New Phone

The new Apple iPhone is called, "thinner, faster and prettier"  than it's predecessor. The iPhone is the hottest wireless device to hit the market. The iPhone will even allow video calling. I'm not even sure what that is!

A couple of weeks prior to this announcement Google came out with the Android that had one-upped Apple until the newest iPhone was announced.

There are those  who must have the latest and greatest and be the first to purchase the newest computer or cell phone, see the opening of a new movie,  buy the newest technology out there for goIf clubs, have the latest auto or most recent TV/video product, etc.  

I  am more of a wait and see person. By the time I buy the price has dropped off the table. After all, you do pay a price for getting in on the ground floor of a new product. My pocketbook and I do not get that excited. The iPhone will probably never be on my wish list, ever, even if it is, "thinner, faster and prettier".

Smoking Ban

We are less than a month from  a smoking ban taking effect with our neighbor to the east. July 5, 2010 Wisconsin  will ban smoking in  workplaces,  bars and restaurants.

October 1, 2007 the Minnesota smoking ban went into effect. That was big news. The Freedom to Breath Act was signed into law by Governor Tim Pawlenty in May of 2007.

There was much concern that the ban would be the downfall of many bars and restaurants. I remember many, many years ago when cigarette advertising was banned from being shown on television. The Marlboro man disappeared from the screen! Tobacco commercials were the top advertisers and there were those who feared this might be the death of television due to the loss of these revenues.

At least now Wisconsin is on a level playing field with Minnesota. Minnesota smokers can no longer justify  crossing  the border to enjoy the pleasure of smoking in a bar or restaurant.

I am a non-smoker so it's easy for me to say this has been a good law. I know several people who used the smoking ban as a reason to quit smoking. I also know of others who have adapted to the ban and you don't hear many complaints from smokers today.

Remember when bars/restaurants had smoking and non-smoking areas?At some establishments that worked and in others it was almost a joke. A table would be "non-smoking" and the next table over smoking was allowed It's not like the smoke was being contained to the smoking area only. The only difference was the smoking table had an ash tray and the non-smoking one did not.
Daniel's Restaurant and Northwoods Lounge were  one of the first in the area to voluntarily go  non-smoking before the ban. I think that actually helped their business when they made that move. Many times people would go there because there was no smoking.

I have also talked to bar owners who have said the smoking ban had no long term effect on business. The move proved to very good for keeping the bar/restaurant cleaner thereafter.
How many of you would want to go back to the "good old days" when smoking was allowed in public places? When traveling to different states it is a slight shock to enter a restaurant and smell cigarette smoke. Clean air is something we now take for granted when entering a public place. Thank you Governor Pawlenty for clearing the air in public establishments like bars and restaurants. That had to be an easy decision compared to cleaning up our economic mess.

Going Back

With another K-M High School graduation a few days away I wonder how many of you would like to go back and relive your senior year. For myself, I would not want to go back and do it all over again. There are a few high school events I might like to do over again, but not live it all over again.

I don't even feel much like a K-M graduate when walking the halls because so much has changed. The building is more than double the size of what it was when I graduated in 1973.

All of the teaching staff I had are gone. Well, at least all but one. Even the athletic facilities have changed considerably. Imagine one gymnasium, no track and no soccer fields.

We had a library. It was not a media center.

We had home economics and now they have FACS (Family and Consumer Sciences).

We had a gymnasium and now they have an all-purpose room. (I think that name change came to make a bond referendum more salable to the public)

We had art and now they refer to it as art education.

We had reading with our classroom teacher. Now they have a reading specialist.

In my day a Dean of Students was at the college level only.

Industrial arts is now industrial technology.

A social worker was an employee at the courthouse in Mantorville.

We had business math, but not business education.

We had an athletic director. Now we have the activities director.

We are talking 37 years ago folks. I wonder what the changes will be in another 37 years. Will math still be math and science be science?

I figure we can say one thing has not changed since I graduated. A high school diploma is still every bit as important today as it was back then. So I do have some connection with the 2010 K-M graduates. Good luck to you all.

Vets

Originally Memorial Day served to honor the U.S. men and women who died while serving in the military service. Now this day also serves to honor our disabled veterans and all who have served in the U.S. military.

To some Memorial Day is all about picnics, barbecues, family gatherings and the Indianapolis 500. To others it's all about visiting cemeteries and memorials or attending a Memorial Day program.

There is nothing wrong with a picnic or family gathering on Memorial day. Just remember the real reason for this holiday.  If you can thank a veteran. Through the course of the day think about the fact that an American soldier could be fighting off insurgents while Americans here are enjoying family picnics and gatherings. Thank you to all the members of the military-now and then.

