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Iowa is going back to work, but who will watch the children?

As death rates from COVID-19 rise, the state is beginning to open back up. And with that the expectation is that Iowans get back to work. Iowans who don’t go back to work will lose...




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Men and elderly lag in taking Test Iowa coronavirus assessment

Nearly 327,000 Iowans have taken an assessment to see if they are eligible to be checked for COVID-19 under the Test Iowa Initiative. Another free drive-though site for those who have taken the...




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Judge rules Iowa law unconstitutional that blocked sex education funding to Planned Parenthood

An Iowa judge has ruled unconstitutional a state law that would have blocked Planned Parenthood of the Heartland from receiving federal money to provide sex education programs to Iowa youth. Fifth...




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Marion coronavirus recovery task force wants residents to come out of this healthy and to ‘a vibrant economy’

MARION — Marion’s 14-member COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task Force is beginning to work on recommendations of how to get people back to work, while keeping everyone...




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Iowa should give cash to undocumented immigrants

Immigrants have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 pandemic. They’re more likely than native-born Americans to be laboring to keep our essential services running, especially in the...




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Ahead of VP Pence’s Iowa visit, Joe Biden’s campaign calls out ‘consequential failure’ of Trump coronavirus response

Vice President Mike Pence owes Iowans more than a photo-op when he visits Des Moines today, according to Joe Biden’s campaign. “Iowans are seeing up close the most consequential failure...




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Scenic designer in Iowa City looks for light in the darkness

Benjamin Stuben Farrar of Iowa City is a storyteller without a story to tell at the moment. The first story is as dramatic and layered as his bold scenic and lighting designs for area stages:...



  • Arts & Culture

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Tyson outbreak: Short closure but enduring grief

As the coronavirus spread from the nation’s meatpacking plants to the broader communities where they are located, it burned through a modest duplex in Waterloo. In the downstairs unit lived...




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Task force will make recommendations on how to resume jury trials, given coronavirus concerns

DES MOINES — The Iowa Supreme Court has asked a group of criminal and civil lawyers, judges and court staff from judicial districts across the state to make recommendations on how criminal and...




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‘Death stalked swiftly’ in 1918. What will we remember now?

In August 1919, the Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette opined in favor of the passage of a $5 million congressional appropriation to “investigate influenza, its cause, prevention and...




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Iowa is dying from all this success

With over 11,000 positive COVID-19 cases in Iowa and a mounting death toll, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds went to Washington DC. to declare her approach to the pandemic a success. Her victory lap included...




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Dubuque woman pleads to helping buy heroin that led to fatal overdose of another person

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Dubuque woman who helped her boyfriend and another person buy heroin that later led to a fatal overdose was convicted Thursday in federal court. Jacqueline M. Birch, 23,...




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Ready to reopen? Four Cedar Rapids business leaders offer advice

On Wednesday, Gov. Kim Reynolds removed some restrictions on businesses in the 22 counties that have been seeing higher numbers of Iowans affected by COVID-19, including Linn and Johnson counties....




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Flexsteel to close Dubuque plant, idling 200

An Eastern Iowa furniture manufacturer will permanently close two plants, laying off about 370 employees as it drops two lines of business. Flexsteel Industries will close a factory in Dubuque with...




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Distancing and diversity enhance Iowa’s food security

Coronavirus provides a chilling lesson about crowding. The disease originated in a densely packed Chinese City. As it moved worldwide it struck most heavily in crowded places where people live and...




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For Mercy employee on COVID-19 floor, isolating from family is best Mother’s Day gift she can give

This Mother’s Day, April Kelley just wants to give her daughter Jessica Kelley a hug. But she can’t. Jessica, 21, works on the COVID-19 floor at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. To...




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Shower Mom with love — from a distance

Mother’s Day celebrations will look different for many families this year as we follow social distancing guidelines. Fortunately, we don’t have to be in proximity to express our love...




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U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack calls on president to protect packing plant workers

At the same time Vice President Mike Pence was in Iowa on Friday to discuss the nation’s food supply security, U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack called on the administration to take more measures to...




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Coronavirus in Iowa, live updates for May 8: Cedar Rapids to host virtual City Council meeting

4:43 P.M.: GOODWILL PLANS TO REOPEN 11 EASTERN IOWA RETAIL LOCATIONS Goodwill of the Heartland will reopen 11 retail locations in Eastern Iowa next week, including all its Cedar Rapids stores,...




