Friday, July 15, 2016

Take a cabin tour of an Airbus A380 jumbo jet




Around the time the Airbus A380 jumbo jet was introduced in 2007, company executives predicted sales of 1200 planes in 20 years.

Nearly 10 years later, there's still a long way to go to reach this goal.


Airbus to Sharply Cut Production of A380 Jumbo Jets.  (The New York Times, 7/12/2016)
More than 500 seats can be packed into the A380’s two decks, and several airlines have capitalized on its generous proportions to introduce lavish amenities for its first-class passengers, including opulent lounges, health spas and “apartments” equipped with double beds and private showers.

A different video is available in this 2014 post.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

So why is a major-league baseball player with anemic RBIs, lotsa strikeouts, and average BA so hot with Nickelodeon viewers?


The Wrap telz us what we need to know.


One good season and an allegedly great haircut.  (OK, so maybe he's putting up some good numbers this season, but his 2015 batting average indicates that he's an 'outlier'.)



Sorry, folks.  And here you thought it was all about performance on the field.


Plus he's got an increasingly hot name.  (Though it's faded a bit of late.)


Chicago, September 26, 1980: The Sears Tower and the Standard Oil Building


I was on my way back to Oshkosh after a month-long vacation, which included visits with old college friends in Boston, a camping trip with my brother in the Great Smoky Mountains, and the wedding of one of my best friends from college in Buffalo, New York.

On such a beautifully clear and sunny day, I decided a trip into downtown Chicago was in order.

The Sears Tower is now known as the Willis Tower.



The Standard Oil Building is now called the Aon Center


That's not Batman, but a window-washing scaffold on the east side of the building.

Warning.  I'm finally getting around to digitize my slide collection from the 1970s and early 1980s. I'm likely to be sharing for awhile.

UPDATE: In Wisconsin, President Obama continues to get higher approval ratings than Scott Walker



Related reading:
Scott Walker Says He's Running in 2018 "Without A Doubt".  (RightWisconsin, 4/19/2016)


Original 6/16/2016 post, "Speaking ill of President Obama hasn't been  a winning strategy for Scott Walker", starts here,.


Headline news during a spectacularly failed quest for the Republican Presidential nomination:





UPDATE: Apparently, WEDC CEO Mark Hogan is willing to do Scott Walker's bidding til heat is on



As reported in WEDC backpedals on gag order to board members.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/13/2016)

Related reading:
Walker appoints new chief executive for WEDC.  (Wisconsin Public Radio, 9/3/2015)
State campaign finance records show Hogan has donated over $24,000 to Walker’s campaigns since 2005, while he also donated $10,000 this year to a super PAC that has been supporting the governor’s presidential run. [emphasis added]


Original 5/9/2016 post, "The best and the brightest:  Scott Walker-appointed WEDC CEO Mark Hogan", start here.


