Opes for the Future

Fall Back, Wake Up Early, Stay Grumpy: I Hate Daylight Saving Time

Sun, 01 Nov 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Today’s the day we fall back. Everybody says it’s the “good” one, because you get an extra hour of sleep. I don’t. I just wake up an hour earlier, wide awake, staring at the ceiling and unable to fall back asleep. My body has no idea the clocks changed, and it isn’t interested in hearing about it.

I hate daylight saving time. (And yes, it’s officially “daylight saving time,” not “savings.” Somehow even the name is annoying.)

Get Your Flu and COVID Shots Before You Rake the Leaves

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Fall is tune-up season. You swap out the furnace filter, clean the gutters, and put the snow shovel somewhere you can find it. It’s also the best time to give your immune system a tune-up with your flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

Illinois Pumpkins: America's Gourd Capital

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0000

If you’ve carved a jack-o’-lantern or bought a pumpkin for pie, there’s a solid chance it came from Illinois. The state grows more pumpkins than any other in the nation, over 25% of America’s supply. That’s not an accident. Illinois soil and climate are well-suited for pumpkin farming, and the Midwest work ethic means those farmers take the job seriously.

Most of Illinois’ pumpkins come from a region known as the “Pumpkin Capital of the World,” centered around the communities of Morton and Tremont in Tazewell County. It’s not just one or two operations either. Hundreds of farms across central and northern Illinois devote acres to the crop. The season typically runs from late August through October, with the heaviest harvest happening just before Halloween when demand peaks. That’s when pick-your-own patches open up, when farmers’ markets overflow with the gourds, and when the price per pumpkin settles into something reasonable.

The practical appeal of growing pumpkins in Illinois is straightforward: the growing season aligns perfectly with market demand. Plant in spring, tend through summer, and harvest right when people want them most. The state’s diverse soil types support good yields, and the cooler fall weather gives pumpkins that firm rind and bright orange color that makes for better carving and better storage. Illinois growers have figured out the formula through generations of farming, and they’re not about to let another state steal their thunder.

If you’re looking to support Illinois agriculture and want the real deal, harvest season is the time to buy. Find a local patch, pick your own, and you’ll know exactly where your pumpkin came from. Otherwise, look at the box in the store, and it will likely say your pumpkin came from the fertile central Illinois.

Driving Past Morton
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Pumpkin patches are a regular part of fall for me, like they are for a lot of Illinois families. Hayrides, corn mazes, apple cider donuts, and picking out the right pumpkin from a field are as much a part of October as football and falling leaves.

I’ve also driven past Morton, and it’s a sight. In central Illinois, you can go for miles with nothing but corn and soybeans on either side of the road. Then, suddenly, there’s a field covered in orange pumpkins just sitting on the ground. After all that green and brown, it’s a little bit of variety, and it’s the kind of thing that makes you slow down and look.

Morton is also home to a Libby’s plant that processes the large majority of the canned pumpkin sold in the United States. Here’s a fun fact: the pumpkins in that can probably don’t look like the ones on your porch. Libby’s grows its own variety, the Dickinson pumpkin, which is tan, a bit oblong, and looks more like a squash. It has thick, sweet, dense flesh that makes great pie filling, even if it would make a pretty boring jack-o’-lantern.

Tip Me Off: Why I'm Against Gratuity Tipping

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000

I’m opposed to gratuity tipping. Not to the people who serve me, but to the system that makes them depend on my mood, my math, and whatever’s left in my wallet after the bill comes. Nobody likes paying extra. But my problem with tipping isn’t just the cost. It comes with some real negative consequences, and most of them land on the workers.

Bison, Prairie, and Box Turtles: Where My Conservation Donations Land in the Midwest

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000

I donate to The Nature Conservancy. When you give to a big national group, it’s easy to picture your money going somewhere far away, like a rainforest or a coral reef. Those places matter, but I was happy to see that some of that work is happening right here in the Midwest.

Two preserves caught my eye: Nachusa Grasslands in Illinois and the Edge of Appalachia Preserve System in Ohio. I haven’t visited either one yet. I still like knowing they’re out there, holding on to the kinds of land and wildlife the Midwest used to have a lot more of.

Free Black Dirt. Caught your attention?

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000

I don’t know if this is just a Midwest thing, but around here, if there’s a pile of black dirt with a “Free” sign in it, or even a rumor of free black dirt, most of the guys are interested. To show you what I mean, picture a small business seminar at the local public library on a weeknight.

