Saturday, November 25, 2017

Sad: 76-year-old man leads 71-year-old man in 2020 presidential poll


Morning Consult, 11/22/2017

Milwaukee 53206 and North Shore 53217: So close yet so far apart



Poverty drives epidemic of childhood trauma, panelists say.  (Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, 11/20/2017)
According to City of Milwaukee Health Department Commissioner Bevan Baker, who shared the numbers at a recent panel on poverty at Marquette University, the disparity underscores the responsibility to address it. “My heart just weeps,” he said. “And, it makes me wonder about the capacity of human beings to allow this to happen, to go home at night and sleep, peacefully, knowing that this exists.” The two ZIP codes, only about a mile apart at their closest point, are stark in their differences


Paul Ryan, obedient lapdop to the rich and powerful, tries to sell middle class a bill of goods



Quoted in Will a Corporate Tax Cut Lift Worker Pay? A Union Wants It in Writing.  (The New York Times, 11/23/2017)

Ryan's speech was delivered at an event sponsored by the Heritage Foundation, an organization that promotes conservative public policies based on the following principles:
  • free enterprise
  • limited government 
  • individual freedom
  • traditional American values
  • strong national defense

Apparently, in Heritage Foundation World, shitting on those less fortunate than you is greatly encouraged.

Related posts:
The lapdog chronicles: House Speaker Paul Ryan content to eschew leadership, prop up Trump on Obamacare.  (10/17/2017)
The lapdog chronicles: House Speaker Paul Ryan content to eschew leadership, remain Trump's pet.  (10/17/2017)
UPDATE.  Paul Ryan, cocooned.  (8/3/2017)
But we all know that potus45 lapdop trumps Russia hawk.  (7/13/2017)
UPDATE.  Paul Ryan sings another verse of the same old song.  (7/8/2017)

Sweet and sassy Leah Vukmir boards the Trump train too late



Quoted in Bannon insurgency stresses loyalty to Trump, not policy test.  (News Item, 11/23/2017)

Vukmir initially supported Scott Walker for the GOP 2016 presidential nomination.  After his campaign flamed out, she endorsed "Little" Marco Rubio and also announced that she was serving as his presidential campaign chairwoman in Wisconsin.

Other Leah posts:
Leah Vukmir gets sassy in new Wisconsin State Senate glamour photo.  (10/23/2017)
UPDATE. Sorry, Leah, you'll be fundraising from now until at least August 2018.  (10/18/2017)
GOP legislator dubious about Scott Walker budget proposal to cut Elections Commission staff.  (3/29/2017)
Dear Mark, You need one of these. Best, Retiring Guy.  (5/19/2016)
Giddy over voter ID, Leah Vukmir (R-Brookfield) is also a big fan of redistricting.  (5/17/2016)
Meet Wisconsin's version of the Freedom Caucus crazies.  (3/17/2016)
While Wisconsin residents demand safe drinking water, Sen. Vukmir and Rep. Kooyenga propose Iran business sanctions.  (11/16/2015)
State Senator Leah Vukmir picks Scott Walker's former running mate as her choice for President.  (10/24/2015)
ALEC tools Leah Vukmir and Alberta Darling go off the deep end.  (9/22/2014)
Reality sandwiched between two slices of Leah Vukmir white bread.  (9/15/2014)
Let's connect the dots from Leah Vukmir to the American Legislative Exchange Council.  (7/21/2014)
Leah Vukmir's rally line falls flat.  (3/7/2014)
What planet was Leah on yesterday?  (3/7/2014)

Scott Walker: dealmaker, optimist



Got questions about the Wisconsin Foxconn deal? We have (some of) the answers.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/24/2017)

Q: What guarantees do state taxpayers have right now? A: To receive the state payments, Foxconn would essentially have to hire a sharply escalating number of workers, starting with at least 260 next year and rising to at least 5,200 in 2022 and at least 10,400 by 2027.

