Dan Wetzel has a great colum on Yahoo about the magnitude of what Michael Phelps has acheived, and on a broader basis, what makes the olympics - sports we otherwise would almost never watch and certainly wouldn't adjust our schedules around - so captivating!
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/swimming/news?slug=dw-phelps081608&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Katie Knapp's BLT Potato Salad - Winner of the GMA "Best Potato Salad Ever" contest
8 large red potatoes 1 pound bacon 1 large white onion, chopped 2 cups mayonnaise 1 cup sour cream 3 tablespoons milk 6 hard-boiled eggs, chopped 2 1/2 cups shredded lettuce 2 large tomatoes, chopped 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Wash and boil potatoes until tender. Let cool. Chop and cook bacon and onion together until bacon is crispy. Drain grease into a bowl and reserve.
In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, sour cream, bacon drippings and milk. In a large bowl, combine potato, eggs and the onion-bacon mixture. Add mayo mixture to potato mixture and toss. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours. Served topped with lettuce, tomatoes and cheese.
Schnack's Weather blog - you may have to scroll down a bit but there is a very cool slow motion video of a lightning strike, and video of a meteorologist in Des Moines getting a surprise while holding a snake on stage at the State Fair!
http://qninewmedia.typepad.com/kwwl_weatherplus/
2nd Annual Eastern Iowa Fall Classic
4 Person Best Shot Golf Outing
Saturday, Sept. 20th, 2008
9:00 Registration -10:00 Shot Gun Start
$250.00 per team
The Eastern Iowa Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease Support Group is preparing for our 2nd Annual Eastern Iowa Parkinson’s Fall Classic intended to raise money for Parkinson’s Disease research. All the proceeds of this tournament will go directly to helping find a cure for this devastating illness and helping people that have been impacted by its’ wrath. In last year’s inaugural event we raised $9,000.00 for the University of Iowa Neurology Research and another $1,500 was donated to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association.
We are currently looking for help from individuals and businesses that are willing to support this cause. We are asking for donations at four levels. Money collected will be used to underwrite part of the cost not covered by entry fees (prizes, pin prizes, t-shirts for all who enter (with sponsor’s names on the back), and a lunch). Sponsors will be recognized on individual holes with signs and on all accompanying literature we pass out. In addition, sponsors will also be allowed to promote their products and services on individual holes on the day of the tournament if so desired. The remaining proceeds will be targeted directly towards Parkinson’s research. The levels of support are;
Event Sponsor $10,000.00 Corporate Partnership
Platinum $2,500.00 and above Front Nine Sponsor or Back Nine Sponsor
(1 – Free Team Registration)
Gold $1,500.00 Esteemed Partner (1 – Free Team Registration)
Silver $ 750.00 Valued Supporter
Bronze $ 200.00 Tee Sponsor
As we stated last year, we hope that this 2nd Annual Tournament will be our last. We are determined to find a cure for this dreadful disease and with your generous help and support, we are certain the answers are right around the corner.
Thank you for considering this worthwhile cause. If you have any questions, please direct them or donations to either of the following two people. Both have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and are active members of the Eastern Iowa Parkinson’s Support Group.
John Krumbholz Tom Lavrenz
Mt. Vernon MS Principal Former Director of Golf for the city of Cedar Rapids
396-7290 (H) 743-0513 (H)
2nd Annual
Eastern Iowa Parkinson’s
Fall Classic for Parkinson’s Support
Where: Saddleback Ridge Golf Club – Solon, Iowa
When: Saturday, Sept. 20th, 2008
Time: Registration @ 9 am, Shotgun Start @ 10 am
Entry Fee: $250 per team–includes 18 holes of golf, cart rental & lunch
(4-person scramble with pin, flight & door prizes)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES (Please check all that apply)
Hole Sponsor: o $2,500 - Platinum Level
o $1,500 - Gold Level
o $750 - Silver Level
o $200 – Bronze Level
Prize Sponsor: o$500 o$250 o$100 (To receive recognition in program and newsletter.)
Contact Person: _____________________________________________________________
Company/Organization: _____________________________________________________________
Full Address: _____________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________ Fax: ___________________________
E-mail: ____________________________ (Please email artwork to aharper@fbfs.com)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOLF PARTICIPATION Cost $250 per team - limit of 36 teams (First come first serve)
Golf fee includes lunch, cart rental, token to driving range and opportunity to participate in various contests.
