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Current Topics & Comments

Capitalism is good, remember?
Oil companies only made an 8% profit last year. That is about a third of what Milk companies make in profit. Yes, gas is expensive, but go bitch to the Libs who's bogus environmental concerns keep us from using the resources under our own soil.

Postville Raid and Arrest of 300
Let me see. The last raid in Iowa was on December 12, 2006. Now Postville on May 12. What Hispanic holiday did ICE desicrate this time?? If we have thousands of illegal aliens in Iowa how long will it take for us to rid Iowa of them at this rate? I suggest ICE have monthly raids. How about restaurants in Des Moines? I know of one on the west side that employees illegals on a regular basis. Over 70 percent of the staff is illegal.

wakonda
I am pleased to see Wakonda attempting to join the 21st century. Perhaps they would be better served to just farm the whole course out to suburban development. They obviously are looking at things progressively; just install some pretty pictures in the clubhouse with a virtual reality course. While they are at it I think Mr. Taylor should advocate Dutch Elm. Who needed Grand Ave. in its Grandeur?

Wakonda Club
Thanks for your entertainingly sarcastic report on the proposed old-oak massacre at the Wakonda Club. The golf industry keeps trying to repaint itself as "green," but this proposal is a good reminder of the very brown priorities at many golf courses. If the oaks do get cut, I hope there will be photos and more bad publicity.

From the Publisher
Your column is interesting and to the point. As a reader, my main question is: where will people get good local news in the future? I can get national and international news online, no problem, and I can get reviews of movies, restaurants, etc., from CITYVIEW. Sometimes I get good news articles in CITYVIEW also. But much of the time, recently, CITYVIEW has had "soft" stories about Elvis imitators and wrestlers and such like on the cover. Nothing wrong with that, but when I want to find out what's regularly going on in Des Moines in regard to local land use, politics, education, etc., I still usually need to turn to the REG. If the REG goes under, who will cover those stories? No one? Would people just have to depend on (shudder) local TV journalism? A model I find more cheery is THE DAILY TRIBUNE in Ames, which seems to be doing pretty well and serves as a functioning community forum and information center. I don't always agree with TRIB editorial positions, but that's fine, the paper provides a very useful community service not provided elsewhere. As an Ames area resident, I appreciate the TRIB and am happy to pay to help keep it going. Apparently many other Ames area residents feel the same way. Apparently many Des Moines area residents don't feel that way about the REG, and the REG had better figure out why. I just hope the TRIB won't catch REG disease.

Wakonda
Wakonda is "shoddy?" Hmm, seems your article is "shiddy" if you ask me. Let's see, two different types of grass for different greens? Terrible idea, you must not play golf. What high end country club would ever do that? None. You would be laughed at for considering that idea. There are numerous reasons why this project should happen. I don't see those in your biased article. This project will help increase membership (because the best club in the state finally has updated technology on the greens) and will make the true golfing members of the club happy that they have a great putting surface to play on. I don't see why the public cares about a private clubs issues. Oh, there have been over 250 trees planted over the last 8 years with more planting on the way. The trees have/will be planted in areas that will not affect the grass on the greens. So, in 40 years, this issue will not be revisited. One persons "logical" thinking is good for them. Let the realistic thinkers take care of the big issues. It seems to me that this article was written with ones head up their, umm, shaddy area.

EXXON OIL PROFITS
Exxon's first quarter profit was $10.9 BILLION, following their record 4th quarter PROFIT at the end of 2007 of $11.7 BILLION. This is a total of $22,600,000,000 in six months. If this profit level does not increase and stays the same for the next six months, it will become $45,200,000,000 for the year. There are approximately 300 million people in the US, or about 90 million families with approximately 3.3 people per family. This means Exxon profits for just one year would be about $151 for every man, woman and child in the entire USA, or about $500 for every family in the US. Remember, this is PROFIT for just ONE oil company for ONE year. While the price of cruide oil from middle east is extreme at $120 per barrel, our own oil companies are also gouging the US consumer and allowing us to place all the blame on the middle east countries. I'd be in favor of opening ANWR as well as all the fields that have been capped in the US from producing, but I'm not sure it would reduce our costs at all because EXXON has proved otherwise.

Tax Incentives and Metro Governance
Recently we have see a large number of layoffs in Iowa. Many of those companies have been prior recipients of millions of dollars in tax increment financing and other tax incentives. Allied is closing a facility in Urbandale with the possible loss of 75 jobs, has received huge sums in TIF. Wells Fargo who just saw fit to give the chairman a $6.2 million pay package is also a recipient of a minimum of $50 million to TIF. TIF was designed to help blighted areas. Does Wells Fargo have a blighted chairman, or just delighted? Does anyone know if these companies have refunded to the cities when they have received TIF but eliminated jobs? A letter to editor in The Register asks us to once again go for metro-governance, in order to gain more revenue sharing. That's short for increasing the avenues of tax incentives for wealthy developers, and taking government a step further from the people.

Gov. Dauber
In 2 years amidst economic turmoil Gov. Dauber found it suitable to increase the budget by 20 percent. The more than all of Vilsacks years combined. This guy is the worst Gov in America he does not deserve this cup cake piece from Cityview. Granted they tried to interview detractors. Just go anywhere in IA were it is not hard to find Dem's that are discusted with this guy. I suspect he will have to win a primary before November 2010.

State government
Our intrepid governor is out of the state for all or part of 34 of the first 95 days of the legislative session and is rewarded with a 9 percent pay raise. Go figure!

Cullver
Culver is the worst one term govenor in the U.S., almost as bad as Jerry the Hut (the Windsor Heights mayor) and the W.H. police force locally nicknamed Barney Fife, KKK and Pillsbury. May the farce be with you with these characters!

Bill elevates Culver's pay 9.7 percent
Wow, the governor is to receive a 9.7 percent raise and several of our elected officials are to get raises of up to 23 percent. That raise would place Governor Culver the 12th highest paid governor in the nation. Since Iowa is so average in everything else I think he needs a 6 thousand dollar pay cut. Gas prices are outrageous and food prices are on the rise daily. I thought we were enjoying a recession!

odor study
Quite an excellent example of our legislature, bought and paid for by special interests that puts CIETEC to shame. An audit of check-off funds would do well to create a national scandal to take our attention away from the crumbs of CIETEC and odor study! All of it stinks! Study done and now where is my millions?

The Radish
I was very surprised to read your review of the Radish. I wouldn't refer anyone there after my latest experience. My wife and I recently moved to the Grimes area and love dining out and trying new places. We had been referred to The Radish so we decided to give it a try. The first five times we went were during the week and we had good meals, decent service, etc. The last time we went was on a Friday night. We walked in at 5:50 pm where we were greeted at the door by the owner. We gave him our name and were told it would be 10 minutes until we would be seated. There was nobody else waiting at the time so this seemed to be ok. Shortly after a group of 4 people in their 70s walked in without reservations. After 15 minutes or so they were seated while we continued to wait patiently. Next a group of 5 people came in without reservations and were seated in approximately 20 minutes while we had now waited 45 minutes. On a couple of occasions the owner came over to us to tell us it would be 5 minutes. After waiting 50 minutes and seeing two groups come in after us and get seated before us without reservations I approached the owner to tell him someone else could have our table. I also told him I didn't agree with his handling of the seating list. He told me the other two groups had reservations. This was a blatant lie as we had talked to the groups while they waited with us. I would have been ok if he would have told us that he seats people based on age, size of party, etc. However he didn't tell us this and proceeded to lie to me as I approached him before leaving his place of business. I am very disappointed to mark The Radish off of my list of places to eat as Grimes could really use a good dining venue. Unfortunately, The Radish will never be a destination for us or the many others we enjoy going out with.

Civic Skinny
Hey, wait a minute! You folks finally provide an update on the fake rainforest, which I've been really hoping you would, but your update is unclear. Do you mean that Ted Townsend is thinking about trying to find a new outside-of-Iowa location for this looney project, after all the brouhaha over finally getting it sited in Pella? Or do you mean that he's still trolling for out-of-state donors, which he's been doing unsuccessfully for years? Thanks for the inside info, which is much appreciated, but please clarify. Enquiring minds want to know!

House tax hike
I applaud the Iowa House for the deceptively clever way in which they voted to increase sales taxes this week. In case you missed it, hidden between the much publicized smoking ban bill and the opening of the CIETC trial, the house voted to change the local option sales taxes in Iowa to a permanent state sales tax. I don't know about the other 98 counties, but in Polk County, the local option tax is set to expire in 2010, so in effect, this would be a tax increase. Perhaps they thought no one would care or that we've been paying the additional tax for so long that we wouldn't even notice. You'd have thought they would've seen the Project Destiny meltdown as a bellweather and realized this is the last thing Iowans want or that with the higher costs of living, this is the last thing Iowans need. Surely the fine governor, who throughout his campaign and several debates made it very clear the only tax he was going to raise was on cigarettes, will veto this bill when it reaches his desk. But you never know. Maybe he needs the money to fund his (also recently) proposed $25 million child welfare, er, healthcare plan. Maybe he'll decide he doesn't need to keep his campaign promises, after all, he already pissed off democrats and union workers by not signing the fair share bill, maybe he's decided that it's now time to piss off republicans and Iowans who expected their local option taxes to be used locally and only for a limited time.

Smokers arrogance
Iowa is so special and all-concerning as to ban cigarette smoking in public venues. Shame on you businesses. You are bringing us down. This is a great place to raise kids, and smokers perpetuate the decline of socioeconomic civility in our great state. But wait, Polk County is different. Why? We have the ultimate cash cow (currently named Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino) that is not to be concerned with the newly passed law of NON-SMOKING IN PUBLIC VENUES IN THE STATE OF IOWA. Dang, that's just convenient. If your name is Joe Smith with a bar and grill, if you own a retail/wholesale business with an open warehouse, if your construction workers are in the shop due to inclement weather, and you wanna grab a smoke, CONSIDER YOURSELVES ILLEGAL. Last I knew, discrination (even due to the use of a LEGAL substance) is unconstitutional. Let's get back to the basics of our country's foundation, and quit whining about nothingness. How about those foster kids aging out of the system? How about improved public transportation to the suburbs to off-set gosoline prices; how about changes in the social system so as to facilitate those IN the system more economically; how about talking about real issues in this great state?

comida mexicana
i was bummed to see the shotz and grill cordoba write up because i recently have been to "el chisme" taqueria and pizzaria, (twice) at merle hay and urbandale ave. and was hoping you'd plug it to bring them a little more business. i know you can't focus on one type of food but it's good, best i've found on the west side. haven't tried the pizza yet. now i've got to get over to shotz and grill to try them out. chile rellenos twang my buds. i guess it's a good problem to have

Outback Restaurant in Puyallup
A big rave to the Outback restaurant on Puyallups south hill for making a special persons birthday a surprise from us after a quick phone call. A big thank you!

Nation For Change Rally
A nationwide rally of Obama supporters The Nation For Change Rallies will be held in all 50 states on April 19th Participants will attend the rally to show their support for Senator Barack Obama in advance of the upcoming primaries (Pennsylvania on April 22nd and North Carolina & Indiana on May 6th) and the Iowa District Conventions scheduled for April 26th. The Nation for Change Rally is sponsored by grassroots supporters of Senator Barack Obama. Saturday, April 19th 2:30-3:30 PM, West Side of Iowa State Capitol Building, E. 10th & E. Grand Ave.

Consumer fraud
Great politics watch this week. Cityview is quickly becoming THE source of political news. The fact that the legislature took a pass on voting on this law that would protect consumers was completely ignored by other local media, which is a shame.

