Saturday, November 5, 2016

Duey Stroebel, moneybags citizen legislator, creams his jeans over Ted Cruz endorsement




Duey Stroebel, ordinary citizen:
To the tune of $692,000.  (8/14/2014)
Duey Stroebel can't be bothered with fundraising, looks to buy seat instead.  (8/1/2014)

Where Duey Stroebel, ordinary citizen legislator, lives.


At this price, it's look but do not touch


Photo by Retiring Guy

And there's some disagreement as to what will happen next.
Everyone Relax: Avocado Prices Are Expected To Drop Soon.  (Consumerist, 11/4/2016)
The New York Post notes that one reason for the shortage has now been resolved — a growers’ strike in Mexico — which means people should start seeing lower prices soon.

Avocado prices just hit a record high, and show no signs of coming down. Here's why.  (Business Insider, 11/3/2016)
Most avocados grown in the US come from California. The state had a miserably hot, dry summer in 2016. Highs in avocado-growing regions reaching 117 degrees, and the Los Angeles Times reports that left avocado trees wilted and battered. 
On top of that, growers in the state have been battling an invasive species since 2012 that attacks avocado trees. The polyphagous shot hole borer, a tiny beetle, drills holes in the trees and leaves behind a deadly fungus.
Bottom line.  Citing the New York Post as a reliable news source is not a confidence builder.

The overrated Pac-12: When it comes to the AP Top 25 football rankings, UCLA and USC are so yesterday


A week-by-week (to date) tally
Source:  EPSN

At this point, say goodbye to Baylor and expect Texas A&M and Florida to take a dive.

Ruth Figliuzzi (1930-2016) Warren High School Class of 1948



1948 Dragon yearbook

Ruth's high-school activities:
Stenographer's Club, 4.

1967 Warren City Directory
  • Figliuzzi Alfonso (Lena M) asmblr Phenix Furn h425 Hickory
  • Figliuzzi Ruth  r425 Hickory
1983 Warren City Directory
  • Figliuzzi Alfonso & Lena M retd h425 Hickory
  • Figliuzzi Ruth clk US Forest Service r425 Hickory

One of the most popular names during the 1st 3 decades of the 20th century, 'Ruth' has never seriously fallen out of favor.


Other class of '48 graduates:
Donna Mack Schuler.  (3/19/2016)
Carol Jean Niver Hampson.  (10/22/2015)
Frank Marlett.  (9/13/2015)
John Giltinan.  (7/76/2015)
Lela Nichols Akeley.  (6/24/2015)
Ella Atwell Blum.  (12/24/2014)
Betty Carlson Johnson.  (10/26/2014)
H. Kent Peterson.  (10/1/2014)
Kenneth Lundahl.  (9/21/2014)
Carl Leave.  (12/26/2013)

Inner Loop transformation project, Rochester, New York


Published 5/9/2014



Taking Out a Highway That Hemmed Rochester In.  (The New York Times, 11/1/2016)
Rochester is completing a $23.6 million project that fills in almost a third of the 2.7-mile sunken highway and replaces it with an at-grade boulevard and nearly six acres of prime land for development.

The Inner Loop opened in 1965.  Traffic counts have declined considerably due to population decline and jobs moving out of downtown.

Published 11/18/2014




Source:  Wikipedia (U.S.Census Bureau decennial census)

Mafia III video game graphic design, complete with phallic symbols


As seen in a full-page ad in The New York Times.


Mafia III

UPDATE. Free-market, limited-government types push back against Christian Science Monitor article



'Reported' at Nygren: Shiocton school funding story misleading.  (Wisconsin Watchdog, 11/4/2016)
The John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy, a free-market [limited-government] think tank based in Madison, estimates that taxpayers have saved over $5 billion since Act 10 was passed in 2011.  [emphasis added]

Wisconsin Watchdog is a project of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity,  It is one of a group of state websites that provide news and commentary on state and local politics from a free market, limited government perspective

From a 5/10/2016 Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty press release:
“WILL has established itself as a vanguard for limited government, free markets, and opportunity in the state of Wisconsin.  [emphasis added]

And John Nygren, it should be added here, is co-chair of the 'powerful' Joint Committee on Finance.


Original 10/31/2016 post, "Shiocton school superintendent puts fulltime librarian at top of her wish list", starts here.



Reported in In Wisconsin, rural superintendents turn to voters to keep schools going.  (Christian Science Monitor, 10/31/2016)

Weasel Watch: Robin Vos wants to place limits on Wisconsin's smashingly successful early voting efforts



Quoted in GOP leader wants limits on early voting.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/5/2016)

Here's an illustration of how "everybody...has the same chance to vote" might work in WeaselWorld.  (See sense #3 in full definition section.)

