Glazer: Why the NFL Gets a Pass on Drug Use While MLB Doesn’t

Posted on February 28, 2012 by admin

Recent events prove beyond a shadow of a doubt the power of the National Football League...

And two stories demonstrate just how much more important the NFL is over Major League Baseball.

On December 14th, 26 year-old Chicago Bears receiver Sam Hurd was busted by the feds for trying to buy more than 500 grams or more of cocaine. It was disclosed that he and others planned to purchase and move several kilos of cocaine WEEKLY. In other words, it was a multimillion dollar drug ring, because clearly this was not Sam’s first big time deal. You don’t just start out at that level.

Sammy and crew were moving on up into the big, big, big time.

Hurd explained that several other players were involved, and remember he was once a Dallas Cowboy.

Hurd was a well-paid backup player. He’d signed a three year deal with the Bears and got a $1.35 million signing bonus. Guess that just wasn’t enough.

However since the case exploded last year we’ve heard…NOTHING!

Why?

The power of the NFL to dump the story nationally. At some point Hurd will plead guilty, name nobody in the league and get a reduced sentence. All very quietly. The NFL and the government do not want this to get out of hand.

The NFL is the nation’s mental release and most important amusement away from daily headaches.

They can’t have it burned…not now…not ever. Not at this level. So it’s a dead story and that’s power baby.

It’s well known that MOST NFL players take some type of steroids. That’s no secret. Yet there’s almost no drug testing for players for roids, just other illegal drugs. HGH is not on the test list, nor is weed. Why? Most players use both. Yes most! And that’s not a secret either.

How does this compare with Major League Baseball?

National League MVP Ryan Braun is daily news over his use of steroids.

And MLB calls it CHEATING. The NFL calls it no big deal.

You never have heard the word CHEATING, when NFL players and roids are mentioned.

Most likely Braun used, but a technicality got him out of it – a "bad chain of custody."

My question is, why is it O.K. for NFL players to juice up but not baseball players?

Either way, the NFL has proved through these two simple cases that they have the most clout.

Posted in Craig_Glazer | Tagged | 7 Comments

Hearne: The Star Needs to Hire Brian McTavish Now

Posted on February 28, 2012 by admin

Enough already…

It’s time for the Kansas City Star to bring back Brian McTavish, one of the newspaper’s biggest, baddest, brightest and most prolific arts and entertainment writers ever.

McTavish got laid off three years back amidst the steepest, deepest cost-cutting slide of the newspaper’s history. Despite that he was the best writer in the features section. A journalist who could bat to any and all arts and entertainment reporting fields and who produced cutting edge videos and interviews for paper’s Web site.

Here’s the deal…

A ton of top reporters nationwide have bitten the dust the past few years as the print media business model has continued to suffer at the hands of the Internet and electronic media. The attrition in staff cuts and page counts at the Star and Pitch have been at times shocking and devastating as writers and editors have exited with few being replaced.

In addition to those drastic cuts and departures, the Star‘s arts and entertainment section has been crippled recently by a rash of career endangering illnesses.

No less than four dramatic, largely unexplained staff departures have taken a toll on FYI in recent months.

Starting with television and radio writer Aaron Barnhart.

Barnhart has been missing in action since late last year. He’d previously been diagnosed with cancer that was thought to be in remission. However, outside of reporting on the suicide of Fox 4’s Don Harman last November and a television year in review story on Christmas Day, Barnhart’s dropped completely from site with no explanation.

Another heavy hitter features writer who suffers from Tourette’s syndrome, Jim Fussell, saw extremely limited duty in 2011 and is now reportedly on the Family and Medical Leave Act which allows him "to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave."

Fussell’s last byline was December 9th last year.

Yet another features editor has been diagnosed with cancer although she continues to work part time. And most recently, the longtime features department head – who suffers from MS – stunned newsroomers by stepping down alongside the handful of staffers cut by the Star earlier this month.

Add to the above the countless number of features section layoffs and buyouts of recent years – including the elimination of performing arts music and dance critic Paul Horsley, fashion writer Jackie White, society editor Ann Spivak, the passing of restaurant critic Lauren Chapin, the axing of longtime film critic Robert Butler, books editor John Mark Eberhart and the demotions of art critic Alice Thorson and theater critic Robert Trussell to parttime status. That’s cutting way close to the proverbial bone.

Now take a gander at FYI’s grandest annual offering, Monday’s Academy Awards section.

It’s one of the ultra rare times of the year when the section goes "live," meaning it prints around midnight the night before rather than early in the afternoon.

Of the 11 Star staffers who gave themselves a pat on the back Monday for eating pizza and working late while watching the awards on TV Sunday night only two were described as "writers." The rest described themselves as editors with the exception of a "social media coordinator."

That’s nine editors to just two writers. 

"It’s always been an editor’s newspaper," says one former staffer. "They’ve let some editors go in recent years, but it’s mostly been writers. And I’m sure they all bemoan the fact that they’re short handed in the writing department, but talk is cheap."

And now depending upon who rises to take the top slot in features, the writing ranks could thin even further.

The bottom line; it’s time to bring back McTavish.

KC Confidential sure can’t afford him.

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | Tagged | 15 Comments

New Jack City: This Year’s Razzie Awards Salute Hollywood’s Worst

Posted on February 27, 2012 by admin

How Low Can Hollywood Go?

In this endless awards season it’s not over until the fat chick sings or the worst on film gets their much deserved recognition. We’re talking THE RAZZIES. The annual sendup to the past year’s creme de la crap.

Officially known as THE GOLDEN RASPBERRY AWARDS, these worst achievements in film are normally handed out on Oscar’s Eve. But not this year!

In a departure from an almost three decades long tradition, the winners—make that losers—will be heralded on April Fool’s Day, April 1st. And this year’s pre-Oscar night event was used instead to introduce the world to the nominees for the ultimate schmutz on film – the bottom of the cinematic barrel.

Leading the pack in the 32nd annual Razzie Awards is none other than Adam Sandler whose Happy Madison Productions picked up a record 11 nominations which more than doubled previous record holder Eddie Murphy.

