was 215 votes ahead of opponent Al Franken when the votes were originally counted. But after Minneapolis' director of elections remembered she forgot 32 absentee ballots in her car the following Friday, and 2 liberal precincts claimed they initially miscommunicated the vote totals, Franken picked up another 346 votes, for a total of 378 Franken votes. The oddity being that "none of the other contests recorded any changes in their vote totals" due to this supposed miscommunication.

For a while, it looked like Coleman would still keep his Senate seat, but more and more there is Funny Business in Minnesota, In which every dubious ruling seems to help Al Franken: 

Strange things keep happening in Minnesota, where the disputed recount in the Senate race between Norm Coleman and Al Franken may be nearing a dubious outcome. Thanks to the machinations of Democratic Secretary of State Mark Ritchie and a meek state Canvassing Board, Mr. Franken may emerge as an illegitimate victor.

Mr. Franken started the recount 215 votes behind Senator Coleman, but he now claims a 225-vote lead and suddenly the man who was insisting on "counting every vote" wants to shut the process down. He's getting help from Mr. Ritchie and his four fellow Canvassing Board members, who have delivered inconsistent rulings and are ignoring glaring problems with the tallies.

The latest travesty in the Franken recount is abusing the duplicate ballot provision. (Emphasis mine)

Under Minnesota law, election officials are required to make a duplicate ballot if the original is damaged during Election Night counting. Officials are supposed to mark these as "duplicate" and segregate the original ballots. But it appears some officials may have failed to mark ballots as duplicates, which are now being counted in addition to the originals. This helps explain why more than 25 precincts now have more ballots than voters who signed in to vote. By some estimates this double counting has yielded Mr. Franken an additional 80 to 100 votes.

Another county "'lost' 133 votes" due to possible double running of ballots through the machines. (In other words, the machine stated 133 votes more than actual ballots.) The Canvassing Board decided to go with the original higher tally--helping Franken by 42 votes. An additional 37 Franken votes from another county were gathered by going with a higher ballot total than the Election Night machine total, even though the higher ballot tally was greater than voters in the precinct!

Anything goes, IF it helps Al Franken win! Do read the entire Wall Street Journal piece. Truth is stranger than fiction!

Senator Coleman is to challenge the Canvassing Board's results. His attorney "said the challenge will be filed within 24 hours. The challenge will keep Franken from getting the election certificate he needs to take the seat in Washington."

A few days ago, Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas promised to block the Franken seating in the Senate with a filibuster. Good for Cornyn.

So far, Senate Democrats put off plans to seat Franken, "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid yielded to Republican threats and agreed on Monday not to immediately seat fellow Democrat Al Franken, whose razor-close victory in Minnesota faces legal challenges."

Republicans have dropped the ball, in my opinion, on allowing voter fraud after voter fraud to continue, until at last people just throw up their hands and accept it as business as usual.

I hope the Republicans stand firm on this one for once and grow some backbone!

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It is no secret; I love coffee! And what goes better with coffee than a good cookie? Biscotti, of course!

Biscotti are twice baked cookies. The bis meaning twice and cotto meaning baked. They are a dry cookie, meant to be dunked.

For years people have been requesting* my cookie recipes that are part of my annual cookie marathon. Some people are very secretive about their recipes--either not sharing at all or more sinisterly, not including a key ingredient. That is not my style. My philosophy is spread the wealth when it come to recipes. So while we are still in the relaxed state of post Christmas/New Year holidays mode, here is the biscotti recipe:

Biscotti Nocciole Cioccolato 

1/2 Cup butter

3/4 Cup sugar

2 eggs

2 Cups unbleached white flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 Tablespoons of Frangelico or Amaretto 

3/4 Cup hazelnuts (toasted* and chopped finely) I use twice this amount

4 oz. bittersweet chocolate (chopped) I use twice this amount

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease or spray with Pam 2 cookie sheets. I use very heavy aluminum pans. (Aluminum is the only way to bake in my opinion. Tin causes things to burn on the bottom and edges and be underbaked in the center and top.)

