Saturday, February 8, 2020

Keeping tabs on authors in LINKcat: George Steiner



George Steiner, Prodigious Literary Critic, Dies at 90.  (The New York Times, 2/3/2020)


Source:  LINKcat

Related posts:
2020
Mary Higgins Clark.  (2/4/2020)
John Rothchild.  (1/22/2020)
Sylvia Jukes Morris.  (1/20/2020)
Johanna Lindsey.  (1/15/2020)
Elizabeth Wurtzel.  (1/11/2020)

2019
Robert K. Massie.  (12/4/2019)
Addison DeWitt wannabe John Simon.  (12/1/2019)
James I. Robertson.  (11/20/2019)
Stephen Dixon.  (11/12/2019)
Ernest J. Gaines.  (11/8/2019)
Kate Braverman.  (10/28/2019)
Sol Stein.  (9/30/2019)
Anne Rivers Siddons.  (9/19/2019)
Paule Marshall.  (8/27/2019)
Based on the number of LINKcat holds, "Beloved" is the most popular novel by Toni Morrison.  (8/12/2019)
GET ME REWRITE: Most books by Martin Mayer purchased by LINKcat public libraries have been weeded.  (8/3/2019)
Keeping tabs on Wright Morris in LINKcat.  (7/25/2019)
No room for Judith Krantz's tales of sex and shopping on the shelves of the Middleton Public Library.  (6/27/2019)
Nearly forgotten "sociological megahits" of 1970.  (6/18/2019)
Anthony Price, author of Cold War spy thrillers that few people read anymore, dies at 90.  (6/17/2019)
Herman Wouk, author of many fat books, dies at 103.  (5/20/2019)
Warren Adler:  Forgotten author who now takes up minuscule library shelf space dies at 91.  (4/23/2019)
Dan Jenkins, author of nearly forgotten classic sports novel, dies at 90.  (3/10/2019)

2018
Nearly forgotten "sociological megahits" of 1970 Neal Thompson on parenting books.  (6/17/2018)
LINKcat libraries provide little shelf space for titles by 'rule-breaking cookbook author' Barbara Kafka.  (6/8/2018)
Weeding or historical sanitization at LINKcat libraries?  (6/2/2018)

2017
The "spy' books by Aline Countess of Romanones haven't traveled well.  (12/17/2017)
Minimal shelf space devoted to Kit Reed's books in LINKcat public libraries.  (10/1/2017)
Carol J. Adams shares feminist classics from her personal library.  (9/8/2017)

2016
The distant dirty dozen literary career of E. M. Nathanson.  (4/10/2016)

2015
Gunter Grass (1927-2015).  (4/15/2015)

2014
Thomas Berger  (1924-2014).  (7/23/2014)
Peter Matthiessen (1927-2014)  (4/8/2014)

2013
Barbara Branden's shelf sitter.  (12/26/2013)


January 2020: The warmest month on record for Europe



‘The warmth is really unheard of’: Europe just posted its warmest January on record.  (Washington Post, 2/4/2020)
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service announced Tuesday morning that January 2020 was Europe’s warmest January on record, edging out previous record holder January 2007 by 0.36 degrees. 
The month was a staggering 5.6 degrees above the 1981 to 2010 baseline of “average” January temperatures across the European continent as a whole, with much of northeastern Europe surpassing benchmark values by nearly 11 degrees.     [emphasis added]

Related posts:
February 2020
Keeping tabs on Australia's record heat (2019-2020 summer edition).  (2/3/2020)

January 2020
Lots of record high temperatures broken or tied this past weekend.  (1/13/2020)
2019: One for the "impossibly warm" record books in Bethel, Alaska.  (1/8/2020)
A decade of record heat in India.  (1/8/2020)
UPDATE: Keeping tabs on Australia's record heat (2019-2020 summer edition).  (1/7/2020)

December 2019 
In Iceland, record-breaking early December heat follows a record-breaking hot summer.  (12/6/2019)

November 2019
Key West and Hawaii.  (11/18/2019)

August 2019
Alaska:  Dead salmon linked to climate change.  (8/24/2019)

June 2019
India.  (6/17 /2019)
San Francisco.  (6/12/2019)
Atlanta, Geogia.  (6/5/2019)

April 2019
Australia suffers through record hot March.  (4/2/2019)