Other Foxconn posts:

Reggie White:Green Bay Packers:: Foxconn:Wisconsin (Scott Walker analogy reveals his crazed desperation).  (8/10/2017)

The latest in biking accessories: Protect your lungs with a WAIR pollution-fighting scarf, but please don't muss your hair wearing a helmet




Anti-pollution accessories: an upcoming urban trend?  (Yahoo, 11/24/2017)
French designer, Caroline Van Renterghem, launched a similar innovative solution in 2016. Her pollution fighting scarf, called Wair, also uses three filtering layers and comes in two different versions. An activated carbon layer absorbs odors and gasses, while a second layer stops and kills bacteria in the air. The third layer filters larger particles (dust, etc.), as well as fine particles to 0.1μm (=PM0.1μm), and pollen. The scarf can also be used in conjunction with an app, called Sup'Airman, to map air pollution in real time.

Congressmen gone wild: Joe Barton, overexposed.


Likes to go deep and hard.


Quoted in Congressman on tape tells woman he would report her to Capitol Police because she could expose his secret sex life.  (Washington Post, 11/22/2017)

Oh, yeah, he's a big hypocrite.



Other Barton posts.
51 U.S. House members implore Trump to legalize LGBT discrimination.  (5/8/2017)
Donald Trump declares war on Freedom Caucus.  (3/30/2017)

Friday, November 24, 2017

Thanksgiving Day Proclamations: 2001. 2009, 2017






A Mar-a-Lago Thanksgiving:  It's all gravy.  (The New York Times, 11/23/2017)
For his first Thanksgiving in office, President Trump returned to the comforts of his civilian lifestyle: the luxury of his Palm Beach properties, complete with early-morning Twitter commentary and a list of all the ways he — and, as a result, the country — is winning.

Thursday, November 23, 2017

UPDATE. Winchester Public Library: 2009-2016 annual circulation and program attendance


                                       Source:  Wisconsin Public Library Service Data.


2009-2016 comparisons:
  • -56.6%  circulation
  • +297% program attendance
2015-2016 comparisons:
  • +24.3% circulation
  • +447% program attendance


Library hours of operation: (no change since last year)
  • Monday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
  • Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 12 noon
20 16 hours per week


12/12/2016 update starts here.



2009-2015 comparisons:
  • -64.3% drop in circulation
  • -45.5% drop in program attendan ce

 2009-2014 comparisons

Intro to original series
Admittedly, Retiring Guy spends more time highlighting the statistics of Wisconsin's larger public libraries, which is one of the reasons that I initiated this alphabetical series and decided to temporarily suspend this top-down look at 2009-2014 annual circulation and program attendance.

This series features a bottoms-up look at 2009-2014 annual circulation and program attendance.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Body language sez Minnesota Vikings Anthony Barr is a lying sack of shit


Why is this assassin still playing football?


Reported in Vikings LB Anthony Barr responds back to Aaron Rodgers’ comments.  (FoxSports, 10/28/2017)

The ring of familiarity: Welcome to a variation of Gallup's Most Admired Men and Women polls



2017 RANKINGS. Which Brands Have a Positive Impact on Communities? (Morning Consult, 11/20/2017)
Gomer, these brands are all LARGE.  “Authenticity rules with this demographic,” Michael Fineman, president of the public relations firm Fineman PR, said in an interview this month. “You have to look at the image of the brand from a millennial’s perspective: It is perceived as one of the largest corporate food brands in the world.”

We know these people, we really know them!


UPDATE. How about this Shannon Zimmerman timeline?



Bice: Lawmaker claiming he voted for budget bill was actually grounded in Amsterdam.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/20/2017)
Officially, Shannon did NOT vote on the budget.  Patrick Fuller, chief clerk in the Assembly, pointed to legislative rules that indicate on roll call votes on legislation, the "final and official" record is produced when the voting machine or the chief clerk tally the votes for and against a bill.

Original 11/21/2017 post, "Lost in translation:  The not-ready-for-prime-time Wisconsin State Senate candidate Shannon Zimmerman", starts here.

