Elm cutting video

Here's a video I built of cutting down our prized elm tree this past Thursday. My plan was to videotape it, which I did, with a fairly cheap digital camera. That one was 17 minutes long with tinny audio, but I took it just in case this one didn't work out. (it's from a different angle though, so in some ways I like i...t better!) This particular one I built with pictures from my camera which I had set on continuous shoot mode on a tripod and assigned my sister to run it. I then set up my sound recorder to catch the audio. The tree was supposed to fall to the right, and despite 2 ropes, it fell where it wanted to instead- to the left and straight toward the camera!! It broke off the top of the neighboring tree which subsequently fell on my sound recorder! (nice crash!) One thing, it's not easy to tell a 50-some foot tree that weighs many tons what to do!!! So, it fell on the greenhouse which is amazingly mostly fine! 2 holes in the side plastic; that's pretty much it. Thanks for watching! ~JW
(Video didn't upload, so you can see it on youtube instead!!)
Click HERE

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Chippewa Falls HWY 124/ Bus. 29 Roundabout

I did a final photo shoot this past Sunday, November 1, of the new roundabout on the south side of Chippewa Falls, near Micon Cinemas. Since the project is now done, I could get in there without orange construction barrels obscuring my view. At least I thought it was done; today, there was a crew planting trees and... shrubs in the center of the roundabout! They also installed sprinkler heads in the whole thing. It's just Chippewa trying to outdo Eau Claire; if you haven't seen the huge new planters in the median strip on Hastings Way near Birch Street, you should check them out!

Full music credit goes to my friends the Ottersons!!




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My Economic Repair Plan

Here is the plan to fix the current economic crisis, as drafted by me along with my sister. This is a plan which would actually work if people cooperated, but it may not be totally feasible in today's world. It is basically a pull-up-by-your-bootstraps plan, and eliminates or drastically reduces government intervention. The government would be gradually returned to what it was originally meant to be.

The government's proper roles, as set forth under the Constitution of the United States, include:

1. Defending the homeland, including enforcement of sensible law and order among the citizens of the land. Securing our borders. Maintaining a peacetime multi-branch military.

2. Controlling the framework of the transportation system, including maintenance of roads and highways. Government should be prohibited from meddling in interstate and intrastate commerce, private transportation corporations, auto manufacturers, etc.

3. Overseeing the money supply, and regulating currency and its worth. Overseeing banking as relating to the distribution of currency.

4. Negotiating international trade agreements in the best interests of the land. Government is permitted to set tariffs regulating international trade.

5. Bringing to justice those who violate the laws of the land.

These points constitute the basic framework of working government. Obviously, this list is too simplistic in itself, and it needs some expansion and interpretation along the guidelines of the Constitution, in the best interests of the citizens of the land.

The Constitution also provides for legislation by elected representatives of the citizens of the land. However, legislative bills should not grant the government power to interfere with free-market trade. Some laws that have been adopted over the years need to be amended; and some of them actually need to be shredded. The ultimate decision rests on us, the citizens of this land. This paper is simply a suggestion on how to survive the coming economic crash. Yes, economic crash; I actually said that, and I believe it will occur soon, given the way things are currently heading. This is a long-range plan. No instant drastic fixes will work because no one would go along with them, and they would admittedly create chaos.

Now, on to the good stuff...

Today, we are once again facing an economic crisis, similar to the Great Depression. People are losing their jobs, and are facing foreclosures on their homes because they can't pay the taxes and loan payments on their property. The bank assumes the house/ land by foreclosure, and the people and their families in some cases end up being left homeless. This is not a good scene for any of the parties involved. First of all, in a poor economy, the bank is saddled with MANY such loans that have been foreclosed on; so many in fact, that they can't sell them at any price. Take for example Detroit, where large portions of neighborhoods are vacant and overgrown. The bank can't sell them, even at $500, and the bank now has to pay people to keep the places looking respectable. Some people have left in order to find work elsewhere, but there are those who are unable to find work, and it doesn't seem right that they should live on the streets, while the bank owns plenty of vacant houses! The solution for this problem is pretty simple, although it could create some other problems which I will address later.

