A Vintage Name Rockets Its Way into the 21st Century

Isabella fell off the chart of top 1000 popular baby names for girls in 1949. 

It's best year was 1880 (at #215), the first year for which the Social Security Administration keeps records.

Why the quickly ascending popularity?

Yahoo Answers sez, Isabella is Izzy's name on Grey's Anatomy & it is also the main character, Bella's, name in Twilight. But the name itself, is a classic - both vintage & modern.  (I confess to having some considerable holes in my knowledge of current and very recent popular culture.  In other words, I wasn't able to make these two connections on my own.)

Then there's this Isabella, daughter of Ingrid Bergman.


Not to mention Queen Isabella I of Spain.

A vintage name indeed.

Since 1985, Ava Goes from Nowhere to the Top 10

Social Security Administration Popular Baby Names

The ultimate Ava.

A Lot of Parents Fell in Love with the Name Kayla in 1982

Rankings of Kayla as most popular girl's name:

• #582 in 1981
• #133 in 1982

By 1988, it had reached #20.

Walker's Got Plenty of Company in his Quest for the 2016 Republican Presidential Nomination

Ryan fares stronger than Walker for 2016 in Wisconsin.  (Public Policy Polling, 9/19/2013)

Related posts:
The Plutocracy report.  (9/16/2013)
Scott Walker makes the list because he's a "peculiar politician".  (7/30/2013)
Scott Walker as chopped liver in this 2016 Republican Presidential candidate preference poll.  (7/30/2013)
Cruz-mania infects the Republican base.  (7/23/2013)
Wonder why the Republicans continue to obsess over Benghazi?  (5/12/2013)
Larry Sabato crowns Scott Walker as GOP's great white hope.  (4/18/2013)
CPAC doesn't see much in Scott Walker.  (3/16/2013)
Appleton Post-Crescent editorial board thinks Scott Walker should be talkin' to us, right here in Wisconsin.  (11/20/2012)
Scott Walker gets shut out again in the 2016 Republican Presidential sweepstakes.  (11/17/2012)
I'm sure Scott Walker feels left out.  (11/17/2012)

Against Much Evidence to the Contrary, Sen Neil Kedzie (R-Elklhorn) Spouts the Company Line

Kedzie:  Don't change redistricting.  (Beloit Daily News, 9/19/2013)

Excerpt:  Neil Kedzie, cock-eyed.

Some examples of how legislative districts changed after the 2010 census.

The former 37th  (Based on the 2000 census)

More than half of Jefferson County,

3 townships in Dane County

The new 37th (based on the 2010 census)

which left Andy Jorgenson (D-Fort Atkinson) out in the cold.

57 miles from east to west.

The Republicans gained this seat, John Jagler beating his Democratic opponent Mary Arnold handily.  However, Andy Jorgenson challenged the incumbent Evan Wynn in the 43rd Assembly District and won.

Here's a view of the new 37th district from a statewide perspective.

Speaking of spouts.  That's quite a spigot!

Leah Vukmir has a habit of getting herself in the news for the wrong reasons.

Did Leah get her wish?

Let's use the 15th Assembly District, part of her 5th Senate District, as the prime example.

The old 15th.

The new 15th.  

Hello, Waukesha County!  (Lots more GOP.)  Goodbye, City of Milwaukee.

And, as a result, Tony Staskunas (D-West Allis) decides to retire after serving 16 years in the State Assembly.