Behind-the-scenes battle over WEDC records spills into public view.  (Madison.com, 5/8/2016)
Good soldier Agency CEO Mark Hogan and other board members pushed back against the Democrats at a February public board meeting, raising concerns that their request was a waste of taxpayer resources for a problem that has already been resolved, and that the tenor of the discussion has negatively affected employee morale. 
Damn!  That pesky public records law.  Last month, the Justice Department’s open government office intervened, urging WEDC to do a better job communicating and observing that the state Public Records Law requires agencies to fulfill requests “as soon as practicable and without delay.”
Other WEDC posts:
Welcome to North Mendota Energy and Technology Park (Brought to you by WEDC).  (5/3/2016)
Samantha Kerkman's "good night for Wisconsin" doesn't see the light of day.  (2/17/2016)
Dear Scott Walker, WEDC is the agency that received the scathing, damning, critical audit.  (1/14/2016)
Robin Vos sez, "They don't want rebranding because they think WEDC's brand is OK."  (12/30/2015) WEDC board members say, "Gee, maybe we should start vetting requests for financial assistance." (12/14/2015)
Scott Walker's growing list of things worth considering: U.S.-Canada border wall, wreaking havoc in Washington, tougher penalties for WEDC fraud   (9/8/2015)
Todd Jensen, former WEDC underwriter, provides the recipe for the current agency disaster.  (8/9/2015)
We know Scott Walker didn't graduate from college, but apparently he hasn't been paying attention to anyone but himself since kindergarten.  (6/25/2015)
4:24 p.m. Friday WEDC news dump.  (6/20/2015)
The stink of WEDC follows Brenda Hicks-Sorensen to Nebraska.  (6/16/2015) 
Scott Walker tries to run, but there's no place to hide.  (5/26/2015)
No matter how you slice it, Alberta, it's still stinky cheese.  (5/23/2015)
Joint Finance Republicans to Scott Walker:  "You're Fired!".  (5/21/2015)
Chairman of the Board of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation -- Nice work if you can get it.  (5/20/2015)
It's story time.  (5/18/2015)
From the pay-to-play archives: The William Minihan-Scott Walker connection.  (5/17/2015) 
What's wrong with this Scott Walker headline?  (5/16/2015)
Chairman of the Board Scott Walker's BIG, BOLD idea.  (5/8/2015) 
Based on WEDC's previous track record, this is what came to mind when I saw first saw this headline.  (4/2/2015)
Apparently, being the CFO of WEDC is not much of a resume-builder.  (3/13/2015)
WEDC's revolving door.  (9/12/2014)
Here's how the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is "Reinventing Economic Development".  (8/24/2014) 
Company looks to expand its business geographic focus?  (8/14/2014)
Scott Walker and the horrible, terrible, no good, very transparent day.  (7/28/2014)
Kestrel Aircraft: All these incentives, but no construction, no jobs.  (7/13/2014)
The Eaton Corporation/WEDC timeline of shame.  (7/10/2014)
Wisconsin featured in report on privatized state economic development agencies.  (10/25/2013)
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation pledge: Following the money.  (7/23/2013)
Incompetence rewarded.  (5/9/2013)
And while we're at it, let's take a look at WEDC 's core values. (5/9/2013)
WEDC Public Information Officer Resigns After 1 Month on the Job.  (5/9/2013)
Plenty of time for messaging but none for fixing what ails WEDC.  (5/9/2013)
Previous WEDC audits?  What previous audits?  (5/8/2013)
Are you seeing a trend yet?  (5/8/2013)
Echoes.  (5/7/2013)
Get me rewrite.  (5/4/2013)
Legislative Audit Bureau Report on Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation: The "Cliff Notes" Version.  (5/3/2013
"Tales of woe never end at WEDC."  (4/25/2013)

Does this sound like openness and transparency in government?



As reported in WEDC backpedals on gag order for board members.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/13/2016)
Publicly and privately, the Walker administration has expressed frequent frustration with the criticisms and open records requests made by Lassa and the other Democratic lawmaker on the WEDC board, Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca of Kenosha. 
In his budget bill last year, Walker proposed removing all the elected officials then on the WEDC board, including the governor himself, two state senators and two state representatives. In the end, legislators left the lawmakers on the agency's board but granted Walker's request to withdraw as chairman.

Other WEDC posts:
The best and the brightest: Scott Walker-appointed WEDC CEO Mark Hogan.  (5/9/2016)
Welcome to North Mendota Energy and Technology Park (Brought to you by WEDC).  (5/3/2016)
Samantha Kerkman's "good night for Wisconsin" doesn't see the light of day.  (2/17/2016)
Dear Scott Walker, WEDC is the agency that received the scathing, damning, critical audit.  (1/14/2016)
Robin Vos sez, "They don't want rebranding because they think WEDC's brand is OK."  (12/30/2015) WEDC board members say, "Gee, maybe we should start vetting requests for financial assistance." (12/14/2015)
Scott Walker's growing list of things worth considering: U.S.-Canada border wall, wreaking havoc in Washington, tougher penalties for WEDC fraud   (9/8/2015)
Todd Jensen, former WEDC underwriter, provides the recipe for the current agency disaster.  (8/9/2015)
We know Scott Walker didn't graduate from college, but apparently he hasn't been paying attention to anyone but himself since kindergarten.  (6/25/2015)
4:24 p.m. Friday WEDC news dump.  (6/20/2015)
The stink of WEDC follows Brenda Hicks-Sorensen to Nebraska.  (6/16/2015) 
Scott Walker tries to run, but there's no place to hide.  (5/26/2015)
No matter how you slice it, Alberta, it's still stinky cheese.  (5/23/2015)
Joint Finance Republicans to Scott Walker:  "You're Fired!".  (5/21/2015)
Chairman of the Board of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation -- Nice work if you can get it.  (5/20/2015)
It's story time.  (5/18/2015)
From the pay-to-play archives: The William Minihan-Scott Walker connection.  (5/17/2015) 
What's wrong with this Scott Walker headline?  (5/16/2015)
Chairman of the Board Scott Walker's BIG, BOLD idea.  (5/8/2015) 
Based on WEDC's previous track record, this is what came to mind when I saw first saw this headline.  (4/2/2015)
Apparently, being the CFO of WEDC is not much of a resume-builder.  (3/13/2015)
WEDC's revolving door.  (9/12/2014)
Here's how the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is "Reinventing Economic Development".  (8/24/2014) 
Company looks to expand its business geographic focus?  (8/14/2014)
Scott Walker and the horrible, terrible, no good, very transparent day.  (7/28/2014)
Kestrel Aircraft: All these incentives, but no construction, no jobs.  (7/13/2014)
The Eaton Corporation/WEDC timeline of shame.  (7/10/2014)
Wisconsin featured in report on privatized state economic development agencies.  (10/25/2013)
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation pledge: Following the money.  (7/23/2013)
Incompetence rewarded.  (5/9/2013)
And while we're at it, let's take a look at WEDC 's core values. (5/9/2013)
WEDC Public Information Officer Resigns After 1 Month on the Job.  (5/9/2013)
Plenty of time for messaging but none for fixing what ails WEDC.  (5/9/2013)
Previous WEDC audits?  What previous audits?  (5/8/2013)
Are you seeing a trend yet?  (5/8/2013)
Echoes.  (5/7/2013)
Get me rewrite.  (5/4/2013)
Legislative Audit Bureau Report on Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation: The "Cliff Notes" Version.  (5/3/2013
"Tales of woe never end at WEDC."  (4/25/2013)

