Retiring Guy's Digest: 2023-06-18

Saturday, June 24, 2023

Meet Baker City Oregon Mayor Matt Diaz, dressed for work

Headline: Oregon Public Broadcasting, 6/23/2023

“His words cast shadows far beyond our city limits as this discussion will carry on in social media platforms forever,” she wrote. “This will impact our efforts to attract new businesses as well as the tourism that our communities depend upon. It’s not a small thing, it is a significant breach of fitness regarding public service.”

What else would you expect from Trump's America?

Source: Wikipedia

3rd-party candidates received 30.2% of vote in 1992, 15.3% of vote in 1996, 8.7% in 2016;

(Alabama segregationist George Wallace received 7.7% of the vote in 1968)

A place where the population has been treading water since 1910.

Dear Ryan Walters, We all know that 'Western culture' is a dog whistle for white power. Best, Retiring Guy

Headline: The Oklahoman, 6/23/2023

Walters discussed recommendations from a group calling itself the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Founding Principles during Thursday’s Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting. The council offered three recommendations, which Walters endorsed:
Hold a minute of silence at the beginning of the school day with the following announcement: “We now pause for a minute of silence in which students and teachers may use this minute to reflect, meditate, pray or engage in any other silent activity.”\
Display a “durable poster or framed copy” of the Ten Commandments in each public school classroom.
Require a “Western civilization” course for graduation “to strengthen the heritage which was integral to the nation’s founding and its western culture, as well as to foster gratitude and informed citizenship.”

Ryan does the hand sign.

Years later at what night be the last corn and soybean field in the City of Madison

The crop is in and the land is for sale.

Cruising the streets of Waterloo, Wisconsin

Screenshot and video by Retiring Guy

Waterloo is located in the northwest corner of Jefferson County, 26 miles ENE of Madison and 62 miles WNW of Milwaukee. After a growth spurt in the 1980s and 1990s, its population increasing by nearly 40%, the city's rate of growth has cooled.

Source: Wikipedia

Cruising Charles Street in Rockford Illinois. (6/23/2023)

Cruising our way to the 8th wonder of the world on state highway 311 in Mount Pleasant, Racine County, Wisconsin. (6/23/2023)

Cruising south on state highway 213 through Orfordville, Wisconsin. (6/23/2023)

Cruising east of the the Washington Avenue Neoclassical Historical District in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. (6/22)

Cruising the older housing stock on the streets of the south side of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. (6/22)

Cruising Village Square Park in East Troy, Wisconsin. (6/22/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Whitewater, Wisconsin. (6/21/2023)

Cruising downtown Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. (6/21/2023)

Cruising downtown Cambridge, Wisconsin. (6/20/2023)

Cruising I-24 in Tennessee heading to Chattanooga. (6/20/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Waunakee, Wisconsin. (6/19/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Stoughton Wisconsin. (6/18/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Evansville, Wisconsin. (6/18/2023)

Cruising Fulton Street in Edgerton, Wisconsin. (6/18/2023)

Cruising roundabouts near me. (6/18/2023)

Cruising roundabouts on Wisconsin state highway 19 between the Interstate and Waunakee. (6/17/2023)

Cruising through downtown Columbus, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Cruising downtown Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Cruising around the block at Waupun Correctional Institution, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Does Wisconsin highway 26 need a bypass around Rosendale? (6/17/2023)

Cruising downtown Waupun, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Cruising downtown Two Rivers Wisconsin on a sunny Saturday morning. (6/5/2023)

GET ME REWRITE: New York Times runs into the arms of homophobe and religious bigot Bob Vander Plaats for the inside Iowa scoop

Headline: New York Times, 6/23/2023

In our final episode of the season, The Run-Up goes to Iowa and inside the evangelical church. We speak with Bob Vander Plaats, an evangelical activist with a history of picking Iowa’s winners. And we go to [ultraconservative] Eternity Church, where Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida recently spoke, and talk to Jesse Newman, the pastor, and other members of the congregation.

