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Friday, July 12, 2024
Good morning to you!

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.

“Or, you move to Texas, and at the restaurant they ask if you want a coke (Plain or peanut, July 8, 2024). You think, yeah, a Coke sounds good. They ask, what kind of coke do you want? You, from Iowa, go, what's wrong with this person... In Texas, it's all coke — Dr. Pepper, 7-up, Pepsi, Coke, even RC. Pop. Soda. Coke. Know the land where you live!” - Brad

If you want a Pepsi, pal, you are going to pay for it. - Shane

“One is RC. Two is Coke. Three is Pepsi (Plain or peanut, July 8, 2024).” - Jim

No Coke. Pepsi. - Shane

“Another great column, this one veering into the positive contemplation range (Leave this world a little better than you found it, July 9, 2024). You do an excellent job of peppering your growing following with a variety of subject matter. Bridge building aligns with your theme of leaving something better than when you started, whether a job, a task, or even the little life courtesies that take some daily wrinkles out of the fabric of the day. Thanks for your fine mind and pen.” - John

Your kind words make my column sound even better. Thank you. - Shane

“Shane, this might be your best ever — great message (Leave this world a little better than you found it, July 9, 2024). I try to follow this theme.” - Don

We could all use a reminder that we can make small differences that can add up to bigger things, I think. - Shane

“On Mondays, I try to listen for the garbage truck (Leave this world a little better than you found it, July 9, 2024). The driver has to first pull into the dead-end streets of our townhome community, collect the trash on one side of the street, back out, turn around, and then back down the street to collect the garbage on the opposite side of the street. It's a big truck to maneuver and puts strain on our cement. If I have time, I move the cans to the side of the street he first collects from and then put them back when he's done, usually to the garage door. If I have time, I do a few other streets as well. He always thanks me warmly.” - John

You are a fine American, John. Would you bring my garbage cans back, 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

See Shane Goodman's previous columns here.

 

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Heat builds into the weekend and Monday, when heat indices will be at or above 100.

For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage.

 
 
From the July issue of CITYVIEW
 

FOOD DUDE
801 Chop House — still the one

By Jim Duncan

801 prime
A few years back, I was taking a food writers tour of Kansas City with a score of writers, most of them from Texas. My Dallas friends ran into restaurant buddies from home who were in town for a Rangers-Royals series. The Texas friends were raving about “the best steakhouse ever.” When they revealed that they were talking about 801 Chophouse, I smiled proudly.

801 Chophouse began in downtown Des Moines in 1993 just after construction of the state’s tallest building was finished. It was the brainchild of Jimmy Lynch, arguably both the most visionary and the most notorious restaurateur in our town.

[...]

 
READ MORE
 
 
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines®
 
The results have been tallied and published in the February issue of CITYVIEW and online!

 

Best Local Moscow Mule

1. The Copper Cup

2. 300 Craft & Rooftop

3. Gastro Grub & Pub

 

Read all the results now!

 
 
Explore Des Moines
 

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

EXPLORE: Local Sports

By Cyote Williams

Local athletes try to etch their names in the record books at IHSAA and IGHSAU championships while some of the next best professionals hone their skills.

 
READ MORE
 
Weekly fuel report
 

The price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 4 cents, averaging $3.28 across Iowa according to AAA. The national average on Wednesday was $3.54, up 3 cents from last week’s price.

Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 1 cent this week with a statewide average of $3.58. One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.59 in Iowa. The current Iowa diesel price is 30 cents lower than the national average of $3.88.

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

Natural gas prices fell 16 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $2.27/MMbtu.

 

 

Bureaucracy beats on against the current, again. Yesterday, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of $4.5 million "to establish three new USDA Nutrition Hubs to provide tailored and scalable approaches to equitably advance food and nutrition security and help prevent diet-related chronic diseases, especially in historically underserved communities...by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America... with focus on providing science-based information tailored to priority communities of interest including Tribal, Hispanic and Insular Areas." No word yet where the hubs will be, nor how they are going to make people eat such words instead of foods they like that might not be included in the new USDA nutrition guidelines. 

Another opinion on the subject. from Larry McMurtry ("Lonesome Dove") - "Remember, medicine is the softest of all sciences and nutrition is the melted butter of medical science."

Cub fans alert. The Jelly Belly candy factory in Fairfield, California, is repackaging their defective "jelly bellies" and marketing them as "Belly Bombs." No word whether they will be available to Tribal, Hispanic or Insular Cub fans. 

