The TKC Weekly Power Rankings!!!

This week the Council members who enjoy junkets were at the National League of Cities Conference so this town's hot mess was somewhat limited. Nevertheless, just like Heidi Klum flexing her muscles in Allure Magazine . . . There were still plenty of power plays this week.

Here are the most powerful people in Kansas City this week:

POLITICOS

1. Ron Hunt - A Proposed School Skip Day Protest from this local activist offers a bit of pushback on controversial Kansas City, Missouri School District closings.

2. Congressman Cleaver - He came through with money for the KCMSD while everybody else was just talking.

3. Crispin Rea - Endorsements are mounting for this young politico and it looks like he has a good chance at an unpaid, tiring and thankless spot on The KCMSD School Board.

4. Chris Moreno - The chatter that the Democrat campaigner is generating on this blog alone demonstrates that he has struck fear in the heart of his opponents.

5. Mike Talboy - At the State Level, Chair of The Missouri House Democratic Campaign Committee Rep. Mike Talboy is leading an effort to challenge some of Gov. Jay's cruelest budget cuts.

NEWSIES

1. Mike Hendricks - No single employee of The Kansas City Star has done as much to damage the reputation of dead tree media this week and for that Mike "Golden Ghetto D-bag" Hendricks deserves credit.

2. Michael Mahoney - Kansas City's favorite Irish newsie.

3. Barb Shelly - Championing the Old School Liberalism of the Mid-80's must be hard work.

4. & 5. Erin Little - I'm counting her twice because she's as big as a house and all of this town has been captivated by watching this preggo lady gracefully expand.

PLACES

1. Westport - A big win on St. Paddy's Day proved Kansas City's oldest party place isn't quite dead.

2. Blanc Burgers + Bottles on The Plaza - I recently had a great time at the upscale burger joint and realize that somethings are worth the money.

3. Los Tules - The small Mexican Restaurant should make a some decent cash when The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts opens IF they don't get gentrified like so many neighbors have been already.

4. Plaza Library - Wifi and a lot of computers along with a little political discourse upon entering make The Plaza Library one of the best places to get a little work done.

5. Independence - They have hockey, Sarah Palin and meth. Good for them.

This list has been compiled according to scientific TKC polling and market research data and it's a rather informative look at people in this town nearly as powerful as the smell from Co-Mayor Gloria Squitiro's feet.

KANSAS CITY REMAINS OUT OF WORK!!!

Whenever I read about the lingering impact of The Great Recession on this cowtown, I think back to the beginning of 2008 when The Star predicted economic resiliency instead of recession.

Years later . . . Life in Kansas City has been dramatically impacted by Global Economic decline:

Kansas City-area unemployment reaches 9.1 percent

Kansas City area employers cut a net 33,500 jobs from their payrolls between January 2009 and January 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

That represented a year-to-year payroll decline of 3.4 percent.

18 Murders In Kansas City So Far!!!

Crime Scene KC Reports: "KC homicide count stands at 18 compared to 23 at the same point last year. So far, three of this year's homicides have been cleared. When you count older cases that were solved in 2010, the clearance rate is 50 percent."

It's nice that the murder count is a tad lower and KCPD is working hard to solve crimes. Still, it hasn't really warmed up so local homicides, sadly, aren't in full gear.

Kansas City Culture Wars: Pointless Asian-American College Admission Debate

The only thing worse than The Star's Barb Shelly is her critics.

Today she wrote an INCREDIBLY CONDESCENDING blog post lamenting tougher college admission standards for Asian students. She even went "Full-on white lady" and evoked math nerd stereotypes in order to contradict them . . . Thus, once again, proving that ultra-liberal white women are the closest representation of God's unconditional love for all of us.

In response, The Kansas Citian posts a racist cartoon and then advocates for white people by using the tired trick of appropriating language that's often used to tout diversity . . . Reactionaries are getting much better at this, they used just make everybody laugh by whining about "reverse racism."