My solution is to temporarily suspend property taxes on people who have lost their jobs but who wish to remain in their homes. Banks would be required to extend credit indefinitely on ESTABLISHED loans only, and would be prohibited during the crisis from extending any new loans. The bank would benefit from this, by not having to foreclose on the properties. The properties would be maintained as well as inhabited, and would thereby retain their value. The inhabitants would of course benefit by having a roof over their heads while trying to find work. It is possible under such a system that the banks could crash, however I think many would actually do better in the long run.

Suspending the property taxes on qualifying land would ultimately leave the community with less money to work with for public utilities, schools, police, road improvements, etc. However, in hard times, these things are not as important as food, shelter, and clothing. It is likely the town government would suffer and need to cut back. People should be prepared to defend themselves because the police force might need to be trimmed. I'll be frank here, the citizens would be responsible for their own well-being. The government is not responsible for their well-being, unless it is responsible for their bad state in the first place! In other words, if the government (or the bank) throws you out of your house/ off your land, then the government (or the bank) should be responsible for helping you. As we place the burden of personal well-being back on the individual, government intervention decreases.

Another part of the problem we are facing is the loss of jobs nationwide. The “stimulus” package that was passed earlier this year by our Congress, was supposed to create large numbers of jobs. The last confirmed figure I saw stated that around a hundred thousand jobs, mostly in education, had been created or saved nationwide. Furthermore, in spite of the stimulus, the unemployment rate has risen to over 9%. Impressive, considering that 787 BILLION dollars was supposedly pumped into the economy. This is LUDICROUS. If the government would stop interfering in economic basics, unemployment would not be a problem and there would be plenty of jobs to go around. The Department of Labor holds the key to fixing this problem. Before we totally eliminate the Department of Labor, let's look at what actually needs to change. Setting the minimum wage artificially high in poor economic times causes fewer people to hire because they can't afford to. The solution for this is to lower or eliminate the minimum wage. This could cause a yell, but whatever happened to job applicants being told the rate is, say 4.50/hr, and saying, “No, I won't work for less than 5.50.” This is a problem that again, the citizens need to take upon themselves. The government's job does not include meddling in economics to artificially create the appearance of a good economy, when in reality the economy is not good. Without government intervention, when the economy is good, wages will go up; when it is poor, the wages will go down.

Another way the government interferes with wages is by imposing employee taxes such as workman's compensation. The cost on an employer for hiring one employee for ONE DAY is something like in excess of $500 depending on what he is doing (it's $900 for landscaping). This is ridiculous. If an employer is hiring an employee for ANY period of time, the government's cut should be ZERO. This is a free market economy, and the government is not responsible for making it go 'round, remember?? This ridiculous amount makes companies, especially small businesses, UNABLE to hire short term help. The simple solution for this is to eliminate Workman's Comp Tax and other government-required “employee” taxes. Period.

Okay, now I understand that workman's comp may seem to be a good idea because it pays you if you get hurt on the job. However, that isn't supposed to be the government's job. It's the employer's job to keep his workers safe and compensate them if they get injured. It may be argued that it would be easier on the employer to pay the $500 to the government than for him to cover anything that might happen. True enough, but the government's job doesn't include fixing your problems for you. If natural economics is left to itself, it eliminates bad businesses. Again, let's face reality instead of trying to create an artificial economy. Eliminating workman's compensation insurance and eliminating or drastically reducing the minimum wage requirements would create jobs. INSTANTLY!

One more problem is present on the job issue: Labor Unions. The original idea behind labor unions is good, namely that workers band together to secure the best wage rates and benefits in exchange for the best work, employers, and workplaces. This is a good idea.... until the union gets too powerful. When labor unions become so powerful that they strip the workers of their rights, and basically control both the workers and the employers, something is wrong. The labor unions are now meddling in free market economics and even collaborating with the government on just how to control the rest of the economy. So, now I am going to make a very profound statement: We need to decentralize the Labor Unions in this country in order to solve the rest of the labor problem. We need to peacefully disband the control centers of the labor unions nationwide. The big union bosses need to get a different job. Why are the big unions so much of a problem? Because they artificially set prices and wages, control the workers and the employers, and make it impossible for anyone to be hired who isn't part of the union. I do not advocate outlawing small company-wide unions, because I believe they do make the companies better and the workers happier.

