Friday, August 28, 2015

No full spectrum of approval for Scott Walker in Wisconsin


Question #5:   Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

Question #6:   Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way Scott Walker is handling his job as Governor of Wisconsin?


Scott "Full Spectrum" Walker:
Marc Thiessen is still makin' stuff up for Scott Walker.  (8/28/2015)

With each passing day, it becomes more obvious that Scott Walker is very much challenged as one of those candidates for President



As quoted in Asked about U.S.-Pakistan relations, Scott Walker shies away from specifics.  (Capital Times, 8/28/2015)

Well, heck, that's because he has none to offer.   (He doesn't even know where to begin, folks.)

Related posts:
A hawkish tone? Scott Walker sounds like a parrot to me.  (8/28/2015)
Scott Walker shows off his foreign policy chops in Council Bluffs.  (7/18/2015)
When the Club for Growth Board presses Scott Walker on foreign policy prep, he immediately responds with a variation of "I think I'm going to punt on that one as well".  (3/1/2015)

100 Years of Frank Sinatra: "Love and Marriage"


"Love and Marriage" made its debut on Billboard on November 5, 1955.  The single spent 17 weeks on the chart and peaked at #5. 



The song was written by Sammy Cahn (lyrics) and Jimmy van Heusen (music) for a musical version of the 1938 Thornton Wilder play "Our Town", which aired on September 19, 1955, as an episode of the Producers' Showcase, an NBC anthology series.   In addition to Sinatra, who played the Stage Manager, the program also starred Paul Newman (George Gibbs) and Eva Marie Saint (Emily Webb). 
   
Although the song doesn't make any of the 3 all-time best lists that I just checked (here, here, and this desperately silly exercise here), "Love and Marriage" is probably one of Sinatra's most familiar songs.

Speaking of love and marriage, I had a crush on Sharon, the girl sitting across the kitchen table from me.  She lived around the corner on 2nd Avenue North and was a grade ahead of me at Whittier Elementary School.  She had an older sister (Rita) and brother (Charles), but for the life of me I can't remember their last name.  All of the houses on their side of 2nd Avenue North between 7th and 8th Streets North were razed to provide an expansion to and a parking lot for First Evangelical Lutheran Church.


Other Frank Sinatra 100 posts:
"Our Love".  (2/14/2015)
"I'll Never Smile Again".   (2/15/2015)
"Fools Rush In".  (2/16/2015)
"Dolores".  (2/17/2015)
"Oh Look At Me Now".  (2/18/2015)
"This Love of Mine".  (2/20/2015)
"There Are Such Things."  (2/24/2015)
"Night and Day".  (2/26/2015)
"The Night We Called It a Day".  (2/27/2015)
Paramount Theater, December 30, 1942.  (3/2/2015)
Reveille with Beverly.  (3/4/2015)
"You'll Never Know".  (3/7/2015)
Higher and Higher.  (3/8/2015)
"People Will Say We're in Love".  (3/10/2015)
The Shining Future.  (3/17/2015)
"I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night".  (3/19/2015)
Step Lively.  (3/20/2015) .
"Saturday Night (is the Loneliest Night of the Week)".  (3/21/2015)
"You'll Never Walk Alone".  (3/23/2015)
"Oh What It Seemed to Be".  (3/24/2015)
Anchors Aweigh.  (3/26/2015)
"Day by Day".  3/27/2015)
Till the Clouds Roll By.  (3/29/2015)
"Always".  (3/30/2015)
It Happened in Brooklyn.  (3/31/2015)
"I've Got a Crush on You".  (4/3/2015)
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".  (4/5/2015)
"It Only Happens When I Dance With You".  (4/7/2015)
The Miracle of the Bells.  (4/9/2015)
The birth of Tina.  (4/11/2015)
The Kissing Bandit.  (4/16/2015)
"Some Enchanted Evening."  (4/19/2015)
Take Me Out to the Ball Game.  (4/22/2015)
"The Huckle Buck."  (4/24/2015)
On the Town.  (4/28/2015)
A blowup in Houston.  (4/30/2015)
1st television appearance.  (5/3/2015)
"The Frank Sinatra Show".  (5/5/2015)
"I'm a Fool to Want You".  (5/7/2015)
"Mama Will Bark".  (5/10/2015)
Double Dynamite.  (5/13/2015)
Frank and Ava get married.  (5/15/2015)
Meet Danny Wilson.  (5/19/2015)
"I Could Write a Book".  (5/24/2015)
His Final Recording for Columbia Records, "Why Try to Change Me Now?"  (5/28/2015)
A new musical era with Capital Records.  (6/2/2015)
Filming begins on From Here to Eternity.   (6/15/2015)
"I've Got the World on a String".  (6/20/2015)
"Young at Heart".  (6/21/2015)
Songs for Young Lovers.  (6/22/2015)
Best supporting actor Oscar.  (6/28/2015)
Swing Easy.  (7/4/2015)
Suddenly.  (7/10/2015)
"Three Coins in the Fountain".  (7/16/2015)
Young at Heart (the movie).  (7/26/2015)
"Learnin' the Blues".  (8/5/2015)
Songs for Swingin' Lovers.  (8/12/2015)
Not as a Stranger.  (8/17/2015)
"Same Old Saturday Night".  (8/24/2015)


