Retiring Guy's Digest: 2018-02-25

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Elizabeth Simko (1935-2018) Warren High School class of 1953

Source: Warren Times Observer

1953 Dragon yearbook

1967 Warren City Directory

Simko Eliz A ofc wkr Warren Telev r24 Plum
Simko Mike (Anna) plant retd h24 Plum

1983 Warren City Director

Simko Anna Mrs retd h24 Plum
Simko Eliz A ofc mgr Warren Amex Cable of Warren r24 Plum

The unending popularity of Elizabeth as a baby name is graphed here. Let's take a look at great-niece Margot.

Source: Social Security Administration

It looks as though Margot is finally making her mark.

Other members of the class of 1953:

2017
Hazel Kell Martin. (9/22/2017
Carole Moore Zimmerman. (9/11/2017)
Carolyn Webster Coates. (7/7/2017)
Leroy Sorenson. (5/25/2017)
Carole Weigel Wunner. (5/10/2017)
Arthur Wagner. (1/5/2017)

2016
Robert Harrington. (12/6/2016)
Beverly Taft Littlefield. (11/26/2016)
Karolyn Lane Stone. (11/24/2016)
Roberta Leave Troutman. (6/8/2016)
Grace Tigani. (5/20/2016)

2015
Nan Perry Fischer. (6/18/2015)

Get me rewrite: Northern Wisconsin companies have no choice but to lure retirees back to the job

Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts

Wisconsin Job Market May Open Doors For Older Workers. Northern Wisconsin Companies Luring Retirees Back To The Job. (Wisconsin Public Radio, 2/19/2018)

[Chippewa County Economic Development Corp. President Charlie "The Dreamer"] Walker said he expects more companies in northern Wisconsin to turn to automation since the worker shortage isn't expected to end any time soon.

Related reading:
Northern Wisconsin businesses are having trouble finding employees. (WJFW, 02/25/2018)

Northern Wisconsin businesses that are having trouble finding employees are hoping to lure retirees to work or keep people nearing retirement on the job longer.

Car porn: 2018 Lincoln Navigator Black Label L

Meet Ford's $100,000 Lincoln Navigator: 'like driving a La-Z-Boy down the freeway'. (USA Today, 3/2/2018)

After 40 years of selling cars, Jere Law sees something new and shocking.

“People are writing $100,000 checks for a vehicle,” said the general manager of the Varsity Lincoln dealership in Novi, Mich.

“That may not sound like a lot in other places, but that’s the first time happening for Lincoln here in Michigan.” Business executives, doctors, pro athletes and parents with big families are placing orders for the new Lincoln Navigator luxury SUV.

EPA estimated mile per gallon: 16 city/ 23 highway

What would Mabel say?

Friday, March 2, 2018

UPDATE. John and Kim Mahoney take issue with that 'generous offers' happy talk

iPhone screenshot (highlight added)

Original 12/13/2017 post ,"Billions for Foxconn but a raw deal for Mount Pleasant residents John and Kim Mahoney", starts here.

Text and uncredited photo found at Property owners living in wake of Foxconn told home could be condemned. (Racine County Eye, 12/12/2017)

Other Foxconn posts:
February 2018
Make way for robots. (2/25/2018)
Foxconn now classified as public works project. (2/21/2018)
Two peas in a pod: Scott Walker in top 10 of least popular governors, Terry Gou's Foxconn in top 10 of America's most hated tech companies. (2/13/2018
Scott Walker pins his hopes on an old-fashioned manufacturing kind of guy. (2/13/2018)
Con artists reap benefits of Scott Walker's Foxconn deal. (2/10/2018)
Get me rewrite: Foxconn CEO Terry Gou interested in UW-Madison AI expertise to automate his factories. (2/9/2018)
Foxconn puff piece: Will the real Naoki Hosoya please stand up. (2/8/2018)
Wisconsin taxpayers carry the burden for job creators. (2/6/2018)

