Category: Iowa

  • Pelicans on Parade!

    Pelicans on Parade!

    The weather was superb yesterday and we visited our favorite walking trail out at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area—along with a lot of people who had the same idea. It was around 60 degrees and not a cloud in the azure blue sky. The highlight was the big flocks of white birds with black markings under…

  • Update to the Iowa Legislature Bill to Make Ivermectin Available Over the Counter

    Update to the Iowa Legislature Bill to Make Ivermectin Available Over the Counter

    Pursuant to my previous post about the debate in the Iowa Legislature over a proposed bill to make Ivermectin available over-the-counter (OTC) in Iowa, it looks as though hydroxychloroquine was recently dropped from the bill. Although few people say it out loud, in my opinion, it’s no secret that the main reason for the bill…

  • The Extraterrestrial and Mutilated Soybean Hybridization Program in Iowa

    The Extraterrestrial and Mutilated Soybean Hybridization Program in Iowa

    After watching a number of TV shows about extraterrestrials (ETs), I had this vivid dream about ETs invading Iowa. Apparently, I had somehow driven out on some highway that was not clearly marked, maybe Highway 20 which the National Weather Service always mentions as a sort of boundary line between a howling, disastrous tornadimohurricannibalistic storm…

  • Another Silly Bill in the Iowa Legislature

    Another Silly Bill in the Iowa Legislature

    I saw a story in the Iowa Capital Dispatch by Robin Opsahl today that there’s a bill in the Iowa legislature which seeks to make the drugs ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine over-the-counter (OTC) in Iowa. It doesn’t actually specify the reason why but it’s probably because some Iowans want the drugs available to treat Covid-19. I…

  • What Questions Should We Ask on MLK Day?

    What Questions Should We Ask on MLK Day?

    I ran across this quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in my notes: “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” ― Martin Luther King Jr. This week we’ll be getting the two biographies of…

  • Fractured Numismatics

    Fractured Numismatics

    I saw this article on the web about certain coins (state quarters) that might be worth a lot of money. I just raided our piggy bank for pennies and other chicken feed a couple of months ago and knew we had some quartesr. As it turns out we have a couple of the year 2000…

  • A Squall’s a’Comin’!

    A Squall’s a’Comin’!

    There’s a 30 percent chance of snow squalls this afternoon.

  • Saw a Banded Red-tailed Hawk in Our Back Yard!

    Saw a Banded Red-tailed Hawk in Our Back Yard!

    I got a picture of a banded Red-tailed Hawk today in our back yard. It was pretty exciting. I can’t remember ever seeing one banded. I’ve gotten pictures of them occasionally, most recently before this in July, 2025. That one wasn’t banded. I checked on the web for any reports of who might be tagging…

  • Snow Squalls Predicted in Iowa Today!

    Snow Squalls Predicted in Iowa Today!

    The National Weather Service predicts “snow squalls” for parts of eastern Iowa today in the afternoon. Sena recognized the guy in the GIF above as W.C. Fields and wondered if there were any other videos of this scene with audio as well. They aren’t hard to find.

  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day Events 2026

    Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day Events 2026

    Here’s a list of events I know of so far regarding the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day: The city of Iowa City has day of service and other events you can find at this link. The city of Coralville has events starting on January 16th and more, which you can learn about…