WPR Rebuttal Exclusive: Jason Pero in WPR Ad? Also, St. Croix District Attorney Letter Exonerates Deputy Mrdjenovich

The only media outlet to do so, WPR Rebuttal presents an actual scan of the letter exonerating Ashland Deputy Brock Mrdjenovich from wrongdoing in the death of Jason Pero. WPR Rebuttal has effectively scooped Wisconsin Public Radio by acquiring this January 19, 2018 letter!

Although I had updated the January 23 post to include a scan of this letter, I decided to make a stand-alone post to facilitate search-engine traffic. Truly and cynically, #YouthShooting = #PageViews. Without further delay:

Further analysis of the investigative-case file is available, courtesy of WPR Rebuttal.

Also, I was looking back-over the sidebar ads that I've been collecting from the WPR website. One child depicted in an October 2017 WPR programming advertisement bore an eerie resemblance to Jason Pero:

The stocky boy in the Green Bay Packers sweatshirt definitely resembles Jason Pero:

Consider the facial similarities and their mutual love of sweatshirts. And even if the ages and the faces of the boys are not identical, these discrepancies could be respectively explained-away by the photo having been taken years earlier and by the stretching of the photo in post-processing.

However, through some critical thinking, I can confirm the boy in the ad is -not- Jason Pero. (Although, it might be rightfully said that the youngster is a "Jason Pero doppleganger.") Two reasons make it highly-improbable the young boy is actually Jason:

1) Whereas Jason Pero was a member of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Tribe, the children in the WPR Central Time ad are members of the Menomonie Tribe. (Although the "First Peoples" series -does- cover several bands of Chippewa, only one sidebar ad had been commissioned for the series in 2017 -- and that ad featured the Menomonie youth within the limited 300x250 pixels "real estate.")

2) Even if Mr. Pero were to have been Photoshopped into another tribe's gathering after-the-fact, WPR would-have removed the ad from circulation if, in fact, Jason had shown-up in the advertisement. (For the purpose of "respecting" the dead; as well as trying not to needlessly "trigger" survivors who were /are close to Jason.)

This more-or-less exhausts the publicly available information about Jason Pero's final days. However, you can count-on WPR Rebuttal to deliver more scintillating content on other current events as they arise!

Exegesis of the Investigative File Public Record of Jason Pero's Suicide-by-Cop

02-03-2018 Update: WPR Rebuttal scoops Wisconsin Public Radio!
Only here can you read the January 19, 2018 letter, sent by the St. Croix County District Attorney's Office, declaring Ashland Deputy Brock Mrjdenovich free from wrongdoing in the November 8, 2017 incident involving Jason Pero:

/Update

Exclusive to WPR Rebuttal: The following is an exhaustive analysis of the officially-released Department of Justice files pertaining to the investigation of the Ashland County Sheriff's Department's lethal response to an impromptu public disturbance staged and reported by Jason Pero, Jr.

Such synopsis takes an exegetical approach by referencing other parts of the report to answer questions raised by earlier portions. In addition, redactions to the Department of Justice accounts are predominantly explained by a letter from the Office of Open Government. (See the "Footnotes" section for this, and other, related information.)

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (WisDoJ) Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) "investigative file public record" of the November 8, 2017 incident between Brock Mrdjenovich and Jason Pero spans 248 pages.

By combing this official overview, WPR Rebuttal compares findings of independent witness interviews pertaining to the events immediately leading-up-to, as well as following, the fatal encounter between a normally-sanguine, 14-year-old 8th-grader who loved video games (Jason Pero) and a fairly-recent Criminal Justice graduate of Vitterbo University who apparently panicked too much to use a Taser or pepper spray (Brock Mrdjenovich).

In the wake of shots fired, some angry neighbors refused to be interviewed until a warrant had been served... Several Ashland Middle School teachers were interrogated about Jason's demeanor that dour morning... And Jason Pero's purple sweatshirt goes missing, alarmingly absent from the coroner's inventory and crime-lab evidence lockers!

As of 01-23-2018, WPR Rebuttal has taken notes on the first 55 pages of the 248-report. Bookmark and share this page for further updates!

Interesting findings include:

• The "scene walk-through" was not completed until 5:20 p.m. (p. 4). When did it begin, and why was it so-long delayed after the noon shooting?
- The "walk-through" included only two witness interviews as part of the "neighborhood canvass." These took under an hour, combined (pp. 46-50).
- The earlier of the recorded "canvass" interviews began at 3:30 p.m. (p. 46); and the latter began at 4:00 p.m. (p. 49).
- The only other witness interview took place a few hours after the "scene walk-through" had finished (p. 43).
- This allowed plenty of unaccounted-for time, during which evidence might have been contaminated, planted, or hidden.

• Every law-enforcement officer who is involved in a fatal incident is body-photographed to document what s/he was wearing during the episode (p. 6).

