This Just In...

Milwaukee turns wussy over motorcycles

Kevin Fischer — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:01:12 GMT

Less than 24 hours after the city of Milwaukee paid homage to the Fonz, the motorcycle-riding, coolest of the cool characters from the popular 70’s TV show, “Happy Days,” Milwaukeeans are moaning and having a hissy fit about the 105^th anniversary of Harley-Davidson.

The party begins next week, and already, in typical backwards Milwaukee fashion, wussy townsfolk are complaining about the impending noise, and it appears even Hartley has caved in to the crying.

Hogwash, I say.

There’s something thrilling and exciting to not only see those wonderful bikes, but to hear their roaring thunder.

Milwaukee, could we please put our provincialism on hold and accept these wonderful bikers into our home for just a few days?

Certainly we can tolerate those roaring engines just as we can accept the sound of those cash registers ringing from all the cash those Harley enthusiasts will drop.

For heaven’s sake, you fuddy duddies, park your complaints for just a couple of days, relax, and thank your lucky stars that Milwaukee is fortunate to host such a colossal event.

Harley riders, welcome to Milwaukee! Love that trademark sound of the engine that made Milwaukee famous!

MPS waste $$$? Tell me about it

Kevin Fischer — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:45:00 GMT

On Friday, August 29, I will tape InterCHANGE at Milwaukee Public television Channel 10, like any other Friday, and when the taping is concluded, I will change from suit and tie into far more comfortable clothes and head to historic South Stadium near 10^th and Windlake on Milwaukee’s south side.

I recall local historian and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist John Gurda having once written in booklet on Milwaukee’s south side side that South Stadium is one of the oldest facilities in the city of Milwaukee, period. I’ve been crawling around the stadium for 40 years, initially as a fan whose father who took tickets let his little boy inside so he could watch games. I graduated to ticket taker, security, chain gang member and finally to public address announcer, a duty I’ve proudly served since the mid 70’s.

Friday, August 29^th, West Bend West will play Milwaukee South Division in a who-cares, non-conference football match-up. I will arrive and head to the entrance gates. Security guards who know me will not subject me to the obligatory metal detector test.

I will make my way up to the South Stadium press box situated on the north end of the stadium, across from the bleacher seating on Becher Street. No one is allowed to sit on the press box side of South Stadium. It was condemned decades ago. Too many people in the stands could cause a collapse. MPS has done nothing in more than two decades to remedy the situation.

As I walk through the stands that used to be packed with thousands of fans every Friday and Saturday in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, I walk over rocks, stones, broken glass. When I walk the numerous steps up to the press box and take my seat inside, the ancient facility is filthy, dusty, dirty. The windows, if the gangs haven’t broken them, haven’t been washed in ages.

Will the PA work without an annoying buzz? Fingers are crossed.

The bathrooms are atrocious. The locker rooms are spartan, at best, for the teams and officials. The South Stadium crew, veterans all, know just about every official and coach who’s ever walked inside the stadium gates. The visitors know they will be treated royally, albeit in a once hallowed ballpark that is now a neglected toilet.

The games go on, fans who’ve never been to South Stadium marvel at the red brick structure unlike any other in the area, but those of us who’ve been kicking around the old place know this is an old gray mare that ain’t what it used to be.

So where am I going with this?

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this week has written a not so surprising series that MPS has spent millions and millions of dollars for empty classrooms. A total waste.

Meanwhile, I’ve trudged into South Stadium every year since 1965, for football and soccer. There were many days and nights the stadium was overflowing. There were many times the crowds were sparse. But there was always a crowd, huge or embarrassingly small. Historic South Stadium was NEVER, EVER empty, even during a blizzard on the last football night of the season one year back in the 80's between South and Muskego.

MPS will spend millions and millions of dollars on empty classrooms, yet it won’t spend a dime on a landmark, historic facility that actually draws people for one of the few areas the school district excels: athletics.

What can I say? That’s MPS.

OK all you lefties, line up single file, click your heels and repeat after me...

Kevin Fischer — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:25:00 GMT

THERE IS NO VOTER FRAUD!

WE DON'T NEED PHOTO ID!