Weekend deals. Olympic Flame (514 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) hosts belly dancers Friday night... The indomitable Brenda Trang invites one and all to her Vietnam Cafe (Merle Hay Mall Food Court) for a fabulous Friday buffet. 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. $16.95 with pho included. Brenda is a civic treasure, and traffic is slow in the mall... Bawarchi (6630 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines) has Friday through Sunday specials on paneer kebabs, chicken curry and goat curry... Mickey's in Yale (217 Main St., Yale) has hot beef sandwich lunches and all you can eat fish dinner specials today... Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave., Des Moines) offers BBQ beef and marinated roast beef sandwiches on special for Friday lunch... Bianchi’s Hilltop (2829 Hubbell Ave., Des Moines) has a lunch special on Italian roast beef sandwiches at $12... 801 Chophouse (801 Grand Ave., Des Moines) has Sunday supper specials that deliver deep discounts on filet, prime rib and red king salmon dinners... It's county fair season - Dallas County's has Craig Morgan on Saturday in Adel while Marion County's hosts Cooper Allen on Friday in Knoxville.

 
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com
 
Featured home for sale
 
Attention, Realtors, post your listings here for $50. Contact jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com for details.

$380,000                                                           4500 S.W. 26th St., Des Moines, IA 50321

Welcome to a world of elegance and luxury in this stunning two-story home, featuring 3 bedrooms, two spacious living rooms, a formal dining room, and 1,984 square feet of meticulously finished space. Experience every exquisite detail with our immersive Matterport 3D tour.

See the listing here.

 
See More Homes For Sale
 
SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction
 
595 N.E. 66TH AVE., DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2024-04-24
SALE PRICE: $1,319,128
SELLER: HUBBELL PROPERTIES II LC (SERIES J)
BUYER: WOODLAND HILLS RE HOLDINGS LLC
ACRES: 36.206
SQUARE FEET: 1,800
 
From the July issue of Winterset Living magazine
 

Meet therapy dog Miley
Turning students’ days around

By T.K. West

Miley is a 2-year-old golden retriever that began visiting Winterset Middle School in January 2023. Middle school special education teacher Jill Hatten chose Miley with the intention of her becoming a therapy dog, and she has not disappointed. Miley was ready for the Therapy Dogs International test before she was old enough to take it. She passed the exam in December 2022 just after turning 1 year old.

“Miley and I started working on obedience very early on. She is a quick learner and has many commands such as sit, down, stay and, the hardest one for her, leave it,” Hatten says.

[...]

 
READ MORE
 
Headlines

FROM KCCI: Bird flu leads to popular activities canceled at Iowa State Fair. DES MOINES, Iowa — When the 2024 Iowa State Fair starts in August, it will do so without the popular "I Milked a Cow Experience" and the Milking Parlor. Interactive activities were canceled this year to stop the spread of the bird flu. ...READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Nighttime personalities to join butter cow at Iowa State Fair in 2024. The State Fair announced on Facebook that Johnny Carson will be joining the butter cow. Carson was born in Corning and had a long, successful career in radio and television. He is best known as the host of the Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992.   ... READ MORE

FROM WOI-DT Local 5: Kyle Ricke found guilty of first-degree murder in shooting death of Algona officer.   ...READ MORE

 
Sports headlines
ESPN: ESPYS 2024: Livvy Dunne, Serena Williams among red carpet's best dressed  ...READ MORE 
 
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: The U.S. Olympic Relay Program Is Finally in Good Hands ... READ MORE
 
CBS Sports:  Monte Kiffin dies at 84: Longtime NFL, college coach was mastermind behind 'Tampa 2' defense.   ...READ MORE
 
1984: Geraldine Ferraro named vice presidential candidate. Walter Mondale, the leading Democratic presidential candidate, announces that he has chosen Representative Geraldine Ferraro of New York as his running mate. Ferraro, a daughter of Italian immigrants, had previously gained recognition as a vocal advocate of women’s rights in Congress. Ferraro became the first female vice presidential candidate to represent a major political party.   ... READ MORE
 
1957: Eisenhower takes first presidential ride in a helicopter... READ MORE
 
1965: First Marine to receive posthumous Medal of Honor for action in Vietnam is killed. U.S.M.C. Lieutenant Frank S. Reasoner—who became the first Marine awarded the prestigious Medal of Honor posthumously for action in Vietnam—is killed by enemy fire on July 12, 1965. He was the second Marine overall to be awarded the nation's highest award for valor during the Vietnam War.  ... READ MORE
 
 
Birthdays and notables
 

Happy Birthday Christina Anderson, Terri Brandt and Robert Roethler today and to Michelle Pohlmeyer Sunday!

These celebrities were born on this date: Richard Simmons, Mel Harris, Malala Yousafzai, Kristi Yamaguchi, Phoebe Tonkin, Issac Ryan Brown, Melissa O'Neil, Michelle Rodriguez, Steve Howey, Topher Grace, Niles Fitch

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

 
Morning chuckle

The answer to yesterday's riddle:

How do you reboot a robot? KICK IT IN IT ROBUTT! - Gail Tomlinson. Or, add an "o"! - John Zeitler. Or, Take it to the shoe store! - William Snyder.

Today's riddle

What do you call a shy person with a hammer?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

 

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or the Iowa Living magazines, contact:

Jolene Goodman
Vice President
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 319
Mobile: 515-326-0082
jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com

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