Things people do to themselves still don’t get me worked up, but lately I have been getting so sad when I read about people dying, or kids fighting cancer or getting shot or someone like the little girl getting buried at the beach. Or the woman at UGA.

Stuff’s just getting to me more these days.

What’s up with that?

We saw large formations of geese and Snow Geese yesterday. We were at Bays Branch near Panora. More surprising is last week we saw a large flock of Meadowlarks in a field, that were already moving back North. Hope they are right about Spring!
I will always be impressed by huge formations of birds migrating.

Man, 49 is young. I remember him from the TV series Jericho.

Pretty wild, but I think the bigger story is somehow he managed to obtain the sorting hat.

Few organizations hold such legendary power as Chicago’s Teachers Union (CTU), but the people have finally had enough. An October poll conducted by Echelon Insights on behalf of the Illinois Policy Institute found that only 37 percent of registered Chicago voters have a favorable view of the CTU, with 46 percent reporting an unfavorable view.

These results represent a significant plunge in support for the CTU since February, when the same pollster found that 44 percent of respondents had a favorable view of their group, with 42 percent reporting an unfavorable view. In other words, CTU’s net favorability among Chicago voters dropped to negative nine from positive two – an 11-point plummet – in just eight months. This experience offers a preview of what could happen nationally as unions continue to overplay their hands – and a warning to legislators who keep deferring to their short-term power. If the CTU can lose its grip, no union stranglehold can last forever.

Republicans and independents are particularly unimpressed with the CTU, now reporting net favorability levels of -52 and -20, respectively. And voters of all political backgrounds say the CTU has "too much influence over the City of Chicago." But even 40 percent of Chicago Democrats say CTU has "too much influence," with 28 percent reporting the "about the right amount of influence," and only 14 percent indicating "too little influence."

In Chicago, voters have clearly reached a breaking point. Since the last poll, it was revealed in September that CTU president Stacy Davis Gates chose to enroll her child in a private school after she called school choice racist just last year. The latest poll showed that nearly half of Chicago voters now know that Ms. Gates sends her son to a private school – and they aren’t happy.

Making matters worse, CTU also spearheaded the effort to kill the Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship program, ripping scholarships away from 9,000 low-income kids to protect their monopoly. This was a greedy (and unpopular) move, as the latest poll showed 65 percent of Chicago voters supported the program, with support over 62 percent among Republicans, Democrats, and independents.

Adding insult to injury, CTU snuffed out this program after being one of the worst actors in the nation when it came to fighting against reopening public schools during the COVID-19 era. One of their board members was caught vacationing in Puerto Rico while claiming it was too unsafe for teachers to go back to work in person. In late 2020, the union posted and later deleted a tweet claiming, "The push to reopen schools is rooted in sexism, racism and misogyny." CTU voted to strike again in 2022 using COVID-19 as an excuse. Harmed the most were the low-income students whose chance to attend other schools CTU just extinguished.

CTU is fighting to trap low-income kids in the same union failure factories that their own president avoided for her son. The latest Illinois state assessments reveal only 17 percent of Chicago Public School students are proficient in math (and 26 percent in reading). Illinois Department of Education data showed that not a single student was proficient in math or reading in 55 Chicago Public Schools in 2022. All that failure comes at a steep price tag. Chicago Public Schools spend nearly $30,000 per student per year.

The union’s political spending has yielded far more success – at least for now. The latest filing with the U.S. Department of Labor shows that CTU spent a record $3 million on politics in the 2023 fiscal year, just about tripling its political spending from the year before. That’s compared to just 17 percent of their spending that went toward representing teachers in 2023, a 2-point drop from the year before.

CTU successfully dragged one of their own handpicked employees – Brandon Johnson – across the finish line to become mayor in April. As its largest backer, CTU funneled more than $2.6 million to the Johnson campaign, and Johnson received more than $6 million from teachers unions altogether. This poll found that Mr. Johnson’s approval rating is now just 28 percent, which is unprecedented for an incoming mayor. The unions, as in most states, have nearly unlimited resources to force their favorites into power, but this poll shows that this power may soon be fleeting.