Here then are the tacky nominees in the key catagories:

WORST PICTURE:
 
* JACK & JILL
* BUCKY LARSON: BORN TO BE A STAR
* NEW YEARS EVE
* TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON
* TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1

WORST ACTOR:
 
* ADAM SANDLER (Jack & Jill and Just Go with It)
* NICK SWARDSON ( Bucky Larson)
* NICOLAS CAGE (Season Of The Witch, Trespass and Drive Angry3-D)
* RUSSELL BRAND (Arthur)
* TAYLOR LAUTNER (Abduction and Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn)

WORST ACTRESS:
 
* ADAM SANDLER (as Jill in Jack & Jill)
* MARTIN LAWRENCE (as Momma in Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son)
* SARAH JESSICA PARKER (I Don’t Know How She Does It and New Years Eve)
* SARAH PALIN (as herself in Sarah Palin-The Undefeated)
* KRISTEN STEWART (Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1)

WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
 
* PATRICK DEMPSEY (Transformers: Dark Of The Moon)
* KEN JEONG (Big Mommas 3, Hangover 2 and Zookeeper)
* JAMES FRANCO (Your Highness)
* AL PACINO (as Al Pacino in Jack & Jill)
* NICK SWARDSON (Jack & Jill and Just Go With It)

WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
 
* KATIE HOLMES (Jack & Jill)
* DAVID SPADE (as Monica in Jack & Jill)
* BRANDON T. JACKSON (as Charmaine in Big Mommas 3)
* NICOLE KIDMAN (Just Go with It)
* THE UNDERWEAR MODEL (a.k.a. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Transformers 3)

WORST SCREEN ENSEMBLE:
 
* The entire cast of JACK & JILL
* The entire cast of BUCKY LARSON
* The entire cast of NEW YEARS EVE
* The entire cast of TRANSFORMERS 3
* The entire cast of TWILIGHT SAGA 3

 

Now there’s Good News / Bad News…

If you’re among the fortunate who missed JACK & JILL in theatres last year, you get ANOTHER chance to miss it because its DVD release date is next Tuesday, March 6th.

Eligible voting membership for the Razzies includes about 650 people and consists of average moviegoers who pay annual dues to cast their ballots,  film ‘professionals’ and entertainment journalists.

MAY THE FARCE BE WITH THEM!

Posted in Jack_Poessiger | Tagged | 3 Comments

Glazer: Brace Yourselves, the Return of Black Barbie to Scribe’s Romantic Fold

Posted on February 27, 2012 by admin

Joe Rogan had a hit single called "Voodoo Punanny"…

It’s a comedy song about not being able to stay away from a hot chick that’s simply not good for you, but the sex is too strong to stay away.  In my case in recent years that person has been BLACK BARBIE.

I met her just after my divorce. Hearne and I were at the Police concert at Sprint and I got a call from Temptations manager David Rice. The strip club was nearby and he said, "Craig I got a 10 – a 19 year-old stripper from Texas. And I showed her your photo online and she went crazy. She loves Al Pacino and thinks you look like him. Come over and meet her NOW!"

Maybe owning Stanford’s, driving a hot car and having a book out didn’t hurt either.

When I walked in and saw her, she stood nearly six feet tall. She had an unreal body, was very pretty, exotic and, in a strange way sweet, always smiling and soft.

Anyways…IT WAS ON!

We dated for real – if you can really date a dancer – for nearly a year. She moved near to me, stopped dancing and then…hey she was 19…what are you gonna do?

It had no future – just too many negatives, the obvious – but boy we had some fun.

Then just after New Year’s 2010 it kinda died. We went back to our normal lives, me doing what I do, her back to dancing. She came to the club once to see Carlos Mencia, but that was about it….

I think most of you guys can relate.

Girls have had their bad boys too, but I did miss her.

Then it happened.

A week ago Barbie called and said please come to the club and see me.

I really don’t like strip clubs much. I’ve dated dancers and that wild type for years, even in LA. But I met almost all of them at bars or parties or my club, not in a strip joint. That usually never works, but this one kinda did.

Barbie told me her boyfriend just got 20 years (what a surprise) and would I give her a second chance.

So I took her to Stanford’s this past weekend and saw the Crank Yankers. Then we went to the new Hollywood Casino – it’s a fun place and was packed – and we met up with Johnny Dare (who also thinks Barbie’s a hot dish, he met her with me at Rock Fest couple years back).

Johnny had his group – he gets mobbed by fans everywhere for photos and autographs, even there – and the comics came up as well so we all had a fun time. And that damn Dare wins even at slots…go figure. We all won a few bucks.

I took Barbie back to my place afterwards and even my dog Junior was glad to see her….

Will this be Voodoo Punanny part Two?

Stay tuned, I’m sure this will lead to some real headaches. Some times you know better but you can’t stay away.

Hey, we only live once.

Posted in Craig_Glazer | Tagged | 15 Comments

Today: Glen Campbell’s ‘Goodbye Tour’ to Hit Uptown April 26th

Posted on February 27, 2012 by admin

This just in….

One of the legendary performers of our time – Glen Campbell – will touch down in Kansas City on Thursday April 26th. Not at the Sprint Center, but rather in the intimate confines of the Uptown Theater.

The 75 year-old Campbell – who turns 76 four days prior to the show –  has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and is currently on a "Goodbye Tour" with his three children joining him in his backup band.

Campbell rocked this year’s Grammy awards last month with a rousing version of his hit "Rhinestone Cowboy" and was honored with a lifetime achievement award.

As for Campbell’s remembering the lyrics, his wife Kim Woollen described music as a "natural memory aid" for him.

“We’re finding out, we think it really does help his memory and help keep him from declining,” Woollen has said. “So it’s really good for him and all the love he gets from all the fans is really encouraging, so that’s why we want to do it as long as we can, because it’s healthy for all of us. Music is good medicine.”

"Sometimes he’ll get confused and lose track of the lyrics and he relies heavily on a TelePrompTer, but he still has fun," 25-year old Ashley Campbell told a television reporter in Jackson, Mississippi yesterday.

"It’s not all bad actually because sometimes he doesn’t remember the solo that he would always do, but he’ll just pull it out somewhere. Like these long forgotten licks that his fingers still remember, but he never would have thought to do before. It’s kinda fun you never know what he’s going to play," added Campbell’s 27-year-old son Shannon.

Reports indicate audiences are receiving Campbell’s "bittersweet" tour warmly.

"Considering the circumstances, Campbell turned in a solid performance in a city he called home for nearly 20 years, rarely losing his place in the lyrics, recovering quickly when he did, and turning in one amazing guitar solo after another as he navigated the often complex arrangements," a reviewer for the Arizona Republic said of Campbell’s Feb 19 show in Phoenix.

Tickets go on sale Friday at Ticketmaser.

Posted in Entertainment | Tagged | 1 Comment

Glazer: Scribe Weighs in on Streep, Clooney, 84th Academy Awards Ceremony

Posted on February 27, 2012 by admin

Meryl Streep broke nearly every important Academy Award record held by women…

She was nominated for the 17th time – the second most nominated being Katharine Hepburn – who is still the record holder with 4 Oscars. The other woman who won 3 awards is Ingrid Bergman.

With Streep’s third win – her first in 30 years – her best line was, "Oh no. Oh c’mon. Why her again?"

While she’s the greatest actress of our generation, Streep’s also aware that she’s not a sex symbol. Meaning her name on the title means..SERIOUS FILM…not Jennifer Anniston fluff. Streep is beyond brilliant – just google her credits – to me she’s simply the best there is or probably ever will be.