Iowa homophobe Bob Vander Plaats is back in the news again. (12/19/2022)

Mike Pompeo to appear on Des Moines stage with Family Leader Foundation homophobe Bob Vander Plaats. (2/21/2020)

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)

Cruising Main Street and Commons Park in Lake Mills, Wisconsin

Screenshot and video by Retiring Guy

Lake Mills is located in western Jefferson County, 28 miles east of Madison and 53 miles west of Milwaukee. Its population has increased % since 1990.

Source: Wikipedia

The L. D. Fargo Public Library in Lake Mills is beautiful inside and out.

Cruising our way to the 8th wonder of the world on state highway 311 in Mount Pleasant, Racine County, Wisconsin. (6/23/2023)

Cruising south on state highway 213 through Orfordville, Wisconsin. (6/23/2023)

Cruising east of the the Washington Avenue Neoclassical Historical District in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. (6/22)

Cruising the older housing stock on the streets of the south side of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. (6/22)

Cruising Village Square Park in East Troy, Wisconsin. (6/22/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Whitewater, Wisconsin. (6/21/2023)

Cruising downtown Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. (6/21/2023)

Cruising downtown Cambridge, Wisconsin. (6/20/2023)

Cruising I-24 in Tennessee heading to Chattanooga. (6/20/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Waunakee, Wisconsin. (6/19/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Stoughton Wisconsin. (6/18/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Evansville, Wisconsin. (6/18/2023)

Cruising Fulton Street in Edgerton, Wisconsin. (6/18/2023)

Cruising roundabouts near me. (6/18/2023)

Cruising roundabouts on Wisconsin state highway 19 between the Interstate and Waunakee. (6/17/2023)

Cruising through downtown Columbus, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Cruising downtown Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Cruising around the block at Waupun Correctional Institution, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Does Wisconsin highway 26 need a bypass around Rosendale? (6/17/2023)

Cruising downtown Waupun, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Cruising downtown Two Rivers Wisconsin on a sunny Saturday morning. (6/5/2023)

Day 966 of GOP election denier hysteria (Trump Big Lie Clown Show Circus, Kane County Illinois edition)

ATTACK Of the Clown Show zombies

Starring Kane County (IL) GOP chair

Andro Lerario

Headline: Daily Herald, 6/23/2023

The group, which has included Kane County GOP Chairman Andro Lerario, spent the past several months calling for a return to paper ballots and the hand-counting of votes. They also want Cunningham to return a $2 million grant from the Center for Technology and Civic Life.

Friday, June 23, 2023

Cruising Charles Street in Rockford Illinois

This photo and video by Retiring Guy

Photo of 1815 Charles Street by Retiring Guy's dad (8/31/1939)

My dad was born (10/10/1915) and raised on the first floor of this house, which had just two bedrooms. He was the youngest of Herman and Anna Nelson's 7 children. His 5 sisters shared one of the bedrooms. Dad and his older brother Ford slept in the dining room. On cots?

This is what happens when you delve into your family's history at an advanced age. Those who can describe how things were back then are long gone.

Memories forever lost.

Cruising south on state highway 213 through Orfordville, Wisconsin. (6/23/2023)

Cruising east of the the Washington Avenue Neoclassical Historical District in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. (6/22)

Cruising the older housing stock on the streets of the south side of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. (6/22)

Cruising Village Square Park in East Troy, Wisconsin. (6/22/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Whitewater, Wisconsin. (6/21/2023)

Cruising downtown Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. (6/21/2023)

Cruising downtown Cambridge, Wisconsin. (6/20/2023)

Cruising I-24 in Tennessee heading to Chattanooga. (6/20/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Waunakee, Wisconsin. (6/19/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Stoughton Wisconsin. (6/18/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Evansville, Wisconsin. (6/18/2023)

Cruising Fulton Street in Edgerton, Wisconsin. (6/18/2023)

Cruising roundabouts near me. (6/18/2023)

Cruising roundabouts on Wisconsin state highway 19 between the Interstate and Waunakee. (6/17/2023)

