Things that make you say "Hmm..."
The wheel of love had left its tread marks in his chest once too often, like a knobby mud tire on a monster truck, or like a really big ponce wheel, the kind that tailors use to punch little holes in patterns and that would leave lots of nasty little welts if you were to run it up and down your arm. (Peter Loughlin)
I saw her sitting at the bar. I approached. "Hello," she said in a voice so husky it could pull a dogsled. (Dan Yell)
Mitzi's wet T-shirt clung to her torso like paint on the nose cone of a jumbo jet. (James Macdonald)
Captain Burton stood at the bow of his massive sailing ship, his weathered face resembling improperly cured leather that wouldn't even be used to make a coat or something. (Bryan Semrow)
The sun rose over the horizon like a great big radioactive baby's head with a bad sunburn, but then again it might just have been that Lisa was always cranky this early in the morning. (Debra Allen)
Jane was toast, and not the light buttery kind, nay, she was the kind that's been charred and blackened in the bottom of the toaster and has to be thrown away because no matter how much of the burnt part you scrape off with a knife, there's always more blackened toast beneath, the kind that not even starving birds in winter will eat, that kind of toast. (Beth Knutson)
As Fiona slowly drew the heavy velvet curtain aside, her eyes smoldered black, deep, and dark as inside the lungs of a coal miner, although it would be black in anyone's lungs if you could get in there because there wouldn't be any light, even in the pink ones of people who don't smoke. (Lou A. Waller)
Having O.J. try on the bloody glove was a stroke of genius unseen since the debut of Goober on "Mayberry R.F.D". (John Kammer)
Losing is like fertilizer: it stinks for a while, then you get used to it. (Tony)
From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and "Jeopardy" comes on at 7 p.m. instead of 7:30. (Roy Ashley)
Her hair glistened in the rain like nose hair after a sneeze. (Chuck Smith)
Her eyes were like two brown circles with big black dots in the center. (Russell Beland)
They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth (Paul Kocak)
He was as tall as a six-foot-three-inch tree. (Jack Bross)
Just like (or as) a bicycle rider lifts his butt from the seat when he sees a bump coming, so Bob pulled back, emotionally, when Alice got angry. (Jim Caughran)
She danced with the grace and elegance of a pregnant cow. (Patricia Kilday)
The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease. (Gary F. Hevel)
The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't. (Russell Beland)
After sending in my entries for the Style Invitational, I feel relieved and apprehensive, like a little boy who has just wet his bed. (Wayne Goode)
Her date was pleasant enough, but she knew that if her life was a movie this guy would be buried in the credits as something like "Second Tall Man." (Russell Beland)
Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph. (Jennifer Hart)
The moon looked like a discarded toenail clipping submersed in a puddle of saliva on a black formica countertop. (Lindsay Robertson)
She caught your eye like one of those pointy hook latches that used to dangle from screen doors and would fly up whenever you banged the door open again. (Rich Murphy)
The politician was gone but unnoticed, like the period after the Dr. on a Dr Pepper can. (Wayne Goode)
We are all like those little pink and blue plastic people in the game of Life. (Meghann Olson)
John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met. (Russell Beland)
The thunder was ominous-sounding, much like the sound of a thin sheet of metal being shaken backstage during the storm scene in a play. (Barbara Fetherolf)
His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free (Chuck Smith)
The red brick wall was the color of a brick-red Crayola crayon. (Jennifer Frank and Jimmy Pontzer)
She was sending me more mixed signals than a dyslexic third-base coach. (Jack Bross)
She felt used and unwanted, like the two chocolate halves of an Oreo cookie after someone has already licked the cream out of them. (Kristi Herd)
My underwear stuck to my backside like an All-Pro cornerback to a rookie wide receiver as I browsed through the seed catalog that had mistakenly found its way into my mailbox. (Ron Calabrese)
Chicken: it's like a cow, but different. (Ben Olson)
His fountain pen was so expensive it looked as if someone had grabbed the pope, turned him upside down and started writing with the tip of his big pointy hat. (Jeffrey Carl)
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Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Football Helmet Refurbishing Days Officially Over
Behold! Take a good look! This is the last helmet that I have put together by bidding on helmets over the internet and then fixing them up to look the way I want them. I figured I would get out while I am "flying high". I found this Rawlings helmet with absolutely no game use. only a few "rub-scratches" incurred in shelf life.
I had been saving the white line backer face mask for just such a helmet-- the Chief logos as well. This one stays in my private collection.And like I say -- it is the last one I am buying on line. My big plan of buying up used helmets, refurbishing them as NFL helmets and re-selling them on line just hasn't panned out.