For many of us, THE IRON LADY, will probably be a film we see on HBO.

Like Clint Eastwood‘s Hoover, it’s just not a movie you want to rush out and see. Which is a shame, because performances like Streep’s are so rare today.

It’s hard to feel sorry for George Clooney but I kinda did.

He’s the main man in Hollywood and he’s dating a smoking hot professional wrestler. Yet his seemingly overwhelming popularity was crushed by an actor pretty much unknown in LA anywhere else. When Jean Dujardin beat out George for best actor you could feel Clooney’s pain.

Streep also said, "I will never be back up here again."

Know what? Don’t bet on it. At 62, she has lots more work ahead of her.

P.S. Wasn’t it nice to see real films, no tent pole, huge budget, mindless crap for once?  Thank God. Hollywood has returned to adult pictures that have some real content. You could tell by the people at the show – very few under 40 on stage – for once it was almost classy.

Posted in Craig_Glazer | Tagged | 6 Comments

Whinery: Bill Cosby & KC Mayor Sly James Tell Urban Youth, Time to Measure Up

Posted on February 26, 2012 by admin

This past Friday legendary performer Bill Cosby give a lecture to the students at Kansas City’s Ruskin High School on the state of the black community…

The refreshing viewpoint Mr. Cosby brings to the table is the preaching of personal responsibility as opposed to blaming every problem blacks face on racism and slavery. In contrast to the Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton’s of the World.

Mr. Cosby didn’t sugar-coat the problems facing black youth.

He told the kids to “pull up their pants, learn proper English, go to the library and work hard in school” if they want to succeed. He was also very critical of rap music with its negative portrayals of women and its glamorous portrayal of the drug trade.

I couldn’t agree more.          

All kids, regardless of race, need to step away from the video games, televisions and Ipods and start studying.

Kids today spend a whopping 55 hours a week glued to various electronic devices and only about 6 hours a week reading books, magazines and newspapers. Is it any wonder that academic performance of America’s youth, when compared to the rest of the World, is plummeting?      

Mr. Cosby, along with Kansas City Mayor Sly James, outlined how bad crime is in the black community.

Despite only being 13 percent of the overall population, blacks make up 49 percent of America’s murder victims and 41 percent of the prison population. The teen birthrate is 63 per 1000, more than double the rate of whites and a lot of these kids are being raised without fathers and all of the welfare, social and affirmative action programs can’t take the place of a father.     

Cosby dares the black community to take responsibility for its own problems.

Not just to blame whites or think that government is the panacea. His dialogue flies against the politically correct mentality that portrays blacks as victims. He’ll have none of that.

Cosby thinks it’s time for the blacks to take care of themselves and it is…

Posted in News_and_Views | Tagged | 10 Comments

Mermaid: Passing of Parents a Time for Reflection

Posted on February 26, 2012 by admin

As many of you know, both my parents died in the last few months…

It was sudden, traumatic, exhausting, and extremely sad.

I’ve run the gamut of emotions from shock and disbelief to numbness and anxiety. I’ve cried myself to sleep and balled my eyes out at stoplights in the middle of the day.

I’ve dealt with the extremes of hospital life to the finality of hospice care. My life went from mostly normal to extreme chaos in a matter of days.

And through it all a funny thing seems to be happening……

As the fog begins to clear, the world looks different through new eyes. You begin to face your own mortality and realize every day really could be the last.

And from that uprising of anguish comes a certain sweetness to everything from the taste of a good cup of coffee to seeing a child laughing for no reason at all. You find a new reality where even ugly becomes beautiful and dark
becomes light.

Things that mattered before suddenly don’t seem so important.

Life hits you with new eyes like a child in a toy store. You want to relish each day with intensity and savor it as though it were the last day of your vacation.

We often find ourselves getting wrapped up in the bitterness of everyday life. People can be mean and uncaring. The economy is bad. A relationship is failing. A job lost.

We’re walking around in shoes that have been battered in some way- some more than others – and we need to take a moment, a deep breath and get through all of this together.

We need to listen when other people need to talk.

Offer our support to a stranger in need. Do something nice for someone for no reason. Open yourself just a little and realize the world isn’t all about us.

We can make this short life miserable or grand.

Wake up tomorrow with new eyes and look around. Hopefully you’ll see the sweetness of life and remember we’re only here for a little bit, so MAKE IT COUNT!

 

 

The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.
The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference.
The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference.
And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.
                                                                             –Elie Wiesel–

Posted in News_and_Views | Tagged | 10 Comments

Jolly: Carlo’s Copa Room, a Hidden Italian Gem in Lenexa

Posted on February 26, 2012 by admin

Carlo’s Copa Room is hidden away near the corner of 87th and Lackman in Lenexa…

 That’s right, Lenexa.

This tiny Italian gem is easy to miss because it’s stuffed between Hen House Market and a nail salon. And it’s not like Lenexa, Kansas is well known for nice restaurants let alone anything approaching fine dining. Mostly what you’ll find are pizza buffets, fast food eateries, and an Applebee’s.

Lenexa does have great schools, nice parks, and is a good place to live and raise rugrats, but it’s a wasteland for palate pleasing restaurants. Until, that is, in 2004 when the Carlos family moved to this little family-based city and opened a restaurant that is UNBELIEVABLE.

This is my mother’s favorite restaurant, and I often take her there for lunch. If my mom could cook this good I’d go to more family dinners. Regrettably, she can’t, however Carlo’s mother, Kathy CAN cook and she’s been the head chef there since Day One. Kathy’s there everyday making everything from scratch.

My mother and I arrived at the Copa at 1:00 pm on a Wednesday and were quickly greeted and seated in the back dining area in a circular booth at my mom’s favorite table.

The decor at The Copa Room could use a update. The main bar’s very attractive as is the nearby lounge area that has a few tall tables. But the the bar in the back dining area is not in use anymore and is kind of a eyesore.

This bar was probably in full operation when they first opened, but due to the recession it’s clearly out of service.

There are some spots on the restauant’s walls missing paint and is a wall dividing the two dining rooms that might make some diners in the back feel cut off from all the hustle and bustle of the main dining and bar area. If Gordon Ramsay‘s design team from Kitchen Nightmares came it and did a little touch up, this place would be amazing.

Nonetheless, I don’t usually eat the decor and the food sure doesn’t need fixing.

We ordered bruchetta to start off because neither of us had ever tried it here and it was wonderful. The tomatoes were fresh and the balsamic vinaigrette with onions and garlic danced on our palates.

The accompanying bread was nicely toasted and warm. Next to arrive were our side salads, which come with every meal, and they made competitor’s Italian salads look and taste like dog food. And the salads weren’t soaking wet but rather drizzled with the perfect amount of Carlo’s heavenly dressing.

