A "water enhancer"?

Remember when we were kids and it was just called "Kool-Aid"? Then, we became real suckers and someone started bottling water. And people bought it. Heck, they still do. Now? Now you put something in your water and it's a "water enhancer". It's not just flavoring. What kind of good marketing would that be, right? Man, are we stooges.

Note to Washington: On cutting spending when you need growth

“The austerity that is going on in Europe, America and so forth is effectively a suicide pact for our economies. “Greece does not have much scope, but the United States and Germany and a number of other countries do have considerable space for stimulating their economy, and it is absolutely essential that they do that.” --Joseph Stiglitz, economist, professor at Columbia University and former chief economist at the World Bank. Links: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/government-stimulus-measures-too-feeble-stiglitz/article2213385/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stiglitz

Quote of the day

"Slavery is the legal fiction that a person is property. Corporate personhood is the legal fiction that property is a person." --From an "Occupy Wall Street" t-shirt.

Airports don't have backup generators?

What is that about? And guess what midwestern, international airport is just about to get them? Need a clue? Link: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/10/25/3227923/power-out-at-kcis-terminal-b-delta.html

Great video recapping opening night at the Kauffman

I saw this, this evening, on, of all places, a friend's Facebook page. He wrote he saw it, luckily and coincidentally, on KCPT/PBS this evening. It was too great to not share. While great to see, period, it's especially good on the full screen on your computer, too. I might mention, also, that those really were live people on top of the Center. It was our own local performance group "Quixotic". I thought they might just be projections of people.

BREAKING NEWS ON "BABY LISA"

Nothing's changed. There are still no leads. We still have no idea what happened to "Baby Lisa" Irwin or who, exactly, is likely involved. Complete film coverage at 10.

To Fox "News"

Kemper to be razed?

According to The Kansas City Business Journal and local news reports (see links below), Kemper Arena is to be razed and replaced with an "Agricultural Events Center." Well, okay, I guess. But it brings up questions: First, can we, as a city, afford it? (The bad news here? It's estimated to cost $50 million. The good news? The Kemper family is behind the proposal). Second, do you suppose Moshe Safdie is busy? And does he do "Agricultural Events Centers"? Finally, could we make sure this next one, if it has a roof, doesn't collapse? Ever? Links: http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2011/10/25/kemper-arena-will-be-razed.html; http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-report-kemper-arena-to-be-torn-down-replaced-with-agricultural-events-center-20111025,0,3446649.story

Why we need financial reform from Washington

That and the fact that we need to get "campaign contributions" out of our electoral system.

Kansas City on Frommer's "Top Destinations of 2012" list!

Kansas City was named one of the top destinations for 2012 by Frommer's Travel Guide. And get this--we're the only US city on the list. They give us kudos for the Kauffman Center, the WWI Museum, the Nelson--of course--our barbecue, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and more. So good on you, Kansas City. Enjoy this ranking--and all the city has to offer. Links: http://www.frommers.com/micro/2011/top-destinations-2012/kansas-city-missouri.html; Full list here: http://www.frommers.com/micro/2011/top-destinations-2012/index.html#ixzz1bo9k9OCi

Quote of the day

"Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.’ " --Isaac Asimov

Kansas City: Travel & Leisure's "Most Affordable City"

From Travel & Leisure Magazine, as told on the Today Show. Did you see this?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

We're given kudos here by T & L for the best Barbecue, Affordability(#1), Driving ability(#2), Wireless coverage(#3) and for being friendly(#6). Hate where you live if you want but we're given a lot of credit, like it or not. (Just don't ask about our Street food(#30) Public transportation and pedestrian-friendliness(#29) or ethnic food(#29) ). Links: http://www.travelandleisure.com/americas-favorite-cities/2011/city/kansas-city; http://www.travelandleisure.com/americas-favorite-cities;

The truly immoral, nearly obscene United States of Capitalism

Whatever happened to morality, anyway? Like the morality of not billing for all you can bill, even if it is "health care"? The immorality of charging a fee because someone has come down ill and can't fly on an airplane so they're penalized so much money, in order to rebook the flight? The immorality of charging a "billing fee" from a person's insurance agency or some such. In that case, it's as though a furniture company billed the customer for selling a chair. We are a strange people. We let so many things pass which, frankly, shouldn't be, all because it's "business", as though somehow that makes it okay.

