Two Large Corporations; Two Polar Opposites

I came across two stories today. The first made me furious. The second gave me goosebumps.

The first story was that of a 32-year-old single mother in Minnesota who was sued by the RIAA for $1.9 million dollars for downloading 24 songs illegally. That amounts to $80,000 PER SONG! That is an absolutely ridiculous amount of money for such a minor infraction. There are rape and homicide cases that are settled on smaller sums of money than that. Sentencing in this country, for both criminal and civil cases, is so out of whack, I'm at a loss for words. The RIAA is just a big bully trying to grasp at anything they can because they're failing to adapt to the way their own consumers want to purchase their products. Ridiculous. I haven't ever contacted my congressmen before, but believe me, I will on this issue. And just when I thought large corporations (or unions of said corporations) couldn't get any worse, there was a light in the distance...

Pixar has always put out fantastic family films, as most of us know, but they've also done an incredibly genuine thing for one 10-year-old girl who was dying of cancer. Her final wish was to watch UP in the comfort of her own home. This was thought to be difficult since it has yet to see a DVD release, much less leave theatres. But Pixar heard about her wish and made it happen. The young girl then passed away just seven hours after seeing the movie. If that isn't touching enough that Pixar would go out of their way to make sure this young girl saw the movie before she passed, they also refuse to comment on the situation. Pixar isn't taking this act and using it for their own gain. They're not taking this young girl's death in order to say, "Look at us! We're such a great company! We care about kids!" It's such a refreshing story to wash the bad taste out of my mouth from the RIAA.

I'll step off my soap box now...

Breakfast Club 6/2/09

This is my last morning with you for a bit, Wade Bates is back again tomorrow. Thanks for the great two weeks!

Karl's Weather:

Today - Partly sunny. High 65
Tonight - Partly cloudy. Low 46
Wednesday - Sunny. High 64
Thursday - Sunny. High 72

6:50 - Barb Chill won today's KFIZ News Quiz Question for knowing that authorities are creating playing cards to distribute among inmates in order to gain information on various cold cases.

7:20 - David Calliari won this week's Timber Rattlers Two-Fer contest and will get two tickets to a Timber Rattlers game of his choosing and two grinders from Mancinos. You could win too, but you have to register first! Just stop by Mancinos Pizza and Grinders on South Main Street in the Cobblestone Shopping Center in Fond du Lac. You can also win with the 2nd Chance Drawing on the The Morning Show with Bob Hoffmaster on Thursday.

8:20 - Mary Ann Dilling from Fond du Lac Festivals came in to discuss what's on the docket for this year's Walleye Weekend in Lakeside Park. Check out FdlFest.com for more details on the always fun festival in Fond du Lac June 12th to the 14th.

Breakfast Club 6/1/09

Karl's Weather:

Today - Decreasing clouds. High 73.
Tonight - Increasing clouds. Low 51.
Tuesday - Mostly cloudy, chance for rain. High 61.
Wednesday - Sunny. High 68.

6:50 - Steve Samuel won today's KFIZ News Quiz by knowing that an Emu was the type of bird disrupting traffing on highway 41 this weekend.

7:50 - We spoke with Gina from Stroke Detection Plus. You can schedule a stroke detection screening for Thursday, June 11th at the American Red Cross, 272 N. Main Street in Fond du Lac. Just call 1-877-732-8258 to reserve your spot. Appointments are necessary. For more information on Stroke Detection Plus, visit StrokeDetectionPlus.com Tell them you head it on KFIZ and they will give you a special discount.

8:20 - Kay Vandervort came in from the Volunteer Center of Fond du Lac County to give us an update on all of their activities and volunteer opportunities. For more information call 920-926-1414 or visit FDLVolunteer.com

Breakfast Club 5/29/09

Karl's Weather:

Today - Partly sunny with isolated showers. High 70
Tonight - Partly cloudy. Low 48
Saturday - Partly sunny with isolated showers. High 72
Sunday - Partly sunny. High 74

6:50 - Mike Scharf won today's KFIZ News Quiz Question for knowing that the Dream Catchers will be playing a game of softball this weekend in Lakeside Park.

