folkbum's rambles and rants

The last post

2012-01-01T10:44:00.004-06:00

by folkbumThis blog is not disappearing. The archives will still exist, and I may clean up the sidebar (kill the ads, etc.).And I am not disappearing, either: Starting today, I will be posting political and cultural whinings at the Zach Wisniewski Home for Wayward Bloggers, also known as Blogging Blue.My monthly column will continue in the Bay View Compass.And, most exciting, my education and

The next-to-last post

2011-12-31T06:30:00.003-06:00

(I'm not quitting, per se; tomorrow, I will post some information about where you can find--or avoid--my writing from here on out.)by folkbumWhen I was in high school, back in nineteen-somethingy-something, my junior English teacher, Mrs. Harding, insisted I needed a bigger venue for my wit and wisdom than, say, high school. A TV show, she suggested, no--a TV network. In retrospect, of course,

FriTunes: Last FriTunes Evar

2011-12-30T16:26:00.001-06:00

by folkbumFrom what may be my favorite album of 2011.

Entrepreneurial Spirit

2011-12-26T20:08:00.004-06:00

by folkbumI started a magazine! See?** See the Siren on the meaningfulness of the award Walker actually received.

Happy Holidays, all

2011-12-25T08:37:00.001-06:00

by folkbumHowever you are choosing to celebrate this season, please enjoy yourselves appropriately.

"Mines for Wisconsin" update

2011-12-21T16:09:00.004-06:00

by folkbumThe Government Accountability Board, the body that oversees recall (and other) elections in Wisconsin, has referred the group from my last post, "Mines for Wisconsin," to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office for a possible felony investigation. (I firmly believe "Mines for Wisconsin" is simply the "Christian Civil Liberties Union" with a new name.)The GAB's statement in full

"Christian" group upgrades from book-burning to dyslexic fraud advocacy

2011-12-20T18:01:00.007-06:00

by folkbumRemember a couple of years ago when the book-burners--literally! they demanded to burn a book!--descended on the West Bend Library because something threatened their worldview? One group in particular went even beyond just asking for books to be banned and burned, and actually tried suing the city of West Bend for "damages" because "their mental and emotional well-being were damaged"

Republicans still blaming the GAB for following the law

2011-12-16T06:15:00.004-06:00

by folkbumThere's an old saw among lawyers--well, I don't know if any of them use it, but us common folk have heard it a lot and assume it is so--about how to win your case. When the facts are on your side, they say, pound the facts. When the law is on your side, pound the law. When neither the facts nor the law is on your side, pound the table.Yesterday, the Wisconsin GOP pounded the table so

Shorter Christian Schneider, NRO, WPRI, WTFDUDE?

2011-12-15T05:41:00.004-06:00

by folkbumVote fraud is just like rape--underreported.Paraphrasing Illusory Tenant there, citing the Brawler, and via Jonathan Bernstein, who reads "The Corner" so you don't have to.Schneider's post does double-duty, both legitimizing GOP racism and sticking it in the eye of feminists. I bet he gets paid more for that. And it's also very exhausting to think that I've been fighting Schneider on

Unhinged, Violent—Anti-Recall Scott Walker Illegals Need Lesson in Civics

2011-12-13T10:09:00.002-06:00

Jeff Karnitz, the guy who got arrested for defacing recall petitions in December Too many Republicans frustrated with their inability to persuade fellow citizens NOT to recall Scott Walker are becoming "unhinged." The next graf here would naturally call on responsible Republican officials to issue a statement acclaiming Article XIII, Section 12 of the Wisconsin Constitution, enshrining the

RecallFitz Is Calling For Volunteers

2011-12-11T22:08:00.001-06:00

by capper Hey, good people of #wiunion and #wirecall- I received word from Lori Compas, the person leading the movement to recall Scott Fitzgerald. She told me that they are looking to make a big push on the recall effort of Fitzie, which has not been getting the attention it deserves. Lori is asking for 30 volunteers a day for 30 days to make sure they make this a sure deal. If you can at

WKOW: Anti-Recall Man Repeatedly Harassed Pro-Recall Residents at Their Homes

2011-12-10T09:10:00.002-06:00

Recall Scott Walker Fight Harassment Update: Stoughton man cited for allegedly taking a swing at recall volunteer.We can't ignore this. No matter that politicians see no need to protect this woman's sense of security in her own home.Waukesha County man uses TV news video to phone and challenge recall signers at night. Police have been contacted. “It’s 10:30 at night and there’s apparently

FriTunes: On this day in history edition

2011-12-09T05:19:00.001-06:00

by folkbumRoy Orbison died in 1988.And yesterday, of course, was the anniversary of John Lennon's death.