This handwringing over silly perceptions about the hardships for the so-called "model-minority" are usually nothing more than cynical misdirection aimed at reinforcing the status quo. Predominantly Asian universities with admissions based solely on test scores aren't ever going to become a reality. Instead, lamenting alleged high test score disparity against Asian students is only a talking point for people who want to do away with diversity on college campuses altogether or it's nothing more than yet another manifestation of white guilt. In the end, this seemingly pro-Asian college student argument is nothing more than an effort from both liberal and conservatives to blame Blacks and Latinos for a faulty system mostly WHITE PEOPLE enacted.

I don't have a real solution other than the fact that I'd like to include more hot Asian chicks on this blog . . . And note that Latinos lag behind most ethnic groups in college graduation rates and are a real rarity to see on local campuses like UMKC.

And just to add a bit of perspective to all of this phony concern (and false dichotomy) about Asian-American brilliance squandered in an attempt to ensure Blacks and Latinos get an education as well . . . I offer a groundbreaking Youtube clip featuring an Asian dude crying over Justin Bieber.

The TKC Friday Night Link Serving

Just a few links that caught my interest tonight:

Surprise win: Missouri Upsets Clemson In First Round

From The KC Tribune: Protesters Rally Outside Kansas City EPA Office

JoCo crime: Car Windows Smashed In Overland Park

Money for trains: Amtrak Service Saved in Missouri Budget

Sponsored by: Kansas City Power & Light pays for Economic Development Corp. of Kansas City reform study

MWWS stays winning: Kelsey Smith Foundation wins FBI award

Tina Fey is kinda hot for a smart chick.

Riverside Man Regrets Calling 911

KMBC: The friend of man shot to death during a confrontation with police on Thursday said he regrets calling authorities.

JoCo Facebook Investigation

KMBC explores a case that could bring serious charges against a Facebook user: Shawnee police are investigating allegations that a 15-year-old girl sent nude pictures of herself to a Facebook friend.

One More Downtown Parking Garage

The KC Biz Journal reports on a possible solution to pending East Village parking problems: Owners of the building at 901 Locust St., which is occupied by the Federal Aviation Administration, have received a Recovery Zone Facility Bond allocation to construct a multilevel parking garage for FAA employees, the Economic Development Corp. of Kansas City reported Friday.

TKC BREAKING NEWS!!! CRISPIN PICKS UP FREEDOM, INC. ENDORSEMENT!!!

Mattie Rhodes Center Youth Advocate Crispin Rea keeps on earning more endorsements for his At-large School Board Candidacy.

A rather AWESOME TKC TIPSTER just informed me that Rea earned the Freedom, Inc. endorsement last night.

To me, this is a really big sign because it shows that some people at Freedom realize the importance of developing coalitions among people of color.

Even better, here's something that the news didn't have a chance to report about the Freedom, Inc. candidate forum at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center.

CRISPIN WAS ONE OF THE FEW CANDIDATES TO STAND UP TO LINWOOD TAUHEED AND HIS BULLYING ON BEHALF OF THE KC BLACK UNITED FRONT/MARILYN SIMMONS/SPARK BOOKHART SLATE!!!

That's not something anybody is going to put on a resume or in a news article but it's important to know about the young man's character. I have to admit I'm impressed.

Other endorsements Rea has earned:

The Kansas City Federation Of Teachers Endorsed Crispin

The Hispanic Chamber

La Raza Political Club of Kansas City

IS IT RIGHT FOR RON HUNT TO CALL FOR A KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI SCHOOL DISTRICT SKIP DAY?!?!

Here's the deal . . . I'm not sure if Ron Hunt is wrong about calling for a skip day of protest of Kansas City, Missouri public schools.

The knee-jerk response is that he's messing with the education of students . . . But that's exactly what closings will do as well.

What I don't like that there's no backstory on Hunt.

The dude was a key player in the ousting of the last School Board Superintendent Anthony Amato.

Ron Hunt has been indicted two felony counts of second-degree domestic assault and unlawful use of a weapon.

Worse than that . . .

RON HUNT HAS BEEN DRAWING A CHECK FROM THE KCMSD FOR QUITE SOME TIME!!!

So maybe his motives aren't just political protest. In fact, Hunt and his homies like Marilyn Simmons were, obviously, opposed to these closings.

Still . . . No matter who is leading the charge, the fact that minority communities were mostly impacted by these school closings is undeniable and the is a good reason to listen to any and all voices who stand to lose the most because of School Closings.

