Retiring Guy's Digest: 2024-09-29

Friday, October 4, 2024

5-story, 50-unit apartment building to be built at 1233 Regent Street in Madison WI (October 2024 construction site visit)

From this.....

Photos by Retiring Guy

...to this.

Renderings: Madison Plan Commission

Virtue apartments on 500 block of West Washington in Madison WI (October 2024 construction site visit)

From this...

Photos by Retiring Guy

...to this...

...to this.

Rendering: Virtue

August construction site visit. (8/23/2024)

June construction site visit. (6/16/2024)

Retiring Guy misses out on a major demolition project. (2/1/2024)

Little progress made on housing development on 500 block of West Washington. (10/27/2023)

Housing development approved on 500 block of West Washington in Madison WI. (8/7/2023)

Other West Washington developments:

Avenir Apartments, 504-516 West Washington (green arrows)

New striping on West Washington

The Triangle, West Washington and Regent (red arrows)

West Washington Place, 624 West Washington (purple arrows)

Around Town Madison WI: Telephone answering Services. Sounds so quaint today. But they’re still around.

Photo by Retiring Guy

(building located at 1050 Regent Street)

History of Answering Services. The history of answering services dates back to the early 20th century when businesses started to realize the need for professional call handling and message management. Let’s take a journey through the key milestones in the evolution of answering services:

Early Telephone Receptionists (1900s-1920s): As telephone communication became more prevalent, businesses recognized the importance of having a person to handle incoming calls and route them to the appropriate parties. Early telephone receptionists or operators manually connected calls using switchboards and provided basic message-taking services.

Call Centers and Message Relay (1930s-1950s): With the rise of larger companies and increased call volumes, centralized call centers emerged. These centers employed operators who manually connected calls using switchboards and relayed messages to the intended recipients. Companies often had in-house call centers to handle their internal and external communications.

Introduction of Answering Machines (1960s): The invention of answering machines in the 1960s revolutionized the way messages were handled. Answering machines allowed callers to leave voice messages when nobody was available to answer the phone. This technology enabled businesses to capture messages accurately and ensured that important information was not missed.

Live Operator Answering Services (1970s-1980s): As businesses sought to provide a more personalized touch to their customer service, live operator answering services gained popularity. These services employed trained operators who answered calls on behalf of client companies, using scripts and protocols provided by the clients. Operators took messages, provided basic information, and forwarded calls as necessary.

Technological Advancements (1990s-2000s): With the advancement of technology, answering services began utilizing computer-based systems and software to streamline call handling processes. Call routing systems, IVR (Interactive Voice Response), and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) integration became standard features, allowing for more efficient call management and personalized customer interactions.

Virtual Answering Services (2000s-Present): The advent of virtual answering services further transformed the industry. Today, answering services can operate remotely, often leveraging internet-based communication technologies. Virtual answering services offer flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, making them appealing to businesses of all sizes. They can handle calls from multiple clients simultaneously and provide services such as appointment scheduling, order taking, and customer support. Answering services continue to evolve, incorporating AI-powered chatbots and automation to enhance efficiency and provide round-the-clock support. They have become an essential part of many businesses, ensuring excellent customer service, efficient call management, and seamless communication.

Other Around Town Madison posts:

2024

Parking lot etiquette ignored. (5/4)

2023

This telephone booth is just for show. (5/24)

2022

Waterside Apartments are a 5 mile-drive from the nearest body of water. (11/3)

FULL REST. (10/3)

Horizon High School. (8/4)

Flex lane on Beltline. (7/28)

He went to Jared, too late. (6/9)

Tripping hazard along Stricker's Pond path. (5/27)

Ashes to go. (3/5)

2021

Views of the State Capitol from Picnic Point. (11/8)

Orange cones for habits that are hard to break. (10/22)

Mixed messages at the entrance to West Towne Office Max. (4/26)

This house really pops out during a snowy winter. (3/1)

2020
Be sure to read the fine print before you enter. (11/12)

2019
Target drive up. (1/8)

2018
Oh, Babe, what would you say? (4/10)
Is this considered legal parking? (6/13)

Final exterior look at St. Bernard Catholic Church parish center renovation, Middleton Wisconsin

