Ill Way “Something New To Do” Independent Ill Way is a local band that, admittedly, I came into this listen knowing nothing about. It’s always a gamble when you’re reviewing a CD completely blind, because Ill Way could have been an experimental noise act that specialized in taking a dump
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August 27, 2014 by justin
in Sound Check
August 27, 2014 by justin
in On the Move
Self-serve dog wash opens in Urbandale
Canine Clean, located at 2311 Rocklyn Drive, offers everything needed to make your dogs look and smell great, including professional tubs, aprons, towels, brushes, shampoo, conditioner and dryers. All dogs must be on a leash, and walk-ins are welcome, though washes must start at least 30 minutes prior to closing.
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August 27, 2014 by justin
in The Sound
Secretly good
The Secret Sisters — a neotraditional country duo consisting of not-so-secret sisters Laura and Lydia Rogers — have all the right hallmarks to appeal to anyone with a sense for rich music history. The pair hails from the music mecca of Muscle Shoals, Alabama; their lilting, sumptuous harmonies have often
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August 27, 2014 by justin
in Book Review
‘The Good Girl’
Courtesy of Beaverdale Books Review by Shirley Shiffler Mira Books July 29, 2014 $24.95 350 Pages With her debut novel “The Good Girl,” Mary Kubica has received well-deserved comparisons to Gillian Flynn and Tana French. This psychological thriller kept me turning the pages until well past my bedtime and had
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August 27, 2014 by justin
in Your Money
Someone please buy The Des Moines Register!
I can’t take it anymore: The endless updates in Civic Skinny on the sagging circulation and slow death of The Des Moines Register. Enough already. Mr. Gartner, pool your money with the likely windfall to soon come to Commissioner Chris Godfrey and buy the damn paper and save it before it is too
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August 27, 2014 by justin
in Film Review
John Lithgow and Alfred Molina get married in ‘Love Is Strange’
“Love is Strange” 3 stars Rated R 94 minutes Comedy Starring: John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, Tatyana Zbirovskaya Although it suffers from a glaring third-act jump that makes you wonder where four or five ostensibly missing scenes went, “Love Is Strange” resonates as a heartfelt allegory about committed gay relationships in
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August 22, 2014 by justin
in Iowa Watchdog
Iowa agency issues extra unemployment checks; tries to keep it quiet
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Workforce Development may have trouble managing money, but at least its management understands the importance of politeness. In early March, the agency, which oversees unemployment claims in the state, issued unemployment benefits to 85 people who didn’t ask for them. According to a March 13 email sent
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August 20, 2014 by justin
in Iowa Watchdog
Drunk teacher wins unemployment benefits; gets to keep license
DES MOINES, Iowa — If Dennis Pagel had taken a box of school supplies while working as a teacher at Dallas-Center Grimes Middle School, he could have gotten in serious trouble. Luckily for Pagel, he just showed up for work drunk and on OxyContin. For lighting up a breath test at three times
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August 20, 2014 by justin
in Center Stage
A do-over done Latin-style
Broadway loves a do-over. The Tony awards include “Best Revival,” and every season sees former hits rejiggered. “South Pacific” may have been a smash in 1949, but there’s a streamlined version coming soon to the Playhouse. At the Civic Center this weekend, theatergoers can catch what sounds like “Evita” with
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August 20, 2014 by justin
in Book Review
‘The Mountaintop School for Dogs and Other Second Chances’
Courtesy of Beaverdale Books Review by Harriet Leitch Houghton Mifflin August 5, 2014 $24 304 Pages It took a while, but eventually this book started to fascinate me. At first it seemed as though the main character, Evie, acquired an understanding of the dogs far too quickly. Also, she seemed
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