Retiring Guy's Digest: 2019-10-13

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Keeping tabs on the Wisconsin Alumni Association

Wisconsin Alumni Association Board of Directors

Meet the GOP lemmings of Congress (the Jim Banks edition)

Quoted in Where House members stand on impeaching Trump. (Washington Post)

One of Banks' greatest hits: "LGBTQ discrimination works for me".

Other Jim Banks post:
51 U.S. House members implore Trump to legalize LGBT discrimination. (4/25/2017)

Other GOP lemmings posts:
Bradley Byrne, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Martha Roby, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Mike Rogers, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Robert Aderholt, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Mo Brooks, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Gary Palmer, Alabama. (10/10/2019)

Don Young, Alaska. (10/10/2019)

Paul Gosar, Arizona. (10/10/2019)
Andy Biggs, Arizona. (10/10/2019)
Debbie Lesko, Arizona. (10/10/2019)

Rick Crawford, Arkansas. (10/10/2019)
French Hill, Arkansas. (10/10/2019)
Steve Womack, Arkansas. (10/11/2019)
Bruce Westerman, Arkansas. (10/11/2019)
Tom Cotton, Arkansas. (10/16/2019)

Doug LaMalfa, California. (10/11/2019)
Tom McClintock, California. (10/11/2019)
Paul Cook, California. (10/11/2019)
Devin Nunes, California. (10/11/2019)
Kevin McCarthy, California. (10/12/2019)
Ken Calvert, California. (10/12/2019)
Duncan Hunter, California. (10/12/2019)

Ken Buck, Colorado. (10/13/2019)
Doug Lamborn, Colorado. (10/13/2019)

Matt Gaetz, Florida. (10/13/2019)
Ted Yoho, Florida. (10/14/2019)
Daniel Webster, Florida. (10/14/2019)
Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida. (10/14/2019)

Buddy Carter, Georgia. (10/15/2019)
Rob Woodall, Georgia. (10/15/2019)
Doug Collins, Georgia. (10/15/2019)
Jody Hice, Georgia. (10/16/2019)
Barry Loudermilk, Georgia. (10/17/2019)
Rick Allen, Georgia. (10/17/2019)
Tom Graves, Georgia. (10/17/2019)

Mike Bost, Illinois. (10/18/2019)
Rodney Davis, Illinois. (10/18/2019)
John Shimkus, Illinois. (10/18/2019)
Darin LaHood, Illinois. (10/19/2019)

Jackie Walorski, Indiana. (10/19/2019)

Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee. (10/16/2019)

Meet the GOP lemmings of Congress (the Jackie Walorski edition)

Quoted in Where House members stand on impeaching Trump. (Washington Post)

One of Walorski's greatest hits: "One Man, One Woman".

Other Jackie Walorski posts:
Meet the members of the Republican Study Committee. (7/10/2015)
No friend to the environment. (12/24/2014)

Other GOP lemmings posts:
Bradley Byrne, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Martha Roby, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Mike Rogers, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Robert Aderholt, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Mo Brooks, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Gary Palmer, Alabama. (10/10/2019)

Don Young, Alaska. (10/10/2019)

Paul Gosar, Arizona. (10/10/2019)
Andy Biggs, Arizona. (10/10/2019)
Debbie Lesko, Arizona. (10/10/2019)

Rick Crawford, Arkansas. (10/10/2019)
French Hill, Arkansas. (10/10/2019)
Steve Womack, Arkansas. (10/11/2019)
Bruce Westerman, Arkansas. (10/11/2019)
Tom Cotton, Arkansas. (10/16/2019)

Doug LaMalfa, California. (10/11/2019)
Tom McClintock, California. (10/11/2019)
Paul Cook, California. (10/11/2019)
Devin Nunes, California. (10/11/2019)
Kevin McCarthy, California. (10/12/2019)
Ken Calvert, California. (10/12/2019)
Duncan Hunter, California. (10/12/2019)

Ken Buck, Colorado. (10/13/2019)
Doug Lamborn, Colorado. (10/13/2019)

Matt Gaetz, Florida. (10/13/2019)
Ted Yoho, Florida. (10/14/2019)
Daniel Webster, Florida. (10/14/2019)
Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida. (10/14/2019)

