Welcome to an extra edition of the 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.

“Hi, Shane. I am a long-time reader, first-time enabler. Des Moines still has a great shoe-shiner downtown at the Down Town Hair Professionals barber shop on the skywalk (The Shoe Shine Man, Oct. 5, 2023). His name is Kenny Neighbors. He worked for me in my shop in 801 Grand for many years. After I sold it. he went to work there. He is a great guy. Give him a try!” - Brian

I am in! Thanks for the tip. - Shane

“Shane, per your column, I think our dads, along with Ronald Reagan, would have gotten along just fine (Dress codes, Oct. 9, 2023). My dad would have been 115 this Saturday.” - Mike

The Mount Rushmore of well-dressed men. - Shane

“Shane, I agree that dress codes are good (Dress codes, Oct. 9, 2023). I’m old enough to have been dressed in a suit and tie most of my career. Then came business casual, and I joined in but still believed suit and ties were better but not cheaper than business casual. Your friend’s story reminded me of the wheat jean craze in the 1960s. Almost every guy who wore them also pressed them with creases to appear well-dressed. I’m thinking you are younger than I and probably didn’t live through the wheat jean days. So pressed blue jeans aren’t so bad in my book.” - Len

A wheat jean craze? I was in more of the “Billie Jean” craze. Parachute pants and all. - Shane

“Schumer was out of line, and Manchin, Romney, Grassley and others correct; the U.S. Senate and House should have a dress code appropriate for what the work is supposed to be (Dress codes, Oct. 9, 2023). That said, what is a woman’s corresponding dress code to a man’s coat and tie? Is there a difference between dresses, skirts, pants suits? What is the difference in appearance between a lady’s pants suit and a man’s casual suit?” - Chuck

In this day and age, I’m not sure you can even ask that question. - Shane

“Shane, I just wanted to thank you for your daily commentary. I have been following you for over a year and appreciate your thoughts and honesty. Sometimes it is like you are reading my mind. This story about your deer accident paralleled mine within a week (Oh, deer, Oct. 10, 2023). Like you, I was driving along when the deer jumped out of a steep ditch. I hit the brakes, missing the first, but the second deer jumped right into my vehicle. What is tragic about my accident is that I had gone eight years with a company vehicle without a deer hit (many close calls), but I was only 30 days into my new truck with less than 2,500 miles. Oh, well.” - Wayne

You weren’t reading this while you were driving, were you? Be careful. We are working on a podcast version for guys like you. - Shane

Have a thoughtful Thursday, 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.