MLK
MLK was 38 when he was shot dead. It's been longer since that moment than he lived. And still, no one has connected the dots between James Earl Ray and his South African passport and Canadian travel agency itinerary that took this provincial red neck through the world capitols of racism. For all the conspiracy theories about JFK assasination, there are exponentially more reasons to be suspcious of the MLK assassination. Yet years go by and no one bothers. Why do you suppose?

THe following comes from the newsletter THIS is TRUE: 30 March 2008 Copyright http://www.thisistrue.com
It was sourced by the Tacoma News Tribune In what will probably become the iconic TV ad of the 2008 presidential campaign, a little girl is shown sleeping as the "phone rings at 3:00 a.m. in the White House." The spot, for Hillary Clinton,is meant to convey that she is "ready on day one" to handle crises and imply opponent Barack Obama isn't. The little girl featured in the ad is now 17; the footage had been sold to a stock house, and was used by the Clinton campaign without bothering to learn who it was. It was Casey Knowles of Bonney Lake, Wash. She turns 18 well before the election, and she has already been working for a presidential campaign: Barack Obama's. (Tacoma News Tribune) When called to comment on this crisis, Hillary refused to answer the phone.

Polk county GOP
If folks need to discover the demented state of the Polk County GOP you just have to wander over to "The Real Sporer" website. The authors rants and predictions remind me of the final days of the Third Reich when Hitler manuvered ghost armies around the map to halt the Allies Assault. This week he accused socialist government in Sweden of "liberals puking up hatred on demand." his concern centers around an Absolute Vodka ad campaign; he sings praise to the our state embarrasment Rep. Steve King; and he promotes "a comprehensive political website" which is a poorly done MYSPACE account with a donate button. here is the main blurb on the website then my comment. Sanger for State Rep's Blurbs About me: The name's Chris Sanger. I am running for the State Representative position in [Iowa] District 62 also known as the South Side [Des Moines]. I was raised outside of Dallas Center by a wonderful Mother and Father. Mom and Dad both used to work in Washington D.C. and for the State of Iowa. Mom works at Homecare Services, Inc.; Dad works at Wells Fargo and Co. I work at Wells Fargo and I am a business owner. I live on the South Side, of course. I believe that all people have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and the people agree. I am running because I hear the people and I will stand strong for the people. Check out my blog and become politically active if you aren't already. Who I'd like to meet: You! DONATE button Yes, I want vote for a 23 year old with no life experience whose parents lived in DC, is not a native south sider and whose dad got his son a job at Wells Fargo. Anybody can be a business owner but let's have him use the term successful business owner like Brad Zaun used until his business went broke! The website is a My space account and not a campaign site for goodness sake. Notice these specific political points: "I believe that all people have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and the people agree." "I am running because I hear the people and I will stand strong for the people." So all you South siders here is the GOP premier candidate who loves non specifics so that he never has to have a backbone. Sanger, come back and run when you can actually contribute to life liberty and pursuit of happiness. Maybe join the Army and see Iraq. You were one of those pro war young retpublicans! Here is your chance to show how you can lead! or is that too specific for your moral compass? Looks like General GOP Ted Sporer is throwing more cannon fodder at a lost cause. it is not that Sanger is evil, He is just too much of a rethuglican for me!

Ingersoll's drug culture
Multiple businesses operating along Ingersoll Avenue are little more than thinly veiled cocaine dens. This is nothing new. Nor is it all that shocking. (Anyone who has spent even a minimal amount of time in any Des Moines bar would know this.) If such knowledge is so common, that the names of multiple businesses have become synonymous with cocaine, how is it possible that these businesses stay open? Every city deserves to have a seedy underbelly, I'm just curious how law enforcement goes about ignoring the issue. Maybe it is just that they are that inept. All of which could be good. Seedy underbelly. Inept police. This could move Des Moines up at least a couple notches on some sort of bullshit "American Cities" list. We should get the word out. Start combating the whole hick farmer thing.

Steven King and the Border Patrol
Why did this only surface in the Cityview. Is this really true? How great that would be if he stepped down.

Cyber-Bullying
The good old Des Moines Register is proving the "Peter Principle" in regards to the "moderating" or should I say "no moderation" of their Online Discussion Forums? Our "friends" Mike Corey, Chris Snider and the rest of DMR's "motley crew" are ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH! They should be sued for Libel by the many individuals who are regularly tormented by anonymous cyber-bullies online, which appears to be sanctioned by the Des Moines Register Management. I'm fighting back in any way I possibly can, against this "organized stalking and harassment" in order to prove that the DMR has played an active role in it. The "discovery" process in a Libel Action can be so enlightening!

April Fool's money
Regarding Get Money out of Politics PAC' 5,000 dontation to Fallon, is that irony or what? A PAC organized to donate money to eliminate PACs. America is a great country!

Wilco
Playing catch up with my stack of magazines and papers, I came across your great cover page/article on Wilco. Being a huge Wilco fan, it was great to see them grace the cover of a Des Moines based paper. The fellow who wrote the article asked a few questions that I was glad to see brought to Jeff Tweedy, that I had not seen before or questions that I would have not asked had I been in the room. I was able to actually see the show at the Val Air, the week after the article was run in your paper, wish I would have seen it prior, but it does not take anything away from the great job done by Cityview by writing a great article by one of the best bands of our time. Thanks again for doing a great job of covering the music scene in Des Moines.

April Fool's
I LOVED this weeks issue. I always do. In fact I forwarded the Karaoke Ban on to our Entertainment Coordinator and he went crazy. He couldn't believe it and wanted to start calling our lobbyists. I still haven't told him.

Dream Lake
I hope that CITYVIEW is not so naive as to think that the would-be developers of Dream Lake are going to give up. They are moving ahead, and are still determined to destroy a beautiful river area in the name of "green development," a misuse of the term that makes real conservationists gag. With a planned $700 million profit just from lot sales, these guys don't plan to let a few burial mounds stop them. How about reporting on what they're up to? The REGISTER left out some of the best parts, like their belief that they are being guided by God. Please, take a break from the fun stuff (wrestling, Elvis) and cover a story that really needs to be covered.

Puppy Mills
Because of this blog about Channel 13, the "cover" of a woman that has spent her life resucuing dogs from horrible puppy mills, has been blown. She will now be faced with harrassment from puppy mill owners who have lost business due to her bravery and loyalty to animals. Her name should NEVER have been published.

chris vance
chris vance rocks. the energy at his opening was amazing. i think des moines really does have an art scene. something is happening here and you don't know what it is, do you, mr. jones?

Wilco
Wilco on the cover of Cityview! How cool was that? Also enjoyed the online concert review and photos. Thanks for caring enough about good music to give it the kind of coverage it deserves.

Treatment of disabled Vets and Clergymen in the skywalk.
In a society that claims to be patriotic and religious, I have met some ungrateful people in this community. I am a disabled Vet and an ordained minister. My associate and I walk the skywalk all the time helping people who may need it in any form. We go to Churches Homeless shelter and talk with people there also. We walk past the Nationwide building almost everyday and never been approached. Until yesterday (March 13). When I was verbally assaulted by the security guards employed by this company. Tell my associate and I that people like us are not welcome in the skywalks at all, that we are intimadating and that we are frightening the employees who walk the sky walk and that we are not allowed in the sky walk. Now if disabled Vets and ordained ministers are not allowed to walk the sky walks would that not be a form of discremination? Just walking around enjoying life and talking to people and smiling and saying "Hi" to total stangers is not a crime in this country the last time I checked. But if it is, then no one should be talking in public to each other. But then my Marine Corps buddies who did not make it back died for no reason and we are not the nation I thought I lived in. This is the USA! We are allowed to be kind to each other and help and laugh together! But Nationwide seems to have an issue with Vetrans and religion. I don't know about you, but this highly aggrevates me!

a certain type of green Mayor Cownie is fighting for
The Des Moines Register again reminds us of Mayor CownieÕs dedication to the environment ("City Will Purchase 38 Replacement Vehicles," Feb. 16). ItÕs indeed commendable that the council has set a goal to make Des Moines a sustainable "green" community. Earlier in the week, he maintained this same stance by voting against the proposed new DahlÕs store on Ingersoll Avenue when plans failed green standards. Oddly, the Mayor ignored citizens in Beaverdale when asked to respect and preserve their neighborhoodÕs "natural capital." He supports the dense mixed use development of Rice Field despite knowledge that the recreational green space resides in an area of the city where parkland is severely lacking by national guidelines. The mayorÕs approval is inconsistent with smart urban planning and proper guardianship of the land. Responsible planning increases the intensity of nature before increasing the density of development in a community. Is our mayor really an environmental advocate? The inconvenient truth would suggest that his concern is most eminent only when it impacts his own neighborhood, promotes his own political ambitions and/or does not interfere with the lucrative endeavors of developers, political supporters and friends.

daddio's
Gas Station Food? Who'd a thunk it? I had no idea either Baker's Food and Fuel or the Phillips 66 on 141 had good food. I drive by both places all the time in my work. Now I stop and eat, especially at Baker's. Thanks for the tip, I can't imagine the Datebook Diner ever investigating gas station food, but she's missing something uniquely Iowan. You're right about pork tenderloins - they are a state icon and the legislature should make it the official state sandwich, when they aren't too busy safeguarding the power of hog confinement owners to inflict stink and disease on their neighbors.

Non-Smokers
Remember, when all the non-smokers wanted was a few seats in the front of the plane?

Larry Norman
I read in last week's Cityview ["Scene Scribe," March 6] the brief mention of the passing of the father of Christian rock music, Larry Norman. I just wanted to say thank you for putting this in your paper. I don't always appreciate the contents (or language) of your paper but I read through it each week. What a pleasant surprise to read the comments about Larry. I was privileged to spend an afternoon with Larry back in the mid-seventies when he performed in Marshalltown. My close friend, Lou Good (now deceased), sponsored Larry in a concert. Larry knew Lou and came to town early to spend the day. He wanted to shop for jeans. Good old fashioned country jeans that could stand up by themselves. I guess they didn't have those in Hollywood where Larry resided. Lou had me drive the long-haired rocker around Marshalltown looking for the jeans he wanted. While Larry was rather quiet and I was a bit intimidated or star-struck we did enjoy some nice conversation. But it was his concert that left a real impact in my life. He was so humble, wise and funny. I learned a lot from Larry and he has always held a special place in my heart. I was saddened to see he had passed away. Again, thanks for the mention of his death.

Wilco
I just wanted to note that I really liked this week's wilco article. Tweedy is one interesting dude. I liked the questions/topics you brought out. Fun read!

What's Inside
Is this guy 100 years old? I'm getting tired of week after week turning to what's supposed to be the hip, edgy alternative paper in town and instead finding his ramblings. He adds no value to the paper. In fact, he drags it down and completely ruins Cityview's credibility. Please, please, please make it stop.

Snafu
This is the best CD I've heard in a long time. Andy Anderson is AMAZING!

Butt Out
I hope I'm not overstepping by speaking out for the 82 percent of Iowans who are non-smokers. Restraunteers and bar owners are claiming that they will lose business if the smoking ban goes into effect. What am I missing here? Are smokers the only people who eat out or go to bars? What about the majority of us who would choose to go out more if we could do so in a smoke-free environment? My wife and I love going to Blues on Grand, and I appreciate everything that Jeff has done to make it non-smoker friendly, but getting headaches from the smoke and smelling like smoke after being there is a major deterrant why we don't go more often. California, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington currently ban smoking in bars and restaurants, and I have not heard that they are going out of business as a result. I don't favor creating laws that control peoples' lives and limit commerce, but I don't understand how such a small percentage of the population can have such a grip on the hospitality and entertainment industry.

