Encouraging KC drunks to call a cab!!!

For Heaven's sake CALL A CAB if you're drinking tonight and have no friends (like TKC).

There's simply no excuse to litter the road with any more dead bodies than need be . . . The homicide rate will actually fall under 100 this year so fewer mangled drunken corpses would be nice as well.



Yellow Cab of Kansas City, Mo. is offering free rides home now through New Years Eve from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. each night.

To get a Yellow Cab where you are, call 1-866-777-1115.



TKC needs every one of his readers and last I heard they don't have wi-fi in local drunk tank lock ups.

Have a fun and safe New Year's Eve.

The last days of smoking in Kansas City

I'd also like to request that state officials cut my food for me and feed me via the "here comes the airplane" model . . . Proponents of a smoking ban in Kansas City bars and restaurants have enough signatures to force the City Council to act or place the issue on the ballot.

Election officials today certified that the initiative petition effort gathered 4,568 valid signatures of registered voters out of more than 6,000 turned in. The effort needed 4,237.

If he didn't hate Mexicans to pander to a few loudmouth fake conservatives Huckabee might have my vote . . .

This could be the gulliest headline in the post-modern world:

Huckabee Wants Women To Be Submissive

Never before have I seen a candidate torn apart by his own incompetence in handling the media (other than Mayor Funkhouser) . . . Also, this submissive statement seems to be missing all of the fun of women being on top.

Politicos spending money in Missouri may not have heard about TiVo yet

The election cycle is mostly an economic cycle and provides another reason for me to ignore advertising . . . Top presidential candidates have spent about $3 million in Missouri based on their most recent campaign reports

Lucky bastard with TKC's ticket

Kansas City man to claim $3.1 million Lotto jackpot . . . In much less lucky news: KC residents with tickets on the 28th for parking in a snow route don't have to pay them.

Show me Republicans unknowingly eating at the old Dixie Bell - A classic KC ghey bar

I guess that's the story of Kansas City development, one group of hard partying guys that I have nothing in common with gets replaced by the next . . . Jolie Justs (who ironically - or not - wasn't invited) shares the irony.

Save Banister Mall (and thereby keep white people from being scared that Independence Center is "changing")!!!

Save the Bannister Mall Group Inc. turned in 148 valid signatures and is reportedly going to try to force a referendum regarding the proposed Three Trails Development. After this they'll need 8,475 valid signatures in their quest to revive Bannister Mall . . . Because it was such a bustling center of activity before the proposed stadium (which will also end up empty).

"You Say You Wanna Resolutions"

Just Cara and Emaw start the promises that we all forget about in February.

Bad Trades for Kansas City in 2008

Here's a few news items that came to my attention over the weekend that are worth mentioning:

On Sunday the Star finally decided to mention the housing crisis and allude to the current recession that TKC has been writing about for months . . . The Subprime crisis is apparently still in effect . . .



And brighter and more honest people than myself are talking about a "hard landing" for the nation's economy as the impact of all of the easy money floating around previously will have a lasting legacy on the local economy . . . Like a failure for the P&L District and the many foreclosures in the Ruskin Heights area turning the place into Kansas City's new Eastside.

Lewis Diuguid's column from last week deserves a mention as well. He accurately points out that this has been a hard year for Black females in Kansas City. Here's the money line about a bad trade that Kansas City has made in terms of revenue: "The city also may lose the NAACP convention in 2010. That’s millions of dollars blown by bigotry. But the city did pick up the first-ever, two-day Minuteman convention, which could attract 300 people and a few hundred dollars."

Finally, the Three Trails Development talk died down a little bit last week. Soccer fans seemed satisfied in claiming that the development is more than just a stadium for a team with one of the lowest attendance rates in its league. There is also talk of hotels and then shopping which already failed at Bannister Mall. All things considered, a cold hearted analysis of this project will reveal that it cannot save South Kansas City alone. While this area of town needs attention, soccer isn't going to bring people back. TKC suggests a business park or some other venue (strip club?) that isn't completely dependent on patronage from the people of JoCo AND the surrounding neighbors who most suburbanites try desperately to avoid.

All things considered every one of these issues occupying the interest of the public in the last days of this year require some kind of tradeoff that usually involves an unfair exchange of common sense for pipe dreams and empty promises.

TKC best local blog awards

A lot of folks already gave their list of Kansas City's best blogs (belonging to mostly white people) this year but mine is much better. So here they are, the best bloggers in Kansas City 2007:



1. Alonzo Washington - Did you get a car for blogging or for any of your offline efforts for that matter? I didn't think so. Like it or not Mr. Washington used blogging and the Internet to expand the media presence for his work and that earned him not only greater notoriety but also a pretty sweet SUV. While most folks wouldn't know it from reading the mostly white blogs that unjustly claim widespread popularity, more than any other blog or online media presence Mr. Washington has had a greater impact on the real world with the help of his blogging and online video efforts. This kind of trend setting is typically ignored but the history of the local Internet has been saved in servers across the world and will note that Alonzo Washington used the net to help solve crimes and provide a great example of local activists taking control over their media representation.

2. Hip Suburban White Guy - Coming in at second place (because the world isn't fair) Xavier Onassis is undoubtedly the most well-liked guy in the local blogosphere. While I think that the opinion of white males is already over-represented in the mainstream press . . . The X-man manages to give the topics of the day a new twist and I have a theory that nobody who likes comic books is all bad. The most requests came in for the X-man and I can see why . . . He's consistently one of this town's best bloggers.

3. Across-the-board - Ramsey is a blogger for the future. His vlogging has captured a lot of firsts for the downtown area and it's clear that a recent college grad so connected to KC and the online world is what future media and internet denizens are going to look like . . .

4. RDM's Random Remarks - A new(ish) blog. Prolific and provides a different perspective. Well worth making a daily read.

5. Effbombs.com - Another great read, lots of photos and just like TKC . . . The blogger makes a concentrated effort to connect sports coverage to the real world and the culture at large.

6. Happy in Bag - Simple, concise and quick insights into life here in Kansas City.

7. Logtar's blog - Not every Latino in Kansas City is Chicano or as suspicious of you white people as I am . . . Logtar's blog is a great example of this and also provides an excellent 1st person perspective on this town from a relative newcomer.

8. The 100 year-old Weblog - Leigh Ann puts on a great blog for people caught in a time warp or interested about the roots of this city.

9. Crime Scene KC - This blog deserves a higher ranking but since the guy actually gets paid for blogging I won't feel too guilty. Still, this is one of the first sites I check every morning. The blog hosts an active community with lots of breaking news and feature stories. James Hart works on one of the City's Major blogs that is actually deserving of the title.

10. Every blog community has an "it" girl . . . Erin's blog currently holds the title until other female bloggers get wise and start showing more skin. I'm talking to you Filegirl and the KC Irish dude as well (I guess).

In other blogs:

Blog KC - The closest Kansas City's blog world will come to objectivity. I read it daily. The site would easily top TKC if only it hosted booty pics.

Toellner Tells it - KC's biggest neighborhood cheerleader, making hours of time wasted in useless meetings seem not all that bad!!!

Gone Mild - The Smells from Mayor Funky's Kitchen Cabinet.

My SpyderWeb - A white woman with a blog and tattoos. I'm in.

Nightmare - Rough and tumble, blogging with an edge deserving of many more readers. Check him out.

Midtown Miscreant - Great stuff. Look for more in the New Year.

Chimpotle - Funny az hell, always up to date with the latest in the Internets at large.

The D-Rules - He certainly does. This guy could be the bravest blogger in KC considering he posts his photo everywhere across the local net. Look for a pose-off between him and KC blogger Bradical Mindspew sometime in the future. (NO HOMO)

Palabra Jot - A local newsie with a different spin.

Hey Cameraman.net - Another local newsie educates local blog readers on how its done - The news and everything else.

KC Blue Blog - If you were wondering what the local Dems were thinking.

Conservatism with a Heart - A passionate and smart lady blogger from the right.

Toast is too cool for awards and that's why she's always been one of KC's best.

The Kansas City Post - Probably the most well thought out ideas on the local net, other than my music posts and bikini model missives.

These are just a few of my faves . . . If I didn't mention your blog, just send me a link and I will. TKC loves local blogs and blogging: The last free speech zone in the U.S. at least until Halliburton the Republicans win the next presidential election.

TKC really hates round-ups

However, this one by The Star seems to cover a lot of ground . . . Noting Gloria Squitiro as The "Volunteer Who Won’t Leave" was an extra-special bonus.

Perception, inequality and justice (or lack thereof): Prison industrial complex set up to kill minorities

Race emerges as a death penalty issue . . . Blacks are disproportionately represented on the nation’s death rows. And blacks who kill whites are overwhelmingly more likely to be executed than blacks who kill other blacks or whites who kill blacks.

And just to make things personal I'll mention that TKC noted this same fact in June when just about everyone in Kansas City wanted Micheal Taylor dead for the white girl he killed in Ruskin Heights without much mention of the racial epithets used at his trial.

Show me State slightly better than Kansas: Suck it!

From the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2008 Statistical Abstract:

The average annual pay of Missourians is 6.4 percent higher than that of Kansans

Kansas ranks much higher than Missouri in the percentage of persons 25 years or older who have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Kansans guzzled far more energy than Missourians.

Missouri much more effective at scapegoating Mexicans . . . Thank you Matt Blunt for giving us the edge!!!

Kansas City Metro eating establishments where the only cancer risk is from the food i.e. a local non-smoking guide!!!

Check out "Clean Air Kansas City" for a guide to local restaurants that are smoke free. Also, realize that a life without risk isn't a guarantee that it won't end abruptly. (Note: TKC doesn't smoke but only because I look cool enough on my own.)

KC Chiefs: The worst team in the NFL!!!

The title that TKC gave to Kansas City's team sometime around mid-season has now been confirmed. There is no football team worse than the Kansas City Chiefs. And I have only one more question:

WHAT exactly are the Chiefs going to rebuild from?

True, it's hard to go any place but up when taking into account the team's horrible performance this year . . . Still, all of the post-season changes will only add up to window dressing if King Carl and his buddy Herm Edwards stay.

On a brighter note, any guy with a few million might want to look up Kelli Croyle . . . She's going to be available soon given that her man proved once and for all that he's not capable of being a starting quarterback in the NFL. In a game that didn't count for anything but draft position, Brodie Croyle couldn't lead his team to victory and secure a starting job for himself next year while playing in a stadium that was mostly empty. Croyle is a backup . . . Nothing better. Any time spent nurturing his talent would be wasted and only prolonging the inevitable conclusion that he doesn't have the nerves for the job and his wife would be much "better off" with a real starter . . . Like Michael Vick or something.

As far as Herm's homecoming, the drama was wasted on me . . . The only thing evident was that both coaches were incompetent and called plays that wouldn't cut it in high school football. Even worse, the game seemed to drag on forever like a nagging reminder from the Football Gods that this has been the worst season in franchise history and the Chiefs haven't really been competitive in more than 25 years.

The Last Hurrah for Hartsfield

Reverend Wallace Hartsfield gave his last sermon as the pastor of the Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church to crowd of adoring worshipers and friends . . . TKC Note: Former Mayor Cleaver already paid his respects, current Mayor Funky didn't make much of a public gesture at all only further solidifying his division with Kansas City's Black Leadership. This will only hurt him in the long run.

The illusion of safety hits the skids at KCI

Plane Skids Off Airport Taxiway

End the year with Justus!!!

