Retiring Guy's Digest: 2013-11-17

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Ralph and Alice Part Ways in 1988

Later than some of you thought.

Social Security Administration Popular Baby Names

Ralph's best years occurred at the start of the 20th century with a run of 33 years in the top 30. Best years: 1914-1917 at #21.

Alice spent her first 49 years (1880-1928) on the popular baby names chart in the top 20, as high as #8 in 1880 and 1882.

While Ralph fell off the chart after 2011, Alice is experiencing something of a renaissance, jumping from 444 in 2002 to 127 in 2012.

Now Appearing in a Colorful Line Graph -- The 6 Jans

Social Security Administration Popular Baby Names

The best I can do. A song from the Commodores that peaked at #87 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the fall of 1987.

"Janet.....they don't understand it."

Former Oshkosh Public Library Director Spotted in Savannah Georgia

From Retiring Guy's postcard collection

See for yourself.

Arizona Sez to Oregon, "Welcome to the Motor City Bowl!"

ESPN

So whaddya think? Will the 9-2 Ducks still be ranked higher than the 9-2 Badgers come tomorrow? Wisconsin's defense has not allowed its two most recent opponents, Indiana and Minnesota, to score a touchdown. (Minnesota earned its 7 points on an interception of a Stave pass.)

Make Way for GoldieBlox, Pink Princesses and Ponies

Ad Takes Off Online: Less Doll, More Awl. (The New York Times, 11/21/2013)

Excerpt: “I thought back to my childhood with the princesses and the ponies and wondered why construction toys and math and science kits are for boys,” Debbie Sterling, founder and chief executive of GoldieBlox, said in an interview. “We wanted to create a cultural shift and close the gender gap and fill some of these jobs that are growing at the speed of light.”

What's in the box?

In the News Again: The Scottsboro Boys

Alabama Pardons 3 ‘Scottsboro Boys’ After 80 Years. (The New York Times, 11/21/2013)

Excerpt: But Sheila Washington’s interest in the Scottsboro Boys was born of a less prominent moment: She came across a copy of Mr. Patterson’s memoir in a bedroom when she was 17 years old and vowed to help the men get justice. She later founded the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center and, in 2009, began a campaign to seek pardons for the men, with the backing of researchers and lawyers throughout the state.

Scottsboro: An American Tragedy. PBS timeline.

The Scottsboro Boys: The Musical.

Scottsboro Boys. University of Notre Dame OpenCourseWare.

Republicans Humiliated by Democrats? I Don't Think the GOP Needs Any Help in the Humiliation Department

The Hill, 10/22/2013

Partisan Fever in Senate Likely to Rise. (The New York Times, 11/21/2013)

Excerpt: But for the foreseeable future, Republicans, wounded and eager to show they have not been stripped of all power, are far more likely to unify against the Democrats who humiliated them in such dramatic fashion.

Wouldn't you love to know where reporter Wesiman picked up this fevered talking point?

Records are Dying? Not Here. (The New York Times, 11/21/2013)

Excerpt: Rough Trade NYC, on a not-quite-postindustrial block of North Ninth Street, near the East River, is the kind of place that most music fans had given up hope for in New York: an airy 15,000-square-foot temple to record retail, with a coffee counter and a 300-person-capacity performance space with a bar that will present concerts almost daily.

New York Times slide show.

Rough Trade's London Store online.

Vinyl memories from 1973. Arthur Gee-Whizz Band. City Cowboy. (I still have a vinyl copy and the cassette tape on which I recorded it.)

Related posts:
NYPL Draws Big Crowd with $1 Vinyl Record Sale. (8/11/2013)
The vinyl comeback within the big picture of music sales. (11/19/2011)

Friday, November 22, 2013

Day 4: Scott Walker Unintimidated As His Book Slowly Slip Slides Away

#232 on Friday, November 22, at 6:04 a.m.

#235 on Friday, November 22, at 10:54 a.m.

3 additional reviews

#271 on Friday, November 22, at 5:50 p.m.

No additional customer reviews.

#303 on Friday, November 22, at 8:35 p.m.

No additional customers reviews.

