Came across this blog today, thought it was worth a link:

http://iowacityinsider.blogspot.com/

If you have an Iowa City blog you’d like featured, feel free to comment and I’ll do what I can.

UPDT…Found another myself: The Broken Spoke Blog

AmeriCorps*VISTA is in the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City area. Help out if you can.

You can follow the Iowa City area effort here:
http://johnsoncountyvista.blogspot.com/

For those in the Cedar Rapids area:
http://www.vistacorridorrecovery.org/

**Full disclosure** The lady of my life is currently a volunteer with the Iowa City effort.

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Damaged tunnels cause power problems for UI [Press-Citizen]

It’s damp. It’s dark. It’s hot, and it’s got a funny smell.

This is the world of the University of Iowa’s subterranean tunnel system — six miles worth. Developed in the 1920s, it runs across campus.

*snip*

At the peak of flooding, water filled the tunnels to the brink, Creed said. UI was forced to shut the system down.

“You get a water hammer. It would blow up the water pipes, or it could,” Creed said.

UI suspects water penetrated the tunnels from the Iowa River through manholes around the Iowa Memorial Union, he said.

I knew there were alot of tunnels, just not six miles. I also didn’t know what “water hammer” was either. I had to look it up.

Iowa City Apartment Listings and Management Companies Online:

• Apartments Downtown
• Apartments Near Campus
• Campus View Apartments
• Hodge Construction Apartments
• Heritage Property Management
• Southgate Properties
• Barker Apartments
• Buxton Properties
• Moen Group Properties
• Jim Miller Rentals

Restaurateur awaits refinancing, expects downtown to be revitalized

Last week, a stain 5feet high on the wall of Blend, a restaurant in downtown Cedar Rapids, marked the height of recent floodwaters.

Mud was everywhere, and tables and chairs were “every which way,” said Mark Young, one of three owners.

Today, the place is gutted — clean and decontaminated. “Just about everything came out,” Young said. “A whole lot of work got done in a few days.”

The credit goes to co-owners Andy Deutmeyer and Vic Kuper, the restaurant’s chefs, and their friends and family, said Young, a physician.

Now, the restaurateurs are awaiting refinancing before they hire contractors.
Young hopes a Small Business Administration loan will help the owners get the operation going again.

“If the financing came through relatively quickly, we could be open in two to three months,” Young said. “But that’s a big if.”

The owners never considered closing permanently, Young said. “We were all of one mind about what we would do,” he said.

He believes a revitalized downtown will emerge from the flood devastation. “We have a great opportunity,” Young said. “With the right amount of money and effort, we can build a better downtown.”

Blend’s section begins at :45 and ends at 1:50.

Went to HS with Mr. Kuper. Expect another post advertising their reopening.

It’s Medeski, Martin and Wood:

Appearing Friday, July 4th at the Iowa City Jazz Fest. If you don’t have the time, steal it. 😛

40,000 Cubic Feet Per Second

That is what the Coralville Reservoir will be outputting by the peak of this now conclusively historic flood. The scene is strange: sandbags everywhere, the slow creep of the river towards ground I walk over every day, the backup of traffic due to road and bridge closings. And we still have a week to go until the crest.

It’s hard to work during this time, especially with this view out the window:

All University staff located along the river have been asked to “decide which materials you would want to have with you if you are unable to access your office for several weeks.” Thought I’d throw that in just in case you thought “It can’t be that bad…”

And from a Co-worker’s family member, here’s a picture of Downtown Cedar Rapids, specifically 3rd Avenue:

Qwest’s main CO for East Central Iowa is located in this area and is now shut down, so Internet is down for all customers in the region. Not a good time for a web developer.

I will try to keep updating as I am able. For the picture people, the Gazette has tons. So does the Press-Citizen.

The IC/Coralville area is under siege from rising water, with the ante upping tonight as waters top the spillway at the Coralville Dam.

Here are some interesting links:

RiverCam of the coffer dam from Facilities Management at the UI.

Waters to top spillway at midnight – Press Citizen

Iowa City: Reservoir will top spillway at midnight – Des Moines Register

Looking Alot like ’93 – Daily Iowan

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I’ll try to post more as I find it.

Here’s a pile o’ news for your discerning palate.

• Whistleblower DANIEL ELLSBERG, the 2007-2008 Distinguished Lecturer, January 28th, 7:30 pm, Hancher Auditorium. He’s the Pentagon Papers guy.
• AT&T: Pair Bonded DSL ‘Late 2008’ and Qwest Testing Line Bonded DSL. Both companies decided it was better to milk the copper they had instead of laying new fiber optics [a la Fiber to the Home], and this is about the only way they would be able to deliver television signals, especially HD signals, over their existing copper lines.
• Cable Cos are challenging the recent FCC decision to regulate exclusive contracts between Cable Cos and MDUs (multiple dwelling units). With the market deregulation of both phone and cable and the upcoming ‘format war’ over how you receive your communications (fiber, coax, or copper?), these exclusive agreements are some prized possessions.
• Immigration officials detaining, deporting American citizens, reads the headline. The choice quote:
  

  “The burden of proof is on the individual to show they’re legally entitled to be in the United States,” said ICE spokeswoman Kice.

  [Via DKos]

• Dominique Douglas [Iowa Footballer] gets a deferred judgement
• A cute picture [it’s Alicia’s cousin’s son]

Good to be back, more as I find it

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