Cruising through downtown Columbus, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Cruising downtown Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Cruising around the block at Waupun Correctional Institution, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Does Wisconsin highway 26 need a bypass around Rosendale? (6/17/2023)

Cruising downtown Waupun, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Cruising downtown Two Rivers Wisconsin on a sunny Saturday morning. (6/5/2023)

Just like us, Shadow Car has 15 miles to go on U.S. highway 54 to reach Minneola Kansas

Photo by Retiring Guy

Source: Wikipedia

Cruising our way to the 8th wonder of the world on state highway 311 in Mount Pleasant, Racine County, Wisconsin

SH311 is a recently construction, divided, 4-lane highway that run parallel to Interstate 94. At a mere 2 miles in length, it is undoubtedly one of the shortest state-maintained highways.

Note the streams of traffic in the northbound lanes.

Screenshot and video by Retiring Guy

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/13/2022

“Wisconn Valley" was the name coined by former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Foxconn CEO Terry Gou. At the time, Foxconn was promising to create 13,000 jobs in Wisconsin in exchange for nearly $3 billion in state tax credits.
Foxconn was also going to give $100 million to UW-Madison, build innovation centers across the state and open the company's North American headquarters in downtown Milwaukee.
None of those things have happened.

Wisconsin State Journal, 6/29/2018

Cruising east of the the Washington Avenue Neoclassical Historical District in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. (6/22)

Cruising the older housing stock on the streets of the south side of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. (6/22)

Cruising Village Square Park in East Troy, Wisconsin. (6/22/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Whitewater, Wisconsin. (6/21/2023)

Cruising downtown Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. (6/21/2023)

Cruising downtown Cambridge, Wisconsin. (6/20/2023)

Cruising I-24 in Tennessee heading to Chattanooga. (6/20/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Waunakee, Wisconsin. (6/19/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Stoughton Wisconsin. (6/18/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Evansville, Wisconsin. (6/18/2023)

Cruising Fulton Street in Edgerton, Wisconsin. (6/18/2023)

Cruising roundabouts near me. (6/18/2023)

Cruising roundabouts on Wisconsin state highway 19 between the Interstate and Waunakee. (6/17/2023)

Cruising through downtown Columbus, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Cruising downtown Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Cruising around the block at Waupun Correctional Institution, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Does Wisconsin highway 26 need a bypass around Rosendale? (6/17/2023)

Cruising downtown Waupun, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Cruising downtown Two Rivers Wisconsin on a sunny Saturday morning. (6/5/2023)

The Cooper Kettle in Two Rivers Wisconsin had the best-ever turkey swiss omelet

Sadly, the restaurant closed more than 20 years ago.

Photos by Retiring Guy

Take a peek through the window of the front door and you'd think someone is holding onto hope that the restaurant will reopen. It looks clean, neat and tidy!

Then and now: Hamilton Manufacturing Company, Two Rivers. (9/22/2019)

Schroeder's Department Store in Two Rivers, Wisconsin: Now in its 128th year of business. (9/16/2019)
Much different views now in the vicinity of 17th and Jefferson streets in Two Rivers Wisconsin. (7/29/2018)

Then (what was left standing) and now (not quite ready for redevelopment): Hamilton Manufacturing, Two Rivers, Wisconsin (part 2). (7/24/2015)

Then (what was left standing) and now (not quite ready for redevelopment): Hamilton Manufacturing, Two Rivers, Wisconsin (part 1). (7/24/2015)

Landmark Hamilton Manufacturing Building in Two Rivers, Wisconsin,Being Reduced to Rubble. (3/14/2015)

GET ME REWRITE!! These 8 Wisconsin Republicans want to punish school librarians for doing their job

Bill text: Wisconsin State Legislature

Headline: Wisconsin Public Radio, 6/22/2023

Republican lawmakers are proposing a bill that would target "obscene" materials in school libraries and overturn a law that protects public and private school employees from prosecution for distributing the materials.
A companion bill would prohibit a school district from using school library aid money to purchase any item that could be considered obscene. State Rep. Scott Allen, R-Waukesha, who co-sponsored both bills, said the state holds the "burden of responsibility" to make sure schools aren’t pushing obscenity limits.