Thank you to the staff at Liars Club
I turned 32 today. We went to Liars Club to start off the celebration. Not sure if you all know but the Thursday on the week of your Birthday Liars Club has a MADE A Wish Foundation night. To make a long story short you get to pick ANYTHING you want up to a certain amount of money and they will grant your wish if you win. They draw two names out the bucket and if your name is drawn you win whatever you put on your sheet. Most people put items from an IPod, TV, or even a down payment on a car. I myself don't see the point of only thinking about yourself so I put on my sheet that I wanted 300 dollars to go towards my charity which is the JDRF and a digital camera, which I have always wanted. It came time to draw the names and my name was not drawn. I was really upset but at the same time really happy for the two names drawn. About 10 minutes later I hear my name being called over the microphone to come up to the DJ booth. As I go up there I think to myself what the heck is going on or who did my friends piss off now. To my surprise they saw my request and wanted to grant it. They wrote a check out to the JDRF in the amount of 100 dollars. I was speechless!! It really made my whole Birthday! Sure I didn't win a digital camera but this donation meant more to me then anything. I ask you all to PLEASE support Liars Club and to please thank them when you go in there. This really made for a Birthday that I will NEVER forget!

Smoke On
I hate smoke, I love Freedom. I told the smokers that they stink. They told me tough shit. I have the right to breathe clean air. Go outside, light up and shut up. Stink all you want to just do it outside.

butt out
The Iowa Senate deserves applause for its version of the bill. The House version stinks of hypocrisy by exempting casinos, one of which is owned by a governmental body. What are the House Representatives afraid of, that by curbing one dangerous obsessive compulsive beahavior they might slow the growth of a second dangerous obsessive compulsive behavior? Of course the answer is "yes" because of smoking is believed to encourage irrational gambling habits and the legislature is addicted to the income it gets from gambling revenues. You can't expect them to take an action that might reduce cigarette tax revenues AND gambling juice too. It's time we sent all the reps who voted for the casino exemption to rehab for their gambling money addiction.

Butt Out!
I am a business man and a student of history. I certainly know a business opportunity when I see one. Do you think I could advertise a smoking speak easy on your site?? Thanks again Iowa for making business harder to do here!

Smoking Ban
I just moved to Des Moines from Minneapolis, and was appalled to find that smoking is still allowed in bars and restaurants here. We just banned it in Minneapolis a few years ago, and statewide not long ago. I thought secondhand smoke was a plight I was finally through with. For me coming here is like taking a step backward in time. I can only hope that a law barring smoking from bars, clubs and restaurants is passed and put into effect ASAP.

Best band. Final Mix, Jason Brown?
To the person who listed Final Mix and Jason Brown as best band and artist. I noticed that their fans didn't vote for them in the recent Best Of. But fans did pick a couple of real winners that are overlooked on the scene, One Nite Stand and Matt Woods. One Nite Stand does rhythm and blues better then Final Mix and tackles jazz that Final Mix is afraid to touch. And blues, Matt Woods is one of the finest this town has to offer. Jason Brown is a cutey, but Matt is cute AND young. Check it out for yourself.

iowa's most venerable presences
Thank you for the context, the covert "teddy boy" analogy ("keying" a car), the payment of due respect and particulalry for taking a stand. Too many so called art writers/critics cover all things equally these days. You once wrote about a major newspaper's front page story that lumped Vladimir Horowitz and Staff Sgt Barry Sadler into the same obituary. Such non-judgemental crap does no one justice and betrays the medium and particularly the critic's responsibility. Cornelis Ruhtenbrg towers over other Iowa painters and that does not insult me, it inspires me. She is an undervalued state asset. "They don't make em like her anymore" and it's clear they don't make public areans like the DM Civic Center anymore either. In the latter case, it's because the powers that be, those who choose architects for a public works - have stopped caring about the people who pass through the buildings, unless they lease suites and use valet service. The state wrestling meet has lost all its unique charm since being moved out of The Barn. That event in that venue was the opposite of "apartheid" design, it allowed an intimate, dynamic contact between competitors and audience. In Wells Fargo Arena, it's just another show on the arena floor. The move from the old building to the new one has diminished the event. I hope it's possible to consider moving back.

Kingpin
Angst, to say the least, is farthest from what you have caused your "family." The words destruction, devastation, and selfishness sure seem to come to mind when dredging up this matter once again. The audacity to bring this matter up, when your family has worked so hard to over come this stigma, for the past 23 years, is BEYOND words. Especially, when your family is obviously dealing with a much, much bigger issues even more recently. How dare you Mr. Kingpin! How dare you Cityview for supporting this man?

What the?
What the middle class people don't understand is we need to squeeze them just a bit tighter because there still breathing.

we are what we dare to eat
On Lincoln's birthday, it's time to give Napoleon his share of credit for ending slavery. Soon as the deeds, cited in the previous letter on this subject, led to economically feasible sugar from beets, manufacturers began advertising Slave Free Sugar. Napoleon's sugar beet incentives had more to do with the emancipation of slaves in Caribbean colonies of France, England and the Netherlands than all the work of all the abolitionists in Europe. Cane sugar exploited over 90 percent of all African slaves, when the industry lost its economic edge, it became less defensible. Only in the USA did we need to fight a war to achieve the sweet ending.

we are what we dare to eat
marvelous commentary, but you are not quite right about sugar beets. Andreas Marggraf discovered how to extract sugar from beets in 1747. It remained impractical until Napoleon offered incentives that you mention. In 1812, Benjamin Delessert built a factory that produced crystalized sugar. When Napoleon heard, he rushed there to taste the sugar and was so pleased with its quality he tore a gold medallion off his own neck and pinned it on Delessert. The following day Napoleon announced a major new discovery in French commerce.

The Kingpin
Amel Lueth is a man who takes no responsibility for his actions. You allowed him space to complained that his rights were taken away because the snitch who told on him was deemed unreliable. You allowed him to whine about the family farm being taken away when it was his drugs that got it taken away. Was this supposed to be a human interest story? Are we supposed to feel sorry for Amel Lueth? Did I miss something? I think it's really sad that you gave this man any publicity at all. Why would you want to run a story about a man who takes no responsibility for his actions other than to point out that he takes no responsibilty? Shame on you cityview for giving this guy anything but a spot in your Losers column. He put his own mother in harms way. It doesn't get much more loser worthy than that.

Irina's Restaurant and Bar
I really like theirs new beers, Russian and Uk, great atmosphere, a lot of fun always. I think this is one of the best spots to go but not that many peaple know about this place, check it out.

CCI
Thanks for the excellent coverage of the CCI rally day. CCI provides an excellent voice for those of us concerned about these issues. You are helping raise the awareness of others of the need for clean air and water, local control and clean elections.

Tax Rebate Checks
If a recent internet news article is correct from CNN and the 600 dollar rebate check is not a government gift, but a loan on next year's tax return, I would like to ask those in congress just how stupid do you think the American people are? Borrowing from next year's potential income may be the way of the government, but it is definitely not the way to help us. It is just going to create more problems for us next year.

The Kingpin
Another victim in the War on Drugs, Amel Lueth has a valuable story to tell. The government is was so eager to get a big name bust they didn't care that they trampled on the Bill of Rights. Another war we can't win, and its a war against our own people. Thank you, Cityview for making sure this story was told.

The Kingpin
Great story about a man whose rights have obviously been stolen from him. Whether you believe being involved in the drug trade is evil or not, I personally think it is, everyone is guaranteed rights in the Constitution. Like Mr. Lueth said, even murderers get a fair trial.

Raw Food
I have been to a few of Sheree's classes. I was skeptical at first too, but it really is good. It's the most guilt free meal you can have. Sheree is a great coach and makes her classes very fun and educational. I highly recommend her classes and going to her Meet Up group.

Food
My husband and I went to Mojos Thursday night and were saddened to learn Chef Robert Beasly and his crew have left. Needless to say the food is not the same and although it was good, it was missing the flare and the love we were expecting from Mojos. Please, we have to find out where chef Beasley is. We will follow him for more of his unique cuisine.

It's embarrassing to know this
I'm pretty sure that weird Channel 8 Sexual Predators promo being shown for Sweeps Month is a ripoff of an insurance commercial that used to air on Channel 23. I think I recognize that footage of children playing and the opening narration.

Liar's Club Rant
There are Liar's Clubs in Alpine, CA, Milwaukee, WI, and Newport, KY. There are probably a dozen more around the world. And that makes a difference how ???

Sunny Days
Cold weather is depressing, so West Des Moines is spreading the word that AMayZing days are ahead, and we want everyone to be apart of it. Amayzing Days will be a month long celebration all over West Des Moines with constant events. Specific schedules to come. For more info check out myspace.com or become our friend on facebook by searching in Des Moines for Amayzing Days.

food
glad food dude is back in the sneak preview, forgot how much i liked it. The points about diversified diets were really apt, the following statistics were just released by a California think tank I follow. 1. There are 1,462 recorded species of edible insects in the world. 2. An estimated 7,000 plant species have been commonly eaten by human societies throughout history. Today, a mere 20 species provide 90 percent of the world's food. 3. Of the 463 varieties of radishes known to exist in the 20th century, 436 are now extinct. Please keep reminding people to save seeds and to eat more different foods, it really is a matter of decline or fall for civilizations.

Local Bands
More needs to be done so these local bands can be seen, opening up the city parks for them to play in would be a great start.

Civic Skinny
"Private college presidents, students, and their parents are saddened and shocked that the Governor failed to recognize the importance of this grant to their students' debt load and their ability to pursue a college degree in the State of Iowa," John Reynders, president of Morningside and chairman of the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. Every fucking Boomer with a PhD attached to his or her name thinks he should be a millionaire just because he or she spends 90 percent of his time sucking up to other Boomers with who have an MBA hanging out their ass. Never once do any of these overpaid, underworked college and university presidents ever look at their compensation and say, "Gee, maybe I'm making too fucking much money!" As for the Boomer MBAs, they should be picking up more of the tab for higher education, because universities and colleges in this country are nothing but trade shcools for industries of dubious worth to society! Apparel merchandising, business process management, computer information systems, entrepreneurship, informatics, hotel/motel management and on and on it goes. Crap for which students and their parents are forking out hard-earned dough that should be taught on the job! C'mon, Corportate America, if you want monkeys ready and trained to step right into such and such position you pay for 'em!

Liars club
Maybe these idiots should have mentioned that there already is a Liar's Club in Chicago that has been open since 1995 and still kicking. Bunch of plagiarist morons.

Growing Up Wired
The book LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS points out that children who play outdoors benefit in many ways that range from better social skills to better school performance and longer attention spans. Some research indicates that outdoor play also helps to lessen the symptoms of ADHD. It's not just that children are growing up wired, many kids are spending their time wired indoors instead of playing outdoors. That's not good for their development.

homeless?
What makes people think that the delusional guy in the "not about homeless" (Jan. 24) is actually homeless? He probably is living in an apartment or a house that is run by an agency that takes care of people with special needs or some place like the YMCA. You should spend some around the smoking area of the YMCA and you will see some unusual people who look like they are homeless. Many of them goes to the library on a regular basis. Think about it, what kind of delusional person could be out in negative 10 degree weather (before wind chill) and still survive. A delusional person wouldn't have a tent or even blankets. They would die in Des Moines. They are the kind of people who climb in dumpsters and get killed. Just because somebody looks homeless doesn't mean that's true.