• Among Deputy Mrdjenovich's equipment on-his-person was a "Kydex Taser holster with X-26 Taser" (p. 6). Why was this not utilized prior to the firearm?
-A possible justification: "Deputy Mrdjenovich believed that a safe distance to have between himself and a suspect with a knife was at least 20 feet[,] based on his training" (p. 58).
-Compare this "20-foot safe distance" to the normal maximum operative distance of an X-26 Taser, which is 15 feet;[1] and the wires of a Taser probe might break during a struggle, thereby rendering the Taser ineffective.[2]

 

• There were 6 documented witnesses to the November 8, 2017 incident (pp. 13-14).
- However, only three of these witnesses were formally interviewed as part of the investigation: two during the afternoon "neighborhood canvass" (pp. 46-50), and one during the evening under a search warrant (p. 43).

• The DCI sent a "preservation request" to Facebook and another to Snapchat so that Jason's account credentials, as well as any possibly-uploaded video of the incident, will be preserved for at least 90 days from the date of receipt (pp. 19-22).

• When calling 911, Jason pretended to be a bystander indoors who was reporting a knife-wielding stranger outside dressed in what turned-out to be the same clothes (light-grey pants and a purple sweatshirt) Jason would be wearing when seen by law enforcement (p. 24).

• Every 911 phone call produces a comma-delimited text file of meta information about the call (p. 25).
- However, the values in these data fields (caller's phone number, etc.) were redacted by the Office of Open Government.

• Jason's purple sweatshirt was -not- among the items inventoried by the coroner during the autopsy (pp. 28-29). Who has it?

• The interactions among FWS officer Jim Stone and the 3 EMTs are redacted (p. 33). Why are their conversations around the dying Jason deemed sensitive?
- Legal justification for this redaction is mentioned in the January 19, 2018 letter from the Office of Open Government to the State Attorney General's Office, namely that certain medical interventions are redacted to "protect the privacy and confidentiality" of the patient's medical records.[3]

• What first-responder Darrell Burns did after seeing "a big butcher knife laying on the ground approximately two feet from Pero's hand" is redacted (p. 35). What sensitive actions might have been taken between Burns seeing the weapon and the arrival of the other EMTs?

• "Coroner [Barbara] Beeksma made arrangements for a post-mortem examination... When examining Jason Jr.'s body, she noted and wanted [Special Agent Jay] Smith to see that [Jason] had approximately 14 light cuts on his left forearm...and approximately 19 light cuts on his right forearm...consistent with self-administered 'hesitation' cuts" (p. 38).

• "Members of the fmaily asked to view Jason Jr.'s body. [Special Agent Jay] Smith explained to them that because they were conducting a criminal investigation, they needed to conduct an autopsy... Therefore, only immediate family would be allowed to see him, and they would not be allowed to touch him... [Accordingly,] they could not remove the intubation" (p. 38).
- Although intubation is most-commonly used to assist patients who are otherwise-alive but unable to breathe normally, such breathing tubes are also utilized to siphon liquid from the lungs of deceased individuals, via static capillary action, to measure how much fluid was present when the individual passed-on. Comparable intubation is inserted to the bladder for the purpose of measuring fluid therein.

• Part of the "remarks" field of Jason's body-bag tag is blotted-out with black squares that were clearly super-imposed onto the photo, as the squares overlap parts of the picture beyond the tag itself (p. 39).
- As a coroner's note, this blacked-out scribble falls within the classification of "patient medical information" that is protected by Wis. Stat. 256.15(12) and 146.82(5)(c), the laws under which the EMTs' attempted care for Jason Pero was redacted from the public investigative file.

• "Holly Hagstrom, the guidance counselor, reported that Jason Jr. was a good kid who...had a lot of friends and made people laugh" (p. 41).
- Hagstrom's assertion that Jason had "many friends" would be contradicted by one of Jason's unidentified uncles, who would assert Jason had only "a few friends." Perhaps Hagstrom confused acquaintances with friends; it is a common error.

• [Health aide Kathy Pingel] "called (Jason's) grandmother, Cheryl, at her place of employment... Cheryl made arrangements for his uncle, [name redacted], to come pick (Jason) up. At approximately 9:37 a.m., Jason Jr. left her office and waited in the cafeteria to get picked[-]up" (p. 41).

• "Deb Meierotto was Jason Jr.'s 8th-grade homeroom teacher and had him in class every morning... However...he was withdrawn and quiet by the afternoon. [Redacted passage.] The teaching team thought this was unusual, because Jason Jr. did not really display those kinds of troubles; he was a typical 14 yoa (sic; 'y.o.') boy" (p. 41). What incident had been described in the redacted passage?
-It might possibly reveal clues as to the rapid onset of Jason's depression and why he would act-out this internal conflict by calling the police on himself. A violent horror movie involving cell phones as a plot device, such as the Scream film, might have "triggered" underlying impulses.

• "[Homeroom teacher Deb] Meierotto felt bad because she now realized that (Jason) was lying about being sick [on Wednesday, November 8;] and she didn't recognize it [until Jason had left school]" (p. 42).
-Even worse is that health aide Kathy Pingel did not seem to recognize the deception. It would therefore seem Jason had successfully feigned illness so that he could go-home early.

