First Contact - A Tale

      It was a tiny area compared to galactic scale. Only about 100 light years across. When the race happened upon a periphery, and detected the new signals, there was great excitement among their scientists. They naturally tried to keep it quiet. But just as on Earth, when a new species is first detected, word tends to spread. Slowly at first, then faster and faster, the news trickled from one advanced race to another. It was within a relatively short span of galactic time that several races sent observers to the outskirts of the newly discovered sentient system.

And it was not too long after that, that Earth observers began to detect unusual movements out in the neigborhood of Neptune.

At first it was explained away. “Just some more planetesimals stirred up by Neptune's orbit.”

“Nothing out of the ordinary. A new comet or two. Add them to the catalog.”

But a few astronomers were tracking the objects, which were lit at times, unlit at other times, and moved quite erratically.

“No matter how much a planetesimal tumbles, it does not fly in formation with others, then suddenly break off and move in odd directions without any gravitational explanations.”

A couple adventurous races moved in closer, to get better visuals on Earth's orbiting ISS and Comsats. The NASA and RSA scientists who were tracking them tried to keep that quiet, too. But the story soon leaked. The sources were discredited, and the lid was kept on for the time being.

Military branches were informed, and brought out their “just-in-case” manuals. Variations on the “fire everything we have and pray” strategy were reviewed. Governments consulted with each other. It was decided that as long as the 'bogeys' didn't make any outright hostile moves, we would observe. After all, we might learn a thing or two.

A probe was discussed, between the Europeans, Russians and Americans. After much haggling, it was agreed that a set of two probes would be sent. Cameras, radar and radio sets. But no identifying marks. After all, it was reasoned, if they are watching us, we certainly have a right to watch them back.

The 'bogey” movements slowed, and soon they blended in perfectly with the background. Someone on the other end got the rogues to cool it, and folks were just watching for the time being.

They followed the Earth probes with interest. They even allowed them to bathe the ET's with radar, lidar, and a lot of other “ar”s. Eventually, the probes journeyed out into the Kuiper belt and beyond. They sent back data that was inconclusive at best. But at least the Earth agencies got some more good close-ups of Pluto.

Earth became a de-facto galactic petri dish and/or zoo. As life went on down on terra firma, the space agencies would have periodic spurts of exploration, followed by decline. Funding and accidents were blamed. Planned Mars colonies never quite got off the ground, and the Moon was exploited, but only with robotic devices. People contented themselves with the usual mundane pursuits, and human life went on.

When this or that pair of lovers would take a hand-holding walk at night, and look up at the stars, and wonder about their fates and how they became intertwined, little could they know.

Their fate was not in the hands of gods, kings, presidents or corporate potentates. The zookeepers were mostly to blame.

                                               The End

 

Four are Dead

Two fine police officers,

one criminal they transported,

one drunk driver who hit them.

Is this a balance of justice?

Two good, two “bad” perhaps?

Seems that way. No matter what they say about the young man who ran into the cops head-on, the record shows that he had several alcohol-related arrests including public intoxication and OWI. Yet he got behind the wheel, and (presumably drunk – why else would you drive down I-80 the wrong way?) smashed into a police vehicle head-on. A tragedy all around. This is why we have such strict laws regarding drinking and driving – a perfect example of what can happen. This debate will really rage now, after the accident. Four human beings will no longer be around to hear or participate in it.

Tragedy all the way around. The criminality, the drunkenness. No easy answers. Human beings are such cussed creatures.

- end

Zombie Paradise

The Midwestern city seems lively in the middle of the day. Food trucks crowd a bustling sculpture park. Throngs mill about, feeding or strolling through displays. Others move up and down sidewalks with seeming purpose and intent. Some glide in and out of office buildings, where they play the obedient roles given them, in exchange for a pittance. On the surface all seems well.

But if you walk among them you get a different feeling. Making eye contact, you get a lot of dazed stares. Greeting them gets automatic responses. The seeming vibrant youth shows alarming evidence of being remote-controlled.

As of course they are. Everyone is under the control of someone more powerful than themselves. For some, it may be a spouse. For others, they are enslaved by their habits. Others are controlled by addictions. But most are also controlled by their bosses or company owners, especially on the job. Sometimes at leisure too.

Religious beliefs play a key controlling role. Just walk into any shop or store owned by a religious group, and you can almost feel the hostility. Join us or die! And leave your money behind. If you don't conform, we will get at you any way we can – anything is fair game.