Milwaukee County (population 957,735) is alloted 50 hours for one week, probably at a limited number of locations, to allow its eligible residents to vote early.

Florence County (population 4,454) is alloted 50 hours for one week to allow its eligible residents to vote early.

Bottom line:  Vos puts forth an inane and specious argument.

Related post:
Meet Green Bay voter suppression advocate Kris Teske.  (10/25/2016)
Arizona election disaster: This is what the GOP game plan for voter suppression looks like.  (3/29/2016)
Scott Walker on Voter ID: It's going just according to plan.
Voter Suppression: Rep. Tom Larson Uses the City of Milwaukee as the Bogeyman.  (3/31/2014)
State Senator Mary Lazich Shows Her True Colors.  (3/18/2014)
Wisconsin Headline? No, the Ohio Legislature Also Approved Model Voter Suppression Legislation from ALEC.  (3/14/2014)
Mary Lazich's modern way.  (3/12/2014)
And the Hypocrisy Just Keeps on Coming: Republicans Can't Even Give Lip Service to Their "Principles".  (2/14/2014)


UPDATE. Cashton Memorial Library holdings, 2011-2015






2011-2015 changes:
  • Books | -830
  • Audio |   -65
  • Video |   -33
  • Periodicals | -1
  • Expenditures | -$1,867

Other updates:
Abbotsford Public Library.  (9/20/2016)
Adams County Public Library.  (9/20/2016)
Albertson Memorial Library.  (9/20/2016)
Algoma Public Library.  (9/21/2016)
Alma Public Library.  (9/21/2016)
Altoona Public Library.  (9/22/2016)
Amery Area Public Library.  (9/22/2016)
Lettie W. Jensen Public Library.  (9/23/2016)
Antigo Public Library.  (9/23/2016)
Appleton Public Library.  (9/23/2016)
Arcadia Free Public Library.  (9/24/2016)
Argyle Public Library.  (9/24/2016)
Lester Public Library of Arpin.  (9/25/2016)
Vaughn Public Library, Ashland.  (9/25/2016)
Augusta Memorial Public Library.  (9/26/2016)
Baldwin Public Library.  (9/27/2016)
Balsam Lake Public Library.  (9/28/2016)
Baraboo Public Library.  (9/29/2016)
Barneveld Public Library.  (9/30/2016)
Barron Public Library.  (10/1/2016)
Bayfield Carnegie Library.  (10/2/2016)
Beaver Dam Community Library.  (10/3/2016)
Belleville Public Library.  (10/4/2016)
John Turgeson Public Library, Belmont.  (10/5/2016)
Beloit Public Library.  (10/6/2016)
Benton Public Library.  (10/7/2016)
Berlin Public Library.  (10/9/2016)
Big Bend Village Library.  (10/10/2016)
Black Creek Village Library,.  (10/11/2016)
Black Earth Public Library.  (10/12/2016)
Black River Falls Public Library.  (10/13/2016)
Blair-Preston Public Library.  (10/14/2016)
Blanchardville Public Library.  (10/15/2016)
G. E. Bleskacek Memorial Family Library.  (10/16/2016)
Bloomington Public Library.  (10/17/2016)
Hildebrand Memorial Library, Boscobel.  (10/18/2016)
Boulder Junction Public Library.  (10/19/2016)
Boyceville Public Library.  (10/20/2016)
Brandon Public Library.  (10/21/2016)
Brillion Public Library.  (10/22/2016)
Brodhead Memorial Public Library.  (10/23/2016)
Brookfield Public Library.  (10/24/2016)
Brown Deer Public Library.  (10/25/2016)
Brownsville Public Library.  (10/26/2016)
Bruce Area Library. (10/27/2016)
Burlington Public Library.  (10/28/2016)
Butler Public Library.  (10/29/2016)
Forest Lodge Public Library, Cable.  (10/30/2016)
Cadott Community Library.  (10/31/2016)
Jane Morgan Memorial Library, Cambria.  (11/1/2016)


Original 12/4/2015 post, "A to Z through the Wisconsin Public Library Service Data: Collections (Cashton Memorial Library)", starts here.

This series takes a look at the numerical changes in Wisconsin public library collections in 9-year increments:  1996, 2005, and 2014.




All statistical information from the Wisconsin Public Library Service Data.

