Saturday, June 29, 2019

Population loss in South Dakota: Corson County


Population loss as in major -- 50% or more.  (New series.)

Source:  Wikipedia (Corson County, McIntosh)


McIntosh is the county seat of Corson County.

Population loss by degrees:  80-89%70-79%, 60-69%, 50-59%.



Percentage of population 25 and older with a bachelor's degree:
  • 17.7% - Corson County
  • 27.8% - South Dakota
  • 30.9% - U.S.
Percentage of population 65 and older:
  • 11.3% - Corson County
  • 16.6% - South Dakota
  • 15.6% - U.S.

Trump flipped Corson County after Obama won it in both 2008 and 2012.  

Other South Dakota population loss posts:
Harding County/Buffalo.  (6/24/2019)
Perkins County/Bison.  (6/24/2019)
Haakon County/Philip.  (6/29/2019)

Other population loss series:

Population loss in South Dakota: Haakon County


Population loss as in major -- 50% or more.  (New series.)

Source:  Wikipedia (Haakon County, Philip)


Philip is the county seat of Haakon County.

Population loss by degrees:  80-89%70-79%, 60-69%, 50-59%.


Percentage of population 25 and older with a bachelor's degree:
  • 17.8% - Haakon County
  • 27.8% - South Dakota
  • 30.9% - U.S.
Percentage of population 65 and older:
  • 24.4% - Haakon County
  • 16.6% - South Dakota
  • 15.6% - U.S.

A Democratic candidate for president has won Haakon County three times:  1916, 1932, and 1936.  


Other South Dakota population loss posts:
Harding County/Buffalo.  (6/24/2019)
Perkins County/Bison.  (6/24/2019)

Other population loss series:

Despite Trump's bloviating, coal is not making a comeback



Quoted in Trump says 'the coal industry is back.' The government's jobs numbers say otherwise.  (CNBC, 8/23/2018)

First of all, just look at historical downward trend in the number of coal mining jobs.



Secondly, utilities are pledging to phase out coal.


Sources:



Keyless ignition systems a new wrinkle in residential carbon monoxide poisoning from motor vehicles


Ms. Penney, 81, and Mr. Livingston, 88, were found dead at their home in Sarasota, Fla., poisoned by carbon monoxide, according to preliminary tests by the local medical examiner. Susan Livingston said that after the car — which had a keyless ignition — pulled into the garage attached to theweir house, the engine had continued to run.

Source:  Elsevier

Preliminary research framework and findings:
  • study conducted over 30-month period:  March 2007 to September 2009
  • search of daily newspapers:  "carbon monoxide poisoning"
  • 837 news reports involving 4,365 poisonings
Research specific to residential carbon monoxide poisoning in motor vehicles 
  • 59 incidents resulted from leaving a motor vehicle running in a garage with resultant poisoning of the occupants within the attached residence.  (A telling statistic:  17, or 29%, involved people older than 80 years old)
  • 175 people poisoned, 63 of whom died
  • reasons for intentionally running engine in garage
    • charging vehicle battery
    • warming vehicle before going out into cold weather
    • providing power to radio or other music source
  • reasons for accidentally running engine in garage
    • distraction or forgetfulness when leaving vehicle
    • intoxication with drugs or alcohol
    • impaired hearing
    • some form of dementia

Related reading:
What you need to know about keyless ignition systems.  (Edmunds, 8/7/2018)
Keyless ignition systems first began appearing on production cars in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and like many tech and convenience features, they were initially available only on luxury models and other high-end vehicles. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is generally recognized as the first mass-produced car with keyless ignition, followed by models from Acura, Cadillac, Lexus and Rolls-Royce. Keyless ignition has become increasingly common in cars.  In 2008, keyless ignition was standard on 11 percent of the vehicles sold in the U.S. By 2018, it was standard equipment on 62 percent of vehicles sold.  [emphasis added]

"Not my type", eh, Donald Trump?


Photo credits:  Ivana, Marla, E. Jean


Reported in Trump’s repeated defense against assault accusations: call the accuser unattractive.  (Vox, 6/25/2019)

Freedom Caucus crazies gang up on Henry Kerner



Reported in Dana Milbank: Remember when conservatives believed no one was above the law?  (Washington Post, 6/27/2019)
Henry Kerner was a model conservative. A member of the Federalist Society, he clerked for a Reagan-appointed judge. As a Republican staffer, he led House and Senate inquiries into the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative groups, Obamacare and the “Fast and Furious” gun-running program. Trump rewarded him by naming him head of the Office of Special Counsel. 
Then, Kerner went after White House counselor Kellyanne Conway — and everything changed.



