Retiring Guy's Digest: 2012-06-24

Saturday, June 30, 2012

It All Started in Wisconsin: The Kindergarten Crime Wave

LINK

Bob Kingsbury, New Hampshire Republican, Says Kindergarten Leads To Higher Crime. (The Huffington Post, 6/27/2012)

Excerpt: Rep. Bob Kingsbury (R-Laconia) told the Belknap County Convention that research he's been conducting for the last 16 years has led him to believe that kindergarten programs leads to higher crime rates, the Laconia Daily Sun reported. Kingsbury, one of the more conservative legislators in the Tea Party-controlled House, said that his analysis was of local crime rates in communities that offered kindergarten versus those that do not offer the educational program.

Examples of legislation Kingsbury has proposed:

Raising the minimum age to be a judge in New Hampshire from 18 to 60
Tying future state legislation to the Magna Carta
Partially ending the direct election of U.S. Senators

A reader's advisory suggestion for Bob. It's not New Hampshire, it's not present-day,

but it's boxing -- high school and college level.

Who's Running for State Office in Wisconsin 2012: 23rd Assembly District

LINK

Public libraries in the 23rd Assembly District
Frank L. Weyenburg Library of Mequon-Thiensville (service area)
North Shore Library (service area)
U.S.S. Liberty Memorial Library, Grafton
Whitefish Bay Public Library

The Republican Incumbent

Biography. Born Milwaukee, June 5, 1947; married; 2 sons, 1 grandchild.

Graduate Milwaukee Washington H.S. 1965; B.S. UW-Milwaukee 1970; M.S. UW-Milwaukee 1975; J.D. Marquette U. 2000.

Full-time legislator. Former broadcast meteorologist and instructor at UW-Parkside.

Served in U.S. Army, 1970-73; Vietnam veteran.

Member: State Bar of Wisconsin; American Meteorological Society; Mequon/Thiensville Sunrise Rotary; Mequon/Thiensville Chamber of Commerce; American Legion; Ozaukee County Republican Party; North Shore Branch Milwaukee Co. Republican Party; Lumen Christi Catholic Church (past parish council pres.).

Elected to Assembly 2006; reelected since 2008.

Ran unopposesd in 2010. Received nearly 58% of the vote in 2008.

The Independent Challenger

How many Cristine Weber-Rogers can there be?

Who's Running for State Office in Wisconsin 2012: Assembly District 22

2002

2011

Public libraries in the 22nd Assembly District

Menomonee Falls Public Library (service area)

Milwaukee Public Library. (service area sliver)

Pauline Haass Public Library, Sussex (Lisbon service area)

Sandy Pasch represented the 22nd Assembly District for two terms. She is among four candidates running in the 10th Assembly District.

The Republican Candidates

Don Pridemore. As with Sandy Pasch in the 10th Assembly District, Pridemore is the de facto incumbent in this race. He has served as the representative in the 99th Assembly District [2002 map] since 2004.

Born Milwaukee, October 20, 1946; married; 3 sons.

Graduate Milwaukee Lutheran H.S. 1964; B.S.E.E. Marquette U. 1977.

Full-time legislator. Former electronics research technician, electronics design engineer, senior electronics project engineer, and amateur ABATE chili judge.

Vietnam Era veteran; served in U.S. Air Force 1965-69.

Member: Hartford Lions; Hartford Area Taxpayers Assn. (com. mbr., fmr. pres.); Greater Hartford Optimists Club (charter bd. mbr.); Land-O-Hills Baseball League (commissioner); Erin Baseball Club (pres.); Washington and Waukesha Co. Republican Party; American Legion; VFW; NRA; Senior Friends (Hartford). Erin Park Bd. 1995-present.

Elected to Assembly 2004; reelected since 2006.

Easily won primary, re-election in 2010.