Some Of The Worst People In Johnson County Work At The Kansas City Star

In a typically elitist move, today The Kansas City Star is running an editorial about improving infrastructure in The Crossroads.

It's not a bad idea. I can think of so many other places that need local infrastructure help (Starting in South KC) but at first glance their recommendations aren't too shabby.

And then I think to myself . . .

THE D-BAGS ON THE STAR'S EDITORIAL BOARD HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED TO MENTION THE ABNORMALLY HIGH MURDER RATE CURRENTLY IMPACTING AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN KANSAS CITY!!!

There's not one editorial dedicated to the topic that TKC Readers have weighed in on throughout the first part of this year.

It's shameful, a travesty but more of a reflection of The Star's priorities. These are mostly JoCo people more interested in a good time than the real problems that affect KC Proper and that's just part of the reason they're becoming less influential during this digital evolution of media.

Another Quick Morning Lookout

Here another round-up of morning links that are worth reading:

Bullets Fly In Kansas City: A car full of bullet holes was found near a shooting victim late Thursday evening.

Rock Chalk Gitters: KU Struggles To 90-74 Win Over Lehigh In Opener

Something other than interest in real estate Crashes in Waldo: A crash involving a suspected drunk driver sent one person to the hospital early Friday morning.

A car full of bullet holes was found near a shooting victim late Thursday evening.What Fills the Gap When Schools Close? Mostly affordable housing for crazy people.

Yet Another Urban Renewal Program: Zone 27 Takes Aim At Improving Inner City Area

Kansas City Street As Seen By Eric Bowers

One of the most prolific photographers in Kansas City captures a great image of the old Dwight Building, now known as the Library Lofts in downtown KCMO.

Exhibit In Kansas City: Deadly Medicine

The AP has a great write-up of the exhibit "Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race" at the National Archives in Kansas City. It's only open to 18+ and it features the a horrifying look at how the Nazis handled their healthcare debate.

A Sign That Many In Kansas City's LGBT Community Are Just About Money!!!

There are d-bags in every community. Among Kansas City's Old School Latino Leadership I'm not very well liked whereas Chicanos with real jobs think I'm pretty cool. Natch.

But I digress . . .

Recently, a P&L District Party is causing a rift among politically active members of the local LGBT community because it shows absolutely no solidarity with other minorities mainly African-Americans and Latinos who have been turned away.

However, a blogger on the Lawrence.com website seems appropriately disgusted with a bit of LGBT target marketing that emphasizes only money and demographic trends while noting nothing of the very real ideological reasons that members of the LGBT community might align politically.

Also, the bloggy note raging over the signage posted publicly at D'Bronx on 39th St hints at bit of a slapfight between The EQUAL group and KC Pride . . . I only hope they sell popcorn as part of a fundraiser if they should ever throw down in pubic view.

"We're not just other, we're Arab."

More Kansas City Census Complaining That Makes A Good Point.

Doctors Could Face A Legal Scrape For Performing Kansas Late-Term Abortions

The Star: Anti-abortion legislators in Kansas are pushing a proposal to allow lawsuits against doctors over legally questionable late-term abortions.

Independence Sewage Spill Spin

NBC Action News demonstrates a crafty bit of PR maneuvering in the midst of a big stink: "The Independence Water Department said it didn't tell nearby homeowners about a sewage spill because there wasn't a health risk."

If happy news public service disclosure trend continues in Independence . . . One day soon it'll be known as the "Chemistry Set Capital Of The USA" instead of its current Meth Lab Mecca title.

Star Catches Up On Cleaver KCMSD Presser

TKC posted news of Cleaver's $16mil for the Kansas City, Missouri School District two days ago, TV Stations already priced up the press release as well, TKC commenters and readers critiqued the move . . . And today The Star has the "story" . . . Which is why politicos are quickly finding new channels to disseminate information far more effectively than going hat in hand to an elitist institution predicated on disseminating history printed on dead trees.

Efforts To Prevent Another KC 7-11 Tragedy

NBC Action News reports on the ongoing effort to improve the potential for violence at a local convenience store chain that seems like an ATM: Family Hopes Store Improves Security After Clerk Shot: Kansas City police said they're following good leads in the shooting death of a 7-Eleven store clerk.

