Republican Congressman Sam Graves fancies himself a straight shooter. But on occasion his words need further unbending. In a recent “Straight Talk With Sam” newsletter, Graves tried to explain why he can’t support the bipartisan commission that will propose solutions for controlling the national debt. President Obama named co-chairs last week after an effort to create a commission fell short…
The prevailing theory is that we’re a nation that likes to watch others cook, even if we’re not that excited to get in the kitchen ourselves. That theory will be tested on May 31 when Scripps Networks, the company that owns the Food Network, launches a second 24-hour channel devoted to food programming: The Cooking Channel. The two channels will…
%{}% Here’s how likely you are to be lugging around some extra pounds based on the amount of beer you drink in a given week. A blind taste test of porters available in Kansas City (and memories of the Domino’s Bread Bowl sampled by Fat City’s Owen Morris). Is it a cake? Is it bacon? Do you really care if…
“KC wins rights to 16-year-old” read an eye-catching Associated Press headline. Don’t call the U.S. Attorney just yet. To clarify, the Kansas City Wizards won a lottery for the the rights to midfielder Luis Gil, a Garden Grove, California native who plays for the U.S. U-17 National Team. The Wizards’ press release says Gil is “considered by many to be…
If Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier’s weekly SModcast wasn’t enough to give you your View Askew fix, you now have a little something extra to drop in your earholes. Called “Tell ‘Em Steve Dave!”, it’s billed as the “Laverne & Shirley of podcasts.” “Tell ‘Em Steve Dave!” features Walt Flanagan and Bryan Johnson, also known as the bickering fanboys found…
Saturday night, the University of Kansas’ Student Union Activities put on an Asher Roth show at Lawrence’s Liberty Hall. You might have missed it, if you aren’t a KU student, were already attending Ira Glass at the Lied Center, watching the UFC pay-per-view, or just didn’t want to dick with the awful weather. Dutch Newman, Greg Enemy, Stik Figa, and…
%{}% The No. 1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks locked down at least a share of the Big 12 championship with an 81-68 win over the Oklahoma Sooners Monday night. With only three games left in the regular season for KU, the Jayhawks would have to drop all three to not clinch the Big 12 title outright. Oklahoma State and rivals Kansas…
Kansas legislator’s didn’t wait for anything as trivial as scientific evidence before banning synthetic cannabinoids JWH-073 and JWH-018 — the chemicals that give K2 its ability to mimic the effects of real weed — the subjects of last week’s Pitch feature story, “Fake Reefer Madness.” Sure some scientists think the synthetics could be used in research for diseases like Alzheimer’s…
Bridging the Gap’s three Community Recycling Centers take in 6,211 tons of material dropped off by Kansas Citians each year, including items that the city’s recycling services won’t accept, like Styrofoam, compact fluorescent light bulbs, ink jet and toner cartridges, cell phones and scrap metal. But their services are not included on the city’s budget proposal for 2009-2010. Kevin Chafin,…
A federal judge sentenced Rick P. Hihath to 16 months in federal prison without parole for his role in dog-fighting conspiracy. The 56-year-old from St. Joseph was part of the federal raid that seized hundreds of dogs on July 8, 2009. Hihath, a former teacher at a state school for children with handicaps, pleaded guilty on October 14, 2009, to…
An 18-year-old man was shot to death at the bus depot at 39th and Troost around 1:45 p.m. Monday. The shooting victim, whose name has not yet been released, was shot several times and died at the scene, police spokesman Darin Snapp said. View Larger Map Witnesses told police that they saw the shooting victim walk outside of the bus…
By WILL RATH Pop-punk is a rich business. So, it’s not surprising that faux-emo piano outfit Jack’s Mannequin sold out at the Beaumont Club last Friday. The first ten rows of standing room were a tight press of text-message-crazy teenage girls and their awkward boyfriends. The back of the club (you know, where the bar is) was mainly populated by…
%{}% Kansas City police believe the suspected serial rapist struck again early Monday in the 300 block of E. 69th Terrace. Police say the man entered the woman’s home through an unlocked window. They’re reminding residents to lock their doors and windows and also to watch out for vehicles and people who do not belong or are unfamiliar. If you…
In this video from director McG, Kirsten Dunst sings the Vapors’ “Turning Japanese” while dressed as Sailor Moon, dancing through Tokyo’s Akihabara shopping district. Akihabara is known as the place where you can find pretty much every nifty electronic gadget ever made. There was a great little article on it back in December’s issue of Wired. What that has to…
The Undertaker was making his usual slow stroll to the wrestling ring at last night’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-event in St. Louis when flames shot from the stage and engulfed him — just like Metallica’s James Hetfield. “The Dead Man,” as WWE fans know him, took off running, ripping off his burning coat and World Championship belt. See for yourself (thanks…
Former Royals slugger Mike Sweeney is a five-time All-Star and a guy with a big heart. Sweeney’s current employer, the Seattle Mariners, is putting the 36-year-old hitter’s warm and upbeat nature to good use. Sweeney has reportedly been assigned a locker next to Milton Bradley, one of the game’s most notorious hotheads. Seattle acquired Bradley — who has spent time…
According to the American Pie Council, there’s a legend that the first cherry pie was created by the Virgin Queen herself, Elizabeth I. In the United States, cherry pies are the second most popular fruit pies after apple pies. That’s certainly the case at Overland Park-based Golden Boy Pies. “We sell the hell out of cherry pies,” says the company’s…
By GORDON GUILD In the arena of Texas singer-songwriters there are travelers, there are newcomers, and there are legends. Sunday night, Kansas City’s Knuckleheads was treated to one of those legends. Guy Clark’s songwriting has stood the test of time, spinning picturesque tales of extreme imagery while using simple language and structure. Knuckleheads set up for this sold-out crowd in…
Mark Todd and Esther Pearl Watson are married artists and makers of ‘zines. Their work draws from popular culture, but is by no means pop art. Watson does the fantastically uncomfortable, yet hopelessly addictive comic Unloveable which runs in every issue of Bust (one of the many reasons why I subscribe), and Todd works in both commercial design for clients…
It’s the class nobody is ever late for! Beer School is back in session at Barley’s Brewhaus. O’Fallon Brewery’s Stu Berkemper stops at the Overland Park location tonight at 6 p.m. to talk about the history of the Missouri brewery and lead a tasting of O’Fallon’s brews. Tickets are $8; call 913-663-4099 to reserve a seat. Berkemper will also be…
