What Factory Farms Are Doing to Fish

You might think this is a departure from my normal fare, but it’s all related to quality of life — especially if you live in a rural area like I do:

What to do with animal poop? It’s a question that plagues organic and factory farmers alike, and in areas with lots of factory farms (also called concentrated animal-feeding operations, or CAFOs), animal manure is accused of adding high levels of nitrogen and phosphorous to nearby waterways, robbing them of oxygen and killing the fish that call them home.

Animal-farm owners have attempted to solve the problem by selling all that manure off to farmers, who can apply the nutrient-rich manure from CAFOs to their fields as fertilizer. But in doing so, the farmers introduce another problem to the beleaguered streams, according to a new study in Environmental Science & Technology—that of too many hormones.

Full story at: What Factory Farms Are Doing to Fish | Rodale News.

Our county only has about 20,000 people but thanks to the factory farms in our area, the county has a ‘poop equvalent’ of a city of 1.3 million people as cattle alone produce the effluent of 43 humans. There’s a double whammy for us here in Kewaunee County as a large part of our economy depends on sport fishing during the summer [we are the salmon and trout capital of the Great Lakes here in Algoma]. Concerned citizens need to ask if factory farms or CAFOs are killing a huge segment of the local economy [in addition to all the other damage they are doing] while lining their own pockets. Unconcerned citizens need to wake up!

December 19, 2012 2

I’m all for intelligent political discourse…

Too bad there’s so little of it!

October 29, 2012 3

Hope and Change? :-D

September 4, 2012 0

The Best Political Slogan Ever?

BuzzFeed – Latest

via The Best Political Slogan Ever.

September 3, 2012 0

Politics

I used to think that I could win elections by posting political content to Facebook, etc. Now I just look forward to the first Wednesday of November. via political-facebook.jpg (960×672).

September 1, 2012 0

Cocaine

I hate voting years and getting stupid emails like this. I couldn’t help but reply to this one:

On Fri, Jul 20, 2012 at 12:20 PM, Mark Neumann <email> wrote:

Todd–Can you believe our government spent $400,000 dollars to study the effect of cocaine on the sex habits of Japanese quails? Its too ridiculous to make up…Help us keep our latest ad on the air–holding Barack Obama accountable for his out of control spending, and moving America towards a balanced budget is the only responsible course of action.Right now, you can sponsor an ad in Milwaukee, Green Bay, Madison, La Crosse and Eau Claire, or Wausau and Rhinelander. Watch our ad now and help keep it on air.Outraged,

Mark Neumann

Friend on Facebook – Follow on Twitter – Sign up to Volunteer

Click here to unsubscribe to future messages

My reply? “Mark, I hear cocaine is expensive!”

July 20, 2012 0

Let your voice be heard

But get informed before you do! I respect someone with a different, well thought out opinion more than I respect someone with an uninformed opinion…

Visual Loop via Let your voice be heard.

July 6, 2012 0

10 questions from the U.S. Naturalization Test

Could you pass the civics portion of the U.S. citizenship test? Applicants must answer 6 of 10 questions correctly (out of 100 different possible questions). Here are some sample questions taken from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services official website:

1. How many amendments does the Constitution have?

2. What is the economic system in the United States?

3. Name your U.S. Representative.

4. What are two Cabinet-level positions?

5. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?

6. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

7. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name ONE of the writers.

8. What is ONE thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

9. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?

10. What did Susan B. Anthony do?

ANSWERS: See the rest at mental_floss. via 10 questions from the U.S. Naturalization Test.

July 6, 2012 0

Here’s What You Can Do!

Terri Cole has an amazing post over at The Daily Love today. She writes:

Are you wasting your energy, youth and beauty focusing on things you cannot change? Thinking too much about situations where you have no control or experiences that have already happened? Oftentimes we get so wrapped up in what’s happening in the world and political systems, in what the neighbors are doing and in the mistakes we’ve made, that we lose focus on what we CAN DO right here, right now to help make our lives and those around us better.

Focusing on that over which you have no control (the past, the state of the world and the drama of other people’s lives… to name a few) is a common cause of stress. This type of thinking makes us feel powerless, leading to feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, and depression, which are all key players in the game of stress. I could go on and on about the myriad of the side effects from stress, but you can check them out for yourself while we focus on what you CAN DO to switch your thinking from what you should have done to what you will do now.

