Saturday News Round-Up

Yes, I changed the title of the Marth meeting post because I really don’t believe Mayor Larry would have feared attending. He’s a middle school teacher by trade, so by definition, he’s fearless. However, I do believe he wasn’t looking forward to attending because it would have been very uncomfortable for him. He couldn’t make light of the subject or laugh it off or use his big smile to placate the neighbors. I believe he doesn’t take criticism well and would have expected criticism at the meeting.

• The Democrats had a plan. Just like Cylons. (Did you know there was a town in Wisconsin named Cylon?) Their plan was to stick $15 billion dollars in tax increases out there long enough that, when rescinded, made $1.75 billion dollars in increases seem small and acceptable in comparison. In magic, it’s called “misdirection”. Don’t fall for it. Some stores price their merchandise so high that they offer 50-75% OFF SALE so it seems like a bargain. Same thing here.
• So what does this story tell us? Basically it confirms what everybody should have already known. The Indian casinos in Wisconsin are cheating the state by under-counting receipts and Diamond Jim Doyle sold the citizens of Wisconsin out to the tribes. What I didn’t know is that there are 25 Indian casinos in Wisconsin. I can think of no more than about ten.
• Jessica McBride addresses a number of subjects.
• The Freeman editorial board speaks out against SEWRPC’s stupid suggestion.
• Sound Off callers run the gamut.
• Pete Kennedy has some thoughts about the cost of back to school. Didn’t he do this subject already?
• One-third of Waukesha’s teachers are at the top of the pay schedule. I think we ought to pay on a bell curve. “Janet Bashirian, president of the Education Association of Waukesha, the teachers union, said it was unfair to blame teacher pay for the district’s budget woes, which caused a cut of the equivalent of 62 full-time teaching positions for the current school year to meet state revenue restrictions.” Janet, what makes up, what, about 90% of the district’s budget expenses?
• Anybody else find the Pioneer commercial where the lips and teeth turn into the pupil of an eye rather disturbing? Maybe just to men. Very Freudian.
• Why the heck didn’t I go south for college? Oh yeah, money.
• I have to admit that when I saw Derrick Turnbow starting the bottom of the eighth last night, I muttered, “Oh no.” But he did a good job. Great comeback win.