The changing face of Iowa: wind turbines

It’s windy in Iowa. (I didn’t have to tell you, did I?)

It’s hard to miss Iowa’s new wind turbines. They continue to spring up in Western Iowa along Interstate 80 in areas including one called Windy Hills. The turbines are on both sides of I-80 in Adair , Cass , and Pottawattamie Counties. 

Today we find that Mid-American Energy has over 100 turbines in Pottawatamie County alone where many of the pictures above were taken at the Walnut Wind Project.

Money is blowing in the wind.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists each turbine will net the landowner $2,000 -5,000/year in royalties. That’s great news in counties where the average farm is near 440 acres and the crop value per harvested acre has been running between $205 – 225/acre.

How are we doing in terms of absolute capacity compared to the rest of the country? We’re doing well; currently we are even with California in absolute capacity. DOE puts us 3rd in the nation; citing Dirk Lammers Yahoo says 2nd, where Texas is first. 

•  Iowa has 2862 MW of capacity (with our population of 3 million that’s about 1 kW/person)
• California has 2868 MW with their population of 36 million
• In Iowa we’re producing 10% of the nation’s wind power. I’m impressed!

Resources for further information

• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (US DOE)
• energy matters (Australia)
• Wind Power A to Z
• You Tube videos on wind energy

photos by James G. Lindberg

Thomas Friedman at Grinnell College

Good message!

Become the generation that will be called the Re-Generation.

Thomas Friedman, New York Times world affairs columnist and prolific author, gave the commencement address at Grinnell College on Monday May 19, 2009. You can hear the entire address (in 3 installments totaling just under 25 minutes) courtesy of YouTube.

In his initial remarks Friedman related several issues cited by fellow journalist Kurt Andersen in his recent Time magazine article, The End of Excess.

Continuing, Friedman then focused on a generational theme, first on the The Greatest Generation (that of his parents and grandparents – the generation that survived The Great Depression then fought in World War II). He cited the qualities that characterized the greatest generation:

• hard work
• delayed gratification
• achievement oriented
• focused attention

Those were my parents too and I would add to that list

• frugal
• humble
• accountable

Friedman contrasted the Greatest Generation with his own generation, the baby boomers (post-WWII babies) and named that generation the Grasshopper Generation – eating through the fabric of the nation like hungry locusts. He credited the grasshopper generation with such dubious qualities as

• excess (over-consuming, over-building, over-borrowing, over-lending, over-eating) and
• dumb as we wanna be (delaying the solutions to Social Security, health care, energy, environment, and immigration).

He cited the subprime meltdown in particular as illuminating a decline in basic values, risk management, accountability, and ethics.

Friedman then challenged the Grinnell graduates to become the Re-Generation

that could restore the basic values of

• hard work
• accountability

and added that the graduates should carry with them

• ethics
• uncompromising idealism
• unbending convictions
• principled behaviors

and that they should create value through

• invention
• innovation
• imagination

all in order to do real engineering of materials, of services, of societal movement that fulfill needs, both seen and unseen.

It was great advice to the Grinnell College Class of 2009.

Friedman also told an interesting story with several Iowa connections. While studying in London in 1975 and dating wife-to-be Ann Bucksbaum, daughter of Carolyn “Kay” (a Grinnell alum) and Matthew Bucksbaum (an Iowa alum), Friedman (not a journalist at the time) was so stirred by the politics of the day that he wrote an op-ed piece. Ann carried it back to Des Moines. The piece made its way to The Des Moines Register editorial page editor who published it. Friedman received $50, and he was hooked as a journalist. Thus, Friedman’s exceptional career has a strong Des Moines connection.

If you’d like to read two recent Friedman books try

• The World Is Flat
• Hot, Flat and Crowded.

photos by James G. Lindberg

Free yoga at Gray’s Lake

What could be better?

• yoga
• free
• Gray’s Lake (north side, park by the beach)
• Saturday mornings from 9 am to 10 am
• 17 weeks beginning June 6 and running through September 26
• a variety of instructors

Sponsored by Des Moines Parks and Recreation the sessions are said to be beginner’s classes (lucky for me). If you want to try it, wear loose fitting clothes and bring a mat, rug, or towel along with some water. You’ll stand; you’ll sit; you’ll stretch and bend. It is not a competitive sport so you won’t have to do anything and you don’t have to do it perfectly (very lucky for me).

You don’t have to sign up, and you don’t have to stay so try it once; you might like it.

One of the better sites for medical information is WebMD and they list many benefits of yoga including

• flexibility
• posture
• stress reduction
• breathing

I remember my first yoga class. I went only to humor the Purple Wren while we were living in California 10 years ago. Much to my surprise I liked it and it made me feel better – more flexible, more relaxed, and breathing better. I’ve been to classes quite a few times since, always like it, always feel better, but I never go on a regular basis. (How smart is that?)

There are many styles of yoga and many studios in Des Moines. But don’t be intimidated; I’m sure that the summer program at Gray’s Lake will keep it simple.

Here is the June/July schedule. I’ll update it later. If it rains, it’s canceled.