Control. Our society runs on it, our people are under it's programmed directives. Whether it is the bottom line, the next quarters results, the next fix, or a hoped-for future outcome, we are all under some kind of automated control or other. And in some cases this may not necessarily be an evil or conspiratorial issue. But what is laughable is that everyone will claim they have complete freedom of actions and movement. When freedom seems conditional on ownership. 100 % total freedom will almost always equal homelessness and poverty. 100 % enslavement (to a job, business or other endeavor) may mean a lot of wealth and prosperity. But your time is not your own anymore.

The (old and new) zombies march around downtown, doing the Leaders' bidding. They dutifully work and spend and consume, laugh and mock on cue, make love and make babies and buy condos on demand. Our fair metropolis will grow and become congested by consumers, will expand and annex and tax and spend. And won't it all be wonderful? Won't it? Makes you wonder sometimes.

Thanks for reading.

Loyalty

      In light of the persistent terrorist attacks on Western countries, it seems a good time to speak up about loyalty. Nowadays you have various technology giants coming down on the side of privacy as opposed to surveillance. The Apple case stands out. But it makes one wonder, where is the loyalty of these companies? Especially since they got their start under our system, in our country, the USA. Could Google, Apple, Amazon or Microsoft have gotten a similar start in a smaller country somewhere, with no national Internet (developed by the government after all) to capitalize on? Perhaps, to some extent. But here in the US they have all become behemoths, making many, many millions. Some of the money they made was undoubtedly through government contracting jobs. 

      And now they want to deny the same government any recourse to obtain records from a terrorist-used Iphone? Because they are worried about privacy precedents? Oh come on. The NSA has already demonstrated their ability to collect huge amounts of information. And commercial companies harvest huge amounts of freely-given personal data. You have people posting all kinds of personal info on social media sites, completely voluntary. And yet a company won't co-operate in the unlocking of one lousy phone, to help authorities catch terrorists. 

So the terrorists laugh at civilization, and keep blowing us up. If Apple and these other companies will not help the government (representative of the people), then their loyalty must be with the terrorists. Or they simply have none. Maybe they should move to Syria.

Now, loyalty is not such a bad thing. During WWII, or even during the World Trade Center bombings, people came together and proclaimed their loyalty as Americans. The flag-waving was epidemic. If there was a cellphone back then that could have helped catch the WTC bombers, would Apple refuse to unlock it? Who made Apple what it is, anyway? American customers! And yet they thumb their nose at American authorities. Maybe Apple should move to Syria, since apparently their loyalty is with ISIL.

A stretch, perhaps? But still these corporations show zero loyalty to the nation that birthed them. It is disgusting. Why can't Apple dispatch a technical team to the justice department, to help them unlock that one phone? That is what a company would have done in the past. But nowadays everything is manufactured overseas anyway. I suspect that Apple would need the help of some South Koreans and Chinese, since they have the true technical know how to get into a phone nowadays.

     This is not to say that companies should have fanatical, slavish loyalty to the government no matter what.  This is a democracy, after all.  But when some terror suspects murder many people, and hide potential information on a company's product, that company should step up and help - period.

Come on, tech giants. Show just a smidgen of loyalty to our country. You were born in the USA, like it or not, and for that you owe some allegiance.

Thanks for reading.

Beware the Stalking Predator

There once was a cat named Callie

who got into moods wild and silly...

There once was a plant in my living room,

that Callie chewed before fleeing, vroom!

There once was a feather duster,

minding its own business on the table,

She jumped up and bit down on feathers,

took it and ran as fast as she was able.

There once were birds who flew outside,

Oblivious to the predator fixated inside.

Thereafter, any toy or tool with fur or feathers

got pegged as a bird, ended up in tatters.

Even hands and feet moving of their own volition,

were viewed as prey, slated for kitty demolition.

Now the human (owned) must keep a sharp eye,

lest he get charged and bit, then utter loud cries.

(c) M Wilson 2014 

- end

He Ate My Lunch

(In response to a humorous Facebook post)

What strange manner of creature this,

who pretends sympathetic friendship?

Proclaims steadfast loyal admiration,

promises to subject you to no hardship.

The quick as a wink,

fast as a flash,

the minute you sit down to eat

your lunch meal of Ramen,

he swoops in with a utensil

thrusts his prehensiles,

and gobbles up a whole

HALF of your noontime repast!

The Nerve!

The chutzpah!

The sheer rude Neanderthal crudity!

I mean it is not as if you offered him any...

And you thought he was your friend!

Dump the boy,

leave him to his toys.

Go find yourself a man,

who considers it his duty

to leave your Ramen alone.

Go out with the man with that plan.

But you had better eat lunch at

McDonalds or Burger King.

(Nary a Ramen noodle in sight

at those places, last time I checked. )

Good luck with your love life,

and keep those noodles under lock and key.

