Saturday, October 11, 2014

Take a Trip Back in Time at Beerntsen's Confectionary


Beerntsen's Confectionary.  Opened its present location at 108 North 8th Street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

The Plaza in Warren PA evokes the same era of restaurant interior design.



Signage: God and Beer


The West Bay IPA at the Mackinaw Brewing Company in Old Town Traverse City is a happy choice.

Signage: Enjoy the view from here

Overlook, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Man wondering if he should throw caution to the wind.


When common sense takes a vacation.  (Chicago Tribune, 8/25/2002)
...the warnings seem to have little effect.  Each day during the summer months, hundreds of visitors walk up to the signs, eyeball them briefly, and then throw caution to the wind.

Actually, we're not in Oklahoma


When I google "happy okie hour", i get 4 hits that refer me to the Facebook site of the Tiki Longe of the Stearns Motor Inn in Ludington, Michigan.

On the walk back to our bed & breakfast after dinner, we didn't investigate.  We're not karaoke fans.

Signage: On the S. S. Badger

Main Man Retiring Guy's favorite.


Milwaukee County: Public Library Circulation and Program Attendance, 1996-2013


2010 population:  947,735

Public libraries in Milwaukee County





 



% change (1996-2013)
  • Circulation:  3.6%
  • Program attendance:  28.4% 

        Line graphs data sourceWisconsin Public Library Service Data

        Related posts: (with 1996-2013 % changes)

        Adams County.  (9/1/2014)
        • Circulation:  320%
        • Program attendance:  132%
        Ashland County (9/2/2014)
        • Circulation:  13.5%
        • Program attendance:  116%
        Barron County  (9/3/2014)
        • Circulation:  32.1%
        • Program attendance:   237%
        Bayfield County (9/4/2014)
        • Circulation:  127%
        • Program attendance:   (7.2%)
        Brown County (9/5/2014)
        • Circulation:  35.2%
        • Program attendance:   (22.3%)
        Buffalo County (9/6/2014)
        • Circulation:  1.9%
        • Program attendance:  812%
        Burnett County (9/7/2014)
        • Circulation:  104%
        • Program attendance  466%
        Calumet County (9/8/2014)
        • Circulation: (32.7%)
        • Program attendance  20.0%
        Chippewa County (9/9/2014)
        • Circulation: 24.6%
        • Program attendance  28.8%
        Clark County (9/10/2014)
        • Circulation: 21.6%
        • Program attendance  86.5%
        Columbia County (9/11/2014)
        • Circulation: 40.5%
        • Program attendance  84.2%
        Crawford  County (9/12/2014)
        • Circulation: 58.1%
        • Program attendance  (28.3%)
        Dane County (9/13/2014)
        • Circulation: 83.0%
        • Program attendance  246%
        Dodge County (9/14/2014)
        • Circulation: 53.9%
        • Program attendance  186%
        Door County (9/15/2014)
        • Circulation: 23.2%
        • Program attendance  (7.1%)
        Douglas County (9/16/2014)
        • Circulation: 81.1%
        • Program attendance:  33.9% 
        Dunn County (9/17/2014)
        • Circulation: 14.2%
        • Program attendance:  178% 
        Eau Claire County (9/18/2014)
        • Circulation: 23.7%
        • Program attendance:  86.6% 
        Florence County (9/19/2014)
        • Circulation: 251%
        • Program attendance:  195% 
        Fond du Lac County (9/20/2014)
        • Circulation: 24.2%
        • Program attendance:  72.6% 
        Forest County (9/21/2014)
        • Circulation: 68.4%
        • Program attendance:  261% 
        Grant County (9/22/2014)
        • Circulation: 44.3%
        • Program attendance:  87.9%
        Green County (9/23/2014)
        • Circulation:  14.4%
        • Program attendance:  111% 
        Green Lake County (9/24/2014)
        • Circulation:  33.8%
        • Program attendance:  125%
        Iowa County (9/25/2014)
        • Circulation:  39.8%
        • Program attendance:  122% 
        Iron County (9/26/2014)
        • Circulation:  5.4%
        • Program attendance:  121% 
        Jackson County (9/27/2014)
        • Circulation:  57.3%
        • Program attendance:  52.3%
        Jefferson County (9/28/2014)
        • Circulation:  19.9%
        • Program attendance:  68.3% 
        Juneau County (9/29/2014)
        • Circulation:  41.9%
        • Program attendance:  166% 
        Kenosha Public Library (9/30/2014)
        • Circulation:  10.7%
        • Program attendance:  62.5% 
        Kewaunee County (10/1/2014)
        • Circulation:  (3.4%)
        • Program attendance:  186% 
        La Crosse County (10/2/2014)
        • Circulation:  54.6%
        • Program attendance:  31.9% 
        Lafayette County (10/3/2014)
        • Circulation:  55.2%
        • Program attendance:  67.0% 
        Langlade County (10/4/2014)
        • Circulation:  13.4%
        • Program attendance:  136% 
        Lincoln County (10/5/2014)
        • Circulation: (22.5%)
        • Program attendance:  (35.3%) 
        Manitowoc County (10/6/2014)
        • Circulation: (11.6%)
        • Program attendance:  74.5%
        Marathon County (10/7/2014)
        • Circulation:  29.7%
        • Program attendance:  (2.4%)
        Marinette County (10/8/2014)
        • Circulation: (14.3%)
        • Program attendance:  (5.8%)
        Marquette County (10/9/2014)
        • Circulation: 78.6%
        • Program attendance:  17.2%
        Menominee County (10/10/2014)


