Oct. 22 Daily Umbrella: Former DM superintendent pleads not guilty; wine whines; two fish are in a tank

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Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025

Good morning to you!

Many of you are familiar with the 10,000-Hour-Rule that was popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in his book “Outliers.” If you are not, it goes like this. The 10,000-Hour Rule says that achieving world-class expertise in any skill requires approximately 10,000 hours of dedicated practice. That’s not to say that a person needs 10,000 hours of practice to complete a task. It does say that 10,000 hours are needed to master it.

To be fair, sometimes you don’t need a master. But, if you have a choice between someone who is a newbie and someone who is an expert, which one will you choose to do your electrical work, your plumbing, your concrete install?

The choice also comes down to cost, as many of us are cost-conscious (cheap) and want a deal. The newbies are sometimes cheaper. But, as the saying goes, we often get what we pay for.

As with most things in life, we also need to look in the mirror when we consider the 10,000-Hour-Rule. We sometimes think we can jump into a new job, a new hobby or a new endeavor of any sort and become an expert overnight. If we do the math, 10,000 hours translates to about five years of 40 hours per week. That may sound like forever to a teenager, but those who have multiple decades behind them recognize that it really does take about five years to truly figure things out.

Meanwhile, the 10,000-Hour-Rule has been criticized and debunked by some, as “research” indicates that the quality of practice is more important than the quantity of hours spent. I am guessing that this “research” was completed by those who have not put 10,000 hours into anything, but the idea still has some merit. Practice does not make perfect, but perfect practice certainly gets us closer.

So, when you are hiring someone to complete a job or seeking advice from an expert, it is certainly fair to ask how many hours of experience the person has. And, if you are a person with 10,000 hours of expertise, it is a benefit worth pointing out.

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with the 10,000-Hour-Rule? Send me a note and let me know.

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful Wednesday.

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

See more of Shane Goodman's columns here.

FROM KCCI: Former Des Moines superintendent pleads not guilty to federal charges. Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, has pleaded not guilty to federal immigration charges. He was indicted on charges of an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and making a false statement for employment. Roberts was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents last month. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Runnells man sentenced for 2024 murder of cousin. A Runnells man was sentenced to prison on Tuesday for fatally shooting his cousin in 2024. During the early morning hours of June 14, 2024, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a shooting in the 4500 block of SE 116th Street, north of Runnells. When first responders arrived, they found a man, later identified as 50-year-old Richard David Selby, inside a home dead with multiple gunshot wounds. ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Reynolds-backed task force recommends merit-based teacher pay, reviewing state employee retirement plans. Gov. Kim Reynolds released the final report from her Iowa Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Task Force on Tuesday. It was developed by the 15 task force members based on feedback from everyday Iowans, state agencies and leaders from major Iowa companies. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: North Korea test-fires ballistic missiles ahead of Trump’s Asia trip. North Korea performed its first ballistic missile tests in five months Wednesday, days before U.S. President Donald Trump and other leaders are expected to meet in South Korea. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: In Chicago, an immense show of force signals a sharp escalation in White House immigration crackdown. The music begins low and ominous, with the video showing searchlights skimming along a Chicago apartment building and heavily armed immigration agents storming inside. Guns are drawn. Unmarked cars fill the streets. Agents rappel from a Black Hawk helicopter. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Iowa high school student charged with assault after spraying victim with fire extinguisher. An 18-year-old Iowa high school student faces several charges following an incident Oct. 7 during which authorities say he broke windows at his school and sprayed someone with a fire extinguisher. ... READ MORE

Clear Mortgage meteorology

Mild the rest of the week through Saturday. Rain chances Sunday and Monday.

For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage.

Pollen tracker

Tree pollen: Low

Grass pollen: Low

Ragweed pollen: Low

Mold: Low

The 2025 results: CITYVIEW's Best of Des Moines®

Best Local Tattoo Studio

1. Lucky Gal Tattoo and Piercing

2, Pink Elephant Tattoo & Piercing Studio

3. Empire Tattoo

See all of the results

Woebegone Wednesday
Wine whines. The percentage of U.S. adults who say they drink alcohol has fallen to 54%, a record low, according to an August report by Gallup, which has tracked Americans’ drinking habits since 1939... The youngest demographic imbibes even less than middle aged adults and Baby Boomers... Total U.S. wine consumption is down 16% since 2019, according to wine consulting and research firm BW166... The grape oversupply is so stark that growers in California ripped up about 45,000 acres of vineyard during the same period, according to state and USDA data, more than 8% of all vineyard acreage.

