Uppity Wisconsin
Making Wisconsin Progressive Again
Yesterday's Obama Protest in Madison
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 10:48am | Steve Hanson
From the On The Earth Productions folks:
Progressive Magazine 100th Anniversary Conference
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 1:56pm | Steve Hanson
The Progressive and the Progressive Movement, Then and Now!
That’s right! The Progressive turns 100 in 2009.
Please join Robert Redford, Senator Russ Feingold, Representative Tammy Baldwin, Howard Zinn, Cindy Sheehan, Jim Hightower, Barbara Ehrenreich, Katrina vanden Heuvel, Chuck D, Senator George McGovern, John Nichols, Robert McChesney, Adolph Reed, Martín Espada, Michael Feldman, Susan Douglas, Dave Zirin, Will Durst, Ruth Conniff, Elizabeth DiNovella, Amitabh Pal, Matthew Rothschild, …and many more!
Conference fee: $295.00. Register early to reserve your spot! Space is limited.
Rightwing Catholic Bishop Hit in Open Letter
Sun, 10/12/2008 - 10:19am | mal contends
One wonders what the prince of peace and love would say were he to encounter the hate and hypocrisy inflicted in his name by such men as Bishop Robert Morlino, who in one sense supposedly leads 270,000 Catholics in the 11-county Madison, Wisconsin diocese.
Madison-area Catholics are speaking out today against Morlino in an open letter at the back of the Business section of Sunday's Wisconsin State Journal.
Peace, compassion, tolerance and love.
Such qualities seem to elude this priest of what the great humanistic writer Jimmy Breslin termed the "Church that Forgot Christ," after Breslin left the Catholic Church that abandoned many of the teachings of Christ and other great humanists in history.
Madison-area Catholics are speaking out today against Morlino in an open letter at the back of the Business section of Sunday's Wisconsin State Journal.
Peace, compassion, tolerance and love.
Such qualities seem to elude this priest of what the great humanistic writer Jimmy Breslin termed the "Church that Forgot Christ," after Breslin left the Catholic Church that abandoned many of the teachings of Christ and other great humanists in history.
Madison’s West Side Hit with Rash of Obama Sign Thefts
Wed, 09/10/2008 - 6:42pm | mal contends
Numerous reports of Barack Obama signs being stolen on Madison’s west side and the City of Fitchburg have been reported over the last few days.
“We have had a whole bunch of calls of stolen signs, and they're all on the west side of Madison,” said a Madison Obama staffer in a phonce call from the Monroe Street headquarters.
The theft victims include the writer of this blog.
A Fitchburg resident on Monticello Way in Fitchburg reports that he heard several young males shouting “I hate that fucking guy! [Obama],” a few nights ago.
A police report has been filed with the City of Fitchburg Police Department (case # 08-14651).
“We have had a whole bunch of calls of stolen signs, and they're all on the west side of Madison,” said a Madison Obama staffer in a phonce call from the Monroe Street headquarters.
The theft victims include the writer of this blog.
A Fitchburg resident on Monticello Way in Fitchburg reports that he heard several young males shouting “I hate that fucking guy! [Obama],” a few nights ago.
A police report has been filed with the City of Fitchburg Police Department (case # 08-14651).
Good for the Capital Times
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 8:22am | GlobalGirl
The Capital Times just corrected their editorial, “Van Hollen should act fast on petition fraud case” (July 25).
At issue is the nonsensical and internally incoherent assertions of some of Esperanza Unida's people that one of their two opponents for state assembly (whom they failed to knock off the ballot, making Esperanza Unida zero-for-two in this campaign) had improperly received legal counsel.
Ridiculous.
Editorializes the Capital Times today:
We have, as well, come to the view that the law firm and associates of attorney Michael Maistelman acted appropriately in this matter. ... We have been impressed with [attorney] Halbrooks' forthright and detailed responses to the concerns that have arisen. ...
Star Theater: No Longer Stellar
Sat, 07/26/2008 - 10:15am | GlobalGirl
Boy, does Star Theater in Fitchburg (next to Madison) really suck now.
What the heck happened? I had only been to the theater once before since I heard the theater changed ownership.
I took my boyfriend to see a matinee of the X-Files: I Want to Believe (that was disappointing) and was treated, assaulted is a better word, to the following:
Exclusive: Alleged Gruesome Kidnapper Described as “Outgoing and Friendly” by Former Coworker
Thu, 07/17/2008 - 1:28am | mal contends
© 2008 Michael Leon
A man charged with 12 felonies for "allegedly kidnapping ... two men, stripping them, chaining them up in his home, beating them and sexually assaulting them several times" (Wisconsin State Journal, July 15) outside Wisconsin Rapids is described by a former coworker interviewed by mal contends as "friendly, with a good sense of humor."