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

I bet you didn't watch major-league baseball's all-star game last night either


Source for all 3 graphs:  Baseball Almanac

Baseball All-Star Game Draws Record Low TV Rating.  (The New York Times, 7/12/2016)
Fox said Wednesday that the game drew a 10 share and 8.7 million viewers. 
Ratings represent the percentage of homes with televisions tuned to a program, the share is the percentage of households watching among TVs in use at the time.
Baseball remains the most-watched all-star game of the four major North American pro sports.

UPDATE: Apparently, Scott Walker, the majority of us feel your focus should be to say 'bye-bye'


Governor Walker Provides Update on 2020 Vision Project Listening Sessions.  50 listening sessions held throughout Wisconsin to date.  (Office of the Governor press release, 7/11/2016)
“Thus far, our conversations with the people of Wisconsin have been incredibly constructive. Our goal is to create a forum for our citizens to give feedback about what they think is working in Wisconsin, what our focus should be as we approach the next budget, and what the role of state government should be.”
Participation in these session is by invitation only.


Scott Walker approval rating remains below 40 percent.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 7/13/2016)


Original 6/16/2016 post, "Dear Scott Walker, Those negative headlines are the results of your incompetence as Governor", starts here.


Scott Walker: Job approval low because the headlines are always negative.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 6/15/2016)

Not a 'drafting error', as you first claimed.

Which can be traced back to your decision to close Ethan Allen



This quasi-public/private entity has been a failure from the state.

Wisconsin ranked 35th in 2011-2015.
So much for your signature goal as Governor.

Plenty more where these came from!

A formula for disaster


Photo credit:  Dallas Makerspace

As reported in Dallas Shooting and Open-Carry Laws Loom Over Cleveland Convention Plans, by Yamiche Alcindor.  (The New York Times, 7/11/2016)
That was then, this is now.  Mr. [Brian] Kazy [Cleveland City Council and Safety Committee member] said he had never been concerned about Ohio’s open-carry laws. But then Micah Johnson, an African-American sniper said to be determined to murder white police officers, went on a rampage in Texas, which also has open-carry laws.

Related post:
Texas attorney general/ideologue Ken Paxton refuses to stand with law enforcement.  (7/10/2016)

Bob Corker's pitiful audition for Trump's running mate


Corker does the Grovel



Christie Gets Another Audition for the Trump Ticket.  (The New York Times, 7/11/2016)
(Mercifully so.)  Last week, Mr. Corker failed to excite the crowd, speaking for less than three minutes as voters clamored for Mr. Trump. (The senator took himself out of vice-presidential contention the next morning.)