A hawkish tone? Scott Walker sounds like a parrot to me


Endlessly repeating things he's heard that he hopes will revive his flagging campaign.


As quoted in Scott Walker gives foreign policy speech: 'I have been tested like no other candidate in this race'.  (Capital Times, 8/28/2015)

Get me rewrite: Republican donor and Walker appointee touts boss's efforts to boost Obamacare enrollment

 
Insurance regulator touts Gov. Walker's efforts to boost Obamacare enrollment. (Milwaukee Business Journal, 8/27/2015)

Photo credit:  State of Wisconsin

Description of duties from Dan Schwartzer - Deputy Commissioner of Insurance.  (Office of the Governor Scott Walker)

Campaign Finance DatabaseDan Schwartzer.  (Wisconsin Democracy Campaign)

Wisconsin Assembly Representative Mike Rohrkaste (R-Neenah) sings from the NRA hymnal



As quoted (and punctuated) in Some Wisconsin Lawmakers Hope to Reinstate 48 Hour Handgun Bill.  (NBC26, 8/27/2015)


Related reading: Guns and the mentally ill. Why the NRA keeps talking about mental illness, rather than guns.  (The Economist, 3/13/2013)

Related post: 
Scott Walker, an A+ student, earns an other gold star from the National Rifle Association. (8/28/2015)

Our neighbor's tree is getting a head start on fall



Fifteen or so years ago, a previous neighbor cut off many of the lower branches, robbing the tree of its full, majestic canopy.

Teardown candidate at 4022 Manitou Way, Madison Wisconsin


From the look of the roof and driveway, not to mention the lack of landscaping, the house, built in 1936, appears to be in a state of creeping neglect.  Not your typical Nakoma residence, in any state of (dis)repair.


Updated: Proposed house demolition, rebuild may have Nakoma neighbors heading toward 'nasty argument'.  (Capital Times, 7/24/2015)

There goes the neighborhood!
"They're feeling the destruction of the neighborliness of the neighborhood and hostility as people are coming in and taking advantage of the style of life that's been established for 50 years or more here, and basically ruining it," he [Nakoma resident Todd Bender] said.

A view of 4024, 4022, 4018, 4014 and 4010 Manitou Way.

  Photo credit:  Retiring Guy

The Nakoma Golf Club is across the Way.

Source:  Access Dane
 
Nakoma neighborhood profile (and an excerpt from the neighborhood description)
Nakoma was platted in 1915 as a picturesque suburb in the country with winding roads, its own water system, its own private bus service and substantial lands set aside for parks, tennis courts and a golf course. To make this new suburb more appealing to families, the developers even replaced the old schoolhouse with a new grade school in 1917 and built the Nakoma Country Club in 1921. It was one of the most prestigious neighborhood's of its time as it is today. Some of the finest examples of Colonial, Greek, Tudor Revival, French Provincial, and Prairie style homes are located in Nakoma.