Related posts:
On day 3, Scott Walker Unintimidated to tread water. (11/22/2013)
On Day 2, "Unintimidated" Shows Sales Momentum, but Reviews Still Split. (11/21/2013)
Day One: Amazon's best-selling books "Unintimidated" by Scott Walker. (11/19/2013)
Once again, Scott Walker is unintimidated by the facts. (11/2/2013)
Unintimidated by the facts. (10/28/2013)

Seduced and Abandoned: Turning the Ruins of Detroit's Packard Plant into "Something Very Very Special"

Derelict in Detroit and Hard to Sell. (The New York Times, 11/21/2013)

Excerpt: For decades, the ruins of the Packard Motor Car plant — a collection of more than 40 crumbling buildings that make up a ghost town of graffiti and garbage and rubble — have been a symbol of Detroit’s decay and a stubborn obstacle to the revitalization of its surrounding, and tattered, east side neighborhoods.

An Expanded Space for the Wonewoc Public Library

Photo credit: Wonewoc Public Library

In Wonewoc, an old library is new again. (Juneau County Star-Times, 11/19/2013)

Excerpt: The expansion, which added to the original building built in 1939, features improved children’s and young adult’s sections, a Community Room with a kitchenette, an elevator, handicap-accessible ground access, two large restrooms, water fountains and a parking lot behind the building.

Photo credit: Wonewoc Public Library

Which Do You Prefer: Catherine/Cathy or Katherine/Kathy?

Social Security Administration Popular Baby Names

Catherine's best year was 1914, when it reached #18, the first of 3 times it cracked the top 20 during this decade. After a modest decline, she experienced a slight resurgence in popularity, spending 2 years at #28 in 1955-56.

The diminutive Cathy made her debut in 1935, peaked at #34 in 1958, and dropped off the chart after 1991.

Although her rankings have been consistently respectable, Katherine played second fiddle to Catherine until 1973 and experienced her period of greatest popularity in the late 80s/early 90s, peaking at #25 in 1991.

The diminutive Kathy made her debut in 1932 (although she took the following year off), peaked at #14 in 1958, same as her counterpart Cathy, and dropped off the chart after 2008.

The Everly Brothers prefer Cathy.

Simon & Garfunkle like Kathy.

Related posts:
Just when you thought he was going, going, gone, Eugene bounces back. (11/21/2013)
Sidney swings both ways. (11/21/2013)
Popular baby names: Nancy (1880-2012). (11/17/2013
Madge: Off the chart even when she was an advertising icon. (11/16/2013)
Cindy: Not Always a Nickname for Cynthia (Since 1938). (11/15/2013)
Lizabeth: There's only one reason why this name made the list. (11/14/2013)
Paul and Paula: 1954 was their very best year together. (11/14/2013)
Bonnie and Clyde take a dive together. (11/13/2013)
Joseph demonstrates more staying power than Mary. (11/12/2013)
The popularity of Elizabeth as a baby name: 1880-2012. (11/12/2013)
The popularity of William as a baby name. (11/12/2013)
The popularity of Thomas as a baby name. (11/11/2013)
Susan is losin' popularity. (11/11/2013)
The popularity of Robert as a baby name: 1880-2012. (11/10/2013)
The popularity of Denise as a baby name: 1926-2012. (11/10/2013)
The popularity of John as a baby name: 1880-2012. (11/9/2013)
The popularity of Sheila as a baby name: 1917-2002, 2003-2004. (11/9/2013)
The popularity of James as a baby name: 1880-2012. (11/7/2013)
The popularity of Michael as a baby name: 1880-2012. (11/7/2013)
The popularity of Sherry as a baby name: 1926-1995. (11/7/2013)
Friends choose 15th and 16th most popular baby names for their unexpected twin boys. (11/3/2013)
Destiny Hope Cyrus's impact on popular baby names for girls. (10/15/2013)
There really was something about Mary. (9/22/2013)
"Gone With the Wind" and baby names. (11/27/2011)
The baby names list, 1900-1999. (5/11/2010)

On Day 3, Scott Walker Unintimidated to Tread Water

#208 at Thursday, November 21 at 6:04 a.m.

#226 on Thursday, November 21, at 10:55 a.m.

No additional reviews at this time.

#181 on Thursday, November 21, at 5:34 p.m.

1 additional review

#194 on Thursday, November 21, at 9:16 p.m.

1 additional review

Thursday, November 21, 2013

"There are 8 million stories in the Naked City." This is a bunch of them.

The Nakeds Next Door. (The New York Times, 11/20/2013)

Nude gardeners.

"Booty dancing in your underwear."

Mr. Reliably Naked.