Related posts:
Wisconsin Democratic legislators who have yet to sign on as co-sponsors of Senate Bill 163/Assembly Bill 185 (Redistricting Reform) -- UPDATED.  (9/17/2013) 
Common Cause in Wisconsin calling out Sen. Lazich and Rep. August.  (8/19/2013) 
Undoubtedly, Tyler August is just following orders.  (8/12/2013)
Will Republican Leadership in Wisconsin Fail to Support Redistricting Reform? (7/22/2013)
The Redistricting Weasels Sing a Chorus of "Because I said so!!"  (5/16/2013)
Common Cause in Wisconsin asks, "Do your state legislators support non-partisan redistricting reform?"  (5/14/2013)
A trio of non-responses in this redistricting story.  (4/22/2013) 
Actually, Robin, Your Riposte is Patently Absurd.  (12/30/2012)  Expect a Frigid Reception from Wisconsin Republicans to This Redistricting Bill.  (12/7/2012)
Close, but no cigar, in this Republican redistricting effort to steal an Assembly seat.  (11/20/2012)
Redistricting in Wisconsin:  The plumber controls the spigot.  (11/15/2012)
Eric Litke can't see the forest for the trees.  (11/12/2012)
Robin Vos and religious imagery.  (10/15/2012)
The faces of gerrymandering.  (10/9/2012)
What it's all about in Wisconsin.  (8/1/2012)
Who's running for state office in Wisconsin:  31st Assembly District.  (7/4/2012)
Not anymore!  (2/7/2012)
Redistricting in Wisconsin:  the Basics.  (12/6/2011)
Define "judicial activism".  (12/3/2011)
More headaches but this time Sen. Lazich has the cure.  (10/27/2011)
Legislative redistricting in Wisconsin, part 2.  (10/24/2011)
Legislative redistricting in Wisconsin,  part 1.  (10/18/2011)
Legislative Reference Bureau legislative brief:  Local redistricting readjustment.  (9/6/2011)
Let's call this bill exactly what it is:  an unfunded mandate.  (7/21/2011)
Wisconsin redistricting plan popeils DeForest, Windsor.  (7/21/2011)
Fred Clark gets redrawn out of  his district?  Just a coincidence, of course.  (7/21/2011)
Oshkosh Northwestern editorial board tells it like it is.  (7/29/2011)
Wisconsin legislative redistricting:  Abandoned principles, interactive maps, bill text, and more. (7/13/2011)
Congressional redistricting in Wisconsin.  (6/19/2011)

Textile Turnaround in Gaffney, South Carolina

Well, I suppose the good news is that Undersecretary Sanchez encounters few hand-shaking interruptions on his plant tour.



U.S. Textile Plants Return, With Floors Largely Empty of People. (The New York Times, 9/19/2013)

From England to New England to the Carolinas to China, India, and Mexico.  For years, textile companies have been on the search for ever cheaper sources of labor.   But now, with automation, paying workers a few dollars a day isn't so cost-effective when factoring in transportation costs and turnaround time.

Abandoned Mills: A Paradox of Opportunity and Danger. (The New York Times, 1/8/2006)

Excerpt:   'Drive around New England, what do you see?'' said Mr. Granato, former chairman of the Stonington Planning and Zoning Commission. ''Vacant mills. They reflect upon an era gone by, and in the small New England towns where they folded, they left misery behind. Many New England communities, including several here in Connecticut, are just recuperating from the losses.''

NASA, in Buzzkill Move, Sez Life on Mars Unlikely

Low Upper Limit to Methane Abundance on Mars. (Science, 9/19/2013)

Need more than a few plumes,  I gather.

Life on Mars?  Well, Maybe Not.  (The New York Times, 9/19/2013)

Excerpt: The history of human fascination with the possibility of life on Mars is rich, encompassing myriad works of science fiction, Percival Lowell’s quixotic efforts to map what turned out to be imaginary canals, Orson Welles’s panic-inducing 1938 “War of the Worlds” radio play, and of course Bugs Bunny’s nemesis, Marvin the Martian.

Rip Van Winkle Watches People Leave the New York Public Library

Looks like a mostly casual series of searches to me, dude.



So where have you been lately?

Oh yeah, right, it's been a long snooze, hasn't it?

New York Times

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

USA Today

All of which leads me to believe that the 42nd Street New York Public Library is the Superbowl, the BCS of public libraries.

It's not the 18th century anymore, Rip.

Covering Kids and Families Helping Some of the 92,000 Booted Out of Wisconsin's Medicaid Program

Thousands losing Medicaid will be steered to Obamacare. (Eau Claire Leader Telegram, 9/15/2013)

Excerpt: Covering Kids & Families, which works to get children and families enrolled in Medicaid programs, is among the groups planning seminars at job centers, schools and libraries across the state. Trainers will discuss the Affordable Care Act, explain what is and isn’t changing, and help people figure out which plans work best for them.

Who is Suzy Citizen and Why is She Saying Those Terrible Things About GRRL?