This week, I want to challenge you to pay attention to what thoughts are taking up real estate in your mind. When you are ruminating about people and situations over which you have no control, jot down a quick line about the issue at hand. Over the course of the week, what patterns are you discovering? What is the content of your predominant thoughts? How do they make you feel?

Now make a plan to Do Something. If it’s politics that sets you into a tailspin, volunteer for a political campaign, get to know the issues, VOTE. If it’s an ethical or world issue (e.g. animal welfare, bullying, the environment, researching/living with/preventing/curing a particular disease), volunteer for an organization focusing on that particular agenda.

Now, to the biggie…. How often are you ruminating about the past? When you find yourself living anywhere but in the present moment, ask yourself why you are still holding onto the past incident or regret. Try to break down what really happened. Once you have established the facts around the scenario, dial into what you are meant to learn from the experience and use that information to inform your decisions now.

Remaining in a state of frustrated helplessness takes a toll – physically and emotionally. You can relieve stress and feel more empowered by getting into action. Being part of the solution, instead of stressing about the problem, will contribute to your ability to build a more peaceful and productive life. You have the power to change your life and your perspective. Do not give that power to politicians, lawmakers, your neighbors or anyone else. Most of these people you do not even know, so why be dominated by their choices? And the ones you do know most likely do not want to have power over your thoughts and feelings. Keep your side of the street clean and use your special talents to make life better. Interestingly enough, you will make others’ better in the process.

Share your thoughts and comments with us. Let’s start a rich dialogue with the focus on what is possible rather than what is wrong. I am curious to see what changes you notice physically and mentally when you become aware of your thoughts and flip the script.

I hope you have a meaningful week, filled with positive action, and, as always, take care of you.

Source: Here’s What You Can Do!

June 21, 2012 0

Ahhh. Politics…

Anderson Layman’s Blog via (title unknown).

June 16, 2012 0

George Washington assigned to lead the Continental Army; This Day in History

On this day in 1775, George Washington, who would one day become the first American president, accepts an assignment to lead the Continental Army.

Washington had been managing his family’s plantation and serving in the Virginia House of Burgesses when the second Continental Congress unanimously voted to have him lead the revolutionary army. He had earlier distinguished himself, in the eyes of his contemporaries, as a commander for the British army in the French and Indian War of 1754.

Born a British citizen and a former Redcoat, Washington had, by the 1770s, joined the growing ranks of colonists who were dismayed by what they considered to be Britain’s exploitative policies in North America. In 1774, Washington joined the Continental Congress as a delegate from Virginia. The next year, the Congress offered Washington the role of commander in chief of the Continental Army.

After accepting the position, Washington sat down and wrote a letter to his wife, Martha, in which he revealed his concerns about his new role. He admitted to his “dear Patcy” that he had not sought the post but felt “it was utterly out of my power to refuse this appointment without exposing my Character to such censures as would have reflected dishonour upon myself, and given pain to my friends.” He expressed uneasiness at leaving her alone, told her he had updated his will and hoped that he would be home by the fall. He closed the letter with a postscript, saying he had found some of “the prettiest muslin” but did not indicate whether it was intended for her or for himself.

On July 3, 1775, Washington officially took command of the poorly trained and under-supplied Continental Army. After six years of struggle and despite frequent setbacks, Washington managed to lead the army to key victories and Great Britain eventually surrendered in 1781. Due largely to his military fame and humble personality, Americans overwhelmingly elected Washington their first president in 1789.

via George Washington assigned to lead the Continental Army — History.com This Day in History — 6/15/1775.

June 15, 2012 3

Scott Walker Deserves to Win

I don’t listen to Rush much any more, but I was interested to see what he had to say about the Scott Walker recall today and he hit it out of the park!

“Here’s a guy, Scott Walker, who’s being recalled for one reason. He’s doing what he said he was gonna do. It’s a policy recall. He ran for office, he got elected on a specific agenda, and he has implemented it. And now the Democrats are trying to recall him for it. If this kind of stuff ever gets hold, elections are gonna be meaningless. Elections are just gonna become another poll.” Get more here: Scott Walker Deserves to Win – The Rush Limbaugh Show.

Me? Proud to have voted for Walker and elections that mean something…

June 5, 2012 0

Why is the Queen still revered?

