GOT FREEDOM – THANK AN ACTIVIST

  “War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today.” President John F. Kennedy   “Our troops are, of course, human and vulnerable and imperfect. We don’t help them when we put them on pedestals, give them flags to hold in the breeze, and salute them as icons of a feel-good brand of patriotism. Talk of warrior-heroes is worse than cheap: it enables our state of permanent war, elevates the Pentagon, ennobles the national security state, and silences dissent.” ...

Read More


ENERGY INNOVATION ACT

  On May 29 over 20,000 tons of fuel oil spilled into a pristine river in Arctic Siberia. A fuel storage tank built on what had been solid permafrost collapsed when for the first time the frozen footing beneath it thawed and settled. The damage to fragile Arctic waterways has been called catastrophic. Its impact will be felt for years. Since then, the toxic flow has reached the Arctic Ocean.   Across the far north, temperatures are soaring, outdoing traditional hot spots like Miami. When was the last time temperatures here in Central Wisconsin topped 100 ...

Read More


THIS TIME WISCONSIN DESERVES FAIR MAPS

  Perhaps, you have seen these purple yard signs throughout the Wausau area and in Marathon County. A poll done by the Marquette University Law School (NPR), January 16-20, 2019 found: “Seventy-two percent of voters say they prefer redistricting of legislative and congressional districts to be done by a nonpartisan commission, while 18% prefer redistricting be done by the legislature and governor. Majorities in each partisan group favor a nonpartisan commission for redistricting, with 63% of Republicans including leaners, 83% of Democrats including leaners, ...

Read More


THE CELESTIAL CRUSTACEAN

  One of the official duties of the Chinese emperor around the end of the first millennium was to explain to his people any unusual occurrences in the heavens. To this end, he employed astronomers to observe the sky. In 1054 A.D., these astronomers reported to Emperor Renzong (1010 – 1063 A.D.) the appearance of a “guest star” in the constellation we call Taurus the Bull. “Guest star” was their term for any bright object that suddenly appeared in the sky and then disappeared after a relatively short time. This “guest star” was a supernova, which is a ...

Read More


THINGS THAT MUST BE DONE

  “...If changes are to come, there are things that must be done...”  From the song “Somewhere to Begin” by T.R. Richie   “...if people are paying attention, then we get good government and good leadership. And when we get lazy, as a democracy....then it results in bad government and politics.” President Barack Obama   Responsible democratic government depends on citizen participation. This year we must elect competent leaders who care about people and the issues that actually matter to most people.   A few years ago, ...

Read More


SOMETHING STINKS AND IT’S NOT THE MILL

  This has been a devastating week for the Wisconsin Rapids area as Verso announced the closure of the paper mill. This mill produces clay-coated paper used for advertising. My father is among the roughly 800 workers in this area who will be losing their jobs.   This is an appropriate time to express anger, sorrow, frustration, and empathy. It is an appropriate time to try to find solutions. But it is not the time for partisan scapegoating from an elected official. Yet that was how Representative Scott Krug chose to express himself.   The ...

Read More


THE BOBOLINKS ARE BACK

  The bobolinks came back in May. This is a really big deal because these amazing birds started on their super-long journey to their summer home, including our area, in February 2020.   They had to take about three months to travel 5000 miles. Here is the clincher: much of their journey is right across the Gulf of Mexico, over endless stretches of water. They wintered in southern Brazil.   When they arrive on our farm, they sing their cheerful “I made it again; I made it again” song. The cheer of their song is enough to dispel sadness. ...

Read More


ENBRIDGE IS RE-ROUTING ITS PIPELINE IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN

  Enbridge (the Canadian company) runs a pipeline through northern Wisconsin and through the Bad River Reservation.   The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Tribe filed a lawsuit and won. Now Enbridge is planning to remove a 12-mile segment of its Line 5 from the Bad River Reservation and bypass the reservation with 42 miles of new pipe.   Enbridge says the line transports an average 540,000 barrels a day between Superior and southwestern Ontario that is eventually used to supply propane to dealers in Wisconsin and Michigan.   E...

Read More


BUILDING UNITY IN NORTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN

  The Building Unity Tour is coming to your area!   The Building Unity Tour is shared by many groups throughout Wisconsin working for peace, justice, sustainability and democracy.   Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we need creative ways to build excitement for justice, voter engagement and safety for our communities.   The Building Unity Tour is partnering with groups all over Wisconsin and sharing the “Votemobile” as a backdrop for social media campaigns and events. This 34-foot mobile billboard is helping us build our ...

Read More


AGING IN RURAL WISCONSIN

  Growing old is an inevitable part of life. When it comes to aging, we can’t help but wonder where we’ll live when we retire, the quality of life we’ll have and how we’ll stay healthy. While most of us want to remain in our homes for as long as possible, aging in place is almost a must for farmers in rural Wisconsin.   Last week, I participated in a webinar about aging on the farm in rural Wisconsin. We learned about the unique challenges farmers face when it comes to aging, compared to older adults in other areas of the state.   Fa...

Read More