Frank talk about Japanese train washlets.

When did Google's web apps start overiding your browser's "dark mode"?

A Sunday road trip to a small NE Iowa town (approx. 10) destination spot that was resurrected nearly 4 years ago under a new name by a local man who also brought back their famous signature burger - the 1 lb. Gunder Burger. Gunder Roadhouse in Gunder, IA roadtips.blog/2025/11/24/g...

We all live in our own prisons, Grombo.

Spidey’s tags reflecting the sunlight.

Check your Gmail & Google Workspace settings - I was opted in to all of this by default. No clankers!

Inspired by @slakingfool.bsky.social , the Ossuary of Mars svonberg.org/wp-content/u...

Likes from shit accounts don't count.

A rather long entry detailing two flights that I took during the recent FAA mandated flight restrictions - including a rather embarrassing situation I found myself in - along with a short shoutout to a good airport burger. roadtips.blog/2025/11/20/t...

The Empire's (Fourth St. in DSM) hot breakfast items have expanded to include two vegetarian offerings, a Breakfast Casserole and a Chorizo Egg Burrito, both made with a vegan chorizo. The flavor of the chorizo is quite good, not as spiced as Trader Joe's soyrizo, but solid enough to be…

Don't let AI do history for you, exhibit 1,000... And a perfect illustration of how these things are designed to sound much more authoritative than they should. It's not random, that's a choice!

Refreshing to find something other than my internet provider being the problem.

In case you found some websites were down earlier today.

Minimalist Christmas tree design, courtesy of The City and County of Honolulu.

my most woke belief is that most of the world's suffering stems from systems of inequity enforced with violence at the sadistic behest of an incurious & frightened elite; liberal democratic governments believe their responsibility is to provide them with labourers, and we can change it all today.

"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest starring Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher was released a half-century ago next Wednesday. It would win five Oscars, including Best Leading Actor and Actress, Best Director and Best Picture. My Further Review in today's Spokesman-Review.

NEW ROBYN TRACK!!!! LETS GOOOO!!

Watch out for scammers pretending to be @bsky.app in your chats.

This comic I did years back continues to be as relevant as the day I drew it.

Sucks not having downtime today with bestie and the "the fucks," i.e., Bug and Spidey. But it's rainy with no excuse for errands, and my guts are crampy AF. Here are some shots from warmer days, lounging around the house while Mama is off doing errands. The couch is a favorite for all. See ALT TEXT.

I had hoped to go to a brewpub in a refurbished century-old building in downtown Cedar Rapids, but it was closed. So I went to its very stylish sister restaurant next door. While the food was good, the service was pretty choppy - Black Sheep Social Club roadtips.blog/2025/11/07/b...

These are all set for the holidays! Wipe away your gift anxiety! Yes these are real.

The namesake sandwich for The Empire on Fourth St. is essentially a bierock, which is a yeast dough pocket sandwich with a savory filling, originating in Eastern Europe and particularly popular in Kansas and Nebraska. You may know of the fast food version, the Runza. With ground beef simmered with…

If you aren't seeing skeets from some of your fave people, they might have been labeled "Rude" by bsky mods. Idk what they are thinking, I don't need a mommy to tell me who to be buddies with. Anyway, go into Settings > moderation > bluesky moderation (advanced) and turn Rude off.

Clark Kauffman goes on a "7-day solo backpack in Yellowstone's Bechler region" this past September. Look briefly for llamas!

Jazzed up tomato soup with an inordinate amount of Cheez-Its. Kellogg’s ruined Zesta saltines IMHO, but Cheez-Its still remain crave-worthy.

The S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald sank during a storm on Lake Superior a half-century ago next Monday. And a year later, Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot released a song about the sinking. My Further Review in today's Spokesman-Review.

Sometimes you want a simple egg and cheese biscuit, as this pair at The Empire on Fourth St. demonstrates. Crisp edged biscuits seal the deal. All I could ask for is a Duke’s Mayo packet; a habit picked up from Hardee’s.

I didn't realize this video I posted 15 years ago has 30k views. It's still trippy.

From Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, anyone impacted by the gov. shutdown and in need of a meal can visit a Taco John's location and request the Community Support Special to receive one beef or bean burrito and one Jr. Potato Olés®. The special is available 9 AM - 11 PM each day.

I couldn't let "Milky Wad" go without a visual interpretation.

Be careful everyone!

Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/a...

Here is a list of community fridges in central Iowa. All are taking donations. Contact the Supply Hive if you need a donation picked up or if you want to help deliver! #SNAP #foodassistance thesupplyhivedsm.org

Going to go Gothic on your ass with this pitchfork.

A savory plate of biscuits and gravy at The Empire on Fourth Street. The sausage gravy is quite savory with a bit of heat, and I suspect a touch of cumin in the mix of spices used. A full order as pictured goes for seven bucks; a half-order is four dollars.

This week's new video is from Siouxsie's other band The Creatures. Enjoy. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ENl...

New...um...poem on the blog: Buffalo for Sale! As if my blog isn't already tonally incoherent, please add "Children's Poem" to the morass of stuff. dleuenberger.phd/2025/10/22/b...

A tale of two KitKats. Ume Sake KitKat is a combination of plum and sake. Quite floral in aroma, the flavor is fruity, tempered by the smooth white chocolate. A superior confection.

Snapped this earlier today while out shopping — 1.35ml (4.56oz), 5% alc

This Northeast Iowa brewery was founded by possibly the youngest female brewmaster in the U.S. at the time. The beer is always good, but we were surprised with the quality of the food we had on this visit - Guttenberg Brewing Company in Guttenberg, IA roadtips.blog/2025/10/20/g...

Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences (DMU) will offer free medical check-ups and other services to older adults at the start of November through its 50 and Better Health Fair, Brooklyn Draisey reports via Report for America. iowacapitaldispatch.com/briefs/des-m...

This half-liter bottle of lemon sour seemed rather boozy for 2.5% alcohol. Like a vodka lemonade without the sugar. Turns out this was a mixer and the alcohol content was 25 percent! That explains a lot. The font for the alcohol content wasn't easy to read so I mistook a serif on 2 as a period. 🍋🤣

I feel like Andre The Giant drinking a beer. This Japanese Coca-Cola can is so small. As for the taste…it’s Coke.

So you're telling me a Hostess chocolate cupcake, a bite-size wasabi KitKat, and a whole grain fig bar plus a cup of Yorkshire Gold tea isn't enough for supper? My stomach now agrees.

New video this week is something else from a little left field, but really delightful: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgxa...

Move over Tommy Lee Jones! Spidey with a can of Boss Rainbow Mountain, courtesy of pal back from Japan. The taste is par for what I expect for Asian canned coffee. I won’t be kicking Mr. Brown anytime soon.

Voting just got less easy for downtown Des Moines residents now that the Election Office has moved up to Euclid. None of the polling locations are within walking distance. Mine, for example, is up in Sherman Hill at 16th & Pleasant. I've never voted there.