Most of you have probably already seen this, but I just saw this today.  Watch it full screen when you play it, it’s too cool.  This is during a performance by the Black Eyed Peas on Oprah’s show while she was in Chicago. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjQxYbW6nBw

When many of you head outdoors this season, whether for hunting or just to enjoy the crisp air, you’ll reap the benefits of technology and atmsopheric physics to help keep you dry. I still think one of the greatest innovations in outdoor equipment is fabric that is truly waterproof and windproof, yet allows moisture from your body to escape. This fabric goes by many names, but the most widely known is Gore-Tex. The first time I encountered Gore-Tex was around 1980. I was a Boy Scout with Troop 103 in Atlanta, GA, and our assistant scoutmaster showed up for a campout wearing a light jacket that he said was completely waterproof and windproof. The rest of us had our standard ponchos made of nylon or rubberized fabric. Our ponchos kept rain out, but trapped so much body mositure that we still ended up damp. Of course, our ponchos cost about $5, while Paul’s fancy jacket [...]

Pump House Holiday Bazaar Local Arts and Crafts for Holiday Giving The highly successful annual Pump House Holiday Boutique returns!  This is your opportunity to find unique quality items for gift giving or pampering yourself.  Come share in the holiday spirit and local art at the Pump House.  Local artists and artisans from around the region bring their works to the Pump House just in time for the holiday season.  You’ll find jewelry, photography, embroidery, stained glass, hand-dyed batiks, books, paintings, cards, dolls and metal work. Friday, November 20:  12pm to 7pm Saturday, November 21: 10am to 4pm Sunday, November 22: 12pm to 4pm For more information about this event or other events contact the Pump House through this link or call 608-785-1434. (press release from The Pump House)    

The debate over new guidelines on when and how often women should get mammograms is causing quite the stir. For years, the American Cancer Society and other leading breast cancer organizations have advocated for routine yearly mammograms starting at 40, but a government task force says most women should just wait until 50 to start that process. Many area doctors are outraged by the new recommendations and breast cancer patients say they can’t fathom changing guidelines that may have saved their lives. According to  CDC statistics, breast cancer mortality rates in women have gone down 1.8% per year from 1998 to 2005. Leading Franciscan Skemp breast expert, Dr. Shorter says she’s worried that if women follow the new guidelines, it’ll reverse the progress they’ve made in detecting breast cancer and saving lives. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, there’s a 98% five year survival rate when breast cancer is detected [...]

Everyone had their questions when the Milwaukee Bucks selected PG Brandon Jennings after high school and one year playing overseas.  Jennings was a question for many reasons.  People questioned his move as the first player to go from high school to play in Europe (high school players must play one year in college now before becoming draft eligible), and they questioned parts of his game, including his jump shot. Brandon Jennings is answering all the questions.  I was watching the game live Saturday night hoping the Bucks would come back and make it a game in the third quarter so I would have some decent highlights to show.  And there went Jennings, as #3 has know been known the do in the 3rd quarter, going off!  This time he scored 29 points in the third.  It was unbelievable watching how “in the zone” the younger player can look at times.  He [...]

Before I get into the latest political rumblings let me take a moment to thank all of our Vets today.  Thanks for fighting for us, thanks for wearing that uniform and standing proudly for our country.  You should be proud of yourselves.  If you are not a vet, seek one out today and show your appreciation. Back to politics.  The big question as to who will run for the Democrats in the race for Wisconsin Governor could be answered this week, or things could get even murkier.  Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s office says he will make a decision by the end of the week.  My guess is he will run (no one else is from the Dems), but if he doesn’t things will get VERY interesting! I’ll keep you posted. Since we last spoke the House passed their version of the health care reform bill (pause for applause…. noone told the audience).  [...]

“Actually, she’s a girl.”  I find myself correcting people a lot lately.  What I have come to discover is…people don’t look at the clothes a baby is in…they look at the top of the head.  So no matter how pink and frilly the outfit - Finley Mae’s bald head leads people to say “look how big HE’S getting.”  For the record, she probably does have the baldest head you’ve ever seen on a little girl.  And to be clear, it doesn’t bother me at all when people make the mistake because I have actually done that to other people’s babies!! By the way - HELLO AGAIN!!  I know it has been a very long time since we have posted anything new.  I was convinced that no one was really interested in our blog anymore.  But a few of you have e-mailed me recently, wondering what happened to the updates, so I thought I would post a few [...]

I had a great chance this past weekend to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather by plane! My friend Marty was kind enough to take my kids and me about 3,000 feet above the coulee region. What a way to see it! Just a four seater Cessna… but a lot more fun than a big plane because you can really see everything and he even let me take the controls. Yeah, I was surprised too. I can see how flying can be so addicting.  By the way, when you see what the DNR did building new habitats for wildlife near Brownsville, it makes a lot more sense from up high, it’s a much different perspective. I’m going to have to talk Marty into that again sometime, when the leaves are still on the trees or boats are back on the river.

What happens during commercial breaks?  What are you talking about after they turn your microphones off at the end of the newscast and you’re seen chatting with the other anchors?  These are all common questions I get from viewers, but last night was proof that sometimes we don’t even know what’s going to happen. During the commercial break right before Cory’s weather forecast at 10 o’clock, my co-anchor Martha Koloski, turned to me and said I don’t feel good.  I’m sweating and I feel light headed.  She had given blood earlier in the day and hadn’t eaten dinner at this point.  It seemed to come on quite suddenly.  Instantly, I’m thinking she’s going to pass out right next to me live on air.   I’m going through a hundred different scenarios in my mind and how I’m going to handle it.  Am I going to have to stop the newscast [...]

Congressman Ron Kind has held his seat in Wisconsin’t 3rd district for 13 years now, and in recent elections he hasn’t had too difficult a time winning.  That might all change next year. State Senator Dan Kapanke filed his papers today, officially announcing his intent to run against Kind next year.  This is officially my favorite race of the upcoming midterms.  Both men are popular with voters in the area, and I can’t imagine either will win by a landslide so it should be an entertainingly close race. I sat down with the State Senator today and asked him about everything from why he’s running, to if he thinks he can win, and party pressure.  I will post his answers on the blog in upcoming posts. Sit down, strap in and enjoy this one folks. More Later