Nick Oliver

LINK

Friday, June 29, 2012

Elliot Lake Public Library Forced to Relocated After Mall's Roof Collapses

Elliot Lake mall was 'huge hub,' collapse a blow to local economy. Toronto Globe and Mail, 6/29/2012)

Excerpt: When a section of the Algo Centre Mall caved in Saturday it meant the destruction of not only a significant portion of the city’s retail shops, but also the library, one of two grocery stores, one of two hotels, the health unit office, a funeral services office, a gym and several government service offices.

"The mall was a huge hub of the community,” Elliot Lake Mayor Rick Hamilton said in an interview. “It’s going to have a huge economic impact, not having the mall in operation.”

Scott Walker Takes a Page from the JFK Playbook

LINK

As the Governor noted in his June 29th e-update:

Get Healthy!

The best way to reduce the cost of health care for individuals, businesses and taxpayers for the long term, is to shift our focus from treatment to prevention. This week I announced the re-creation of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Health. I’ve tasked the appointees on the Council with focusing on ways to help people live healthier lives. Council members bring to the table background on fighting childhood obesity, promoting healthy eating, and encouraging physical activity. I look forward to their policy and program recommendations.

This comes right after he bashed yesterday's Supreme Court decision ("Just Because It's Legal, Doesn't Make It Right") with this soundbite, coming soon to assault you on TV and radio.

Fox News Wouldn't Know a Fact If It Bit 'em in the Ass

CNN and Fox Trip Up in Rush to Get the News on the Air. (The New York Times, 6/28/2012)

Excerpt: Fox News did not issue an apology. In a statement, Michael Clemente, a Fox executive, said flatly, “Fox reported the facts as they came in.”

IN FACT, the Supreme Court did not find that the individual mandate was unconstitutional. "The mandate is gone" was never an actual occurrence. It was more along these lines, with .....ahem.....a liberal dash of this.

Stockton California Declares Bankruptcy

Yes, it does look sparkling.

Stockton bankruptcy will make history; residents reeling. (Los Angeles Times, 6/27/2012)

Excerpt: How Stockton found itself so mired in debt can be seen everywhere in the city's core. There is a sparkling marina, high-rise hotel and promenade financed by credit in the mid-2000s, mere blocks from where mothers won't let their children play in the yard because of violence.

From 2007.

In the meantime, the library's not doing so hot. The Cesar Chavez Central Library is open just 36 hours per week. I suppose this falls under the heading of the "new normal".

To be revised.

Attention Employers: This is What the Texas GOP Does NOT Want to Teach Students

Oh, the irony.

LINK

LINK to 2012 Texas GOP Platform

Against all evidence.....

LINK

LINK

Learn to think if you want to get hired. (USA Today, 6/9/2012)

Excerpt: By far, aside from particular technical skills, what employers want most are people who can think clearly and critically, who know themselves, who have the ability to listen to others and interact respectfully.

Employers look for communication, critical thinking skills. (The Economic Times, 2/25/2011)

Employers seek well-spoken, problem-solving grads. (The Oregonian, 1/19/2010)

Excerpt: What do employers want from a college graduate?

Topping their list are skills in writing and speaking.

Number 2: Critical thinking and analytic reasoning.

Those are followed by abilities to solve complex problems, make ethical decisions and work in teams.

Brainstorm: Employers want 18th Century Skills. (Chronicle of Higher Education, 3/9/2010)

Excerpt: “Employers believe that colleges can best prepare graduates for long-term career success by helping them develop both a broad range of skills and knowledge and in-depth skills and knowledge in a specific field or major.” Note the general knowledge request.

Finally, when it came time to identify the most common skill or knowledge cited by employers as needed in the post-downturn, globalized, 21st-century universe, what came up first was a basic, longstanding skill: “The ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing.” Eighty-nine percent of employers highlighted it; “critical thinking” and “analytical reasoning” came in second at 81 percent. [Emphasis added.]

