I remember people critiquing PPP WI polls in run up to 2010 election … Didn’t work out too well #wiunion #recallwalker

If you’re worried about a poll, talk to a neighbor or donate some money or time to help recall Governor Walker and elect Tom Barrett.

Here’s the poll by the way (5/11 – 5/13): New Daily Kos/PPP poll shows Wisconsin gubernatorial recall picture unchanged

Tom Barrett (D): 45 (45)
Scott Walker (R-inc): 50 (50)
Hari Trivedi (I): 2 (2)
Undecided: 3 (3)

As you can see, the results from our newest gubernatorial recall poll are identical to those we saw a month ago. Since that time, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett won the Democratic primary but does not appear to be seeing a bounce from that victory. A few things to note:

So, the story here is that Microsoft, which still dominates the desktop market, has come under fire for enacting policies on its ARM port of Windows 8 as anti-competitive. Mozilla says Microsoft won’t allow rival browsers on ARM Windows desktop

The consequence for WOA users is that they will only have access to Internet Explorer, Microsoft’s own Web browser, in the desktop mode. Mozilla General Counsel Harvey Anderson suggested in a statement that this policy decision by Microsoft “restricts user choice, reduces competition, and chills innovation.”

And it looks like someone is going to do something about it…Committee to look at Microsoft competition allegations

Senate Judiciary Committee staffers plan to take a look at allegations that Microsoft has made it difficult for competing Web browsers to run on a certain version of Windows, an aide to Antitrust subcommittee Chairman Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) told The Hill Thursday.

The Mozilla Foundation, which makes the Firefox browser, and Google have accused Microsoft of hindering their browsers’ ability to run on Windows devices with ARM processors, which are popular in mobile phones. They say that only Microsoft’s Explorer browser is able to run on the devices.

And for those who say that Microsoft is hardly dominant in the mobile space, please note the following:

More important to Mozilla, however, was that Microsoft had pledged in the past to play fair. Its 12 promises, articulated in 2006 as U.S. antitrust supervision was winding down, included one central to Mozilla’s argument.

“Going forward, Microsoft will ensure that all interfaces within Windows called by any other Microsoft product … will be disclosed for use by the developer community generally,” the 2006 document titled “Windows Principles” stated. “That means that anything that Microsoft products can do in terms of how they plug into Windows, competing products will be able to do as well.”

So good for Senator Kohl!

For background information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15_minutes_of_fame

There are plenty of reasons to recall Governor Scott Walker…at least 40: Gerald Koerner: 40 reasons to recall Walker

If you feel the need to build a little positive momentum, here’s an event (Today!):

Unity March and Day of Action
Wednesday, May 9
6:00 pm- Meet on Library Mall (between Memorial Library and the University Bookstore at the base of State Street)
6:15 pm- 6:30 pm – Speaking Program & Solidarity Singers
6:30 pm- Start march up State Street towards the Capitol
6:50 pm- Speaking program at Pedestrian Park outside of the Veterans Museum
Madison, WI
Click here to RSVP on Facebook!

My picks for election day here. What are yours?

Kathleen Vinehout for Governor

Here’s why:

She has a great education platform:

We have to restore the money that has been cut from education – bringing back the teachers that have been laid off, restoring the courses that have been cut, returning to smaller classes.

We need a fairer way of funding schools. As Governor, I will propose a five-year phase in of much of Public Instruction Superintendent Tony Evers’ Fair Funding for Schools proposal beginning with an emergency funding bill before the end of the coming school year. Full implementation of school funding reforms will continue in the next two state budgets.

This article in the CapTimes, has a good summary:

Vinehout has brought big ideas — necessary ideas — to the race.

To a far greater extent than the other contenders, the state senator has outlined a specific agenda for getting big money out of politics, renewing ethics in government, restoring school funding and repairing public services.

But Vinehout has also outlined a smart agenda for putting state government on the side of working farmers and for doing right by rural Wisconsin.

For the Lt Governor’s Race Mahlon Mitchell – He did a great job as a leader of the firefighters union at the Capitol during the protests against Governor Walker. This is an easy choice…

If you are happy with all the candidates for Governor on the Democratic side, why not vote for Arthur Kohl-Riggs in the Republican primary?

The Gov’t Accountability Board has more info here.

Remember to vote May 8th!

According to the expense reports turned in to the Government Accountability Board this week, the governor spent $5.2 million on direct mailing services this year, a political tool that typically includes telemarketing, email fundraising and campaign literature dispersal.

