From CNN comes this incredible story of a 10 year old boy and the love, respect and admiration he had for his Dad.

Read it and say a prayer for all the men and women who serve.

I stepped on our bathroom scale the other day and it hit me.

Since moving here in 1984 I have gone from a lean, mean 175 lbs. to my current “beefy” 202.

Yep, I have literally gained one pound for every year I’ve lived in Wisconsin. And who can blame me? The beer, the cheese, the beer, the brats, the brats soaked in beer and then there’s the kringle. I haven’t even mentioned foods on a stick.

The Wisconsin State Fair is underway and it’s time to strap on the feedbag. We are not alone when it comes to fun Fair food.

Here’s America’s Wacky Fair Foods from Food and Wine

Delish has Unusual State Fair Food

Finally, ABC News brings us this slideshow

The political ads on TV lately have me all confused. Not sure if I’m more upset by the candidate who hates babies and old people or the one who hates puppies and sunshine?

If only one of them hated the Packers this whole recall thing would be easier for me to figure out. Stupid political TV campaigns have been around forever. Want proof? Click on some of these…

Back in 1980 Jerry Springer wanted to be the Governor of Ohio. That didn’t happen but Jerry did admit that he paid a hooker with a check. Ooooops…

From theuptake.org; Worst Political Ads In America Awards (2008)

From youtube; Best and worst TV political ads, midterm elections 2010 - Art or Trash?

A Chuck Norris approved political ad? It really happened

Paris Hilton Responds to John McCain’s Ad (2008)

Finally, attack ads circa 1800

What I did on my summer vacation:

I taught a civics course. No, not an official civics course and there was definitely not any college credit at stake. Son #2 lives in Las Vegas and we spent 6 days in the desert visiting. While there, we took a Jeep tour to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Aside from our tour guide, we were accompanied by a family of 4 from New Zealand. It was their first visit to America and they asked tons of questions. Everything from music to pop culture to the housing market; essentially all the stuff you’d talk about at a backyard barbecue.

Then, about halfway back to Vegas, the patriarch of the family turns around and politely asks me to explain our political system. He said that while the USA gets plenty of news coverage in New Zealand, many things discussed are never fully explained. To his credit he asked some TOUGH questions. “What’s the big deal about raising the debt ceiling?” “Explain what a U.S. Senator is and how does that differ from a State Senator?” “How much control does a Governor really have?” “Why did the housing market collapse (he’s a banker back home)?”

Our tour guide, Jurgen, was born and raised in Germany so he was no help. And Cindy was fast asleep. After a long, grueling hike in the 110 degree sun, the soothing rumble of the Jeep rocked her to sleep. I was on my own. Now, I’m not going to lie and tell you I nailed every answer. But, I did a reasonable job of explaining what we’re all about and the stuff I wasn’t 100 percent sure of, well, I answered with authority and at least sounded like I knew what I was talking about.

When we got back to our son’s home, it hit me. What if every person who went to the polls on election day had to prepare as if they could be subjected to a “pop quiz?” What if, on election day, a very small percentage of us were flagged (think TSA), pulled aside and asked a few basic questions about our political system? Wouldn’t that make for a more informed and enlightened electorate?

I know that’ll never happen. I’d settle for having to show some I.D.

The Summer of ‘94 was a memorable one. There was O.J. & A.C. in the white Bronco, baseball players went on strike and the 25th anniversary of Woodstock was celebrated with a huge concert.

And on Monday, August 1st, 1994 WKLH moved into the studios that we now occupy. Back then, we still had some use for turntables and even the occasional cassette tape. The internet was available to us, just not in the on-air studio. In the past 17 years, you can only imagine how much fun it’s been trying to retro fit all this technology into our studios. That’s all about to change.

We recently figured that we had done approximately 4100 shows here, but now we’re getting all new studios. As you read this, construction is underway and all of the latest technology and all that new furniture will give all of us, including all of our many guests, a great work environment.