Growing Up Wired
Interesting topic, would have liked to hear more about cyber-bullying and the like. But, I'm more curious about what sources were checked for the following quote, "Every year in the U.S. about 15,000 kids are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I'm no medical doctor, but "kids" have always been getting Type 1 diabetes since it is (usually) a juvenile onset type. I think, but am not sure, that what you meant was Type 2 diabetes, or insulin resistant (the type related to obesity), has been increasing in frequency among younger populations. Please be sure to thoroughly check your facts. Thanks!

bands and artists comment
I just read someone say Final Mix is the best band in town and Jason Brown the best artist. Final Mix is good and I have not heard Mr. Brown, but I must also say for anyone reading this who has NOT heard a young woman in town by the name of Bonne Finken you are missing out. I have heard her three times now and she truly is the gem of the Des Moines music scene and is sadly not out in public much while she records a cd. Trust me if you get a chance, hear her! She does sing for a cover band When in Groovia, also.

Uncle Wendell's Barbeque
Uncle Wendell's rocks. His beef brisket is fabulous with a crusty outer edge and sweet tender smoked meet inside. The pulled pork is awesome too (but the beef brisket is my favorite). The sandwiches are huge and while you know you shouldn't eat the whole thing, they are just too good not too. His baked beans are also great, and may be the best I have ever had. Tons of pork in with the beans make them a meal by themselves. It is a true family restaurant where Wendell, his wife Pam and sometimes even his mother can be found behind the counter, putting the family honor on the line with every great meal. He also has some of his subperb farmer's market baked goods there year round, including Dutch Letters and Almond Bread. If you haven't been there yet, make sure to go soon, you'll love it!

Civic Skinny
What's happening to Earthpark? I have faith that Civic Skinny will be one of the first to hear any interesting rumors. Please share them.

best bands or artist
the best group in the city of DES MOINES is Final Mix, they are fantastic, and the best artist is Jason Brown he is Iowas best in country, give them both a try and you will see I'm right.

Angling for Legislation
If Iowa catfish could talk, they'd be telling us to forget the "official state fish" designation and just clean up the water they have to live in. Which is the same water we drink, fish and recreate in, so its current foul condition doesn't say much for our collective smarts. One indication that we Iowans aren't too bright regarding water is that those clean water TV ads, the ones produced by the Iowa Farm Bureau, aren't getting laughed at. Reed canarygrass is an invasive species that natural resource agencies and conservationists are trying to get rid of, so boasting about farmers' stream conservation work and then showing streams lined with solid reed canarygrass is kind of like boasting about dental hygiene and then showing a mouth with no remaining teeth. And that pond in one ad has steep cut banks and mowed grass right to the edge, which is NOT recommended for good water quality. Pathetic.

6th Avenue
I'm writing to address the people verse car problem on 6th Ave. in Des Moines. This is right around University Ave. I recently had the terrible luck of being a part of this problem just a few weeks ago. A very intoxicated male stepped out in front of my car in rush hour traffic. I was lucky enough to stop in time to just bump him and not run him over. As the ambulance came for him I witnessed several other people running across the street weaving through cars. Did I mention this was not at all close to a crosswalk. Also there were atleast 8 people just loitering outside of the plasma building (everyday occurance), not 2 feet from all the traffic. I just heard this morning that someone in my family had a similar thing happen to them just last week. A pedestrian stepped in front of his vehicle and this time almost got hit. So is it illegal to jay walk in Des Moines? Is there a reason for crosswalks on 6th ave? With all the loitering going on in that area and all the traffic one would hope there would be a solution. Maybe enforce the use of crosswalks. Write a few tickets for loitering. Write a few tickets for all the drunks just hanging out stepping in front of cars. Is that considered public intoxication? Im sure if I was drunk stepping in front of cars in Urbandale I would be in the slammer in minutes. Ok or dead. The fact that this happened to two people in the same family in one month tells me that there may be others who encounter this. Maybe Im wrong and people should be allowed to just step in front of cars if they want. Heck if they don't have insurance why does it matter to them. They aren't paying my 500 dollar deductible.

Republican Caucus
I attended Johnston 3 caucus, which is the largest Republican precinct in the state of Iowa. 635 people showed up, so we didn't get started until 8:00 p.m., but it was worth it! Tricia nixon Cox and husband Ed Cox showed up to speak fpr John McCain, Mitt Romney's eldest son and family spoke for him. A senator from Arkansas spoke for Huckabee, a physician from Johnston who was an intern in NYC during Guliani's NYC tenure spoke for him, a pretty well spoken local spoke for Ron Paul and no one was there for Thompson and we were disappointed. HOWEVER, no one was disappointed when presidential candidate Alan Keyes stepped up to speak for himself. It was a once in a lifetime experience. He is such a passionate, well educated, dynamic person. He began with a question, "How many of you think the most important thing we need to do in this election is keep Hillary Clinton out of the White House?" All 635 loyal Republicans clapped yelled, and made it clear that they felt exactly that way. Then, Alan Keyes proceeded to eloquently detail how our precious America is slipping away from us. How we tolerate abortion, not seeing it as exactly the same kind of "terrorism" and killing of innocents, and the Islamo-Facists in our "War on Terror." He spoke of how run away liberal courts are debasing the duties of our legislatures by creating "law" using pinko liberal judgements. The "Republic" of Lincoln is in serious danger. He is the ONLY candidate who will actually abolish the tax mess we now have, there is no "fixing" it. He is the only candidate who could possibly lead us back to the foundation of our Constitution. Keyes has a PhD from Harvard. He helped Reagan bring down the Berlin Wall, and the Soviet Union. He has represented us in the United Nations. He has MORE foreign policy experience than all the other candidates of both parties put together. He stands for the moral, physical and economic sovereignty of all Americans. He is a diamond among a batch of rhinestone candidates. Oh, and at the end of his speech, he again asked the same question about what was really important to us in this election, if it was keeping Hillary out, this time, you could hear a pin drop. He turned and walked to the side of the stage and listened to the deafening applause of the gathered Republicans, by FAR, the best reception of the evening. I was undecided when I went to my caucus. I voted for Keyes. Only 13 other Johnston 3 folks did the same. What a shame. We'll be sorry if he's not on the ticket and by this time next year, it will be too late. You've been warned.

Caucus rant
FYI I have lived in Iowa my entire life. I've survived the winters and the caucuses, and if I live through this one, 13 presidential election cycles. Unlike Mother Nature's occasional outbursts, the caucuses are a man made disaster. I've attended caucuses and found them as intellectually valuable as a high school pep rally. Like real estate abstracts and butter cows, the caucus system is uniquely Iowan. The other 49 states are also comprised of "true Americans." They just haven't resorted to the truly archaic caucus system. It's about Iowa's 15 minutes, not how "American" Iowan's are. Kent Carlson

Barack Obama, the next president
Barack is not eye candy. He is not a celebrity. He is a true leader who is already bringing this country together. If you caucused last night, you saw Democrats, Republicans and Indepedents stand behind Obama and start talking about how to move this country forward, together. Regarding the nonsense from the person who hinted that Obama will introduce an era of bowing to the East and hailing Allah, calm down and educate yourself, please (and learn how spell the name of our next president).

Barrack Obama
What in the world are you people in Iowa thinking? You vote a man in who doesn't even have enough respect for the American flag to put his hand on his heart during the pledge of allegiance (see www.Snopes.com for pictures and verification). Read about him for yourself on www.Snopes.com. Do you honestly think he is for the American people? When you have to start bowing to the east and hail Allah then it will be too late to turn back. This is not a good thing. We have to take America back and having a non-Muslim as our president is not going to do it! Yes, he is "eye candy" but as the old saying goes, "wolves come in sheeps clothing." Please, think about it!!! Don't help sell America down the gutter!!

Charlie Wilson's War
If I wanted the true story with every detail, I'd watch a documentary on the subject. Hanks, Roberts and to a major extent Hoffman, present you with a wonderful piece of entertainment, held together with the type of dialogue only Aaron Sorkin could put together. Go see it and enjoy it, but don't take it too seriously.

Iowa Caucus
After reading Kent Carlson's slanted commentary about the Iowa Caucus, I would invite him here. But your narrow mind and your unforsight would never survie our cold weather, ice and snow. People like him sit in the warm weather drinking ice tea shooting down the true Americans, only small people would ever write what he did and insult everyone.

Hillary
As a nurse for 27 years, a mother and wife who has worked hard all my life to get ahead, I applaud you Hillary Clinton!! There is NOT one politician that is perfect in all of our history, but if there is anyone who WILL defend us middle class hard working people, it is Hillary Clinton! I've done my research for a very long time and obtained the facts and without a doubt, our great country is going to see history take place in November 2008! For the first time we are going to see a woman President! And its not just because she is a woman, it is because of what she represents to us all. Stop looking at the past, because the Clintons own personal lives where their own. Face it, everyone has a skeleton in their closet in some way, shape or form. The Clinton did their job well before and they will do an even better job in the future. Do your research on the facts before you make judgement.

Huckabee's Immigration Plan Is Deceiving
Mike Huckabee says his 9 point immigration plan will solve the problem of illegal immigration. The last part of that plan gives the millions of illegal aliens in this country the option to leave the country and come in the legal way. However, he's been quoted and recorded saying this process would only take a day or so. That's not doing it the legal way. This is amnesty, pure and simple. This plan is no different than the amnesty bill Senators Kennedy and Kyl tried to shove down our throats last summer. We cannot afford another George Bush type in the White House, and I strongly recommend to anyone considering voting for Mike Huckabee to check out his record on illegal immigration.

hillary's experience
Hillary said yesterday that she would cut off aid to Pakistan. Somehow that sounds more like the pronoucement of someone who never had security clearance in her 8 years in the White House than it sounds like the 35 year leader her minions keep telling us she is. Of course, she also said last week that OPEC would reduce the price of oil if she were elected, so maybe it doesn't matter if she her leadership credentials are earned. She's magic.

Beware of Huckabee
I think Mike Huckabee will be remembered as a flip flopper and a liar. An example is him lying in front of milllions of people about having a theology degree when he does not. I found this article and am sharing it. FREELAND The founder of a Hazleton based anti illegal immigration group left for Iowa on Wednesday to join other activists to discredit GOP presidential contender Mike Huckabee before the Iowa caucus. "We're going to expose to Iowa voters that Mike Huckabee, who is currently leading in the Iowa polls, is a fraud, and his record speaks volumes. He does not care about immigration reform, and basically, we need to go out there and get the word out," Dan Smeriglio, president and founder of Voice of the People USA, said Wednesday at a press conference at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Freeland. Smeriglio will join William Gheen, president of Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee, and Peter Gadiel, of 9 11 Families for a Secure America, to "warn Republican voters" in Iowa about Huckabee's "touchback amnesty plan" in anticipation of the Jan. 3 Iowa caucus. Caucuses are meetings at which members of political parties gather to make policy decisions, elect leaders and select candidates. In a few states, they serve as an alternative to primary elections. Since 1972, the Iowa caucus has been the first major electoral event of the presidential nominating process and has served as an early indicator for which presidential candidate might win his or her party's nomination at the party's national convention. After setting up a command center Wednesday night, the leaders of the three anti illegal immigration groups plan over the next four days to conduct media interviews, initiate a phone campaign to as many as 42,000 registered Republican Iowan voters and go door to door to spread their message about Huckabee, Smeriglio said. Gheen, of ALIPAC, said the activists will warn voters that Huckabee and fellow GOP presidential contenders Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain have "pro amnesty" stances. On his Web site mikehuckabee.com, Huckabee details a nine-point "strategy for immigration enforcement and border security" that includes rejecting policies that promote or tolerate amnesty. Under the amnesty provision, Huckabee proposes to provide all illegal immigrants 120 days to register with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services and leave the country. Those who register and return to their home country will face no penalty if they later apply to immigrate or visit; those who do not return home will be, when caught, will be barred from future re entry for a period of 10 years, according to the Web site. But Gheen said Huckabee "is trying to deceive voters with a tough immigration stance on his Web site that excludes his comments to FOX News on Dec. 9 where he says illegal aliens can return within days."