2024

Photos by Retiring

2021

History of the parish

Dear Frank Bruni: You're confusing 'smooth' with 'smarmy'. Best, Retiring Guy

Headline: New York Times, 10/3/2024

Dictionary defintions: Merriam-Webster (here and here, highlights added)

Related post:

What'ss wrong with the New York Times? Majority of 13 writers charmed by the smarm of JD Vance. (10/2/2024)

Been there, done that: Just like in 2022, Trafalgar lead pollster Robert Cahaly trolls the media with GOP wet dream fantasy polls (Wisconsin presidential edition)

Headline: The Hill, 10/3/2024

Reality and fantasy ources: New York Times, Slate

Real Clear Politics refers to Robert Cahaly as America's most accurate pollster. Take a look at his 2022 'report card' and see if you agree.

Source: Slate

Ashleigh, it's journalistic malpractice to report about Trafalgar and Robert Cahaly without mentioning the 2022 'red wave'.

Live by the polls, die by the polls

October 2024

It's full steam ahead for Trafalgar lead pollster Robert Cahaly's GOP wet dream fantasy polls. (10/3)

Been there, done that: Just like in 2022, Trafalgar lead pollster Robert Cahaly trolls the media with GOP wet dream fantasy polls (Michigan presidential edition)

Been there, done that: Just like in 2022, Trafalgar lead pollster Robert Cahaly trolls the media with GOP wet dream fantasy polls (Michigan US Senate edition)

September 2024

Trafalgar lead pollster Robert Cahaly releases another GOP wet dream fantasy poll. (9/30)

Does Trafalgar chief pollster Robert A. Cahaly realize he's talking about himself? (9/27)

Trafalgar lead pollster Robert Cahaly releases another GOP wet dream fantasy poll. It's his specialty. (9/15)

Apparently, Jonathan Draeger moonlights as Robert Cahalys publicist. (9/10)

Dear Newsweek: Please place an election season embargo on Trafalgar polls. They are nothing more than a GOP wet dream. Just like 2022. Best, Retiring Guy. (9/1)

Dear Eric Mack: Remember the so-called 2022 Red Wave? Trafalgar polls are nothing but a GOP wet dream. Best, Retiring Guy. (9/1)

June-August 2024

Remember 2022? Well, here they go again! (8/30)

Trafalgar's Robert Cahaly: Just what you'd expect from a "pollster" who promoted a nonexistent "Red Wave" in 2022

Dear Sean Hannity: Trafalgar's Robert Cahaly deals in GOP wet-dream fantasies. If he sez Trump is up 2 in Georgia, he's actually down 5. Best, Retiring Guy. (8/2/2024)

Are the pollsters and political reporters making the same rush to judgment they did in 2022? (6/10)

December 2023

Best to take any poll from Trafalgar with a grain of salt. (12/6)

November 2023

America's most pilloried pollster thinks Republican's bad night in Virginia won't tarnish Glenn Youngkin. (11/8)

October 2023

The only trend here is Robert Cahaly being WRONG WRONG WRONG like he was in 2022. (10/29)

February 2023

Trafalgar leaves deep and lasting stain on polling profession with off-the-charts dreadful performance in 2022 midterms. (2/13)

January 2023

RULE #1: Never take a Trafalgar poll at face valve (RNC chair election edition). (1/27)

RULE #1: Never take a Trafalgar poll at face valve (Border security edition). (1/27)

RULE #1: Never take a Trafalgar poll at face value (RNC edition). (1/26)

Day 61 of Robert C. Cahaly's self-imposed exile. (1/7)

FiveThirtyEight reports Trafalgar poll with a straight face. (1/6)

December 2022

In a year when conservative pollsters tried to drive the election narrative, Politico sez "HOORAY " for polls. (12/31)
Rule #1: Never cite a Trafalgar poll to bolster your argument. (12/24)

November 2022

And then there were those Trafalgar fantasy polls. (11/21)

Since Election Day, we have been listening to 'The Sounds of Silence" by Robert C. Cahaly. (11/16)

Looking forward to Trafalgar's first fantasy poll of the 2024 GOP presidential campaign shit show. (11/16)

