

“The Way of Water” is stunning, important and helps redeem the original “Avatar”
Like many, Aime Wichtendahl was initially a skeptic about “The Way of Water,” James Cameron’s massive and much-anticipated sequel to the original “Avatar” film.
But after taking in the three-hour film, Wichtendahl is a fan of the new “Avatar 2” and gained a renewed appreciation of the original “Avatar” released in 2009.
“James Cameron is trying to help us learn. By tapping into the universal nostalgia we all feel – that once there was a time everything was perfect before someone screwed it up – he’s trying to tell us something. He’s trying to wake us up to how we’re impacting the world around us. ‘The Way of Water’ illustrates that despite our best efforts, humanity remains incapable of change.“
Read Wichtendahl’s review of this blockbuster film here.


Four vegan holiday recipes to make your meal preparation easier, kinder
Looking for a way to bring some plant-based love to your holiday meals? Check out four vegan holiday recipes to make your meal celebration easier and kinder!
Find easy recipes for the main dish of Sheperd’s Pie the decorative side dish of Apple Cranberry and Kale Salad; the festive Plantiful Holiday Cheez Balls; and sweet Molasses Crinkle Cookies.
These recipes are provided courtesy of The Plantiful Pantry in Mount Vernon, Ia., which also provides a regular column for The Real Mainstream on plant-based cooking. Read on for their first-ever column on vegan holiday recipes!



U of I football shows are raptor exploitation, not education (Letter to the Editor)
“Consider contacting the University of Iowa and the Iowa Raptor Project to ask them to stop exploiting raptors by forcing them to be involved in athletic events.”



Taxes and Animal Abuse
“Shouldn’t we be teaching children to have respect, compassion and empathy for animals? Instead, they are learning that it is ok to terrorize animals for entertainment.”



Pet Wellness and patient health go hand in hand at The Project of the Quad Cities
QUAD CITIES -- The pandemic has reminded us that having a pet can be important for one’s mental and physical health. It has also revealed that the financial burden of pet ownership is harder for many. The Project of the Quad Cities is tackling this challenge with a...



Leash on Life steps up support during coronavirus crisis
IOWA CITY and NORTH LIBERTY — Leash on Life has given back to its communities for 15 years through donations to animal shelters throughout Johnson County. But when the coronavirus crisis hit, it was a “whole new beast,” says owner Laurie Smith. So Leash on Life...



Deer Friends press to end mass killings
Amid all the huge issues facing society, a tradition of mass killing has become par for the course. For the second year in a row, Iowa City will be the site of a mass deer killing starting Oct. 1 and continuing through Jan. 1, 2021. Last year, the en masse...


Drop in documented puppy mills due partly to poor animal welfare enforcement, HSUS says
The number of puppy mills in Iowa dropped from 13 to 5 this year, but the numbers may not tell the whole story, says the Humane Society of the United States in its annual “Horrible Hundred” report.


TNR takes off throughout Iowa
There’s a common scene Chris Whitmore encounters as animal control coordinator for Iowa City. A family, often from a rural homestead or tiny town, brings in a six-week-old kitten to the shelter for adoption. “Where’s the mother?” Whitmore or her staff will ask. “We...


No to animals as entertainment, say protestors
Animal rights activist Lynn Gallagher and a small group of eastern Iowa residents continue to make a difference on behalf of animals in captivity, battling both the Johnson County Rodeo and several circuses that take place in Cedar Rapids. More specifically, Lynn...


Help the fight against puppy mills, animal cruelty
Bills to better protect animals from cruelty, and to ensure dog breeders are licensed and regulated, need the vocal support of voters to their elected officials, says a group devoted to protecting companion animals. Iowa Voters for Companion Animals seeks to end...



U of I football shows are raptor exploitation, not education (Letter to the Editor)
“Consider contacting the University of Iowa and the Iowa Raptor Project to ask them to stop exploiting raptors by forcing them to be involved in athletic events.”



Taxes and Animal Abuse
“Shouldn’t we be teaching children to have respect, compassion and empathy for animals? Instead, they are learning that it is ok to terrorize animals for entertainment.”



Pet Wellness and patient health go hand in hand at The Project of the Quad Cities
QUAD CITIES -- The pandemic has reminded us that having a pet can be important for one’s mental and physical health. It has also revealed that the financial burden of pet ownership is harder for many. The Project of the Quad Cities is tackling this challenge with a...



Leash on Life steps up support during coronavirus crisis
IOWA CITY and NORTH LIBERTY — Leash on Life has given back to its communities for 15 years through donations to animal shelters throughout Johnson County. But when the coronavirus crisis hit, it was a “whole new beast,” says owner Laurie Smith. So Leash on Life...



Deer Friends press to end mass killings
Amid all the huge issues facing society, a tradition of mass killing has become par for the course. For the second year in a row, Iowa City will be the site of a mass deer killing starting Oct. 1 and continuing through Jan. 1, 2021. Last year, the en masse...