Category Archives: Iowa Miscellaneous

Feb 24

Watching TV is so hard nowadays

Posted on Monday, February 24, 2025, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

About a month ago, Mediacom shut off its unencrypted cable signal. That means my favorite way to watch TV — on the computer — couldn’t work with cable anymore. Ironically, even as I write this now, the signal to my … Continue reading →

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Feb 17

Headline goes here

Posted on Monday, February 17, 2025, at 11:16 AM by Jeff

January 8, 1883, was the last Monday that residents of Cedar Rapids didn’t have a hard-copy newspaper sold at stores or delivered to their doorsteps. Until today. Tuesday will be 600 days since I lost my job there.

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Feb 14

Remember January?

Posted on Friday, February 14, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Like I said, and say at the opening of the short-takes piece below, it’s been … yeah.

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Jan 30

Meteorologists staying on at KWWL

Posted on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

When news of what Allen Media was planning to do to local weather desks across the nation got out, the reactions were all the same, and all bad. Even though the move had not been announced publicly, the rumble was … Continue reading →

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Jan 23

Noting correction to 2023 news graphic

Posted on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I’m not going to redo my graphic from 2023 about newspaper frequency, but since the information that one line is inaccurate has come to light, I need to acknowledge it. In May 2022, the Ames Tribune announced that at the … Continue reading →

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Jan 20

License Plate Letters — PDS

Posted on Monday, January 20, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The National Weather Service has the rare designation “Particularly Dangerous Situation” for potentially extreme weather. The most recent one issued in Iowa, according to the Iowa Environmental Mesonet, was in a pair of tornado warnings issued for parts of Polk … Continue reading →

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Jan 09

The year in vibes, as written on my Substack

Posted on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

My year-ender is partially my most-read pieces of 2024 (though not detailed beyond that), partially some election analysis, and partially committing myself to some sort of USA 250th anniversary project. If you need some background on why the vibes were … Continue reading →

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Nov 14

Veterans Day in Cedar Rapids

Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

I wrote about Monday’s ceremony in the Veterans Memorial Building downtown honoring members of Cedar Rapids metro veterans organizations.

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Nov 12

The new computer is here

Posted on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Storm Lake Pilot Tribune, May 9, 1979: County buys new computer  / At cost of $93,000 Buena Vista county has purchased a new computer for the courthouse at a net cost of over $93,000. The board of supervisors voted Tuesday … Continue reading →

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Nov 08

My Election Day 2024 coverage

Posted on Friday, November 8, 2024, at 10:03 AM by Jeff

Tuesday I went to Dysart, which voted on a bond issue for Union (six votes short!) (just like North Tama!). Dysart is also part of Senate District 38, which despite a one-sided ad campaign and the bulk of its population … Continue reading →

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