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Man arrested in Texas faces murder charge in Iowa City shooting

IOWA CITY — An Iowa City man has been arrested in Texas in connection with the April 20 shooting death of Kejuan Winters. Reginald Little, 44, was taken into custody Friday by the Lubbock...




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Adam Todd celebrates 21st birthday with parade

CEDAR RAPIDS — Adam Todd, adjusting like many Iowans to a social-distanced lifestyle since the novel coronavirus hit, celebrated a milestone 21st birthday with a drive-by parade Friday...




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Campgrounds reopen in Iowa Friday, see takers despite some health limitations

Some Eastern Iowans are ready to go camping. With Gov. Kim Reynolds allowing campgrounds across the state to open Friday, some people wasted little time in heading outdoors. “They’re...




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C.R. workplace shooting suspect turns self in after father drives him to Alabama police station

A man suspected of a workplace shooting last month at a vinyl window manufacturer in southwest Cedar Rapids turned himself into authorities Friday. Jamal Devonte Edwards, 26, has been wanted since...




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Pence’s Iowa visit underscores coronavirus worry

DES MOINES — In traveling to Iowa to call attention to the burdens COVID-19 brought to religious services and the food supply, Vice President Mike Pence unwittingly called attention to another...




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Celebrating on a screen: Iowa universities hold first-ever online commencements

Iowa State University graduates who celebrated commencement Friday saw lots of caps and gowns, red-and-gold confetti and arenas packed with friends and family. But none of those images were from...




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Mother’s Day, Birthdays, Anniversaries: Celebrating during a pandemic

A 10th wedding anniversary traditionally is celebrated with a gift of aluminum or tin. For Sondy Daggett, her 10th year of marriage to Liz Hoskins was marked with a gift of Champagne and...




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Iowa Writers’ House is gone, but need for literary community continues

When Andrea Wilson approached me five years ago with her idea of creating a space for writers in our community separate from any offered by the University of Iowa, I must admit I was a bit skeptical,...




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Coronavirus in Iowa, live updates for May 9: 214 more positive tests reported

11 a.m. Iowa sees 214 more positive tests for coronavirus The Iowa Department of Public Health on Saturday reported nine more deaths from COVID-19, for a total of 252 since March 8. An additional 214...




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Ronald "Joe" Hyde

RONALD L. &Quot;JOE&Quot; HYDE
Cedar Rapids


Ronald L. "Joe" Hyde, 75,
of Cedar Rapids, died Monday, May 4, 2020, at Windmill Manor in Coralville. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Cedar Memorial Certified Celebrant Julie Freese will officiate. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include his two sons, Daniel (Shelley) and Ronald (Lisa), all of Cedar Rapids; and a brother, Harry (Linda) of Marion. He also is survived by five grandchildren, Chelsey, Connor, Abby, Raley and Jacob.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother and sister-in-law, Cliff (Betty Lou).
Joe was born Nov. 21, 1944, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Albert and Marcella (Lekin) Hyde. He married Cheryl Day in 1964 in Independence. They later divorced.
Joe was a heat and frost retention engineer and worked through Local 81 for more than 50 years. He enjoyed cars and the time he spent with his beloved family and friends.
Please leave a message or tribute to the Hyde family on the website www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.




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Beverly Medberry

CEDAR RAPIDS
Beverly Medberry, 87, died Tuesday, May 5, 2020. Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion.




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Douglas Robison

DOUGLAS CAREY ROBISON
Cedar Rapids

Douglas Carey Robison, 53, died April 30, 2020. A Celebration of Life will be held later this month in Cedar Rapids.
Survivors include his children: daughter, Kerrie Ann Robison (36), daughter, Jamie Lee Robison (32), and son, Bradley Douglas Robison (31); brothers, Joseph, Steven, Robert and Michael; a sister, Tina Robison; his mother, Rose Gates; and 10 grandkids. Brandon Hugh Robison (22), was the eldest among them, Doug loved to show him off. Doug also had two great-grandkids who he adored.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Stephanie Lynn Robison; and his father, Robert Hugh Robison.
Doug liked to play pool and cards. He loved to see his grandkids grow and play. He was hardworking, and his last permanent job was doing construction. Doug recently volenteered at Olivet to help pass time. He was loved by many. He was so proud of all of his children and grandkids.
One thing everyone knew about our dad is that he always had a beer in his hand. Rest in paradise, Dad. You are missed and loved by many.We love you!!