Political hangers-on with a lot of money but without a life are invited to join the local Dems on New Year's Eve for a "fun-raising" event. Here are the details: 5:30-7:30 at 3633 Charlotte in KC,MO. The event benefits three progressive women candidates: Senator Jolie Justus, Representative Beth Low, and Democratic candidate for Representative of the 44th district Amy Coffman. There is a suggested donation of $25 per person. All donations up to the legal limit are appreciated. Check out the the e-vite invitation for more info.

Listen up: Music is no longer a physical commodity, same thing happens to the rest of media (especially movies) in less than 5 years.

Music producers mixing for MP3 . . . From Boing Boing on the state of modern music (i.e. MP3s): As a society, we're happy to sacrifice fidelity for ease of use, flexibility and low-cost. Designing for that, as opposed to lamenting it -- is a damned good and realistic thing to do.

Kicking off the week with Kwanzaa!!!

Kwanzaa is almost over but that won't ever stop my dedication to scantily clad women of all ethnic persuasions . . . Looks like I've learned something after all.

Today's principle for Kwanzaa is "Kuumba" which translates to Creativity. This principle encourages celebrants to "do as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it."

So I'm decided to stop littering (in my own lawn).

Our hot African-American chick of the day on Kwanzaa is Halle Berry . . . Best known for playing the very hot and often naked girlfriend of white guys in major motion pictures.

Harambee!!!

The TKC Saturday Night Podcast: Gearing up for New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is quickly approaching my little binge drinkers. In marginally related KC news, folks will now be able to keep track of the last remaining minutes leading up to the New Year on a new clock tower installed in the P&L District . . . I'll likely file a couple more posts on the subject but it's never too early to remind people that . . .

Drunks ride for free around New Year's Eve in Kansas City!!!

And Kansans might want to remember that denying evolution is one thing but gravity always wins i.e. bullets come down after they are shot recklessly in the air!!!

Accordingly, this week's podcast is dedicated to songs in anticipation of the New Year. (sorta)



TKC readers please have a safe and fun New Year's Eve lead-up weekend. Thank you for reading.

Chiefs vs. Jets: It doesn't matter who wins the "draft bowl" because both teams suck!!!

A great quote from, The Gothamist, an NY blog: "The loser of this game could improve its position in the NFL draft, but each team is more than a high pick away from building a perennially competitive team."

The better Kansas City Mac is a blogger

Meet Mac Tonnies (if you haven't already). He's a expert on alien culture, author and blogs at Post Human Blues. Money line from a recent post about the other KC Mac: "We're like bizarro versions of each other; if we ever met and shook hands, we'd probably explode in a 100% conversion of mass-to-energy."

"Paperboy problems persist"

The death of print media means no more assaults on the poor people delivering the paper . . . Digital media will make them safe and unemployed. KCTV 5 reports . . . Police: Newspaper Delivery Man Shot

Recidivism in Kansas City

Crime Scene KC: KC teen, acquitted of murder, now faces charges in double shooting . . . Crime in Kansas City doesn't stop, it just gets recycled. KMBC has some great video of this d-bag dancing around after beating his first case earlier this year. I posted about the crime as well and predicted the dude would soon be killed or back in the can as well, it's not exactly Rocket Science . . . Just KC crime creeping up in all parts of this cowtown where people refuse to acknowledge the problem.

Kwanzaa over the weekend in KC!!!

I wasn't going to post anything over the weekend but I decided that I owed it to myself to keep my special Kwanzaa celebration going!!!

Today's principle is Ujamaa which translates to cooperative economics. Beyoncé makes a great model for that principle not only because she is "bootylicious" but also because she reportedly still takes calls from those other broads in Destiny's Child. Remember them? I don't either.

Sunday's principle is Nia intended to stand for an effort "to make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness."



IMHO, this principle is best embodied by Nia Long who has made a nice living by playing a somewhat angry and frustrated female lead in b-movies over two decades.

Let's not forget her classic roles in "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" and "Boyz N the hood." For my generation she was the prototypical girlfriend put forth by Hollywood in most Black movies . . . Hot, a tad bitchy but mostly hot.

The New Year according to TKC!!!

I don't have time to round up lame stories from earlier this year.

TKC IS ALL ABOUT THE FUTURE!!!

That's why I'm making a few predictions for next year that have more basis in fact than anyone would dare to possibly imagine.

Here goes:

THE BACKLASH AGAINST GLORIA "BIGFOOT" SQUITIRO WILL CONTINUE TO GROW



TKC broke Mammy-gate but the thing is yet to be resolved. IF the Funky Bunch get lucky then the EEOC case won't amount to much. HOWEVER, if Ruth Bates wins her case then expect an uproar when KC residents have to pay for the misdeeds of an unsanctioned City Hall presence. Even if the lawsuit isn't resolved, THERE IS NOT ONE PERSON ASKING FOR SQUITIRO TO STAY IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE!!! (Other than the Mayor, of course) Yet again, the Funkhouser's stubborn insistence that she stay could prove to be his downfall.

MARK AND GLORIA AGAINST THE WORLD!!!



Actually, I kind of like this one . . . The Funkhouser and Squitiro duo are turning inward with only their (pagan?) love to guide them rather than hiring a real political adviser; you know somebody who could get another job without sacrificing their integrity and working life for a campaign.

In all of their troubles they've yet to take advice from anyone outside of their marital union. It's the stuff that Lifetime movies are made of even if it makes for a horrible Mayoral administration. All hail King Funky and Queen Squitiro!!! It's a love story not seen since Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI - Hopefully the ending is more upbeat.

2008 IS THE YEAR OF THE MINORITY BOYCOTT OF KANSAS CITY!!!



La Raza isn't coming. After the Cauthen debacle . . . The presence of other organizations looks doubtful. The NAACP, the SCLC will most likely boycott Kansas City as well and IF those two groups back out because of Mayor Funkhouser's racially divisive tactics . . . EXPECT TALK OF A NCAA BOYCOTT . . . Which could actually make even the most reactionary Funky supporter think twice.

RECALL TALK GETS REAL



We all have to live together, like it or not. Mayor Funky has tried to run this city using racially divisive politics while ignoring the fact that since the time minorities earned the right to vote NO KANSAS CITY MAYOR HAS BEEN ABLE TO GOVERN THIS TOWN WITHOUT REACHING OUT TO MINORITY COMMUNITIES. As of now, Mayor Funky has NO CREDIBILITY in KC's Black or Latino neighborhoods (Don't argue, you'd be wrong if you did) . . . IF he can't change that then the 16k signatures to get him out of office wouldn't be that hard to come by . . . The ensuing feeding frenzy by every ambitious politico in Kansas City would then move to put him out of office. Remember that Funky doesn't have very many Democrat friends and the local Party won't hesitate get behind another candidate IF somebody else sets the process in motion.

A WHITE WOMAN WILL GO MISSING, THE MEDIA WILL HIGHLIGHT THE CASE MUCH MORE THAN ANY CRIME IN THE MINORITY COMMUNITY!!!



I almost hate to predict this one because it involves the pain and suffering of real people played out on a media stage . . .The practice of Missing White Woman Syndrome may cater to advertising demographics but it also ignores members of the minority community who are more often the victims of crime. TKC takes a brief look back and sadly realizes that Kelsey Smith received 24 hour news coverage for nearly two weeks while a COMPLETELY INNOCENT KC Rapper named Andre "ACE" Taylor was gunned down outside of his house in a case of mistaken identity and local news outlets barely made a mention. The disparity does more damage than most people realize.

Similarly . . .

KANSAS CITY CHEERLEADERS WILL CONTINUE TO IGNORE CRIME INVOLVING BROWN PEOPLE



This has been the same old story since I started this blog. Most shootings or murders involving minorities rate only a brief mention by most media outlets . . . Any gun play involving middle-class white people is treated as an affront to God. It's pretty much the basis of supremacy and part of the cultural logics that keep this town divided by more than just suburban district lines.



HOUSING CRISIS CONTINUES TO HIT KANSAS CITY HARD



Already the housing crisis is at a record level. Nobody is buying new homes right now and that trend is going to continue. The Condo, loft craze is dead in the water and these financial numbers are going to thwart so much of the irrational exuberance broadcast by downtown cheerleaders.

Correspondingly . . .

ELECTRIC AVENUE WILL GET OFF TO A GREAT START THANKS TO PR BUT WILL ULTIMATELY FAIL



It's just bad luck (and poor planning) that downtown's retail, shopping, fine dinning showcase is going to premiere in harsh economic times. I've always had doubts that the Power & Light District would attract anyone in the long term . . . But as soon as next year the prospects look grim at a time when even suburbanites are staying home. Still, look for stories of great success on the first weekend with absolutely no follow-up from The Star in much the same way that downtown businesses have failed to see much consistent benefit from The Sprint Center.

KEEP WAITING FOR KANSAS CITY LIGHT RAIL!!!



Mayor Funky canceled Light Rail for Kansas City. Once again he was stubborn and couldn't reach a compromise thereby forcing himself into a corner. Mayor Funky has neither the skill nor the credibility to make a regional plan work, he isn't even giving himself great odds of his plan meeting with success. Forget about light rail for the rest of this Mayor's term and not at all next year.

KC SPORTS STAY MEDIOCRE



The Chiefs have nothing to rebuild from and the Royals are not only losing good people but adding folks whose better days are bygone. 2008 will serve up the same Kansas City mediocrity with sports personalities feigning excitement while everyone but children understand that the outcome will always end in a losing effort.

KANSAS CITY BIKERS DON'T BACK DOWN



Things aren't all doom and gloom around here . . . I'd like to predict that fewer local cyclists will be killed by cars next year. This is because the small, vocal, affluent, white minority who only care when one of their own middle class contingent is killed will step up their efforts to reclaim the road. Motorists who hit irresponsible bikers, recklessly careening down the road will get the blame, a ticket and possibly jail time. Kansas City has fallen victim to the bullying tactics of bicycle enthusiasts and the criminal contingent which comprise a significant portion of KC's cycling cadre . . . Now more than ever, they run the streets.

MISSOURI HATES MATT BLUNT SLIGHTLY MORE THAN MEXICANS



Matt Blunt is going to lose and he could host a photo op at which he personally beat Mexican illegal immigrants to death and it still wouldn't help him. (Although, I'd watch) His years of failure can't be made up with a few pre-election announcements. The fact is that Missouri is a much worse place after his tenure. All the conservative posturing in the world won't help his horrible record when it comes to jobs, healthcare, education and a really creepy smile.

NATIONALLY . . .

THE RECESSION HITS HARDER THAN ANYONE THINKS



Nope, it's not a good time to be broke but at least po'folk will have a lot of company. The recession is on and cutting interest rates or flashy advertising isn't going to help.

GOLD (AND GAS) GO UP



I've heard from people who know more about this stuff than I do that gold is a good investment for people other than Scrooge McDuck or Ron Paul supporters. Unfortunately, TKC is broke so buying gold is out of the question. Even worse GAS is going up again and in KC we'll see $3.50 a gallon by the end of the summer without a mention of the promise from President Bush that Iraqi oil would pay for the war.

US TROOPS KICKED OUT OF ASKED TO LEAVE IRAQ



The party is over in Iraq. The surge numbers are essentially meaningless but they might provide a nice way for the US to leave the region without completely admitting failure.

Like it or not, US neo-imperialism inadvertently brought about a new Persian empire (of sorts).



The surge didn't work, THE SHIA WON.

