Rhea sez, "Hello, sucker!"

Subject:  Income

As I just learned, there is a Rhea Durham who is a model, actress, and the wife of Mark Wahlberg. (Guess I don't watch enuf E!)

And while we're at it......

Dixie Eaton Weldon (1927-2014) Warren High School Class of 1945

Warren Times Observer obituary

Dixie experienced a stretch of 8 years (1935-1942) when she was in the top 200.  Best year:  #167 in 1938.

Source:  Social Security Administration's Popular Baby Names

A popular song during the spring of 1945.

Lola on the Comeback Trail

Although it looks as though the baby name "voters" are starting to have second thoughts.

Source:  Social Security Administration's Popular Baby Names

Lola's best years were in the late 19th/early 20th centuries, when it remained in the top 120 for 22 years (1890-1911).  Best year:  #99 in 1904.

From the 1958 film version of the 1955 Broadway musical.



Coincidence, or a bow to the power of popular culture.  Lola experienced an uptick in 1955 compared to 1954 (#339 vs. #368) and again in 1959 compared to 1958 (#438 vs. #459).  The play opened in May 1955, and the movie was released in September 1958.

And could the Kinks have been responsible for Lola's 25-point rise from 1970 (#818) to 1971 (#793)?

Reached the top 10 in the fall of 1970.



More about Lola.

Other baby name posts:
It all started with "One Day at a Time".  (1/21/2014)
"Thou art lost and gone forever, dreadful sorry, Clementine".  (1/15/2014) 
Jason, The Straight Dope, and Here Come the Baby Name Suggestions.  (1/1/2014)
Joni Mitchell, Jane Fonda, and the Popularity of Chelsea as a Baby Name.  (12/30/2013)
Elenore/Eleanor.  (12/27/2013)
The meteoric rise and fall of Tammy.  (12/18/2013)
Anita and Wanda: When you're hot, you're hot, when you're not, you're not. (12/15/2013) 
Autumn's child has it all over Spring Byington.  (12/12/2013)
Are you a boy or are you a girl?  (12/7/2013)
April, May, and June:  The baby names of spring.  (12/4/2013)
[Nose tinkle] Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle clue: 7 down, Daughter in "Bewitched".  (12/1/2013)
Anna, a model of consistency through the years.  (11/30/2013)
Rubies and Pearls.  (11/29/2013)
The Lucy and Ethel synchronized dive.  (11/28/2013)
The George Burns and Gracie Allen line graph.  (11/27/2013)
Rick, Dick & Rich -- but above all, Richard.  (11/26/2013)
When Jennifers rules the world.  (11/24/2013)
Ralph and Alice part ways in 1988. (11/23/2013)
Now Appearing in a Colorful Line Graph -- The 6 Jans.  (11/23/2013)
Which Do You Prefer: Catherine/Cathy or Katherine/Kathy?  (11/22/2013)
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)

Appleton Post-Crescent Editorial Board All But Puts a Dunce Cap on the Head of Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc)

Editorial: Kleefisch makes Legislature look bad. (Appleton Post-Crescent, 1/23/2014)

Photo credit:  Wikipedia

Related posts:
Apparently, any bill sponsored by Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc) can now be considered toxic.  (1/19/2014) 
A chagrined, frustrated Joel Kleefisch pulls up his pants.  (1/14/2014)
Rep. Tom Larson's hardship in life: Expressing himself coherently.  (11/13/2014) 
How stupid does Joel Kleefisch think we are?  (1/11/2014)

Column Graphs Worth Sharing from the Wisconsin Budget Project

Top 5% of Wisconsin Residents Get 18% of Tax Cuts Proposed by the Governor.  (Wisconsin Budget Project, 1/24/2014)

This is where we should focus our concern.  The distribution of the tax cuts proposed by the Governor isn’t our chief concern about how he would use the projected state surplus. We’re primarily concerned that Governor Walker’s plan ignores holes in the current budget, and creates a deeper hole in the next one – boosting the structural deficit in 2013-15 to $825 million.