Day 965 of GOP election denier hysteria (Trump Big Lie Clown Show Circus, Kari Lake at Mar-a-Lago edition)

ATTACK Of the Clown Show zombies

Starring Arizona Denier Queen Kari Lake

Headline: Vanity Fair, 6/22/2023

Yes, People reports the bizarre news that, according to a source familiar with the matter, failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake—who, like Trump, insists the election was rigged against her—“spent a significant portion of her time at Mar-a-Lago during its open season.” How much time is considered “significant”? According to the outlet, Lake has appeared at the Palm Beach resort “more than Melania Trump,” a.k.a. Trump’s wife. “Kari Lake is there all the time,” the source told People. “There’s a suite there that she practically lives in.” After Trump announced a third run for office, other sources told the publication that Lake very much wanted to be named his number two, with one saying: “She is working the deal. She wants something bigger, fast, to compensate for her loss in Arizona.”

Cruising south on state highway 213 through Orfordville, Wisconsin

Screenshot and video by Retiring Guy

Orfordville is located in western Rock County, 14 miles west/southwest of Janesville and 34 miles south of Madison. It has experienced continuous population growth since its founding, with its largest gains taking place in the 1960s and 2000s.

Orfordville has built a new public library since this 2009 post was published

Wikipedia

Cruising the older housing stock on the streets of the south side of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. (6/22)

Cruising Village Square Park in East Troy, Wisconsin. (6/22/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Whitewater, Wisconsin. (6/21/2023)

Cruising downtown Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. (6/21/2023)

Cruising downtown Cambridge, Wisconsin. (6/20/2023)

Cruising I-24 in Tennessee heading to Chattanooga. (6/20/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Waunakee, Wisconsin. (6/19/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Stoughton Wisconsin. (6/18/2023)

Cruising Main Street in Evansville, Wisconsin. (6/18/2023)

Cruising Fulton Street in Edgerton, Wisconsin. (6/18/2023)

Cruising roundabouts near me. (6/18/2023)

Cruising roundabouts on Wisconsin state highway 19 between the Interstate and Waunakee. (6/17/2023)

Cruising through downtown Columbus, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Cruising downtown Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Cruising around the block at Waupun Correctional Institution, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Does Wisconsin highway 26 need a bypass around Rosendale? (6/17/2023)

Cruising downtown Waupun, Wisconsin. (6/17/2023)

Cruising downtown Two Rivers Wisconsin on a sunny Saturday morning. (6/5/2023)

GET ME REWRITE: Wisconsin Republicans shows us how plutocracy works

Headline: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/22/2023

Photos: Wisconsin Senate, Wisconsin Assembly

The plan would reduce the top tax rate of 7.65% to 6.5%, which amounts to a 15% reduction for the top earners in the state who earn as a married couple $405,550 or more annually.

[snip]

"We've been hearing about this $7 billion surplus for what, six months or so and the (budget committee) has been working closely on how to organize our priorities on that. And so we wanted to be sure that we left enough money in there for a substantial tax relief," Rep. Terry Katsma, R-Oostburg, said at a press conference before the Joint Committee on Finance's final meeting before sending the full state budget to the floors of the state Assembly and Senate.

Related posts:

June 2023

GOP white men in the Wisconsin state legislature have their own sense of diversity. (6/22)

Wisconsin GOP punishes hard-working families by refusing to address state's child-care crisis. (6/22)

Wisconsin Republicans pull the rug out from under hard-working families. )(6/21/2023)

Wisconsin GOP works to suppress the vote and disenfranchise voters. (6/20/2021)

The next time the Wisconsin GOP talks about supporting hard-working families, ask them about their lack of support for child care. (6/17/2023)

See Wisconsin GOP leadership in full flower of racism and misogyny. (6/13)

Wisconsin GOP leadership puts a pox on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. (6/11)

Your Wisconsin GOP at work: Gas-powered machines a top priority. (6/7)

Bashing public education, promoting discrimination, part 3. (6/1)

May 2023