Wisconsin U.S. Senate Republican Primary: If Facebook Won Elections

49,427

15,408

7,849

1,746

Straw poll at May 2012 Wisconsin Republican convention.

First ballot:

42.0% Mark Neumann

20.9% Jeff Fitzgerald

20.8% Tommy Thompson

16.3% Eric Hovde

Second ballot:

46.6% Mark Neumann

35.2% Jeff Fitzgerald

18.2% Tommy Thompson

Third ballot:

51.5% Mark Neumann

48.5% Jeff Fitzgerald

60% required for an endorsement.

Who's Running for State Office in Wisconsin 2012: 21st Assembly District

LINK

Public libraries in the 21st Assembly District
Franklin Public Library (service area)
Oak Creek Public Library
South Milwaukee Public Library

The Republican Incumbent

Biography. Born Milwaukee, March 29, 1956; married; 3 children.

Graduate Oak Creek H.S. 1974; attended Milwaukee Area Technical College and Marquette U. I

Independent businessman. Former professional metal fabricator, welding instructor, industrial manager.

Member: South Milwaukee Street Scaping; Grant Park Garden Club; South Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce; South Milwaukee Lions. Former member: American Welding Society, V.I.C.A. welding judge.

Elected to Assembly in July 2003 special election; reelected since 2004. Majority Caucus Chairperson 2007.

The Democratic Challenger: William Kurtz
Competition For Mark Honadel: South Milwaukee Resident William Kurtz Running As A Democrat. (South Milwaukee Blog, 6/4/2012)

Excerpt: Kurtz is a former Milwaukee-area journalist and most recently worked in public relations at Carthage College in Kenosha.

Kurtz to Challenge Honadel for Assembly Seat. Oak Creek Patch, 6/12/2012)

The Independent Challenger: Mike Schmidt.

Related posts:
Assembly District 1.
Assembly District 2.
Assembly District 3.
Assembly District 4.
Assembly District 5.
Assembly District 6.
Assembly District 7.
Assembly District 8.
Assembly District 9.
Assembly District 10.
Assembly District 11.
Assembly District 12.
Assembly District 13.
Assembly District 14.
Assembly District 15.
Assembly District 16.
Assembly District 17.
Assembly District 18.
Assembly District 19.
Assembly District 20.

Who's Running for State Office in Wisconsin 2012: 20th Assembly District

LINK

Public libraries in the 20th Assembly District:
Cudahy Family Library
Milwaukee Public Library (service area, west of airport)
St. Francis Public Library

The Democratic Incumbent

Biography. Born Milwaukee, March 28, 1960; married; 2 children.

Graduate Bay View H.S.

Former small business manager.

Member: Delegate-U.S. Pres. Electoral College, 2000; Wis. Delegate to Democratic Natl. Convention, Los Angeles, 2000; Amer. Coun. of Young Political Leaders, Delegate to Israel and Palestine, 2001; Milw. Com. on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault; Wis. Civil Air Patrol, Major; Wis. Congress of Parents and Teachers; Milw. City Coun. Parents and Teachers Assn.; Bay View Historical Soc.; Bay View Neighborhood Assn.; Fellow, Bowhay Institute, La Follette School, UW-Madison 2001; Founder, Conservatory of Lifelong Learning, Innovative School, Milw. Public School District; Flemming Fellow, Center for Policy Alternatives 2003.

Elected to Assembly 1998; reelected since 2000.

Won in 2010 with 53.5% of the vote.

The Republican Challengers

LINK

LINK (McGartland lost to Sinicki in 2010)

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Birmingham Does '50 Shades' but Mobile Does Not

"Fifty Shades of Grey" a Hot Ticket at Birmingham, Jefferson County. (The Birmingham News, 6/28/2012)

Excerpt: In the case of “Fifty Shades of Grey,” the public libraries probably didn’t buy lots of copies of the 2011 novel right away, Blalock says.