Illinois Makes New Homes EV-Capable, but Stops Short of the Outlet

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000

If you buy a newly built house in Illinois, the garage is supposed to be ready for an electric car. Well, partly ready. The state’s Electric Vehicle Charging Act, which took effect on January 1, 2024, requires new homes to be “EV-capable.” That means the hard parts of the wiring job are started, but nobody has to finish it.

Wisconsin Cheese

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Wisconsin is widely celebrated as “America’s Dairyland,” a title it earned through centuries of dedication to dairy farming and the production of world-class cheeses. The state is one of the leading producers of cheese in the United States, boasting a diverse and sophisticated industry that ranges from massive industrial production to small-scale artisanal cheesemaking. Wisconsin’s unique climate and fertile lands provide the ideal environment for high-quality pasture-raised milk, which serves as the foundation for the state’s famous varieties, including sharp cheddars, creamy mozzarellas, and specialty farmhouse cheeses.

The popularity of Wisconsin cheese extends far beyond its borders, with the “Wisconsin Cheese” brand serving as a hallmark of quality in national and international markets. The state’s cheese industry is characterized by a robust cooperative system and a commitment to innovation, with many producers focusing on “farm-to-table” practices. This dedication to quality has fostered a rich culinary culture where cheese is not just a commodity but a staple of the state’s identity, found in everything from a Friday fish fry plate to sophisticated charcuterie boards.

For those looking to experience the heart of Wisconsin’s dairy culture, the best time to visit is during the peak of the festival season in the summer months (June through September). These months host numerous cheese festivals and “Cheese Trails” where visitors can tour creameries, sample fresh curds, and learn about the aging process. Notable events include the Green County Cheese Days in Monroe, the Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival in Little Chute, Colby Cheese Days in Colby, and various county fairs that highlight local agricultural achievements.

The Squeak
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I love cheese, and cheese curds most of all. When I was a kid, they were a lot harder to find outside of Wisconsin, so getting a bag of fresh curds was a real treat. Now they’re in grocery stores and on restaurant menus all over the Midwest, usually battered and fried, but I still think the fresh ones are the best.

If you’ve never had fresh curds, they’re the young, unaged pieces of cheese that are cut from the curd before it gets pressed into a block of cheddar. The sign of a truly fresh curd is the squeak. Long, elastic protein strands in the fresh cheese rub against your teeth and make a little squeaking sound. That squeak fades within a day or two, and refrigeration speeds it up. Many Wisconsinners will tell you that curds should never go in the fridge on the first day. A few seconds in the microwave can bring back a little bit of the squeak.

The best place to get them is straight from a cheese factory or a farm stand in Wisconsin, ideally the same day they were made. If you’re driving through, look for the signs. You won’t have to look hard. Thanks to some in-laws and extended family, my go-to is Pine River Dairy.

Pot, Cigars, and the Smoking Section I Don't Miss

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Snake Road: Why Did the Snake Cross the Road?

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Most roads close for construction. One road in Southern Illinois closes for snakes.

Snake Road is the nickname for Forest Service Road 345, a 2.5-mile gravel stretch of LaRue Road in Union County, Illinois, inside the Shawnee National Forest. It runs along the bottom of the Pine Hills, with 150-foot limestone bluffs on one side and LaRue Swamp on the other. That layout is the whole story. Snakes, salamanders, frogs, and turtles spend the winter tucked into cracks and crevices in the bluffs, then move to the swamp in spring to feed and breed. In fall, they head back to the rocks. The road sits right in the middle of their commute.

Until 1972, the road was open to traffic year-round, and a lot of animals didn’t make it across. The U.S. Forest Service started closing the road during migration, and those closures were eventually stretched to about two months each season to cover the early and late travelers. Today the road is closed to vehicles roughly March 15 to May 15 and September 1 to October 30. The Forest Service will move the dates when the weather calls for it; in 2025, a warm spell pushed the spring closure up a few days. If you’re reading this on the day it was posted, the fall closure is still on.

All of this raises an important legal question: does a snake count as a pedestrian? The word comes from the Latin pes, meaning “foot,” and snakes are working with zero of those. The Forest Service has wisely decided not to argue the point and just gives them the right of way.

Closed to cars doesn’t mean closed to people. Visitors are welcome to walk the road during migration, and that’s the best time to go. It’s an easy, flat walk on gravel, and the trip takes an hour or two each way depending on how often you stop to look at things in the leaves.