Scott Walker's TV Spot Front—Applauds White Pride Speech

2011-12-08T09:03:00.005-06:00

White and Proud of ItUpdate: Call to Mark Neumann campaign for comment has not been returned.With an assist from U.S. Senate candidate, Mark Neumann, a racist at a December event in Kenosha, Wisconsin gives a white pride tirade as Scott Walker's poster woman and other attendees applaud.This is known is the political business as: An improper vetting. Or arguably, perhaps you have to appeal to

Republicans' dumb PO rule exemplifies anti-stimulus

2011-12-07T05:27:00.005-06:00

by folkbumThe news that the Post Office is set to dump another quarter-million people into the unemployment market next year should thrill exactly no one. Here in Wisconsin, with a craptacular couple of job-creation years behind us (and another in the making), and with 8500 local, state, and federal jobs lost in the last year already, we should not relish the idea that five mail processing

Citizens Uncover Huge County-state Mistakes in Voter Obstruction Efforts

2011-12-05T15:50:00.001-06:00

Wisconsin Catch 22 on Voter Obstruction Update: Here's Richard Pinney's PR with contact info.Citizens acting to ensure registered legal voters in Wisconsin are not denied their right to vote due to the Voter ID law have uncovered a big snafu with the potential to invalidate the entire law.State law doesn't require a photo ID to get a birth certificate, but 2/3 of the counties are using forms

FriTunes: It's getting to be Redbird Season again

2011-12-02T06:39:00.002-06:00

by folkbumI didn't shoot this, but I think this was the show I was at last year:It's not too late to get tickets for some of these shows.

NaNoWriMo*

2011-12-01T05:37:00.003-06:00

* National Novel Writing Month, for the uninitiatedby folkbumA rough estimate: In November, I wrote about 40,000 words, but not one of them toward a novel.The vast bulk of those words I wrote to students, as feedback on their writing, directions for assignments, rubrics, mentor texts to use as models--much of that while perched at the counter of my favorite local coffee shop on weeknights and

Quote of the Day: Are they daring us to strike?

2011-11-30T21:49:00.004-06:00

by folkbumFrom the Wisconsin Club for Suckers Growth:Government unions exist chiefly to enable those who seldom produce anything of value to the real economy to take freely from those who produce value every day.Really? You think that, say, police offers add no value to society? Prison guards? Mail carriers (don't you want your Christmas cards?)? Teachers? The guys who make sure that your shit

Cypher Monday

2011-11-28T20:25:00.002-06:00

by folkbumI spent the day skeptical that the 300,000 number I was hearing--the purported number of signatures so far collected in the recall of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker--all day but then dammit if they didn't make it official.Because it's Cypher Monday, time to do some cypherin': The signatures collector are not, as far as I have heard, verified, but if they're all good, that means that

E-mail Confirms Sexual Harassment Complaint in Scott Walker Administration

2011-11-25T20:33:00.004-06:00

Manuel “Manny” Perez - Former Wisconsin Dept. of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Patrick Marley and Don Walker of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel broke a piece late Friday afternoon saying allegations of sexual harassment by former Administrative Services Administrator Allison Rozek against Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Manuel “Manny” Perez, the alleged

FriTunes: No doors to bust here edition

2011-11-25T08:03:00.002-06:00

by folkbum

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T08:01:00.002-06:00

by folkbumThere are many things I am thankful for.But you're busy, so I won't bore you with the details. Enjoy your weekend.Also: kitd.html5loader("flash_kplayer_iLyROoafYtDe");

RIP, Tim Cuprisin

2011-11-23T21:36:00.003-06:00

by folkbumWhen I saw this flash across the twitter at lunchtime this afternoon, I felt a literal pang of hurt. Tim was one of those old media types you really got the new media; he always engaged his audience and embraced what he could do with social media. For that, I always appreciated him. Plus, he knew his TV.I hate adding to the continuing theme of Cancer Sucks, but here it is.

Q: What happens when two key Wisconsin wingnut values clash?

