Tag Archives: Tony Botello

For years Kansas City’s paper-of-record has been in distress and blamed most of its problems on corporate debt loads and the economy and not their own incompetence. Now it seems that blaming the world of high finance for the downfall of “Dead Tree Media” might actually be somewhat justified but still too late to benefit any of the former newsies currently working soulless PR gigs.

The New Hotness: Old and Busted Newspaper Companies are now the target of vicious hedge funds looking to cash in on so much bad debt.

Let’s take a look how it works so that print media d-bags might understand exactly why they’re going to get the ax.
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With election season nearly upon us it’s time look at the real players who run this town’s politics.

Kansas City’s electorate is increasingly apathetic and disinterested in most local issues. But rather than just complaining on hate radio like most people frustrated with the status quo, I think it’s important to examine the folks who determine most elections within the city limits. For veterans of this scene, the info might be elementary but it’s interesting how many people don’t know this stuff and then wonder why local politicos are so incompetent.

Here we go:
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Last election the campaign slogan that won the day was Mayor Funky’s “City That Works” mantra. Years later it seems that this town is just as old and busted as ever.

Don’t get me wrong, there have been some pretty convincing efforts to fix local problems but most of them weren’t nearly as widely touted as City Hall fighting over Gloria Squitiro’s feet. Credit where it’s due: The Mayor and City Council came up with a steel plate ordinance early in their term that was aimed at fixing one of the most annoying and tire destructive aspects of local life. It was a good try and there’s been a minimal bit of improvement despite the fact that the Water Services Department has a laundry list of loopholes that they can use in order to avoid compliance.

Sadly, there are still a myriad of ways this town is crumbling and they’re becoming more obvious every day.

Let’s take a look:
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Residents of this cowtown who were paying attention might have noticed that this was a horrible week for Kansas City in just about every possible way.

This town’s quotient of “fail” was present at every social strata despite the fact that poor people and minorities take most of the blame for everything gone wrong in this society.

Still, the warmer, nicer weather just means that local homeless are going to smell even worse and given the current downward trajectory of the stock market — They might have more company than usual.

So, let’s take a look at the many ways this town stayed losing this week. Check it:
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Call it jealousy or just a lament over the state of newspaper journalism but word around the campfire is that a great many people are upset about Jason Whitlock’s new Independent Thoughts column.

At first I was ready to simply mock the sports writer because of his lack of substance. However, I can’t help but notice that he’s generating a great deal of user participation via comments. Any one of Whitlock’s new civic minded columns easily outpaces interest in far more seasoned and well-informed journalists like Yael Abouhalkah. Seriously, Yael even tries to get bombastic like the big man but doesn’t get a single response.

So, what we can infer is that substance isn’t really important and Whitlock’s celebrity is far more important in drawing readers online — Which is the future of the dead tree industry if there is any at all.

So it’s not all gloom and doom.
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It’s time to stop weeping over the corpse of the late-great Robert Altman and find something new. Kansas City is home to a vibrant movie making community as evidenced by the ongoing work of the local Independent Filmmaker’s Coalition.

Still, one dude is quickly making a name for himself in this new age digital image-making. Notice I don’t use the word “film” because nobody uses that stuff anymore. Anyway, by now, folks in the know realize that I’m referring to Todd Norris.

Here’s just a quick look at the local guy’s activity. He recently won a local Emmy for his work at NBC Action News. He conducted a seminar at the recent (and mostly digital) KC Filmfest and most of the local moviemakers in this town can’t wait to see his upcoming shortfilm “Candy Apple Red” which looks amazing.

In fact, I think this might be the first online video posted on KCC. Check it out:
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Kansas City’s Susanna Lee is billed as a “pin-up comedian” but her act is really about a homegrown hottie telling some incredibly dirty and hilarious jokes. Of course there’s a bit of Neo-Burlesque thrown in along with some music and rather witty chatter.

However, the highlight is always Lucky delivering punchlines that would make a sailor blush.

I’ve been following this act for a minute and I’m really impressed with how it has developed. The guests are getting better and the jokes are still nasty but a lot more fun. Speaking of, and not to shill too much, Tonight the Cabaret DeLuxe is at Jardine’s and what impresses me most about this venue is the back and forth between the crowd and Lucky. The best part of the act is watching her play to the rowdier members of the audience and some of the best stuff usually comes off the top of her head.

So, as a bit of a primer and because I’m her “friend” on facebook I wanted to add a bit of a teaser of the show to this blog. Not just because I know Lucky and she’s rather cool but also because hot chicks are kind of “my thing.”

With permission, I snagged just a few recent images that Lucky has posted after a photo shoot with Vixen Pinup Photography. They provide a nice look at what’s in store and while burlesque usually isn’t my bag it’s hard not to admire the artistry or dangerous curves of this Kansas City Comedienne.

Check it:
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Previously, Hearne discovered some Facebook indications that Holly Starr hadtied the knot.

Now, because of his reporting the word is out and talk regarding the social life of this town’s favorite hottie has hit the street with a vengeance.

Also, Holly’s “friends” (who aren’t nearly as hot) have big mouths.

The news is happy and joyful for people who care about the real life of this TV personality who does great work here in Kansas City and out in Las Vegas as well. However, because I’m a bastard and just want to “appreciate” the work of this blonde bombshell before the commercials on some crappy local station, I have to say I’m a bit disappointed in the recent Holly Starr developments. Because they NEARLY ruined the fantasy of the lady for so many goons like myself.

According to bar talk and friends of Starr, KCC has a bit of insight on her recent maneuvers that directly impact her hotness.
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It’s come to this.

Kansas City’s perennially losing baseball team is going high tech and basically giving away their worthless tickets. As the weather gets hotter there is basically no reason to go to K now that the team is trapped in an infinite loop of meaningless wins followed by extended periods of embarrassing defeats.

Still, it’s important to take note of their online strategy if only because it reveals the team’s desperation.

The Royals are looking to Groupon.com to unload ticket packages.

It might be a great move that capitalizes on an Internet phenomenon OR it could be a sign that new attractions at the K are even less interesting than the foibles of a consistently losing baseball team. Either way, I don’t think it’s a good sign.

But what exactly does the move mean?
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There are 7 Council Ladies currently serving Kansas City, Missouri and until recently I never really noticed the impact of this historic female domination of local politics.

What finally stood out to me today, after 3 years, is that the ladies on the Council stick together. This fact was clearly demonstrated recently when Mayor Funky gave Council Lady Jan Marcason the boot from not one but two committees. In council session today, KMBC newsie DeAnn Smith noted that the ladies piled on the Mayor in a way that wasn’t at all sexy. It gets worse, Northland Council Lady Deb Hermann led the charge and then just came out with a written statement challenging the Mayor’s decision in defense of her homegirl Jan.

Check it:
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