Missouri Autism Bill

The Star: Missouri Senate approves bill for mandated autism insurance coverage

TKC Friday Out Of Bed Links

Here are just a few of my favorite links from this morning's news cycle:

Show Me A Nasty Court Case Soon To Get Underway: Trial dates set for Mohlers

Credit to Kansas City's vigilant complainers: Fifth Street and Broadway Light Pole Story

Last Year's Tragic Run-in: Hearing Held in Liberty Bus Crash

Preggo Payback: Charter School to Pay $570,000 to Settle Complaint

Kansas Education Cutbacks Too: No tax increase, but schools would take a hit in latest Kansas budget plan

Hey, all of this country's problems still remain after news blitz? Luckily generous folks aren't so easily influenced: Local Group Delivers Clean Water to Haiti

Very Important High Art Reporting: ‘Prayer Booth' sculpture still causing controversy

A more efficient way for your insurance company to keep track of you: New hospital consent forms pioneered at St. Luke's Hospital go nationwide

In local cultural news: President of Kansas City Art Institute to retire

X-Tina in bed is my morning highlight.

Golden Ghetto Forgiveness

NBC Action News reports on mourning parents much to kind for Midwest Epicenter of Capitalism: "An Olathe father grieving his son killed in a car crash is hoping prosecutors do not punish the driver responsible."

Toxic Jackson County

KMBC: Suits Claim Asbestos Exposure At Jackson County Courthouse

The Star: Lawsuits claim asbestos exposure at Jackson County Courthouse downtown

KC School Closings Celebrated On Fox News

Description of a recent Youtube video: "K.C. School District Superintendent John Covington discusses why the city needs to close 26 of 61 schools."

A lesson in disparity and discourse: Education cuts in every other part of the nation are lamented but in Kansas City a move that would disproportionately impact minority communities is celebrated as if displacing students and firing teachers would have a benefit to education within the district.

Kansas City Event Listings For People Who Want To Party Instead Of Pay Their Bills

Once Again Mary-Anne has a great listing of the best weekend events in town at her Kansas City about.com blog.

For local music listing check out the Event Driver as well.

TKC Reference, my Grandma B. has always said, "You can have a good time or you can you pay your bills. But you can't do both."

For po'folk these are words to live by.

Ahmad Alaadeen And Kansas City Jazz

Present Magazine has recently posted a great series of articles based on the recollections of a Kansas City Jazz legend.

Crocus Bloom In Kansas City

Hyperblogal has some great photos of springtime flowering plants fooled into thinking that cold weather is over.

Laying Out The TKC Weekend Already

I know we've got lots of ground to cover this morning . . . But I am still looking forward to taking it easy this weekend.

This is the first time the weather is really nice and now all my favorite bikini photos seem like they're at least somewhat appropriate. For just a moment, I might leave my mom's basement.

So I might post on Saturday, just not much. Now, on to today's news RIGHT AFTER I'm done looking at a rather gully photo set of Australian model Tina Wallman.

More links and content coming up later this morning hopefully . . . Stay tuned.

TKC TALKS WITH DARLA TONIGHT!!!

Tonight at around 8:30 in the PM I'll be chatting with the Queen of Kansas City Talk Radio Darla Jaye about all things Kansas City.

Check out 980 Live with Darla Jaye at around 8:30 in the PM on KMBZ News Radio 980 AM.

Even though I adore the local Conservative talker, we argue pretty viciously on the air and tonight's visit should be great. Last week, I had a bit of a technical difficulty (i.e. wardrobe malfunction) and I didn't make the show for the first time in more than a year. However, this evening I'm ready to chat with my favorite local radio talker despite the fact that so many TKC Readers didn't like my visit even when I wasn't there . . . Geez, you d-bags are hard to please.

Anyhoo . . . Check it out, listen up, call in and Internet denizens can even listen live on the Internets.

TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! MAYOR FUNKY'S CAREER OUTSIDE OF POLITICS CONCERNS KANSAS CITY!!!

More than a year ago AWESOME TKC TIPSTERS reported on Mayor Funky's second job. Well informed readers of this blog were also the first to lament the Mayor's speaking business.

