Good morning,
There’s a forecast for mostly sunny skies, with a high of thirty-nine. The ‘mostly sunny’ or ‘partly sunny’ forecast is a standard in Wisconsin — the skies just aren’t as sunny as other places in America. There’s extraordinary natural beauty in Wisconsin, but one often walks under a slightly [...]
George Washington issued the first presidential, thanksgiving proclamation, long before Thanksgiving Day was a federal holiday, acknowledging a holiday already established in American tradition.
[New York, 3 October 1789]
By the President of the United States of America. a Proclamation.
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge [...]
Here’s the link to a map of Stimulus Jobs Inflated by State.
In nationwide totals, this private tracking effort has uncovered reports amounting to 90,489 bogus stimulus jobs — and still counting.
What’s Wisconsin show?
1. C3T Construction Co. in Milwaukee claimed to have created 24 jobs on projects that have not [...]
Our neighbors in Minnesota, at Minnesotans for Global Warming,
http://www.minnesotansforglobalwarming.com/m4gw/, have a fine video for your enjoyment. The video’s inspired by the revelation of hundreds of emails from global warming theorists, from which it’s clear that these scientists are part politician, and that’s none to the good. Their [...]
Good morning,
One often hears that Wisconsin must be a cold and snowy place, but it’s only true in part. Much of our year, in spring and fall, in cold and rainy, not quite cold enough for snow, but instead warm enough only for a cold rain. That’s been our weather [...]
We often hear that justice, personified as Justitia, is blind: that she is impartial, temperate, and reasonable. Blind, perhaps, but only to the superficial, the emotional, or the self-interested. A statue of Justitia so sculpted sits before many court houses.
I don’t recall a similar statue in Walworth County, our county [...]
I wrote a few weeks ago that I would replace my morning ‘Daily Bread’ feature with something new. I didn’t properly consider that I’m not a writer, have no skill at composition, and wouldn’t possibly conjure a better name for the morning feature than the one a reader kindly suggested. [...]
Spoiler Alert – this review will reveal sundry details of the episode.
The Prisoner, in the form of AMC’s new series, ends with epispde six, Checkmate. Much of what one might have suspected is confirmed: The Village is a place in one’s mind, we learn that Number 6 has the chance [...]
Spoiler Alert – this review will reveal sundry details of the episode.
In this episode, the Prisoner meets a version of himself, a version of The Village Administrator, and learns that The Village is a a created place. By the end of the episode, he has enough information to how The [...]
Like all libertarians, I recognize the clear Second Amendment right of individuals to bear arms. Although I’m not heading out to hunt this weekend, I wish those who do so a good time and good prospects.
I also know that our hunting culture – very much a part of our [...]
Spoiler Alert – this review will reveal sundry details of the episode.
The fourth episode of the remake involves the effort of The Village’s administrator to sign Number 6 up with a dating service. The theory, one supposes, is that it will help to learn more about 6.
Fortunately, I know [...]
Here’s commentary on the third episode of AMC’s The Prisoner.
Spoiler Alert – this review will reveal sundry details of the episode.
A man called Number 6, rather than a name, finds himself in a community called The Village, wondering where he is, how he got there, and trying to return [...]
Here’s a review of episode two of AMC’s Prisoner. Spoiler Alert – this review will reveal sundry details of the episode.
There are differences from the original series and this remake, the first involving the administrator of The Village, Number 2. In the original series, there was a different Number 2 [...]
Recently, our local college campus, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, passed along information about a prayer vigil to honor a senior, Amy Krueger, who was killed at Fort Hood, Texas.
The Freedom from Religion Foundation, based, I think, in nearby Madison, objected to the email, on the contention that the email supposedly [...]
The first two episodes of the new AMC series The Prisoner were televised last night. I expected only one; two episodes were a surprise treat. I will post a review of the first episode today, and the second tomorrow (a change of plan, as I didn’t know that there would [...]
Some months ago, at the suggestion of a particularly sharp reader, I created a weekly feature called Prisoner Monday, in which I posted video excerpts from the British television series The Prisoner.
The series describes the adventures of a man who finds himself in a mysterious place called The Village, and [...]
Somewhere, there must be books that describe how one should properly and appropriately set table, with the correct and approved position of plates, glasses, knives, forks, and spoons.
I have never read any of those books, nor felt that I should. When I go to a restaurant, I assume that [...]
I have written a few overview posts, these past two weeks, highlighting unusual and curious aspects of life here. I will resume a more conventional posting schedule, with a daily morning feature, beginning next week.
In the meantime, I will finish highlighting some of the ways that we’re just not the [...]