March 2019
Seattle's record-breaking winter heat.  (3/19/2019)
UPDATE: Central Florida's record-setting February heat.  (3/2/2019)

January 2019
2018: Hottest year ever for Australian state of New South Wales.  (1/11/2019)
Sea surface temperatures around New Zealand hottest ever in 2018, further threatening marine life.  (1/11/2019)
GET ME REWRITE: Prague experiences hottest year on record for third time this decade.  (1/6/2019)

August 2018
Climate change as a matter of fact: Red-hot summer of record heat in Europe.  (8/18/2018)

Climate change as a matter of fact (Polar regions edition: Antarctica record high temperature)



Reported in Antarctica Breaks Its Hottest Recorded Temperature.  (EcoWatch, 2/7/2019)

Related polar regions posts:
Antarctic

Arctic
Siberia's permafrost.  (12/11/2019)
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)

Other editions:
Africa
Birds/bees/flowers/trees
Business and finance
Oceans
Worldwide

Other Climate Change as a Matter of Fact posts

CES2020: Lulupet smart litter box




CES 2020 Revisited: Gas Station Anti-Skimmer Device, A Smart Kitty Litter Box and more.  (KTLA, 2/7/2020)
LuluPet showed off their intelligent litter box solution that uses image recognition to analyze stools. It can alert you about anything abnormal with your cat's health. They plan to sell the litter box for $149 in March 2020.
CES2020 Innovation Award honoree

Other CES2020 posts:
November 2019
SmartyPans.  (11/11/2019)
Warming up for CES2020 with a modern version of "Play Misty for Me".  (11/29/2019)

January 1-15, 2020
Pizza served up by Picnic(TM) robot.  (1/3/2020)
FutureLight files the Waydoo Flyer under 'bizarre'.  (1/3/2020)
Townew automated garbage can, a discomposing sign of the times.  (1/8/2020)
When it comes to useless consumer technology products, Charmin Rollbot wipes the competition!  (1/8/2020)
LG encourages you to grow your own with its indoor garden appliance.  (1/9/2020)
And the promise of a flying car just keeps on floating.  (1/10/2020)
Qoobo and Petit Qoobo, robot pillows in two sizes.  (1/11/2020)
Meet Samsung's Ballie, who looks like a yellow softball and will follow you everywhere.  (1/11/2020)
U by Moen smart faucet.  (1/11/2020)
Scary future brought to you by Samsung Neon.  (1/11/2020)
Climate360 smart bed.  (1/11/2020)
MamaRoo Sleep Bassinet keeps parents in dreamland.  (1/12/2020)
Segway S-Pod.  (1/12/2020)
Stick-up, highway robbery, case of grand larceny: Core meditation trainer.  (1/13/2020)
One-wheel Yeti cooler.  (1/13/2020)
Cubii Go compact seated elliptical device.  (1/14/2020)

January 16-31, 2020
LG ThinkQ smart door.  (1/17/2020)
BMW 13 Urban Suite concept car.  (1/20/2020)
Sing along with the Kohler Moxie shower head.  (1/21/2020)
Clean your teeth 10 seconds with the Y-Brush toothbrush.  (1/22/2020)
The Narwal:  It mops and vacuums!  (1/25/2020)
Ampere Tech Side Pocket Wireless fanny pack.  (1/26/2020)
NeuraSpud, the smart potato.  (1/28/2020)
Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced.  (1/29/2020)
The Bartesian (think Keurig bartender).  (1/30/2020)
Hello, my name is BellaBot, and I'll be your server tonight.  (1/31/2020)

February 2020
Wavee toothbruch speaker.  (2/1/2020)
Robosen T9 Robot.  (2/2/2020)
MedWand remote office visits.  (2/3/2020)
Scoocase, the electric scotter suitcase.  (2/4/2020)
Lua, the smart flower pot.  (2/5/2020)
Robo-shark.  (2/6/2020)
PocketDrum.  (2/7/2020)

The archives:
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015

Keeping tabs on the former Swiss Colony distribution center in Madison WI


Photos by Retiring Guy


Sources:
Update: City Plan Commission slows Amazon plans for delivery center on Milwaukee Street”.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/28/2020)
Land owner appeals Plan Commission denial on portion of Amazon project.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 2/7/2020)


Dear David Brooks, Better to use polling averages rather than cherrypick individual polls. Best, Retiring Guy



How Trump Wins Again by David Brooks. (The New York Times, 2/6/2020)

First of all, Speaker Pelois formally announced an impeachment inquiry on September 24, 2019.