Prepare the nuts and chocolate. I have not had good luck with purchased, shelled hazelnuts--even from high end stores. They often were rancid. I instead purchase nuts in the shell, toast them in a 300 degree oven for about 1/2 hour, cool, shell, rub as many of the brown hulls off as possible, and then chop finely. That is a lot of work, but I love the hazelnut flavor. You could substitute toasted almonds instead. Place shelled nuts on a cookie sheet and bake for about 15 minutes at 300. Test often during the process to avoid burning.

I use Ghirardelli extra dark double chocolate chips. (I think they call them 60% cocoa now?) Chop the chips separately from the nuts on a cutting board.

Cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs and cream until light and fluffy.

Add the dry ingredients and mix.

Add in the chopped chocolate, nuts and flavoring. I use Frangelica, a hazelnut liqueur. (Really it is just hazelnut extract.) Mix.

Baking

Divide the dough into 4 parts--more or less--depending on what sized cookie you want. Scoop out 1/4th of dough and shape it into a log as you put it on one side of the cookie sheet. Pat smooth. Put another log onto same cookie sheet. Then do the same on the other cookie sheet with the remaining 1/2 dough. They will expand.

Bake for about 25 minutes at 300 degrees. (Always check about 3/4 of the way through. Not all ovens bake alike.) Take out of oven. The original directions told you to transfer to a bread board and cut, but I cut the cookies right on the cookie sheet after letting them cool for a few minutes. Using a meat cleaver helps as it is a shorter, more square shaped knife. Cut into 3/4 to 1 inch thick slices. As I cut them, I turn them on their sides and arrange on the same cookie sheet.

Bake for another 10 minutes. (While you are baking you could make some coffee!)

Yield 

One batch makes about 60 tiny cookies. The ones you see in coffee shops are about 3 to 4 times the size mine are. If you want those giant sized ones, probably you just make one log! Baking times would need to be adjusted too. A double batch makes 3 trays of 3 thin logs. These I baked 20 minutes, sliced, then baked 7 minutes longer

Store in an air-tight container.

This recipe came to me courtesy of my sister. She got it from a biscotti cookbook. Although our grandfather was from Sicily, we never had biscotti in the house. Stella Doro anise toast was about as close as we came. I think we can credit the rise of the Starbucks coffee shops and their like with the popularity of biscotti.

For those of you who enjoy the history, one website stated: 

Biscotti is said to have originated during Columbus's time and credited to an Italian baker who originally served them with Tuscan wines. They became so popular that every province developed their own flavored version. Because of their long storage ability they were an ideal food for sailors, soldiers, and fisherman.

Most European countries have adopted their own version of biscotti: English - rusks, French - biscotte and croquets de carcassonne, Germans - zwieback, Greeks - biskota and paxemadia, Jewish - mandelbrot, and Russians - sukhariki.

Maybe this should be my New Year's resolution for those things I keep meaning to do? Do it now! 1 cookie recipe posted...14 or so to go?

Enjoy.

A batch of home baked biscotti and a pound of coffee would make a nice hostess gift. 

*Kathryn requested a biscotti recipe recently, stating her recipe was very sticky and difficult to form. (You could try spraying your hands with Pam while forming the dough.) The same website I got the history from said that recipes that have no shortening are stickier. The recipes with butter are not as sticky and do not bake up as hard. They also don't keep as long. Mine have never lasted long enough to know how long they keep, but in general, cookies made with butter keep a very long time without losing flavor.
 

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At year's end, we tend to reflect on the past year and note what was significant. I looked through my postings to see what blog posts captured the most attention. Here is my top 15 list, ending with the most popular* #1 post:

15. You can't wash your car but the car was can?

14. HG&D (Sex Ed) "Outcomes" on school board agenda Tuesday

13.  Ford has a better idea: Export manufacturing to non-green countries

12. Fountain Brook Crossing: 2 unbelievably big buildings  

11. Fountain Brook Crossing: Big building, Big zoning change, Big precedent, BIG mistake

10. The 3 Rs: Recession, Rising energy prices, and Referendum  

9. Virtual Schools, Ethanol back in committee, Photo ID languishing in Senate  

8. "Inconvenient Fact(s)" RE: 100% Zero-carbon electricity in 10 years

7. Ethanol Bill: Just what would be a conflict of interest?  

6. Fastest growing new religion gains one more convert  

5. Congressman Sensenbrenner's Town Hall meeting   

4. Let them eat (and drink) ethanol ala Marie Antoinette

3. Taxpayers need a referendum reprieve

2. America's Climate Security Act "Catastrophic for Wisconsin"  

1. Cap-and-Trade? Maybe it should be called Cap-and-Raid!  

As you can see, the majority of the top 15 dealt with energy and going green/global warming/carbon tax.