Im writing this in response to your recent article on "people making a difference".
Namely the person who was mentioned first...a certain outreach worker. let me give u some inside information. In the two years i have been homeless in Des Moines, i have witnessed time and again, just how uncompassionate this man is...including throwing a man out of a homeless shelter for trying to get a hungry person some food. I have seen time and time again, how this man truley does not care about the people he deals with. the number of times i have seen this person near a homeless camp, i can count on one hand. his uncaring treatment of the homeless people of Des moines is not something that we should celebrate. It should be considered as just another reason why homeless people can not get off the streets. His malicious attacks on the homeless people of this city are borderline criminal including several times, while not only threating a homeless man, i have seen him rejoice in the fact he can throw a man out into the cold. this person should not be celebrated.he should be chastised for his actions, attitude and treatment of the poor of Des moines. In closing let me add this... say what u like about the poor of Des moines, but its a sad day, when a person who is to care for them, finds joy in threating and harrasing them. threatening to put a person out into the cold, for what u ask? asking for food? or how about asking for just a lil respect?

Sculpture at Ponderosa
In response to "what's the deal with the Ponderosa sculture commissions? I haven't read a thing, every media outlet in town has over reported every pappajohn and bucksbaum art donation but nothing about commissions for living local artists, rather than tax breaks for the filthy rich, might be interesting." Expect to see a sequence of press begining in February.

best of 2007
The Register did a Best of Dining, can't ever remember them picking the best new restaurant before. Their two critics picked two different restaurants than you picked. How the hell do you choose? Did one really stand out for you? Also, thanks for acknowledging George Formaro, he's a great talent and Des Moines is so lucky to have him. I think he doesn't usually get the due acclaim because he isn't an academy boy like most hot chefs these days.

Best of 2007
I recently checked out the Best of 2007 article because I had received another forwarded email from the annoying Melrose girls to vote for them Best of 2008. It is in my high hopes that the best of 2008 article comes out more innovative. I cannot decide if the Best of 2007 article shines light on bad shopping, or bad writers? To name Von Maur because of the "dressy" clothing, than go on to name Lucky brand jeans? Anyone that is aware of retailers would know that Lucky brand jeans are not a hot commodity. The writer should have gone on to discuss the exclusivity that Von Maur brings to Des Moines (Burberry, Kooba, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Juicy Couture, True Religion brand jeans, ect.) plus the wonderful customer service experienced at the store. It is also kind of contradictory to name Yonkers the best "casual" retailer and than list it as a runner up to the best "dressy" retailer. There are so many categories that Cityview included in this list that Des Moines simply does not have enough variety to vote on. "Best Shopping District?" There are only three in the area (all of which made the list as top or runner up). Why don't you include some innovative categories like "Best Boutique," "Best overall retailer," "Best department store," "Best bargain store." At least this way the "list" can see some competition. Just food for thought.

A new renaissance of hope
Our grandchildren will read stories of how Iowa chose the first great leader of the free world in nearly 50 years. Our grandchildren will read stories of how Iowa chose a leader with true vision and hope. They will read stories about how this leader challenged its citizens to accomplish great deeds. They will know the greatest deed of all for this new leader was the accomplishment of true world peace, A peace that elevated America to a new renaissance of hope and opportunity. On January 3rd, Iowa will have that opportunity to change the course of America and elect the next great leader of the free world, Barack Obama.

best & worst
what's the deal with the Ponderosa sculture commissions? I haven't read a thing, every media outlet in town has over reported every piece of art the pappajohns and bucksbaums give the river walk and gateway park to death, but commissions for living local artists, rather than tax breaks for the filthy rich, might be interesting. No?

letters to the editor/former rant
I see you edited my rant when you turned it into a letter to the editor. Unfortunately, you took out the part that made the last line make sense, the part that bothers me more than their calling, that these calls are making me so angry that I get nasty about them. Still, I've managed to curb some of that nastiness since that rant; I cut the last caller off and told them I was voting for Severus Snape, then hung up. Not completely polite, but better than telling them to shove off. And definitely more fun.

Granny Basketball
It is that time of year when grannies (women over age 50) are untying their aprons, lacing up their tennis shoes and heading to the gym to play Granny Basketball. Granny Basketball is a gentle sport for the mature women. It involves no running or jumping, but hurrying is encouraged. There are currently two established teams in the Des Moines area and three more getting started (WDM, Ankeny and Indianola). These grannies love to play basketball and are searching for groups who need new ideas for fundraisers. There is never a charge to the organization and everyone has a great time. For more information or to set up a game, visit grannybasketball.com.

Best & Worst 2007
Knowing 2 out of the 3 volunteer winners: Mary Muller & Don Dunagan made those choices personal for me. Their contributions and friendships with those they serve are as beautiful as the art these artists produce.

best & worst of 2007
I think I remember your Art Pimp calling for a Living Treasures program in Iowa. If not him, someone else writing in the local press did several years ago. The Japanese designate Living Treasures and Revered Presences to honor their unique cultural assets. Other countries, a couple states and several USA cities have done the same thing. (Santa Fe's Living Treasures include a former Des Moines lady, Mary Lou Cook.) Iowa should begin such and Bill Luchsinger & Karen Strohbeen should be charter members. They are Iowa art incarnate, and in reproduction.

"of a nice grandma..."
Wow, I just wanted to make sure this comment from a previous Rant & Raver didn't get lost in the length of his rant. "the reason the Register endorsed Hilary Clinton and John McCain, is to generate an onslaught of online traffic. Since the endorsement, 1025 comments (and counting) have been posted after the news story about that endorsement. That translates to more dollars for the Register's bottom line related to online advertising dollars."

Beechwood Lounge
Beechwood is a great bar! Although it is very nice estabilishment, very far from a dive bar like explained in the article. Overall great story and even better bar.

The Sins of my Church
The Catholic Church should be disbanded for having the audacity to: Pay for the defense of a priest convicted of molesting an innocent child and then coming to their congregation(s) for money to pay for said defense. Ask any of its members for money when the Vatican is sitting on untold millions and perhaps billions of dollars. Elect a Pope who was a NAZI. Come up with a Ten Commandments for driving (Don't believe me? It is true, just google it). Preach forgiveness, understanding, and tolerance while (in the same breath) judging and condemning those who remain true to who god made them. Not allow women to serve in a more prominent role when women play quite a healthy role in the bible, the book which we are told is 'The Truth.' Not apologize sooner to the victims of the Holocaust and their families and for failing to take action sooner. Allow people to buy their way into heaven many century's ago. And for still allowing people to do it today under the guise of tithing. I could go on but as a Recovering Catholicª, I have to let go sometime.

Of a nice grandma, the scribbling race and human pi–atas
The number of paid subscribers to the Des Moines Register is dwindling and for good reason. The day I cancelled my subscription was the day I opened my paper and read printed comments from "Bubba" underneath one of the news stories. "Bubba" is one of the cast of characters posting comments at the Register's Online Forums. His "claim to fame" is downloading another forum user's Juvenile Court Record from Iowa Courts Online and posting it in the forums as a means to humiliate and embarass a 20 year old college student. The ensuing "flame war" resulted in the Register banning me "permanently from posting comments.... ONLY me, not "Bubba." Ironically, I was one of the few people who was "invited" to try out the Register's Beta Site before they went "live" with it in November. At the time I received the invitation, I was banned from posting comments. On the new "site" the Register is unable to actually ban anyone from posting comments. Their software DOES allow them to completely pull the profile of a forum user without notifying them they're being yanked. Then that person sets up a new profile, which the Register eventually yanks and so on and so on...... Apparently the San Francisco Chronicle uses the same software because I read about some online forum users who are questioning the software. Here's how it works. The Register yanks the complete profile of the forum user which means ALL of the comments posted are removed, not just the offensive ones. Here's the "big secret"...if that forum user is "logged in" they will "see their comments" but nobody else will. So for a time, they won't know their profile's been yanked. If they log in, the comments are there, but if they happen to go to the Discussion Forums or the News Stories, without logging in, they will "discover" the "dirty secret." What's the point of this you might ask? The POINT is that the Register continues to generate online traffic from the user profile as opposed to just getting rid of the profile completely. This is outrageous! During the past several weeks, I have subjected to another forum user who has directed the following to me: "You look like Bob Barker in Drag" and followed it with a photo of Bob Barker, "You're a douchebag," "Yeah the woman is a real nut case who needs professional help, just keep using the report post button on her posts every time," "crackpot, crank, cuckoo, demoniac, ding-a-ling, flake, freak, fruitcake, goof, harebrain, kook, lamebrain, loon, loony, madman, maniac, neurotic, ninny, nut, nutcase, paranoid, psychopath, psychotic, scatterbrain, schizo, screwball, section 8, sicko, whacko, and yo-yo. You are not wanted or welcome around here. By ANYONE! Get a clue and leave us alone. What is your major malfuntion?!?!" and "One down 63 personalities to go. ;)" This same poster posted this a few days ago: "I like boobies :)" This forum user has NEVER been banned, or had his profile yanked, the Register has banned me for using the terms, "moron" & "slumlord." I have written about my Polycystic Kidney Disease and my suffering from ADHD at the Register's Discussion Forums on several occasions, yet the Register continues to publish vicious personal attacks that include name-calling related to my "bunk kidneys" and the above deragatory references my being mentally ill. I have sent the Register numerous e-mails containing the deragatory personal attacks, some of which they've removed. The forum user who has been the biggest offender has been warned time and again to stop but he posted the above 30 references to my supposed mental state yesterday, without penalty. I have no doubt that I'm being targetted by the Register for stands I've taken against Hilary Clinton, and others of what they consider "off limits." This is what the Register considers "free speech." One of the topics on the Discussion Forums this week was "Moustache Rides" where the users posting comments either promise a "ride" or ask for one. That is the kind of filth the Register is passing off as news. "Bubba" always appears to "add a log" to the latest "flame war." Yesterday, there was a thread devoted to the promotion of "Car Surfing" a practice where kids ride on the hood of a moving car. Kids have been killed doing this but some of the forum users were promoting it as an alternative to "kids shooting each other." Now, if a kid reads that, and decides that since supposed adults are sanctioning it, and he gets killed, is the Register responsible for allowing the promotion of it on their website? If the Register isn't legally liable, then at the very least, they have some moral obligation not to promote something via their Discussion Forums, that has been shown to cause the death of kids? The Register allows a "mob" of forum users to "gang up" on other forums users...a kind of "sacrificial lamb" so to speak, in order to generate more online traffic. That's the "beauty" of their new software that allows them to yank a user profile, but then the "offender" can go right back with a new profile and continue posting. When the user writes something the Register doesn't like or agree with, they can then yank that user profile. It's my opinion that the reason the Register endorsed Hilary Clinton and John McCain, is to generate an onslaught of online traffic. Since the endorsement, 1025 comments(and counting) have been posted after the news story about that endorsement. That translates to more dollars for the Register's bottom line related to online advertising dollars. I will NEVER purchase a subscription to the Des Moines Register... in fact if the Register offered to deliver the "paper" free of charge to my front door, I would refuse it. In order to defend myself, I have communicated with the United States Department of Justice, with a complaint that the Register is refusing to recognize me as being part of a Protected Class of Persons, related to my now 20+ year diagnosis of 2 legitimate disabilities, both of which are considered permanent. In spite of receiving a copy of a letter to the Justice Department, the Register is continuing to allow the ongoing personal attacks against me without allowing equal access to defend myself in that same venue. This is not Free Speech, it's propaganda, yellow journalism (not quite libel) discrimination and censorship. One thing is certain, this is definite not news reporting. The "Star Magazine" provides more hard news than the "rag" otherwise known as the Des Moines Register.

