Book Reviews
‘The Best We Could Do’ Thi Bui’s memoir beautifully illustrates the story of her family as they escaped the terror of South Vietnam in the 1970s. Presented in a graphic [...]
Read More →
August 01, 2018 by Brent Antisdel
in Book Review
August 01, 2018 by Brent Antisdel
in Collections & Hobbies
Two decades of music
Gloom Balloon frontman shows off his favorite albums. For any fan of Iowa music, Patrick Tape Fleming should be an instantly recognizable name. If you don’t know him as a founding [...]
Read More →
August 01, 2018 by Brent Antisdel
in Fashion
August 01, 2018 by Brent Antisdel
in Lunch With...
Heath Alan at Amaravati
Local musician, special education teacher, husband and father of two. Heath Alan is one of the most talented and best known of local musicians. He’s played with Harry Connick, Jr. [...]
Read More →
August 01, 2018 by Brent Antisdel
in Couch Surfing
Guru Higgins
Guru Higgins (as he wants to be called) has traveled to Iowa from Vermont while on his way to Montana. His opening line on his email to me was “looking [...]
Read More →
August 01, 2018 by Brent Antisdel
in Tech Talk
This vacation better be worth the headache
There is no silver bullet in the digital age for booking travel accommodations. Leave your cares, deadlines, awkward relationships and everything else at home and travel to an exciting or relaxing place. [...]
Read More →
August 01, 2018 by Brent Antisdel
in Belly Up To...
Dive into The Boat House
Johnston landmark since the 1930s The name The Boat House conjures up a quaint place next to a lake or ocean. Although Saylorville is close, The Boat House in Johnston isn’t off [...]
Read More →
August 01, 2018 by Brent Antisdel
in Your View
August 01, 2018 by Brent Antisdel
in Sound Circuit
Nothing abnormal about Abby Normal
Fans love rock ’n’ roll cover band On a recent Thursday evening, an enthusiastic crowd gathered for Valley Junction’s Music in the Junction. Guitarist Devon Miller donned a Viking hat [...]
Read More →
July 31, 2018 by Brent Antisdel
in Stray Thoughts
‘Trade secrets’ shouldn’t trump accountability
The Iowa Legislature wrote some wonderful concepts into the state’s government transparency laws. For example: “This chapter seeks to assure, through a requirement of open meetings of government bodies, that [...]
Read More →