2011-11-21T05:29:00.008-06:00

A: The more hateful one wins, of courseby folkbumToday's topic: "double-dipping." The competing Wisconsin wingnut values: reflexive anti-tax advocacy vs. personal animus against gubmint workers.Back in the olden days, when I used to be more involved in my union, we hated what the folks are now calling "double-dipping." This is when my (or any) school district would hire a retired individual

WELS Church Censors Interview Between Accused Child Porn Possessor and Mark Neumann

2011-11-18T11:48:00.000-06:00

Update: Child porn charges filed against WELS church official (MJS). WELS church communications director, and advisor to the WELS Synodical Council and Conference of Presidents, Joel Hochmuth, has been arrested on child porn charges, WISN reported. Via mal This morning the WELS church scrubbed Hochmuth's interview with prominent WELS member, U.S. candidate Mark Neumann [and member of the WELS

Response to WASDA study sad, stupid spin

2011-11-17T22:49:00.002-06:00

by folkbumIt's been, oh what's the word for it, interesting to read responses to the WASD survey out a week ago. Almost all the criticism of the survey--and, recall, this is a survey of quantifiable, confirmable data, not whether people's feelings are hurt--flows directly from the official Walker campaign memo Governor's office press release (pdf) last week.That response, if I may paraphrase,

When the "other view" is extremer than the extreme "our view"

2011-11-15T22:18:00.003-06:00

by folkbumI am deeply disappointed that in this morning's paper (yeah, I'm behind) not only does the Journal Sentinel's editorial "our view" push, hard, the MMAC takeover/ dismantling of the Milwaukee Public Schools, but they tossed the opposing view to George freakin' Mitchell to claim the MMAC's plan doesn't go far enough.George. Mitchell.There's a lot of disingenuity in the MMAC's plan--like

RIP, Dick Wheeler

2011-11-12T01:47:00.002-06:00

by folkbumThough I never met him personally, Dick Wheeler and the Wheeler Report couldn't help but influence and shape this blog's coverage of and commentary on state politics. He will be missed.

Veterans Day

2011-11-11T23:45:00.001-06:00

by folkbumThis blog wants to give thanks to and for the veterans who have made this country what it is.Thank you.

Updated - Sexual Harassment in the Scott Walker Administration?

2011-11-11T14:39:00.007-06:00

Manuel “Manny” Perez - Former Wisconsin Dept. of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Alleged Inappropriate Conduct at the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Silence from Scott Walker Administration on Allegations Update: In request to a question, employees experiencing retaliation for indicating a hostile workplace on behalf of a fellow employee enjoy an actionable cause

Some initial thoughts on the proposed MPS health-care benefit changes

2011-11-11T01:03:00.005-06:00

by folkbumIn short--and, as I'm up waaay past my bedtime, short is what you get--the devil is in the details.The changes are summarized in the blue book for next Tuesday's meeting, available, here (pdf), and more thoroughly in this attachment (pdf, including a lot of annoying sideways pages). The district is offering two briefing sessions at Central Office on Monday prior to Tuesday's Board

Some initial thoughts on the MPS long-range master facilities plan

2011-11-10T23:56:00.006-06:00

by folkbumMy "beat" when I write about education here in Milwaukee tends to be Bay View and the Bay View-adjacent areas (plus, I teach at Bay View Middle and High School), so when the district's long-range master facilities plan report (pdf) (shorter executive summary here, pdf) went live earlier tonight, I immediately scanned through for the impact on Bay View and Bay View-adjacent schools. The

The most important table in today's WASDA survey

2011-11-10T06:10:00.009-06:00

by folkbumI got the survey report last night (thanks, Anonymous Source!) and was told it was embargoed until after this morning's press conference. But the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has gone ahead and made it available to everyone (pdf), as it accompanies their story this morning, so I'm hitting publish now instead of later.It's a survey of school district administrators--and this is an annual

RIP Andy Rooney, Joe Frazier, and Heavy D

2011-11-08T22:31:00.002-06:00

by folkbumThese things always come in threes, and this was a pretty non-obvious set. Well played, Reaper. Well played.

FriTunes: I recommend these benefit shows

2011-11-04T06:17:00.002-05:00

by folkbumI'm copying and pasting (with slight edits and links included) this message from my friend Brett:This Friday, November 4th we have an eclectic group of performers playing an eclectic bunch of tunes down at Milwaukee's home for great acoustic music, the Coffee House, 631 N. 19th Street (19th and Wisconsin) starting at 8:00. The theme is "A Wainwright Family Reunion" with songs by Loudon

FriTunes: A Preview of Tonight's Entertainment

2011-10-28T06:20:00.001-05:00

by folkbumOh, yeah.

