A Note to RUSD

Dear Racine Unified School District:

Lemme get this straight. You walk off the job to go protest in Madison, and when you ARE back in the classroom you diss our governor in the classroom in front of my child. You then send out mailings, emails, and finally you robocall me to go to a meeting tonight to convince me to vote yes on the referendum to give this sorry excuse of a school district tens of millions of dollars? This after you've used "the children" to pass several other referenda in the 10 years I've lived in Racine?

NOT BLOODY LIKELY!!!

A Soldier's Take on the Wisconsin 14

A complete copy and paste from Kevin Binversie

A letter to the editor from a Wisconsin soldier serving in Afghanistan:

To the editor,

I am a soldier serving in the U.S. Army currently serving in Afghanistan.

I am writing as a result of recent actions, or lack of actions, in the state Senate. I am fully aware of the situation and the terms brought to the table concerning the budget and the legislation to fix it. What concerns me are not the issues at all.

Regardless of party or political view, the actions of the Democratic senators were appalling! Running away from a vote because of the fear of failure is wrong on many levels.

First of all, as a politician it is an obligation to vote on matters regarding the state and the welfare of the people of the state. An American citizen has a right to vote, which means they may choose to vote how they see fit or not to vote at all. As a senator the right to vote is now not only a right but an obligation.

Also I see a very large double standard in a senator campaigning and asking for votes to run away from a vote themselves. The job of a senator in this situation is to vote "yay" or "nay" and let the votes fall as they may. This is how democracy works, not to act like cowards and run. Running abandons Democracy and all of the American people they swore to represent.

Regardless of any views on this war we are fighting right now, my comrades and I are American soldiers. As soldiers we fight to defend democracy. Democracy is based very largely on the right-and as a senator the obligation-to vote. By "running away" the 14 Wisconsin senators slap democracy in the face, therefore slapping all who defend it in the face! Being from Wisconsin I am heartbroken and extremely let down by the appalling actions of these senators on a public, national stage.

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter; So help me God."

The above is the oath of office which each Wisconsin senator swears to when entering office. The end of that oath states, "I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter; So help me God." This statement does not state, "I will vote when I feel like it and abandon my office which I have sworn to uphold when the result may be other than I would like to see." I know for a fact, having worked in the wonderful state of Wisconsin, that if any company employee blatantly decided to walk out on their job and to publicly disgrace the company they worked for they would be terminated immediately.

This may sound as a bold request to some but I am calling for the resignation of all 14 of the senators who abandoned their job, the people of the state of Wisconsin, and their duty as political officers, and publicly disgraced the entire state.

I fear what our state and furthermore our country will become if this type of action is allowed to continue without consequence.

A very concerned and insulted American soldier,

Justin Cook

Well said, sir, and may God keep you safe as you proudly serve this country. Thank you for your service.

Wait - WHUT???

Ya know, sometimes I just gotta shake my head. I certainly did while reading this.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Authorities in southwest Florida say a 17-year-old girl pointed a gun at her mother, pistol-whipped her and forced her to drive to a dealership to buy her a used car.

The sheriff's office in Lee County said Monday that the teen has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, among other counts, and was being held at a juvenile detention center. The Associated Press doesn't identify minors charged with juvenile crimes.

According to officials, the mother said she didn't want to press charges because her daughter had been accepted to several Ivy League schools.

Huh???? Okay, so the kid pistol whips mom, holds her hostage at gunpoint and forced her to buy a car, but because she's allegedly been accepted to several Ivy League schools, that's acceptable behavior??? I wonder what she's going to do to her professor if she gets a bad grade!

Sheesh!! It's no wonder I like animals better than most humans!

Wanna Help Phel?

A fellow blogger and someone I'm privileged to call a friend, one Mz. Phelony Jones, is asking for our help.

I'm still pretty new to cycling, so this will be very challenging for me. I'm also about as new to fund raising as I could be, but I'm ready to put myself out there and ask you for your financial support for my ride. Even if you can make a small donation, it will be very appreciated. Not just for me, but for kids and young adults in the community who like me, derived much benefit from the arts while growing up.
...
If you donate through the blog - I will write your name and donation amount on my very own limbs on the day of the ride. Just enter "Go Phel!" in the comment section for your donation and "Whallah!", you're a write-in for race day. Prime real estate such as quads and forearms go to the highest donations.