January 2018
Not to mention Grantsburg, Hayward, Bayfield, Ashland, Hurley, Eagle River, Crandon, and Florence. (1/26/2018)
Wisconsin cities with highest unemployment rates could use some of that Chicago millennials Foxconn love that Scott Walker is dishing out. (1/27/2018)
GOP bastion in Racine County sez 'no' to Foxconn-related development. (1/21/2018)
UPDATE. Here comes that specious Foxconn-Boeing comparison again. (1/18/.2018)
The Foxconn ka-ching ka-ching ka-ching. (1/17/2018)
FierceWireless's buzzkill on the Foxconn deal. (2/16/2018)
Official press agency of People's Republic of China: 'Villagers' in Racine County rebel against Foxconn land grab. (1/12/2018)
Owner of company that wins Foxconn road construction contract serves up heaping helping of hyperbole, as well campaign contributions to GOP incumbents. (1/5/2018)

December 2017
Historic giveaways: Most expensive taxpayer-funded jobs in history is Scott Walker's top accomplishment in 2017. (12/26/2017)
Gateway Technical College cutting-edge Foxconn curriculum does not include workforce development, employee relations, and management concepts. (12/25/2017)
Let's put this Foxconn deposit in perspective. (12/23/2017)
UPDATE. Scott Walker Monday tweet storm attempts to distract us from his highway funding mess. (12/19/2017)
GOP legislative aide and letter writer Keith Best needs to brush up on his Foxconn analogies. (12/16/2017)
UPDATE: The Wisconn Valley Way to Wisconsin's fiscal and moral bankruptcy. (12/15/2017)
Scott Walker, meet Andrew Ng, who wants to help Foxconn bring intelligence displayed by machines to Racine County. (12/14/2017)
Some residents of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Illinois will help to foot the bill for a $140,000,000 Foxconn campus electrical substation. (12/12/2017)
A deafening silence: What role will robotics play at Foxconn's Mount Pleasant manufacturing plant? (12/12/2017)
Inquiring minds want to know why driverless technology wasn't discussed during Foxconn contract negoatiations, Scott Walker. (12/12/2017)
Donald Trump and Terry Gou: Scott Walker loves these two peas in a pod. (12/9/2017)

Foxconn moves into Hallmark territory: They like us, they really like us! (12/3/2017)

November 2017
Scott Walker and Terry Gou agree that a projection is not the same as an obligation. (11/30/2017)
Multinational company earning billions in annual revenue gets loan from Racine County. (11/26/2017)
Scott Walker: Dealmaker, optimist. (11/25/2017)
Foxconn now hiring: Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits. (11/19/2017)
Hypocrisy alert: The free-market, individual responsiblity, limited government-lovin' MacIver Institute approves Wisconsin's $3 billion Foxconn dole. (11/14/2017)
Scott Walker views his Foxconn deal through rose-colored glasses. (11/13/2017)

October 2017

Survey says (in so many words): "Pshaw" to the hogwash that Foxconn will benefit all of Wisconsin. (10/27/2017)
UPDATE. Robin Vos doesn't want to count his chickens before they hatch but remains confident it's going to happen. (10/23/2017)

Big payday for some Racine County farmers, not so much for homeowners. (10/12/2017)

Racine County, Mount Pleasant, to Foxconn: No need to reach for your wallet. (10/11/2017)

Incoming Quality Control Specialist at Foxconn requires high school diploma or equivalency. (10/9/2017)

In the bonus round, Tammy finds herself in a big yellow taxi mood. (10/9/2017)

Mount Pleasant Village President welcomes average debt of $3,917.55 per person with open arms. (10/8/2017)

Dear Politifact, Hairsplitting aside, America has a gun violence epidemic. (10/5/2017)

August 2017

WEDC hasn't done its Foxconn homework yet and GOP committee members are fine with that. (8/16/2017)

UPDATE. Funny how there's all this talk about Foxconn jobs that pay well below the alleged average salary. (8/12/2017)

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

Foxconn has been looking to replace workers with robots for at least 2 years. (8/9/2017)

Scott Walker and Terry Gou share a laugh at Wisconsin taxpayers' expense. (8/8/2017)

Really, Ray, all this and heaven too provided by a factory to assemble display panel screens? (8/6/2017)

That was then. This is now. The free market/small government Robin Vos. (8/4/2017)

Bloomberg sees short-term gain, long-term pain for Wisconsin's Foxconn deal. (8/4/2017)

Sean Duffy gets it wrong. (8/3/2017)

Scott Walker and Paul Ryan collude on campaign digital ads for Foxconn. (8/3/2017)

Here's some news that pains Scott Walker to his core: Foxconn considering Dane County site. (8/2/2017)

