The new head of the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board is Wausau native Fred Prehn. Fred and I graduated from Wausau East in 1975 and ran in the same circle of friends through our school years and after. We have had our political differences over the years, particularly on guns, but there is no questioning his bona-fides for the new position. He has served on the board since 2015 but he has had a life-long love affair with the outdoors. He's been active in the Boy Scouts since he was a kid and has been a life long hunter and fisherman. I still have some photos of us after a day of fishing on a northern lake landing our limit of walleyes even with my rudimentary angling skills. There are obviously many environmental issues that will be at the forefront of the new governors agenda including clean water and although I would think that Fred and Gov Evers are not going to agree on much politically, the ideas of clean water and protecting the natural resources so crucial to the tourism industry in the state should be a bi-partisan issue if there ever was one. It will be interesting to see how the Board (mostly appointed by Scott Walker) will handle contentious issues like shoreline development, use of chemicals in farming (he owns a cranberry growing operation) and the effect they have on the environment and cwd in the deer herd. Just know, that the new head of the Board is not an arm-chair conservationist. He knows the woods and lakes and the issues as well as anyone.
Don Newcombe passed away yesterday. He was one of the last links to the Brooklyn Dodgers. I suggest you read 'The Boys Of Summer”, one of the best baseball books ever written.
Pierre McGuire narrowly escapes death
Patty Hearst turns 65 today. For those too young to remember what happened.
Santana and Ringo Starr are scheduled to headline the Woodstock 50th anniversary festival at the original site of the 1969 event. It will happen August 16-18. Other roginal acts are scheduled including Arlo Guthrie along with newer acts as well. It will be interesting to see who attends this. I wonder how the aging hippies who flocked to Yasgurs Farm in 1969 will still be interested in camping out and standing up for long periods of time. I know I wouldnt.
Things to piss you off today:
Tyler McGaughey, the son in law of the new Attorney General William Barr, has been hired by Trump to “advise” him on legal issues including the Russia investigation.
Trump tried to get the acting Attorney General to appoint one of Trump's toady US attorneys to oversee the Cohen investigation and other matters as well. Just another clear case of obstruction of justice
Quotes Of The Day
“Deeply offended that a child refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance because freedom is all about mandatory loyalty oaths.”-John Fugelsang
“Trump can fire cabinet members but he cannot fire the truth.”-Lawrence O'Donnell
“Honestly, I'm sick to death of all the 3rd rate, sleazy hustlers who populate the Trump regime. can't wait for them to return under the rocks or into the ooze from which they came, lured by the glorious chance to cheat and steal on an epic scale.”-Steven Beschloss
“I am not the first reporter Trump has told to sit down. This isnt the first time he's told me to sit down. He isnt the first president to tell me to sit down. We're all still here and we will be here-and standing-long after the current president is gone.”-Brian Karem
“There's a “National Emergency” yet the president can sit back and watch SNL and 60 Minutes after stuffing his fat ass in some golf pants and sashaying around some two-bit resort all bleepin weekend.”-Cyrus McQueen
“I feel optimistic about the future because humanity seems to be growing more mature; scientists are paying more attention to our inner values, to the study of the mind and ther emotions. There is a clear desire for peace and concern for the environment.”-Dalai Lama.
(I'm not sure a share the Lama's optimism when I see the screeching of the MAGA crowd on the message boards and comment sections online and the machinations of this administrations to dismantle environmental protections and the constant debasing of science and critical thinking)
Songs Of The Day (today in 1974 Steely Dan released the Pretzel Logic LP. We wore it out.