I was talking to my TV repair man the other day. He was regaling me with stories of a television program he had seen on public television. There's a guy who has made thousands of dollars on eBay because he had the right product! Viagra that he bought in Mexico and then sold online.
Why didn't I think of that?
_____________________________________________________
There's Something Rotten In The State of the BOE - EC
Yesterday's Eau Claire Leader-Telegram's lead story, page one. Headline: "Memo Skirted Board".
Former Eau Claire school board president Carol Olson signed and backdated a document at former Superintendent Bill Klaus' request that would have provided Klaus with a portion of his retirement payments before he was eligible to receive them. On February 5, 2007, the school board approved changes to Klaus' contract allowing him to become Northstar Middle School principal, but several board members who voted on the agreement said issuing the stipend to Klaus before age 55 and his retirement wasn't part of the deal.
Just before his move from superintendent to Northstar Middle School principal in July, Klaus, 53, asked Olson to sign a document stipulating he begin receiving those payments - totaling about $45,000 annually for five years - starting August 1.
The document signed by Olson was dated February 5, the same date the board approved Klaus' contract changes allowing him to become a middle school principal.
However, Klaus and Olson admitted the document WAS PLACED IN KLAUS' PERSONNEL FILE SOMETIME IN JUNE OR JULY AND BACKDATED, MAKING IT APPEAR AS IF IT WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT.
This was reported in a blog recently -- which prompted Klaus to threaten to sue.
It wasn't until the Leader-Telegram obtained the original document after filling out an "open records" request seeking information that this came to light.
Several board members said they were unaware of the document signed by Olson until it surfaced in October amid questions by the Leader-Telegram and district educators.
Board members said they were stunned when they discovered the documents signed by Olson had been made a part of the agreement without their knowledge. Several questioned why Klaus sought Olson to sign the document WHEN SHE HAD BEEN OFF THE BOARD FOR AT LEAST TWO MONTHS.
District Personnel Director Jim Kling said granting Klaus or any other administrator stipend payments before retirement is "highly unusual" -- Highly unusual??? How about downright illegal???
Klaus and Olson, of course, state that "they did not intend to circumvent terms of Klaus' contract." Instead, Klaus said their actions were a result of a misunderstanding about when he was to begin receiving stipend payments.
If this were true, why the subterfuge? Why is it that administrators of every ilk think they can treat us like mushrooms - keep us in the dark and feed us bull shit?
Klaus sunk himself deeper in the quick sand by saying: "In hindsight, we probably should have handled this differently. But the intent was not to do something illegal or secretive."
Again -- why the subterfuge and secretiveness?
And who does this remind you of???? This whole thing smells to high heaven of our present federal government administration's total disregard for the law.
So here's the ugly truth -- except for a few good souls, the Eau Claire Board of Education is another example of "Good- Ol'-Boy-ism".
The school board president himself fought to delay the release of the above.
And what will become of all this? Probably nothing. Business as usual.
Here is a part of the blog that got Klaus "steamed":
Folks,
The BAD NEWS:
The timing of the information I just posted on the blog (http://eauclaireschoolsmatter.blogspot.com/) is not good, but the BOE has only itself to blame for delaying the release of documents for MONTHS in hopes that President O'Brien could do The Big Skedaddle before any of this was made public.
The GOOD NEWS:
The recent posting has NOTHING to do with SEX.
The BOTTOM LINE:
Former Superintendent Klaus and Former BOE President Olson collaborated and created a document in the summer of 2007 that was intended to allow Dr. Klaus to collect his early retirement stipend while he was still working as a Principal. This document was backdated to Feb. 5, 2007 to agree with the dates on his legitimate contract. The document was inserted into Dr. Klaus' personnel file and then was used by him to try to increase his compensation. During the Fall of 2007 the current BOE members became aware of this attempt to falsify Board action and manipulate Dr. Klaus' compensation. It appears that NO DISCIPLINARY action was taken as Dr. Klaus is clearly still employed by the ECASD in a position of trust and high remuneration as a Principal. No legal action appears to have been taken against former BOE President Olson who created, backdated and signed a document that falsified action of elected officials.
Here's Maria's blog, in full: (well worth reading!):
They're Baaaaaaack!!!
The following post is LONG and goes back to events of several months ago only because definitive information verifying the "rumors" has been unavailable until recently. I believed that it was important enough to wait until the proper documents were available and reviewed before putting information into the public domain. Sadly, what was "rumored" was fully supported by actual documents recently received.
