Saturday, November 29, 2014

Sore loser (former) Republican, "a bit of an eccentric", calls for Obama's impeachment


Impeach Obama because he ignores the will of the people: PennLive letters.  (PennLive, 11/28/2014)

A reference to the (preliminary) 36.1% mandate
Given the recent election, you would think that he would be cognizant of the fact that the people are opposed to his policies and totally dissatisfied with his presidency. By his now invoking executive powers in face of staunch opposition by the majority of Americans and the majority of those we elected, I and many Americans truly believe it is time for Congress to voice our will by calling for his impeachment.

More about Matt Drozd.

Allegheny County Councilman Drozd cries foul in election loss. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 5/24/2013)

Boom boom.
Mr. Drozd has made grand pronouncements before. Indeed, many attributed his defeat Tuesday to an earnest desire among voters for a less bombastic representative. Mr. Drozd admits he's seen as a loose cannon -- and that's why the party leadership took him down, he says.
 The "bit of an eccentric" quote is found here.

Other impeachment nonsense posts:
Another doctor calls for Obama's impeachment.  (11/23/2014)
Founder of the conservative Edmund Burke Institute throws another log on the Obama impeachment fire.  (11/23/2014)
Rep Walter Jones professes his love for the Constitution.  (11/22/2014)
Republican Congressman from Colorado doesn't receive the I-word memo.  (11/21/2014)
Can you find the oxymoron?  (11/19/2014)
Impeachment quote of the day.  (11/18/2014)

Eau Claire County WI: Public Access Internet Computers (1999-2013) and Print Serial Subscriptions (1996-2013)


2010 population:  98,736

Public libraries in Eau Claire County:

This line-graph series is the result of my wondering if there's any pattern to the number of print serial subscriptions held by public libraries in relation to the increasing number of public access Internet computers provided by public libraries since 1999. (Earliest year for which Wisconsin statistics are available.)


Note: The 1996, 1997, 1998 Wisconsin public library annual reports asked for the following information: Libraries with Internet access. (Answered yes or no.) Libraries with electronic services. (Answered yes or no.) In 1999, public libraries reported the number of public access Internet computers for the first time in the annual report.


Percentage change in 2013 print serial subscriptions from peak year as shown on line graph: -39.5%. 


Other posts in series
(with percentage change in print serial subscriptions from peak year)
Adams County, -35.6%.  (11/12/2014)
Ashland County, -1.3%.  (11/13/2014)
Barron County, -18.5%.  (11/14/2014)
Bayfield County,+106%.  (11/15/2014)
Brown County, -22%.   (11/16/2014)
Buffalo County, -18%.  (11/17/2014)
Burnett County, -4.4%.  (11/18/2014)
Calumet County, -23.1%.  (11/19/2014)
Chippewa County, -37.6%.  (11/20/2014)
Clark County, -9.0%.  (11/21/2014)
Columbia County, -11.3%.  (11/22/2014)
Crawford County, -3.6%.  (11/23/2014)
Dane County, -16.1%.  (11/24/2014)
Dodge County, -21.2%.  (11/25/2014)
Door County, -37.1%.  (11/26/2014)
Douglas County, -19.1%.  (11/27/2014)
Dunn County, -21.2%.  (11/28/2014)
Eau Claire County, -39.5%.  (11/29/2014)

Public Library Circulation and Circulation per Capita: Texas (1990-2011)




Source:  Institute of Museum and Library Services, Public Libraries in the United States Survey (1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2011)

For more information:
Texas State Library and Archives Commission.  Texas Public Library Statistics.
Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA):  Texas.

Texas's state library agency, is in the "Board or commission" category.  






Top 5 states, percentage increase in library circulation (1990-2011) at this point in the alphabet:
  1. Nevada 288%
  2. Colorado 205%
  3. Oregon 193%
  4. Idaho 157%
  5. Florida 142%
Bottom 5 states, percentage increase in library circulation (1990-2011) at this point in the alphabet:
  1. Mississippi 10.2%
  2. Hawaii 11.8% 
  3. Louisiana 15.9%
  4. Alabama 28.1%
  5. Iowa 30.8%

Top 5 states, per capita library circulation (2011) at this point in the alphabet:
  1. Oregon 17.2
  2. Ohio 16.6 
  3. Utah 13.8
  4. Indiana 13.6
  5. Colorado 13.0
 Bottom 5 states, per capita library circulation (2011) at this point in the alphabet:
  1. Mississippi 2.9 
  2. Tennessee 4.1
  3. Louisiana 4.41
  4. Alabama 4.42
  5. Georgia 4.5