Edward Lanphear is also being investigated for possible links to the murder of UW-Madison student, Brittany Zimmermann, the Wisconsin State Journal reports, though police say at this time that there is no direct connection other than the facts that Lanphear and Zimmermann are both from Wood County, and that Lanphear had a newspaper article about the Zimmermann case at his residence.
A man charged with 12 felonies for "allegedly kidnapping ... two men, stripping them, chaining them up in his home, beating them and sexually assaulting them several times" (Wisconsin State Journal, July 15) outside Wisconsin Rapids is described by a former coworker interviewed by mal contends as "friendly, with a good sense of humor."
Edward Lanphear is also being investigated for possible links to the murder of UW-Madison student, Brittany Zimmermann, the Wisconsin State Journal reports, though police say at this time that there is no direct connection other than the facts that Lanphear and Zimmermann are both from Wood County, and that Lanphear had a newspaper article about the Zimmermann case at his residence.
Peace Movement Is Right, Tom Friedman Is Wrong
Wed, 07/16/2008 - 10:00am | GlobalGirl
A woman just needs love and reassurance sometimes; that’s why I read Glenn Greenwald at Salon.
That's not a commercial advertisement for Salon, just a statement of appreciation of Greenwald’s article this morning chiding Tom Friedman (and Fred Hiatt, Charles Krauthammer) and other Iraq war cheerleaders.
Chickenhawks seem incapable of realizing that American foreign policy under Bush-Cheney (including that Iraq War thing) is more serious than mere “mistakes,” deserving of a "thumbs-down," as Friedman writes this morning.
From Greenwald’s column this morning on the “befuddled” Tom Friedman:
UW Engineering Students Build GREEN Snowmobile
Wed, 07/09/2008 - 9:36pm | bschmock
Last Thursday, the University of Wisconsin-Madison published this story:
An electric snowmobile built by student members of the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering Clean Snowmobile Team is now in Greenland, on loan to the National Science Foundation . . . at the Greenland Environmental Observatory (GEO Summit Camp).
Dubbed the Bucky EV, the snowmobile won the zero-emissions category of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Clean Snowmobile Challenge (CSC) in Houghton, Michigan, earlier this spring. The goal of this event is to promote the development of clean vehicles that can be used in environmentally sensitive areas where a gas-powered vehicle would contaminate air or snow samples . . .
National Conference for Media Reform
Tue, 06/03/2008 - 11:12am | Steve Hanson
For the next week I'm going to be on the road doing a bunch of interesting things. I'll be blogging on them occasionally.
- Wednesday and Thursday I will be at Journalism That Matters, discussing Citizen Journalism and Placeblogging with many other kindred spirits from around the US.
- Friday through Sunday I will be at the National Conference for Media Reform , doing still more of the same.
- Tuesday I'm giving a talk on Internet participation at the Wisconsin Nonprofits Association 2008 Summit.
Citizens' Committee Needed on 911 Center
Thu, 05/08/2008 - 8:41pm | mal contends
Two committees of the Dane County Board of Supervisors are meeting tonight to gather information on the performance of the Dane County 911 Communications Center in the wake of the murder of Brittany Zimmermann.
Board Chair Scott McDonell and others have called for an audit of the Center focusing on its procedures and whether its procedures are being followed.
It is suggested that such an audit be conducted by an outside firm, free of political considerations.
Good idea.
To complement this reasonable course of action, Dane County needs the establishment of a paid citizens' committee composed of broad communities of interests, devoid of elected officials, and certainly free of civil servants in Dane County, including those serving in the County Executive's office.
Such a committee ought to have as its deliverables:
- The establishment of specific directives to improve the performance of the 911 Communications Center
Board Chair Scott McDonell and others have called for an audit of the Center focusing on its procedures and whether its procedures are being followed.
It is suggested that such an audit be conducted by an outside firm, free of political considerations.
Good idea.
To complement this reasonable course of action, Dane County needs the establishment of a paid citizens' committee composed of broad communities of interests, devoid of elected officials, and certainly free of civil servants in Dane County, including those serving in the County Executive's office.
Such a committee ought to have as its deliverables:
- The establishment of specific directives to improve the performance of the 911 Communications Center
Misplaced Police Priorities
Thu, 05/08/2008 - 9:40am | mal contends
Amid the discordant political backdrop, recriminations abound about whether the murder of a 21-year-old UW-Madison woman could have been prevented.
