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Public Service Announcement

The Washington Post offers tips on how to keep your EV battery running in frigid temperatures. The link at the end of this graf is supposed to be a "gift link" (from me, Marie Burns, the giftor!), meaning that non-subscribers can read the article. Hope it works: https://wapo.st/3u8Z705

"Countless studies have shown that people who spend less time in nature die younger and suffer higher rates of mental and physical ailments." So this Washington Post page allows you to check your own area to see how good your access to nature is.

Marie: If you don't like birthing stories, don't watch this video. But I thought it was pretty sweet -- and funny:

If you like Larry David, you may find this interview enjoyable:


Tracy Chapman & Luke Combs at the 2024 Grammy Awards. Allison Hope comments in a CNN opinion piece:

~~~ Here's Chapman singing "Fast Car" at the Oakland Coliseum in December 1988. ~~~

~~~ Here's the full 2024 Grammy winner's list, via CBS.

He Shot the Messenger. Washington Post: “The Messenger is shutting down immediately, the news site’s founder told employees in an email Wednesday, marking the abrupt demise of one of the stranger and more expensive recent experiments in digital media. In his email, Jimmy Finkelstein said he was 'personally devastated' to announce that he had failed in a last-ditch effort to raise more money for the site, saying that he had been fundraising as recently as the night before. Finkelstein said the site, which launched last year with outsize ambitions and a mammoth $50 million budget, would close 'effective immediately.' The New York Times first reported the site’s closure late Wednesday afternoon, appearing to catch many staffers off-guard, including editor in chief Dan Wakeford. As employees read the news story, the internal work chat service Slack erupted in what one employee called 'pandemonium.'... Minutes later, as staffers read Finkelstein’s email, its message was underscored as they were forcibly logged out of their Slack accounts. Former Messenger reporter Jim LaPorta posted on social media that employees would not receive health care or severance.”