Other Jordan posts:
2018
Men on black: Needing distractions, Freedom Caucus crazies Mark Meadows (current chair) and Jim Jordan (past chair) call for Rod Rosenstein's impeachment.  (7/26/2018)
Ohio Republican and freedom caucus crazy Jim Jordan has the luxury of being a nativist when it comes to immigration  (6/4/2018)

2017
The bubble world of Freedom Caucus crazy Jim Jordan.  (8/14/2017)
51 U.S. House members implore Trump to legalize LGBT discrimination. (4/28/2017)

2016
Dear Jim Jordan, Huelskamp lost 47 of 62 counties in US House 1.  (8/4/2016)
Freedom Caucus chair Jim Jordan ready to go crazy on the House dance floor.  (4/28/2016)
It's probably good news that the Freedom Caucus wants to go big, go bold; look where it got Scott Walker.  (1/19/2016)

2015
The Freedom Caucus 'crazies': Have Jim Jordan and Justin Amash been talking much lately?  (10/16/2015)
Meet 'the crazies' in the U.S. House of Representatives.  (10/8/2015)
No friend to the environment.  (3/20/2015)

Other Meadows posts:
2019
Mark Meadows ready to lead GOP on death march to border wall.  (1/30/2019)

2018
Men on black: Needing distractions, Freedom Caucus crazies Mark Meadows (current chair) and Jim Jordan (past chair) call for Rod Rosenstein's impeachment.  (7/26/2018)
No surprise that Freedom Caucus crazy Mark Meadows prostrates himself on the altar of Trump.  (7/24/2018)

2017
51 U.S. House members implore Trump to legalize LGBT discrimination.  (4/26/2017)
Donald Trump declaires war on Freedom Caucus.  (3/30/2017)
UPDATE. Really, Mark, just whose agenda is it?  (1/4/2017)

2016
It's the same old line in the sand for the Freedom Caucus.  (3/25/2016)
Freedom Caucus member Mark Meadows, one of Peter King's 'crazies', is in a hearts-and-minds mood with Mitch McConnell.  (2/24/2016)

2015
Meet 'the crazies' in the U.S. House of Representatives.  (10/6/2015)
No friend to the environment.  (3/13/2015)

Other Gosar posts:
2017
Freedom Caucus crazy Paul Gosar (R-Arizona) wallows in a Alex Jones conspiracy theory.  (10/8/2017)
Donald Trump declares war on Freedom Caucus: The Paul Gosar edition.  (4/3/2017)

2016
Paul Gosar shows his nutty side.  (4/9/2016)
Arizona GOP Rep. Paul Gosar: When dentists go astray.  (4/4/2016)
When religious freedom means government by theocracy.  (4/3/2016)
Climate change, Paul Gosar, and short-term (special-interest) thinking.  (2/11/2016)
Freedom Caucus members pledge allegiance to the NRA.  (1/6/2016)

2015The Freedom Caucus, Congress' crybabies (part 5).  (12/20/2015) 
Planned Parenthood videos altered? Makes no never mind to....  (11/29/2015)
Meet 'the crazies' in the U.S. House of Representatives,  (9/29/2015)
Meet the members of the Republican Study Committee.  (7/1/2015)
No friend to the environment.  (11/15/2015)

A game changer blogpost



Literally.


Reported in A Plan to Mine the Minnesota Wilderness Hit a Dead End. Then Trump Became President.  (The New York Times, 6/25/2019)

The Merriam-Webster entry does not include a hyphen between the words whereas the New York Times article does.


According to Merriam-Webster, the first known use of the compound noun "game changer" occurred in 1993.

Other coinages from the same year include:
  1. access provider
  2. body camera
  3. booty call
  4. dwarf planet
  5. jukebox musical


Dennis Dodge (1947-2019) Valley Forge Military Academy, class of 1965


1963 Dragon yearbook


1967 Warren City Directory
  • Dodge Daniel C (Klahr M) pres Dan's Chevrolet h24 Redwood Street
  • Dodge Dennis student h24 Redwood Street
  • Dodge Klahr M Mrs secretary Penn Laurel Restaurant h24 Redwood Street
1983 Warren City Directory
  • Dodge Klahr M Mrs retired h24 Redwood Street

The popularity of Dennis as a baby name is graphed here.  Let's take a look at Clayton, the name of Dennis's birth father.

