Saturday, January 17, 2015

GO PACK GO!!


Who will win Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks: Predictions for the 2015 NFC Championship Game.  (nj.com.com, 1/17/2015)

The Seahawks are heavily favored in ChrisChristieland.

So the question immediately arises......when was the last time Rick Perry had sex?




Starting at 0:44.  "I'm-I'm-I'm just gonna tell ya from  -- heh -- from my own personal, ah, life, abstinence works."

Thanks for sharing, Gail Collins!

Texas is Sending You a Present.  (The New York Times, 1/16/2015)

No Friend to the Environment: Republican Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr., M.D., Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District


Photo sourceU.S. Congress
Text source: Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr. M.D.

Boustany M.D. was re-elected to a 6th term with 79% of the vote. 

Recommended reading for Rep. Boustany M.D. and the constituents in his south Louisiana district.

National climate change report says effects on Louisiana will be significant, costly.  (New Orleans Times Picayune, 5/7/2014)


No Friend to the Environment dishonor roll.

Alabama Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives.   (Their anti-environmentalism can be summed up in one word:  coal.  Which is odd, since Alabama contributes a mere 1.9% of U.S. production, good enough for an overall ranking of 13.  The state's peak year of production:  1990)  
Alaska Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
  • At-large District.  Don Young (R).   Ridiculed environmentalists as a “self-centered bunch of waffle-stomping, Harvard-graduating, intellectual idiots.....not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans.” 
 Arizona Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Arkansas Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
California Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Colorado Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
No House Republicans hail from Connecticut and Delaware. 
Florida Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Georgia Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Idaho Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Illinois Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Indiana Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Iowa Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Kansas Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Kentucky Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Louisiana Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives

Selma Alabama Times 3

A Long March Into History.  Stephen Somerstein Photos in ‘Freedom Journey 1965’.  (The New York Times, 1/16/2015)
For all involved, danger was ever-present. The march, which covered 54 miles and took five days, from March 21 to 25, had been preceded by two traumatic aborted versions. On March 7, 600 people trying to walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge over the Alabama River leading out of Selma to Montgomery were accused by local law officials of gathering illegally and were savagely assaulted by state troopers. 

Sunday, March 7, 1965.   The march is shown in the first 3:33 of this video.



Tuesday, March 9, 1965. 
Two days later, a second group, this one led by Dr. King, approached the bridge, knelt to pray and turned back. If the retreat was intended as a symbolic rebuke to violence, it did no good. That night, a Unitarian minister from Boston* named James J. Reeb, in town for the event, was beaten on the street by a group of Selma racists and died.
(*I'm sure the New York Times will print a correction.   Perhaps Holland Carter can't imagine an advocate for racial justice traveling from Wyoming to Alabama in 1965.)



March 21-25, 1965.
By the time of the third march, certain protective measures were in place. The force of public opinion was one. Pictures of the attack at the bridge had been widely seen in print and on national television: All eyes were on Selma now.

The Americans: The Colonial Experience. Book 3. Language and the Printed Word. Part 12: A Conservative Press