Straightening up the "Sideways Effect." After a big dip in sales after the 2004 movie "Sideways," merlot is firmly back in the good graces of many wine drinkers. Premium merlots are again respected for their elegance, depth and character. The "Sideways Effect" is now seen by many as an antiquated way of thinking, and merlot's comeback is celebrated as a "powerful and silent" renewal. (Ask AI)

Deals today
• Waterfront's Wednesday special this week is fresh Chesapeake rockfish, aka striped bass.

• Cousin's Maine Lobster will park their truck at 3610 S.W. Eighth St., Altoona (Lowes Home Improvement), tomorrow 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Fareway is offering $5 rotisserie chicken on Wednesdays. Other days they cost about $9.

• Whatcha Smokin? (Highway 17, Luther) has a brisket burnt ends special on Wednesdays.

• The Bistro at Iowa Culinary Institute is open for its fall season in Building 7 of Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny. Lunch will be served Wednesdays through Fridays till Dec. 5. $17 for a buffet or three course a la carte with a drink. 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

• Kelly's Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers any burger with a side for $10 on Wednesdays.

• Exile (1514 Walnut St., Des Moines) offers a $12 burger basket with fries and a beer on Wednesdays.

• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines) offers $8 French toast or pancake breakfasts and $2 tacos, $9 wraps and $10 half pounds of wings on Wednesdays.

• Johnny's Italian Steakhouses have a chicken Madeira special on Wednesdays before 4 p.m., $15 including beverage.

• Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines) offers 10 wings for $10 on Wednesdays.

• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road) has a $10 classic burger and beer all day.

• Paula's (524 Elm, Valley Junction) has a Wednesday special beef stew with biscuit $13.50.

• Gilroy's (1238 Eighth St., West Des Moines) has all you can eat fried chicken dinners on Wednesdays, $23.99 after 5 p.m.

• Haiku (1315 31st St., Des Moines) lets kids 11 and younger eat free with adults on Wednesdays. Hot sour soup and egg rolls are comped today with lunch entrees.

• Wednesdays bring steak night to Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines). Steaks are cooked to order with salad, potato and bread, $14.99.

• Wine bottles are half price on Wednesdays at Trostel's Greenbriar (5910 Merle Hay Road, Johnston). The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines) also has half-priced bottles on Wednesdays.

• G Mig's (128 Fifth St., Valley Junction) offers a special squash ravioli dinner with chicken and spinach in sage butter today with salad and garlic bread for $19.25.

• Barntown's (9500 S.E. University Ave., West Des Moines) Wednesday specials are a pound of chicken tenders with fries and two sauces for $11.99, plus $13 core pitchers of beer.

• It's lasagna day at Maxie's Supper Club (1311 Grand Ave., West Des Moines) and breaded pork tenderloin day at Eastside Eddie's (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines).

• Panka Peruvian (2708 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) has live jazz Wednesday.

• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) offers $5 off pizza on Wednesdays.

• On Wednesdays you can get any burger with fries for $10.99 at Tito's Lounge (3916 N.W. Urbandale Drive, Urbandale).

• Jethro's have $9.95 BPT sandwiches, including a side of choice, on Wednesdays.

• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) begins a week-long sale on jumbo (16-20) shrimp at 5.99/pound, raspberries or blackberries at two for $5, and honey crisp apples at $1.49/pound. The store is also promoting exotic fruits as Halloween giveaways with mangosteens, rambutans, kiwano melons, finger limes and Buddha heads.

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com

Featured in the current issue of CITYVIEW

COLLECTIONS & HOBBIES
Geocaching takes Metz all over the globe

By Cyote Williams

Geocaching is a hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. It is a real-life treasure hunt that can be played across the globe. Using GPS or a smartphone, participants search for geocaches in various locations. You could find the cache in a tree, behind a fire hydrant, or even inside of a sign displayed at a soccer field. Few know more about caches in central Iowa and around the country than Mark Metz.

“You find a container. It can be as small as your pinky, to the size of an ammo can, to something even bigger, hidden, usually camouflaged in some way. And you take out the log and you write your geocaching name, you put it back together and put it back exactly as you found it,” Metz said. ...

Featured home for sale

Post listings here for $50. Contact jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com for details.