• "Bev Dahl was Jason Jr.'s afternoon math teacher... About a month ago, she learned that he was being treated for depression... During the past several weeks, Jason Jr. missed several days of school and made no attempt to make[-]up his work, which Dahl thought was a change... He was now withdrawn and quiet" (p. 42). What might have possibly caused this deterioration in Jason's affect and motivation?
-A possible answer: "On Tuesday, [November 7,] Meierotto had told Dahl that she had [redacted] learned that Jason Jr. had been on medication for three weeks" (p. 42).
-While not ouright-stated, it is implied the "medication" was anti-depressants: "On Monday, [November 6,] Dahl told Meierotto to relay to the [unnamed] doctor that Jason Jr. said he didn't want to be in school and was not socializing with friends" (p. 42).
-Further complicating discussion of the meds (e.g, the extent to which chemical imbalances may have arisen therefrom) is the fact that the Office of Open Government (-not- the St. Croix D.A.'s Office) redacted "prescription information for Jason Pero from photos and reports."[4]

• "[Jason Pero's uncle's name, redacted in the report] said Pero has several friends[,] but usually doesn't have friends over to his house; he will usually go to their house. [The uncle] didn't know the name of any of Pero's friends" (p. 45).

• "Deputy Mrdjenovich attended Viterbo University, [in] La Crosse, WI in 2011 and graduated [in] 2015 with a Bachelor['s] of Science degree. [He] majored in Criminal Justice[,] with a minor in Legal Studies[,] and also completed the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)" (p. 52).

• "Deputy Mrdjenovich stated [that] the deputy assigned to the south area for the county had called[-in and] had the day off[; and a result,] the north squad car was reassigned to the south" (p. 55).
- While not outright-stated, the implication is that Mrdjenovich would have been patrolling the other part of the beat if the other, unnamed deputy had not called-in absent.
-The outcome of the encounter could have nonetheless been the same, with a different deputy pulling the trigger.

• "Deputy Mrdjenovich said he noticed the suspect did not have any shoes on[;] and that scared him even more[,] as it was cold" (p. 55).

-That's all for now. If you enjoyed, appreciated, or were interested by this synopsis of the first 55 pages of that 248-page report, then "like" this post and I might summarize more!-

[Footnotes:] [1] "The TASER X26C uses...insulated conductive wires[,] with a maximum length of 15 feet." Taser X-26 Operating Manual, p. 5.

[2] "If a wire breaks (e.g. during a struggle), [then] the current will not flow to the probes." Taser X-26 Operating Manual, p. 18.

[3] Paul Ferguson, Assistant Attorney General, Office of Open Government: "Specific information regarding [the EMTs'] assessment and treatment of Jason Pero...has been redacted from the records[,] in accordance with Wis. Stat. 256.15(12) and 146.82(5)(c)." Jan. 19, 2018 Letter to Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel. p. 5.

[4] Paul Ferguson, Assistant Attorney General, Office of Open Government: "I applied the Wis. Stat. 19.35(10(a) public records balancing test and determined that the public interest in treating surviving loved ones of the deceased with respect for the privacy and dignity outweighed any public interest in disclosure of the following records... [including] prescription information for Jason Pero from photos and reports." Jan. 19, 2018 Letter to Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel. pp. 1-2. [/Footnotes]

How to Find Legislation on the Wisconsin Legislative Website (Even When It's Hidden)

Originally posted as an aside to WPR's reporters, SenatorJPO shares his bill-finding walkthrough with WPR Rebuttal. Now equipped with this knowledge, go-out and find those bills!

How does one find Senate and Assembly bills on the Wisconsin legislative website?

- Finding proposed Wisconsin laws involves more trial-and-error searching than does finding enacted Wisconsin laws. It should not be this difficult to locate legislation online -- but, alas! - Whereas "acts" are turned into statutes that can be readily searched; legislative proposals are -not- displayed in any online-indexed directory. They're what I call "legislation lacking hyperlinks!" - These bills are instead hidden-away, without any inbound hyperlinks, until the "second reading" of the bill. (At which point, the bill -might- be displayed via hyperlink in the lefthand column of the Senate or Assembly "session" homepage, depending on the presenting chamber.) - For this example, I will show you how to find "2017 Senate Bill 700" on the legislative website. - Although you could attempt to Google a bill, it is difficult to search-for a legislative proposal when you don't even have the bill number. How do you that you've found the right one? - Furthermore, navigation within the legislative website itself can be tricky. The process I follow is: 1) Go to the main page of Wisconsin's legislative website -- you'll see a top menu-bar with "Home," "Senate," etc. 2) From the top menu-bar, click "Senate." 3) From the drop-down bar, click "Session." 4) A page with a large right-hand side and a small left-hand column will load. Click any of the "SB" hyperlinks in that column. 5) The page will load for whichever Senate Bill you had clicked. Go to the browser's web-address bar and type "sb700" instead of whatever number follows the "proposal" part of the URL. For example, "proposals/sb650" would become "proposals/sb700." 6) Press "enter." The page for Senate Bill 2017 is now displayed! To find an Assembly bill, repeat the preceding process, except: - Click "Assembly" instead of "Senate;" and - Type "ab" instead of "sb" in the web address. P.S. I sent the link for this walkthrough to Wisconsin Public Radio via their contact form. They will (hopefully) utilize this bill-finding process to ensure -every- news article about a proposed bill also lists the bill number and a hyperlink to the bill text.

