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Monday, February 28, 2011

Guessing is Over---Now We Know: Ed Garvey: WSJ

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Progressive Festival: Ed Garvey Speaks on Plan to Recall Gov. Walker

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Pioneer Press: Light Rail Construction Begins in St. Paul

Click on the post for the latest.

Right: RealPolitics: Is the Dream of Public Unions a Social Utopia and not real?

Click on the post for the article.

Reuters: Walker Budget will cut 1 Billion from State Aid to Cities and Schools

Click on the post for the latest.

Video: ActBlue: Crazy Video of Assembly passing Budget Repair Bill

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"Inside Job" the movie discussed: Finance: Yahoo

Click on the post for the video review and commentary.

RockNetRoots: Sen Schultz will not vote for Budget Repair Bill

Click on the post for the scoop from the RockNetRoots blog.

I and E Club meets March 9th;

The Step Before the First Step, March 9



Wednesday, March 9, is the date for the next great meeting of the Evansville Area Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club. These monthly meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. and are hosted in the lower level of the historic Eager Economy Building at 7 E. Main St., Evansville.



For folks who have been waiting for “the right time to take that first step,” this is the time to hear Susan Salvo. A well regarded life coach, Salvo will address “Someday is Now.” Salvo is a registered nurse and CEO of Confident Directions in Madison.



After Salvo’s thought-provoking presentation will come the ever-popular networking segment. Each guest will have a minute or so to introduce themselves and their business, invention, or search for information or connections.



To encourage folks to linger, enticing refreshments will be served. Sponsoring this month’s refreshments and meeting is vocalist Sarah Krause. This local Evansville gem is a versatile chanteuse available for any occasion, from intimate weddings to big anniversary parties, and from luncheon celebrations to an after-hours open house. Whether the mood calls for Billboard Top 40 hits like “Lucky” or a 1940s standard like “Cheek to Cheek,” Krause is ready to carouse with you. Online, check out http://soundcloud.com/sarah-krause/sets/sentimental-songs/ for a musical sampler.



Inquiries about the club may be directed to John Gishnock, club president, at 608-314-6656 or john.g@formecology.com, or Sue Berg, vice president of marketing and outreach, at 608-882-0986.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

OpEd: Debt is Terrible....and Ending Eternal Wars could be the first step toward Solvency---

Since when in budget discussions have military expenses been off the table? Why all the talk about cutting expenses from the most vulnerable elements of society, but no talk of ending foreign war boondoggles?

You make the call.

NYT: Indiana as the Clue for Wisconsin's future?

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Saturday, February 26, 2011

Scene At Madison Feb 26, 2011: 100,000

 
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Def: Governing: A never Ending series of revenge killings---Happy Circumstance Blog

Click on the post for the nice summary.

Blogs: The Grove; Madison---Ten Square Miles Surrounded by Reality

Click on the post for the classic analysis.

Madison Rally Crowd near 70,000: CapTimes

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McCabe: Wisconsin Has options but are disregarded : CapTimes

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We Must have lost those 15 Million Jobs that we never Really Created: National Journal

Interesting. Click on the post.

"Memoirs of a Bear Trader" to be published shortly----

Over the past three years, "Bear Trader" has been a regular contributor to The Evansville Observer. I have saved all his contributions, and if you click on the post you can see them all together.

These will be published shortly in book form. I have always asserted that a person who advocates a position desperately needs the opposing view so as to not just be talking himself. Especially in the financial area, I am especially grateful to folks who weighed in and said in plain terms, "That is one crazy idea." Good dialogue has saved me a lot and I value it.

Click and enjoy, "Memoirs of a Bear Trader."

MoveOn.Org: Rallies Today Nationwide to Support Wisconsin;

Dear MoveOn member,
Wow. The energy around today's Rallies to Save the American Dream has exploded in the last 36 hours.


What started as just an idea on Tuesday morning has turned into 30,000 people signed up to attend the Rallies to Save the American Dream in 66 cities—including every state capital.

It'll be an amazing show of solidarity with the protesters in Madison. And it'll put the right-wing on notice that we're fired up and ready to take them on united, as a nationwide movement.

If you haven't decided to come out today, there's still time! Can you join in?

Click here to sign up for the rally in Madison.
If you can't make it in person, you can still participate online. We'll be broadcasting from the rallies on our site starting at noon eastern.


We'll have live video from across the country, a live blog with photos, and ways to discuss what's happening. Check it out starting at at noon eastern today:


http://www.moveon.org?id=26332-2996462-QuCuWBx&t=4
You can also follow live updates, and help promote the rallies, by using the #WeAreWI hashtag on Twitter:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206310&id=26332-2996462-QuCuWBx&t=5
It's going to be an amazing day.

Thanks for all you do.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Video: UTube: Assembly dems chant "Shame,shame,Shame" after budget vote

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WEAC Speaks on loss of collective bargaining: What it would mean

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Will Title I Funds be rejected for Wisconsin Education?

Federal funds for the high speed rail rejected. Cutbacks in medicaid seen. Will Federal Title I funds be next?

