Retiring Guy's Digest: 2019-02-17

Saturday, February 23, 2019

The Arbors' cover of "The Letter" debuts on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending February 22, 1969

Not a stellar class this week. None of the singles listed below reached the top 10.

The Arbors have always been something of a guilty pleasure for me. If nothing else, they certainly know how to rework a song. "The Letter" is the best performer of their 4 singles that charted on the Hot 100.

In other chart action, Aretha Franklin eventually falters with "The Weight". Despite its impressive debut, the single disappears after 7 weeks, barely cracking the top 20. Less than a year after the success of "Valleri", the Monkees are yesterday's news. And after 5 clinkers in a row, Neil Diamond is back on track.

Billboard Hot 100

Related article:
The Life and Music of the Arbors. (Mental Itch)

The Arbors were a mid-60’s music era singing quartet made up of two sets of brothers, Tom and Scott Herrick and Ed and Fred Farran. They met while in college at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, taking the latter part of the city’s name as the name for their quartet.

Joanne Swanson Massa (1930-2019) Warren High School class of 1948

Source: Warren Times Observer

1948 Dragon yearbook

Joanne's high-school activities:

Girls' Club (4); Carnival (3).

1967 Warren City Directory

Swanson Emma M (wid Carl A) retd h101 Ludlow
Massa Saml J (JoAnn M) atndt Warren State Hosp h25Ludlow

1983 Warren City Directory

Allen Kevin & Michele M; emp National Forge h2707 Pennsylvania Ave W
Allen Michele M Mrs clk typ Warren State Hosp h2707 Pennsylvania Ave W
Loomis Charles tinsmith Wrn St Hosp h812 Carbon Pl
Loomis Toni J Mrs ofc sec Ofc of Emp Sec Fed Acct Serv h812 Carbon Pl
Massa Peter C USAF r25 Ludlow
Massa Saml J & JoAnn M; retd h25 Ludlow

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

Source: Social Security Administration

A 1923 debutante, Toni rose into the top 200 by 1946 and spent a total of 35 years (1946-49, 1951-80, 1982) at this level. She peaked at #146 in 1960 and 1968. By 1994, she was perched to make a swan dive into oblivion, which took place 13 years later.

Other class of '48 graduates:
2018
Joanne Chester. (11/13/2018)
Betty Burke Dickinson. (9/1/2018)
Stephen Cosmano. (8/29/2018)
Beulah Fox Boll. (3/16/2018)

2017
Phyllis Miller Maze. (12/27/2017)
Dorothy Anderson Turner. (9/27/2017)
Margaret Mathyer Conroy. (4/26/2017)

2016
Ruth Figliuzzi. (11/5/2016)
Donna Mack Schuler. (3/19/2016)

2015
Carol Jean Niver Hampson. (10/22/2015)
Frank Marlett. (9/13/2015)
John Giltinan. (7/76/2015)
Lela Nichols Akeley. (6/24/2015)

2014
Ella Atwell Blum. (12/24/2014)
Betty Carlson Johnson. (10/26/2014)
H. Kent Peterson. (10/1/2014)
Kenneth Lundahl. (9/21/2014)

2013
Carl Leave. (12/26/2013)

Disappearing cities and villages of the Buckeye State: Gallipolis, Ohio

Gallipolis Daily Tribune via EMS World, 4/4/2018

The Gallia-Jackson-Meigs Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services and Holzer Health System are partnering to organize recognition events and to express appreciation for individuals on the front line fighting Ohio's and Gallia County's opiate epidemic.

Source: Wikipedia

Gallipolis's population peaked at 8,775 in 1960. Its 2016 estimated population is 3,462 -- a drop of 5,313 (61%).

The City of Gallipolis is located on the Ohio River and is the county seat of Gallia County. It is located 150 miles east of Cincinnati. The county's population peaked at 31,069 in 2000, and its current estimated population is 29,973, a drop of 3.5%.

Other disappearing cities of the Buckeye State:
Cleveland. (1/2/2019)
East Liverpool. (2/18/2019)
Martins Ferry. (2/21/2019)
Pomeroy. (2/22/2019)
Steubenville. (2/20/2019)
Warren. (1/18/2019)
Youngstown. (1/9/2019)