Go on - check it out!!!

Wisconsin Teachers

Okay, we've all heard the whining and complaining from the teachers about how they're going to lose their house, lose their car, starve and be homeless. Click on this link to see what those teachers REALLY earn.

Yeah - I feel SO sorry for them.

Cuz it's Friday and it made me giggle.

SC Johnson - A Family Company???

This is despicable!!!

RACINE - Curtis Johnson, the former chairman of Diversey Inc., was charged Thursday in Racine County Circuit Court with sexual assault of a child.

The 55-year-old billionaire and son of the late Sam Johnson is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. If convicted he faces up to 40 years imprisonment.

In court Thursday, Johnson, who is not in custody, was formally charged and given a $500,000 cash bond. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim and no contact with any minor female children unless in the presence of another adult.

Court Commissioner John Bjelajac also ordered Johnson to not leave the state and to surrender his passport.

According to the criminal complaint, Johnson had inappropriate sexual contact with the now 15-year-old girl as many as 15 to 20 times. The girl told authorities that the inappropriate behavior started when she was between 6th and 7th grade, and the last incident occurred in November of 2010, according to the complaint.

Between 6th and 7th grade?!?!? I seriously hope that the justice system throws the book at him, though him being a billionaire Johnson makes that highly unlikely. I'm sure there will be a HUGE settlement to the family to attempt to keep them quiet.

However, if there is any justice in the world, he will get at least a little prison time and serve it with the general population. Pedophiles are the lowest of the low - even in prison. And I hope he gets EXACTLY what he deserves in there.

Truly disgusting!!

Yes Anaiah, You ARE a Hero

What a brave little girl...

Nine-year-old Anaiah Rucker is being hailed as a hero after saving her sister from being hit by a truck last month. Anaiah told The Today Show's Ann Curry today that she didn't think twice before pushing her little sister out of the path of the vehicle as the pair crossed the street in Madison, Georgia to get to the school bus stop.

Anaiah took the hit, instead, and lost a leg and a kidney for her bravery.

"I love her more than anything," Anaiah told Channel 2's Tom Jones of her five-year-old-sister, Camry. Anaiah said it was raining and her sweatshirt hood was covering her eyes as she and her sister crossed the road. The girls' mother, Andrea Taylor, witnessed her older daughter's act of bravery from the porch of their home, where she watches the girls catch the bus each morning.

"I saw the truck and I was like, 'No,'" Taylor told Channel 2. "I seen my daughter kinda snatch my 5-year-old back, and if it wasn't for that, my 5-year-old would have ... I don't think she would have made it." The driver wasn't charged after police decided he was not at fault.

Today, Anaiah told Curry that she doesn't feel she deserves to be called a hero. She said her sister "was too young to be hit like this, and if she got hit she wouldn't hardly be alive. She would be probably gone forever."

Anaiah might also not be alive if it weren't for bus driver Loretta Berryman. Berryman pulled over immediately and started performing CPR on Anaiah, who wasn't breathing. "I instructed her mom to hold her head while I gave mouth-to-mouth, chest compressions," Berryman told NBC News. "As she took a breath, my first thing was, 'Thank God.'"

To see a video and/or find out how to help this family, click here.

Rest In Peace

How tragic that this young man survived two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan only to be killed while in the line of duty by a coward who then shot himself.

Thank you for your service Officer Birkholz, and may your murderer rot in hell.

The Insanity That Surrounds Me

Yesterday I got together with a friend for a few beers after work. It was not to celebrate St. Patrick's Day...in fact, when we made our plans I forgot that yesterday was the holiday. Rather, it seems we both wanted to sit down and get a respite from the insanity that surrounds us.

Naturally, part of the conversation involved politics. How can it not? Anyone who pays the least bit of attention to what's going on in the outside world can't help but hear about all things political. Living in Wisconsin, this is especially true. The goings-on in Wisconsin for the past month or so have not only made national news, but they have attracted protesters thugs from across the country. I do not use that term lightly. If you pay attention only to the MSM, you may not get the full picture of what's been going on. Oh sure - you see some bits and pieces, but even they are being reported with a left leaning slant. For the entire picture, one usually has to turn to alternative media - blogs and such. In this post, I published the despicable threatening email that was sent to Republican Senators.