Des Moines Register endorse H.C. is a mistake
If you are concerned that you may be electing an unindicted criminal, then you should agree with the Des Moines Reg. decision. There are grand juries who have met to go forward with an investigation of Hillary's involvement with "clearing the playing field" in 1999. Here's a quote from Tom Flocco.com "the long-time Special Forces and Division 4 (FBI)... classified final report naming former presidents Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush, Pres. Bush and Sen. Hillary Clinton among others as being involved in orchestrating the assassination of John F. Kennedy Jr... Div 4 has investigated other major crimes as shown on the Discovery channel in the 'The Hunt for the Serpent' - a serial killer as well as "a chase thru the Hudson Valley" capturing the Green Valley Killer." Del, team leader of this of this special investigative FBI arm felt that in good conscience he could not keep this secret any longer - and so granted an interview with Tom Flocco.com and later the 20 page report which Tom had posted on Stewwebb.com. Why did they do it? Because of leaked plans that HC would be beaten by jfk if he decided to run against her for NY Senator. Poppy Buch was afraid of jfk's possible bypassing of the senate race and going for prez - his son would have no chance - if that was what John K. decided to do. The plot involved airplane sabotage and a remote (or barometric) charge going off. Weather was good, plane was in good shape and in all likelihood there was a flight instructor on board who jk used on nite flites (later covered up) because it refutes "Pilot Error." Complicit in this outrage is the NTSB who help suspend the search for the aircraft for 15 hours - when they knew all along - from radar - where the aircraft impacted after falling some 188 feet!

iron wok
I had no idea there was an independent restaurant out there in Jordan Creek so thanks for the tip. Went there and was charmed by the owners, what an oasis in the franchise food desert.

grandma's
Well said sir. In its decisions about blog-to-paper fluidity, the Gannett Outlet Store on Locust has abdiacted its responsibility as a gatekeeper of standards, of ethics and of fairness. Ten years ago, I was complaining about the mistakes and bad grammar that slipped by the paper's "copy editors." On this slippery slope, that led to far more troubling things - 1.) Professional travel writing and now film reviewing have been done away with, in order to publish "show & tell time for grown-ups" in which the paper strokes egos by publishing "My Family Vacation" photos and anecdotes in exchange for cost free filler. 2.) Blogs being manipulated by rivals to undermine competitor restaurants with lies or inaccuracies, which can go uncorrected for weeks. 3.) Solicitation for free research - as in "Send us comments about your experience with ... for a story we are planning."

Who will you vote for??
Talk about funny calls, I got one Tuesday that asked me who I was going to vote for in the Republican primary. Being a two party house hold that stuff happens. Naturally, I politely told them no thank you. The call was from out of state, so I Googled the number... 603-232-9296. An escort company in New Hampshire?? Gimme a break!

Political Phone Calls
Received 4 calls over two days from the "Robo-Voice" pushing Ron Paul from a blocked out of area phone number on the caller ID. Contacted the national Ron Paul organization and asked them to stop the insanity and told them I wanted the name of the company making the calls. They took my name and number but refused to identify the company hired to pester Iowan's with that kind of crap. So much for Ron Paul's advocating open government and public's right to know.

The Art of Giving Back
A great article that truly shows the benefit of Project Based Learning and how it relates to real world learning experiences.

Candidates' phone calls
4 calls a night is nothing. Heck, I receive 3 calls within 5 minutes of each other from Clinton alone. And not on just one night. This continues. I, too, am tired of them. One can not watch a TV show in the evening without getting at least a couple of calls per show. The only vote I am going to make off a phone call is a NO. And you can bet Clinton is at the top of my NO list!

phone calls from candidates' offices/polls
I have just received my 4th call today regarding the upcoming caucuses - plus one last night (a Sunday) at 8p while watching holiday films with my kids. I have also just shocked myself by telling one of those callers to "stick it." I try hard not to be rude to people who call, no matter the reason. After all, they are just doing their job. But I've had enough. I have received at least one call every other day for a month. It's now one or more a day. It's time they realize that they are annoying people so much that they are going to LOSE votes. I realize it is a privilege to live in Iowa, where we get to meet candidates and express our views... but it's also a curse. And this from someone who used to enjoy being politically active! I'm seriously considering moving before the next major election - or become a seriously nasty person.

Is Iowa going crazy
jackie fleming is a paid GOP hack who only complains about democrats. The Move On. org is part of free speech the senate resolution was was pointless. Does Jackie ever complain of the blatant lies of Rush or Deace? Does jacklyn ever complain about rudy's pandering and philandering and using public funds to drive his mistress? Does Jackie report on Grassleys 50 million dollar earmark to ted Townsend? Does jackie complain about Huckabees release of a rapist/killer who immediately raped and killed upon release? Of course not as she isn't interested in truth or justice just her propoganda that spews from her corrupt party. Jackie is the GOP that broke that they have to rely on your fake letters of outrage to promote their agenda of hate and fear? In your next letter you should admit upfront of your bias!

Rice Field
The Des Moines School Board first turned down upto an additional $100,000 for the Rice property at a time when we are cash strapped. This issue is actually addressed in the State Auditor's Report on the Des Moines School District and some of its improper activities. Beyond that the contract signed by the School District with the Boesen Group was an "as is" contract. So we not only didn't accept the most money for the property we ignored our contract and added $130,000 to the deal. At a time when trust has all but been destroyed between the Des Moines School District and the taxpayers of this community because of the way the local option tax projects have been handled will can ill afford additional rifts between us and the public. When the local option tax was passed in 1999 it came with three district promises. The first was that we would spend the money only on projects we said we would. The second was that we would spend on needs first and wants second. The third was that we would not have excessive managment or bureaucracy associated with the effort. Now the day the tax passed we projected $352 million in revenue but $426 million in projects. So we started off $74 million short. Then we spent on projects not in the promise like the $10 million plus Central Kitchen. We pursued wish list projects instead of taking care of identified needs first. Finally we signed an upto $24 million management contract with a company. Currently the principal officer of that company bills us $19 grand monthly even though we have no written performance evaluations on his work for us and he's failed to appear at a single Tuesday Board meeting this year despite 60% of our meetings to date have dealt with local option tax project concerns. On June 30, 2010 the local option tax is scheduled to be renewed. After the thumping Project Destiny took as further evidence trust is gone when it comes to our current civic leadership do we really believe the voters of this district will renew the tax? Can we pass bonds votes currently to fund much needed projects in Des Moines? The tragedy is we can't conduct business like a normal school district. Instead we have to make really tough choices following really bad choices. Because of that we need to be transparent and fully engaged with our partner, the public. In the movie 3:10 to Yuma Dan Evans tells his wife he didn't consult her about a key decision because she would have made the same decision. He completely misses the point. They promised to make decisions together. Right now the public, our partner in local education, feels excluded. We hear it again and again but ignore the constant raised concern. Instead decisions are too often made outside the public view, even outside the view of some of us board members, and then when we are ready for ratification then, and only then, do we have a public conversation. Unfortunately it's too late by then. In the case of the Rice Property our one and only hearing on awarding the $130,000 became a Board chastisement of the concerned citizenry. I am still stunned as I think about people like former State Sen. Jack Holveck and John Norris being told if they don't like the Board's decision run for the Board. As a Board we completely missed the point. A complication that could have been avoided by not rushing to judgement. Regardless, transparency and accountability are two pillars that must be added to the upholding of the future of this district. Without them we will continue our collapse under the weight of our arrogant and antagonistic governance.

Promises sent Down the Drain
Thanks Cityview for your continued efforts to bring to light the nepotism, cronyism, and corruption in the misuse of public funds in and around Des Moines.

Down the drain
Hear ye! Hear Ye! Hear ye! May it once and forever be proclaimed throughout the land that Beaverdale's Rice Field DOESN'T have a storm sewer problem after all! How shocking! Can it be? Let the TRUTH resonate throughout the land! The justifications being made by our school board and city council to use taxpayers' dollars to help pay for new storm sewer costs on the property are improper and make our public officials look FOOLISH, ILL-ADVISED, MISINFORMED, DISHONEST or all of the above. The only reason Rice Field needs extensive storm sewer work is because the school board, city council, developers and their friends/associates are bent on developing it. Besides, the neighbors alerted officials to the fact that storm water run-off would be a major concern with a development on Rice Field months ago, so...WHY is everyone acting so surprised about it? Public Works Director Mr. Stowe referred to the space as a "big green sponge" as he addressed storm sewer concerns when speaking before the school board. The fact of the matter is that the undisturbed green space has no need for a storm sewer and would continue to take care of itself quite nicely if left alone. It's the massive amount of proposed concrete and rooftop surfaces that will cover the space that have created the storm sewer problem. No development...no problem. The developers are creating this problem (not to mention the general discord and unhappiness in their own neighborhood as they go against the wishes of the majority of their neighbors)so let THEM pay for it. Curious, isn't it that Parks and Recreation officials were involved in both the Rice Field and Ankeny wetlands land acquisitions. And that's just the tip of the iceberg! Look a little closer, dig a little deeper, and we may find that there are other similarities, as well. Stay on it, Cityview! PUBLIC MONEY IS BEING MISUSED!

David Yepsen's Severe Lack of Tack
My God when will the reign of terror end? Des Moines gets its one shining moment in the NY Times sun and David Yepsen drags us back into the dark ages with his embarrassing quote. Idiot! Ref: http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/travel/02journeys.html

Winners and Loser
In Re: WDM $1,000 party fine: And yet, there's no fine for people who let people get drunk at their house, beat each other up and then call the police out to break it up "whether the person knows or should reasonably know (what exactly does that mean anyway Ñ should reasonably know? what's the loophole there?)that an idiot loser has consumed alcohol." It seems that the serving minors law covers this "problem" already. Since it seems they're scraping the bottom of the "what can we do to make WDM better" pile, it really must be a nirvana west of 63rd street. If so, where do I sign up?

Rice Field Shenanigans
Beaverdale's Rice School neighbors were promised that their elementary school would not be torn down if the one cent sales tax passed. Then, after the building was demolished,they were promised that the land would never be sold. Speaking at the October 17, 2006, school board meeting, at-large councilman Chris Coleman made comments regarding the proposed Rice Field development, "This has been talked about and planned for since just before the Rice building was torn down." This should shed some light on why citizens have chosen not to remain silent on the numerous questionable practices surrounding the land deal. It seems a lot of people were scheming and planning for quite some time without public knowledge.

Foreclosure
David Horak, the President of the Iowa Mortgage Association "knows how it feels to lose a home?" Who believes that bogus crap? The Iowa Mediation Service hasn't done "diddly" for ANYONE facing foreclosure... to the best of knowledge. What could we expect for a little less than $5,000, which is amount of money the AG's Office provided to the Iowa Mediation Service? They answer the phone but that's as far as it gets! I'm disappointed that the Cityview did this "puff piece" without doing any investigation. Assistant Attorney General Patrick Madigan....has this "Mortgage Foreclosure Hotline" actually stopped any foreclosures. I attempted to refer consumers facing foreclosures to the "hotline" which is when I discovered how bogus this really is. I would appreciate it if Cityview would look into what the "Mortgage Foreclosure Hotline" has actually done in terms of numbers of foreclosures that have been stopped as a result of this program? I think you'll find out the number is 0 to none!!!

Tipping
Why don't minorities tip? You want to come to America, the land of the free and capitalism, and yet you are actually hindering our culture.

The Witches Among Us
Great article! Many don't understand the Wiccan/Pagan belief system. I think it is human nature to lash out or crucify those things that aren't understood. I only wish more people would take the time to learn about things before "branding" or "stereotyping" them. Kudos!

