Five White Guys from South Carolina make a parody of themselves

Photo credits:  South Carolina House

GOP lawmakers attempt to define gay marriage as 'parody'.  (boingboing, 2/24/2018)

Just wondering if we have a case here.

Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the door, and see all the books

The church.  The steeple.

Grace Episcopal Church

On the Capitol Square in Madison WI

The church and the steeple, miniaturized.  

Open door reveals books

All photos by Retiring Guy

Other Little Free Library posts:
Slim Pickins in this Little Free Library.  (12/23/2017)
UPDATE: St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church will say a little prayer for you (Dionne vs. Aretha).  (11/15/2017)
Across the street from Weston Place.  (4/1/2017)
Seen yesterday while doing a lit drop for Hans Hilbert, candidate for Middleton mayor redux.  (3/29/2017)
Seen yesterday while doing a lit drop for Hans Hilbert, candidate for Middleton mayor.  (3/28/2017)
Nearly empty Little Free Library has since been replenished and includes 2 Bart Starr biographies.  (10/15/2016)
This colorful Little Free Library features James Clavell's chunkster novel Noble House.  (9/14/2016)
Little Free Libraries spotted during yesterday's Elroy-Camp Douglas Omaha Trail bike ride.  (8/8/2016)
Little Free Library at end of Woodrow Street in Madison has Scruples Two.  (7/10/2016)
Little Free Plant Stand meets Little Free Library.   (5/21/2016)
UPDATE: This Little Free Library now features 3 Jeffery Deaver titles.  (3/21/2016)
More taking than returning at this Little Free Library location.  (11/2/2015)

Taking Little Free Libraries to the next level.  (10/20/2015)
An attractively designed, little box of discards on Amherst Road.  (10/13/2015)
Kudos to this Little Free Library design on 13th Street in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.  (7/27/2015)
The Chamber of Manitowoc County offers a Little Free Library.  (7/27/2015)
One of the most colorful little box of discards set-up I've encountered.  (7/10/2015)
Little box of discards with benches.  (5/6/2015)
Get me rewrite: Little boxes of discards have big appeal.  (5/1/2015)
Middleton little free library cleaned out; Independent bookseller suspected.  (12/19/2014)
Charter #5763.  (8/14/2014)
Charter #8443.  (7/25/2014)
Unchartered #2.  (7/24/2014)
Unchartered #1.  (7/21/2014)
Charter #5719.  (7/19/2014)
Charter #0657.  (7/18/2014)

The Lake Street side of UW-Madison Memorial Library always brings to mind a certain classic TV show intro

Photo by Retiring Guy

Dear Robin, Getting Jello-O to mold is a breeze with the proper container,

iPhone screenshot

Quoted in Scott Walker tax cut, Lincoln Hills closure plan in jeopardy.  (Madison.com, 2/24/2018)

Let's hope the feud continues, as the Assembly just finished up it final regular floor session of the year with the passage of a slew of bad bills.

March for Our Lives disciplinarian: Texas school superintendent leaves the dirty work to his Director of Community Relations

Photo credit:  Beaumont Independent School District

Reported in BISD: Students will be disciplined for walkouts.  (Beaumont Enterprise, 2/23/2018)

Superintendent Dr. John W. Frossard, Ed.D.

The 38-page Student Code of Contact is found here.

I suspect the following language, found on page 5, is what Ms. Burns is referring to.

School rules and the authority of the district to administer discipline apply whenever the interest of the district is involved, on or off school grounds, in conjunction with or independent of classes and school-sponsored activities.  

The district has disciplinary authority over a student:  

1. During the regular school day and while the student is going to and from school or a school-sponsored or school-related activity on district transportation;

 Related posts:
Texas school superintendent Curtis Rhodes chooses to go negative, bully and threaten students over March for Our Lives participation.  (2/22/2018)
UPDATE. Waukesha school superintendent learns that acting like a bully has negative consequences.  (2/22/2018)

Why isn't Scott Walker a guest speaker at CPAC this year?

Check for yourself.  You won't find his name and photo here.

He did, however, speak at this American Conservative Union gala in 2017.

iPhone screenshot

In 2016

iPhone screenshot

And in 2015

iPhone screenshot

But he skipped this shindig in 2014.  And it shouldn't be too hard to guess why.


