Good morning, Whitewater

The weekend approaches. There are no municipal public meetings scheduled in the City of Whitewater. No public scheme, government program stands in the way of your weekend’s private enjoyment.

The National Weather Service predicts a mostly sunny day with a high of only 14 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac begins a multi-day series predicting fair weather turning colder.

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS.

There’s a Holiday Music Program at Washington School today.

Next week: regular posting resumes.

Good morning, Whitewater

There are no municipal public meetings scheduled in the City of Whitewater.

The National Weather Service predicts a partly sunny day a high of 25 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac continues its a four-day series predicting heavy snow for Wisconsin.

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS.

There’s a 7 p.m. Band Concert at the High School auditorium.

Good morning, Whitewater

There are no municipal public meetings scheduled in the City of Whitewater, this Wednesday.

The National Weather Service predicts increasing clouds with a high of 21 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac continues its a four-day series predicting heavy snow for Wisconsin.

Yesterday’s better prediction: Even.

In Wisconsin history for this day, in 1967, a sad day for our state, and points beyond, as Otis Redding Dies.

On this date a twin-engine Beechcraft carrying Otis Redding crashed into Lake Monona in Madison, killing Redding and four members of his touring band, the Bar-Kays. Otis Redding was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

Here’s a video of Redding’s Sittin’ On (The Dock of the Bay):

Good morning, Whitewater

There’s no school today — play responsibly.

There are no municipal public meetings scheduled in the City of Whitewater, either.

Today, and today only, you’re 2 for 2.

The National Weather Service predicts a high of 34 degrees, with a wintry mix, and — this is a technical term — lots of snow. The Farmers’ Almanac continues a four-day series predicting heavy snow for Wisconsin.

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS.

In Wisconsin history for this day, in 1844, a day advancing information and expression, as Milwaukee’s First Daily Newspaper Published.

On this date Milwaukee’s first daily newspaper, The Daily Sentinel, was published. David M. Keeler served and manager and C.L. MacArthur was the editor.

Good morning, Whitewater

There is one public meeting scheduled today in the City of Whitewater: the Irvin Young Memorial Library Board meets tonight, at 6:30 p.m. The evening’s agenda is available online.

The National Weather Service predicts a high of 32 degrees, with a wintry mix of snow, freezing rain, and sleet. The Farmers’ Almanac begins a four-day series predicting heavy snow for Wisconsin. They may just be right, before all is done.

Last week’s better prediction: NWS.

At Washington School today, there is a Fifth Grade Band Concert scheduled for 2 PM and again at 7 PM.

Students of Washington — Oingo Boingo’s Capitalism is always a crowd-pleaser. There’s still time to learn — it practically sings itself.

In Wisconsin history for this day, in 1917, a day of sadness, and mourning, according to the the Wisconsin Historical Society, as Inventor John F. Appleby Dies.

Why so sad, residents of America’s Dairyland? Oh my, steel yourselves, please —

On this date the inventor of the twine-binder, John F. Appleby died. Appleby was raised on a wheat farm in Wisconsin and searched for an easier way to harvest and bundle grains. His invention gathered severed spears into bundles and bound the sheaves with hempen twine. His invention, which was pulled by horses, was a great success.

In 1878 William Deering, a farm machinery manufacturer secured the right to use Appleby’s patent and sold 3,000 twine harvesters in a single year. In 1882 the McCormicks (of the McCormick reapers) paid $35,000 for the privilege to manufacture Appleby’s invention. Appleby spent the rest of his life in his shop trying to create additional successful machinery.

Appleby spent the rest of his life trying to create ‘additional, successful machinery?’

Now, Whitewater, there is a great man — any lesser man would have spent the remainder of his life resting on his earlier invention of a twine-binder. Only a great man would toil on, in the hope of additional gifts for all humanity.

Good morning, Whitewater

Enjoy your snow-covered weekend. Our municipality gives you a fine send-off — there are no public meetings scheduled for Friday in the City of Whitewater.

The National Weather Service predicts a high of 21 degrees, with increasing cloudiness. The Farmers’ Almanac is in day two of a multi-day series predicting that conditions will be “fair then wet.”

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS.

Well, at Washington School — Home of the Golden Eagles — it’s Eagle Day and Spirit Day.

In Wisconsin history for this day, in 1879, leaves us with a happy anniversary today, according to the the Wisconsin Historical Society, as the Humane Society of Wisconsin was Organized:

On this date the Humane Society of Wisconsin was organized in Milwaukee. Inspired by Henry Bergh, a New York City philanthropist, and his Humane Movement, the state Humane Society was formed to protect both animals and children. However, with the formation of child protection laws in the early 1900s, the Humane Society of Wisconsin began to focus primarily on animal protection.