Governor's race in Arizona. (11/16)

Governor's race in Colorado. (11/16)

Governor's race in New York. (11/15)

Governor's rate in Michigan. (11/11)

Governor's race in Minnesota. (11/16)

Governor's race in Pennsylvania. (11/14)

Governor's race in Wisconsin. (11/14)

Senate race in Arizona. (11/15)

Senate race in Colorado. (11/14)

Senate race in Nevada. (11/14)

Senate race in New Hampshire. (11/14)

Senate race in Pennsylvania. (11/14)

Senate race in Vermont. (11/11)

Senate race in Washington. (11/11)

This week in the cereal aisle: Halloween sugar danger for kids

Photo by Retiring Guy

As noted in a May 14, 2014, Environmental Working Group article:

Moreover, the cereals loaded with the most added sugar frequently come in packaging that features cartoon characters to appeal to kids. A single serving can contain nearly as much sugar as three Chips Ahoy! cookies, and more than two Keebler Fudge Stripe cookies. And because the serving sizes listed on many cereal boxes are unrealistically small, even sugar-conscious consumers are eating even more than they realize. To top it all off, 11 of the 13 most heavily sugared children’s cereals feature marketing claims like “Good Source of Fiber” that suggest misleadingly that the products are healthful.

Other cereal aisle posts:

2024

It's a cookies and candy fest. (9/12)

Kellogg's Crumbl. (8/29)

Ultraprocessed paradise. (5/19)

Wheaties features the Watt brothers. (4/13)

2023

Celebrate Christmas with Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch cereal. (11/27)

Countdown to Chexmas. (11/16)

Cheerios wins the shelf display against Lucky Charms. (11/3)

Lucky Charms gets a limited edition Halloween makeover. (10/27)

Fall flavors. (10/25)

Kellogg's Fruit Loops partners with Willa Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. (9/7)

31st variety of Cheerios, special edition Lemon Frosted. (8/29)

New shape! Fruity flavor! Kellogg's Rainbow Krispies! (8/24)

Movietime! (7/24)

And here you thought it was just Hollywood suffering from a lack of originality. (7/14)

General Mills IHOP Mini Pancake cereal. (7/13)

Kellogg's Rice Krispies red and blue color mix. (6/13)

Kellogg's Froot Loops Mega MixUps. (6/9)

Kellogg's Rice Krispies blue and green color mix. (4/23)

Sugar-loaded cereal bars elbow their way to prominence. (3/27)

A big dose of sugar for Easter. (3/25)

Kix just keep gettin' harder to find. Again. Two years later. (1/7)

Kellogg’s Tiger Paws Jumbo Snax. (1/2)

2022

General MIlls limited edition dessert fest. (11/30)

Kellogg's Family Size Cosmic Brownies. (11/6)

Hocus Pocus 2. (10/17)

General Mills Limited Edition L.O.L. Surprise Birthday Cake Cereal. (10/12)

Kellogg's shocking orange Halloween Rice Krispies. (8/24)

And after a few minutes in milk, it looks like a bowl of barf. (7/15)
Retiring Guy arrives late to Cheerios 80th birthday party. (7/13)
Wheaties 100 Years of Champions limited edition collector series. (4/27)

Living dangerously. (4/19)

2021

Give your kids a sugar buzz with a new Elf on the Shelf tradition. (11/26)

Limited Edition Kellogg's Frosted Flakes Apple Jacks Mashup, (10/3)

Fall is here and so are limited edition pumpkin spice choices. (9/28)

Kellogg;s adds another variety to the Frosted Flakes brand. (7/12)
Team Cheerios. (7/9)

Remembering the Apple Jacks bullies jingle. (6/1)

Kellogg's shamelessly promotes major breakfast sugar buzz. (5/19)

Kelloggs Crayola gets the puff piece treatment @ BestProducts. (4/5)
Grape Nuts. (2/22)
Kix just keep getting harder to find. (1/23 update)
Cheez-It horns in. (1/10)

