My MKE

After a fairly long silence, I just had to check in and post something. I tried briefly to expand my blog horizons and post more than just my two cents on Higher Education. I really wanted to write more broadly about Milwaukee and the great and not so great things I’ve learned living here. Since I’m not from here, or even from Wisconsin, I thought I might have a different perspective. I think it’s a great idea for a blog.   Ideas don’t always pan out, right? I found out quickly that my passion remains education and to be honest, I see a connection…

I’ve let this blog lapse for awhile, but wanted to leave something before the end of the year. And what a year it’s been. I wish I could point to something more memorable than political clashes, but that has been the story in Wisconsin. Now, with recall efforts in full swing and TV ads taking on that election tone–as if that tone ever really went away–it seems a good time to weigh in.  Here is my question as we reflect on this past year: Is it working for you? That’s the Walker motto, right? It’s working. The sky didn’t fall, things aren’t as…

It’s a little ironic that I am going to complain about the ability to leave comments in so many online “spaces.” Blogs, online news sites, and of course personal web sites frequently offer a comment section. And as the Wisonsin recall season continues and the occupy groups continue to make the news, people really take advantage of it. I’d like to say it’s a good thing, people paying attention and really getting involved in social issues. Unfortunately, I feel like most people use the comment feature to spew hateful, ill-planned, inaccurate, or otherwise pointless words. Having only a user name provides…

I can’t think of one place where I would want to carry a gun, except maybe a shooting range. I’m not a police officer or active military member. I’m not a private investigator, bounty hunter, or marshal, or any other profession that might require a gun. So, why would I want to carry a gun into, say, the Pick and Save in my neighborhood? And I don’t care how legal it is, the idea of people carrying guns into banks is just no good.  Besides, the only “safe” gun is one that isn’t loaded. To really be safe then, I…

During my last trip to Michigan, I went to Detroit to see a concert at the Fox Theater. The Fox is an old, beautifully restored theater in a very happening part of the city. Not even a block away, you can find Ford Field (home of the Lions), Comerica Park (Tigers), and a few trendy bars and restaurants. Without a football or baseball game, there was less chaos than there could have been, but a nearly sold out show still meant plenty of people out and about. It was great to see.   I’m not from Detroit, but I grew up close…

I try to think positively about life. It does no good to complain about most things or to dwell on things that cannot be changed. Yet, I admit to dwelling on the economy and I find myself wondering about things like retirement, social security, and access to health care when I will probably need it most. It’s a sign I’m getting older, but it’s also a sign of the times.   In many states, the median income has remained flat for several years now. In many more states, it has plummeted with little evidence of returning to prior levels. In rare…

After a brief period of relative calm (I said relative!) local politics will be taking center stage once more. Scott Walker is approaching one year in office, the minimum required for a possible recall. Even if I never read the news or turned on the television, I would know this because my email is starting to bloom again. Actually, it’s starting to blow up. Every day, I get a message from one group or another reminding me of the assault on the middle class and various other things. As if I, or anyone else in Wisconsin, could forget the last…

When I first moved to Milwaukee, I was really pleased to learn that I could take the bus to work, to downtown, and even to some of the suburbs. I have a car, but I think it’s important to support mass transit. The bus is greener, it’s generally affordable, and it makes parking a non-issue. Mostly, it’s stress-free.  My experience with riding the bus was mixed. My primary route was often late, even in good weather. I could take just one bus to work, but the routes into downtown required changing and in some cases, involved more of a walk than…

I am approaching my second anniversary as a Milwaukee resident. All in all, I have been extremely happy here. I love my neighborhood and the pedestrian lifestyle I am able to lead. I love the never ending supply of bars, restaurants, festivals, and other events. I love living near the lake–even though I’m not sure I should swim in it, so I don’t. In fact, between the sports, the arts, the parks, and all the rest, I could not ask for much more. Yet, there are things that really trouble me. Milwaukee is clearly a divided place, with areas of…

If someone would have told me that I would not only like, but prefer, thin crust pizza over a good deep dish (or even pan style) I would have laughed. Maybe I just never had a really good thin crust pizza. I never really liked the thin crust options at my local pizza places. It probably didn’t help that I lived near two places with truly great, Chicago worthy, deep dish pizza. Thin just didn’t measure up.    Well, things are different here. Being relatively new to the area, I’ve relied on word of mouth, “best of” lists, and the…