Stay informed.  Sign up to receive emails from the Wisconsin Budget Project.

The Middle Country Public Library, Texas Hold 'Em, and Architecture

The Middle Country Public Library services the communities of Centereach, so named because of its central location on Long Island, and Selden.   Centerreach (pop. 31,578) gained most of its population during the 1970s.  Selden (pop. 19,851) is an exurb that boomed in the 1960s.

Middle Country Public Library

Storytime Balstoff at the Troke Branch Library of the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public library

The Troke Branch is named after Margaret Klausner Troke (pronounced Troh'-kee), who served as the Director of the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library from 1946 to 1974.

The Office of the Governor Prefers to Point a Finger Rather Than to Take Full Responsibility

Source:  Office of the Governor press release

Here is the list of "some of the people hired since I took office" that Scott Walker acknowledged in his 2014 State of the State address.

• Joann Stephens 
• Heyward Gualandi 
• Ben Lang 
• Dominic Petri
• Lucas Klemann 
• Bob Stoffel 
• Patti Sharer 
• Scott Grinder 
• Rick Banach 
• Angela Hayward 
• David Sohl 

Unanswered question:  Why was it so important to add Chris Barber at the last minute?

Might it have anything to do with the generosity of the Ariens Company to Republican candidates for state office?  (Chris Barber is -- still is as far as I know -- employed as a welder by Ariens.)

Source:  Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Follow the Money

Previous incidents of a preference for the hammock. 
We've seen this happen before -- an administration too lazy to be bothered with a vetting process.  (1/23/2014)
Cheerleader Regina Millner Defends Scott Walker in Regents Appointment Flap.  (6/14/2013)
WEDC Public Information Officer Resigns After 1 Month on the Job.  (5/9/2013)
It's called vetting.  (6/24/2011)

Governor Walker's "Campaign Contributors" Tour

Walker pitches tax-cut proposal to Green Bay-area workers. (Green Bay Press-Gazette, 1/23/2014)

And thank you for all your past support of Republicans candidates. Walker urged employees at PDQ Manufacturing Inc. on Thursday to contact their legislators and lobby for tax cuts from a newly projected $912 million state budget surplus.

Soylent (Not Green)

20,000 Customers Have Pre-Ordered Over $2,000,000 of Soylent. (Slashdot, 1/22/2014)

Don't you mean beta tasters?  'We have crossed $2,000,000 in revenue from over 20,000 customers, with more every day,' Rhinehart told me. 'International demand is really picking up as well.' This despite the fact that Soylent isn't technically on the market yet, and has thus far only been available to beta testers.



Probably a good thing that Rhinehart doesn't include green dye in his recipe.

Virginia Republicans Hang Down Their Heads

Virginia Gay Marriage Shift Generates Sharp Response.  (NPR, 1/23/2014)

You, Too, Can Roomba (for $700)

Here's the Dyson DC50, priced at $499.



Though it's not likely you'll want to run out and buy one after watching this video.

A more affordable option is the Hoover Wind Tunnel priced at $179.



With all due respect, Katy, our Wind Tunnel does an excellent job in picking up cat hair.   And our cat, Boxer, a.k.a. Trina Marina McSheena, is a major-league shedder.

The Door Lock on Your "Home of Tomorrow"

Building Toward the Home of Tomorrow. (The New York Times, 1/19/2014)

Ready, set, go.  “Google is showing that the Internet of Things is not a passing fad,” said Jason Johnson, the chief executive of August, a company that makes smart locks controlled by a smartphone app. “It is a legitimate industry, and I’m excited to see big companies taking it seriously.”

From the company's website.

Better order now if you're interested.  The August Smart Lock will cost $199 when it becomes available spring of 2014. Ordering yours today will ensure that you are included in one of our early manufacturing batches

Related post:
It's a Looney Tunes kind of world in the home of tomorrow.  (1/20/2014)

Bob McDonnell's Trip, Stumble, and "Spectacular Fall" from the National Stage

The stage where the 2016 Presidential candidates are gathering.