(The New York Times, 2/5/2020) 

Secondly, Trump's average approval rating has hardly budged since September 24, 2019.


Source:  Real Clear Politics (red arrow added)

Donald Trump fraud alert: He knows there's a sucker born every minute.


And most of them voted for him.





Trump campaign competition to dine with president condemned as a 'fraud'.  (The Guardian, 11/89/2019)
Media reports this week have cast doubt on whether the competitions produce real winners, fueling speculation that Trump, accused of swindling the public in past ventures such as Trump University, is at it again. 
Richard Painter, a former White House chief ethics lawyer, spoke out amid deepening questions over the fundraising lotteries that, so far, the Trump campaign has been unable to answer.
“I’ve received dozens of these fundraising emails,” said Painter, who was George W Bush’s ethics counsel for two years. “If they have lunch or dinner, then it’s OK. If not, then it’s fraud. I’ve seen no proof that they actually happen.”

Friday, February 7, 2020

Not Trump's America: Arapahoe County, Colorado


Arapahoe County swings blue in 2018 midterm election.  (9News, 11/9/2018)
As the state of Colorado voted to put Democrats into key leadership positions, Arapahoe County also opted to vote out two Republican incumbents: Sheriff David Walcher and U.S. Representative Mike Coffman.

Source:  Wikipedia (Arapahoe County, Aurora)


Aurora is the county seat of Arapahoe County.


% of population 25 and older with bachelor's degree:
  • 42.2% - Arapahoe County
  • 40.1% - Colorado
  • 30.9% - U.S.
% of population 65 and older:
  • 13.1% - Arapahoe County
  • 14.2% - Colorado
  • 16.0% - U.S.
% of population living in poverty:
  •   8.1% - Arapahoe County
  •   9.6% - Colorado
  • 11.8% - U.S.

Source:  Wikipedia
3rd party votes: 24.5% in 1992, 7.3% in 1996, 8.6% in 2016
(George Wallace received 7.5% of the vote in 1968)

Arapahoe Libraries
(Eloise May Library)

Other Not Trump's America posts:
California.  Nevada County.  (5/13/2019)

Florida.  Hillsborough County.  ( 3/14/2019)
Florida.  Orange County.  (3/14/2019)

Georgia.  Cobb County.  (3/10/2019)
Georgia.  Douglas County.  (3/10/2019)

Minnesota.  Washington County.  (7/6/2019)

Missouri.  Clay County.  (6/9/2019)

New Mexico.  Dona Ana County.  (6/9/2019)

North Carolina.  Forsyth County.  (3/13/2019)
North Carolina.  Guilford County.  (3/13/2019)
North Carolina.  Mecklenburg County.  (3/13/2019)
North Carolina.  Wake County.  (3/20/2019)

Pennsylvania.  Centre County.  (3/25/2019)
Pennsylvania.  Chester County.  (3/11/2019)
Texas.  Tarrant County.  (9/7/2019)

Virginia.  Chesterfield County.  (2/1/2020)
Virginia.  Fairfax County.  (2/5/2020)
Virginia.  Loudoun County.  (2/3/2020)
Virginia.  Prince William County.  (2/4/2020)

Related series:


Red, but not totally into that Trump's America thing: Douglas County, Colorado


Why didn't Trump win Colorado?  (Magellan Strategies, 1/18/2017)
What we can see is a clear sign of Trump’s unpopularity in counties with higher median household incomes, led by Douglas County, Colorado with a median household income of over $100,000. While Donald Trump still won Douglas County, he only received 54.7% of the vote compared to Romney’s 62.1% in 2012. Most of Colorado’s larger, more well off counties follow this pattern, with, again, the only outliers being Adams and Weld.

Source:  Wikipedia (Douglas County, Castle Rock)



% of population 25 and older with bachelor's degree:
  • 57.9% - Douglas County
  • 40.1% - Colorado
  • 30.9% - U.S.
% of population 65 and older:
  • 11.9% - Douglas County
  • 14.2% - Colorado
  • 16.0% - U.S.
% of population living in poverty:
  •   2.6% - Douglas County
  •   9.6% - Colorado
  • 15.6% - U.S.