Most of Iraq will become Iran either by name or deed . . . There's little political will to stop it now.

RICH GET RICHER!!!



Again, things are not all bad for people who have money. The upper class will be able to buy abandoned condos and white women with greater ease and eventually this could see us all through the hard times.

Essentially, I'm bullish on Kansas City in the long term . . . Ignoring the fact that in the long term everyone ends up dead.

Dallas Penn takes apart a pandemic!!!

The greatest of all New York bloggers shares some great insights into the recent death of KU AIDS researcher Bill Narayan. This could possibly be a perfect blog post and might totally alter your perceptions . . . Check out this MUST READ post by Dallas Penn - The most important blogger in the free world.

"Just imagine if Edwin Hall was a brotha"

More great stuff from RDM on the recent Independence Mall chaos.

Larry Johnson and the "Curse of 400"

An insightful sports columnist writes that "The real tragedy is the depressing revelation that Larry Johnson is not immune to history."

In other words, even a cursory study of offensive stats by attentive football fans (none of which reside in the Chiefs front office) reveals that in the NFL running backs are all used up AND WASHED UP after seasons in which they garner 400 carries.

Everyone cringed when Johnson was loaded down with 416 carries a year ago, knowing the danger of that history – Jamal Anderson, Eddie George, James Wilder, Eric Dickerson – and what it might mean for LJ's NFL future. There was hope that Johnson might be the exception to the “Curse of 400,” especially after he trained hard with legendary power lifter Joe Carini last offseason and enjoyed a rest while waiting on a new contract.

What's left is talk of a new offensive line and improving the rest of the team around LJ. Sadly, what's missing from the discussion is that King Carl made a $19 million dollar mistake that could have been prevented with a subscription to Sports Illustrated.

Independence Center = Bannister Mall

After a week of violent teen fights in and around the place . . . The conclusion that a lot of people are coming to is that Independence Center is going down the crapper.

Here's a really insightful comment from a TKC reader with first hand experience that I'd like to spotlight.

i have worked at the mall for years now and its sad to see all the trash coming in and the crime going up... Ever since bannister mall closed its gotten worse... shoplifting is REALLY bad... it stinks to see this happening all over again..

And let's not beat around the bush here . . . People are talking about the influx of Black people to the mall even if they're using coded language or private e-mails to note their concern to TKC. All this begs the question:

Is Independence Center Kansas City's New Black Mall?

Which then begs the questions:

Is public perception, ensuing crime and good old panic and fear going to see the place go down the tubes?

I hope not but I'm a realist and I recognize this same situation has happened time and again all over the KC area going back to the 60's with The Landing to Indian Springs, Bannister Mall and now in Independence . . . It's yet another clear sign of KC's inability to deal with crime and the ensuing white flight that often wrecks neighborhood economies.

Who knows, it may already be too late or no big deal at all but this blog is asking the question that most media outlets are afraid to touch . . . As Chris Rock once noted, there is always a local mall where "white people used to shop" and Independence Center is running the risk of becoming that place.

On a personal note . . . Maybe there have been advances in feminism in the KC area after all given that I remember that it was the fear of roving bands of Black males which scared everyone off from Bannister Mall and now the aftermath of a girl fight among Black females reveals a closing of the gender gap in at least one area.

Progress is painful.

Morning links with Krystal

Aussie model Krystal Forscutt was recently featured in FHM magazine and she's as good of a reason as any to get out of bed this morning.

Kansas City Casinos DON'T WANT ANY LIMIT TO THE AMOUNT THEY CAN LIFT OFF PATRONS!!!

Homicide number 94 . . . Keep telling everyone that KC crime is getting better.

KCK fire leaves 6 homeless

Royals Sign Catcher Miguel Olivo to One-year Deal with Mutual Option for 2009

The Kansas City Environmental Education Network has announced the 2008 Teaching Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) . . . TKC didn't win despite the fact that he informs everyone that littering with only fruit isn't that bad because it helps the squirrels.

Top Ten Sports stories from KCK

How to lose money with a quickness: A Las Vegas company has applied for permission from the state to build a casino complex near Kansas Speedway

More tax breaks proposed for the Eastside of Kansas City despite any sign of progress after more than a decade of subsidies!!!

YET ANOTHER INCENTIVE PROGRAM for 18th and Vine and the surrounding area is the brainchild of Kansas City restaurateur Ollie Gates and would provide a 15-year sales tax exemption for retailers operating in neighborhoods designated as the Black Heritage District.

Massive Independence Center Catfight spanned all of KC Metro area and might have been about some dude

Obviously, the young women of Kansas City aren't taking feminism to heart as the details of this week's catfight get more hilarious day by day.

Last night KSHB reported that the teens arrested during the drama AND THEIR FAMILY are claiming that Mall Security and the Police used too much force in breaking up the 30 person scuffle with Tasers, tackling and pepper spray.

Also, KCTV5 recently reported that the whole thing may have been about a teen love tryst . . . Which not only isn't encouraging but also ties the brawl to an earlier incident at Ward Parkway.

All things considered the story is still mildly entertaining given that nobody was seriously hurt AND provides a bit of insight as to why online shopping continues to expand.

Show me exactly who I can shoot to death in or around my home!!!

I don't think the "Castle Doctrine Debate" is going to make anyone feel safer in Missouri.

Personally, I think guns are awesome even if I realize that the history of pro-gun advocates is directly tied into racism in this country.

And getting shot for accidentally stepping on my neighbors lawn would be a quite a bummer.

Also, anybody who thinks John Horn is a hero needs to have their head examined OR might need to understand that people offing each other on their own accord doesn't represent anything close to an ideal living situation for anyone but people who watch way too many Westerns - TKC has seen The Wild Bunch more than a dozen times and has always thought that too many Mexicans were killed in the final shootout.

KC bloggers on Bhutto Assassination

I was impressed with the really sophisticated opinion on the Bhutto Assassination from local bloggers who are every bit as well informed as TV talking heads . . . Here's the best of what I could find this morning:

I think Conservatism with a Heart and her readers capture the zeitgeist of the vast majority American opinion (at least among Conservatives) in relating the tragedy to the ongoing War on Terror, the need to double down (or whatever) and the destabilizing effect that even one murder can have on an entire region.

From the X-man: This was a shocker!

Dan provides some important links as well: Blogger Background on Bhutto

The KC Blue Blog: Democracy Loses A Strong Voice Heard Around The World

OMG!!! IT SNOWED!!!

Snow on the streets in Kansas City . . . In December no less!!! SHOCKING!!!

Still, at least it puts local weather people to work and once again makes everyone in Kansas City realize that the presence of JoCo folks in KC is overrated (despite their economic impact) given that they don't know how to drive.

Watch the panic live on KMBC for the next couple of hours.

Take time to listen to TKC

Check out KC's Morning News on KMBZ New Radio 980 tomorrow at around 8:30 in the a.m.

I'll be talking with EJ and Ellen about the Top 10 reasons local blogs are going to replace Kelly Eckerman. Kidding, nothing could replace that woman from the local news scene or my fantasies.

Anyhoo, I'll be talking about a bunch of local blogs that don't suck along with stuff I noticed Kansas City bloggers were mentioning . . . Other than mean spirited observations about their families over the holidays.

Last night's homicide on Prospect PROBABLY means Kansas City hasn't solved its crime problem as The Star suggests

Police Seek Information In Prospect Homicide

The season every bad thing TKC ever wrote about the Chiefs came true

On a personal note, Jared Allen may be the best white guy on the team but that doesn't mean he's any good. Face it, Allen is overrated and his popularity is yet another reflection of KC's Supremacist attitude. IF THE GUY WAS BLACK HE'D BE JUST ANOTHER MEDIOCRE CHIEFS DEFENSIVE LINEMAN. Example: Neil Smith was popular but never elicited the kind of hero worship that Allen has garnered. (Note: The sacks are meaningless if they don't win games)

Anyhoo, here's a much more optimistic season wrap-up from Arrowhead Pride.

KC Top 10s from Present Magazine

Present Magazine publishes:

The Top 10 Music Picks

Top 10 Book picks

Top 10 local blog picks . . . The list is woefully white but I like the idea of asking local bloggers what blogs they consider the best.

Still, all the lists are pretty impressive . . . Even better, I don't think Present Magazine pays most of their contributors which makes their publication a true gift to Kansas City writers in that it keeps the amateurs toiling for free while the rest of us find real work. TKC Full Disclosure: I sent them an unpublishable piece this summer (for free) that I still keep promising myself I'll clean up and post here.

Another election year payoff for Blunt

Blunt proposes nearly $53 million raise for doctors . . . But I think everybody's pretty skeptical about this move coming from Missouri's Medicaid hatchet man. It's doubtful he would maintain the same kind of commitment to healthcare given that this promise still doesn't make up for all of the people he cut off. Additionally, all of these political announcements have only been because the guy is getting killed by healthcare concerns in the polls . . . Seeing as how he ignored the issue for the past three years.

TKC is crazy about Kwanzaa!!!

Today's Kwanzaa principle is Ujima which stands for Collective Work and Responsibility. A manifestation of that notion might involve the d-bags who read this blog trying to constantly correct me despite the fact that I'm always right.

Anyhoo, it's good to know that Kwanzaa is getting more and more popular every year and has even faced legal challenges as of late. Luckily, (thank God) Kwanzaa is not a religious festival but instead is a political, community based celebration that reminds me that I should have hit on more Black chicks in college.

AN AMAZING KANSAS CITY DOWNLOAD FROM DJ SHAD!!!

TKC readers are DEFINITELY GOING TO ENJOY the latest drop from DJ Shad.

I've listened to just a little bit and I couldn't wait to share this one with readers on this site. It's really GREAT STUFF that focuses on life here in Kansas City.

For those unfamiliar with DJ Shad's work, he has been a pioneer in KC's hop-hop scene for quite some time and he was recently awarded the honor of "Best Club DJ 2007" by The Pitch.

Here's a bit more on the FREE download from DJ Shad:

It is hosted by Iz More from KC and features tracks by the Basement Khemists. The Khemists are one of the original groups who represented KC Hip Hop. They are respected around the world and not the usual Kansas City crazy rap. The mix can relate to the issues of Kansas City and surrounding areas like the blight of African Americans, cheating, the city hall situation and posers. I hope you enjoy the mix.

Again, check it out, it is definitely worth a listen.

Here's the track list:

1.Izmore-Middle Of The Map
2.NV Sicc-Ode To The Grind(KC)
3.Rhymefest-Never Can Say Goodbye
4.Playas Circle feat Phonte-Paper Chaser
5.Hi Tek Feat Dion,Riz & Sean Kingston-Back To The
Grind
6.Rhymefest-Fooling Around
7.Skillz-Noupie
8.Volume 10-Pistol Grip Pump
9.Big Shug-Let The Music Play
10 NYG'z-Ya Dayz Are Done
11.Pete Rock-Til I Retire
12.Rakim-Living for the City
13.Nas-Remebering the Times
14.Ras Kass-Backpack Rap
15.Basement Khemists-Vibrate
16.Basement Khemists-Petrified
17.Basement Khemists-Everybody
18.Basement Khemists-I'm Doing Ya
19.Basement Khemists-Correct Technique
20.1st Down-It Get's No Liver Than This

Again, this is great stuff and will most likely be the soundtrack for the Winter of 2007/8.

A special thanks to Kansas City hip-hop people who have been sending stuff my way. Keep it coming, TKC is all about the growing community of people involved in KC hip-hop online!!!