While the best things in life often are,

these Ramen noodles are not free!

- end with a smile

New by Dycen Alexander

My good buddy and alter ego dycen has requested that I put up his Amazon Kindle books for sale again.  So here they are, starting with the latest one Epic Prime collections:

Epic Prime Collection – www.amazon.com/dp/B01D8107K0

Experimental Tales – www.amazon.com/dp/B01AWJSRBC

The Osmotics – www.amazon.com/dp/B00IDW1OFM

New Venture – First Contact in the Kuiper Belt – www.amazon.com/dp/B00U9URST2 

Thank you for taking a look on your Kindle-compatible device today!

Trump-et

That Donald Trump is a riot,

claimingfollowers cannot be subdued;

Anonymous hacked Trump's private info,

including his social security number.

Media circus goes on entertaining us,

exposing new outrages every day.

Vladimir Putin complains about him,

John Kasich eagerly joins the fray.

Foreign leaders try to endorse Hillary,

who says no thanks, this is for Americans

to decide (but are donations still OK?)

One thing is clear: This is a unique campaign.

No one can say this election will be cliché;

This year more than ever, Vote on Election Day!

- end

Ghosts and Thier Homes

The pop icon smoothed his hair, and muttered, “Hey, lil lady, how about you and me go for a ride?”

The platinum blonde star replied, “Why sure, big guy. Can you drive me in your pink caddy?”

The warm sun slanted, late afternoon streamers across adobe and brick abodes, glinting off shop windows not yet lit for the night. Another Palm springs evening approached, as the couple cruised down Indian Canyon Drive in their translucent ride. They were soon joined by a parade, a caravan of other luminaries following in everything from a 1937 Deusenberg to 1964 mustangs. The large procession would most likely stop at Chi Chi's, a popular nightclub, for a sumptuous dinner and glamorous entertainment.

To regular Palm Springs residents, the procession would mean no increase in traffic or congestion headaches. For all of the famous (and infamous) movie stars, mobsters and industrialists were made solely of memories, invisible to the naked eye. But if one were to look sideways, with one eye closed in the twilight, they might just get a glimpse of Frank and his boys, or Dino and Sammy partying late, or even a tribe of Indian ghosts doing a rain dance. But if you blinked, they disappeared back into the well of memory that suffuses this desert paradise.

Then you will have to join everyone else, and go on a tour of celebrity homes in the area, to see their houses and try to remember what they looked like. Fortunately, Palm Springs has a lot more to offer than the ghosts of yesteryear. There are gorgeous canyon hikes, tram rides and area trails to walk or bike. Not to mention the numerous golf courses and tennis courts in the area. There are many fine resorts that offer lots of luxuries to their guests. A variety of restaurants and nightclubs round out the offerings. On a recent visit I got to enjoy a lot of what the area has to offer, including many good meals, a stay at a local resort that (I'm told) was built by Howard Hughes, and visits to local sights including Palm Canyon.

So I can heartily recommend Palm Springs to Californians and out-of-staters alike. But don't be surprised at what celebrity ghosts you may brush elbows with when you are out dining, clubbing or walking the streets in Palm Springs. There were over 600 celebrities who have lived in the greater Palm Springs area at one time or another. And if you go, the count will increase by one. Enjoy your visit.

Thanks for reading.

Beware Simplification

      Seems remarkable that whenever humans endeavor to automate some system or other, in the guise of helping make thing simpler, they always make them more complex, and ultimately more difficult.

One example is the autocomplete feature on cellphones. At every encounter with this, it is mostly wrong. People end up posting ridiculous-looking words or remarks on social media sites. How about those voicemail menus? Every choice but the one you want. Whenever an automated program tries to make decisions for us, trying to be helpful, they usually just get in the way. Should we keep trying? I wonder at times.

Now the discussion at technology events like TED and SWSX rages about Artificial Intelligence. About having an intelligent mind-program out there on the Web, that will learn about you, and in doing so be more helpful. Currently the programs that simply ask, “What can I help you find?” or simply wait for your question, like Siri or OK Google, do not seem too bad on the face of it. But an active program, trying to meddle in my life in order to improve it or make it simpler? No way. That reminds me too much of a helpful nanny invading my house, and “organizing” everything so it is easier to find. Easier for him or her. Not for me – I live here, and know exactly where everything is, even if it is disorganized. People are disorganized, chaotic, random and emotional. If you are trying to build an AI program, you'd better take that into account.

And so then comes the parade of robot products, at events like SWSX. They are fascinating, even titillating to a degree. Our personal servants, right there on the horizon, ready to do our bidding. But how intelligent do we really want them to be? So much so that they question our judgment? “I think you may not be feeling well today, Dave, so I'm ignoring that Kill command. Here, let me put you to bed now...”

