I wish my life was before   doppler radar and clever weather men   I’d know about impending rain by how   the cows are all lying down at once   at forenoon in a green May meadow   I’d know about the dry spell ahead   by the dust devil that scatters   July’s newly raked hay   I’d know about a lightning strike   by the silence just before it   I’d know about the length of winter   by the pattern on the curled   wooly worm on the milk ...

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Growing up during the 50’s and 60’s in a small community in far northern Wisconsin, I was considered a “country hick.”  Within this tightly-knit community, we parceled ourselves out by the church we attended, the jobs our parents held, whether we were farmers or business owners.  Some community members were considered “high toned.”  This term was applied to people who wore nicer clothes and drove a nicer car than most, worked “in town” rather than farmed or did manual labor. The people “in town” were known as “city slickers” because we felt ...

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This parable was reprinted with permission from  Democratic Underground . com   Once upon a time there was a boy who bit sheep. "Wolf!" the boy cried, when shepherds saw the toothmarks. The town sheriff investigated. He talked to a wolf biologist. She told him there were no wolves in the area, and the bite marks were human anyway. He talked to an eyewitness. He talked to a dentist, who provided a cast of the boy's teeth. He obtained the boy's diary, in which was written "I like biting sheep." The sheriff made his report. "The boy has been biting your ...

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People for the Power of Love presents a weekend to build on the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.   People for the Power of Love is a Wausau area organization working to develop community with diversity. You can learn more on their Facebook page.   On Saturday, January 18, Chris Norfleet and David Deon Stuart will lead the program called “Into the Deep.”   Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The program is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch is included.   On Sunday, January 19, Pastor Joseph Ellwanger will lead the program called “Les...

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As we approach the beginning of a new year, you can find any forecast you wish, from negative to positive. You surely can find a forecast that suits you. I would like to share a view from Cameron Trimble:   She tells the story of four rabbis. An angel visited them and carried them to the seventh Vault of the Seventh Heaven. There they beheld the sacred Wheel of Ezekiel. One Rabbi saw such splendor that he lost his mind and wandered about the earth in madness. He could not handle such splendor from the other world. The second Rabbi was very cynical and ...

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Wisconsin will have a special election for the U.S. House of Representatives this spring. This election is important for many reasons. Democrats have an opportunity to take back the 7th Congressional District formerly held by Democratic Rep. Dave Obey for 40 years.   The good news for Democrats is their candidate will not be facing Republican Rep. Sean Duffy. Duffy resigned his seat creating the need for the special election. Duffy had dominated the district since 2010 defeating five Democratic challengers. The bad news is many of the factors that led to Duffy's ...

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This is not the time to debate gun control. It’s been just a few days since the last massacre of ______________. (Please insert one of these: high school students; grade schoolers; adults at a gathering; a friend; my relative; your spouse; their child.) We should not debate while family and friends grieve, and their grief can last a lifetime, so there is never a good time to debate. So, let’s change the subject. I have a story for you. I grew up in an undistinguished neighborhood in mid-century Illinois near the Wisconsin border. But, the kids in my neighborhood? We ...

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Here is a great opportunity for high school students to become a journalist while still in high school. You can learn valuable skills in the WIPPS Student Journalism Program.   Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service (WIPPS) is sponsoring the Student Journalism Program in partnership with Midwest Communications’ WSAU radio. This is for students in grades 10 – 12.   Students: learn marketable skills, including writing, editing and interviewing. Interact with radio broadcast professionals Have your stories read, watched and ...

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A version of this article appeared in the 6-20-2016 edition of Middle Wisconsin. Given the growing level of inequality in America and how it is destroying our democracy and our nation, the message still seems relevant. The investment - - and the enablement - - began 3.6 million years ago in Tanzania when two early humans stood upright and left the “Laetoli Footprints” in the wet volcanic ash. We do not know what these humans knew, but they had mastered enough of their environment to survive, because we are here today. We owe them a great debt. A million years ...

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We’re (Wisconsin Democracy Campaign) playing a key role in the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition, including writing up a handy toolkit for activists. Here’s an excerpt:   The Founders of our country fought the War of Independence over fair representation. Gerrymandering deprives Wisconsinites of fair representation.   The health of our democracy depends on the integrity and fairness of our election system. The more rigged the system is, the more cynical and apathetic the citizenry will become.   Wisconsinites believe in fair play. ...

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