Author Archive
A handful of questions to stimulate synapses stuck in auto-pilot / cruise control.
“Live each day like it’s the last day of your life” … isn’t that one of those motivational poster messages? Like with a photo of a bungee jumper or kitten attacking a pit bull? Or is it, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life”? I think the first one is more motivational. The second one lacks a sense of urgency. It’s more like a reprieve.
1. Are you in a rut? If so, why? Do you like it there? If you’re not in a rut, how do you avoid it?
2. Are you a social animal or an …
Thank you, Les & Leo!
Les Paul and Leo Fender … pioneers of the electric guitar. Thanks to them and their successors, we are able to enjoy what may be the ultimate musical instrument! A handheld device, that screams, sings, cries, growls, attacks, caresses, soars, thunders, grinds, warbles, echoes, sustains, wah-wahs (just to name a few of its properties).
With his Stratocaster, Jimi Hendrix …. well, what can I say about him! And B.B. King … who isn’t familiar with Lucille! Pete Townshend’s windmill-driven power chords. And Tom Morello, The Edge, Jeff Beck, Keith Richards. All different. All captivating.
Tomorrow night (Friday, October 10) at the Fillmor, …
Early Casualty of the Election
Well, the heat is really turning up in the Presidential election. Intense debates, emotions running high, personal attacks, accusations, spurious claims, twisted facts, falsehoods — and all that is just between regular citizens on different sides of the fence!
I had a pretty involved debate recently with a friend who’s way at the other end of the political spectrum from me. In typical fashion, I was loud and overbearing, and I wagged my index finger often to make “points.” This is the sort of thing I’ve seen or been part of lots of times in my life, like a heated encounter …
Sensible questions
I remember recess at my grade school in Milwaukee. They’d barricade both ends of the street, which then became our playground. I remember candy pencils and pretzels and the smell of the breweries. Friction tape, my army surplus shoulder bag, the lumberyard, plums, pork chops, the dry cleaners. Sometimes, a whiff of something, a taste, a sound, a texture or a shape will send me hurtling back in time like Tooter Turtle to very real moments and places. Then, Mr. Wizard the lizard intones, “Trizzle, trazzle, truzzle, trome, time for this one to come home” and I’m back here, now.
1. …
Words
Lately, I find myself grasping for meaning. What does this or that word really mean now? I mean, in today’s parlance, what do we mean, deep down, when we use certain loaded or supercharged words — words that might have meant something different a century ago, decades ago, seven years ago? Words twist and spin and reverse direction, taking on new identities and powers. Like, at what precise point in our history was “cheap” dropped in favor of “inexpensive”? Cheap used to be a good thing. Words.
1. On the self-image front, in your opinion, what is a liberal and what …
Who Cares to Listen Anymore?
This question has been nagging at me for some months now. I have my own opinions about it, and they’re not ones I feel good about. But, I’m intrigued to learn what others think.
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m quite aurally fixated. I am a music fan. Actually, that’s putting it too mildly. I’m obsessed by music. Always have been. Going back to my pre-teen days in (gasp) late ‘50s, when Jerry Lee Lewis was my first rock shock witnessed on B&W TV. Then into the Beatles and Brit invasion during adolescence, then off to Woodstock and on to …
What do you want them to do with you?
This week, I was riding my bike on the east side when a strong, oily smell smote my nostrils. I looked around and saw a darkish cloud roiling above a funeral home. “Oh, cripes! They’re incinerating someone!” was my first reaction. And I somewhat recoiled at the sight; and unreasonably so. After all, they do indeed burn dead people — they call it cremation. You get to keep the ashes of your loved one if you want; you can hold onto them or scatter them in some special place.
But, having that blackish smoke invade my day was sobering and I …
Is Wausau Gonna Play Ball, Er What?
The other day, a WDH front page news article caught my eye — dealt with the Wisconsin Woodchucks and Wausau’s Athletic Park. Gist of the article was that the team’s contract with the city expires after next season, and unless the city agrees to step up to the plate (sorry) to pay for significant updates at the ballpark, the team might face a need to relocate. I’m thinking: Remember when there was a Milwaukee Braves team and Atlanta stole them away? Broke my 13-year-old heart. Still hurts today, Brewers and all.
Exhibitionism in Downtown Wausau
This Friday night, Wausau’s downtown gallery night returns with a passel of businesses decked out as host galleries, exhibiting (and selling) original art, and generally treating Citizen Wausonians and neighbors to a good time. If you’ve never attended one of these gallery nights (this is the fourth year for this twice-a-year event), it’s a chance to stroll downtown, from gallery to gallery where you will be offered free delectables and drinkables.
Typically, there are free horse-drawn carriage rides, free collector wine glasses, sidewalk musicians, and just a dynamic social scene. It’s gratifying to see all those heads bobbing down the sidewalk; …
Leftist Claptrap in a Time of Righteousness
I don’t know what all I’m trying to accomplish by writing this article. Venting, yes. Provoking response, maybe. Affecting/changing alternate opinions, not likely. Rambling on in a stream-of-consciousness rant, most likely. Wasting my virtual breath, hope not.
Last week, I read an article on cnn.com about a Congressional hearing in D.C. on the subject of CEO compensation (i.e. huge salaries and perks) even in cases when those executives’ companies have performed miserably. While that story dealt with individuals walking away with dozens, even hundreds, of millions of dollars when their companies are tanking, it brought to mind recent developments in our …