Source:  Wikipedia
3rd party votes: 28.7% in 1992, 7% in 1996, 8.7% in 2016
(George Wallace received 10.9% of the vote in 1968)

Douglas County Libraries
(Lone Tree branch)

Other "Red but not totally into that Trump's America thing" posts:
Colorado.  Jefferson County.  (3/9/2019)

Florida.  Duval County.  (3/14/2019)

Georgia.  Cherokee County.  (3/10/2019)
Georgia.  Coweta County.  (1/19/2020)
Georgia.  Fayette County.  (3/10/2019)
Georgia.  Forsyth County.  (3/10/2019)

Iowa.  Dallas County.  (2/3/2020)

Kansas.  Johnson County.  (3/9/2019)

Michigan.  Livingston County.  (1/21/2020)

Minnesota.  Carver County.  (3/9/2019)

Missouri.  Platte County.  (12/11/2019)

North Carolina.  Cabarras County.  (2/4/2020)
North Carolina.  Union County.  (9/9/2019)

Ohio.  Delaware County  (3/8/2019)

Oregon.  Yamhill County.  (1/15/2020)

Texas.  Amarillo.  (1/24/2020)
Texas.  Collin County.  (9/21/2019)
Texas.  Denton County.  (9/22/2019)
Texas.  Williamson County.  (9/25/2019)

Virginia.  Powhatan County.  (2/1/2020)

Washington. Yakima County.  (11/23/2019)

Wisconsin.  Ozaukee County.  (3/8/2019)

Related series:
Blue zone sees Trump as con man
Greetings from Trump's America
Not Trump's America

NOAA global temperature analysis: December 2020 is 2nd warmest December ever recorded



NOAA

The world’s five warmest years have all occurred since 2015 with nine of the 10 warmest years occurring since 2005, according to scientists from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). It was also the 43rd consecutive year with global land and ocean temperatures, at least nominally, above average.




Source:  NOAA

November 2019: Earth’s Second Warmest November on Record.  (Scientific American, 1216/2019)
The remarkable year-to-date warmth means that the six warmest years on record globally since 1880 will be the last six years—2014 through 2019—with the peak occurring during the strong El Niño year of 2016. The near-record global warmth in 2019 is all the more remarkable since it occurred during the minimum of the weakest solar cycle in 100+ years, and during a year when a strong El Niño was not present.



Source:  NOAA

Assessing the Global Climate in October 2019.  Second warmest October on record for the globe. (NOAA)



Related reading:
October paradox: Cool in US, hotter around world.  (GoErie, 11/16/2019)
Rain, snow and early-season freezing across much of the United States sent the country’s average temperature for October plunging to its lowest in a decade, after months of near-record or record-high temperatures. 
But despite the national dip, it was the warmest October on record across the globe, and 2019 continues to trend warmer than normal in the U.S. and around the world.

Guess Dinah didn't see the NOAA report.


Source:  NOAA









Source:  NOAA





NOAA Data Confirms July Was Hottest Month Ever Recorded.  (The New York Times, 8/15/2019)
The record heat was felt in most parts of the globe, the agency said, including parts of North America, southern Asia, southern Africa and much of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. There were no record cold July temperatures anywhere. 


June 2019 was hottest on record for the globe.  (NOAA, 7/18/2019)


Assessing the Global Climate in June 2019.   Warmest June on record for the globe, record-low Antarctic sea ice extent.  (NOAA,  7/18/2019)



Assessing the Global Climate in May 2019Fourth warmest May for globe, record-low Antarctic sea ice extent.  (NOAA, 6/18/2019)



Source:  NOAA


Related reading:
Earth Just Experienced Its Second Warmest April on Record.  (The Weather Channel, 5/20/2019)
That may not sound like a big temperature anomaly, but only nine months dating to 1880 had a global monthly temperature departure of 1 degree Celsius or more in the global temperature database from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies.


SourceNOAA




Parts of Alaska, Including America’s Northernmost City, Crushed March Records in Astoundingly Warm Month.  (The Weather Channel, 4/2/2019)





Source:  NOAA



Related reading:
February 2019 ranked fifth hottest on record for the globe.  (NOAA, 3/19/2019)


Source:  NOAA

Related posts:
2018 global weather.
2017 global weather