Related post: 
Teardown on Maywood Avenue.  (8/27/2015)

Scott Walker, an A+ student, earns an other gold star from the National Rifle Association



As quoted in Scott Walker: Hillary Clinton is wrong on gun control after TV shooting.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 8/28/2015) 
Walker, has an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association.

Related reading: Guns and the mentally ill. Why the NRA keeps talking about mental illness, rather than guns.  (The Economist, 3/13/2013)
On balance, the talk of a gun lobby smokescreen is fair. Examine the NRA's arguments more closely, and Mr LaPierre demolishes his own suggestions even as he makes them. In a ferocious speech to supporters in Salt Lake City on February 23rd, he predicted that criminal records and the mentally incompetent would "never" be part of a background check system, which was really aimed at "one thing—registering your guns".

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Meet Patti, one of Donald Trump's biggest fans



Patti@bravolebirty1, with her one opinion, sounds as though she'd have an extremely difficult time finding her way to a polling place.
Lets chat about Bravo's Real Housewives! I'm very passionate about what I say Good or Bad. I share MY OPINION!

Related reading:
Donald Trump is a counterfeit Republican, by George Will.  (Washington Post, 8/12/2015)

Donald Trump maintains his lead, Scott Walker continues to slide in national Republican Presidential primary polls



The behinders in the 8/20-23 Quinnipiac poll:
  • 5% - Carly Fiorina, John Kasich
  • 4% - Chris Christie
  • 3% - Mike Huckabee
  • 2% - Rand Paul
  • 1% - Rick Perry, Rick Santorum
  • 0% - Lindsey Graham, Bobby Jinal
 Other stuff:
  • The Tea Party is abandoning Scott Walker (6%) in favor of Donald Trump (25%) and Ted Cruz (21%).
  • Self-identified 'very conservative' respondents still like Scott Walker (12%) but not as much as Donald Trump (25%) and Ted Cruz (14%).
  • 15% of female respondents did not chose any of the 17 Republican candidates.
  • Walker's constant boasting as the candidate who can unite all factions the Republicans party sounds increasingly hollow.

Related posts:
Donald Trump maintains a sizable lead in latest national Republican Presidential primary poll.  (8/18/2015)
Donald Trump maintains his lead in national polls; Scott Walker is yesterday's news.  (8/16/2015) 
Trump continues to ebb, Fiorina surges in latest national Republican Presidential primary poll.  (8/12/2015)
Running up to Thursday's FOX News GOP debate, Donald Trump continues to run the poll table.  (8/4/2015)
A hot bat: Donald Trump goes 10 for 11 in July.  (8/3/2015) 
Another day, another 1st place poll finish for Donald Trump (9 and counting).  (8/3/2015)
Donald Trump continues to run the poll table: 8 in a row.  (8/2/2015)
Trump wins 6th national poll in a row.  (7/30/2015)
In his last 5 'starts', Donald Trump is 5-0 in national Republican presidential polling.  (7/27/2015)
Trump wins 4th national poll in a row; Walker closes gap.  (7/23/2015) 
Trump takes his 3rd national poll in a row.  (7/20/2015)
Donald Trump takes 1st place in consecutive national polls.  (7/17/2015)
On day 2 of Scott Walker's presidential campaign, a just-released Suffolk University/USA Today poll has Donald Trump in 1st place.  (7/14/2015)
Monmouth University poll casts a pall over Scott Walker's presidential candidacy announcement.  (7/13/2015)
Scott Walker leads in Iowa Republican presidential polling, but nationally it's a different story.  (7/1/2015)
Republicans' 2016 Presidential primary preferences look like a bunch of scribbles when graphed.  (6/22/2015)
Has anyone else noticed that Scott Walker peaked 2 months ago in New Hampshire? (6/14/2015)
Same as it ever was, pretty much, in latest Fox News poll.  (6/3/2015)
The latest CNN/ORC Republican presidential primary poll likes the Florida boys.  (6/2/2015) 
5-way tie in latest Quinnipiac Republican presidential primary poll.  (5/28/2015)
Republican presidential candidates find little elbow room in latest Fox News poll.  (5/16/2015)
Latest Public Policy Polling (PPP) numbers keep Republican candidates in a jumble.  (5/14/2015)
The Florida Boys leave Scott Walker in "show" position in latest Republican presidential horse race poll.  (5/5/2015)
Tracking the national Republican presidential primary polls.  (4/3/2015)
Scott Walker tied for 2nd with 'Dunno' in latest CNN/ORC poll. (3/19/2015)
Don't know/no answer/somebody else/won't vote leads latest Quinnipiac Republican Presidential primary poll.  (3/6/2015)
Someone else/no one, Ben Carson have best 1-2 punch in Public Policy poll.  (2/24/2015)
On the merry-go-round: Mike Huckabee takes the lead in the latest Republican Presidential preference poll.  (2/18/2015)