Washington Post: “The last known location of 'Portrait of Fräulein Lieser' by world-renowned Austrian artist Gustav Klimt was in Vienna in the mid-1920s. The vivid painting featuring a young woman was listed as property of a 'Mrs Lieser' — believed to be Henriette Lieser, who was deported and killed by the Nazis. The only remaining record of the work was a black and white photograph from 1925, around the time it was last exhibited, which was kept in the archives of the Austrian National Library. Now, almost 100 years later, this painting by one of the world’s most famous modernist artists is on display and up for sale — having been rediscovered in what the auction house has hailed as a sensational find.... It is unclear which member of the Lieser family is depicted in the piece[.]”

~~~ Marie: I don't know if this podcast will update automatically, or if I have to do it manually. In any event, both you and I can find the latest update of the published episodes here. The episodes begin with ads, but you can fast-forward through them.

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Tuesday
Nov042014

Gubernatorial Race Results

Trip Gabriel of the New York Times: "Republicans won the two most intensely followed, high-stakes governor's races of the year as Rick Scott of Florida and Scott Walker of Wisconsin won re-election on Tuesday in states that both parties are looking to as a gauge of voter sentiment in the run-up to the 2016 presidential campaign. Their victories were part of a sweeping tide of Republican victories in governors' races. With Republican control of a majority of legislatures, the party was left in firm control of the nation's state capitals.... Surprise winners for the Republicans included Bruce Rauner, a money manager who defeated the Democratic incumbent, Pat Quinn, in Illinois, and Larry Hogan, who defeated the current Democratic lieutenant governor of Maryland, Anthony Brown. In Kansas, Gov. Sam Brownback, on the defensive because of the state's embattled fiscal situation, turned back his Democratic challenger, Paul Davis. In Maine, Gov. Paul R. LePage, a staunch conservative, defeated Mike Michaud, a Democrat. And in Massachusetts, Martha Coakley, the Democrat, lost a close race to Charles Baker, the Republican." ...

... The Times' interactive map is here.

States are listed in alpha order.

Alabama. Gov. Robert Bentley (R) has won re-election.

Arizona. Doug Ducey (R) has won the race.

Arkansas. Asa Hutchinson (R) has won the gubernatorial race. The current governor, Mike Beebe, is a Democrat.

California. Jerry Brown has been re-elected to his 4th term. ...

... Seema Mehta of the Los Angeles Times: "California voters decisively elected Gov. Jerry Brown to a historic fourth term Tuesday, a rare bright spot for Democrats on a night when Republicans celebrated huge victories in the rest of the nation. Brown handily defeated GOP challenger Neel Kashkari and voters also approved the two propositions that the incumbent championed -- a $7.5-billion water bond measure and a state rainy-day fund."

Colorado. Lauren French of Politico: "Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has been reelected, fending off GOP challenger Bob Beauprez, according to The Associated Press. The Democrat trailed Beauprez in the polls for most of Election Day, but eventually pulled ahead, earning 48.3 percent of the vote with 93.4 percent of precincts reporting. Beauprez trailed by only 1 percentage point."

Connecticut. Matthew Kauffman, et al., of the Hartford Courant: "Gov. Dan Malloy appeared poised to pull ahead of Republican challenger Tom Foley as Connecticut's neck-and-neck race for governor came to a close. Around 12:30 a.m., as registrars in Hartford, Bridgeport and elsewhere were still tallying votes, Malloy gave a rousing speech to supporters, telling them 'We are going to win this thing' -- while stopping short of declaring victory. Twenty minutes later, Foley in turn told supporters 'We probably have lost this race' -- while stopping short of conceding." ...

... Here's where the Connecticut race stands now.

Florida. Aargh! The NYT has called the race for Gov. Scott. Very bad for the working poor who need health insurance. ...

... Marc Caputo, et al., of the Miami Herald: "Bolstered by a $100 million campaign and a stronger economy, Gov. Rick Scott overcame his own political liabilities and a fierce challenge from Democrat Charlie Crist on Tuesday as he won a second term that solidified Republican control of the state. Polls showed the race would be tight, and it was. As Scott clung to a 1.4 percentage point lead, Crist conceded before 11:30 p.m." ...

... With 95 % of the vote in, Scott is about 120K votes ahead. ...

... Crist's early lead has evaporated @ 7:50 pm ET. ...

... Crist is asking for an emergency court order to keep the polls open an extra hour in -- wait for it -- Broward County, because of voting machine problems. Update: Crist's petition has been denied, but everyone in line in Broward County @ 7:00 pm will be allowed to vote. ...

... Crist (D) is ahead in early returns.

Georgia. Gov. Nathan Deal has retained his seat over challenger Jason Carter (D).

Kansas. Maybe the worst governor in the U.S., Sam Brownback (RTP), kept his job. ...

... Bryan Lowry & Suzanne Perez Tobias of the Wichita Eagle: "Gov. Sam Brownback triumphed over Democrat Paul Davis late Tuesday, collecting 50 percent of the vote in a hard-fought race."

Illinois. Bruce Rauner (R) has unseated Pat Quinn (D).

Maine. The horrid Gov. Paul LePage won in a three-way race. ...

... Steve Mistler of the Portland Press Herald: "Republican Gov. Paul LePage secured a second term early Wednesday morning, defeating Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud after a long, expensive and often bitter campaign. Michaud conceded defeat at 12:30 a.m. in a speech at the Port City Music Hall. LePage triumphantly took the stage at the Franco American Heritage Center in Lewiston before Michaud finished his speech."

Maryland. Larry Hogan (R) defeated Anthony Brown (D). ...

... John Wagner & Jenna Johnson of the Washington Post: "Republican businessman Larry Hogan pulled off a stunning upset in heavily Democratic Maryland on Tuesday, winning the governor's race against Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown by relentlessly promising to roll back tax increases and chart a new direction for the state."

Massachusetts. Charlie Baker (R) beat Martha Coakley (D) by a slim margin. (Thanks, Boston Globe!) ...

... Robert Scalese of the Boston Globe: "Democratic gubernatorial candidate Martha Coakley called Republican candidate Charlie Baker Wednesday morning to congratulate him on his victory. Coakley will address supporters at 11 a.m., according to multiple reports."

Michigan. Gov. Rick Snyder (R) has won re-election, per NBC News.

Minnesota. Gov. Mark Dayton (D) is the projected winner, per NBC News.

Nebraska. NBC News has called the race for Republican Pete Ricketts.

Nevada. Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) prevails.

New Hampshire. NBC News has called the race for Gov. Maggie Hassan (D).

New Mexico. NBC News projects Gov. Susana Martinez (R) has won re-election.

New York. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) retains his seat, per CNN.

Ohio. NBC News has called the Ohio race for Gov. John Kasich (R).

Oregon. The New York Times has called the race for Gov. John Kitzhaber (D). ....

... Laura Gunderson of the Oregonian: "Rep. Dennis Richardson refused to concede the governor's race on Tuesday night, saying the margin was too slim and that he planned to 'go to bed happy tonight.' About the same time Richardson spoke at his election party in Clackamas, Gov. John Kitzhaber thanked his supporters at the Democrats' function in downtown Portland for the "incredible honor" to serve another four years."

Pennsylvania. Democrat Tom Wolf defeats Gov. Tom Corbett.

Rhode Island. Gina Raimondo (D) won the race.

South Carolina. NBC News projects Gov. Nikki Haley (R) has won re-election.

South Dakota. Republican Dennis Daugaard has won re-election.

Tennessee. Gov. Bill Haslam (R) has won re-election.

Texas. CNN projects Greg Abbott (R) wins over Wendy Davis (D).

** Wisconsin. Scott Walker hangs onto his seat. ...

... Jason Stein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Republican Gov. Scott Walker defeated Democrat Mary Burke Tuesday, ensuring himself a second term in Madison and raising the prospect of a political future at the national level."

Wyoming. Gov. Matt Mead (R) has won re-election.

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