A last chance for Brodie Croyle!!!

Croyle is going to start on Sunday. I would say that there's no pressure on the guy given that nobody but a few dozen people still watching the team care about the outcome. HOWEVER, the game will determine draft position and will also affect his status as a starter next year. Let's not forget that the KELLI CROYLE DIVORCE WATCH is in full effect and a loss, the ensuing search for a new QB and the interest piqued by every potential suitor in the country could make this game interesting.

TKC is calling it:

THE GAME TO DECIDE IF KELLI CROYLE STARTS PACKING!!!



Honestly, this angle is the only way to appreciate what happens on the field as this has been the worst Chiefs season in franchise history. And that's not saying that a divorce at the Croyle household isn't a real possibility which can be confirmed by anyone with a working knowledge of the tumultuous marriages of most pro-athletes or upwardly mobile and attractive young white people. Example: From Liz Taylor to Britney Spears, et al.

KC road rage shooting

They're playing the "good college kid caught in a bad situation angle" which is correct but the more important aspect of the story to me is that the end of the year in KC has seen a slew of shootings after The Star's "Crime is getting better" front page story.

An Obama and Oprah ticket?

Kansas City's biggest Oprah fan is at it again AND he gets news coverage for his latest idea: KC Man Wants Oprah To Join Obama's Ticket

Central Bank on the Boulevard robbed

I saw the KCPD setting up the crime scene tape last night, I didn't think to blog it and I'm also disappointed that nobody could give a good description.

"Save Bannister People Are Back"

Down the Byline's take on the challenge to the Three Trails development is pretty good and worth reading for those who haven't already. TKC note: This is the most soccer interest or South KC talk Kansas City has seen in years and the discussion is actually pretty interesting.

"Three bad ideas for Kansas City"

A thoughtful article from local blogger Chuck offers some insight regarding bad decisions at hand for Kansas City in the new year.

To wit, here are my bad ideas for Kansas City:

I hear there is a move to initiate "prima nocte" for the wealthy men of JoCo . . . Finally, somebody figured out a way to lure these folks to Kansas City's Downtown.

Clay Chastain for Mayor (He couldn't possibly be worse than what we've got)

UNITED: Garth Brooks (again) with Jay-Z at The Sprint Center.

Urban Safari on the Westside and Northeast: Tourists pay for the right to act like an immigration official for a day. Everyone surprisingly discovers that Mexicans can run a lot faster than people suspect.

NAMBLA DAY at Worlds of Fun.

Saundra McFadden-Weaver still on the loose!!! (Very much like Kathryn Shields)

McFadden-Weaver sentencing delayed (again).

KC area police chases are only a problem for the innocent bystanders which they kill

There's a great discussion at Crime Scene KC over a recent move for a metro-wide examination of police chase policies urged by Lee's Summit Karen Messerli - Note: Mayor Funky never talks about the consequences of crime - Apparently, a great many (smaller) police departments say the issue isn't a problem . . . The people who are killed during ensuing chases haven't spoken up so I guess everything is cool.

Krazy Kris Kobach says voter suppression is the way for the GOP to stay winning!!!

The Kansas GOP is getting a blog (HUZZAH!!!) and they're also working on the pesky problem of minorities, hippies and everyone who disagrees with them voting accordingly.

Here's a money quote from UMKC's favorite Mexican-hater in an article that's on fire on Daily Kos.

To date, the Kansas GOP has identified and caged more voters in the last 11 months than the previous two years!

To be fair, there's a little doubt as to what the term "caging" means and I'd like to see the fast talking lawyer offer up a quote to explain himself . . . Given that running on voter suppression is only aspiring to Nazis. I'm only hoping that the explanation provided will be a little more pleasing than his excuses for bilking the town of Hazelton, PA for hundreds of thousands of dollars which was a lot more than the revenue that would have been generated if they'd just let a few Mexican restaurants stay open.

The Best Kansas City Blogs of 2007!!!

I was tempted to simply write a list of my favorites but I'm going to ask TKC readers to decide.

The winners (Top 10) will be listed on New Year's Eve if this post generates any kind of decent response.

Here are the rules:

1. Obviously, I'm the judge but the ruling will be based on comments left in this thread . . . So the score sheet is open and transparent for all to see.

2. Votes come in the form of testimonials. The "winner" is determined by the most impassioned, funny, unique, creative or angry endorsement. TKC is always looking for a "Money Line." Plug your own blog if you must but recommendations for other blogs will garner more credence.

Example: I think Crime Scene KC is one of this City's best blogs not only because it offers an inside glimpse into the stories that stir the interest of a real life crime reporter but also because the blog has an active community and reports on local crime in a much more balanced and informative way then TV news.

3. In this instance, signed comments garner the most cred of all. Anony d-bags giving me the business (nullus) will only count as votes for this blog and in favor of open borders.

4. All blogs must be at least partially related to Kansas City.

5. Gone Mild is excluded from this competition. Just kidding.

Vote early and often.

Abouhalkah's predictions for Funky's dominance (ew)

The Mayor's main cheerleader offers some bold predictions for next year. However, the guy is wrong off right off the bat when he claims that Gloria Squitiro will leave the 29th floor. The Mayor has STUBBORNLY STATED THAT HIS WIFE WILL STAY AT ALL COSTS. I don't expect him to change his mind on this one and that will be the beginning of the end of his career IF the EEOC complaint filed by Ruth Bates awards her any significant damages against the unsanctioned and barefoot City Hall presence.

Massive Independence Center catfight!!!

Reportedly there were 30 teen girls involved in a brawl in Independence Center:

Police had to break up a brawl between 30 teenage girls at a mall in Independence on Wednesday.

It's the second fight in as many nights in the area.

Police used pepper spray and tasers to stop the chaos and ended up arresting three people.

Once again this proves TKC's theory about crime moving to the suburbs. Sadly, unlike yesterday's movie theater brawl in the same area of Independence . . . Nobody was selling popcorn or tickets to this event.

Let's wake up with Linda Vojtova and links

Storm of bullets hits KCK!!!

Santa would want people to save the planet: Recycle your Christmas tree at four locations in Overland Park.

Here's one more reason why Po'folk will continue to eat crap: The Kansas Nutrition Store in Kansas City, Kan., and two other stores that serve low-income Kansas residents have closed because of lower federal reimbursements rates.

A couple the cowers in fear together, stays together . . . Shawnee Couple Victims Of Home Invasion

Motorcycle shows are always a special kind of classy: Bike Show Offers Free Boob Job

The Just Off Broadway invites the public to bend over backwards (ew) for a fundraiser.

AIDS researcher at KU Med Center died after a heart attack . . . His family suggest a donation to Doctors without Borders as a memorial OR you could eat a greasy, fatty cheeseburger while wearing a condom . . . Same difference.

Another perspective on the rising cost of KC's PAC from a theater site: Cost of Kansas City's New Arts Center Rises by $67 Million

More blogger reaction to skewed Star crime stats . . . BlogKC: Crime down across most of the city

Hard times in Kansas City earn special notice: Treasury secretary notes home foreclosures in Kansas City area

Herm's Homecoming

Today the New York Times posts an amazing write-up regarding Herman Edwards and his abrupt departure from the New York Jets.

In a way Herm will be confronting his past as the Chiefs face the Jets:

On Sunday, Edwards will be reunited with a few of his former players for the first time since his abrupt departure, if only long enough to say a fond hello before or after the game and put the past, he hopes, squarely behind them. There are 20 players — including 3 on injured reserve — that Edwards coached who are still with the Jets.

Although the Chiefs normally undergo some kind of late season rally in order to screw up their position in the draft . . . I don't know what to think about the upcoming contest. For Herm, there is a lot of emotion, pride and sentimental value attached to the game . . . Therefore I'm guessing the Chiefs will lose given that that any kind of pressure causes them to fold like a 30-something housewife working part-time at the Gap in the mall.

In more entertaining news, if Brodie Croyle doesn't play look for the Chiefs to get a new quarterback in the draft and Kellie Croyle to start calling old boyfriends.

Funky fact: Kansas City's current Mayor can't even live up to Cleaver's legacy

Steve Penn reports that the former Mayor Cleaver is offering current Mayor Funky his help. On a funny note . . . The last, few remaining Funky fans wouldn't dare support the idea even if it would help to mend the divisive racial politics in this town exploited by Mayor Funky and his crew. Apparently, Funkhouser is locked-in to his stubborn path even if he decided to change course (which he won't) his attempts to patch up his relationship with the Latino Community have met with nothing but failure and I'm wondering if his efforts to appease Black leaders will either cost him his support from his last group of loyalists OR end with the same disgust over his pedantic, condescending and arrogant leadership style.

It's time to plant some seed on Troost without worrying about STDs or raising bi-racial babies!!!

Actually, I think planting Tulips involves "bulbs" but I couldn't resist that headline.

Anyhoo, it's time for Durwin Rice and crew to start planting Tulips on Troost again. Volunteers organized by Tulips on Troost will plant bulbs in five locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday. For more background on the KC urban renewal tradition, check out a great, recent write up on the group from the CS Monitor:

One man tries to spur an urban revival with tulips

Durwin Rice leads a drive to change the image of Troost Avenue, a racial and economic dividing line in Kansas City, by planting millions of flowers.

A few of Kansas City's Black leaders are making sure the Wizards go to JoCo and South KC stays underdeveloped!!!

Richard Tolbert and his cadre of local businessmen have their heart in the right place but don't realize that nothing will save Bannister Mall short of the second coming.

Prime Buzz reports that the Save the Bannister Mall Group Inc. is attempting to block the soccer-oriented redevelopment plan approved by the Kansas City Council earlier this month for the Bannister Mall area.

I'm not completely sure but I've heard the group wants to covert the old Bannister Mall site into some kind of urban co-op, utopia with local minority owned businesses and maybe a drum circle. It's a beautiful notion but it's not going to happen. Bannister Mall was ruined by the fear of roving groups of young, Black males . . . Well, that and all the crime the place hosted. It is literally, the "place in KC where white people used to shop" and the history of the establishment as a retail outlet has almost as many bad memories as Dachau . . . At least in the minds of so many white people scared of their daughters discovering the joys of interracial dating.

Sadly, this group can be a big enough thorn in the side of developers that escaping to Johnson County could seem like a reasonable alternative.

Most people like the Three Trails development plan and TKC is the only one brave and cocksure enough to point out that the Wizards have one of THE WORST ATTENDANCE RECORDS IN MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER. Soccer fans (no homo) attempt to use the "chicken and the egg" argument and claim that a better stadium will mean more fans . . . Whereas TKC knows this town and realizes that a city full of mullet fans and fickle JoCo sports enthusiasts don't have the patience for a pastime almost completely supported by mini-van driving moms in this country.

Meanwhile, Mayor Funky flip-flopped on this issue and finally gave in to South KC demands for generous TIF awards with only a few minor changes.

Certainly, South KC deserves some attention for a change but a few of this town's loyal soccer fans subsidized by millions of dollars will most likely only help construction companies. So, in the long run, I'm not going to shed a tear when the Wizards and their dozen or so fans take off for JoCo.

Female shoppers STAND UP!!! Overland Park MILF disarms a gun-toting crook who later crashed after a chase with police!!!

I always knew there was a reason I held the women who shop at Overland Park Mall in such high esteem.

A recent robbery was thwarted by a very brave woman at KC's favorite mall . . . And not in that "take back the night" vaguely lesbian sense but in a manner that clearly signifies that messing with a woman's shopping is a bad idea.

