Retiring Guy's Digest: 2020-02-16

Saturday, February 22, 2020

UPDATE: Tony Evers is right. Caucuses are a form of voter suppression.

17.3% turnout. Pathetic. (2020 is shaping up to be not that much better.)

Sanders Projected To Win Nevada Caucuses, Solidifying Front-Runner Status. (Used to be authoritative NPR, 2/22/2020)

Words not found in this report:

voter(s)
turnout
percentage
suppression

Meanwhile, Troy resigned.

Original 2/5/2020 post, "Dear Troy Price, Does not compute. Best, Retiring Guy", starts here.

Sources

Photo credit: Cedar Rapids Gazette

Reported in Iowa Democratic Party chair apologizes for results reporting delays, calling process 'unacceptable'. (Des Moines Register, 2/4/2020)

All in all, Tony Evers makes a good point.

Once again, Donald Trump gets it wrong. Yeah, well, that's to be expected.

Reported in Trump praises Utah's Sen. Mike Lee, blasts Sen. Mitt Romney after acquittal vote. (KUTV, 2/6/2020)

Well, first of all, there can only be a 'more popular' senator since Utah, and the other 49 states, have just 2. Positive, comparative, superlative. Good, better, best.

Secondly, according to a UtahPolicy and Salt Lake City-based Y2 Analytics poll taken in October 2019, Mitt Romney's approval rating was 46% while Mike Lee was 43%. That makes Romney by a 'comparatively' slim margin the 'more popular'.

Other Mike Lee posts:
Point/counterpoint: White House Iran briefing. (1/9/2020)
The company Scott Walker keeps UPDATE: Sen. Mike Lee wants more of them there American babies. (3/30/2019)
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) is very unhappy with this Roy Moore fundraising pitch. (10/17/2017)
It's morning in America and all I'm hearing is more lights-out blather from Republicans. (1/13/2016)

For the love of money (UW System naming rights edition)

Wisconsin State Journal, 2/8/2020

First up, Babcock Hall.

From Retiring Guy's postcard collection

Retiring Guy suggests a contest among these Wisconsin brands.

I know who gets my vote! What about you?

GET ME REWRITE: Mainstream media promotes "The Battle of the Billionaires"

It's all about the money, folks, in an age where declining advertising revenue is a constant worry. (This could just as well be a "Boogying Our Way to Doomsday" post.)

Photo credits: Encyclcopedia Britannica

Washington Post, 2/21/2020

Original 2/22/2020 post, "Michael Bloomberg spends more than $5 million a day on ads since launching his presidential campaign", starts here.

$5,056,180 to be exact

The New York Times, 11/24/2019

NPR, 2/21/2020

To put this obscenity in perspective.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Credits: photo (Wikipedia), definition (Merriam-Webster)

GET ME REWRITE: 'Profits first, safety last' appears to be the maxim at Walgreen's corporate office

Photo credit: LinkedIn

Reported in At Walgreens, Complaints of Medication Errors Go Missing. (The New York Times, 2/21/2020)

Related post:
Jim Cohn joins the master class in gobbledygook, now in progress. (2/22/2020)

GET ME REWRITE: Meet the members of the Homophobe Caucus of the Tennessee General Assembly

Membership limited to soft, pudgy old white guys. (The average age here is 66.)

Source: Tennessee House of Representatives

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signs bill allowing adoption agencies to deny gay couples (USA Today, 1/24/2020)

Related reading:
Nashville council passes resolution condemning Tennessee's anti-LGBT adoption bill. (Fox17 Nashville, 1/22/2020)

“We’d like to send a message to residents and to prospective businesses that Tennessee is a welcoming place,” District 8 Council Member Nancy VanReece said.

Companies offer rebuke of Tennessee’s anti-LGBT adoption law. (AP, 2/5/2020)

Almost three dozen big companies and more than 100 small businesses in Tennessee on Wednesday predicted economic backlash from a newly enacted state adoption law and other proposals that target LGBT people, with one company saying plans to add jobs in Nashville are “in doubt” over the legislation.

FYI, Rep. Travis Tranel lists his occupation as farmer

Wisconsin State Legislature

Assembly passes bills for farm tax cuts, mandatory cursive writing while passing on farm siting rules. (Madison.com, 2/21/2020)

Travis Tranel, R-Cuba City, described the tax-credit legislation, which passed unanimously, as the “biggest and most important bill” in the package in terms of short-term relief for farmers.

“We have to do something to show farmers we understand the struggle they are going through,” Tranel said. [emphasis added]

GET ME REWRITE: Once again, Donald Trump threatens to take a page from the Nazi Party/Adolf Hitler playbook

And the crowd goes wild!!

Text source: Holocaust Encyclopedia

CES2020: Olive Smart Ear wearable

$299

The Best Health and Home Innovations From CES 2020. (nextavenue, 2/21/2020)

Designed to be worn in one ear only, the Smart Ear looks more like a high-end wireless earbud than a hearing aid. In fact, its stark white case may remind you of an Apple AirPod.

