Author Archives: Jeff

Aug 28

The time* I** outscored*** 2 Jeopardy All-Stars

Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

April 5, 2003: The Janss steps on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles, among my minimal photographic evidence of being there. The Jeopardy All-Star Games are re-airing this week and next. The novelty tournament brought back 15 talented, fan-friendly contestants for … Continue reading →

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Aug 27

Ostermann marker placed in Montour

Posted on Tuesday, August 27, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Henry Ostermann, the first field secretary of the Lincoln Highway Association, died in 1920 when his car went off the road near Montour. Earlier this month, an interpretive panel was installed at Montour’s cemetery to honor Ostermann. It is a project from … Continue reading →

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Aug 26

The fan pairing made in heaven, or the opposite

Posted on Monday, August 26, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Substitute the word “Cyclones” for “Browns” in the below, and it’s kind of concerning how well it works: To be a Browns fan is to regard any positive development—such as a win, or for that matter a person on the … Continue reading →

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Aug 23

A convergence I didn’t expect

Posted on Friday, August 23, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

(Yes, I love “Younger.” The fact it doesn’t have a pyramid of Emmys, even given some of its hiccups, is a shame.) (This is also, weirdly, the second combo reference to “The Orville” and Venn diagrams. But when I might be … Continue reading →

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Aug 21

Re-evaluating Ottumwa’s earliest highways

Posted on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

April 13, 2016: Northbound US 63 at one of the newest additions to Ottumwa’s highway chronology, a three-point roundabout with US 34. This is one of the very few places in Iowa a roundabout kind of makes sense. Microfilm research … Continue reading →

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Aug 19

Mermaids in Traer

Posted on Monday, August 19, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

KWWL has a story about “mermaid classes” at the Traer swimming pool (the new one, I might add). It’s taught by North Tama’s current art teacher. This looks like a lot of fun, despite — or especially — considering that … Continue reading →

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Aug 16

Things to do in Des Moines when you’re alive

Posted on Friday, August 16, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

With all the national media in Iowa this week, we were bound to get some dispatches from the frontier-style stories. Roll Call has a 15-minute audio experience of the Iowa State Fair. The reporter spent “a day in the deep-fried … Continue reading →

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Aug 15

Fair Squares, 2010-2018

Posted on Thursday, August 15, 2019, at 10:17 AM by Jeff

The Rice Krispie Bar on a Stick (that couldn’t be called that) is off the menu at the Iowa State Fair. The fair board discontinued selling the treat this year, the Register reports, because of falling sales. That’s even after … Continue reading →

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Aug 14

‘Thanks for giving Iowa a try’ (2)

Posted on Wednesday, August 14, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I write about the Iowa State Fair Singers and Jazz Band, with a single-out of 1989, and then I find a barely-seen video of that very year. The thanks song comes at the end. (Those very benches, or similar ones, … Continue reading →

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Aug 13

‘Thanks for giving Iowa a try’

Posted on Tuesday, August 13, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I loved watching the Iowa State Fair Singers and Jazz Band. It was something we saw at the fair at the stage by the Cultural Center at least a few times, if not every year. I certainly loved it when … Continue reading →

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