Great River library board closes investigation into flier. (sctimes.com, 9/18/2013)

Excerpt: The flier from "Suzy Citizen" criticized management decisions and encouraged library patrons to contact the board of trustees about restructuring within the organization.

An investigation by attorney Michelle Soldo, which cost the Great River Regional Library $4780, did not uncover her identity.

Minnesota State Statutes.  Chapter 13, Government Data Practices.

Apparently, 'Suzy' shared confidential information in the flier she surreptitiously distributed in the library.

The name 'Suzy', whether spelled with a 'y' or 'ie', instantly brings to mind this great CCR song from their debut album.

Librarian: Evolved or Extinct?

12 Jobs on the Brink: Will They Evolve or Go Extinct? (Salary.com)

The accompanying "Librarian" photo is a regular riot.

Are their articles always this fluffernutter?

Idea for a follow-up post:  Education requirements for each of the 12 occupations, an exercise where librarian is not defined as 'anyone who works in a library'.

Michael McGough, Writing on Fumes

Merriam-Webster

And "caveman" is not just a one who dwells in caves.

Biden insults Republicans -- and Neanderthals. (Los Angeles Times, 9/18/2013)

Walker's Approval Numbers Slip in Polling NOT Conducted by a "Democrat Leaning Firm"

Marquette poll shows slipping numbers for Walker, Obama. (Wisconsin Gazette, 7/23/2013)

Gov. Walker says poll numbers not a concern, emphasizes jobs initiatives. (WKOW, 9/18/2013)

He supposes. "Public Policy Polling is traditionally a Democrat leaning firm so, the fact that even in their polling we're ahead of all the potential candidates I suppose is a good sign."

Mixed News for Walker.  (Public Policy Polling, 9/17/2013)

Excerpt:   PPP's newest Wisconsin poll finds a mixed bag for Scott Walker. His approval rating is completely unchanged from February and voters in the state are closely divided on him, with 48% approving and 49% disapproving. Nevertheless he still leads four potential Democratic opponents by anywhere from 4-7 points.

Joint Finance Co-Chairs Say the Darndest Things

Gov. Scott Walker says he didn't know heritage grant was aimed at United Sportsmen. (Wisconsin State Journal, 9/18/2013)

Photo credit:  Wisconsin State Legislature

Related posts:
Canceled $500,000 grant: it's big news all over except at the United Sportsmen of Wisconsin website.  (9/7/2013)
Wisconsin DNR advisory: Conduct a close expenditure review of the United Sportsmen of Wisconsin's $500,000 grant.  (9/4/2013) 
United Sportsmen of Wisconsin support legislation critical to the interests of its members.  (9/4/2013) 
Looks like United Sportsmen of Wisconsin still  needs office help.  (9/4/2013)
Rep. Al Ott needs to see an otolaryngologist.  (9/4/2013)
United Sportsmen of Wisconsin President Andy "One and Done" Pantzlaff might be looking for office help in the near future.  (8/30/2013) 
When is a DNR grant not a grant?  (8/30/2013)
Rookie donors land $500,000 sportsmen's grant from Joint Finance.  (8/26/2013)

As St. Paul Mayor Christopher Coleman observed a few years ago, "Try to close a library sometime"

You'll find the full quote here.

South Community Library

Closing South Community Library proposed to fix budget. (La Crosse Tribune, 9/12/2013)

Excerpt:   The recommendation to shutter the site will be part of Krieg-Sigman’s budget presentation to the city’s Board of Estimates on Monday as it develops the 2014 operating budget. 

The library has struggled for years to balance rising costs against shrinking revenues, repeatedly turning to reserve funds now tapped to their limits, Krieg-Sigman said. 

Closing the south branch could save an estimated $161,704, she said.

South Community Library statistics (2012)

• Visits:  130,393
• Circulation:  131,546

If the South Community Library were a standalone operation, it would rank 110th out of 386 among Wisconsin's public libraries -- between the Tomah Public Library (130,204) and the Rusk County Community Library in Ladysmith (130,597) 

Board hears case for closing library, suggestions for saving it.  (La Crosse Tribune, 9/17/2013)

Excerpt:     Eliminating the site would save an estimated $161,704 to help offset a predicted $268,258 shortfall for 2014, Krieg-Sigman said. 