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Reed Paul Schaefer

REED PAUL SCHAEFER
East Amana

Reed Paul Schaefer, 65, of East Amana, passed away on Monday, May 4, 2020, at the Iowa City Rehab and Health Care Center. Private family graveside services will be held in the East Amana Cemetery in East Amana. Memorials may be contributed in Reed's name to Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center in Iowa City, the Amana Church or the Nature Conservancy.
Reed is survived by his mother, Isabella; a brother, Kirby (Theresa) Schaefer of Amana; a niece, Katherine (Jonathan) Ron of Iowa City; a nephew, Aaron (Shana) Schaefer of Iowa City; four great-nieces and great-nephews; and an aunt, Violet Harman of Amana.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ken, in 2012.
Reed was born Aug. 4, 1954, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Ken and Isabella (Rettig) Schaefer. He graduated from the Amana High School. Reed worked in Santa Fe, N.M., as a landscaper for 15 years. After returning to Iowa, he was employed at the Kloubec Fish Farm. He made friends everywhere he lived and will be remembered by many as a kind and generous man. He enjoyed fishing, mushroom hunting, birding, and many other outdoor activities in the timbers and rivers surrounding the Amana Colonies.
Online condolences may be left at www.klosterfuneralhome.com.




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Mona Huckstadt

MONA HUCKSTADT
Cedar Falls

Mona Huckstadt, 84, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, died Sunday, May 3, 2020, at her home. She was born May 21, 1935, to Ella and Phillip Sedlmayr. Mona was united in marriage with Roger Huckstadt on June 18, 1954.
Surviving Mona are her husband, Roger Huckstadt of Cedar Falls, Iowa; two daughters, Vicki Bishop of Marion and Jan Huckstadt of Cedar Falls; two granddaughters, Lindsey (Josh McDermott) Bishop and Lauren (Chavez Clayton) Bishop; one great-grandson, C.J. Clayton; two sisters, Phyllis Millin and Linda Sedlmayr; one brother, Wayne (Carol) Sedlmayr; one sister-in-law, Joan Sedlmayr; and one brother-in-law, Dick Huckstadt.
Mona was preceded in death by her parents, Ella and Phillip Sedlmayr; and one brother, Norman Sedlmayr.
Due to state and federal guidance on gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the family will not be having a public memorial at this time.
A private family service and burial will be held.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Monona, Iowa, is helping the family with arrangements.




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Marie "Mamalaki" Francine Kasidi

MARIE "MAMALAKI" FRANCINE KASIDI
Iowa City

On Monday, April 27, 2020, Marie "Mamalaki" Francine Kasidi was called home by God after a brave battle with cancer. She was 57 years old. Marie loved the Lord Jesus Christ and was a pillar in the community.
Visitation will be this Friday at 4 to 8 p.m. at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service. The burial service will be noon this Saturday at St. Joseph Cemetery in Iowa City. For instructions for the visitation and services, a complete obituary, to share a thought, memory or condolence, please visit the funeral home website at www.gayandciha.com.




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Kelli Jo Richards

KELLI JO RICHARDS
Cedar Rapids

Kelli Jo Richards, 57, of Cedar Rapids, passed away on Monday, May 4, 2020, at ManorCare Heath Services in Cedar Rapids from complications of COVID-19. Iowa Cremation is assisting the family. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Kelli was born Sept. 4, 1962, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Ken and Karen (Walter) Oliver. Kelli married Pat Richards on Jan. 30, 1982. To this union three children were born.
She previously worked at Osco Drug, Souvenir and Dale Lee Distributing.
Kelli enjoyed gambling, trips to Arizona to spend time with her mom, shopping, camping and driving around in her Camaro.
She is survived by her children, Andrew (Holly) Richards of Waverly, Amanda (Andrew) Lutter of Palo and Adam (Brooke) Richards of Cedar Rapids; seven grandchildren, Katelynn, Zach, Myles, Drake, Dalton, Riley and Ari; her mother, Karen (Art) Kloos of Sun City, Ariz.; a brother, Kevin Oliver of Cedar Rapids; a sister, Kim (Mike) Wiggins of Center Point, Iowa; two stepsisters, Gina and Kathy Kloos, both of Iowa City; several nieces and nephews and many close friends and extended family.
Kelli is preceded in death by her husband, Pat Richards; and her father, Ken Oliver.
Condolences may be left at www.iowacremation.com under obituaries.