She let her son live, and today, he's famous....very famous

Kevin Fischer — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:34:00 GMT

College football is right around the corner, and with all the anticipation comes talk about pre-season polls and Heisman Trophy candidates.

I’m a Notre Dame and Wisconsin Badger fan, but let’s face it. No one from either team is winning the Heisman, the trophy awarded to college football’s best player.

The pre-season favorite? Florida’s Tim Tebow. Fox Sports says:

“In becoming the first sophomore to win the Heisman a year ago, Tebow also became the first quarterback to rush for 20 touchdowns (he had 23) and throw for 20 (he had 32) in the same season. Now he'll try to become the second player after Archie Griffin to win two Heismans. Looking at the way Tebow runs the spread offense under Florida coach Urban Meyer, there's little reason to doubt Tebow will win it again.”

Tebow owes his chances for the Heisman, more so than any other individual, to his mother.

New Presidential poll should have Democrats worried

Kevin Fischer — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:56:45 GMT

Democrats, even though they won’t admit, have to be feeling very squeamish. Their perfect candidate, the smartest, most brilliant man God ever put on this planet who do can do absolutely no wrong, just ask the American media, is slipping badly in a new poll.

According to a Reuters/Zogby poll, and remember Zogby historically skews Democratic, John McCain now leads Barack Hussein The Messiah Obama by five, count ‘em, five points. That double digit lead? Gone. Evaporated. Disappeared.

McCain is seen as more experienced, more dependable in a crisis, more Presidential. And scoff if you will, but those Paris Hilton commercials…..they’re working, and the lefties know it.

Here’s what has to be most devastating to Democrats. The Pied Piper effect among the most impressionable voters, the young who haven’t paid much, if anything in the way of taxes, is shrinking. The Kool-Aid has worn off and the eyes are opening.

Reuters reports, “Obama's support among voters between the ages of 18 and 29, which had been one of his strengths, slipped 12 percentage points to 52 percent. McCain, who will turn 72 next week, was winning 40 percent of younger voters.”

Oh-oh. Heart up in throat.

There's more.

“The dip in support for Obama, who would be the first black U.S. president, cut across demographic and ideological lines. He slipped among Catholics, born-again Christians, women, independents and younger voters.”

Obama is expected to name a running mate soon. Unless it’s a real jaw-dropper, he won’t get much help in the polls. If he picks the lackluster retread Joe Biden, his numbers could stay flat or even drop a bit.

Candidates always get a bounce from their conventions. Obama will get his first, then McCain. The point is these polls are fluid and do change. They should be taken with a grain of salt.

However, this new Reuters/Zogby poll is cause for concern on the left. Obama is showing a steady decline with voters across the board. Could it be, the more America hears him, sees him , and actually takes time to think about him in the White House, the less they like him?

I think so.

A woman's worst nightmare

Kevin Fischer — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:02:00 GMT

Most of us, if not all, know someone or some family that has been victimized by breast cancer. The daughter-in- law of a good friend of mine for the past 40 years is facing a double mastectomy. The young woman is only in her early 20’s.

A special golf event has been planned for her to assist with her medical bills and treatment. I’ll have more on how you can help very soon.

Last fall, I blogged about and discussed on WISN what I consider to be a special group of women. They are courageous heroes in MY book. Free from cancer, yet at risk because of family history, these women take the extraordinary step of having both breasts removed before cancer can set in. This band of phenomenal women is collectively called, “Previvors.”

Today, they have a role model they can look up to, a spokesperson that can heighten awareness. Often, it takes someone with celebrity status to make an impact on the many afflicted with the same medical issues, a la Magic Johnson and AIDS.

The USA Today highlights the decision by actress Christina Applegate to have a double mastectomy when she could have opted for a less dramatic surgery. Make sure you also read the sidebar story, “She took preventive action.”

God bless these incredible women, their strength, and their courage.

Actress Christina Applegate (R), star of the ABC network series "Samantha Who", is interviewed by Robin Roberts on ABC's "Good Morning America" in New York August 19, 2008 in this video frame grab from ABC. Applegate told Roberts she is free of breast cancer after having both of her breasts removed to combat the disease. Applegate, who revealed her diagnosis in early August 2008, had the double mastectomy performed a month after her diagnosis and plans to have reconstructive surgery in the coming months. REUTERS/ABCNEWS.com

Are you paying attention, Franklin School Board?