She blamed a combination of rising expenses, shrinking revenues and steady annual budget cuts for forcing the library board to recommend shutting down the south branch, which has been in operation since 1922 and at the current site since 1952.

Letter to the editor:  Library is a valuable resource for city.  (La Crosse Tribune, 9/17/2013)

Excerpt: Combined with the use of the playground outside the library, the interesting programs offered at the library and a trip to Ranison Ice Cream & Candy nearby, it’s truly a community resource.

Letter to the editor:  Library promotes lifetime of literacy.  (La Crosse Tribune, 9/18/2013)

Excerpt: I visited that library every two to three weeks as a child just to pick up a new book and get lost in a new world. The library helped spark my love of reading, and, as a product of that childhood, I’ve become an English literature student at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Letter to the editor:  Library is a key part of neighborhood.  (La Crosse Tribune, 9/18/2013)

Excerpt: The South Community Library has served La Crosse at nominal expense for my entire life and was the first library I ever used as a child. Like Mayor Tim Kabat, I’m baffled by the recommendation of the library board to close it.

Rich Man Wins, Poor Man Pays

The Rich Get Richer Through the Recovery. (The New York Times, 9/12/2013)

Is there an echo in here?   [Bold type added.] The top 10 percent of earners took more than half of the country’s total income in 2012, the highest level recorded since the government began collecting the relevant data a century ago, according to an updated study by the prominent economists Emmanuel Saez and Thomas Piketty. 

The top 1 percent took more than one-fifth of the income earned by Americans, one of the highest levels on record since 1913, when the government instituted an income tax.

The Wisconsin Budget Project graphs the state's picture.

Related posts:
Wisconsin Budget Project: Little growth in income except for those at the top, part 4.  (9/14/2012)
Part 3.  (9/13/2012)
Part 2.  (9/12/2012)
Part 1.  (9/11/2012)
Shop til you drop:  Only if you're the 1%.  (11/16/2011)
Wisconsin ranks 46th in income inequality according to Census Bureau report.  (10/30/2011)

Then and Now: Market Street, Warren PA 16365

There are no markets on Market Street in Warren, Pennsylvania.  And I don't know if it was the intent to create a business district here when the community was originally platted. The heart of Warren's downtown is located a block west, along the 100 and 200 blocks of Liberty Street, although the economic lifeblood it pumps nowadays is anemic.

The postmark on the message side of the postcard (below) is September 22, 1913.

As you can see from the photo below, the Conewango Club at the northwest corner of Market Street and Second Avenue still stands.  The building dates to 1906.

The next three houses along this side of Market Street were razed -- the first one in the late 1970s to make way for an addition to the Warren Public Library; the second one in 1914, which became the site of a new and relocated public library; and the third one in the mid-1950s to construct a 6-story brick apartment building. The house at the corner of Market Street and West Third Avenue escaped the wrecking ball.  Peter Hoffmann, a high school classmate of mine, has for many years used a suite of rooms on the first floor for his dental practice.

First Urbana, Now Fairfax County: Major Book Dump Creates Big Community Stink

Fairfax library system suspends strategic plan, will review book discard policy. (Washington Post, 9/12/2013)

Excerpt:

Photo credit:  Fairfax Library Foundation

The Urbana brouhaha: 
News-Gazette editor and columnist uses Urbana library as example of Illinois as a place "where good government goes to die".  (8/27/2013) 
In my experience, standing-room only at a board or council or association membership meeting means that a lot of people are pissed -- really, really pissed!  (7/22/2013)
Urbana resident offers succinct performance evaluation of departing library director.   (7/19/2013)
News-Gazette editorial board on the Urbana Free Library "brouhaha": "Food fight over library personalities"?  (7/15/2013)
More from the Urbana Free Library.  (7/13/2013)
A song to mom to accompany a letter about mom.  (7/10/2013)
Urbana Free Library Board to Library Director Deb Lissak: Go your own way   (7/10/2013)
Urbana Free Library board member speaks out on weeding controversy.  (7/8/2013) 
The Urbana Free Library and a "dissonant rate of discard versus retention"  (7/3/2013)
Urbana Free Library holds special board meeting on June 19th.  (6/24/2013)
University of Illinois GSLIS faculty member advocates for televised library board meetings. / (6/24/2013)
Wondering about the "weeding" "misstep" at the Urbana Free Library.  (6/18/2013)

Kommst du mit zur die Bibliothek? Gehst du jetzt dorthin?

