Madison’s Mifflin Street Party Fills Detox Center

There is no way that anyone can be proud of the news tonight from the booze fest, better known as the Mifflin Street Party, that is taking placing on Madison’s isthmus.  Madison’s newly elected Mayor Paul Soglin should be the last one smiling about this news in light of his remarks about the new approach to the party he termed as an “improved effort”.

Joel DeSpain, Public Information Officer for the Madison Police Department told WISC-TV that the detox center was filling as the result of the party.  That should concern everyone.  Parents, city residents, taxpayers.  Mayor Soglin.

Lets be honest about what is happening today.

This is nothing more than a reason to drink to pure excess.  I understand this is Wisconsin, and somehow that is supposed to make it all more palatable when hearing about. 

But not here at CP.

This is not something we should watch unfold and smile about.  Filling the detox center as a result of young people drinking to excess is more proof that we have a problem in our society with alcohol.

That anyone reading this blog could walk down to the event and ask those attending why the Mifflin Street event started decades ago, and get no accurate response from those chugging away, speaks volumes about is happening today.  The party began as a celebration of activism against the Vietnam War in 1969.

I strongly opposed the lifting of the ban on open alcoholic beverages in the streets within the event zone for the party this year.  That’s a big change from past years, when police had been ticketing people who had open containers of alcohol anywhere off private property. Anything that encourages more alcohol consumption at this event should be discouraged.

Madison Mayor Paul Soglin thought the new ideas for more music and fun was a grand idea for this year’s event.

“Just when we thought there were no new ways of having a block party, we’ve found a new way,” Soglin said. “This is a rather different and much improved effort to celebrate spring.”

“Celebrate spring”!

Really?

Filling the detox center is just not the way I envision celebrating spring!

Call me whatever you wish, but there is a serious problem with alcohol in this state, and what we are witnessing today in Madison is proof of that.

While I applaud Soglin’s efforts to curb poverty in the city I hope he might find an interest in curbing excessive drinking too.

Baby Eaglets Back On Eagle Cam

This has been a sad week for the eagle’s nest in Norfolk, Virginia.

But many are pleased that the three eaglets have been rescued and now are safe and healthy and will grow to adulthood in a protected environment.  When full-grown they will be released into the wild.

As they grow and become adult-sized you can watch them, and also participate in a dialogue with experts, and others who care.

Watch the eaglets here.

A continual link to the web cam remains on the right-hand side of this blog.

Best Picture Of Royal Wedding Kiss

On the front page of the Wall Street Journal, above the fold, is the kiss seen around the world.

But when you look on the bottom fold of the paper there is the rest of the photo…and the look of Grace, Prince William’s god-daughter, age three…..and that is the part of the photo that steals the show!

Madison’s Ben Masel Dead At Age 56, Face Of Political Activism

One thing is clear regardless of how one views the position that Ben Masel  took concerning the legalization of marijuana. While I opposed the stand he took one fact was clear.  Ben Masel was the face of Madison’s political activism.  He was smart, outspoken, never intimidated, and never swayed from his principles.  Many could look at Masel and learn something about how to fight for what they believe in.

Today Ben Masel died from lung cancer.

While Ben fights for the end of marijuana prohibition, his activism also extends into mainstream politics as well. He’s a passionate civil libertarian, advocating equally for free speech and gun rights, personal privacy and a return to stronger congressional control of war powers. Ben has run many times for elective office, from a challenge to Governor Tommy Thompson in 1990 to his current candidacy for the US Senate seat held by Herb Kohl. He first caught attention for his radicalism when at age 17 he became the youngest person placed on President Nixon’s infamous “enemies list” and “the man” has kept his eye on Ben ever since.

Teabaggers Give Standing Ovation To Donald Trump Saying “F…. You”

This post will be short and directly to the point.

I am so very tired of the lowest common denominator setting the standards for this county.  This has been one of my themes of life for decades.  I am just sick of stupid people with no sense of decorum making news.   

When it comes to the lowest common denominator over the past two years it has been the teabaggers who have set new lows for behavior.  I thought they could not surprise me anymore with their actions after I saw one of their kind spit on a black member of congress.

I was wrong.

When I witnessed Donald Trump in a speech (on video) saying “f…. you” not once, but repeatedly, to a Las Vegas group of teabaggers two things came to mind.

First, I am appalled at the level of political discourse that our country has come to, and second I am absolutely sickened that these three-thumbers all stood and applauded the use of this word in a political speech.  Would anyone over the age of 50 have ever thought we would hear a potential presidential candidate say something like this to a public gathering?   To me this is mind-numbing.  

As a side note I just finished “1912” and can assure my readers that Taft, Debbs, Wilson, and Roosevelt never once uttered such clap-trap on the campaign trail.   But then again these were serious men with sound education. and a higher purpose in mind than what Donald Trump offers. 

Some wonder why I use the term teabagger for these people who attend such gatherings, or act in such ways.  After the video of Trump speaking in the fashion he did, along with the way the audience reacted, I use the term teabagger because these people deserve no better.

Once again teabaggers have demonstrated they are ignorant, can be easily led as evidenced by how Donald Trump uses them, are boorish, and not aware of how they are presenting themselves to others who look in and see what they really are like.

Teabaggers equal the lowest common denominator.

(And no the video will never be placed on this blog!)

Saturday Song: George Younce “Suppertime”

Pictures Of Best Hats From Royal Wedding

After watching the Royal Wedding this morning I knew there would be a web site with the best and the worst hats assembled for viewing.

Here it is.

Might I say right off the bat this one below was my favorite…..for many reasons.  First I like Queen Elizabeth, and I love yellow, and I think today she had a good time. 

Have Your Say About EnLighten Channel On Sirius/XM Radio Ending May 4th

UPDATE

Enlighten can be now found on channel 18.

If you like EnLighten, the southern gospel music station on Sirius/XM, and want to have your say about the end of this broadcast station on the radio……..here is what you need to do.  If you like to hear this station in the car as I do then the following information should be taken and used.

Granted, there is very little that can be done to reverse this decision at Sirius/XM.  Yet I always think it is important to let broadcasters know the concerns and likes of the listening public.  Even when the odds seem all too high….so here is what you need to do.

Next Tuesday, May 3, Sirius/XM will be removing enLighten from their satellite service and from Dish TV. It will remain, but as an online-only channel. If you are a Sirius/XM subscriber and want to see Southern Gospel still represented, let them know here:

• Phone (Sirius): 1-888-539-7474
• Phone (XM): 1-800-XM-RADIO or 1-877-291-5304
• Email: customercare@siriusxm.com.
• Mail: Mr. Scott A. Greenstein; President, Programming; Sirius XM Radio; 1221 Avenue of the Americas, 36th Floor; New York, NY 10020
• Mail: Mr. Mel Karmazin; CEO; Sirius XM Radio; 1221 Avenue of the Americas, 36th Floor; New York, NY 10020