Welcome to an extra 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.

“As a nurse still actively employed by one of the largest hospital systems in the Des Moines area and who graduated in 1968, I am hoping that you might rethink your negative comments about helping students repay their college loans (Didn’t own much, July 11, 2023). Our system has shut down beds because there are no staff to care for patients. You, too, may have a health-related emergency and worry, as you lay on a cart in the emergency department possibly for days, and wonder if you are getting the interventions you need for your healing. An educated population benefits our whole country. Taxpayers support all kinds of things for the wellbeing of this nation; education should be at the top! The list of advanced education for so many (if not all) sectors of our lives is dependent upon our youth (and all ages) learning, improving, understanding our world and world problems. Why should my farm get support from tax money? I don’t eat dairy, yet I feel certain that there is some of my money supporting the dairy industry. The list goes on and on. Opportunities to continue education without sustaining horrendous debt should be at the top of our human and national agenda. Wishing you good health and an attitude review!” - Carol 

Helping students repay their college loans and erasing those loans are two different things. Having said that, we can likely agree that the cost of education is too high. Competition will drive that cost down. Loan forgiveness will drive it up. Regarding the shortage of nurses, if the jobs can’t be filled, then the employers clearly are not paying enough. Pay them as much as needed to fill the positions, but don’t pay off their loans for them (and understand that these increased costs will be passed along to the rest of us in one way or another). In my experience, handouts rarely fix a problem but often add to it. I doubt we will agree on this, but I certainly respect and appreciate your opinion — and I am continually reviewing my attitude. - Shane

“I truly believe cash is becoming a thing of the past (Didn’t own much, July 11, 2023). My employer recently brought in a major fast food chain restaurant to expand our food choices. However, much to the dismay of some of the (especially) older employees, they do not take cash! Debit or credit only. However I believe this is to dissuade potentially ‘sticky fingered’ (one of my mother’s favorite sayings) employees. I’ll gladly give my debit/credit card if it helps ‘shrinkage’ and they pass the savings on to us the consumer!” - Lori

Good luck with that. - Shane

“Great column this morning (Instrumental songs, July 12, 2023)! It prompted me to consider all the instrumentals that I grew up with and continue to love. I'm sure all the good memories of playing in the Corwith-Wesley band had something to do with it. Here are a few I thought you might enjoy: Popcorn by Hot Butter; Bert Kaempfert and His Orchestra - A Swinging Safari; Henri Mancini's Baby Elephant Walk from John Wayne's movie, “Hatari”; Glen Miller's In the Mood; Leroy Anderson's Bugler's Holiday; Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass A Taste of Honey or Rise or Whipped Cream or Mexican Shuffle or Tijuana Taxi or Route 101...  well, just about anything he played. And for my friend, Andy Joseph, the State Apiarist - Bumble Boogie by B. Bumble and the Stingers. Thanks for being my favorite morning reading!” - LuAnn

You encouraged me to listen to them all. Wonderful suggestions, and how could I forget Glen Miller's “In the Mood”? - Shane

Have a thoughtful Thursday, and thank for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

CITYVIEW announced its 2023 Best Of Des Moines readers' choices Jan. 31. You can find all the results from the poll in the February issue of CITYVIEW magazine!

Best Local Bar (Overall)

1. Mannings

2. Iowa Distilling Company

3. The Winchester Public House

SEE EVENT PHOTOS HERE...

Happy Birthday These celebrities were born on this date: John Lodge, T.G. Sheppard, Carlos Santana, Frank Whaley, Josh Holloway, Sandra Oh, Omar Epps, Simon Rex, Judy Greer, Elliott Yamin, Gisele Bundchen and Percy Daggs III.

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

The answer to yesterday's riddle:
What do you call a duck that steals? A ROBBER DUCK! - Gail Tomlinson, Judy Anderson, Rex Post, John Zeitler. Or A QUACKTOMANIAC (Kleptomaniac) - Caroline Rogers. Or A SAFE QUACKER! Juanita

Today's Riddle

What does a bee suffer from if it visits too many flowers?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

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