The ever controversial Niall O’Dowd writes this:

If the Queen of England were an elected position Elizabeth II would have been forced out long ago.

Her sixty-year reign has coincided with the total loss of the British Empire and a deeply reduced place for Britain in the world.

Just consider 1953, the year she came to the throne.

It was still the aftermath of the Second World War and Britain was first among all countries in Europe.

The detested Germans were defeated and partitioned and their economy and country seemingly in ruins.

Fast forward 60 years and the Germans are running Europe again and Britain is back to being sick man of Europe along with Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Ireland of course.

They hardly have a voice in European affairs which are now overseen by France and Germany basically.

Back in 1953 the new Queen oversaw an empire that governed vast tracts of land in Africa, Asia, Europe, and elsewhere on the globe.

During her reign the British were reduced to fighting Argentina over an utterly nondescript island called Malvinas/Falklands and playing second fiddle to American forces just about everywhere.

The decline and fall of the British Empire under Elizabeth in another era would have resulted in a trial and the Tower of London for a goodly spell methinks.” Get more here: Why the Queen who lost the British Empire is still revered — Elizabeth II lucky she’s not locked in the Tower of London | Periscope Niall O’Dowd | IrishCentral.

I’m not sure I have a retort…

A Day of Jubilee (blogs.the-american-interest.com)
Queen Elizabeth’s 21st Birthday Speech From South African [VIDEO] (socialitelife.com)
Republics maybe, but no quarrel with the Queen (caribbean360.com)
For Queen Elizabeth, a Google doodle of diamonds and doggies – Christian Science Monitor (csmonitor.com)
Queen Elizabeth Ii and The British Royal Family (socyberty.com)

June 4, 2012 1

Wisconsin Recall Election Seen as Referendum

You might be thinking to yourself “Hey, what’s this political crap doing on Todd’s blog?” Well, I got my start in political blogging and stopped 3 years ago because I found it wasn’t healthy for me or my family or my business. The things I learned as a political blogger I now apply in my business practice and to the ideas I post here…

I’m going back to politics for one post simply because I feel that this recall election affects everyone in the country — not just us cheeseheads — but at the same time, I think people don’t have much bandwidth for civic issues they perceive don’t affect them. Here’s ABC’s perspective on the Wisconsin recall…

“In a battle viewed largely as a barometer for November’s showdown between President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney, Wisconsin voters on Tuesday will decide whether to oust Gov. Scott Walker for what Democrats contend is an unacceptable attack on organized labor by the GOP lawmaker.

During the winter of 2011, the Badger State became locked in a standoff as Walker pushed to roll back union rights for many public employees, infuriating labor groups in the state and around the country. While the governor ultimately succeeded in signing a law that stripped most public employees of their collective bargaining rights on pensions and health care, and limited their pay increases, the backlash against Walker set the stage for this week’s recall vote.

“It’s a statement about what role we think the public sector ought to play,” said Barry Burden, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “There are fundamental differences between the two parties here, and they mimic the debate in Washington. Republicans want to reduce the size of government, and they view the public sector as a hindrance to job growth, while Democrats want to use the public sector to spur job growth, promote fairness and serve as a safety net. We can’t do both. Wisconsin is a swing state, and it represents a lot of the diversity we find in the country in general, so for that reason I think the recall here is a symbol of the larger argument going on.”

Recent polls show Walker leading his Democratic opponent, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. A survey of likely voters conducted by Marquette University Law School from May 23-26 showed Walker with a 52 percent to 45 percent advantage over Barrett. But public polling can be unpredictable because of the special nature of the summertime election, and that poll came before the two opponents engaged in a heated debate Thursday night.” Get more here: Wisconsin Scott Walker Recall Election Viewed ss Referendum – ABC News.

In 2008, I stepped down from my position as 3rd Vice Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin due in large part to bad experiences in dealing with campaigns and party officials. While I never had a bad experience with Scott personally I did have one with his campaign. Despite the bitter taste in my mouth, I’ll be voting for Scott tomorrow. For me, there is an important issue at stake; namely, from my perspective powerful forces like unions outside our state are trying to influence how we live here for their own purposes. Scott Walker promised to bring fiscal sanity back to Wisconsin and for the most part he has kept those promises. Of course people and organizations who have been feeding at the public trough are pissed but Wisconsin and the United States cannot continue handing out public monies they way they have. Scott Walker has been good for Wisconsin and the US; I encourage you to support him tomorrow…

PS Did you know this is only the third time in our nation’s history that a governor has faced a recall election?