Cashton Memorial Library


Photo credit: Cashton Memorial Library


Friday, November 4, 2016

More development set for East Washington


At this location -- South Livingston and East Washington


City Council approves East Washington development despite concerns about music venue.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 11/2/2016)

The building that will rise at the location shown above.

The Cosmos (Gebhardt Development)

A view of the same lot from S. Livingston and E. Main, with the Galaxie, also a Gebhardt project, looming in the background



On East Main between S. Livingston and S. Paterson, with a view of the Constellation.  (Yup, also from the Gebhardt portfolio.)


Blinded by the light of a rosy scenario



Reported in How the Internet is Loosening Our Grip on the Truth.  (The New York Times, 11/2/2016)
A wider variety of news sources was supposed to be the bulwark of a rational age — “the marketplace of ideas,” the boosters called it. But that’s not how any of this works. Psychologists and other social scientists have repeatedly shown that when confronted with diverse information choices, people rarely act like rational, civic-minded automatons.  

Instead, we are roiled by preconceptions and biases, and we usually do what feels easiest — we gorge on information that confirms our ideas, and we shun what does not.

Thoroughly urban Donald resonates with rural voters



Why Republicans Don’t Even Try to Win Cities Anymore.  (The New York Times, 11/2/2016)
The pattern highlights a paradox about Mr. Trump: “He’s the most urban candidate in American history — he was born in Queens and lives in a skyscraper on Fifth Avenue,” said Aaron Renn, a senior fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute. And Mr. Trump’s personal fortunes have risen with the comeback of major American cities, with signature real estate projects in New York, Washington and Chicago. But he has portrayed these same cities as dystopias.

2009 WI Supreme Court loser picked as new state courts director


Why is this man smiling?


Koschnick named new Wisconsin courts director.  (Wisconsin Law Journal, 11/3/2016)
Koschnick has served as chief judge of the Third Judicial Administrative District, which includes Jefferson, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties since 2012. He ran unsuccessfully against incumbent state Supreme Court Justice Shirley Abrahamson in 2009. 
He was also in the running to fill Justice David Prosser’s spot after Prosser announced his retirement. Koschnick was among the 11 that applied for the position, which eventually went to Dan Kelly, a lawyer who had never been a judge.

UPDATE. Campbellsport Public Library holdings, 2011-2015






2011-2015 changes:
  • Books |    -690
  • Audio |   +296
  • Video | +2,020
  • Periodicals | +20
  • Expenditures |+$9,361

Other updates:
Abbotsford Public Library.  (9/20/2016)
Adams County Public Library.  (9/20/2016)
Albertson Memorial Library.  (9/20/2016)
Algoma Public Library.  (9/21/2016)
Alma Public Library.  (9/21/2016)
Altoona Public Library.  (9/22/2016)
Amery Area Public Library.  (9/22/2016)
Lettie W. Jensen Public Library.  (9/23/2016)
Antigo Public Library.  (9/23/2016)
Appleton Public Library.  (9/23/2016)
Arcadia Free Public Library.  (9/24/2016)
Argyle Public Library.  (9/24/2016)
Lester Public Library of Arpin.  (9/25/2016)
Vaughn Public Library, Ashland.  (9/25/2016)
Augusta Memorial Public Library.  (9/26/2016)
Baldwin Public Library.  (9/27/2016)
Balsam Lake Public Library.  (9/28/2016)
Baraboo Public Library.  (9/29/2016)
Barneveld Public Library.  (9/30/2016)
Barron Public Library.  (10/1/2016)
Bayfield Carnegie Library.  (10/2/2016)
Beaver Dam Community Library.  (10/3/2016)
Belleville Public Library.  (10/4/2016)
John Turgeson Public Library, Belmont.  (10/5/2016)
Beloit Public Library.  (10/6/2016)
Benton Public Library.  (10/7/2016)
Berlin Public Library.  (10/9/2016)
Big Bend Village Library.  (10/10/2016)
Black Creek Village Library,.  (10/11/2016)
Black Earth Public Library.  (10/12/2016)
Black River Falls Public Library.  (10/13/2016)
Blair-Preston Public Library.  (10/14/2016)
Blanchardville Public Library.  (10/15/2016)
G. E. Bleskacek Memorial Family Library.  (10/16/2016)
Bloomington Public Library.  (10/17/2016)
Hildebrand Memorial Library, Boscobel.  (10/18/2016)
Boulder Junction Public Library.  (10/19/2016)
Boyceville Public Library.  (10/20/2016)
Brandon Public Library.  (10/21/2016)
Brillion Public Library.  (10/22/2016)
Brodhead Memorial Public Library.  (10/23/2016)
Brookfield Public Library.  (10/24/2016)
Brown Deer Public Library.  (10/25/2016)
Brownsville Public Library.  (10/26/2016)
Bruce Area Library. (10/27/2016)
Burlington Public Library.  (10/28/2016)
Butler Public Library.  (10/29/2016)
Forest Lodge Public Library, Cable.  (10/30/2016)
Cadott Community Library.  (10/31/2016)
Jane Morgan Memorial Library, Cambria.  (11/1/2016)


Original 12/3/2015 post, "A to Z through the Wisconsin Public Library Service Data: Collections (Campbellsport Public Library)" starts here.