Team Captain: _____________________________ E-mail: _________________________
Company/Org.: _____________________________________________________________
Full Address: _____________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________ Fax: _________________________
(3) Additional Team Members
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mail entry form & checks to:
Cedar Rapids Parkinson’s Foundation
PO Box 9412
Cedar Rapids, IA 52409
Checks are to be made payable to:
IA Chapter of APDA
For additional information, please e-mail
jkrumbholz@mountvernon.k12.ia.us or call
319 350-7482
I had the chance to view the flooding in Cedar Rapids from the air, thanks for pilot Bill Havertape from MSI, and from a boat thanks to DNR Conservation Officer Aric Sloderdyke. The video is unbelievable. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/wmtradio
For the latest information on the flood recovery from the city, check out http://www.corridorrecovery.org
Several requests came in for copies of my interview with ISU Prof. Doug Johnston, so here it is!
Prof. Doug Johnston Part 1
Click Here
Prof. Doug Johnston Part 2
Click Here
Dan Wheldon won a thrilling Iowa Corn Indy 250 at the Iowa Speedway in Newton 250 in what most drivers said was one of the best races of the year. So what was it like for those who attended, and what is it that makes an Indy race interesting? Gazette sportswriter Jeff Dahn does a great job describing the fan experience:
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080622/SPORTS/731068833/1056
The ower of Agriprocessors in Postville finally speaks, and says nothing is his fault. I'm not kidding, read the article!
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080605/NEWS/806050384/-1/archive
The latest from Iowa City and Coralville as far as the flooding is concerned.
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080606/NEWS/180951620/1001/NEWS
How well do you remember 1993? The Gazette has put together a collection of pictures from the floods, and it is amazing to sit an look at these.
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=GO&Dato=20080605&Kategori=NEWS&Lopenr=620730767&Ref=PH
A new law goes into effect July 1st that allows the state to confiscate the winnings of gamblers who owe money to government entities:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080606/NEWS10/806060373/1001/NEWS
Here is the video from the ATM Security Camera of a house in Parkersburg being destroyed by the tornado!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiHJ5J7ulOU
Interested in learning more about the Lizards we had in-studio this morning? The exhibit is called "Lizards and the Komodo King" and it is at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. More information on their website:
http://www.sheddaquarium.org
What is up with not finding out what the legislature has done until after the fact? What happened to public debate on these issues? Here's the latest, as cities where special local option taxes have been passed for infrastructure reasons, think pools and golf courses in Cedar Rapids, can choose instead to offer some of this money as incentives for development.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/NEWS10/805120319/-1/archive
The Meskawki's are interested in allowing 18-20 year olds into the Casino to play poker. They do this in other states, and some states like Minnesota have 18 as the legal gambling age.
http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/05/06/news/regional/10294201.txt
***UPDATE*** It looks like this is going to happen, the tribal council and state have approved the idea.
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080507/NEWS/306117419/1001/NEWS
***UPDATE ON FORMER LIBRARY DIRECTOR *** Former Library Director Lori Barkema received over $65,000 in a severance package in exchange for her resignation. All City Attorney will say is she got this amount because that's what she was able to negociate, but what power would she have to negotiate?. She had no contract, and Library Board VP Susan Corrigan told us on the show that she wasn't asked to resign. Why else would a severance be necessary? What happened that the city is trying to keep quiet? No one will say, but certainly more questions are raised than answered by this news. Here is the official release signed by Barkema.
View PDF Document
Typical government action; spend $882K to save $50K/year ...
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080505/NEWS/80505036/-1/archive
A state representative doesn't want you to know what they are doing out in Des Moines. One of the last things lawmakers did last session was change the process hospitals must go through to expand, and when the Register did an article on that change, Rep. Clarence Hoffman of Denison said:
"Because of the controversy going on in Denison — and that's due to a very small number of people — we were kind of hoping that this would stay quiet, stay low-profile," he told the Des Moines Sunday Register.
Public attention could threaten the legislation because it is still subject to a veto by Gov. Chet Culver, he said.
"I'm really sorry this has surfaced," Hoffman said. "Your article could cost us one heck of a lot of money. If that happens, I won't be very happy."
And he threatens the reporter, too. Priceless! Lest you think I took him out of context, here is the full article:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080504/NEWS10/805040334/-1/archive
Here are the two money paragraphs from the Business Week article, "There is No (Gas) Shortage" by Ed Wallace. Speculation and the weak dollar are key to the run-up in the price of crude, and therefore, gasoline:
© 2008