The Kauffman Center: I can hardly get enough of it

Don't the curved balconies rather suggest the exterior of the Guggeheim Museum in New York?

To Washington, from the Vatican, with love

To legislators in Washington: "...the Vatican called Monday for an overhaul of" the "world’s financial systems and a return to a global economy based on ethical behavior and “achievement of a universal common good,' the AP reports. While the Vatican has, in the past, criticized uncontrolled capitalism, the new call goes further, decrying 'an economic liberalism that spurns all rules and controls.'” "The call for greater control and equality in financial markets comes at a time when Republican presidential candidates — many of whom tout their religious credentials on the campaign trail — have called for the repeal of the Dodd-Frank financial reform law aimed at preventing a crisis similar to that of 2008, and as Republicans in both Congress and on the campaign trail continue to back budget cuts that would eviscerate programs that help the poor. At the same time, protesters spurred by the original Occupy Wall Street demonstrations have brought increasing attention rising income inequality, corporate greed, and tax breaks for corporations and the wealthiest Americans." "This isn’t the first time faith leaders have spoken out against so-called religious conservatives who have prioritized tax cuts for the wealthy and repealing financial regulations over helping low-income Americans. A group of Catholic bishops signed a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI) — both practicing Catholics — during the debt limit fight, denouncing budget cuts that disproportionately hurt the poor. Other religious leaders made similar calls, with Rev. Jim Wallis telling Republicans, 'We did not get into fiscal trouble because of poor people. … The poor didn’t cause this. Let’s not make them pay for it.'” Link to original post: http://thinkprogress.org/special/2011/10/24/351277/the-vatican-calls-for-economic-equality-reform-of-world-financial-system/

Will we all be Americans first again, anytime soon?

That song and now the video I posted on earlier. To leaders in Washington: Note the people standing with the signs that say "I want to work."

2 words I don't need to hear again

1) Vampire. 2) Zombie. Ever. Just saying. You?

In keeping with the Baby Irwin case

The BBC just showed a very timely program on child abuse---in America. It seemed to fit in right now with the baby Lisa Irwin problem we have going on in Kansas City at this moment. Besides having the most expensive health care in the world and being ranked at least 37th worst in mortality rate for all Americans, according to their show, "America has the worst child abuse record in the industrialized world." Wow. I had no idea. How horrible. Add that to the fact that we're the most war-mongering people on the planet and we're letting our fatcats get fatter while the middle- and lower-class falls apart and it surely doesn't paint a very pretty picture of us, does it? Facts, folks, merely facts, statistics and hard data. We should be far, far better than all this. I think we all thought we were, didn't we? Links: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15288865; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/teresa-huizar/child-abuse-america_b_1025890.html

Missouri ranked one of the least energy-efficient states

This is discouraging. Missouri is ranked, as it says above, one of the least energy-efficient states, according to American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. We ranked number 44 out of 50. You can't get much lower than that now, can you? Doesn't being "conservative" translate to conserving energy as well as being for "small government"? Doesn't that make sense? We need to work on this. More bad news, too. Next-door neighbor Kansas was 48th. Geez, people. Another thing we need to work on. Links: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/23/top-energy-efficient-states_n_1025831.html#s425979&title;=44__Missouri; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/23/top-energy-efficient-states_n_1025831.html#s424951&title;=1_Massachusetts