Another economic issue we need to address is Social Security reform. Why did the government get into the business of taking care of old people?? This is not part of the prescribed duties of the government. Today, the Social Security program is essentially bankrupt, and due to the baby boomers now moving into retirement age, the system will soon finish crumbling. The working-age people today are not paying for their own retirement, they are paying for the retirement of the elderly currently receiving benefits. Most of the working people of today will never see a cent of the 15% of their income that is taken for Social Security.

Before the days of Social Security, children took care of their aging parents and relatives themselves. Government run nursing homes did not exist, although a few privately supported ones did, I believe. Unfortunately, with so many people now dependent on Social Security, it is hard to terminate it. Although we need to eliminate Social Security, we need to do it as a slow steady withdrawal. I would propose a plan where Social Security benefits would be cut over 15 years, at the rate of 6.67% per year, and the Social Security tax rate which is currently at 15.3% would be cut by one percentage point each year. At the end of 15 years, Social Security would have evaporated, and we would be left with a 15% tax cut! With a 15% tax savings, people would have some extra money to spend on caring for their aging relatives, whether directly themselves, or through private caretakers.

In addition to cutting Social Security, if the government would cut back on other socialistic programs, general income taxes could be reduced as well. When we have whittled Government back down to the basics, we can start chipping at the national debt, and our budget would actually be balanced! I am not in favor of totally eliminating the income tax, because the government needs to get operating money from somewhere.

A final problem we may face with a poor economy is a food shortage. This problem could be combatted somewhat if everyone who has some land would grow a garden. This would cause a small-scale surplus of food at the grocery store, causing prices to drop. This would help make food more affordable for the inner city folks who don't have land to grow a garden. During the Second World War, Americans were encouraged to grow “victory gardens” to stretch the food supply; this is the same idea. Also, people with excess produce could share it with the community.

I am not condoning COMMUNISM here. Communism is different; under communism, you would grow a garden and ship all the produce to a common storehouse. Then, the contents of the communal storehouse would be distributed equally to everyone. This is a very bad idea, as evidenced by what happened at the Jamestown colony in 1607. Until Captain John Smith laid down the law, “He who does not work, shall not eat,” the colony was starving to death under the “communal” system.

I am talking about neighborliness here. If your neighbor is starving, it is your moral obligation to share with him if you have been blessed by plenty.

As a final note, it is not the Government's place to be a humanitarian aid to the nations of the world. However, if an charitable organization or individual feels that he should send aid to a needy group or nation outside of the country, he is more than welcome to do so.

In conclusion, let's rebuild America, and overhaul the government. The government needs to be whittled down to size. It needs to get its fingers out of economic meddling and costly socialistic programs. The citizens of the United States of America need to learn what it means to be self-sufficient; unfortunately I think most of us have forgotten that over the last 100 years. Even the hotly disputed issue of healthcare could be solved if the government would get its fingers out of the issue. Why can't the citizens themselves stand up to the healthcare industry and say, “We are not paying your exorbitant prices anymore”? I sincerely believe that even in healthcare, the basic economic principles would prevail, lowering the costs and ultimately improving service. We need an informed nation of citizens who are able to govern their own lives. Then and only then, will Free Enterprise in America be able to hold up its head unhindered and unashamed, proudly displaying the coveted American Dream!

~JW

Columbus Day SNOW

Okay, so it has been a few months since I posted on here. That's okay, but anyone who looks at this little unadvertised website on a regular basis is probably totally bored. So, I thought I would add a few new photos and some trivia from this corner of the world.

