Author Archives: Jeff

Dec 27

The matchup I thought would never happen

October 11, 2015: Notre Dame’s stadium expansion includes academic facilities and its first video boards. I wrote before on this blog that Iowa State would never play Notre Dame in football unless the stars aligned for a bowl game. Well, … Continue reading

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Dec 26

National travel map, macro-level

This is an expanded yet condensed version of my 29 states in 12 months of ’16-17. The only additions to the red group on this map were Wyoming (two months before the 12 began), South Dakota (very barely), Washington, Oregon, … Continue reading

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Dec 24

Another dispatch from the frontier, sort of

Here’s a reason Iowa needs to keep the presidential caucuses. A major media outlet left to its own devices went looking for a “small town” and found “this small town of Newnan, about 40 miles southwest of Atlanta” “a rapidly growing … Continue reading

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Dec 23

Casey’s pushes pizza into the smart phone era

October 22, 2013: There’s a Casey’s in Casey, Illinois (seen here). There is not a Casey’s in Casey, Iowa. Casey’s hangs its convenience store hat on two major things: Serving rural Americans and making great pizza. In many places, maybe … Continue reading

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Dec 22

A video clip that needs to be prepared immediately

For the appropriate time on ABC’s “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”: I’m Hugh Downs… and I’m Barbara Walters… and this is… 2020! [Someone may have watched more TV newsmagazine shows than was healthy in the ’90s.]

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Dec 20

I-29 in Sioux City to be finished this decade

June 4, 2014: The national end of US 77 at the Missouri River and I-29 in Sioux City was converted from “Iowa’s Most Stupid Intersection” into a mostly-diamond interchange in the early 2010s. The decade-plus-long reconstruction of I-29 through the … Continue reading

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Dec 19

2019: The Year in Food (7)

Cincinnati chili “three-way” with fries and the requisite oyster crackers. The fries were very good. 7. Camp Washington Chili, Cincinnati, Ohio (Oct. 31) I have consumed Cincinnati chili and lived. You might have heard of it under the name of … Continue reading

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Dec 18

My seasonal challenge

By the time I found out about the Marion Community Band, I had not officially played for more years than I had. But, thanks to all those early years of practicing, I was able to wobble my way back on the … Continue reading

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Dec 17

2019: The Year in Food (6)

6. Sammy’s Pizza, International Falls, Minnesota (Aug. 19); Brooklyn Pizza Co., Seymour, Indiana (Nov. 1) One is from a small chain with all but two of its 15 locations in Minnesota; the other is a minor diner. The first was consumed … Continue reading

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Dec 17

Playing the game the right way

In case you missed it, a great Jeopardy run (by someone who loves Star Wars!) ended Monday. Ugh. I definitely don't like playing bottom-up. #Jeopardy — Author Jennifer Quail (@jenniferquail) December 17, 2019 (note to self: do not look up … Continue reading

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