Our entrees arrived soon after. I ordered Seafood Ravioli from the small plates menu which was the perfect size. There were five huge raviolis stuffed with lobster, scallops, and shrimp all tossed in a white wine tomato basil sauce that reminded me of the first time I had sex…with a women.

My mom ordered Nani’s Lasagna with homemade Sugo sauce which is their signature red sauce. And even though I’ve had this dish many times before, I had to steal a few bites. Thank God my mom’s a light eater….

The Copa Room’s lasagna is by far the best I have EVER had.

And if you dine there, don’t forget to try the complementary bread – it’s warm and baked fresh every day.

By meal’s end we were more stuffed than a minivan schlepping Mexicans across the border but…

I had to try the tiramisu. I had heard about it from the staff and other diners and the mascarpone was sooooo fresh, the lady fingers were light and gently dipped in a coffee goodness that could put Starbucks out of business. That dessert was the best thing to touch my lips since my first prom night.    

Carlo’s Copa Room also has live music on Wednesday nights where you can hear all of your favorites from the Rat Pack era. In addition the Copa Room has won accolades for their food from the KC Star and they seem pretty proud of the review they received from the Pitch because they have it posted on their website.

The Pitch gave them 4 ½ stars but I don’t think they did the Copa Room justice – I’ll give them 5! 

If you can tear yourself away from the Leawood, Overland Park, or the Plaza, check this place out. It’s worth the drive.

Posted in Food_and_Fashion | Tagged | 6 Comments

Glazer: Set Aside Hurt Feelings, Let the Games Continue – Long Live the KU-MU Rivalry

Posted on February 26, 2012 by admin

I’ve always been a KU basketball and an MU football fan…

Who doesn’t love a winner? My mom and dad went to MU and I did a year at UMKC, so I followed MU football. But I’ve always loved KU’s basketball program. It’s the best program for sports in our area, and yes, that includes the Chiefs and Royals.

KU basketball is Kansas City’s only elite team nationally and it’s been that way for decades.

Winning a 9th straight Big 12 title proves that Bill Self is a top three national coach.

And this was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Jayhawks. Now they’re likely going to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Big Dance in a couple weeks.

Top notch, Bill!

But this year MU showed up huge.

And as we saw yesterday, both teams are about equal. MU wins at home, KU wins at home. Oddly, Kansas deserved the win at Missouri and MU kinda deserved to win at Kansas.

Simply put, I see it this way. Missouri is a shade better as a team and Kansas has the better three stars.

KU’s Thomas Robinson, Tyshawn Taylor and Jeff Withey. Yes, Missouri has the Pressey boys, Ratliffe, English and Denmon, but KU’S stars shine brighter. Robinson has been talked about all year as the NCAA Player of the Year, Tyshawn has moved up to be a possible All American (and NBA pick) Withey is the surprise player of the year, maybe even nationally. He too is NBA pick.

All these guys, including the MU players, are likely NBA picks at some point. Lots of talent.

As for KU’s overtime win, it was just so dramatic. Tyshawn and Robinson took charge at the end and in overtime. A one point win on CBS, game of the week. It locked up Kansas, barring an upset, to be a one seed again. Missouri is now likely a two seed, unless they go undefeated through the Big 12 Tournament and beat Kansas, then maybe a one seed is in reach.

Does the KU-MU series really matter?

HELL YES, IT MATTERS.

The coverage proves that for sure. These two games had the entire town talking. Only the Chiefs playing Green Bay and winning came close. This was the game of the year for KC sports, no question. So they need to continue to play each other.

The city loves it. And now that MU has an outstanding basketball team and a top 10 football team, yeah they need to continue to play each other. Why not?

Because MU left the Big 12? That’s even more reason to want the gunfire to continue. The two best conferences playing each other? Hell yes.

You can’t blame MU for going. There’s no reason to be mad, it’s just business.

Nobody’s blaming the teams coming to our conference for leaving theirs!

Final answer:  Kansas is one player (outside shooter) away from being the best team in the nation. MU is one big man away, maybe. I give Kansas the slight edge in who’s best.

On Monday KU will be No. 3 in the nation and MU will fall to likely to 5 or 7, due to the two straight losses.

Posted in Craig_Glazer | Tagged | 17 Comments

Hearne: MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Coming to the Uptown for Earth Day

Posted on February 25, 2012 by admin

The fastest rising star in cable news is Kansas City bound…

Love her or hate her, there’s no denying MSNBC host Rachel Maddow is a force to be reckoned with. Since taking over the 8 p.m. slot four years ago her ratings have soared and she’s crossed swords with the likes of Bill O’Reilly and Lou Dobbs – and even been compared to legendary newsman Walter Cronkite.

Here’s the deal.

Unlike most successful, lightning rod news-talk hosts, the openly gay Maddow has the grey matter to back up her arguments and point of view. As she does in her new book Drift, about "how the decision-making process of the American military has become divorced from the democratic process making it far too easy and streamlined to use force worldwide," says Slate Magazine.

Now this just in, Rainy Day Books in Fairway is bringing Maddow’s book signing roadshow to town Sunday April 22nd.

Rainy Day head Vivien Jennings will join Maddow in a conversation on the Uptown’s main stage at 2 p.m.

Which just happens to be Earth Day.

Maddow’s appearance and book signing is just part of the Uptown’s Earth Day celebration.

"We’re also having a big garage sale in the shopping center parking lot across the street," says main man Larry Sells. "It’s an Earth Day Garage Sale, so for $25 you can have a place to sell your stuff and help out the earth."

As for Maddow’s contribution to the holiday, "What better way to help preserve the earth that to get rid of these questionable wars – these illegal invasions of other countries," Sells says. "And Rachel Maddow is is one of the people who speaks most eloquently about not using the military to promote corporate greed around the globe."

One question I’d like to see Jennings ask: for Maddow’s take on Fox News blockhead Lou Dobbs classless calling her a "tea-bagging queen."

Not to be confused with a "tea party queen."

Tickets – which include an autographed copy of Maddow’s book – are available at Ticketmaster or by calling the Uptown at 816 753-8665

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | Tagged | 9 Comments

Tales From the Tweet: Braun Beats the System, Ozzie’s Man-Boobs & Something About a Border War?

Posted on February 25, 2012 by admin

With all of the hype going into today’s matchup between Kansas and Missouri, you’d think that Twitter would be a bit more abuzz.

Not so.

Aside from the expected dick-cheese taunts from fans on both sides, it’s been mostly quiet. Oh, the prodigal son will return to check out the game and eat some food (presumably between bursts of pedophilian-protector defense):

@JPosnanski
“Heading back to KC for the last Mizzou-KU game. Barbecue will be eaten. Winstead burgers will be consumed.”

