June 11, 2014 by justin
in Film Review
“Edge of Tomorrow” 2 stars Rated PG-13 113 minutes Action Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton All high-concept, but affording only minimal entertainment reward by way of its stale ghost-in-the-machine storyline, “Edge of Tomorrow” is the “Groundhog Day” of sci-fi movies. Based on a Japanese novel (“All You Need
Read More →Courtesy of Beaverdale Books Review by Jim Norman Simon and Schuster June 3, 2014 $26.99 384 pages I confess that I love thrillers, but usually avoid short stories and anthologies. I prefer to have plots and characters fully developed over 300-400 pages. I also enjoy becoming familiar with characters and
Read More →Well, it’s finally happened. After an increasingly tense wait, the Des Moines Music Coalition has announced the rest of the 80/35 lineup, with the festival’s second day being anchored by Cake. Also added to the lineup are Surfer Blood, Those Darlins and King Fantastic, as well as local acts Gloom
Read More →I’m not what you would readily describe as a religious man. But it’s impossible to be in the presence of Tina Haase Findlay, to hear that singular voice, and not feel as if you’re basking in something bigger than yourself. She’s always been singing. Since the age of 3, she
Read More →Amount: $30 To: Donald Shreffler For: A settlement from a claim that his mailbox was hit by a snowplow Amount: $63.75 To: APWA Bookstore (Missouri) For: Pencils and stickers for 2014 National Public Works Week Amount: $1,151.61 To: Melissa Johnson For: Subsidy for a sump pump replacement at
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June 11, 2014 by justin
in Joe's Neighborhood
It’s just a game. Nothing more. Something to pass the time. Perhaps you can do it with your kids on long car trips. Or with your husband, when he looks across the table at you in that nice restaurant with his usual bored expression. Or maybe you know someone in
Read More →I am a huge Cityview fan (going all the way back to the days when it was the Skywalker!) and I especially look forward each week to reading Civic Skinny. Just wanted to clarify that both Bill Northey (Secretary of Agriculture) and Mary Mosiman (State Auditor) DO indeed have Democratic
Read More →Turns out it’s not far from Sesame Street to Broadway. “Avenue Q,” now at Stagewest, demonstrates a terrific musical can combine puppets who look like Kermit and Oscar, kiddie-show singalong energy, and a healthy dollop of raunch. In 2003 “Q” garnered three Tony awards, and it remained on Broadway for
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June 05, 2014 by justin
in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES, Iowa — After approving a tax increase without having given the public notice or taking a formal vote, the Muscatine Community School District has pulled back — for the time being. After objections were made, the School Board, which had at least twice before passed tax hikes without taking
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