Then and Now: Veterans Administration Hospital, Madison Wisconsin


What the facility looked like when it first opened.  (Undated picture postcard)



What the facility looks like today.  (The best I could do to replicate the postcard under the circumstances.)



An alternate view.  The VA Hospital is now part of a sprawling, interconnected medical complex.



A very general hospital timeline
  • 1949 - construction begins
    • 500 beds
    • $8,000,000
  • 1951 - opens in September (155th Veterans Administration facility)
  • 1960 - redesignated from a T.B. facility to general medical and surgery hospital 
  • 1976 - name officially changed to William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital
  • 1996 - Ambulatory Surgery and Outpatient Procedures Unit opens

More about the hospital.

How bad is it now for Scott Walker in Iowa?


Very bad, especially when you add this headline into the mix.

 Source:  Real Clear Politics

"In an April dream......"


Sam Clovis seeks and finds a new opportunity


Clovis lost to the Democratic incumbent by more than 100,000 votes.



Leaked emails show new Trump aide used to scorn him.  (Des Moines Register, 8/26/2015)

After leaving his position as Rick Perry's Iowa chairman, Clovis receives some payback.
“(Trump) left me with questions about his moral center and his foundational beliefs. ... His comments reveal no foundation in Christ, which is a big deal,” evangelical conservative activist Sam Clovis said in an email just 35 days before he quit his job as Republican Rick Perry’s Iowa chairman and signed on with Trump’s campaign.

In the emails, shared by Perry backers Wednesday with The Des Moines Register, Clovis castigated Trump for his past liberal positions and admission that he has never asked for God’s forgiveness for any wrongdoing.

But after sitting down with Trump and looking him in the eye, everything's just hunky-dory with 'Grandpa' now. 

I'm sure that Trump's average Iowa poll numbers of 19.3% versus Perry's 1.3% had nothing to do with Clovis's decision.

How charitable are you when it comes to Scott Walker?


Photo by Retiring Guy
(who just showed you his hand)

Photo credit:  Drake University

As quoted in In Context: Scott Walker and 'birthright citizenship'.  Politifact (R) Wisconsin, 8/24/2015)

At this point in time, it appears, charity does not begin at home.
 

In spite of tanking poll numbers, Scott Walker sez "I'm not intimidated!"



As quoted in Scott Walker talks tough on China while campaigning in Iowa.  (Madison.com, 8/26/2015)
The tough words come as Walker is trying to show more spark to energize his presidential campaign. They also come after Walker had previously praised Chinese President Xi Jinping following a trade mission Walker led to China in 2013 designed to increase Wisconsin exports to the country. 

Walker said at the Iowa Agriculture Summit in March that he was honored to have met with the Chinese leader along with Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, noting that they were two of the first American elected officials to have such a meeting.

Related reading:
Scott Walker Nukes His Presidential Campaign With Idiotic Comments As Stock Market Tumbles.  (PoliticsUSA, 8/24/2015)

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

It bears repeating, Jamelle; On paper or otherwise, Wisconsin is not a blue state


Photo credit: Wisconsin Public Radio

As reported in Tim Pawlenty 2.0?   Scott Walker’s presidential campaign is flailing, and it’s not just because of Trump. (Slate, 8/25/2015)


Since 1992, a Republican has occupied the Governor's office for 16 of 24 years.  (Paint 2014 and 2015 red.)
 
 Source:  Ballotpedia


Since 1992, Republicans have held the majority in the Wisconsin State Assembly for 19 of 24 years. (Paint 2014 and 2015 red.)

