Milwaukee’s Lead Legacy: A New Wisconsinite’s Observations of His Adopted State

The square for Lead (Pb) on the periodic table.When you move to a new place there are things you think about because you know they will change (mailing address, insurance coverage and cost, and, if you are me, local elected officials).  There are other things you don’t think about because they are part of a cultural background and as a stranger in a strange land you don’t know they change (Every one eats at a Friday fish fry, Neighborhoods set days/times for Trick-or-Treating, and, if you are not me, local elected officials).  One thing I never considered when moving to Milwaukee was that my tap water might not be safe to drink.

It’s not.  My tap water has lead in it.
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The painting The Fighting Temeraire Tugged to Her Last Berth to be Broken Up, 1838 by J. M. W. Turner. The painting depicts an idealized white galley ship being pulled from the right side of the painting by a dark tugboat. On the left of the painting is a red and yellow sunset.

Skyfall as Art #TBT

Skyfall, the 23rd official Bond Film, has opened to the typical Bond fanfare, but also continues the attempt of the Daniel Craig era to create serious film-as-art. While Skyfall’s predecessors Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace took the serious rather than campy route as well, Skyfall surpasses them as art.  This is largely because of of an Academy Award winning Director – Sam Mendes – and another star laden cast, but mostly Skyfall achieves this status because it prominently features and uses artwork to advance the plot. Paintings, the oldest visual medium, are used to heroic effect in Skyfall and frame Skyfall AS art. […]

Picture of small red, yellow and orange peppers in a round metal bowl.

Burning Eyeball: A New Wisconsinite’s Observations of His Adopted State

There came a point in the five minutes with my eyeball under a steady stream of water attempting to flush out the oil that was making me familiar with what a minor level of hell feels like where my body accepted this as my new normal.  I would forever be stuck with my head in a sink, my sight restricted to a big light blur, speaking to the disembodied voice of my friend behind me.

Since I am not dictating this post from a sink, let’s back up. […]

Picture of political campaign buttons.

It’s About More Than Rides to the Polls

It’s the time on Election Day, every year, where I am reading with a smile about everyone getting out and voting and I stumble across the inevitable question: “How can I give people rides to the polls?” As a former political field organizer, I cringe at this question.

When I was a political field organizer, come Election Day, I was inundated with well-meaning civic-minded citizens wanting to give people rides the polls. The Capraesque feeling that must come from giving an octogenarian, slow moving but quick-witted, a ride to the polls so they can exercise their duty to help choose our elected officials as a member of our representative democracy must be a high akin to heroin. Everyone wants a taste.

I wouldn’t know. I have never given rides to the polls as I was busy working to win the election. […]