Local school board and city issues are popular too, they just don't have broader Google search appeal.

I still enjoy writing travel, interesting places, recipe, and just for fun related postings. For me, variety is the spice of life!

What are you interested in?

 

*Popularity based on number of page views. Each post listed was 40 to 140 times more popular than an average 1st day views count.

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Between preparing for Christmas and the snowy weather, I did not make it over to Elmbrook School's Administrative Offices to look at the newest version of the Human Growth and Development curriculum materials. I wasn't alone though. Because of "additional interest", Elmbrook extends sex-ed review sessions.

So, there is still opportunity to look at what our school district plans on teaching our students about this sensitive subject. Materials may be reviewed every day next week, January 5th - 9th, as well as the following Monday, Jan. 12th and Wednesday, Jan. 14th. The hours are the same each day: 8:30am to 4pm. All materials are located in the board room.

These review sessions are called "listening sessions" where residents may view the lessons and materials by grade level and also submit written comments. 

If you wish to take a look at another time or need more information, you may call Director of Learning Melanie Stewart at 262-781-3030, extension 1112 or email her at stewartm@elmbrookschools.org.

The administrative offices are located at 13780 Hope Street, just a few blocks north of Capitol Drive. 

If you have children enrolled in Elmbrook Schools, I encourage you to look at what will be covered during their school year at their grade level for the next few years.

Let me know what you think if you reviewed the curriculum.
 

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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From Luke 2: 8-18 (NIV):

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good new of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,

"Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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Christmas is the season of giving. Many charities make their year end pitch during the Christmas season. Whether you respond to their pleas or not, may depend more on your politics and religious beliefs than your wallet.

New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote an interesting piece on this subject last Sunday, Bleeding Heart Tightwads: (Emphasis mine)

This holiday season is a time to examine who’s been naughty and who’s been nice, but I’m unhappy with my findings. The problem is this: We liberals are personally stingy.

Liberals show tremendous compassion in pushing for generous government spending to help the neediest people at home and abroad. Yet when it comes to individual contributions to charitable causes, liberals are cheapskates.

We looked at this phenomena during the campaign in Obama doesn't spread his wealth around but wants you to and Democrat's donations key to why they think rich must pay more taxes?  Kristof's column supports what I believe to be true about generosity: Republicans give more than Democrats and people of faith give more than non-religious. The latter seems to be the more important criteria.

Arthur Brooks, the author of a book on donors to charity, “Who Really Cares,” cites data that households headed by conservatives give 30 percent more to charity than households headed by liberals. A study by Google found an even greater disproportion: average annual contributions reported by conservatives were almost double those of liberals.

Other research has reached similar conclusions. The “generosity index” from the Catalogue for Philanthropy typically finds that red states are the most likely to give to nonprofits, while Northeastern states are least likely to do so.
... 

“When I started doing research on charity,” Mr. Brooks wrote, “I expected to find that political liberals — who, I believed, genuinely cared more about others than conservatives did — would turn out to be the most privately charitable people. So when my early findings led me to the opposite conclusion, I assumed I had made some sort of technical error. I re-ran analyses. I got new data. Nothing worked. In the end, I had no option but to change my views.”

This next statement leads me to believe the real litmus test on giving is religion. 

It’s true that religion is the essential reason conservatives give more, and religious liberals are as generous as religious conservatives. Among the stingiest of the stingy are secular conservatives.

According to Google’s figures, if donations to all religious organizations are excluded, liberals give slightly more to charity than conservatives do. But Mr. Brooks says that if measuring by the percentage of income given, conservatives are more generous than liberals even to secular causes.

...

Conservatives also appear to be more generous than liberals in nonfinancial ways. People in red states are considerably more likely to volunteer for good causes, and conservatives give blood more often. If liberals and moderates gave blood as often as conservatives, Mr. Brooks said, the American blood supply would increase by 45 percent.