The BOTTOM LINE:
Former Superintendent Klaus and Former BOE President Olson collaborated and created a document in the summer of 2007 that was intended to allow Dr. Klaus to collect his early retirement stipend while he was still working as a Principal. This document was backdated to Feb. 5, 2007 to agree with the dates on his legitimate contract. The document was inserted into Dr. Klaus' personnel file and then was used by him to try to increase his compensation. During the Fall of 2007 the current BOE members became aware of this attempt to falsify Board action and manipulate Dr. Klaus' compensation. It appears that NO DISCIPLINARY action was taken as Dr. Klaus is clearly still employed by the ECASD in a position of trust and high remuneration as a Principal. No legal action appears to have been taken against former BOE President Olson who created, backdated and signed a document that falsified action of elected officials.
Accountability has flown the coop. Transparency is a pipe dream. Honesty is not part of the Core Values of the ECASD.
Just when we thought that Former Superintendent Bill Klaus and Former BOE President Carol Olson had done enough damage to our district and that they had "moved on", I heard rumors from community members in November 2007 (yup, 5 months ago) that they were doing some really naughty things! When I first heard this story I was absolutely flabbergasted as it sounded truly beyond belief. Again, even though my harshest criticism of our former leadership would include words like "incompetent" and "arrogant" I have NEVER believed that Klaus or Olson were downright greedy, unethical and, guilty of illegal acts. I was wrong.
Anyway, the short version of the story I heard in November was the following:
1. That former Supt. Klaus was expecting some form of "stipend" ($2,000/month) that he had in his position as Supt. to be continued in his position as a Principal which he started in July 2007.
2. That in July he spoke with former BOE Pres., Carol Olson, who apparently agreed that he was entitled to this compensation.
3. That in July 2007, after her tenure with the BOE was fully completed she signed and backdated some documents that would allow this stipend payment to continue.
Since this "news" seemed to be well circulated in the public I contacted Dr. Leary, Mr. VandeWater and Mr. Kling who would know about any such agreements or payments. I asked them to please "clarify this and put to rest this rumor as being NOT TRUE so we can get staff and citizens back to the business of focusing on the business of our district and with students." The silence was deafening. No response at all.
A few days later I received a phone call at my home with an ECASD "caller ID". I no longer have school age children at home so this was a little unusual. I answered the phone and the caller said: " Maria, this is Bill Klaus. I just got a phone call from a local attorney offering to defend me in a lawsuit against you." I asked him why he would sue me and he said that the attorney had just read him an e-mail from me. Hmmm....
The BOE was informed of this event on the day it happened (Dec. 3, 2007). On Dec. 6th I wrote another e-mail to follow-up with Dr. Leary, Mr. VandeWater and Mr. Kling that contained the following:
How does an e-mail from a citizen asking about serious legal and ethical questions regarding a current ECASD employee and the former Pres. of the BOE result in a not-so-thinly-veiled threat of legal action against the person asking the question?
In our telephone conversation Dr. Klaus did confirm that a document regarding his compensation was prepared in July/Aug. 2007 and signed by Former BOE Pres. Carol Olson (a timeframe when she had absolutely no legal authority for such action). He further stated that the date she signed on the document was Feb. 2007 which was a time that she was Pres. of the ECASD BOE.
Clearly, the actions of Dr. Klaus and Ms. Olson will be viewed by the public as an abuse of their former leadership positions in the ECASD. Any further erosion of public trust in the ECASD would be terribly destructive. However the response by the current leadership of the ECASD and the BOE has the potential to demonstrate to our community an absolute commitment to the expectation of honesty, fairness and transparency. (I ask you to consider the theoretical response of the leadership of the ECASD Administration and BOE to discovering that a teacher attempted to manipulate/increase their compensation in actions similar to those of Dr. Klaus and Ms. Olson.)
I think that it is clear that the seriousness of this has elevated and deserves a response. I respectfully ask the following:
1. Who else received a copy of the e-mail I sent to you?
2. Were any other ECASD employees involved in this incident?
3. Since these actions are now the subject of growing public discussion and dismay, what is the response to our community by the ECASD leadership and BOE?
I can assure you that I am completely committed to looking to the future of our district. Because of that, I think that it is crucial that leadership errors from the past be dealt with in a timely, fair and transparent manner.
Both Dr. Leary and Mr. VandeWater lateralled the ball to Mr. Kling who never responded at all.
Shortly after this my father died and I was out of town and busy with family and the Holidays and I did not do any additional follow up until January 2008. At this point I was aware that the LT and others were asking for copies of documents related to Dr. Klaus' compensation but they were all being stonewalled by the ECASD Administration and BOE leadership (Pres. O'Brien to be precise). Multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests were filed with the district with no response or additional delays. Attorneys here in Eau Claire as well as Madison were consulted and the taxpayers of EC will be paying for all this needless legal wrangling and avoidance of just telling the truth.
