First Amendment blues In the public libraries of Seattle (as in most public libraries), patrons are not allowed to eat or sleep (or even appear to be sleeping) or be shirtless or barefoot or have bad body odor or talk too loudly — because other patrons might be disturbed. However,
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Posted September 25, 2013in News of the Weird
Posted September 25, 2013in Food Dude
Alba’s new star
Local science businesses are frequently cited when civic leaders tout the cosmopolitan makeup of central Iowa. Our restaurant industry rarely gets credit for such things despite its extraordinary record for attracting outsiders. Italian immigrants, mostly from Calabria and Emilia-Romagna, dominated fine dining here between World War I and the Vietnam
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Posted September 25, 2013in Tech Talk
Federally mandated health insurance made easy
Three years after the Affordable Healthcare Act was signed into law, the Jan. 1, 2014, deadline is fast approaching for uninsured Americans to either acquire health insurance or pay a penalty. Thankfully, the federal government has established a powerful and slick website to help find a policy that best fits
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Posted September 25, 2013in Sound Stage
Let’s jam
Jamie Grimm does his best to please. “Let’s play ‘Fat Bottomed Girls,’ ” says a fellow named Mike, tuning up his guitar. Grimm shakes his head affably. “I don’t know that one.” But Mike is not to be denied. “It’s easy! It’s just C and E with a little D
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Posted September 24, 2013in Rap Sheet
Posted September 18, 2013in Uncategorized
Answers to Belly Up Quiz
1. Black Crown 2. Cumming Tap 3. Joker’s 4. Maddy’s Again 5. Cooper’s on Fifth 6. Sambetti’s 7. Doc’s Lounge 8. Brecks 9. 515 Brewing Co. 10. Snus Hill Winery 11. T.R.’s Sports Bar 12. Booneville Bar 13. Sully’s Irish Pub 4. The Pointe 15. Phil’s Bar and Grill 16.
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Posted September 18, 2013in Art News
Nature good, humanity less so
Picasso remarked that artists are children who never grow up. Perhaps that explains why the art world’s calendars begin in September. For whatever reason, this month brings a bounty of brilliant new shows to Des Moines, several of which carry very similar themes. At Moberg Gallery, Larassa Kabel displays new
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Posted September 18, 2013in Sound Check
GWAR “Battle Maximus” Metal Blade It is easy to look at an act like GWAR and assume the music is more about the image than the sound. And frankly, for the first 15 years of the band’s existence, you wouldn’t be far off the mark. But a funny thing happened
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Posted September 18, 2013in Duffy
Storm Lake Times: Attorney general says we lied
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller called Tuesday to express his dissatisfaction with our editorial from Sept. 13 suggesting that he should retire. We expressed the opinion that, after 28 years in office, it is time for Miller to move on and make way for a successor with the fire and
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