The FixWhy Scott Walker was smart to skip CPAC.  (Washington Post, 3/7/2014)

Before Walker can (or should) think about running for the presidency, he needs to win re-election to his seat in Wisconsin.

And here we are again, folks.  Scott Walker just figures we're not paying attention.  

Let's surprise him this November. 

Meet NRA chief Wayne LaPierre and his pet parrot, the president of the United States

LePierre photo credit:  Gage Skidmore via Wikipedia

Sources:
NRA’s Wayne LaPierre: “Opportunists are exploiting tragedy for political gain … schools must be hardened targets”.  (Northern Iowa Today, 2/22/2018) 
Trump Suggests Teachers Get a ‘Bit of a Bonus’ to Carry Guns.  (The New York Times, 2/22/2018)

Michael Curren (1950-2018) Warren Area High School class of 1968

Source:  Warren Times Observer

1968 Dragon yearbook

1967 Warren City Directory

• Curren Richd G (Roseclaire) slsmn Warren Components h90 Duncan av
• Curren Roseclaire Mrs ofc sec Am Natl Red Cross r90 Duncan av
• Walters Wm S (Beverly P) phys 514 W 3rd av h400 Liberty

1983 Warren City Directory  

• Curren Michl J & Laurie W (Great Expectations) h1205 Conewango Av Extn 
• Curren Richd G & Roseclaire; slsmn G T E Sylvania h90 Duncan Av
• Curren Roseclaire Mrs ezec sec Am Natl Red Cross-Warren County Chapter r90 Duncan av

The popularity of Michael as a baby name is graphed here. Let's take a look at Megan.

Source:  Social Security Administration

Megan made her first appearance in 1952, but it would be another quarter century before she came into  her own.  She spent 18 years (1984-2001) in the top 20, reaching #10 on 3 different occasions: 1985, 1992, 1994.   Things haven't gone all that well for her since the turn of the century.  

Other class of '68 members:

2018
Dennis Brown.  (1/12/2018)
2017
Judy Berdine.  (12/4/2017)
Rose Armogast Filiatrault.  (11/2/2017)
Cathryne Stewart Solock.  (5/11/2017)
Douglas Peterson.  (3/7/2017)
2015
Mary Lou Slack Schumann Hotaling.  (9/17/2015)
William Leonard.  (2/7/2015)
2014
Douglas Coates.  (12/29/2014)
Jennifer Robinault Morell.  (9/6/2014)
Jacquelyn Johnston Malone.  (7/31/2014)
Janet Vavala Smith.  (3/25/2014)

UPDATE. American consumers keep singing the same old song: Buy Now, Pay Later

Total US household debt soars to record above $13 trillion.  (CNBC, 2/3/2018)

Source:  Debt in America, an interactive map

11/19/2017 update, "No sad irony here:  Washington Times blind spot blocks reality of unsustainable consumer debt", starts here.

Bar graph:  Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Opined in From disorder to regular order.  (Washington Times, 4/1//2016)

Related article:
Trump’s America Is Facing a $13 Trillion Consumer Debt Hangover.  (Bloomberg, 6/6/2017)

Americans faced with lackluster income growth have been financing more of their spending with debt instead. There are early signs that loan burdens are growing unsustainably large for borrowers with lower incomes. Household borrowings have surged to a record $12.73 trillion, and the percentage of debt that is overdue has risen for two consecutive quarters.

Original 6/11/2017 post, "Public debt vs. consumer debt". starts here.

Photo credit:  Tea Party Patriots

Full hissy fit may be read at How long will it take us to pay back $16 trillion in debt?  (Fox News Opinion, 9/7/2012)

As of January 1, 2017, the 'debt held by the public' is $14.8 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Yes, Jenny, we didn't overspend that $16 trillion back in 2012, but we are responsible for the record $12.73 trillion in consumer debt.  A lot of folks are living outside their means, unfortunately.

Related reading:
Trump’s America Is Facing a $13 Trillion Consumer Debt Hangover.  (Bloomberg, 6/6/2017)

Americans faced with lackluster income growth have been financing more of their spending with debt instead. There are early signs that loan burdens are growing unsustainably large for borrowers with lower incomes. Household borrowings have surged to a record $12.73 trillion, and the percentage of debt that is overdue has risen for two consecutive quarters. And with economic optimism having lifted borrowing rates since the election and the Federal Reserve expected to hike further, it’s getting more expensive for borrowers to refinance.