Hey, don’t get me wrong, we’ve had some fun times. And that studio has seen its share of seminal moments. Frank Caliendo making his first ever media appearance, Richard Simmons hosting an excercise class, bands like REO and Styx performing live and even a visit from Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones. LeRoy Butler, Mike Holmgren, Brett Favre, Paul Molitor, Robin Yount and Bob Uecker all spent time in that studio with us and who can forget Morganna? Plus, hundreds of comedians like Martin Short, Dan Aykroyd, Jim Gaffigan and Darrell Hammond.

And while it’s been a good home for the last 885 weeks, its time to move on. Like an old car with 200,000 miles on the odometer and a busted window its filled with good memories. But, man, we need a new ride.

Every year when the MLB All-Star Game rolls around I start jonesin for some football. I LOVE the Brewers but there’s just something about the NFL. And for those of you who love it like I do these will whet your appetite;

Taylor Lautner and a dozen NFL greats in Field of Dreams 2…NFL style

Greg Jennings in “A Few Good Packers”

Aaron Rodgers with Jimmy Kimmel

Clay Mathews All-Pro shopper

You’ve heard of Jump the Shark? Here’s the Shark jumping the Surfer;

A Double “Hitz-ki” from Tulowitzki

Hang On, Woody!

The Break Dancing Gorilla

From Funny or Die…Roller Coaster Safety with Patrick Warburton…might not be safe for work…you’ve been warned

I watched the Dateline NBC special Friday night which featured a recap of what’s happened so far in the Casey Anthony trial. I couldn’t believe how many people wanted to be a spectator in the actual courtroom. In fact, they just changed the system to prevent any further physical altercations. Yep, Dateline showed people literally punching each other to preserve their place in line. One person claimed that this was a whole new generation’s “O.J. Trial.” Another one said he wanted to get into the courtroom to see the jurors faces, something the TV cameras obviously don’t show.

But the most amazing spectator Dateline interviewed was the woman who said that her entire family came to Florida for a much needed vacation. On the day she was being interviewed she explained that her whole family went to Disney World but that she told her husband she would find sitting in the courtroom for the trial far more interesting and entertaining. Incredible!

Let’s review; Casey Anthony is accused of murdering her little girl. The Anthony family is in shambles, yet somehow Casey makes it worse by making some incredible accusations against Dad, Mom, brother and even throws an imaginary nanny under the bus. And the lesson the lady on vacation takes away from this tragic situation is that she would rather spend the day in a courtroom than spending quality time with her own flesh and blood. She’d rather witness a family unravel than devote some energy to strengthening her own. It should be mentioned that no one on Dateline even questioned this explanation. Incredible.

I admit I was rooting against LeBron James in the NBA Finals. But then I heard him call the loss to the Dallas Mavericks “A Personal Failure” and I immediately changed my opinion of him. I was just so shocked to hear someone take personal responsibility for something, anything, that I couldn’t help but feel some guilt. I’m so used to people blaming someone or something else for their own personal failures that I did a double take. I don’t even care if he was sincere. Not the point.

I half expected LeBron to announce he was checking into rehab for treatment of a newly discovered syndrome (maybe the “Talking the Talking but Not Walking the Walk” disease?). And why not? Everyone else seems to be doing it.

I realize that there are totally legit reasons to enter a treatment facility, drug and alcohol addiction to name just two, but taking pictures of your junk and tweeting them to young girls? Sorry, Mr. Wiener, that’s just stupid. No treatment facility ever fixed stupid.

It seems like just yesterday that people who cheated on their beautiful wives with dozens of women (sorry Elin, I meant ho’s) were just considered crazy. When things like running a dog fighting ring, shoplifting, making racist, anti-Gay or anti-Semitic remarks or having 2 babies with 2 different women just weeks apart required an apology, some personal reflection and possibly jail time. But then the addiction train left the station and it’s cruisin’ so fast even Denzel can’t slow it down. One guy even lied about being an addict and then wrote a book about it. Then that lie was unintentionally endorsed by Oprah. Yep, James Frey rode the addiction train twice because he got to go back on the Oprah show to apologize. Is lying about being an addict a form of addiction? Just askin’.

