UW-La Crosse outreach coordinator, Spencer Wilken, or "Mrs. Photon," in studio talking about using incredible Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT) in everyday ways, the unexpected effects of salting our roads — which, apparently, are butterfly steroids and, of course, Puxatony Phil and Groundhog’s Day. That did beg the question, ‘What would La Crosse’s groundhog-like mascot be?’ Wrapped up with some exciting upcoming programs at UW-L, as well as a weird radioactive news out of Australia.

UW-La Crosse outreach coordinator, Spencer Wilken, or "Mrs. Photon," in studio talking about using incredible Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT) in everyday ways, the unexpected effects of salting our roads — which, apparently, are butterfly steroids and, of course, Puxatony Phil and Groundhog’s Day. That did beg the question, ‘What would La Crosse’s groundhog-like mascot be?’ Wrapped up with some exciting upcoming programs at UW-L, as well as a weird radioactive news out of Australia.

Listener conversations about the days events in and around the La Crosse area.  Weekdays from 5-6pm on WIZM 1410AM and 92.3FM

La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

WIZM - La Crosse

UW-L's Wilken on beefier, brainier butterflies due to salting our roads

Adam Murphy on the environmental suck of AI data centers and Wisconsin's Supreme Court race

He's what we like to call our political blowhard — politics and economics expert Adam Murphy recently joined the show to discuss the cost of AI data centers, the cost of gasoline vs. EVs and whether gender might play a role in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race.

We start with the physical infrastructure of AI and why RAM prices are exploding as data centers transition from simple storage to massive processing hubs.

That led into the "resource sucking" reality of these data centers in Wisconsin and across the world —as I again compare them to what happens in the movie Oblivion — and whether the state should mandate that tech giants over-produce for the local power grid to keep electricity costs down for everyone else.

We then moved on to the Wisconsin Supreme Court race and why the candidates' gender might be a bigger variable for Republican voters than Democrats in the upcoming Chris Taylor vs. Maria Lazar matchup.

We finished off the show breaking down the EV math and why charging at home is essentially paying $1.64 a gallon (last week), which makes "range anxiety" for people like Adam’s 72-year-old mother mostly a myth.

Adam Murphy on the environmental suck of AI data centers and Wisconsin's Supreme Court race
He's what we like to call our political blowhard &mdash; politics and economics expert Adam Murphy recently joined the show to discuss the cost of AI data centers, the cost of gasoline vs. EVs and whether gender might play a role in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race.
We start with the physical infrastructure of AI and why RAM prices are exploding as data centers transition from simple storage to massive processing hubs.
That led into the "resource sucking" reality of these data centers in Wisconsin and across the world &mdash;as I again compare them to what happens in the movie Oblivion &mdash; and whether the state should mandate that tech giants over-produce for the local power grid to keep electricity costs down for everyone else.
We then moved on to the Wisconsin Supreme Court race and why the candidates' gender might be a bigger variable for Republican voters than Democrats in the upcoming Chris Taylor vs. Maria Lazar matchup.
We finished off the show breaking down the EV math and why charging at home is essentially paying $1.64 a gallon (last week), which makes "range anxiety" for people like Adam&rsquo;s 72-year-old mother mostly a myth.

Adam Murphy on the environmental suck of AI data centers and Wisconsin's Supreme Court race

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers does the Friday news dump, vetoing no tax on tips and overtime, and the state doesn’t have a villain to make voters care about a Supreme Court race.

Those were the big topics we covered with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky. 

We also looked at the politics behind whether leaders in the state Legislature and the governor — who are all retiring — are going to do anything with property tax relief and the budget surplus.

But, we began with Chris Taylor smoking Maria Lazar in funding in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race which is on the spring ballot, but because there’s no Elon Musk to bring attention to it, and the balance of the court isn’t on the line, it’s almost going unheard.

After that, we discussed the reasoning behind Evers vetoing no tax on tips and overtime — two of over 20 bills he vetoed.

Part of that discussion included that Evers is retiring so there are no repercussion to the vetoes, which seem unpopular. That led us to another issue with Evers retiring — the fact that it’s just him, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu being the only ones negotiating possible property tax relief. All three are not seeking reelection — retiring from politics. 

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers does the Friday news dump, vetoing no tax on tips and overtime, and the state doesn&rsquo;t have a villain to make voters care about a Supreme Court race.
Those were the big topics we covered with UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky.&nbsp;
We also looked at the politics behind whether leaders in the state Legislature and the governor &mdash; who are all retiring &mdash; are going to do anything with property tax relief and the budget surplus.
But, we began with Chris Taylor smoking Maria Lazar in funding in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race which is on the spring ballot, but because there&rsquo;s no Elon Musk to bring attention to it, and the balance of the court isn&rsquo;t on the line, it&rsquo;s almost going unheard.
After that, we discussed the reasoning behind Evers vetoing no tax on tips and overtime &mdash; two of over 20 bills he vetoed.
Part of that discussion included that Evers is retiring so there are no repercussion to the vetoes, which seem unpopular. That led us to another issue with Evers retiring &mdash; the fact that it&rsquo;s just him, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu being the only ones negotiating possible property tax relief. All three are not seeking reelection &mdash; retiring from politics.&nbsp;

UW-L's Chergosky on no Elon to hype Wisconsin's Supreme Court race and Evers vetoes no tax on tips

A couple of ideas we've been talking about for years on WIZM are now being put into action at La Crosse City Hall.

Jenna Dinkel, an associate city planner, joined to discuss La Crosse bringing back the iconic "Hatched Baby" or blue baby, as well as a the reimagining of Pearl Street in downtown La Crosse. 

Hatched Baby was vandalized years ago and the city had to take it down. But artists have now restored the 9-foot-tall artwork and we are brainstorming the best places in La Crosse to place it.

After that, Dinkel talks about the reimagining of Pearl Street downtown into, what we've been saying is La Crosse version of Madison's State Street — a pedestrian-only street. The city has three concept plans for how it could change Pearl Street ahead of possible construction in 2029.

A couple of ideas we've been talking about for years on WIZM are now being put into action at La Crosse City Hall.
Jenna Dinkel, an associate city planner, joined to discuss La Crosse bringing back the iconic "Hatched Baby" or blue baby, as well as a the reimagining of Pearl Street in downtown La Crosse.&nbsp;
Hatched Baby was vandalized years ago and the city had to take it down. But artists have now restored the 9-foot-tall artwork and we are brainstorming the best places in La Crosse to place it.
After that, Dinkel talks about the reimagining of Pearl Street downtown into, what we've been saying is La Crosse version of Madison's State Street &mdash; a pedestrian-only street. The city has three concept plans for how it could change Pearl Street ahead of possible construction in 2029.

UW-L's Wilken on beefier, brainier butterflies due to salting our roads

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