• About
    • About the FIA
    • Priorities
    • Our Team
    • Brainstorming Board
    • Partners and Affiliates
    • Contact Us
  • News + Events
    • News
    • Events
    • Videos
    • Newsletters
    • @FIAumd
    • In the Media
  • Spark Grants
    • Spark Grants Overview
    • Spark Grants FAQ
    • 2012-2015 Seed Grants
    • 2012-2015 Seed Grant Winners
  • Special Topics
    • SearchReSearch
    • Curated Topics
FIA

SearchReSearch

SearchResearch Challenge (12/8/21): What’s the deal with Iowa and magazine renewals?

Dan Russell • December 8, 2021
 SearchReSearch
Republished with permission from SearchReSearch
SearchResearch Challenge (12/8/21): What’s the deal with Iowa and magazine renewals? Dan Russell

I noticed something odd the other day...

Renewal labels from several magazines. Notice anything odd here?


As you know, oddities--the things that don't quite fit into the normal patterns--often lead to SearchResearch Challenges. So it is today.

I subscribe to several magazines and as happens, they tend to shed subscription forms like those above. You know, as you pick them up, little renewal cards flutter down like snow on the fields of Iowa.

As I was picking up a few magazines the other day, I noticed that a lot of them have addresses in either Harlan or Boone, Iowa. What?

Now I have to admit that I'd never heard of Boone or Harlan, Iowa, so I got curious. And that leads to today's SRS Challenge.


1. Why are so many magazine subscription renewals sent to Harlan or Boone, IA? Why there?


It just seems like such a random place to send magazine renewal forms. If I read my maps correctly, neither of them are especially near any large cities with a workforce that could handle a (presumed) onslaught of renewal forms.

So... why? How? Whither renewal forms to Iowa?

Don't get me wrong, Iowa seems like a lovely state, but I have no idea why magazine subscriptions should end up there.

Can you figure it out?

Let all of us know what you did to find out the answer to the Challenge.

Search on!



Share

Comments

This post was republished. Comments can be viewed and shared via the original site.
8 comments

About the Author

Dan RussellDan Russell

I study the way people search and research. I guess that makes me an anthropologist of search. I am FIA's Future-ist in Residence. More »

Recent News

  • Deepfakes and the Future of Facts
    Deepfakes and the Future of FactsSeptember 27, 2019
  • Book cover for Joy of Search by Daniel M. Russell
    The Joy of Search: A Google Insider’s Guide to Going Beyond the BasicsSeptember 26, 2019
  • The Future of Facts in a ‘Post-Truth’ World
    The Future of Facts in a ‘Post-Truth’ WorldMay 15, 2018
  • The Future of Virtual and Augmented Reality and Immersive Storytelling
    The Future of Virtual and Augmented Reality and Immersive StorytellingJune 6, 2017

More »

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events scheduled. Please check back later.
Event Archive »
Video Archive »

Join Email List

SearchReSearch

  • Answer: Did they really burn Roman statues?
    Answer: Did they really burn Roman statues?June 8, 2023
  • SearchResearch Challenge (5/31/23): Did they really burn ancient Roman statues?
    SearchResearch Challenge (5/31/23): Did they really burn ancient Roman statues?May 31, 2023
  • SearchResearch on a podcast–"The Informed Life"–Listen now
    SearchResearch on a podcast–"The Informed Life"–Listen nowMay 22, 2023
  • Taking a bit of a break…
    Taking a bit of a break…May 10, 2023

More »

University of Maryland logo
Robert W. Deutsch Foundation logo
Google logo
Barrie School
Library of Congress logo
State of Maryland logo
National Archives logo
National Geographic Society logo
National Park Service logo
Newseum logo
Sesame Workshop logo
Smithsonian logo
WAMU
© 2023 The Future of Information Alliance, University of Maryland | Privacy Policy | Web Accessibility