Details from The KC Blue Blog are also troubling. Apparently Mayor Funky has "A minimum of $5000 to $7500 plus travel expenses in order to hear him speak.

The contract on his website also charges a flat fee of $500 for meals and lodging."

Now as the election nears the clamoring over Mayor Funky's side gigs has increased so much so that he's answering questions about it to Star reporter Lynn Horsley in between her naps.

Question:

DURING THIS GREAT RECESSION, DOES KANSAS CITY NEED A MAYOR WHO ONLY WANTS TO WORK PART TIME?!?!

It gets worse . . . The fact that Kansas City's Mayor is ducking a summons is probably going to be raised as a political point.

It just doesn't look right.

Legal people that are kind enough to talk to TKC tell me that until The Mayor accepts service the case can't start depos or any of the proceedings. He's literally holding up the law. Then again, my other friends in contact with the courts (not because they want to be) also note that if he refuses service after a certain number of tries, it is considered accepted.

A great many people say The Shawn Pierce case might be total bunk. But NOBODY likes the Mayor seemingly in hiding.

Sadly, in the end, this might be another time consuming and expensive case for Mayor Funky that stems from his inability to separate his wife from his professional endeavors . . . And the fact that she's back at City Hall makes this situation even more odious.

TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! WESTPORT WON ST. PATRICK'S DAY OVER THE P&L DISTRICT!!!

The results are in and it looks like Westport stole the thunder from the corporate KC Live Block yesterday.

"P&L was just lame, nothing but a bunch of old ladies." A drunken partygoer I talked to yesterday exclaimed.

TV crews noted as much too.

Obviously, switching the parade route was a major coup for the Westport restaurant and bar owners.

"It's simple, the parade brought the people and they stayed," said one rather AWESOME bar owner who is afraid and captivated by this blog.

Overall I hear receipts were more than double of totals from last year. Credit news reports that followed TKC regarding Kelly's open air deck and then the whole Festival Drinking thing that was probably the main attraction promoted on TV news.

The beer ran and there wasn't any major report of violence, I hear the drunkenness caused every other lady to look like Holly Madison as well.

The turnout was exceptionally impressive given so many police DUI checkpoints pretty much encircling the place.

I doesn't really matter to me because I spent the day in my mother's basement blogging but it's nice to see signs of life from an old school party district that so many people counted out.

PARENTS ANGRY OVER KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI SCHOOL DISTRICT CLOSINGS CALL FOR A SKIP DAY!!!

WDAF: Parents angry over school closings are calling on teachers and students to stay home from school on April 5th and they're calling it a day of absence.

Wheelchair Accessible JoCo Parking Fight

Sometimes the Golden Ghetto Can Be Cruel . . . However, this description is pretty good: "Police said a visitor at the apartment complex parked in a handicapped space and was immediately confronted by an apartment resident. The visitor walked back to the parked car and instead of moving the vehicle, she put a handicap placard on it." Maybe an honest mistake, but most definitely a JoCo response.

Deadly Riverside Shooting

KMBZ: Man killed in officer-involved shooting in Riverside

The TKC Afternoon Link Hangout

Here are some of my favorite links from this afternoon Kansas City news cycle . . .

If she wears sweatpants, she'll fit right in: Sarah Palin To Speak At Independence Events Center

It's Spring Again: Copper Thieves Target A/C Units

One more ticket: Missouri Senate approves ban on texting while driving

Upscale wreck: Bluffs at Brush Creek apartment project in Kansas City files bankruptcy

The County Chokes: Lawsuits claim asbestos exposure at Jackson County Courthouse downtown

More Doggie Treats: Three Dog Bakery cooks up $2.8M expansion recipe

Watch the whole St. Patrick's Day Parade! Surprisingly, better than real life.

BlogKC runs a FANTASTIC post on Carl's Condo

Car Parking Political Points To Be Made . . . Still, it's interesting that Roy Blunt's people might not know they're being mocked (rather effectively).

Pregnant Ladies Get Paid: Kansas City charter school Renaissance Academy settles discrimination claims

The world doesn't make sense and CBS has a story about Sandra Bullock's screwed up marriage with tattoo lady pics of Michelle "Bombshell" McGee.

$15K FOR GOOD WALDO RAPIST INFO!!!