Kevin Fischer — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:10:00 GMT

LAST YEAR’S FRANKLIN SCHOOL TAX LEVY INCREASE: 11.7%
(After the taxpaying public had been swindled into believing the school administration’s lies that the increase would be less than 6%)

THIS YEAR’S FRANKLIN SCHOOL TAX LEVY INCREASE: ????

Let’s move to the Fox Valley.

LAST YEAR’S NEENAH SCHOOL TAX LEVY INCREASE: 16%

THIS YEAR’S NEENAH SCHOOL TAX LEVY INCREASE:

Are you sitting down?

THIS YEAR’S NEENAH SCHOOL PROPERTY TAX LEVY INCREASE:

0.5%

Neenah reduced its school tax levy by over 15%!

Of course, we couldn’t possibly make a substantial cut in our levy, could we? My goodness, we’d have kids going to class in trailers. By the way, what ever happened to those things anyway?

There’s talk our levy increase will be less than 4%. After the heist pulled on us last year, I’ll believe it when I see it.

HT: FoxPolitics.net

I hope the Obama's were watching and listening

Kevin Fischer — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:32:00 GMT

Sanya Richards was supposed to win the gold medal in the women’s 400 meters competition in Beijing. Richards had licked the unusual illness, Behcet’s syndrome to solidify herself as the favorite.

For most of the race, Richards appeared headed to the gold medal spot on the winner’s platform. But at 320 meters, she knew her hamstring “grabbed up” on her. Somehow, she managed to not only finish the race, but end up in third for the bronze. Most athletes would be happy with that finish, but not when you’re expected to brink back the gold.

The classy Richards consented to an interview with NBC following her defeat, and she told a global audience that the race wasn’t about Sanya Richards, but about our country, one that she’s very proud of.

Even in her despair and depression, in her lowest of moments, she found it in her soul to express love for the United States. Compare that to Mrs. Barack Obama who didn’t feel proud of the U.S. until her husband gained fame. Compare that to Barack Obama, who finds it difficult to express even a modicum of patriotism.

Even if Obama is victorious in November, he’ll never be the winner Sanya Richards is.

Schools or prisons?

Kevin Fischer — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:12:00 GMT

It’s an argument you often hear from the left about spending priorities. If only we’d take a large chunk of that money we allocate for corrections and put it, instead, towards education.

In this spending spree state we call Wisconsin, we’re not cheap when it comes to our prisons, no doubt about it.

The Wisconsin Family Council recently released the comprehensive Wisconsin Cultural Indicators, an overview of important indicators that impact Wisconsin’s best natural resource: traditional families. According to the report:

“Expenditures per inmate have increased over the last several decades. Between 1970 and 2003, per inmate expenditures increased nearly 9 fold in Wisconsin from $4,505 to $40,096 per capita. In 2003, Wisconsin ranked 15th among the states in the amount of total state corrections expenditures. During this year, Wisconsin spent over $9 billion on state corrections. Since 1960, the adult prison population in Wisconsin has increased 8 fold, and between 2000 and 2005, there was a 66.7 percent increase in the adult prison population.”

Yes, we’re locking up lots of bad guys, and yes, we’re paying a pretty penny to keep them incarcerated. But make no mistake, the cost of corrections isn’t short-changing our commitment to education. From Wisconsin Cultural Indicators:

“Expenditures on public primary and secondary education in Wisconsin have increased to $9.9 billion for the 2006-07 school year. In 2005, Wisconsin’s per student spending was 15 percent higher than the U.S. average per student spending. During this same year, Wisconsin’s average spending per student was $10,605 compared to the U.S. average of $9,207.”

So, we aren’t cheap when it comes to school spending, either. Education is the largest expenditure in the entire mammoth state budget.