• June 6 with Lily Hou of Green Yoga House
• June 13 with Brette Scott and Paula De Matties of Shakti Yoga
• June 20 with Jen Kees of Kees Camp
  June 27 with Roxianne Classen of Firehouse Yoga
• July 4 with Roxianne Classen of Firehouse Yoga
• July 11 with of Robin Bourjaily of Liz Taylor Yoga
• July 18 with of Robin Bourjaily of Liz Taylor Yoga
• July 25 with Jen Kees of Kees Camp

Try it once.

photos by flickr by DonnaGrayson and A-Wix

State Historical Museum of Iowa

And a good time was had by all.

The State Historical Museum of Iowa is a wonderful place. Visit frequently

• by yourself
• with your children
• with your grandchildren

Use any excuse.

They are quite pleased to tell you that they are open every day of the year except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. That’s a credit to them; they serve the public first.

The museum has permanent exhibits and changing exhibits, and they are all very well done. One exhibit that seems to be a sure hit traces the history of people in Iowa and their connections to our natural resources. That’s where the buffalo above is found, along with loons, foxes, raptors, and other Iowa creatures.

When you first enter the museum, you are greeted by a mammoth skeleton. When I was there Tuesday that prompted the question, “Was it really that big?” Mammoths ranged from 9′ to 15′ tall and roamed the Midwest during the Ice Age. Read up at the museum’s site or go see for yourself.

There are also artifacts and modern representations of Native American cultures including a walk through bark shelter. While I went through it four times in both directions, my unofficial 7 year old guide was leading a fast-paced tour, and some of the details have escaped me – a decent docent nonetheless.

If you like local history Patten’s Neighborhood is terrific.

And you can visit a few exhibits on-line.

I went to the museum on Tuesday for the Irish Fest and did something for the first time: I got a green stegosaurus spray painted on my face. I thought it matched my personality.

Keep posted about the goings-on at the State Historical Museum. Until you get there, you won’t know how good it is – so go.

• visit the museum
• visit the gift shop
• use their archives
• use their libraries and special collections
• check out the education resources
• visit their remote historic sites away from Des Moines
• check out their historic preservation program
• read their publications
• volunteer and get involved

You can even rent space!

Or you can read what I said last year.

photos by James Lindberg and the Purple Wren

Beer, breweries, and food science

Do you think you know everything there is to know about beer? Maybe, maybe not, but you will have a chance on Wednesday night to find out.

Dr. Robert Bates is a food scientist and one smart guy. He will be visiting Simpson College to talk about:

• The Chemistry and Alchemy of Brewing
• Wednesday, March 18, 2009
• 7:30 pm
• 215 Carver Science Center (on the map)
• Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa

Dr. Bates retired in 2003 after a 35 year career at the University of Florida in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. He is such a popular speaker that he has been on tour for the American Chemical Society giving many talks each year. He is visiting as a guest of the Ames Section of the ACS, Iowa State, and Simpson; his local host at Simpson is Professor Cliff Meints of the Chemistry Department (515/961-1828 or cliff.meints@simpson.edu).

Here is the press release on the talk:

Beer making, one of the oldest examples of biotechnology, is a fascinating study of chemistry, biochemistry, and engineering. It combines well recognized and controllable reactions and operations with complex, poorly understood phenomena, including the psychosensory response. Surprisingly, some of the most sophisticated science and technology are employed in the efficient production of mass advertised, mediocre beers. In contrast, traditional alchemy-driven methods can produce exceptional yet under-recognized beers. Fortunately, there is an achievable balance between these extremes. This presentation will cover the brewing process from raw material selection and preparation through fermentation to consumption. Emphasis will be on major pathways employed by brewers to produce a wide range of beers. These are exciting times for brewers and beer connoisseurs in the U.S. Future industry developments of relevance to consumers will be mentioned. With dedication and practice, the average chemist can brew above-average beers; so can the experienced kitchen alchemist.

It’s a short trip. Take advantage.

photo by flickr by pete4ducks

Iowa Boys Basketball State Tournament 2009

It begins with a youngster and a basketball and it ends with the state tournament.

The Iowa Boys Basketball State Tournament is being held March 9-14, 2009 at Wells Fargo Arena (directions). There’s a great week of games coming up. Don’t miss it!

The schedule and brackets

The results

photo by flickr by flasporty

Eagle watch

We saw more bald eagles near Saylorville Lake on Sunday February 22, 2009. These eagles were mature – white heads, white tails, not thrilled with all the attention.

For a first stop we parked and hiked down to the Lake above the dam at one of the closed camp site roads. It is an understatement to say it was cool and breezy on the shore of the lake. No eagles there. Just a couple of frozen “turkeys.”

We headed over to the Saylorville Lake Visitor Center and took in part of a talk by a ranger. He kept all of the little and large kids entertained with his props and facts. (DNR has more information.)

The ranger shared that the eaglets

• start at 3 ounces
• require early imprinting to survive
• weigh 5 pounds at 3 weeks thanks to fish every waking hour

The stages of development include

• branchers
• wingers, and
• the eaglets need their big talons to hang on to the branches in the nest.
• Even then they sometimes fall from the nest and are lost to the fall or once on the ground to predators like raccoons.