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Irene Elizabeth Schindler

IRENE ELIZABETH SCHINDLER
Marengo


Irene Elizabeth Schindler, 90, of Marengo, passed away Wednesday, May 6, 2020, at the Rose Haven Nursing Home in Marengo. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Marengo, with Pastor Andrew Gray officiating. Burial will be in the Marengo Cemetery in Marengo. A memorial fund has been established. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Irene is survived by three nephews, Kevin (Pam) Dye of Cedar Rapids, John (Andi) Schindler of Marion and Bill Schindler of Cedar Rapids; two nieces, Deanne (Todd) Mumm of Parnell and Vera Dye of Williamsburg; a cousin, Will Klotz of Gibson; many great, and great, great-nieces and -nephews; and a sister-in-law, W. Irene Schindler of Marengo.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Delmar, Calvin and Milver Schindler; and a sister, Shirley Dye.
Irene was born Jan. 10, 1930, in Marengo, the daughter of Charles and Katie (Klotz) Schindler. She graduated from Marengo High School in 1952. Irene worked at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids from September 1952, until she retired in 1989 on the circuit board assembly line. She was a lifelong member of St. John's Lutheran Church and was a part of the quilting group. Irene enjoyed watching pro wrestling, going bowling, gardening baking, and was an Iowa Hawkeyes fan. She loved spending time with family and friends.
Online condolences may be left at www.klosterfuneralhome.com.




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Adrienne Eugina Doolin Howard

ADRIENNE EUGINA DOOLIN HOWARD
Cedar Rapids


Adrienne Eugina Doolin Howard, 75, daughter of Pearl A. Doolin and Emmitt Eugene Doolin, was born June 16, 1944. She departed this life Thursday, April 30, 2020, of complications from COVID-19, after a lengthy stay at Living Centers Nursing Home Facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
She was born in St. Louis, Mo., and had a passion for soul food, cooking, music
and her church. She reared four children in East St. Louis, Ill.
She was preceded in death by children, Howard E. Doolin, Sr. and Viola E. Howard; and siblings, Burdell M., Madeline and Regina Doolin.
Adrienne E. Howard is survived by two sons, Emmitt J. Doolin of Marion, Iowa, and David C. Washington of Carbondale, Ill.; siblings, Dedric, Aaron and Emmitt E. (Michelle) Doolin; Steven Bacon; Derek, Kyle and Lori Doolin; Louisia (Eric) Harrison, Donna Jackson and Stephanie Doolin Bacon; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and many other relatives, family members and friends.
The family expresses a special thank you to her brother, Burdell's widow, Christine Arenas Doolin, who met our mother 18 years ago and touched her life in many ways.
A family memorial will be planned at a later date.
Service by Officer. www.officerfh.com.




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Bernadine "Bern" Caroline McDonald Roushar

BERNADINE "BERN" CAROLINE MCDONALD ROUSHAR
Cedar Rapids

Bernadine "Bern" Caroline McDonald Roushar, 86, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2020. A private graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. A Funeral Mass will be held at a later date.
Bern was the second oldest of six daughters born to John and Mary McDonald in Victor, Iowa, where she grew up. She married John E. "Jack" Roushar on Aug. 12, 1953.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, two sisters and several in-laws.
Jack and Bern founded Roushar Pharmacy in Cedar Rapids in 1970. She volunteered and was a gift shop buyer at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids for 30 years.
She is survived by her daughter, Brenda Roushar (John) Cooney and five grandchildren, Jacklyn Caroline Cooney, Julie and Darryn Records, and John and Candace Cooney; three sisters and spouse's; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Mercy Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary. Condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.