Related posts:  State, % circulation increase 1990-2011.
Alabama, 28.1%.  (10/18/2014) 
Alaska, 48.3%.  (10/19/2014)
Arizona, 139%.  (10/20/2014)
Arkansas, 70.1%.  (10/21/2014)
California, 66.9%.  (10/22/2014)
Colorado, 205%.  (10/23/2014)
Connecticut, 46.3%.  (10/24/2014)
Delaware, 104%.    (10/25/2014)
Florida, 142%.  (10/26/2014)
Georgia, 87.0%.  (10/27/2014)
Hawaii, 11.8%.  (10/28/2014)
Idaho, 157%.  (10/29/2014)
Illinois, 105%.  (10/30/2014)
Indiana, 75.6%.  (10/31/2014)
Iowa, 30.8%.  (11/1/2014)
Kansas, 62.7%.  (11/2/2014)
Kentucky, 69.5%.  (11/3/2014)
Louisiana, 15.9%.  (11/4/2014)
Maine, 40.5%.   (11/5/2014)
Maryland, 30.9%.  (11/6/2014)
Massachusetts, 75.3%.  (11/7/2014)
Michigan, 101%.  (11/8/2014)
Minnesota, 49.6%  (11/9/2014)
Mississippi, 10.2%.  (11/10/2014)
Missouri, 78.2%.  (11/11/2014)
Montana, 84.3%.  (11/12/2014)
Nebraska, 89.4%.  (11/13/2014)
Nevada, 288%.  (11/14/2015)
New Hampshire, 59%.  (11/15/2014)
New Jersey, 58.6%.  (11/16/2014)
New Mexico, 42.3%.  (11/17/2014
New York, 43.7%.  (11/18/2014)
North Carolina, 75.1%.  (11/19/2014)
North Dakota, 38.9%.  (11/20/2014)
Ohio, 71.7%.  (11/21/2014)
Oklahoma, 46%.  (11/22/2014)
Oregon, 193%.  (11/23/2014)
Pennsylvania, 48.5%.  (11/24/2014)
Rhode Island, 37.6%.  (11/25/2014)
South Carolina 135%,  (11/26/2014)
South Dakota, 62.6%.  (11/27/2014)
Tennessee, 55.0%.  (11/28/2014)
Texas, 85.6%.  (11/29/2014)


Friday, November 28, 2014

(I'm so ready for the opening of) 1847 at the Stamm House

But they're not quite ready for us. 


Chef Nick Johnson converting historic Stamm House to a bold, innovative supper club.  (Capital Times, 4/19/2014)

Well, folks, as you can see, more than 7 months later there's snow on the ground.
Johnson wouldn't commit to a hard timeline, but said the restaurant will open "soon," perhaps in the next few months.

And the parking lot entrance doesn't look ready to greet diners.

Photos by Retiring Guy

But the photos shared on Facebook indicate that a lot of care and attention to detail are going into the restoration of this building.

It will be great to have this location back in restaurant circulation again!  Like many of you, I have many fond memories of the old Stamm House.

Milk Prices: What Goes Up Must Come Down


Source:  farmdoc, University of Illinois

Note:  Price for 2014 is October figure, which appears to be close to this year's average.

Record milk prices lead to huge profits for state dairy farmers.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 11/23/2014)

Riding the roller coaster.
Dairy farmers are calling this a healing year because they are using their profits to pay off debt accumulated when they couldn’t pay their bills in 2009 after milk prices collapsed that year under the weight of too much production, [Randy] Greenfield [dairy specialist for Vita Plus, Madison-based livestock feed company] said. They are also casting a wary eye at 2015 because milk prices are expected to plummet and there is concern that a scenario similar to 2009 could unfold. 

Apparently, some protesters wanted to run amok in the library



Ferguson library stays open, attracts over $175,000 in grassroot support. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 11/27/2014.

Disturbing mob mentality at work.
Bonner, 43, stayed late Monday night, watching a security monitor and grabbing a fire extinguisher when he heard a couple of attempts to kick in the building’s glass doors after the grand jury decision was announced. After 10 p.m. he went home to Woodson Terrace, where he lives with his wife, Janessa Hall, and their four children. 

The library, which has a pale brick facade, survived without damage Monday’s unrest after the grand jury declined to indict police Officer Darren Wilson in the death of Ferguson teenager Michael Brown.

Kudos to Neil Gaiman.


Ferguson Municipal Public Library

Dunn County WI: Public Access Internet Computers (1999-2013) and Print Serial Subscriptions (1996-2013)


2010 population:  43,857

Public libraries in Dunn County:

This line-graph series is the result of my wondering if there's any pattern to the number of print serial subscriptions held by public libraries in relation to the increasing number of public access Internet computers provided by public libraries since 1999. (Earliest year for which Wisconsin statistics are available.)


Note: The 1996, 1997, 1998 Wisconsin public library annual reports asked for the following information: Libraries with Internet access. (Answered yes or no.) Libraries with electronic services. (Answered yes or no.) In 1999, public libraries reported the number of public access Internet computers for the first time in the annual report.