"By Nate Parkhouse on June 3, 2011"

 

Ex-Governor of Virginia Is Indicted on Charges Over Loans and Gifts.  (The New York Times, 1/21/2014)

But at least he still has his boyish good looks.   Once a rising Republican star, mentioned as a possible running mate for Mitt Romney in 2012 and as an aspirant for his party’s 2016 presidential nomination, Mr. McDonnell has taken a spectacular fall since details of his relationship with Mr. Williams surfaced last spring.

John Cameron Swayze and the Hazards of Live Television

"It takes a licking and keeps on ticking"



Time’s Up for ‘Ticking’ as Wearability Supplants Reliability in Watch Pitches.  (The New York Times, 1/13/2014.  When it first appeared online.  It was published in the print edition today.)

Breaking into a well-established marketplace.  “It takes a licking and keeps on ticking” helped introduce the Timex brand in the 1950s. It was meant to reassure potential customers that Timex watches, despite being priced below established brands like Bulova, Elgin and Longines, were sturdy, accurate and reliable.

The incident shown in the above YouTube video merited a mention Swayze's New York Times obituary (8/17/1995).  In a memorable commercial that was broadcast live during the Steve Allen show in 1958, a watch was fastened to the propeller of an outboard motor and the motor was run in a tank of water. But when Mr. Swayze reached for the watch after the test, it was gone. Without missing a beat, he said that it was probably still ticking at the bottom of the tank.

Bristol, England, Celebrates 400 Years of Library Service

According to this article in the Examiner, the Bristol City Council's Library Service is the third-oldest in England after Norwich, founded in 1608, and Ipswich, founded in 1612. For much of that time, it was a private, subscription library.

The Gail Borden Public Library Celebrates Its 140th Anniversary

Gail Borden Public Library District.  History of the Library:  About Gail Borden.

• 1874.  Gail Borden dies.  There is no specific mention of a library being started in this year.  However, up until 1892, the citizens of Elgin were desperately seeking a building for the library which had barely survived for years in rented rooms in the downtown area.
• 1892.  Samuel and Alfred Church, residents of Elgin and stepsons of Gail Borden, purchase  Scofield Mansion and donate it to the City under the condition that it be forever and always known and called the Gail Borden Public Library.

Gail Borden Public Library history.  A series of photographs from the Illinois Digital Archives.

I suspect that Randy Hopp will not receive an engraved invitation to the festivities.

The strange saga of Randy Hopp, library trustee.  (5/23/2010)
Crossing t's and dotting i's aren't enough for this library board member. (1/15/2011)
Gail Borden's 'board member from hell' is back in the news again.  (3/26/2011)
Add Elgin Community College to the list of places where Randy Hopp is banned.  (5/2/2011)
Library board member from hell is here to stay. ( 6/19/2011)
Sign this guy up for anger management classes.  (1/19/2012)
Elgin Library trustee Randy Hopp not yet fit to stand trial .  (5/23/2013)
Randy Hopp is no longer a Gail Public Library trustee.  (5/27/2013)

Another Example of One-on-One Legislative Service (Garey Bies's Swan Song?)

Door County lawmaker seeks wetlands exemption for one lot. (Wisconsin State Journal, via the Chippewa Herald, 1/21/2014)

Nearly 20 years of denials.But since 1995, the state Department of Natural Resources has blocked construction on Tebon’s lot, saying development could, among other things, endanger water quality in nearby Sturgeon Bay. 

A bill before the state Legislature would reverse that and give Tebon permission to fill in the wetland and build the house, which he plans to sell. The parcel already has a curb and gutter and comes with a boat slip at the nearby marina.

Here's how I see it.  The Wisconsin State Assembly is a 99-member body.  Apparently, Rep. Bies (R-Sister Bay), who is retiring at the end of this term, could not convince any of his Assembly colleagues to sign on as co-sponsors of AB602.  I'd be surprised if this bill went anywhere.