Aside from proposed audits and spirited defenses of the Dane County 911 Communications Center and other Dane County officials, it's worth noting the priorities and policies of local law enforcement agencies here. [I hope not to read the word 'leadership' again; it doesn't exist on this matter.]
As the routine break-up of house parties and the pursuit by police of other frequent illegal college recreational pastimes continues apace here, one wonders if police officers foot-patrolling neighborhoods at night with the objective of protecting property and persons might be a better use of limited police resources vis-a-vis busting a 19-year-old for having a beer or smoking a joint on campus.
And one less parking meter boy (like that pathetic guy who wears the floppy safari hat), and one more officer walking on the street looking out for a female student walking home at night from the library would certainly do.
Aside from proposed audits and spirited defenses of the Dane County 911 Communications Center and other Dane County officials, it's worth noting the priorities and policies of local law enforcement agencies here. [I hope not to read the word 'leadership' again; it doesn't exist on this matter.]
As the routine break-up of house parties and the pursuit by police of other frequent illegal college recreational pastimes continues apace here, one wonders if police officers foot-patrolling neighborhoods at night with the objective of protecting property and persons might be a better use of limited police resources vis-a-vis busting a 19-year-old for having a beer or smoking a joint on campus.
And one less parking meter boy (like that pathetic guy who wears the floppy safari hat), and one more officer walking on the street looking out for a female student walking home at night from the library would certainly do.
Falk Facing Election Next Spring, Offers Assurance on 911 Call and Few Facts
Wed, 05/07/2008 - 8:53am | mal contends
Progressives are holding Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk’s feet to the fire on the Brittany Zimmerman tragedy.
If Falk decides to run for reelection as Dane County executive in the spring of 2009, she will surely face opponents in a politically charged race, and one gets the impression Falk is abundantly aware of this fact.
From the Capital Times (aggressively on the Zimmerman story now and catching up to the first-rate reporting and insights by Isthmus, the Wisconsin State Journal and the Madison blogosphere):
A former dispatcher that answered a 911 call from Brittany Zimmermann's cell phone before she was allegedly stabbed to death in her West Doty Street apartment committed two different procedural errors in handling the call, according to Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk.
Falk’s statement on the 911 call, "I do not believe, had the (911) errors not occurred, that her murder could've been prevented," amounts to a Bushian I-can’t-tell-you-anything-but-trust-me assurance.
If Falk decides to run for reelection as Dane County executive in the spring of 2009, she will surely face opponents in a politically charged race, and one gets the impression Falk is abundantly aware of this fact.
From the Capital Times (aggressively on the Zimmerman story now and catching up to the first-rate reporting and insights by Isthmus, the Wisconsin State Journal and the Madison blogosphere):
A former dispatcher that answered a 911 call from Brittany Zimmermann's cell phone before she was allegedly stabbed to death in her West Doty Street apartment committed two different procedural errors in handling the call, according to Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk.
Falk’s statement on the 911 call, "I do not believe, had the (911) errors not occurred, that her murder could've been prevented," amounts to a Bushian I-can’t-tell-you-anything-but-trust-me assurance.
Dane Co. 911 Call Center problems and needed fixes were known in 2004
Mon, 05/05/2008 - 12:45pm | warmmidwest
Did you miss this story in Sunday's WSJ?
"County officials were warned in 2004 to increase staffing, change procedures and put in place a stronger oversight board.
"At worst Dane County faces possible liability and the potential for a catastrophic event," according to the 145-page "strategic plan" from MTG Management Consultants of Seattle."
And here's the money quote from a republican who's advocating more support for important social services!
Mark Hazelbaker, a Republican lawyer who represents the Dane County Towns Association, said solving the issues in the 911 center boils down to a matter of political will.
"I don't know if I blame Kathy Falk so much as I blame a climate in which people are afraid to spend money on vital services," Hazelbaker said.""
warmmidwest's blog | 
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Tags: Dane, Brittany Zimmermann, Joe Norwick, Kathleen Falk, Madison, safety
Capital Times' Coverage Lagging in UW-Madison Woman's Murder
Sun, 05/04/2008 - 9:51am | mal contends
via MAL Contends - Update: Cap Times back on it: See - Falk apologizes to Zimmermann's family, fiance (Capital Times, May 6) and County Board chair wants answers on 911 problems (Cap Times, May 6).
Expert calls Dane County 911 staffing inadequate (WSJ, May 6)
I was sorry to see the Capital Times hard copy newspaper go, but I told a friend its online iteration was an innovation that would see it stay on the bleeding edge of technology in bringing Dane County residents the news.
I was sorry to see the Capital Times hard copy newspaper go, but I told a friend its online iteration was an innovation that would see it stay on the bleeding edge of technology in bringing Dane County residents the news.