Why This Spot Matters
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Snake Road runs through the LaRue-Pine Hills/Otter Pond Research Natural Area, about 2,800 acres that became the nation’s 250th Research Natural Area in 1991. The surrounding area was also named a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service in 1974. The Forest Service sets these areas aside for research and long-term protection, not for development.

The numbers are what make this place unusual. According to the Forest Service:

About 66% of Illinois’s known amphibian species and 59% of its reptile species are found here.
More than 1,350 species of plants and animals live in the area, spread across 14 different natural communities.
Roughly 35 species of snakes have been recorded here, along with about 90% of the state’s mammal species and 173 kinds of birds.

Part of the reason is geography. This corner of Illinois is where a lot of different habitats bump into each other: Ozark-style hills, southern swamps, upland forest, and patches of prairie, all within walking distance. Animals from the south reach their northern limit here, and animals from the north reach their southern limit. You get a little of everything.

What You Might See
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The usual list includes copperheads, western cottonmouths, eastern hognose snakes, rat snakes, racers, ribbon snakes, and several kinds of water snakes. Spotted salamanders, bullfrogs, and eastern box turtles show up too. Bobcats, bald eagles, and Mississippi kites live in the area, though they’re less likely to pose for a photo.

Two of those snakes, the copperhead and the cottonmouth, are venomous. Neither one is looking for trouble. The practical advice is the same as with most wildlife: watch where you step, look before you put your hand on a rock or log, and if you see a venomous snake, give it room and back away slowly. Long pants and real shoes beat shorts and sandals here.

The Rules
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The rules are short and the Forest Service takes them seriously:

No collecting of any kind. That includes plants, rocks, and animals.
No catching, handling, herding, or harassing snakes, or anything else that lives there. Unauthorized collecting and handling of these species is illegal under both federal and state law.
Stay out of the way and let the animals cross.

During migration, the Forest Service often has trained “Snake Sentinel” volunteers on the road. They help identify species, collect data, and answer questions. If you don’t know what you’re looking at, they are the people to ask.

Getting There
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Park at the small gravel lot at Winters Pond, which holds about 15 vehicles. On a nice weekend in April or October, it fills up early, so plan accordingly.

From Jonesboro: Take Illinois Route 146 west about 8 miles to Route 3. Go north on Route 3 about 8 miles to Muddy Levee Road, then east about 3 miles to LaRue Road. Turn right at the T into the Winters Pond lot.
From Murphysboro: Take Illinois Route 149 west about 7 miles to Route 3. Go south on Route 3 about 14 miles to Muddy Levee Road, then east about 3 miles to LaRue Road. Turn right at the T into the Winters Pond lot.

Cell service is spotty in this part of the forest. Download a map before you leave home. The nearest hospital is St. Joseph’s in Murphysboro.

A Note From the Trail
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I’ve hiked and camped in the Shawnee National Forest, and I’ll be honest: I didn’t see a single snake. Depending on your feelings about cottonmouths, that’s either a disappointment or a relief. What I did see was some of the best scenery in the Midwest, and it surprises people who think Illinois is nothing but cornfields and Chicago. The highlight was the Garden of the Gods on the eastern side of the forest, where sandstone bluffs and rock formations like Camel Rock stick up out of the trees and look out over miles of rolling hills. It’s roughly a two-hour drive from Snake Road, so it’s hard to do both in one day, but if you’re camping for a weekend, plan on both. Go to Snake Road for the wildlife and the Garden of the Gods for the view.

If you want to make a day of it, the Pine Hills area has bluff-top overlooks of the Mississippi River valley, including Inspiration Point. Clear Springs Wilderness, the River to River Trail, Oakwood Bottoms, and the Pine Hills Campground are all close by.

The Takeaway
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It would be easy to pave the road, open it up, and accept some roadkill as a cost of doing business. Instead, a few times a year, people agree to park the car and walk. That’s a small inconvenience, and it has kept one of the most diverse spots in the Midwest working the way it has for thousands of years. Not every problem needs a big solution. Sometimes you just close the gate for a couple of months.

Understanding the 'Doorman Fallacy' in the Age of AI

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Shoe-ing the 'Carbon Footprint' and Riding the Carbon Wave

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Illinois' Medical Aid-In-Dying Law is the first in the Midwest

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000

But Does It Play in Peoria?

