Posted March 01, 2017in Political Mercury
Party can’t just bash Trump, Reynolds and expect to win, Derek Eadon says The key to resurrecting the Democratic Party in Iowa in the wake of two devastating campaign cycles in which presumed favorites Bruce Braley and Hillary Clinton fell on the swords of their own poor messaging is greater
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Posted March 01, 2017in Film Review
Combine DC’s knack for storytelling with LEGO Studios’ affinity for tapping into the cultural imagination, and the result is a film you had no idea you wanted. “The LEGO Batman Movie” is easily the gloomiest film of the Dark Knight franchise. When he isn’t fighting crime as masked vigilante Batman,
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Posted March 01, 2017in Food Dude
Trostel’s Greenbriar celebrates an anniversary in style When Paul Trostel moved his brand from Ingersoll (Colorado Feed & Grain, Rosie’s Cantina) to Johnston in 1987, there wasn’t much variety in the local dining scene. In fact, Trostel introduced the appetizer menu at Colorado Feed & Grain. Before that, appetizers in Des Moines
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Posted March 01, 2017in Your Neighbors
One is not the loneliest number Whoever said “one is the loneliest number” didn’t consider every aspect of life. When it comes to kidneys, “none” is the loneliest number. Curt Ricketts didn’t know he was sick. The only reason he went to the doctor in August 2015 was for treatment
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Posted March 01, 2017in Joe's Neighborhood
Bundled against the cold, with a pink pussy hat, pink gloves and pink scarf, the woman looks over the crowd of 26,000 gathered at the foot of the Iowa State Capitol. She raises the bullhorn to her mouth and calls out: “WHAT DOES DEMOCRACY LOOK LIKE?” Wow. Not really a
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Posted March 01, 2017in Center Stage
Just how big of a splash has local theater made during the last decade? The best measure may be how far the ripples have reached. Community stages in Ames, Winterset, Newton and Ankeny have all recently upped their games — to enthusiastic applause. A case in point came over the
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Posted March 01, 2017in The Sound
Michael Keaton is the star of Alejandro Inarritu’s 2014 film “Birdman.” But during the course of the two-hour film, it becomes increasingly clear that that most important co-star isn’t Edward Norton, Emma Stone or Naomi Watts — it’s Antonio Sanchez’s drum score. It’s an ever-present force, amping up tensions setting
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Posted March 01, 2017in Art News
Many of the famous quotes about gold diminish it. “All that is gold does not glitter” (J.R.R. Tolkein); “Health is real wealth not gold.” (M.H. Gandhi); “Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.” (Democritus).” All those great thinkers and humanitarians lost the battle
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Posted March 01, 2017in Tech Talk
A common misconception of the First Amendment is that the constitutional right to freedom of speech applies in all situations. People who have this belief live a backward life and think they can be as crass as they wish, wherever they desire, and there will be no repercussions. In terms
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