A candidate in the 10th State Senate District.Now-legislator Shannon


Reported in Zimmerman joked in video that women don't say what they mean.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/20/2017)

Based in Memphis, The Hot Dogs recorded for the Ardent label during the early-to-mid-70s, as did their fellow power-pop and better known musical peers Big Star.  One of my favorite albums from the 1st half of the 70s, Say What You Wman never charted on Billboard.


Related post:
Sheila Harsdorf appointment as ag secretary means special election in Wisconsin State Senate 10th district.  (11/9/2017)

HEADLINE NEWS: Facebook is, in a word, incorrigible


November 19, 2017
The more data it has on offer, the more value it creates for advertisers. That means it has no incentive to police the collection or use of that data — except when negative press or regulators are involved. Facebook is free to do almost whatever it wants with your personal information, and has no reason to put safeguards in place.

November 21, 2017
ProPublica revealed earlier this year that Facebook allowed housing advertisers to target ads at white people and provided other racist segmentation options. Facebook promised to build a system that would spot and eliminate these ads, but a new investigation demonstrates that it failed to do so.

Just in case someone needs a vocabulary lesson.

Source:  Merriam-Webster

Sounds perfectly normal to me, David. After all, isn't this what freight trains do?



Quoted in After winning Foxconn, Southeast Wisconsin prepares for influx of jobs as residents fear loss of 'peace and quiet'.  (Chicago Tribune, 11/20/2017)

Maybe you have this in mind, David?

Photo by Retiring Guy's dad
(taken in June 1958 on U.S. 20 between Chicago and Rockford)

Leadfoot Jeanine Pirro uses a variation of speeding excuse #9


Photo credit:  Gage Skidmore via Wikipedia

Fox News Host Jeanine Pirro Gets Ticket for Speeding at 119 M.P.H.  (The New York Times, 11/20/2017)


Top 10 excuses for speeding.  (Consumer Reports, 4/30/2013)

Dear Nicholas, According to reliable sources, physical books are doing quite well, thank you



Source:  Good e-Reader


Photo credit:  one laptop per child

Reported in Will physical books be gone in 5 years?  (CNN, 10/18/2010)

CES 2018 preview: Guz 2 electronic dartboard connects you to the world






Reported in Challenge Dart Players On A Real Dart Board, Anywhere In The World, From Your Living Room.  (Nibletz, 11/20/2017)

Dartboard specifics found at The Darts Factory.  What's pictured lists at $256.


I was there.  

Other CES 2018 previews:
I assume the SureFly will also be able to carry women.  (11/21/2017)
Now you can party every day and rock all night at any age.  (11/17/2017)
Pointivo.  (11/17/2017)
Jibo, the social robot, makes the cover of TIME.  (11/17/2017)

The insightful Glenn Grothman was talking to a gal



Grothman shares DC insights.  (Beaver Dam Daily Citizen, 11/21/2017)

10 people attended Grothman's town hall at the Randolph Village Hall.


Jul-Nov 2017
Dear Dan Kohl, If you substitute 'clownish' for 'partisan', the arrow moves hard right.  (11/9/2017)
The malevolent conservatism and clownish inhumanity of Glenn Grothman.  (10/25/2017)
Glenn Grothman sets a ridiculously low bar regarding hurricane aid to Puerto Rico.  (10/24/2017)
Glenn Grothman demands that a border wall be built.  (8/31/2017)
Here's something on which Glenn Grothman and I agree.  (8/10/2017)
Glenn Grothman wants us all to die.  Or not to fly.  (7/20/2017)
Short-term memory loss and The Glenn Grothman 24/7 Clown Show.  (7/15/2017) 
Steady drip-drip-drip inside Glenn Grothman's head vs. steady drip-drip-drip of evidence Russian collusion.  (7/13/2017)