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Sympathy vs Empathy vs Compassion

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Michigan Apples and Cherries

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Michigan is a powerhouse of American pomology, consistently ranking as a leading producer of both apples and cherries. The state’s diverse climate, particularly the “lake effect” provided by the Great Lakes, creates a unique growing environment that supports a vast array of fruit varieties. Michigan’s apple production is a cornerstone of its agricultural economy, with the West Michigan region alone accounting for a significant portion of the state’s total output. The state is home to popular cultivars such as Gala, Honeycrisp, and Fuji, which are staples in grocery stores and orchards across the Midwest.

The cherry industry in Michigan is equally prestigious, with the state holding the title of the nation’s leading producer of tart cherries. (Washington grows more sweet cherries.) The Traverse Bay region is particularly renowned as a hotspot for cherry production, earning nearby cities the nickname “Cherry Capital of the World.” Michigan is especially famous for its tart Montmorency cherries, which are highly sought after for their culinary versatility in pies, preserves, and fruit wines. The high demand for these fruits has made Michigan a central hub for both commercial agricultural trade and regional tourism.

For those interested in experiencing the harvest firsthand, the timing of the visit depends on the specific fruit:

Apples: The peak harvest typically occurs between August and November. This makes the fall season the ideal time to visit Michigan’s numerous orchards, cideries, and “U-Pick” farms.
Cherries: The cherry season is shorter and takes place during the summer, with the peak harvest generally running from June through August. This is the prime time to visit the northern parts of the state, particularly the Traverse City area, which hosts the annual National Cherry Festival.

A Lap Around Lake Michigan
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When I was a kid, my family took a road trip all the way around Lake Michigan. Driving around it is the best way to understand how big it really is. It takes days, and it changes the whole way around: city skylines, steel mills, sand dunes, small beach towns, forests, and long stretches where the lake looks more like an ocean than anything you’d expect in the middle of the country.

One of the highlights was stopping in Michigan to get cherries. It’s one of those small, simple memories that stuck with me, and it’s a big part of why I think of Michigan as fruit country.

If you’re planning your own lap around the lake, time it for cherry season in July, and leave room in the car for a few quarts. Farm stands and U-pick orchards along the Michigan shoreline make it easy to stop.

(Corn) Field Safety and Driving

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000

September 11th, 2001 - 25 years ago

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Gridiron Giants: The Midwest's NFL Footprint

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Today is the kickoff to a new NFL season. From the frozen tundra of Green Bay to the industrial heart of Detroit, the NFL has a big presence in the Midwest. The region is home to some of the most storied franchises in the league, each with its own unique flavor and history that keeps the local fans coming back year after year.

The Midwest is a powerhouse in both conferences. In the NFC, the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers stand as pillars of tradition, while the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings bring a fierce, hardworking spirit to the North. Across the way in the AFC, the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and Kansas City Chiefs represent the region’s strength, each with a dedicated following that spans the heartland.

Team Name	Super Bowl Wins	AFC/NFC Championships Won
Chicago Bears	1	2
Green Bay Packers	4	3
Detroit Lions	0	0
Minnesota Vikings	0	3
Cincinnati Bengals	0	3
Cleveland Browns	0	0
Indianapolis Colts	2	3
Kansas City Chiefs	4	5

While the championship rings might be distributed unevenly, the passion in the stands is pretty much equal across the board. Whether it’s the tradition of the Packers’ “Titletown” or the grit of the Browns in Cleveland, these teams are the backbone of Midwest sports culture, representing the history of the towns they represent and the way they bring people together on Sunday afternoons.

Da Bears
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The Chicago Bears are the team I root for, and the history is a big part of why. The franchise actually started downstate in 1920 as the Decatur Staleys, sponsored by a starch company in Decatur, Illinois. George Halas moved the team to Chicago in 1921 and renamed it the Bears in 1922. They were one of the founding members of what became the NFL, and Halas stayed connected to the team for more than six decades as a player, coach, and owner.

The Bears and Packers have the oldest rivalry in the NFL, dating back to 1921, and they’ve played each other more than any other two teams in league history. That rivalry is a big part of fall in Illinois and Wisconsin, and it’s the kind of game where the whole office has an opinion on Monday morning.

Then there’s 1985. The Bears went 15-1, won Super Bowl XX, and recorded “The Super Bowl Shuffle” before they even made the playoffs. Being a Bears fan since then has involved a lot of patience, a lot of quarterbacks, and plenty of cold Sundays. But that’s Midwest football. You stick with your team.