The incident started just before 4 p.m. when an armed suspect approached a woman in the mall parking lot outside Macy’s. He demanded the woman’s money, keys and other belongings, Fitzgerald said.

She then took the suspect’s weapon from him and he ran off, fleeing in a green SUV.

The suspects were caught later after a chase and subsequent crash but this story is about more than crime . . . It's about self-preservation, heroism, self-determination and many, many other nasty S&M perversions of feminism that I'll have fun playing out over the weekend.

The TKC safeword for this week is "Oregano."

More on this story from RDM:

Dumb crooks caught

Visitors to the KC Zoo are much more likely to die of boredom or fatigue from walking

KC Zoo Examines Safety After Deadly Tiger Attack in Calif.

2007 was the year KCK went primetime

This year KCK earned national-television appearances on three of the four major television networks . . . Thankfully, none of the network spots involved a camera crew from COPS.

KC's Butler building on a snowy day

Ace2r's has some great photos of Kansas City's favorite Butler building on her Flickr page.

Really, the collection of photographs is great and almost makes me forget that I keep wanting to park my car in the place whenever I visit the Art Gallery.

The Pitch's poserism is all about positioning

Tech N9ne is one of the greatest and most successful rappers ever to come out of Kansas City. Contrastingly, Mac Lethal is a local scumbag who seems to be promoting the image of himself as the 4th (non-Jewish) Beastie Boy with little more than a nice blurb from Rolling Stone and serious Eminem complex. Put simply, Mac Lethal is the Pat Boone of Kansas City hip-hop. However, most casual music listeners might not realize this off the bat so Jason "Trying way to hard to be butch" Harper held an interview with both of them in order to convey the false notion that the two are on the same playing field. The Tech N9ne part of the interview was informative and entertaining while Mac's quotes left me hoping the guy goes back to working at whatever Insurance agency he left not so long ago.

"In Missouri we are all too familiar with the religious right's hold on the Republican party."

The CCP hopes the Dems will run against Huckabee given that the guy's chances are slim. There's also a great bit in the post regarding the influence of the religious right and a couple of fun attacks on the favorite punching bag of KC Democrats: Jeff Roe. Coincidentally, I love the "The Source" even if it's backed by the Fundies as the CCP claims . . . I appreciate the irony that I'm the blog's biggest referrer (other than Prime Buzz, of course) given that I strongly believe in the rights of Mexican immigrants but I'm not so sure about people who claim to speak on behalf of the big JC.

Attention Ron Paul people in Kansas City . . . Not only is the candidate crazy, he's also a world-class racist!!!

Earlier this year there was a Ron Paul billboard on Broadway. In fact, Ron Paul has a pretty active campaign base here in KC . . . I'm guessing because so many people here have tax problems. Anyway, while I was willing to tolerate the crackpot before, his racist quotes of not too long ago have completely ruined the thin sliver of credibility that so many online donations have earned him. Here's a money quote from a 1992 Ron Paul article posted yesterday on Daily Kos:

Indeed, it is shocking to consider the uniformity of opinion among blacks in this country. Opinion polls consistently show that only about 5% of blacks have sensible political opinions, i.e. support the free market, individual liberty, and the end of welfare and affirmative action.... Given the inefficiencies of what D.C. laughingly calls the "criminal justice system," I think we can safely assume that 95% of the black males in that city are semi-criminal or entirely criminal.

If similar in-depth studies were conducted in other major cities, who doubts that similar results would be produced? We are constantly told that it is evil to be afraid of black men, but it is hardly irrational. Black men commit murders, rapes, robberies, muggings, and burglaries all out of proportion to their numbers.

Riiiiight. So Ron Paul people in Kansas City either need to give up and find another pony to back OR just start holding their meetings with local klan factions because as of now the guy seems like David Duke to TKC and I finally realized why a couple of local talk show hosts don't even bother mentioning the guy's name. Already Kansas City is in the throws of so many divisive political moves that only subtly broach the topic racial tension . . . Backing a bigot like Paul is a big move backwards and completely out of the mainstream in Kansas City.

On the bright side, rack up another candidate that the Internet has thwarted.

"Caliente Closed"

Local blogger Logtar reports on the latest bad news for The Legends involving a Latino themed restaurant.

I couldn't possibly forget Kwanzaa!!!

It's Kwanzaa in Kansas City . . . I have no idea how to celebrate the holiday no matter how many articles I read which attempt to explain it.

Still, that won't stop me from celebrating the tradition with images of hot ass African-American women.

If I remember correctly, the principle for the second day of Kwanzaa is Kujichagulia which roughly translates to self-determination.

So, I really won't be letting any of you d-bags influence me today (or any other day for that matter). Also, Gabrielle Union is one of the finest looking women I've ever seen in my life and needs to get even more acting roles.

Happy Kwanzaa!!!

Nanny state in KC for the New Year!!!

The issue that's going to have a surprising impact on the lives of people in the Kansas City area next year isn't going to be immigration, the war in Iraq or even Gloria Squitiro's feet.

Nope.

Elected officals this year have had the most impact fighting smoking in the Kansas City area!

For instance, the Overland Park Smoking Ban will take effect in the New Year along with a recently passed anti-smoking regulation in the Kansas suburb of Westwood set to stifle smoking on Feb 1st.

I'm not a smoker so I really don't care but already there have been a lot of doubts if the ban is enforceable. Yes, these bans exist all over the country but the only clear result has been a lot of anecdotal stories of lost business. Calling the cops on unruly patrons has been a long tradition in the service industry but starting an altercation because of a lit cigarette is definitely a new twist.

And while I definitely see the logic of the smoking ban in protecting the lives and health of wait staff at the bar (even if it eventually renders them jobless) . . . I just worry about the next step since the alcohol served at bars along with the greasy food is nearly as deadly as smoking over the long term.

Also, there's always mention of the New York City smoking ban when talking about anti-smoking ordinances in the Kansas City area. The comparison isn't altogether accurate. Dank, dirty, depressing suburban bars in the metro area can't compare to Midtown Manhattan.

Which leads us to the next step . . . A metro wide smoking ban. While it has been easy to escape the health conscious laws of one small burg in the area, the only real "solution" seems to be anti-smoking measures that enforce the same standard across the entire Kansas City metropolitan area. This is already the way things are headed and would most likely thwart all of the people emigrating to one area in favor of another in order to smoke. So I guess in a sense it is an "immigration debate" of sorts which turns servers into cops, patrons into potential criminals and makes going out just a little less fun.

Again, none of it effects me so I really shouldn't care but it seems like the direction that this society is headed seems to be a safer, more law abiding state of affairs enforced by loud contingents of special interest groups supported by murky data and emotional appeals. It's all for a good cause but it still reminds me of a "Brave New World" and is bound to backfire or wither once these politically correct and health conscious laws are finally directed toward somebody besides poor people and their bad habits; given that they mostly ignore the corporate purveyors of these same social ills.

Afternoon links with Sophie

Here's a few links with British supermodel Sophie Howard, because I said so . . .

Church Brings Soldiers Home For Holidays

Bad news kept coming for big biz in Kansas: Sprint Nextel, Applebee's dominate '07 Kan. business news

Shots Fired Into KCK House

Myth exposed: Suicides actually decline in December

Blunt announces more than $1 Million for Missouri trails

Many Kansans remain powerless, in a real sense this time.

The only reason to follow the Chiefs is for Fantasy Football . . . Upcoming Chiefs match will determine draft position and misleading advertising aimed at Season ticket holders.

New blog: Telling the Truth Kansas City

From the same anonymous guy who brought us "Not Ready for Prime Buzz" . . . It's an inside City Hall perspective that will most definitely be interesting. Remember this is the same local blogger who brought down the City Manager's Assistant . . . So there will definitely be some "scoop" to be had here along with a lot of negative ranting about everyone in City Hall . . . Sweet (I guess).

Independence movie theater mayhem!!!

I always wondered why people buy those expensive home movie theater systems.

Here's one of the many reasons:

Several people ended their Christmas in jail after a fight outside a movie theater.

The brawl broke out around 11:45 Tuesday night outise the AMC Independence Commons 20.

Officers from Kansas City, Raytown, Blue Springs, Lee's Summit and the Missouri Highway Patrol all responded to the scene.

Thankfully, nobody was hurt except for the profits of Hollywood producers who put out an exceptionally crappy pile of movies for the holiday.

Lenexa man provides explosive metaphor for the post-traumatic stress of the holiday season

A Lenexa dude said he had a bomb strapped to his chest when he walked into the post office at 88th and Monrovia this morning.

The main lobby was not open yet but the man was able to communicate with the worker through the drop-off window inside the entrance. The worker went to retrieve money but when she returned, the man was gone.

About 10 minutes later, around 8:30 a.m., the man walked into the lobby of the Lenexa Police Department located about a block away from the post office and turned himself into police.

The man identified himself as the suspect police were looking for from the post office. He admitted he did not have a bomb strapped to his chest.

About 30 postal workers were evacuated throughout the ordeal and the Lenexa Police Department, which is next to city hall, was in lock down for a short time as a precaution.

And while the dude is probably just an average wacko, I'm going to do the same kind of speculating that so many others engage in when crime strikes minority communities. Therefore, TKC would like to contend that this is yet another example that the "White Man's Burden" isn't just a myth or an elitist concept but is actually destabilizing force in the world along with a form of psychosis that is responsible for the actions of crazy suburbanites and the otherwise inexplicable popularity of Toby Keith.

Suggestions to fight KC crime

Local blogger Toellner is way too optimistic and trusting of a recent Star report regarding crime. HOWEVER, his suggestions to battle KC crime seem good hearted even if they read like Freakonomics data based on anomaly rather than the fact that community cooperation with police is usually the biggest contributor to falling crime stats. Note: My take on this subject was much better given that I read the article and ignored the headline . . . Crime in Kansas City isn't falling, it's just moving around.

"Christmas is over. Thank God!"

This sentiment from General Blather is pretty much the blogger anthem of everyone who wants to be honest.

Prayer request line started in Kansas City 100 years ago will most likely be outsourced to Hindu god in India soon

Silent Unity started as prayer request service in Kansas City with "a lone man in 1907, seated in a rocking chair and using a “candlestick” phone."

Myrtle Fillmore organized Silent Unity soon after, and it quickly grew to 10,000 members who would set aside time to pray in silence at 9 p.m. daily By 1902, about 100 letters a day were coming to Silent Unity at offices then in Kansas City. In 1907, Fayette Drake was assigned the job to take prayer requests by telephone.

“In those days, it was cutting-edge to have a telephone in any kind of work,” Brown said.

Now Silent Unity has 13 prayer centers worldwide.

It sounds like a really neat service, it's also available on the Internet . . . Which is nice but makes me wonder if God deletes all the prayers as junk mail because his penis doesn't need to be any bigger and he's too smart to fall for a Nigerian bank scam.

Spotlight on Sanders: Mayor Funky's constant screw-ups make County Exec seem shrewd by comparison!!!

There's no denying that Jackson County Exec Mike Sanders pissed A LOT of people off with a massive purge at the County. But then again, he went on Dr. Phil a couple of years ago and did really well . . So obviously, he's qualified to lead.

More than anyone else, Sanders has benefited from Mayor Funky's unrelenting and growing list of screw-ups and for that he has TKC's admiration!!!