 Related post:
Job growth/consumer debt headline news: On the same page, literally but not figuratively.  (11/9/2015)
Political mythology 101.  (7/8/2008)

Get me rewrite: White nationalist charged with making threats against a mostly Black group of protestors

Photo credit:  LinkedIn

Reported in Burlington man charged with making threats on Facebook against marchers protesting Racine police shooting .  (Madison,com, 2/23/2018)

Related reading
'We're Not Skinheads,' Says Man Hurt in Ashford House Beating.  (Tinley Park Patch, 5/23/2012)

Brandon Spiller says he's a victim. 

The 29-year-old Wisconsin resident was among those who met to dine at Ashford House in Tinley Park Saturday, only to be . His clan of about 15 to 20 included people from all over the country who were interested in joining the European Heritage Group, which he said was holding its first meeting around 12:30 p.m. in a back area of the .   

"We were just meeting for networking and helping people out and finding resources available in our area for those of European descent," he said. "It was just a meeting to get to know each other."

Brandon lists just 1 accomplishment on his LinkedIn profile.

Wisconsin GOP continues to treat its cherished conservative principle like a pinata

Headline:  Madison.com, 2/23/2018

Critics of the measure, which include Madison city officials, say it will bar them from exercising local control and responding to the needs of their residents. 

"Eliminating the ability of communities to respond to local transportation issues is not the answer," said Nicholas Zavos, the city of Madison's state lobbyist.

Among the many other examples of GOP's cartoon conservative principle: 
2017
UPDATE. By now, you know that the GOP's favorite pastime is overruling its pesky principles.  (11/28/2017)
UPDATE: Wondering why Duey Stroebel is a champion of property tax relief? Take a look at where he lives.  (4/15/2017)
Wisconsin GOP: What they say and what they do are 2 different things.  (2/9/2017)
Wisconsin legislature back in session and GOP hypocrisy is already in full flower.  (1/27/2017)

2016
UPDATE: Scott Walker and the abandoned GOP principle.  (12/21/2016)
Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo highlights GOP cartoon conservative principle.  (5/20/2016)
Suburban Milwaukee GOP state legislators freak out over locally issued ID card.  (3/23/2016)
Business as usual: Wisconsin GOP legislators vote for special interests, against local control and tenants' rights.  (3/9/2016)
The Wisconsin GOP Cartoon Conservative Principles Fest continues.  (2/10/2016)
Cartoon conservative principles in nonstop action: Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo lists more than 100 state provisions that restrict local control.  (2/10/2016)

2015
The Christmas edition: Rep. Kremer accuses fire officials of 'relieving themselves'.  (12/23/2015)
Cartoon conservative principles on full display this week at the Wisconsin State Capitol.  (12/18/2015)
Once again, Wisconsin Republicans assert their cartoon conservative principle (2015 Assembly Bill 568).  (12/16/2015)
Out of (local) control: When it comes to anything resembling a train, Republicans just can't help themselves.  (12/1/2015) 
Scott Walker pays lip service to local control as he continues to sign bills to limit it.  (10/26/2015)

Cartoon conservative principles in action: Taking away local control from school boards.  (10/25/2015)

UPDATE: Let's follow the Shea money from Wingra Stone to Scott Walker.  (10/20/2015)
UPDATE.  Sorry, Tim Geoghegan, a total of $11,750 in donations is not a "bunch of bull".  (10/20/2015) 
Once again, Wisconsin Republicans violate their most precious principle.  (7/4/2015)
Cartoon conservative principles.  (5/6/2015)
The Usual Hypocrisy: What Scott Walker sez on his campaign website and what he does in the Governor's office are two different things.  (5/2/2015)
The "hits" to local control just keep on coming.  (2/28/2015)

2014
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial board calls out Republican hypocrisy.  (2/17/2014)
And the hypocrisy just keeps on coming: Republicans can't even give lip service to their "Principles". (2/14/2014)
Yet another lesson in Republican hypocrisy.  (2/13/2014)

2013
Your Wisconsin Republican Assembly hard at work promoting Governor Walker's jobs agenda (and GOP principles).  (11/15/2013)

CES 2018: You could use LinkSquare or just eyeball those pieces of tuna

Using fresh tuna to demonstrate this gadget tells you all you need to know.