Big guns stump in Wis. as recall nears (cbsnews.com)
How Scott Walker Went to War on His Recall (time.com)
Why Wisconsin Democrats Can’t Lose (alan.com)
Scott Walker Recall: Wisconsin Vote To Resonate In Presidential Race (huffingtonpost.com)
Governor Scott Walker and the Fight to Save Wisconsin (illinoisreview.typepad.com)
Barrett on a presidential visit: Obama’s busy (politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com)
Bill Clinton brings presidential energy to Wisconsin recall campaign (guardian.co.uk)
Where Walker Succeeds, Unions Fail and Wisconsin Wins (thegatewaypundit.com)
Wisconsin unions see ranks drop ahead of vote (foxnews.com)

June 4, 2012 0

Shift in philosophy: DNR writing fewer tickets

A friend alerted me to this article on the Wisconsin DNR and their position on CAFOs [Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations]…

“Environmental enforcement activity by the state Department of Natural Resources has dropped dramatically in the past two years, according to data from the agency, with the number of permit violation notices hitting a 12-year low in 2011.DNR officials say the decrease is partly caused by an enforcement staff that’s been hit hard by budget cuts. But they also point to a philosophical shift that emphasizes cooperating with businesses by helping them navigate complex state and federal regulations and steering them into compliance when they violate their permits.

“I don’t apologize for that,” said DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp of her emphasis on customer service and a less-confrontational agency. “When we do our jobs right at the Wisconsin DNR and when we are no longer viewed as somebody to be afraid of and instead as a partner in understanding what the expectations are … we also see environmental enhancement and job creation as a result. (Businesses) know they have somebody they can come to and help them comply.”

But others see a darker side to that approach. Critics, including current employees and recently retired agency officials, say they see tough regulation and enforcement being de-emphasized by politically appointed administrators, and they worry it is happening at the expense of the agency’s traditional and legally mandated duties of oversight and environmental protection.” via Shift in philosophy: DNR writing fewer tickets.

This a little off topic for me, but I still wanted to amplify this information until I launch a new blog focusing primarily on these issues…

This could reflect either a lack of funding or the perceived Republican bias in favor of ‘big business’. What do you think?

May 1, 2012 0

What is a CAFO and why should I care?

This post may appear to be an off-topic rant, but it’s closely related to my main theme of ‘health’ and quality of life…

Part of my story…

9 years ago, my family and I left Aurora, IL in the Chicago suburbs primarily around the issue of quality of life. The year we left, there were 25 homicides in Aurora; 2/3rds due to gang-related violence and the remainder due to domestic violence. Every year 2-3 kids would get hit by a stray bullet and with 5 boys at the time, I felt the odds were against me. After a long journey, we ended up in our ‘paradise’ — the Town of Pierce in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin… It was at our annual town meeting that I first heard the word CAFO or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation… Continue reading “What is a CAFO and why should I care?” →

April 29, 2012 2

See more @ WWI posters by James Flagg, 1914-1918 | Retronaut.

April 29, 2012 0

On respect for the American flag…

I don’t know why this bothers me so much, but a local dairy in our area is not only flying a Mexican flag on the same pole, but their American flag is in SHAMEFUL condition…

IMG_20120403_165537 — Click image to enlarge...

IMG_20120403_165631 — Click image to enlarge...

The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary. Source: USFlag.org: A website dedicated to the Flag of the United States of America – Flag Etiquette

When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner. Source: USFlag.org: A website dedicated to the Flag of the United States of America – Flag Etiquette

When flown with the national banner of other countries, each flag must be displayed from a separate pole of the same height. Each flag should be the same size. They should be raised and lowered simultaneously. The flag of one nation may not be displayed above that of another nation. Source: USFlag.org: A website dedicated to the Flag of the United States of America – Flag Etiquette

Call the owner and let him know how you feel! Or, maybe we should set up a fund to buy this ‘poor’ farmer a new flag…

Duescher’s Legendairy Farms
N6388 Longfellow Rd, Algoma, WI 54201
(920) 487-2040

P.S. Here’s an Italian company in Ashwaubenon that gets it!