Ever seen those folded-down directions that come packaged with most everything we seem to buy today? Sixty-four pages. Eleven languages. Six-point type. I think they are called instruction manuals, but I am not sure. And, therein lies the problem.

Reading instruction manuals would be so easy, yet very few of us do it. Especially men. But why? Learning Stream, an education and training company, says there are seven reasons. At least I think there were seven. That’s as far as I got.

1. We don’t have time. The site says we often buy things based on an immediate need, and we don’t want to make the time to read a manual. I agree. In those situations, urgency is the word of the day. A friend used to tell me that it is challenging to remember that the goal is to drain the swamp when you are up to your rear end in alligators. Somehow, that seems to apply here.

2. We are lazy. Well, I guess that’s accurate. Reading an instruction manual would take a few minutes, and that would require effort.

3. We already know everything. We rationalize that this isn’t our first rodeo, or our first time putting Adirondack chairs together. We got it handled. Then we wonder what the extra bolts are for.

4. We aren’t too bright. Huh? I guess this could be correct. For some people.

5. We think common sense is enough. How difficult can putting a kid’s bicycle together really be? A frame. Two wheels. A chain. Easy-peasy. Then four hours go by, and the bike pieces are still on the garage floor.

6. We would rather call a help line. This one I disagree with 100%. Who in their right mind wants to be on hold for someone in another country who is simply reading the same instructions that are already in the box?

7. Instructions are poorly written. Bingo! Ever wonder who writes these things? Have they even seen the product? Could they make sure the correct manual comes with the equipment it was written for? And supply the correct amount of parts? Writing instruction manuals is actually a career for technical writers, and companies exist that do only this. And you think your job is boring.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, 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 other columns here.

FOOD DUDE
Centro — grandeur salvaged

By Jim Duncan

From today’s perspective, Centro proved to be perfectly named. It is the heart of downtown now. But it seemed like an eccentric pipe dream at the turn of the millennium. In fact, the Proudfoot, Bird and Rawson building that houses it, then the Masonic Temple, was on the hit list of powerful players including the mayor, his architectural advisor and chauvinists of the Chipperdale library next door.

City Council meetings then were raucous affairs religiously attended by activists for preservation led by firebrand Nan Stillians and her enthusiastic posse. They held things up long enough for two voices with clout to notice. Against the advice of most of their business friends, Harry and Pam Bookey determined to save the Temple from the wrecking ball.

Several communities have announced that trick-or-treating will move from Wednesday evening to Thursday, Halloween evening, due to storms being forecast for Wednesday. Check with your community to verify. We received press releases changing the date from West Des Moines, Polk City, Des Moines, Urbandale, Altoona, Ankeny, Clive and Waukee. Others likely followed suit.

Meet Alexis Turner
Counselor works with students in classrooms and small groups and individually.

By T.K. West

Originally from Sioux City, Iowa, Alexis Turner moved to Waukee with her family in 2022. She chose to relocate to the community because she has an identical twin sister who lives in Waukee. Turner began her sixth year as a school counselor and currently works at Sugar Creek Elementary School.

“When my family made the decision to move to Waukee, changing jobs and finding a school that needed a counselor was extremely nerve-racking. I was extremely lucky that Sugar Creek was about to open, and they were in the hiring process for a school counselor,” Turner says.

As a school counselor, Turner typically begins each day in the cafeteria greeting students who are eating breakfast. She then checks in with students that may need a little pick-me-up to start their day or just some reassurance before class begins. During the day, Turner visits a schedule of classrooms for social-emotional learning or to help teachers in requested areas. She also sees students in small groups and individually.

Happy BirthdayRyan Rivera!

These celebrities were born on this date: Devin Booker, Shane Myler, Nia Long, Ashley Graham, Janel Parrish, Ananya Panday, Henry Winkler, Gretchen Rossi, Matthew Morrison, Nastia Liukin, Gavin Rossdale

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

The answer to yesterday's riddle:

Yesterday's riddle: What's a vampire's favorite fruit? A BLOOD ORANGE or A NECK-TARINE! - Jim Becker, Randy Lagerblade, William Snyder, Lori Bluml, Carolyn Rogers, Gail Tomlinson, Rex Post, Sharon Hill Watkins

Today's riddle:

Why don't witches buy cars with automatic transmission?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or Winterset Living magazine, contact:

Kristine McDonald
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 321
Mobile: C: 515-975-3543
kristine@iowalivingmagazines.com

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