With all the new gadgets and widgets and ways we can connect with the world almost instantaneously, going to the state fair has lost a bit of its luster. Growing up, per my father, we could not afford to go to the fair. So when I grew up I tended to look at the fair as a too expensive luxury. However, when we had kids we made it a point to go to the fair, so they would have the experience.

What experiences we had. Who can forget the time a super muggy day turned into a downpour while my kids were stuck in the air on the gondola ride that broke down? I felt sorry for laughing my rear off at them, especially after the two little drowned rats caught me laughing at them. Then there was the hottest day I have ever lived through. 107 degrees, and we spent it at the fair! At least we went through an hour of it at the fair before surrendering.

On your way, have some fun with these questions

1) Speaking at the state fair soapbox Thursday, Marianette Meeks sang an oldie but goody,accusing her opponent Dave Loebsack of being a puppet of who?

2) An old tradition died Thursday at Iowa State. The university’s president announced the end of what spring celebration at Iowa State?

3) Unwilling to wait too long to cash in on his tenure in congress, what former Republican leader announced he would leave congress on August 18?

4) Republicans had a good week spreading lies. Congressman Todd Rokita of Indiana claimed that immigrant children from Latin America carried what scary disease into the US?

5) Trying to outscare and out lie his colleague Rokita, Mo Brooks of Alabama claimed Democrats were waging a war on what racial group?

6) After taking a bullet in an assassination attempt on his boss, Ronald Reagan, what man fought for gun control until his death last week?

7) In a video confrontation between Steve King and 2 Dreamers, what potential presidential candidate can be seen running away like he’d seen a ghost?

8) This week in August has many major events, including the dropping of the atomic bombs on the two Japanese cities. Can you remember the two Japanese cities?

9) August 6, 1965. What historic legislation is signed into law on that date and has been gutted by the Supreme Court recently?

10) The Democratic candidate for Montana senator dropped out due to a scandal concerning what?

11) Thursday evening President Obama announced humanitarian aid for what group in Iraq?

12) Forty and fifty years ago last week were very historic. Forty years ago (Aug. 8), what President made an extremely historic speech?

13) Fifty years ago, the US Senate passed what resolution that was based on false information?

14) Bank of America agreed to pay about how much for their part in starting the economic meltdown in 2008?

15) President Obama espoused what position on the internet neutrality issue?

The twists and turns of history are somewhat strange at times. John McCain recommended that the US allow arms sales to Viet Nam. My guess is that the arms industry needs some sales. Really strange McCain!

Answers:

1) Pelosi and Obama. Talk about repeating a theme.

2) Veishea

3) Eric Cantor. Guess he can smell the money

4) Ebola. Guess old Todd is no doctor, nor very smart.

5) Whites. yep that is what he said.

6) Reagan Press Secretary James Brady

7) Rand Paul, damn near choked on his hamburger.

8) Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Nagasaki was hit because the original target, Kokura had cloud cover.

9) the Voting Rights Act

10) plagiarism. Never bothered Rand Paul…..

11) Yazidis

12) Richard Nixon announced his resignation.

13) Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which gave Johnson the power to retaliate in Viet Nam

14) About $17 billion. Note that they “agreed” to pay. What ever happened to fines?

15) Obama came out in favor of net neutrality and against proposed “fast lanes.”

Today is Herbert Hoover’s 140th birthday. What ever you think of him he is Iowa’s only native President.