A recent KC Star profile doesn't reveal anything new but notes the guy's mostly good image in a County that's noted for fierce political battling and failed careers: Sanders quietly distinguishes himself in first year as county executive

Again, I must point out that this is the opposite story of Mayor Funky's tenure. In fact, I think the lesson here is to make a close association with people who are screwed up. For eons women have always made use of the Designated Ugly Fat Friend and for what it's worth I think Sanders had a stroke of genius by mostly laying low as the inexperienced Mayor Funky has served as a lightning rod for almost every politico in Kansas City.

Heidi Klum and a collection of local links

I heard it was going to snow today as well . . . sigh.

Picking up the tab: Charges Filed In Fatal Legends Shooting outside a restaurant

Kansas City blues icon Cotton Candy passes

Everyone always says the County stinks: The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is evacuated after a gas leak is found in the basement.

Police Ask For Tips In Northland Rape Case

November is the month when suckers usually fall for light rail

Family Afraid After Shots Fired Into House

It's the day after X-mas and not a single person in Kansas City is tired of reading or watching stories about a White (guilt) Christmas.

Starting next year, the Kansas highway department plans to place rumble strips in the center of many rural two-lane highways where the slightest driving mistake can end in death or injury.

Douglass Early Childhood Center and its surrounding community was recently honored by NeighborWorks America, a national nonprofit organization that helps communities revitalize

Boundary change a problem for KC school board member seeking re-election

Teaching at Schlagle: Students have to choose between street, education. . . And hokey after-school special sentiment!!!

Hey look, it's local progress in education and not just the Star spinning happy news for the holiday season.

One final Funky insult: Cauthen gets credit for completed Downtown construction projects while Mayor's failure in firing the guy is highlighted

The Star's Steve Penn spent most of this year reporting Mayor Funky's PR regarding a truce between the City Manager and the New Administration . . . Now the columnist who is only a mere 9 months behind TKC reports some of the accomplishments of the City Manager. It's a nice story and like Cauthen says it would be nice if KC could "move on" from this controversy . . . However, look for another move by Mayor Funky to fire the guy in just a matter of months (most likely sooner).

There's no reason NOT to be pleased with white privilege!!!

Johnson County residents generally satisfied with public services, survey says . . . In other good news, I recently found a NSFW photo of a bunch of Victoria's Secret models in the nude . . . Life is good for folks who aren't residing in "the Black part of town."

Woman shot in the head and killed on Christmas Day in Kansas City!!!

A 33-year-old mother of two was approached by several men just after 1 a.m. on Tuesday near Missouri Avenue, police said. She was shot in head minutes later and died at the hospital.

No Holiday Spririt on Holmes

Thieves Target Man Testing Fishing Rod

How did your Reps spend X-mas?

Ks. Rep. Nancy Boyda and Missouri Rep. Ike Skelton spent X-mas with the troops in Iraq.

The most important story offered to the people of Kansas City this week

Stranger Returns Stolen Puppy

New (to me) blog . . . So Many Books, So Little Time: A Year in Reading

Yet another librarian lets loose with a great and refreshingly literate local blog.

Downtown Kansas City lofts get low income hosing money as subsidies still sponsor speculation during real estate slump

The Missouri Housing Development Commission approved $1.7 million in state and federal low-income housing tax credits, along with $10 million of tax-exempt bonds and a $700,000 federal block grant from the HOME Investment Partnership Program for the 10th Street Lofts, containing 100 units on 10th Street between Cherry and Locust streets.

Holiday season blogger barhopping

Local blogger Scooter hits every bar worth seeing in Blue Springs and Independence (with pics - no mullets).

White people and their microbrew ring in the holidays with hip-hop and cultural appropriation in the KC area

In other words: Another corporate sponsored Mac Lethal show (the Pat Boone of the KC rap scene). . . Still, local blogger Chimpo hosts some interesting pics.

Disappointment sets in

Santa is gone (thank God) and now it's time to stop pretending to act nice . . . There's not much that interests me in the local news so far but that doesn't usually stop me from blogging.

More posts on the way . . . And if anyone cares my X-mas was wonderful and the institutional meals they're serving nowadays are much better than most of the other stuff in recent memory.

Merry Christmas

Whether TKC readers believe in white Jesus, Black Jesus or simply rely on a Mexican guy named Jesús to keep their dishes or lawn clean . . . I hope today is a good day for any poor soul lame enough to check this blog over the holiday.

It's after midnight right now and I'm watching the Catholic Mass at St. Peter's Basilica. For some strange reason, the opulence of the place never seems to bother me and while I doubt I'll ever see it in person, I'm happy to know that it exists.

Watching one centuries-old ritual after the next makes me realize that I've dedicated a great deal of my time to irony, satire and scathing, personal, mean-spirited politics as a reaction to those same kind of political moves directed against folks like me . . . I'll never take a break from it but contemplating people who believe in something better on Christmas Eve makes me a tad sentimental, if only for a second. So . . .

God Bless us, every one (except illegal immigrants, Arabs, Muslims, Terrorists and our political opposition).



On a serious note . . . TKC gets a gift nearly every day from (AMAZING) tipsters, readers and commenters who are nice enough to check out my ramblings on a regular basis. It really is all that I could ask for . . . So, thank you and God Bless.

Merry Christmas.

Is it still X-mas time in Kansas City?

Is the mainstream media still running propaganda for their favorite politicos or corporate interests?

Are Eastside homicides STILL being largely ignored while any white woman missing for more than a few minutes garners a news alert?

Are bloggers the only ones who are honest about their bias?

Does anybody still rely solely on print media for a glimpse at opinion in this town?

Anybody check out Irish KC lately? He's putting out some really great stuff. Same goes for BlogKC as well.

Isn't it obvious that this holiday has more in common with a celebration of Roman Man Sex than anything else?

Did anybody else notice there were FAR FEWER people shopping over the weekend?

Hey, does anyone remember there are still two wars on despite irrationally exuberant celebration over (insurgents laying low) a successful troop surge?

CHUMPS!!! Kansas City Chiefs can't even live up to Bill Kenney's legacy!!!

After their 8th straight loss, I have no idea why I'm taking time out of my day to write about The Kansas City Chiefs.

They aren't a team worth watching anymore, that's not just my opinion but a TV programing fact given the prime time blackout of the Chief's final game.

Furthermore, it's not only undeniable that they are the WORST TEAM IN THE NFL but also they are most likely THE WORST KANSAS CITY CHIEFS TEAM IN FRANCHISE HISTORY!!!

And that's saying a lot.

I grew up during the Bill Kenney era. Kenney had the sad duty of being the punching bag for the AFC West during the 80's. As a quarterback for the Chiefs he was mediocre at best but at least earned on playoff spot and had a nasty habit of leading the team to late season winning streaks that would only serve to move the Chiefs out of decent draft position. He wasn't a great quarterback but he had a stupid drive to keep playing and that eventually led to a win once in awhile and also avoided the RECORD BREAKING LOSING EMBARRASSMENT SUFFERED BY KANSAS CITY THIS SEASON!!!

Sure, Kenney was probably mediocre but at least his play seemed brave in the face of defeat. Unlike the present day Chiefs, he never looked as if he wasn't trying and it was merely his lack of talent AND NOT A COMPLETE DISINTEREST IN THE GAME SHOWN BY THE CURRENT ROSTER which plagued his years as a Chiefs starter.

Contrastingly, the Chiefs STILL don't have a decent starting quarterback.

Brodie Croyle's promise has now been completely eroded. The guy is not NFL material and his failure to win even one game has revealed more than just immaturity but the fact that the guy can't play under pressure or even the slightest bit of scrutiny. He was great in college, he just isn't cut out for this league . . . The Kelli Croyle Divorce Watch Clock has just moved to 3 minutes before midnight.



Of course Chiefs fans love to look on the bright side, so did I when I was a child. But the whole concept of a "rebuilding year" is misleading because there is nothing to "rebuild" from . . . The Chiefs weren't that great last season and whatever success they had was mostly a fluke.

However, this year's meltdown can't be completely blamed on the chumps on the field, King Carl or even Herm . . . I contend that it's a manifestation of Kansas City's culture.

Of course the Chiefs were going to fold after a record setting tax subsidy. Cronyism, which this town is also famous for, took it's toll as well. Even worse, JoCo fans abandoning the team doesn't bode well for other Kansas City institutions as this town heads toward recession.

And yet there's still one game left . . . A meaningless Chiefs win will be trounced upon by the local media.

And here's a TKC "Godfather style" warning: Any local sports reporter who claims that a victory is a "sign of hope for next season" has absolutely no integrity and might as well be writing PR copy for Arrowhead.

The current Chiefs team has set new records for awful that have even surpassed the lean days when the team was lead by Bill Kenney . . . And the only real sign of hope is that it would be pretty hard for the most awful team football team in Kansas City history to get any worse.

Local slum lord ordinance takes effect

KC landlords must register rental properties in January

Kansas City Parks Board probably doesn't realize Santa is Mexican

I've always hated these Santa updates from local news outlets:

"Santa Claus has permission to use Kansas City’s parks and boulevards in performance of his official duties.

An agreement approved unanimously last week by the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners allows Santa, one sleigh, many gifts and nine reindeer to use the system between 9 tonight and 5 a.m. Christmas Day."

It's just condescending and wrong to mislead kids with the local news stories regarding Santa or Kansas City crime dropping.

KC area going green (again)

More than 20 area mayors, including those from Kansas City, Mission, Shawnee and Independence, recently signed a climate protection agreement.

The mayors join 700 others across the country who have signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which recognizes the role of local governments in addressing global warming . . . On the other than, a U.S. Senate report recently listed the names of more than 400 prominent scientists who reject the party line that global warming has been caused by human behavior.

So depending on who is right, there's either yet another reason to thank Al Gore for something other than the Internet OR (keep) believing that uncontrolled consumption is a right granted by God.

Funkhouser's fumbling sets back light rail

City Council members who had been pushing for an election as soon as possible now concede that the city’s image is too tarnished to move ahead with a light-rail vote next spring.

Jackson Country puts out more PR to battle widespread negative perception of remaining employee bonuses amid layoffs

This year's purge at Jackson County made a lot of enemies for Mike Sanders . . . Prosecutor Prosecutor Jim Kanatzar doesn't escape criticism either but he (wisely) felt the need to get ahead of the story and explain that bonuses for his office came from delinquent taxes. It's worth noting that no other county employees got 2007 bonuses except for aides for County legislators as Holiday cheer costs a helluva political price for local government.

Ho, ho, help!!! Homicide outside of Margarita Mama's at The Legends

X-mas cheer gets carried away outside of a popular KCK nightspot.

It's not just X-mas eve, it's time for the notorious Kansas City bagel bash!!!

KC's young, professional Jewish people are about to cut loose tonight.

The Pitch provides the details regarding the "boozing, flirting and general enjoyment that attendees have at the annual Bagel Bash."

And here's more info on the YPI which is is an initiative for young Jewish adults 21-45 living in the greater Kansas City area.

KC Man stabbed to death for X-Mas!!!

It kind of puts the "lump of coal" thing into perspective . . . Officers were called around 10:30 Saturday night to the 1100 block of Hardesty. A 46-year-old male was taken to the hospital with a stab wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

WDAF: Under New Management (again)

Pending regulatory approval, New York-based Oak Hill would become the seventh company to own WDAF since The Kansas City Star founded the station in 1948.

"Kansas City has lost another good one."

RDM post his thoughts on life and loss following news of an auto accident which killed Major Darrell Chism of the KCPD over the weekend.

