Category Archives: Opinion

Ninety-five years ago, John B. Gruelle (1880-1938) was issued Design Patent No. 56,149 on Aug. 24, 1920, for a Doll (Raggedy Andy). One hundred years ago in 1915, Gruelle created Raggedy Ann. Though she may look a little differently than she did when she was created, Raggedy Ann still has her most-loved features: Button eyes,...

For the past few weeks, numerous articles and items have been shared about the fact that Aug. 27, 2015, was 60 years since “The Guinness Book of Records” was bound for printing. Back in the 1950s, if you wanted to know something, there wasn’t Google or anything called the Internet. So, after a 1950s shooting party...

There has always been conversation as to which is a better place to live, a small town or a big town. I personally have to vote for the small town. I’ve lived in a small town my entire life. I haven’t gotten far in life. I drove over 4,000,000 miles and ended up three blocks from...

In June, I was looking for the following article when celebrating that birthday with a big zero. Of course last week, I was looking for something else, and it makes perfect sense where this was. I was never much of a Jay Leno fan, but wherever he got this statement making its way around the Internet...

Several times in the past, I have at year’s end often written here about things my days with my grandchildren have taught me. At my age, I think I might forget and/or lose some things, so I will share a few this week instead of waiting for the end of the year. I just found something...

When you go to the 2015 edition of the Iowa State Fair, which begins Thursday, you will be part of an internationally-acclaimed event that’s the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. Annually attracting more than a million people from...

August has arrived with busy days as everyone tries to cram in just a few more summer activities. Most of us only use august capitalized for the eighth month of the year. But did you know, when we describe something as august, we are saying it is majestic and inspires reverence or admiration? The word can...