Vilas County Sheriff's officer not on board with Rep. Steffen's 'Blue Lives Matter' bill


Photo credit:  LinkedIn

As quoted in Local police officers react to 'Blue Lives Matter' bill.  (WJFW, 7/12/2016)

Rep. David Steffen (R-Green Bay)

Fail: Scott Walker all talk, no action on rural broadband in 6th year as Governor



As reported in Slow road to rural broadband continues.  (Pierce County Herald, 7/11/2016)


As quoted in Walker: Expanding broadband key to economic success.  (WEAU, 7/12/2016)

Dear Pierce County residents, have you received your wake-up call yet?


Dear WEAU, Are you running low on capital letters?



Merriam-Webster definitions

Gov. Walker talks about Ethics Commission appointment.  (WEAU, 7/12/2016)
Walker says the commission basically drew straws to determine if its chair would be a democrat or republican. 
"I don't have any say over it one way or the other. It was literally up to them, so whether people like or dislike her appointment, that's one the democrats specifically made," said Walker.

This week in the cereal aisle: Remember Nabisco Shredded Wheat?


You won't find this box in the grocery store.


The cereal has been around since 1893 but no longer with the Nabisco label. Since 1993, it's been in the Post Foods family. 

And still hanging out with strawberries after all these years.

Photo by Retiring Guy

OK, I'd like to know who's the holdout.



Related posts:
This week in the cereal aisle features Batman and Superman.  (7/7/2016)
Post wants you to have ice cream for breakfast.  (6/30/2016)
Tiny Toast.  (6/21/2016)

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Sorry, Joe, 'knowledge' is not in Scott Walker's vocabulary



As quoted in Shifting of tax credits raises questions among entrepreneurs.  (Capital Times, 7/11/2016)

Plus it probably doesn't help that you've donated $2,500 to Democrats.


Three State Assembly representatives from Milwaukee running for re-election unopposed in 2016


David Bowen easily won the August 12, 2014, Democratic primary against 3 opponents and was unopposed in the November 4th general election.

Source:  Ballotpedia

Evan Goyke collected the most votes in an 8-way Democratic primary on the August 14, 2012.   He won 88% of the vote against Libertarian Party candidate Melba Morrie-Page in the November 6th general election.

In 2014, he did not have a primary challenger and ran unopposed in the general election.


Source:  Ballotpedia

Jonathan Brostoff won his August 12, 2014, primary election by a narrow margin over 2nd-place finisher Marina Dimitrijevic, who was then Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman.   He went on to win 82% of the vote against independent candidate Joseph Klein in the November 4th general election.


Related posts:
Wisconsin fall election preview: Assembly District 19.  (9/12/2014)
Wisconsin State Assembly District 19: Who's on the ballot for the August 12 primary?  (6/22/2014)
Wisconsin State Assembly District 10: Who's on the ballot for the August 12 primary?  (6/20/2014)
Who's Running for State Office in Wisconsin 2012: 18th Assembly District (General Election District).  (9/11/2012)

Other 2016 Wisconsin state elections posts:
3rd Assembly District.  (6/12/2016)
8th Assembly District.  (6/14/2016)
9th Assembly District.  (6/14/2016)
16th Assembly District.  (6/16/2016)
21st Assembly District.  (6/18/2016)
26th Assembly District.  (6/19/2016)
31st Assembly District.  (6/20/2016)
34th Assembly District.  (6/21/2016)
35th Assembly District.  (6/21/2016)
38th Assembly District.  (6/22/2016)
43rd Assembly District.  (6/23/2016)
47th Assembly District.  (6/24/2016)
50th Assembly District.  (6/24/2016)
67th Assembly District.  (6/27/2016)
72nd Assembly District.  (6/28/2016)
78th Assembly District.  (6/28/2016)
80th Assembly District.  (6/29/2016)
83rd Assembly District.  (6/30/2016)
86th Assembly District.  (7/1/2016)
92nd Assembly District.  (7/1/2016)
4th Senate District.  (7/4/2016)
18th Senate District.  (7/5/2016)
32nd Senate District.  (7/6/2016)
UPDATE: 6 years later, Andre Jacque comfortably ensconced in Wisconsin State Assembly.  (7/11/2016)

Get me rewrite: Wisconsin is open for polluters


As if, after nearly 6 years of Scott Walker as Governor, this news should come as any surprise.


Environmental law unit shrinks some more under Brad Schimel.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 7/12/2016)
A Department of Justice spokesman [this whippersnapper?] said he couldn’t explain the trend, but attorneys who have worked closely with the unit said it may be a symptom of the dwindling number of pollution cases the state Department of Natural Resources has referred for legal action.

