Thursday, August 30, 2007
That's the Way My Love Is
Just a brilliant music video. Has that "Tonight, Tonight" feel.
Labels: General
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Where I've been and where I'm going
All things in life must pass. No, it's not just the title of George Harrison's first solo album, but rather an attempt in an explanation of where I've been and where I am going.
I transfered all of the blog postings from Fighting Phoenix.com to my personal Web site here. I let the domain expire because the whole Fighting Phoenix concept was abandoned after the 2006 election. Essentially, it became my personal blog. On again, and off again, that was the blog's story for much of 2007. I didn't have much passion to stay up to date on the news and politcal happenings in and around Wisconsin.
When I got notice that my domain would expire July 27, I decided to call it quits on the Fighting Phoenix blog with its own domain. Since I had already wrote nearly 200 posts since the start of blog, and approximately 20 or so on my personal one, it was an easy choice to keep it on the Internet through my personal site, jonhayden.com. Yes, the blog is now called the Fighting Phoenix Web Log. My fighting spirit is still present and I am forever tied to UWGB, so it all makes sense...well, at least to me.
This blog will probably less political, more philisophical, and definitely more ramblings about living in Green Bay. I can picture my rants on the Milwaukee Brewers right now.
And now, more about what's going on with me.
Since the end of the semester I have been quite busy with life. I moved, I got a new job (which rocks), had a computer die and rebuilt, and life is just now starting to settle down a bit. Everything has calmed down.
Life is good :)
Labels: General
Friday, July 27, 2007
The Doomsday Clock is ticking...
Sometimes I wonder if the world is coming to an end. I mean, seriously, take a look around at what is in the news...
538 pot plants found in home
A 51-year-old Rosendale area man faces drug charges after investigators found 538 marijuana plants in his mobile home Tuesday.David W. Gutknecht appeared before Fond du Lac County Circuit Court Judge Dale English for an initial court appearance Thursday morning. English ordered a $500 cash bail and told Gutknecht not to possess any controlled substances without a prescription.
Gutknecht is charged with manufacturing/delivery of marijuana and maintaining a drug place.
Investigators from the Lake Winnebago Metro- politan Area Unit went to
Gutknecht's mobile home, at W11243 Ros-Eld Road near Rosendale, according to the criminal complaint.
Gutknecht allowed the investigators into his home and told them he'd been growing marijuana plants for a year. He said those plants yielded one-half pound of marijuana.
He admitted to smoking the controlled substance daily, the complaint said.
Inside the mobile home, investigators found 538 marijuana plants, 43 grams of marijuana stems and 88 grams of processed marijuana. They also confiscated 18 handguns and 15 rifles, including some that were loaded, according to the complaint.
English also ordered Gutknecht not to posses any firearms.
Man Exposes Himself to Young Children
Police are looking for a man who exposed himself to several young children in Appleton Tuesday night.According to police, the children were playing videogames on the lower level of a house in the 1700-block of North Linwood when a man entered through an unlocked sun porch and exposed himself at the patio door.
He was described as a white man, about 5'9", weighing about 150 pounds. He wore a black ski mask and a long-sleeve black T-shirt.
Police are looking to see if this incident is connected to a string of indecent exposures in Appleton, Green Bay, and other area communities dating back to 2005.
Police Arrest Suspected Bully in Lemonade-Stand Robbery
Oshkosh police arrested a 17-year-old suspect for an assault and robbery at a lemonade stand.Police believe the older boy punched eleven-year-old Austin Cundy outside Austin's grandparents' home on Tuesday, and stole a container with money and Austin's wallet with his library card and student ID.
The teenager faces robbery and physical abuse charges.
"I'm happy that they arrested them and that they took him away and he can't do this to other kids," Austin reacted.
This was in the last two days. A old man growing pot in a mobile home, a sick man exposing himself to kids, and a sick kid stealing from a lemonade stand.