Labor Day: A Midwest Story

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Labor Day didn’t get picked out of a hat. It became a federal holiday because the Midwest’s factory workers and rail employees literally demanded recognition. This came at great cost sometimes. The holiday we celebrate every September has roots in the industrial struggles of the late 1800s, particularly the Pullman Strike of 1894 near Chicago, which turned into a nationwide railroad shutdown. When President Grover Cleveland sent in federal troops and workers died, the government eventually decided that maybe it should officially recognize labor with a day off. The holiday was partly a peace offering.

The Midwest was the backbone of American industry in that era. Cities like Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Cleveland were roaring with steel mills, railroads, automobile plants, and manufacturing of every kind. Workers in these regions organized, struck, negotiated, and fought for better conditions. They were the ones who made Labor Day necessary in the first place. Upton Sinclair’s 1906 novel “The Jungle” exposed the horrific conditions in Chicago’s meatpacking plants—filthy, dangerous, and with pay that barely covered rent. That book opened people’s eyes to what Midwest workers were actually dealing with every day. The eight-hour workday, weekends, workplace safety standards, a lot of what we take for granted today was won through the efforts and sacrifices of Midwest workers. It wasn’t handed out freely.

Even today, the Midwest remains a labor stronghold. Union membership is still higher here than in much of the country, and that heritage shapes the region’s values around fair wages and honest work. Labor Day isn’t just a long weekend or the unofficial end of summer. It’s a reminder that workers organizing and demanding better actually works. That lesson came from the Midwest, forged in the furnaces and factories and rail yards that built this country.

Labor Day at the Lake
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For my family, Labor Day meant one thing: the big picnic. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins would all get together at the lake, and we’d swim in the lake all day long. Those picnics are some of my favorite childhood memories.

Looking back, I didn’t think of it as a holiday about workers. It was just the last big day of summer before school got serious. But that’s kind of the point. The reason my grandparents, who worked hard their whole lives, had a paid day off to spend with their kids and grandkids is that people before them fought for it. The weekend, the eight-hour day, and a holiday to rest were all hard-won.

So when you’re at a Labor Day cookout or taking the day off, remember that someone from the Midwest fought to make sure you got it.

Midwest Fall Flavors

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000

The transition into fall in the Midwest is not something that happens overnight. It is a gradual shift in the atmosphere that you can feel in your bones before you see it in the trees. It starts with the way the light hits the fields in the late afternoon, turning everything a bit more golden and heavy. The air gets that first crisp bite to it, the kind that makes you want to reach for a heavier jacket and pull the porch chairs a little closer together. This is the time of year when we start looking for the flavors that match the change in the landscape. For some people, that flavor is pumpkin spice. And look, I am not trying to be a grump about it. Pumpkin spice has its place. It is a recognizable part of our modern culture, and there is nothing wrong with enjoying a latte or a muffin that has that familiar warmth to it. But we have reached a point where it has become a bit of a corporate takeover, a flavor that has become so ubiquitous it feels less like a seasonal treat and more like a mandatory subscription to a specific mood.

When everything you touch for three months is flavored with the same blend of cinnamon and nutmeg, it starts to feel one note. It is the same problem we see with subscription culture or with products that have too many middlemen involved in their creation. You are not really tasting the season anymore; you are just tasting the marketing for the season. It is a shortcut to a feeling. People want to feel like they are participating in the magic of fall, so they buy the flavor that the big brands told them to want. It is a convenience that strips away the actual experience of the time of year. When you go to the grocery store and every single item in the bakery aisle is covered in that same orange dusting, you have lost the variety that makes a harvest so special. We are trading in a diverse palette of autumn flavors for a single, mass produced identity. It is a bit of an absurdity when you think about it.

There is a brief window in September where the apple gets to rule supreme, and I think we should be paying more attention to that. Before the pumpkin spice industrial complex takes over the entire landscape, there is a time when the orchard is the center of the world. An apple is a product of the dirt. It is a tangible thing that grows from the ground, fed by the rain and the soil of the region. When you eat an apple or drink a cider, you are connecting with the actual output of the land. There is a simplicity to it that is hard to beat. An apple does not need a complex list of spice notes to be interesting. It has its own personality, its own tartness, and its own sweetness. One gives you the satisfaction of the real thing, while the other just gives you the convenience of a brand name.

