Water is the name humans give to the tasteless, odorless chemical bonding of two hydrogen molecules with one of oxygen — H2O. Don’t let its simplicity fool you. It is the molecule that made all life possible on Earth. Comprising roughly 60% of the human body, water acts as the primary medium for metabolic [...]
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Country music is a genre that music enthusiasts either love, hate or tolerate. Critics cite country as too twangy for their taste. Those who like it, love it and want some more of it. They appreciate the no-nonsense, understandable lyrics and simple, relatable melodies. Songs that leave off the ‘g’, like cheatin’ and drinkin’ make [...]
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Across retail, food and service industries, a noticeable shift is happening. Consumers are increasingly drawn to small, specialized businesses — places that offer craftsmanship, sustainability, personalization and a sense of connection that mass-produced options often lack. Think vintage and resale shops. Artisan bakeries. Custom upholstery studios and eco-friendly refill stores. For business owners, that shift [...]
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It’s a well-known stereotype to those who frequent Iowa’s roadways that, even though most every Iowa winter comes with ice, snow, sleet and whatever a snow-squall is, drivers in the area suddenly forget the rules of driving when the conditions take a turn. A survey by RVWindshieldReplacement.com (sounds like they’ve got a stake in this [...]
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Speaker of The House Mike Johnson is just wrong on his decision to deny a request from the family of the late civil rights leader and presidential candidate Jesse Jackson to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol. Historical precedents swing both ways on this. Dick Cheney and Charlie Kirk didn’t lie in honor. Billy Graham and [...]
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When was the last time a studio movie made you genuinely uncomfortable? Not in a jump-scare or gore-centric way, but in a “wait, did they just go there?” way that lingers in your brain for days? Gore Verbinski’s “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” poses that question repeatedly, and the answers are not always comfortable. [...]
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The Pappajohn Sculpture Park (PSP) district was, not too long ago, the best restaurant district in Iowa. It attracted Mike and Lisa Lavalle, Marc Narvailles, David Baruthio, Scott Carlson, George Formaro, Paul Rottenberg, Derek Eidson, Sean Wilson, Carly Groben, Diego Rodriguez and Tony Lemmo, among other restaurateurs. That’s a virtual Who’s Who of great Iowa [...]
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For years I have lived on west side of Des Moines on Polk Boulevard. I have driven on Grand Avenue going one direction or another more times than could be calculated. But, since I lived in this neighborhood since 2009, I have never met a college student who attended Des Moines University. I see them [...]
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“The Zen view is something you glimpse in passing and that comes as a surprise — to wake you to the moment and a flash of hidden truth.” Rivvy Neshama, “Recipes for a Sacred Life.” I started running again. Yup, I stopped about 1990 because of knees and back and other life distractions. But now, [...]
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While climate traditions are being tested, Des Moines Performing Arts assures us that their March theatrical offerings come in roaring like a lion, and continue to roar. Whatever the swings of nature, a marvelous bounty of performing arts awaits cultural consumers. Also, nothing helps dispel the winter blues like pondering options for youth to explore [...]
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Noah Petersen and Priscilla Villarreal live 1,200 miles from each other, Petersen in Newton, Iowa; Villarreal in Laredo, Texas. They share a key connection despite that distance. Each has encountered government punishment for exercising their First Amendment rights. Both went to court to fight for their freedoms. For Petersen, he had the good fortune of litigating [...]
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Edgard Camacho is a French-born Venezuelan-American artist. We asked him to lunch recently, and he chose Flora, Suman Hoque’s café in the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Hoque has characterized his lunch and brunch offerings with transcultural touches from his East Bengali heritage. Soups are fantastic with a chickpea soup of Massaman curry, coconut milk [...]
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March brings great news for Des Moines’ art scene. As part of Civic Music’s centennial celebration, Bria Skonberg visits Sheslow Auditorium with her bright vocals and Louis Armstrong School trumpet. She is perhaps the hottest act in jazz, having led the Mighty Aphrodite Jazz Band, the Big Bang Jazz Band and Bria’s Hot Five, a [...]
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Car manufacturers offer a massive amount of SUVs and pickup trucks, followed by a handful of sedans. But, what about sports cars? Only a few affordable models remain. Yet, one vehicle still going strong is the Ford Mustang. According to Ford’s website, it is the most popular sportscar ever made, with more than 10 million [...]
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In the distance, a rollercoaster zips up and down among neon lights. After a long day at the amusement park, a relaxing spot to unwind would be ideal. Nearby is the Brick & Ivy Rooftop, located at 400 34th Ave. S.W. in Altoona. The vast, modern two-story building opened in 2020 and includes easy parking. [...]
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As a blues musician, Tommy Castro first regarded his music career as a business, performing with different bands since the early 1990s. However, in 2008 and after more than 20 years of performing, he received a blues award for his “Soul Shakers” album. After that, he was nominated on a regular basis, receiving more than [...]
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When Kim Smith took her dogs on hiking trips in nature, she let them run off the leash. After several hikes, she noticed the activity changed their behavior. After a long hike, they seemed more content and better behaved. “It really opened up my eyes about bringing dogs into nature,” she says. Smith worked as [...]
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