Charitable donations are down this year because of the economy. I suspect the decrease is also because of higher spring/summer gasoline prices and higher home heating costs now.  Those increases put strains on the family budget and possibly gobbled up the extra dollars earmarked for donations.

But some people still believe it is more blessed to give than receive, and their generosity is not based on abundance. 

...given the economic pinch these days, charity isn’t on the top of anyone’s agenda. Yet the financial ability to contribute to charity, and the willingness to do so, are strikingly unrelated. Amazingly, the working poor, who have the least resources, somehow manage to be more generous as a percentage of income than the middle class.

God doesn't love us more for giving, nor are we to give just to get. But He does instruct us to give and promises that we cannot out give Him. Luke 6:38 says, "Give and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over..." In other words, He is not stingy!

 
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Have you noticed? Some stores are actually using the word, CHRISTMAS, in their advertising this year. It is nice to see. After all, Christmas is the reason people go out in the cold, spend money they don't have, and brave the crowds!

Our family pretty much gave up exchanging gifts some years ago. Outside of gifts for my son (we're not total Grinches), it is pretty much "teensies" for the rest of the family. I realized I am still short a few teensies, so out to the stores I must go today.

Which ones? The ones that advertise they are celebrating Christmas! I'm hoping Target or Kohl's will have what I need since  both stores are using the word Christmas.  

Some stores make a point of ignoring Christmas in their advertising and displays or go to ridiculous lengths to avoid it. Last year, I think it was Lowe's called their Christmas trees "Family" trees!

The American Family Association has been following this issue for years now. They recently reported a new victory with Costco stores. Costco had ignored Christmas in their stores, websites and emails, but "One unnamed store manager said, 'The company has received so many e-mails and complaints that they are changing all their holiday cakes to say Merry Christmas and will be saying it in the stores.' " 

So you see, your input does matter! If you want to check out which stores celebrate Christmas and which don't, check out their  “Naughty and Nice” list.

If this issue is important to you, please let the stores know. I'm emailing Kohl's (Customer.Service@Kohls.com) and Target to thank them for recognizing the importance of including Christmas in their advertising. Even though we don't have Costco stores in our area, you may wish to contact them too to say thanks.

Don't be afraid to say it: Merry Christmas! 

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I don't watch network TV shows anymore, but I love to watch movies. They make mundane, household tasks like folding laundry, ironing, changing the bed, etc. more enjoyable. The TV and VCR in my kitchen get a real workout during my cookie marathons too.

Some movie favorites I watch every year or so. One of those is Houseboat, starring Cary Grant and Sophia Loren. It is utterly delightful. Not only is Sophia Loren a real dish, as they used to say, she is also a good actress.

If you haven't seen it, Cary Grant plays a recently widowed, disinterested father of 3 children. Sophia Loren plays Cinzia (pronounced chin'-see-a), the daughter of a famous Italian conductor. Her father is overprotective. Cinzia is on tour in America with her father and wants to experience a little freedom. They argue. She threatens to leave him, but her father reminds her she has no means of her own. How will she manage? Their conversation goes something like this:

Cinzia: Perhaps I will get a job.

Father: That's nonsense. I've given you the finest education in all of Europe. You don't know how to do anything!

Cinzia: Then I'll run for Congress!

She becomes the governess for Cary Grant's 3 children, even though she doesn't even know how to cook!

I have seen this movie many times, but never has that line hit me like it did this year. Maybe it's because we seem to pay more and more for education yet many graduates are still inept, and our Congress lacks common sense. Anyway, I got a big laugh out of that bit.

The movie is charming and even after 50 years, I think it holds up well. 

What are your repeat favorites? 

 
TONIGHT: "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa" 7PM, on NBC looks good if you are a Muppet fan. (I am)
 

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For as long as I can remember, baking cookies has always been a part of celebrating Christmas. My mom would let my sister and I help, even though that meant the task would take longer and the kitchen be messier. It is a cherished memory. 

I kept up the tradition of Christmas cookie baking when I got married, but dialed it up a notch or 2. Mom would make maybe 6 kinds of cookies; I made 16 varieties this year.

People who know about my cookie mania ask, how long does that take you? I reply, about 4 days. I do it marathon style!

Maybe it was because I worked in a bakery in my college days that I learned the concept of  the assembly line. I adapted that style of production to my home kitchen. 