 Source:  Ballotpedia


Since 1992, Republicans have held the majority in the Wisconsin State Senate for 13 of 24 years. (Paint 2014 and 2015 red.)





During the past quarter century, Wisconsin has clearly been a reddish-purple state that has a recent history of consistently voting Democratic in Presidential elections.

Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL) on evolution


Photo credit:  U.S. Congress

As quoted in Alabama candidate denounces 'lie' that he believes in evolution.  (Politico, 5/11/2010)

Other Byrne posts:
Meet the members of the Republican Study Committee.  (6/30/2015)
No friend to the environment.  (11/14/2014)

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Robert Weidert (1923-2015) Warren High School Class of 1942



1942 Dragon yearbook


Robert's high school activities:
Science Club (4); Hi-Y (2); Bookkeeping Club (2, 3); Carnival (3).

1967 Warren City Directory
1983 Warren City Directory
  • Weidert Flora V del rm Warren Genl Hosp r799 Pleasant Dr
  • Weidert Robt L & Flora V (Weidert Shooters Supplies) h799 Pleasant Dr 

Warren Post Office


Robert:  One of the most consistently popular names of the 20th century.


Other class of '42 members:
Margaret Siefert Lane.  (8/12/2015)
Richard Hause.  (4/6/2015)
Elizabeth Hottel Streich.  (8/16/2014)
Mary Hoskins.  (10/12/2013)

Babble On: Scott Walker needs to start vetting his mouth


Especially since his campaign staff has zero research skills.


As quoted in Walker blasts China, a key ag trading partner for Iowa.  (Des Moines Register, 8/24/2015)
Walker's position could potentially hurt him with agribusiness interests in Iowa, which is a central focus of Walker's presidential campaign strategy.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Xi are longtime friends, with a unique relationship nurtured over 30 years and strengthened by several high-profile meetings in recent years.

Other 'they don't vet' posts:
"Oh, That Pesky Vetting Process", starring Scott Walker.  (7/21/2015) 
Vet (verb): Not in the Scott Walker administration vocabulary.  (7/14/2015)
We've seen this happen before -- an administration too lazy to be bothered with a vetting process.  (3/19/2015)
Cheerleader Regina Millner ("She's a Big Republican") Defends Scott Walker in Regents Appointment Flap.  (6/14/2013)
WEDC public information officer resigns after 1 month on the job. (5/9/2013
It's called vetting.  (6/24/2011)

Donald Trump continues to rock New Hampshire Republicans' world


And Scott Walker appears to be headed to the oldies circuit.


The behinders in the 8/21-24 PPP poll.
  • 4% - Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz
  • 3% - Rand Paul
  • 2% - Rick Perry
  • 1% - Lindsey Graham, Rick Santorum
  • 0% - Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal
 Other stuff:
  • And I quote: The candidate who's made the most cataclysmic drop is Walker- he's gone from leading at 24% all the way down to 7% in this newest poll.  [emphasis added]
  • Scott Walker is tied with Ted Cruz with a 46% favorability rating
  • Only 4% of respondents are undecided

Related posts: 
The latest from New Hampshire: Outlier poll or more evidence that Scott Walker's numbers are ebbing.  (8/11/2015)
Donald Trump cruises to another win.  (8/4/2015)
Trump stomps the competition in New Hampshire; Kasich moves up to tie Walker for 3rd
.  (7/28/215) 
Donald Trump surges into 1st place in New Hampshire.  (7/27/2015)
Jeb Bush Experiencing Some Serious Slippage in New Hampshire.  (4/16/2015) 
Big spikes for Scott Walker, Donald Trump in most recent New Hampshire poll.  (4/13/2015)
New Hampshire Republican Presidential primary voters are having trouble making up their minds.  (3/31/2015)
Another day, another New Hampshire Presidential primary poll.  (3/28/2015)
New Hampshire: Jeb Bush holds slim lead among crowded GOP pack in NBC News/Marist poll.  (2/17/2015)

Sheboygan Common Council ponders an annual $20 wheel tax


Photo credit:  City of Sheboygan

As quoted in Sheboygan wheel tax gets icy reception.  (Sheboygan Press, 8/24/2015)

Perhaps Donohue's message was intended for these attendees.
A few residents held signs outside of City Hall slamming the tax, while at least two women wearing Americans for Prosperity gear sat in the back during the vote. Americans for Prosperity is a national conservative advocacy group that has become more involved in local disputes in recent years.