The best smart home innovations from CES 2018. (Boss, 2/2018)

With a quick scan, this smart home innovation can tell if meat is rotten, if alcohol isn’t all it’s meant to be, or if the prescription pill you received is what you were supposed to receive. This could save many tummies from food poisoning, and you a lot of worry with what you’re putting into your body. It can even disseminate if money is counterfeit. It’s small size is the best part, allowing you to carry this easily in a pocket or purse.

Spectrometer package priced @ $299.

Basic (?) package priced @ $749. 

Other before, during and after CES 2018 posts.  Or not.
February 2018
Dogbot, by Boston Dynamics.  (2/21/2018)
Petrics, a smart bed for your best friend.  (2/21/2018)
Household robot from the loins of Rosie.  (2/15 /2018)
Sorry, folks, but I'm going to pass on this Lovebox gadget.  (2/14/2018)
Meet Somnex, the sleep robot.  (2/8/20
Deskcise Pro V9 Bike Desk allows you to work and exercise at the same time.  (2/8/2018
The Hyperloop has some folks giddy, light-headed, and untethered.  (2/5/2018)
Ovie Smarterware, refrigerator manager.  (2/5/2018)
Colgate smart toothbrush provides you with a 3D brushing coach.  (2/1/2018)
Meet Laika, a gadget that rolls around the house and keeps you connected to your dog all day long.  (2/1/2018)

January 2018
Bloomberg reviewer definitely not impressed with this $400 window cleaning robot.  (1/30/2018)
Cinema snowglobe.  (1/28/2018)
Hip airbag for seniors leaves knees and elbows unprotected in a fall.  (1/27/2018)
Meet ElliQ, the active aging companion. (1/2 4/2018)
CLOi, robot touted as 'ultimate in simplicity' gets a case of stage fright.  (1/23/2018)
Robots, robots, and more robots.  (1/23/2018)
Rollable OLED TV.  (1/21/2018)
Meet Forpheus, the ping-pong playing robot.  (1/20/2018)
You'll need Keecker-ready walls and ceilings to get the most use out of this robot.  (1/19/2018)
At a list price of $8700, you have plenty of time to procrastinate about this umbrella purchase,  (1/18/2018)
For just under a thousand bucks, Foldimate will save you from the tyranny of folding laundry.  (1/17/2018)
Softcore toilet porn from Kohler.  (1/16/2018)
Smart mirror could use more of a human touch.  (1/16/2018)
Meet Aibo, the robot dog.  (1/15/2018)
File this Modius Health headset under 'absurd'.  (1/15/2018)
The creepy underbelly of CES 2018. Robot strippers.  (1/14/2018)  
Toyota introduces e-Patette, autonomous vehicle, modular store.  (1/14/2018)
Meet AvatarMind's iPal.  (1/12/2018)
Security robot Nimbo scares away the bad guys.  (1/12/2018)
Concept robots designed to eliminate service sector jobs.  (1/5/2018)
Travelmate Robotics suitcase.  (1/5/2018)
Samsung's GoBreath.  (1/3/2018)
A robot that plays Scrabble without making a mess.  (1/1/2018)

December 2017
Keratase hair coach.  (12/23/2017)
Travis the Translator.  (12/20/2017)
Pro-Protection toothbrush holder.  (12/19/2017)
PetMio smart technology.  (12/18/2017)
Rinspeed Snap concept vehicle.  (12/17/2017)
SignAll, an automated sign language translator.  (12/13/2017) 
Homni sleep solution.  (12/11/2017)

November 2017
Guz 2 electronic dartboard connects you to the world.  (11/22/2017)
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)

Auto tour of Faircrest neighborhood, Madison WI

Faircrest's development took place primarily during the 1960s and 1970s.  (Looks like a trip to the Madison Central Library is in order to find out about this neighborhood, which I suppose -- cover your ears, Faircrest residents -- is not all that historically significant.)

