August 21, 2013 by justin
in Political Mercury
Nationally syndicated talk-radio host Steve Deace, an Iowa native who has built a national brand as an in-house critic of the conservative movement, says Democrats are out-gunning Republicans on strategy and message. “Say what you will, the Democrats offer solutions,” Deace said. Meanwhile, the GOP issues statements that come across
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August 21, 2013 by justin
in Film Review
“Kick-Ass 2” 1 star Rated R 113 minutes Action Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse Exploitation-indoctrination cinema doesn’t come any more crass than this unnecessary follow-up to the first “Kick-Ass” (2010) movie. Adapting Mark Millar’s “creator-owned” comic book (illustrated by John Romita Jr.) to the movies is a
Read More →The good Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa (BBBSCI) recently received a $4,000 gift from the Darden Foundation’s Restaurant Community Grants program, which will support BBBSCI’s Community Based Mentoring programs for young people ages 5-18 in five Iowa counties. Nonprofits are considered for this grant if they possess one
Read More →Courtesy of Beaverdale Books Review by Shirley Shiffler Harper 4/23/13 $26.99 496 pp. As often happens at Beaverdale Books, a customer recently asked me what I’ve enjoyed reading lately. I immediately handed her “The Golem and the Jinni.” She took one look, shook her head and said she did not
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August 21, 2013 by justin
in Cover Story
Nothing says an end to summer like harvest time in Iowa and guilt-laden love handles in the wake of the fun but oh-so fattening Iowa State Fair binge. Kids are backpacking to the bus each morning and hard work has never deserved more play, and what better way to beat
Read More →Road trips are a hard prospect for the tech addicted. With a digital world of friends and information only a few smartphone clicks away, it’s difficult to resist the temptations of distracted driving. Most of us have peaked at a text or checked a Facebook notification behind the wheel, but
Read More →‘DISNEY INFINITY’ (E10+) ***1/2 Disney Interactive Studios Xbox 360 Hand a child a toy, and he’ll bring it to life with his imagination. “Disney Infinity” is a simulation of this concept that does the imagining for you. Set a Disney character figurine on the Infinity Base (a physical pedestal that
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August 21, 2013 by justin
in The Sound
Said The Whale isn’t as well-known of a Canadian import as, say, Beiber or maple syrup, but the Vancouver-based five-piece has already established itself in its native country as one of the bright spots in Canada’s musical landscape. Notoriously hard workers, the group has released 10 EPs and three full-length
Read More →John Mayer ‘Paradise Valley’ Columbia I don’t necessarily “get” John Mayer’s success. “Continuum” (2006) had a decent feel to it, but since then Mayer has emerged as kind of a one-trick pony: a pretty good guitar player who’s established a penchant for breathy, half-mumbled vocals and songs with lyrics that
Read More →To the heart of things: Last week at Gas Lamp, Rumble Seat Riot — Des Moines’ own three-piece purveyors of Rockabilly — wound up opening for a couple of New Mexico acts that found themselves so thoroughly outstripped in both talent and presentation it was laughable. For those unfamiliar with
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