January 23, 2013 by justin
in Locker Room
Battle at the Barn V returns to Des Moines, NASCAR style
Thick, black ooze steadily crawls across the floor of the Iowa State Fairground’s Jacobson Event Center, leaving in its wake a sticky wasteland that would surely slow any who pass over it. At first glance one might assume a pipe burst or something spilled, but the black ooze is actually
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January 23, 2013 by justin
in Your View
Was the Water and Land Legacy Bond a bait-and-switch?
Amber Williams’ article (“Turn It Over,” Oct. 17) captured the essence of what most voters believed about the $50 million Polk County Water and Land Legacy Bond and why they ultimately passed the bond by 72 percent approval margin. I think voters would be very surprised to know that half
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January 23, 2013 by justin
in Good Bad Ugly
The good Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) recently received several awards at the 94th annual national convention in Nashville, Tenn., for outstanding state Farm Bureau activities. IFBF was honored with five awards of excellence in all program areas including education and outreach, leadership development, member services, policy development and implementation
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January 23, 2013 by justin
in Art News
Hollywood’s Des Moines connection
It’s red carpet season in Des Moines. No fewer than five bridal shows are scheduled this month, Bravo Greater Des Moines’ Awards Gala dresses up Hy-Vee Center on Feb. 2, and Des Moines Metro Opera’s Wine and Food Showcase returns to the downtown Marriott on Feb. 15. Those are just
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January 23, 2013 by justin
in The Sound
Local music, meet your Superfan
Wendy Coon has probably been to more local shows than you. She didn’t start keeping track until June of last year, but from that point on, Coon hit up 264 shows in 2012. She’s been to 25 already this month. “In 2010 I got divorced and really needed to find
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January 23, 2013 by justin
in Featured Story, Political Mercury
How would Marco Rubio fare in Le Mars?
Will Iowa Republicans in 2013 accept from first-term U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida what they wouldn’t from war-hero, political veteran John McCain in 2008? One could be speaking for the other on immigration, allowing, of course, for five years difference, and taking into account the Republican Party’s suicidal approach
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January 23, 2013 by justin
in Joe's Neighborhood, Recent Posts
Monster trucks
Really? They tell me that you’re on your high horse about the recent visit of the Monster Trucks to Des Moines. Your artistic nose is out of joint at all the noise and the dirt and the craziness. You’re wondering how an over-sized truck can possibly have one admirer let
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January 23, 2013 by justin
in Recent Posts, Sound Check
CD Reviews
Blondfire ‘Where The Kids Are EP’ Warner Bros Blondfire’s been something of an indie pop darling since its 2006 debut made it the first unsigned band to hit No. 1 on the iTunes Alternative chart. The band — comprised mainly of siblings Bruce and Erica Driscoll — has been working
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January 23, 2013 by justin
in Film Review
Mother monster Freaky doesn’t necessarily mean frightening in ‘Mama’
“Mama” 2 stars Rated PG-13 100 mins. Horror Starring: Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Megan Charpentier Guillermo del Toro — the director of such minor masterpieces as “The Devil’s Backbone” and “Pan’s Labyrinth” — weakens his sphere of influence by producing a sorely underdeveloped horror movie that manufactures scares from the
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