Here is another instance of where Conflict of Interest is harmful to good decision-making: Pres. O'Brien's employer, the Weld Riley law firm, is also the legal counsel for the ECASD. When a legal sticky wicket like this shows up the complications of obtaining an INDEPENDENT legal opinion about possible unethical/illegal activity involving persons who have worked for years together (Klaus, Olson and the Weld, Riley attorneys) is completely compromised.
FINALLY on the Friday afternoon before Spring Break word was that the documents were available to review at the ECASD Main Office. I have no doubt that all of this delay was due to Mr. O'Brien's desire to avoid having to actually make a few tough decisions during his tenure as President of the BOE that might involve some legal unpleasantness with Mr. Klaus and Ms. Olson, his former BOE buddy. I have repeatedly indicated that one of the past leadership failings of the BOE has been the inappropriate chumminess with ECASD Administration that has left them without the proper independence in decision-making.
Anyway, we have the documents. I am too much a technological lame brain to be able to post them on the blog. I am consulting some technological whiz kids who might be able to get them posted here so the rest of you can see the sad truth. For now we just need to keep hoping that we will keep making progress in other ways and the lousy leadership of the past will not insert themselves into the present anymore!
Former Eau Claire school board president Carol Olson signed and backdated a document at former Superintendent Bill Klaus' request that would have provided Klaus with a portion of his retirement payments before he was eligible to receive them. On February 5, 2007, the school board approved changes to Klaus' contract allowing him to become Northstar Middle School principal, but several board members who voted on the agreement said issuing the stipend to Klaus before age 55 and his retirement wasn't part of the deal.
Just before his move from superintendent to Northstar Middle School principal in July, Klaus, 53, asked Olson to sign a document stipulating he begin receiving those payments - totaling about $45,000 annually for five years - starting August 1.
The document signed by Olson was dated February 5, the same date the board approved Klaus' contract changes allowing him to become a middle school principal.
However, Klaus and Olson admitted the document WAS PLACED IN KLAUS' PERSONNEL FILE SOMETIME IN JUNE OR JULY AND BACKDATED, MAKING IT APPEAR AS IF IT WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT.
This was reported in a blog recently -- which prompted Klaus to threaten to sue.
It wasn't until the Leader-Telegram obtained the original document after filling out an "open records" request seeking information that this came to light.
Several board members said they were unaware of the document signed by Olson until it surfaced in October amid questions by the Leader-Telegram and district educators.
Board members said they were stunned when they discovered the documents signed by Olson had been made a part of the agreement without their knowledge. Several questioned why Klaus sought Olson to sign the document WHEN SHE HAD BEEN OFF THE BOARD FOR AT LEAST TWO MONTHS.
District Personnel Director Jim Kling said granting Klaus or any other administrator stipend payments before retirement is "highly unusual" -- Highly unusual??? How about downright illegal???
Klaus and Olson, of course, state that "they did not intend to circumvent terms of Klaus' contract." Instead, Klaus said their actions were a result of a misunderstanding about when he was to begin receiving stipend payments.
If this were true, why the subterfuge? Why is it that administrators of every ilk think they can treat us like mushrooms - keep us in the dark and feed us bull shit?
Klaus sunk himself deeper in the quick sand by saying: "In hindsight, we probably should have handled this differently. But the intent was not to do something illegal or secretive."
Again -- why the subterfuge and secretiveness?
And who does this remind you of???? This whole thing smells to high heaven of our present federal government administration's total disregard for the law.
So here's the ugly truth -- except for a few good souls, the Eau Claire Board of Education is another example of "Good- Ol'-Boy-ism".
The school board president himself fought to delay the release of the above.
And what will become of all this? Probably nothing. Business as usual.
Here is a part of the blog that got Klaus "steamed":
Folks,
The BAD NEWS:
The timing of the information I just posted on the blog (http://eauclaireschoolsmatter.blogspot.com/) is not good, but the BOE has only itself to blame for delaying the release of documents for MONTHS in hopes that President O'Brien could do The Big Skedaddle before any of this was made public.
The GOOD NEWS:
The recent posting has NOTHING to do with SEX.
The BOTTOM LINE:
Former Superintendent Klaus and Former BOE President Olson collaborated and created a document in the summer of 2007 that was intended to allow Dr. Klaus to collect his early retirement stipend while he was still working as a Principal. This document was backdated to Feb. 5, 2007 to agree with the dates on his legitimate contract. The document was inserted into Dr. Klaus' personnel file and then was used by him to try to increase his compensation. During the Fall of 2007 the current BOE members became aware of this attempt to falsify Board action and manipulate Dr. Klaus' compensation. It appears that NO DISCIPLINARY action was taken as Dr. Klaus is clearly still employed by the ECASD in a position of trust and high remuneration as a Principal. No legal action appears to have been taken against former BOE President Olson who created, backdated and signed a document that falsified action of elected officials.
