February 06, 2019 by Brent Antisdel
in Tech Talk
The hardest nut to crack when developing anything in tech. About a dozen years ago, Jim Carrey released a brand new website. In mid-2000s, Carrey was still one of the biggest stars in the world with Golden Globe wins, the largest paychecks in filmmaking history, and a cultural relevance only
Read More →“Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country” by Pam Houston Pam Houston’s affecting new title consists of essays depicting scenes of life at her ranch home. In 1993, with funds from the success of her first book, “Cowboys Are My Weakness,” Houston purchased a 120-acre ranch near Creede, Colorado. Twenty-five
Read More →The year 2019 began with a big bang of volatility. The rate of restaurant openings in the metro increased almost 50 percent in the second half of 2018 compared to the first half. Restaurant closings were also up from a year ago, leading many to suggest that the area is
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February 06, 2019 by Brent Antisdel
in Art News
Moberg Gallery’s 15th anniversary group show is up through Feb. 23 with an eclectic display of the gallery’s versatility and growth. When the gallery opened 15 years ago, it represented four artists, including owner TJ Moberg and his father Tom and two of their friends. Today they represent 60 and
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February 05, 2019 by Brent Antisdel
in Stray Thoughts
Faithful readers of this space know I have not been shy about disagreeing with Gov. Kim Reynolds’ positions on a variety of issues. But I am here today not to criticize our governor but to praise her — for her courage that is both political and personal. Politically, Reynolds risks
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January 30, 2019 by Brent Antisdel
in Stray Thoughts
Harold Hill, that smooth-talking con artist in “The Music Man,” persuaded gullible Iowans that “ya got trouble, my friend, right here in River City.” He arrived in town to sell band instruments and band uniforms to parents who didn’t know they wanted or needed them. But his first task was
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January 22, 2019 by Brent Antisdel
in Stray Thoughts
One of the biggest contrasts in public access to state and local governments in Iowa came into focus last week, and Iowans should be concerned by what occurred. A bit of context: Iowans have long had the right to sit in on almost every meeting of state government policy-making and
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January 14, 2019 by Brent Antisdel
in Stray Thoughts
I’m not sure you can get Republicans and Democrats to agree on many things these days — not even on motherhood and apple pie. Some people believe a wall along the border with Mexico is a national security priority and is necessary to stop the movement of migrants into the
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January 09, 2019 by Brent Antisdel
in Stray Thoughts
During most of my career at the Des Moines Register, all purchases for the news staff and all expense reimbursement claims went through the newsroom’s business manager. Through the years, there was turnover in the job. But two people held the job for much of that time, and they had
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January 02, 2019 by Brent Antisdel
in Stray Thoughts
On the morning of Aug. 31, shortly after 8:30, a 12-year-old boy pulled out a gun in his seventh-grade classroom in Eldridge, a community just north of Davenport. In an instant, he directed his classmates to get on the floor and then pointed the gun at his teacher’s face and
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