Instead of making one batch of dough, washing all the utensils, baking that batch, and then moving onto the next type of cookie, I do all like tasks together. I make all the dough that can be made ahead in one day. That is all I do that day. The next day I make the cookies that I can't make ahead and bake them as I go. Then I finish baking the ones from the premade dough. The last day, I bake the refrigerator cookies (slice and bake) and dip the ones in white choc. that need finishing.

Day 1, dough making:  I start with the lightest, blandest dough (butter cookie) and move to the more flavorful and darker doughs (spicy or choc. doughs). This way, I only make one mess at a time--I have a small kitchen. Use the best ingredients you can: real butter is a must!

As I make each batch of dough, I place it into a plastic bag (write the name of the cookie on the bag), then place it in the refrigerator. I scrape the mixing bowl and beater as best I can, but I don't wash it. Then I work on the next batch. This way, I just keep all the ingredients out -- the baking powder, soda, spices, vanilla, flour, sugars, nuts, etc. I also have all the measuring cups, spoons, extra bowls etc. out. Having multiple measuring cups and spoons helps too. Wash the utensils at end of day, but leave ingredients out.

Day 2, making and baking:  There are some cookies that you cannot make ahead like macaroons or biscotti. Start with those--make and bake each. Then get out your pre-made dough and start baking these.

For drop cookies or those you are to roll in a ball, I find a scoop very helpful. Not only do you get a perfect round shape, but you get a consistent size. I use the smaller one (just under 1 14" across). Small is good because then you can sample more cookies!

For roll out cookies, a pastry cloth and rolling pin sock keep the dough from sticking. Sometimes pin socks are hard to find. You can cut the leg off of a pair of tights or pantyhose as a substitute. Flour the cloth and sock before rolling out.

Having multiple cookie sheets is a BIG help. I use about 10, but even 4 would help. (Try looking for them at estate sales and thrift stores.) Aluminum is a must in my book--nothing bakes as well. I spray each with PAM several times during the baking day.

Day 3, baking and finishing:  This is the day I bake off the refrigerator cookies and dip into chocolate or decorate any that need that step.

Obviously you need some containers to put the cookies in. I use Rubbermaid rectangle containers. It is helpful to have them similar in size and shape--it makes stacking ans storage easier. 

Day 4, assembling cookie plates:  Make a list of those you want to share your cookies with: teachers, neighbors, friends, stores you frequent, your aldermen, pastors, someone who did you a favor, etc. Don't forget the elderly, widowers, bachelors, and families who are going through a serious illness. They are unlikely to bake for themselves and would appreciate a little taste of Christmas.

Deal them all out at the same time if you can. That way, you know you will have enough and can adjust the amount given to each accordingly. It is also less work to do it all at once, rather than getting out all the containers just to make a plate or two.

I use paper or plastic plates and Roundy's plastic bread bags (clear, rectangular bags) to package. I put a post a note with the name on each package then later attach my Christmas card. My goal is to deal nearly all my cookies out, leaving enough for Christmas Eve dinner and a few more for eating.

Today is day 4 for me in my cookie marathon. That just leaves delivery--the last hurdle. Now if I could just get someone else to do that job... but I am glad to do it. My cookie-a-thon is one of the ways I celebrate the birth of God's only begotten Son: Christmas.

The Journal Sentinel recently had its 2008 contest winner recipes in the paper Gold plated, Cookie contest rolls out treats to treasure. There were some good cookie making tips in there too. Check it out and start baking!



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Heart-Fire Ministries is one local charity that is sure to warm your heart this Christmas.  This is their 13th year of operating a Christmas Store that is rather unique, but they need YOUR help. The Christmas Store opens this week Tuesday, December 16th. Here is how it works:

'The Christmas Store' is scheduled for December 16 - 18, 2008. The Store is open to needy families with children who are hand picked by the organizations and churches we partner with. The Store allows families to purchase new gifts at 90% [off] of the retail price. The best part is when the children open these presents at Christmas, the parents can say with pride, "We bought these nice gifts for you!", not just receiving another hand-out. 