Chapter 49.  The Decline of the Book
  • output of books very small considering intellectual energy
    • other types of printed grew in profusion
  • reasons for book's lack of development
    • scarcity of type
    • scarcity and poor quality of paper
      • Stamp Act and Townshend Acts both taxed paper among other items
      • correspondence written on any scraps of paper to be found
      • paper that was manufactured was not made to last
    • inferior ink
    • printing presses had to be imported
    • imported book became staple of American bookseller
  • American printing lagged technically behind England's
  • printer tried to cover investment through advance subscriptions
    • had to play it safe
    • solidly conventional list of publications
  • few books of lasting significance appeared
    • religious books proliferated in North
    • legal books in South
Chapter 50.  The Rise of the Newspaper
  • American printers left free to serve special needs of his community
  • presses were flourishing by mid 18th century
  • bulk of printed material was government work in early years
    • statutes
    • votes and proceedings of colonial assemblies
    • legal and commercial forms, a staple commodity
  • almanacs
    • most important printed matter next to Bible for many farmers
    • back numbers kept for reading matter
    • spread up-to-date political information, opinion and argument in pre-Revolutionary era
  • larger income and future lay with newspaper
    • by early 18th century, newspapers had become a familiar institution
    • precocious development
    • growth stimulated by circumstances
      • spread of literacy
      • extent of the country
      • existence of several capitals, each with its own different ways
      • competition among a number of seaboard cities
    • symbol of how Americans broke down all distinctions
      • need to be useful and relevant, not requiring long study and concentration
      • mixed the public and private
      • took the community into account with a view to action and specific events rather than universal principles
  • advertising
    • saved the newspaper from becoming too literary
    • history of journalism shows tie to commercial spirit
  • magazines
Chapter 51.  Why Colonial Printed Matter was Conservative
  • tight, effective control by government
    • no secret presses
    • no real freedom of the press as we know it
  • traditional European idea of a monopoly of the press to cement the social order was successfully transplanted
  • influence of New England
    • more than half the colonial imprints between 1639 and 1763
    • press restrictions were single largest influence
    • government control remained effective into Revolutionary era and during war itself
  • printing began under government supervision in all the colonies
    • no press in Virginia from 1683 until 1730
    • only one until 1767, an official organ of government
    • outside of Boston, Philadelphia and New York were two leading printing centers
    • government support meant government control
  • confinement of the American press
    • government control
    • censorship
    • threat of libel prosecution
  • under these restrictions, colonial presses could hardly be centers of novel, startling or radical ideas
    • printers' need to be a government man acceptable to ruling group
    • only government business made it possible for a man to live by his press
Chapter 52.  "The Publick Printer"
  • steps to success
    • winning confidence of government
    • discovering sources of news
    • finding ways of distributing his commodity quickly
    • results led to the development of an unprecedented network of public information which eventually would link a vast nation together
  • aspects of life which increased printer's influence
    • large number of separate governments
    • this gave a focus and practical purpose to printed matter
    • put printing press in service of entire literate community
  • men qualified to be public printers were always in demand
    • became an American institution
    • influence in public life foreshadowed special American relationship between politics and the press (e.g., Presidential press conference)
  • growth of responsibility
    • printer was chief local customer of post office
      • gathering place for men of affairs
      • postmaster had quickest and most confidential access to news through letters.
    • printer found it convenient to take on duties of local postmaster
    • printer's shop came to resemble a general store
    • advantage of being postmaster kept press in hands of respectable men
    • advantages developed by earliest printers
      • intimately acquainted with public tastes
      • learned the problems of selling and delivering printed matter to a wide audience
  • reason for first U.S post office
    • needs of the Continental Congress
    • new American army
    • rising colonial newspapers
  • system set up on model of William Goddard
    • man who had opposed post office monopoly under Franklin's rule as Deputy Postmaster General
    • Franklin chosen as first postmaster which sealed the continuing close relationship between the post office and politics

Related posts:
The Americans: The Colonial Experience by Daniel Boorstin,  Book 1.  The Vision and the Reality Part 1.  A City Upon a Hill:  The Puritans of Massachusetts.  (12/8/2014)
The Americans: The Colonial Experience. Part 2. The Inward Plantation: The Quakers of Pennsylvania.  (12/10/2014)
The Americans: The Colonial Experience. Part 3. Victims of Philanthropy: The Settlers of Georgia.  (12/13/2014)
The Americans;  The Colonial Experience, Part 4.  Transplanters:  The Virginians.  (12/14/2014)
The Americans: The Colonial Experience. Book 2. Viewpoints and Institutions. Part 5: An American Frame of Mind.  (12/17/2014)
The Americans: The Colonial Experience. Book 2. Viewpoints and Institutions. Part 6: Educating the Community
The Americans: The Colonial Experience. Book 2. Viewpoints and Institutions. Part 7: The Learned Lose Their Monopolies.  (12/24/2014)
The Americans: The Colonial Experience. Book 2. Viewpoints and Institutions. Part 8: New World Medicine.  (12/31/2014)
The Americans: The Colonial Experience. Book 2. Viewpoints and Institutions. Part 9: The Limits of American Science
The Americans: The Colonial Experience. Book 3. Language and the Printed Word. Part 10: The New Uniformity.  (1/6/2015)
The Americans: The Colonial Experience. Book 3. Language and the Printed Word. Part 11: Culture Without a Capital;  (1/11/2015)

Erwin Drake: These 3 Great Songs Are Among the Gems in his Songwriting Repertoire


Erwin Drake, Pop Songwriter, 95.  (The New York Times, 1/16/2015)
He later collaborated with Irene Higginbotham on the lyrics for “Good Morning Heartache,” which Miss Holiday recorded in 1946. (She was said to have called it one of her favorite songs.) It was later recorded by a host of singers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Ross and Alicia Keys.



“I Believe” was commissioned by Jane Froman, the singer and actress, as an antidote to angst over the Korean War. Described as the first hit song introduced on television, it was a huge hit for Mr. Laine in 1953 and has been recorded by dozens of others, including Elvis Presley, Perry Como and Patti LaBelle.  

(In 1963, the Beaty Junior High School 7th grade chorus performed the song in the Spring Show.)



Mr. Drake wrote the words and music for the wistful “It Was a Very Good Year” in 1961 for Bob Shane of the Kingston Trio. Mr. Sinatra heard it on his car radio driving to Palm Springs, Calif., and his recording of it on a comeback album in 1966 hit the Top 10.

