Sunday Morning Coffee - 01/16/2011

Sunday Morning Coffee is that visit we have talking about the stuff that  went on in our lives or the lives of others.  What did we find funny, sad, serious or silly?  This isn't much about business...we'll get back to that tomorrow.  This is just coffee...with friends.

My friend Ralph Rosenberg is out of a job.  Ralph headed the Iowa Civil Rights Commission for seven years and when our mutual friend "Governor-for-Life" Terry Branstad returned to the Statehouse...Ralph was out.  It's much the same for many who worked under former Democratic heads of state.  I'm sure Governor Branstad will find somebody to take the job...or he'll suggest that it be privatized and give a contract to Mel Gibson.  Stay tuned.

You've heard of a "Tweet-Up" right?  How about a "Sample-Up".  That's what happened Friday evening at the Urbandale Hy-Vee where about 25 folks gathered to sample wine, cheese, hummus, bread and beer.  Oh...and buy some too.  A hat tip to @CDSills from @UrbandaleHyVee for doing this.  There were plenty of smiles in that isle...

Speaking of Twitter - Have you ever spent thirty-minutes looking at what folks are Tweeting about?  How many times they have Tweeted.  If they follow people or simply "broadcast" what they think is news?  Try it sometime.  Take a word...maybe "Iowa" and plug it into the search.  Some interesting insight on folks.  I feel a business blog coming on.

Been a tough week.  The Memorial Service from Tucson (Which local  and national media decided was not important enough to broadcast in it's entirety so those without cable or satellite had to watch on-line.) was, I believe, a step to healing.  The news that Monks from Iowa crafted the casket for nine-year old Christina Green...another connection to the tragedy and listening to six people, whom I know well, that lost their jobs all spelled F-U-N-K.... No, not you Dave.  Sorry to bring it up.

I used to visit and study with my rabbi daily.  Now, since some very odd people decided (after six years) that he "had to go" we get together by phone twice a week.  Ya know...religion is a great thing, until people get involved.

Snap out of it Michael!

Our daughter-in-law took a leave of absense from her teaching job.  Burned out and scared at 26..."It's a horrible environment and the kids are beyond nasty."  It's what happens when inmates run the asylum and we lack the guts to fix what we all know is so very wrong with "the system".

OK...not getting much better huh?  At least I'm not going to write about "blood libel"...yet.  Or...maybe it's because I didn't get to go to the ball...

Bummer...

Two interesting things about the article from Politico:  1)  Speaker Boehner lost an inside battle for control of the RNC and 2) The Speaker of the House failed to attend the memorial in Arizona and opted to  attend to politics in DC.  I dunno...you?

My friend, Tobias Eichberg, has released his book:  Ag Trade Show Report 2011.  If you manufacture farm equipment, or provide services to agriculture and you attend "farm shows" this is a "must have" planning document:

 

You can reach Tobias online:  www.ei-cons.com to learn more about the book.

And...speaking of books - My long time friend John Benage, who  currently calls San Antonio home,  called me last week to help him with the publicity of his book, Oak Grove.  Seems that a publisher is interested in this piece about growing up in Rural America and he needs an agency to help out.  I was honored that he thought of us...thank you John.

Got your gun yet?  Here is an interesting report from our friend Kyle Munson from the Des Moines Register.

This is Samuel Auen known around Twitter as @VegChefDSM and for his bitting no punches pulled Foodie Blog, Locally Grown.  (Photo is from a guest shot he did on our show, Insight on Business with Michael Libbie.) He is the "Ironman" of year round bicycling.  Three years ago he sold his car.  Seriously...Sam works as a sous chef at Cafe di' Scala near downtown but lives in Cumming about 12 miles south of the city.  He commutes, rain, sun, snow and ice on his bike.  It's guite the story...two pages by Mike Kilen in the Des Moines Register...check it out and all hail the mighty Chef and his mighty beard!

I think I'm workin' out of it!

Last Sunday Aaron and I put in a "new" toilet -  Actually he did the work, I was there with the flashlight and words of encouragement.  It took us some time and I've got to finish the flooring...but check the price! $25 from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore!  The old toilet (pink!) the faucet and some other items now go BACK to the ReStore as a donation.  BTW - If you are looking for a tiny toilet for kids (when big people sit on this your knees are under your chin) it's at the store...later today.

Did you hear about Gusto's Pizza?  It's going to open in Des Moines...very, very soon.  Sounds like a fun time.  Have a look at the video:

 

OK...very cool.  Feeling much better!! 

That's a wrap!  Have a wonderful Sunday!  We'll get back to business tomorrow both here and at Webcast One LIVE - It's the Metro Monday Edition of Insight on Business and we're talkin' baseball!   Catch it live tomorrow at Noon Central.  If you want to continue the conversation leave a comment here (below), shoot me an e-mail, head to our Facebook Page or let's connect on Twitter - @MichaelLibbie (business & personal) or @InsightADV (business baby...all business).

Thanks!