     “But it's only 10:30 in the morning, you damned insane robot. Leave me alone! Ungh...”

I sincerely hope these products come with an Off phrase or kill switch. Better yet, several. Once those are clearly established, and printed in various places around the house, then fine. Sign me up for a humanoid manservant that will do all of the chores, and even chat about world affairs on occasion.

     It is astounding sometimes how far we have come with these products. Self-driving cars and household robots may be commonplace in five or ten years, at least in affluent households. Like products beforehand (TVs, Cellphones, etc), science fiction becomes science fact. In some cases, the affluent may envy the poor, who will not be prisoners of their own technology. Even as some of the poor will be jealous, wanting to join the ranks of the pampered elite. It should be a fascinating next ten years. Just hope no one automates the basic toilet too much. I don't want to enter a password to take a P. Thanks for reading.

Memorial to a Keyboard God

You were one of a kind,

in an incredible band.

God of the electronic keyboards,

you made the most amazing sounds.

Part of a chaotic time in life,

Your music painted a path forward,

teased and eased my mind at work

and especially at play...

One of the rare artists whose creations

made this world bearable for the masses.

Thank you, Keith Emerson, for all of the

light, color and wonder you brought to

so many adolescent lives.

You helped us forget long gas lines,

Watergate, Vietnam, Inflation,

and seemingly unending Recession.

The show never ended as long as

ELP gifted us with album after album.

Your music is a force unto itself

and will exist for the life of the universe.

Another Successful Penetration of the Stratosphere.

Soft-spoken commentators give an overview,

two screens shown on the video feed;

one shows the rocket, misting white

from vents, fueling commencing.

Soon complete as the count

decreases to 2:00 and counting.

The commentator notes the milestones,

reviews the goals of the mission:

Launch a huge comm-sat into GEO,

and land the first-stage booster on a

robot pad somewhere in the ocean.

The launch soon commences,

right on time, and the flight is flawless.

The spacecraft enters and exits

Max-Q, KPS numbers advance smoothly.

As the rocket gains altitude and speed,

the commentator explains how it will

soon reach LEO, and orbit for a time.

Then, one more burn to set the Sat and

its thrusters on a path to Geostationary

orbit, 38,000 kilometers above the Earth.

It takes a lot of propellant fueling those

Merlin engines. But they burn flawlessly.

The quiet professionalism of smart young

scientists shines with excellence once again.

The thin white needle pierces the veil of

Space, and soon deposits a glistening drop

of machine intelligence, Earth-human

crafted communication technology.

Another success for this amazing company.

Can human passengers be far behind?

Keep up the superb work, SpaceX!

Perhaps we humans are not doomed

to be grubs on a blue-tinged rock forever.

 

Land of the Famous Over Time

Luminaries and celebrities,

famous and infamous and hangers-on,

rich and wannabees and employees.

The past blends into a melange,

a melee of famous faces now dead.

All of the fabulous food they ate,

fine utensils they used,

chairs and tables they rested on

now passing from flea markets to antique

stores, only to be bought up again,

ending up back in a warehouse.

The restaurants are demolished,

the fine hotels torn down to make

way for new condos bearing similar names.

Famous partying celebs have been

replaced by retirees resting in

purchased apartments.

Whoopee, we are in paradise now, Mabel.

Fame and fortune too rapidly

ends up as dust and detritus.

Have a good time and hold

on to those memories,

before you too end up as dust.

Maybe if you are lucky,

someone will remember you

as some kind of celebrity,

if only in their heart alone.

enjoy that desert sun while it lasts;

even those lofty palms won't live forever.

But it is sure fun while it lasts :-) 

Desert Quietude

Sky warmth reflects peace,

Great blue quietude shelters;

Winter dares not set foot here.

Well-Preserved Cities

As a young man, I can remember seeing a large old building along Ingersoll avenue in Des Moines. There was a raised concrete framework in the back that looked like an auto overpass, in miniature. It was at one time a main trolley barn for the city, but by the time I saw it was used to store buses. I had no camera at the time. Even though I stopped and walked through it, it was empty and ready to be torn down. Within a couple of year it disappeared, replaced by a popular restaurant chain. I moved on, and didn't give it another thought for many years. Over 30 years later, reading about the “old trolley barn” I recalled it again, now sorry I didn't take some photos.

Very old buildings do not last long in a modern, busy downtown area. Either they get torn down, or re-purposed for some recreational use. Thus an old Masonic lodge building becomes a restaurant and theater venue. Or an old, decrepit hotel gets refurbished as a modern office. A few flagship businesses get remodeled endlessly, and live on. Venerable hotel chains downtown are one example.