But somehow, this doesn’t feel as exciting as it may have been a week ago, you know, before the Tigers took a big, fat monkey-shit against the Kansas State Wildcats… AGAIN. Oh sure, it’s a possible final meeting (doubt it), and there’s a lot on the line, but after Mizzou’s narrow escape against the Jayhawks in Columbia just a few weeks ago, this one has disappointment scrawled all over it.

Look, what Mizzou has done this season has exceeded expectations. They’re a fun team to watch, no doubt, but it doesn’t appear as though all of the HEART! HUSTLE! GRIT! DETERMINATION! in Dickey V’s loins is enough to overcome the grotesque size differential. Therefore, I’m taking the Jayhawks to win, teased with IND at NE ( 40) and BAL at Spain (-7). IT’S A TEASER BET. LOOK IT UP! EVERY SPORTS BOOK IN CANADA TAKES TEASER BETS, PUNK.

Sorry—where were we? Ah yes, on with the Tweets.

We’ll jump right in with some sexy, sexy Peyton Manning chatter. Where will he go?! Is he healthy?! Is it true that Nicaraguan surgeons implanted cheetah bones in his neck to speed the healing process?!

@ClaytonESPN (John Clayton, ESPN football turtle)
“The most interesting thought from the combine was the idea the Arizona Cardinals wouldn’t rule out signing Peyton Manning. it’s a long shot.”

“If Manning is released, the Dolphins and Redskins are still the leading candidates.”

SCREW YOU, TURTLE-FACE! That’s not what us idiotic Chiefs’ fans want to hear. PLEASE, someone in the local media fill my head with illogical and unlikely sugar-plum dreams!

@getnickwright (610 am)
“I know a lot of you guys thought I was joking about Peyton to KC being possible, but I’m hearing more and more that it really could happen.”

@bobfescoe (610 am)
“Hearing the #chiefs and tom condon have spoken twice abt peyton manning. Told financials a good fit for kc. We shall see what happens”

Thank you, JEEBUS! The guys at 610 are calling it, folks: Manning to Kansas City! (needle-being-pulled-from-the-record-noise) Okay… or not. I’M calling it, actually, and I’m going on record as saying that Manning will NOT be in Kansas City next year (unless whoever he ends up with is playing at Arrowhead). If I’m wrong, I’ll fistfight Bob Fescoe in the parking lot of Jardine’s, while a crowd of fabulously dressed jazz fans stand by uncomfortably. SPORTS! 
 

But all fanciful flights of Manning’s-face filling our heads aside, there’s a bigger story about Chiefs’ personnel afoot: will they, or will they not sign their second-best player named Brandon? After signing former Oakland Raider Stanford Routt to a Fatty McFatFat contract, Turtle-Face doesn’t think so:

@ClaytonESPN
“With more than $52 million of contracts tied up in CBs Brandon Flowers and Stanford Routt, expect KC to let Brandon Carr walk"

But wait—the Chiefs front office would like you to believe otherwise:

@nate_bukaty (810 am)
“Pioli: "The signing of Stanford Routt does not impact where we are with Brandon Carr." Says Chiefs will still pursue Carr.”

Bull-honky. Brandon Carr is a ghost, a discarded condom-wrapper fluttering in the breeze on a gentle fall evening. I think this Tweet—from Carr himself– says it all:

@BCarr39
“Feels kinda good to be back in KC”

Kinda good? That’s not exactly encouraging. Later days, B, it’s been real.

What do teammates think about the almost-certain departure of a beloved friend?

@b_albert76 (Branden Albert, Chiefs’ OL)
“It snow to much in Rochester… I can barley drive…”

…or spell… or tackle proper word usage… or protect your quarterback.
 

In baseball news, the headline story of this year’s young, supple Spring Training has been the overturned suspension of previously accused performance enhancing drug using scoundrel, Ryan Braun. The reigning NL MVP had been facing a 50 game suspension for testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone. But rejoice, Milwaukee Brewers fans, turns out he didn’t do anything!

@MLB
“BREAKING: @Brewers OF Ryan Braun has won his appeal challenging his 50-game suspension by the Commissioner’s Office.”

Woo-hoo! Congrats, Ryan! I knew you were one of the good—wait—what’s that? What did you just say, ESPN’s Baseball Tonight host Karl Ravech?

@karlravechespn
“Appears Brauns team won because a courier didn’t take positive test to fed ex building thought it was closed Saturday night..protocol?”

Oh… oh DEAR. So he DID test positive… UNLESS the courier—who stored the pee-pee in his fridge overnight, reports say—is a bitter Cubs fan who dumped some bull-semen into the cup in an orgiastic nightmare of ultimate revenge! Alright, so that’s probably not likely. The dude cheated, and because the other dude was a complete idiot, the dude who cheated got away with it. Is baseball upset?

@SBerthiaume (Steve Berthiaume, ESPN’s Baseball Tonight)
“Braun test sample collector thought FedEx/Kinkos was closed because it was late on a Saturday. MLB is livid and considering options.”

Here’s an option: HE STILL FAILED A DRUG TEST. SUSPEND HIM FOR 50 GAMES. Furthermore, take away his MVP trophy and make him give it to Matt Kemp of the Dodgers. And THEN, double-test Kemp to make sure HE wasn’t cheating as well. Baseball is so silly. What do Ryan Braun’s fans, friends and teammates think?

@JohnAxford (Brewers’ closer, mustache aficionado)
“All I can say is that Braun has exemplary character is continuing to handle this in an unbelievable manner. #ThereBetterBeSomeApologies”

Apologies for what?! The fact that this stupid courier was improperly trained? The fact that this loophole is letting a CHEATER walk? NO.

Hold on, wait, I take that back. I’ll apologize—I’ll apologize to all of the poor kids who don’t know any better, the ones who look up to Braun and falsely idolize him. I’ll apologize to them, because he clearly doesn’t have the sack to admit that, in an effort to be who everyone wanted him to be and earn his contract, he fucked up and stuck a bunch of shit in his body. He failed baseball fans everywhere by not doing the right thing and NOT owning up to his indiscretions. That’s the truly awful part. Hey Ryan Braun, you suck.

@ClayMatthews52 (Green Bay Packers LB)
“Happy for my friend Ryan Braun. EXONERATED by the TRUTH!!”

Shut up, Clay Matthews. And cut your fucking hair already, will you? You’re not in Lynyrd Skynyrd, douche.
 

In other, less rage-inducing baseball news, Jose Canseco is playing beisbol in Mexico! What’s better than Jose Canseco playing and tweeting from Mexico? That’s right, Jose Canseco playing and tweeting in Mexico… after (apparently) discovering peyote!

@JoseCanseco
“A little girl told me one time that I should open up a hug store .what a great idea”

“Wow there is a black crow out side my window staring at me what does that mean”

“If you c me in public come up to me and give me a hug ok”

“Let’s everyone all at once tweet I love life come on you can do it”

A)        She was lying to you.