The unexpected appearance of a window washer after taking a shower.

The not Brad Pitt-worthy naked guy.

But here's my favorite observation. It's in reference to a family of 4 dining alfresco and au natural.

Just When You Thought He Was Going, Going, Gone, Eugene Bounces Back

Eugene experienced his greatest popularity from 1921 until 1936, a run of 15 years in the top 30. Best years: 1928 and 1929 at #20.

The only Eugene that I knew was a classmate in Miss Thoreson's 3rd grade class at Jefferson Elementary School in Warren PA 16365. The Kenworthy family moved to who knows where during the summer of 1959.

Jefferson closed in 2005 and has been vacant ever since.

The neglect is starting to take its toll.

Photos by Retiring Guy

Birmingham's East Ensley Residents Lose Their Library

For now, anyway.

Ensley residents, 2 city councilors urge Birmingham Public Library board to reconsider closure of East Ensley branch. (AL.com, 11/21/2013)

Excerpt: "The East Ensley Library, it's in the poorest section of Ensley," Tuxedo neighborhood president Magnolia Cook told the board. "Those children have no computers in their home, and you know that now teachers give children homework to do on their computer."

When the East Ensley branch on 14th St. Ensley closes, the nearby Ensley branch will remain open and services will be consolidated into that branch, which is located on 25th St.

Jessie Read to Challenge Don Pridemore in the 22nd Assembly District (2014 Wisconsin Elections)

Campaign video from her unsuccessful run for Waukesha County Clerk.

Jessie Read For Waukesha County Clerk from Marsha Walthroppe on Vimeo.

Lisbon Dem seeks Assembly seat. (Sussex Sun, 11/19/2013)

22nd Assembly District

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)

Related posts:
17 Senate District. (11/7/2013)
19th Assembly District. (11/7/2013)
9th State Senate District. (10/23/2013)
15th State Senate District. (10/10/2013)
Wisconsin Attorney General in 2014: Waukesha County DA Brad Schimel. (10/10/2013
25th State Senate District. (10/9/2013)

Sidney Swings Both Ways

Source: Social Security Administration Popular Baby Names

Wisconsin Congressional Districts, 1966 and 2013

Wisconsin Blue Book 1966

Wisconsin Blue Book 2013-14

On Day 2, "Unintimidated" Shows Sales Momentum, but Reviews Still Split

Sales and reviews from Amazon.

#498 on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 6:02 a.m.

#545 on Wednesday, November 20, at 10:11 a.m.

#449 on Wednesday, November 20, at 2:03 p.m.

#385 on Wednesday, November 20, at 6:11 p.m.

#208 on Thursday, November 21, at 6:04 a.m.

Related posts:
Day One: Amazon's best-selling books "Unintimidated" by Scott Walker. (11/19/2013)
Once again, Scott Walker is unintimidated by the facts. (11/2/2013)
Unintimidated by the facts. (10/28/2013)

Wisconsin Assembly District 69 Special Election: An Easy Win for Republican Bob Kulp

Source: Wisconsin Election Watch

Kulp wins special election for 69th Assembly District. (Marshfield News-Herald, 11/19/2013)

Excerpt: Democrats have been espousing their 72-county strategy leading up to next year’s elections, but it seemed to have been absent in this campaign.

Besides two donations from the county parties, Slezak received little financial or campaign support from the state party, and was essentially left to his own devices during the campaign.

Three paragraphs earlier, reporter Logan T. Carlson noted that the Democrats haven't come within 10 percentage points of winning the 69th Assembly District in 21 years.

And the last time they won the district was 33 years ago, with Richard Shoemaker's re-election.

Legislators who have represented the 69th since 1967:

Scott Suder (1999-2013)
Robert Zukowski (1993-1998)
Heron "Pink" Van Gorden (1983-1992)
Richard A. Shoemaker (1979-1982)
La Verne Ausman (1975-1978)
Alvin Baldus (1967-1974)

Republicans 35, Democrats 12.

Current boundaries of the 69th

Public libraries in the 69th Assembly District

Abbotsford Public Library

Colby Public Library

Dorchester Public Library

Loyal Public Library

Marathon County Public Library

Marshfield Public Library

Neillsville Public Library

Owen Public Library

Samson Memorial Library, Granton

Related posts:
October 22nd Primary in Wisconsin's 69th Assembly District. (10/21/2013)
Who's Running for Scott Suder's Assembly Seat (69th District). (9/25/2013)

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

No Input: Suppose They Scheduled a Public Hearing and Nobody Came

And I quote. City Administrator Joe Helfenberger said the lack of input isn't unusual or necessary. Ottumwa residents can call City Hall to voice their opinions about the budget.