"Christmas shopping for bloggers"

Spyder offers a VERY NICE collection of cafepress gifts individually picked out for Kansas City's local blogs!!! I like mine, it may be the first thing I ever ordered from the site (in)famous for taking 40% of blogger profits.

The Star Spins stats: Kansas City Crime follows white people to the suburbs!!!

This time of year is the season for fantasy myth and made up stories . . . Still, it was shocking to see Sunday's headline in The Star regarding falling crime downtown.

Turns out, it's a nice and provocative passage but just like the headlines on TKC it's mostly just to grab attention.

The truth is the Star is just once again showing their self interest. They need crime to fall downtown so their expensive news digs don't end up in the middle of a wasteland.

Allegedly crime in the crossroads has dropped but there was also no mention of a 2006 Crossroads crime wave that hit the neighborhood and frightened more than a few loft dwellers away.

Ignoring all the efforts of The Star to misdirect the data . . . The truth is that crime in KC is following people and people aren't yet in downtown en masse according to practical numbers like voting info and not made up figures from people looking to sell condos.

Of special note: "Crime did increase at least 20 percent in 14 neighborhoods. Nearly half of those were in the Northland, including Davidson and Hill Haven in Clay County."

Like KC politicos there was also no mention of a gang war in Kansas City earlier this year . . . It's an incident most of KC simply ignored because it involved brown people, the war generated only a few homicides statistically but frightened thousands given the inability of local authorities to stop it and the disinterest shown by the rest of the city . . . These KC FACTS regarding crime may be difficult to compile statistically and they're part of the conversation regarding crime that downtown cheerleaders love to ignore.

Even better CRIME IS RETURNING TO DOWNTOWN only now it's directed at Sprint Center visitors and new shoppers and club hoppers:

Most crime downtown involves vandalism, stealing and burglary.

These are the kind of incidents that kill shopping districts but The Star's long term spin of the numbers is supposed to be encouraging.



Still, these stats are a victory for people who want to stick their head in the sand. Crime isn't decreasing, it's spreading following people out to the suburbs and evolving to fit demographic trends. The worst mistake anyone could makes is believing PR from a company that's heavily invested in the so-called downtown renaissance that has seen an increase in the kind of petty theft that plagues most shopping districts and is going largely ignored by media outlets who regularly spin stories on behalf of downtown interests and gloss over crime involving minority communities.

The TKC Saturday Night Podcast: Santa, snow and meaningless traditions in the City

So, it's probably cliché to mention anything about X-mas, the war on X-mas or anything related to the festivities this time of year.

Still, the music is nice even if they've been playing it since October.



I know that a lot of people are still coming down for last night's (shoeless) solstice celebration . . . I know I had fun. Believe me when I note that Pagans know how to party, I guess.



And if anything, I think making this time of year "your own" is what makes it special . . . That and awesome soup kitchen fare which I'm not ashamed to admit I've enjoyed.

So, enjoy the selection of my favorite X-mas tunes. Have a safe and fun holiday.

Thank you for reading.

Ms. Mayor Gloria Squitiro lashes out at The Star's cartoonist, services the Mayor's needs and vows to stay put!!!

Notice they're not posting Gloria Squitiro's missives on Funk's blog anymore. They've become far too embarrassing. The shoeless wonder thought she could hide from TKC but thanks to AWESOME TKC TIPSTERS, I've got a hold of this week's embarrassing statement from the Chief political adviser in the Mayor's office.

Top order of business, getting back at The Star's Lee Judge for this cartoon . . .



Here goes:

While we are learning to harden up to the attacks on our family, a cartoon in the Star last week took our breath away. The underlying message stated that Funk should get a divorce so that his wife would stop helping him in the Mayor’s office. What the cartoonist implied was that he would rather see the sanctity of a marriage and a family dissolve, just because he doesn’t understand what it means to pull together as a family to get a job done. This is a sad commentary on so many levels, but it does speak to why our family is in this with Funk. We believe in marriage and in family and we absolutely believe that when you make a vow, you should not only keep it, but you should work hard to bring honor, dignity and joy to it. This is important not just for the individual family, but also for the positive impact that those vows have on the greater community in which we live.

What can we take from this angry quote? Obviously, endorsing nepotism and racial slurs like "Mammy" is a family value in the realm of the Funkhouser klan.

It gets worse. Here is Squitiro's vow to lurk in the Mayor's office till every bit of Mayor Funky's credibility is gone:

I’d also like to reassure you that I know that Funk will not stop until he gets to the other side. As his wife, I will continue to stand by him through it all: assisting him, tending to his needs and giving him my strength when he gets weary.

EW!!!

I know it's a sad thought for the holiday season but an obstinate Mayoral administration proclaiming married love against all odds and alluding to their sex life probably isn't what (a slim majority of) people in Kansas City had in mind when they voted for the reform that Funky promised.

Kansas City Snow Vlogging!!!

Local blogger Ramsey slices together this nice Youtube clip of today's snowy and horrible weather. Bonus: 99% less panic than Katie Horner.

Making the yuletide and next year ghey

A writer for Camp KC makes some ghey predictions for next year . . . Additionally, I didn't know "Have yourself a merry little X-mas" was originally a really depressing song but I did realize that playing the tune backwards brings about Satan claiming that Paul is dead.

Blue Blog on the made up Minuteman story

Money line: "One has to worry whether or not this is a policy of Minutemen Chapters who are needing help in recruitment and are looking to increase the the levels of racism in their local communities." TKC Note: It didn't take long for the public to catch on to these scam artists, too bad they won an endorsement from Kansas City's Mayor.

December shock!!! It's snowing.

Weather causes closures, delays, at least one fatality. More: Snow Causes Dozens Of Traffic Wrecks

KC Hospital can't even take care of its own

Research Medical Center is facing an $84,000 federal fine for allowing some of its workers to be exposed to potential asbestos-related contamination

KC's racism on display for X-mas!!!

Man chased down, shot in KC . . . That's not really a surprise but this week wasn't so bad as far as local crime was concerned, what's more disappointing is the bigoted, intolerant and ignorant reaction to a weekend shooting from Kansas City Star readers.

Check the comments, I'm excerpting the nastiest stuff:

That's ni&&ers for you.

Basically, I'm surprised there's any ni&&ers left. They're constantly shooting each other. They poke each other in the butt and get AIDS. They only survive because of their high illegitimate birth rate, and all the welfare funded by whites. Let's stop the welfare and watch them starve.

More black males acting like black males.

I say you round them all up, fence them off and give them guns. They will shoot the hell out of each other. Problim solved.....

There were a few reactions to the contrary but for the most part bigoted chatter dominates Kansas City Message boards and it's a clear example of the digital divide in action. As long as this form of media is dominated by affluent white males with a grudge and high speed internet access this perspective will remain rampant, even dominant on the Internets. From issues involving the Minutemen to City Manager Cauthen to local crime, I've noticed that the loudest most vitriolic voices on the local internet come from people speaking out in favor of supremacy . . . This is part of the reason I never feel guilty about letting my web persona act like a complete a-hole.

Anyhoo, what's clear to me is that Kansas City's systemic racism is now part of the local digital world and while it may dominate for the moment it's only a matter of time until plummeting tech prices and the unparalleled freedom of speech found online eventually level the playing field.

Holiday Sounds

I screwed up the resize on this pic but you get the point. Reach will be at the Peanut on Sunday Night warming up the mic just a couple of days before X-mas.

KC supports the troops, sends them caffeine

Kansas City, Mo. donated more than $63,000 to troops and their families through the Army & Air Force Exchange Service "Gifts from the Homefront" program . . . According to the AAFES, Some of the most popular items picked up by deployed troops in 2007 included Monster Energy drinks, Red Bull, laptop computers and Frappuccinos.

Mike Sanders ruins X-mas for Jackson County Sheriff's Deputies

Actually, I think this move on Dieter's part is kind of funny but I'm sure a lot of other folks won't find the humor . . .

On Dec. 17, Sanders issued an email to county employees saying:

“As a special thanks for all the hard work from our valued Employees, the County Executive, Michael D. Sanders, has designated Monday, December 24, 2007 as a paid county Holiday.”

Several hours later, Sanders issued a second email saying regular county employees would still get Christmas Eve off with pay, but that it wouldn’t count as an official paid holiday.

The change in definition means emergency personnel, like sheriff’s deputies won’t receive holiday pay for their work Christmas Eve.

“It's a slap in the face for us to be working and knowing that others are off,” says Sheriff’s Deputy Dwon Littlejohn who serves as the Fraternal Order of Police President.

Yeah, messing with voting blocs near X-mas is a great way lose popularity really quickly . . . While I've always liked the time on Sprockets when we dance, it's not a good idea do skip around promises to the cops.

KC doc on the Internets

A KC art gallery just released a documentary on Youtube featuring local art sponsored by H&R Block.

This is a highly praised short film (19 min) that documents how I took a group of regional artists, and brought together a world-class collection at H&R Block. I insisted that Block not spend the money at galleries in NY or LA. Love those towns though I do, my job is to help build culture in the provinces.

The doc is titled "Art on the Block" and you can check it out on the Leopold gallery website and on youtube.

"It isn't safe to do much of anything alone anymore. "

A not so happy thought for the Holidays from RDM.

Santa never stops laughing

Some great X-mas observations from local blogger Lukas.

In season

There's plenty of news out there . . . I'm just not sure I feel like posting or commenting on any of it.

In the meantime, here's a photo of Alessandra Ambrosio dressed up in a Santa suit.

TKC's X-mas list

I have yet to do any shopping. I'm thinking about going right now.

Here's a look at the gifts and the people on my list.

10. Mac Lethal - A Mos Def CD and a coupon for a tanning salon.

9. Mike Sanders - Hair gel.

8. Frances Semler - A home security system to help her fear of invading Mexicans.

7. Larry Johnson - A sign language book and a box of condoms.

6. Joe Miller - Movie Tickets to see The Great Debaters.

5. Jeneé Osterheldt - Non-skanky earrings.

4. Nadia Pflaum - Neck Massager.

3. Mayor Funky's Chief of Staff Ed Wolf - Money Clip

2. Gloria Squitiro - Foot bath and pedicure coupon.

1. Mayor Funky - Dale Carnegie's classic . . . How to Win Friends & Influence People

I only have 7 dollars and some tic-tacs in my pocket right now so things are going to be tight this year. Here's hoping that neither TKC readers nor the fearless leader of this blog get what we deserve this X-mas.

Bol Brings Bad Tidings

Killer post by Missouri's most popular blogger . . . Apparently, they have made another movie in a controversial series and Stop Snitching 2 (Electric Boogaloo???) doesn't bode well for Kansas City if a recent photo is any indication.

Devlin gets new gloves and 170 more years for X-mas

Crime Scene KC has more on the consequences for the pevy Missouri kidnapper.

Kansas City cabbies more dangerous to wandering Westport women than Al Qaeda

DNA used evidence to make an arrest in a 2-year-old Westport rape case.

I wondered why the road was closed down last night

Woman killed in Plaza accident

Digging on swine

via Devious bloggery.

"Tis The Season of the Office X-mas Party"

Good stuff from General Blather

Minutemen: Mostly lying about Mexicans

The wife of an Ozarks Minutemen founder has been charged with filing a false report after investigators determined her story about being raped and shot by three Hispanic men was untrue.