        Taking a Ride on the Lake Michigan Car Ferry

        The  S. S. Badger provides car ferry service between Ludington, Michigan, where the ship is based, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

        A view of the mouth of the Manitowoc River from the top deck of the S. S. Badger

        It operates from mid-May to late October and makes 2 round-trip crossings during the summer travel season.  It is one of two car ferry services operating on Lake Michigan.

        Leaving Manitowoc behind

        The continued operation of the S .S. Badger is threatened due to its coal-fired engine, which results in the dumping of 500 tons of ash into Lake Michigan each year.

        A calm lake on this crossing

        Photos by Retiribg Guy


        Friday, October 10, 2014

        Wisconsin Fall Election Preview: Assembly District 63

        Republican incumbent vs. Democratic challenger


        Robin Vos, Republican incumbent

        Andy Mitchell, Democratic challenger

        63rd Assembly District. 
        Public libraries in the 63rd Assembly District
        Burlington Public Library
        Graham Public Library, Union Grove
        Racine Public Library (service area)
        Rochester Public Library






        Related posts and notes:

        1st Senate District  (9/6/2014)

        2nd Senate District.  7-term Republican Rob Cowles (Green Bay) is not up for re-election this year.   Cowles also served in the Assembly from 1982 to 1987.

        3rd Senate District:  3-term Democrat Tim Carpenter (Milwaukee) is running unopposed.

        4th Senate District.  Three-term Democrat Lena Taylor (Milwaukee) is not up for re-election this year.

        5th Senate District (9/8/2014)

        6th Senate District.  Freshman Democrat Nikiya Harris Dodd (Milwaukee) is not up for re-election this year.
        • 16th Assembly District.  11-term Democrat Leon Young (Milwaukee) is running unopposed.
        • 17th Assembly District (sorry, somehow got lost in the shuffle; need to re-do)
        • 18th Assembly District.  Freshman Democrat Evan Goyke (Milwaukee) is running unopposed.

        7th Senate District.  (9/9/2014)

        8th Senate District.  6-term Republican Alberta Darling (River Hills) is not up for re-election this year.   Darling also served 2 1/2 years in the Assembly (May 1990-January 1993)

        9th Senate District.  (9/15/2014)

        10th Senate District.  4-term Republican Sheila Harsdorf (River Falls) is not up for re-election this year.  Harsdorf also served 12 years in the Assembly (1989-2001)

        11th Senate District.  (9/22/2014)

        12th Senate District.  First-term Republican Tom Tiffany (Town  of Little Rice) is not up for re-election this year.  (Tiffany also served in the Assembly for 2 years -- 2011-2013.)

