While Barry Soetoro was dreaming of one day being prime minister of Indonesia, America was a very different country and Milwaukee was a very different city.  Each August of my youth was filled with eager anticipation of our family's trip to the Wisconsin State Fair in Milwaukee (actually West Allis).  I have such clear memories of great concerts featuring The Fifth Dimension, Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass and Liberace.  There were those world famous cream puffs, salt water taffy, bratwurst, corn on the cob (hot off the grill and dipped in real butter) and an exotic new taste sensation called the corn dog.  As with any fair there were rides to suit every taste and games of skill and chance on the midway where valuable prizes (how about a goldfish swimming in a beer stein) could be won.   In one of the exhibition buildings at the fair there was a miraculous display from a water softening company.  For many years I marveled at the sight of a...(Read Full Post)