Corrections vs. education doesn’t have to be an either-or proposition, nor should it. Money spent on public safety is a wise, if I may use the word liberals always use as code for spending, “investment.” Again, from Wisconsin Cultural Indicators:

“According to the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance, a violent offense was committed at a ratio of one every 32 minutes, 23 seconds in 2006. In 2006, there were 165 homicides (one every 2 days, 5 hours, 5 minutes), 1,241 forcible rapes (one every 7 hours, 3 minutes), 5,634 robberies (one every 1 hour, 33 minutes) and 9,183 aggravated assaults (one every 57 minutes, 14 seconds).”

Earlier this year, the Pew Center on the States’ Public Safety Performance Project reported that at the end of 2006, Wisconsin had 23,431 inmates. One year later, at the end of 2007, Wisconsin had 22,690 inmates. That’s a decrease of 741 inmates, or a 3.2% decline. Wisconsin is bucking the national trend of locking up more prisoners.

In fiscal year 2007, according to this report, Wisconsin spent $890 million, or 6.7% of the state’s General Fund. How does that compare to education spending in Wisconsin? In fiscal year 2007, Wisconsin spent $1.214 billion on education.

Is the cost of corrections too expensive? It would cost more NOT to lock up criminals.

Crimes of rape, robbery, assault, personal and household theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft cost victims of crime in America billions of dollars each year according to the U.S. Department of Justice. These costs include losses from property theft or damage, cash losses, medical expenses, and amount of pay lost because of injury or activities related to the crime.

The National Center for Victims of Crime also keeps crime statistics:

• Crime is estimated to create $105 billion in medical expenses, lost earnings, and costs for victim services. Factoring in the intangible costs, such as pain and suffering and a reduced quality of life, brings the total estimated cost of crime to $450 billion annually.
• Victims of violent crime and their families received benefits totaling $442.3 billion in federal fiscal year 2003.
• Medical expenses were 48 percent of all victim compensation payments in 2003; economic support for lost wages for injured victims and for lost support in homicides comprised 21 percent of the total; and 12 percent went toward mental health counseling for crime victims.
• Reported burglaries resulted in an estimated monetary loss of $3.5 billion, with an estimated average of $1,626 per burglary.
• In 2003, the average value of property stolen due to larceny-theft was $698. Cumulatively, $4.9 billion in property was stolen.
• The average monetary value of motor vehicles stolen in 2003 was $6,797. The total value of stolen motor vehicles was $8.6 billion.
• The average dollar loss due to arson offenses was $11,942 per offense in 2003.

When it comes to corrections and education, there doesn’t have to be a choice. We’re already spending more than half of our state budget on education. Cutting back on corrections would only make our streets less safe and cost us a lot more in the long run.

Franklin School Board approves salary increases for Superintendent Patz, others

Kevin Fischer — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:18:00 GMT

I have learned that the Franklin School Board at its June 25, 2008 meeting approved a salary increase for Superintendent Steve Patz as well as salary increases for other District Administrators and certain District non-represented employees. Patz and his office confirmed the salary increases. This is the first time this information is being reported.

The School Board approved a 3.9% increase for Patz who is in the second year of his contract. I reported in my blog, “Do NOT cry for any school superintendent” that prior to the Board's action, Patz’s annual salary was $150,000. The increase approved by the Franklin School Board would hike his salary to $155,850. Governor Doyle’s annual salary is $137,092.

The vote in favor of the increases was 5-0. School Board member David Works voted to abstain. School Board members discussed the salaries in closed session, then voted in open session. It is certainly open to debate whether Patz, who already had been signed to a lofty contract, deserved an increase after one year on the job. The actual percentage of the increase is not out of line.

Here’s what I find alarming and totally outrageous. As I’ve documented many times on my blog, last year, the Franklin School Board, at the direction of Business Manager Jim Milzer, approved a property school tax levy increase they thought was 5.6%. Milzer told the Franklin School Board the night they voted for the school budget that the increase was 5.6%. It turned out weeks later after I reported it on my blog that the increase was actually just under 12%.

To date, there have been no ramifications for Milzer who has not been held accountable for his fleecing of the taxpayers. Instead, he’s been rewarded with a huge raise.