Add in the freak accident at EAA today and the plane landing on Highway 41, as well as the death of a young woman at Lifest, I am starting to get freaked out. There is so much sick and strange shit out there, I wonder if I shoud leave my home.
I really want to know what's next....er...nevermind that.
I can just see it now, raining frogs and locusts.
Labels: General
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
The end of another semester
While my last final was last night, the end of the 2007 spring semester officially ended today. It completes another page in the history of UW-Green Bay--it's been a strange year.
I've already given my comments on the year in review of the UWGB Student Government Association, so I won't need to do that here. However, a lot of things happened this year that makes you proud to be a Phoenix, and others that makes you cringe.
UWGB women advances to NCAA second round, give Huskies a run for their money
It shouldn't have be a surprise that the UWGB Lady Phoenix were perfect in Horizon League play, was undefeated against Big Ten teams, and routinely beat opponents by 20 or more. The surprise was how much ease they did it. Head coach Kevin Borseth could go deep into his bench regularly to keep the starting five fresh. However, after leading at halftime against No. 1 seeded UConn, the Phoenix ran out of gas in the second round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. Even with the loss, it caps an amazing season for UWGB and kept us on the national women's basketball map.
With the loss of only two starting seniors, UWGB could be poised to do it all again. However, it may be difficult due to the loss of Borseth. He left UWGB to take a dream job at Michigan, where he will rebuild a program that has been abysmal in recent years. The Phoenix will have their own issues to deal with. The first being new head coach Matt Bolland who has never coached at the NCAA level. While I displayed my displeasure over his hire, it is clear that he will have big shoes to fill--just like Borseth did when he replaced Carole Hammerle.
Mid-term elections heat up campus debate
I'll admit it, I am not a fan of students voting. They typically vote for liberals and liberal causes. I believe they are ignorant at best and insane at worse. If you look at the demographics of UWGB, you will find that we are a predominately a regional campus. Our region is very socially conservative. However, these students took the bait given to them by Fair Wisconsin hook, line and sinker.
Fair Wisconsin, as well as the Democratic Party, portrays Republicans and conservatives as uncompassionate, cruel people that only care about our money, our guns and our religion of hate--a.k.a. Christianity. It is shocking that if you sit down and talk with Joe Student at UWGB, you would find out that s/he would typically align themselves with the Republican Party.
However, if you try to sell tax cuts, eliminiating social programs and lessining the burden that is governemnt, it directly conflicts with the B.S. you get in your typical feel-good general education humanities class. So who are you going to believe? The professor or the college kid that is rallying outside of a congressional debate.
And speaking of debates, the debate between John Gard and Dr. Millioniare Steve Kagen was priceless. Even with the biased questions, the audience full of the Fair Wisconsin and left-wing nut type, John clearly stood his grown and didn't stumble over the questions like Dr. Millionaire did. And even after that debate, John clearly knew what he was talking about when he was getting question after question by the hate-America first crowd after that debate.
As an activist, debates are fun. You get to sit in the back with your Palm Treo in hand and take notes of all the idiotic things that are said, and then you go to a bar after a suck a beer down with good company, cracking jokes at some of the stupidity.
It is some of the best experiences of the campaign.
University Union gets worked on, makes navigating campus a whole lot more difficult
It only took five years of planning, but work on the University Union begun this past semester. Today, walking through it, there is only one section of it operable, the rest is all closed off. Now, there is no reason to ever step foot in the Union--at least until the fall when something should be open.
For $6 million, students are getting hosed on this project. Instead of tearing the old one down and rebuilding for the same price, we are getting a rather small addition to a building that needs to be burned down. Anyone who has stepped foot in it knows. It is impossible to walk around it and not get lost. Now, architects are going to make it worse.
