Foxes “All I Need” Sign of the Times In the wake of David Bowie’s untimely return to his home planet, it is sad to note that the type of infectious, world-changing glam-pop that Bowie helped pioneer is more or less dead. “Pop” nowadays is a light, disposable thing that rarely
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Posted February 10, 2016in Sound Check
Posted February 10, 2016in Political Mercury
Ernst vs. Vilsack: An all-Iowa vice presidential debate?
Iowa, the center of the political universe for the presidential parties’ nominating contests, should be pivotal in the November general election, too, not only as a swing state, but as home to two strong potential vice presidential candidates. Political Mercury has used this space to advance the position that Tom Vilsack
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Posted February 10, 2016in Center Stage
Bop brought back to life
Who can say how many great songs we lost one Iowa morning in 1959? That February, the 22-year-old Buddy Holly was just hitting his stride. A phenom out of Texas with a string of catchy originals, he had his first No. 1, “That’ll Be the Day.” But following a gig
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Posted February 10, 2016in Tech Talk
Mining outside innovators for gold
It may seem counterintuitive, but sometimes the best way to improve a product is to let others tinker with it. “Two heads are better than one” may be an annoying idiom, but there is actually some sound logic there, especially when it comes to collaboration and product development. Nearly every
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Posted February 10, 2016in Your View
Caucus confusion
Countless volunteer hours were spent locating caucus sites and calling registered voters to find volunteers to work at the Feb. 1 caucus. If you were one of those who worked to make the caucuses successful, thank you very much. The unexpected large turnout of those who were not registered Democrats
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Posted February 10, 2016in Sound Notes
Davenport has announced the creation of a Bix Beiderbecke Museum to honor the legendary jazz trumpeter who died in 1931 at the age of 28. Plans for the museum include a 15,000-seat theater and youth classes. The museum is expected to open in 2017. Local rockers Holy White Hounds has
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Posted February 10, 2016in The Sound
Still naughty after all these years
In the vast, sprawling world of hip-hop, Naughty By Nature has been playing the game longer than most. As the group gets ready to embark upon a 25th anniversary tour this year accompanied by a new EP and documentary film — members Treach, Vin Rock and DJ Kay Gee are
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Posted February 10, 2016in Civic Skinny
Cruz crows as caucuses hurt the Dems and Branstad.
The Iowa Democratic Party and the Iowa governor were the biggest losers in the caucus. The party lost because the Democratic caucuses were a mess. With a week to go, the party still was searching for chairpersons at some of the 1,681 sites, and it still was moving around locations.
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Posted February 10, 2016in Food Dude
Gateway Café: The anti-Pizza Ranch
The caucuses drive me nuts. I’m embarrassed that Iowa eschews the secret ballot for a system where everyone goes back to middle school to stand publicly with whomever they perceive to be the cool kids. The entire season is this state’s closest equivalent to a red carpet event where people
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Posted February 10, 2016in On the Move
Former Riverfront YMCA site to get 10-story residential tower?
Hubbell’s agreement with the city to purchase the former grounds of the downtown YMCA has been extended until September. The agreement was previously set to expire on Jan. 29. Both the city and Hubbell are hoping to build a 10-story building at the former downtown YMCA site. Des Moines home
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