Compost Tumbler: Turning Scraps Into Free Soil

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Mayo Clinic

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000

The Midwest is home to Mayo Clinic, a world-renowned private American academic medical center that serves as a global leader in integrated healthcare, education, and research. The institution originated in 1864 with the private medical practice of William Worrall Mayo in Rochester, Minnesota. The practice was significantly expanded by his sons, Dr. Will and Dr. Charlie Mayo, who eventually transformed it into a group practice. A pivotal moment in the clinic’s history occurred in 1919, when the brothers and their wives donated the assets of the medical practice to convert it into a not-for-profit organization, a move that solidified its mission to provide high-quality care to all patients regardless of their ability to pay.

The Great Lakes

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Great Lakes are the lifeblood of our region. People often take them for granted because they are always there, but they are the historical foundation of our geography and our economy. From the drinking water in our taps to the shipping lanes that move our goods, these lakes are a practical necessity and source of entertainment that we often forget to acknowledge. They define the character of the Midwest, providing a sense of scale and a source of life that few other regions can claim.

If you are teaching someone about the region or just trying to keep the facts straight, there is a simple way to remember them. It is a mnemonic that most folks find useful because it is plain and easy to remember. Just think of the word HOMES. It covers the five great bodies of water that share our backyard. It is a small mental tool, but it works because it is grounded in the actual reality of our map.

Starting with the letters, you have Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior. These are not just names on a map. They are massive bodies of water with their own distinct personalities. Lake Superior is the king of the group, cold and deep. Lake Michigan is our neighbor to the west, and Lake Huron is a massive expanse of history. These three are the pillars of the Midwest water system, providing a sense of place for millions of people.

Then you have Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. These two are smaller in scale but no less important. They sit at the southern end of the system, acting as the gateway to the Atlantic. They have shaped the industries and the communities of our southern states just as much as the bigger ones have shaped the north. They are the final pieces of the puzzle that complete the HOMES mnemonic.

They gambled away our feeling of community

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Just Say 'No' to Social Media

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000

The Midwest Accent: The Gold Standard

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000

One of the things I take pride in the Midwest for is our lack of an accent. In other regions, you might hear that New York nasal tone or that Southern twang that makes everything slow down. But then there’s the Midwest. For a lot of folks, that’s the “neutral” ground. It’s the voice of plain-spoken practicality. It doesn’t try to be anything other than what it is, which is why it often goes unnoticed.

Growing up, I remember hearing that TV stations sought out Midwestern folks. They liked hiring anchors from our neck of the woods because we didn’t have those distinct regional markers. It was like we were the blank canvas of the American speaking voice. If you wanted to reach the whole country without sounding like you were from a specific backyard, you looked for someone who sounded like they were just talking to their neighbor over a fence.

Road Trip Through a Rust Belt Town

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000

There is a lot of satisfaction in a long summer road trip. The straightforward reality of getting on the road, having a clear path ahead, and seeing the country for what it actually looks like, feels like making progress in your travels. I was looking to avoid a stretch of construction on an interstate and benefit from a more direct route across the state. This summer, I our vacation destination was on the other end of a proper road trip through the heart of the Midwest. We saw the real Illinois, the deep heart of Indiana, and the rolling landscapes of Ohio. It varied from farmland to factories, 1-stop sign towns to cities with skylines.

The Midwest can be more than just a place to drive through to get somewhere else. You can feel it in the way the land shifts from flat farmland to heavy industrial zones. You can see it in the way the towns are laid out, built by people who knew how to work a tool and how to build something that would outlast them. My goal was to see the transition. I wanted to see how these places were holding up, how they were changing, and what it felt like to see the layers of time stacked on top of one another.

At some point into Ohio, the scenery began to tighten up. The wide, open fields gave way to the heavy presence of the industrial corridor. This is the backbone of the region. It is a land of steel, heavy machinery, and the deep, steady work of production. You start to see the signs of the Rust Belt, that area where the old engines of American industry are still cooling down. Those towns were the reason the country grew, and there is a dignity in that history that you cannot just erase.

Uninsured Drivers Break the Social Contract of the Road

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000

The Strategy of the Shuffle: Why Card Games Still Matter

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Shifting Tornado Alley: Illinois in the Bullseye

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Cool Energy Savings: Wash Your Laundry in Cold Water

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000

One of the biggest ways we waste money at home is by heating water that doesn’t actually need to be hot. If you switch your laundry to cold water, you stop draining your hot water supply and save on your natural gas or electric bill.

A few years back, I saw on the detergent bottle that it said “cold water wash compatible” and it did not make any sense to waste that energy on my clothes if it wasn’t necessary. I switched to the tap cold setting and everything has washed perfectly well since. It is not usually the default setting on the machine, so it takes a few extra button pushes each load, but it is a small effort for a decent bit of savings. I have been doing it for years and the clothes are just as clean.