Filed under: Finding the Complete Text and Sponsors of Proposed Laws (Bills) for the State of Wisconsin, Walkthrough

3 True Reasons for Slavery (Economic or Otherwise)

Wisconsin Public Radio recently ran a story about how one Social Justice Warrior's complaint about a legitimate homework assignment coerced the school into retracting the assignment (after the due date) and, presumably, assigning an even-more time-consuming homework lesson instead.

I'll do the 4th-graders' assignment for them, seeing how -one- whiny pianist ruined the learning experience for everyone.

The critical thinkers among us are capable of appreciating the perspective-taking exercise; whereas, those afraid of discomforting knowledge will perhaps venture a protest comment before navigating away without thinking-through these arguments.

3 True Reasons for Slavery (Economic or Otherwise)

-Also titled, "3 Positive Effects of Slavery," for search-engine optimization purposes-
-Formerly titled "3 Good Reasons for Slavery," to play-off the controversial school assignment-
-While these reasons might share a common theme of economically justifying slavery, each addresses a different facet of economy.

1) Slavery produces market efficiencies that lower the cost of production, thereby allowing -everyone- (including the slaves) to procure goods at lower prices.

2) Slavery solidifies social stratification, thereby producing a more-stable, predictable, and consistently-ordered society.

3) Slavery ensures those not-emancipated dedicate themselves fully to their work (due to the lack of opportunities elsewhere), thereby producing the highest-quality work humanly possible. #NoJobHoppers

Those are just the benefits for -everyone-.
One bonus benefit, specifically for the non-slaves:

4) Slavery reduces competition for better-paying jobs, with better conditions of work, thereby mitigating the downward-pressure onto wages that occurs as more non-slaves are born and grow into working-age.

Of course, the corollary is a personally-bad reason for the slaves:

-1) Slavery keeps better-paying jobs, with better conditions of work, available to only those with a particular birthright, and thereby ensures a minimum baseline of inequality. This discourages slaves from competing for emancipation, as they will not be considered for white-collar or professional roles, no matter how many college degrees they might earn.

WPR Rebuttal Enters Second Year, Educates About New Topics

Many of you remember when WPR Rebuttal first launched on April 26, 2016. That pre-recorded "press announcement" podcast was followed by WPR Rebuttal's first live podcast on April 29, 2016.

Although the two-part, two-hours-long podcasts of the early days have given-way to briefer podcasts of between 10 and 25 minutes, WPR Rebuttal continues timely discussion of the sides of the story and unconventional perspectives left unexplored by other outlets.

Our focus continues to be regional news. This is reflected by the fact that this season's lineup will include episodes on Wisconsin farmers' reactions to Canadian dairy tariffs; the trade-off between restricting opioids and allowing adequate pain therapy; and an examination of not one, but several "economic impact" analyses that have been assumed "true," for lack of critical-thinking skills by those parroting those fabricated numbers.

Last but not least, WPR Rebuttal remains committed to sharing useful information that helps our audience avoid the school-to-work scams perpetuated by private and nonprofit universities alike. Don't trust a school just because it's financed -- and thereby tacitly endorsed -- by your state's Board of Regents.

They're no trustworthier than are the CEOs of big corporations; and the paucity of reliable jobs-placement data reflects their duplicity over what counts to the bottom-line-oriented student. This is why WPR Rebuttal exists: To push-back against the hegemonic narratives of those who own the media and the educational institutions!

Let's share another year together: Hear you soon on WPR Rebuttal! Call-in at (920) 477-3965 during our live shows.

Know Any Good Podcasting Platforms? Finding WPR Rebuttal a New Home...Or Not! (Staying at BTR)

[03-31-2017 Update:]

After trying to use Podbean, I learned it accepts only pre-recorded audio in each of its tiers. I created a test account; tried to launch a live episode; and found it wouldn't let me!

Furthermore, I ascertained that upgrading would -not- have resolved the issue, due to Podbean being an upload-only podcasting platform. "Upload-only?"

Yes, Podbean does -not- allow live podcasting... Not even with its "premium" service, which someone accustomed to BTR might have presumed -- well, hoped for -- to be a "standard feature" on other podcasting platforms.

To see it unavailable on the highest tier of (non-)service is a true sign of a non-starter platform! Non-existence of this feature, e.g. to -not- allow live broadcasting with the ability to receive live callers, is a non-negotiable issue.

Live versus pre-recorded content is a no-contest bout: Listener engagement is heightened during live shows! There's no substitute for the thrill of knowing you can participate in, and actively shape, the zeitgeist of a public broadcast.