The Kingston Trio's version appears on their 1961 album, Goin' Places, which peaked at #3 and spent 41 weeks on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart.



The Frank Sinatra version appears on this 1965 album, September of My Years, which peaked at #5 and spent 69 weeks on Billboard's Top 200 albums.  This song earned Sinatra the Grammy for Best Vocal Performance, Male.



La Ciotat, France: Europe's Superyacht Maintenance Capital

This one measures just under 50 meters.


Superyachts to the Rescue.  (The New York Times, 1/16/2015)
When the entire ship, replete with helicopter pad and five staterooms, reached the height of the quay, it rode a motorized dolly sideways onto a grid of metal rails. Then it rolled toward the giant work shed where until March it will be cleaned, repaired and painted in a makeover costing 2 million euros, or $2.3 million. 

Though yachting’s high season is still months away, winter is a busy time in this picturesque town in southeast France that is Europe’s largest yacht-maintenance and refitting seaport, as measured by revenue.

La Ciotat, yachtless.



Wisconsin Public Library Holdings: Dane County Print, Audio, Video (1996-2013)



Public libraries in Dane County:


Percentage change by format, 1996-2013


Other posts in this series:
Adams County.  (1/5/2015)
Ashland County.  (1/6/2015) 
Barron County.  (1/7/2015) 
Bayfield County.  (1/8/2015) 
Brown County.  (1/9/2015)  
Buffalo County.  (1/10/2015) 
Burnett County.  (1/11/2015) 
Calumet County.  (1/12/2015) 
Chippewa County.  (1/13/2015)
Clark County.  (1/14/2015)
Columbia County.  (1/15/2015) 
Crawford County.  (1/16/2015)


Other Wisconsin public library statistics series:




Total Annual Hours of Operation (1996-2013) and Total Square Footage (2000-2013) of Wisconsin Public Libraries: Juneau County


Source:  Wikipedia

Public libraries in Juneau County




From the Elroy Public Library historyIn 2001, the library was remodeled to add more space – plus meeting room, kitchenette and a parking lot. After 6 months in temporary quarters, the Elroy Library reopened for Christmas in its sparkling new building.

Necedah's new library opened in late 2010.

As of December 10, 2014, the New Lisbon Memorial Library had $177,233.48 in its New Library Building Fund.

The Wonewoc Public Library broke ground for an addition to its 1939 structure in April 2013.

Related posts: 
Adams County.  (12/22/2014)
Ashland County.  (12/23/2014)
Barron County.  (12/24/2014)
Bayfield County.  (12/25/2014)
Brown County.  (12/26/2014)
Buffalo County.  (12/26/2014)
Calumet County.  (12/27/2014)
Chippewa County.  (12/28/2014)
Clark County.  (12/29/2014)
Columbia County.  (12/30/2014)
Crawford County.  (12/31/2014)
Dane County. (1/1/2015)
Dodge County.  (1/2/2015)
Door County.  (1/3/2015)
Dunn County.  (1/5/2014)
Eau Claire County.  (1/6/2015)
Florence County.  (1/7/2015)
Fond du Lac County. (1/8/2015)
Forest County.  (1/9/2015)
Grant County.  (1/10/2015)
Green County.  (1/11/2015)
Green Lake County.  (1/12/2015)
Iowa County.   (1/13/2015)
Iron County.  (1/14/2015)
Jackson County.   (1/15/2015)
Jefferson County.  (1/16/2015)

Washington County WI: Public Access Internet Computers (1999-2013) and Print Serial Subscriptions (1996-2013)


2010 population:   131,877

Public libraries in Washington County


This line-graph series is the result of my wondering if there's any pattern to the number of print serial subscriptions held by public libraries in relation to the increasing number of public access Internet computers provided by public libraries since 1999. (Earliest year for which Wisconsin statistics are available.)


Note: The 1996, 1997, 1998 Wisconsin public library annual reports asked for the following information: Libraries with Internet access. (Answered yes or no.) Libraries with electronic services. (Answered yes or no.) In 1999, public libraries reported the number of public access Internet computers for the first time in the annual report.