$525,000

610 Ellis Circle
Adel, IA 50003

Welcome to this spacious 5-bedroom, 3 bath home located in a quiet cul-de-sac! With 3 bedrooms on the upper level and 2 additional bedrooms in the finished walk-out basement, this home offers plenty of room for family and guests. The main level features an open floor plan with a seamless flow between the living, dining, and kitchen areas, perfect for entertaining. The kitchen boasts a walk-in pantry, ideal for extra storage and organization. ...

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See more homes for sale

SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction

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SALE DATE: 2025-05-22
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ACRES: 1.726
SQUARE FEET: 9,600

More transactions

Featured in the current
issue of North Polk Living magazine

Costume creations
Residents share how they add their own touches to Halloween garbs.

By Lindsey Giardino

When it comes to Halloween, some people like to pull out all the stops. They turn their yards into haunted or cartoon landscapes. They carve pumpkins, bob for apples, and offer the best treats to their trick-or-treaters. And, they put their energy and holiday spirit into making sure their costumes — or their kids’ — make others “ooh” and “aah” … and perhaps shudder.

Going all out
Jessica Bormann and her husband, Keith, went to college at Iowa State University — the place their love for going all out for Halloween started.

“Campus life brings out fun and unique theme parties, and we never missed a chance to dress up and dive into the fun,” Bormann says.

“When Halloween week rolled around, Welch Avenue turned into a full-blown Halloween costume party. The bars were buzzing with creativity, and it was so much fun seeing everyone’s outfits.” ...

FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: How Luka Dončić Fared in Lakers’ Season Debut Without LeBron James. Luka Dončić can't do it all by himself, but on Tuesday night he really tried. The 26-year-old guard did everything he could to help the Lakers beat the Warriors on opening night as LeBron James watched from the bench. Try as he might, it wasn't enough as his teammates simply didn't give enough to help bring home a win. L.A. fell to Golden State 119–109. ... READ MORE

FROM ESPN: Russell Wilson calls out 'classless' Sean Payton for comments. Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton said he was hoping to face former quarterback Russell Wilson when his team played the New York Giants this past Sunday. Payton got rookie Jaxson Dart instead. That caught Wilson's attention. ... READ MORE

FROM YAHOO SPORTS: SEC fines Texas A&M $50K for likely faking injury in fourth quarter of Aggies' win over Arkansas. The SEC has fined Texas A&M $50,000 and reprimanded coach Mike Elko over a violation of the conference’s injury policy. Per a statement from the league, the National Coordinator for Football Officiating found that it was more likely than not that Aggies cornerback Tyreek Chappell wasn’t injured when he went down in the fourth quarter. ... READ MORE

1962: JFK’s address on Cuban Missile Crisis shocks the nation. In a televised speech of extraordinary gravity, President John F. Kennedy announces on Oct. 22, 1962 that U.S. spy planes have discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba. These missile sites—under construction but nearing completion—housed medium-range missiles capable of striking a number of major cities in the United States, including Washington, D.C. ... READ MORE

1965: President Lyndon Johnson signs the Highway Beautification Act. On Oct. 22, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Highway Beautification Act, which attempts to limit billboards and other forms of outdoor advertising, as well as junkyards and other unsightly roadside messes, along America’s interstate highways. ... READ MORE

1965: 173rd Airborne trooper dives onto live grenade, saving comrades. In action on this day near Phu Cuong, about 35 miles northwest of Saigon, PFC Milton Lee Olive III of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, throws himself on an enemy grenade and saves four soldiers, including his platoon leader, 1st Lt. James Sanford. ... READ MORE

www.history.com

Birthdays and notables

Happy birthday, Dave Jordan!

These celebrities were born on this date: Jeff Goldblum, Bob Odenkirk, Shaggy, Christopher Lloyd, Spike Jonze, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Brian Boitano, Catherine Deneuve, Bobby Seale, Bill Condon, Carmen Ejogo, Corey Hawkins, Kyle Gallner, Saffron Burrows, Carlos Mencia, Ichiro Suzuki, Jonathan Lipnicki, Sofia Vassilieva

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

The answer to the last riddle: Why did the mummy TP the tree? HE WAS HANGING HIS CLOTHES OUT TO DRY! - Gail Tomlinson. Or, Because he was feeling unwrapped! - Bill Snyder. They were unwinding! - Rex Post

Today's riddle: Two fish are in a tank. What did one say to the other?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or the Winterset Living magazines, contact:

Kristine McDonald
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 321
Mobile: C: 515-975-3543
kristine@iowalivingmagazines.com

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