Category Archives: General

What were they thinking?

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Marty Ryan

This blog was written a little over two years ago as an op-ed. The newspaper to which it was submitted rejected it. Now that the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives has recommended members of Congress cancel and never … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Irritations II

Posted on February 21, 2025 by Marty Ryan

This blog was posted in September of 2019. Supposedly, nothing has changed – NOTHING! As I get older, I notice that I am becoming one of those old people that I despised as a young boy.  There are several things … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 2 Comments

The Oasis

Posted on February 2, 2025 by Marty Ryan

I got friends in low places Where the whiskey drowns And the beer chases my blues away And I’ll be okay Yeah, I’m not big on social graces Think I’ll slip on down to the Oasis Friends in low places … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Home Safety

Posted on January 16, 2025 by Stephanie Fawkes-Lee

A young Des Moines police officer who was helping us with a racoon issue hadn’t yet been indoctrinated into how to handle the perception of crime in our neighborhood. He asked us point blank, “Do you hear gun fire at … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Justice, Fairness, General | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Health System Problem? No, it’s an insurance problem

Posted on December 23, 2024 by Marty Ryan

The Manhattan murder of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson lit a fire under many Americans who are furious with their insurance carriers and the cost of premiums and denial of coverage. Murder is not a respectful way to get a point … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Going to Kansas City

Posted on October 30, 2024 by Marty Ryan

Occasionally, I will check local newspapers’ obituaries from around the part of Iowa where I grew up. Unfortunately, I read an obituary in the Denison, Iowa, newspaper about a friend from the time we both worked at Farmland Foods in … Continue reading →

Posted in Food | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment