Saturday, May 23, 2015

Just Out of Reach



In this case, it was tree branches.

In Solomon Burke's case......



The single spent 17 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 from September 18, 1961, until January 13, 1962, peaking at #24.

Turtles bask in the sun, get to know each other better















From the Pay-to-Play Archives: Grebe Pere, Grebe Fils



Son of Scott Walker's former campaign chairman appointed to UW Board of Regents.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 5/23/2015)
Michael M. Grebe, son of Michael W. Grebe, president and chief executive of the Bradley Foundation, was appointed Friday to the Board of Regents. Michael W. Grebe served as Walker’s campaign chairman for the 2010 and 2014 elections as well as the 2012 recall election.

First of all, Molly, you don't take seriously any poll in which Ben Carson finishes in 1st place


Especially when the top 2 self-identified groups of those polled are......
  1. Gun Owners of America or National Rifle Association (58.1%)
  2. Tea Party (42.5%)
Source:  Sooner Poll

Scott Walker comes in second in southern GOP straw poll.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 5/23/2015)

Photo credit:  Twitter
Text source:  Wisconsin State Journal

That's a stretch, education reporter.  Another 'ach du lieber' moment, as far as I'm concerned.

Related posts:
Republican Presidential Candidates Find Little Elbow Room in Latest Fox News Poll.  (5/16/2015)
Latest Public Policy Polling (PPP) numbers keep Republican candidates in a jumble.  (5/14/2015)
Digging through the latest Arizona Republican presidential poll, we learn that Scott Walker is the perferred candidate of older, 'very conservative' voters.  (5/11/2015)
The leading Republican candidates for President have already peaked in New Hampshire.  (5/10/2015)
The Florida Boys leave Scott Walker in "show" position in latest Republican presidential horse race poll.  (5/5/2015)
Two more Iowa Republican presidential polls to add to the line graph.  (4/28/2015)
Jeb Bush experiences some serious slippage in New Hampshire.  (4/17/2015)
Home-state voters show waning enthusiasm for a Lindsey Graham presidential campaign.  (4/16/2015)
Big spikes for Scott Walker, Donald Trump in most recent New Hampshire poll.  (4/13/2015)
Tracking the Florida Republican presidential primary polls, January-March 2015.  (4/4/2015)
Ohio Republican presidential primary poll: Ohio Governor Kasich leads the pack.  (4/3/2015)
Tracking the national Republican presidential primary polls.  (4/3/2015)
Republican presidential primary polls: The current top 5 preferences.  (4/2/2015)
New Hampshire Republican Presidential primary voters are having trouble making up their minds.  (3/31/2015)
Another day, another New Hampshire Presidential primary poll.  (3/28/2015)
Bush, Rubio not exactly wowing the home-state voters.  (3/27/2014)
Scott Walker tied for 2nd with 'Dunno' in latest CNN/ORC poll. (3/19/2015)
Bush-Walker-Dunno in a 3-way tie for Connecticut Presidential primary preferences.  (3/15/2015)
Don't know/no answer/somebody else/won't vote leads latest Quinnipiac Republican Presidential primary poll.  (3/6/2015)
Bush-Walker-Unsure are 1-2-3 in latest Florida Republican Presidential primary poll.  (3/3/2015)
Bush-Walker-Unsure are 1-2-3 in latest South Carolina Republican Presidential primary poll.  (3/3/2015)
It's Walker, Bush, Unsure in 1st Nevada Presidential primary poll of the year.  (3/2/2015)
Quinnipiac poll: Scott Walker is the Tea Party favorite among likely caucus-goers in Iowa.  (2/26/2015)
Texas Poll: Scott Walker takes it to a couple of Texans on their home turf.  (2/25/2015)
Someone else/no one, Ben Carson have best 1-2 punch in Public Policy poll.  (2/24/2015)
'Undecided' leads, Scott Walker 2nd, in year's first California Republican Presidential primary poll.  (2/20/2015)
On the merry-go-round: Mike Huckabee takes the lead in the latest Republican Presidential preference poll.  (2/18/2015)
Give it up: "Favorite Son" Lindsey Graham ekes out an anemic 17% in South Carolina poll.  (2/17/2015)
New Hampshire: Jeb Bush holds slim lead among crowded GOP pack in NBC News/Marist poll.  (2/17/2015)
Mike Huckabee retakes Iowa lead, Walker falls to 3rd in NBC News/Marist poll.  (2/17/2015)

No matter how you slice it, Alberta, it's still stinky cheese


Photo credit:  Wisconsin State Legislature
Quote source:  WUWM

Changes Could Be In Store for the State's Economic Development Corporation.  (WUWM, 5/22/2015)
Senator Alberta Darling says that Walker asked to be removed because he feels he is more of a distraction.