Where the Energy Actually Goes
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The washing machine motor doesn’t use much electricity. Heating the water is the expensive part. According to ENERGY STAR, about 90% of the energy a clothes washer uses goes to heating water. That means switching from warm or hot to cold cuts out almost all of the energy cost of a load, without changing anything else.

Modern detergents are designed for it. The enzymes in today’s detergents are made to break down stains and dirt at lower temperatures, which is why so many bottles now advertise cold-water cleaning. Cold water is also gentler on fabrics, so colors fade less, clothes shrink less, and they tend to last longer.

When Hot Water Still Makes Sense
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Cold isn’t always the right call. Hot water is still useful for:

Heavily soiled or greasy work clothes where the grease needs heat to loosen up.
Sanitizing bedding, towels, and clothes when someone in the house has been sick.
Cloth diapers and anything else the manufacturer says to wash hot.

For everyday shirts, jeans, socks, and sheets, cold does the job.

More Easy Hot Water Savings
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While you’re thinking about hot water, a few other quick wins:

Check your water heater temperature. The Department of Energy suggests 120°F for most households. Many water heaters ship set to 140°F, which wastes energy and raises the risk of scalding.
Wash full loads. The machine uses close to the same energy whether it’s half full or full.
Use the high-spin setting. It wrings out more water, so your dryer runs for less time.
Fix dripping hot water faucets. A slow drip of hot water is money going down the drain, literally.

Switching to ’tap cold’ is a cool move that keeps your hot water ready for when you actually need it. It is just common sense. Save that extra money for something you can actually enjoy.

Top Midwest Universities

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0000

The Midwest is home to many top tier universities.

Illinois
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University of Chicago The University of Chicago is a world-renowned private research university in Chicago. It is consistently ranked among the top universities globally, particularly noted for its rigorous academic environment, prestigious graduate programs, and significant contributions to the social sciences, law, and physics. It is home to the University of Chicago Press and several major research institutes.

Northwestern University Northwestern University is a premier private research university located in Evanston. It is globally recognized for its high-impact research, academic excellence, and prestigious programs in journalism, engineering, and the arts. Northwestern maintains a reputation for innovation and produces a significant number of leaders in both the private and public sectors.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) As the flagship public land-grant university of Illinois, UIUC is a powerhouse of research and innovation. It is particularly famous for its engineering programs, which are consistently ranked among the best in the nation. The university serves as a major hub for technological advancement and maintains a massive footprint in undergraduate and graduate research.

Take Your Foot Off the Gas and Learn The Art of the Coast

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Have you ever been driving along on the interstate and see the brake lights of the car in front of you briefly come on for seemingly no reason? I know I do. I call it “phantom braking.” Most of the time, the driver would have known traffic was slowing down. They had the opportunity to simply ease off the accelerator, allowing the vehicle’s natural momentum to carry it forward at a reduced speed. Instead, they chose to hit the brakes, creating a ripple effect of sudden stops that can be dangerous for everyone on the road.

Learning to coast is one of the simplest ways to become a smoother, more efficient driver. When you see traffic ahead beginning to bunch up, a slow vehicle ahead, or a stop light, take your foot off the accelerator sooner before reaching for the brake pedal. This allows for a gradual reduction in speed that is much easier for the drivers behind you to react to. It creates a smoother flow of traffic, reducing the “stop-and-go” stress that makes highway driving so exhausting.

Why One Tap Causes a Traffic Jam
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Traffic engineers have a name for what happens next: a “phantom traffic jam.” When one driver brakes a little harder than they needed to, the driver behind them brakes a little harder still, and so on down the line. A few cars back, someone comes to a complete stop for no visible reason. Researchers have even recreated this on a circular test track, where drivers going in a circle with no obstacles at all still created stop-and-go waves just from small, uneven braking. Smooth drivers who leave space and ease off early can absorb those waves instead of passing them along.

Coasting works best with room to do it. A good rule is to keep at least three seconds of following distance between you and the car ahead. Pick a sign or overpass, and when the car in front passes it, count. If you reach it before you get to three, back off. That space is what lets you lift off the gas and slow down gently instead of reacting at the last second.

Coasting in an EV
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I’ve been driving an EV since 2023, and coasting works a little differently there. Most electric vehicles use regenerative braking. When you lift off the accelerator, the electric motor runs in reverse like a generator, slowing the car and sending some of that energy back into the battery. Many EVs offer a “one-pedal driving” mode where lifting off the accelerator slows the car firmly enough that you rarely need the brake pedal at all in normal traffic.