2019
This box wants to party with you. (6/4)
Blueberry Cheerios. (5/16)
Snap, crackle and redpop. (2/26)
Kellogg's Honey Oat Frosted Flakes. (2/19)
Kellogg's All Bran fights for shelf space. (1/22)

2018
Cheerios adds to its long list of flavors. (12/31)
General Mills offers two flavors of Dippin' Dots. (11/28)
Kellogg's vanilla latte Frosted Mini-Wheats. (10/1)
Nutter Butter. (6/24)
Still a little bit of shelf space provided for boxes of Big Biscuit Shredded Wheat. (4/3)
Chocolate Frosted Flakes. (3/30)
It's just peachy, part 2 (with probiotics). (3/26)
It's just peachy (Cheerios). (3/25)
Snap, Crackle and Pop shrug off competition from Fancy Friends Cereal Treats. (2/23)
Lucky Charms wants you to have a daily dose of yellow 5 and blue 1. (3/9)
The takeover of Mom. (3/1)
Hoopla over rainbow marshmallows added to Lucky Charms. (2/22)
Kellogg's Donut Shop in your choice of flavors. (2/14)
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the shredded wheat go down. (2/6)
General Mills offers yet another flavor of Cheerios -- chocolate and peanut butter. (1/30)
I suspect this special edition Cocoa Puffs isn't exactly flying off the shelves. (1/16)
What's really going on with this General Mills blend. (1/10)
Giant size bargains to kick off the new year. (1/3)

2017
Satisfy your craving for chocolate. (12/22)
Pumpkin Spice runs amok. (11/7)
Danger lurks. (11/2)
Dan G. wets himself over Special K Blueberry with Lemon Clusters. (9/20)
Limited Edition Mocha Crunch. (7/16)
Kellogg's Frosted Flakes with Marshmallows. (2/1)
A marriage between General Mills and Girls Scouts of America. (1/19)

2016
Alpha-Bits is getting squeezed out.  (11/23)
Special K continues to branch out.  (10/23)
Wedding bells chime.  (10/5)
The price of convenience (22.54 cents per ounce). (8/19)
Make up your mind already!  (8/14)
Remember Nabisco Shredded Wheat?  (7/13)
Features Batman and Superman. (7/7)
Post wants you to have ice cream for breakfast.  (6/30)

Tiny Toast. (6/21)

2015
Fewer of us are starting the day with a breakfast "hoop-de-do"! (2/13)

2014
Kellogg's wants you to put out the box at bedtime. (12/20)
Decline in cereal sales bite into Kellogg's results. (Fortune, 10/30)
Americans aren't eating their Wheaties. (CNN Money, 9/18)
Cereals Begin to Lose Their Snap, Crackle, and Pop. (The New York Times, 9/10)
Why Don't Americans Like Breakfast Cereal Anymore? The once-loved product whose sales went soggy. (Adweek, 8/14)
I imagine General Mills has done the research, but what if this is the case? (7/1)
Maybe it's the rainbow colors. (7/1)
They still call it 'breakfast cereal'. (2/14)

2013
Cereal killers: Americans' new breakfast habits. (CNBC, 8/2)

Keeping tabs on authors in LINKcat: Elias Khoury

Madison Central demonstrates what a resource library is for.

Source: South Central Library System LINKcat online catalog

New York Times, 9/18/2024

Elias Khoury, a Lebanese writer whose sweeping, intricately rendered tales of postwar life in the Middle East won him praise as one of the greatest modern Arabic novelists, and whose editorial leadership of some of Lebanon’s leading publications made him an arbiter of his country’s turbulent political culture, died on Sunday in Beirut. He was 76.
His daughter, Abla Khoury, confirmed the death, in a hospital, adding that he had been in declining health for several months.
Mr. Khoury’s writing, both fiction and journalism, often focused on the twin events that defined his world: the Lebanese civil war, from 1975 to 1990, and the plight of Palestinians after the founding of Israel, particularly the tens of thousands who fled to Lebanon in 1948 and after the Six-Day War of 1967.
As a novelist, Mr. Khoury was often compared to the American writer James A. Michener, who in books like “Hawaii” (1959) and “Texas” (1985) attempted to capture epic swaths of history in an intimate narrative.

The 50 member libraries of LINKcat