On Manufacturers in need of skilled workers
Posted on September 5 at 12:02 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Test your math skills with this problem:
An eccentric farmer keeps his cow in a field in the form of a circle, 100 meters in diameter. He has fenceposts on the circumference of this circular field, spaced about 5 meters apart, and thus he has used about 63 fenceposts.
The farmer want his cow to graze only half of the field, so he tethers his cow to one of the fenceposts.
How long should this tether be, so that his cow can only graze 50% of his field?
If you get an answer, please post it and show how you arrived at the answer. I have been working on the answer for about 25 years, so far, without success.
On Do you agree with the JEA's decision not to reopen its contract?
Posted on September 5 at 11:37 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
On Saturday, May 25, 1985, an editorial I wrote to the Editor, the Gazette, went as follows:
As a casual observer of the 1980s, I write this letter and lament the downwall of OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. During this administration, OSHA has gone underground, buried by increased defense spending and Star Wars weaponry build-ups.
I have had the misfortune of working for a living in a workplace filled with noise, cigarette smoke, safety hazards, and inept management, not to mention intoxicated or otherwise incapacitated workers at my side.
Are not these abuses reported by workers to their supervisors, who casually ignore their pleas, using the power of hiring and firing to hold recalcitrant employees in line?
Hearing loss, lung cancer, fires, and arguments amont workers and their bosses are preventable hazards in the job environment, namely by the use of ear protection, designated smoking and not-smoking areas, instruction by trained professionals in the proper use of firefighting equipment, and human relations trained management.
Perhaps OSHA will resurface. Its time has come.
Although those were my thoughts 26 years ago, on this labor day, OSHA is alive and well, and improvements are observable everywere I have seen. Do you think those kids making Nike shoes in some shop in some far away country have an OSHA to complain to? Or the Chinese mine workers, do they have a Mine Safety Administration to call upon to vent their safety concerns? I think not.
These days, working in a union shop is a pleasure, and if not a union shop, OSHA keeps those under scrutiny, and although wages may be smaller in comparison, the "supervisors" don't carry whips anymore.
If you are unemployed, review your skill set, and market them to the highest bidder for the services you can render to an employer.
It's the way America works, and if you can find better working accomodations elsewhere, I hear Canada needs workers to cut down trees in the winter to harvest for paper pulp. Bring your warm clothing, they work when it's -40 degrees, which by the way, is the same in the Farenheit scale as it is on the Celsius scale--either way, it's mighty darn cold. Happy Labor Day everybody!!!!
On Do you agree with the JEA's decision not to reopen its contract?
Posted on September 5 at 12:46 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
How many teachers have you had in your lifetime?
For myself, I estimate over 50, some with B.S. degrees, some B.A.'s, M.A's and PhD's, including some of the most brilliant men in their fields.
Certainly teachers need compensation for their work, but deep down, they teach because it is their "calling", and something they love doing.
Thank your teachers for turning your ignorance into understanding, that is, the simple minded childlike brain you were given at birth, into a highly capable thinking "machine".
It doesn't matter what your I.Q. was when you were born, but teachers may have added a few points on during your lifetime, let's give them a "thank-you", and trust them that they know whaat they are doing regarding their contract negotiations.
On The way forward for Wisconsin
Posted on September 5 at 12:29 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I find this an appropriate time to comment on this article, Labor Day on Monday.
Although I am now retired, I have been in my work careers the member of 2 unions, the first being the IBEW. During that time period, I was well compensated for my labor, but I worked my ever-lovin *** off.
If you want to join a union, go ahead and do so, it's up the union if you will work or not.
I did this later on in my life, and didn't make a dime, but that particular union was certainly fun to be a member of (pardon my grammar).
Some of the other members were quite impressive in their work habits, and I was never quite up to their level of talent.
On this labor day, give thanks to union members, and anybody else who contributes to the betterment of our society who just "goes to work" every day.
On Sales-tax increase suggested
Posted on November 23 at 9:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Republican governor = hard times ahead for the common folk.
On Solar power proves steady investment for Janesville man
Posted on October 6 at 9:22 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
in response to glock21sf,
I recently saw on PBS a UW University place lecture, and the speaker (an expert in the field of solar cells), I will paraphrase, "with the current state of technology of solar cells and the cost of grid purchased power, the cost of the equipment and installation is never recouped."
He was hopeful that the situation would improve in the future, but some of the materials used in the solar cells are rare and in sometimes not friendly countries, i.e. central Africa.
He based his calculations on a 30 year life span of a typical solar installation.
He seems authoritative enough for me to take him at his word.
From my personal viewpoint, it must be tough to get solar energy at this latitude, and considering the paucity of sunshine during a Wisconsin winter.
On Solar power proves steady investment for Janesville man
Posted on October 4 at 6:53 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Without the discounts, energy programs, and tax breaks, electricity from solar cells never even remotely reaches the break-even point when it comes to the cost of materials and installation.
Solar has mostly been used in remote locations where the existing power grid does not provide service.
On Sharon ethanol plant plan stalls
Posted on July 12 at 11:06 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
There is pressure to increase the ethanol level in gasoline to 15% from it present level of 10%.
Many older cars will have trouble with this.
Contact your legislators to voice your disapproval of this measure. The ethanol lobby (s sub-set of the farm lobby) is strong, so quick action is necessary.
On Tour touts ag's importance in Rock County
Posted on July 3 at 10:46 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The sad fact is the corn grown by farmers today is not edible; Corn is a commodity, used primary for animal feed, ethanol production, and sweeteners.
Only about 2% of corn is raised for human consumption. Farmers should grow some crops we can eat, rather than "process" into other stuff.
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On Do you agree with the JEA's decision not to reopen its contract?
Posted on September 7 at 6:08 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Back in the day, to get a job with good wages in a union shop, you had to "know someone". How many times have I heard the comment, "oh, so and so got Johnny a job at the plant."
Those days are over.
To get a job these days, you don't have to know somebody, you have to know something, i.e. get a good education to get a good job.