Fast Company: Scott Walker deal a transfer of wealth from Wisconsin taxpayers to Foxconn shareholders. (8/2/2017)

Donald Trump pinches off another loaf. (8/1/2017)

Scott Walker lets Fiserv piggyback onto Foxconn legislation. (8/1/2017)

Calendar UPDATE. In the case of the committee hearing, 1 day is sufficient time to prepare, sez Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. (8/1/2017)

Rep. Bob Kulp sprinkles Foxconn fairy dust all over the Badger State. (8/1/2017)

July 2017

Of which just 3,000 of these 'new' jobs are permanent. (7/31/2017)

UPDATE. State Sen. Van Wanggaard on board with Wisconsin's Foxconn deep-pockets strategy. (7/30/2017)

A Ring of Familiarity. Once upon a time in Pennsylvania..... (7/29/2017)

Matt, it doesn't appear that 'rigorous' and 'review' are in Scott Walker's and Foxconn's vocabulary. (7/29/2017)

Scott Walker and Foxconn steamroll environmental regulation going forward. (7/29/2017)

UPDATE. The luring of Foxconn intensifies in Wisconsin. (7/20/2017)

While Wisconsin and Michigan duke it out for low-paying jobs, Foxconn announces $5 billion investment in India. (7/8/2017)

UPDATE. Foxconn becomes pawn in Wisconsin transportation funding tussle. (7/6/2017)

Foxconn officials eyeing sites in Michigan. (7/6/2017)

UPDATE. Foxconn becomes pawn in Wisconsin transportation funding tussle. (7/6/2017)

UPDATE: On its own, this example of myopic thinking should disqualify Giampietro as a nominee for federal judge

Reported in Trump nominee Gordon Giampietro releases application in response to critics of his views. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/1/2018)

Original 2/28/2018 post, "The wit and wisdom of Gordon Giampietro", starts here.

'Wit' found at Buzzfeed News

Catholic bishops ask Tammy Baldwin not to block judicial nomination of Gordon Giampietro. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/27/2018)

Meanwhile, a member of the state nominating commission, Milwaukee labor lawyer Barbara Quindel, said the group would not have forwarded Giampietro's name had they known of his "bigoted" views. Giampietro was among four finalists recommended by the commission and the names were sent by Baldwin and Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson to the White House.

Auto tour of Rocky Bluff neighborhood, Madison WI

Video by Retiring Guy

Source: Rocky Bluff Neighborhood Association (City of Madison)

Boundaries:

North: University Avenue
East: North Franklin Avenue on the east
South: Bluff Street and DuRose Terrace'
West: Palomino Lane, Quarry Park

Until a few weeks ago, I had driven through the Rocky Bluff neighborhood hundreds of times without realizing it was anything more than an agglomeration of single-family homes and small apartment building. It wasn't until I read a 1/22/2018 Capital Times article about the demise of Party Port and a University Avenue redevelopment project on its compact site (Developer works to accommodate concerns of 'neighborhood in a forest' on University Avenue) that I learned this area of Madison has a name.

Madison's Rocky Bluff Neighborhood Association takes its identity as a “neighborhood in a forest” seriously. So seriously, in fact, that when discussing a proposed redevelopment of the Party Port site on University Avenue, some residents were concerned that light and noise pollution from the project could affect the “area’s cherished, unique” Katydid (AKA bush cricket) population.

Digging through the Madison Central Library's vertical files last night for any additional information about Rocky Bluff's history and development, I was disappointed to find that the drawer with the 'neighborhood' folders jumped from 'Richmond Hill' to 'Rolling Meadows'.

Related link:

Rocky Bluff Neighborhood Association

Related reading:

Where you'll 'stay forever and wish it were longer': Madison's neighborhoods in 30 words. (Wisconsin State Journal, 9/11/2016)

"Friendly, close-knit Near West Side neighborhood. Residents dwell in an urban forest on quiet, mature tree-lined streets and enjoy the trails in beautiful Quarry Park."

Other Madison neighborhood auto tour posts:
Faircrest. (2/22/2018)
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)

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Pew Research documents a generation gap in American politics

The shrinking middle

The Generation Gap in American Politics. (Pew Research Center, 3/1/2018)

As noted in October, there has been an increase in the share of Americans expressing consistently liberal or mostly liberal views, while the share holding a mix of liberal and conservative views has declined.