Related posts:
"The best shall serve the state": The Cathy Stepp exception, continued.  (6/26/2016)
Ach du lieber! WI DNR head(case) Cathy Stepp compares environmental regulation to flippin' burgers.  (6/22/2016)
Scott Walker abides -- in his own fashion.  (6/21/2016)
CYA time: Wisconsin DNR board members shocked! shocked! about state's lack of enforcement.  (6/15/2016)
The public trust betrayed: Scott Walker's chamber of commerce agenda for Wisconsin's environment.  (6/11/2016)
Update:  Dear Rob, This is what happens when you run government like a business.   (6/5/2016)
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources takes an environmental violations holiday.  (5/19/2016)

Putting Ryan's agenda in place is like forming words with these wood blocks






Related reading:
Paul Ryan's Worst Ally by Jackie Calmes.  (The New York Times, 7/9/2016)
Ryan's aspritational ideas are notorious for their lack of detail.





UPDATE: Iowa's nutburger-in-chief, Rep. Steve King, displays Confederate flag on office desk



As reported in Steve King provokes criticism for displaying Confederate flag.  (Des Moines Register, 7/11/2016)

Voters in the 4th (previously the 5th, before redistricting) Iowa Congressional District have elected King since 2002.

Original 6/14/2016 post, "Iowa's disgrace, Rep. Steve King, goes all sugar-pie honey-bunch on us", starts here.

He can't help himself.


As reported in Steve King Fires Latest Volley In Congressional LGBT Spat.  (ThinkProgress, 6/7/2016)

He's a pistol!
The company Ted Cruz keeps.  (11/21/2016 )
UPDATE: The Company He Keeps: Scott Walker to Pal Around With Steve King in Iowa on January 24.  (10/8/2015)
King introduces a resolution that encourages and empowers "individuals, businesses, churches, religious groups, and other faith-based organizations" to discriminate.  (7/12/2015)
Meet the members of the Republican Study Committee.  (7/12/2015)
No friend to the environment.  (1/5/2015)

Conservative group aligned with Scott Walker hopes to strangle the final breath from local control



As reported in Conservative legal group announces states' rights initiative.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/11/2016)

"...will allow the voters of Wisconsin and the diverse communities of the state of Wisconsin to be able to regulate themselves..."

It's just so much BS, like #1 cartoon conservative principle found at the Republican Party of Wisconsin's website.




Other cartoon conservative principles posts:
UPDATE: Dear Steven, You'll find the heart of "Madison" 65 miles east of the state capitol.  (6/2/2016)
Business as usual: Wisconsin GOP legislators vote for special interests, against local control and tenants' rights.  (3/9/2016)
The Wisconsin GOP Cartoon Conservative Principles Fest continues.  (2/10/2016)
Cartoon conservative principles in nonstop action: Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo lists more than 100 state provisions that restrict local control.  (2/10/2016)
The Christmas edition: Rep. Kremer accuses fire officials of 'relieving themselves'.  (12/23/2015)
Cartoon conservative principles on full display this week at the Wisconsin State Capitol.  (12/18/2015)
Once again, Wisconsin Republicans assert their cartoon conservative principle (2015 Assembly Bill 568).  (12/16/2015)
Out of (local) control: When it comes to anything resembling a train, Republicans just can't help themselves.  (12/1/2015) 
Scott Walker pays lip service to local control as he continues to sign bills to limit it.  (10/26/2015)
UPDATE: Let's follow the Shea money from Wingra Stone to Scott Walker.  (10/20/2015)
UPDATE.  Sorry, Tim Geoghegan, a total of $11,750 in donations is not a "bunch of bull".  (10/20/2015) 
Once again, Wisconsin Republicans violate their most precious principle.  (7/4/2015)
Cartoon conservative principles.  (5/6/2015)
The Usual Hypocrisy: What Scott Walker sez on his campaign website and what he does in the Governor's office are two different things.  (5/2/2015)
The "hits" to local control just keep on coming.  (2/28/2015)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial board calls out Republican hypocrisy.  (2/17/2014)
And the hypocrisy just keeps on coming: Republicans can't even give lip service to their "Principles". (2/14/2014)
Yet another lesson in Republican hypocrisy.  (2/13/2014)
Your Wisconsin Republican Assembly hard at work promoting Governor Walker's jobs agenda (and GOP principles).  (11/15/2013)