Siftings
May
09
The Beautiful Game
Negativity bias. Scientists say it’s a thing. Humans remember bad things longer and more vividly than good things, and with good reason. Putting your hand on a hot stove, your finger in an electric socket or your faith in a charlatan can hurt or kill you, so it's best to remember them well. ...
May
07
Craig’s Friday Countdown City Buildings
The Central Fire groundbreaking has me misty for many, but not all, of the buildings the City owns or thereabouts* (or is about to own in the case of the Adler or hopes to never own in the case of the Figge).
#25) “Dock” Restaurant – Blight on the riverfront. Will be gone soon.
#24) River...
May
01
Craig’s Friday Countdown - What To Do?
On today’s editorial page, Leonard Pitts and the Quad City Times have asked for answers to a woman’s question about what she can do about what is happening in Baltimore and other towns. Here’s my first cut at answers:
#6) Demand professional & transparent local government – Place matters, and...
Apr
30
The Silence of the Fans
The ball whizzes past. It’s hard to hear unless you’re playing, but the rotating seams on baseballs cutting through the air at eighty to a hundred miles an hour make noise. The first few times you hear it scares you silly. Once the fear leaves, all you really want to do is make the ball you...
Apr
23
Craig’s Friday Countdown Teen Jobs
Mayor Gluba’s teen job fair has me recalling working for the man from age twelve through nineteen.
10) tie Dishwasher, Sizzler Steakhouse – A recurring Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmare. The manager would get drunk and go on a tirade, then pass out. We’d turn the clock forward an hour and close...
Apr
16
Dawns of Freedom
A lifetime and a year. My lifetime, and 1961. Who knows what happened in 1961? Don’t ask me - wasn’t here yet. The gap between The Lonely Crowd, first published by Yale University Press in 1961, and Our Kids, published on March 10 of this year, spans generations. The Ford Mustang was still the...
Apr
16
Craig’s Friday Countdown Comings & Goings
Ever wonder where people move to, from the Quad Cities or move from, to our happy home? Since the IRS likes to keep track of taxpayers as they move around, here's some data on the top ten places people move to, and the top ten places they move from (2006 - 2011). Keep in mind, this is presented...
Mar
13
Craig’s Friday Countdown - Application Thanks
Reinvestment District Application Thanks
10 - The Iowa Legislature
9 - Whoever did the legal description
8 (tie) - Joe, Kyle, Betsy ...
7 (tie) - C.H. Johnson and Ballard King
6 - Brian, Colleen and everyone at Vandewalle
5 (tie) - Mayor Gluba and City Council, IEDA Director Durham, Tara...
Mar
11
Swing. Set.
He got me with the swingset. The book isn't officially out until tomorrow, but Joseph Shields' picture caught my eye yesterday at an O'Hare bookstore. Scanning down, Robert Putnam and Bowling Alone seals the deal. I buy the book and cannot put it down. If you care about the future of the nation...
Mar
06
Craig’s Friday Countdown - Countdown to Next Friday
The week ahead.
100 - Work on the Reinvestment District application.
99 - Work on the Reinvestment District application.
98 - Work on the Reinvestment District application.
97 - Work on the Reinvestment District application.
96 - Work on the Reinvestment District application.
95 – Do some...
