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.

Good morning, Whitewater

There are no public meetings scheduled for the city today.

The National Weather Service predicts that today will be sunny with a high of 42 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac continues a Thanksgiving series predicting continued “fair and cold” weather. Similar predictions.

Yesterday’s better prediction: About even. It was clear last evening, a beautiful, dark sky.

In Wisconsin history today, as the Wisconsin Historical Society reports it, a sensible decision if ever there were one — Legislature Assembled in Madison for the First Time —

1838 –
On this date, after moving from the temporary capital in Burlington, Iowa, the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature assembled in Madison for the first time. Two years earlier, when the territorial legislature had met for the first time in Belmont, many cities were mentioned as possibilities for the permanent capital — Cassville, Fond du Lac, Milwaukee, Platteville, Mineral Point, Racine, Belmont, Koshkonong, Wisconsinapolis, Peru, and Wisconsin City. Madison won the vote, and funds were authorized to erect a suitable building in which lawmakers would conduct the people’s business. Progress went so slowly, however, that some lawmakers wanted to relocate the seat of government to Milwaukee, where they also thought they would find better accomodations than in the wilds of Dane Co. When the legislature finally met in Madison in November 1838 there was only an outside shell to the new Capitol. The interior was not completed until 1845, more than six years after it was supposed to be finished. On November 26, 1838, Governor Henry Dodge delivered his first speech in the new seat of government.

Now, not everything in Madison is perfect. We may be grateful tomorrow, though, on Thanksgiving, that we are not governed from Burlington, Cassville, or Koshkonong.

Good morning, Whitewater

There are no public meetings scheduled for the city again today.

The National Weather Service predicts that today will be mostly sunny with a high of 35 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac continues a Thanksgiving series predicting continued “fair and cold” weather.

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS, easily — we had snow.

In our schools today, at Washington School, there is a third grade field trip to the Irvin Young Auditorium on campus, to see the Magic Tree House: The Musical. Now I never had a tree house, but I am confident that, in certain ways, the students seeing the show will find that every tree house has a bit of magic in it. Enjoy.

Here are scenes from the world premiere of the musical, based on the series from Mary Pope Osborne —

Good morning, Whitewater

There are no public meetings scheduled for the city today. Your weekend was filled with private activity, that you managed as well as you could. Why interrupt that private time with a municipal schedule? Two private days might extend into three, a week, yet more… I am in an optimistic way this morning.

The National Weather Service predicts that today offers snow and a high of 39 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac begins a Thanksgiving series predicting continued “fair and cold” weather.

It’s snowing now, as I write, showing what happens to a planner looking a year ahead, and attempting to predict something so complicated as the weather.

Last week’s better prediction: About even, only the second or third week like that since I have been tracking.

In our schools today, there is a School Board meeting at 7 p.m. The agenda is available online.

In Wisconsin history on this date, in 1959, I-90 opened to traffic from Janesville to Beloit, as the Wisconsin Historical Society observes —

On this date Interstate 90 opened to traffic between Janesville and Beloit. Work was temporarily halted north of Janesville as the exact route was not yet determined and property not yet acquired.

Interstate 90 is thousands of miles long, stretching from one side of America to the other.

Good morning, Whitewater

There are no public meetings scheduled for the City of Whitewater at week’s end.

The National Weather Service predicts that today will be sunny with a high of 28 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac predicts “rain and west snow.”

Yesterday’s better prediction: NWS. No rain…

In our schools today, this evening, at the high school the fall production of Lucky Stiff continues.

In Wisconsin history on this date, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society, in 1968, it was “Black Thursday at UW-Oshkosh”:

On this date, 96 African-American students were arrested for occupying the university president’s office to protest the University administration’s refusal to commit to adding more black teachers, classes in African-American history, black speakers on campus, and a black cultural center. Although the students were jailed and suspended from the University, within a year many of their ideas were implemented, including adding black literature and history classes and opening an Interracial Cultural Center.

An exhibit about the Black Thursday protests is available online at the UW Oshkosh website.

Good morning, Whitewater

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

The National Weather Service predicts that today will bring flurries with a high of 31 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac predicts “rain and west snow.”

Yesterday’s better prediction: Again, the same between the NWS and FA, but cloudier than the FA predicted.

In our schools today, this evening, at the high school there will be the fall production of Lucky Stiff. Enjoy.

In American history on this date, from 1820, comes a story about the revenge of one righteously angry whale. The story, from recounts, how

the whaling ship Essex is rammed and sunk by a sperm whale 2,000 miles off the west coast of South America. The ordeal of the crew inspires Herman Melville’s classic, Moby Dick. The Essex was an aging vessel from Nantucket, which at the time possessed the largest whaling fleet in the world. The three-masted ship was 87 feet long and weighed 238 tons. She was captained by George Pollard Jr., at 28 already an experienced whaler.

Much more effective than Greenpeace — If one wants to hunt whales, one should be prepared for those times when whales hunt back.