        13th Senate District.  (9/23/2014)

        14th Senate District.  3-term Republican Luther Olsen (Ripon) is not up for re-election this year.  (Olsen also served 10 years in the Assembly, first elected in 1994.)

        15th Senate District.  (9/29/2014) 

        16th Senate District.  3-term Democrat Mark Miller (Monona) is not up for re-election this year.  (Miller also served 6 years in the Assembly -- 1999-2005.) 
          
        17th Senate District.  (10/3/2014)

        18th Senate District.   Freshman Republican Rick Gudex (Fond du Lac) is not up for re-election this year.

         19th Senate District.  (10/8/2014)
        20th Senate District.  2-term Republican Glenn Grothman (West Bend) is not up for re-election this year.  Grothman is, however, running for the open seat in Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District.
        • 58th Assembly District.  Republican candidate Bob Gannon (Slinger) is running unopposed to replace Pat Strochota (R-West Bend).
        • 59th Assembly District.  Republican candidate Jesse Kremer (Kewaskum) is running unopposed to replace Dan LeMahieu (R-Cascade).
        • 60th Assembly District.  Republican candidate Robert Brooks (Saukville) is running unopposed to replace Duey Stroebel (R-Cedarburg), who unsuccessful ran for Wisconsin 6th Congressional District. 
        21st Senate District.


        Wisconsin Fall Election Preview: Assembly District 57

        Open seat.   3-term Democrat Penny Bernard Schaber, who currently represents the district, is running for the 19th State Senate seat.


        Amanda Stuck, Democratic candidate

        Chris Klein, Republican candidate

        57th Assembly District

        Public libraries in the 57th Assembly District
        Appleton Public Library
        Menasha Public Library

        Academic library
        Seeley G. Mudd Library, Lawrence University

        Related posts and notes:

        1st Senate District  (9/6/2014)

        2nd Senate District.  7-term Republican Rob Cowles (Green Bay) is not up for re-election this year.   Cowles also served in the Assembly from 1982 to 1987.

        3rd Senate District:  3-term Democrat Tim Carpenter (Milwaukee) is running unopposed.

        4th Senate District.  Three-term Democrat Lena Taylor (Milwaukee) is not up for re-election this year.

        5th Senate District (9/8/2014)

        6th Senate District.  Freshman Democrat Nikiya Harris Dodd (Milwaukee) is not up for re-election this year.
        • 16th Assembly District.  11-term Democrat Leon Young (Milwaukee) is running unopposed.
        • 17th Assembly District (sorry, somehow got lost in the shuffle; need to re-do)
        • 18th Assembly District.  Freshman Democrat Evan Goyke (Milwaukee) is running unopposed.

        7th Senate District.  (9/9/2014)

        8th Senate District.  6-term Republican Alberta Darling (River Hills) is not up for re-election this year.   Darling also served 2 1/2 years in the Assembly (May 1990-January 1993)

        9th Senate District.  (9/15/2014)

        10th Senate District.  4-term Republican Sheila Harsdorf (River Falls) is not up for re-election this year.  Harsdorf also served 12 years in the Assembly (1989-2001)

        11th Senate District.  (9/22/2014)

        12th Senate District.  First-term Republican Tom Tiffany (Town  of Little Rice) is not up for re-election this year.  (Tiffany also served in the Assembly for 2 years -- 2011-2013.)

        13th Senate District.  (9/23/2014)

        14th Senate District.  3-term Republican Luther Olsen (Ripon) is not up for re-election this year.  (Olsen also served 10 years in the Assembly, first elected in 1994.)