To honor and celebrate the history of an area seems a good idea. We can see what has come before, even while planning for better uses of our resources for the times to come. Pictures of what used to be in any one area can be astounding. There are many parking lots downtown, where old buildings stood. Everything from restaurants, to bus depots and even railroad depots. They get torn down, the track is removed, new pavement is laid. And memories of an era get lost or filed away.

Therefore it seems important to save a few meaningful structures, if only to show what has gone before. Before our age of convenience, when everything required physical effort. Back then, when the air was dirty with coal soot, and filled with the noise of clanking rail and trolley cars, an easier way would seem welcome. Now here we are, when the air has been cleaned up, and the clank and clang has been replaced by the quiet whoosh of speedy automobiles. And we wonder at what has gone before. We who live so much better than the average person could have hoped to back then, we wonder what it looked like when they struggled on. When they struggled to make a living, raise a family, achieve some kind of career goal perhaps.

So there are historical home tours in Sherman Hill and River Bend areas in Des Moines, and similar old neighborhoods elsewhere. We can see the cuspidors and chamber pots, the hand pumps and ice-boxes where real ice blocks went. In some cases the locations of old privies are pointed out, before indoor plumbing became common. Coal chutes and storage bins were common. Old pot-bellied stoves or wood cookstoves, some with a chimney going to an outer wall. All of the artifacts of another age, telling just how difficult it was to live a life back in the “dark ages.” They can be a real eye-opener, and a good education in just how far we have come, even in the last 75 years or so.

But those hardy souls who lived back then had only earlier times to measure their progress against. They thought that they had it good, compared to even earlier times. Old textbooks called it the “iron age”, and compared it against earlier ages. Our iron and steel tools sure were better than the stone tools of an earlier age, by golly. Our warm coal-heated houses were sure better than those heated by logs. A horse-drawn stagecoach is still easier and faster than walking on foot, and the telegraph is a miracle compared to the pony express. Everything is relative. But for those wonderful souls who had the foresight to put aside containers, papers and journals, and other things for future posterity, I have a big “Thank You!” Time always flows forward. Some folks saved important materials for future reference, and in so doing, preserved part of our history.

The State Historical museum is one place that has made dioramas of earlier ways of life. All the way from indigenous peoples hunting woolly mammoths, all the way up to typical household items of the 1970's, you can walk through and see it. County historical societies have done a good job saving artifacts like clothing from the 1800's and so forth. It is not difficult to get an idea of what life was like in earlier eras, despite the onrush of modernity we see today. 

Personal collections can be fulfilling and enjoyable. From saving old copies of the newspaper, to antique collecting and displaying. Some people fill their homes with antique bottles, furniture, cookery, etc. A pastime that can be as educational as it is entertaining.

But holding onto old mindsets in the face of new discoveries can be a bit more dangerous. As much as we would like to cling to comforting thought systems and beliefs, at some point we have to acknowledge realities that make themselves known. Old medical practices were long-ago discarded. So now we don't believe in the imbalance of humours, or in bloodletting, or demon-caused diseases. Instead we “believe in” bacteria and viruses. And we have found better treatments, like vaccination, that can eradicate diseases in whole populations. Likewise, in various thought systems we have gradually liberalized. It is okay to give prophylactics like condoms out, because on balance they could help stop the transmission of HIV. Conservative, strident religious beliefs tend to condemn this.

Sometimes physical preservation of historic properties can be a battle. Funds must be raised, public interest aroused, to save a structure. There was this old gas station, a one-story affair with a couple of pumps. It was a “training station” for a major oil company back in the 1930s. They needed to move it to make room for development, and instead of demolishing it, let it be known it was for sale. So offers were made, and finally a local church raised the needed funds to move it over to their property, and install it. Even though it was a church, they placed the structure on the opposite side of the building, where it can be seen by any and all who drive through the neighborhood. That was a victory for local preservationists, and a gift to the surrounding neighborhood.

There have been other battles lost, alas. There was a larger, three-story schoolhouse in Luther, Iowa that was used as a storage facility. It was a shame to see it finally get torn down, and a new modular building go up in its place. A very old commercial building sitting downtown had a fire. Then it sat vacant, with no funds available to renovate it. Some efforts were made, but the building was too big, too far gone. They finally sold it, and it was razed to make way for a new office building. Some structures just cannot be saved. The old Younkers building in downtown Des Moines was scheduled to be renovated into apartments and condos, and street-level shops. But there was a fire there. It seemed like a total loss, but miraculously was not. Another company has come in, cleaned it up, and resumed renovations. So that one, instead of being a total loss, may end up being a partial success. The old Tea Room restaurant might even be saved, resurrected. The YMCA building that was constructed in 1957 had to be razed to the ground. There was no way it could be re-purposed to some other use. So that was lost. But a YMCA built earlier, in the 1920's, is still in use as the headquarters for the Iowa Blind commission. Ironic but true. And the new YMCA struggles for funding to finish their swimming pool.