Disappearing cities and boroughs of the Keystone State

Aliquippa. (1/12/2019)
Ambridge. (1/17/2019)
Arnold. (1/18/2019)
Braddock. (1/19/2019)
Bradford, (1/20/2019)
Carbondale. (1/21/2019)
Charleroi. (1/22/2019)
Chester. (1/23/2019)
Clairton. (1/24/2019)
Coraopolis. (1/25/2019)
Dickson City. (1/26/2019)
Donora. (1/27/2019)
Duquesne. (1/28/2019)
Farrell. (1/29/2019)
Harrisburg. (2/12/2019)
Homestead. (1/30/2019)
Johnstown. (1/6/2019)
McKees Rocks. (1/31/2019)
McKeesport. (2/1/2019)
Monessen. (2/2/2019)
Nanticoke. (2/3/2019)
New Castle. (2/4/2019)
New Kensington. (2/5/2019)
Oil City. (2/6/2019)
Pittsburgh. (1/13/2019)
Pittston. (2/7/2019)
Scranton. (1/14/2019)
Shamokin. (2/8/2019)
Sharon. (2/9/2019)
Steelton. (2/11/2019)
Swissvale. (2/13/2019)
Titusville. (2/10/2019)
Uniontown. (2/14/2019)
Washington. (2/15/2019)
Willkes-Barre. (2/16/2019)
Wiklinsburg. (2/17/2018)

Other U.S. disappearing cities

Baltimore, Maryland. (12/31/2018)
Benton Harbor, Michigan. (1/15/2019)
Buffalo, New York, (1/8/2019)
Cairo, Illinois. (1/5/2019)
Detroit, Michigan. (1/1/2019)
East St. Louis, Illinois. (1/11/2019)
Flint, Michigan. (1/7/2019)
Gary, Indiana. (1/4/2019)
St. Louis, Missouri. (1/2/2019)
Wheeling, West Virginia. (1/16/2019)

Friday, February 22, 2019

GET ME REWRITE: Robin Vos sez, "Keep those people locked up!"

Headlines:

(top) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/18/2019
(bottom) Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (2/21/2019)

Retiring Guy sez it's His Vosness who is far out of the mainstream. I count only 15 states where marijuana is fully illegal.

Map source: Vox

GET ME REWRITE: Robin Vos sez , "Let the damage to our environment begin." And he’s damn happy about it

No matter the cost.

As with most Wisconsin Republicans, Robin Vos receives a 0% rating from the Wisconsin Sierra Club.

Reported in Assembly speaker hopes Foxconn air permits aren't changed. (Madison.com, 2/21/2019)

Related posts:
UPDATE. Robin Vos doesn't want to count his chickens before they hatch but remains confident it's going to happen. (10/23/2017)
That was then. This is now. The free market/small government Robin Vos. (8/4/2017)
Calendar UPDATE. In the case of the committee hearing, 1 day is sufficient time to prepare, sez Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. (8/1/2017)
Scott Walker and Foxconn steamroll environmental regulation going forward. (7/29/2017)

Disappearing cities and villages of the Buckeye State: Pomeroy, Ohio

Marietta Times, 2/9/2018

The suit notes that PFOA can still be found in public water supplies from the Ohio River Buried Valley Aquifer in Washington and Meigs counties and persists in the soil, grass and tree samples.

PFOA has been linked to kidney cancer, testicular cancer, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, pregnancy-induced hypertension and high cholesterol.

Source: Wikipedia

Pomeroy's population peaked at 6,480 in 1860. Its 2017 estimated population is 1,790 -- a drop of 4,690 (72%).

The Village of Pomeroy is located on the Ohio River in Meigs County, 202 miles southwest of Pittsburgh and 166 miles east of Cincinnati. The county's population peaked at 32,325 in 1890, and its current estimated population is 23,080, a drop of 29%.

Other disappearing cities of the Buckeye State:
Cleveland. (1/2/2019)
East Liverpool. (2/18/2019)
Martins Ferry. (2/21/2019)
Steubenville. (2/20/2019)
Warren. (1/18/2019)
Youngstown. (1/9/2019)

Disappearing cities and boroughs of the Keystone State

Other U.S. disappearing cities

Thursday, February 21, 2019

From the Madison Pubilc Library clippings file: Residents don't want Willy Street to lose its unique character (1994-2002)

April 26, 1994

November 24, 1996

October 23, 1997

November 6, 1997

June 29, 1999

July 5, 2000

April 27, 2001

August 31, 2001 (the inevitable headline)

July 13, 2002

More from the Madison Public Library clippings file:
2019
A time traveler from 1956 wouldn't recognize the place now. (2/21/2019)
Remembering the hot-rodders of East Wash (1980-1999). (2/19/2019)
UPDATE, Eventually, we'll work our way back to the horse and buggy era. (2/18/2019)
The Battle of Stonefield in Middleton (1986). (2/18/2019)
An expressway like a dagger through the heart. (2/7/2019)
Not to worry, folks, Wisconsin public television survived. (2/5/2019)
Downtown/University area urban renewal, 1971-1981 (1/28/2019)
Madison urban renewal, part 3, the Triangle, 1970-1979. (1/27/2019)
Madison urban renewal, part 2, the Triangle, 1964-1969 . (1/27/2019)
Madison urban renewal, part 1, 1962-1964. (1/27/2019)
Downtown Madison parking ramps, 1956-1971. (1/22/2019)