Stabilzing.

Related post:
Ottumwa Iowa loves input. (11/18/2013)

My guess is that their not "fit to print" reaction can be described in more scatological terms

‘Spider-Man’ Investors Shaken by Projected $60 Million Loss. (The New York Times, 11/19/2013)

Like in this "certin" situation. Several investors said they were reeling from the closing announcement, made on Monday night.

The most expensive show in Broadway history opened on June 14, 2011, after six-and-a-half months of previews.

Gross for the week of October 11-17, 2013, was 48% of its potential. Average ticket price is $77.85; top ticket price is $247.

Show is closing January 1, 2014.

The Minimum Wage and the Poverty Guideline

Source. United States Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Characteristics of Minimum Wage Workers, 2012.

The percentage leader.

Idaho Leads The Nation In Minimum Wage Workers. (State Impact, 3/27/2013)

As Idaho’s Neighboring States Increase Minimum Wage, More Workers Could Seek Jobs Out Of State. (State Impact, 1/2/2013)

The grass is greener..... In a border city like Coeur d’Alene, which is an easy 30 minute drive from Spokane, Washington, the impact of a higher hourly minimum has the potential to be felt more. Idaho Department of Labor regional economist Alivia Metts says the Coeur d’Alene-Spokane wage gap continues to increase. “The hourly median wage [in Kootenai County] is nearly 20 percent less than Spokane [County] for all occupations,” says Metts.

Metts says the nearly $2-an-hour higher minimum wage in Washington could push more Idahoans to look for work over the border, or even move out of state. Washington workers don’t pay income tax, she points out, and there isn’t a sales tax on food as there is in Idaho.

Not to be outdone, Texas trumpets its numbers.

Texas has nation’s most minimum-wage workers. (Dallas Morning News, 3/12/2013)

Excerpt: The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, the same rate as Texas’.

Some 452,000 Texans — and nearly 3.6 million people nationwide — earned the federal minimum wage or less in 2012. Under the minimum wage, a person working 40 hours a week would make $15,080 a year.

Annual earnings that puts someone $3,590 above the federal poverty guideline for a single household.

Reality check, South Dakota style.

Tougher to find affordable housing in Sioux Falls. Rent goes up, stressing lower incomes. (Sioux Falls Business Journal, 11/8/2013)

Stretching minimum wage earning to the breaking point. Sioux Falls has a low vacancy rate for rentals. At the beginning of the year, 4.2 percent were vacant, and that number hasn’t budged in spite of many new apartment projects.

Rent typically should not cost more than 30 percent of a person’s monthly paycheck. The average two-bedroom apartment in Sioux Falls costs $760 per month. To keep with the standard, a person would have to make at least $14.61 per hour. [More than twice the federal and South Dakota minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.]

[Shireen] Ranschau [executive director of the Sioux Falls Housing and Redevelopment Commission and Affordable Housing Solutions] listed the jobs held by those on their waiting list, and they were all below that pay scale. There were food service workers making $7 per hour, manufacturers making $8.25, construction workers earning $9.

Republican Primary Results in 82nd Assembly District

Franklin Ald. Ken Skowronski wins 82nd Assembly primary. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/19/2013)

Republican Ken Skowronski will face Democrat John Hermes, Greendale village president, in a December 17th Special Election.

Related post:
Another special election: Who's going to be running in the 82nd Assembly District? (10/3/2013)

Rodriguez Defeats Coppola in 21st Assembly Special Election

Republican Jessie Rodriguez elected to Assembly for 21st District. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/19/2013)

Photo credits:

Jessie for Assembly Facebook page

Elizabeth Coppola for State Assembly Facebook page

In the big-picture view, it means nothing, but I couldn't help but notice that Rodriguez parts her hair slightly to the left and Coppola slightly to the right.

Rodriguez is an outreach coordinator for Hispanics for School Choice, and Coppola is a United Way fundraiser and former member of Milwaukee's Social Development Commission.

21st Assembly District

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

Related posts:
Winners in Tuesday's special elections. (10/23/2013)
October 22nd primary in Wisconsin's 21st Assembly District. (10/21/2013)