Jul 11

The Return of the Incredible Shrinking Products

Posted on Wednesday, July 11, 2012, at 11:45 AM by Jeff

The Mike & Ike box was recently cut from 6 ounces to 5 ounces — a 17% cut! I knew something was different.

Whenever the package says “10% more free” or gets redesigned, look out — chances are it’s preparation for less food at the same price.

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Jul 11

We’re not good, but we’re still here

Posted on Wednesday, July 11, 2012, at 2:00 AM by Jeff

Last week SBNation calculated the “greatest” sports states by historical winning records of the pro and major-college teams that played in those states. Iowa is the, um, least greatest — one-thousandth of a point behind Missouri and two-thousandths behind Illinois. (The 1990s Chicago Bulls were no match for the 19-everything-except-the-90s Northwestern.)

Iowa, you have the Hawkeyes, who have been decent at football and basketball for a long time. But you also have Iowa St., which has been pretty bad for over a century (basketball is .495 over 105 years, football is .450 over 114 years). From what I’ve seen, it’s somewhat rare for such a not-good program in a major conference to have been around for so long.

We’re tenacious! Considering how close Iowa State has been to not being in a major conference during this decade, I’ll take the “rarity” designation.

Historical note: The author did not included the 1949-50 Waterloo Hawks. The 19-43 record wouldn’t have helped.

This is a timed post.
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Jul 10

The toughest job in college football

Posted on Tuesday, July 10, 2012, at 7:21 PM by Jeff

David Ubben, who as ESPN’s Big 12 blogger doesn’t do Iowa State any favors, isn’t saying anything wrong in his ranking of football coaching jobs. It’s just that when you look at the aggregate like this, the bleakness really shows through.

10. Iowa State: Iowa State holds the distinction of being the only truly “little brother” program in its own state, and that lands it at the bottom of our list. ISU is way north in the Big 12, and in a state that has little football talent. Best of luck convincing top Texas talents to sign up for Iowa winters. Feign offense at the “little brother” tag, but Iowa has 11 conference titles, 22 consensus All-Americans and a Heisman Trophy. Iowa State has two titles, three All-Americans and no Heisman. It’s not close. Iowa’s also won 14 bowl games, compared to three for ISU. That said, Paul Rhoads is doing an unbelievable job in Ames. So did Dan McCarney.

The four toughest head-coaching jobs in college football today are Iowa State, Mississippi State, Washington State, and Oregon State, in that order.

The two conference titles, by the way, are Missouri Valley co-championships from a century ago. Counting them in is generous.

Iowa, by the way, ranks seventh of 12 in the Big Ten.

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Jul 10

Transportation bill includes IA 100 money

Posted on Tuesday, July 10, 2012, at 12:51 AM by Jeff

The recently passed transportation bill includes money for the IA 100 bypass around Cedar Rapids, which has been held up at various points this century by environmental and budget issues. The Cedar Rapids Gazette says that while the money isn’t specifically allocated (ahem, earmarked) toward the project, the five-year plan included the construction on the assumption the money would come.

As for the endangered butterfly that held up plans in the past and necessitated a redrawn route? They can’t find any now.

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Jul 09

New Sioux City detours in place

Posted on Monday, July 9, 2012, at 11:23 AM by Jeff

KPTH, Sioux City’s Fox affiliate, has a story and visual guide for how traffic on US 20 is going to get to southbound I-29.

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Jul 07

Final Benton County US 30 plan released

Posted on Saturday, July 7, 2012, at 12:36 PM by Jeff

Half a dozen plans came out last year, but the DOT has decided its final strategy for four-laning US 30 in Benton County.

KCRG reports that there will be a meeting in Blairstown Tuesday, but the plans are already online.

Project statement (PDF) / Environmental Assessment (PDF) (maps are halfway down the file)

The existing lanes will become the westbound lanes, with a slight shift southward in places. This really means the existing lanes will be destroyed and a new roadbed built in place to handle 21st-century traffic. Many homes and farmsteads on the south side of the road will be removed.

The most notable change in the final plan, compared to last summer’s outlines, is keeping the US 218 intersection in place. The interchange ramps will be in the northwest and southeast corners, with a separate access road built to the north for Youngstown Station. Then, at the county line, IA 21 will have a bridge over 30 for a diamond interchange — but will be further evaluated for potential impact on the Belle Plaine airport(!).

The current five-year plan expects nothing to be done except right-of-way until 2016. Then the new lanes will be graded. Paving isn’t listed yet, but it would likely happen for the new lanes in 2018.

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Jul 04

2010s technology, 1990s computer

Posted on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at 4:37 PM by Jeff

Through use of a digital converter, it is possible to watch television through the coax port on a Power Macintosh 6500. Just put the converter between the wall jack and computer, set Apple Video Player to Channel 3/4, and use the converter to change channels. Why? Why not?

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Jul 02

The division between sunny and hot

Posted on Monday, July 2, 2012, at 2:30 PM by Jeff

Highs of 95 and 96? Just “sunny,” according to the National Weather Service. But 97? That’s hot. Check out those “lows.” Now, how about a nice tall glass of air?

It seems almost unfair for us to get a whole week of 90s and not even have a single 100-degree day to show for it. If it’s going to be hot, make it hot.

UPDATE 7/3: The NWS launched its redesigned website yesterday. The forecast icons are the same, but enlarged. And now, I see a forecast for four straight days with a high of 99.

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Jul 02

Carroll, Creston sorting centers to close

Posted on Monday, July 2, 2012, at 10:31 AM by Jeff

There was one more attempt to save them, but that failed. The sorting centers in Waterloo and Cedar Rapids will remain open, at least.

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Jun 30

So long, mac.com page

Posted on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at 3:28 PM by Jeff

It’s a weekend of goodbyes.

After more than a decade, homepage.mac.com/jeffmorrison expires at midnight, as Apple cancels iTools/.Mac/MobileMe in favor of iCloud.

The web-hosting service served me very, very well. I am sad to see it go.

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