Particularly after the recent Kleefisch pay-to-play debacle.

And just for the record, here's a list of Cliff Tebon's relatively modest campaign contributions to Garey Bies.  (Source:  Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Follow the Money)

As Conspicuous As They Want to Be -- Consumption-wise

$28,000 a Night: Hotels Race to Attract Superrich Clientele. (The New York Times, 1/20/2014)

For example.  Take the Jewel Suite by Martin Katz at the New York Palace, one of two recently opened specialty suites. The three-story, 5,000-square-foot space — a sort of penthouse Versailles — itself resembles a jewel box, albeit one with its own private elevator and views of the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings.

It All Started with "One Day at a Time"

Social Security Administration's Popular Baby Names

The show debuted on CBS on Tuesday, December 16, 1975.

Other baby name posts:
"Thou art lost and gone forever, dreadful sorry, Clementine".  (1/15/2014) 
Jason, The Straight Dope, and Here Come the Baby Name Suggestions.  (1/1/2014)
Joni Mitchell, Jane Fonda, and the Popularity of Chelsea as a Baby Name.  (12/30/2013)
Elenore/Eleanor.  (12/27/2013)
The meteoric rise and fall of Tammy.  (12/18/2013)
Anita and Wanda: When you're hot, you're hot, when you're not, you're not. (12/15/2013) 
Autumn's child has it all over Spring Byington.  (12/12/2013)
Are you a boy or are you a girl?  (12/7/2013)
April, May, and June:  The baby names of spring.  (12/4/2013)
[Nose tinkle] Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle clue: 7 down, Daughter in "Bewitched".  (12/1/2013)
Anna, a model of consistency through the years.  (11/30/2013)
Rubies and Pearls.  (11/29/2013)
The Lucy and Ethel synchronized dive.  (11/28/2013)
The George Burns and Gracie Allen line graph.  (11/27/2013)
Rick, Dick & Rich -- but above all, Richard.  (11/26/2013)
When Jennifers rules the world.  (11/24/2013)
Ralph and Alice part ways in 1988. (11/23/2013)
Now Appearing in a Colorful Line Graph -- The 6 Jans.  (11/23/2013)
Which Do You Prefer: Catherine/Cathy or Katherine/Kathy?  (11/22/2013)
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)

The Old Main Library of Cincinnati: Back in the Days When Checking out Books was a "Mediated" Service

Free & Public:  One Hundred and Fifty Years at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, 1853-2003.

Take a Look Inside the Stephenson Public Library

It looks as though any remodeling and other upgrades have been respectful of the original interior design.

The library, unidentified, is pictured in the lower left-hand corner of this postcard from Retiring Guy's collection.

New Jersey Ranks 2nd in Hazardous Air Pollutants, and This Isn't Helping

This video provides some background.



In New Jersey, Leader of an Agency Under Investigation Is Given a Judge’s Robe. (The New York Times, 1/20/2014)

It stinks to high heaven here.  John J. Matheussen was Chief Executive Officer of the Delaware River Port Authority.  (Note that it now has an Acting Chief Executive Officer).  

Matheussen allowed the agency he led to distribute a shitload (yeah, I'm summarizing in my own words here) of loans and grants, usually with little or no documentation required,  And as time went on, the emphasis focused on grants.  (See pages 57-58.)  Not too good for the Authority's bottom line, as you can well imagine.

It's probably best to hold your nose as your read the entire article.  It's worth it!

Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay) Announces Retirement: Who Will Run for Office in the 1st Assembly District?

The announcement

The district

Public libraries in the 1st Assembly District:
Algoma
Door County (8 locations)
Kewaunee
Brown County  (4 townships in its service area)

Who will run?

Retired high school teacher Arnie Johnsrud has already announced his candidacy.

Green Bay Press-Gazette, 12/10/2013

Johnsrud ran in 2012 but lost the Democratic primary to Patrick Veeser by 30 votes.  Veeser went on to give the incumbent, Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay) a run for his money in the general election.  Looks like this race could be competitive.