Milzer’s previous salary was $119, 893. On June 25, the School Board voted 5-0, with Works abstaining, to increase Milzer’s salary by $14,090. That’s an 11.75% increase, Franklin taxpayers. Milzer’s new salary is $133, 983, putting him in the same ballpark as Governor Doyle.

All total, besides Patz, 61 district employees got raises. Keep this information in mind as the Franklin School Board goes through another round of budget deliberations. Remember all the “woe is us” stories about school districts being cut to the bone with fewer and fewer resources at their disposal.

During a brief, but pleasant chat with I had with the Superintendent, Patz told me there’s a greater emphasis on accountability to the public within the School District. I hope so. It starts with being upfront and open about how you’re spending the taxpayer’s money.

Not cool

Kevin Fischer — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:30:00 GMT

I'm sorry, but...

Henry Winkler unveils the Fonzie statue this morning. Journal Sentinel Photo/Gary Porter

That statue does NOT look like the Fonz.

I'm on WISN

Kevin Fischer — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:57:00 GMT

This Friday, I fill in for Mark Belling on Newstalk 1130 WISN from 3-6.

Kobe Bryant, hero; Chris Collinsworth, idiot

Kevin Fischer — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:28:37 GMT

LA Lakers star and U.S. Olympian Kobe Bryant put NBC's Chris Collinsworth in his place when Collinsworth questioned if Bryant's patriotism was "cool"?

Read...

It's quite revealing. Even the sports media thinks Americans shouldn't be proud to be Americans.

Good for you, Kobe!

Obama is no Jesus

Kevin Fischer — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:25:00 GMT

One of my favorite columnists is the very blunt, irreverent Doug Giles. While the mainstream media ignores the barbaric, horrific abortion views of the Messiah, Giles is one of many columnists who continues to keep the leaser beam focused on this important issue that isn't going away. Giles writes:

“Barack doesn’t represent hope or change, unless of course you’re an American-based euro-socialist or . . . or . . . an unborn child who’s queued up for an abortion. To the unborn baby, or fetus, as the hopemeister would call you, you’re about to change—but it isn’t for the best. But that doesn’t matter because Obama’s Jesus is cool with your eradication, you little pest. Next!”

Read the entire piece. Giles, as always, is exceptional.

Pro-infanticide Obama says his critics are liars

Kevin Fischer — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:54:00 GMT

Barack Obama has been trying to cover up his votes in favor of infanticide. His latest defense: His detractors are liars.

Prove it, Mr. Obama. That’s the challenge that’s been issued by National Right To Life. Here’s a news release issued today by Wisconsin Right To Life about the most dangerous Presidential candidate ever, a man who favors killing live babies that survive abortions:

Obama Accuses the National Right to Life Committee of Lying
For immediate release: Monday, August 18, 2008

Last week the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) released documents that proved that Barack Obama has been blatantly covering up his actions as an Illinois state senator to actively defeat legislation to protect the lives of born, living, breathing babies who survive abortion attempts.

The documents included records from the Illinois state legislative committee Obama chaired that revealed that Obama voted for language clarifying that a Born Alive bill would not in any way affect Roe v. Wade. But shockingly, Obama turned around and voted against the amended bill which contained the language he claims to this day would have made the bill acceptable to him. "Obama was caught red-handed in his attempt to deceive the American people when NRLC released these official documents, "said Susan Armacost, Legislative Director for Wisconsin Right to Life.

Over the weekend, Obama continued the cover-up when he told CBN News correspondent David Brody that NRLC is lying about his actions on the Illinois Born Alive bill. Obama said, "I have said repeatedly that I would have been completely in, fully in support of the federal bill that everybody supported -- which was to say -- that you should provide assistance to any infant that was born -- even if it was as a consequence of an induced abortion. That was not the bill that was presented at the state level. What that bill also was doing was trying to undermine Roe v. Wade."

Then Obama attacked NRLC by telling Brody, "So, for people to suggest that I...somehow in favor of withholding life saving support from an infant born alive is ridiculous. It defies commonsense and it defies imagination and for people to keep on pushing this is offensive and it's an example of the kind of politics we have to get beyond. It's one thing for people to disagree with me about the issue of choice, it's another thing for people to out and out misrepresent my positions repeatedly, even after they know that they're wrong."