It snowed on Columbus Day. Seriously, it SNOWED!! It snowed significantly enough to be measured across much of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and broke records everywhere. With 4.2 inches in St. Paul MN, this snowstorm was confirmed the earliest >2" storm in the St. Paul area since 1977, and in some areas, the earliest storm in 100 years. Here are some pictures from Chippewa Falls, WI of our storm (about 2.5 - 3")

Snow covered apples

Snow Fall leaves

Snowberries

Maple Snow leaves

Yesterday's Roses

A new meaning to "Snowball Bush"

Backyard

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Stompin' Through the Swampgrass

A note from Swamper Town:

Another year has come and gone in the Swampgrass
around the Chippewa Valley.
The 2009 Swampers show invited the listener
to take a leisurely stroll around our historic town
and surrounding countryside, with slides and songs
depicting many of the well-known community events
and exhibits familiar to all of us.
Stompin' With The Swampers,
as this year's show was aptly named,
again featured the musical talents of some
of the Chippewa Valley's best musicians, many
of whom have been a part of the Swampers
musical aggregation since the beginning.
This year's show was the 5th all-new Swampers production,
and the 8th annual Swampers concert,
part of the Pure Water Days celebration
in Chippewa Falls.
With over 100 projected photographs, depicting
the vitality and romantic flair of the town, together
with the exceptional songwriting talents of
Jerry Way
made for a winning combination and in my opinion,
the best Swampers show yet!

From the annual April Fools' canoe trip down Duncan Creek... ...to the Spring Art Show,

the slides, songs and stories highlighted some of the
Chippewa Valley's
best and most unique events and exhibits.
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FATFAR, the annual Father's Day tubing event,
which had a very humble beginning,
now attracts hundreds and even thousands of folks
from around the WORLD each year
(the world's largest unorganized
one-day tubing event).
Jerry Way caught the spirit of this festive event,
in his upbeat tune
FATFAR.

"That's F. A. T. F. A. R. all in CAPS!"
Of course, no present-day study of Chippewa Falls
would be complete without mentioning the new
traffic "game"
involving white-knuckled drivers driving in circles!!
Mind your mirrors and buckle up, 'cause we're coming to a
ROUNDABOUT!!!
Chippewa Falls is really a pretty town.
If you don't believe me, just take a walk down
Bridge Street in the summertime.
Hanging baskets adorn
all the light poles,
and there is even a public rose and lily garden
at the corner of Rushman Drive and
Bridgewater Ave.
Many private gardeners also have their own
"beauty spots" scattered throughout town.
So, take a walk some evening this summer,
and discover all the beautiful flowers around
Chippewa Falls!!
No town with a Scandinavian heritage can pass up
some good ol' Ole and Lena jokes!
The audience nearly fell out of their seats laughing
as the Swampers read of the antics of this
famous bungling pair!"Ole and Lena's Reader's Theatre"

Lake Wissota, a vacation destination for many,
and a feature of the Chippewa Falls area since 1918,
is home to many different forms of recreation.
One of the best is just sitting down on the summer
beach, watching the sun go down over the water!!
Yeah, I'll be there!
Ever been to Cornell?
If you have, you have likely seen the huge
crane-like structure there on display, the pulpwood
stacker. The big unanswered question however, is
"How much wood would a wood stacker stack
if a wood stacker could stack wood?"
The now 98 year old structure was retired from
service in the1970's,
and is now a huge tourist attraction!

The Christmas Parade is always the December
highlight in Chippewa Falls,
drawing a huge crowd without fail,
despite the usually inclement and subfreezing
temperatures on the first Saturday of December!
Of course, you can always come in and warm up
at the Heyde Center's annual brass band concert
after the parade!!!
(This year, the concert will be in the afternoon,
before the parade! - JW, 102209)

Last of all, the Swampers concluded with a look
at some of the historic and beautifully restored
buildings in our hometown, including the
102 year old Heyde Center For the Arts!
A tribute to Main Street, and the many hours of
downtown restoration work; a walk thru history with
The Buildings in Our Hometown.

And until next time,
Fare Ye Well, Good Neighbors!!