By contrast, BlogTalkRadio allows this in -all- its tiers, even at the "freemium" level: BTR service differs from Podbean by recording a conference-line conversation (or monologue, if there are no callers other than the host) to create the podcast episode.

This makes it -much- easier to make a show, because there's no need to manually record one's audio offline; splice-in separate, pre-recorded "caller" conversations (that aren't live); compiling that audio into a single file; and then uploading that composite audio file to the Podbean servers!

Therefore, I'll continue using BTR as WPR Rebuttal's headquarters. Our call-in number remains (929) 477-3965! (Lines are open during the show.)

Be sure to read the previous article, in which WPR Rebuttal had announced a scheduling change; one that had motivated a search for a new platform, but remains in effect during the foreseeable future.

[/03-31-2017 Update]

BlogTalkRadio (BTR) began with two-hour shows, back when I was emulating the more famous podcasts. (One paragon of podcasting is Talk is Jericho, due to the rapport he has with guests from the realms of hard-rock and sports entertainment. Plus, he has sponsors!)

However, listener tastes -- and my own limited time -- mean WPR Rebuttal has been half-an-hour-or-under since the "free premium trial" expired, limiting the "freemium" tier of BTR to fewer than 30 minutes a show, and one show a day. This effectively cut the daily broadcast time from 2 hours to 30 minutes. And being available only once per week for a show, the braodcast-period reduction also meant I could be live only 30 minutes per week, tops!

Also, to upgrade into BlogTalkRadio's premium tier -- the price of which used to be $30 per month, but is presently undisclosed* due to a glitch in BTR's website (see below) -- would entail an investment into a service with which I'm not entirely satisfied.

Why reward mediocrity? Because the competitors aren't any better! (As we'll see.)

I therefore investigated other podcasting platforms, to determine whether any other podcasting platform would be a worthy successor to BlogTalkRadio. Unfortunately, that answer is a resounding "no."

A simple overview of sites I found by searching (Googling; Binging; etc.) the term "podcasting platform" uncovered no clear contenders, feature-wise.

I did find an heir-apparent in Podbean -- what with its monthly price of $9 buying "unlimited" audio streaming -- but found such time is -not- live, and therefore unsuitable for WPR Rebuttal. (I want to accept callers, not have a weekly monologue where no one can participate.)

Anyway, my ultimate decision has been to remain with BlogTalkRadio. (Don't consider this a "glowing endorsement," because I'm merely settling for the "least mediocre" of the bunch.)

Whenever a worthy contender arises, i.e. a "live" platform that allows 120 minutes of contiguous broadcasting minutes per show for under $10 a month, then let me know!

*Any who wonder about BTR's pricing tiers, need only get a gander at this screen-grab of the glitched-out BlogTalkRadio "premium offer" page -- which doesn't even show a price list! Or anything else, other than a repeated menu bar:

WPR Rebuttal Announces Micro-Podcast Format to Please Listeners

I'm always analyzing listener data to identify trends. While BlogTalkRadio is rather limited in what data it divulges, I've noticed WPR Rebuttal's listeners are most plentiful for its podcasts that are briefer than 20 minutes. Therefore, to appease -- no, placate -- nay, thrill and astound our listeners, I'm making the executive decision to shorten WPR Rebuttal podcasts from half-an-hour to under-20-minutes.

(It also happens to be more convenient for me, of course, in that such data-driven decision justifies my choice to remain on the "freemium" tier of BlogTalkRadio, as to lengthen my podcasts would require a paid producer's subscription.) In rare circumstances, such as a deluge of callers, a WPR Rebuttal podcast might potentially meet the half-hour mark. But going forward, my goal is to wrap-up before 20 minutes have elapsed.

This is the way of the future: To accommodate shorter attention spans (as one might have during a lunch break); and to facilitate a finer granulization of coverage per podcast (by there being less information to summarize in each podcast, which makes finding that information easier).

Finally, changes in my domestic and professional lives mean I can no longer have a guaranteed broadcast spot available. I'll still aim for a weekly podcast of around 20 minutes; but this might not always be within my established window of between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Friday.

I simply do not have the predictable schedule that would allow me to podcast without interruption, especially now that my dad has been laid-off and is therefore around the house quite a lot. (I don't want to annoy him with my podcasting, if that part weren't clear.)

Danzig Set List for President-Elect Donald Trump's Inauguration

Late-breaking news: Rumored to perform at President Trump's inauguration on January 20 are the rockers Danzig.

It's within the realm of possibility for Danzig to play the Trump inauguration, considering his opposition to Trump's predecessor:

"Maybe one day I'll do a -real- horror album, about the Obama Administration." - Glenn Danzig

Without further ado, here's the tentative set list:

Danzig Set List for President-Elect Donald Trump's Inauguration

-Justifications for each song selection are demarcated with a dash.-

1. Let The Day Begin - An obvious beginning track, both literally for the concert and metaphorically for America.

2. In My Grip - A celebration of Trump -and- a Republican congressional majority.

3. Killer Wolf - A celebration of Trump's social prowess, as well as the possible ESA de-listing of the gray wolf.

4. Who Killed Hillary? - In the Electoral College, that is. A parody of "Who Killed Marilyn?" to mock Hillary Rodham-Clinton.