RIP, Art Langlas

2011-10-27T05:17:00.003-05:00

by folkbumThe Channel 10 TV Auction is among my household's most important annual traditions. It won't be the same without Art.

I would call them the Wisconsin Club for Liars, but ...

2011-10-26T16:20:00.001-05:00

... the Burlington, Wisconsin Liar's Club is a perfectly good organization whose name I would be besmirchingby folkbumRight, yes, this is me giving up on blogging ... right up until the Wisconsin Club for Growth's weekly missive ends up in my mailbox today. (I don't know what smartass signed me up for their emails, but I do enjoy the chuckles.)One of the big stories from this week is the WCfG's

Mark Block's Student Film Revealed!

2011-10-25T17:54:00.003-05:00

by folkbumWhy, yes, I have almost entirely given up on this blogging business. But sometimes a s story presents itself that is just too WTFish to pass up. Like this video:I mean, seriously. It's like a bad noir monologue--complete with cigarette!--accidentally spoken aloud and filmed by the last guy to be picked for partners in Camerawork 101, drunk. Like the Cain tour bus mistakenly got the

FriTunes: Really Big Shoe

2011-10-21T06:38:00.003-05:00

by folkbumMy show tonight even made The Official List Of Stuff To Do From The Purveyors Of All Entertainment News (luckily, "Acoustic" is alphabetically privileged and you don't have to read too far to see it).Also, these guys are in town tomorrow night:And my ComedySportz team plays Sunday at 2 PM.

FriTunes: Stuff To Do edition

2011-10-14T05:13:00.004-05:00

by folkbumLarry Penn's at the Coffee House tomorrow night (Saturday, 10/15). He's a living Milwaukee legend and you could do worse than spend an evening with his songs and yarns.Next Friday, 10/21, I'm at the same joint, with my friend Chris Head. That's this guy:Both those shows are five bucks.In between, Sunday afternoon 10/16, my ComedySportz team is playing at 3 pm (other matches are at 2

Recalling Scott Walker

2011-10-11T22:09:00.003-05:00

by folkbumI want to be on the record here, not because I think my opinion is going to make a bit of difference but because, well, I have a blog and I may as well use it.A, I don't care for Walker. Never have. Not when he was Rep. Walker, not when he was County Executive Walker, and sure as hell not as Governor Walker. He's left a swath of destruction--his fans would call it "reform," but then

FriTunes: The Sports Team from My Locality Has Won its Balling Contest

2011-10-07T19:55:00.003-05:00

by folkbumIf there's going to be looting, save me an iPad.

Marine Discusses Wall Street Protest and NYPD: Time for Police to Back Off

2011-10-07T16:01:00.001-05:00

Another Dangerous Terrorist Captured - Oh She's a Bad One for Sure! - Just Look at Those Eyes A Vietnam War combat veteran sees the movement, how it leads, and speaks out. Excerpt: I remember Vietnam, the real Vietnam, the Vietnam of the Marine rifle squad, the senselessness of it, the suffering. We all knew it as what it was, a huge con. Now, nobody doubts the War on Terror was the

The eternal war against dungarees

2011-10-06T06:37:00.004-05:00

by folkbumToday is apparently dress-code day at the daily, with two arguments for the notion that I should be fired because I gave up on wearing a tie, and one against.Here's what I learned all those years ago when I gave up on wearing a tie to teach: The rapport I develop with students is about a billionty times more critical to the learning environment than how I dress. If a kid is going to

RIP, Steve Jobs

2011-10-05T21:37:00.004-05:00

by folkbumYou all know I am an Apple user--not quite the fanboy, but loyal to a brand that has never disappointed me and often impressed me with its ingenuity and customer service.So this is a bit depressing, and, speaking as one who remembers The Lost Years when Jobs was out of the company and the people left behind ran Apple like any other PC maker, a bit concerning. But I do like to think

What flavor, and will there be ice cream?