Here's Maria's blog, in full: (well worth reading!):
They're Baaaaaaack!!!
The following post is LONG and goes back to events of several months ago only because definitive information verifying the "rumors" has been unavailable until recently. I believed that it was important enough to wait until the proper documents were available and reviewed before putting information into the public domain. Sadly, what was "rumored" was fully supported by actual documents recently received.
The BOTTOM LINE:
Former Superintendent Klaus and Former BOE President Olson collaborated and created a document in the summer of 2007 that was intended to allow Dr. Klaus to collect his early retirement stipend while he was still working as a Principal. This document was backdated to Feb. 5, 2007 to agree with the dates on his legitimate contract. The document was inserted into Dr. Klaus' personnel file and then was used by him to try to increase his compensation. During the Fall of 2007 the current BOE members became aware of this attempt to falsify Board action and manipulate Dr. Klaus' compensation. It appears that NO DISCIPLINARY action was taken as Dr. Klaus is clearly still employed by the ECASD in a position of trust and high remuneration as a Principal. No legal action appears to have been taken against former BOE President Olson who created, backdated and signed a document that falsified action of elected officials.
Accountability has flown the coop. Transparency is a pipe dream. Honesty is not part of the Core Values of the ECASD.
Just when we thought that Former Superintendent Bill Klaus and Former BOE President Carol Olson had done enough damage to our district and that they had "moved on", I heard rumors from community members in November 2007 (yup, 5 months ago) that they were doing some really naughty things! When I first heard this story I was absolutely flabbergasted as it sounded truly beyond belief. Again, even though my harshest criticism of our former leadership would include words like "incompetent" and "arrogant" I have NEVER believed that Klaus or Olson were downright greedy, unethical and, guilty of illegal acts. I was wrong.
Anyway, the short version of the story I heard in November was the following:
1. That former Supt. Klaus was expecting some form of "stipend" ($2,000/month) that he had in his position as Supt. to be continued in his position as a Principal which he started in July 2007.
2. That in July he spoke with former BOE Pres., Carol Olson, who apparently agreed that he was entitled to this compensation.
3. That in July 2007, after her tenure with the BOE was fully completed she signed and backdated some documents that would allow this stipend payment to continue.
Since this "news" seemed to be well circulated in the public I contacted Dr. Leary, Mr. VandeWater and Mr. Kling who would know about any such agreements or payments. I asked them to please "clarify this and put to rest this rumor as being NOT TRUE so we can get staff and citizens back to the business of focusing on the business of our district and with students." The silence was deafening. No response at all.
A few days later I received a phone call at my home with an ECASD "caller ID". I no longer have school age children at home so this was a little unusual. I answered the phone and the caller said: " Maria, this is Bill Klaus. I just got a phone call from a local attorney offering to defend me in a lawsuit against you." I asked him why he would sue me and he said that the attorney had just read him an e-mail from me. Hmmm....
The BOE was informed of this event on the day it happened (Dec. 3, 2007). On Dec. 6th I wrote another e-mail to follow-up with Dr. Leary, Mr. VandeWater and Mr. Kling that contained the following:
How does an e-mail from a citizen asking about serious legal and ethical questions regarding a current ECASD employee and the former Pres. of the BOE result in a not-so-thinly-veiled threat of legal action against the person asking the question?
In our telephone conversation Dr. Klaus did confirm that a document regarding his compensation was prepared in July/Aug. 2007 and signed by Former BOE Pres. Carol Olson (a timeframe when she had absolutely no legal authority for such action). He further stated that the date she signed on the document was Feb. 2007 which was a time that she was Pres. of the ECASD BOE.
Clearly, the actions of Dr. Klaus and Ms. Olson will be viewed by the public as an abuse of their former leadership positions in the ECASD. Any further erosion of public trust in the ECASD would be terribly destructive. However the response by the current leadership of the ECASD and the BOE has the potential to demonstrate to our community an absolute commitment to the expectation of honesty, fairness and transparency. (I ask you to consider the theoretical response of the leadership of the ECASD Administration and BOE to discovering that a teacher attempted to manipulate/increase their compensation in actions similar to those of Dr. Klaus and Ms. Olson.)
I think that it is clear that the seriousness of this has elevated and deserves a response. I respectfully ask the following:
1. Who else received a copy of the e-mail I sent to you?
2. Were any other ECASD employees involved in this incident?
3. Since these actions are now the subject of growing public discussion and dismay, what is the response to our community by the ECASD leadership and BOE?
I can assure you that I am completely committed to looking to the future of our district. Because of that, I think that it is crucial that leadership errors from the past be dealt with in a timely, fair and transparent manner.