Related posts:
Joint Finance Republicans to Scott Walker:  "You're Fired!".  (5/21/2015)
Chairman of the Board of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation -- Nice work if you can get it.  (5/20/2015)
It's story time.  (5/18/2015)
From the pay-to-play archives: The William Minihan-Scott Walker connection.  (5/17/2015) 
What's wrong with this Scott Walker headline?  (5/16/2015)
Chairman of the Board Scott Walker's BIG, BOLD idea.  (5/8/2015) 
Based on WEDC's previous track record, this is what came to mind when I saw first saw this headline.  (4/2/2015)
Apparently, being the CFO of WEDC is not much of a resume-builder.  (3/13/2015)
WEDC's revolving door.  (9/12/2014)
Here's how the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is "Reinventing Economic Development".  (8/24/2014) 
Company looks to expand its business geographic focus?  (8/14/2014)
Scott Walker and the horrible, terrible, no good, very transparent day.  (7/28/2014)
Kestrel Aircraft: All these incentives, but no construction, no jobs.  (7/13/2014)
The Eaton Corporation/WEDC timeline of shame.  (7/10/2014)
Wisconsin featured in report on privatized state economic development agencies.  (10/25/2013)
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation pledge: Following the money.  (7/23/2013)
Incompetence rewarded.  (5/9/2013)
And while we're at it, let's take a look at WEDC 's core values. (5/9/2013)
WEDC Public Information Officer Resigns After 1 Month on the Job.  (5/9/2013)
Plenty of time for messaging but none for fixing what ails WEDC.  (5/9/2013)
Previous WEDC audits?  What previous audits?  (5/8/2013)
Are you seeing a trend yet?  (5/8/2013)
Echoes.  (5/7/2013)
Get me rewrite.  (5/4/2013)
Legislative Audit Bureau Report on Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation: The "Cliff Notes" Version.  (5/3/2013
"Tales of woe never end at WEDC."  (4/25/2013)
Enterprise Florida and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation share a lack of transparency.  (2/28/2013)

Behind the Plate

Photo by Retiring Guy

From a June 14, 2002, letter to Mom 

Eddie has been disappointed with the amount of playing time he’s been getting so far this season. And with just two games under his belt! Both JoAnna and I have told him it has nothing to do with his coach playing favorites. With 14 players on the team, five kids have to sit on the bench while nine of their teammates take the field. The coach changes the defensive alignment each inning. In addition, everyone is included in the batting line-up, which means that some of the boys will only get one at-bat in a low-scoring or rain-shorted game. From the first day of practice, Eddie has been determined to be the starting catcher. So far, he hasn’t got his wish. Last night he caught two innings and did a great job, and on Tuesday, a game I missed as the result of a library board meeting, he made an out at the plate on a throw from the outfield. 

“Everyone on the team gave me a high five,” he proudly reported after I had returned home from work.

Kristina, 27, likes the idea of Donald Trump running for President



As quoted in Iowa Republicans like governors as presidential timber.  (Des Moines Register, 5/22/2015)

Craig, 63, is gung-ho over Trump's suggestion to build a 'big fence' along the U.S.-Mexico border.

No Friend to the Environment: Republican Representative Blake Farenthold, Texas's 27th Congressional District


Photo sourceU.S. Congress
Text sourceThink Progress

Tea Party Congressman Farenthold was re-elected to a 3rd term in 2014 with 64% of the vote.

Required reading for Rep. Farenthold and the constituents in his Gulf Coast to Austin district.

Sea Level Changes and the Texas Coastal Environment.  (Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas-Austin)
Scientific research concludes that climate change creates problems for coastal environments, drinking water supplies, and air quality in Texas. Although similar temperature changes took place in the past, they occurred over much longer periods. It appears that temperature change and its associated environmental problems may occur faster than the environment and humans can adapt.
5% lifetime score (0% in 2014) from the League of Conservation Voters.


No Friend to the Environment dishonor roll.

Alabama Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives.   (Their anti-environmentalism can be summed up in one world:  coal.  Which is odd, since Alabama contributes a mere 1.9% of U.S. production, good enough for an overall ranking of 13.  The state's peak year of production:  1990)  
Alaska Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
  • At-large District.  Don Young (R).   Ridiculed environmentalists as a “self-centered bunch of waffle-stomping, Harvard-graduating, intellectual idiots.....not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans.” 
 Arizona Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Arkansas Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
California Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Colorado Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
No House Republicans hail from Connecticut and Delaware. 
Florida Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Georgia Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Idaho Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Illinois Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Indiana Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Iowa Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Kansas Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Kentucky Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Louisiana Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Maine Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Maryland Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
No House Republicans in Massachusetts delegation.
Michigan Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Minnesota Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Mississippi Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Missouri Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives 
Montana Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Nebraska Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Nevada Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
New Hampshire Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 New Jersey Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
New Mexico Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
New York Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 North Carolina Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
North Dakota Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 Ohio Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 Oklahoma Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 Oregon Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
  Pennsylvania Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
South Carolina Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
South Dakota Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Tennessee Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Texas Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives