Songwriting documentary with Davenport band The Oliver Twists

The Oliver Twists are a Davenport-based band who will release their next album on Future Appletree Records soon

In late 2008, they were in the studio to record a new song, “Play the Part,” and this documentary was made along the way.

Band interviews and performances are featured in this experimental video with the trio (Jamey Cummins on keyboards, Phil Pracht on drums, Aiden Landman on bass).

John McCain on Gay Marriage: “Smart people tell me…”

OOOOPS! What happens when smart people are wrong?

John McCain: “Smart people tell me that that decision will be reversed by a higher court.”

In September, 2007, Senator John McCain was in Gladbrook, Ia. campaigning at a house party. He spoke on the lawn at the home of Lynn and Claire Handorf and then took questions from the audience and press.

Regarding a Polk County ruling that allowed at least one gay couple to marry in Des Moines, Senator McCain said, “Smart people tell me that that decision will be reversed by a higher court.”

McCain said he would support a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, “if there was a superior federal court that said that the states don’t have the right to regulate the status of marriage…but I certainly don’t [support an amendment] when the states are deciding.”

My new question: Where are these smart people now?

Interview with Paul Street on the “Obama Phenomena”

Iowa City author Paul Street’s latest book, Barack Obama and the Future of American Politics, is a critical report on the phenomenal rise of the junior senator from Illinois.

Green Jobs Now: Build the New Economy

Saturday, September 27

Are you ready for the green economy? Are you ready to tackle the climate crisis by building a green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty?

Green Jobs Now is having a job fair, rally, press conference & community conversation in Des Moines.

Rally and Press Conference Saturday, September 27, 11 a.m. – Noon, State Capitol, West Steps COMMUNITY CONVERSATION To follow from 1-3 p.m. at Mars Cafe, 2318 University Ave., Des Moines

Astronomical Quilt

I am a little late on the uptake for this one…well only about one hundred and thirty two (132) years late.

Ellen Harding Baker created this gorgeous and informative quilt in 1876 that she used as a visual aid for lectures on astronomy in West Branch, Moscow and Lone Tree.

The quilt is in the archive of the National Museum of American History.

From the NMAH website: “The maker, Sarah Ellen Harding, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1847, and married Marion Baker of Cedar County, Iowa, on October 10, 1867. They lived in Cedar County until 1878, then moved to Johnson County where Marion had a general merchandise business in Lone Tree.
Ellen had seven children before she died of tuberculosis in the spring of 1886.”

h/t Label-Free

Border Patrol? We don’t need no stinking border patrol!

Oops, did I forget to advertise the US Border Patrol Recruiting event in West Des Moines, IA yesterday?

Oh well, when the pay is “up to $50,000 dollars for the first year and up to $70,000 within three years of service” I’m sure they will find someone willing to become a glorified security guard.

Discrepancy alert: another news agency has reported that “Border Patrol recruits earn between $36,000 and $46,000 in their first year, with the potential of earning up to $70,000 per year within three years of service.”

If you are chosen to protect one of the US borders, you will have to move to Texas, Arizona, California, or New Mexico.

Interesting. Don’t we also have a border to the north? Isn’t the threat of a terrorist or biological weapon attack coming from Canada just as great as from the South?

Why aren’t any USBP agents being deployed to Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine?

Secret’s Out: Suppressed Report Says Biofuels Raise Food Prices

The Guardian obtained a leaked report from the World Bank that has pegged “biofuel” production as a bigger problem in raising food prices than previously thought.

“The report estimates that higher energy and fertiliser prices accounted for an increase of only 15%, while biofuels have been responsible for a 75% jump over that period.“

The World Bank report has been suppressed since its completion in April because insiders believe it would embarrass President Bush (can’t let that happen!).  The US government claims that producing fuel from plants has only raised food prices by 3 percent. I hope any ethanol defenders and comments on this blog  can explain why there is such a discrepancy.

An estimated 100 million people have fallen below the poverty line because of rising global food prices.

Coincidentally, back in April, Senator Charlie “Chuck” Grassley labeled the whole ethanol/food debate “a big joke.”

Maybe I just don’t get his sense of humor?

Find the Flip-Flop: Obama on the 2nd Amendment

Months ago Barack Obama predicted the SCOTUS ruling on handguns which was handed down last week in a 5-4 decision.

Here he is in December 2007 at an event in Mt. Vernon, Iowa:

Imperfect Weather: Ethanol Industry to Stay Propped Up by Renewable Fuels Standard?

Michelle Perez, senior agriculture analyst with the Environmental Working Group in Washington claims “Our ethanol policy requires perfect weather, and not surprisingly, we aren’t getting it.”

Corn prices closed at $7.91 per bushel on June 13, 2008.

The Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) mandates 9 billion gallons of ethanol production this year, boosted to 10.5 billion gallons in 2009 and increasing to 15 billion gallons by 2015.

On June 30, the U.S.D.A. will release a corn crop assessment for 2008.

What do you think of the RFS?

Is corn ethanol all that?

Rafael Robinson Named as Suspect in Suppressed 1996 FBI Report

Someone asked me to post the FBI interview that was released last week by the Des Moines Police Department. This document is part of the open file on the murder investigation of Rafael Robinson.

It appears to be a key piece of evidence for David Flores.

The interview took place on May 22, 1996 between Calvin Tyrone Gaines and FBI Special Agent Terry Bohle. The DMPD received the report on August 1, 1996.

Gaines is the third person to come forward and state that Robinson was person who killed Phyllis Davis on April 12, 1996.

David Flores is serving a life sentence without parole in the Iowa State Penitentiary.

You can get a copy of this document from the clerk at the Polk County Courthouse.