Local leaders have been fretting lately about what they call “Dark Stores”–where a big box retailer challenges their property tax assessment by comparing their open store to what a closed big box somewhere else in town is assessed at and arguing–usually successfully–that their property holds the same value. But it is entirely possible that more…… MORE
Nickel and Diming Us
Today’s youth has been deprived of many “little joys in life” that us older folk used to enjoy. They will never know the sense of accomplishment when you would find the one setting for your TV’s “rabbit ears” that brought all three channels in clearly without having to constantly re-adjust them. They have no idea…… MORE
Nothing to Get Excited About
Of the two hospitals here in Oshkosh, which one has the lower price for delivery of a baby? What is the cost of an arthroscopic surgery on a knee? What medical practitioner has the lowest rate for an annual physical? If you aren’t able to answer these questions definitively, you understand the root cause of…… MORE
Why Winners Win
I know that we aren’t supposed to glorify success anymore–better to have everyone achieve at the same level so no one feels “different”, “disenfranchised” or “left behind”–but let’s take a moment to honor the University of Connecticut Women’s Basketball team for its 109-game winning streak. Their head coach Geno Auriemma was asked this week how…… MORE
Brought To You By the Letter Q and the Number 0
While they like to call themselves “Progressives”, liberals sure are unwilling to let go of archaic public institutions. They are always the loudest in opposition to doing away with or downsizing the US Postal Service–no matter how much money it loses in an ever more digital world. They plead on behalf of the dwindling number of…… MORE
How Did They Miss That?
One of the most common things you hear during March Madness (besides “Duke Sucks”) is “How did the refs miss that call?!?!?” That was heard loud and clear on Saturday night as the Northwestern Wildcats–trying to come back from a huge early deficit against Gonzaga–had a basket that would have cut the lead to just…… MORE
Pay the Ladies
We don’t usually talk about women’s ice hockey here, but a situation has come up that deserves some attention. The United States Women’s team is planning to boycott the upcoming World Championships–where they are the defending champions. Team USA is one of the two superpowers in women’s hockey. We and Canada have won all of…… MORE
Bracketology
You have just a few hours left to turn in your NCAA bracket for the office pool. For those of you who picked Wisconsin to win it all (or more foolishly, Marquette), we thank you for your donation to the prize fund–and better luck next year. For those who think they are going to the…… MORE
A Drinking Town With an Event Problem
While he doesn’t mean to be, Oshkosh Mayor Steve Cummings is a really funny guy. Almost every Common Council meeting he says something that just makes me laugh–even though he intends to be very serious in making those comments. You may recall the Mayor demanding that the name of the Oshkosh Senior Center be changed…… MORE
That Will be a $5 Blog Reading Fee
In the latest edition of “how The Simpsons accurately predicted the future” let’s flashback to the episode where Hollywood producers decided to film the movie Radioactive Man and Fallout Boy in Springfield. The City Council and Mayor Quimby then established new “taxes” on everything that the production may do or need: http://www.simpsonsworld.com/video/305693251940 Now…… MORE
