Welcome to an extra edition of the mailbag where you will find some of the comments, questions and ideas sent recently by readers of this newsletter or our publications. They are edited for space and clarity.
“I am ‘old school’ when it comes to remembering when to do tasks (Furnace filter reminder, Aug. 27, 2024). I have lists galore! Here’s a suggestion on how to get into the habit of remembering: I read that to make or break a habit, one must do the ‘thing’ 21 consecutive times. So, Shane, in 21 months, you should be a pro at remembering the changing of the furnace filter! Uff da! To quote ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ 2023 winner Viggo Venn, who happens to be Norwegian: ‘One more time!’ ” - Diane
Twenty-one? I only have 10 fingers and toes, Diane. - Shane
“As a retired American worker, salute accepted (A salute to working Americans, Sept. 2, 2024). Thank you and have a happy day.” - Chuck
My uncle used to check my hands for callouses to make sure I was working. When he retired, and to his chagrin, I did the same to him. Yes, working long, hard days is good for us. All of us. - Shane
“I say let whoever be whomever they want, however they want (Pajama pants, Sept. 5, 2024). Be it a suit and tie or shorts and sandals (and anything in between). As long as either is appropriate to their field.” - Brent
Good point, Brent. Just one question. In what workplace would pajama pants be appropriate work attire? - Shane
“Good afternoon, Shane. I grew up attending church in nothing less than a suit or sports jacket (Pajama pants, Sept. 5, 2024). I was required to wear ‘business casual’ at school. Girls wore skirts, no jeans or shorts. Black men were allowed to wear mustaches as an acknowledgement of freedom from slavery. At church, I hesitated to wear dressy shorts despite my wife's approval, but since I was recently served the communion wine by a man who was wearing shorts standing next to the pastor, I think it's acceptable now. Thanks for thoughtful reading.” - John
I guess we shouldn’t judge people on what they wear. After all, Jesus wore sandals. - 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. |
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Clear Mortgage meteorology
Another very warm day today. The heat breaks a bit starting tomorrow. A few slight shower chances this weekend.
For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage. |
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| Featured in the SEPTEMBER issue of CITYVIEW | | | FILM REVIEW
‘Jackpot!’ is an action-comedy with ‘lotto’ potential
By David Rowley
“Jackpot!” is an American action-comedy directed by Paul Feig and written by Rob Yescombe. With an intriguing premise set in a not-so-distant dystopian future, the movie had the potential to be both a thrilling and hilarious ride — like a hybrid take of “The Running Man” and “The Purge.” However, it struggles to fully deliver on either front, leaving audiences with a sense of missed opportunity.
The story unfolds in a future California, ravaged by poor economic policies, high inflation and a deteriorating standard of living. Good thing nothing like that is going on right now, right? | | | READ MORE |
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The 2024 results ...
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines® | | | Best Local Place to Bowl
1. Spare Time Entertainment
2. Warrior Lanes
3. Air Lanes
Read all the 2024 results.
Cast your votes in the 2025 Best Of Des Moines Poll now! Open until Nov. 22. Results to be published in the February 2025 issue of CITYVIEW.
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Automats and day old bread - why not? The city of Yokohama is installing vending machines all over town to dispense day-old bread and other perishables at a discount. This started with one bakery concerned about the sustainability of wasting bread without extending hours. Their machines sold out and now the city-owned automats will include food from dozens of merchants. (Newsroom Tokyo)
To err on the side of stubborn/stupid. The last of the four dams that nearly destroyed salmon nations on the Klamath River between California and Oregon was demolished last week. This was a huge win for fish, tribes and environmentalists who fought for five decades to restore the river's natural course. (Several decades fewer than it took Southwestern tribes to win back their water rights to the Gila River in Arizona.) Every major news agency covered the story and yet we still have not read any explanation as to why the damned dams were ever built nor why it took so long. What do you suppose that governments erred on the side of stubborn?
Thursday specials
• Irina's Steak and Seafood (650 S. Prairie View Drive, West Des Moines) offers a steak special with choices on Thursdays. Choose one: prime filet mignon, New York strip or baseball cut sirloin, plus one selected side, $25
• Sirloin steak dinners are featured specials today at Sully's Irish Pub (860 First St., West Des Moines), Front Row (9956 Swanson Blvd., Clive), Winn’s Pizza and Steakhouse (122 W. Ashland Ave., Indianola) and Sprockets (2314 University Ave., Des Moines)
• Thursday nights, Moroccan couscous — lemon chicken, beef keftas, five vegetables, harissa — are $17 at Purveyor (505 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines)
• Eastside Eddie’s (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) Thursday special is a hot beef sandwich with green beans, $10
• Sprockets (2314 University Ave., Des Moines) offers a breaded pork tenderloin special on Thursdays for $9.99
• Aussie pies, savory and sweet, at St. Kilda's Collective (333 Fifth St., Valley Junction) farmers market stall are good deals at varying prices. Indoors, Thursday's happy hour brings gargantuan $12 fried cod sandwiches, plus cheeseburgers, Cubanos, chicken sandwiches and veggie burgers
• Kids eat free at Scornovacca’s (1930 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines) on Thursdays
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• Mariscos El Pirata (6050 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines) offers $2 off all sushi on Thursdays
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• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) offers whole grass fed beef tenderloins at $9.99/pound and local sweet corn at for for $1 through Tuesday.
• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) has karaoke tonight from 6 p.m.
• ShortE's BBQ (8505 Chambery Blvd., Johnston) has $1 smoked wings Thursdays.