The state’s biggest free market think tank – the Illinois Policy Institute – showed the power of pushing back in the court of public opinion, releasing an hour-long documentary in February that has already garnered nearly 650,000 views on YouTube alone. Across the country, unions operate in private far differently than their public image would suggest. Chicago’s experience shows what happens when people find out the truth.

If voters in deep-blue Chicago can wake up to the disastrous effects of the teachers unions, it can happen anywhere. Parents can hope that Chicago Teachers Union is just the first domino to fall in the public’s eye. If voters continue to realize that the teachers unions don’t have the best interest of kids or their families in mind, we might just save our country from decline and defeat the power-hungry unions once and for all.

Why isn't there any serious condemnation of Iran over what the Houthis are doing? The USA is there for any country that needs us but we get continuously attacked by an Iranian proxy and not a peep. What a useless organization.

Not to mention this…

Thanks

Rhys Dakin is in Iowa.
Login to view embedded media

SOTE

Secret Service Had to Adjust Tactics to Avoid Bites From Biden’s Dog​

Newly released documents recorded at least 24 biting episodes before Commander, the president’s German shepherd, was banished from the White House last fall.

The Secret Service had to “adjust our operational tactics” to protect President Biden because the first family’s dog kept biting agents, including one who required six stitches and another whose blood spilled onto the floor of the White House, according to newly released internal emails posted online.

The agency recorded at least 24 biting episodes between October 2022 and July 2023 involving Commander, a German shepherd who became the terror of the West Wing, Camp David and the president’s homes in Delaware, about half of which required medical attention, according to the documents. Commander was banished from the White House last fall to an undisclosed location.

The recent dog bites have challenged us to adjust our operational tactics when Commander is present — please give lots of room (staying a terrain feature away if possible),” an assistant special agent in charge of the Presidential Protection Division wrote to the team. “We will continue to keep” a protected person whose code name was blacked out in the document but was clearly Mr. Biden “in our sight but must be creative to ensure our own personal safety.” The agent reported that they were seeking “a better solution soon.”

The documents were released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by John Greenewald, a longtime California-based researcher who specializes in unearthing government secrets on everything from U.F.O.s to C.I.A. and military activities, and posted on his website, called The Black Vault. The Secret Service confirmed the documents were authentic.

The 24 incidents recorded in the documents go beyond the 10 reported last July. And they still only capture some of the episodes since they cover just Secret Service personnel and not others involving residential staff at the mansion or Navy personnel who serve the president’s family at Camp David.

The 273 pages of emails and documents, with names redacted, shed new light on a period that generated great stress inside the White House before Commander, then age 2, was removed from the mansion. A previous presidential dog, Major, was moved out of the White House two years earlier for similar reasons.

The cache of emails not only documented various episodes in sometimes graphic detail, but also captured the trauma and concern among Secret Service agents and officers, who shared techniques for the best ways to avoid getting hurt. Secret Service personnel were bitten on the wrist, forearm, elbow, waist, chest, thigh and shoulder. One was saved from injury by his ammunition pouch. Among the documents was a photo of a torn shirt.

“I was in shock that the incident occurred,” wrote one special agent, who was attacked while holding open the door for the president on Oct. 2, 2022, as Mr. Biden took Commander out onto the South Lawn. The dog grabbed the agent’s left arm and stood on his hind legs. “He is literally my height standing,” the agent wrote. Fortunately, a doctor found no puncture wound. “After this I was concerned about him getting out of the residence or being out without a leash for others’ safety and mine.”

Another agent was not so lucky. On June 15, 2023, Commander raced toward the agent and lunged at him, causing a “deep bite” on the left arm that was reported to have needed stitches. “East Wing Tours were stopped for approximately 20 minutes due to blood from the incident being on the floors in the area of the Booksellers,” a hall in the White House, one document reported.