Democrat Nominee Race
The media is not giving John Edwards the fair amount of coverage as Clinton and Obama. Thus far the only candidate that is willing to go into depth about the issues the will affect the lives of each and every voter would be John Edwards. Both Clinton and Obama are playing the DC insider game. Hillary has admitted to holding onto her ties with the lobbyist networks that continue to foster a corrupt system. There might be a group of lobbyists that do good for the nation, but the bad apples need to be extracted. For example, the war contractors the continue to lavish the Congressmen/women with incentives to continue the war in the middle-east. The interest of economic health has fallen on the corporate side of politics for too long. There needs to be balance. What the media is not allowing Edwards air-time for is, the explaination as to how he is going to bring about the balance. These concepts of most foreign to the other two candidates favored by the media. Be the HOPE... get the word out about John Edwards. The media is going to shut him out, but we can pass the word along, ourselves.

Broken Promises/Steve Klein
If the reporter had done the appropriate homework and checked the Polk County Assessor's website, they would have discovered that Steve Klein was not donating the land, he SOLD it for nearly a quarter million... sounds like sour grapes for his little theme park next door.

Grassley probe of televangelists
Here's a little sidelight on one televangelist and it has an Iowa angle: www.trinityfi.org/press/tuft/060830-HangTuft.html

Des Moines Register new website
You folks have no obligation to cover the REG, of course, but I'd be interested in your review of their new website. Yes, I'm rural and am stuck with dialup, but I don't think that's the whole problem. For me, their new website is even more difficult to use than the old one, which was no picnic either. And there's also an unpleasant new element of suspense. Sometimes I can click and get to where I want to go, and sometimes I click and nothing happens. Your website, by contrast, is easy and user-friendly, dialup or not. Also, REG, I have news for you, so to speak Ñ a lot of us not only don't want to write our own blogs on your site, but we don't want to read other readers' blogs either. If I want to read random blogs by other people who are no more qualified or knowledgeable than me, I can go to ten million other places on the Internet.

Civic Skinny
The Roosevelt High School story is interesting. I heard about a Des Moines high school student who was so severely bullied, physically and emotionally, that she dropped out and obtained a GED. The gang of girls who did the bullying did the worst things away from the school and after school hours, so the school reportedly disclaimed responsibility. But dropping out of school finally solved the problem for the victim. Pretty sad, and this story makes me wonder how common that is.

The New Democratic Generation
What do Americans really want right now? Change. Senator Barack Obama represents that change. Obama is the only candidate running for the presidency that can move us forward from the piercing partisanship of the last 20 years. He will bring us to a new age of confident engagement. Obama believes that America must lead the world, by deed and example. In Bill Clinton's 1996 acceptance address he said, "We can only build our bridge to the twenty-first century if we build it together, and if we are willing to walk arm and arm across that bridge together." We may in fact have finally found that bridge to the twenty-first century; it is Barack Obama.

Best of Des Moines 2007
Best service is at Latin King? They must have been truly off their game last Valentine's Day, which is the day that left me so unimpressed, that I may never venture there again. Normally, speedy is a good thing, but prepared to have a nice long dining experience, our appetizer arrived with our salads and before our drinks and we discovered a short time later that the appetizers were still cold in the middle. When the waitress arrived again a minute later, it was to deliver our drinks and our meals before we'd had a chance to barely take a bite of salad. The waitress dropped off the check without asking if we wanted dessert, asked how everything was but darted off before we could swallow and answer the question. We finished eating, I paid, leaving no tip, and we left. Our whole dining experience took about half an hour. It's been long enough ago that I don't recall specifically what we ate, I believe the steak deburgo was good but the pasta dish had the blandest marinara sauce. We actually ended up going home and making popcorn. I'm sure if we went another night we may actually experience this "Best in Des Moines" service, but I doubt that will ever happen.

Winners/Losers
Please continue to follow the story of Dr. Paul Armbrecht, the vet who was paid to testify that suspending hogs in the air so they'll strangle to death over the course of several minutes doesn't constitute cruelty to animals. I think this gentlemen deserves a lot more media attention than he has apparently gotten so far.

Broken Promises
Oh yes indeedy, good ol' boy politics have nothing to do with land-use decisions in Polk County. And babies are found under cabbage leaves, the Tooth Fairy leaves money under pillows and Santa flies all around the world in a single night. Here's a helpful hint, little children everywhere. When local elected officials go against the advice of their professional planning staff, odds are good that politics and/or money and/or good-buddyhood are involved. And that goes double when it comes to developing on wetlands and floodplains. Thanks, Danielle Wirth, for saying what some others would say if they didn't fear for their jobs.

Broken Promises
"The Board of Supervisors knew the developer, they knew the representative of the soccer league, it was all very 'good old boy' politics," he said. "ThatÕs just how things seem to go in Polk County."(AND IN CITY POLITICS AS WELL.) That couldn't be further from the truth, Hockensmith said. The board always looks at zoning changes with an open mind, and for the supervisors to go against the recommendation of the planning and zoning commission, the developer had to make adjustments to improve the project. (COMPARE WITH DM COUNCIL OF THE RICE FIELD SALE AND DEVELOPMENT, WHEREIN A NEIGHBORHOOD GOT SCREWED.) The president of the soccer league at the time of the re-zoning, Douglas Romig, could not be reached for comment ... (A PERSON NAMED DOUG ROMIG IS ASSISTANT TOP DOG AT THE DM PARKS AND REC DEPT.)

arming the campus cops
have to laugh at Mikey Gartner. Ive noticed when moneys transferred at Principal park in DM, the cops accompanying the Cubs employees are armed. Of course, Mikeys money is more important to him than the safety of the kids on the campuses in Iowa...

Fall Books Issue
It meant a lot to me, naturally, to have my new novel singled out for praise among your Fall Books. Still, I must return the favor. The issue was a real contribution to the community, a long-needed celebration of the canny and spirited scene for readers and writers in and around Des Moines. Those who love books, in this town, have had to grope for each other through fog and in silence, far too often. My deeper gratitude to Cityview, then, has nothing much to do with the small stroking my own work got, and everything to do with the far more significant benefit the issue accomplished, getting out the word about The Word. More, please, and as soon as you can.

Article about indoor playgrounds
The person who responded to the article about indoor playgrounds stated the following... [My pride and joy is now a happy, well adjusted 20 year old lesbian.] I'm confused. Isn't that an oxymoron?

bumper corn crop
Two crop agriculture has been practical since the Dust Bowl days, as rotation replenishes soil. The Corn Bubble created by ethanol subsidies is encouraging industrial agriculturalists to plant corn over and over instead of rotating. The encouragments to do this are being increased, by continued subsidies, by the disappearance from the land of owner-stewards, who are replaced by investment groups who care less about the land long term and more about short term profits.

Civic Skinny
[Your] article [Civic Skinny, Sept. 20] assumes that all other things being equal, everyone would rather be downtown when the vast majority probably just wants an easy commute to and from work. For some that means they prefer downtown, others WDM. So it really depends on if you commute from Ankeny or Grimes.

The insurance and drug companies know how to stop Clinton
I heard someone once say that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Well, if that's true, the Democrats must be nuts. At a time when 47 million Americans are uninsured, they're considering nominating Hillary Clinton, the one candidate whose failed attempt set back efforts to get universal health care by at least a decade. With all due respect, Clinton's experience doesn't mean she'll know how to manipulate the system better this time, it just means the insurance and drug companies, who have given her campaign millions, will know exactly how to stop her.

The Principal and DART
A friend of mine, who is an employee of Principal, informed me that beginning Oct. 1, any employee of Principal can ride DART buses for free. I'd like to applaud Principal for its green employee incentive and green community investment. Moreover, as a regular DART patron I'd like to see Wells Fargo (my employer) do the same.

Why DSM's Oktoberfest Is Lame!
Thank God CityView did not make the mistake of sponsoring the Des Moines Oktoberfest. Both my wife and I thought it was the biggest rip-off ever; you pay 8 bucks to get in and you still had to pay 4 bucks for beer and 4 bucks for brats. I guess the 8 dollar cover charge entitled you to a plastic mug and the opportunity to watch a bunch of people sit around, drink beer and listen to polka. Next year I will save a fortune and celebrate Oktoberfest elsewhere.

To the Editor
Imagine my shock at seeing that some dribbling idiot (I wont use her name, Ms. Twit from Johnston will do nicely) wrote to complain that my letter a few weeks ago about those germ filed play grounds at malls was "ridiculous." While not being a petty, mean spirited person who always has to have the last word, I feel forced, forced I say, to respond. First of all, Ms. Twit, I do have an offspring. My pride and joy is now a happy, well adjusted 20 year old lesbian. She is in great shape, always has been. And I never ONCE took her to an indoor bowl of puss! I took her to parks, the back yard, bike riding, tennis, karate. All the things you fat lazy mall rat parents seem incapable of. Second, while you concede that these "play pens" are full of germs, you point out other germ hazards. Ah, my silly Ms. Twit, life is full of germs, but not concentrated into a giant flu incubator in the middle of a shopping area! Third and finally, the noise from these infernal romper-rooms is on the par of a bachlorette party. (Alright, I admit that the kids are less germy and better behaved) So, bite me, Ms. Twit. I may be an grumpy old (48, but damn good looking) man. But I know a health threat when I see one!

Party like a rock star
Some one should have requested the Indianola police dept and Warren Co sheriff's dept direct traffic. The food was better than in past years. Dennis Kucinich wasn't there. He says he wasn't invited, but his Web site also said he and his hot, young wife were enroute from Hawaii to Cleveland that day, so I don't know what to believe.

Winners/Losers
You folks say that the bumper corn crop this year is good news for Iowa farmers, the Iowa economy and 52 countries that buy corn from Iowa. I won't argue. But how about covering the other side of the story, the way you used to do? I go to soil conservation meetings and what I hear over and over is that more corn means more soil erosion and more water pollution in Iowa, and neither the feds nor the state are doing nearly enough to prevent that outcome. To put it mildly. And the NRCS was already underfunded for what it's expected to do and is now eliminating staff positions in Iowa because of budget cuts. I do see good reporting on the natural resource consequences of ethanol and increased corn, but as far as I can tell, most of that good reporting is happening outside Iowa. Pretty sad.

Props for local music coverage
Thanks for all you do to support the local music scene.

Clinton's Experience or Monarchy?
Hillary Clinton has only been in the U.S. Senate for six years, a few more years than Senator Barack Obama has. Obama served in the Illinois State Senate for seven years prior to his election to the U.S. Senate. He was elected to the State Senate in 1996 and was reelected in 1998 and 2002. He won a landslide election to the U.S. Senate in November 2004, receiving 70 percent of the general election vote. Hillary has never served in any elective office prior to 2001. The idea that spouses gain qualifications through their partners' jobs is a radically new concept in this country. We don't name Chief Executive Officer spouses the next head of the company when their partner steps down. There's a word for a spousal co-presidency in the English language, it's called a "monarchy."

Barack Obama has offered the most far-reaching plan
Senator Barack Obama has offered the most far-reaching plan yet to winding down the war in Iraq. Senator Obama would pull out all combat brigades by the end of 2008. I agree with Obama's statement "The best way to pressure Iraq's leaders to resolve their civil war is to immediately begin to remove our combat troops." Most opinion polls strongly support a phased withdrawal of Americana troops in Iraq as Senator Obama has proposed. America must turn the page to so that we can bring back our unity of purpose at home.

We must turn the page in Iraq
I applaud Senators Barrack Obama's recent statements on the war in Iraq "President Bush was wrong when he took us to war, he was wrong when he escalated this war in January, and he is wrong to stay the course now." Obama opposed the war from the start. He introduced federal legislation in January 2007 that would have started bringing our combat troops back in May. I agree with Senator Obama that as Americans we must turn the page in Iraq so that we can recapture our unity of purpose at home and our leadership around the world.