Percentage change from peak year (2009-2013):  -20.7%

    Other posts in series
    (with percentage change in print serial subscriptions from peak year)
    Adams County, -35.6%.  (11/12/2014)
    Ashland County, -1.3%.  (11/13/2014)
    Barron County, -18.5%.  (11/14/2014)
    Bayfield County, +106%.  (11/15/2014)
    Brown County, -22%.   (11/16/2014)
    Buffalo County, -18%.  (11/17/2014)
    Burnett County, -4.4%.  (11/18/2014)
    Calumet County, -23.1%.  (11/19/2014)
    Chippewa County, -37.6%.  (11/20/2014)
    Clark County, -9.0%.  (11/21/2014)
    Columbia County, -11.3%.  (11/22/2014)
    Crawford County, -3.6%.  (11/23/2014)
    Dane County, -16.1%.  (11/24/2014)
    Dodge County, -21.2%.  (11/25/2014)
    Door County, -37.1%.  (11/26/2014)
    Douglas County, -19.1%.  (11/27/2014)
    Dunn County, -21.2%.  (11/28/2014)
    Eau Claire County, -39.5%.  (11/29/2014)
    Florence County, +429%.  (11/30/2014)
    Fond du Lac County, -32.5%.  (12/1/2014)
    Forest County, -20.8%.  (12/2/2014)
    Grant County, NA.  (12/3/2014)
    Green County, -1.6%.  (12/4/2014)
    Green Lake County, -11.0% . (12/5/2014)
    Iowa County, +9.1%.  (12/6/2014)
    Iron County, +50.9%.  (12/7/2014)
    Jackson County, +48.3%.  (12/8/2014)
    Jefferson County, -27.9%.  (12/9/2014)
    Juneau County, +46.3%.  (12/10/2014)
    Kenosha County, -37.9%.  (12/11/2014)
    Kewaunee County, -28.0.  (12/12/2014)
    La Crosse County, -30.2%.  (12/13/2014)
    Lafayette County, -1.0%.  (12/14/2014)
    Langlade County, -53.0%.  (12/15/2014)
    Lincoln County, -45%.  (12/16/2014)
    Manitowoc County, -28.5%.  (12/17/2014)
    Marathon County, -50.1%.  (12/18/2014)
    Marinettte County, NA.  (12/19/2014)
    Marquette County, -59.5%.   (12/20/2014)
    Menominee County, NA.  (12/21/2014)
    Milwaukee County, -76.0%.  (12/22/2014)
    Monroe County, -27.5%.  (12/23/2014)
    Oconto County, -32.4%.  (12/24/2014)
    Oneida County, +16.5%.  (12/26/2014)
    Outagamie County, -20.0%.  (12/26/2014)
    Ozaukee County, -32.9% .  (12/27/2014)
    Pepin County, -14.4%.  (12/28/2014)
    Pierce County, -15.2%.  (12/29/2014)
    Polk County, -10.7%.  (12/30/2014)
    Portage County, -31.8%.  (12/31/2014)
    Price County, +3.4%.  (1/1/2015)
    Racine County, -32.7%.  (1/2/2015)
    Richland County, -19.3%.  (1/3/2015)
    Rock Coucnty, -40.1%.  (1/4/2015)
    Rusk County, -29.6%.  (1/5/2015)
    Sauk County, +28.0%.  (1/6/2015)
    Sawyer County, +6.5%.  (1/7/2015)
    Shawano County, -59.3%.  (1/8/2015)
    Sheboygan County, -12.0%   (1/9/2015)
    St. Croix County, -15.7%.  (1/10/2015)
    Taylor County, -12.0%.  (1/11/2015)
    Trempealeau County, +22.6%.  (1/12/2015)
    Vernon County, -21.6%.  (1/13/2015)
    Vilas County, -30.3%.  (1/14/2015)
    Walworth County, -11.8%.  (1/15/2015)
    Washburn County, +32.5%.  (1/16/2015)
    Washington County, -20.7%.  (1/17/2015)

    Friday, January 16, 2015

    A Buncha Malarkey: A Book That Lives Up to its Authors' Name


    'The boy who came back from heaven' Alex Malarkey says best-selling book is false.  (Christian Today, 1/15/2015)


     Instant weeding candidate or shelf-worthy curiosity item?

    Get me rewrite: Walker focusing on Presidential run, not touring state, after speech


    His State of the State speech on January 13, 2015


    Not touring the state?

    Well, that's because he had to skedaddle to San Diego.

    But wait!!  There's more!!

    Scott Walker's red-letter days



    A steadily growing list of 2016 Republican primary posts:
    Jeb Bush starts to break away from the pack in latest CNN/ORC poll.  (12/30/2014)
    Jeb Bush on top with 14% in latest ABC News/Washington Post poll.  (12/19/2014) 
    Scott Walker's next dance moves.  (12/17/2014)
    McClatchy-Marist poll of 1,140 national adults (December 3-9, 2014).  (12/16/2014)
    Let's take a look at the flip side: Jeb Bush to "inactively explore" run for president.  (12/16/2014)
    In the comfort of his Chevy Chase den, Charlie Cook predicts the possibility of big things for Scott Walker in Iowa.  (12/15/2014)