BiblioTech.  Bexar County Digital Library.

Bookless Public Library Opens in Texas.  (NPR, 9/14/2013)

Excerpt:    The library has a physical presence, as well, with 600 e-readers and 48 computer stations, in addition to laptops and tablets. People can also come for things like kids' story time and computer classes, according to the library's website.

Related posts:
GeoBeats News Takes a Look at Bexar County's Bookless Library.  (5/6/2013)
Update.  (4/29/2013)
Public library locations in Bexar County.  (1/13/2013)
Bexar County's incomplete public library. (1/12/2013)

Cheerios Kicks Corn Flakes' Butt in the Cereal Aisle of Woodman's

The 50 Greatest Cereals of All Time
  1.  Cheerios (General Mills)
  2.  Cinnamon Toast Crunch (General Mills)
  3.  Wheaties (General Mills)
  4.  Frosted Mini Wheats (Kellogg)
  5.  Honey Nut Cheerios (General Mills)
  6.  Apple Jacks (Kellogg)
  7.  Rice Krispies (Kellogg)
  8.  Lucky Charms (General Mills)
  9.  Raisin Bran Two Scoops (Kellogg)
10.  Count Chocula (General Mills)
11.  Corn Pops (Kellogg)
12.  Honey Smacks (Kellogg)
13.  Golden Grahams (General Mills)
14.  Alpha-Bits (Post)
15.  Froot Loops (Kellogg)
16.  Cracklin' Oat Bran (Kellogg)
17.  Kix (General Mills)
18.  Life (Quaker)
19.  Frosted Flakes (Kellogg)
20.  Honey Graham Oh's (Quaker)
21.  Life Cinnamon (Quaker)
22.  Cocoa Krispies (Kellogg)
23.  Rice Krispie Treats (Kellogg)
24.  Crispix (Kellogg)
25.  Go Lean Crunch (Kashi)
26.  Corn Flakes (Kellogg)
27.  Golden Crisp (Post)
28.  Fruity Pebbles (Post)
29.  Cap'n Crunch's Crunch Berries (Quaker)
30.  Product 19 (Kellogg)
31.  Raisin Bran (Kellogg)
32.  Oatmeal Squares (Quaker)
33.  Weetabix
34.  Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds (Post)
35.  Rice Chex (General Mills)
36.  Cocoa Dyno-Bites (Malt O Meal)
37.  Reese's Puffs (General Mills)
38.  Cookie Crisp (General Mills)
39.  Apple Cinnamon Cheerios (General Mills)
40.  Honeycomb  (General Mills)
41.  Cocoa Puffs (General Mills)
42.  Banana Nut Crunch (Post)
43.  Smorz (Kellogg)
44.  Cap'n Crunch's Peanut Butter Crunch (Quaker)
45.  Waffle Crisp (Post)
46.  Cocoa Pebbles (Post)
47.  Basic 4 (General Mills)
48.  Shredded Wheat (Post)
49.  Special K (Kellogg)
50.  Trix (General Mills)

Then and Now: Hickory Street and West Third Avenue, Warren PA

The Armory is now the home of the Warren Area Student Union.

Construction of the Municipal Building, modeled after Independence Hall in Philadelphia, was completed in January 1937.

The church was razed in the mid-1960s to make way for a parking lot for New Process (now Blair) employees.  

Then and Now: Liberty & Pennsylvania Avenue West, Warren PA 16365

For many years up until the early 1970s, the street level of the three-story building pictured below housed Widmann & Teah, a drug store; The Style Shop, men's clothing; Watt Office Supply, and Carter Shoe Store.

Thanks to Northwest Savings Bank, Warren has a whole new and rather antiseptic look at the northeast corner of Liberty Street and Pennsylvania Avenue West.   (For some reason, the directional follows the street name in this one case.  For example, I used to live on East Third Avenue, not Third Avenue East.  The bakery where I worked in high school was located on Pennsylvania Avenue East.) 

What is Leah Vukmir Hiding?

