April 22, 2015 by justin
in Joe's Neighborhood
‘I’m not a vegan, I’m a meatatarian.’
The clean water appears below us, deep down the shaft at Des Moines Water Works. A submarine view. The man and I gaze reverently down the tube. Neither of us talk. It seems we’ve discovered a new planet. Clean water. In a galaxy far, far away. My guide to Des
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April 22, 2015 by justin
in Tech Talk
Amazon, boldly searching where others have before
If science fiction has taught us anything, education will likely be pointless in the future, as computers will know everything. Whether it’s as far off as “Star Trek” or as immediate as “2001: A Space Odyssey,” computers will handle all the tough issues while we’re simply along for the ride.
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April 22, 2015 by justin
in The Sound
Back where they started
In many ways, a band’s relationship with a major label can be like a marriage. There is the trust involved; the hope that the artist and the label will both go further together than either could alone. Unfortunately, just like a marriage, when the relationship goes wrong, it has the
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April 22, 2015 by justin
in Sound Check
Dwight Yoakam “Second Hand Heart” Reprise Dwight Yoakam has sold 21 million copies of his albums. Nine albums have gone platinum, and five of them have hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts. So you know it is saying something when I say that “Second Hand Heart” is one of
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April 15, 2015 by justin
in Rap Sheet
Two of a Kind?
Remember the Titans? Well, their assistant coach was arrested last month. Will Patton, 60, who is best known for his roles in “Gone in 60 Seconds” and “Remember the Titans” was arrested Feb. 24 for driving under the influence. He was driving around in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, when
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April 15, 2015 by justin
in Film Review
Harmless
In the 5th century B.C., Hippocrates, the father of the medicinal arts, laid out the code by which all physicians practice their art. Perhaps the greatest tenant therein: Do no harm. Do your job as well as you can, but above all else, make sure that no person walks out
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April 15, 2015 by justin
in Cover Story
Golfing in Iowa
The snow of winter has finally melted, and the cool rains of April have brought the color back to Des Moines. Flowers are blooming, grass is turning green, and we will soon be reminded of what sunshine and a good tan looks like. It’s time to get outside and enjoy
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April 15, 2015 by justin
in Art News
The Messenger
The Des Moines Art Center recently brought Nick Cave to town for a public conversation. An overflow turnout at Levitt Auditorium made one wonder if some folks thought it was Nick Cave the rock star from Australia instead of Nick Cave the artist, fashion professor and self-described “messenger” from Chicago.
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April 15, 2015 by justin
in News of the Weird
The importance of family
On Feb. 9 a single traffic stop in Alderson, West Virginia, resulted in the arrest of six people from the same family, trafficking in stolen power tools (including one man who traded a leaf blower, hedge trimmer and weed trimmer for Percocet pills). However, a month later, members of an
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