According to their Christmas Store web page, there are different areas you can help with: 

Volunteer

1) Work at The Christmas Store assisting shoppers, wrapping gifts, greeting & ministering to our guests (Noon - 5:00pm) [There is a web sign up list on the right side of the page. This need seems to be met, but they are taking names on a waiting list.]

2 ) Prepare & serve refreshments in the cafe [You can sign up for this job on the web page]

3) Contribute a financial gift or gift card [Maybe you received a gift card to a store that you cannot use? Put it to good use here.]
Mail: PO Box 14031, Milwaukee, WI 53214
Online: Donate online here

4) Donate new, unwrapped Christmas gifts for children ages 0 - 16
(Click here for a list of gift suggestions)

Gift Donation Drop Spots:

Elmbrook Church Child Enrichment Center
777 N. Barker Rd. (lower level)
Brookfield, Wisconsin

and

Eastbrook Church

Northbrook Church

World Harvest Community Church

Heart-Fire Ministries has been around since 1981:

Heart-Fire Ministries was birthed out of a desire to reach the lost and hurting on the streets of Milwaukee . Ray Jablonski, Executive Director, has been active in ministry for over 25 years. Ray was miraculously saved and his life was changed through a one-on-one encounter with Jesus. Returning to the streets where he came from, Ray brings a message of hope and life. From Heart-Fire Ministries’ humble beginnings witnessing to students on the UWM campus, HFM has since shared the Gospel with thousands in the central city of Milwaukee and beyond.

Renee' Lowerr told me she helped out last year. Check out the slide show and see what it is like...especially photo 20!: The Christmas Store 2007  This year Renee' is going again to wrap presents. Can you help too with a donation or your time? Like many charities, donations are down this year.

Heart-Fire is located at 817 N. 27th St., Milwaukee, WI 53208, (414) 445-9490

Please, comment content should relate to the subject of the post. Although I try to respond to many, do not interpret my lack of a response as agreement.

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On Wednesday, Surprise flurries warm Houston hearts Fluffy flakes bring delight to some, consternation to others--and tie a 64-year-old record:

Since 1895, records indicate, snow has fallen this early just once — on Dec. 10, 1944.

On Thursday, Rare snow falls in south Louisiana, Miss., Alabama: (My emphasis) 

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A rare snowfall blanketed south Louisiana and parts of Mississippi on Thursday, closing schools, government offices and bridges, triggering crashes and leaving thousands without power.

Up to 8 inches of snow was reported in parts of Louisiana. Snow also covered a broad swath of Mississippi, including the Jackson area, and closed schools in more than a dozen districts.

...The wintry weather is rare in south Louisiana, though the state's northern parishes see it about once a year... The record snowfall for the city is about 5 inches, recorded Dec. 30, 1963.

...In Mississippi, up to 5 inches of snow fell on areas south of Jackson.

In Alabama, storms dumped more than 3 inches of rain across northern parts of the state ahead of a blast of cold air that brought snow to some areas later Thursday.

Unlike us seasoned snow veterans in Wisconsin, these poor folks don't know how to cope with the white stuff. That is difficult to imagine, isn't it? (To be fair, they don't have snow plows down south.)

Some people, who don't normally have snow, actually find it delightful. My missionary cousin and family are here in Wisconsin this year while on furlough from Papua New Guinea. They are very excited about the snow! I told them their excitement over the snow would help me think of it in better terms.

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All actions have consequences. Consumers living beyond their means, taking out loans for homes they couldn't possibly afford, resulted in the sub-prime crisis, Fanny and Freddie mess, and meltdown of the US economy.

The TARP bailout for $700-some billion has opened the door to every Tom, Dick and Harry industry standing in line for a bailout handout: the auto industry, rental car companies, ethanol industry, and credit card companies to name a few. States such as California and even Wisconsin might put their hands out as well. President elect Obama is talking about another bigger and better stimulus package too, asap.  

Our government acts like they can give out billions of bailout and stimulus money with no consequences.

But history tells us no economy can thrive by printing up and passing out dollars. It did not work for Germany, where you practically needed a wheelbarrow to hold your Marks to buy a loaf of bread. "In 1914 one egg cost less than one mark. Nine years later an egg was 80,000,000,000 (eighty billion marks)."*

To finance the new spending during Carter years, the joke was, Hey, Jimmy, just print up another roll of $20s! We know how well that worked.