B)        It means you’re dying, Jose.

C)        Tell me this when you’re sober.

D)         Is this seriously happening?

Here’s to hoping we see him back in the big leagues real soon, on any other team aside from the Kansas City Royals. He wouldn’t look too shabby in Miami Marlins… rainbow and black(?), though. He and Marlins’ manager Ozzie Guillen played together in Tampa Bay in 2000 (back when the Rays were still Deviled) and they’re probably equally crazy. Oh, and just how is everyone’s favorite loose-screw skipper adjusting to life in the sand, under the sun?

@OzzieGuillen
“Back ti the gym after 10 years I hop is not for one day lol”

“people in south beach take care of they bodies so I may want to be shirtless hahaah no man boobs for me”

Any middle-schoolers looking for a band name? How about, “Ozzie and the South Beach Man Boobs”? You’re WELCOME. Now get out there and win that talent-show, kids!
 

This week’s Sounds Like a Trouble Tweet stems from Florida as well, and this time, there’s a local connection.

@D_McCluster22 (Chiefs’ RB/KR/Scarecrow)
“Who’s coming to Deuces Sports Bar& Gill in Largo tonite with me and Dwayne Bowe for ladies night and my dads B-day?! U dont wanna miss this”

No, I don’t. And I’m sure the police don’t either. Now, this tweet was written on February 23rd, and though I’ve yet to hear of any cocaine-fueled, stripper-slapping incidents, sometimes these things take a week or so to get out. Keep your eyes peeled.

And finally, for those who don’t have the fiduciary means or emotional wherewithal to travel to Largo and party like rock stars with NFL miscreants, there’s someone in your OWN backyard who I’m sure would be just as much of a blast to hang with. Kevin Kietzman? Close us out, buddy!

@kkwhb (810 am)
“Honeycrisp apples are the best I’ve ever had.”

You. Wild. Man. You.

That’s it for now, folks. Enjoy your NBA All-Star Weekend (which is a thing that is happening, I’m told). 
 

Posted in Sports | Tagged | 5 Comments

Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Wanderlust’ Outtakes Are Best Part of Lame Comedy

Posted on February 24, 2012 by admin

When critics exit press screenings they’re usually asked for their opinions by studio representatives…

I dreaded having to give my take to them on WANDERLUST the other day.

All I could come up with was: "I’m speechless."

"In a good or bad way," the rep asked.

I let her guess my answer.

WANDERLUST basically tells of a New York City couple—Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston—who suddenly fall on hard times. He loses his job and she can’t sell her penguin documentary to HBO.

And they’ve just purchased a micro-loft in Manhattan.

Now overextended and totally stressed, they take a job offer from his porta-potty magnate brother in Atlanta.

Which works for about a week.

But hold on!

On their way to Atlanta, the broke couple stumble onto a hippie commune called Elysium and that’s exactly where they eventually end up.

Elysium has it all. Free Love—make that sex – nudism and hippies of all sorts and shapes.

Granted some of the early stuff in the movie is good for some laffs. Or maybe chuckles. But the laffs get more forced and far between as the story progresses. And for the film’s final half hour I felt embarrassed for the cast. Especially for Alan Alda as the old and clueless commune honcho.

All that plus whacky full frontal male and female nudity makes you wonder if producer Judd Apatow has lost his touch?

The film was originally slated for release last October, but Universal pulled the date and moved it back to this last weekend of February.

Maybe they should’ve taken it straight to video instead.
 
Kansas City’s Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston are talented performers. They deserve better. Much better.
 

1-1/2 out of 5 fingers for this ‘Wunder-BUST.’

JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES is Kansas City longest running radio movie magazine airing Friday mornings at 6:40 a.m. on NewsRadio KMBZ Fm & Am and anytime on Time-Warner Cable’s K.C. ON DEMAND, Channel 411.

Posted in Jack_Poessiger | Tagged | 9 Comments

Hearne: The (Burned) Bridges of Jason Whitlock County

Posted on February 23, 2012 by admin

How many more journalistic lives does Jason Whitlock have left?

If he was a cat, he’d have nine, right? But Whitlock’s’s too big to be a cat. In any case, the former Kansas City Star sports scribe has burned through at least four of his nine – at WHB, ESPN, 61 Sports and the newspaper. 

And truth be known, at least three more, raising his magic number to seven two remaining?

With that large of a media enemies list, the big guy was more than a little lucky he was able to dodge the getting fired bullet again recently after his Tweet about Jeremy Lin‘s you-know-what size and that because Lin had had a good game he was gonna inflict some "pain" on a NYC hottie.

The Asian American Journalists Association and a ton of fellow sports journos came crashing down on Whitlock like a ton of bricks however he was able to keep his blogging gig at Fox Sports by issuing an apology.

Then he dodged another bullet Sunday when CNN‘s "Reliable Sources" media critic host Howard Kurtz did Whitlock a favor by leaving him out of a segment entitled, "The Dangers of Twitter," about the "pitfalls journalists face when they take to Twitter."

You may recall, Whitlock had contributed to Kurtz’ show two months earlier in a story slamming ESPN – the company that had fired Jason although it was not disclosed by Kurtz during the broadcast – for its coverage of the Penn State scandal.

This isn’t the first time Whitlock has gotten away with political incorrectness murder.

Anybody remember when he traveled to an away game early on in his tenure at the Star and held up a sign for TV cameras that read, "Bledsoe, gay?"

That cost him a pretty good wrist slap and suspension at the Star.

In a lesser known incident Whitlock got in trouble at the Star for judging an Triple R-rated "homemade bikini contest" on former Q104 bad boy Randy Miller‘s radio show.

"That’s exactly right, he did," muses Miller. "He made several remarks. I remember one of the bikinis that year was made out of three little round Q104 stickers and I remember Jason said something about, that’s one sticker too many. And I remember he got in trouble at the Star and he told me he couldn’t judge any more swimsuit contests again, but he still wanted to get the pictures from the contest."

Seven down, two to go?

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | Tagged | 5 Comments

Glazer: Knock on Wood, Hip-Hop’s Gone & Westport’s Back

Posted on February 23, 2012 by admin

It’s finally happened; Westport has joined all the other entertainment districts in KC that matter…

Read my lips: No more hip-hop clubs, no more rap music, no more young, urban crowds.

With America’s Pub closing after New Year’s, the question was, how long it might take for the crowds to increase.

NOT LONG. 

Kelly’s staffers say business has almost doubled on weekends since the area has completely dumped urban dance. Wow.

In fact, I’ve driven through Westport and the P&L District and Martini Corner the past few weekend nights and Westport is moving quickly towards having the biggest crowds. They’re 90% young and white with some older people mixed in at places like Harry’s and McCoy’s.