That makes coasting even more rewarding in an EV. Every slowdown you plan ahead for puts a little range back in the battery instead of turning it into heat in your brake pads. It also means the brakes on many EVs last a very long time. The same habit works in a hybrid, too, since hybrids also use regenerative braking.

Beyond the safety and comfort factor, coasting is just plain practical. For gas-powered vehicles, it saves on fuel by reducing the constant cycle of acceleration and braking. For EVs, it’s also more efficient, as it preserves battery life and maximizes range. It also puts significantly less wear and tear on your brake pads and rotors, saving you money on maintenance down the road. Next time you see a slowdown ahead, try to coast for a while. It might clear up before you even need to reach for the brakes. It’s better for your car, better for your wallet, and a lot smoother for your neighbors.

Ody-Spider or Spider-ssey: The Next Barbenheimer

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Shining a Light on Inconsiderate People

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000

We often hear the old saying that good fences make good neighbors, and that principle applies to more than just property lines. In a shared space like a theater, the rules are the fence. They exist to ensure that everyone can enjoy the experience they paid for without distraction. When someone chooses to ignore those boundaries by constantly using their phone, they are tearing down that fence for everyone else. It is a matter of basic consideration. If you are going to be in a public space, it is your responsibility to respect the common ground and the shared experience of the people sitting next to and behind you.

I was at a play recently and experienced this distraction from the actual performance. About halfway through, the person sitting in front of me started treating their phone like it was the main attraction. They were constantly pulling it out to take pictures or videos and replying to texts. Every time that light shone in my eyes, it felt like a tiny fence was being knocked over. It was frustrating and I did not want to be further interrupted by an usher having to do the rule enforcement.

It just goes to show that being a good neighbor means respecting the shared space we are all in. It is sad how we have reached a point where some people think their notifications are more important than the live art they are paying to see. They are treating the audience like a background for their social media feed. If you cannot respect the fence of the theater rules, maybe you are not the right audience for the show.

Artists Are Pushing Back
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It’s not just audience members who are fed up. Performers have noticed too. Some comedians and musicians now require audiences to lock their phones in small pouches at the door, and the phone is only unlocked when you leave or step out to a designated area. Broadway actors have stopped mid-scene to call out people filming them. Plenty of theaters now play a pre-show announcement that’s longer and more pointed than it used to be, because the polite version wasn’t working.

It says something when the people on stage have to enforce manners. They’re giving a live performance that will never happen exactly the same way again. The least we can do is watch it.

Simple Rules for Being a Good Audience Member
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None of this is complicated, but it’s worth spelling out:

Silence it and put it away. Not face down on your lap. Away, in a pocket or bag.
Don’t film or photograph the performance. It’s usually against the rules for copyright reasons, it distracts the performers, and your blurry video is never going to be as good as the memory.
If you must check it, leave. An emergency is an emergency. Step out to the lobby where your screen won’t light up the row.
Turn off the smartwatch notifications too. A glowing wrist is just a smaller phone.
Take your photos before and after. The stage, the set, the marquee, and the people you came with are all fair game before the lights go down and after the curtain call.

Showing consideration to others in shared spaces is part of Midwestern values. Let’s try to be better neighbors. A little consideration goes a long way!

Half Ply? The Hotel Toilet Paper Problem

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000

No Shade on the Staycation

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Leave Room to Breathe

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EGO POWER+ Lawn Mower: Seven Years In

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Our Goal Should Be to Make Life Better for the Next Generation

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Private Equity and Monopolies: The Fast Track to Getting Less

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Digital Borrowing: You Don't Own What You Bought

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0000

The Confidence of Having More Opinions Than Experience

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Terracotta Watering Spikes and the Perfect Watering Can

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Thumbs Down a Tesla Cybertruck: The New Slug Bug

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Another Summer, Another Canadian Wildfire Ruining the Air Quality

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Greens Make You Green: Another Summer of Cyclospora

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Solar, Good Clean Fun!

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Squirrels: Rats With Better PR

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Unsubscribe: I Bought One Thing, Not a Lifetime of Emails

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Smoke, Grease, and Odor Out of the Kitchen

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Solar-Powered Without Solar Panels

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Saving Money: Skip the Deals That Aren't Deals

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

USA 250th Birthday: Freedom, Now With Cameras

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000