Buddy Carter, Georgia. (10/15/2019)
Rob Woodall, Georgia. (10/15/2019)
Doug Collins, Georgia. (10/15/2019)
Jody Hice, Georgia. (10/16/2019)
Barry Loudermilk, Georgia. (10/17/2019)
Rick Allen, Georgia. (10/17/2019)
Tom Graves, Georgia. (10/17/2019)

Mike Bost, Illinois. (10/18/2019)
Rodney Davis, Illinois. (10/18/2019)
John Shimkus, Illinois. (10/18/2019)
Darin LaHood, Illinois. (10/19/2019)

Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee. (10/16/2019)

Meet the GOP lemmings of Congress (the Darin LaHood edition)

Quoted in Where House members stand on impeaching Trump. (Washington Post)

The New York Times (9/25/2019)

One of LaHood's greatest hits: "Faith, Family and Freedom".

The Family Research Council, headed by Tony Perkins, is categorized as an extremist group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The FRC often makes false claims about the LGBT community based on discredited research and junk science. The intention is to denigrate LGBT people as the organization battles against same-sex marriage, hate crime laws, anti-bullying programs and the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Other Darin LaHood posts:
51 U.S. House members implore Trump to legalize LGBT discrimination. (5/9/2017)

Other GOP lemmings posts:
Bradley Byrne, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Martha Roby, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Mike Rogers, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Robert Aderholt, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Mo Brooks, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Gary Palmer, Alabama. (10/10/2019)

Don Young, Alaska. (10/10/2019)

Paul Gosar, Arizona. (10/10/2019)
Andy Biggs, Arizona. (10/10/2019)
Debbie Lesko, Arizona. (10/10/2019)

Rick Crawford, Arkansas. (10/10/2019)
French Hill, Arkansas. (10/10/2019)
Steve Womack, Arkansas. (10/11/2019)
Bruce Westerman, Arkansas. (10/11/2019)
Tom Cotton, Arkansas. (10/16/2019)

Doug LaMalfa, California. (10/11/2019)
Tom McClintock, California. (10/11/2019)
Paul Cook, California. (10/11/2019)
Devin Nunes, California. (10/11/2019)
Kevin McCarthy, California. (10/12/2019)
Ken Calvert, California. (10/12/2019)
Duncan Hunter, California. (10/12/2019)

Ken Buck, Colorado. (10/13/2019)
Doug Lamborn, Colorado. (10/13/2019)

Matt Gaetz, Florida. (10/13/2019)
Ted Yoho, Florida. (10/14/2019)
Daniel Webster, Florida. (10/14/2019)
Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida. (10/14/2019)

Buddy Carter, Georgia. (10/15/2019)
Rob Woodall, Georgia. (10/15/2019)
Doug Collins, Georgia. (10/15/2019)
Jody Hice, Georgia. (10/16/2019)
Barry Loudermilk, Georgia. (10/17/2019)
Rick Allen, Georgia. (10/17/2019)
Tom Graves, Georgia. (10/17/2019)

Mike Bost, Illinois. (10/18/2019)
Rodney Davis, Illinois. (10/18/2019)
John Shimkus, Illinois. (10/18/2019)

Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee. (10/16/2019)

UPDATE. Centuria Public Library: 2009-2018 annual circulation and program attendance

Source: Wisconsin Public Library Service Data.

Ranked by percentage change in annual circulation 2017-2018, high to low

Centuria Public Library

A member of the Indianhead Federated Library System

Library hours of operation (no change since 2016)

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 12 noon. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday: 12 noon to 7 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 12 noon

31 hours per week. (Compared to 26 hours per week, on average, in 2009.)

Argyle Public Library. (10/7/2019)

Arpin. Lester Public Library. (10/2/2019)

Belmont. John Turgeson Public Library. (10/6/2019)

Bloomington Public Library. (10/13/2019)

Drummond Public Library. (10/15/2019)

Endeavor Public Library. (10/17/2019)

Ettrick Public Library. (10/2/2019)

Fairchild Public Library. (10/9/2019)

Hawkins Area Library. (10/6/2019)

Independence Public Library. (10/11/2019)

Livingston. Allen Dietzman Public Library. (10/14/2019)

Lone Rock Community Library. (10/5/2019)

Lowell Public Library. (10/10/2019)

Montfort Public Library. (10/8/2019)

Neshkoro Public Library. (10/3/2019)

Norwalk Public Library. (10/16/2019)

Sand Creek. Clarella Hackett Johnson Public Library. (10/1/2019)

Taylor Memorial Library. (10/3/2019)

Wabeno Public Library. (10/4/2019)

Population loss in Alabama: Bullock County/Union Springs

It all started here.