Percentage change in 2013 print serial subscriptions from peak year as shown on line graph: -21.2%. 


Other posts in series
(with percentage change in print serial subscriptions from peak year)
Adams County, -35.6%.  (11/12/2014)
Ashland County, -1.3%.  (11/13/2014)
Barron County, -18.5%.  (11/14/2014)
Bayfield County,+106%.  (11/15/2014)
Brown County, -22%.   (11/16/2014)
Buffalo County, -18%.  (11/17/2014)
Burnett County, -4.4%.  (11/18/2014)
Calumet County, -23.1%.  (11/19/2014)
Chippewa County, -37.6%.  (11/20/2014)
Clark County, -9.0%.  (11/21/2014)
Columbia County, -11.3%.  (11/22/2014)
Crawford County, -3.6%.  (11/23/2014)
Dane County, -16.1%.  (11/24/2014)
Dodge County, -21.2%.  (11/25/2014)
Door County, -37.1%.  (11/26/2014)
Douglas County, -19.1%.  (11/27/2014)
Dunn County, -21.2%.  (11/28/2014)

No Friend to the Environment: Republican Representative Mike Coffman, Colorado's 6th Congressional District

At this point in the series, I suspect you have already noticed that we have seen quite the parade of white men.  Of the 34 representatives profiled so far, Alabama's Martha Roby is the only woman.

  Photo sourceU.S. Congress
Text sourceThinkProgress

Coffman represents a gerrymandered district north, east, and south of Denver, so his views on the environment need to be somewhat circumspect.

He was re-elected to a 4th term with 52% of the vote. 

None of the committees on which he serves is directly related to environmental issues.

No Friend to the Environment dishonor roll.

Alabama Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives.   (Their anti-environmentalism can be summed up in one word:  coal.  Which is odd, since Alabama contributes a mere 1.9% of U.S. production, good enough for an overall ranking of 13.  The state's peak year of production:  1990)  
Alaska Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
  • At-large District.  Don Young (R).   Ridiculed environmentalists as a “self-centered bunch of waffle-stomping, Harvard-graduating, intellectual idiots.....not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans.” 
 Arizona Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Arkansas Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
California Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Colorado Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives

No Friend to the Environment: Republican Representative Doug Lamborn, Colorado's 5th Congressional District


  Photo sourceU.S. Congress
No Friend to the Environment dishonor roll.

Alabama Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives.   (Their anti-environmentalism can be summed up in one word:  coal.  Which is odd, since Alabama contributes a mere 1.9% of U.S. production, good enough for an overall ranking of 13.  The state's peak year of production:  1990)  
Alaska Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
  • At-large District.  Don Young (R).   Ridiculed environmentalists as a “self-centered bunch of waffle-stomping, Harvard-graduating, intellectual idiots.....not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans.” 
 Arizona Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Arkansas Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
California Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Colorado Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives

No Friend to the Environment: Republican Representative Cory Gardner, Colorado's 4th Congressional District


  Photo sourceU.S. Congress
Text sourceThe Real Cory Gardner

Elected to Congress as part of the Tea Party Class of 2010, Gardner was recently elected to the U.S. Senate, defeating Democratic incumbent Mark Udall with 48% of the vote.  

During his 2nd term in Congress, Gardner served on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce

No Friend to the Environment dishonor roll.

Alabama Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives.   (Their anti-environmentalism can be summed up in one word:  coal.  Which is odd, since Alabama contributes a mere 1.9% of U.S. production, good enough for an overall ranking of 13.  The state's peak year of production:  1990)  
Alaska Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
  • At-large District.  Don Young (R).   Ridiculed environmentalists as a “self-centered bunch of waffle-stomping, Harvard-graduating, intellectual idiots.....not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans.” 
 Arizona Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Arkansas Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
California Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Colorado Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives

No Friend to the Environment: Republican Representative Scott Tipton, Colorado's 3rd Congressional District


  Photo sourceU.S. Congress
Text sourceThinkProgress

Part of the 2010 Tea Party wave that washed over Congress, Rep. Tipton was re-elected to a 3rd term with 75% of the vote. 

Tipton serves on the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation.

No Friend to the Environment dishonor roll.

Alabama Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives.   (Their anti-environmentalism can be summed up in one word:  coal.  Which is odd, since Alabama contributes a mere 1.9% of U.S. production, good enough for an overall ranking of 13.  The state's peak year of production:  1990)  
Alaska Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
  • At-large District.  Don Young (R).   Ridiculed environmentalists as a “self-centered bunch of waffle-stomping, Harvard-graduating, intellectual idiots.....not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans.” 
 Arizona Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Arkansas Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
California Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Colorado Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
  • 3rd District.  Scott Tipton (R)Tree rings tell us all we need to know.