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Just In: IA More Friendly, Still Boring

Posted May 12, 2008

It's clearly another slow day in Des Moines: Tom Owens and Diana Helmer moved to Perry in December and engaged in an unusual habit.

They knew no one but waved at everybody.

"I've noticed the effects a wave has," Helmer said. "When you wave it's like a smile. A smile always changes your mood. You can't smile and not be changed."

OK, some might ask, what's their angle?


Others might ask why you care. link via Obscure Store.

» Categories: huh? | Author: bixby


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28 Comments:


I don't get to use the "huh" tag often enough.
»» Submitted by »»» msparber at 2:27 PM on May 12



Oddly enough, none of my 55 posts as justpbob or ALAMN ever earned the coveted "huh" tag. My top tag was "environment" (17 tags). I only have three sfor smoking, but one each for Twins, weather, music and drinking.
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 2:54 PM on May 12



I prefer the "WTF" tag.
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 3:00 PM on May 12



On one recent walk, they offered 45 waves and got 21 wave-backs

Batting less than .500 on wavebacks. Failures.
»» Submitted by »»» PwrGeek at 3:03 PM on May 12



Batting .500 on the pro waving circuit will net you gobs of cash.
»» Submitted by »»» sornie at 3:28 PM on May 12



But you have at least a .750 average in the minors before they'll even think about calling you up to the pro waving circuit...
»» Submitted by »»» DouglasG at 3:30 PM on May 12



It's clear they're doping. They're either using ecstasy or adderall.
I remember when the waving game was pure.
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 3:33 PM on May 12



Slow day, unless you live in Postville
»» Submitted by Joanna at 3:40 PM on May 12



Postville is quite the town! I have family near there. They have a large Jewish population running a kosher butcher shop. None of the locals want to work in said slaughter house, thus they must import workers...
»» Submitted by »»» DouglasG at 3:45 PM on May 12



yeah, I was fascinated to learn that these guys from Brooklyn had re-opened a plant that was closed after some Russian Orthodox Jews moved to town; some guy has written a book about the culture clash between new immigrants and older residents.
»» Submitted by Joanna at 3:50 PM on May 12



Here it is: Postville: Culture Clash in America's Heartland.
»» Submitted by Joanna at 3:53 PM on May 12



Stephen Bloom is a Professor at University of Iowa. My Aunt Glenda was part of that book. She owns a shoe store in Postville. It is quite an interesting book.
»» Submitted by »»» DouglasG at 3:56 PM on May 12



It's more than a butcher shop, it's the largest kosher meat packing plant in the Midwest.

And the book is phenomenal.
»» Submitted by »»» PwrGeek at 3:58 PM on May 12



I was searching for the correct word, and meat packing plant just wasn't coming into my brain. My grandparents lived on a farm near Postville, and then moved to a neighboring town. I am fairly familiar with the town. I agree on the book, but I am biased.
»» Submitted by »»» DouglasG at 4:04 PM on May 12



Fantastic read. I side with the townspeople. Aaron's Best is good stuff as Kosher goes, and I had to deal directly with them for a couple of large Kosher events...but I've had one too many negative experiences with the Lubavitchers to believe that the farmers in Postville are the ones being unreasonable. BTW, Agriprocessors contains the biggest Kosher meat packing plant in the entire world. And 2/3 of what they process isn't even Kosher. They're huge.
»» Submitted by grote at 4:11 PM on May 12



Lubavitchers, in Iowa? Weird, but it makes sense to go to the source for meat.
»» Submitted by Lunch! at 4:13 PM on May 12



I agree mostly with the townspeople, but the Lubavitchers did the town a big favor by moving in there. It was a big economic boost.
»» Submitted by »»» DouglasG at 4:17 PM on May 12



Anyone notice the ads to the right?
Hee!
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 4:21 PM on May 12



Well I have not read the book, but I know from experience that having one tight knit insular community depend upon a smaller tight knit insular community for economic well being is a recipe for strife.
»» Submitted by Lunch! at 4:21 PM on May 12



Postville is no Pleasantville.


»» Submitted by kevin at 4:45 PM on May 12



Bixby, alas, I cannot see the ads due to adblocker :(
»» Submitted by Joanna at 5:18 PM on May 12



Ha! Hilarious ads.
»» Submitted by »»» jane at 5:57 PM on May 12



I don't think the act of waving in Iowa stands for a smile. I think it stands for: "Holy crap there's another human being here in Iowa!" instead.

:D


»» Submitted by tinnie at 7:10 PM on May 12



completely off topic, I'd like to encourage everyone to watch "The Paper" on MTV.com. It's amazing and ridiculous and all kinds of awesome. A reality show about a high school paper. Genius! This could only get better if the debate team was involved.
»» Submitted by »»» Bixby at 10:04 PM on May 12



one of my family's rural Iowa neighbors passed away last week. one of the great things about him is that he would wave as he drove past your farmstead, even if he didn't see anyone in the yard. his wife explained that he didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings by not waving.
Now I live in a neighborhood where middle-finger salutes are regularly exchanged among motorists, so I kinda miss friendly waving.
»» Submitted by jmc at 8:23 AM on May 13



I was searching for the correct word, and meat packing plant just wasn't coming into my brain.

I'm partial to abattoir, thought the connotation is slightly different.
»» Submitted by Elizabeth at 9:10 AM on May 13



Just read a press release about Islamic Services of America (Cedar Rapids) winning an award for their Halal collagen casing. I learned the term "slaughterman" is the correct job title for men who slaughter. I wonder if there are any slaughterwomen?

»» Submitted by jane_ at 9:26 AM on May 13



Halal collagen casing

I spent a ton of time one day looking for an non-animal casing for making home made seafood sausage. I wonder if they sell this retail?

Am I odd or do many people contemplate seafood sausage with non-natural casing and spent a few hours researching? I'm starting to think I might be slightly out of the mainstream when it comes to my intrests.
»» Submitted by Mpls Simpleton at 9:37 AM on May 13



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