2011-10-04T17:03:00.002-05:00

by folkbumAn actual email from the Milwaukee Public Schools department of professional development (click to embiggen):

FriTunes: End of the Reporting Period Blues

2011-09-30T04:19:00.004-05:00

by folkbumIt's about that time, so fire up the contribution pages of your favorite candidates and show them some love.

Join me in the things I enjoy doing

2011-09-28T05:48:00.004-05:00

UPDATE: NOTE THE TIME CHANGE!by folkbumThere was a time when I actually enjoyed blogging, I will admit. At this point, the idea of trying to explain to stupid people how stupid they are has lost its allure, if you can believe that.Instead, I make jokes. And they're not bad!So come out this Sunday (10/2) to see my Comedy Sportz team, We Fly Coach, in our fall rec league season debut. Update:

Also Saturday

2011-09-23T16:34:00.001-05:00

by folkbumThis is (partially) my meeting, so if you live in Bay View or near Bay View, I'd love to see you there.

FriTunes

2011-09-23T05:53:00.003-05:00

by folkbumAgain this Saturday, there's an embarrassment of great music in driving distance of Milwaukee. I'll be at the Jeffrey Foucault show:If you want to stay in town, go see Pamela Means:And mark your calendars for October 21, my annual fall acoustic music show with Chris Head of Chris Head and the Honchos.

Milwaukee parents choosing public schools, still

2011-09-20T04:45:00.003-05:00

by folkbumThird Friday, the big student-count day, just passed in Wisconsin. The state's Republicans, led by Governor Scott Walker and legislators like Alberta Darling, did everything they could to make the Milwaukee Public Schools a less-attractive choice: blowing out the enrollment cap and income requirements for the voucher program, expanding charter school options, gutting the MPS budget

Quote of the month

2011-09-19T05:01:00.003-05:00

by folkbumEither you believe in government or you don't.The current field of Republican contenders for president are hard at work to prove they don't. The best government, they insist, will leave you alone to repair your own ruptured kidney while your neighbors bring you casseroles and cigarettes. In recent weeks, leading Republicans have made plain they don't believe in government-run health

FriTunes: Saturday edition

2011-09-17T10:48:00.003-05:00

by folkbumHere's a preview of tonight's entertainment. I'll be at this show:Which means I'll sadly have to miss this show:You can't go wrong either way.

Veterans with ID Cards Not Good Enough to Vote, Says GOP

2011-09-16T15:19:00.003-05:00

Not good enough, says GOP As civil rights challenges to Republican-authored photo ID-voter suppression laws continue, the exclusion of veterans who have only a U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Veterans Identification Card (VIC) from voting is drawing increasing criticism. In Wisconsin a VIC, used by veterans to obtain health care at VA medical facilities, is not sufficient to vote,

They ruin everything

2011-09-13T06:00:00.003-05:00

by folkbumSeriously, if there's going to be a GOP debate every other day between now and January, I will never be able to read twitter again.After watching this summary, I feel relatively secure in knowing that while I watched last night's "Eureka" about wormholing an android with a crush on a sentient robot house onto Saturn's moon Titan, I was watching a program far more grounded in reality

9/11 Day

2011-09-11T09:01:00.001-05:00

by folkbumPlease observe in a way that makes sense to you. It's what I'm doing.

Tea Party, Progressives Launch Allied Strike Against Net Troll Righthaven

2011-09-10T11:24:00.000-05:00

Image - Leon Americans came together and kicked Righthaven LLC, attorney Shawn Mangano and Righthaven CEO Steve Gibson’s [aka slime and the only attorneys left from Righthaven's sinking ship] collective ass back into the gutters of Las Vegas By Michael Leon Veterans like Wayne Hoehn and Denise Nichols, the Democratic Underground, Tea Party members like Dana Eisner, Law Med blog, writers,

Getting My Goat

2011-09-10T04:56:00.005-05:00

By Keith R. SchmitzSomething to be said for a country that doesn't expect their politicians treat them like rubes, so sadly have to head out of Canada this morning, though there is no place like home.Just shuffled through the line at the Montreal airport and going though the standard irritating security nonsense, which of course if there was a high speed train could be avoided (thanks Scottie and

Not Anti-Crime

2011-09-09T19:03:00.004-05:00

By Keith R. SchmitzOnce again Wednesday night, the applause that Hee Haw candidate Rick Perry got when his death penalty orgy was mentioned at the GOP presidential debate proved why these folks have to keep reminding us that they are Christian. Otherwise we'd have no way of knowing.But what I don't get is the assertion that the death penalty is anti-crime.It's not for two reasons.First, the