        15th Senate District.  (9/29/2014) 

        16th Senate District.  3-term Democrat Mark Miller (Monona) is not up for re-election this year.  (Miller also served 6 years in the Assembly -- 1999-2005.) 
          
        17th Senate District.  (10/3/2014)

        18th Senate District.   Freshman Republican Rick Gudex (Fond du Lac) is not up for re-election this year.

         19th Senate District.  (10/8/2014)

        Menominee County: Public Library Circulation and Program Attendance, 1996-2013



         
              Line graphs data sourceWisconsin Public Library Service Data

              Related posts: (with 1996-2013 % changes)

              Adams County.  (9/1/2014)
              • Circulation:  320%
              • Program attendance:  132%
              Ashland County (9/2/2014)
              • Circulation:  13.5%
              • Program attendance:  116%
              Barron County  (9/3/2014)
              • Circulation:  32.1%
              • Program attendance:   237%
              Bayfield County (9/4/2014)
              • Circulation:  127%
              • Program attendance:   (7.2%)
              Brown County (9/5/2014)
              • Circulation:  35.2%
              • Program attendance:   (22.3%)
              Buffalo County (9/6/2014)
              • Circulation:  1.9%
              • Program attendance:  812%
              Burnett County (9/7/2014)
              • Circulation:  104%
              • Program attendance  466%
              Calumet County (9/8/2014)
              • Circulation: (32.7%)
              • Program attendance  20.0%
              Chippewa County (9/9/2014)
              • Circulation: 24.6%
              • Program attendance  28.8%
              Clark County (9/10/2014)
              • Circulation: 21.6%
              • Program attendance  86.5%
              Columbia County (9/11/2014)
              • Circulation: 40.5%
              • Program attendance  84.2%
              Crawford  County (9/12/2014)
              • Circulation: 58.1%
              • Program attendance  (28.3%)
              Dane County (9/13/2014)
              • Circulation: 83.0%
              • Program attendance  246%
              Dodge County (9/14/2014)
              • Circulation: 53.9%
              • Program attendance  186%
              Door County (9/15/2014)
              • Circulation: 23.2%
              • Program attendance  (7.1%)
              Douglas County (9/16/2014)
              • Circulation: 81.1%
              • Program attendance:  33.9% 
              Dunn County (9/17/2014)
              • Circulation: 14.2%
              • Program attendance:  178% 
              Eau Claire County (9/18/2014)
              • Circulation: 23.7%
              • Program attendance:  86.6% 
              Florence County (9/19/2014)
              • Circulation: 251%
              • Program attendance:  195% 
              Fond du Lac County (9/20/2014)
              • Circulation: 24.2%
              • Program attendance:  72.6% 
              Forest County (9/21/2014)
              • Circulation: 68.4%
              • Program attendance:  261% 
              Grant County (9/22/2014)
              • Circulation: 44.3%
              • Program attendance:  87.9%
              Green County (9/23/2014)
              • Circulation:  14.4%
              • Program attendance:  111% 
              Green Lake County (9/24/2014)
              • Circulation:  33.8%
              • Program attendance:  125%
              Iowa County (9/25/2014)
              • Circulation:  39.8%
              • Program attendance:  122% 
              Iron County (9/26/2014)
              • Circulation:  5.4%
              • Program attendance:  121% 
              Jackson County (9/27/2014)
              • Circulation:  57.3%
              • Program attendance:  52.3%
              Jefferson County (9/28/2014)
              • Circulation:  19.9%
              • Program attendance:  68.3% 
              Juneau County (9/29/2014)
              • Circulation:  41.9%
              • Program attendance:  166% 
              Kenosha Public Library (9/30/2014)
              • Circulation:  10.7%
              • Program attendance:  62.5% 
              Kewaunee County (10/1/2014)
              • Circulation:  (3.4%)
              • Program attendance:  186% 
              La Crosse County (10/2/2014)
              • Circulation:  54.6%
              • Program attendance:  31.9% 
              Lafayette County (10/3/2014)
              • Circulation:  55.2%
              • Program attendance:  67.0% 
              Langlade County (10/4/2014)
              • Circulation:  13.4%
              • Program attendance:  136% 
              Lincoln County (10/5/2014)
              • Circulation: (22.5%)
              • Program attendance:  (35.3%) 
              Manitowoc County (10/6/2014)
              • Circulation: (11.6%)
              • Program attendance:  74.5%
              Marathon County (10/7/2014)
              • Circulation:  29.7%
              • Program attendance:  (2.4%)
              Marinette County (10/8/2014)
              • Circulation: (14.3%)
              • Program attendance:  (5.8%)
              Marquette County (10/9/2014)
              • Circulation: 78.6%
              • Program attendance:  17.2%