Whitewater, Wisconsin has a common council form of government. There are seven members to the common council, five elected from districts across parts of the city, and two elected city wide, from across the town. Together, they are both the legislative, and executive, authority in town.
We have not merely a [...]
One of the attributes of many small rural towns is that they risk stagnation, and thereafter decline, either relative or absolute.
For many in America, the idea of any decline seems absurd. Residents of a Maryland suburb may worry about too much growth, and crowding.
Believe it or not, we have [...]
In my last two posts, Whitewater’s Best Hopes and The Invitation to Come to Whitewater from Contemporary America, immediately below, I discussed the opportunities that immigrants and students offer Whitewater. Although they’ve been met with acceptance in many quarters, they’ve been met with stubborn and self-destructive opposition from a few.
Once [...]
America is a dynamic and competitive place. The rise of America, from defeat of a haughty empire, her expansion across an entire continent, to her current prosperity owe to individual liberty, free enterprise, and a hope for peaceful commerce with the world beyond.
A people with these values could not [...]
If you’ve read recent studies or articles about small town America, then you have read that many rural towns struggle to maintain residents. They find themselves shriveling and withering, unable to assure a prosperous future for the next generation of residents.
It’s a hard problem, and efforts to overcome a [...]
Walk around Whitewater, and talk to those who are elderly, lifetime residents, and you’re sure to catch their nostalgia for an older Whitewater. About the Whitewater of their youth, and how the town has changed, I will comment later.
For now, I’ll describe how the present day residents, often Scandinavian-American and [...]
In 1837, a group of settlers left Milwaukee for the area now Whitewater, and arrived after little under a week’s travel. They were the first settlers to arrive at a place where only tribes had lived before.
If you’re reading from the east coast, 1837 may not seem nearly as [...]
America began as a collection of villages and towns, of tribes, settlers, colonists, and later, citizens. We had no indispensable great city, no Rome or London, on which all depended.
We still don’t. Yet, we have changed, so very much, and America is no longer a collection of small, rural [...]
Posting has been light this month, as I have thought about FREE WHITEWATER’s readers, and how to describe and explain our town to a growing, out-of-town audience. When I started writing, I never thought about how many readers I might attract. I wrote what I felt like writing, and if [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
It’s the last day of school before a two-day break, and there will be any number of Halloween parties, parades throughout the district.
On this day in 1914, Dr. Jonas Salk was born. Here’s more about his accomplishments, from the New York Times:
As an intense 40-year-old scientist, [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
In the City of Whitewater, Common Council meets tonight. This session, like the one before, will focus on the municipal budget.
On this day in 1787, the first of the Federalist papers was published, in a New York newspaper, in support of the proposed U.S. Constitution. The papers were [...]
It’s the season, across Wisconsin, for municipalities to present and approve their 2010 budgets. The process varies by city – some finish quickly, some extend the discussion from October into November.
We are among that latter group – although we are a small town, our municipal budget is a big [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
In the City of Whitewater, the Community Development Authority meets at 4:30 p.m.
This day in history, in 1881, is the anniversary of the gunfight at the OK Corral.
Here’s today’s almanac:
Almanac Monday, October 26, 2009 Sunrise Sunset Official Time 07:21 AM 05:55 PM Civil Twilight 06:52 AM 06:24 PM Tomorrow 07:22 AM 05:54 PM Tomorrow will be: 2 minutes shorter Amount of [...]Good morning, Whitewater
In the City of Whitewater, there are no scheduled, municipal public meetings.
At Lakeview School, the pennies for patients drive continues today, and there is a fifth grade band concert at 2 PM and again at 7 PM. There is also a fifth grade band concert at Washington [...]
You may be sure that these days are scarcely ordinary – we are on the cusp of the extraordinary, the exceptional, and innovative.
Nearly a month ago, Whitewater broke ground on a taxpayer-funded tech park, along a street renamed Innovation Drive, beside our existing business park.
There was a brief ceremony, [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
In the City of Whitewater, the Whitewater University Tech Park Board meets at 1 PM.
At Lakeview School, the pennies for patients drive continues today.
On this day in American history, in 1879, Thomas Edison invented the incandescent light bulb:
Here the inventor gave a practical illustration of [...]
There’s more than one way to change an organization. I’ve thought, over the years, that there were two principal ways: begin by shaping the attitude of employees, or by shaping their behavior. (I see that it’s possible to begin with both, but my point would be that one typically begins [...]
Before the budget, before the municipal administration, politicians, bureaucrats, and back-patters, is a city of fourteen-thousand. Most of these fourteen-thousand have, sensibly, more important concerns than the latest, supposedly extraordinary and exceptional (excuse me, exceptional! bureaucratic achievement.
