September 03, 2014 by justin
in Film Review
“Frank Miller’s Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” 4 stars Rated R 102 minutes Thriller Starring: Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Josh Brolin Oozing with more hard-boiled wit than two Dashiell Hammett novels put together, and more visually compelling than every comic-book movie Hollywood has put out in the past
Read More →Des Moines Police Chief Judy Bradshaw announced her plans to call it quits after 34 years with Iowa’s largest department… When asked if she’s prepared for retirement the longtime cop said, “Coffee and donuts every morning? Yeah, I think I’m prepared.” Rabbit hunting season opened last weekend across the state
Read More →One of my favorite George Carlin’s one liners was simply “Stay tuned, China’s gonna win.” The sentiment is easy enough. China is a sleeping giant whose might will one day make it the crowning super power. Extending this metaphor to the tech world, the obvious China substitute is Amazon with
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September 03, 2014 by justin
in On The Tube
Critics have dutifully fallen in line for “The Knick,” an arty period hospital drama that makes its points with buckets of blood (see below). I recommend a more enjoyable period hospital drama: “Breathless” on Masterpiece Mystery! (Sunday, 8 p.m., PBS). It’s set in early 1960s London and, like “Mad Men,”
Read More →All war is weird, but this ISIS war … As summed up by a Vox.com writer: “The absurdity runs deep.” America uses American military equipment to bomb American military equipment that ISIS captured from inept Iraqi soldiers, inept in part since America disbanded Iraq’s professional military in 2003. America’s Kurdish
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September 03, 2014 by justin
in Sound Check
Patresa Hartman “The Only Way Down” Independent Patresa Hartman has been a breath of fresh air in the Des Moines musical landscape. Someone who’s so humble and dismissive of her own talents would ordinarily make one weary and on the lookout for signs of disingenuousness. But Hartman is as earnest
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September 03, 2014 by justin
in Political Mercury
Bryce T. Bauer, the Audubon-raised author of a just-released book on Templeton Rye during Prohibition, spent about two hours reading selections from his work and answering questions at signing event in Carroll. Bauer, 27, a native of a farm four miles north of Audubon on U.S. Highway 71 — land
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September 03, 2014 by justin
in Sound Circuit
Often times the casual observer will hear “open mic” and conjure image of amateurs and beginning musicians lining up at some bar or coffee shop for the chance at getting their music heard by anyone outside of their immediate family. But for most musicians — and for most music scenes
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September 03, 2014 by justin
in Locker Room
Understanding others makes a better knowledge of oneself possible, but that understanding takes time and attention. Why not branch out this weekend and take in the sites, sounds, smells and tastes of the Latino Heritage Festival. While enjoying some of the traditional delicacies and entertainment, make time to check out
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