Welcome to the Friday mailbag where you will find some of the comments, questions and ideas sent recently by subscribers of this newsletter or our publications. They are edited for space and clarity.

“Happy birthday, Shane! Like your wife, my mom bought the computer software, card stock, and envelopes and made her own personalized greeting cards (Repurposing cards, Aug. 16, 2023). She sent out more than 300 each year, so if she knew your birthday, you got a card. I accused her of spending my inheritance on postage. On about the first of each month, she would make each card and address an envelope for that entire month, sometimes several months in advance. She would write the date they should be mailed out in the corner of the envelope where the stamp would go. Then, on that date, she would finish the card with a personal note to the recipient. They would, in turn, often call her to thank her for the card. She often joked that she would spend the price of a stamp, but the recipient would spend for a long-distance call. She thought that was a good deal for her.” - Bob

Sounds like one incredibly crafty woman — in more ways than one. - Shane

“So much to say! Bottom line public needs access to potentially lifesaving emergency weather information to help protect ourselves from severe summer and winter storms (TV weather reporting, Aug. 21, 2023). That can be done with Internet connectivity on a computer, smart phone, or even by a weather radio. Even Civil Defense Sirens that evolved into a weather warning system. Audience research 50 years ago showed many viewers picking their favorite TV weather person based on personality, and I will bet it still does. How often have you heard a person say they preferred a particular weather person because of his or her professional credentials? I appreciate and respect the professional credentials, various computer models, and other tools available, but in the end it is the clear communication of the information that makes the biggest difference. Unless the weather is in a volatile mode, I can get by if I miss the weather forecast at 10 p.m. It will look pretty much the same tomorrow morning at 6 or 7 a.m. Sadly, so too is the news that comes with it! Stay cool!” - Chuck

Clear communication of information makes the biggest difference? What a concept. - Shane

“Good morning, Shane. I've been making my displeasure known with our local channels and their ‘carriage fees’ to the executives, the FCC, and our congressional representatives (TV weather reporting, Aug. 21, 2023). I feel it's unfair that just because I use a service as my antenna I should be charged what goes out over the airways for free. I live within sight of the towers, so I can switch to antenna when we have a blackout like now or when the weather disrupts the satellite signals. Although I feel sometimes our local meteorologists are overly dramatic, I appreciate their expertise. During the beginnings of the Floods of 1993, I came home from my overnight shift as a deputy sheriff and turned on 13 and was both stunned and comforted to see Ed Wilson in a darkened studio trying to explain what was transpiring. I wrote him a thank you for his efforts that night. He still owes me a ‘thank you.’ ” - John

Great points, John. And I am thankful for Ed Wilson, too. - Shane

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

View Shane Goodman's archived columns from past issues here.

CITYVIEW announced its 2023 Best Of Des Moines® readers' choices Jan. 31. You can find all the results from the poll in the February issue of CITYVIEW magazine!

Best whiskey menu

1. Alleged Lee’s

2. Bubba

3. The Whiskey House

SEE BEST OF DES MOINES® EVENT PHOTOS HERE...

A place to enjoy the seasons outdoors

Acreage checks all the boxes for the Campbells.

By Lindsey Giardino 
 
After five years of dreaming and searching, Cara Campbell and her husband, Matt, were losing hope that they would ever find their ideal location to live — an acreage near the west side of the metro.

“In the fall of 2021, a set of circumstances that can only be described as a ‘God thing’ put us in touch with Ross and Janie Harrison, who owned a home on Panther Creek Road, southwest of town,” Campbell explains. “After driving around the grounds and exploring the outdoor space, we knew this was the place we were meant to call home.”

Importantly, the place checked two of the three big items on the Campbell’s priority list.
“We love being active outside, so a property with a great outdoor space was a must,” she says. “Another priority was an outbuilding for Matt to store his work equipment and materials. We knew the third item on our list could be accomplished in the future, so it was a go.”

Read more in the August issue of Adel Living magazine 

Happy Birthday on Sunday to Ellie Schwetz!

These celebrities were born on this date:Blake Lively, Claudia Schiffer, Tim Burton, Gene Simmons, Elvis Costello, Billy Ray Cyrus, Blair Underwood, Alexander Skarsgård, Rachel Bilson, Tom Skerritt, Rachael Ray, China Anne McClain

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to yesterday's riddle:
Why did the student studying surgery rip the last page out of their textbook? THEY WANTED TO REMOVE AN APPENDIX! - Peri Van Tassel, Lori Bluml. And a guess from Gail Tomlinson.

Today's riddle

What do you call a  laser-equipped skunk?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

To advertise in this daily newsletter, contact Jolene Goodman at jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com, or call 515-953-4822 ext. 319.

©Big Green Umbrella Media, Inc., all rights reserved.
www.biggreenumbrellamedia.com. Add webmaster@dmcityview.com to your address book to ensure delivery. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Click here to get it delivered to your inbox for FREE!