Back in the day there was a young man who wrote for the Des Moines Register by the name of Donald Kaul under the banner Over The Coffee. One of Kaul’s great delights or perhaps painful duties was to inform Iowans how the legislature annually made a mockery of what most Iowans considered common sense by hashing over seemingly ridiculous folderol. Once more the legislature is giving wits much fodder with their debate over when schools should start. Seems that the major economic driver in Iowa is the State Fair, no doubt the greatest of all State Fairs ever. Reading and Cyphering learning must be compliant to the whims of the awesomest of State Fairs!

Well, Sunday Funday is here with a solution for the legislature wanting to feed the fair and the schools wanting to – uh you know – educate. There are other breaks in the schools year that could easily be eliminated so the State Fair can be attended to. Start with Christmas and Easter breaks. It is usually cold in Iowa at those times, so let’s take time for the State Fair from the winter and spring breaks and move it to summer.

Were you paying attention?

1) Many folks called Ted do not really have Ted as their given name. What is the given name of ‘Ted’ Cruz?

2) With friends like this who needs enemies? What country was accused by the Wall Street Journal of spying on talks between Iran and the US?

3) Ted Cruz claimed a strange conversion occurred in him on 9/11 that caused him to turn away from what in favor of what else?

4) Appearing in Iowa last weekend, what potential presidential candidate said it is time to “crack down on Wall Street recklessness.”?

5) What Iowa legislator was photographed reading a book titled “Sex After Sixty” instead of paying attention to floor debate?

6) It appears one man in Iowa has decided that current Medicaid needs dismantling and that may be enough to make it happen. Who is this man?

7) He got away with murder, now he blames Obama for his image problems. What former darling of the right claimed Obama ruined his image?

8) Lieutenant Rags, move your troops! The National Park Service is considering using dogs at the Lincoln Memorial to stop what from happening?

9) Utah takes a few steps back as they once more opt for what method of executing prisoners?

10) Two US senators announced they would not run in 2016. Can you name them and their states?

11) As of last week, Starbuck baristas will no longer write what phrase on customer’s coffee cups?

12) After demonizing Obamacare, what Tea Party presidential candidate was discovered to be planning to sign up for Obamacare, claiming Obama was making him do so?

13) Indiana governor Mike Pence signed a Religious Restoration Act last week. One of the major consequences will be that, based on religious reasons, businesses can do what?

14) The SCOTUS is taking a case from Texas concerning free speech and the placing of what on Texas state license plates?

15) A combination Russian and US crew took off for a mission on the ISS. How long is this mission expected to last?

16) Jumping on the bandwagon, Willie Nelson is expected to launch a brand of what that will bear his name?

17) Bowe Bergdahl was charged with what this week?

18) In another major scoop for Wikileaks, what closely guarded document did the group release this week?

19) A state Senate Committee voted to make what medicinal crop available to possess Thursday after they made using it legal last year?

20) A sure sign of spring! What states got hit with tornados Wednesday?

Ok here is a new sport. It is up to you to figure out what it is:

Answers:

1) Raphael

2) Israel

3) turned away from rock and roll music and picked up country music

4) Martin O’Malley

5) Ross Paustian of Walcott

6) Governor Branstad

7) George Zimmerman

8) geese pooping around the National Mall

9) firing squad

10) Dan Coates of Indiana and Harry Reid of Nevada

11) “race together”

12) Ted Cruz!

13) discriminate based on their religious feelings

14) the confederate flag

15) a year – the longest for a US astronaut

16) marijuana

17) desertion

18) the TPP trade agreement

19) medical marijuana

20) Oklahoma and Arkansas