Jan-Jun 2017
Glenn Grothman gives a big thumbs up to Pennsylvania's congressional districts.  (6/22/2017)
Glenn Grothman on the Paris Accord:  The blithering goes on.  (6/7/2017)
Dear Glenn Grothman, Not that anyone is listening to you.  (6/5/2017)
Oh, yeah, I just bet he does.   (6/1/2017)
It's bromance time for Glenn Grothman, sez Greg Gianforte seems like a good guy.  (5/26/2017)
At Glenn Grothman's groan-inducing town hall.  (5/2/2017)
51 U.S. House members implore Trump to legalize LGBT discrimination.  (4/27/2017)
At KFIZ, everybody loves a clown.  (4/17/2017)
Wishful thinking: Glenn Grothman does a little Mick Jagger at the podium during Sheboygan listening session.  (4/11/2017).
What DO they think of Glenn Grothman on Capitol Hill?  (1/31/2017)
Not a Muslim ban, Glenn Grothman? The numbers indicate otherwise.  (1/31/2017)
On the other hand, some might say we do need Congressmen, but we can not have the wrong Congressmen.  (1/2/2017)

2016
The conservative values of Glenn Grothman, straight shooter and exemplary public servant.  (10/30/20176
GOP donor and Neenah realtor pens letter to editor, praises Glenn Grothman.  (10/28/2016)
Well, Glenn Grothman, looks as though Donald Trump and Paul Ryan won't accompany Mr. Gumpy on his outing.  (10/20/2016)
Meet the 3 Stooges who introduced Donald Trump at yesterday's rally in Green Bay.  (10/18/2016)
Likely to be other reasons why Trump and Glenn Grothman's relationship might be "less than perfect".  (10/13/2016)
Glenn Grothman raises GOP specter of black bogeyman Al Sharpton.  (7/14/2016)
Recommended reading from Glenn Grothman.  (3/3/2016)
Once again, Grothman does the blah blah blah.  (1/13/2016)

2015
Tea Party alert: Glenn Grothman supports increase in federal gas tax.  (12/29/2015)
Glenn Grothman's moving service.  (11/16/2015)
Glenn Grothman: Still trying to get to 'yes' with Paul Ryan.  (10/18/2015) 
Dear Glenn Grothman, Breaking up is hard to do.  (10/17/2015) 
He's a guy, and has access to 'all machines that one would need'.  (9/29/2015) 
Meet the Members of the Republican Study Committee: Glenn Grothman (R-WI, 6th District).  (8/18/2015)
What about seeing the light, Representative Grothman?  (8/11/2015)
Glenn Grothman's gibberish in full flower.  (7/1/2015)
Rep. Glenn Grothman puts corporate personhood first.  (6/23/2015)
Glenn Grothman Finds His Voice in Washington, D.C. (6/19/2015)
Glenn Grothman goes seriously bland on us.  (5/12/2015)
Glenn Grothman's lips are zipped.  (4/9/2015)
Glenn Grothman Speaks the Language of the Godfather of states' rights.  (1/13/2015)

2014
Glenn Grothman, Quiet Man.  (10/12/2014)
Tom Petri returns the favor to Glenn Grothman.  (9/5/2014)
Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District primary: Less than 12% of voters paid attention.  (8/24/2014)
Hey guys and gals, Scott Walker is not 100% convinced that Glenn Grothman can win the 6th CD. (8/23/2014)
Career politician Glenn Grothman moves one step closer to Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District general election.  (8/22/2014)
To the tune of $692,000.   (8/14/2014)
Glenn Grothman:  A man without a mandate.  (8/14/2014)
Glenn Grothman to Tom Petri: Thank you for your 35 years of service.  (8/1/2014)
Duey Stroebel can't be bothered with fundraising, looks to buy seat instead.  (8/1/2014)
Clearly, "common-sense bills" and "Grothman" should never be used in the same sentence.(7/9/2014)
Two career politicians pledge limited service in the U.S. House of Representatives.  (7/8/2014)

It bears repeating: Poverty is the single most common characteristic of underperforming schools



Photo by Retiring Guy
[text emphasis added]

Most schools meet or exceed standards, but failures can be found in every education sector.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11/21/2017)

School report card found here.

UPDATE: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Donald Trump indulges in an excessive use of the adverb 'very'



Donald Trump says he’s “happy” sexual assault is being exposed, as if no one knows what Trump is accused of.  (Vox, 11/21/2017)

Original 11/21/2017 post, "Act naturally:  Donald "The Octopus" Trump stars in "All Hands On Her"" starts here.