The Smart Ear uses Bluetooth to connect with its companion smartphone app. In the app, you can take a simple hearing test designed to fine tune the device’s settings, as well as adjust the volume and deal with feedback, which Engadget’s reviewer says can be a problem. Like high-end hearing aids, the Smart Ear also allows you to receive phone calls without reaching for your phone, and to amplify sound from a television without annoying your loved ones.

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 1-15, 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)
Lulupet smart litter box. (2/8/2020)
Juno drink chiller. (2/9/2020)
CoPilot Automatic Alert System for car seats. (2/10/2020)
Welt Smart Belt Pro. (2/11/2020)
Hydraloop water recycler. (2/12/2020)
Umay thermal meditation eye mask. (2/13/2020)
Bosch Home Connect Refrigerator. (2/14/2020)
Groceries (TM) by MasterCard Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator. (2/15/2020)

February 16-29, 2020
Hoop Cam+ Smart AI Indoor Camera. (2/16/2020)
Climate360 Smart Bed. (2/17/2020)
Lora DiCarlo Baci sex toy (2/18/2020)
Yale Smart Delivery Box. (2/19/2020)
Sepura home composter. (2/20/2020)
Go Nok Nok. (2/21/2020)

The archives:
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015

Elizabeth Ann Pasquino Deck (1936-2020) Warren High School class of 1954

Source: Highlands Funeral Home

1954 Dragon yearbook

1967 Warren City Directory

Pasquino Samuel J (Josephine E) maintenance man New Process h18 Jefferson Street

1983 Warren City Directory

Pasquino Samuel J (Josephine E) retired h18 Jefferson Street

The popularity of Elizabeth as a baby name is graphed here. Let's take a look grandson Austin.

Source: Social Security Administration

Austin bounced around in the 200s from 1900 until 1931. By 1969, his popularity looked as though it was ready to sink like a stone. He turned things around during the 1970s, eventually working his way to #9 in 1996 and 1997, two of his four years in the top 10. He hasn't, however, shown much staying power as a top performer.

Other members of the class of 1954:

2020
Beatrice Brown Bines. (1/26/2020)

2019
Margaret Eaton Watts. (10/30/2019)
Mary Alice Morse Akif. (10/1/2019)
Sally Nelson Metzger. (8/1/2019)
Phoebe Marie Jewell Ahlgren. (4/28/2019)
David Neal Redmond. (3/4/2019)

2018
Roberta Cable Anderson. (11/3/2018)
Patrick Michael Sheehan. (9/19/2018)
Charles Salerno. (3/19/2018)
Joan White Wood. (2/12/2018)
Janet Lauffenberger Day. (2/11/2018)

2017
Georgeanne Pappas Kornreich. (11/27/2017)
Anita Miller Smith. (10/25/2017)
Michelene Figliuzzi Colgrove. (6/1/2017)
James Hornstrom. (3/9/2017)
Richard Latimer. (1/31/2017)
G uard Pierce. (1/24/2017)

2016
T homas Gray. (10/16/2016)
Franklin Ristau. (4/21/2016)

Richard Helmbrecht. (3/27/2016)
Luella Wert Wile. (3/15/2016)
Edward Erickson. (3/4/2016)

2015
Keith Otterbein. (7/20/2015)
Marlene Ceriola English. (6/28/2015)

2014

Robert Johnson. (8/10/2014)

Lois Egger Anderson McDanel. (6/23/2014)

Phillip Stewart. (2/20/2014)

2019: A year of record-setting heat on Oahu

Photo credit: East Meets West

Reported in Oahu Had Hottest Year on Record in 2019, Officials Say. (The New York Times, 2/21/2020)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the island reached its highest temperatures last yearand the National Weather Service said 273 daily temperature records were tied or broken across the state,Hawaii Public Radio reported Thursday.

Related posts:
February 2020
January 2020: The warmest month on record for Europe. (2/8/2020)
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)

Friday, February 21, 2020

Who's running in the 29th Wisconsin Assembly District now that Rob Stafsholt is running for State Senate?

We have 3 candidates so far.

Reported in Menomonie's Calabrese announces campaign for Wisconsin's 29th Assembly District. (Dunn County News, 11/22/2019)

Reported in Kline announces candidacy for Wisconsin's 29th Assembly District. (Dunn County News, 1/20/2020)

Reported in Sherley launches campaign for western Wisconsin Assembly seat. (RiverTowns.net, 2/18/2020)

Source: Ballotpedia

Related posts:
16th Senate District. (1/28/2020)
30th Senate District. (1/18/2020)

44th Assembly District. (2/21/2020)
48th Assembly District. (1/31/2020)
69th Assembly District. (1/16/2020)

Original 11/20/2019 post, "GET ME REWRITE: Rob Stafsholt announces candidacy for Wisconsin State Senate at business of big GOP donor", starts here.