The Wisconsin Humane Society has its own website, with information about its work and mission.

The Wisconsin Humane Society receives no government support — only the free charitable efforts of donors sustain their work.

The Wisconsin Humane Society’s mission is to build a community where people value animals and treat them with respect and kindness.

Our goal is to save lives.

The Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) is a private nonprofit organization whose mission is to build a community where people value animals and treat them with respect and kindness. For more than 125 years, WHS has been saving the lives of animals in need. As the largest and most recognized shelter in the state of Wisconsin, WHS offers the following specialized services:

a comprehensive adoption program that matches homeless companion animals with new families and provides follow up and support

lifesaving medical care for nearly 20,000 animals annually, including more than 5,000 wild animals
a spay/neuter clinic for animals from low-income households

educational programs for children and adults designed to teach respect and care for animals and to end neglect and abuse and provide information about the link between violence against animals and human violence

companion animal and wildlife tip lines in addition to individual recommendations to assist the community at large

manners classes for dogs and puppies

one of the largest wildlife rehabilitation hospitals of its kind in the nation, rescuing thousands of animals annually

In 2004, the Wisconsin Humane Society merged with the Ozaukee Humane Society to expand our opportunity to help at-risk animals. This new partnership also enables us to operate more efficiently and save more lives.

WHS receives no government support; we are funded through the generosity of community-minded companies and caring individuals like you!

Good morning, Whitewater

There are no public meetings scheduled in the City of Whitewater.

There is, though, a public event – tonight at 6 p.m. Whitewater celebrates the season with a Holiday Parade.

The National Weather Service predicts a high of 20 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac starts a new, multi-day series predicting that today will be “fair then wet.”

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS.

There’s a book fair at Lincoln School today.

In Wisconsin history today, from the Wisconsin Historical Society, Janesville Council Denies Prohibition End:

On this date the Janesville Council drafted a “drastic liquor control law” that prohibited serving liquor. The law prohibited distilled spirits, but not beer, at bars, and limited liquor service to tables. Backrooms and “blinds” (closed booths) were also prohibited. The only place where packaged liquor was allowed to be sold was at municipal dispensaries. Further, bars were prohibited from selling packaged liquor. The next day, the city was uncommonly quiet as the 18th Amendment was repealed. For nearly 14 years, the 18th Amendment (the Prohibition Amendment), outlawed the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages within the U.S.

Good morning, Whitewater

There are no public meetings scheduled in the City of Whitewater, today.

The National Weather Service predicts that today will bring increasing snow with a high of 33 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac predicts that today will be “cold and dry.”

Yesterday’s better prediction: About even — some clouds, some sun, both forecasts right for parts of the day.

In our schools today, at 7:00 p.m., there is a scheduled FFA meeting at the high school.

To those who wrote, expressing dislike of my suggestion of re-naming Lakeview School for Paine, Hayek, or another notable advocate of liberty, I’ll admit that you’re right — my suggestion was not funny at all. It was not wholly meant to be. I thought it was a good idea.

In fact, after a day’s reflection, I think it’s an idea that has aged well. To the correspondent who suggested Jefferson or George Mason, you’re right — they were advocates of liberty, but slaveholding makes them different from others on my original list, I think. To the correspondent who suggested seeing if someone named Lakeview already has a storied career as an advocate of freedom, well, that’s possible, too. I’m just not aware of that particular legacy.

In Wisconsin history today, from the Wisconsin Historical Society, perhaps another sad day in our history, but fortunately not so sad as McCarthy’s legacy — in 1947, the First TV Station in Wisconsin Established: “On this date the first TV station in Wisconsin, WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee, was established. The seventeenth television station in the country, WTMJ-TV was the first in the Midwest.”

Seventeenth in America, but first in the Midwest? So we had television before Chicago? Now, if we could only place ahead of Chicago in the NL Central.

Good morning, Whitewater

There are two public meetings in the City of Whitewater, today. First, at 3:00 p.m., there is a scheduled meeting of the Trippe/Cravath Lakes Improvement Committee at the Municipal Building. The agenda for the meeting is available online. (Agenda will open in another window.)

Later, at 6:30 p.m., there is a Common Council meeting. The agenda for that meeting is also available online. (Agenda will open in another, somewhat cloudy and contentious window.)