Clayton has been a surprisingly steady performer, rolling along almost exclusively within the 150 to 300 range.  His best decades were the 1980s and 1990s, when he peaked at #147 in 1988 and 1997 and also spent two years at #149 (1994, 1996).

Other members of the class of 1965:
2019
Linda Kays.  (6/10/2019)
William Lyle Shafer.  (4/5/2019)

2018
Loretta Frederickson Conlon.  (8/7/2019)
Bruce Shattuck.  (8/2/2018)
Michael Neizmik.  (3/26/2018)
Robert Faga.  (1/27/2018)
Joyce Andrew Camigliano.  (1/26/2018)

2017
Jeffrey Werner.  (11/20/2017)
Jeffrey Arnold.  (7/11/2017)
Blaine Otto Rudolph.  (6/20/2017)
Anita Farnswroth Madigan.  (4/30/2017)

2016
David Bryan.  (11/23/2016)
Candyce Thompson Wescott.  (10/10/2016)
Dianne Briggs Sherman.  (5/14/2016)

2015
Catherine Donnelly Rice.  (9/25/2015)
Sharyn Steele Engle.  (8/30/2015)
Dennis Seymour.  (6/25/2015)
Alvin Whipple.  (6/17/2015)

2014
Susan Johnson Wolfe.  (3/14/2014)

Friday, June 28, 2019

Scott Walker's Foxconn pipe dream continues to mystify



Video from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

One year after Trump's Foxconn groundbreaking, there is almost nothing to show for it.  (The Verge, 6/28/2019)
Last week, Foxconn began pouring a concrete foundation at the Mount Pleasant site. But just what Foxconn is building remains unclear. 
Before work began, Foxconn submitted floor plans to Wisconsin’s Department of Safety and Professional Services, which The Verge obtained through a records request. The plans are partially redacted, but according to Willy Shih, a Harvard Business School professor who consulted in the screen industry, the foundations and structural support more closely resemble an assembly facility than an LCD fab. 
“If you wanted to build the actual LCD fab, you’d need a lot of steel, and you’d need a deep, deep foundation to support it,” Shih says. His guess is the building would receive LCDs made elsewhere, then attach electronics and assemble them into finished devices.


Foxconn Appears To Push Back Opening Of Mount Pleasant Plant.  (Wisconsin Public Radio, 6/27/2019)
Foxconn Technology Group appears to have delayed the opening of its manufacturing plant in Racine County. 
In March, the tech manufacturing company announced construction on the Mount Pleasant Gen 6 fabrication facility would begin in summer and would be operational by the end of 2020. 
But Thursday morning, an email sent out by WEDC with the subject line: "Special Bulletin: Wisconn Valley News" updating bid opportunities said the factory was now set for completion in early 2021. 
[snip]
A spokeswoman for Foxconn said Thursday afternoon that there is no delay but offered few additional details.  [emphasis added]

Meanwhile, the Foxconn Place locations in Eau Claire, Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, and Racine aren't even stuck in neutral. 

According to Merriam-Webster, the first known use of 'pipe dream' occurred in 1890.

Other coinages from the same year include:
  1. belly flop
  2. cheerleader
  3. downtrend
  4. misfocused
  5. oversold
  6. rock bottom
  7. shell game
  8. wailing wall

The pretzel logic of Supreme Court Justice John Roberts




Quoted in Supreme Court says federal courts cannot strike down partisan gerrymandering.  (USA Today, 6/27/2019)

What about these doggy lines, CJ.

Source:  govtrack

Related reading:
North Carolina’s extreme gerrymandering could save the House Republican majority.  (5/8/2018)
Welcome to North Carolina, “ground zero” for gerrymandering. North Carolina is a purple state. Politically, the state is about 50 percent Democrat and 50 percent Republican — it went for Barack Obama in 2008 but for Republicans in 2012 and 2016 (although voters elected Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper). In a competitive election year like 2018, Democrats should have the opportunity to pick up plenty of congressional seats. 
But if you look at its congressional maps, Republicans have an incredibly lopsided advantage. That’s intentional; Republican state Rep. Dave Lewis admitted as much in 2016, during the redistricting process.