              Thursday, October 9, 2014

              UPDATE: Scott Walker's Still-Faulty Radar

              Original published 3/12/2014.



              The latest update.   Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says elections agency head 'has to go'.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/9/2014)

              I have nothing to say, in other words.
              Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, says the head of Wisconsin’s elections agency “has to go.” 

               But Gov. Scott Walker says the issue isn’t on his radar.

              The previous update.   Scott Walker says he was unaware of $700,000 donation from mining company(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8/23/2014)

              "Not on my radar", in other words.    Asked whether he was aware that Gogebic Taconite secretly donated $700,000 to Wisconsin Club for Growth — a pro-business advocacy group directed by the governor's campaign adviser — Walker said, "Not to my knowledge."

              The original post.

              Gov. Scott Walker says he would call voter ID special session. (Wisconsin State Journal, 3/12/2014)

              When have we heard this before?  Walker said the elections bills haven’t been on his “radar,” adding he would look at the measures if they pass the Legislature .

              Walker:  Campaign donation bills not on his radar.  (Washington Times, 3/5/2014)

              A week ago.   Walker said the campaign spending disclosure was “not something that’s really on my radar.”

              Scott Walker weighs veto of school mascot bill.  (Wisconsin Watch, 12/17/2013)

              Three months ago.  Walker said his administration pushed hard to pass a number of worker training bills. He specifically contrasted that to the Indian mascot bill, which is “not on my radar.”  (He signed the bill the following month.)

              Are Wisconsin GOP leaders chickening out on pro-life laws too?   (Live Action News, 11/15/2013)

              Four months ago.  “To me, it’s not on my radar if it’s not about jobs, balancing the budget or lowering taxes.”  (Walker quote)

              Higher speed limit not on Walker's radar.  (Wisconsin Radio Network, 8/22/2013)

              Seven months ago.   Speaking with reporters in Eau Claire Wednesday, Walker said “to me, it’s not necessarily a good or bad idea, but…it’s not on my radar.”   (Walker quote)

              Rick Scott for President.  (Tampa Bay Times, 5/12/2011)

              About 3 years ago.  As much as Scott insists it's nowhere on his radar, some of his allies suspect he sees a last-minute 2012 presidential bid as a viable option. If so, he's delusional.

              "OPEN FOR BUSINESS" UPDATE: Rebecca Kleefisch's Claim to Fame

              of the woman who could be Governor.  
              (Think about it.)


              Whose phrase is it? 'Wisconsin is Open for Business'. (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/6/2014)

              Not Rebecca's. 
              Even earlier, former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle was quoted using the precise phrasing in 2005. And Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, a major backer of the campaign of Kleefisch and Walker, used the identical phrase in an advertising campaign more than a decade ago.

              Original posted as "Scott Walker, Mr. Original" on 9/23/2014.

              Alabama


                 






               

              And the list goes on and on.





              Scott Walker's Flights of Fancy: He thinks he's gonna be President

              Scott Walker has spent nearly $1 million in campaign cash on air travel. (Capital Times, 10/6/2014)

              Rep.  Mark Pocan sums it up.
              "The problem I think that we've noticed, is Scott Walker has been running for president since day one.  That’s where his real interests and ambitions are. We've kind of been paying the price. He’s not working hard to be governor; he’s working hard as a candidate for president." 