A month later, another agent entering the backyard patio of the president’s home in Rehoboth Beach, Del., did not realize the dog was there and off leash. The dog bit him, “causing a severe deep open wound,” and the agent “started to lose a significant amount of blood,” a message detailed. The agent “remained calm and walked away from the area looking for help.”
The agent got six stitches in the left hand. A couple of days later, a supervisor wrote to the agent. “I’m glad it wasn’t your pitching arm!” the supervisor wrote, adding jokingly that the agent’s colleagues had “put together a small care package” for him including Advil, antibiotic cream, pepper spray, a muzzle and some dog biscuits “for safety purposes.”
The incidents took place mainly at the White House but also at Camp David, the president’s homes in Delaware and his vacation rental in Nantucket.

Was listening to a farming podcast, I enjoy trying to learn more about the markets, futures, and production. They were talking about something I hadn't considered. Most Iowa farmers produce corn or beans because it is a higher net income even though the cost is significantly more than grain production, which you see in areas with lesser soil and land cost. Some Iowa farmers had thought about switching to wheat with the expectation that Ukraine/Russia would experience a major dip due to the war. Yet, the dip has never happened. Anyone have a good idea or guess on how or why Ukraine/Russia have been able to be at war and yet still produce the wheat?

Here's the deal. No pic daughter, who is in grad school at Creighton, left Omaha for the Dominican Republic today to do a week long field study. She got to Miami and realized she doesn't have her wallet with her cash, debit card, and DL. After thinking she either had it stolen or left it somehow at the Omaha airport, my bro-in-law (who drove her to the airport early this morning) found her wallet on the side of the seat in his car. She DOES have her passport with her and made it to Santiago with no problems. Will she need cash ? Any suggestions, both serious and humorous, would be appreciated. Here's some T&A for your trouble.

We're attending the women's game tomorrow. It's been a minute since I've been to a home game. Do y'all have any advice on how to make the in-person gameday viewing experience go as smoothly as possible? All I've been told so far is to avoid the concession stands as the lines can be crazy long. I already have parking lined up but I am going to drop a couple of our group off right in front of the arena while I go park. Any input is appreciated

February 27
Indiana 74, Wisconsin 70
Iowa 90, Penn State 81

Standings
1. Purdue (25-3, 14-3)
2. Illinois (20-7, 11-5)
3. Northwestern (19-8, 10-6)
4. Nebraska (20-8, 10-7)
4. Wisconsin (18-10, 10-7)
6. Michigan State (17-11, 9-8)
7. Iowa (17-12, 9-9)
7. Minnesota (17-10, 8-8)
9. Penn State (14-15, 8-10)
10. Indiana (15-13, 7-10)
10. Maryland (15-13, 7-10)
12. Rutgers (14-13, 6-10)
13. Ohio State (16-12, 6-11)
14. Michigan (8-20, 3-14)

Games for Wednesday, February 28
Northwestern at Maryland (6:00 PM - BTN)
Minnesota at #13 Illinois (8:00 PM - BTN)

GF's sister didn't get great news from the doctor last week so we decided to make the trip from Sioux City to Ankeny to visit her. I have NO family in the DSM area so I never have a reason to go there but since dating my GF and her family has talked up Jethro's a ton and I finally tried last night.

I was NOT impressed in the least bit. I got pulled pork and chicken, my two sides were mashed potatoes and mac n cheese.

I understand that if you are a good cook smoked meats will always be best at home but I honestly didn't think it was much better or any better than Famous Dave's. I am also not a huge fan of Famous Dave's. Am I wrong?

19 years ago today 😢

The man belongs in both the college and pro HOFs

Today I played golf with an alumni of yours. I played with Tony Castro who pitched for the Kernels back in the 90’s (93-94?)…He enjoyed his time there but hated “throw back games” as those wool/ flannel uniforms were hot and stinky!
Nice guy.. picked up $25 for closest to the pin…He pitched 9 years professionally… “calcification in his elbow” ended his career.