What Happened to the 16 Women Who Accused Trump of Sexual Misconduct.  (New York, 11/20/2017)
The lede. As new sexual-harassment accusations — sometimes several per day — pour out in the aftermath of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, there’s one person whose alleged sexual misconduct seems simultaneously ever-present, and yet grossly overlooked.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Scott Walker and his fawning Donald Trump connection, chapter 2


“I’m thrilled that as part of his ongoing and repeated visits across the Midwest, President Trump will be returning to Wisconsin — and I appreciate him showing his support for our bold conservative reforms while he’s here," Walker said in a campaign statement. In 2014, Trump gave the maximum $10,000 donation to Walker's campaign.


Chapter 1 

Years before Donald Trump, Scott Walker was already dividing us.  (Capital Times, 11/17/2017)
For years, Walker has been sending the same message to voters that Trump sent in 2016: “Your life isn’t what you’d hoped for, and it’s those people — public workers, liberals and people of color — who are to blame. And I will stick it to them.” And he has.

Related reading:
Donald Trump is losing his base support, new poll finds.  (Independent, 11/19/2017)
The results come after GOP lawmakers, including Arizona Senator Jeff Flake and Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, criticised Mr Trump. Both Senators plan to retire after their terms end. Mr Flake said Mr Trump’s actions were “dangerous to our democracy”. The new numbers also come as more evidence of links between the Trump campaign and Russia come to light.

"I Cain't Say No": Donald Trump is no conundrum for GOP Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds



Reported in Iowa governor ‘wouldn’t say no’ to Trump campaign help.  (Globe Gazette, 11/20/2017)

Kim is married to Kevin“I do think Virginia was a wake-up call,” said Gov. Bill Haslam of Tennessee, who took over here as chairman of the governors association. “There’s a pretty strong message there. When Republicans lose white married women, that’s a strong message.”

The soundtrack recording of Oklahoma debuted on Billboard in September 1955 and spent 305 weeks on the chart.

CES 2018 preview: I assume the SureFly will also be able to carry women




The SureFly two-person drone taxi will make its maiden flight at CES 2018.  (Digital Trends, 11/20/2017)
The futuristic carbon fiber SureFly vehicle was first shown off earlier this year at the Paris Air Show. Following its (weather permitting) voyage at CES, it will be on display at the event. It can carry up to 400 pounds, driven by eight separate propellers, and is powered by a hybrid system combining gas combustion engine and parallel battery pack.   
Early versions of the craft will reportedly be user piloted, but an autonomous version isn’t out of the question for the future.

Workhorse hopes to make the SureFly available for less than $200,000.

Other CES 2018 previews:
Now you can party every day and rock all night at any age.  (11/17/2017)
Pointivo.  (11/17/2017)
Jibo, the social robot, makes the cover of TIME.  (11/17/2017)

Gun violence in the United States: The numbers



Reported in Everyday gun violence is startling, with racial and urban disparities in Wisconsin.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 11/18/2017)

Related posts:
Dear Politifact, Hairsplitting aside, America has a gun violence epidemic.  (10/5/2017)
UPDATE. Heavens, no! Now is not the time to talk about it. (6/16/2017)


Monday, November 20, 2017

UPDATE. On the other hand, Wesley Goodman's family values hypocrisy is not enough to tip the scales for the GOP


Well, the list of GOP hypocrites is a long one.

Photo credit:  Tea Party Talk with Tom Z


Original 11/19/2017 post, "Greetings from Trump's America, Ohio House 87th District, where conservative GOP representative with secret life resigns", starts here.

Photo credit:  Ballotpedia

Reported in Ohio legislator Wes Goodman led secret gay life, made unwelcome advances to younger men, people who knew him say.  (Cleveland.com, 11/18/2017)

The 87th district includes all of Wyandot, Crawford, and Morrow counties and parts of Seneca and Marion.


It's a distinctly majority-white district.


In hindsight, it comes as no surprise that the following three counties fell hard for Trump.