Ballotpedia

Other 2014 election posts:
59th Assembly District.  (1/14/2014)
Who's Running for State Office in 2014? (1st Assembly District).  (12/13/2013)
Candidate scorecard for the 2014 Wisconsin Attorney General's race.  (12/8/2013)
22nd Assembly District.  11/21/2013)
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)

What Are the Odds That Governor Walker Calls for Redistricting Reform in his State of the State Address?

The "compact" 37th  Assembly District

Detail

Common Cause, 1/21/2014

A lot of Wisconsin newspaper editorial boards think he should.

Here's a sampling.

Appleton Post-Crescent, 1/18/2014.
Editorial: Walker should push for hearing on redistricting reform.

At best, you can call it back-handed support. Walker has had a mix of positions on the issue. He told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last year that this would be the time to discuss it, with the next census not until 2020. He told the Wisconsin State Journal he would “probably” support the reform bill if it passed the Legislature. And he told the Beloit Daily News in October that he wasn’t opposed to a public hearing but wouldn’t push it.

Beloit Daily News, 1/18/2014.
Chance to lead on redistricting.

What would Robin Vos say?  We urge him to include it, in the interest of democracy and fair play. Legislative leaders and Assembly and Senate committee chairs have made it clear they are unwilling to allow reform proposals even to be discussed. But a direct request from Governor Walker almost certainly would change that dynamic and break the deadlock so redistricting changes at least could be fully and openly debated.

Green Bay Press Gazette, 1/18/2014
Editorial: Walker should call for public hearings on redistricting.

Here is what's being proposed.    Two proposals — Assembly Bill 185 and Senate Bill 163 — would change the way the state draws voting boundaries based on the Iowa model. The bills call for a nonpartisan commission of the Legislative Reference Bureau to draw the maps without regard to where incumbents live and with compact and contiguous districts that follow ward boundaries.  (AB185 and SB163 are one and the same.  Of the 47 legislative co-sponsors, only 1, Dale Schultz, is a Republican.)

La Crosse Tribune, 1/19/2014
Our view:  Walker must lead on redistricting.  

Easy to say, perhaps, knowing that your colleagues in both houses of the legislature won't move it forward.  Walker last year told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that now is the time to discuss nonpartisan redistricting. He also told the Wisconsin State Journal that he would “probably” support Iowa-style redistricting if such a proposal reached his desk 

Wisconsin State Journal, 1/19/2014
'My fellow citizens, it's time for a public hearing on redistricting reform.'

What are the odds?

Well, you won't find redistricting mentioned here.

Scott Walker promises property tax cut, lower income tax withholding.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/15/2014)

Related posts:
Editorial Boards Make Sport of Rep. Chad Weininger. (12/11/2013)
Much to their chagrin, Republicans can't make redistricting reform go away.  (12/10/2013)
Redistricting pipe dream.  (12/9/2013)
An unintended consequence of redistricting.  (11/12/2013)
Taxpayer money and political contributions.  (11/2/2013)
Iowa's nonpartisan approach to legislative redistricting.  (10/14/2013)
Wisconsin State Journal editorial board not impressed with The Little Soldier.  (10/14/2013)
Against much evidence to the contrary, Sen Neil Kedzie (R-Elklhorn) spouts the company line.  (9/20/2013)
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)

If you've seen one country road, you've seen 'em all!

From Retiring Guy's postcard collection.

There's also this country road near Oakwood, Oshkosh, Wis.

A Statistical Look at Madison, Wisconsin: Births (1921-1950)

Source:  Madison city directories

Related posts:
Telephones.  (1/12/2014)
Postal receipts.  (1/9/2014)

It's a Looney Tunes Kind of World in the Home of Tomorrow

Building Toward the Home of Tomorrow.  (The New York Times, 1/19/2014)

It this feature really necessary? Without setting foot in the door, a person headed home could turn off the security system and turn on the shower, and begin preheating the oven.

Let's assume this technology is currently available?  What would California officials say?