So why do we think we can do what no other government could do in the past, by printing up new money to finance and shore up failing industries with no consequences? Arrogance maybe?

Money Morning sounded another warning today: With Billions in Bailout Funds Flowing, the "Peso-fication" of the Dollar Continues:  

The plethora of bank and corporate bailouts, stimulus plans and interest-rate cuts that the U.S. government has produced over the last three months can only lead to one outcome: The U.S. dollar has to decline.

During the crisis so far, the dollar in general, and U.S. Treasury bonds in particular, have been regarded as a “safe haven,” making the dollar strong and pushing long-term U.S. Treasury rates downward. In the New Year, however, this is likely to change – the weight of the added supply of dollars in circulation will be too great for the greenback to shrug off.

Much of that report makes my head spin, but I do understand the basic principle that you cannot increase the money supply so dramatically without inflationary consequences. The amount of deficit spending we have committed to so far is unprecedented.

Usually I check the stock market every day and look at how the dollar is trading too. Today, the US dollar was down in all trading: against the Canadian dollar - $1.23 vs $1.28 a few days ago, against the Euro, the dollar had fallen 4 cents to .76.  

If this trend continues, the dollar loses value, therefore, you need more of them to pay for purchases. Hence, the wheelbarrow will be needed to carry your cash to the store! On second thought, people will just use a credit card instead of cash, so no need for the wheelbarrows.

What we need is to tighten our belts and live within our means, be it at the local, state, or federal level of government. It is time to act like grownups and say NO to frivolous spending and bailouts. If we don't, the Carter years will look like the good old days for the dollar and us.

Did you contact Senators Kohl and Feingold about the auto bailout? Senator Kohl (Phone: (414) 297-4451, (202) 224-5653) and Senator  Feingold (Office of Senator Russ Feingold (202) 224-5323)

*From Richard Maybury's Whatever Happened to Penny Candy, Wallpaper, Wheelbarrows, and Recession, pp 52. 

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Last week I wrote about our neighborhood's newest segment of the Greenway Corridor Recreational Trail at Mary Knoll Park.

Poochie and I took a walk on the main trail to check out the new pathway.

While there I heard what I thought was a chainsaw and it made me wonder if some other work was going on in the park. Was there a fallen tree that needed clearing?

No. It was an ATV!

I had turned off on one of the connection spurs to see exactly where it annexed the street in the neighborhood to the south of the park.

As I returned to the park, I was met by this youngster, fully outfitted, on an ATV. He/she drove by me and headed down the street, bold as brass.

When I got back to the main trail again, I saw that the ATV driver had been on the paved trail and also drove on the open field. The tire tracks seemed to have headed toward the tennis courts to the north.

I met another woman on the trail; she said she lived next to the park. We started to talk about the ATV, and she said she has heard them in the park several times. 

After I returned home, I emailed Bill Kolstad, Brookfield's Director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, to make sure that ATVs were not allowed. He promptly replied: (My emphasis)

ATV Use - Chapter 12.24.040 of the Municipal Code stipulates that "No person in a park shall.......drive any vehicle on any area except the paved park roads or parking areas or such other areas as may, on occasion, be specifically designated as temporary parking areas by the commission."  An ATV is defined as a "vehicle".

I also asked Bill if residents should call the police if they see or hear ATVs in the parks. He replied:

Absolutely.  Our best shot at control is detection and enforcement.  My guess is that it is probably someone from the neighborhood.

His guess was right. I saw the ATV drive down the road and disappear into one of the driveways. 

Not quite sure if I should call the send officer police phone number at central dispatch or some other number, I called the send officer line. They assured me that was the correct phone number.

I remember from attending the public hearings for the Greenway Trail system at Kinsey Park and Cardinal Park that some neighbors were concerned about motorized vehicles using the trail system.

So if you see a snowmobile or ATV in the parks or on the street, help those concerned neighbors out and call the send officer line to report the incident: 262-787-3700.
 

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There is a lot at stake for former Vice President Al Gore with the Global Warming* issue. Without the threat of Global Warming, he is rather out of a job. Who would hire Al Gore to come speak about the threat of normal weather? Without Global Warming, who would ever buy a carbon credit from the corporation he is affiliated with? Without Global Warming, Al Gore just becomes another washed up Vice President who did not make it to the ultimate status prize of the presidency.