The article the Star is hopefully researching

Remember all that brouhaha not that long ago, at the beginning of the Kansas City, Missouri school year about now-gone Superintendent Dr. John Covington and his accusations of impropriety on the part of Airick Leonard West? Yeah, those charges. I do, too. It seems to me The Kansas City Star should be researching a story right now about a) the charges and b) validity or lack of validity of those same charges. Wouldn't that make a great article, no matter the turnout? Don't we deserve to know if the charges made had any truth to them or not? It surely seems like it to me. Joe Robertson? Any information? And if the Star doesn't do it/isn't doing it, then I surely hope The Pitch is. What about it, guys? That would surely make some terrific, needed investigative reporting. If not those two, then how about Russ Ptacek at NBC Action News? Somebody? I think the parents, teachers and students all deserve answers, let alone the rest of the citizens of the city. The charges came up very quickly, then went away just as fast. Is there any substantiation to them? I'm not assuming guilt at all. I assume Mr. West is completely "clean" until shown otherwise. I just think someone ought to be asking the questions. We still need a clean school district in the city, you know? Links: http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/west-wrong-choice-kc-school-board-president/; http://www.pitch.com/; http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/about_us/staff/Russ-Ptacek---Investigative-Reporter

Republican leaders: Where are the jobs?

Republican leaders in Washington have introduced 44 bills on abortion, 99 on religion, 71 on family relationships, 36 on marriage, 67 on firearms and/or gun control, 52 on taxation and a mind-boggling 445 on "government investigations" while they've introduced ZERO--none, not one--on jobs or creating jobs. While we're at it, couldn't and shouldn't somebody propose that a) we take away all tax credits to take manufacturing offshore and b) that corporations can no longer take profits "offshore." Simple, intelligent--even obvious--ideas that have yet to be proposed. I think both could and would strengthen America greatly.

Quote of the day: Americans need to come together

"The greatest threat to our economy is neither corporations nor the government. The greatest threat to our economy is both of them working together. There are currently two sizable coalitions of angry citizens that are almost on the same page about that, and they're too busy insulting each other to notice." --James Sinclair Link: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/10/a-very-simple-venn-diagram-of-where-the-tea-party-and-occupy-wall-street-agree/246687/

Brush Creek two-fer tonight

As so many people know, Waterfire is performing this evening, beginning at dusk, on Brush Creek on the Plaza. Sure, we know that. Additionally, however, as some may not know, Quixotic is also performing on the main bridge over the creek, too. Go. Enjoy. It's great fun. And all free. You can't beat it.

Quote of the day

"I applaud the president's decision and have been advocating that position for quite a while. Our nation has spent hundreds of billions of dollars in recent years protecting the people of Iraq and rebuilding that country. Vermont and America have also paid a very heavy price in loss of life and injuries suffered by our soldiers. Now is the time to bring our troops home, lower our military budget, and use those funds to create jobs by rebuilding our infrastructure and lowering our national debt." --Senator Bernie Sanders (Indep., Vermont). Link: http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=1894e87e-1eaa-40b1-81ac-b2b4563b518e

Happy Hallowe'en, y'all (if a bit early)

I'm so old...

...I remember when Facebook used to be about staying in touch with family and friends. Now it's about companies and organizations putting crap in your face.

The Iraq War

This guy started it (against our own, national laws as well as international ones)

And this guy is finishing it.

Now, let's get ALL American soldiers out of Iraq, stop paying the contractors over there and get out of Afghanistan as soon as possible. Please.

The perfect Autumn song

Ever since Van Morrison came out with his album/cd, "Avalon Sunset", I've always thought that this song, "Coney Island", was the quintessential Autumn song. The entire album is magnificent but this one is a standout among all magnificent songs. If you don't already have it, you might want to get it. I can't imagine too many people being disappointed by it, it's that good. Enjoy the beautiful weather out there folks and have a great weekend.

Quote of the day

"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little." --President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Isn't this right?

I mean, seriously, doesn't this describe our situation? The scientists and scientific community have declared that "global warming" or "climate change" or whatever you choose to call it, is real and that it is very likely being inflicted on us by our own actions of pumping so much carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. Some, however, want to deny it--whole political parties, at minimum. So what if the scientists are wrong? Doesn't it make sense to use less and conserve? Of course it does. What part of how we live across this planet seems sustainable? It surely is not.