And now I’m starting to think that those of us who have never been to rehab are seriously ill. It’s a new disease that I’m labeling, “I have never been addicted but I have done some seriously stupid s***” syndrome. If so many members of society are dysfunctional and you are NOT dysfunctional, well isn’t that its own form of dysfunction? Again, I’m just askin’.

A few weeks back the NY Daily News ran a slideshow featuring dozens of celebrities who have been to rehab. And now that Oprah’s show is off the air there’s only one place left for celebrities to express their Mea culpa. It’s called Dancing With the Stars.

From Carole Caine…

It’s the day after another high school graduation and I have come to the realization that I am going to make a TERRIBLE  empty nester.  I know it in my gut.  You see, I have a terrible dependency on people.  I like having people around.  I like talking to them….even if they don’t talk back.

I don’t want you to think that my  teenage son was a great conversationalist but it was nice to know that someone else was in the house…a warm body, if you will.

So as I reflect on the soon to be empty nest that I will be in charge of, I wanted to pass on some of the reasons why this is going to be a tough transition;

1.        I already anticipate that the phone will be my new best friend.  Telemarketers beware because you are going to get WAY more than you bargained for when you call my house.

2.        I love planning meals and cooking for people.  Lew eats salads and omelets.   I’m not kidding a lifetime of salads and omelets…ick! Do not be surprised if you see me standing on a corner handing out free samples of something. Can you say “Welcome to Sam’s Club?”

3.       I can only watch so much TV and I can’t read a book without falling asleep.(really)

4.       There’s not enough booze in the world.

5.       I don’t like to shop. I’m a guy when it comes to shopping…I buy; I don’t shop.

6.       I can only take so many walks.  It’s not that I don’t enjoy them; it’s just that I get tired of being a Maypole with the dogs.

7.       Speaking of dogs…why do they have to be so needy?  Feed me, play with me …I mean come on.

8.       I don’t like my husband’s company THAT much.

9.       Did I say that there’s not enough booze in the world?

10.     I will miss the kids and the activity.

So I will take this summer and appreciate my kids and my family, because at the end of August it all comes to an end and I will collapse into a puddle of tears and wildly fluctuating emotions.  Everyone says that its’ going to be O.K. I’m not so sure.

From Dave Luczak…

Well, Carole, I AM sure. You will slowly grow to love it. Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my kids and I LOVE when they come and visit. But I have to admit that the transition has been smoother, and more fun, than either of us ever thought it would be. It happens in stages. It starts with that first day of kindergarten when parents everywhere peek out the window at their little one and watch them standing there waiting for the bus. And when they go to college it can be tough, but they usually come home several times a year, including all summer. You’re never really an empty nester until they all have a job with benefits and a place of their own.

When our youngest started her new job and got her new apartment a year ago we were finally alone. After 28 years of raising kids the nest was truly empty. We started a family when we were really young and our lives were always intertwined with our kids’ lives. When they are all on their own it hits you hard; YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. So I did what only I would think to do. I walked into the living room buck naked to watch TV. Why? Not because it was a pretty sight, because I could. Cindy failed to see this gesture as a positive symbol of my new found freedom and promptly told me to put some clothes on.

Carole, the options are limitless. Take a nap, a weekend getaway, host a party, learn a new language, join a health club, stalk people on Facebook, go to dinner with Lew, meet him for lunch, or have him come home for lunch. Around Noon, I’d say…wink, wink…nudge…nudge…Hell, have your dinner at Noon…or at Midnight…no one else cares.

It’s back to just the 2 of you and the freedom is incredible. And, Carole, I see where you mentioned how much you love talking to people and you also mentioned booze. Since no one else is home you can go to the local tavern and kill 2 birds. The reality is that it’s always hard to let go. But after the tears and a few rough patches, it’s all good. In fact, it’s better than good.

And if you just can’t adjust there’s an organization that Time magazine recently wrote about that helps moms who can’t get over it. It’s called Empty Nest Support Services and its run by a woman who says she had a really rough time being an empty nester. Her name is Natalie Caine. True story, her last name is Caine. On 2^nd thought…