Both Dr. Leary and Mr. VandeWater lateralled the ball to Mr. Kling who never responded at all.
Shortly after this my father died and I was out of town and busy with family and the Holidays and I did not do any additional follow up until January 2008. At this point I was aware that the LT and others were asking for copies of documents related to Dr. Klaus' compensation but they were all being stonewalled by the ECASD Administration and BOE leadership (Pres. O'Brien to be precise). Multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests were filed with the district with no response or additional delays. Attorneys here in Eau Claire as well as Madison were consulted and the taxpayers of EC will be paying for all this needless legal wrangling and avoidance of just telling the truth.
Here is another instance of where Conflict of Interest is harmful to good decision-making: Pres. O'Brien's employer, the Weld Riley law firm, is also the legal counsel for the ECASD. When a legal sticky wicket like this shows up the complications of obtaining an INDEPENDENT legal opinion about possible unethical/illegal activity involving persons who have worked for years together (Klaus, Olson and the Weld, Riley attorneys) is completely compromised.
FINALLY on the Friday afternoon before Spring Break word was that the documents were available to review at the ECASD Main Office. I have no doubt that all of this delay was due to Mr. O'Brien's desire to avoid having to actually make a few tough decisions during his tenure as President of the BOE that might involve some legal unpleasantness with Mr. Klaus and Ms. Olson, his former BOE buddy. I have repeatedly indicated that one of the past leadership failings of the BOE has been the inappropriate chumminess with ECASD Administration that has left them without the proper independence in decision-making.
Anyway, we have the documents. I am too much a technological lame brain to be able to post them on the blog. I am consulting some technological whiz kids who might be able to get them posted here so the rest of you can see the sad truth. For now we just need to keep hoping that we will keep making progress in other ways and the lousy leadership of the past will not insert themselves into the present anymore!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Selling On eBay Not Nearly As Much Fun As Buying
I guess I should read the eBay seller's tutorials before I start dabbling in selling stuff on eBay. This past week I put a Schutt helmet up for sale.
On the advice of eBay, I started the price low, at $.99. But first I should tell you that the helmet cost me $40 some dollars to purchase off eBay. then I spent another $5.00 painting it in NY Giant blue, and another $40 in buying the correct NFL helmet decals for it. So add it up.
Yesterday it sold for $9.99. I guess you might say I lost my ass! I immediately went into my the other items for sale and changed my opening price from .99 to 49.99 -- I am not running a charity here!
so this morning, I get an e mail from Mr Irate in Florida which reads:
"this helmet was .99 cents today (I think he meant yesterday) and now it is 49.99, what gives, what kind of auction are you running here.why did you change the price, that is not the way to do business, I hope all others see this and are outraged too."
To which I replied: " I am new to selling items on eBay and after spending over $100 in preparation to sell a similar helmet, it sold for $9.99. So you are not the only one who is irate. Forgive me for my ignornace."
Well, Mr Irate is not in a forgiving mood as witnessed from his reply to that e mail:
"This is why it is called an auction, you have plenty of feedback so you must know how auctions work, why would you ever think you will get great money on this site, people are always looking for deals, so please start all your auctions for what you will be happy with in the future, anyway good luck selling in the future but I will no longer be interested in any of your auctions for I would be affraid you will change your mind and change the price."
As you can understand, I didn't feel this message needed an answer. And I am certain to be losing lots of sleep because he will no longer be interested in any of my auctions. OUCH!
_____________________________________________________________
On a lighter note, Kim received the following e mail from Stephanie St. Germaine:
"Hi! how are things? I miss you. I was getting ready for work this morning listening to the Rhinelander Hodag radio and they played this crazy song about wood ticks. I was thinking it sounded familiar and the voice sounded a little familiar. The song got over and the DJ said that was Larry Heagle with the Wood tick song. I couldn't believe it. Anyways, got to get back to work! Hope everything is going well for you.
Stephanie
A much needed lift! Good to know that spring is here and the song has returned to the airwaves. I was down to the Eau Claire Bicycle Shop on Water Street recently -- in search of bicycle shipping crates which work really well in the shipment of guitars -- and the owner brought up my "favorite" subject -- Brad Paisley's obvious rip off of The Wood Tick Song.
Unfortunately, he doesn't use enough exact phrasing from my song to be sued -- just stole the whole idea. And ideas, unfortunately, are not protected by law.
It's the same old story with me. Back in the day it was the "Turtles" commercial for Leinenkugel's Beer -- the idea has been used over and over again on t shirts and billboard advertising and I see nary a penny. but then who said life is fair, eh?
