The Party and power of kNOw prevent mortgage cramdown
House Republicans have been doing a good job of presenting a united front of voting NO on the stimulus spending and bailouts since Obama became president. The media and Democrats have dubbed them the Party of NO. I prefer to think of them as the Party of KNOW.
When you know what these irresponsible spending bills and what the burden of adding over $9 trillion in new debt over the next 10 years will do will do to our economy and our children's future, how can you vote any other way than no?
Rep. Jim Ott's Hot Air Reports now online
Great news! Wisconsin State Representative Jim Ott has put all of his Hot Air Reports on the subject of global warming / climate change online. You may also subscribe to his weekly reports just by emailing him at Rep.Ottj@legis.wi.gov and requesting that he send you the reports via email. (I did need to include my home address in the email.)
I am glad Jim Ott's Reports are now online, because I did not subscribe until about Report #4. Now I can catch up on the ones I missed.
Much ado about swine flu: If it's serious, why no quarantine?
First, I better state my disclaimer: I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. I have not had any medical training outside of a college class in nutrition, physiology and anatomy, and genetics. However, sometimes I am dubbed Dr. Quinn or Dr. Spock by friends and family. I have been interested in natural medicine pretty much all of my adult life.
Sunday's big Elmbrook news was that Tonawanda Elementary School will be closed for the week because of a confirmed case of swine flu*. That sounds serious. But is it?
Driving Distractions
In the current issue of the AAA magazine presumably only sent to members, of which I am, a titled feature "Driving Distractions" is on page 19.
National Day of Prayer: Meet at City Hall Plaza flags, Thursday, May 7, 12:20pm
This coming Thursday is the 58th annual National Day of Prayer in America. All across the country people of faith will be gathering around the flag poles at schools, city halls, and other public places to pray for our country and leaders. Some events are well organized; some are just a generic invitation to meet at your city hall flag pole from 12:20 to 12:40 pm.
From National Day of Prayer Task Force Chairman, Shirley Dobson:
Sen. Jim Sullivan Town Hall at Bfld. East Library, May 7th 5:30pm
I just got a robo call from some young lady telling me of a State Senator Jim Sullivan Town Hall meeting tomorrow at Brookfield East High School's library at 5:30 PM.
Can't say if I will attend on such short notice, but I thought at least I would pass it on to you.
Ever roll your own? I do; I roll OATS!
Yes, I have been rolling my own for about 10 years now--oats, that is. I make my own oatmeal.
Why? It is healthier. You see, the whole grain seed or groat, as it is called, will stay fresh for years, but only if it is in its whole condition. Once a grain is ground or rolled, it starts to break down, deteriorate, and oxidize. The fats become rancid and molds begin to grow. That means the oatmeal and flour and whole grain baked goods you buy in the store have all started to spoil.
Senator Jim Sullivan's Town Hall...GRILLING! OUCH!
Curiosity won out last night, and so I went to Brookfield East's library for Sen. Jim Sullivan's Town Hall meeting. I didn't know what to expect; I have never been to one of his meetings. Would I be the lone conservative amongst liberals?
I had recently attended Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner and State Rep. Leah Vukmir's Town Hall at the Wauwatosa Library. It attracted about 100 attendees--nearly all were supportive of their positions on the issues.
A Mother's Day Video
It looks like this video has been around for a few years, but I just discovered it. Funny!
This mom says thank God for sisters and aunts
Today, I would like to say thanks to all the aunts: the sisters of moms and dads who lend a hand, pinch hit, take the kids where mothers fear to tread, and generally add so much to their nieces' and nephews' lives. Some of these ladies never get a Mother's Day card, tribute, or gift, yet they contribute a great deal to both their siblings and their sibling's children's lives.
When I was growing up, I was blessed to have my mother, father, and both sets of grandparents living. I also had a maiden aunt who still lived at home with my paternal grandparents. My sister and I had lots of fun staying at Grandma and Grandpa's house. When they died, this unmarried aunt stepped into the role of grandmother for her 16 nieces and nephews. Our weekends at grandma's changed to weekends with auntie.
