Found planted firmly (snicker) on someone’s front porch by my sister and brother-in-law. Clicky here for the photographic evidence.

http://www.iowaroadconditions.org/

Use it now and in the future if you happen to be in iowa.

It’s back, and all up in your grill, like so much propane. Taste the heat! NEWSISH:

• Vvvvvvaldez does Videos Without Scenarios. Watch the series so far, then wait for more.
• Via State29, Tax Update Blog give notice of some nice developments out east and other thoughts on corporate tax giveaways here in Iowa. As S29 notes, that last link on TUB should be an eye opener.
• More PAULAs issued after 21 vote – I personally did not care about the 21 vote, it was truly a non-issue. There were/are laws on the books already prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors, all that was lacking was enforcement. The argument over the bars’ bottom lines was a cute distraction, but it’s nice to see that things are back to normal: students go to bars that serve them, police go after students, students get tickets to pay, bars keep their money, city gets some taxes. Doesn’t everyone win?
  PS – I am of the belief that the drinking age should be 18 and that parents should take a more active role in advising their kids EARLY on the responsibility required with consuming alcohol. It’s that idea of responsibility that seems to be sorely lacking…all around.
• Keep Separation of Local TV and Newspaper Ownership – Former FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson debates former DM Register editor Richard Doak on the important issue of media ownership consolidation. I bet you can guess who’s side I’m on.
• Cedar Rapids community rallies to buy art & UI considered selling most famous piece of art – Revenue is needed?
• What $100 Oil Means for Your Wallet – You can always turn your Suburban into a piece of lawn art.
• Online video bad for network TV, good for network web sites
• The AudioFile: Analog-to-digital conversion – A How-to from the folks at Ars.
• DARPA spies on analyst brains; hopes to offload image analysis to computers
• Plant goes off script – Salacious! Totally Not Surprising! While I don’t support Hillary for Pres [or anyone in the field, R or D], I hope the Cool Media Kidz do some digging into all campaigns, at least until OJ or Paris does something stupid.
• FCC’s fascination with cable regulation could lead to a la carte cable – I would say “good”, but then we’re still at just words: the regulatory ability implied is contingent on a specific amount of penetration [70%] and the only real way to get that number is from subscriber counts provided by the companies.

New feature! Regreaser’s Pile of Links

• Left Brain v Right Brain Test – Interesting mind trick, plus a shadowy naked woman.
• Judge to White House: Hold E-mails
• The Death of American Privacy – Because we the government need to protect you. From everything [but us].

Today’s vocab word: pericarp

Better plump up those brains…do it with NEWSISH:

• UI police will be armed – I agree with most of Nick Johnson’s thoughts on the subject.
• Regents ok corporate naming – Again, see Nick Johnson for more insight
• Cinematic Titanic – This is extremely welcome news. I signed up for the newsletter.
• Do Not Track List – Everywhere you go online means money for someone, whether you know it or not.
• Internet access tax moratorium extended another seven years – followup from previous newsish
• There’s a city election coming. – Remember that you can vote early at these locations.
• Iowa City Council Candidates Consider Impact of 21 Bar Referendum – Mr. Deeth takes stock of the 21@10 situation.
• Evolving clocks – via HogBlog
• 720p? 1080i? OU812? – Wired does the new TV formats.

Today’s vocab word: plenipotentiary

We start the day with the IM buffer regreaser left me over the weekend:

• France’s new answer to youth crime: the building-less entry-hall
• McCain: Eats hot dogs, loves ABBA. Wants desperately to be cool?
• Good Dog, Bad Cat

Here’s some more:

• I Was a Hacker for the MPAA – not me personally, just the title of the article 😉
• Slideshow: Instant Housing and Designing for Disaster
• Russia’s Space City Frozen in Time
• Some of the students in my office made a Youtube video advertisement.
• After fight, airport embraces SUX code
• Waxman Accuses Blackwater of Millions in Tax Fraud, Cover-Up
• How to Make a Robotic Dalek Pumpkin – via HogBlog
  
  This thing looks awesome:
  
• Think Tank Recommends Broadband Regulation – First of most likely many links to Broadband Reports
• Comcast traffic blocking: even more apps, groupware clients affected

Today’s vocab words: phenomenology, flocking

I eat a burrito after work on Fridays, thusly I call them “Burrito Fridays.” Yes I understand the level of innovation on that naming convention. But thats not why you are here. BRING OUT THE NEWSISH!

• Western Iowans, this is your House Representative. Classy.
• Democratic Lawmaker Pushing Immunity Is Newly Flush With Telco Cash – impropriety is non-partisan
• Anonymous “good samaritans” produce Wikipedia’s best content, says study
• Dodd Will Filibuster Telecom Immunity Bill If Reid Brings It To Vote

Light posting today. Enjoy your weekend.

Today’s vocab word: mantrap

I really would like to know…

Iowa related politics. Jim’s having difficulty getting his new job.

Found via a DKos article.

Not sure how often you will see these political things. Probably just when they are about Iowa.