I can understand why Al Gore keeps insisting that Global Warming is a serious threat to the planet.  All of Al Gore's current prestige and status and livelihood are tied to this fabricated crisis.

President elect Barack Obama's buy-in is more difficult to understand, but buy-in he did. Obama meets Gore, urges urgent action on global warming:  (My emphasis throughout)

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday reiterated the need to address global warming as he discussed the problem with former Vice President Al Gore. Flanked by Gore and Vice President-elect Joe Biden, Obama told reporters in Chicago, ‘‘All three of us, I think, are in agreement that the time for delay is over, the time for denial is over.’’

‘‘We all believe what the scientists have been telling us for years now: that this is a matter of urgency and national security, and it has to be dealt within a serious way,’’ he said. ‘‘That’s what I intend my administration to do.’’

Obama met with Gore ‘‘to listen and learn from Vice President Al Gore on the extraordinary work that he has done around the issue of climate change,’’ for which the former vice president won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

Obama is still bent on his environmentally friendly energy program, his green jobs plan--even though they won't solve our energy problems or help our economy.

When people realize what his energy plan will cost, both in Cap and Trade costs and increased utility costs, they might HOPE things will CHANGE back to cheaper un-green energy. From geophysicist David Deming:

"Let the politicians take note. People will not like what you have in mind. California is arguably the most liberal state. Yet last month they defeated, by nearly a 2-to-1 margin, a law that would have forced California utilities to obtain half their electric power from renewable sources. What the Obama administration proposes is much more radical. Their cap-and-trade proposal will dramatically increase the energy costs of the average consumer and likely drive our crippled economy into a severe depression.

Why a president, facing the economic crisis our country seems to be headed toward, would embrace such expensive, inefficient green energy and crippling cap and trade proposals is beyond me. It is beyond geophysicist Deming too, who stated in his commentary, Global warming freeze:

This is an absurd spectacle. Our advanced civilization is being systematically mismanaged by technologically illiterate lawyers responding to political pressures from irrational fanatics. Would someone please tell these people it is impossible to overturn the laws of thermodynamics?

We cannot improve our economy by artificially forcing people to use expensive, unreliable and inefficient energy sources.

As Deming concludes, "To the extent global warming was ever valid, it is now officially over." Now we just have to get the politicians to look at the facts, because I cannot afford to pay triple WE energies bill charges!

*The term Global Warming is morphing into the term Climate Change because world temperatures have not cooperated over the past 10 years. Many examples cited in Global warming freeze? point out that current data shows warming "is now officially over."

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If you love to cook or know someone who does, stop in at Penzeys herb and spice shop. They recently relocated from the Town of Brookfield to the east side of the Brookfield Fashion Center on Bluemound Road.

I have shopped at Penzeys for years; they are my source for Pasta Sprinkles, Ceylon Cinnamon, and vanilla beans, to name a few. When I cook or bake, I try to use the best quality I can afford. Their quality is fabulous--very fresh.

The Pasta Sprinkles make a nice addition to pasta salads, vinegar and oil salad dressing, or anytime you want an Italian flavor. I like the mix because it is not too heavy on the oregano. They also have other herb blends.

Penzeys is one of the few places that sells Cassia. What is that, you ask? Cassia is a Cinnamon-like spice, often used and sold interchangeably. Cassia has more of the aromatic oil, 6%, than Cinnamon does. Some cooks use Cassia for spicy dishes and reserve the sweeter taste of Cinnamon for baking. Cassia often costs less than Cinnamon, which is why some companies pass it off as Cinnamon. I think the aroma and flavor of both spices is much stronger than the grocery store variety.

Many items have a sample available so you can give them a sniff! In fact, the whole store smells wonderful. And how about this display? We had a kitchen much like that when I was a little girl!

The store displays often include information about the spice or herb. Recipes are also scattered throughout the store, if you need a little inspiration.

The quantities vary from an ounce or two to larger sizes. Some herbs and spices are available in cellophane packages (less expensive) as well as glass bottles. Penzeys also has several assortments of spices or herbs specifically boxed for gift giving too. 

So give Penzeys a try. Its worth the trip just for the aroma!

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