It’s my habit to watch four scenes from the movie 1776 on July 4th then follow with a toast (one, or maybe more, beers). Thought I would post here should anyone be of similar mood.


The fireplug: John Adams. May 1776 no movement toward independence vote. 'Open Up A Window' is a reference to deliberations in secrecy with closed windows and guards posted at windows outside. Philadelphia sweltered. The issue was preventing public factions from applying pressure on delegates and creating stalemate.

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Savage scene: Slavery the Divisive Impediment to Independence. ‘Who Stinketh Most, Charleston or Boston?’ New England culpability in the slave trade. (Who remembers Holling Vincouer from ‘Northern Exposure’? He’s still ticking along at age 95.)

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John Hancock signs the Declaration, humorous short scene.

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Final dramatic signing scene

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Looks good! I'm a big fan of the 80s flick, but apparently it was very different from the S. King story and this is supposed to be much more in line with that. This looks very different from the original and pretty good! Edgar Wright is a great director, so I have high hopes for a fun action movie.

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Just needs to slightly be raised to show above Cytown for the night?...could revert back to Cytown July 4 or 5th.....just wondering??

On today's CFTV Daily Update, I tell you about Dominykas Pleta‘s impressive first practice, the commitment of Marcus Zelee and react to ⁠Iowa Everywhere’s preseason Big 12 media poll. ⁠

Don’t see it. What a piece of garbage movie. I don’t expect much out of summer popcorn movies but this was truly one of the worst blockbuster movies I’ve ever seen. Five of us went and all of us said it was laughably terrible.

In anticipation of 4th of July weekend, we’re focusing on terms related with grilling and cookouts.

Key words (in title/lytics): Barbecue, grill, griddle and related aspects. Also acceptable: Burger, hot dog, marinade. Some flex with creativity, if it stays close to the grilling concept. Picnic probably OK, too.

“On That Note” is presented each week on Cyclone Fanatic by @MeanDean, @CycloneRulzzz and cyclones500.

Last week’s OTN: Toast (and Marmalade)

Here's one to start the fire:

“Where hamburgers sizzle on an open grill night and day.”

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For the last couple weekends I had to take trips across the state of Iowa for various reasons.

It is really sad to see so many groves full of dead trees. Almost every stand of trees you see many dead trees.
The Emerald Ash Borer has decimated what is left of our states trees. Many of the trees planted to replace all the Elms after they all died were Ash trees, now all those are dead too. I remember specifically a time that Ash were recommended as replacements for Elms. There are complete groves or tree lines dead now. I would guess that most in Iowa are completely dead as of now, with those still hanging on, will be dead soon.

On top of that I seem many evergreen trees are dead or dying too, I dont know exactly what is causing that but it really is sad seeing so many dead.

I know this was coming for years, but this year is the first I really noticed just how many dead trees are showing up everywhere.

For those with Ash trees, what are you doing, are you still trying to fight and save your trees? What is the prognosis when treating, how successful is it? Are you going to just remove and replace? Then what about all these groves and tree lines full of dead trees? I guess those will eventually fall on their own and someday will be replaced by new growth of something else, but will be long after I am gone.

Pretty interesting. I've always been fascinated by killer whales.

Marcus Zelee announced his commitment to Iowa State today, making the guard the third commit in T.J. Otzelberger‘s 2026 class.

Does anyone have this issue with their jeans? Mine usually last about 6 months before the crotch in my jeans wears through. Anyone have a recommendation for some jeans that area resistant to this condition?

Jake Brend is back with the CFTV Daily Update as German Freshman Forward Dominykas Pleta arrives on campus after Visa issues. Brend also names one Cyclone in football, men's basketball, women's basketball and wrestling that is being overlooked heading into the 2025-26 season.

I read a post somewhere that ISU is working on adding Nursing and maybe a few other medical majors. I have seen other similar Universities adding it recently (I think KSU did or is in the process). There is a huge demand, as most of the Universities that have BS in nursing only take around 50 applicants per year out of hundreds of applicants.

Has anyone else heard this? Is it just rumor? Is it something that is part of the McFarland building, that they will host clinicals etc?

To me it seems like a smart move, because of the demand, but I also know it would probably take a lot of work to implement.

German freshman forward Dominykas Pleta arrives in Ames and fills out Iowa State's roster for summer workouts.

Chris Williams and Brent Blum dive into the decision from the Big 12 to no longer use a media poll before CW gives his idea for how to fix it. The guys give their mid-July Big 12 Poll and more. Presented by Mechdyne.

I've gotten drawn into a debate on a geography forum I visit about what parts of the Midwest (if any) constitute the eastern US. Most people agree that anything in Central time can't really be considered eastern, but there's a poster who just stridently asserts that states like Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri aren't just Eastern, but decidedly Eastern in terms of climate, flora, and fauna, and geography. This seems like an insane take to me, but I'm willing to entertain the idea that I'm the outlier here.

I've always considered Iowa the most wholly Midwestern state, and view the Mississippi as the east/west fulcrum of the United States, but I believe you have to quite a ways in either direction before you're truly in the "west" or the "east".

Where's the CF peanut gallery on this question?

Is this already being discussed somewhere? (I tried to search)
Locked ons topic for today is Pollard saying all atheletes will receive some NIL.

This isn’t by definition NIL. 99% of people couldn’t name a single member of the swimming and diving team. I’m guessing it’s a small dollar figure but I still don’t see the benefit. Curious to hear the other side of the argument.

I was looking at player ratings this morning and they have Iowa State in the Big 10! How did they mess that up?

Voting is open for the Cyclone Fanatic Movie Villain Elite 8.


How to vote:
To select the favorite (the show seeded highest), choose the Heart emoji.
To select the underdog, choose the Rainbow emoji.
No other emojis will be counted.

Deadline to vote: Now through Saturday at 10 PM

First appearance yesterday in my yard (Waterloo). The war begins anew.

2025 College Football Bowl Predictions - NCAA Bowl Game Projections - CBSSports.com https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/bowls/predictions/

Collectively we abhor Karen’s and old men yelling at clouds. But where’s the line? Where’s your line? Do you have any specific borderline situations to share?

——Why I’m posting this topic——

Sunday evening I get home from a long day/night of work. What went from an evening shift ending at 12:30/1, didn’t until 4:30. I got home and ready to pass out at 5am for a few hours.

I start hearing what sounds like a very loud, but apparently effective, bug zapper. No big deal.

Then I started hearing the whiz of bottle rockets, followed by the bang of mortars and 25ct rockets.

A few poppers and bottle rockets, sure. But this was lead up to finale of July 4th level mortars. In the middle of a crowded neighborhood, at 5am.

I was beyond tired and didn’t really care. So I went to my porch, in just my boxers, waited for the 25ct pack to conclude, then said pretty firmly, “it’s 5 in the f#%^*ing morning.”

She popped off “wtf?!?” And said something under her breathe about going to grab more.

She didn’t and I and I presume others were able to sleep.

I don’t FEEL like a Karen in this instance, but what say you? Would you say something? Is that a Karen moment? Where’s your personal line?

Wanting to discuss more Karen line vs fireworks etiquette, but CF will do with this as it pleases and I ain’t trying to Karen yall into staying on topic

The schedule for the 2025 Players Era Tournament is set and Iowa State will be tested. Check out who they are playing and the format in Las Vegas.