“But when it started getting a lot of press, and people wanted to read it, we bought more copies,” she says.

That’s exactly what happened at the Hoover Public Library, says Director Linda Andrews.

“We just decided to wait awhile and see,” she says.

They eventually had 80 requests for the book, and one of the library’s selection policies is to carry all of the books in the top 10 of The New York Times’ best-seller list, she says.

Fifty Shades of Grey banned from Mobile's library as 'erotica'. (Mobile Press-Register, 6/27/2012)

Excerpt: One recent day, an unidentified Mobile woman was reading the book at a local swimming pool, as other women stopped to ask her about it. One reader told the Press-Register that it's "the kind of book that you read, but that you don't want to admit that you read until you meet someone else who has." There's even a joke being circulated on Facebook that in nine months, there will be a baby boom called "Shades of Grey babies."

Moms' '50 Shades of Grey' Obsession Is a Baby Boom Waiting to Happen. (The Stir, 6/18/2012)

Excerpt: There is no need to guess what people who have read Fifty Shades of Grey are doing! Sex shops are seeing a huge spike in sales. People are Pinning Fifty Shades-inspired photos to Pinterest like mad. This is having a very real affect on what people are doing between the sheets. The whole point of the trilogy -- and other erotic literature really -- is to inspire people to get into the bedroom. And like I said: more sex = more pregnancies = more babies.

Glad to see South Central public libraries doing their part.

Put Me Out to Pasture: The "Bella & Edward" Reference Goes Right Over My Head

Someone's not happy about the cover's bold look.

To Lure ‘Twilight’ Teenagers, Classic Books Get Bold Looks. (The New York Times, 6/28/2012)

Excerpt: Teenagers are still reading the classics. They just don’t want them to look so, well, classic.

That is the theory of publishers who are wrapping books like “Emma” and “Jane Eyre” in new covers: provocative, modern jackets in bold shades of scarlet and lime green that are explicitly aimed at teenagers raised on “Twilight” and “The Hunger Games.”

The new versions are cutting edge replacements for the traditional (read: stuffy, boring) covers that have been a trademark of the classics for decades, those familiar, dour depictions of women wearing frilly clothing. In their place are images like the one of Romeo in stubble and a tight white tank top on a new Penguin edition of “Romeo and Juliet.”

LINK

A miscalculation?

Nevertheless, some teenagers have rejected the new editions. At Book Passage, a store with two outlets in the San Francisco Bay Area, a display of repackaged classics did not sell well, said the store’s owner, Elaine Petrocelli.

“If kids want to read ‘Emma,’ they want to buy it in the adult section, not the teen section,” she said. “Kids don’t want to feel like they’re being manipulated.”

So.....is it true? Are teens/young adults still reading the classics. More specifically, are they checking them out of the library? Have you added any of these editions to your collection?

My 21-year-old son, who'll be a senior at UW-Madison in the fall, has read Slaughterhouse-Five and A Confederacy of Dunces so far this summer. "Modern" classics, if you will. (He purchased the former -- no copy on the shelf at his local public library and, eager to start, he didn't want to wait for a copy through delivery -- and read my copy of the latter.)

And here's the cover art of the Wuthering Heights Signet paperback I purchased (and read) in the early 1970s.

Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Provides Official June Recall Vote Tally

Government Accountability Board

Recall turnout June 5: high in most places, insanely high in some. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/28/2012)

Excerpt: According to the now official tally, Republican Gov. Scott Walker got 53.08% (1,335,585 votes) and Democrat Tom Barrett got 46.28% (1,164,480 votes).

A total of 2,516,065 votes were cast.

The heavily Republican counties outside Milwaukee boasted the highest turnout rates, as is often the case in statewide elections.

But some Democratic areas also generated unusual turnouts. The city of Milwaukee’s turnout was lower than the statewide average. But it was far higher than it has been in recent contests for governor.

These were the top five counties for turnout.