KCPD Chief Corwin's Blog: Reward for information leading to capture of serial rapist up to $15,000 . . . I can see how this would be important given that most of the information available online is junk and speculation or TKC ranting about (the obvious) racial disparity apparent in this case.

K2 Is Now A Felony In Kansas

Become a part of the Prison Industrial Complex for partaking in what looks like potpourri.

KANSAS CITY STAR COLUMNIST MIKE HENDRICKS SCREWS UP AND THEN BLAMES THE INTERNET!!!

Mike Hendricks is the worst columnist in Kansas City.

Yesterday he was outsmarted by Glenn Beck.

You read that correctly.

Hendricks was looking for dirt on the wife of the Conservative talker on MYSPACE. (hehe)

And he was forced to come up with this correction after being humiliated in front of an audience of millions:

"Correction: I ended this column with a reference to a MySpace page for Glenn Beck’s wife, Tania Beck, to illustrate how much information people volunteer in their everyday lives. As it turns out, and as Beck pointed out on his radio broadcast today, the page is a phony."

I think it's nice the Star let him write his own correction in such a snappy style . . . It almost obfuscates a very simple fact:

MIKE HENDRICKS AND THE KANSAS CITY STAR WERE SLAPPED AROUND BY A RADIO TALK SHOW HOST AND HIS WIFE FOR DOING THEIR RESEARCH ON ONE OF THE MOST OLD AND BUSTED OF ALL SOCIAL MEDIA SITES!!!

It would be a bad joke if real reporters weren't losing their jobs because Mike "He Just Learned About Google" Hendricks believes everything he reads online.

The defense that Hendricks offers is even more insulting . . .

HENDRICKS BLAMES THE INTERNETS RATHER THAN TAKING VERY MUCH RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS OWN INCOMPETENCE!!!

The kind of corporate SUPREMACY that Hendricks holds in his heart is also revealing. He seemingly thinks that people believe every word of what they see on TV or in print and applies that same naive JoCo worldview to the Internets.

THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA IGNORANCE OF MIKE HENDRICKS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE HE SEEMINGLY NEEDS A NANNY TO HELP HIM ON THE INTERNETS!!!

Seriously, if Hendricks needs some kind warning that random pages on MYSPACE(!!!) can't be trusted then he should also be required to wear his bicycle helmet all day long and whenever he steps out of his house.

Leave it to a Kansas City Star columnist to make such a pathetic display and prove once and for all that the organization has no understanding of the Internet.

Bottom Line Communications noticed the flub but was far too nice.

It's simply unbelievable that a grown man, working as a journalist and looking down his nose at Internet denizens was foiled by a de facto spam site for shitty bands.

IT'S TIME FOR THE STAR TO COMPLETELY CUT HENDRICKS AND HIS SALARY FOR AN OVERWHELMING FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND NEW MEDIA!!!

This would all be even more hilarious if Hendricks didn't already demonstrate he was an arrogant dweeb in a previous online embarrasment.

There are really good arguments about the Star's ability to adapt to the digital age. Very smart people make a great case for the importance of the paper, unfortunately none of those folks can defend Mike "Help Me Sign In" Hendricks and his stubborn Internet illiteracy.

www.ngmpodcast.com

The New Home of NextGenMedia Podcast

Kansas City Was Unusually Drunk Yesterday

NBC Action News: Police say more people were arrested for drunk driving this St. Patrick's Day than years past.

THE FEDS SAY KANSAS CITY IS ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT AND DEADLY TOWNS IN THE UNITED STATES!!!

The FBI's UCR is something to think about. New numbers came out recently but local media doesn't like noting just how far gone this cowtown is when it comes to violence and murder.

One of my favorite bloggers in all of the Universe . . . Dallas Penn puts things in perspective.

Here's a rather violent top 10 list that Dallas is posting:

#1 Detroit (MI)
#2 Baltimore (MD)
#3 St. Louis (MO)
#4 Newark (NJ)
#5 Oakland (CA)
#6 Kansas City (MO)
#7 (tie) Cleveland (OH)
#7 (tie) Washington, DC
#9 Philadelphia (PA)
#10 Memphis (TN)

It's still sad that even in this we can't keep up with STL.