And technically yes, I am a Swamper.
A "technical swamper" that is!
The Wilson twins and I are responsible for making
the show sound and look fabulous.
Hats off to the Wilsons for the design of the
slide show!! And Jerry Way, thanks for the
opportunity to work
on another awesome show!
Can't wait to do it again with y'all!
So for now, fare ye well, good friends!
~ Joel Wiltrout


Check out ALL the photos of the
2009 Swamper show
HERE in my facebook album!!



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Pure Water Days Fireworks 2009

As part of the annual Pure Water Days celebration, the fireworks display is an event awaited with much anticipation. In the old days, we could see the display quite well from our house. Now, with the display moved over to Casper Park, there is actually a good place to see them from, and an awesome place to photograph them from if you know what you are doing!! Here are some of the best; 2 of these were actually printed in the
Chippewa paper YAY!!

All photos from the August 8th
fireworks display,

part of Chippewa Falls'
Pure Water Days 2009.
JW Imaging 2009

A Trojan horse?? GOTCHA!!!! (Personal Antivirus REVEALED)

What do staring at a computer screen, running repeated scans, fuming, and 2 AM have in common? A malicious Trojan computer virus! Trojans are an interesting breed. They for one thing, reproduce freely on your hard drive until arrested, and are hard to apprehend. I should know, for I spent the better part of last night and today trying to remove one particularly evil program from my computer. I think it's gone now, but as a matter of fact I'm running one last scan as I write this to make positive sure! It all started when I clicked on an innocent little news link in a mass email I am subscribed to. The screen went blank, and a security message came up that an email worm had been loosed into my computer. Almost immediately, another message came up, featuring a "Personal Antivirus" program, instructing me to download it to remove the detected threat. Not knowing what "Personal Antivirus" was, I clicked it, and it did a very fast scan, detecting 145 Trojan horses and password stealers. It then instructed me to register, and pay $80 to activate the program to enable it to remove the threats. That stopped me, and I began running scans to try to detect the infection with my antivirus program. Since it was warning me about the start menus, I decided it would be bad to turn off the computer, so I disconnected the internet, started a full scan, and went to bed (2 AM.) Back at it again this morning, I ran another scan with another antivirus program, and found one virus worm. (probably the original infection) "Personal Antivirus" continued its warning flashes attempting to alert me to the undeniable facts that THERE WAS A MAJOR INFECTION. I continued to run scans with this and that, and finally got the idea to do an internet search on "Personal Antivirus". Imagine my surprise when ALL the search results said the same thing : "Personal Antivirus is a TROJAN. Do not install it, and if you have it, it is strongly recommended to UNINSTALL it." Yeah!! You don't get too far when the so-called antivirus program IS a virus! Like I said, I think it's gone now, but it wasn't easy to uninstall it!! Being a trojan, it copied bits and pieces of itself into about 150 different places, making it inaccessible and uninstallable by normal means. With a good free malware program (Malwarebytes) I was able to successfully remove all traces of it now. (after many scans and many hours) Okay, so that's all fine and good, but unless you really like to play with malware and viruses and all that, NEVER DOWNLOAD "PERSONAL ANTIVIRUS"!! It is a trojan, and can not be deleted easily by normal means.
Thanks! Have fun computing...........

Joel Wiltrout

P.S. If you don't have a computer, please disregard this message. It doesn't apply to you.

Pastures of Plenty, video

This is an old song I have known for many years,
but I felt like recording it......
and didn't trust my guitar-playing ability for a recording!
So, with my little handheld recorder, I recorded
a few songs accapella, and added some pictures
that seemed to illustrate the lyrics.
I hope you like it!
This is my first attempt at overdubbing (3x in here)
and my second "music video" creation!
Enjoy, JW.



This isn't as grainy as the Facebook version,
'cause I didn't have to use Flash player!!

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Big Falls, May 2

This set is from the Big Falls Photo Shoot,
with the BCR photo club digital photo class.

As a volunteer, I got a number of shots too!

Rock Strata

Big Falls

Pristine morning

The Rapids

Thru the trees, a fast-flowing gorge!

Driftwood!!

Facing downriver

A little falls nearby, from a spring in the rocks.

Bloodroot flower

A natural bridge

Some members of the class.