Wisconsin Department of Transportation:  Municipal or county vehicle registration fee (wheel tax)

WisDOT currently collects a wheel tax for the following: 
Municipalities​ 
  • Appleton (city; $20 beginning February 2015) 
  • Arena (township; $20 beginning April 2015) 
  • Beloit (city; ​​$20 beginning February 2015) 
  • Gillett (city: $20 beginning July 2015) 
  • Janesville (city; $10)​ 
  • Kaukauna (city: $10 beginning August 2015) 
  • Milwaukee (city; $20) ​
Counties 
  • Chippewa County ($10 beginning January 2015) 
  • Iowa County ($20 beginning February 2015) 
  • St. Croix County ($10) ​

Related wheel tax posts:
Janesville becomes 5th community to impose a wheel tax.  (12/1/2011)
Three Dane County supervisors propose wheel tax.  (11/9/2011;  it didn't fly.)
Hudson lawmaker puts his finger on Janesville's pulse.  (10/20/2011)
Mayville retains its wheel tax.  (10/13/2011)
Wheel tax proposed in Janesville.  (10/12/2011)


No style points for this library video walk-through




How a New Dutch Library Smashed Attendance Records. (Shareable, 7/21/2014)
Guided by patron surveys, administrators tossed out traditional methods of library organization, turning to retail design and merchandising for inspiration. They now group books by areas of interest, combining fiction and nonfiction; they display books face-out to catch the eye of browsers; and they train staff members in marketing and customer service techniques.

Of related interest:
Almere Library by Concrete Architectural Associates.  (Contemporist, 11/18/2010)
Concrete Architectural Associates And The New Library In Almere, The Netherlands.  (Homedit)

Monday, August 24, 2015

Scott Walker and the company he keeps: Carolina Pregnancy Center employees



Scott Walker to campaign at 'crisis pregnancy center' also visited by Jeb Bush.  (Capital Times, 8/24/2015)
Crisis pregnancy centers, or CPCs, are nonprofit organizations that counsel pregnant women against having abortions and promote abstinence instead of safe sex. Most CPCs are not medically licensed, but the ones that are sometimes offer services like pregnancy testing. 

CPCs have been criticized for giving medically inaccurate information about the effectiveness and risks associated with birth control and abortion.

On the homepage of the Carolina Pregnancy Center      

"I WANT MEN EVERYWHERE TO LIFT UP HOLY HANDS IN PRAYER."

Someone visiting from Mars out there could be forgiven if he thought that men on Earth gave birth to babies.


Apparently, CPC can't get anything quite right.




Not the version we sang in Sunday School many years ago.



The company Scott Walker keeps:
Jan Mickelson.  (8/21/2015)
Scott Walker goes where the money -- and the Koch Brothers -- are.  (8/2/2015) 
Diane Hendricks adds a zero on her latest check to Scott Walker.  (8/1/2015
Dear Scott Walker: Regarding the company you keep, I think it's time for all of us to watch this Diane Hendricks video once again
The company he keeps: Scott Walker is one of 9 Presidential candidates attending the July 18th Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa.  (7/14/2015)
The company he keeps: Scott Walker receives high praise from Rep. Tom Cole, R-OK.  (5/19/2015)
The company he keeps: Scott Walker to pal around with Steve King in Iowa on January 24.  (1/9/2015)
Getting to know Scott Walker by the company he keeps.  (2/20/2014)

Scott Walker's me-too-ism: The Donald Trump edition

August 24, 2015.  8:43 a.m.


August 24, 2015, 3:30 p.m.
 