The View Over Kansas City

For any video geeks out there who are the least familiar with the new-ish RED Cameras . . . This clip of the RED in Action overlooking Kansas City should be astounding.

This kind of breakthrough in video technology means that cost won't be as big of a factor in limiting moviemakers. Only creativity will be an impediment to progress . . . Sadly, that means Kansas City should still stay losing. Sorry.

Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Recap

A list from across the pond: 2010 KC St Patrick’s Day Parade Winners

A series of Star puns: Day was gray, but St. Pat's parade goes green in a big way

The KC Scoop spotted the video featured above . . . And now we can all go back to ignoring and/or arguing with each other.

For the record: TKC declares the day a victory for chubby white broads covered because of the cold but still better able to maintain body heat.

The Final Shift In Kansas City

The Star: On final shift before new job beckoned, 7-Eleven clerk killed in robbery

Nobody is gonna hold that heart-breaking detail up to scrutiny but it's probably one of the most tragic elements of our local crime story yet.

Kansas City Carjacking And Tax Refund Robbery Among Acquaintances Foiled

Thankfully, sometimes local crooks are too smart for their own good.

Pitch Video Promo

Admittedly, the vimeo clip looks neat. However, I've developed my own tagline for the weekly Alt. mag.

The Pitch: "Where The Black Dude On The Cover Is Either Involved In Murder Or Hip-Hop!!!"

The Pitch: CJ Looks like MacGyver, but she's not as crafty . . . And mostly she's still hung up on Walter Mondale-era liberalism.

The Pitch: "Sorry, we're losing to Ink."

The Pitch: "Admittedly, the private lives of our reporting staff are much more interesting than what we put on the page!!!"

The Pitch: "We were around WAY BEFORE The Internet proved anybody could do this stuff!"

Missouri School Cut Maneuvers

The Star: The Missouri House on Wednesday rejected an effort by rural lawmakers to change which school districts would bear the brunt of cuts in state aid.

Spitting Social Media Hot Fire

Take A Listen To Episode 12 of The Next Generation Media Podcast: The program is becoming one of this town's most popular tech broadcasts.

The TKC Thursday Morning Link Lineup

Here are some of the mainstream media links that I'd like to highlight this morning:

Cold Blooded Convenience Store Killing: Murdered 7-Eleven Clerk Remembered for Family

The Golden Ghetto Curates American Life: Johnson County Museum to reinvent itself as national museum of suburban history

More on a potential Kansas Conflict: Kansas House speaker being asked to testify about conflict of interest case

Party Interrupted: Leawood Man Nabbed At KCI As He Tries To Go On Spring Break

JoCo Traffic Tragedy: Overland Park traffic accident cuts two lives short

The Kansas Battle For Empty Calories: Soft-drink fans protest tax proposed in the Kansas Legislature

Holly Starr And The Mavericks earn big money during auction.

KCK Crime: Police Capture Gunman Hiding In Trash Can

Or maybe longer: Longview Road will remain closed for approximately two months.

Victoria's Secret bikini battles go way back but they're always worth a look.

The Definitive David Gray Review

David Gray was in town recently, Brit pop isn't my bag so I didn't really notice. However, Staubio Speaks wrote up one of the best local music reviews I've ever read regarding his experience seeing the musician. His offer to put on a show of his own was hilarious.

From what I've read, Kansas City music crowds seem remarkably inconsiderate . . . Then again, waiting for the locals to act right is always a losing proposition.

Kay Barnes And Jackson County Satire

Gone Mild writes up a rather scathing news article a la The Onion. It's not as funny but far more informative than most online news jokes. Still, I couldn't help but notice a veiled Mayor Funky defense in this attack on Jackson County Government, Former KC Mayor Kay Barnes and Political Consultant Steve Glorioso.

Take A Look At "Lumberjack Jay"

Penrose On Politics posts a nice look at the Gov. chopping away at the Missouri budget . . . While important social programs fall away.

The TKC St. Paddy's Morning After

I feel fine. Maybe because, like all horrible people, I am blessed with a great constitution which means that TKC can bench press a small truck.

I'm ready mix things up right after I "finish" gawking at Erin Lucas in bed.

More links and content on the way for the many hungover and unproductive d-bags in Kansas City. . . Stay tuned.