Siftings
Feb
26
Craig’s Friday Countdown - Problem Solving Shows
Problem Solving Shows
25) Celebrity Apprentice – If Gary Busey ain’t on it, I ain’t watching it.
24) Anything Involving Hoarding.
23) 2013 Chicago Cubs – Let’s send Darwin Barney to the plate, down by a run, in the bottom of the ninth.
22) The Knock Offs – Chopped, Project Runway All...
Feb
22
Alchemy
With the Quad City Times’ editorially spurring Davenport to “Go For It” (below), the City Council approved a motion to undertake the due diligence necessary to negotiate a final purchase agreement for the Rhythm City casino on October 24, 2012. Following that policy directive, a contract for...
Feb
20
Casual (?) Friday
Pizza and chocolate milk. If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, the boyhood version must be pizza and chocolate milk. The Brady Street Dominos opens at 10:00 a.m., so the order is placed for pick-up at 11:10. Half cheese, half cheese and sausage. Pick up the pizza, grab some...
Feb
19
Craig’s Friday Countdown - Central Fire Specs
The plans and specifications for the Central Fire Station project weigh 26 pounds. Here’s a sampling of some of the small print:
10) The firepole in the renovation of the existing station will be salvaged brass. The firepoles in the new station will be stainless steel.
9) Power tools require...
Feb
13
Tim, Squared
The work day begins and ends with Tim. Tim Whipple, General Counsel for the Iowa Economic Development Authority, is sitting in for Authority Director Debi Durham, who is out of the state on a mission to bring more jobs to Iowa. Tim’s a smart, thoughtful guy, and he does a great job discussing...
Feb
12
Craig’s Friday Countdown - Leaving I-80
Back and forth to Des Moines is not the best part of the gig, but after doing it more than a hundred times, there’s some wisdom to pass on. Not counting rest stops, the 32 opportunities to exit I-80 from Des Moines to Davenport are:
32) Exit 142 (Altoona) – If you exit at the first opportunity,...
Feb
11
Des Moines Bound
It’s 165 miles from Davenport City Hall to the State Capitol. Through today and tomorrow, Mayor Gluba, Alds. Gordon, Meeker and Justin will shuttle back and forth, with a small collection of staff, to represent Davenport at the QC Chamber’s annual lobbying visit. I’m bringing buttons.
24,500 new...
Feb
09
Over The Boards
“We might get to see some surgery tonight.” I point at the suture kit on the hip of the trainer on the other side of the plexi-glass and raise an eyebrow at Colin. Sitting right behind the Wichita Thunder bench at the iWireless Center, the pre-game circus is in progress. It’s choreographed, loud...
Feb
05
Canon (open)
Urbana calls Tuesday. The home of the University of Illinois, which was home to ILLIAC, the first computer ever owned by a university, is trying to catch up to Davenport. The guy on the phone is from their IT department, and he’s trying to talk his colleagues into opening their expenditures to...
Feb
04
Chatter
The blade chatters across the pavement. Truck 991 has a new operator getting used to the pistol grip plow controller. In the back of the Public Works yard, I’m heeding the advice of PW Director Clarke to practice before I head out to where the action is. I plowed my way through every college...
