by Cheryl Mathis on August 14th, 2009
Barack Obama pledged to close Guantamano Bay by 2010. That deadline is coming close, and yesterday, news outlets reported that a fact-finding trip was taken to the maximum security prison in Standish, Michigan to see if that facility would be appropriate to house the detainees.
Would it make the area a target for jihadists, as one local man warned? Or would it ensure against yet another wave of job losses in a state where the unemployment rate is already 17 percent?
Put aside the justice issues of detaining people without a trial for years on end, though surely it would be easier for humanitarian groups to push for trials when the prisoners are in the US. Should any community fear having those kinds of prisoners take up residence? Is that fear valid or alarmist?
by Dino Corvino on June 5th, 2009
Clearly our Managing Editor Cheryl Mathis was inspired this week, and had three posts of high-level awesomeness. So, in honor of her themes, I put these humble questions before you.
1. Do you volunteer? Why or why not? Is there something you would like to work on that we simply do not have locally? For example, I would like to meet and help work on dark fiber utilization, but, no one knows what I am talking about, so I might just simply be delusional.
2. Have you been in your neighborhood long? Do you consider yourself part of your neighborhood? Who is the longest running member of your neighborhood? Do you see your neighborhood as a community?
3. At what point do you take yourself or your loved ones to the emergency room? At my buddy Eric’s bachelor party I ended up taking a total stranger to the emergency room for a head wound suffered at Malarkeys, and while I wondered how I got roped into taking some dude to the ER, I also wondered what would get me to the ER. Following my eye surgery, I went often.
4. How awesome is Cheryl?
5. What is your favorite street here in Wausau?
6. Does the City of Wausau and surrounding municipalities work together well? I mean we are all essentially in this boat together, tied together. With the other municipalities not having downtowns, should we all not look at Wausau’s downtown as our own?
7. Have you heard of the plight of the oppressed honey bee, exploited for the free range wax that goes into lip balm?
by Cheryl Mathis on May 22nd, 2009
1. Do you garden?
We’re trying really hard for a garden this year. Last year our efforts were eaten by little fuzzy bunny rabbits. This year, we have a chicken wire fence. Now that the garden is almost all planted, we discover Square Foot Gardening, and we’re so intrigued, we’re still going to do some of that this year as well. I might transplant my seedlings from the single row garden into the SFG when they are ready. See? These are the things on my mind right now. Gardening. Growing produce. It makes me want to keep a chicken.
2. Any fancy Memorial Day plans? anything related to veterans?
It’s almost a coincidence that we’re having a cookout on Monday and inviting some friends over. I totally forgot about the holiday. I want to row a boat or hug a veteran.
3. How green will you be this summer?
In addition to growing a garden, I’m trying to do some more earth-friendly things this summer. I’m using a bucket of water to rinse my washed dishes, and I’m watering my garden with that. We have a compost bin now, and that whole process is fascinating. I’m using talcum powder and cloves to get rid of the ants instead of harsh chemicals, and I’m using a watering can instead of a hose to water my plants to conserve water. Of course there’s the bike riding and the walking instead of using the car, but those are old habits.
4. What is the best movie you’ve seen so far this year? If you’re not a movie watcher, how about TV show?
The Husband loved Star Trek. I enjoyed The Soloist. For TV, I loved watching Fringe, House and (don’t persecute me for this one) American Idol. It’s a good thing that most shows are on a break for the summer, because we have a lot of non-boob-tube-watching activities planned for the evenings anyway.
5. Do you lose your temper?
With councilpeople throwing watches and tossing threats and testosterone about, it reminds me of how important it is to keep an even temper. I get upset at my kids sometimes, but that’s normal when dealing with toddlers. I make a point of not yelling at my husband, though. We don’t have a volatile household, and for that I am truly grateful. Do you have any tricks for calming down when you get mad? How do you respond to people who are yelling at you?
by Terry VanOrder on January 16th, 2009
1. The subject of the first question is tattoos, and I’m curious about them. I’m of the older generation where most of the tattoos are on guys who served in the military and got a tattoo as a rite of passage. But there are many other people, from all generations and walks of life, who had a specific reason for choosing to have permanent signage on their body. Personally, I’m intrigued by tattoos; the choice of design and the meaningfulness of such, the location of the tattoo (hidden or in plain sight), and the psychology of the desire to mark the body with a specific graphic. So, what do you think? Do you have one? If so, what is it, and what does it mean to you? And if you don’t have one, is it still in your future perhaps, or would you never, ever get one?