“The governor has a fairly significant national following,” said Charles Franklin, Marquette University Law School political scientist. “It seems he tapped into that with his direct mailings.”

The governor has been a frequent flyer recently. Walker spent about $116,000 on travel as he traveled to and raised money in California, New York, Texas, Arizona, Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida.

But his reports show the governor banked more on direct mailings than he did the power of his oratory. And according to the reports, Walker spent the lion’s share of his money — $4.2 million — with one company, SCM Associates, a Republican fundraising firm out of New Hampshire.

The kind of money that he is bring in is worthy of a presidential contender (2nd tier perhaps, but still a serious contender).

Think of the damage Scott Walker could do to America as president.

Now that it’s finally 2012, a slew of jokes are sweeping their way across the Internet about the Mayan apocalypse that’s supposedly awaiting us at the Winter Solstice of this year. There’s just one problem – the Mayans didn’t actually predict the end of the world in 2012 at all.

Anthropologist John W. Hoopes, who specializes in the history of the Mesoamerican peoples, has an extensive FAQ about the 2012 myth. I’d encourage you to read it in full, because it’s a fascinating account of how some archaeological speculation combined with Western crackpottery to produce a full blown myth about Mayan beliefs that has virtually no evidence to support it.

Now I wouldn’t necessarily feel the need to point this out here, but I just read this article by Steven Elbow about people buying guns:

What really caught my attention is the other part of the exploding gun market.

“You’ve got the ‘Preppers’ on National Geographic Channel,” he says. “People like that. You know, just being prepared for a catastrophe or some other sort of event.”

In other words, people with guns who take the Mayan calendar’s supposed end-of-the-world date of Dec. 21, 2012, seriously.
Really?

Really, he says. “Customers are saying that.”

1. This event already occurred: Vintage Brewing Hosting ‘Green Beer’ Event for Earth Month. I went to it. It was pretty good. David Anderson, of Dave’s BrewFarm, was an interesting and knowledgeable speaker. As for the tasting, I especially liked the Matacabras from Dave’s BrewFarm and the Birch Bock from Alaskan Brewing Co.

2. Oh yeah, it’s Madison Craft Beer from May 4 through May 13. There are a ton of really cool events lined up. See the listings here. I’m especially looking forward to trying Common Thread.

Common Thread, the collaboration beer brewed specifically for Madison Craft Beer Week by Madison’s own rock star brewers!

3. Capital Brewery achieves Green Tier designation Good job Capital Brewery! From the article:

Capital Brewery joins Central Waters and Lake Front Brewery in Milwaukee as the only breweries in the Green Tier program, designed to create sustainable economic growth for companies while improving the environment.

4. Wollersheim Winery is renovating a cave at their winery:

It had been Bob Wollersheim’s dream to renovate the old cave snuggled in the vineyard hillside since he and wife, JoAnn, purchased the property in 1972. Now, with the 40th anniversary upon us, we are finally making that dream a reality. It’s an evolving project and the final use of the cave, whether it be museum or special tasting room, is still to be decided. But construction is underway!

Cool!

5. If you’re ever out in Black Earth, maybe make a stop here: Vintage Liquor in Black Earth emphasizes the unusual

6. Some not so good news:

A federal safety agency said Monday it has cited Spurgeon Vineyards & Winery , Highland, with 12 safety and health violations, including nine repeat violations, for failing to provide fall protection and a hazard communication program.

C’mon Spurgeon Vineyards, remedy the complaints and make the work environment safe.

7. And finally, did you know that the state government did something reasonable this year? Seriously! Wisconsin governor signs bill allowing transportation of homemade beer

The previous state law prohibited home brewers from transporting any beer they make from its place of origin. The language was largely ignored and home brewers were not aware of it.

Fredrickson said the strict interpretation of the law caught home brewers by surprise when the Wisconsin Department of Revenue ruled in 2011 it was illegal for home brewers to transport beer relating to an event in Racine.

The new law exempts home brewers from permit requirements and taxes, but continues a ban on the sale of homemade beer and wine.

Frederickson is particularly glad that contests among home brewers at club meetings are no longer against the law and the home-made products can be offered up for sampling at festivals and fairs.

I guess the legislature and Governor Walker were due to do something reasonable…

This advertisement by the Greater Wisconsin Committee is a good start:

(You should like and share that YouTube video, click the video for the direct link).