Scott Walker "in his own words"




Related reading:
How is Scott Walker Like Reagan.  He'll Tell You.  (The New York Times, 4/6/2015)

The Byrd gets out the word: Wanted, empire builder, no legislative experience necessary


Photo credit:  Greg Skidmore via Wikipedia

As quoted in Alabama tried a Donald Trump-style immigration law. It failed in a big way.  (Washington Post, 8/22/2015)

Related reading:
Donald Trump Leadership Style.  (Advise America)

Very little, based on the 4 examples that are shared here.
Although there are certainly elements to Trump’s TV persona that can be found in his actual leadership style, an examination of the components that make up his leadership style will reveal that there’s a little more to the man than The Apprentice:

On their way to Buffalo



Can a blizzard cause a baby boom? A Buffalo hospital says yes, but statisticians aren’t so sure. (Washington Post, 8/13/2015)

Deliveries at Mercy Hospital are expected to be up 25% this month.
Now a Buffalo maternity ward is dealing with a different kind of blizzard. Officials at Mercy Hospital told the Associated Press they’ve seen a “mini baby boom,” as the AP described it, almost exactly nine months after the “Snowvember” storm.

You know, those nine months.

“Nowhere to go, nothing to do,” new parents Jason and Stephanie Brueggeman said of those chilly November days. Their daughter Grace Elizabeth was born this week, slightly ahead of the storm-induced rush.
 
 Snopes on the 1966 Great Blackout of New York baby boom.

Lawnmower optional, but you'll need to budget for the $668,000 asking price


Price reduced $10,500 on August 1st!!



Photo by Retiring Guy

Some of the specifics
  • Located 2 blocks from the Middleton Public Library
  • Built in 1906; recently underwent extensive remodeling
  • 5,000 square feet
  • 5 bedrooms, 4 baths
  • On the market for 89 days (as of 8/24/2015)
  • Last sold for $362,000 in 2006

The passions and policies of Scott Walker


Photo by Retiring Guy

Scott Walker on birthright citizenship: 3 positions, 7 days.  (CNN, 8/23/2015)
The changing answers come as Walker's standing in polls -- particularly in Iowa, which his campaign regards as crucial to his chances of winning the GOP nomination -- has been hurt by the rise of Trump and other outsider candidates, like retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and former Hewlett-Packard executive Carly Fiorina.

Walker has made an effort to play up his status as an outsider -- a politician who came up through Milwaukee and Wisconsin politics, with no ties to Washington.

Scott Walker continues his 99-county Iowa tour


Scott Walker plans seven western Iowa stops.  (Des Moines Register, 8/23/2015)
Following this trip, Walker will have visited 25 Iowa counties on his goal to complete a "Full Grassley," according to a press release from the Walker.

Cronk's Cafe, Denison

Denison is the county seat of Crawford County.

Crawford County population:
  • 1900 - 21,685 (peak)
  • 2010 - 17,096
A 21.2% decline.


Miller Kitchen, Onawa

Onawa is the county seat of Monona County.

 Monona County population:
  • 1940 - 18,238 (peak)
  • 2010 -   9,243
A 49.3% decline.


Penny's Diner, Missouri Valley

Missouri Valley is located in Harrison County.

Harrison County population:
  • 1900 - 25,597 (peak)
  • 2010 - 14,928
A 41.7% decline.


Pizza Ranch, Harlan

Harlan is the county seat of Shelby County.

Shelby County population:
  • 1900 - 17,932 (peak)
  • 2010 - 12,167
A 32.1% decline.


Darrell's Place, Hamlin

Hamlin is an unincorporated community in Audubon County.

Audubon County population:
  • 1900 - 13,626 (peak)
  • 2010 -   6,119
A 55.1% decline.


The Corner coffee shop, Greenfield

Greenfield is the county seat of Adair County.

Adair County population:
  • 1900 - 16,192 (peak)
  • 2010 -   7,682
A 52.6% decline.


Prime Time, Guthrie Center

Guthrie Center is the county seat of Guthrie County.

Guthrie County population:
  • 1900 - 18,729 (peak)
  • 2010 - 10,954
A 41.5% decline.


Related posts:
With his poll numbers tanking, Scott Walker expands his Iowa itinerary.  (8/13/2015)
Scott Walker completes his Iowa itinerary for Friday, July 31.  (7/31/2015) 
Scott Walker resumes his visits to all 99 Iowa counties this weekend.  (7/29/2015)
Road trip to Iowa's 99 counties.  (2/1/2015)