An Open Letter Concerning the United States Senate

2011-09-08T21:46:00.002-05:00

To: Chris Chocola, Club for GrowthThe Honorable Jim DeMint, junior Senator from the Great State of South CarolinaIt is with great disappointment that we have learned of the efforts of some conservatives on the national level to try to dictate to Wisconsin conservatives their choice for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Senator Herb Kohl. This is a tremendous opportunity

The Last labor Day

2011-09-06T06:12:00.000-05:00

by folkbumThis is why EJ Dionne makes the big bucks:That the language of Lincoln and John Paul is so distant from our experience today is a sign of an enormous cultural shift. In scores of different ways, we paint investors as the heroes and workers as the sideshow. We tax the fruits of labor more vigorously than we tax the gains from capital — resistance to continuing the payroll tax cut is a

FriTunes: Anyone know where my week went?

2011-09-02T05:49:00.001-05:00

by folkbum This time last week, I was standing in Emily Dickinson's bedroom.

Irene is drowning Vermont

2011-08-28T21:31:00.002-05:00

by folkbum I drove on this bridge last week Wednesday. It's between the main road and the house where Norman Rockwell did many of his most famous Post covers. It's historic and iconic. I couldn't find any additional news, but I can't believe that in the hours since this was taken, the water hasn't completely washed it out.

FriTunes: Watch Out for Irene edition

2011-08-26T20:20:00.001-05:00

by folkbum

Jobs

2011-08-24T21:02:00.007-05:00

By 3rd Way A good rant is one of the most satisfying reads you can find. I wanted to post this support for the culture that helped to create one of the best businesses in the history of business after I read it. After learning that Jobs is again leaving Apple I had to post it. I hope he will again return to lead the company he created. He's a non-Christian, arugula-eating, drug-using

180° backwards

2011-08-22T16:14:00.004-05:00

by folkbum Yglesias, today, cites a deal the Financial Times wants progressives to take on another stimulus:In broad terms, the needed elements are plain: further short-term stimulus combined with credible longer-term fiscal restraint. Cut the payroll tax, extend jobless benefits and subsidise new jobs; then curb entitlement spending by raising the retirement age.No! You want an immediate,

Not Liked

2011-08-22T00:24:00.005-05:00

By Keith R. Schmitz One thing you have to say about the right wing, they are active on social media, even if their policies are not too sociable. Sarah Palin comes to mind. Scott Walker is one big Facebook friend, commenting multiple times a day to his fawning legion of supporters, who are seemingly afflicted big time with Stockholm Syndrome. So interesting to note that since the bad jobless

Picking off the Rogues Gallery

2011-08-21T20:35:00.002-05:00

by folkbum Osama bin Laden, Bush's unfinished business, is done. Gaddaffi, Reagan's thorn, is falling. Next, it'll be Castro--I predict a poison dart. Any chance there's a Kruschev still kicking somewhere?

FriTunes: Cat out of the bag? edition

2011-08-19T12:18:00.004-05:00

by folkbum The cat: The bag?

With all recalls done, Dems real winners

2011-08-16T21:52:00.002-05:00

by folkbum When Democrats failed to retake the state senate last week, the GOP declared victory. Why, I don't know, because the results show a pretty dim picture for the party of Scott Walker here in Wisconsin. In just raw numbers, nine senators were recalled, and though two-thirds were GOP incumbents, Democrats took five of those elections. Moreover, every single Democrat outperformed Walker

Recalls, etc.

2011-08-16T12:36:00.003-05:00

by folkbum Today is the last day of recalls in Wisconsin, at least for the foreseeable future. There's still time to support Wirch and Holperin if you haven't yet. And then I can finally retire the "2011 Elections" tag from this blog, which has had a remarkably long shelf-life. Realted, I: A recent This American Life covered the recalls, and did it very well. Listen here; it's the first

Buffet Buzz

2011-08-15T16:37:00.003-05:00

By Keith R. Schmitz Warren Buffet's op-ed in this morning's New York Times -- Stop Coddling the Super Rich -- has been burning up twitter since it appeared last night on-line, being tweeted 37,000 times. This makes both the title and its author trending topics all day long. Looks like the Tea Party and anyone else who supports sacrifices on the altar of trickle down economics have run out of

My Bachmann question

2011-08-15T14:43:00.005-05:00

by folkbum If you think back to 2008--I know! it was forever ago!--one of the biggest knocks against Barack Obama from the leading intellectual (and militantly incandescent) lights on the conservative side was that he was a "community organizer" with a thin political resumé. That was A) bunk and B) immaterial; people with thinner resumés have served admirably and life-long politicians (*cough*

Iowa Straw Poll

2011-08-13T17:56:00.003-05:00

by folkbum Just moments ago, President Romney called Michele Bachmann to congratulate her on her straw poll win. Now on to the important stuff: How many games ahead in their division will the Brewers be at the end of the season?