And why is J. B. Van Hollen, Wisconsin Department of Just Us, enabling her? (That's a rhetorical question.)

Our View:  Legislators are not above state's open records law. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9/16/2013)

Excerpt:  Van Hollen's and Vukmir's argument flies in the face of the intent of the open records and open meeting's laws and in the previous practice of obtaining open records. It flies in the face of every principle of open government and transparency.

Editorial:  Disregard for right to know.  (Beloit Daily News, 9/16/2013)

Excerpt: Transparency is not a partisan issue. And transparency is not an ideological issue. Transparency is a hallmark of good government.

Our view: Openness applies to lawmakers, too.  (La Crosse Tribune, 9/15/2013)

Excerpt: If that ridiculous assertion is legally upheld, we might as well hang a sold sign on the front door of the Capitol because we will have lost the war to special interests.

Wisconsin Democratic Legislators Who Have Yet to Sign On as Co-Sponsors of Senate Bill 163/Assembly Bill 185 (Redistricting Reform) -- UPDATED

Based on the names on this list.

Lazich, August, Fitzgerald and Vos Still Silent on Redistricting Reform Public Hearings As Support & Pressure Builds.  (Common  Cause Wisconsin, 9/17/2013)

Senate Bill 163/Assembly Bill 185

Senate
Julie Lassa (Stevens Point), 24th District

Mark Miller (Madison), 16th District, was added as a co-sponsor on 9/17/2013.

Assembly
Janet Bewley (Ashland), 74th District

Steve Doyle (La Crosse), 94th District

Fred Kessler (Milwaukee), 12th District.

Josh Zepnick (Milwaukee), 9th District, is now listed as a co-sponsor.

Related posts:
Common Cause in Wisconsin calling out Sen. Lazich and Rep. August.  (8/19/2013) 
Undoubtedly, Tyler August is just following orders.  (8/12/2013)
Will Republican Leadership in Wisconsin Fail to Support Redistricting Reform? (7/22/2013)
The Redistricting Weasels Sing a Chorus of "Because I said so!!"  (5/16/2013)
Common Cause in Wisconsin asks, "Do your state legislators support non-partisan redistricting reform?"  (5/14/2013)
A trio of non-responses in this redistricting story.  (4/22/2013) 
Actually, Robin, Your Riposte is Patently Absurd.  (12/30/2012)  Expect a Frigid Reception from Wisconsin Republicans to This Redistricting Bill.  (12/7/2012)
Close, but no cigar, in this Republican redistricting effort to steal an Assembly seat.  (11/20/2012)
Redistricting in Wisconsin:  The plumber controls the spigot.  (11/15/2012)
Eric Litke can't see the forest for the trees.  (11/12/2012)
Robin Vos and religious imagery.  (10/15/2012)
The faces of gerrymandering.  (10/9/2012)
What it's all about in Wisconsin.  (8/1/2012)
Who's running for state office in Wisconsin:  31st Assembly District.  (7/4/2012)
Not anymore!  (2/7/2012)
Redistricting in Wisconsin:  the Basics.  (12/6/2011)
Define "judicial activism".  (12/3/2011)
More headaches but this time Sen. Lazich has the cure.  (10/27/2011)
Legislative redistricting in Wisconsin, part 2.  (10/24/2011)
Legislative redistricting in Wisconsin,  part 1.  (10/18/2011)
Legislative Reference Bureau legislative brief:  Local redistricting readjustment.  (9/6/2011)
Let's call this bill exactly what it is:  an unfunded mandate.  (7/21/2011)
Wisconsin redistricting plan popeils DeForest, Windsor.  (7/21/2011)
Fred Clark gets redrawn out of  his district?  Just a coincidence, of course.  (7/21/2011)
Oshkosh Northwestern editorial board tells it like it is.  (7/29/2011)
Wisconsin legislative redistricting:  Abandoned principles, interactive maps, bill text, and more. (7/13/2011)
Congressional redistricting in Wisconsin.  (6/19/2011)

Then and Now: Liberty Street Looking from Pennsylvania Avenue West, Warren Pennsylvania 16365

The postcard photo was mostly likely taken in 1966, which is when the new Northwest Savings and Loan Building (at left) opened.  It replaced the Allen Block, a three-story brick commercial structure built in 1871 and razed in 1965, to make way for Northwest's expanded operations.

