State park trail entry point.

Journey Home

Tales from the pilgrimage.

Living in Society

Politics mostly social commentary.

  • Eminent Domain Bill Emerging in Iowa Legislature

    An eminent domain bill is emerging in the Iowa legislature. If it becomes law, it would impact both the Dakota Access Pipeline and the Rock Island Clean Line which share the issue of being merchant distribution lines for oil and gas, and electricity respectively. Whether an eminent domain bill would be sent to the governor… Read more

  • Hillary Clinton Announces for President

    I'm running for president. Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion. –H https://t.co/w8Hoe1pbtC — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 12, 2015 I spent most of Sunday working with people without Hillary Clinton on their mind. People going about their lives without a care for politics, or any perceptible interest in it.… Read more

  • Webb, O’Malley Speeches Kick Off Iowa Caucus Season

    Former U.S. Senator from Virginia Jim Webb and former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley kicked off the run up to the Iowa Caucuses on Friday at the Polk County Democrats Spring Awards Dinner in Des Moines. Polk is a Democratic county where Bruce Braley won the 2014 U.S. Senate race with 50 percent of the vote.… Read more

  • Another March Madness

    While Iowans engaged in the NCAA Basketball Tournament another story was being written by Associated Press reporters Robin McDowell, Margie Mason and Martha Mendoza about food not far from televisions tuned into the games. Following a year-long investigation, AP broke the story of slave labor being used to fish, sometimes illegally, in Indonesian waters for… Read more

  • Redemption Under an Eclipsing Moon

    The full moon eclipsed before disappearing behind clouds in a predawn sky. It reminded me of the vast and quiet universe and how small our lives are in comparison. I like to think we are somewhat important. Not so important that people would start saying how much we suck. But more than a piece of… Read more

  • Tax Time in Iowa

    It’s working folks who pay taxes and each year there are life lessons learned through this necessary intrusion. We fund our government and help produce income that proceeds obviously and directly to the richest people on the planet. We make a life for ourselves while doing so. As businesses have driven out operating expenses over… Read more

  • Two Things to Mend Politics

    Some of my neighbors vote only in presidential election years. How do I know? Using the county auditor records, which can be purchased in spreadsheet form for around $10, I’ve studied their voting patterns since reactivating in politics in the wake of the Gore v Bush election. It’s not that I’m snooping, although in a… Read more

  • On Richard III and a Wintry Mix

    Ice covers my car— one of the risks of getting spring started in the garage. It looks like it hailed pellets the size of salt crystals, and they froze in place creating a bumpy armor on everything. I’ll run the car engine for a while to melt enough for the drive to the warehouse. It’s… Read more

  • Cusp of Spring

    The garage retained enough heat to make predawn work tolerable. The ambient temperature is 31 degrees, climbing to around 45 by the time I leave for the warehouse. There is much to get done before starting the car. Over winter tools get piled on the workbench instead of being put away. Perhaps it is too… Read more

  • Monday Before Spring

    Winter persists—mostly because of its recent vigor. Half a dozen bald eagles stood on the ice at the Coralville Reservoir yesterday while I drove to work. Perhaps they were fishing a section of open water near the bridge. Perhaps they were waiting for spring to arrive before departing. They were still there on the drive… Read more