Source:  Faircrest Neighborhood Association

Boundaries:

• North:  Inner Drive
• East:  South Rosa Road
• South:  Mineral Point Road
• West:  South Yellowstone Drive

Other Madison neighborhood auto tour posts:
Meadowood.  (2/9/2018)
Orchard Ridge.  (1/28/2018)
Hiawatha Circle, Nakoma.  (1/11/2018)
Skyview Terrace.  (1/9/2018)
Summit Woods.  (1/7/2018)
Midvale Heights.  (1/6/2018)
Hill Farms.  (1/3/2018)
Nakoma.  (12/26/2017)
Sunset Village.  (12/20/2017)
Glen Oak Hills.  (12/17/2017)
Crestwood.  (12/8/2017)
Westmorland.  (12/7/2017)
Owen Parkway, Hoyt Park, Sunset Village.  (12/6/2017)
Indian Hills,  (12/6/2017)
Pilgrim Village.  (12/5/2017)
Highlands.  (12/5/2017)
UPDATE.  Madison's "Levittown" at 66. (12/2/2017)

Middleton bank robbery: Two crimes, one perp?

Related post:
Allen Boulevard and Maywood Avenue in Middleton WI is a popular place for robbery.  (11/26/2017)

This just in from the Wisconsin state legislature: Pay to play the rent-to-own way

Reported in Rent-to-Own Shills Push Anti-Consumer Bill.  (Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, 1/31/2018)

Related reading:
Wisconsin Assembly votes to loosen rent-to-own laws; bill's fate in Senate unclear.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,  (2/20/2018)

Republicans passed the bill on a 59-35 party-line vote, sending the bill to the Senate where it faces an uphill fight in the last days of the legislative session.

Other pay to play posts
2018
Pay to play the Kohler way.  (2/15/2018)
UPDATE. Advantage, Friends of Wisconsin State Parks: Money talks in more ways than one.
(1/25/2018)

2017
No fire sprinklers in small apartment buildings? It's called pay to play on a mammoth scale.  (12/10/2017)
Utilities and power cooperatives dig deep to pay to play in Wisconsin.  (11/7/2017)
Dynamic Recycling CEO Miles Harter donates $3,075 to GOP candidates, company will get up to $535,000 in state income tax credits.  (8/14/2017)
All told, the Kerns have donated nearly $400,000 to Republican and conservative candidates.  (8/14/2017)
Scott Walker lets Fiserv piggyback onto Foxconn legislation.  (8/1/2017)
Wisconsin DNR: Pay to play trumps your tax dollars.  (5/22/2017)
Concerning Rebecca Bradley: Meet some of the Wisconsin voters who would be disenfranchised by recusal rules.  (4/20/2017)
Pay to play the high-capacity well, Wisconsin Assembly Agriculture Committee way.  (3/24/2017)
Scott Walker and his for-profit college, pay-to-play buddies.  (2/10/2017)
Wisconsin is open for pay to play.  (2/3/2017)

2016
In addition to $750,000 to Club for Growth, Harold Simmons donated $10,000 to Scott Walker.  (9/14/2016)
Developer finds that 'pay to play' costs more than $72,844.92.  (2/12/2016)
Meet the disingenuous Rob Brooks (R-Saukville).  (1/13/2016)

2015
Wingra Stone looks for a return on its capitol investment.  (12/17/2015)
For sale: 1 state senator, 1 state representative.  (12/8/2015)
UPDATE. Sorry, Tim Geoghegan, a total of $11,750 in donations is not a "bunch of bull".  (10/25/2015) 
CAFOnated pay to play adds $84,000 to Scott Walker's campaign fund in 2011.  (10/7/2015)
Pay to play the payday way.  (7/5/2015)
From the pay-to-play archives: Grebe Pere, Grebe Fils.  (5/23/2015)

2014
Appleton Post-Crescent Editorial Board All But Puts a Dunce Cap on the Head of Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc).  (1/24/2014)

This week in the cereal aisle: Hoopla over rainbow marshmallows added to Lucky Charms

Photo by Retiring Guy

As featured on The Today Show!!

Holy unicorn! Lucky Charms adds rainbow marshmallow to its roster.  (2/19/2018)

After shocking cereal fans with news of the hourglass marshmallow’s retirement earlier this month, the unicorn comes as a welcomed new addition. The assortment continues to feature hearts, stars, horseshoes, clovers, blue moons, rainbows and red balloons. 

