The Meaning of Christmas, Family First Ministries Style.

Some area groups really know how to make the holidays special.    So when the First Family Ministry had a Toy Giveaway at Fox Valley Transit Station , who knowing were the need is,  we had to cover it.   Setting up without really a whole lot of notice, the ministry simply got permission from the Transit station authorities. 

As folks came through the station, they were offered free toys for their little ones.  The Ministry is a church located just across the street (to the north) from the Brown County Library.  

We thought this was important, because those who ride the bus are not like those who drive expensive cars, and can afford nice expensive toys for their little ones.

Good folk doing good work.

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PLEASE!, Donate here.,,, It takes a lot of time and effort as well as wear and tear on expensive video and computer equipment to deliver you independent news and video. The time I can offer, but the costs of providing corporate influence free isn’t free, or easy … free news takes money, to pay for the gear, bandwidth, and gas we use to do these reports. I try to provide more rich and higher quality content than the big money, corporate media. If you value this, please contribute to US Confidential and Wisconsin Confidential by making a donation . Please, Donate here.

Christmas Morning Views of the The Fox River from the Oneida Street Bridge

As I was unable to sleep a wink on Christmas eve and morning, so I packed up my gear and engaged in the best therapy  I know … a “Phosari”, or photo safari. 

Go to Marcel Kuemmet Photography to view the slide show and more …

I always really get into low light and nighttime photography, which has always been sort of a specialty for me.

Hope you enjoy the slide show below.

 

To view full size versions of the photos, click on them, they will open in a new tab …

PLEASE!, Donate here.,,, It takes a lot of time and effort as well as wear and tear on expensive video and computer equipment to deliver you independent news and video. The time I can offer, but the costs of providing corporate influence free … free news takes money, to pay for the gear, bandwidth, and gas we use to do these reports. I try to provide more rich and higher quality content than the big money, corporate media. If you value this, please contribute to US Confidential and Wisconsin Confidential by making a donation . Please, Donate here.

To Slip and and Fall, in Appleton, WI … but only for the Poor

 

Snow and Ice

Wisconsin received it’s first significant snowfall on December 21, 2012.  Over the next few days private and city crews waged a war on heavy snow, and the icy and slippery conditions that followed.   I encountered sidewalks that resulted in me falling to the ground over 7 times.  Growing concerned that my photo gear would break, or I would be injured (I was injured on the job with an employer that could care not as long as his profits were intact … that resulted in a drastic change in my life,  possibly life long nerve damage in my right arm, and extreme pain that continues to this day,  but that is a different story for a different time, once the case is settled).  I witnessed several times individuals slip and many fall. 

Residential and Home Owners face the law, Business People are above the Law?

The City of Appleton’s website states that “Property owners are required to remove snow and ice from the entire width of the sidewalks within 36 hours of the end of the storm. If walks are not cleared and the  Department is notified (we do not actively seek  violations) the City's contractor will remove the snow. The contractor hired to perform this service takes "before" and "after" pictures of the site. The cost of clearing the sidewalk is currently $75 plus $0.40 per foot after the first 100 feet and is billed  to the property owner”.   But this only applies to “private homes” and homeowners.  Apparently, if you are a business  man, or business owner, all that goes out the window.  I could find no reference where business’s are required to remove snow and ice, as I was sternly informed by one manager after I slipped and fell.  After falling in front of a coffee shop on College Avenue, I stormed into the place and demanded they throw some salt down.  I was informed that they absolutely would now and that is not their responsibility. 

I did notice the difference between some business.  On one street, where the city had apparently cleared the sidewalks, it was nearly impassable, and yet only a few yards passed, the sidewalk was completely clear of snow and ice, only one day after the storm.

Does the City of Appleton want to be sued

With all of these dangerous situations present on the streets of the city, one has to wonder … does the City of Appleton want to be sued?  I would say that after my seven falls, damage to expensive equipment, as well as  my body, I am sure that any ambitious lawyer would love to get a new boat, or sports car courtesy of the fees he would make off of a lawsuit against the city.  With budgets tight these days, one would think that the city would be careful to avoid a being forced to pay out millions of dollars to injured individuals.  With the city workers struggling to do their best, other measures should be taken.

Don’t blame the City Workers

On about my 3rd slip and fall, I got mad.  It is when I decided to write this story.  After I fell, as I was getting out my camera I noticed a lady slip and almost fall at exactly the same spot, less than a minute later.   She went to the attendant’s booth at the East Ramp parking facility.  Shortly after that, a city truck pulled and and was stopped at the attendants booth.  The driver looked over, saw me with my camera, and quickly drove away.   A story was in the works for sure at that point. 

I took a few of the shots you see in this report, then looked up online the responsible parties and contacted Kurt Craanen, an inspector with the City of Appleton.  That was at 2:38pm.  At 2:07 I received an email from Corinne Pigeon, City of Appleton that Barb George, a meter checker, went and threw salt down.  I was impressed with their response as I am sure that whey were quite busy at the time.   Good job guys (and girls of course).  But never the less, the conditions even 4 days later are horrible.  

The bridge over the tracks on College avenue could not be crossed on foot even 3 days after the storm.  If pedestrians have no hope of getting to where they need to be … that is if they cannot afford a car or a bus ticket, then the services that their taxes pay obviously only serve those who have an income that allows them to purchase, insure, and maintain a motor vehicle.   Basically, if you are too poor to afford the luxury of a motor vehicle, on a minimum wage job, then you have no right to expect services other richer citizens receive … thus the title of this story.