2. My husband and I go out to eat a lot, but we’re stuck in a rut. We go to the same places over and over again, creatures of habit. I’m not very experimental when it comes to food. I’m just a simple girl who grew up on meat and mashed potatoes, and in my childhood home, gravy was considered an entire food group. As grown-ups, we try to eat relatively healthy (gravy is now evil), but we’re getting bored. So what’s out there? Do you have any recommendations that we should try? Where is your favorite dining out place in the Wausau area?
3. I collect quotes. When I find one that speaks to me, I ingest it and use it as a guide as I conduct my everyday life. One of my favorites is “I am a part of all that I have met” by Alfred Lord Tennyson. I firmly believe in those words. I also like humorous quotes to remind me not to take life too seriously. So, do you have a favorite quote that means something to you? If you do, what does it mean to you?
4. As I’ve said somewhere back in a previous post, I don’t do New Year’s resolutions, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to change anything. Resolutions usually have to do with changing something about yourself … lose weight, quit smoking, do more reading, etc. But one thing I want to do in 2009 is effect a change in the world around me: give to someone who needs something I can give. Save an animal from the shelter? Feed someone who is hungry? Teach someone to read? Go greener? Plant a tree? Smile at strangers? Introduce someone to a new hobby? If you could do something to change the world around you this year, what would that be?
5. I don’t like my name. My given first and middle name (Terry Louise) means “battle maiden” in the name-your-baby books. Ugh. I’m partial to the name Laura, and I also like Lucy. Do you like your name and does it fit your perception of yourself? If you had to re-name yourself, what would it be?
by Andy Laub on December 8th, 2008
Let’s play a game. It’s a game about greed, so let me just get that out of the way now. You are making a Christmas/holiday/etc wishlist. On it are six items:
- An item $100,000 or less
- An item $10,000 or less
- An item $1,000 or less
- An item $100 or less
- An item $10 or less
- And finally, an item $1 or less
What’s on your list? Keep in mind it needs to be an actual item you can buy (eBay, Amazon, whatever). And no gift cards. Mine would look something like this:
- 2009 Porsche Carrera 4S
- Samsung LN55A950 – 55″ LED-backlit LCD TV
- Canon Digital Rebel XSi – dSLR camera
- Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 lens
- A carwash
- 3 Subway chocolate chip cookies
Your turn!
by Tom Neal on October 10th, 2008
“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 introvert? Which would you like to be?
3. Do you disdain people who are eccentric and demonstrative or do you secretly envy them?
4. Did you grow up or did you just get older?
5. What’s your favorite TV commercial of all time?
6. What do you do (if anything) that hurts your conscience?
7. When was the last time (if ever) that you experienced the joy of wild abandon?
by Jane Neal on September 26th, 2008
When summer fades and autumn moves in and winter looms, I feel bad about putting my bicycle up for the season, but I feel good about wearing boots again. I’ll miss the porch, but welcome the fireplace back into my life.
1. Do you have an autumn activity you like returning to, like making soup or reading the classics?
2. If you had to choose your last meal (like on Death Row), what would it be? I’m going with all-you-can-eat snow crab legs with drawn butter and fresh raspberries with real whipped cream.
3. Did you attend Exhibitour last week? Have you ever attended an Exhibitour? If so, what did you think about it?
4. Do you ever ride up to the top of Rib Mountain just to look around? If so, how often?
5. What is something that never fails to make you angry?
6. What is something that never fails to make you smile?
by Cheryl Mathis on September 19th, 2008
A lot of puzzles present themselves to me every week. Why does my son only color with the red crayon? Why does my daughter rub peanut butter in her hair? Why do I keep forgetting which week is recycling week? The following questions should be easier to answer. They were carefully culled from some of the best of the internet’s “memes,” and I found them intriguing and interesting. Bonus points if you can answer any of my personal puzzles.
