Author Archives: Jeff

Jul 19

Apollo 11 at 50: The end

Posted on Friday, July 19, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 3, 2013: An artist’s rendition of Neil Armstrong’s first step on the moon, with his face visible, at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Ohio. Armstrong died in 2012 and was buried at sea. Only one-third of … Continue reading →

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Jul 18

Apollo 11 at 50: The command module

Posted on Thursday, July 18, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

June 28, 2009: Apollo 11 command module “Eagle” at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC. The heat shield after re-entry kind of looks like the surface of the moon, doesn’t it? The command module is the one piece … Continue reading →

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Jul 17

Apollo 11 at 50: A different kind of timeline

Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Consider the following. July 20, 1869: The Transcontinental Railroad has been complete for 70 days. July 20, 1919: The U.S. Army convoy taking the Lincoln Highway across the United States, “the largest aggregation of motor vehicles ever started on a trip … Continue reading →

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Jul 16

Apollo 11 at 50: Mission Control

Posted on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

December 30, 2005: Apollo-era Mission Control at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Reused from this blog post. Associated Press: Restored Mission Control comes alive 50 years after Apollo Meticulously recreated down to the tan carpeting, gray-green wallpaper, white ceiling panels, woven-cushioned … Continue reading →

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Jul 15

Apollo 11 at 50: The beginning

Posted on Monday, July 15, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

May 29, 2009: Outside a low-rise midcentury government building, Cape Canaveral, Florida. Iowa connection: James Van Allen. I have been to just about every major installation related to the Space Race that isn’t in California. At both Cape Canaveral and … Continue reading →

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Jul 12

How about a Fair-a-thon on IPTV?

Posted on Friday, July 12, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

August 14, 2014: Iowa Public Television hosts a governor debate at the Iowa State Fair. Please, no questions about the blogger’s fair priorities or the practicality of wearing suits in August. Being a Friend of Iowa Public Television doesn’t mean … Continue reading →

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Jul 11

Psst…want a black market brownie?

Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Newton school district has banned homemade snacks and treats for fear of “allergies”, reports the Newton Daily News. Forget fireworks; now the Iowa Legislature needs to legalize bake sales. In unrelated news, something special may or may not have … Continue reading →

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Jul 10

Floyd interchange plans released

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

A DOT meeting July 16 will go over plans to build an interchange at the US 18/218 intersection on the south side of Floyd. The plans and a silent video rendering are already available. The four-lane will stay almost in … Continue reading →

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Jul 09

Relocated IA 17 will maintain corners

Posted on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The plans for changing IA 17 east of Boone are available. The meeting is Thursday at United school. The final decision was the “Red plan” from a set of proposals three years ago. According to the maps, IA 17 will continue … Continue reading →

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Jul 08

An Ohio mapmaker with ‘creativity’ and ‘whimsy’

Posted on Monday, July 8, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The AP has a neat little story about the man who’s been in charge of designing the non-highway area on the back of the Ohio state map for nearly 20 years. There’s a video*, too, about the Easter eggs he … Continue reading →

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