FriTunes: This weekend's entertainment

2011-08-12T13:44:00.000-05:00

by folkbum

Vote Today!

2011-08-09T07:17:00.001-05:00

by folkbum Assuming you live in one of the affected areas. Best of luck to Pasch, King, Schilling, Clark, Moore, and Nusbaum!

The 39,000 Jobs Hoax

2011-08-08T07:14:00.003-05:00

By Keith R. Schmitz The Walker administration and the six Republican state senators involved in this week’s recall election are throwing out the claim that the changes they have

FriTunes

2011-08-05T07:16:00.001-05:00

by folkbumBeen a while since I did one of these.

Alberta Darling: $250,000 a year is not rich

2011-08-01T13:25:00.003-05:00

by folkbumShe said that. Really!This is the same woman who said teachers should be grateful for last spring's budget repair bill, which for most teachers meant a 6-12% cut in pay.For her reference, people earning $250,000 a year are in the top 1% of households in this country, and in the top 1/2 of 1% in this state. It is five times Wisconsin's median household income (which itself is already

In close vote, MTEA declines additional concessions

2011-07-28T14:25:00.003-05:00

by folkbumIn a letter emailed to teachers today (which you can read here), MTEA president Bob Peterson gave the results of the survey:The survey showed that 52.4% of the membership opposed additional concessions and 47.5% favored them. Based on the results and the many thoughtful comments, the Executive Board decided to not pursue any additional concessions.Considering that last fall's vote,

Mordecai Lee—A descent into hollow reasoning

2011-07-26T22:20:00.003-05:00

via mal Mordecai Lee, Prof of Gov Affairs UW-Milwaukee 'That 's sort of what this fight in Wisconsin is all about.' The Rachel Maddow Show featured a superb guest host in Melissa Harris-Perry Tuesday night. Unfortunately, no one warned the host or her producers about Mordecai Lee, professor of Government Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Lee was a guest on a segment

Today's debt ceiling conundrum

2011-07-25T16:39:00.004-05:00

by folkbumWhile the conservatives in my comments section are busily prattling on about how Obama is a front for the Chi-coms, or something, here's where we are today. Dem Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is proposing a debt-ceiling deal that gives Republicans everything they have asked for including things they agreed to in the Biden talks and voted for in the Ryan Budget. Yet GOP House

E-mails Reveal Randy Hopper Coached Mistress on Scoring State Job

2011-07-24T21:15:00.002-05:00

Randy Hopper has denied helping his mistress score a job in the Scott Walker administration. But e-mails obtained by Eye on Wisconsin reveal Hopper advises his mistress "might congratulate [Keith Gilkes, Scott Walker's chief of staff]" on Walker's victory, among other career assistance for Valarie Cass' getting a state job as Walker told Wisconsin, 'we're broke'. Turned out to be good advice for

Bay View Middle and High School listening session August 3

2011-07-24T08:57:00.003-05:00

by folkbumMy regular readers know that I teach at Bay View Middle and High School (née Bay View High School). Which, while not MPS's best high school, is in fact what you might call the "best of the rest":Five Milwaukee comprehensive high schools have some sort of entrance requirement, and thus, naturally, have higher scores on the state test, Wisconsin Knowledge Concepts Examination (WKCE).

