Burnt Toast and Coffee Time for March 5, 2009

Anything for a reason to post a picture of a pretty blond. Know who she is? She’s from Delafield. I’m pretty sure her dad is one of seven American “normal” (non-governmental, non-doctor, non-health care industry) citizens invited to President Obama’s health care summit today.  Give up? It’s Julie the Mormon from MTV’s “Real World” 2001. Last we heard, Julie was planning marriage to a med student and planned to live in Wauwatosa. I hope she’s doing well. I was hoping she wouldn’t go Hollywood.

March 5th is rather a momentous day in history. The Boston Massacre occurred on this day. The last free election in Germany prior to World War II was on this date. Winston Churchill gave his “Iron Curtain” speech on this day. Ironically, Josef Stalin died on this date seven years later. Oh and Patsy Cline died in a plane crash on this day 46 years ago.

• The City of Waukesha has taken steps to avoid the debacle Milwaukee has voted upon itself. If I could make a suggestion: When the final ordinance is put together, include something which prevents it from being repealed without a super majority vote.
• Pic-A-Book is going out of business. Are we seeing the end of the independent book seller, if not all the brick and mortar book stores? You didn’t have to buy batteries for a paperback or keep it recharged. If you dropped it, it was no big deal. You could even get it wet. If, in some alternate universe, the Kindle had been invented first, imagine what a sensation the paperback would be with those user-friendly features.
• Lori Luther has a job for another year.
• And Waukesha has a 5-year strategic plan. It does not include flying cars.
• I need some drain cleaner. I think I’ll go to Ace Hardware and buy it. Just as a reward for their service to the community.
• Oconomowoc is getting a Brennan’s. I like Brennan’s. Nice selection of vegetables and bakery. Check out the freezer case. Not to mention the cheese.
• The Freeman likes where the Waukesha Public Schools are headed.
• A psychiatrist believes releasing a cop killer would present little danger to the public.

1. That’s not the point, he’s a cop killer.
2. Would the psychiatrist want him next door?
3. My God man, look at his picture. He’s a fracking super villain in waiting.

• This 70-year old guy bowled a 300 game in Waukesha. Congratulations!
• Wigderson says that if the Republicans are to return to power they absolutely cannot become more like Democrats just to attract votes. Unfortunately, the national party seems to believe that is the proper course of action. Their selection of Mr. Steele as their chairman seems to be a “Look, we’ve got one, too!” moment. In an effort to be less like a coward about race, let me state that for a party which is supposedly opposed to racial quotas, it sure looks like Mr. Steele got his job primarily because of his race.
• On a lighter note, a Heyer 6th grader won a Milwaukee County Museum poetry contest about the sinking of the Titanic. I have, believe it or not, a copy of a book of poems from 1966 from Waukesha High School. I was in 8th grade and my teacher had me submit a poem and it got published. I was not worried about “onomatopoeia”, nor did I work on this for several nights. Here it is:

• Hey, I was , what, 14? Give the kid a break. I got better.
• Finally, a long Sound Off mostly about the missing Sonic Drive In. Boy you people get upset about the strangest things.