The best thing about our campus is that all of the academic buildings are connected. This means on a rainy day, you don't have to walk outside and get wet going to class. Since the beginning of this project, they have thrown this concept out of the window as the Union no longer connects to any of the buildings. So when I park in the studio arts parking lot, I enter in Studio Arts, cut through the Union and get to Mary Ann Cofrin Hall for my classes. I can't do that anymore and I'm pissed.
That leads to another similar discussion about the Union--naming rights. UWGB must not have any clout with the state Legislature because we have to sell naming rights to our rooms. The Nicolet Room is now the Cloud Commons named after big-time donor Leona Cloud. She already has the Cloud Lounge in Mary Ann Cofrin Hall. I still want the Jon Hayden Memorial Men's Lavatory. When I have a lot of money some day, maybe I will make that contribution. Maybe my wife and I would purchase the naming rights for the women's one next to it.
Chancellor, Vice Chancellor look for jobs elsewhere
Both UWGB Chancellor Bruce Shepard and Vice Chancellor and Provost Sue Hammersmith were looking for new gigs this year. Both decided to stay at UWGB, much to the dismay of level-headed students everywhere.
Shepard was a finalist for presidency at Western Michigan University. He backed out on April 9 to remain at UWGB. Hammersmith tried to become Eastern Illinois next president, but was passed over in favor of Texas A&M's William Perry. She also applied to become the chancellor at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and president at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania. She didn't get either job, so we are stuck with her.
Having Shepard leave could be disasterous for our campus in the community. He is a well-liked guy who knew how to work people for money. Having Hammersmith leave would be a godsend as, just maybe, we can see some general education reform and actually have a decent academic program for once...and actually have some critical thinking.
Thank yous...for putting up with this madman
It's been one of those strange years, and I couldn't have survived it without some people. The guys from Liebl 109--Tyler, Zach, Brendan, and Chad. Without our debates and discussion, I wouldn't have stayed sharp and on target with my arguements. I'd like to thank the Gard Team for allowing me to be part of a special family and have the greatest two months of my campaign life. And finally, the last person I would like to thank is Melissa. This is a girl who had to deal with me with class projects for much of the last academic year. I don't know how she did it, but we both got a lesson in working with people from across the aisle.
It's been a fun school year. I can't wait for my final semester this fall. Stay tuned, its going to be a wild ride.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
I really despise blog tools
I suddenly receieved an error while viewing my blog. It never happened before. Some sort of script error in line 78. So I took the code, put it in dreamweaver to find the line and there is nothing on line 78. OK, this sucks
So I look into Blogger's code. Somehow it could have been corrupted. Not sure how because I haven't updated the template in over six months. Nothing.
So I start from scratch around 9 p.m. I load a crappy Blogger template to get the original code.
It's 10 p.m. and I have it all updated with my template and design. Works great in IE 7 and Firefox.
I start adding the blogging tools. Went to Haloscan to get the comment code. Put it in, works fine.
Went to Feedburner to get the RSS code. Works great.
Then the Blogrolling code. Error.
First same error, but on a different line. This time it is on line 77. Of course IE doesn't give me any more info than that.
Fire up Firefox, it tells me that there is an error in the Blogrolling code. Take it out. Works great!
So seriously, what is wrong with these guys. First, they wouldn't update my blogroll. Then they don't update the order based on updates. And now I can't get it to load properly without errors.
I've had it. I am sick of blog tools that don't work and aren't meant for implementation in blogs other than cookie-cutter templates. I looked into WordPress blogs, but they all look the same. They can't be implemented into custom templates like the Blogger ones. Movable Type could work, but I don't want to deal with all of the coding. I don't have the time or the patience. Blogging is supposed to be easy--or so they say.
I feel like the Angry Video Game Nerd right now. (Warning, the video may be considered offensive.)
Labels: General
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Ever heard of thin ice? Channel 58 hasn't
I don't know what to think about this--only that it is quite funny. You'd think after all these years in Wisconsin, that these camera crews would be smart enough to know not to drive on ice and take another road.
