Emernation

Why this Blues fan loves the fact that the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup

Hockey is back.

As a fan of a sport that’s been flying under the radar since the travesty that was the 2004-2005 lockout I’ve never felt better about the state of the NHL on a national level.  I think the ratings and interest over all coast-to-coast will back me up on this.

However I live in a state that is fixated on college and high-school sports.  Iowa in general has been hesitant to warm up to the coldest professional sport.  We recently lost a high-quality AHL team after a protracted legal dispute that left them mothballed for over a year.  No one seemed to care.

But things around here are changing.  And I’ll give credit where I believe it’s due.

• The Winter Olympic Games
• The Chicago Blackhawks

Iowa seems invariably tied to the Windy City.  When it’s hot in Chicago, people in here in the Hawkeye state (which incidentally is named after the same namesake as the Blackhawks) pay attention.

In my town of 3500 I’ve come across an occasional hockey fan, but with the Blackhawks Stanley Cup run, it seemed that everyone was paying attention. During our recent town-fest, I sported a Blackhawks sweater that I haven’t worn since high school. When I put it on I figured most people in town would think it was the Redskins.  However, there were an unusually large number of comments about the NHL and in particular he Chicago Blackhawks. While the commentary was not particularly insightful or revealing, it was a big confidence booster for me that the game has fully-healed from the lockout, and it is penetrating markets that haven’t been interested in hockey for a long, long time.  They have moved the sport to the front of the line here in Iowa over the past few weeks. As a hockey fan I applaud the Blackhawks for their Stanley Cup win and helping folks in rural Iowa get reacquainted with the best sport on earth.

Fun Times in Story City’s Scandinavian Days

Last weekend was Story City’s annual “town festival” Scandinavian Days.  It’s one of the best parts of small town living if you ask me.  As someone who has tumbled between larger University towns and metropolitan areas, small town festivals like this one help to reconnect with rural America.

Story City is a town heavily influenced by the many Norwegian, Swedish and Danish immigrants who came to the northwest corner of Story County in the mid-to-late 1800s.  This is reflected in the namesake of my town’s festival “Scandinavian Days.” While I have yet to feel full immersed in authentic Nordic tradition during these events, it is nice that you can dabble in some of the food-stuffs and culture that many of the natives here hold so dear. 

One of the most revered aspects of Scandinavian Days and Story City culture as well is a food oddity called “Kumla.”  It’s a baseball sized potato dumpling typically accompanied by ham, ham brother and butter.  I’m a guy who loves to eat, and these truly live up to their reputation as belly-bombs.  I can’t eat more than three.  If you’re ever in the area, make sure to give them a whirl.  While not my cup of tea, they certainly hearken back to the historic roots of this community.

The turnout this year was very healthy when held in comparison with some over the past decade.   I think they did a nice job of promoting it.  I know the weather certainly didn’t help. 

Here’s some footage I took of the very traditional small town parade from last Saturday.

Gloomy in Cyclone Country

I’ve been trying to avoid a lot of the hype associated with the speculation that several members of the Big 12 are leaving for the Pac-10 or Big 10.  It’s becoming more and more painfully obvious that it is inevitable. 

From what I hear, tomorrow will signal the end of a near century old affiliation between the University of Nebraska and my alma mater, Iowa State University.  For me it’s a sad commentary on the state of “amateur” athletics.   As as Cyclone fan who understand that Iowa State lacks any real relevence in football or basketball at this point it is still disheartening that television markets and revenue trump geographic rivalries and traditions.

I guess we’ll find out tomorrow what is going to happen.  Either way, I’m sure it will singal some big changes for my favorite college team.

 

 

Iowa's Taxes Are Outpacing Its' Livability

Iowans, now is the time to take the reigns on this runaway stagecoach of taxation and stupidity. Today the Iowa House is holding a Public Hearing to discuss the possibility of repealing the deduct-ability of federal taxes on your Iowa income tax. Do not pay taxes on income that never makes it into your wallet! Paycheck withholding is theft and one of the biggest hoodwinks in the history of this nation. What young Iowa college graduate with any sense would pay taxes on wages that they will never touch?

This has just been a bizarre year. Is there enough here to keep you if you have to pay taxes on money you will never see? Why are you paying taxes on income that is taken away from you before you even see it? Are you aware that the statehouse is also exploring the possibility of allowing counties, townships and municipalities to levy taxes on your income this session? Do you remember that last year, the legislature implemented a uniform state wide tax increase to 6% to "help poorer rural communities that aren't benefiting from local option sales taxes."

Yes there is a very real possibility that within one-year that Iowa will have implemented a sales-tax increase, repealed federal deduct-ability from your income taxes, and allow your local city or county to levy direct taxes on your income.