5. Naked Witch - Another anti-Hillary Rodham-Clinton song.

6. Cantspeak (sic; that is the official, stylized spelling of the track) - A mockery of anti-Trump protesters.

7. Night of the Living Dead - Mocks mental fog of shocked HRC supporters. Also, one of the few Misfits-era songs that can be performed on-air without lyrical censorship.

8. Spook City, U.S.A. - Refers to C.I.A. HQ in Quantico, VA. Another Misfits-era songs that can be performed on-air without lyrical censorship.

9. 7th House - Refers to the White House, which is at least the seventh residence for Trump. Also, reminds the audience that Danzig did an industrial album!

10. Belly of the Beast - A coming-to-grips with the responsibilities of being in the center ("the Belly") of domestic and global politics ("the Beast").

11. Unspeakable - A jab at the constant criticism, rumor-mongering, and yellow journalism of the "oppositional media."

12. Long Way Back from Hell - Describes the regulatory-reversal work to be done during the Trump presidency.

13. Mother - The hit that got Danzig "on the map" by forcing MTV to play some Danzig! Reminiscent of Trump's iconoclastic popularity.

SenatorJPO Prepares for Scholarly Rumble; WPR Rebuttal Takes One-Week Hiatus

SenatorJPO, host of WPR Rebuttal, takes a week off to fully prepare for his debate with the final-ever winners of the UW System Advisory Group on the Liberal Arts (UWSAGLA) Essay Scholarship Competition -- and to inform those putative "rhetoricians" they're being challenged to an open, public debate!

Having caught up on a backlog of note-taking regarding current events (congrats to the U.K. for its courageous, anti-globalist BrExit); job vacancy archival; and some graphical design (interspersed in future AJV Blog articles), SenatorJPO girds himself for the debate of a lifetime:

One versus many, as our helpful host takes on anyone who wishes to debate him about the relative lack of merit for a liberal arts education!

SenatorJPO has begun reading the essays -- writing rejoinders where opportune -- and has finished analyzing the cost, ground rules, and mission of the now-defunct SLAE scholarship program to determine why the UW System decided to pull the plug on that once-touted contest.

WPR Rebuttal is hereby sending notification, to the soon-to-be-P'WNED scholarship recipients, of this forthcoming debate:

SenatorJPO vs. SAGLA Scholarship Winners: The Realist vs. the Essayists
Date: Friday, July 1, 2016
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Central Standard Time*
Access line: (929) 477-3965

*Although BlogTalkRadio permits only half an hour per day on its freemium plan, SenatorJPO will make a rain check for continued discussion -- at a time mutually agreeable to both him and the SAGLA scholarship recipient who calls in -- if time is running low during the debate. However, a caller who schedules more debate time, but fails to call in at that mutually-agreed time, forfeits the debate.

Midwest Workers' Compensation Rates Lowest in Wisconsin; Plus a Farewell to Monday Shows

Having safely worked a strenuous palletizing job the last 20 months or so (including -every- Saturday and Sunday!), host SenatorJPO segues from his exploration of high-adrenaline jobs into the similarities and differences amongst workers' compensation insurance premiums...

...As provided by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. That makes the WI DWD a guest star! (You knew that agency had to be useful for -something-, right?)

Exploring Jobs With Adrenaline; Plus a Work-Related Dream

SenatorJPO knows the gamut of backbreaking jobs -- he's worked a few, in addition to interviewing his fellow temps as to the most difficult jobs they held!

Herein, our host relates the after-effects of his adrenaline-pumping day job to the perniciously-yet-predictably oversized podcast workload that is WPR Rebuttal.

As added interest, SenatorJPO shares a work-related dream which transpired that very morning of the podcast! What kind of workflow is this?!?

Deviously Designed Deltek Talent System Throws Tantrums

This episode was inspired by SenatorJPO spending more time than he would have liked -- than anyone should need -- on attempting to send a job application online! (You thought he retired as a job seeker? Then, who would review these crummy-crumb applicant tracking systems?!?)

The Absurd Job Vacancies (AJV) Blog makes a guest appearance because reviewing asinine job boards and the application portals that feed them is what AJV Blog is all about. The screen captures used in this article are, of course, used -with the express permission- of Absurd Job Vacancies.

The poorly designed Deltek Talent System throws quite a few unpredictable errors. In fact, one could argue it was -deviously designed-, i.e. intelligently but maliciously designed.

[Screen captures were already made during application, but need to be uploaded.]

SenatorJPO's Workaround for Deltek Talent System Validation Errors

Having described the erratic behavior of the Deltek Talent System, SenatorJPO shows you how to circumvent via a time-tested trick. Make the otherwise super-formidable SNAFUs seem SAWFT with this surefire workaround!