Then we were off to the Cottonwood Recreation Area (open Sunday for the Eagle Watch 2009 ). (Watch out because the map is sideways but) Cottonwood is below the dam where the water is open and open water allows the eagles to fish. Folks from the Audubon Society were set up there with spotting telescopes that gave a pretty good view. I pointed my Nikon COOLPIX through a spotter and got the picture to the right. I tried my zoom and got the thumbnail on the mainpage.

Sunday’s Eagle Watch was jointly sponsored with help from

• U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Iowa DNR
• Polk County Conservation Board
• Dallas County Conservation Board
• Des Moines Audubon Society, a branch of Iowa Audubon.

Watch for the next Eagle Watch, but in the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles when you are anywhere below the dam and near the Des Moines River. They soar, they’re big, they beat their wings slowly, and you can’t miss their distinctive white head and white tail.

photos by James G. Lindberg

Hoops 4 Hope, the Des Moines connection

Lately, we’re seeing a lot about Hoops 4 Hope, a loose consortium of activities raising money for cancer prevention, detection, and cure. Depending on who’s sponsoring it, each Hoops for Hope activity has a slightly different spin. The original Hoops 4 Hope game was in 2006 at North Carolina State University as a tribute to legendary women’s basketball coach Kay Yow while she was still alive. Kay Yow died on January 24, 2009 after a 21 year fight with breast cancer.

And here is the Des Moines connection:

Kay’s sister is Susan Yow, Drake women’s basketball coach from 1986-90. Susan Yow was NC State’s first All-American while playing for her older sister. Susan Yow is currently head coach at Belmont Abbey College in NC and coached her team on the day of her big sister’s death. The coach of her opponent that day was a Kay Yow protégé. If you knew Susan at Drake, you will recognize her in the photo at Kay’s funeral in Cary, NC.

One of Susan Yow’s players at Drake was All-American Jan Jensen, now associate head coach at the University of Iowa.

Beneficiaries of Hoops for Hope games have been:

• The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
• Kay Yow/WBCA with lots of names you will recognize
• American Cancer Society
• and many other organizations

Speaking of cancer prevention, I read an interesting print article on cancer in Wired last week. You can read it too. It’s available on-line – seven, informative pages. Their primary point is that as a society we should focus on early detection. Cure rates of cancers are high when they are detected early (They say 90%); in contrast, cure rates are abyssmal when they are detected late (They say 10%.). The Drake women’s Hoops 4 Hope game on 2/14/2009 included a half-time speaker (a physician) who echoed the need for regular testing for early detection, especially prostate tests for men and breast exams for women. Whatever reason you might have for not following up, your reason is not good enough. Do it. I’m up-to-date. Why am I up-to-date, you ask? The Purple Wren harasses me when I’m not.

photo by flickr by ncsunewsdept

One Hundred Wins

A great coach, a hot team, and 100 wins for Drake women’s basketball coach Amy Stephens.

The Bulldogs are playing well. They’ve won 10 of their last 11 games with a hard-nosed defense, a balanced offense (with a lot of players who can score quickly), and a roster full of players who love the game. There were many highlights in the afternoon game on February 14:

• hot pink jerseys as part of Drake’s support of Hoops 4 Hope
• solid contributions by every member of their balanced 8 player rotation
• a defense that made me happy to be in the stands and not on the floor
• free pink Hoops 4 Hope t-shirts to all the fans

and best of all

• Coach Stephens won her 100th game at Drake.

I’m sure there is bark and bite in practice and the locker room, but judging by the player reaction at the end of the game, this team loves its coach. In the photo to the left you can see Coach Stephens acknowledging the crowd of 3900 while assistant Todd Voss holds the 100th win game ball and the team looks on.

Looking on besides Monique’ Jones (#45) of Lee’s Summitt, MO and Amber Wollschlager (#34) of Milbank, SD, there is local celebrity Kristin Turk (#23) of Des Moines Lincoln.

This is a Drake team with at least 10 stars and potentially more. The only reason they use an 8 player rotation is a couple of injuries. They are worth watching and you’ve got two more chances to see them here in town – Thursday March 5 at 7:05pm against Illinois State and Saturday March 7 at 2:05 pm against Indiana State.

photos by James G. Lindberg

CIML Basketball Jamboree

If you love basketball like I do, your day is coming.

• Saturday
• November 22, 2008
• 8:20 am until 9:20 pm (yes, 13 hours)
• $5 – that’s a bargain!

It’s the 61st Annual Kiwanis CIML Basketball Jamboree

• 18 teams, 18 games (9 each for the boys and the girls)
• Ames, Ankeny, Dowling Catholic, East, Fort Dodge, Hoover, Indianola, Johnston, Lincoln, Marshalltown, Mason City, North, Ottumwa, Roosevelt, Southeast Polk, Urbandale, Valley, and Waukee
• check the schedule for your teams and times

It’s at the Knapp Center (38 on the interactive map) at Drake University. The Kiwanis CIML Jamboree is the big fundraiser for our local Kiwanis Club. The Des Moines Register and the Central Iowa MacDonald’s are cosponsors.

photo by flickr by JaimieL.WilliamsPhotography

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