My visit to Milwaukee last weekend was the first time I had my eyes opened to just how expensive things have become in Iowa. Everything in Milwaukee was inexpensive, the food, the lodging and the adult beverages and sports entertainment. Wisconsin on the whole has professional sports, great recreation and parks and a lot more to offer younger people like myself.

What makes Iowa such an irresistible place to call home? Year-round golf? Our internationally acclaimed parks? Deep-sea fishing? The 2020 Summer Olympics in Newton? What exactly are the benefits of living in Iowa if these proposed tax increases go through?

Well, unfortunately the answers of sweet corn, old people and slightly above average schools for my yet-to-be born children are not enough to keep me interested.

Story City potential site for wind turbine repair operation

Some  exciting news in my new hometown of Story City, Iowa.   A large scale  plant that repairs wind turbines (the ones that generate green  electric energy) has been greenlighted by the Story City City  Council.   This is a huge development for our area for several reasons.

Story City lost the Pella Windows plant almost a year ago.  Now I  understand that this new proposed wind turbine maintenance facility  wouldn't create a large number of jobs and offset the loss, but I  believe that it's a good step in the right direction in helping to  establish this part of the state and the nation as an area of  environmentally friendly energy development.   The project is  anticipated to create 23 new jobs.  Story City is a great little town  and I think this sounds a powerful message to the community about the  move toward new lucrative careers and technology right here in our town.

For the uninitiated, Story County is the newfound home of a NextEra  Energy large wind farm in eastern portion of the county, about 10  miles east of where I live here in Story City.  This would provide a  viable repair operation for the growing wind farm.

I began investing in the parent company of NextEra Energy Florida  Power & Light during the construction of the wind farm last year.   They are company who has invested heavily in our area and is helping  to bring progressive and forward-thinking industry to our area.   I  would strongly encourage Story Citians and Story County citizens to  invest in those who are investing in our community, and make sure to  consider Florida Power & Light (FPL NYSE) in your portfolios.   It's  good for the community, it's good for the environment and I strongly  believe that it will be good for your investments down the road.

More details here from the Ames Tribune:

Story City reviews wind turbine repair shop plan

Michael Phelps has been caught goldfarming in China

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Story City: We had the "Village" concept down years ago.

Last night I was watching our local news station profile a growing trend in suburbia.  Something called the "Village" concept.  It's a planned community where homes are build in a neighborhood that features stores, services and housing all intermingled with each other.

It's very popular these days because people are beginning to conserve on their driving times to high gas prices, and choosing to walk.   People are also embracing the concept of community and going to I call the micro-local level.  Patronizing businesses in immediate proximity of where they live by walking or taking a bike, and bringing business and neighbors in to the fabric of their living experience. 

I applaud this.  These are all things that I believe in, except I have a big problem with people who are "building" this to make it happen.  There are several new developments being planned and built in West Des Moines, something called the Ponderosa Place and one in Ankeny called the Prairie Trails development.   People are building new homes in new developments to reclaim the charm of small town living.  Let me get this straight. People moving to a metropolitan area, in a suburb to experience what small-town live has had for years.  This is about the dumbest idea since Whole Wheat White bread.  It's got all of the blandness of beige new construction with the wholesomeness of a corner grocery!

I know that this kind of development are going to appeal to the small-framed-eyeglasses liberals who espouse how they are saving the environment by ambulating to their local cafe and how the "small-town" feel of having neighbors and retail just around the corner somehow makes their lives more complete. 

My question is why does this have to be new?  Why does it need to occupy more space?  Why does this need to benefit large wealthy cities?

I grew up outside of Iowa outside of Denver, Colorado.  I attended high school in Iowa City, and went to college in Ames.  I've lived in West Des Moines.  I have run the gauntlet of living options.  Bigger, Big, Medium Small. When it came time to buy a home I took all of the qualities that these planned communities are working towards to heart.

Here were my criteria:
I wanted a home where I could walk or bike to places that served most of my needs (grocery, small retail, entertainment). A thriving business and retail district and had low traffic.

I wanted a place that was culturally active.   I was ok with the concept that places that I was looking for may not "be there yet" but were at least open to incoming ideas.

I wanted a place with recreational options.

Well I found it in Story City, Iowa.   This small town just off of I-35 in central Iowa has proven to be the best place I have ever lived.  It is sleepy.  You're not going to find fusion cuisine here; now.  But there's a very good possibility that this place is going to become big fast.   My home price was very reasonable (approx ~$150K).  From my home, I have a 100 foot walk to the grocery store.  The wonderful library is around the block.  The police station is just across the street.   The movie theater in town shows movies that are two-weeks removed from their release dates for $3.  We have great restaurants, we have music festivals.   There is a great well kept golf course in the middle of town.   This little Iowa town is the "Village" concept 10 minutes away from Ames, and 30 minutes away from Des Moines.  Why reinvent the wheel when you can have it the way it was meant to be?  Without taking up more space than is needed.