Click on the post for an article from the Cato Institute dating to 2004 for a perspective on where this is coming from. Enjoy.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Wisconsin Progressive Festival - Some interesting graphs

 

 
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Audio: Lisa Graves: Center for Media and Democracy

Audio; Presentation by Lisa Graves, Executive Director Center for Media and Democracy; Wisoncsin Progressive Grassroots Festival, Sat., February 19, 2011

MP3 File

Audio: Mike Mccabe: Wisconsin Democracy Campaign

Mike Mccabe: Wisconsin Democracy Campaign: Presentation at Wisconsin Progresssive Grassroots Festival: "Action to Restore Our Democracy" Saturday, February 19, 2011

MP3 File

Audio: David Newby: Former Pres AFL-CIO

Audio: Presentation by David Newby, Former President of AFL-CIO "Fighting for Economic Justice; America's Vanishing Middle Class: Saturday, February 19, 2011, Wisconisn Progressive Grassroots Festival, Wisconsin Heights High School

MP3 File

"Down the Rabbit Hole: US Economic Policy

Lecture by Professor Emeritus John Simonson, Economics, Wisconsin Progressive Grassroots Festival: February 19,2011

MP3 File

Audio: Wis Progressive Festival

Audio; Wisconsin Progressive Grassroots Festival: Ed Garvey: How we Recall Scott Walker

MP3 File

Friday, February 18, 2011

Pro Football Players Take Voluntary Pay Cuts: Tales From Normal, Mn.: FICTION

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I Escaped to Rockford, Illinois and Was Saved: Reflection Blog

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Madison Protests Continue

 
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School Cancelled in Normal, Mn: No Jobs left requiring mental skill required: Tales From Normal, Mn.:FICTION

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OpEd: "Sacrifice" and "Slavery" are different

With the demonstrations in progress in Madison this week, the politicos have been busy spinning away----

There was and is a budget crisis. There will be sacrifice and cuts. Slavery or Union Busting is not required..

After every election, the politicos emerge....you know...the ones that claim that their narrow victory was a "mandate". The rush of victory seems to confuse leaders between what a "Governor" means, and what a "King" looks like.

Democratic process matters.

US Unemployment: Graph

 
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Larson Acres Legal Action discussed

Larson Acres legal appeal to Supreme Court discussed at Town meeting...history of how the issue arose, importance of action, and costs to proceed. Video courtesy of GA.

Download File

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Budget "Repair" Bill Could Gut Medicaid: CapTimes

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Teachers Take Cuts; Sports Get Raises: Tales From Normal, Mn.: FICTION

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Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill: Text; The Wheeler Report

Click on the post for the text of the bill before the Wisconisn Legislature. This is compliments of the Wheeler Report.

Half of Minnesota Budget Fix will be Tax Hike of Top 5% Earners: StarTribune

Stark Contrast to the plans in Wisconsin. Click on the post for the details.

Video: Audio; RockNetRoots: Scenes of Protest in Madison and Janesville, Wi

Rocknetroots blogs has the scoop in video and audio. Click on the post.

WSJ: Votes for Passage are there on Gov Plan

Click on the post for the latest from the Wisconsin State Journal.

Gazette: Eyster: Walker on the Precipice

Click on the post for an article that gives lots of leads to the full information in the current war over public pay in wisconsin.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Civil War Over Public Pay, Benefits; StarTribune

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Gutters, Ice, and beyond the Pantyhose Solution: Soucheray: Pioneer Press

Souch does the profound piece on "gutters." Click on the post.

Nostalgia: 2005: Re:Bill Connors writes: School District Debt Service Heavily Back Loaded; Reflection on the Growth bicycle; or What mix and rate of Growth is right?

--- billconnors <noreply-comment@blogger.com> wrote:

---------------------------------
Managing growth is essential. But it would not be
prudent to constrain growth too much. The school
district's debt service for 2005-06 is $1.98 million.
In 2014-15, the school district's debt service will
exceed $3 million, even if no additional debt is
issued between now and then. In 2020-21, the last
year of payment on the bonds for the new high school,
the school district's debt service will exceed $4
million. The school district heavily back-loaded the
repayment schedule on the bonds for the new high
school, which means they are counting on large
increases in the school district's property tax base
through new construction to be able to pay for the
escalating debt service costs.

This appears to be prudent financial planning on the
part of the school district, but I wonder how many
people are aware that continued growth is essential to
keeping the school district's mill rate in line.

Of course, we could get away with fewer new houses in
the school district if we had more commercial or
industrial development or a greater proportion of the
new houses were larger and more expansive, and fewer
new houses would save on operating costs for the
school district.

Bill Connors
Evansville City Administrator

--
Posted by billconnors to Evansville Observer at
9/19/2005 10:20:06 AM

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Friday, February 11, 2011

Minn House and Senate Approve Alternative Teacher License Bill: StarTrib

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Finance: Yahoo: Corn Rally Ignites Global Food Fight :

Global food fights matter. They can spark revolution....so it is more than just a food fight. Click on the post for the article.