              A trip to Las Vegas in March of this year garnered some publicity.

              Scott Walker head to Vegas for 'Sheldon Primary'. (Capital Times, 3/26/2014)

              Sheldon Adelson contributed $250,000 to Walker on March 30, 2012.




              Related posts:
              "Undecided" leads, Scott Walker brings up the rear in McClatchy-Marist Republican Presidential Primary poll.  (10/5/2014)
              Remember this hilarious Scott Walker headline from 2012?   (8/31/2014)
              Scott Walker wonders why Iowa Republicans aren't playing his song.  (8/28/20140
              Bobby Jindal's Tea-Party pandering gets him nowhere.  (8/21/2014)
              Tight gubernatorial race outs Scott Walker's Presidential ambitions on Hold.  (8/15/2014) 
              Scott Walker joins the 2016 Republican Presidential candidate wooing game of Hispanic voters.  (8/9/2014) 
              Fox News poll has got the love for Rick Perry.  (7/28/2014) 
              CNN/ORC poll: 2016 Republican primary preferences.  (7/28/2014) 
              Scott Walker looks to Iowa and wonders.  (7/18/2014)
              Scott Walker:  "Try not to talk about 2016 right now."  7/13/2014)
              New Hampshire Republicans to Chris Christie: "C'mon, baby, (re)light our fire"!  (7/13/2014)
              Quinnipiac polls: Chris Christie's favorables take a tumble after George Washington Bridge scandal hits the news .  (7/10/2014)
              Quinnipiac polls: Since May 2013, Jeb Bush's unfavorables outpace his favorables .  (7/9/2014)
              Do Republicans have a problem with women voters?  (7/9/2014)
              Based on 15 months of Quinnipiac polling, Scott Walker is the only Republican candidate with any momentum.  (7/9/2014)
              Republican 2016 Presidential primary preferences are flattening.  (7/9/2014) 
              Scott Walker edges out Rick Santorum and Bobby Jindal in New Hampshire Republican Presidential primary poll.  (6/20/2014)
              Another Presidential poll, another 5% for Walker.  (6/16/2014)
              Hello, Wisconsin independent voters, Scott Walker is polling at 6% in Iowa.  (5/23/2014)
              If that's the case, Walker should immediately announce that he's not a candidate for the 2016 Republican Presidential nomination.  (5/23/2014
              The Marquette University Law School poll asks the question, Do Wisconsin voters want to see Walker run for president in 2016? (5/22/2014)
              "Scott Walker" tied with "None" for 1st choice in CNN/ORC Republican Presidential preference poll.  (5/8/2014)
              Another Presidential primary poll, another 5% showing for Scott Walker.  (5/1/2014)
              I hope Scott Walker had a good Easter cuz Donald Trump is outpolling him in New Hampshire. (4/20/2014)
              Fox News: Scott Walker polling neck-and-neck with Rick Santorum.  (4/17/2014)
              Iowa Republican caucus voters not singing Scott Walker's song.  (4/10/2014)
              Scott Walker still "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again".    (4/4/2014)
              While Mary Burke campaigns for Governor, Scott Walker continues to run for President.  (3/28/2014)
              The Washington Examiner offers a boost to Scott Walker Presidential campaign without a hint of irony.  (3/26/2014)
              Let's do an ID update on this Townhall straw poll.  (3/25/2014)
              Scott Walker for President 2016: Pundits like the idea but the public sez "meh".  (3/16/2014)
              Scott Walker is in a bind.  (3/15/2014)
              Christie/Walker meme, part 3.  (3/8/2014)
              Christie/Walker meme, part 2.  (3/7/2014)
              Christie/Walker meme, part 1.  (3/7/2014)
              The chattering class falls hard for Scott Walker, but the voters are still scratching their heads.  (3/6/2014)
              So he, too, can embarrass himself.  (12/30/2013)