The key lies in -not- uploading your resume; then -entering only one- position title in your work history; and then -pasting- your resume into the text area. The complete walkthrough is in the podcast.

May 27, 2016 Podcast Recap: Why UW Alumni Support Ray Cross

[NOTE: If you're a Raymond Cross supporter, then click the "Support Letter RE: Ray Cross" tab to access an easy-to-send template by which to communicate your stance to the UW System Board of Regents.]

The vilification of Ray Cross is led by self-interested faculty. Rather uninterested in the value students are getting in terms of occupational prestige and actual respect from the labor market, i.e. value in terms of career prospects, too many faculty look pitifully inward at their imaginary personal hells; perceived perditions that do not exist because they've secured the privilege of salaried, white-collar work!

Such privilege among faculty invokes apathy from under-employed graduates who had matriculated under the same teachers' tutelage. Faculty don't know real occupational pain and suffering until they've resorted to working in a hot, noisy factory at wages that are far below what their degree says they should be (theoretically, if not actually) capable of earning.

So when faculty complain about an eroded sense of privilege, those outside academia generally throw it back in their collective face by saying, "Check -your- privilege, you hoard of professionally privileged guilt-mongers!"

Like lemmings, many students have marched in lock-step to ingratiate themselves with their instructors! That is why some student governments have jumped onto the "hate Ray Cross" bandwagon.

(I thought hatred wasn't allowed at a university -- though it would seem liberals deem those who are "intolerant" of tenure have self-designated as "acceptable targets" of impolite invective.)

If these blind student-followers of faculty had any sense, they would realize now is the perfect time to wring some quality-control concessions from faculty. For too long, faculty had the freedom to simply teach, without concern for how many of their students are being introduced to useful entry-level work through their academic programs.

Students voicing any concerns of this nature were habitually directed to the so-called "Career Development Centers," which were no better than a trip to the Internet jobs board (i.e. no unadvertised job leads or exclusive internships are there).

This perpetual buck-passing about creating genuine work opportunities for occupationally needy students amounts to a wide-scale school-to-work scam! Many young adults are failing to gain occupational prestige not by lack of education -- they've plenty of it -- but because they're getting stuck in dead-end, "unskilled" jobs after university degree conferral.

We do not know the extent of this problem in Wisconsin because the University of Wisconsin System does not monitor occupational outcomes in any systematic way. Graduation web pages and alumni foundation newsletters might cherry-pick successful grads, but even allowing for space limitations in such publications, these cumulative dozens are so of "successes" belie the thousands of "failures" bearing the UW brand on -their- resume!

This begs the question of quality control: Without capping enrollment or substantially toughening admission standards, how do we promote greater availability and acquisition of relevant work for students who are seeking internships, externships, and white-collar work?

(As opposed to dooming most students, by sheer volume, to a "student career" of serving food washing dishes, and sweeping floors, only to graduate out of those student jobs and be left with neither career prospects nor unemployment benefits.)

May 27, 2016 Podcast Preview: Ray Cross and the Rubicon of Relaxed Tenure

Just as Julius Caesar forded the Rubicon River (now since dried to a stream) and stayed the course to win a three-year insurrection, Raymond Cross has carried the banner for Wisconsin's elected legislators and The People they represent, not once backing down in the face of hostile Faculty Senate leadership.

Friday's episode of WPR Rebuttal examines why University of Wisconsin System students and alumni (of any UW campus) have more reasons to support Ray Cross than to oppose him. Callers are welcome to weigh in during our show, via (929) 477-3965, between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. CST.

*** Because hold times are minimal, be alert for when you're taken off hold and put on the air. Your area code will be recited on-air to identify you as a caller before going live. Calls are accepted as-is, with no guarantee against dropped transmissions. ***

WPR Rebuttal Changes Format Next Week and Will be Preempted This Friday

Based on our shorter segments garnering thrice-or-higher the downloads of their longer kin, WPR Rebuttal has decided to downsize its podcasts: Briefer is better!

Unlike the traditional call-in shows, WPR Rebuttal realizes you don't have time to listen for a fixed duration at a specific time. You enjoy downloading our podcast for your leisure -- but don't like hunting around for the best parts! That's why:

1) WPR Rebuttal is now only one hour instead of two.

Our call-in period has also shifted to the halfway point of our former hours; that is, we're live from 12:30 p.m. through 1:30 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST). This continues lunch-time access for most aspiring callers, as well as streamlines the workflow of our one-man content producer.

2) Previews will be Wednesdays, and recaps shall be Fridays.

The halving of workload permits more expedient podcast preparation, which means WPR Rebuttal listeners can access notes, links, and elaborations relating to each show's topic a few days sooner than previously possible.

3) Downloadable MP3s of Podcasts are now linked directly from recap headings.

Although a cost-effective content delivery platform in most situations, BlogTalkRadio isn't very user-friendly to those who just want to pop in and listen! BTR all but hides the downloads, forcing most users to try and stream. However...

...BTR does not appear to stream when I click an episode title: Only a placeholder image appears, but nothing happens when I click the "play" button! (I checked my version of Flash -- that is -not- causing the problem; BTR is.)