This series takes a look at the numerical changes in Wisconsin public library collections in 9-year increments:  1996, 2005, and 2014.




All statistical information from the Wisconsin Public Library Service Data.

Campbellsport Public Library


Photo credit: Google


Thursday, November 3, 2016

FiveThirtyEight makes a case for Trump in bright white Ohio county losing population



 Source:  Wikipedia



Sorry, Anthony Crupi, the greatest World Series game 7 will always be Pittsburgh Pirates 10, New York Yankees 9




One for the Ages: Cubs-Tribe Thriller Is Most-Watched MLB Game in 25 Years.  (AdAge, 11/3/2016)
In what may very well go down in the books as the single greatest Game 7 in World Series history, the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night exorcised a 108-year-old demon in front of the largest national TV audience to tune in to a baseball game in 25 years.

UPDATE. So sez Scott Walker/Brad Schimel mouthpiece


Capital Times, 10/28/2016

Another recent Tale of Tseytlin:
Tseytlin responds to critics of state solicitor general's office.  (WisPolitics, 9/6/2016)


Original 7/24/2016 post, "Misha Tseytlin leads Wisconsin AG Brad Schimel's in-house right-wing law firm", starts here.

Source;  LinkedIn

Wisconsin AG fights feds with new 5-lawyer unit.  (Madison.com, 7/24/2016)
In December, he appointed Misha Tseytlin to lead the office. Tseytlin had been general counsel for West Virginia as it fought federal limits on burning coal. Tseytlin is a member of the conservative Federalist Society who served as law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Misha's favorite book is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

Related reading:
Morrisey aide hired as Wisconsin’s first solicitor general.  (Charleston Gazette-Mail, 10/8/2015)
In Wisconsin, Tseytlin is expected to help the state fend off recent court challenges to new laws that restrict abortion and require photo IDs to vote. -

It hasn't been a particularly productive summer for Misha.





UPDATE. Two weeks later, UW-Madison exposed on another front



Original 11/3/2016 post, "'Free' speech has its consequences", starts here.

Postcard from an era when America was great, 
according to Donald Trump.

From Retiring Guy's collection

As fallout from noose costume continues, prospective UW students are 'absolutely' watching.  (Madison.com, 11/3/2016)
But as a recruiter for the university, the Rev. Alex Gee recalled in an open letter to UW officials Wednesday, the fraternity controversy made it much harder to sell students on the university. 
Now, as the latest racially charged controversy to draw national [and international] attention to UW-Madison continues — this time over photos that rocketed around the Internet showing a fan at Saturday’s UW football game wearing a costume that depicted a noose around the neck of President Barack Obama — Hamilton said minority students considering UW are “absolutely” paying attention.
African-Americans comprise 2% of the UW-Madison student population.

Fan?  None of the articles I've read have explained what this person is a 'fan' of.

Source:  Merriam Webster 

UPDATE. Radical right enthusiastically embraces Donald Trump for President



Quoted in KKK’s official newspaper supports Donald Trump for president.  (Washington Post, 11/2/2016)


Original 11/2/2016 post, "Donald Trump, the Great White Predator", starts here.

Headline of email blast from the Donald Trump campaign today.


Some context.



See also:
This is what happens when a non-white Trump supporter tries to join a campaign that doesn’t want him.  (New Republic, 8/13/2016)

Will Scott Walker acknowledge this entrepreneurship business ranking?


86% of the activity is taking place in his least favorite areas of the state.  
Hey, Scott Walker, thanks to Madison and Milwaukee, it's working Wisconsin.


Tables from 2016 Kauffman Index Growth Entrepreneurship.
Text source.   'The moment for cities like Milwaukee is right now'.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/2/2016)

I'm waiting to see if Walker can move beyond his politics of resentment.

'Just say no' to Big 10 Friday night football



Quoted in Badgers football: Big Ten schools not thrilled with Friday night games in 2017.

Big Ten Conference staff