tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43645278860971792282012-02-16T14:49:27.788-06:00Bringing together local voices from Janesville, Wisconsin and beyond.Yurinoreply@blogger.comBlogger161100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364527886097179228.post-49861607439392280652010-11-12T14:42:00.001-06:002010-11-12T14:42:44.521-06:00

Political Dialogue in the U.S., circa November 20101. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell appears on a Sunday morning political talk show and announces that the Earth is the center of the solar system. Any sensible American should see that. Why else would the sun circle around us the way it does? The program’s host treats this utterance as provocative and new, as if there had never been

Yurinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364527886097179228.post-60717483350938257032010-08-06T00:13:00.000-05:002010-08-06T00:14:31.221-05:00

In my 7/18/10 article, I refer to a local BBQ restaurant that served food in styrofoam containers, and did not offer recycling options. The good news is that Pit Stop BBQ has gone green! The bad news is that I didn't check with them before submitting that article. I can't give any excuses about being understaffed, however, since this article is a "for-fun" project for me (meaning I don't get paid

Yurinoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364527886097179228.post-75353158703600003932010-06-09T00:53:00.002-05:002010-06-09T00:54:16.682-05:00

by Julie Backenkeller for Rock Environmental Network, Inc. It's tick season. Ticks, mosquitos and other pesky bugs seem to be magnetically attracted to my dog. As a concerned pet owner, I want to protect her from Lyme's disease, heart worm and keep fleas at bay (and out of my house), but what are the dangers to our Lucy from these products? More importantly, if my kids pet her and get this stuff

Yurinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364527886097179228.post-8807088757034233052010-06-08T11:04:00.000-05:002010-06-08T11:11:34.263-05:00

From time to time, I would like to update the people in the Janesville area on new economic development initiatives and programs. Rest assured that there is “a lot” going on in Janesville’s and Rock County’s efforts to bring more jobs into the area. With the economy steadily improving, Janesville is getting significant interest from companies outside of the city looking at existing industrial

Yurinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364527886097179228.post-74837771194879819102009-05-29T11:01:00.000-05:002009-05-29T11:03:14.925-05:00

A few weeks ago, Frontline (PBS) aired a 2 hour feature called “Poisoned Waters”. It was an eye opening program that outlined, in excruciating detail, the damage being done to US waterways by pollutants, storm-water runoff, manure from large farming operations, and sprawling development. You can watch it on line, at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/poisonedwaters/clean/One of the things we

Yurinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364527886097179228.post-16756750640410698552009-01-19T12:07:00.000-06:002009-01-19T12:10:26.637-06:00

I recently heard about a blog posting asking why Janesville and its leaders should be concerned with diversity. There are ways to answer that some could dismiss as "liberal" abstractions about equality and justice (although I'd subscribe to most of them). My reply to that blogger would be along more practical lines:1. Diversity is inevitable. The events of January 20th do not represent an anomaly

Yurinoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364527886097179228.post-8593506068448689372008-12-21T20:50:00.000-06:002008-12-21T20:57:59.863-06:00

I am writing all of you a note, hoping to have a city regulation passed on Pawn shops. Yes, I have a personal experience that I have had to go through two years ago relating to this issue. But, most regulations, local ordinances, or laws are passed out of someone's bad experience. I will relate that experience down the road. But, the recent Gazette article has fueled my fire. Especially when

Yurinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364527886097179228.post-82715630680721664012008-12-19T11:31:00.000-06:002008-12-19T11:34:10.412-06:00

Sustainability – preserving working lands for future food growth.Janesville’s Planning Commission has voted to send the City’s Comprehensive Plan to the City Council for adoption. Commission member McDonald made a logical argument, when he stated that this “Smart Growth” plan does nothing to actually protect vital farmland from development. It may slow development, but there is no protection

Yurinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364527886097179228.post-23916040490862998242008-11-05T09:35:00.000-06:002008-11-05T09:36:22.550-06:00

The fall 2008 elections are now over and the next election cycle will undoubtedly begin almost immediately. Some are relieved. Some are excited. Others are disappointed. Indisputably, all are amazed by this monumental moment in our nation’s history. Yet, many are probably wary and skeptical for a variety of reasons. Some will ask if we can trust the newly elected leaders? Will they honor their

Yurinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364527886097179228.post-75562198377391456922008-09-26T10:07:00.000-05:002008-09-26T10:30:05.973-05:00

This past weekend I was able to start the threads of a regional venture I hope to expand on after I return from my third media project in Iraq. I will be dissecting Wisconsin culture. I was able to visit two events, in two adjoining counties, in two most different cities that share the same language and peoples.The Beloit Evening Lions Club; the Coachmen Street Rodders; and, the Blue Ribbon

Yurinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364527886097179228.post-27594352887404416062008-09-13T13:03:00.000-05:002008-09-13T13:11:26.892-05:00

There is a little known federal act which is impacting YOUR life every day and I you probably have never heard about it. Those who have been already living with it's adverse consequences, know it all too well. It's known as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA). Rarely have bills ever sailed through Congress with unanimous approval (albeit most legislators

Yurinoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364527886097179228.post-62654489529507245332008-09-11T23:44:00.001-05:002008-09-11T23:50:18.303-05:00

The Janesville Labor Fest is held over Labor Day weekend on the United Auto Workers grounds. I popped over there a couple times over the weekend. There are a couple simple nuances I like about it and make an event like this work, at least in my fest play book. It is a casually affair. There is no charge to get in. Parking is abundant. The various labor groups that share volunteering at the event

Yurinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364527886097179228.post-9396404886042064942008-09-03T09:33:00.001-05:002008-09-03T09:39:44.093-05:00

I had a chance to sneak down to the fourth annual Block Party in downtown Janesville on Sunday the 24th of August. At least one of the bar owners down there tells me it is the fourth one - I originally thought third, but who's counting? The Janesville Gazette did a prep piece on the Wednesday before the event which gives I believe a rather good lineup of what actually took place as far as bands

Yurinoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364527886097179228.post-73589592190152628982008-08-30T09:41:00.000-05:002008-08-31T19:31:47.584-05:00

It was immediately obvious at each of 3 Democratic Congressional Candidate forums I attended who is best qualified to truly represent Wisconsin’s 1st District: Paulette Garin. The residents of the First Congressional District finally have a viable candidate to challenge Rep. Paul Ryan. We have an opportunity to send Paulette Garin to Congress.Imagine what it would mean to send someone whose

Yurinoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364527886097179228.post-60647631078774719502008-08-26T09:50:00.000-05:002008-08-26T09:55:19.331-05:00

The Bush administration keeps up their “Cowboy” mentality foreign policy provoking incidents by poking others in the eye. Their intent is to create conflict and re-open the cold war because in the fog of war, they can promote their agenda and especially now, that of John McCain.Excerpts from a piece by Mikhail Gorbachev that appeared in the August 19 New York Times follow. Gorbachev makes a lot

Yurinoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4364527886097179228.post-79978646319309181622008-08-25T12:51:00.000-05:002008-08-31T19:18:33.170-05:00

One of the great things about a Democracy is that anyone and everyone can have a voice. However, a problem arises when there are a lot of voices, but few ways to amplify and carry those voices to the ears of many. And so I would like to welcome everyone to an experiment in Democracy. The Bigger Stage is a place where local residents can post their personal editorials on any issue that is of

Yurinoreply@blogger.com0