In other towns there have been successes. In Rock Island, Illinois an old train station has been remade into a restaurant. Many small Iowa towns have re-purposed old RR depots into comfort stations for bicyclists. Huge RR depots in Omaha have been made into museums and shops. Some small churches have been turned into businesses or even homes. One-room schoolhouses have been made into museums, homes or businesses. Many large mansions have seen new life as antique stores or Bed & Breakfasts. There have even been entire downtown's dedicated to antiquing and preservation. Walnut, Iowa has a brick-street old-fashioned downtown. All that seems missing are a profusion of horse-drawn wagons and buggies. If you go there, hang on to your wallet or purse. Everything is for sale. Other towns have done the same. Mt Horeb, Wisconsin has a historical museum reflecting on their Nordic heritage, and a Swedish-Norwegian store. And there are other antique and collectible shops scattered about. The old downtown's are trying to survive in the age of shopping malls, doing everything they can to stand out. 

In an ironic twist, many larger urban centers are building housing to get people living there again. Des Moines in particular is in the midst of a condo building boom. The young are gradually moving in, deciding to go car-less and live near downtown attractions. So we are seeing people go full-circle once again. Social activity will center around the city centers, with easy access to transportation and entertainment. As some malls struggle to survive, or even go dark, many city centers are seeing a renaissance of activity. Light rail has been put in place in larger cities. The old trolley system went to buses, and is now interconnecting with or changing to electrified rail systems again. So not only can one feel nostalgic, one can experience some of the charm of the old days. Even while breathing cleaner air.

Some writers are even using old-fashioned typewriters once again, enjoying the sensation of pounding out their works one letter at a time. Not this one, though. Thanks for reading.

Local places to visit in Iowa

      As the winter winds on, we sit (mostly) stuck inside wondering what to do. Here are a few ideas, for the coming warmer months, to explore what our home state has to offer.

      Every state in the US has some places of historical or scenic significance, and Iowa is no exception. Even though we are an agricultural state, in some cases because of that, we have our own local 'hot spots'. In every one of the 99 counties there is at least one place of interest. I'm going to point out some of them here, but there are likely many more that can be found. Many of these interesting items spring from creative, dedicated hands of local townspeople trying to improve the places they live in.

I'll start in the central counties. Polk, Jasper, Warren, Dallas and Madison. In Des Moines, there are many places of interest. The Statehouse is a prominent example, with its shining gold dome. One feels impressed by the majesty when you enter the building, and see sate offices, or assembly rooms. The Law Library is ornate and beautiful, with gold and wrought-iron staircases throughout.

The grounds around the statehouse are full of memorabilia, including civil war cannons, monuments and statues. A walk around the grounds during the summertime is an enjoyable experience, and aside from parking doesn't cost a nickel. 

Nearby is the State Historical building, full of informative displays. There are special programs held, and a restaurant is located on the top floor, with an outdoor area. As you head west downtown, there are many outdoor features. Cowles Commons has a big new sculpture, and water jets to wade through to beat the summer heat. Further west is the Sculpture Garden, a huge outdoor area to walk around and enjoy public art of all kinds. The library, with its green roof, is located here, and has watercourses running throughout the grounds. At the west end of the garden, food trucks are setting up frequently, offering exotic fare. 

Further west along Grand Avenue is the Art Center. Here you can enjoy a free walk through many styles of art and sculpture. It is sited on a large park area, that can be enjoyed in the spring, summer and fall. Another fun place to go is Valley Junction, west of the Art Center just as you cross into West Des Moines, on 5^th street (again, just off Grand ave). There are many collectible, antique and boutique emporiums. Valley Junction has fairs, farmers markets and other special events during the summer and fall. 

But in any large metro area, it is a given there will be things to do, places to go and see. What about in outlying areas, one may ask.

There are things out there to see. The town of Perry, northwest of Urbandale, has been busily re-inventing itself. They have a new library, restaurants, and the renovated Hotel Pattee. They have festivals and events, and roll out the welcome mat to visitors. Perry joins many other small towns, including Redfield and Adel, in converting old railroad depots into refreshment stations along the huge Central Iowa trail system. This is a series of recreational trails that go through many small towns. The Milwaukee Road went through some of these towns, so the depots feature their uniforms, and relics from passenger rail days gone by. 