Related post:
The Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court is blind and deaf.  (6/28/2019)

The Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court is blind and deaf


Map source:  govtrack

Reported in Supreme Court Bars Challenges to Partisan Gerrymandering.  (The New York Times, 6/27/2019)


Related reading:
What’s Stronger Than a Blue Wave? Gerrymandered Districts.  (The New York Times, 11/29/2019)
In a year in which Democrats picked up as many as 41 House seats elsewhere, including in places as conservative as Oklahoma and Utah, they appeared to lose all three of their targets for pickups in one of the nation’s most closely divided states. Democrats in North Carolina earned 48.3 percent of the total vote cast in House races but appeared to win only three seats; Republicans had 50.4 percent of the vote and won at least nine seats.

Related posts:
UPDATE. The art of the Ohio GOP gerrymander: Climate deniers get their own district.  (5/7/2019)
Which begs the question, how many GOP voters are naturally dispersed across the head of a penis?  (1/9/2019)
Transparency is not a word in Robin Vos's vocabulary.  (1/1/2019)
Broken record: The WIGOP gerrymander messaging of power-mad Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.  (12/2/2018)
Rhetorical question posed in election article headline.  (11/9/2018)
UPDATE. Say goodbye to Goofy kicking Donald Duck, Pennsylvania's wildly gerrymandered 7th congressional district.  (3/20/2018)
In a close vote, male-dominated Columbia County Board of Supervisors endorses gerrymandering of state and congressional legislative districts.  (1/22/2018)
Suitable for framing: The art of the North Carolina gerrymanders.  (1/12/2018)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 1.  (1/28/2017)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 2.  (1/28/2017)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 3.  (1/28/2017)

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Retiring Guy answers his own question. Yes, Scott Walker has lost his fucking mind.



Yes, there'll be more!

Dear Bob, Enclosed is a list of Manitowoc professional photographers


Sources:  1997, 2019

Reality check



The crocodile tears of Chris Kapenga



Key senator defends Tesla provision, gives Republicans enough votes to pass state budget.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/26/2019)

Chris, it all started with your accepting the deal.  (Apparently, no one asked him about what those "several elements" are, as they are not identified in this story.)

As an Assembly colleague pointed out, Kapenga's action doesn 't pass the smell test.
Democratic Rep. Evan Goyke of Milwaukee questioned Kapenga naming his business Integrity Motorsports. 
"Conflict of Interest Motorsports?" said Goyke, who sits on the Legislature's budget committee. 
"If this is above board and if there are no problems, then why not do it in the light of day? Why try to sneak it in? To me, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. To me it's problematic and I hope he doesn’t get away with it."


Original 6/26/2019 post, "The two faces of Chris Kapenga", starts here.



Reported in Provision on electric vehicles is aimed at getting GOP senator who sells Tesla parts to vote for budget.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/25/2019)

Related post:
BREAKING NEWS; Second Wisconsin State Senate fiscal hawk sez 'no' to budget.  (6/20/2019)

GET ME REWRITE: No room for Judith Krantz's tales of sex and shopping on the shelves of the Middleton Public Library


Photos by Retiring Guy

From Krauss to Krentz

Not even in paperback.


Judith Krantz, Whose Tales of Sex and Shopping Sold Millions, Dies at 91.  (The New York Times, 6/21/2019)
Though she did not publish her first book until she was 50, Ms. Krantz reigned for decades afterward as the international queen of poolside reading. Her 10 novels — beginning with “Scruples” in 1978 and ending with “The Jewels of Tessa Kent” in 1998 — have together sold more than 85 million copies in more than 50 languages.

On the other hand, the Wyocena Public Library owns the complete set.

Source:  LINKcat

Libraries with at least half of Krentz's titles include:
  • 7 - Madison, Reedsburg
  • 6 - DeForest, Verona, Wisconsin Dells
  • 5 - Pardeeville, Plain, Portage

Judith fares less well in the large-print format.


Related posts:
2019
Nearly forgotten "sociological megahits" of 1970.  (6/18/2019)
Anthony Price, author of Cold War spy thrillers that few people read anymore, dies at 90.  (6/17/2019)
Herman Wouk, author of many fat books, dies at 103.  (5/20/2019)
Dan Jenkins, author of nearly forgotten classic sports novel, dies at 90.  (3/10/2019)

2018
Nearly forgotten "sociological megahits" of 1970 Neal Thompson on parenting books.  (6/17/2018)
LINKcat libraries provide little shelf space for titles by 'rule-breaking cookbook author' Barbara Kafka.  (6/8/2018)
Weeding or historical sanitization at LINKcat libraries?  (6/2/2018)

