Swimmingly. That’s how you might feel about today’s column. Or about half of you anyway.
Are you ready to take a dip? Yes, it’s only April, and a plunge in anything but an indoor, heated swimming pool might make you shiver. I get it, but I am still looking forward to soaking outdoors in water soon.
What I did not realize is, according to global data, about half of you reading this don’t know how to swim. No freestyle. No backstroke. No butterfly. Floating is even a struggle. Yikes.
I spent the bulk of my childhood summers in water, mostly at the city pool but also in nearby lakes. Air conditioning was not as readily available in as many places back then, and being in water was a great way to beat the summer heat.
Despite being in water a lot, it took a while for me to actually learn how to swim. The 10-foot area of the pool was the danger zone, and I knew better than to cross that rope. Then my older brother Steve decided it was time for me to learn how to swim, and he tossed me into the deep water from the side of the pool as far as he could throw me. It was literally sink-or-swim time, and I rapidly dog-paddled my way back to the side. And he did it again. And again. I wasn’t very happy about it at the time, but that is exactly how I learned to swim. A baptism by water, you might say. It’s not for everyone, but it worked for me.
Meanwhile, more than half of the global population does not know how to swim. That totals, worldwide, at least 4 billion people. Depending on which half you are in, the number may or may not surprise you. The alarming statistic, though, is that an estimated 372,000 people die from drowning worldwide every year, according to the World Health Organization. Drowning is the third-leading cause of unintentional injury deaths and accounts for 7% of all injury-related deaths globally. Maybe not surprisingly, the highest drowning rates are among children 1-4 years, followed by children 5-9 years. Also, maybe not surprisingly, males are twice as likely as females to drown. Ten people drown every day in the United States.
Those statistics can be a downer on a Tuesday morning, or they can be inspiration for some of you to learn how to swim. With more than 10,000,000 swimming pools around the world, there are plenty of places to get started. So grab your goggles, flippers and Speedo (maybe not the Speedo), and get ready to meet me at the pool. And if you are already a swimmer, send me a note and let me know how you learned.
Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com
See Shane Goodman's previous columns here. |
|
|
Clear Mortgage meteorology
An isolated shower is possible this morning. It will otherwise be breezy. Better rain chances move in starting Thursday night.
For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage. |
|
|
| From the April issue of CITYVIEW | | | CENTER STAGE
Murder in Ankeny
By John Busbee
Oh, those wicked thespians up north. Ankeny Community Theatre embarks on a classic lethal, suspense-laden romp with “Dial M for Murder.” It’s no secret that influences from “across the pond” have saturated America’s fascination with murder mysteries. Blame Britain’s 19th-century Industrial Revolution, which stimulated its passion to read about murder. Why? 18th-century Englishpersons often lived in small villages, where their primal fears were of war, pestilence or famine, and not being offed by their neighbor. The country’s Industrial Revolution spurred a migration into cities, where new jobs awaited. Also, the unknowns of your neighbors, where you lived, and other specters of foreboding fueled fears. Writers and journalists of the day leveraged this anxiety and paranoia, feeding their readers with stimulating stories, triggering an obsession for nefarious death. | | | READ MORE |
|
|
| CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines® | | | The results have been tallied and published in the February issue of CITYVIEW and online!
|
|
|
| Featured home for sale | | |
$925,000 5672 N.W. Fifth Court, Des Moines, IA 50313
This gorgeous 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom home has a backyard that rivals any resort. With nearly an acre of land and trees, you can relax by the pool, have a drink at the pool house, share laughs by the fire or watch the kids on the obstacle course. The soaring front entry has an open staircase and leads to a large office with glass doors and a family room with tall ceilings and fireplace.
See the listing here.
| | | See More Homes For Sale |
|
|
| SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction | | | 2808 BRATTLEBORO AVE., DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2024-01-26
SALE PRICE: $190,000
SELLER: ROTTLER, STEVE
BUYER: NEGRETE, TYNE
ACRES: 0.152
SQUARE FEET: 3,298 |
|
|
| From the April issue of North Polk Living magazine | | | Residents' Choice Awards
Ankeny/Northern Polk County residents share their favorites
Another year has rolled around, and it is once again time to check in with local residents about their favorite professionals, businesses, local attractions and more.