GOP Descends on Des Moines

Iowa state GOP convention @ hy-Vee Halls
Originally uploaded by Brood_wich

Yesterday I attended my first State Republican Convention in Des Moines.  I was pleased to serve as a delegate from my home in Story City and to congregated with some wonderful Republicans from Story County (in photos), but I must admit that this not only put a dent in my weekend leisure time it unfortunately revealed some ugly details on what I believe is the current state of affairs with the GOP in Iowa and on the national level.

The convention started with my check in with a very adversarial tone where I had a rather odd exchange of veiled insults with the man who was responsible for clearing my credentials and supplying me with my name tag.  This was an early indicator of what would pervade through the convention as a whole.  I will admit that I arrived late to the event because I had to turn back near Ames to get my game ticket for last evenings Barnstormers game following the GOP event.  While this provoked the ire of the badge dispersing rectum it saved me the frustration of having to twiddle my thumbs for the better part of an hour while there was a vote on rule 26 determining if they would allow nominations from the floor.   This convention along with the 4th district Ft. Dodge I participated in were mired down in procedural details that tend to suck the life out of people like myself who tend to be action oriented type-A people.

Following the resolution of the rules debacle, which ultimately ended in favor of expediency we heard from Rep. Steve King and former Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.

Steve King is a name that tends to be as divisive as the Iowa / Iowa State game.  People either love him or they hate him.  There's a lot that I tend to disagree with from Rep. King. I think he is the kind of man like the former Gov. Jesse Ventura who really has no fear to say what they believe.  While I find some of his ideas and policies to be fundamentally flawed he's a person who does not fear drawing the ire of people with thin skins.  He gave an interesting speech that was punctuated with a series of photos of Ruth Bader Ginsburg to draw attention to the implications of the upcoming election on Supreme Court.  In this era where courage has taken a back seat to sensitivity Rep. King is a guy who has nuts of titanium and calls things as he sees it.  If the left can have Jim McDermott I think it's only fair to allow us to have Rep. Steve King.

Mike Huckabee was the next speaker and I can say that I honestly believe that he is the future of the Republican party.  I know that a lot lefties like to marginalize Huckabee as a religious zealot and people from our own party see him as a tax happy RINO I think there are very few Republicans who can match this man's humor, charisma and oratory skills.  His commentary on how morality has implications on government and the economy was a stretch when he started but near the end I found it to be very insightful and thought provoking.  I sincerely hope he makes a push again in 2012. His speech alone was worth the price of admission.  It also was the best that the this event was going to get. 

The meeting descended in to some nasty name calling when during the nomination speeches for the committeepersons at the national level.  This led to a lot of discussion in the crowds about the divisive demeanor that the convention seemed to have, and I heard some commentary about how getting Republicans to agree is nearly implausible because we are too independent.  Well here's a news flash we better get our collective shit together and point the cannons left.  I think that both the Democrats and Republicans are dealing with some real problems with the internal dynamics of the parties.  We see the Clinton supporters' animosity to Obama.  Many may feel that it's circumstantial due to the protracted primary on the left, I feel that it's more of a cultural trend of stubbornness.  I saw this in the GOP convention this weekend and could sense some real hostility in what the Des Moines Register stated this morning was an overthrow by the "Religious conservatives" of party leadership.  What I see are some people with clear goals and issues taking those to task with ambiguous intentions.  The GOP in Iowa and the GOP on the national level need to have a clear message and clear intentions on what they will plan to do. What are the key issues? What is our plan to implement our agenda? We need a revised and clarified brand on what being Republican means.  I think once this is done that we will have Republicans in agreement and people reinforcing the party's ramparts instead of going after each other.

I found out that Newt Gingrich had pulled out of the lunch that I had paid for. I was sincerely disappointed because I didn't pay $20 to have lasagna.   I paid $20 to see Newt.  I thought it was pretty rotten and it may force my hand in turning in my American Solutions badge.  I would have been able to go to Palmers and still have had some change left over if I had known before hand.

Who really pays the taxes?

Given that poorer citizens always outnumber the rich, political philosophers worried that government based on majority rule could lead to organized theft from the wealthy by the democratic masses. "If the majority distributes among itself the things of a minority, it is evident that it will destroy the city," warns Aristotle.

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Nasa Backtracks on 1998 Warmest Year Claim

The hottest year on record is 1934, not 1998
The third hottest year on record was 1921, not 2006
Three of the five hottest years on record occurred before 1940
6 of the top 10 hottest years occurred in the first half of the last century

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