No military solution to the war in Iraq
I agree with Senator Barack Obama that there is no military solution to the war in Iraq. We should immediately begin a withdrawal of American combat troops in Iraq. Obama opposed the war before it started in 2002. Senator Obama introduced legislation last January calling for withdrawal to start on May 1 and for all combat brigades to be pulled out by March 31, 2008.

Clinton's China Connection
In 1996 the re-election campaign of President Bill Clinton received $300,000 in illegal campaign contributions from the scandalous Johnny Chung. Mr. Chung, former Chinese government bagman, eventually pleaded guilty to bank fraud, tax evasion, and two counts of conspiring to violate election laws in December 1998. Time to flip forward to August 2007, presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton is caught in her own campaign fundraising scandal with former fugitive and one of her top fund-raisers Norman Hsu, who is under federal investigation for allegedly violating election laws. Clinton was the top recipient of campaign handouts from Mr. Hsu and his dubious associates since 2004. He was a leading money bundler for Clinton, earning the title of HillRaiser for his efforts. The scandal forced Ms. Clinton's campaign to return $850,000 to 260 contributors linked to Hsu. In 1991 Hsu swindled investors of $1 million in a bogus investment scam (a Chinese latex gloves deal). He was sentenced to three years in prison when he skipped town before his sentencing in 1992. He finally surrendered to an arrest warrant on August 31, 2007. The latest installment from the mysterious Mr. Hsu are allegations he recently swindled $40 million from a New York capital venture firm, headed by Joel Rosenman (one of the original Woodstock creators). He reportedly told investors the funds would be used to manufacture apparel in China for top fashion designers. When it comes to the Washington power game, we need to stop trading access for big money. If you defend the system that defeats change, you canÕt be the leader who will in fact bring change.

Walter Shotwell column on Getting out of Iraq
Walter Shotwell, once a great reporter and columnist fot the Des Moines Register has not lost his touch. His plan on how Americans can train Iraquis one-on-one and then leave is brilliant. It comes from common sense and having had experience in the military-experience avoided by virtually all of our Washington official elected in the past few decades. Chuck Grassley or Tom Harkin should grab the Shotwell plan and run with it.

fake lakes
How about a fake lake update? You folks had a great cover article on 6/22/06 about the very interesting political maneuvering behind proposed new fake lakes in several Iowa counties and how the eminent domain law fit in. What has happened since?

Johnny Cash Tribute
Wow, what a touching story about Tommy Cash. I just read it online, makes one misty-eyed!

ISU
After this 2nd loss for ISU they ought to get rid of this bible thumping fool, hire a lowly young "local" coach, pay him 100 grand only and let him make a name for himself. Save us all some big bucks and allow some unknown the opportunity to PROVE themselves. Let the life coach get on a rug and point him east.

Back to School
I am a 17-year-old senior at Roosevelt High School and Central Academy. After reading your latest feature story, "Back to School" I felt compelled to write in, correct a few bold claims, and offer my thoughts. First off, interviewing anyone but seniors does not result in knowledgeable answers. As a senior, I have over three full years of experience to draw from. Underclassmen do not have this advantage, and this was evident in the quotes. The students (besides Forest Cochran) interviewed were all either lying, ignorant, or enforced teenager stereotypes. The "problems" covered in the story are jokes to any high school student who pays any amount of attention to their surroundings. The statistic stating that "75 to 98 percent of students have admitted to cheating at some time in their academic careers" is highly amusing because of the keyword "admitted." I can unequivocally state that 100% of students cheat, and that the reason the study didn't show 100% is because not everyone will admit to it. School security definitely does not belong on a list of problems regarding Des Moines schools. I feel completely safe walking into school each day despite the infrequent incidents. Physical bullying is relatively rare, and the stereotypical gossiping and rumor spreading is to be expected. No one honestly cares about intellectually condescending comments, but the article counts that as "bullying." The article cites a statistic relating to how many bully incidents occur without adult intervention. Here is why students don't report it: If someone punches you in the face and you choose not to fight back, you get in as much trouble as the aggressor. Des Moines Public Schools say that one cannot plead self-defense. The consequence for you and the aggressor are the same regardless or your response, so why fight back? Onlookers do not want to intervene because if they get involved, they also receive the same consequence. This is why we refuse to report anything. It is obvious to the students that this policy does nothing but perpetuate more violence, but for years the Des Moines school board has ignored the issue. The students who gave quotes involving sex at schools are severely misinformed. No one has sex in Roosevelt (or Central Campus) bathrooms or anywhere else on school grounds. The claim is absurd (barring some sporadic cases). People would simply skip a class and go home, as you could get caught very quickly if you tried doing anything at school. Not to mention, the atmosphere in a Roosevelt bathroom is far from sensuous. The media would rather report on "interesting" yet fake issues that reaffirm what most believe to be actual teen issues than discuss real issues, such as staff apathy for education and overzealous and draconian district policies.

Beaverdale Parkland
Why is a florist/developer willing to play Russian Roulette with beautiful Beaverdale when there is way too much development going on and there is no attention to green space for future tenants of the dense housing going up?

Parkland in Beaverdale
At the City Council and hearing on Rice Field, a former candidat for governor who lives in Beaverdale advocated development at Rice Field. He mentioned that his grown children had used Rice Field... It might not be of use to his adult children, but what about our kids who would like to keep playing on Rice Field?

The Inexplicable Mr. Hsu & Hillary Rodham Clinton
Democratic presidential candidate Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton recently announced she would give away to charity the $23,000 in contributions she received from fugitive campaign fundraiser Norman Hsu. Mr. Hsu is wanted in California for skipping out on a 3-year prison sentence, following his conviction on defrauding investors of $1 million in a bogus investment scam in 1991. Senator Clinton was the top recipient of campaign handouts from Norman Hsu since 2004. Clintons campaign designated Hsu a "HillRaiser", a title given to top Clinton donors. Hsu donated to ClintonÕs political action committee, HillPac, her 2006 U.S. Senate re-election campaign and 2008 presidential campaign. The American people are tired of a Washington that's only open to those with the most cash and the right connections. We must do away with the influence of lobbyists and political action committees. We need a candidate who is not beholding to special interest and will fight against the status quo in Washington.

More Parkland for NW Des Moines
Public Works Director Bill Stowe said it very well when addressing the Des Moines School Board regarding storm sewer issues at Rice Field when he referred to the site as a "big green sponge." Rice Field takes care of itself quite nicely without the need for extensive and expensive storm sewer intervention. When will we learn that it's best not to mess with mother nature? Save the green as parkland! How much of the earth must we cover with roofs and concrete before we recognize our mistakes?

Northwest Parkland
We heard about Parks Director Don Tripp earlier this year when the media reported his failure to use alloted funds in a timely manner to post warnings for boaters near the river dam in downtown Des Moines. Now we learn that his negligence is threatening an entire community. Mr. Tripp should present a public apology to the community at an upcoming City Council meeting. At the same time, he can present accurate information regarding parkland in the northwest section of Des Moines and make the recommendation that Rice Field be preserved for current and future generations. Perhaps he is having a difficult time recognizing a shortage in parkland since he lives in one of the areas of the city where parkland is abundant.

Parkland in Northwest Des Moines
I do not understand why this Rice Field development hasn't been dropped yet. Ms. Buckley has exposed so much apparent corruption that it totally shocks me that the citizens of Des Moines have not yet flooded the council's mailboxes to shape up or ship out. Maybe it is time to hold the next council meeting in a local cemetery or riverbank to see what a lovely greenspace they are alloting for the families of the northwest.

Rice Field Park
Some of the people of the East Coast and West Coast of this great country think that Iowa is only corn fields, some think we grow potatoes.. We who live here know better. It's nice that Iowa can prosper but it shouldnt be at the expense of our parks. All is good with green space, health and welfare of our citizens should be considered in this case. We need space to breathe, think about how much fun it is just to have a Sunday afternoon out doors, a picnic, or run through the green grass.Lets not let the concrete cover our park space.

47 Million Uninsured Americans
I applaud the efforts of Senator Barack Obama in his fight against special interest in Washington. The rising cost of health care is directly due to the profiteering of the pharmaceutical and health insurance special interest and their lobbyists in Washington. President Bush and the Republican leadership in Congress can take credit for the over 47 million Americans who are uninsured. It's imperative that we take care of the health care needs of our seniors, children and our wounded military veterans in America.

Cathy Buckley's guest commentary
I feel STRONGLY that a great injustice has been committed against the residents of Beaverdale in regard to the former Rice School grounds. It was sold and rezoned over the objections of a huge percentage of Beaverdale residents who wanted to keep it as a green space so neighborhood children could continue to play and enjoy the trees and green space. If Mr. Tripp didn't have "his ducks in a row", then he should be replaced by someone who does know what he's talking about. As you look back on this whole process or even as it was taking place, one had to wonder why Mr. Tripp could make such an error??? Also why didn't the school board keep the property for future school developement (busing students is not only costly but buses use what could one day be a scarce commodity and if it had to be sold, the city should have purchased it-instead the Des Moines City Council went against the City's Plan and Zoning Board's recommendation not to rezone it. Why did they do this? One can only wonder why? I think Beaverdale residents and residents of Des Moines as a whole should think about this when they vote for the Des Moines School Board and City Council members.

Supports Iowa being first in the nation
Senator Barack Obama has campaigned aggressively in Iowa since his announcement in February. Obama has invested significant resources in a statewide grassroots effort in Iowa. Senator Barack Obama supports Iowa being first in the nation.

Stand by your lobbyist
How many lobbyists represent the 47 million uninsured in America today? How many lobbyists represent the homeless and poor in America today? How many lobbyists represent the families of the 3,800 American soldiers killed in Iraq? Hillary, how many lobbyists donated to your campaign?

We should not compromise with special interest
I agree with Senator Barack Obama that we should not compromise with special interest lobbyists in Washington. Senator Obama has led the effort in the U.S. Senate for ethics and campaign finance reform. Barack Obama has refused to accept campaign contributions from lobbyists and political action committees. Senator Barack Obama will fight against the status quo in Washington.

Northwest Parkland
I find it interesting that one Des Moines developer tries to create the "Beaverdale feel" on the southern edge of town, while the Boesen development group works to take it away by developing Rice Field. Reminds me of the lyrics to a song that is once again gaining a resurgence in popularity, "Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. They paved paradise and put in a parking lot." I hope Cathy Buckley and the neighbors will succeed in stopping this development and securing the greenspace for their community. We all should hope for this and support them in any way that we can by contacting city leaders and decision makers and rallying around the neighborhood activists.

Northwest Area deserves more parks
Thank you, Cityview, for exposing the truth which raises questions (and eyebrows!) regarding the proposed Rice Field development in Beaverdale. The Des Moines Register has done an inadequate job of telling the whole story, and the neighbors must be relieved to know that at least one member of the media family is willing to expose the dirty little secret of abuse that has been taking place in this community. Give the citizens the park they deserve. Meanwhile, we all should want to know... "Who else was/is involved in bringing about this awful mess?"

Northwest Area/Rice Field preservation
Kudos to Cathy Buckley for her excellent article exposing the inequities in parkland that appear to be endorsed by our city leaders. First we read about (eco) Mayor Cownie and now about Parks Director Don Tripp. Both men should be ashamed of themselves for the role they have played in supporting inappropriate development on much needed greenspace. We can add to the list of players Councilman Vlassis who does not see fit to look out for the best interests of his own constituents and every other Council member for not taking the time and care to really hear the neighbors and to do the necessary research that could have prevented this inexcusable error in judgement. These same "leaders" need to step up to the plate and correct this injustice. Buckley did ALL