Do you know someone who has served or is serving??  

Please share a story or a thank you to them on the blog.

Stadium

Lawmakers have unveiled two proposals for funding a new $790 million stadium for the Minnesota Vikings. There is a "Purple Plan" and "White Plan". Minnesota  was once dubbed the Black & Blue Division. With either new stadium plan it’s what I call a "Black & Blue Plan" for Minnesota taxpayers.
With the “Purple Plan” the Vikings contribute $264 million and the “White Plan” $420 million. Then there are typical added taxes, motel and car rental, and a new twist, revenue from a sports-themed scratch off lottery game.

I have said this before and I will say it again. This is a form of welfare for the rich. We help pay and the ownership of the Vikings benefits most.

The state is dealing with extreme budget cuts, school districts are getting delayed payments  and we are going to prioritize building a new stadium. I don't get the logic at all.

Say I am struggling to pay my monthly bills and then buy a new truck and take an exotic trip. This is what the state of Minnesota wants to do. You can't spend that kind of money on a stadium when struggling to pay bills.

The state would have to increase taxes to pay for the stadium. Minnesotans can't afford any new taxes. Put the stadium on hold until the state pays the bills-and that includes our educational system.

School Use - Mantorville, MN

I don't know a great deal about the future use of the former K-M Intermediate School in Mantorville. There is even a chance the deal might not go through because there has to be criteria met before final papers are signed in August.

One of the criteria for purchasers Kent and Carole Keller of Mantorville is that a market study must show a need for potential tenants. Part of that study is to get input from local residents. What do we see as a use for the facility?

I know that if in fact Kent and Carole do become the owners they will find a viable use for the facility that benefits the community. Their motivation is not to make a fast buck.  They would like to see a return on the investment, but I think a big factor is to generate a use that benefits the community.

In the last several years the Kasson-Mantorville area has had to deal with way too many empty buildings. There's another big one in Kasson, also a former school, sitting empty. Empty buildings are anything but a positive economic sign in a community.

If a private party is willing to stick their neck out and try to do something positive with an empty school building, the community should stand behind them. Tax breaks, city assistance as far as zoning and even public input can be a boost for the building's future. Remember this was a school property-not on city tax rolls.

School property has not exactly been a hot commodity in the K-M area the last few years. Maybe something good can come from the school closing in Mantorville. It doesn't look right sitting empty without kids on the playground on a nice spring day!

Article by: Randy Carlsen

Do you have any ideas for tenants and how they could use the building?

Dog Clothes More Than a Fashion Trend

Today, many dogs have a wardrobe that can rival that of a die hard fashionista. That's because many pet parents want to lavish attention on their pooch in unique ways. Those with the budget to do so are choosing pet accessories and clothing in record numbers. Pet retail sales in the United States top $35 million each year, say reports. A growing chunk of those purchases are going toward the booming pet clothing industry. What started out as a niche boutique market, has turned into a national obsession, with many mainstream pet stores and supermarkets carrying clothing for dogs and cats. While pet clothing is a way to express individuality and whimsy through your dog, pet attire can also be functional and a safety precaution. Many people inaccurately assume that a dog has all he needs to survive the weather conditions. While a fur coat can provide some protection, the truth is that the elements can be as harsh on dogs as their less-furry companions. Did you know that dogs are susceptible to sunburn just like people? Applying a sunblock product to a pet can be worrisome, particularly if the dog licks off the lotion and ingests too many chemicals. Clothing can provide protection against the elements in the ways fur alone cannot. For example, a light-colored doggie T-shirt can reflect the sun's rays and keep your pooch cooler when outdoors in the warm weather. A rain slicker can keep him dry when the weather is particularly wet. In the winter, a sweater can hold in body heat, particularly for short-haired dogs or small breeds that are more susceptible to extreme weather changes. Bug repellents also may be applied to the clothing and therefore limit the amount of flea and tick protection you must use directly on the pet. A dog's paws are very sensitive and can also use protection. Think about how hot pavement feels underfoot on a blazing summer day? What about chemical rock salt or ice when winter is in town? All-weather booties can protect the pads of a dog's feet from cuts, burns and contact with the myriad of chemicals that are used outdoors for landscape care. When selecting clothing for your dog, keep a few things in mind: • It is comfortable for the dog, and he doesn't show any aversion to wearing the item, such as pulling or biting. • It is functional. Clothing should be designed to fit the animal, not modified human clothing. • It is safe. Ensure the clothing does not hinder movement or block the animal's vision