And Westport has added three new restaurants in just this past eight weeks; Green Room Burgers, The Boot (Italian) and Sama Zama (Japanese). Meanwhile nightclubs like Gusto and the Union are wall-to-wall weekend nights playing Techno for mostly white crowds. They’re packed – it’s hard to move – man, it reminds me of the 80’s and 90s..

Westport is following a national trend by eliminating the large young urban crowds.

Crowds that have demonstrated time and again the desire to act poorly and create violence. My trips to LA and Vegas echo what Westport has done. The P&L District got a bad rap being called Power & White. They’re just trying to survive.

In time Westport will again become KC’s No. 1 entertainment district – it already has on weeknights.

They have the only decent nighttime crowds during the week. During which time, barring a special event, the P&L is dead.

Here’s something you may not have noticed.

To demonstrate how strong the trend against hip hop and rap is, almost no young, urban films are being made today because movie theaters also don’t want those crowds either.

Even though the movie THE HELP – which was a well done Academy Award quality picture – took the blame hit for the Plaza mini riot last summer because of the kids outside the theatre there to see that movie that night!

Hollywood has all but dumped the "black gimmick" films.

No more glorified gang pics. In fact television has quietly dumped shows that even hint at anything close. Why? Advertisers are thin for those shows.

Radio has followed, with even KPRS having slipped badly in the last few years. The Rock 98,9, 101 The Fox, Q104 and Mix 93.3 now battle for the top slot KPRS used to hold but no longer does.

Westport is on the way back to the top. The Kellys and Bill Nigro, James Westfall, Aaron Confessori and the rest of its owners have decided to eliminate all violence and crime. And they’re close now – very close.

In fact, this summer the extra cops and barracades may be toast.

Thats right, BACK TO THE FUTURE.

Freeing up as many as 30 KCMO cops to work the streets on the weekends can only help the city. Meanwhile  the mayor and new police chief  remain silent over the clear movement of young urban crowds out of the entertainment zones.

"We are so sick of the violence and trouble it has caused, enough already,"  one KCMO cop told me. "It’s time to move on."

And as Westport adds new restaurants, bars and festivals, its numbers will continue to grow.

Way to go Westport.

Posted in Craig_Glazer | Tagged | 20 Comments

Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Act Of Valor’- Real SEALS, Real Heroes!

Posted on February 23, 2012 by admin

ACT OF VALOR isn’t your average, everyday popcorn action flick…

What it IS, is a low budget tribute movie to the Navy SEALS, co-directed by Scott Waugh and Mike McCoy who are known collectively in Hollywood circles as the Bandito Brothers.

"Nobody from Hollywood wanted us to make it," Waugh told the Hollywood Reporter recently.
"That’s why we ended up funding it ourselves and finding private equity and why we really made a truly independent film with this."

Looking for a testosterone filled, name marquee cast?

You won’t find it in this movie.

What you’ll got instead are eight real U.S. Navy SEALS playing themselves on a covert mission to recover a kidnapped CIA agent. And in the process, taking down a complex web of terrorist cells determined to strike America at all cost.

ACT OF VALOR is a high-octane composite of real life heroism by this group of still active-duty SEALs.
The screenplay was inspired by actual events in their lives and the production uses all the latest battlefield technology, equipment and intelligence against almost impossible odds.

A dramatic re-creation of past missions.

What you come away with after viewing this film is a genuine non-fictionalized account of how these missions went down.

That’s not to say this movie is going to win any acting awards.

Remember, these SEALs are playing themselves, and it’s not their acting skills they’re known for.

And frankly, there are some pretty monotonous, wooden and forced performances at times.

But one can easily overlook some of this production’s minor faults as you become engulfed and go deeper into the actions and achievements of these American heroes, more than any movie has before.

And remember, this is the REAL DEAL!

For the filmmaking Bandito Brothers this movie could become a gold mine.

They’ve sold off the distribution rights to Relativity Media for about as much as they’ve got in it and reportedly have retained 50% ownership.

So if it hits at the boxoffice they stand to profit handsomely while at the same time shining the spotlight on one of this country’s most derserving groups of warriors who operate under the motto:

‘The only easy day—was yesterday.’

ACT OF VALOR raises 3 out of 5 clandestine fingers.

Catch JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings at 6:40 a.m. on NewsRadio KMBZ Fm & Am and anytime on Time-Warner Cable’s K.C. ON DEMAND, Channel 411.

Posted in Jack_Poessiger | Tagged | 4 Comments

Starbeams: The Top New Missouri Meth Tourism Slogans

Posted on February 23, 2012 by admin

Missouri was the #1 state for METH BUSTS by far last year. 

More than 2,000 busts, followed by Tennessee at 1,700.

Turns out a county near St. Louis is giving all of us a bad name, as Jefferson County had 253 busts which was more than Texas, Florida and California COMBINED.
 
 

THE TOP NEW MISSOURI TOURISM SLOGANS

MISSOURI…
 
 
Come be a part of our chemistry.
 
Put your mind in a whole new state.
 
Where the Crystal Drano runs.
 
Come celebrate ETHER with the family.
 
For vacationers who are SudaFED-UP with life.
 
Welcome to Methssouri…we got purdy mouths.
 
The state that never sleeps.
 
Don’t mess with Texas, METH with Missouri.
 
WINNING!

Kelly Urich is the morning show host on The Point 99.7 FM

 
 
 
 

Posted in Starbeams | Tagged | 1 Comment

Hearne: The Real Reason Kanrocksas Won’t be Back This Year?

Posted on February 23, 2012 by admin

Let me say up front, I won’t quite be answering the question in the above headline…

When things don’t work out as expected and people lose lots of dough – especially big money backers rolling the dice in uncharted waters – something has to give – more on this later.

In the case of the music festival Kanrocksas, it won’t be returning this summer as it had promised.

Insiders estimate last summer’s inaugural fest at the Kansas Speedway churned a wake of $2.5 to $4 million in red ink.

That’s a lot to love.

Now let’s take a look at the spin spoon fed to local media in Kanrocksas press release Tuesday:

"Due to a major construction project at Kansas Speedway during the summer of 2012, Kanrocksas Music Festival will not return until 2013. Following the successful inaugural Kanrocksas Music Festival at Kansas Speedway in August 2011…"

Was the fest successful? Nobody who knows how to operate a calculator would likely describe it that way.

However, the thousands of attendees and fans of Muse and Eminem probably would. And for them it was.

I remember around 1,200 people laughing their you-know-whats off at my Jay Leno show at the Music Hall years ago while I suffered a pretty hefty financial hit. They had a great time, Jay delivered the comedy goods and I limped out of the venue on my not so merry way.

Now let’s take a look at why Kanrocksas says why it won’t be back this summer.

Because of the construction this spring and summer at the Speedway. Nice spin, but no cigar.