Population loss as in major -- 50% or more.

Source: Wikipedia (Bullock County, Union Springs)

Union Springs is the county seat of Bullock County.

Population loss by degrees: 80-90%, 70-79%, 60-69%, 50-59%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts

Percentage of population 25 and older with a bachelor's degree:

13.4% - Bullock County
24.5% - Alabama
30.9% - U.S.

Percentage of population 65 and older:

16.4% - Bullock County
16.9% - Alabama
16.0% - U.S.

% of population living in poverty:

34.4% - Bullock County
16.8% - Alabama
11.8% - U.S.

The last time Bullock County voted for a Republican presidential candidate was in 1964, when LBJ wasn't on the ballot. Clinton received 75.9% of the vote in 2016. George Wallace received 50.5% of the vote in 1968.

Union Springs Public Library

Related reading:
2 More Alabama Cities Quietly Integrate Schools. (The New York Times, 9/9/1964)

Union Springs, a small town in the Alabama “black belt,” is expected to enroll three Negroes in Bullock County High School tomorrow without any significant loss of white students.

Other Alabama population loss posts:
Sumter County/Livingston. (10/13/2019)
Marengo County/Linden. (10/14/2019)
Greene County/Eutaw. (10/15/2019)
Hale County/Greensboro. (10/15/2019)
Perry County/Marion. (10/16/2019)
Wilcox County/Camden. (10/17/2019)
Lowndes County/Hayneville. (10/18/2019)

Population loss series:

Arkansas
Colorado
Detroit metro

Iowa

Kansas
Louisiana
Minnesota
Mississippi
Montana

Nebraska
New Mexico
North Dakota

Ohio
Oklahoma

Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Texas
Wyoming

Friday, October 18, 2019

Climate change as a matter of fact: 2022 World Cup games in Qatar moved from July to November

Facing unbearable heat, Qatar has begun to air-condition the outdoors. (Washington Post, 10/16/2019)

It was 116 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade outside the new Al Janoub soccer stadium, and the air felt to air-conditioning expert Saud Ghani as if God had pointed “a giant hair dryer” at Qatar.

Yet inside the open-air stadium, a cool breeze was blowing.

The change in the World Cup date is a symptom of a larger problem — climate change.

Already one of the hottest places on Earth, Qatar has seen average temperatures rise more than 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial times, the current international goal for limiting the damage of global warming.

Previous climate change as a matter of fact posts:
Africa
Cape Town, South Africa. (1/31/2018)
Kenya. (7/23/2017)

Asia
The thawing of Siberia's permafrost. (10/5/2019)
Disappearing glaciers of the Himalayas. (6/21/2019)
No groundwater for 100,000,000 people in India? That sounds like 'unlivable' to me. (6/21/2019)
Kazakhstan: The melting of Tuyuksu glacier. (1/21/2019)
Record heat in Japan raises concerns over 2020 Olympics. (7/23/2018)
Lebanon's cedar trees. (7/19/2018)
Rising seas + draining underground aquifers = Jakarta disaster. (12/22/2017)

Australia and the Pacific
Dying coral of the Great Barrier Reef. (4/22/2018)
Easter Island. (3/18/2018)
Green sea turtles of the Great Barrier Reef. (1/11/2018)
Kiribati. (7/6/2016)

Business and industry
It's the business of a ratings agency. (7/28/2019)

Europe
Italy's olive groves. (3/11/2019)
Rising seas threaten Scottish heritage. (9/29/2018)
Norway, Finland, and Sweden. (7/19/2018)
Portugal. (6/19/2017)
The Netherlands. (6/19/2017)