A WDJT (Channel 58) news truck is nearly submerged in water after breaking through the ice on Big Lake Muskego this afternoon.
The truck drove off a boat launch and about 150 yards out onto an iced over channel leading to the lake when the ice suddenly gave way, said Muskego police Sgt. John Mesich.
The truck quickly sank to the bottom of the channel, which is about 4 to 5 feet deep, Mesich said.
The occupants of the truck were able to escape without injury and the truck now sits partially submerged in the channel, Mesich said.
A special company has been called to help pull the truck from the ice, but that could take two days, Mesich said. Mesich said that the crew was shooting "something ice-related."
Labels: General
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Back in Action
Lime green didn't cut it for me, so its 3:33 a.m. and I figured out the problems with Blogger.
Labels: General
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
2006, it was great knowin' ya
Like everyone else who writes a blog, I was going to do some year-end review type deal. I thought 2006 was a year that was worthy of such review. I started jotting down notes one night of all of the things that had happened.
I was amazed, and kind of shocked and weirded-out, at the events of what took place.
We had the big election where if you were racist, corrupt or just down right sleezy, you were elected.
If you killed hundreds of thousands of your own people, you were a hero amongst the likes of Jimmy Carter and Amnesty International.
If you thought that the Holocaust, or 9/11, didn't happen, you got to keep your job and be protected in the media.
Intentionally misleading the public on a campaign issue would only backfire as Wisconsin was smart enough to read a referendum question.
Millions of people were blacked out for high-profile NFL games, in favor padding the pockets of a monopoly. Cable companies call you out on it, and the viewers lose.
Any moron (myself included) can go online and become big by writing a blog, creating a video and putting it on You Tube, or exploiting yourself on Myspace or Facebook. Google would buy into these ideas and by YouTube, in the single worse investment ever.
Brown County residents re-elect Guy Zima and later find out that Zima likens Carol Kelso to Adolf Hitler and her subordinates to the likes of the Nuremburg trials.
Isreal attempts the Rumsfeld Doctorine of war by invading Lebannon, only to retreat and lose the month-long war.
Liberals think that they can become the president as Hillary, Obama, Guilliani, McCain and Edwards all but announce their plans for 2008.
The only good news was Intel released their next-generation processor, dubbed Core 2, which is a technological breakthrough.
If this was 2006, what will 2007 be like? By looking at the results of the Fiesta Bowl on Jan 2, expect anything--especially the Statue of Liberty play.
Labels: General
Monday, January 01, 2007
Happy New Year!
There is nothing better than watching the Packers stomp on the Bears, a case
of MGD and good company with friends to ring in the new year! I wish
everyone a happy new year!
Labels: General
Monday, December 25, 2006
Wesolych Swiat
I want to wish everyone a very blessed and merry Christmas!
(That's Merry Christmas in Polish)
Labels: General
Friday, December 01, 2006
snow, Snow, SNOW!
Wisconsin was hit with its first major snowstorm. My hometown of Kenosha received 17 inches of snow overnight into today. When I was in school then, the most snow we saw was a few inches and no school cancellations.
There were all sorts of problems in and around Milwaukee. Even a snow plow overturned. Even thundersnow--yes, thundersnow--was seen in Milwaukee's northern suburbs.
Here in Green Bay, we got a few inches or so. The roads weren't quite clear by 2 p.m., but by the end of the work day, they were reasonably good. But there were accidents--56 of them as of 12:30.
Meanwhile I have a few friends that are to travel to Chicago tonight for their departure to Africa on Saturday from O'Hare. Their worst case scenario happened as many flights are cancelled or have 3 to 4 hour delays. Same can be said for Milwaukee's General Mitchell Field.
It's going to be long night for cleanup crews in SE Wisconsin and the entire state of Illinois.
Labels: General
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Giving thanks
KENOSHA, Wis.-- Well, it's Turkey Day...er...Thanksgiving Day...and amist all the bad news in the world, the outcome of the election, and so on, I do have a lot to be thankful for...