"Our goal is to not only create a cereal that families and cereal fans will love and enjoy, but to inspire magical possibilities and help spark imagination and fun no matter what the age," said Josh DeWitt, marketing manager of Lucky Charms.

Source:  LinkedIn

Other weeks in the cereal aisle posts:
Kellogg's Donut Shop in your choice of flavors.  (2/14/2018)
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the shredded wheat go down.  (2/6/2018)
General Mills offers yet another flavor of Cheerios -- chocolate and peanut butter.  (1/30/2018)
I suspect this special edition Cocoa Puffs isn't exactly flying off the shelves.  (1/16/2018)
\What's really going on with this General Mills blend.  (1/10/2018)
Giant size bargains to kick off the new year.  (1/3/2018)
Satisfy your craving for chocolate.  (12/22/2017)
Pumpkin Spice runs amok.  (11/7/2017)
Danger lurks.  (11/2/2017)
Dan G. wets himself over Special K Blueberry with Lemon Clusters.  (9/20/2017)
Limited Edition Mocha Crunch.  (7/16/2017)
Kellogg's Frosted Flakes with Marshmallows.  (2/1/2017)
A marriage between General Mills and Girls Scouts of America.  (1/19/2017)
Alpha-Bits is getting squeezed out.  (11/23/2016)
Special K continues to branch out.  (10/23/2016)
Wedding bells chime.  (10/5/2016)
The price of convenience (22.54 cents per ounce).  (8/19/2016)
Make up your mind already!  (8/14/2016)
Remember Nabisco Shredded Wheat?  (7/13/2016)
Features Batman and Superman.  (7/7/2016)
Post wants you to have ice cream for breakfast.  (6/30/2016)
Tiny Toast.  (6/21/2016)

The Trump effect in Kentucky: Democrats decisively retake state House seat

Source:  Ballotpedia 

Linda Belcher defeats Rebecca Johnson to reclaim District 49 seat.  (Louisville Courier Journal, 2/20/2018)

Belcher is a former school teacher and principal. Like her opponent, she entered politics after her husband died. Democratic Rep. Larry Belcher was killed in a car crash in October 2008, and his wife replaced him on the ballot. She served in the legislature from 2008 to 2012 and from 2014 to 2016, when she lost to Dan Johnson. 

Rebecca Johnson had suggested that Linda Belcher was involved in an effort by liberal organizations to destroy her husband, a charge that Belcher rejected. 

 
Related posts:
The Trump effect in Florida: Democrats flips House of Representatives District 72.  (2/14/2018)
The Trump effect in Missouri: House of Representatives District 97.  (2/7/2018)
The Trump effect in deep red Washington County, Wisconsin.  (1/21/2018)
The Trump effect, worldwide.  (1/19/2018)
The Trump effect in northwest Iowa: Democrats now competitive in districts where they previously couldn't field a candidate.  (1/18/2018)
The Trump effect in the Wisconsin 10th State Senate District special election.  (1/18/2018)

Texas school superintendent Curtis Rhodes chooses to go negative, bully and threaten students over March for Our Lives participation

Photo credit:  Needville Independent School District

Texas school district threatens to suspend students who take part in gun control walkouts.  (USA Today, 2/21/2018)

Not sure if this martinet's statement is going to play well in a fast-growing, suburban Houston county where Hillary Clinton won by nearly 7 percentage points.

Source:  CNN

Related post:

UPDATE. Waukesha school superintendent learns that acting like a bully has negative consequences.  (2/22/2018)

UPDATE. Waukesha school superintendent learns that acting like a bully has negative consequences

Reported in Waukesha Superintendent Todd Gray softens stance on walkout, says excused students can participate.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/21/2018)

After reading this article, I think it's clear that Gray is simply stumbling from day to day on this issue.  We haven't heard the last of it.


Original 2/21/2018 post, "GOP school superintendent, Donald Trump lookalike, vows  punishment for students participating in March for Our Lives", starts here.

Photo credit:  Twitter

Gray's only campaign contributions (2) were given to the ignominious Bill Kramer.

@twgray

Is that all the difference there is, Todd?