North America
Pecan orchards of New Mexico. (9/29/2019)
Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Green infrastructure). (9/17/2019)
Coming alive in the nighttime in Phoenix. (8/21/2019)
It's an election issue for young Republicans. (8/21/2019)
2°C beyond the limit in New Jersey. (8/14/2019)
In the newsrooms of Florida newspapers. (7/10;2/019)
T he Point in Newport, Rhode Island. (7/10/2019)
Expect more fish die-offs in Wisconsin lakes. (7/9/2019)
Still on the front lines in Miami. (6/26/2019)
Great Marsh, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. (6/4/2019)
Alaska: Iditarod sled dog race. (3/3/2019)
Greenland's rapidly melting ice. (1/22/2019)
Insect apocalypse: Monarch butterfly. (12/10/2018)
Hot nights in the U.S. (9/6/2018)
Hampton Roads, Virginia. (8/19/2018)
Front-page news at Des Moines Register. (8/12/2018)
Miami, again. (6/14/2018)
May 2018 record heat in U.S. (6/9/2018)
Melting outdoor ice rinks in Canada. (3/21/2018)
Gulf of Maine. (3/8/2018)
Jean Lafitte, Louisiana. (2/26/2018)
Lodi, Wisconsin. (2/3/2018)
Maine shrimp season. (12/27/2017)
California fires. (12/8/2017)
Wisconsin. (11/16/2017)
Hampton Roads, Virginia. (11/4/2017)
Georgia peach orchards. (9/18/2017)
Northeast U.S. pine forests. (8/29/2017)
Tangier Island, Virginia.  (8/25/2017)
South of the Arctic Circle in Alaska. (8/25/2017)
New Orleans.  (8/12/2017)
Mexico City.  (2/19/2017)
Kansas. (1/29/2017)
Moose of Maine.  (1/21/2017)
Florida Keys.  (1/14/2017)
California wine country. (1/11/2017)
Kaktovik, Alaska. (12/20/2016)
Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park. (7/7/2016)

Polar regions
Unprecedented ice melt in Greenland and the Arctic so far this June. (6/15/2019)
Disappearing old ice in Arctic. (6/4/2018)
North Pole. (2/28/2018)
Beavers migrate to Arctic. (12/24 /2017)
Shrinking sea ice in the Arctic Ocean. (12/14/2017)
Emaciated polar bear. (12/9/2017)

South America
Galapagos Islands. (12/19/2018)
Peru. (11/26/2017)
Brazil. (6/8/2017)
Bolivia. (7/11/2016)
Peru, (5/21/2016)

U.S. Military
Military prepares for reality of climate change, rising seas. (8/11/2018)
U.S. military bases around the world. (1/8/2018)
U.S. Department of Defense. (12/16/2017)
U.S. military bases. (9/22/2017)

Worldwide
Shareholders demand companies address climate change. (10/16/2019)
Business leaders acknowledge bottom line risks and costs of climate change. (6/5/2019)
Ocean heat hits record high. (3/30/2019)
Not just a wake-up call anymore. (8/10/2018)

Meet the GOP lemmings of Congress (the John Shimkus edition)

Quoted in Where House members stand on impeaching Trump. (Washington Post)

One of Shimkus's greatest hits: "One Man, One Woman", the clear favorite of the downstate Illinois congressional delegation.

Other John Shimkus posts:
GOP members of Congress announce their retirements from the House early and often. (10/11/2019)
Meet the members of the Republican Study Committee. (7/10/2015)
No friend to the environment. (12/21/2014)

Other GOP lemmings posts:
Bradley Byrne, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Martha Roby, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Mike Rogers, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Robert Aderholt, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Mo Brooks, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Gary Palmer, Alabama. (10/10/2019)

Don Young, Alaska. (10/10/2019)

Paul Gosar, Arizona. (10/10/2019)
Andy Biggs, Arizona. (10/10/2019)
Debbie Lesko, Arizona. (10/10/2019)

Rick Crawford, Arkansas. (10/10/2019)
French Hill, Arkansas. (10/10/2019)
Steve Womack, Arkansas. (10/11/2019)
Bruce Westerman, Arkansas. (10/11/2019)
Tom Cotton, Arkansas. (10/16/2019)