One such blog has a very comprehensive timeline of what's been going on only this month, much of which you may not have heard about. Below are just a few examples.

March 17th, 2011: Threats against WI blogger and Madison Law Professor Ann Althouse:

WE WILL FUCK YOU UP. We will throw our baseballs in your lawn, you cranky oldpieces of shit, and then we will come get them back. What are you gonna do? Shootus? Get Wausau Tea Patriots to form an ad hoc militia on your front lawn? That wouldbe fucking HILAROUS to us. You could get to know the assholes on your side in realfucking life instead of sponging off the civil society we provide for you every single dayyou draw breath.

March 17th, 2011: WI Republican Senator’s property vandalized:

The office of Sen. Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse) said the senator has been subjected to damage of personal property and has received threatening statements in the wake of mass protests in recent weeks over Gov. Scott Walker’s budget-repair bill.

According to Rose Smyrski of Kapanke’s staff:

Nails were scattered on his driveway twice last week. The incidents were reported to the La Crosse Police Department.

Also, Kapanke’s’s windshield was damaged on March 9 after the Senate voted on the budget-repair bill.

March 4th, 2011: Live ammunition found at WI Capitol:

Earlier Thursday, police reported finding dozens of rounds of live ammunition outside the Capitol.

Dane County deputies found 11 rounds near the State Street entrance Thursday morning, UW-Madison Police Chief Susan Riseling said. Twenty-nine rounds were found near the King Street entrance, and one round was found near the North Hamilton Street entrance, Riseling said.

And that's just a few. Check out some videos here.

So I ask you - what happened to the "call for civility" - is this the civil discourse the dems were pleading for? Where is the outrage for such heinous threats? And what, pray tell, would the reaction be if it were Republicans making such threats to Democrats? Would the police investigate? Would there be public outrage? I think the answer is obvious.

Insanity.

NCAA Brackets

Looks about right to me...

Totally swiped from Peter

Incomprehensible

I believe that the word "incomprehensible" is a fairly accurate description.

If you can help - even a little - click here
I'm sure anything will help right now. Continued prayers for Japan.

UPDATE: For a more comprehensive slideshow, click here. Absolutely heartbreaking.

Death Threats to Republicans

Will the person(s) who wrote this have to face any consequences? This is a crime, yet so is much of what the protesters in Madison have been doing, yet there have been no consequences. Let's hope someone takes THIS seriously.

From: XXXX
Sent: Wed 3/9/2011 9:18 PM
To: Sen.Kapanke; Sen.Darling; Sen.Cowles; Sen.Ellis; Sen.Fitzgerald; Sen.Galloway; Sen.Grothman; Sen.Harsdorf; Sen.Hopper; Sen.Kedzie; Sen.Lasee; Sen.Lazich; Sen.Leibham; Sen.Moulton; Sen.Olsen
Subject: Atten: Death threat!!!! Bomb!!!!

Please put your things in order because you will be killed and your ffamiles will also be killed due to your actions in the last 8 weeks. Please explain to them that this is because if we get rid of you and your families then it will save the rights of 300,000 people and also be able to close the deficit that you have created. I hope you have a good time in hell. Read below for more information on possible scenarios in which you will die.

WE want to make this perfectly clear. Because of your actions today and in the past couple of weeks I and the group of people that are working with me have decided that we've had enough. We feel that you and the people that support the dictator have to die. We have tried many other ways of dealing with your corruption but you have taken things too far and we will not stand for it any longer. So, this is how it's going to happen: I as well as many others know where you and your family live, it's a matter of public records.

We have all planned to assult you by arriving at your house and putting a nice little bullet in your head. However, we decided that we wouldn't leave it there. We also have decided that this may not be enough to send the message to you since you are so "high" on Koch and have decided that you are now going to single handedly make this a dictatorship instead of a
demorcratic process. So we have also built several bombs that we have placed in various locations around the areas in which we know that you frequent.