Sacramento Bee, 1/17/2014

Turning on your shower while driving home from work on a clogged freeway is going to earn an exemption?  [snort]

According to the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration's Climatic Data Center, 

moderate to exceptional drought covers 34.4% of the contiguous United States, up from 33/2% last week.

"Smart" products designed for an upscale market. One challenge is that a connected home is expensive to set up. For now, at least, “smart” products cost several times more than their traditional counterparts. For example, the Nest smoke and carbon monoxide detector costs $129, while many typical detectors cost $40 or less. Nest has estimated that its $249 thermostat, its most popular product, is in less than 1 percent of households.  (Excerpted from the Times article.]

Joe Manchin is in it for himself

Chemical Spill Muddies Picture in a State Wary of Regulations.  (The New York Times, 1/18/2014)

  

Secret Histories, Revealed

Secret Histories.  In an Age of Lessening Privacy, Some Family Secrets Persist.  (The New York Times, 1/18/2014)

Excerpt:  In the last year or so, a number of prominent people have stepped forward to share stories of how they were blindsided by jarring revelations about their loved ones after they died. Their stories share a common theme — call it secrets from the grave — that is all the more surprising when set against the recent debate about the loss of privacy in our lives.

 

My Father's Holocaust Secret.  (Tablet, 6/14/2012)

 

The Sportswriter Who Left Her Job After Finding a Million Dollars.  (Deadspin, 7/15/2013)

Apparently, any bill sponsored by Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc) can now be considered toxic

Wisconsin Legislative Documents

Bill would let private employers substitute extra time off for overtime pay. (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/18/2014)

Reduced to gnat-like status in the Assembly.  Kleefisch’s comp-time measure, introduced Jan. 9, was referred to the Assembly Labor Committee, chaired by state Rep. Daniel Knodl, R-Germantown. But Knodl spokesman Mark Austinson said Friday that Knodl wasn’t interested in the measure right now.

Robert Songer (1929-2014) Warren High School Class of 1947

Warren Times Observer obituary

1947 Warren High School Dragon Yearbook

Also in the picture.....

Sophia Spiridon Prodromou's daughter Mary is the same age as Sophia's brother Dean.  Mary and Dean are graduates of the Warren Area High School class of 1970 and grew up living next door to one another.

A top 10 hit around the time the class of '47 graduated.

From this movie.   (An "excerpt", not a trailer.)

Charles Atlas asks, "Why be half a man?"

Ad from Science & Mechanics, February 1957

Although Charles Atlas died in 1972, his company is still in business.

Fortunately, Charles wasn't around for this humiliation.

Charles Atlas Complaint Held as Legal Weakling. (The New York Times, 8/31/2000) .

Takes one in the shins.  Charles Atlas might have been one of America's most famous musclemen, ably taking on bullies who kicked sand in his face at the beach. But this week, a federal judge treated his company like a 97-pound weakling and threw it out of court.

More about Charles
Charles Atlas: Muscle Man.  How the original 97-pound-weakling transformed himself and brought physical fitness to the masses .  (Smithsonian, August 2009)

Lessons in Manliness from Charles Atlas.  (The Art of Manliness, 9/29/2011)

And here's his appearance on the popular game show What's My Line?   He signed in as Mr. X, although the panel was not blindfolded.  (Originally broadcast on June 10, 1956.)



Obviously, the magazine ad used a photo of a much younger Atlas.

California Dry

Severe Drought Grows Worse in California.  (The New York Times, 1/17/2014)

Calling all amateur archaeologists.  Near Sacramento, the Folsom Lake reservoir’s level has fallen so much that remnants of a Gold Rush-era ghost town are now visible. The San Juan Water District, which serves communities near Sacramento and relies on water from Folsom Lake, has asked customers to reduce their water usage by 20 percent and in some areas cease all outdoor watering.


Mormon Island

Folsom History Museum:  Mormon Island.

Exploring History in the Low Waters of Folsom Lake. (Sacramento Bee, 2/9/2012)