WPR Rebuttal has thankfully engineered a workaround: Rather than visit the counter-intuitive, semi-functional BlogTalkRadio page for an episode, listeners can visit the recap page for a given episode and then click the title of the episode on that page to instantly access the downloadable MP3 of that podcast! Problem solved.

May 13, 2016 Podcast Recap: School-to-Work Scam Scarier Than Friday the 13th

Segment 1: Setting the Scene: Alluring Colleges Are Like Haunted Cabins in the Woods

Segment 2: Careers Killed by School-to-Work Scam Collectively Parallel Unwitting Horror of Slasher Films

Segment 3: UWM Bookstore Reveals Racist Commencement Segregation

Segment 4: UWM Bookstore Is No Longer a Bookstore / Has No Reason to Exist

May 13, 2016 Podcast Preview: College Opportunity Cost to Career Lifeblood Akin to Slasher Films; UWM Racist and Without a Bookstore?

WPR's third live call-in period will be held today from 12:00 p.m. (noon) through 2:00 p.m. Central Standard Time via BlogTalkRadio. The call-in number is (929) 477-3965.

Topics will include the following:
1) Why the slasher film is a pertinent analogy for how students enroll in college with the best intent but end up getting screwed, even to the point of career death;

2) An examination of UW-Milwaukee's policy of segregating graduates into "black" and "gold" (non-black) ceremonies; and

3) A scathing critique of UW-Milwaukee's "UWM Panther Shop," the former UWM Bookstore that no longer sells books -- even jettisoning its online catalog!

Features a few Friday the 13th hijinks to keep the interest running more smoothly than the blood of a freshly flayed corpse! Tune in to find out!

*** Callers are accepted as-is (or "as-are," as the case might be). If placed on hold, please be attentive to realize when you're no longer on hold and are on the air. ***

May 6, 2016 Podcast Recap: Faculty Senate Votes Reflective of Emerging Legitimation Crisis Against Entire UW System

Highlights of SenatorJPO's narration, by half-hour segments

Segment 1: UW System President No-Confidence Vote; University Legitimation Crisis
Air Date: Friday, May 6 12:00 PM
Duration: 0 hs 29 mins
Episode ID: 8812521
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Segment 2: UW System President No-Confidence Vote; University Legitimation Crisis, Cont.
Air Date: Friday, May 6 12:33 PM
Duration: 0 hs 29 mins
Episode ID: 8812635
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• Performs "King of UW," a parody of "Herod's Song" from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar (download by right-clicking the title and choosing "Save As..."):

"King of UW" (SenatorJPO's parody of "Herod's Song" from Jesus Christ Superstar)

You are Ray Cross / The great Raymond Cross /
Help us, we're the faculty / To recruit minority /
It's all up to you / To see us all through /
C'mon, king of UW!

Raymond, time is ticking / It's nearly end-of-year /
College wounds we're licking / Our future is in fear /
There's nothing you can really do / This much we know /
But we refuse to allow you / To let students run the show

Oh, you are Ray Cross / The great Raymond Cross /
Bring back our union rights / C'mon, Ray, where's your fight? /
Restore our tenure / That's why we're insecure /
C'mon, king of UW!

Don't you know why we're losing sleep / Campus enrollment continues downward creep / Ticked-off students and declining headcount / No honest way to raise it by such a high amount /

Oh, you are Ray Cross / The great Raymond Cross /
High school grads are avoiding us / Time to throw you beneath the bus! /
You had time for defense / Now it's "no confidence" /
C'mon, king of UW!

Segment 3: Vandalism at UW-Madison; Campus Climate at University of Wisconsin
Air Date: Friday, May 6 1:09 PM
Duration: 0 hs 29 mins
Episode ID: 8812751
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Segment 4: Unsolicited Advice for UW-Madison Protesters
Air Date: Friday, May 6 1:43 PM
Duration: 0 hs 28 mins
Episode ID: 8812871
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May 6, 2016 Podcast Preview: UW System President Faces No-Confidence Votes; Emerging Legitimation Crisis of UW System; and Related Issues

WPR's second live call-in period will be held today from 12:00 p.m. (noon) through 2:00 p.m. Central Standard Time via BlogTalkRadio. The call-in number is (929) 477-3965.

Topics will include logical explanations as to the following:
1) Why the no-confidence votes by faculty against UW System President Raymond Cross show he is committed to constructive change that benefits student-consumers;

2) Why the faculty backlash against Ray Cross proves they're ignorant of the emergent legitimation crisis against state universities; and

3) How a few other issues in the news relate to the above topics.

*** Callers are accepted as-is (or "as-are," as the case might be). If placed on hold, please be attentive to realize when you're no longer on hold and are on the air. ***

April 29, 2016 Podcast Recap: Hillary's Loss in the Wisconsin Primaries; Explanations for the Contingent Worker Economy; Out-of-Touch Human Resources Mentality; and Illogic of UW-Milwaukee Protests

Summary coming soon!