• Aldi stores are selling 3-pound bags of Gala apples for $1.89 and pork belly for $2.99/pound through Tuesday.
• Cyd's Catering has a new football "pre-game meal deal" that includes crudité with tomatoes, shrimp cocktails, corn chips and three dips, bourbon meatballs, dry rubbed chicken wings and fudge brownies to feed four - $100.
• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) is offering 16-20/pound shrimp for $3.99/pound through Tuesday. They also have $9.99/pound prices on swordfish and ahi steaks.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |
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| Featured home for sale | | |
$409,990 14527 Coyote Drive, Urbandale, IA 50111
D.R. Horton, America's Builder, presents the Hamilton. This spacious ranch home includes 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. The Hamilton offers a finished basement providing nearly 2,200 square feet of total living space. As you make your way into the main living area, you'll find an open great room featuring a cozy fireplace.
See the listing here.
| | | See More Homes For Sale |
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| SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction | | | 920 31ST ST., DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2024-07-01
SALE PRICE: $400,000
SELLER: RECONCILERS WORSHIP CENTER
BUYER: IGLESIA EVANGELICA APOSTOLES Y PROFETAS
ACRES: 0.428
SQUARE FEET: 4,376 |
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| Featured in the current issue of Adel Living magazine | | | NEW AGAIN
Residents share their home renovation experiences.
By Darren Tromblay
For many homeowners, the day comes, sooner or later, when they look around their abode and wonder when the carpet was ever stylish, the wall color ever stunning and the layout ever functional. They realize new curtains, throw pillows and artwork won’t be enough to freshen things up, and the only solution to the weary look of their home is to bite the bullet and invest in some major improvements. And, when the work is done, their home — and enthusiasm for it — feels new.
Retaining wall is functional and attractive
Sarah and Dirk Benn have lived in their walk-out, ranch-style home in Adel for 30 years.
For the longest time, their backyard retaining wall consisted of the old standbys of eras past: railroad ties. Or at least something that looked like them.
Not only were they aesthetically unappealing, the slope they created was challenging each time either one of them had to mow.
[...] | | | READ MORE |
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FROM KCCI: Mahaska County 4-year-old dies in accidental shooting. MAHASKA COUNTY, Iowa — A 4-year-old Iowa boy was killed Wednesday afternoon after being struck with a bullet resulting from an accidental discharge of a firearm. ...READ MORE
FROM WHO-TV: Des Moines man sentenced to 60 years in prison for death of child.DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines man was sentenced to 60 years in prison on Wednesday for the death of a three-month-old, and the injury of another child and two dogs last year.... READ MORE
FROM WOI-DT Local 5: Blank Park Zoo celebrates hatching of endangered turtles. DES MOINES, Iowa — In a big win for its conservation efforts, Blank Park Zoo celebrated the hatching of 57 Blanding's turtles. ....READ MORE |
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ESPN: Aces' A'ja Wilson breaks WNBA single-season scoring record ...READ MORE
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Caitlin Clark Expands on 'Liking' Taylor Swift's Post Endorsing Kamala Harris ... READ MORE
CBS Sports: White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf has noticed his team's historically bad 2024 season too: 'No one is happy' ...READ MORE |
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1940: Lascaux cave paintings discovered. Near Montignac, France, four teenagers discover a collection of prehistoric cave paintings when they stumble upon the ancient artwork after following their dog down a narrow entrance into a cavern. The 15,000- to 17,000-year-old paintings, consisting mostly of animal representations, are among the finest examples of art from the Upper Paleolithic period. .... READ MORE
2009: Tea Party protest draws thousands to Washington, D.C. On September 12, 2009, thousands of protesters participate in the “Taxpayer March on Washington,” one of the earliest and biggest Tea Party movement events. Marchers in the nation’s capital clogged streets near the Capitol, railing against President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform proposals, federal spending, taxes and support for women's reproductive rights, among other issues. ... READ MORE
1972: Hopalong Cassidy rides off into his last sunset. After nearly 40 years of riding across millions of American TV and movie screens, the cowboy actor William Boyd, best known for his role as Hopalong Cassidy, dies on September 12, 1972 at the age of 77. ... READ MORE
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| Weekly fuel report | | | The price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 5 cents, averaging $3.06 across Iowa according to AAA. Prices are down 88 cents from a year ago. The national average on Wednesday was $3.25, down 7 cents from last week’s price.
Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 5 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.39. One year ago, diesel prices averaged $4.26 in Iowa. The current Iowa diesel price is 26 cents lower than the national average of $3.65.
Wholesale ethanol held steady and is currently priced at $2.16.
Natural gas prices rose 13 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $2.32/MMbtu. |
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| Birthdays and notables | | | These celebrities were born on this date: Sydney Sweeney, Jayla Walton, PVD Biggie, Emmy Rossum, Kelsea Ballerini, Jennifer Hudson, 2 Chainz, Zackary Arthur, Chris Grey, Official Wilough, Yao Ming, Colin Ford, Freddie Freeman, Ryan Potter, Louis CK
SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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The answer to yesterday's riddle:
Why is Cinderella bad at playing soccer? HER COACH IS A PUMPKIN!- Randy Lagerblade. OR, SHE RUNS AWAY FROM THE BALL! - Aaron Burns, Gail Tomlinson. Or, You can’t kick with glass slippers! - William Snyder.
Today's riddle:
What would it be like to have a pen leak in your mouth?
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or CITYVIEW, contact:
Aaron Burns
Advertising Sales Manager
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 330
Mobile: 712-310-3860
aaron@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! |
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