Little over a month ago, there was a rare mention, for Whitewater, of (child) [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
In the City of Whitewater, the Alcohol and Licensing Board meets at 6:15 PM, and the Common Council meets at 6:30 PM.
At Lakeview School, there’s a pennies for patients drive continuing today. At Lincoln School, there’s a 6:30 PM band concert tonight.
On this day in Wisconsin [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
This quiet week ends, with no scheduled municipal, public meetings.
On this day in Wisconsin history, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society,
1968 – Milwaukee Bucks Play First Game
On this date the Milwaukee Bucks opened their first season with an 89-84 loss to the Chicago Bulls. The loss was [...]
Here’s a description accompanying the video:
When he started his first organic food store in Austin, Texas in 1978, Whole Foods Market CEO and co-founder John Mackey had no idea that he would eventually usher in not just a revolution in how we shop but what we buy. If you [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
In the city today, there are two scheduled, municipal public meetings. At 4:30 p.m., the Urban Forestry Task Force meets, and at 7 p.m., the League of Women Voters will meet in the municipal building.
It’s picture retake day, and take your family to school day, at Lakeview [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
In the city today, there are no scheduled, municipal public meetings.
At Whitewater High, at 1:15 p.m., there’s a Movin’ and Munchin’ event with Wisconsin Olympians Casey FitzRandolph and Suzy Favor Hamilton in the gym.
The Middle School PTO will meet at 7 p.m. tonight.
On this day in 1964, [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
In the city today, there will be a three municipal public meetings: the Rock River Stormwater Group meets at 10, the Census Complete Count Committee meets at 1, and the Park and Rec Board meets at 4:30.
On this day in 1775, the Continental Congress ordered the construction [...]
It’s a chilly October in Whitewater, Wisconsin, but the political climate has never been milder. That must seem odd, in a time of economic hardship with rising unemployment. There’s a gap, though, between the condition of ordinary residents and their interest in the plans and schemes from our municipal building.
The [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
In the city today, there will be a Planning Commission meeting at 6 p.m., and a Library Board meeting at 6:30 p.m.
In the choice between planning or reading, I’d pick reading (unless it’s reading about planning, which is probably about the worst kind of reading someone could [...]
Over the years, some of the web’s biggest bloggers have blogged about cats (NYT free registration required). (I first learned about these cat-celebrating posts from Instapundit.com.) Called catblogging, they features photos of cats, in tribute to felines.
These tributes are only natural: the greatest Americans have liked cats: [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
In the city today, state senator Judy Robson will hold a listening session from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Whitewater municipal building.
In our schools, it’s spirit day at schools throughout the district, there’s a scheduled road rally at Lincoln School, and at the high school there [...]
It’s not true that marquee projects make no difference to life in Whitewater, Wisconsin. They do make a difference, just not enough to alter the high poverty and slow growth that besets our community.
Several big projects may have a comforting influence, and offer a cumulative lift, to those who use [...]
If one thinks about Whitewater over the last several years, all of its principal offices have changed hands once, or more, with the exception of the city’s police chief (who left briefly, but returned).
No one else from 2000 yet retains a leading political or appointed office. Those who were front [...]
Whitewater, Wisconsin has any number of official public bodies and ad hoc committees. We probably have too many, working on too many tasks, at once.
They’re often composed of the same people, something more common than even our small size makes necessary.
Use of the same people, over and over, serves [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
In the city today, there are no public, municipal meetings scheduled.
In our schools, there’s vision and hearing screening at Lakeview. At the high school there are homecoming events: Dress Day Color Day (Freshmen Green, Sophomores Orange, Juniors Yellow, Seniors Purple), a canned food drive, dollar war, and [...]
Yes, it surely is. Falsely casting blame, though, allows bureaucrats to keep control of others’ production for their own ambitions.
See, Blaming the recession on free markets is unscientific.
[...]Over at The Truth About Cars there’s a post about the leadership of the New GM, with a great line, mixing all sorts of references:
I have no idea why Mark LaNeve still works for General Motors. The former Cadillac man was serving Kool-Aid on the bridge when CEO [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
In the city today, there’s a Landmarks Commission meeting scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
In our schools, at the high school there are homecoming events: Dress Day Decade Day, a canned food drive, dollar war, Lip Sync competition at 7 p.m., and sale of dance tickets.
On this day in [...]