Another 2 pennies for your thoughts, bills, cards and MAIL!
It was nice of the US Postal Service to wait until after Mother's Day to raise their rates by 2 cents for First Class mail... ;-)
Gas prices can't be the driving factor for the 4.76% increase. After all, gas prices were near peak last spring when they raised rates last May.
As promised, OATMEAL RAISIN MUFFINS
I have been making these oatmeal muffins ever since the oat bran craze came on the scene--maybe 15 years or more ago?
Originally, I adapted an oat bran muffin recipe and then kept changing it until I found something that I thought tasted good and was still relatively nutritious. It has evolved over the years and may undergo more changes as time goes on. [I did not like any of the oat bran recipes; to me they tasted like baked wallpaper paste with a little sawdust for texture! :) ]
Smoking Ban - Another Liberty Lost
For the record, I hate smoking. I have never done it in my life and never will. Since I play music professionally, I work in some of the smokiest conditions there are. My family abhors the smell of smoke on themselves, or on me when I come home from a gig. I think smoking is a disgusting habit, so it is completely logical that I am totally against the pending statewide smoking ban.
Yes, you read that right. I am against it. As much as I hate smoking, I hate government mandating the way we live our lives even more. Simply put, smoking is a legal activity. If it is so dangerous, then ban it outright. Otherwise, let people choose.
Fire Station Groundbreaking
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 was the official groundbreaking for the new Brookfield fire stations. The ceremony was held at the new Station #2 site near Calhoun Road and Capitol Drive.
My job as Mom
Technically, I know it's true; I could be replaced.
But learning, what I've figured out,
Wisconsin Hills' Odyssey of the Mind Fund-raising Concert TONIGHT @ Mitchell Park 6:30pm
A reader alerted me to this event tonight. Thanks!
Elmbrook's Wisconsin Hills Middle School 7th grade Odyssey of the Mind team recently won at the state level competition. This win means the students qualify for the next level, the World Finals, at Iowa State University, which take place May 27 - 30.
Mobile Police Computers
The headline journal/sentinel story "Mobile Computers allowing police to issue more tickets", is somewhat of a surprise to judges and lawyers who had no advance notice, unless published in special topic publications. The issuance of multiple citations is presumably based on an actual traffic violation which was not intended by the police officer. That raises the issue of probable cause and other constitutional rights.
The article was absent of examples of the types of violations generated by the computers, but more important the article states that the state Division of Motor Vehicles,i,e., Department of Transportation/DOT , got the software free by way of a federal grant.
USE PUBLIC FACILITIES
Previously I hadn’t been aware that Elmbrook High Schools had been conducting their commencement ceremonies at Elmbrook Church. Nobody’s given a reason for doing so for some years now. I’m glad to hear that they will discontinue it after this year. My beef with Elmbrook is not that they’re using a church instead of the school gyms. Instead, they haven’t been using their own facilities. The gyms have been used for many years for graduations. My kids graduated in 1992 and 1995 and the gym was just fine. Enrollment has been declining so space is not a justification. Parents and friends didn’t mind sitting in the bleachers in 1995 and it didn’t cost the taxpayers either. Now that a suit has been filed, the taxpayer will pay dearly to settle the suit, one way or another, not to mention all the rent paid to Elmbrook Church. Both UWM and Marquette use the sparsely appointed, ancient former Milwaukee Arena.
Stonewood Village's Siepmann farm on chopping block at Tuesday's Common Council meeting
Stonewood Village, a Brookfield shopping center consisting of historic and period reproduction homes and buildings, is in the process of undergoing major changes, with an emphasis on weddings. The problem is, the historic Siepmann building*, circa 1856, stands in the way of the newly proposed and approved of building plans:
The developer plans to raze a historic two-story barn to accommodate the changes, but representatives from Stonewood Village [said] they would be willing to work with the Elmbrook Historical Society to relocate the farm or reuse some of the materials elsewhere on the site.