First, I am really thankful I had a chance to work with the amazing Gard Team. Each and every member of the team was unique, special and amazing in their own way. They made an otherwise insane election into quite an amazing trip that I am grateful to be a part of.
Family. We take this one for granted. Sometimes we're too busy for family. We don't call, e-mail or drop by and say hi enough. Add in a 200-mile distance, and it makes it worse. I am grateful I have my crazy family. I wouldn't trade them for anything.
Finally, I am thankful to be an American and live in the greatest country in the world. Take a look around the world and see how great we have it. I am proud to be an American and proud to stand up for our ideals and traditions. I wouldn't have it any other way.
I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving.
Labels: General
Monday, September 04, 2006
Happy Labor Day
What a better way of spending Labor Day than at work! For those of you needing a history lesson, Labor Day is in September because of Chicago riots May 1886. Wikipedia has a good entry about Labor Day.
The origins of the American Labor Day can be traced back to the Knights of Labor in the United States and a parade organized by them on September 5, 1882 in New York City. They were inspired by an annual labor parade held in Toronto, Canada. In 1884 another parade was held, and the Knights passed resolutions to make this an annual event. Other labor organizations (and there were many), but notably the affiliates of the International Workingmen's Association favored a May 1 holiday. With the event of Chicago's Haymarket riots in early May of 1886, president Grover Cleveland believed that a May 1 holiday could become an opportunity to commemorate the riots. Thus, fearing that it might strengthen the socialist movement, he quickly moved in 1887 to support the position of the Knights of Labor and their date for Labor Day.
Labor Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in September in the United States since the 1880s. The September date has remained unchanged, even though the government was encouraged to adopt May 1 as Labor Day, the date celebrated by the majority of the world. Moving the holiday, in addition to breaking with tradition, could have been viewed as aligning the U.S. labor movements with internationalist sympathies.
Labor Day is generally regarded simply as a day of rest and, unlike May Day,
political demonstrations are rare. Forms of celebration include picnics, barbecues, fireworks displays, water activities, and public art events. Families with school-age children take it as the last chance to travel before the end of summer. Some teenagers and young adults view it as the last weekend for parties before returning to school. However, of late, schools have begun well before Labor Day, up to the 15th of August in many urban districts, including Nashville and Atlanta.One of the largest modern traditions of Labor Day in the United States is the annual telethon of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, hosted by Jerry Lewis to fund research and patient support programs for the various diseases grouped as muscular dystrophy. The telethon raises tens of millions of dollars each year.
So go have a brat or two on the grill and enjoy your day off.
Labels: Brown County, General
Thursday, August 17, 2006
On Vacation
Until next Wednesday, I am on vaction in Pennsylvania. I will have some thoughts on the PA governor's race with NFL Hall-of-Famer Lynn Swan as the GOP candidate.
Labels: General
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
What's this all about?
Sitting at my desk this summer I thought to myself, how can I take my vast knowledge of the state and federal legislatures and do something productive with it. I could do research for a paper, independent study, internships and so on and so forth. But instead I have chose to take what's going on in Madison, Washington and around the world and break it down for what it means to the average college students.
Every morning I have a ritual -- go get the Green Bay Press-Gazette from my newspaper box, get a pot of coffee and read the Press-Gazette, read the Journal Sentinel online, possibly the Wisconsin State Journal and The Wheeler Report and various blogs from around the state. Add in some talk radio, and by mid-day I can tell you everything that is going on in Wisconsin Poltiics -- who's in what meetings, what's on the agenda in the next few weeks and everything else under the sun.
What this means is simple. I will put the news of the day here and give some sort of analysis. You may like it, you may not. But what I can tell you now is that is is always going to be clear and concise. If you have comments, send them my way: executive@fightingphoenix.com.
Labels: Election 2006, General, UWGB