Just don't be buying anything from me on Ebay because you never know when I will up my price as I am a real unscrupulous bastard. Ask anybody that really knows me!
_______________________________________________________________
And this one just in from the Wisconsin Department of Fishing and Hunting Harrassment:
NEVER ARGUE WITH A WOMAN
One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.
Along comes Game Warden T. J. Ebbers in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, "Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?"
"Reading a book," she replies, (thinking, "Isn't that obvious?")
"You're in a restricted fishing area," he informs her
"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading"
"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."
"For reading a book?" she replies,
"You're in a restricted fishing area," he informs her again,
"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading"
"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."
"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman.
"But I haven't even touched you," says the T.J.
"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."
"You're a ball bustin' bitch!" he says, and he left.
MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.
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On the advice of eBay, I started the price low, at $.99. But first I should tell you that the helmet cost me $40 some dollars to purchase off eBay. then I spent another $5.00 painting it in NY Giant blue, and another $40 in buying the correct NFL helmet decals for it. So add it up.
Yesterday it sold for $9.99. I guess you might say I lost my ass! I immediately went into my the other items for sale and changed my opening price from .99 to 49.99 -- I am not running a charity here!
so this morning, I get an e mail from Mr Irate in Florida which reads:
"this helmet was .99 cents today (I think he meant yesterday) and now it is 49.99, what gives, what kind of auction are you running here.why did you change the price, that is not the way to do business, I hope all others see this and are outraged too."
To which I replied: " I am new to selling items on eBay and after spending over $100 in preparation to sell a similar helmet, it sold for $9.99. So you are not the only one who is irate. Forgive me for my ignornace."
Well, Mr Irate is not in a forgiving mood as witnessed from his reply to that e mail:
"This is why it is called an auction, you have plenty of feedback so you must know how auctions work, why would you ever think you will get great money on this site, people are always looking for deals, so please start all your auctions for what you will be happy with in the future, anyway good luck selling in the future but I will no longer be interested in any of your auctions for I would be affraid you will change your mind and change the price."
As you can understand, I didn't feel this message needed an answer. And I am certain to be losing lots of sleep because he will no longer be interested in any of my auctions. OUCH!
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On a lighter note, Kim received the following e mail from Stephanie St. Germaine:
"Hi! how are things? I miss you. I was getting ready for work this morning listening to the Rhinelander Hodag radio and they played this crazy song about wood ticks. I was thinking it sounded familiar and the voice sounded a little familiar. The song got over and the DJ said that was Larry Heagle with the Wood tick song. I couldn't believe it. Anyways, got to get back to work! Hope everything is going well for you.
Stephanie
A much needed lift! Good to know that spring is here and the song has returned to the airwaves. I was down to the Eau Claire Bicycle Shop on Water Street recently -- in search of bicycle shipping crates which work really well in the shipment of guitars -- and the owner brought up my "favorite" subject -- Brad Paisley's obvious rip off of The Wood Tick Song.
Unfortunately, he doesn't use enough exact phrasing from my song to be sued -- just stole the whole idea. And ideas, unfortunately, are not protected by law.
It's the same old story with me. Back in the day it was the "Turtles" commercial for Leinenkugel's Beer -- the idea has been used over and over again on t shirts and billboard advertising and I see nary a penny. but then who said life is fair, eh?
Just don't be buying anything from me on Ebay because you never know when I will up my price as I am a real unscrupulous bastard. Ask anybody that really knows me!
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And this one just in from the Wisconsin Department of Fishing and Hunting Harrassment:
NEVER ARGUE WITH A WOMAN
One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.
Along comes Game Warden T. J. Ebbers in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, "Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?"
"Reading a book," she replies, (thinking, "Isn't that obvious?")
"You're in a restricted fishing area," he informs her
"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading"
"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."
"For reading a book?" she replies,
"You're in a restricted fishing area," he informs her again,
"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading"
"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."
"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman.
"But I haven't even touched you," says the T.J.
"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."
"You're a ball bustin' bitch!" he says, and he left.
MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.
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Thursday, April 17, 2008
eBay Connects Me With Other Parts of The United States
One of the truly astounding features of the internet is how it can draw us together through common interests, common goals, even common beliefs. As those of you who read this blog often know, it was my first time using this internet selling service, and in general I am very pleased with the way that it went.
I have to admit that during the days that the guitar was enroute to Rochester, New York, I was doing a lot of nail biting for fear that United Parcel Service would not have followed my instructions to "top load" it and to mark it fragile and treat it that way.Now, here's the really cool part of the whole deal! I asked the buyer to let me know when he received the guitar and to assure me that it arrived in good shape. He did so and in our correspondence it became apparent that we have some things in common. He has the same love of guitars that I do, for one.