Because everybody involved has known for more than a year – before the first Kanrocksas even – that the Speedway would be embroiled in its "facelift" this year. So nothing new there. Former Star race writer Jim Pedley wrote about it in great detail early last July on the Web site RacinToday.

Were the construction project to have stood in the way of this year’s fest, Kanrocksas would have known about it long ago and could easily have moved the fest to a different venue – like Wakarusa did when it lost its deal at Clinton State Park in Lawrence – or simply told everybody last year it would be skipping 2012.

A better bet is Kanrocksas has been scrambling and trying to make it work but finally threw in the towel after it  became obvious that time and/or money had run out.

So will it actually return in 2013 as announced?

Maybe.

There’s talk that younger, hipper local promoters think the concept is still viable and may be courting the same deep pockets that took the financial hit on Kanrocksas last year.

What the heck? Wakarusa is a goldmine and who doesn’t like the idea of going for the gold?

Meanwhile, as offered up here last week, Kanrocksas can keep its freak flag flying by doing smaller events at Sandstone and/or Livestrong Sporting Park.

Looking for some more uplifting news where Kanrocksas is concerned?

Not a problem.

Atop the announcement on Kanrocksas Facebook page about the fest not goiing down this year is a big, fat thumbs up from William J Brandmeyer, reportedly the lead investor for Kanrocksas. Put another way, as goes Brandmeyer, so may go Kanrocksas.

Brandmeyer’s take on Facebook:

"Although incredibly disappointing, Kanrocksas will return in 2013. Its clear that our city deserves to host a major music festival, and we will not be denied."

Stay tuned…

Posted in Entertainment | Tagged | 4 Comments

Whinery: RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT?

Posted on February 23, 2012 by admin

Lets get one thing straight…

I’m not a Ron Paul supporter and will probably join the thousands of Americans who write-in Mickey Mouse for President when casting my ballot this November. That being said- I find Mr. Paul to be a most interesting candidate.

I saw Paul’s speech at Union Station Saturday night and it was a barn burner.

He identifies a lot of the issues that Americans are disturbed by and which are fueling the Tea Party & Occupy Wall Street protest movements.

Here are three major issues I’d like to address:

The Erosion of Civil Liberties– Our Constitutional Law Professor President recently signed into law legislation which would hold Americans indefinitely after being accused of “terrorist activities” (whatever that might be). You would also not have a right to an attorney, to post bail, see the evidence against you or be able to confront your accuser.

As a criminal defense lawyer, I find this to be OUTRAGEOUS!

The Endless Wars-We’ve been in – Iraq and Afghanistan. I know, the President has “ended” the war in Iraq- but do we have all our troops out? No. And Afghanistan, do you realize the last army to conquer the Afghans was Alexander the Great’s over 2400 years ago? And now the most powerful military the World has ever seen is currently being beat by a “religious, sandal wearing mafia.”

Its ridiculous and needs to end.

Out of Control Government Spending– Next year’s Federal Budget is almost FOUR TRILLION DOLLARS! That’s one out of every four dollars the American People generate in income every year. And when added up with all the money spent by State and Local Governments, over half of the gross national product of the USA is being consumed by Government.

And for what?

Look around Kansas City with its broken school system and rotting infrastructure. All this money is being spent and there is precious little to show for it.

Would things be any different under a President Paul?

Who knows? However one thing is for certain, he couldn’t possibly be any worse than the current occupant of the White House.

Could he?

Posted in News_and_Views | Tagged | 3 Comments

Sounds Good: Fourth of July & ACBs@The Brick, Reverend Horton Heat@Bottleneck

Posted on February 22, 2012 by admin

Plenty of KC area concert news to digest…

First, as pointed out by Hearne a few days ago before any formal press release, it seems that the worst named music festival ever will not be returning for a second year.  Instead, the Kanrocksas organizers claim they’re taking a year off "Due to a major construction project at Kansas Speedway during the summer of 2012."

They say they’ll be back in 2013, but I put the odds of that at about 50/50.

Also, last week 96.5 the Buzz announced the lineup for their annual Beach Ball, which is being held again this year at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in KCK.  The schedule is about as impressive as I’ve seen the Buzz put together, at least for the last 6 or 7 years.  

Headliners include The Shins, Foster the People, Flogging Molly, Sublime With Rome, Metric, The Kooks, and a few others.  The show takes place on June 2nd and tickets start at just $20!

That just happens to be the weekend of Wakarusa, so I’ll be interested to see how the shows might end up affecting each other. 

On to this weeks picks… 

Friday, February 24th

The Fourth of July & The ACBs at the Brick in KC

My two favorite local indie pop bands come together again for one show in the Crossroads.  Both of these bands’ latest albums are the type that will get stuck in your cd player- if you still have one – and your head. 

The ACBs latest effort, Stona Rosa, is a journey into washed out slacker pop that features some seriously high falsetto vocals and catchy as hell riffs.  The first time I saw these guys live I thought of Weezer’s Pinkerton, but after the last time I caught them at the Jackpot they seemed more like a cross between Vampire Weekend and Foster the People.  If you like indie (whatever that even means anymore), these guys are the best local band doing it right now. 

The Fourth of July is a bit different, a bit more folky, and with a more mellow, lo-fi vibe.  Their latest album, Until Our Hearts Explode, simply kicks ass.  The songs are all about failed relationships, drinking beer in Lawrence, and sleeping around.  A definite plus is the male and female harmonies that weave themselves through their tales of missed connections.

So mess up your hair, put on a sweatshirt with an eagle on it, and get your ass out to the Brick. 

Saturday, February 25th

The Reverend Horton Heat at the Bottleneck in Lawrence

How does one describe the good Reverend?  It’s not as easy as you think.  Well, let’s see, he kind of created the genre now known as psychobilly.  What’s psychobilly you ask?  Umm, it’s kind of a punk, country, swing, rockabilly, metal, big band type of deal.  Got it?

The Rev has garnered a cult following for decades now, but even if you’re only a casual music fan no doubt you’ve heard his songs.  They’ve been featured on bunches of TV shows and movies, like Ace Ventura and Johnny Bravo.  But maybe the biggest kick they’ve gotten recently was from being featured on Guitar Hero II. 

Ask your kids.

Along for the ride is the Oregon old-timey string band Larry and His Flask, who blend copious vocal harmonies with a punk attitude and an Appalachian wardrobe.  And get this – no one in the band is actually named Larry.  They spent last summer on the Warped Tour and recent reviews have gone something like this:

"You can tell that playing scores of sets in all sorts of circumstances this summer on the Warped Tour really honed the band’s skills and tightened up their show," wrote Ben Salmon of frequency.  "It’s still a wild time, but not quite the unnerving chaos it was, say, 18 months ago. It’s more of a controlled chaos these days."

Sounds kinda cool, right?

Posted in Entertainment | Tagged | 2 Comments