The results of the Ankeny/Northern Polk County Residents’ Choice Poll have been tallied, and congratulations are in order. Many of last year’s favorites return to the top three, but some new ones have also emerged. Regardless, all can truly be proud, for they have earned the respect and loyalty of those who matter most — customers. From favorite restaurant, to hair salon, bank, veterinarian, health club, park and more, the people who know — because they live here — have shared their opinions. | | | READ MORE |
|
|
Blue Zones, an organization promoting health and longevity, is creating healthy communities across the United States. Their first effort was in Albert Lea, Minnesota, and formed the blueprint for regions and cultures that have shaped America’s healthiest food landscapes, from Hmong elders living in Minnesota to Quakers in New England.
This year, the Kansas City Royals have a new “Back to Blue Burger,” complete with a royal blue bun to match the team's colors. It's got bacon, blue cheese, Buffalo-style aioli, lettuce and tomato. No word on how the food coloring might resurface after the game.
Tuesday deals. Malo (900 Mulberry St., Des Moines) has been swamped since announcing that April would be their last month of service. Today is the penultimate taco Tuesday there. Malo is for sale, including the name, so it might continue under new ownership... Red Lobster (3838 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines) serves a pound of snow crab with fries and a side for $20 today... Bianchi’s Hilltop (2829 Hubbell Ave., Des Moines) has a $12 special Tuesdays on pork tenderloins with fries.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |
|
|
| Community guides | | | The Urbandale Source
Your essential handbook for living in Urbandale
• FAQs
•City of Urbandale.
• Urbandale Public Library
• Community Organizations
• History of Urbandale
• Urbandale Chamber of Commerce
• Senior Rec Center
• Urbandale 4th of July Celebration
• Ladies Day Out.
• Parks and Recreation
• Churches
• Schools
•Numbers to Know | | | READ NOW |
|
|
FROM KCCI: Ankeny world record holder to make history at Drake Relays
DES MOINES, Iowa — Justin Phongsavanh is a world record holder and a member of Team USA. His mom, Tammy Shinn, says Justin is her hero. But he earned that title before he started competing. ....READ MORE FROM KCCI
FROM WHO-TV: Changes to ESAs, AEAs, and teacher pay complicate budgeting process for school districts
DES MOINES, Iowa — Educational savings accounts enter year two in Iowa as the window for students and families to apply opened up on April 16. ESA’s, changes to the state’s area education agencies, and increases to the starting teacher salary have made the budgeting process complicated for school districts. ... READ MORE FROM WHO
FROM WOI-DT Local 5: Coach, school officials praise Oskaloosa student for quick thinking during meet
OSKALOOSA, Iowa — As Oskaloosa's Cora Snakenberg warmed up for the shot put at a recent track and field meet, a stray discus threw her plans in a completely different direction. A student at the East Marshall High School event had been hit in the back of the head with a discus and was bleeding......READ MORE FROM WOI-DT Local 5 |
|
|
ESPN: Jets trading QB Zach Wilson to Broncos, source says.... READ MORE
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: JJ Redick to Interview for Hornets’ Head Coaching Job, per Report ... READ MORE
YAHOO! SPORTS: 2024 NFL Draft: Watch out, vets — the seasoned players who could be pushed out of the way by rookies .. .. READ MORE |
|
|
1969: Sirhan Sirhan receives death penalty for assassination of Robert F. Kennedy..... READ MORE
|
|
|
| Birthdays and notables | | | These celebrities were born on this date: John Cena, Gigi Hadid, Laufey, Dev Patel, Prince Louis of Wales, George Lopez, Jesse Lee Soffer, Taio Cruz, Teagan Croft, Chloe Kim, Valerie Bertinelli, Michael Moore
SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
|
|
The answer to yesterday's riddle:
What do you call people who sleep in their socks? TINY! Rex Post, Gail Tomlinson
Today's riddle
Why did the taxi driver get fired?
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
|
|
To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or Grimes/Dallas Center, North Polk or Adel Living magazines, contact:
Dan Juffer
Senior Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 303
Mobile: 515-371-2290
dan.juffer@dmcityview.com
©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! |
|
|
This email was sent to:
email@example.com
Big Green Umbrella Media, Inc.
8101 Birchwood Ct Suite D
Johnston, Iowa 50131
|
|
|
|