America's going Galt

2011-07-23T13:48:00.003-05:00

by folkbumI found this list of things that will happen immediately upon passing the debt ceiling deadline August 2 interesting, as it apparently comprises the full list of what makes Ayn Rand's America great:• You just cut the IRS and all the accountants at Treasury, which means that the actual revenue you have to spend is $0.• The nation's nuclear arsenal is no longer being watched or maintained

Sole Latino Wisconsin Rep, Zamarripa, Hits Partisan Redistricting

2011-07-21T11:19:00.000-05:00

State Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa Virtually no local, public input; Latino community excluded Milwaukee—Wisconsin's only Latino member of the state legislature blasted the Republican redistricting plan Senate Bill 148 (SB 148) expressing outrage that the scheme excluded public input on both the local level and communities of interest including Latinos. "Seven days ago only one hearing was held

Hopper Scandal Playing Loudly in Fondy

2011-07-18T06:27:00.001-05:00

Randy Hopper's Girlfriend, not daughter via mal - Sen. Randy 'Bed' Hopper's (R-Fond du Lac) affair with a 20-something former state Senate committee staffer and GOP lobbyist is playing very badly in Fond du Lac. It's the family values hypocrisy that grates on folks, apolitical types with whom I spoke the last week, especially women. Add to that the fact that Scott Walker's top ally is

Monday Morning

2011-07-18T05:15:00.002-05:00

by folkbumEvery summer I misunderestimate how much work the summer job is--that's right, kiddos, this public-school-teacher thing, despite the ads, does not actually feature summers on the yacht with champale and caviar--and because of that, I haven't been much use to you, dear readers.But two notes: One, I accept full blame for the US Women's National Team's loss yesterday. I was able to watch

Congrats to all the REAL Democrats advancing tonight

2011-07-12T22:11:00.002-05:00

by folkbumin the recall elections. You can support them financially here.Also, congrats to Chris Taylor, who will be representing the 48th in the Assembly; and condolences to Beloit classmate Vicky Selkowe, who worked hard and would have made a great rep.

FriTunes: Concealed Carry edition

2011-07-08T05:32:00.003-05:00

by folkbumEilen Jewell's got a new record out:Also: Mark Erelli's released an EP to benefit the town of Monson, MA, where he recorded his "Memorial Hall" record and which was hit hard by last months' tornadoes. Highly recommended.

[the title of this post is the sound of my head asploding]

2011-07-05T21:41:00.009-05:00

by folkbumMy klout score is higher than James Wigderson's, so I suppose I could just let this slide and try to sleep tonight with an asploded head. But instead, let's catalogue the ways he gets wiggy with the facts instead. (A primer on this fisking can be found in this post.)[W]hen MPS asked the union to make concessions in the pension plan to mitigate the loss of state and federal aid, the

But those mooching teachers have it way too good

2011-07-05T12:09:00.004-05:00

by folkbumThe bottom line: It’s not exactly easy street for our $250,000-a-year family.Seriously, that's the conflicting message of the political right these days: It's possible to be near poverty at a quarter mil a year, but that uppity mid-career teacher needs a 12% cut off her $45k salary.Alternatively, you could put it this way: The political right weeps for a family living beyond its means

Seriously, MJS

2011-07-05T04:24:00.000-05:00

by folkbumIt should not take until paragraph 34 out of 38 to reveal that the headline of a story is a lie, or at the very least, an extremely one-sided take on an ambiguous issue.Also: The advertising skin up all day yesterday made your website utterly unreadable.

Happy Birthday, Boy

2011-07-04T22:30:00.001-05:00

by folkbumApparently, we all missed capper's blogiversary the other day.

4th of JulyTunes

2011-07-04T08:51:00.001-05:00

by folkbumIf you prefer good alt-country to local fireworks displays, head down to Shank Hall for this show. Locals Semi-Twang are opening, and they are a gem on their own.

Some stuff, we did know. It's what no one knew that is killing us.

2011-07-03T20:10:00.003-05:00

by folkbumHere's a comment from the thread below on MPS layoffs that encapsulates a common sentiment and that will serve as a good entree into this post, which I have been writing in my head for the last week or so:Why not point the finger at yourself, the union, AND MPS administration? You KNEW there were going to be changes. The union KNEW there were going to be changes. MPS admin KNEW there

Bet They Are Not in the Minority

2011-07-03T10:46:00.006-05:00

By Keith R. SchmitzLiberals really have nothing against people making a lot of money. What we give a crap about is how it is used. That's why it would be a great if this impulse would start to get infectious. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqIgb48iq6wLet's face it. Unlike our junior senator, you get the impression that these people got themselves where they are pretty much on their own, with the

Friday Canada Day Cat Blogging

2011-07-01T14:14:00.003-05:00

by folkbumIt's a tough life being a cat in the folkbum household.