Douglas Johnson, NRLC Legislative Director, has issued the following challenge to Obama: "We now challenge Obama to either declare the two 2003 documents to be forgeries and call for an official investigation, or else apologize for his four years of misrepresentation on the issue of babies who are born alive during abortions -- and forcalling us liars."

"This issue is not going to go away, " said Armacost. "Obama is still blatantly trying to cover up his infanticide votes and the American people deserve to know the truth."

Contact: Susan Armacost
414-778-5780
sarmacost@wrtl.org

Journal Sentinel poll question laughable

Kevin Fischer — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:14:58 GMT

In light of an investigation showing MPS has all these empty buildings after a $102 million spending spree to fill neighborhood schools failed miserably, the Journal Sentinel asks online readers the following poll question:

Do you trust MPS to make sound financial decisions?

Are they serious? That’s like asking Packer fans if they respect the Bears.

Poll results thus far…

Buckhorn isn't on the Franklin Common Council agenda...here's why

Kevin Fischer — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:05:00 GMT

All of Franklin is outraged at the actions of Eddie Lynn Keck, who awaits sentencing for running down and killing a West Allis couple in Franklin last Christmas after being over served at the Buckhorn, a Franklin bar. One can certainly understand the anger and frustration at the slow-moving wheels of justice in this case. I blogged in the past that the city of Franklin has left itself open to criticism at the way the entire Buckhorn issue has been handled.

There’s an outcry as to why the Franklin Common Council isn’t taking any action on the one area it has leverage in this controversy: Buckhorn’s license. Like it or not, there’s a specific process that is being followed.

I spoke with Franklin City Attorney Jesse Wesolowski today to get some answers. You’ll recall that several months ago, Franklin named Greenfield City Attorney Roger Pyzyk as the special prosecutor in this matter. I attempted to speak with Pyzyk today for a status report but he was unavailable and is getting back to me.

Pyzyk’s responsibility is to examine the case and make a recommendation. His recommendation could be to strip the license, plea bargain, take action against the bartenders and/or the establishment, or do nothing.

Pyzyk’s recommendation will be submitted to the Franklin Common Council’s License Committee comprised of Aldermen Tim Solomon, Steve Taylor, and Kristen Wilhelm. Solomon years ago was instrumental in changing the city’s licensing procedure that now incorporates intensive reviews by building inspectors and comprehensive reports submitted by Franklin Police.

The License Committee can then conduct a hearing before being required to prepare a written report with its recommendation to present to the full Common Council. Then the Common Council can convene and take action.

At the moment, the ball is in the special prosecutor’s court. Pyzyk has yet to sign off on the case with his recommendations. When he does, it’s then up to the Franklin License Committee to take up the matter before the full Council ultimately acts.

I would submit that most residents aware of the Buckhorn controversy want swift action. That won’t happen until the special prosecutor wraps up his part of the investigation.

Culinary no-no #69

Kevin Fischer — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 02:22:00 GMT

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

My wife, Jennifer told the waitress at Elvis Presley’s Memphis Restaurant she wanted the fried peanut butter and banana sandwich. Jennifer paired it with a chardonnay. That combo is not our culinary no-no, but if you ask a Frenchman, he might have a different opinion.

The Beale Street restaurant closed and is now the site of the EP Delta Kitchen and Bar.

The EP Delta Kitchen and Bar does not have one of the King’s favorites, the fried peanut butter and banana sandwich on its menu, and no, that’s NOT our culinary no-no, but it certainly could be. I mean, c’mon.

This past week was ELVIS WEEK. Thousands of Elvis fans make the sacred sojourn to Memphis to commemorate the anniversary of the King of Rock and Roll’s death, August 16, 1977. So it’s only fitting this week’s culinary no-no focus on this sandwich Elvis made famous.

