Welcome to the Friday mailbag, where you will find some of the comments, questions and ideas sent recently by subscribers of this newsletter. They are edited for space and clarity.

“Two ways to look at modern day packaging (Tough to Open, May 2, 2022). It keeps getting more complex to keep the product safe, which I am in favor of. But, like you, those seals after you get the lid off, OH MY! Solved that, so far, with a small pair of pliers expressly for the kitchen and discovered more uses for the pliers than just seals.” - Diane

A pliers dedicated to the kitchen? I am doing that when I get home! – Shane

“Dear Shane, I enjoy reading your articles. ‘Anyone  have a Band-aid’ speaks of situations that I have experienced. (Tough to Open, May 2, 2022). Thanks for being open and sharing your experiences. Keep writing.” – Bonnie

We all have more in common than some of us want to admit. Thanks, Bonnie. – Shane

“Shane, I enjoyed your article. (Patience, May 3, 2022). Getting angry and yelling at someone will not solve the problem. I have learned to reserve judgement until I have all of the facts ... and to be patient. I agree that social media has really torn at the civility of our society. People hiding behind their keyboard and using it as a bully pulpit need to realize that they are not making the situation better.” - Boyd

How true. Meanwhile, Internet Hercules isn’t going away anytime soon. – Shane

“Hey, Shane! Nice column today (Patience, May 3, 2022). It’s so easy to criticize and be rash, but a mentor told me long ago we have two choices in life: to contribute or criticize, and you get to choose what you want to be known for.” - Melissa 

You are right. “Loved to criticize” wouldn’t look good on a tombstone. – Shane

“I enjoy reading your musings. And I totally agree with you about the message forgiving student debt sends (Student loans, May 10, 2022). If ever we can begin to break a cultural cycle of entitlement, repayment of student debt is a great place to start.” - Carolyn

I don’t know about entitlements, but I do feel that we should all expect to repay our own debts. Period. Call me old fashioned. – Shane

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305

CITYVIEW announced its 2022 Best Of Des Moines readers' choices Feb.1. You can find all the results from the poll in the February issue of CITYVIEW magazine!

Best Local Gift Shop
1. Bing’s
2. Tandem Brick Gallery
3. give.

Montana Tracy-Mitchell takes to the mat

SBy Marsha Fisher

Being the first to push the boundaries of expectations isn’t easy, but with determination and hard work, it is rewarding when you succeed. As a seventh-grade girl who signed up to wrestle with an all-boys team, Montana Tracy-Mitchell was striking out on her own that day last fall in ADM’s Middle School lunchroom.

“I saw the sign-up sheet, and I thought about it for about five minutes,” says Montana. “I decided I wanted to try it and make my dad proud.” Montana’s father, Brody Mitchell, was a state wrestler during his junior and senior year at ADM High School. “When I got home and told him, at first he didn’t believe me and then I convinced him. My mom, Tamara, was a little hesitant about it. They both warned me about what I was getting myself into, the hard work at practice, being a girl in a ‘boys’ sport, but nothing was going to stop me.”

[...]

From the May issue of Adel  Living magazine.

Happy Birthday to these celebrities: Robert Pattinson, Stevie Wonder, Debby Ryan, Stephen Colbert, Candice King, Lena Dunham, Harvey Keitel

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to:tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com