Mayor Calls Up National Guard "just in case": Tales From Normal, Mn.:FICTION

Mayor Billy Bob Mubarsky today called up the National Guard prior to the regular monthly meeting of the Normal, Mn. city council.

"This was just a case of being precautionary", Mayor Billy Bob said. " I know that our civil employees will be civil when they are informed of cuts to their benefits, and I am sure they will be compliant in every way."

Mayor Billy Bob mentioned that the troops will be stationed at the city hall, at the local police department, public works facility and municipal court. When asked directly whether the National Guard troops will be armed, he refused comment.

Stay tuned for breaking details of this development.

Walker Readies the National Guard for Labor Unrest: Gazette Extra

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Message: Egypt: Social Media IS the Revolution;

Social Media can empower a people to act together----and the recent process within Egypt has been powered by social media.....it was also powered by rapidly rising food prices, poor employment and a wide disparity between the rich and the poor ....sound familiar?

A note to America.....you can twitter too. If not now...WHEN?

Eager Library Book Sale is Saturday, Feb 12th

Click on the post for the twitter.

Impact of Rapidly Rising Oil on Markets: Yahoo: Finance

Rapidly Rising Oil Prices affect markets. Click on the post for the discussion on video today on Yahoo Finance.

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Books; Video: Orlov: " Reinventing Collapse"

Interesting comparison of the collapse of the Soviet Union with that of the United States. Click on the post for the video and the transpcript of the interview. Enjoy.

Sunday, February 06, 2011

Saturday, February 05, 2011

ABC: Rand Paul says Paul Ryan and Republicans might not be brave enough---

Click on the post for the video.

The Big "Lure"; Building new business on wetlands? Gazette

Click on the post for the full article in the Janesville Gazette.

This must be the oldest con in the book...the lure of the swampdogs...it must go back to biblical times...

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

I and E Club meets February 9th, 6:30PM

Experience can be a good teacher, guiding a person through challenges. Or experience can be a dull robot, relying on the same old way of doing things.



That’s the point of the presentation “Tired of Doing Things the Same Old Way,” set for the Wednesday, Feb. 9, meeting of the Evansville Area Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the lower level of the Eager Economy Building at 7 E. Main St., Evansville.



This is the meeting to bring a sense of adventure. Inspiring change and teamwork will be the guest speaker, Jeff Messer. Messer is the coordinate of the Ed-Venture program at Blackhawk Technical College. Messer is a practiced hand at encouraging individuals and groups to think outside the box. He has worked with fire schools, school districts, international food companies, nonprofit groups and more, helping people learn to handle risk, change and fears. The Ed-Venture program uses nontraditional methods to teach people how to work together more effectively and, as a result, solve problems more creatively.



After the presentation, the group will have time for networking and refreshments. This month, the meeting sponsor is Déjà Vu, Evansville’s entrepreneurial consignment store. Merchandise features quality apparel for everyone from kids to adults, but that’s not all. Treasures change every week, and the spacious, well-organized store makes shopping fun.



Déjà Vu is the latest to join a list of area sponsors who have made it possible for I&E Club meetings to be free and open to the public. Don’t miss an opportunity for free learning and exceptional networking at the I&E Club meeting set for February 9. Inquiries about the club may be directed to John Gishnock, club president, at 608-314-6656 or john.g@formecology.com, or Sue Berg, vice president of marketing and outreach, at 608-882-0986.

Book Corner: The Facebook Era

Click on the post for a book on how Facebook and Social Media is transforming business.

9am Rock Co Sheriff Road Condition Update

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Wisconsin Emergency Weather Update

Click on the post for the latest. Stay off the roads this morning.

Stoughton Trailers might reopen Evansville Plant: WSJ

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Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Gov Walkers State of the State Speech: WSJ

Click on the post for the text.

Blizzard Arrives: Roads Shut Down: Gazette

Caution. Click on post.

Channel 3000: Notice: Evansville Schools Closed Wednesday

Evansville Schools: Closed Wednesday Evening Events Canceled

Evansville Finance Committee Meets Thursday

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The Rise of "Rental": The Ownership Society is Over: Yahoo Finance

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Chasin: Speaks on the EHS Building Trades Program; A Suggestion

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Video: Move to Digital has meant a Sea Change for Commerical Real Estate

Digital Sales were up big for Christmas....the big box stores did not meet expectations. Book Stores are closing because of on line reading. All the books and podcasts of The Evansville Observer are on E Readers. What is happening to traditional retail, traditional books, traditional libraries?

Click on the post.

Trip to California: Huntington Beach Getaway

 



Last week I took a quick getaway to visit with some old high school friends---here we are heading out to visit the Hungtinton Beach Pier, where we viewed the surfers pick the waves and had chance to chat.
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Minnesota Experiments with Tiered Energy Pricing: StarTrib

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Energy Corner: Fracking use of Diesel Questioned--labeled Violation: NYT

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Weather Alert: Rising Vehicle Runoffs: Gazette

Note the travel warnings for today. Stay safe and in touch with changing conditions.