Doug LaMalfa, California. (10/11/2019)
Tom McClintock, California. (10/11/2019)
Paul Cook, California. (10/11/2019)
Devin Nunes, California. (10/11/2019)
Kevin McCarthy, California. (10/12/2019)
Ken Calvert, California. (10/12/2019)
Duncan Hunter, California. (10/12/2019)

Ken Buck, Colorado. (10/13/2019)
Doug Lamborn, Colorado. (10/13/2019)

Matt Gaetz, Florida. (10/13/2019)
Ted Yoho, Florida. (10/14/2019)
Daniel Webster, Florida. (10/14/2019)
Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida. (10/14/2019)

Buddy Carter, Georgia. (10/15/2019)
Rob Woodall, Georgia. (10/15/2019)
Doug Collins, Georgia. (10/15/2019)
Jody Hice, Georgia. (10/16/2019)
Barry Loudermilk, Georgia. (10/17/2019)
Rick Allen, Georgia. (10/17/2019)
Tom Graves, Georgia. (10/17/2019)

Mike Bost, Illinois. (10/18/2019)
Rodney Davis, Illinois. (10/18/2019)

Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee. (10/16/2019)

Meet the GOP lemmings of Congress (the Rodney Davis edition)

Quoted in Where House members stand on impeaching Trump. (Washington Post)

One of Davis's greatest hits: Another version of the GOP classic, "One Man, One Woman".

Other Rodney Davis posts:
Meet the members of the Republican Study Committee. (7/9/2015)
No friend to the environment. (12/18/2014)

Other GOP lemmings posts:
Bradley Byrne, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Martha Roby, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Mike Rogers, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Robert Aderholt, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Mo Brooks, Alabama. (10/10/2019)
Gary Palmer, Alabama. (10/10/2019)

Don Young, Alaska. (10/10/2019)

Paul Gosar, Arizona. (10/10/2019)
Andy Biggs, Arizona. (10/10/2019)
Debbie Lesko, Arizona. (10/10/2019)

Rick Crawford, Arkansas. (10/10/2019)
French Hill, Arkansas. (10/10/2019)
Steve Womack, Arkansas. (10/11/2019)
Bruce Westerman, Arkansas. (10/11/2019)
Tom Cotton, Arkansas. (10/16/2019)

Doug LaMalfa, California. (10/11/2019)
Tom McClintock, California. (10/11/2019)
Paul Cook, California. (10/11/2019)
Devin Nunes, California. (10/11/2019)
Kevin McCarthy, California. (10/12/2019)
Ken Calvert, California. (10/12/2019)
Duncan Hunter, California. (10/12/2019)

Ken Buck, Colorado. (10/13/2019)
Doug Lamborn, Colorado. (10/13/2019)

Matt Gaetz, Florida. (10/13/2019)
Ted Yoho, Florida. (10/14/2019)
Daniel Webster, Florida. (10/14/2019)
Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida. (10/14/2019)

Buddy Carter, Georgia. (10/15/2019)
Rob Woodall, Georgia. (10/15/2019)
Doug Collins, Georgia. (10/15/2019)
Jody Hice, Georgia. (10/16/2019)
Barry Loudermilk, Georgia. (10/17/2019)
Rick Allen, Georgia. (10/17/2019)
Tom Graves, Georgia. (10/17/2019)

Mike Bost, Illinois. (10/18/2019)

Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee. (10/16/2019)

Meet the GOP lemmings of Congress (the Mike Bost edition)

Quoted in Where House members stand on impeaching Trump. (Washington Post)

Maybe you should read this article, Mike.

The Constitution Says ‘Bribery’ Is Impeachable. What Does That Mean? (Lawfare, 10/3/2019)

In fact, Trump’s conduct almost certainly satisfies the modern statutory standard for bribery. As Randall Eliason has explained, a quid pro quo “need not be stated in express terms; corrupt actors are seldom so clumsy, and the law may not be evaded through winks and nods.” We have little doubt that a prosecutor would be able to establish a quid pro quo based on what was said on the call and the surrounding facts and context. (As an aside, Trump’s conduct also likely qualifies as extortion. As James Lindgren has explained at length, historically there has been a substantial overlap between the concepts of extortion and bribery, and around the time of the Founding, the terms were often used to describe the same conduct.)

One of Bost's greatest hits: Another version of "One Man, One Woman".