2017
The "spy' books by Aline Countess of Romanones haven't traveled well.  (12/17/2017)
Minimal shelf space devoted to Kit Reed's books in LINKcat public libraries.  (10/1/2017)
Carol J. Adams shares feminist classics from her personal library.  (9/8/2017)

2016
The distant dirty dozen literary career of E. M. Nathanson.  (4/10/2016)

2015
Gunter Grass (1927-2015).  (4/15/2015)

2014
Thomas Berger  (1924-2014).  (7/23/2014)
Peter Matthiessen (1927-2014)  (4/8/2014)

2013
Barbara Branden's shelf sitter.  (12/26/2013)

Around Town Middleton: "ROAD WORK AHEAD" trumps "DRIVE LIKE YOUR KIDS LIVE HERE" on Park Street


Photo by Retiring Guy

From Tiger Droppings O-T Lounge:

I'm thinking of buying a couple of these to put in my yard along the roadway soon. What are the OT's thoughts on these signs? Would I be being an arse to do this or would I be justified?

Some of the responses:
  • Trashy.
  • Go buy a house on a less busy street.
  • Better than the signs about slow children in the area.
  • Spike strip them.
  • You admitted to there being a problem with people driving down the road, and continue to let your child play in the front yard. If something happens, that's on you.
  • There's a house in my neighborhood that has those. Seems like a douche move but whatever floats your boat.
People are so helpful.

Two-pack of mostly obscured sign is available from Amazon starting at $23.98.

Around Town Middleton posts
June 2019
Free lunch Friday.  (6/24/2019)
CBD, just like everywhere else in Wisconsin.  (6/24/2019)
 
February 2019
According to chapter 8.07 of the city ordinances....  (2/4/2019)

January 2019
More than a snow fort, but not a standing-room igloo.  (1/2/2019)
 
December 2018
This section of sidewalk was replaced in 1980.  (12/18/2018)
The post office's new and improved self-service kiosk.  (12/18/2018)

November 2018
Spell checker.  (11/19/2018)

August 2018
Must be on a tight schedule.  (8/6/2018)

July 2018
What type of seeds?  (7/6/2018)

June 2018
If it's not one thing, it's another.  (6/23/2018)
Bloom Bake Shop to reopen as Bloom Bindery, a bakery/bookstore.  (6/15/2018)

May 2018
The Tiedeman Pond frog chorus.  (5/15/2018)

March 2018
Tiedeman Pond winter fish kill.  (3/30/2018)
Hear that lonesome whistle blow.  (3/22/2018)
Explosion on Elmwood Avenue.  (3/20/2018)
Googling 'Henry Hubbard'.  (3/18/2018) 
A not-so-faded Flo strikes a new pose.  (3/12/2018)

February 2018

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

The full monty: Brownpoint Reserve


The line of evergreens along Pleasant View Road?  Chopped!  (Compare photo at 5/27/2017 update)

Photos by Retiring Guy

 The longer view


Aerial view (courtesy of Google maps)


Taking in more territory

8/9/2017 update starts here.

The long view.

 Photos by Retiring Guy

A close-up.


This 1604-square-foot, 3-bedroom townhome will set you back at least $2,225 per month.



5/28/2017 update, "Signage for Brownpoint Reserve Apartments proclaims, "Worth the wait"", starts here.

Opening June 2017, though probably not on the 1st of the month.


Photos by Retiring Guy


3/12/2017 update, "The roof in on and cladding is underway at Brownpoint Reserve Apartments", starts here.



1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments available June 2017.

749 sq/ft. 1 bedroom/1 bath for $1,320-$1,500/month


1257 sq. ft. 1 bedroom/1 bath/with windowless office for $1,475-$1,625/month.



1/23/2017 update, "Brownspoint Reserve Apartment construction 5 months after previous visit", starts here.

From the intersection of North Pleasant View and Blackhawk roads


Just west of the intersection


Futher up the Blackhawk hill a bit



8/9/2016 update, "Brownpoint Reserve Apartment project requires intersection upgrade", starts here.

At the intersection of North Pleasant View and Blackhawk roads.  (Turn lanes are being added and traffic signals installed.)


As for Brownpoint, the foundation is in and the walls are going up.



Original 6/9/2016 post, "Excavation underway at site of Brownpoint Reserve Apartments", starts here.

Coming soon to this location:  North Pleasant View and Blackhawk roads.

A line of evergreens obscures the view from the vantage point.

Photos and video by Retiring Guy







Preliminary elevations