I host an annual March Madness party that is now cancelled.... but still taking Thursday and Friday off. Live in the Twin Cities but thinking about heading south to Iowa for a few days if any courses are open.
Otherwise maybe Top Golf will be open up here or hit a golf simulator 8 hours a day.

At the 59 min mark (149 match) the broadcast when out.

Did this happen to anyone else trying to listen?

Does anyone know the cause of the radio broadcast going offline?

Similar to HROT libs airing grievances against the mods?

Mrs QC had one of her loans wiped out, thanks Joe!

Login to view embedded media
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration said it will begin notifying around 153,000 borrowers on Wednesday that their student loans have been canceled as part of a new repayment plan that's taking effect nearly six months ahead of schedule.
Loan forgiveness was originally set to begin in July under the new SAVE repayment plan, but it was accelerated to provide faster relief to borrowers, President Joe Biden announced last month. It’s part of an effort “to act as quickly as possible to give more borrowers breathing room” and move on from their student debt, the Democratic president said in a statement.

Borrowers were eligible for student loan relief if they had enrolled in the new SAVE plan, if they originally borrowed $12,000 or less to attend college, and if they have made at least 10 years of payments.
In total, the Biden administration said it has now approved nearly $138 billion in debt relief for around 3.9 million Americans.
Tens of thousands of borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan who will have their debt cancelled starting this week will receive an email Wednesday informing them of their imminent relief, the White House explained.
Next week, the Department of Education plans to reach out directly to borrowers who are eligible for early relief but not currently enrolled in the SAVE Plan to encourage them to enroll.
Those who took out more than $12,000 will be eligible for cancellation but on a longer timeline. For each $1,000 borrowed beyond $12,000, it adds an additional year of payments on top of 10 years.
The maximum repayment period is capped at 20 years for those with only undergraduate loans and 25 years for those with any graduate school loans.

WHO: #2 Oklahoma State (14-0)
WHEN: 2:00 PM CT (Sunday, February 25, 2024)
WHERE: Gallagher-Iba Arena (Stillwater, OK)
TV: FS1
RADIO: AM 800 KXIC (Steven Grace, Mark Ironside) | YouTube
MOBILE: foxsports.com/mobile
ONLINE: foxsports.com/live
FOLLOW: @IowaAwesome | @Hawks_Wrestling | @IowaonBTN

The dual meet season wraps up for #4 Iowa with a familiar opponent -- #2 Oklahoma State -- in a familiar venue -- Gallagher-Iba Arena. Although it hasn't been a familiar venue in recent years -- this will be Iowa's first trip there since 2019. The series was paused in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and then the 2021-22 dual was moved to Arlington, TX. Last year's dual was in Iowa City.

This rivalry features the two winningest programs in NCAA history (Oklahoma State has 34 NCAA titles, Iowa has 24), even if both have been eclipsed by Penn State in recent years. Oklahoma State owns the edge in the dual meet, with 29 wins to Iowa's 25 (plus two draws), although recent history has favored Iowa -- the Hawkeyes have won seven of the last nine dual meets.

The two defeats in those last nine duals both happened in Stillwater, though. Iowa has not won on the Cowboys' home mat since 2015. Iowa lost 24-11 in 2017 and was stunned 27-12 two years later in 2019, a dual that started with a shocking pinfall loss by Spencer Lee and only got worse from there. Reversing those road woes will take some doing this season as well, as the #2 Cowboys are 14-0 on the season and could field a Top-12 wrestler at seven weights.

MORE HERE:

Johnny Cash played Dubuque in June of 1958. Recently, a couple of Iowans were responsible for discovering the existence of this recording and tracking down the master tape. The recording is now in the hands of the Johnny Cash estate and awaits wide release to the public.

It’s an intriguing story imo. Cash provided a clue on the recording by thanking the leader of the opening band, Andy. They sleuthed exactly who ‘Andy’ might be and kept hunting.

The story is recounted by it’s participants on this mostly Elvis related podcast around the 18 minute mark. (Full disclosure it’s not me but is my friend Jim)

Login to view embedded media