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Veryl Ardis Hansen

VERYL ARDIS HANSEN
Cedar Rapids


Veryl Ardis Hansen passed away Wednesday morning, May 6, 2020. A private family service will be held for Veryl at St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. She will be buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City beside her mother and father.
Arrangements are being handled by Cedar Memorial
of Cedar Rapids.
She is survived by her husband, Richard Hansen;
her four children, Daniel, Andrew, Jane and Jill; and a granddaughter, Christine.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Viola Sorensen; father, Harry Sorensen; and brother, Charles Sorensen.
Born Veryl Ardis Sorensen on April 27, 1928, she grew up on a farm between Thornton and Swaledale, Iowa. She graduated from Swaledale High School in 1945. She attended Wartburg College in 1945-46 and graduated from St. Mary's School of Nursing, Rochester, Minn., in 1949. She worked for St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, later in her career she worked as a visiting nurse. While dedicating her life to nursing, she raised four children and pursued numerous interests. She had a lifelong passion for music which she passed on to her children. She also loved the outdoors and wilderness areas. The family regularly took camping trips to parks in the western states, canoed Iowa rivers, and visited the Boundary Waters wilderness area in Minnesota many times. Later, Veryl and Richard continued their travels including a tent trip to Alaska. They also visited Germany, Korea, Japan and China.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.cedarmemorial.com.




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Georgia Lauridsen Gray

INDEPENDENCE
Georgia Lauridsen Gray, 89, died Thursday, May 7, 2020. White Funeral Home, Independence.




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Dennis Gaumon

CEDAR RAPIDS
Dennis Gaumon, 69, died Thursday, May 7, 2020. Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Marion.




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Dorothy Perry

CASTALIA
Dorothy Perry, 77, died Thursday, May 7, 2020. Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Postville.




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What does a decentralized WordPress environment look like?

Watch my video and see what a decentralized WordPress environment might look like. Almost everything we rely on to operate online is a centralized platform. WordPress, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, you name it—they’re all gigantic, centralized platforms. Ok, sure, but why does that matter? It matters because the bigger centralized platforms get, the less freedom users […]



  • Centralization vs. Decentralization
  • Videos

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Should you care about digital waste?

Watch my video and see why it’s so important to minimize digital waste. Are you aware of how much digital waste your WordPress website is producing? Did you know this waste carries an actual cost for both you and your website’s visitors? Digital waste is an especially poignant topic in open source software (like the […]




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Incremental progress is the right way to build a website

Watch my video about the incremental approach—the cheapest, smartest, and easiest way to build a website (and a business!) One thing that’s always annoyed me about contract web design and development is this idea that you can actually pay for a finished product to be delivered within a particular time frame. Nothing actually works this […]




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Career shift! I’m adding some Focus to Thesis

Watch my video on how I’m changing my approach with Thesis to include a lot more Focus. When I launched Thesis 2 in October of 2012, my goal was to create something that could serve as the foundation for any WordPress design. That’s why I spent the next 2 years working on Skins, which are […]




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The Joe Rogan Podcast with Elon Musk — A Supplemental Guide!

The Joe Rogan podcast with Elon Musk was one of the most important events of 2018, and no—I’m not being hyperbolic. If you thought this interview was all about Elon hitting a spliff, you…may have been misled slightly. In reality, Elon helps us peek behind the curtain to get a glimpse of the future: Can […]




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The Key Difference Between Centralization and Decentralization

One of the more compelling insights to come from the Joe Rogan interview with Elon Musk is this idea that humanity is actively creating “giant cybernetic collectives.” Through our participation in social media platforms and on the internet in general, we are assimilating knowledge and building connections at a rate that vastly exceeds everything that […]



  • Centralization vs. Decentralization
  • Videos

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Godspeed, Mr. B (My First Round of Golf Under Par)

This year, my golf tournament performances have been mostly terrible through August. While my handicap has stayed in the 1-2.5 range for most of the season, I’ve played closer to a 5 in tournaments and haven’t shot better than +3 (once) and +4 (twice). With only one exception, I’ve been absolutely terrible in all 2+ […]




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I hate recurring payments…so why do I sell my software with ’em?

It’s simple—I don’t like recurring payments. And I don’t know about you, but with most recurring payments, I feel anxiety around this need to “get my money’s worth.” In other words, I often feel like I under-utilize the product and thus overpay to some extent. So why do I sell my software under a recurring […]