The Truth About Cars is a group blog, that Robert Farago founded because he felt that few were writing honestly and candidly about the automobile industry. Here’s a description from TTAC website:
The Truth About Cars provides no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners automotive reviews and industry-related editorials. Our writers call it like they see [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
In the city today, there’s a Common Council meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
In our schools, there’s a 6:30 p.m. PTA meeting at Lakeview School, and at the high school there are homecoming events (Twisted Tuesday Mismatch Day, a canned food drive, dollar war, and sale of dance [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
In the city today, there’s a scheduled dedication of the Trippe Lake Shelter for 4 p.m.
On this day in Wisconsin history, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin held its first constitutional convention:
1846 – First State Constitutional Convention Meets
On this date Wisconsin’s first state Constitutional Convention met [...]
For Friday Catblogging, here’s something local — tiger cubs at the MIlwaukee Zoo: Siberian Tiger Cubs Make Zoo Debut.
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee County Zoo is celebrating the birth of two new babies.
The Siberian tiger cubs that were born this past July will be making their debut.
The two cubs are [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
On this date in 1996, President Clinton signed an amendment to the Freedom of Information Act, that required the federal government to place electronic documents online. Much has happened in these last thirteen years.
Among the most important changes, the legislation required the government to supply information [...]
It’s video Thursday at FREE WHITEWATER, and here are two videos on parental choice in education. The first is entitled, “Unlocked,” and describes the fight of parents for a better education for their children. It now has a companion film called “Cracking the Education Monoploy,” about that same fight. I’ll [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
There are no scheduled municipal, public meetings in the City of Whitewater for today.
The Wisconsin Historical Society notes that today is the anniversary of the first Wisconsin state fair:
1851 – First State Fair in Wisconsin
On this date thirteen counties were represented at the first state fair which [...]
Whitewater’s had more than its share of property damage from vandalism. Strong property rights make a for a strong community; free markets in private property are the foundation of a productive society.
We have vandalism, too, and just about everyone contends that much of it comes from over-drinking, leaving a bar, [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
The Wisconsin Historical Society recalls that on this date in 1859,
1859 – Abraham Lincoln Speaks at State Fair
On this date Abraham Lincoln delivered an address at the Wisconsin State Fair. In his speech, he connected agriculture to education: “Every blade of grass is a study; and [...]
Longtime Wisconsin State Rep. Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) intends to propose a tax break for Wisconsin newspapers. I support a vigorous press, but like most libertarians, I oppose tax breaks for favored industries. I’m sure that overall, across-the-board tax reduction would be a better policy.
Still, I have to admire Schneider [...]
The Associated Press reports that one of the candidates for the Massachusetts U.S. Senate seat for which there is a December primary is a libertarian named Joe Kennedy. It may be the only time in memory that one will see banners reading, Libertarians for Kennedy. (He’s no relation to the [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
A 4 p.m. today, there’s a groundbreaking for the Whitewater University Technology Park. Later, at 6 p.m., the Whitewater-Area League of Women Voters is hosting a City of Whitewater budget listening session.
In Wisconsin history on this date, the Wisconsin Historical Society recalls a famous dedication:
1957 – [...]
The Gazette has more on the pending lawsuit against the Whitewater Unified School District, about which I posted earlier today. See, Families debate lawsuit against Whitewater schools.
There’s lot of new information in the story. Interesting questions, too.
1. Behind Eyes or Ears. Most of what defense counsel, Lori Lubinsky states [...]
The Gazette has more on the pending lawsuit against Whitewater Schools, about which I posted earlier, today. I noticed the Gazette story only this evening, and it describes uncertainty in the family about how to proceed. (A letter to the court filed last week suggests that the lawsuit would be [...]
I once read that one should offer solutions, not problems. Funny, something like this passes as …. insight.
(I’m not sure where I read it. It might have been on a motivational poster, in a fortune cookie, or perhaps from an email I saw from a former city employee, writing to [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
Whitewater’s Community Development Authority meets today at 4:30 p.m.
In Wisconsin history on this date, the Wisconsin Historical Society remembers the birthday of Seymour Cray:
1925 – Seymour R. Cray Born
On this date Seymour R. Cray was born in Chippewa Falls. Cray received a BS in Electrical Engineering [...]
Late last week, court filings indicate that most of plaintiffs in a civil rights lawsuit against the Whitewater School District and other named defendants had left the district, and consequently had sought voluntary dismissal of the lawsuit they had filed in early September. A letter from plaintiffs’ counsel filed with [...]
Over at Reason.tv, there’s a video originally recorded in July in which William Redpath talks about the Libertarian Party.
There are millions of libertarians in America; there are far fewer members of the Libertarian Party. LP meetings are often divided between left and right libertarians, and on other arcane issues.
That division [...]