The National Weather Service predicts that today will bring increasing clouds with a high — like yesterday — of 31 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac predicts that the next three days will be “cold and dry.”

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS — it snowed. Everyone at the FA should quick after yesterday’s prediction.

In our schools today, at 6:30 p.m., there is a scheduled PTA meeting at Lakeview School. There is also a Band Concert, at the same time, at Lincoln School.

Parents of Lakeview — I am sure that you like the name of your school, and I respect your preference. Do you not see, though, that you might choose a new name to honor someone? I would offer Paine, Hayek, Friedman, Goldwater, or Rand. Ayn Rand Elementary — surely you see that it just gently trips over the tongue?

In Wisconsin History today, from the Wisconsin Historical Society, a sad part of our past comes to a close, at least for some — “McCarthy Censured by Senate” in 1954: “On December 2, 1954, the United States Senate voted to censure Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy. Declaring his behavior “contrary to senatorial traditions,” the 1954 Senate resolution officially condemned McCarthy’s reign of anti-communist terror.”

Here’s the resolution of censure that restored some measure of America’s fair-minded tradition, rejecting McCarthy’s methods:

Transcript of Senate Resolution 301: Censure of Senator Joseph McCarthy (1954)

Resolved, That the Senator from Wisconsin, Mr. McCarthy, failed to cooperate with the Subcommittee on Privileges and Elections of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration in clearing up matters referred to that subcommittee which concerned his conduct as a Senator and affected the honor of the Senate and, instead, repeatedly abused the subcommittee and its members who were trying to carry out assigned duties, thereby obstructing the constitutional processes of the Senate, and that this conduct of the Senator from Wisconsin, Mr. McCarthy, is contrary to senatorial traditions and is hereby condemned.

Sec 2. The Senator from Wisconsin, Mr. McCarthy, in writing to the chairman of the Select Committee to Study Censure Charges (Mr. Watkins) after the Select Committee had issued its report and before the report was presented to the Senate charging three members of the Select Committee with “deliberate deception” and “fraud” for failure to disqualify themselves; in stating to the press on November 4, 1954, that the special Senate session that was to begin November 8, 1954, was a “lynch-party”; in repeatedly describing this special Senate session as a “lynch bee” in a nationwide television and radio show on November 7, 1954; in stating to the public press on November 13, 1954, that the chairman of the Select Committee (Mr. Watkins) was guilty of “the most unusual, most cowardly things I’ve ever heard of” and stating further: “I expected he would be afraid to answer the questions, but didn’t think he’d be stupid enough to make a public statement”; and in characterizing the said committee as the “unwitting handmaiden,” “involuntary agent” and “attorneys-in-fact” of the Communist Party and in charging that the said committee in writing its report “imitated Communist methods — that it distorted, misrepresented, and omitted in its effort to manufacture a plausible rationalization” in support of its recommendations to the Senate, which characterizations and charges were contained in a statement released to the press and inserted in the Congressional Record of November 10, 1954, acted contrary to senatorial ethics and tended to bring the Senate into dishonor and disrepute, to obstruct the constitutional processes of the Senate, and to impair its dignity; and such conduct is hereby condemned.

Good morning, Whitewater

In the City of Whitewater, today, at 5:30 p.m., there is a scheduled meeting of the Park & Recreation Board at the Municipal Building. The agenda for the meeting is available online as a pdf file.

The National Weather Service predicts that today will be snowy with a high of 31 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac predicts that the next three days will be “cold and dry.”

Last week’s better prediction: NWS.

In our schools today, at 6:30 p.m., there is a scheduled Music Parents’ meeting at the high school.

From Wired, an interesting science discovery, wholly accidental, is recounted in a news squib entitled, “Happy Accident Opens Door to Cheaper, Higher-Resolution Cameras.”

Scientific accidents have brought some of the most groundbreaking discoveries — vulcanized rubber, X-rays, penicillin — and now scientists at UCLA have accidentally discovered a material that could make digital cameras as we know them obsolete.

Graduate student Hsiang-Yu Chen was working on a new formula for solar cells when something went wrong. Instead of creating electricity when hit with light, the conductivity of the material she was working with changed.

“The original purpose [was] to make a solar cell more efficient,” says Chen. “However, during the research we found the solar cell phenomenon [had] disappeared.” Instead, the test material showed high gain photoconductivity, indicating potential use as a photo sensor.

Thanks to this lucky mistake, a new breed of camera sensors that are cheaper, higher-resolution and have lower distortion could be on the horizon.

Wired offers a gallery with images (taken through a conventional digital or film camera) related to the discovery.