Adel, in Dallas county, is a brick-covered downtown that holds a sweet corn festival every fall. The bike/rec trail goes through here, as does the Raccoon river. Canoeing events occur here, and the town is a delightful place to cycle through on a summer ride. As one travels north, you run into Panora, with Lake Panorama and its recreation offerings. Further north, you arrive at Jefferson. In that typical small town, a citizen bequeathed funds to erect a tall bell tower. You can take an elevator ride to the top for a donation. Some folks have weddings there. The RR depot here has also been restored, and the Raccoon Valley bike trail goes from here all the way to Des Moines.

If one follows the bike trail, you might end up going through Ankeny, and north through Baxter, then all the way through Slater-Sheldahl, and on to Madrid. At Madrid is the high trestle trail, a scenic former railroad bridge that goes 400-plus feet above the Des Moines river valley. All it takes is the gas, or pedal power, to get there and you can ride across for free. Stop and take pictures if you want, since there are pullover places out of the main path, along the bridge. Infographics provide facts about the bridge and area ecology. At night, the bridge is lit up by blue light bars. Just another of those delightful surprises that hides in our humble agricultural state.

Many small towns along the recreational/bicycle trails have spruced up their main streets, opened specialty shops, or comfort stations. Some of these, as noted, are converted RR depots. Flower plantings, flagpoles, and infofrmative signage is placed nearby. Of course, regular summer wildflowers are easily seen along the trails. Thistle, black-eyed Susans, phlox and other species brighten up the way as one pedals along. The Central Iowa trail system is a real asset to town and country both around the area. 

While around north central Iowa, the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad is a must-see. A train museum is full of old artifacts, and once finished there, you can take a ride on a steam trail or dinner train. (Boone was once a major repair area for the Chicago Northwestern railroad.) Just walking around the yard and looking at the old engines can be enjoyable. Boone is also home to an area ski and hiking resort in the area (seven hills). 

In Madrid, Iowa there is also located a large Hindu temple and cultural center south of town. This serves ethnic peoples settled here around central Iowa. One more step towards cultural diversity and acceptance. If one travels south to Fairfield Iowa, they can see Maharishi University, and a new town constructed along Vedic Principles. Students there study meditation and other subjects. They hold chess tournaments too. 

Iowa has three major universities, as well as some smaller colleges. In Ames (Iowa State), and Iowa city (University of Iowa) there are many cultural opportunities and sporting events. Art museums and world-class libraries, and picturesque campuses beckon a casual visitor (or potential student). In Cedar Falls resides the third, UNI. Even here there are special events, cultural offerings, and area recreational trails. Ames features Reiman Gardens, itself a big draw from around central Iowa. They have a large indoor butterfly collection, arboretums and outdoor plantings. They seem to add more every year. Iowa City recently finished the River Landing at Coralville, a large new complex of shops, clinics and a hotel. There are many restaurants in the area, and Kinnick Stadium is a short drive from Coralville into Iowa city. Carver-hawkeye arena is nearby, too. 

On a smaller scale, Grandview University, Drake University and Grinnell college all offer cultural programs of one kind or another. Grandview and Drake (located in Des Moines) both offer live theater productions with their students, for a reasonable price. There are many sporting events taking place throughout the year. Notably, Drake hosts the world-famous Drake Relays. This event attracts runners from around the globe, and features a marathon coursing through town. 

As one fans out into smaller outlying areas, there are a lot of small towns that may hold something unique. Stuart has a bank that was robbed by Bonnie and Clyde, and some interesting signage. Adair has the signature smiley-faced tower. As you proceed further west, many wind turbines can be seen. This is a recent change, and one not universally liked. Nevertheless, the future has arrived to the sound of whup-whup-whup and alternative energy. Even the rest stop on I-80 west has part of a turbine blade as ornamental artwork. A nice thing about the new rest stops, by the way – each features a different aspect of local history. The one near Iowa City has excerpts of writings, relating to the Writers Workshop in Iowa city. Another one further east has lanterns and brick décor. The western one has a turbine blade. The first rest stop on I-35 coming into Iowa from Missouri features quaint trails and décor. An extra touch of interest for weary travelers to take their mind off of traffic.

The town of Walnut, Iowa is an antiquers paradise, just south of I-80 on hwy 83. The streets are all brick, and the antique shops are legion. Even on a Sunday later afternoon a few are open. One can enjoy looking at the storefronts themselves, and then go in and make your best deals. The town of Elk Horn (North of I-80 on hwy 173) has a strong Danish heritage, and features a museum and windmill. Then there is the town of Pella, south of Des Moines on hwy 163. So Dutch they have re-constructed downtown with a giant windmill, and a canal. The Tulip Festival draws many thousands each year, to enjoy the flowers, and snack on Dutch letters. They would be happy if you spent some money in their trinket shops, too, I'm sure.