Students' BS detectors spin wildly out of control during and after meeting with Trump

Trump tells Florida shooting survivors 'we're going to get it done'.  (USA Today, 2/21/2018)

Related article:
Sandy Hook denier Alex Jones' show to be beamed from Chicago's Trump Tower.  (Chicago Tribune, 12/21/2017)

Related posts:
Have we sunk so low that Rush Limbaugh is now considered 'mainstream'?  (2/21/2018)
Incorrigible Florida GOP legislators stuck like glue to the NRA.  (2/21/2018)
"Unimaginable":  A growing list.  (2/18/.2018)
Gun Violence Archives: The collected works of American firearms carnage.  (2/17/2018)UPDATE. The AR-15, mass killers weapon of choice.  (2/15/2018)

Not necessarily CES 2018: Dogbot by Boston Dynamics

The City-County Liaison Committee (City of Madison, Dane County, WI) is currently reviewing a Dog Friendly Policy for the City-County Building at Martin Luther King Boulevard.  After watching this video, I'm wondering how forward-thinking we should be.



Watch a human try to fight off that door-opening robot dog.  (Wired, 2/20/2018)

The most subtle detail here is also the most impressive: The robot is doing almost all of this autonomously, at least according to the video's description. Boston Dynamics is a notoriously tight-lipped company, so just the few sentences it provided with this clip is a relative gold mine.

Boston Dynamics

Other before, during and after CES 2018 posts.  Or not.
February 2018
Petrics, a smart bed for your best friend.  (2/21/2018)
Household robot from the loins of Rosie.  (2/15 /2018)
Sorry, folks, but I'm going to pass on this Lovebox gadget.  (2/14/2018)
Meet Somnex, the sleep robot.  (2/8/20
Deskcise Pro V9 Bike Desk allows you to work and exercise at the same time.  (2/8/2018
The Hyperloop has some folks giddy, light-headed, and untethered.  (2/5/2018)
Ovie Smarterware, refrigerator manager.  (2/5/2018)
Colgate smart toothbrush provides you with a 3D brushing coach.  (2/1/2018)
Meet Laika, a gadget that rolls around the house and keeps you connected to your dog all day long.  (2/1/2018)

January 2018
Bloomberg reviewer definitely not impressed with this $400 window cleaning robot.  (1/30/2018)
Cinema snowglobe.  (1/28/2018)
Hip airbag for seniors leaves knees and elbows unprotected in a fall.  (1/27/2018)
Meet ElliQ, the active aging companion. (1/2 4/2018)
CLOi, robot touted as 'ultimate in simplicity' gets a case of stage fright.  (1/23/2018)
Robots, robots, and more robots.  (1/23/2018)
Rollable OLED TV.  (1/21/2018)
Meet Forpheus, the ping-pong playing robot.  (1/20/2018)
You'll need Keecker-ready walls and ceilings to get the most use out of this robot.  (1/19/2018)
At a list price of $8700, you have plenty of time to procrastinate about this umbrella purchase,  (1/18/2018)
For just under a thousand bucks, Foldimate will save you from the tyranny of folding laundry.  (1/17/2018)
Softcore toilet porn from Kohler.  (1/16/2018)
Smart mirror could use more of a human touch.  (1/16/2018)
Meet Aibo, the robot dog.  (1/15/2018)
File this Modius Health headset under 'absurd'.  (1/15/2018)
The creepy underbelly of CES 2018. Robot strippers.  (1/14/2018)  
Toyota introduces e-Patette, autonomous vehicle, modular store.  (1/14/2018)
Meet AvatarMind's iPal.  (1/12/2018)
Security robot Nimbo scares away the bad guys.  (1/12/2018)
Concept robots designed to eliminate service sector jobs.  (1/5/2018)
Travelmate Robotics suitcase.  (1/5/2018)
Samsung's GoBreath.  (1/3/2018)
A robot that plays Scrabble without making a mess.  (1/1/2018)

December 2017
Keratase hair coach.  (12/23/2017)
Travis the Translator.  (12/20/2017)
Pro-Protection toothbrush holder.  (12/19/2017)
PetMio smart technology.  (12/18/2017)
Rinspeed Snap concept vehicle.  (12/17/2017)
SignAll, an automated sign language translator.  (12/13/2017) 
Homni sleep solution.  (12/11/2017)

November 2017
Guz 2 electronic dartboard connects you to the world.  (11/22/2017)
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)