This includes, your house, your car, the state capitol, and well I won't tell you all of them because that's just no fun. Since we know that you are not smart enough to figure out why this is happening to you we have decided to make it perfectly clear to you. If you and your goonies feel that it's necessary to strip the rights of 300,000 people and ruin their lives, making them unable to feed, clothe, and provide the necessities to their families and themselves then We Will "get rid of" (in which I mean kill) you. Please understand that this does not include the heroic Rep. Senator that risked everything to go aganist what you and your goonies wanted him to do. We feel that it's worth our lives to do this, because we would be saving the lives of 300,000 people. Please make your peace with God as soon as possible and say goodbye to your loved ones we will not wait any longer. YOU WILL DIE!!!!

Now - can you begin to imagine the reaction this would get if it were an email to the Democrats? I'll be curious to see what, if any, reaction the MSM has to this filth.

H/T Sykes

Brennan Daigle - The Littlest Soldier

I heard about this on the news yesterday, and it brought tears to my eyes.

Most kids might hope to get an Xbox or an iPod Touch for their 10th birthday. Brennan Daigle got a reception from a formation of soldiers, a ride in a camouflaged National Guard Humvee--and induction as an honorary member of the Army.

Since October 2009, Brennan, from Sulphur, Louisiana, has been battling embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma--a rare form of cancer in which muscular tumors attach themselves to bones, writer Rachel Reischling reports in the Fort Polk Guardian. Last month, doctors told his family there was nothing more they could do, and gave Brennan just weeks to live.
...
Becky Prejean, who runs a charity for sick kids called Dreams Come True of Louisiana, heard about Brennan's illness, and got in touch with his mother, Kristy Daigle. Brennan's greatest wish, Daigle told Prejean, was to meet some soldiers in person, before his illness worsened. So the two women contacted the Fort Polk Community Relations Office, which put out a call for a few soldiers to attend Brennan's tenth birthday on Feb. 26.

Forty showed up.

Brennan had been told he was going fishing with his father. But when he got out of his dad's truck, he was greeted by a formation of 1st MEB soldiers, standing at attention in front of a National Guard Humvee. After a moment, they all shouted "Happy Birthday, Brennan!," and broke into applause.
...
Brennan and his best friend Kaleb were invited to check out the Humvee, and Brennan sat behind the wheel. Then soldiers took the two boys out for a spin. Afterward, Brennan and Kaleb put their heads out the hatch on the vehicle's roof, while the crowd snapped pictures.

But it wasn't over. Brennan got out of the Humvee and was led to the front of the formation, where he shook hands with each soldier. He was inducted into the Army as an honorary member, then given a coin symbolizing merit and excellence, as well as a military jacket with his name on the pocket, and other Army-themed gifts.

"Brennan, you exemplify what personal courage means," Pfc. Kamesha Starkey, 1st MEB, told him.

"Words can never express what I felt seeing all those soldiers there, knowing some of them had just come back from Iraq and still took time out for just one little boy," Kristy Daigle said. "Just to know that they care enough to give their all, to give their love and support to a little boy is phenomenal. It says so much about our men and women who serve our country in the armed forces."

Godspeed Brennan - you truly ARE a profile in courage. And once again, my heart overflows with gratitude for our military men and women. They're making a difference in so many different ways.

Happy 21st Birthday!!

Happy Birthday babe! I remember the day you were born as if it was yesterday. Come home to your beautiful family safe and sound, y'hear? I love you!

Jack Senzig Update

I introduced you to Jack Senzig in this post. Apparently Mr. Senzig didn't like all of the wonderful publicity he was getting. According to Fred the vile pictures have been removed from the "new" blog, and if you try to click on his "joinchoir" blog it's now private.

Whassup with that?? I thought Mr. Senzig just wanted to share his thoughts...I guess he only wants to share them with those of like mind or those he indoctrinates.

What a good example you're setting as a teacher Mr. Senzig!