- If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the body or the mind of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?
- What is the worst psychological torture you can imagine suffering? (it cannot involve any physical harm to you)?
- Given the choice of anyone in the world, who would you want as your dinner guest? As a close friend? As a lover?
- What, in your opinion, is the worst song ever?
- Who is your favorite comedian?
by Tom Neal on September 5th, 2008
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 is a conservative? Now, careful here. I don’t care about tax-and-spend versus small government … that’s politics. I’m talking about just plain old people and how they see themselves. You. Your friends. People you know. When someone says “I’m a conservative” or “I’m a liberal,” what are they saying? What comes with each package? Were the definitions the same in say, 1900?
2. On the civic involvement front, what is an activist and what is a supporter? Tell me if you think there’s a difference in the sense that the terms are used in news reports and speeches.
3. On the musical front, what is classic rock? When did it start? When did it end? Is it the same as “old school”?
4. In the same vein, what is classical music? Specifically. Says who? Does Frank Zappa qualify?
5. Do you carry a “cell” or a “mobile”? Which is better? Do they still make “cellular” phones?
6. I hear a lot about the “environment” these days, but nobody seems to say “ecology” anymore. What happened?
7. What or who is “emo”? A Muppet?
8. Do you invite someone over for “drinks” or “libations”?
9. I’ve heard there’s an “American culture” … what is it? I sure don’t know.
10. What words can you think of that are sort of weird when you think about them?
by Cheryl Mathis on August 15th, 2008
In what will be my first live music experience in years, my family is going to spend some time at Blues Fest tomorrow afternoon. I’m kind of nervous, but I don’t know why. It should be a good time. Hope to see you there! You’ll know me by the impossibly cute kids who are hanging on me all the time.
1. The “no cow’s milk for humans” debate has come up again near my online group. I know a few people personally who aren’t lactose intolerant, but they shun the mention of drinking milk or ingesting any milk-based product, calling it unnatural and unhealthy. This is Wisconsin, so the idea of outlawing cheese is ridiculous. What is your take on the issue? Has anyone said anything to you about the horrors of milk?
2. Do you still celebrate your birthday? I stopped a few years ago, kind of. We usually have a four-week window around my birthday where we’ll make a point of going out to eat, but beyond that, I don’t really want a fuss and bother. How do you feel about birthdays?
3. I spent many weeks this summer working part-time at my old job while the boss was on maternity leave. I found it fascinating to analyze the power dynamic in my house during that time and especially after. It begs the question — is the work of a stay-at-home mom as valuable as that of a working-outside-the-home mom? I’m not sure. How about any unpaid work? What about writers who haven’t sealed the book deal yet but continue to write their book?
4. If a woman you know well was growing a lot of white, downy hair on her cheeks after menopause, would you say anything?
5. My parents just went to my dad’s 50th high school class reunion. They had a sing-a-long with the music of the era, raffle prizes, and a whole lot of visiting. Are you planning on going to your reunions? Have you gone already? My parents think it’s a shame that us kids aren’t interested, but I pointed out the statistics. Sixty students in my dad’s graduating class. Over 200 in mine. Also, I have not remained friends with anyone I knew in high school (on purpose). What is your take on the demographic difference?
6. I’ve become addicted to the Olympics, and it breaks my heart that so many of the good competitions are on after my bedtime. I stayed up several nights in a row, but I’ve given up. I just can’t do it anymore. Not a night went by when I wasn’t reduced to tears by the glory of it all. I sat on the edge of my seat, watching these strong men and women go for the gold, feeling a fraction of their struggle, feeling a tiny bit of their triumph. What about you? Are you watching or at least keeping up with the scores? How do you feel about the Olympics? Is it a waste of time?