The fact is there’s nothing wrong with a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich from a purely appetizing standpoint. If we’re talking healthy, file under culinary nightmare. A recipe for the sandwich submitted to the Chicago Sun-Times has the following nutrition information:

Nutrition facts per serving: 486 calories, 31 g fat, 11 g saturated fat, 33 mg cholesterol, 45 g carbohydrates, 13 g protein, 546 mg sodium, 4 g fiber

Imagine the flaming dessert Bananas Foster. You’ve got those bananas swimming in butter and brown sugar and cinnamon and vanilla ice cream and rum. If you toss in some Skippy’s, I certainly wouldn’t complain. Fried peanut butter and bananas………..yeh, I could see it at Kopp’s next August.

It’s when you start messing with or experimenting with other alterations to the peanut butter sandwich formula that the red flag goes up.

The Peanut Butter & Co. Sandwich Shop in the heart of Greenwich Village has some rather different variations of the popular peanut butter on white:

Peanut Butter & Co. Sandwich Shop – Menu

Flavored Peanut Butter Sandwiches

The Heat Is On™ Sandwich”
Spicy Peanut Butter and chilled grilled chicken, with a little bit of pineapple jam. Like a Thai satay - only better.

Cinnamon Raisin Swirl™ Sandwich
Cinnamon-Raisin Peanut Butter and vanilla cream cheese, stuffed with crisp apple slices. Cr-runch!

White Chocolate Wonderful™ Sandwich
White Chocolate Peanut Butter and orange marmalade. Like a peanutty creamsicle.

Dark Chocolate Dreams™ Sandwich
Chocolate Peanut Butter and cherry jam, stuffed with shredded coconut. It's peanut butter meets black forest cake.

John Dreyer of the Christian Science Monitor discovered people who admitted to eating peanut butter and mayo, peanut butter and fried eggs, peanut butter, bacon, and honey on toast, peanut butter and pickle sandwiches, peanut butter and bologna, fruit and yogurt peanut butter sandwiches, and peanut butter and kimchi (the Korean pickled vegetable dish).

And people say Elvis was strange?

Here's another odd one for you. They serve it at Mo's in, where else, Burbank, California. Click here, scroll down the menu to the Burger section and read the description for Foggybottom Burger.

Suddenly the fried peanut butter and banana sandwich sounds pretty tasty. And it's fairy easy to make.

Don't be cruel. Don't disrespect the fried peanut butter and banana sandwich. And by all means, no peanut butter and mayo or bologna in the kids' lunches when they head back to school!

To read previous Culinary no-no’s, please click CULINARY NO-NO under my TAGS section.

Another view on Ed Flynn/GOP Convention

Kevin Fischer — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:57:00 GMT

I have blogged some e-mails from a retired MPD detective who strongly opposes Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn’s desire to send 36 of our officers to St. Paul to help out with the Republican National Convention.

Another retired MPD official, former detective Glenn Frankovis, whom I respect a great deal, has a not the perspective. He wrote a letter to the editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel today:

POLICE

Milwaukee cops should help staff convention

Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn wants to send officers to help provide security at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, and the Milwaukee Police Department will receive training and experience at no cost to the City of Milwaukee taxpayers. Officers will be able to bring that training and experience back here where it can be used if we ever host a similar conference where protesters are expected.

As a City of Milwaukee taxpayer and lifelong resident of Milwaukee, I don't have a problem with Flynn sending troops to help St. Paul. It's not like we'll be the only outside agency helping them, and if you check out the RNC Web site, you'll find the protesters' Web site linked to it. Protesters have a strategy of disruption endorsed by a large number of other protest organizations, including three from Milwaukee. If we're going to send Milwaukee protesters, then the least we can do is send some of our troops.

Crime in Milwaukee is trending down due to Flynn's leadership. If he believes he can do this for a short period of time without sacrificing efficiency, then I trust and support him.

Glenn D. Frankovis
Retired captain, MPD
Milwaukee

From a practical and procedural perspective, I still contend this is a bad move.

How about Michael Phelps' mom!

Kevin Fischer — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:00:00 GMT

You have seen her often during the Olympics. Deborah Phelps is the most famous mom in America today.

She has been an inspiration to her son, Michael, and she’s had to be. She separated from her policeman husband when Michael was 7 years old. That’s when he first learned to swim, even though he was petrified of putting his head underwater.

Watching her son compete this past week has been “no vacation.”