7:25 - Joan Berger of Brownsville won some Culver's Frozen Custard today during CW Smith Jewelers and Anniversaries. She's also qualified to win a $250 gift certificate to CW Smith Jewelers in North Fond du Lac later on in the year.

8:10 - Scott Swick from First Weber and Winfield Homes gave us the Real State of Real Estate. If you're looking to take advantage of the low prices in the housing market, call First Weber at 322-8877.

Breakfast Club 5/28/09

Karl's Forecast:

Today - Mostly Cloudy with scattered light rain. High 65
Tonight - Partly cloudy. Low 49
Friday - Partly sunny. High 73
Saturday - Partly sunny. High 71

6:50 - Joe Buechel won today's KFIZ News Quiz Question by knowing that last night's Powerball winner is in South Dakota.

7:20 - Brian Carter checked in from FDL Seafood Co. Call 517-TUNA or stop by at 63 N. Main Street in Fond du Lac. Be sure to schedule your Shrimp Boil before May 31st to save yourself 10%.

7:48 - Ron Lange won a pair of tickets to the Milwaukee Brewers' game on July 1st against the Mets. Ron correctly knew that Paul Molitor was the the Brewer who hit in a team record 39 straight games in 1987.

8:20 - Paula Price checked in from the birthplace of the Republican Party with the Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information call 920-748-6764.

Breakfast Club 5/27/09

Karl's Weather:

Today - Cloudy with periods of rain showers. High 60.
Tonight - Cloudy with rain and patchy fog. Low 50
Thursday - Partly sunny with a slight chance of rain. High 68
Friday - Partly sunny. High 74.

6:50 - John Westphal won today's KFIZ News Quiz Question by knowing that newly selected Supreme Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic to take the bench.

8:20 - Duty called for Lindee Kimball from the Solutions Center in Fond du Lac as she couldn't make it in the studio. However, if you need any information, visit SolutionsFDL.com or call 920-923-1743.

9:10 - The Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce came in for After Breakfast this morning. Patti Brandl, who runs the Leadership Fond du Lac program came in to give us an update on the program. Many of this year's teams have unveiled their projects and they're looking for next year's class. Apply by July 1st and receive $100 off your application fee.

Breakfast Club 5/26/09

Karl's Weather:

Today - Periods of showers and storms. High 65
Tonight - Periods of showers and storms. Low 54
Wednesday - Cloudy with rain likely. High 60
Thursday - Mostly Cloudy. High 66

6:50 - Al Salmon won today's KFIZ News Quiz with a Target Gift Card and Hellman's Outdoor Blanket for knowing that Bill Hall got the walk-off hit to give the Brewers a 1-0 win at Miller Park yesterday.

7:20 - Arthur Bratton won the Timber Rattlers Two-fer presented by Mancino's in Fond du Lac. Get another chance on The Morning Show with Bob Hoffmaster for the Timber Rattlers Two-fer.

7:50 - Dennis won a four-pack of tickets to Oshkosh's Irish Fest at the Leach Ampitheater this weekend. We'll have these tickets all this week to give out on the Breakfast Club.

8:20 - Norm Martin from the Fond du Lac Area Job and Career Center to tell us all about the job openings around the area. For more information call 920-929-3900.

9:10 - Bob Pinter from Charter Communications filled in for John Miller on Charter Chatter this morning. Bob gave us the details on their FamilyLand Stage at Walleye Weekend. He also had details on how to sign-up for $50,000 at the end of the month and a 52" HDTV at Charter.net/10grand. He also wants to extend congratulations to Codi Klapperich, one of 10 winners of a $1,000 scholarship from Charter. For more information on Charter call 1-888-GET-CHARTER