Monthly Archives: March 2011

Tuesday Bluesday – The Rolling Stones, “Love In Vain”

It’s hard to believe that we’ve gone this long without featuring The Rolling Stones on Tuesday Bluesday.  But we have and we are here to fix all that.  Here is “Love in Vain” from the Stones’ 1969 tour.

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Time Magazine – “What New Civility?”

Time Magazine, who just two months ago wondered aloud if violent rhetoric from the right wing led to the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Arizona, has decided to title their newest piece on Wisconsin, “Wisconsin’s Governor Wins, but … Continue reading

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Quote of the Day

“They who have been bred in the school of politics fail now and always to face the facts. Their measures are half measures and make-shifts, merely. They put off the day of settlement indefinitely, and meanwhile, the debt accumulates.” Henry … Continue reading

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Scott Fitzgerald Addresses the Fleein’ Fourteen

Wisconsin State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald released the following statement directed at the fourteen Democrat state senators who returned to Wisconsin yesterday.  As expected the anti-democratic process left treated them as heroes. Today, the most shameful 14 people in … Continue reading

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Suspect Identified in Death Threats to Wisconsin Governor, GOP Senators Investigation. Mainstream Media: “Quit Harshing Our New Tone”

It is being reported that the Wisconsin Department of Justice has identified a suspect in the investigation into death threats sent to Governor Scott Walker and numerous Republican Senators in Wisconsin.  It is also being reported that the suspect has … Continue reading

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Michele Bachmann – Live Free or Gaffe

Well, it sure didn’t take long.  From CNN’s PoliticalTicker blog on Friday, March 11. Washington (CNN) – Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann is increasingly serious about joining the wide-open race for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. And a growing number … Continue reading

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Japan, Earth’s Axis Shifted

Some staggering facts are coming in as to the scope and power of the Japanese earthquake: The powerful earthquake that unleashed a devastating tsunami Friday appears to have moved the main island of Japan by 8 feet (2.4 meters) and … Continue reading

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Japan Relief Underway

The American Red Cross is, of course, already hard at work to help our friends in Japan: The American Red Cross is accepting donations to help in the wake of a devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Those who wish … Continue reading

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Devastation in Japan

Video is coming in showing the extent of the damage, while the death toll is currently in the hundreds and the missing in the tens of thousands. Unfortunately, Al-Jazeera has some of the most extensive footage. Stunning: The Japanese Red … Continue reading

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Beatles Song of the Week -”We Can Work It Out”

The power of collaboration.  Along with “A Day in the Life” this song is held up as the peak of Lennon/McCartney songwriting collaboration.  Paul provides the poppy optimism, John the darker realism.  The irony is that the two of them … Continue reading

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Ron Schiller – Republican – Updated: Full Video

Bob Collins at Minnesota Public Radio has been following the developments on NPR very closely, and thanks to his Twitter habit, found this soon to be overlooked fact: 4:10 p.m. – Alicia Shepard just tweeted: “Ron Schiller said in the … Continue reading

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If You Can’t Pass Education Reform – Thank a Union

Back before everyone was up in arms about public unions, in 2009, The Atlantic covered a report from The Citizens Commission on Civil Rights and education reform that bears repeating: Much of the criticism of teachers’ unions has come from … Continue reading

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Tuesday Bluesday – Howlin’ Wolf

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Astronomical Debt

Did you know a light year is 5.86 trillion miles? It’s true: Light travels at 186,000 miles per second (300,000 kilometers per second). Therefore, a light second is 186,000 miles (300,000 kilometers). A light year is the distance that light … Continue reading

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Can’t Get Enough

I think I’m in love with Sims now that I’ve heard this song – critical of “feel good” solutions. A song to make you think.

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Progressives Targeting Senators

Amazingly enough, the progressives at Daily Kos seem to think the Senators who are currently not in contempt of the law are the politicians who need to be served with a recall election, costing Wisconsin even more money, btw: “Targeted?” … Continue reading

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Wisconsin Democrats to Return

The Washington Post is reporting the democratic Senators from Wisconsin plan to return: The State Senate Democrats who left Wisconsin to block a vote on a bill that would severely curb collective bargaining for most public employees are planning to … Continue reading

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How Public Unions Exploit Teachers

Not only do public unions create a conflict of interest for government and the public, but also between themselves and their members: In July 2007, angry teachers filed suit against the National Education Association for its shady endorsement of a … Continue reading

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Quote of the Day – Reagan on Public Unions

“But we cannot compare labor management relations in the private sector with government. Government cannot close down the assembly line. It has to provide, without interruption, the protective services which are governments’ reason for being.” Ronald Reagan, 1981

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The Most Mediocre Beatles Songs Evah!

It’s been awhile, but another outbreak of Compulsive List Disorder has overcome us. Now, we love The Beatles – so much so we named half our blog after them – but let’s be honest. Not every song they recorded was … Continue reading

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Phil Collins Will Be Missed

Phil Collins, formerly of Genesis, has announced that he is retiring from music and from celebrity as a result of nerve damage and hearing loss. And it appears he does not think anybody will notice. Collins, who lives in Switzerland, … Continue reading

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Fixing the Budget: Reform the System

Something I’ve personally discussed for years but is apparently lost amidst the clamoring over the federal budget is a completely neglected aspect of our fiscal mess – the mechanisms of revenue collection and spending. The very means by which the … Continue reading

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How Public Unions Hurt Children

One of the more problematic aspects of public unions that has been discussed at OB&B is teachers unions protecting bad teachers. While this is troubling enough, there is an even worse consequence – protecting pedophiles: School’s culture failed to stop … Continue reading

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Education in the Balance

The crisis in education has gotten to the point that Al Gore’s documentary partner has made a film on the subject: Even this trailer leaves me speechless. The Capitol Squatters in Madison should be proud to be supporting such a … Continue reading

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Public Union Scrutiny Growing

It may seem the discussion on public unions cropped up recently due to the Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill, but the issue of public unions have been an ongoing discussion for quite some time, mainly due to the consequences of the … Continue reading

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