Jack Senzig and Ms. C - a Tale of Two Teachers

Allow me to introduce you to Ms. C. She is a high school teacher and one of my best friends. This does not make me biased; rather it gives me clarity. Many people, including my friends, romanticize the life of a teacher. They get off work at 3:00. Well, school may end at 3:00, but that certainly doesn't end the work day. Ms. C and many of her colleagues rarely leave the school before 5:00, and even then they take work home. Grading, planning, what have you. But wait - don't they have planning periods? Well yes, they do. Say they have one or two planning periods a day. Do you honestly expect them to be able to do lesson plans for 4-6 classes, grade the papers from those classes and at the same time leave their door open for the (unfortunately) few students who actually give enough of a shit about their education to ask for help or guidance? Not possible.

They have summers off. Well, yes and no. While some may be able to relax and enjoy their summers, many do not have that luxury. You see, Ms. C is a divorced mother of two college aged children and one high schooler. What does this mean? This means teaching summer school or some other summer job for extra income.

It is tough? Oh hell yeah. Whether a teacher wants it or not, politics is a part of their life. I can't tell you how many times I've been on the other end of the phone or across the table from Ms. C when she was in tears because of another policy decision that was made not in the best interest of the students or the classrooms, but for political reasons. She tries her damndest NOT to get involved in the politics of teaching because you see, for her, it IS about the children. They are not her students - they are "her kids."

Now allow me to introduce you to Jack Senzig. Mr. Senzig is a middle school choir teacher for Racine's Gifford Middle School. Mr. Senzig has had a blog on which he posted pictures and anecdotes about his choir. He was justifiably proud of these kids. But then...THEN...

The posts turned to politics. And I'm not talking subtle politics. His first political post was entitled Governor Walker Wages War On Unions. In another post he writes:

For the haters, go back and read what I posted. I am merely trying to make sure you know that this is a volatile time and you need to know it will effect the choir. Canceling rehearsals was needed to protect the kids from being left unattended. I did not know exactly what would happen but I could not guarantee that I would be here to watch the kids. As for my political views, yes I hoped to inform those of you who would consider helping. Read the title of this blog, it is not a school website, it is my way to communicate with the world. If you don’t want your children to read this keep them off the internet.

Pardon me, but wasn't this the site to which the children could go read about their choir and see their pictures? Okay then.

His final post was titled GCC, Tour and Musical Cancelled. Yep - that's right - he has cancelled all musical events. Events these middle school children were looking forward to and worked hard for. Now, the Boy attends Racine Unified School District, yet I don't recall getting any notices cancelling his band's trip to St. Louis. In this last post Senzig links to his new blog. A blog, he says, is for his political views. I don't know about you, but it seems like his political views were rather in your face in the current blog. In any case, click on that link and what do you find from this teacher?

Ms. C and Jack Senzig. The former worthy of admiration...the latter not worthy of the title teacher.

H/T Fred

Enough!!!

For the past couple of weeks, almost every blogger I know has covered the events unfolding in Wisconsin. Some in great detail, some in a more general sense. So what's with the lack of coverage in this little corner of the blogosphere? I mean, with all that is going on in Wisconsin and nationally, this should be a blogger's paradise! Why the silence here?

I'm not really sure, except to say that I'm sick of it all. I'm tired of every entry on my facebook page talking about it. I'm sick of turning on the TV and stories about what's happening in Wisconsin are headlining both the local and national news. The opposition to Governor Walker's budget repair bill has reached new lows. The protesters are getting downright dangerous. For God's sakes - we even have members of the legislature threatening death to a colleague. The Fugitive 14 are still acting like children. I still can't help but ask the question - what are they hoping to accomplish?

Seriously - get your asses back to work. If this bill and this budget are as detrimental as you say it is, it will fail miserably, chaos will ensue, Wisconsin will implode and fall off the face of the earth, and you can all pat yourselves on the back for being so wise.

In any event, I've had about enough. If that relegates me to the status of "not so serious" or "irrelevant" blogger so be it. This whole ugly situation has done something I really didn't think possible. I've lost my passion for politics.

Now, to be sure, this could be due in part to various goings on in my personal life. I've been focusing on some things that have taken up much of my time and are of a rather serious nature. I'm really hoping that this apathy is a temporary condition. It's gotten to the point that except for the fact that I promised a good friend a ride, I wouldn't even go to Drinking Right next week - I'm THAT sick of hearing/talking about the political goings on right now.

Yep - that about says it all.