Earlier, in a post entitled, “Come On, Whitewater! Stop Disappointing Your Politicians and Bureaucrats (Part 2),” I considered some of Whitewater City Manager Brunner’s remarks on low turnout at budget listening session. The session was covered at the Daily Union, in a story entitled, “No Input at Budget [...]
For Friday Catblogging, here’s something different — very different — an animation about singing cats.
It’s an award-winning animation called, The Cat Piano. More about the short film is available at Cat Piano Film.
[...]Good morning, Whitewater
In Wisconsin history on this date, the Wisconsin Historical Society remembers the birthday of abolitionist Sherman Booth:
1812 – Abolitionist Sherman M. Booth Born
On this date abolitionist and editor of the Milwaukee Free Democrat, Sherman M. Booth, was born in New York. At the age of fifteen, [...]
Long-standing libertarian Phil Manger has suggested Sarah Palin as a libertarian presidential candidate. She might run as an independent, a libertarian-oriented Republican, or (although this wasn’t Manger’s suggestion) a member of the LP.
Under any scenario, she’d receive more votes than 2008 LP candidate Bob Barr if she did run as [...]
Here’s a description accompanying the video:
Are the Tea Party protesters a small group of radical freakazoids or a large crew of taxpaying regular joes who are fed up with government spending, Democrats and Republicans, and business as usual?
Reason.tv fanned out through the crowd and the backstage of the September 12 [...]
Over at the Daily Union, there’s coverage of the first of two scheduled municipal budget listening sessions. In a story entitled, “No Input at Budget Hearing,” Whitewater City Manager Kevin Brunner comments on the lack of attendance, and his own trailblazing listening session concept.
It’s not that Brunner receives [...]
Monday night, Whitewater held the first of two listening sessions on the 2010 municipal budget. It had an attendance of one person. That’s not surprising; the event received little advance notice. Part puzzling, and part funny, is how a local website, the (Whitewater Banner) covered the low turnout:
“(Sep 22) [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
In Wisconsin history on this date, the Wisconsin Historical Society recalls a famous award:
1857 – First Sheboygan County Cheese Award
On this date N.C. Harmon of Lyman was awarded the first premium prize for cheese made in Sheboygan County. The award was given at the Sheboygan Agricultural Society [...]
Over a year ago, I posted a list of Techniques of Municipal Distraction, the methods local government can use to shift-blame, avoid true accountability, and do pretty much what it pleases. I’ll add four more, and list the original techniques thereafter.
19. A Compliant Press Must Always Bolster Key Leaders. Every [...]
Over at the Denver Post, David [not Daniel!] Harsanyi has a great column on how civility is overrated. Harsanyi’s right:
A “focus on civility is meant to cloud another issue. Let’s not confuse personal civility with political civility. A ‘civil’ citizenry can mean a pliable citizenry, waiting – sometimes forever – [...]
Wisconsin’s a smaller state, but she ranks in the top ten in property taxes, along with states with troubled economies like Illinois and California.
The Wisconsin State Journal, in a story posted this afternoon, entitled, “Wisconsin ninth in median property taxes,” notes that “Wisconsin’s median real estate tax paid [...]
Today, under pressure from people from across the state, lawmakers withdrew a bill that would have allowed legislators to designate secretly their successors in the event that an attack or disaster should befall Wisconsin. I posted earlier today on the pending legislation. See, New Wisconsin Bill Would Allow Secretly [...]
Hard to believe, but true – the Wisconsin legislature is set to consider a bill that would allow Wisconsin legislators to compile a secret list of potential successors in the event of an attack on the state. Should legislators be killed, those from the secret list would serve in a [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
There are no municipal meetings scheduled for the City of Whitewater today.
On this day in 1952, vice-presidential candidate Richard Nixon delivered his Checkers speech, denying allegations of improper campaign financing. The New York Times has a link to the story.
Here’s a video recording of Nixon’s 1952 [...]
Good morning, Whitewater
There was, at one time, a listening session scheduled on the upcoming city budget, to be held at Fairhaven Retirement Community. (It doesn’t appear, as of this post, on the City of Whitewater’s website calendar, or in the list of Common Council agendas. Mention of it appeared in [...]
Today marks the birthday of the British writer, H.G. Wells. Like so many others, I grew up reading Wells’s science fiction, with War of the Worlds as my favorite. It’s still one of my favorite stories. To commemorate his birth, Google added a small picture (that they call a ‘doodle’) [...]
One hears a great deal about how much trouble alcohol causes. In Whitewater, I’ve heard more than once that alcohol causes raucous behavior. (There’s much that’s ridiculous about the excuse that alcohol makes people do stupid things. No matter, let’s assume, for now, that alcohol is the root of the [...]