Hopping around some more, if you go to Northwest Iowa, there are many gorgeous spots to enjoy. Decorah has great scenery and fishing opportunities. There is a Norwegian museum there too. Strawberry Point has the “worlds largest strawberry” and themed motels, shops, restaurants. Near there is a large state park (Backbone) to enjoy. The Laura Ingalls Wilder museum is sited nearby as well.

There are scenic drives along the Mississippi, with bluffs and wildflowers to take in. Many parks dot this area. Dubuque, Iowa is itself located on several tall bluffs around the river. There are lots of stately old homes to see overlooking the river. And some antique shops to check out, of course. There is a short, uphill tram ride one can take. Nearby, across the river, is Galena, Illinois with all of its offerings – a whole flock of antebellum homes. Dubuque is one of the oldest towns in Iowa, with some homes dating back to the 1840's. There were lead mines and a gunpowder factory in the area, among other industries. 

All the way southward along the eastern border is Keokuk. This area is home to the nearby Geode state park, and also the longest electrical dam station in the state, constructed in 1912. There are many outdoor places of interest, and pedestrian trails. North of there is the town of Burlington. Here you have Snake Alley, the most twisty ally there is. There are also river views, galleries and shops, and parks. Driving along the Mississippi, there are many chances for a good view or a picnic, all the way back northward. 

Thanks to the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, Iowa has some great recreational opportunities and views. But there are many small towns in the state that have re-imagined themselves, cleaned up their “act” so to speak. And in doing so, added a lot of tourism and scenery capital to our state. So next spring and summer (or even this winter in some cases) feel free to drive and experience the major areas, like state parks and rivers. But don't overlook the many small towns, and their museums, shops and other venues they have created from 'whole cloth.' They will welcome you graciously in most cases, and you will be amazed at what they have accomplished. Thanks for visiting, and thanks for reading. 

 

Surprise!

Another year got dropped on my head,

Ill-prepared but better than no time at all.

A few friendships are still in good stead,

The finances are not yet in a free-fall.

Some ask about resolutions and goals;

Like asking a drowning man what he wants?

Keep the head above water, air in the lungs.

Publish all of my poems in readable fonts.

My cat surprises me with affection,

My boss may surprise me with a dinner;

My bank surprises with an interest payment,

Stock market surprises all with a steep fall.

The best surprises of all,

aside from a lottery windfall:

a stranger lavishes affection,

Social times more fun than expected,

Workday goes smooth and pleasant.

Shared intimate times with a lover,

fun fellowship with family and friends.

Here is hoping that surprises like these

will catch everyone unawares sometime.

- end

Gone at Last

The campaign ads have stopped,

no more flyers in the mail.

We can go back to normality,

Iowa greatness no longer hailed.

Cafes will serve only the regulars,

Hotels will clean many rooms;

restaurants will clear empty tables,

snowy streets will get groomed.

For the caucus circus has left town,

on the road to the next willing victims;

Smiles on the streets outweigh frowns,

Winners can grin and say “We licked 'em!”

Memories of a democratic experience resonate,

As we view the coming general election and speculate.

The candidates will keep strutting and pontificate

on why they should be chosen by a gullible electorate.

But no longer here in these parts, no longer here.

• end

A Surprise Candidate

“A mouse in every dish!”

“Unlimited kibble!”

“String and wand toys in every home – lots of them.”

“Catnip with every meal!”

“Leave my paws alone – no more de-clawing.”

Callie Wilson has the best interest of cats everywhere foremost on her mind. Humans too, especially if they are cat owners. But she is impartial, and will welcome dog owners to the negotiating table.

A vote for Callie is a vote for a brighter future! Callie for President! Attend your caucus on Monday, Feb 1^st. Thanks for viewing this political message.

- end

Getting Closer

Another day, another three flyers in the mailbox.

Ads all over the place, caucus fever pitch.

Constant reminders to support someone.

What a circus...

What gets me is all of the promises

and accusations thrown about.

When the winner does get in,

everything will go out the window.

The new president will don his

firefighters hat and try to simply maintain

our huge democracy in an insane world.

Whatever it takes to maintain the status quo,

or at least keep us from self-destruction.

Oh yes, and then to make his or her

mark on history somehow.

Promises? Those are for fools.

Late-breaking news: A billionaire

egomaniac is thinking of jumping in.

Just what we need to roil the waters.

Stay tuned ;-)