I was very pleased when he sent me these photographs of his arch top guitar collection and his guitar work shop. so I asked his permission to share them with you.
So now I am looking forward to selling more goods through eBay and I hope that those I come in contact with have as much class as Carl Cavuoto of Rochester, New York has! Thanks, Carl, for sharing photos of your work shop, your fine guitar restoration work, and I loved the photo of Frankie (the dog) that was also included in the shots!
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Wednesday, April 16, 2008
A Great Birthday - Thanks To Great People
Here is a photograph of my very first completed sale on eBay. It's a 1950's Harmony arch top guitar that I put up for sale with a "buy it now" option on April 10, 2008. Talk about beginner's luck! One half hour later, it sold to Carl Cavuoto of Rochester, New York, who, it turns out, collects this very model of Harmony guitars -- he has six! And he told me that he is very pleased and satisfied -- that this one is "by far the best" of his collection.
So I am in a celebratory mood today! and looking for other things I can sell! However, I am thinking I want to start selling things that aren't so bulky. It's difficult to find card board boxes big enough and strong enough to accommodate a guitar and case. that's why I am hoping that the re-furbished football helmets I am offering will sell as they will be much easier to ship.
This morning I called Riddell, the famous football helmet manufacturer, and ordered two large yellow helmets which I am going to make into Green Bay Packer helmets for my own private collection. I already have one made up as a "Brett Favre" helmet and the two that I have ordered will become a Ray Nitschke and a Bart Starr.
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I had an absolutely wonderful birthday yesterday. The sun actually came out and the temperatures got above 60 degrees. My good friend Judy Willink bought me breakfast at 7 AM, then I met with my manager Liz Fischer and her friend Sharon Lowry for lunch.
Liz presented me with her "old" HP computer tower for my birthday -- as she knew I wanted it to use just as a game computer. I spent the afternoon getting it hooked up to a brand new 19 inch Samsung wide screen monitor and then plugged in my Microsoft WWII Europe Series Combat Flight Simulator that was given to me back in September when I helped my pal "Blinky" move back from New York -- and shot down Nazi pilots the rest of the afternoon!
I shot so many down, in fact, that today I have a very sore right fore arm -- working on a case of carpal tunnel.
I used to have that game for years, but gave it away to a young friend of mine that I really admire.
I crashed and got shot down a lot!
Finished my birthday up with pizza at Sammy's with Kim -- sausage and mushroom --my favorite! Kimmy showered me with wonderful birthday cards all day. And I want to thank all the kind friends who sent me greetings by mail. I guess there is an advantage to having your birthday fall on tax day. everybody remembers it more easily!
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Kim sent me the following and I think it deserves sharing:
As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that
wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You
will have your heart broken probably more than once and
it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so
remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight
with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things
an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast,
and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too
many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never
been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset
is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. Don't be
afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.
And to that, I say AMEN!
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Monday, April 14, 2008
Panther, Packer Helmets Honor Shanty Boy's First Trip To Lambeau
I spent most of the day finishing up on the Carolina Panthers helmet that I had intended to have done before my good friend Jay Moore's birthday. I failed miserably. However, if he still would like to have it, he should drop me an e mail saying so -- because I really did "build" it just for him in honor of the glorious weekend we had together along with our pal "Blinky" Johnson in Titletown.Highlights of the trip included stumbling on a really good Greek restaurant in down town Appleton the night before the game, being rousted from our beds with a false alarm complete with fire trucks, a sunshiny day at Lambeau with a solid Packer victory. Little did we know that we were watching Brett Favre for the last time in our experience, which makes me all the happier that I insisted that Jay be my guest for the trip. Life it too short!
I was showing Kim some of the helmet "projects" I have completed over the last months. she thinks I should "take custom orders" from people and produce exact helmets that they want.
So today, I went online and did a little base pricing on supplies to put together helmets. I think rather than bid on helmets on eBay I would start buying Riddell VSR2Y helmets new and go from there. I figure that I could produce a custom helmet for any player or any team for around $175.00, which probably is cost prohibitive.
If you take a look at the Packer helmet in the photo with this blog, that is a used Riddell VSR2Y that I bought on eBay for $60 plus shipping. You can't see, but there are some dings here and there on the helmet as it was used in high school play for one season and most likely by a kicker.
But a helmet that clean is very difficult to come across online and they usually cost more than that. I bought this one because the seller gave me a "buy it now" choice, and since it was Packer yellow, I grabbed it!
Anyway, if anybody out there wants me to make them a special order college or National Football League helmet, contact me and let's talk! I really do enjoy working on these things!
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Yipes! It's nearly 5PM and I haven't even cleaned up yet! Guess that's it for today!
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