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February 05, 2014 by justin in Guest Commentary

Stop the presses! Des Moines Register column makes sense!

The Des Moines Register had quite a scary headline for Iowa Republicans the other day — over a Rekha Basu column: GOP’s lack of diversity could make it obsolete. But if you want an even scarier headline, consider this one: GOP’s lack of diversity won’t make it obsolete. As a

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February 05, 2014 by justin in Joe's Neighborhood

Somebody had to

Des Moines really is the center of the universe. I know, I know, there are a few doubters out there. If you are cosmopolitan, or worldly, or perhaps a model for Abercrombie & Fitch standing shirtless outside the store at Jordan Creek, the center of the universe is wherever your

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February 05, 2014 by justin in The Sound

Andrew Ripp’s uncomfortable confession

Andrew Ripp has three albums under his belt since debuting in 2008 with “Fifty Miles to Chicago,” but the industry vet first cut his teeth helping write winners for other performers, including Ryan Cabrera’s 2005 Top 40 hit “Shine On.” But as is often the case, Ripp could only watch

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February 05, 2014 by justin in Sound Circuit

20 years of Nadas

In 2001, Playboy Magazine named The Nadas “the best band you’ve never heard of.” Now, in 2014, The Nadas are officially “the best 20-year-old band you’ve never heard of.” Twenty years. That’s a lot of time logged on the road, a lot of opening gigs for national touring acts, and

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February 05, 2014 by justin in Tech Talk

Behind the lens: Digital replaces analog

The last couple years have been a nonstop thrill-ride for Hollywood. While box office revenues have broken records, the real suspense-filled adventure is not happening on the screen but inside the theater projector. Fewer terms are more analog than film, a physical medium that stores single frame pictures in sequence.

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February 05, 2014 by justin in Sound Notes

It was a sad week in music, as folk hero and tireless civil rights champion Pete Seeger died at the age of 94 on Jan. 27, two days preceded by local Twelve Canons songwriter Jim Durocher. This space is unequal to the task of eulogizing either, but both will be

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February 05, 2014 by justin in Food Dude

Casey’s takes on Subway

If you pay for gas at the pump, you might be amazed by all that has been going on inside convenience stores this century. Some have become liquor stores, fried chicken shops and live bait dispensers. Some specialize in ethnic snack foods like samosas and tacos. None is as ambitious

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February 05, 2014 by justin in Political Mercury

GOP senator: Iowa’s 3 universities too many

State Sen. Mark Segebart, R-Vail, says Iowa shouldn’t have three state universities. The population just doesn’t justify it, says the lawmaker-farmer who represents a vast swath of western Iowa. “We probably have, for 3 million people, having three huge universities, and all the infrastructure and employees that go with that,

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February 04, 2014 by justin in Rap Sheet

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February 03, 2014 by justin in Iowa Watchdog

Public health groups: Don’t ban sale of e-cigarettes to minors

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Legislature’s first try at regulating e-cigarettes got off to an unusual start, as public health groups strongly opposed bills introduced to prevent the use of the devices by minors. Their opposition is based on a desire to have e-cigarettes classified as tobacco products, even though

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