Source: Wisconsin Democracy Campaign

Rep. Stafsholt announces Senate candidacy in Wisconsin’s 10th District. (The Sun, 11/29/2019)

Wisconsin Assembly District 29 Representative Rob Stafsholt announced his candidacy for state Senate in Wisconsin’s 10th District in Osceola Nov. 20. His announcement was made at Core Products surrounded by friends and colleagues vowing to represent the people of the 10th District in Madison.

Related post:
Who's running in 10th WiscWhoonsin Senate District? (2020 elections edition). (11/30/2019)

The gaslighting of America: Will we rejoice at the polls on November 3rd?

"....I’m rejoicing with glory in my heart without a shred of pity, without a shred of regret, watching you go with glory in my heart."

Take this man away!

Related reading:
Bill Barr Is Not Quitting—He’s Doing Some Weapons-Grade Gaslighting of America. (DailyBeast, 2/20/2020)

The crisis of conscience leak is an old standby; the leader of an embattled agency or their deputies suddenly, shockingly discover that either the president or one of his policies is egregious, shocking, and wrong, wrong, wrongety wrong. Of course, they’re off the record or on background. Of course, the principal is portrayed as the sole man or woman of integrity left in a sea of corrupt, gibbering idiots who would happily sink the nation into a mire of corruption or submerge it into a sea of cleansing nuclear flame.

CES2020: Go Nok Nok insures safe package delivery at a yet unknown price

Amazon trumpets a 10% discount -- plus free installation -- for Prime Members. But 10% off what price? They're silent on that.

5 IoT innovations that will change your life. (Raconteur, 2/20/2020)

Go Nok Nok is like a sophisticated cat flap with an integrated video camera and two-way speaker. When a courier presses your doorbell, you are notified in real time on your smartphone or Alexa device, allowing you to unlock the flap remotely.

The two sides of Scott Walker

Christian. American.

@ScottWalker

Social media panhandler

The replies are not kind.

GET ME REWRITE: Thanks to Donald Trump and his swarming squad of swamp rats, 'a lot of bad things are happening'

Trump Renews Attack on Justice System, Again Disregarding Barr’s Pleas. (The New York Times, 2/20/2020)

Trump Swamp Hall of Shame

Left to right, top to bottom: Michael Cohen, Paul Manaforr, George Papadopolous, Michael Flynn, Rick Gates, Alex vann der Zwaan, Richard Pinedo, Konstantin Kilimnik, Ivanka, Jared, Donald Jr. Eric, the entities, Jeff Sessions, Scott Pruitt, Steve Bannon, Sebastian Gorka, John Bolton, William Barr, Sean Spicer, Anthony Scarrimucci, Corey Lewandowski, Sarah Sanders, Pam Bondi, Kris Kobach.

This, of course, is just the first installment. Some notables yet to get their due.

GET ME REWRITE: Mike Pompeo to appear on Des Moines stage with Family Leader Foundation homophobe Bob Vander Plaats

Headline

Des Moines Register, 2/20/2020

"As tensions mount in the Middle East, we wanted to set apart an evening to begin a conversation," Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of Christian conservative organization The Family Leader Foundation, said in a statement.

The rest of the story

Opined at With friends like Vander Plaats, who needs enemies? (Des Moines Register, 11/18/2015)

Related posts:
A spine-chilling moment: Inside the mind of Bob Vander Plaats. (1/29/2016)
The company he keeps: Ted Cruz honored to earn endorsement of religious bigot. (12/10/2015)

Iowa State Representative Steven Holt gives new meaning to 'free-market'

Photo discredit: Iowa House Republicans

Reported in Iowa lawmakers kill mobile home park bills as residents beg, 'please, help us'. (Des Moines Register, 2/20/2020)

Retiring Guy suspects the vultures have made the necessary campaign contributions. At a news conference, residents detailed the impact of the out-of-state firms that have bought several Iowa mobile home parks over the past few years, in some cases increasing the rents substantially.

"These corporate entities are coming after us like a virus, and we don't have time for a cure," said Carrie Presley, president of the mobile home owners association at Table Mound Mobile Home Park in Dubuque. "You guys are it. So please, help us."

With apologies to Merriam-Webster

Thursday, February 20, 2020

UPDATE: Visualing the original Madison Public Library on West Mifflin Street

From Retiring Guy's postcard collection

Original 4/4/2009 post, "Visualing a new Madison Public Library", starts here.
"What would a remodeled Central Library look like?" (Capital Times, 4/3/2009)

So, I was at this meeting last week and was fascinated by Hammel, Green and Abrahamson's presentation on what could be done with the Central Library in terms of remodeling it. I noticed Chris Rickert was there for the State Journal, so I saved writing about this untiol I could procure some of the visuals that HGA provided -- it's one thing to try to describe a rooftop expansion, but it's quite another to be able to show you exactly what I saw and let you see directly what $10 to $14 million can buy for the Central Library.