Welcome to another 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.

“Soldiers in Vietnam used Slinkys — obviously sent from home — as makeshift radio antennas (Slinky, June 11, 2024). Apparently, they threw the toy over tree branches to get more range.” - Lori

And Wolfman Jack appreciated it. - Shane

“I hate buying paper towels for the office and home (Paper towels, June 12, 2024). But when it comes to using public restrooms, I like paper towels. After I wash my hands in a public restroom with only a hand dryer, I wonder who didn't wash their hands and dry them and touched the doorknob ahead of me. I'm no germophobe, but there are times in particularly dirty public restrooms when I use a hand towel to turn off the faucet and open the door after I've washed my hands. I'm guessing half of people who use a public restroom don't wash their hands, especially if no one else is there.” - Brad

According to Medical News Today, only 5% of people wash their hands long enough to destroy infectious germs after using the bathroom. - Shane

“Interesting statistics about paper towels (Paper towels, June 12, 2024). I, too, use two or three per time but probably don't use public restrooms enough to reach 12 per day. As for electric hand driers, the various designs and machine placements are also probably discussion for another time. Then there is the environmental issue associated with electricity. Society still uses a lot of fossil fuel generated electricity. Besides running hand driers, the alternative paper towels are being transported by trucks that are still powered by fossil fuel, but if they get to EV, there are still issues. For now, I'm satisfied with shaking hands with people who wash their hands regularly. I'm not getting excited about how they dry them as long as it is not on my hands!” - Chuck

Nanu, nanu. - Shane

“Shane, I am all for saving trees as well as the planet, but my biggest pet peeve is using a restroom that only has air hand dryers and a door you must pull on the handle to leave (Paper towels, June 12, 2024). I prefer using paper towels in restrooms to turn off the water and open the door. I like the feeling of drying my hands with something substantial other than air, especially when I have personally witnessed many people leave a restroom without even using some hand sanitizer (gross). I am all for that foot-opener thing that some places attach to the bottom of the door so you can open the door without touching the handle. That is so much easier than me standing on one leg trying to pull the handle with my foot, getting the door to stay open long enough for me to escape without much contact. Better yet, make all restroom doors push to exit, probably not applicable everywhere. Yes, I am aware I probably have some germophobic condition, but when I wash my hands, especially at a restaurant, I want my hands to stay clean. Thank you for your daily thought-provoking column!” - Kris

If you really want to laugh, put a bunch of hand soap or lotion on the bathroom door handle and watch how people react when they touch it. - 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

See Shane Goodman's previous columns here.

CARS IN THE CITY
Throttle therapy

By Jackie Wilson

Summer means spending time outdoors, and what better way to experience fresh air than with an open-air ride? As such, this month’s column doesn’t feature a car at all but rather a two-wheeled thrilling ride on a 2024 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. (Note: This was a RIDE and not a test drive, as my only motorcycle experience was driving a dirt bike in the late 1970s in a grassy pasture.) I recruited Gary Bland as my driver. Gary owned a Kawasaki 440 for 20 years and drove a Harley a few times since then.

Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1903, William Harley and Walter Davidson designed an engine to fit on a two-wheeled bicycle. Harley-Davidson has weathered company ups and downs for more than a century.

[...]

CITYVIEW's seasonal guide for activities and things to do in Central Iowa

EXPLORE: Central Iowa Drinkeries
By Cyote Williams

Wineries, breweries and distilleries make up this list of what we like to call “drinkeries.” Get the best wines, beers and spirits specially made in the heart of Iowa.

Curtain call
Residents share their experiences on stage.

By Chantel Boyd

For many people, public speaking is their worst fear. They recall suffering from butterflies in the stomach or worse before stepping out on the stage for their elementary school programs and the terror of having to speak in front of their peers in high school speech class. For them, the thought of performing before the public in a stage production sounds as appealing as being tarred and feathered. Others actually seek the spotlight, volunteering to memorize lines and create play props, eagerly awaiting the day the curtains are drawn back and the show begins. Some of these people share their reasons why center stage is the place they want to be.

A career in the making
Noah Sinclair, 13, is actively involved in Class Act Productions, both on and off the stage.
“I act on stage, and I also help with painting the set,” he says.

Noah became interested in both acting and helping with the set because both seemed like a lot of fun.

“What interests me most about theatre is how much fun it is to develop the character you’re playing and bring it to life,” he says.

[...]

The price of regular unleaded gasoline rose 3 cents, averaging $3.18 across Iowa according to AAA. Prices are down 12 cents from a year ago. The national average on Wednesday was $3.45, steady from last week’s price.

Retail diesel prices in Iowa rose 3 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.52. One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.61 in Iowa. The current Iowa diesel price is 28 cents lower than the national average of $3.80.

Wholesale ethanol held steady and is currently priced at $2.16.

Natural gas prices fell 13 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $2.88/MMbtu.

These celebrities were born on this date:  Stephen Frears, Brian Wilson, Candy Clark, Lionel Richie, Chino Moreno, Amos Lee, Tika Sumpter, Chris Thompson, Nicole Kidman, David Iacono, John Goodman, Frank Lampard,  Christopher Mintz-Plasse

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

The answer to yesterday's riddle:

Why can't you make a dinosaur omelet? BECAUSE THEY ARE EGG-STINCT! - Gail Tomlinson. Or, Because you can't beat fossilized eggs! - Carolyn Rogers. Or, along those lines, because they are too hard! -William Snyder.

Today's riddle

What do you call a female opera singer who had quite a range at the lower end of the scale?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or Waukee, Norwalk or West Des Moines/Jordan Creek Living magazines, contact:

Martha Munro
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 314
Mobile: 515-321-5246
martha@iowalivingmagazines.com

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