The 4-story brick building across the street housed Levinson's Department Store, which the opening of the Warren Mall in 1979 effectively put out of business.  It briefly reopened as Janick's, to disastrous results. 

Needless to say, Kresge's is also long gone.

The expansion continues.

Northwest Savings seems to be taking over downtown Warren.   The former Levinson's building now houses back-office operations, and the building to its right is Northwest's latest multi-million dollar expansion project.  All for the good.  At least someone is investing in Warren.   Otherwise the business district would be a ghost town.  When the Nelson family moved to Warren in 1957, we were greeted by a billboard on U.S. 6 just west of the city limits that proclaimed, "Welcome to Warren, home of 15,000 friendly people".

The 2010 census determined that 9,710 people lived in Warren 53 years later.

The Plutocracy Report: Billionaire Sheldon Adelson Narrows the Republican Presidential Field for the Minions

Minion, as in sense 1.

Billionaire Sheldon Adelson Assesses the 2016 Field. (National Journal, 9/11/2013)

Excerpt: Adelson’s words carry the weight of his wallet. The casino magnate—he is the chairman and CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corp.—is one of the biggest donors in Republican politics, having spent with his wife nearly $100 million on the 2012 elections. Forbes estimates Adelson is the 15th-richest person in the world, worth $26.5 billion.

Related posts:
Scott Walker makes the list because he's a "peculiar politician".  (7/30/2013)
Scott Walker as chopped liver in this 2016 Republican Presidential candidate preference poll.  (7/30/2013)
Cruz-mania infects the Republican base.  (7/23/2013)
Wonder why the Republicans continue to obsess over Benghazi?  (5/12/2013)
Larry Sabato crowns Scott Walker as GOP's great white hope.  (4/18/2013)
CPAC doesn't see much in Scott Walker.  (3/16/2013)
Appleton Post-Crescent editorial board thinks Scott Walker should be talkin' to us, right here in Wisconsin.  (11/20/2012)
Scott Walker gets shut out again in the 2016 Republican Presidential sweepstakes.  (11/17/2012)
I'm sure Scott Walker feels left out.  (11/17/2012)

Commonwealth Avenue Mall, Boston

Designed in the French Boulevard style in 1856 by Arthur Gilman.  The gorgeous spine of Boston's Back Bay neighborhood.

The Boston Public Library

Important dates in Boston Public Library history:

• 1848.  Founded by an act of Great and General Court of Massachusetts.
• 1854.  First building opens to the public.
• 1895.  Central Library, architect Charles Follen McKim's "palace for the people", opens.
• 1986.  McKim building designated a National Historic Monument.

Boston Public Library:  A Brief Walking Tour of the McKim Building.  The great twin lions, couchant, on pedestals at the turn of the stairs, are of unpolished Siena marble and are the work of Louis Saint-Gaudens.

Wilkerson Pointe, Buffalo, New York

Opened to the public in June of this year, Wilkeson Pointe is a recreational area located in Buffalo's Outer Harbor that provides pedestrian paths, volleyball courts, natural playgrounds, wind sculptures, and public docking.

Not to mention gorgeous sunsets.

The sailboat you see just to the left of the setting sun.

Buffalo Skyway

Constructed in the mid-1950s, the Buffalo Skyway*, a 1.4-mile, 110-foot-high bridge, connect the downtown harborfront area and points south via state highway 5.  It provides a panoramic view of the skyline, which includes numerous grain elevators, some of which are still in operation, such as the cluster owned by General Mills (Gold Medal, shown below).

*Article needs to be updated, but I provide the link so you can read about the suggestion to remove the Skyway.  (Not likely to happen.)

   

Yesterday afternoon, our Buffalo friends Tony and Andrea took JoAnna and me on a walking tour of Canalside, a $275 million redevelopment project in progress at the western terminus of the Erie Canal.  The Skyway supports obscure the view.  Eventually, at least according to the renderings I have seen, this area of the city should provide a sampling of something along the lines of San Antonios's River Walk.  

 

Our stroll at this point had taken us away from the main activity area, and nearly a mile from where we had to park.  It's become quite the popular gathering place.  Downtown Buffalo appears to be on the upswing after along fallow period.