In part, this reflects a broad rise in the shares of Americans who say homosexuality should be accepted rather than discouraged, and that immigrants are more a strength than a burden for the country.

Across all four generational cohorts, more express either consistently liberal or mostly liberal opinions across the 10 items than did so six years ago.

Dear Karl Rove, You're full of shit and everybody knows it. Best, RG

Breitbart, 3/1/2018

(Yellow arrows added to Brookings column graph)

Why is Trump’s staff turnover higher than the 5 most recent presidents? by Liz Sablich. (Brookings, 1/19/2018)

Perhaps the real story this coming year may well be the other side of the turnover coin: filling these senior staff vacancies. Year-two recruitment is more of a challenge for any administration because the post-election enthusiasm has long since faded, the “first string” recruits have been tapped out, and the harsh realities of governing are in full view. With the Mueller investigation heating up in the coming months and growing electoral fears after the Alabama Senate election, some Republicans might be less eager to send their resumes to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

This week in the cereal aisle: The takeover of Mom

Photo by Retiring Guy

(Rice Krispies fan changed her mind?)

Post buys Lakeville-based MOM Brands for $1.15 billion. Deal combines nation's No. 3, No. 4 makers of breakfast cereal. (Star Tribune, 2/3/2015)

MOM Brands, as the Malt-O-Meal company has been called since 2012, is perhaps best known by Minnesotans for its namesake hot wheat cereal, still churned out at a vintage mill in Northfield. But the company hit the big leagues by selling low-priced cold cereal in bags and producing knockoffs of major brands.

Its Tootie Fruities, for instance, are a dead ringer for Kellogg’s Froot Loops.

You might remember this commercial.

Other weeks in the cereal aisle posts:
2018
Hoopla over rainbow marshmallows added to Lucky Charms. (2/22/2018)
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)

2017
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)

2016
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)

Greetings from Trump's America: Wayne County, Pennsylvania, where Moon cult members bring AK-15s to church

Worshippers clutching AR-15 rifles hold commitment ceremony. (USA Today, 2/28/2018)

The church, which has a worldwide following, believes the AR-15 symbolizes the “rod of iron” in the book of Revelation, and encouraged couples to bring the weapons. An AR-15 was used in the Florida high school massacre on Feb. 14.

The Rev. Sean Moon, who leads the church, prayed for “a kingdom of peace police and peace militia where the citizens, through the right given to them by almighty God to keep and bear arms, will be able to protect one another and protect human flourishing.”

Moon is the son of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, a self-proclaimed messiah who founded the Unification Church, which critics regard as a cult.

Source: Wikipedia

Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts

Source: CNN

Other Trump's America posts:
Alabama
Autauga County. (6/29/2017)
Bibb County. (11/10/2017)
Covington County. (11/11/2017)
Dale County. (12/12/2017)
Geneva County. (11/11/2017)
Marion County. (11/11/2017)

California
Mesa County. (7/20/2017)
Shasta County. (7/4/2017

Colorado
Morgan County. (4/25/2017)

Florida
DeSoto County,. (9/9/2017)

Idaho
Kootenai County. (9/25/2017)

Illinois
Effingham County. (2/15/2018)
Franklin County. (2/27/2017)
McHenry County. (2/5/2017)
Perry County.  (5/8/2017)
16th Congressional District. (3/26/2017)

Indiana
Granger.  (3/26/2017)
Hendricks County. (10/1/2017)
Huntington County. (4/27/2017)
Posey County. (10/21/2017)
Scott County,. (10/21/2017)

Iowa
Boone County.  (1/15/2017)
Clinton County. (10/15/2017)
Franklin County, (8/14/2017)
Marion County. (5/23/2017)
Monticello. (1/13/2017)
Poweshiek and Webster counties. (2/7/2017)
Sioux County. (2/22/2018)
Union County.  (9/10/2017)
Winnebago County. (12/17/2017)
Wright County. (8/8/2017)

Kansas
Clark County. (3/21/2017)
Mitchell County.  (1/29/2017)
Sumner County. (10/1/2017)

Kentucky
Hancock County,. (10/21/2017)
Jackson County. (12/9/2017)
Knox and Whitley counties. (2/17/2017)
Lee County. (12/9/2017)
Letcher County.  (6/29/2017)
Perry County. (10/10/2017)

Louisiana
Calcasieu Parish,. (5/22/2017)
St. Martin Parish. (4/26/2017)