2018
History of the Dane County airport. (12/21/2018)

2017
City's first skywalk opens in 1966. (10/9/2017)
Typewriter art. (10/9/2017)
Proudfit and Regent streets widening, 1955. (9/30/2017)
Northport Connector project, 1960. (9/30/2017)
Regent Street extension beyond Rosa Road, another bad idea left on the drawing board. (5/27/2017)
Drake Street extension, a bad idea left on the drawing board. (5/26/2017)

Scott Walker, ad nauseum

2013

2015

2018

2019

@ScotttWalker

From the Madison Public Library clippings file: A time traveler from 1956 wouldn't recognize the place now

July 25, 1956.

When a stretch of University Avenue was a 3-lane.

Screenshot from 1957 Madison City Directory

Skip's Drive In is located at 3780 University Avenue.

Here's an approximate Google Street View taken during August 2017

Walgreen's (center of pic) is located at 3780 University Avenue. Hilldale shopping center is off to the right.

More from the Madison Public Library clippings file:
2019
Remembering the hot-rodders of East Wash (1980-1999). (2/19/2019)
UPDATE, Eventually, we'll work our way back to the horse and buggy era. (2/18/2019)
The Battle of Stonefield in Middleton (1986). (2/18/2019)
An expressway like a dagger through the heart. (2/7/2019)
Not to worry, folks, Wisconsin public television survived. (2/5/2019)
Downtown/University area urban renewal, 1971-1981 (1/28/2019)
Madison urban renewal, part 3, the Triangle, 1970-1979. (1/27/2019)
Madison urban renewal, part 2, the Triangle, 1964-1969 . (1/27/2019)
Madison urban renewal, part 1, 1962-1964. (1/27/2019)
Downtown Madison parking ramps, 1956-1971. (1/22/2019)

2018
History of the Dane County airport. (12/21/2018)

2017
City's first skywalk opens in 1966. (10/9/2017)
Typewriter art. (10/9/2017)
Proudfit and Regent streets widening, 1955. (9/30/2017)
Northport Connector project, 1960. (9/30/2017)
Regent Street extension beyond Rosa Road, another bad idea left on the drawing board. (5/27/2017)
Drake Street extension, a bad idea left on the drawing board. (5/26/2017)

Of the millions of copies sold, none remain in LINKcat libraries

Patricia Nell Warren, Novelist of Gay Romance, Dies at 82. (The New York Times, 2/15/2019)

“The Front Runner,” which has sold millions of copies, is the story of the love that blossoms between Harlan Brown, a conservative track coach at a Northeastern liberal arts college, and Billy Sive, one of his athletes.

Outsports, 11/1/2018

GET ME REWRITE: Looks to me as though the GOP is demonizing Democratic women of color

Screenshot from New York Times article on page A12 of the 2/18/2019 print edition

Demographically, not a smart and sustainable game plan for a party of white men.

Source: Wikipedia

Original 9/13/2018 post starts here.

While the Republicans remain a white boys' club.

Yakima Herald, 9/12/2018

The Nation, 9/26/2017

Let's cast as wide of a net as possible. This from a conservative think tank where diversity, apparently, is dirty word. Count the number of women and minorities on its Scholars pages.

American Enterprise Institute, 5/2/2018

Democratic members of Congress reflect the current racial and ethnic make-up of the United States.

Republicans members of Congress live in MAGAland.

Source: Membership of the 115th Congress: A Profile

(Congressional Research Service, 7/11/2018)

Republicans are taking everyone

but their rich donors for granted.

Oh, and then there's this.

Disappearing cities and villages of the Buckeye State: Martins Ferry, Ohio

Times-Leader, 3/7/2017

Part of the plant now is occupied by fracking sludge recycler Austin Master Services.

Ohio Coatings also stores steel coils there. At one time the plant employed more than 2,000 people.

Wheeling businessman Quay Mull purchased the former mill for $2 million during RG Steel’s bankruptcy sale in 2012.

Source: Wikipedia

Martins Ferry's population peaked at 14,729 in 1940. Its 2017 estimated population is 6,659 -- a drop of 8,070 (55%).

The City of Martins Ferry is located on the Ohio River in Belmont County, 91 miles south of Youngstown and 61 miles southwest of Pittsburgh. The county's population peaked at 95,615 in 1940, and its current estimated population is 69,029, a drop of 28%.

Other disappearing cities of the Buckeye State:
Cleveland. (1/2/2019)
East Liverpool. (2/18/2019)
Steubenville. (2/20/2019)
Warren. (1/18/2019)
Youngstown. (1/9/2019)

Disappearing cities and boroughs of the Keystone State

Other U.S. disappearing cities