A Suggestion

There are uncounted individuals throughout the city that are in need of work.  At the shelters alone, the city could find an entire platoon of motivated workers.  At the time of the storm and the day after, I encountered several individuals our looking for shoveling work.  At an hourly rate of the standard seasonal park employee, the city could employ and deploy with shovels, Ice Picks, and Salt, these individuals at a cost effective rate, and really get the sidewalks clean.  This would avoid the inevitable lawsuit.  Unless maybe one of our “City Leaders” has a plan, to help a friend get rich off the city … via a slip and fall.

To view full size versions of the photos, click on them, they will open in a new tab …

PLEASE!, Donate here.,,, It takes a lot of time and effort as well as wear and tear on expensive video and computer equipment to deliver you independent news and video. The time I can offer, but the costs of providing corporate influence free … free news takes money, to pay for the gear, bandwidth, and gas we use to do these reports. I try to provide more rich and higher quality content than the big money, corporate media. If you value this, please contribute to US Confidential and Wisconsin Confidential by making a donation . Please, Donate here.

Sights and Scenes of Appleton II

Here is another group of recent shot from Downtown Appleton.  I haven’t even begun to explore the areas closer to the river as well as some of the outer areas. 

I am hoping that the weather holds out long enough that I can get to the outer areas before the snow gets too thick.  I my older years, I am just not as tough as I used to think that I was. 

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Bargain City … More than Just a Name

Now I don’t usually promote private business, but when a business is exceptionally helpful, and downright nice to the point I end up shaking my head in wonder, that’s when I just have to take action.
When shopping there is always the rigid pricing system, poor customer service, and most likely clerks and sales folks that don’t know a hoot about the products that they sell, and just want to get back to the break room as fast as possible.  That is the reality of big box corporate retail today.  Get em in, get  their money, and get em out, as fast as possible.
It’s always inspirational (and in this case cost effective) when one finds a store by humans, of humans, and for humans.  The store Bargain City, located at 1930 West College Avenue, Appleton, WI 54914, it just such a store.  Although it won’t take a bus ride to get to one side from the other like a Wally Mart Super store, they carry everything from Dry Goods to Holiday and gift items.  Featuring … Coats, Trinkets, Dolls, Foods, Tools, Green Bay Packer Items, Knives, Swords, Paint, Jewelry, reading and sun glasses, fans, gift ideas, greeting and gift cards, Christmas and holiday Items, statues, electronic games, Santa Clause thingies, Guitars (Ibanez S body), and the list could go on and on.   So if your in the market … for just about anything at a reasonable price in a nice friendly down home simple shopping environment, be sure to check our Bargain City first, then to if you can’t find it there, then to to the big corporate store.

Remember to tell them that you saw it on “Wisconsin Confidential”!
Good luck, and good bargain hunting!
Be sure to check out the slide show below to see what the store looks like!

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del.icio.us Tags: Coats,Trinkets,Dolls,Foods,Tools,Green Bay Packer Items,Knives,Swords,Paint,Jewelry,reading and sun glasses,fans,gift ideas,greeting and gift cards,Christmas and holiday Items,statues,electronic games,Santa Clause thingies

del.icio.us Tags: Discount goods,Surplus,Low cost,Liquidators,Bargains,paint

Appleton sites and scenes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that I have moved to Appleton, I plan to do a Photo slide show of the are at least once a month.

Go to http://marcelkuemmetphotography.blogspot.com/ to see this months slide show.

Citizen’s outside Rep. Ribble's office calls for Jobs Not Cuts!

A group of highly motivated citizens gathered on Monday night in Appleton Wisconsin to show their wishes that the rich pay more of a fair share of taxes, and that the benefits and services that many depend on do not get cut. 

With negotiations now getting hot between the Republicans who represent the richest Americans and the Corporations, and the President Obama and the democrats, who are fighting to protect the interests of working Americans and those who live on the lowest wages in  American history, the fiscal cliff is fast approaching.

It is becoming obvious that the lowest taxes for the richest Americans and the corporations have not “trickled down” to result in jobs, much less living wage jobs that Americans can actually live on and contribute to the struggling American economy.

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Winter Arrives in Wisconsin

Winter (snow that is) is here.   Go to Marcel Kuemmet photography for more photos and a slide show.

Alternative Power That is Not New, and The American Car That will Save the World.

As I have begun anew in a new location, at least for a time being, I see new things and get new ideas.  One thing that struck me here in Appleton. WI is their Vulcan Street Plant, the world's first Edison hydroelectric central station.  Since such things seem so novel and quaint these days, it makes me wonder why more applications of  hydroelectric power cannot be used to save the planet from global warming and certain doom for us, the human race. 

Profit.

The only reason I can see for using more environmentally safe and sound power sources is profit.  As profit is the driving American force in all that we do, it will also be our undoing, and the cause of our eventual extinction.    This year the Tesla Model S sedan has been named Motor Trend's Car of the Year.  Many of the comments from obviously prejudiced and ancient thinking conservatives who think they are good Americans show how disjointed many of our elders and older leaders are.  Calling the obviously very cool vehicle un-American, they fail to see the value in an American made product, and the ramifications of an American product that has the potential to save the planet.  But there is profit to be made here.  A profit that we all can enjoy.

The Coolness Factor

I am sorry to the overweight fellows who drive around in their Cadillac's (My Dad had one), but you all don’t get it and most likely never will.  You soon be in the ground, so let the new younger generations have the ability to save a planet that our children can safely live in.  Ideas as old as hydroelectric power, combined with the newest cutting edge technology on wheels is what will save not only the United States, the save the world too … and it will come from America.

And hey, the car is just VERY COOL!.