Maine
Piscataquis County. (7/3/2017)

Michigan
Macomb County. (11/29/2017)
St. Joseph County. (6/5/2017)

Minnesota
Lac qui Parle County.  (7/2/2017)
Nobles County. (1/26/2018)

Mississippi
Pontotoc County.  (7/19/2017)

New Jersey
7th Congressional District. (4/14/2017)

New York
UPDATE: Essex County. (11/29/2017)
Putnam County. (2/27/2018)
19th Congressional District. (3/26/2017)

North Carolina
Robeson County. (12/1/2017)
Union County. (3/9/2017)

North Dakota
Sargent County. (10/22/2017)

Ohio
Adams County. (12/9/2017)
Columbiana County, (12/11/2017)
Defiance County. (3/21/2017)
Highland County. (3/19/2017)
Huron County. (6/19/2017)
Jackson County. (6/6/2017)
Lawrence County. (2/25/2018)
Morgan County. (10/10/2017)
Trumbull County. (4/3/2017)
Van Wert County.  (4/12/2017)

Williams County. (3/21/2017)

Oklahoma

Bryan County. (5/5/2017)

Oregon

Douglas County. (5/17/2017)

Pennsylvania

Cambria County (Johnstown). (6/3/2017)

Dauphin County. (4/22/2017)

Erie County. (9/2/2017)

Greene County. (5/3/2017)

UPDATE. Luzerne County. (1/14/2017)

Northampton County. (7/20/2017)

Williamsport. (1/24/2017)

8th Congressional District. (4/18/2017)

South Carolina

Spartanburg County. (6/5/2017)

South Dakota

Lawrence County,. (4/27/2017)

Tennessee
Campbell County. (12/10/2017)
Marion County. (4/1/2017)
Maury County. (10/31/2017)
Union County.  (5/30/2017)

Texas
Gaines County. (4/26/2017)
Shackelford County. (2/26/2018)

Washington
Grays Harbor County. (8/20/2017)

West Virginia
Cabell County.  (8/4/2017)
Fayette County.  (1/24/2017)
Jackson County. (6/18/2017)
Marshall County. (2/7/2018)
Mason County. (12/16/2017)
McDowell County. (7/10/2017)

Wisconsin
6th congressional district. (1/27/2018)
Adams County. (2/6/2017)
Buffalo County. (3/19/2017)
Burnett County. (2/24/2018)
Clark County,. (3/19/2017)
Green Lake County. (1/26/2018)
Johnson Creek. (1/21/2017)
Juneau County. (2/23/2017)
Manitowoc County. (8/10/2017)
Oneida County. (4/24/2017)
Pepin County. (12/21/2017)
Price County. (10/21/2017)
Richland County. (11/10/2017)
Sawyer County. (3/20/2017)
Taylor County.  (3/19/2017)
Waushara County. (2/6/2017)
Winnebago County. (11/27/2017)

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Gatlinburg:Tennessee::Wisconsin Dells:Wisconsin

Screenshot by iPhone

If Gatlinburg is the most underrated city in Tennesse, then it follows that Wisconsin Dells is the most underrated city in Wisconsin.

If you have visited both cities, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

The most underrated cities in all 50 stateshttps://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/most-underrated-city-to-visit-every-state. (Thrillist, 2/28/2018)

UPDATE. Then and now and now again: Park Hotel/Inn on the Park/Park Hotel, Madison Wisconsin

Now again.

Photo by Retiring Guy

Original 9/8/2015 post starts here.

Then. A 1930s-era postcard view. (From Retiring Guy's collection)

From "Lost Madison: Photo Exhibit". (Madison Public Library)

With its mansard roof, elegant detail and prime Capitol Square location, the French Second Empire-style Park Hotel was hailed as "one of the handsomest of its kind in Wisconsin" when it opened in 1871 at the corner of South Carroll and West Main Streets. Built of Milwaukee cream-colored brick and Madison sandstone, the four-story hotel had 118 sleeping rooms with marble fireplaces, "ladies' and gentlemen's balconies," and a special suite reserved for the governor. The building, seen in this mid-1870's photo, saw the addition of a neo-classical facade in 1911 and then the building was demolished in 1961 to make way for the Park Motor Inn, "Madison's newest motor hotel," now called the Inn on the Park.

Now.