Angela D. Wilburn, 44, was charged Thursday with filing a false report. She was released from the Greene County Jail after posting a $500 bond. “My wife made a mistake, a big mistake,” said her husband, Brian Wilburn, who helped form the Ozarks Minutemen, a community group similar to the anti-illegal immigration Minutemen Civil Defense Corps.

A Funky Religious Debate

Right now the Mayor is meeting with a local group calling itself the "Concerned Clergy" . . . Mayor Funky won't post this info to his (useless PR) blog until after the fact so I thought I'd do him a favor.

Of special note (to me at least) was that this group wants Mayor Funky to not only come to a reasonable conclusion in the Cauthen debate but also address lingering concerns about his appointment of Frances Semler.

Remember that these folks have a lot more pull in Kansas City than Mayor Funky does right now . . . Also, if a recall effort starts with the blessing Kansas City's Black Churches, it will succeed.

Still, there's always cause for hope as long as people are talking. Even if one group represents Christian ministers and the other represents people who have put all their faith in a (so far) failed politico.

Remembering the first female reporter at The Kansas City Kansan

A great obit for Nancy Carol Jack who covered news in KCK for more than 55 years.

A movie for Mayor Funky's Joe Miller, his bleeding heart and the work he does in the Black Community

It's the X-mas season so it's time to be meaner than hell to balance out the equation.

Here's another stellar effort on my part:

By now a lot of folks might have seen previews for the utterly contemptible "The Great Debaters."

It's the usual saccharine self-help nonsense that is forced upon the public during the solstice holiday season. I'm sure there is an Oprah special on the way.

For folks who follow news and books about Kansas City . . . It's impossible NOT to make a comparison to a much celebrated but not very well read book by Joe Miller - Mayor Funky's demoted PR Flack.



However, the movie strays from Miller's tripe in one important area . . . According to the previews I've seen "The Great Debaters" seems to be a story of Black people HELPING THEMSELVES and succeeding, winning the day and applause in a competitive field that I consider to be pretty much completely worthless i.e. no cheerleaders or money involved.

Whereas Miller's opus recalls the tale of two white people saving the day for poor, disenfranchised Black kids in Kansas City . . . It's not really uplifting unless you're a white liberal desperately hoping to make a difference for high school students with a heart of gold.

Put simply, Miller's take on the subject was kind of like "My Fair Lady" or "Pretty Woman" with a hip-hop soundtrack comprised of those lame NY political songs that most college kids cite in their sociology term papers.

Recently, a group of KC debate students took in the film and gave their feedback. When the day comes that I actually care what high school students think I'll fold up this blog and get the job back that I had at a law firm for a while. But I digress . . .

The important part of this post is my point that it's easy to play the white knight in a book but the condescending tone of the work told me all I needed to know about the the Funkhouser Administration and The Black Community. Just like Miller, Mayor Funky pats "The Black Part of Town" on the head for his own political gain but then crassly ignores them when it's time for business. Let's not forget that former Pitch people Kendrick Blackwood and Miller probably planted a Cauthen hit piece in the pages of their old employer (that no other local news outlet picked up) as part of the FAILED campaign to fire the highest ranking Black guy at City Hall. And Miller's obvious complicity in THAT ACTION (according to me) as one of the Mayor's media people along with Funky's continued efforts at marginalizing Kansas City's minority community is really the guy's lasting impact on Kansas City.

Sadly, there isn't going to be a response from Miller to this post given that menstrual cramps or some other lame excuse caused him to take his blog "Kansas City Soil" down in much the same way the Mayor Funky has turned off comments on his own blog and blocked TKC from City Hall in an effort to thwart the rising tide of Internet criticism against his failed tenure.

Still, in the final analysis, the subject of debate really isn't worth dealing with in much detail and is obviously a distraction from the real (racially) divisive politics in Kansas City.

Also, I've always preferred Denzel's work at a villain. Training Day was a far more inspiring tale of survival and achievement than melodramatic accounts of people talking. My bad, Denzel was the hero in that movie, right? That's what I thought . . . I'm sure the film was a tragic drama involving some dumb white guy messing up Denzel's game just like American Gangster.



Anyhoo, I can only hope the Miller earned an uncredited rewrite on the "The Great Debaters" since he is an expert in the field of media representations of Black people who "are so well spoken" and no attempt to profit from inspirational stories of Black achievement would be complete without a liberal white guy at the helm.

Dollar General Killers ate at McDonalds after they committed murder

A witness shocked everyone at the murder trial of Robin K. Bell, the 44-year-old woman killed on Nov. 11, 2005, at the Dollar General store in Bonner Springs when she testified:

As Bell lay dead inside the store, she and two other alleged assailants had stopped at the McDonald’s drive-through.

And yes, they ate their order. Egh.

Mayor Funky is running out of friends

There's no way to spin Funkhouser's latest public defeat . . . It has cost him A LOT of support.

What I find funniest is that even the people in the Mayor's backyard are now starting to have second thoughts:

Plenty of taxpayers expressed anger toward Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser. Even in his own neighborhood, people blame him for dividing the City Council.

"I've lost faith in our mayor, Mayor Funkhouser, because of this and several other things, but this especially," Ken Herdrick, a taxpayer living in Kansas City's Brookside neighborhood.

Video of this same story (find it yourself) displays even more white people ranting against Funky with only one, old crotchety supporter who probably was an escaped Nazi.

The point is . . . These are WHITE PEOPLE willing to go on record with problems with Mayor Funky. That's a bad sign for a politico whose only move has been to exploit racial divisions in this town. If Mayor Funky can't even pull support in his own neighborhood that shouldn't elicit confidence in the rest of the City and it's (yet another) clear sign that his stubbornness and arrogance have spun out of control.

The Kansas City (Cyclocross) Massacre

A great account of last week's Cyclocross race in KCK from "Dirt Rag: The Mountain bike form." Here's my favorite line: "The cold air at the venue burned my lungs. I wondered if I would be able to ride on a day like this, and then realized that these elite riders must deal with this kind of weather all the time. By the time my race started at 8:00 a.m., the temperature had risen to a balmy 11 degrees. The course was frozen solid as we began the three-lap race . . ."

Media makes the myth: Funkhouser's public failure isn't really a compromise

All the media reports regarding Mayor Funky's lawsuit (via Councilman Scumbag Skaggs) claim a "compromise" which couldn't be further from the truth.

Let's look at the facts (dun-dun-dun!!!!):

Mayor Funky was publicly embarrassed by a nearly historic display of disapproval for his lack of judgment. A public smackdown by nearly every person of color in Kansas City confirmed the perception that the Funky Administration has continually moved to marginalize minorities in Kansas City - By way of incompetence or design. It just didn't look good, there's no arguing otherwise (so shut up).

Even worse, Funky's scheming didn't stop there . . . The lawsuit which everyone knows was backed by Funky and he now pretty much admits . . . It didn't elicit a wave of public support only sighs of frustration with a Mayor who doesn't know the meaning of compromise. TKC Sad Note: He effectively ended Skaggs' career in Kansas City . . . Not even Northlanders have much sympathy for a lawsuit against the City and the guy wouldn't be able to run for janitor without the issue coming back to haunt him.

For better or worse Funky doesn't know the meaning of compromise . . . That's an admirable trait in an athlete or a porn star but a politico who has to work with other people and who only had a razor thin margin of victory (which has now evaporated) should probably focus on building consensus . . . Once again Funkhouser squandered whatever goodwill he might have garnered in the past few months.

Mayor Funky has used this stalling tactic before . . . He's counting on complacency or some act of the Wiccan God (ew) to bring him more pull the next time he tries the same stunt. Other Mayors have used the same tactic, other Mayors also had far more support from the minority community and the electorate at large.

Anyone who has been through a divorce knows that a compromise forged in a courtroom isn't really a compromise at all. This is a tense delay of game and a way for Mayor Funky to catch his breath for the holidays. Put simply, I don't trust him, I never did and that's no reason to on this issue. TKC started the Cauthen Countdown before our Mayor Funky took office because I've heard of the vendetta that Funky has against Cauthen. It's no secret the guy wants the highest ranking Black guy in City Hall gone but the Mayor's fumbling, misdirection and laughable political moves made a personal (personnel) issue political and racial. This is the same guy who called outgoing Parks Board members "evil" or whatever . . . Because the Mayor has no tact, little skill and virtually no regard for the opinion of anyone but his wife he failed to understand that minority representation and established relationships in a community count for something. Not everyone is a Funkhouser acolyte or sychophant . . . The fact that this point needed to be driven home to Funkhouser isn't a sign that "he's not a politician" but a clear indication that his lack of political experience only aided him in failing to reveal personal character flaws (arrogance & stubbornness) which would have given 900 people enough reason to look somewhere else for someone to lead Kansas City

So, the media would like to sell this ugly and temporary settlement as a truce but it's not. Time after time Funkhouser has proven that he isn't listening to Kansas City and the only advice he's taking is from most diehard cheerleaders and some shoeless woman with an unsanctioned presence in City Hall.

Another reason for people to avoid KC's Jazz Museum as if it was biohazard

Someone please get the curators plastic gloves . . . Former President Clinton has donated the saxophone he played at his inauguration to the American Jazz Museum.

Technology and Kansas City comics

I recently found a great post by a blog entitled "Subrealism" which details a collaboration between the blogger and Kansas City comic book artist Anthony Jappa.

It's an inspiring take on the struggle of an artist to find an audience for his work and the use of technology in that quest:

Jappa explained to me how the Marvel/DC/Diamond publication distribution monopolies had fundamentally altered the landscape of comic book availability and further, how the dominant business practices in the industry have made it exceedingly difficult for independant comics creators to break-in in any meaningful way into this field of cultural production and entertainment. For his business to succeed - and there's no question that his work is worldclass - Jappa's had to hustle and grind like a madman. Getting breaks here and there with dealers, working the convention circuit, and doing everything he can to figure out alternative pathways by which he can achieve mass distribution and proliferation of his work product.

Really, this is a must read post for anyone interested in alternative media, new trends in comic books and the consequence of open source ethos on the mainstream media.

Koster in the New Republic (via the CCP)

The CCP catches a complimentary article from The New Republic. Here's the money line: "Meet the moderate who proves the GOP is losing the heartland."

"Why the Lions will crush Kansas City"

The Chiefs gear up to lose another one . . . This columnist explains why.

TKC on KMBZ

If you're one of those poor d-bags who has to leave the basement in order to get to work this morning . . . Check out KMBZ News Radio 980 at around 8:30 in the a.m., I'll be talking about local blogs and how ruin they lives other than mine.

TKC will chatting it up with EJ and Ellen in order to explain the cultural significance of Lolcatz and how they will save Democracy and garner additional interest in Kansas City civic issues one blog post at a time.

Holiday thinking

I'm not even going to explain this one again . . . However, I always think that X-mas season is a wonderful time to remind the people of Kansas City about the history of Plaza Founder J.C. Nichols and his use of restrictive racial covenants in order to build his empire . . . It's pretty much documented proof that The Plaza and the nicer parts of Johnson County were founded on supremacy.

Funkhouser's Court Battle Drags on . . .

City Manager Wayne Cauthen stays. Funkhouser can't ram this one home (hehe) so he's backing down for the moment . . . And figuring out yet another way to waste more political capital by demonstrating time and again that he's stubborn and incapable of compromise.

Forgetting KC's History

The KC Museum is closing for two years . . .

The Kansas City Museum, site of countless school field trips over the decades, will close Jan. 7 and probably won’t reopen with exhibits until 2010 or later.

The city-owned structure, called Corinthian Hall, and the carriage house behind it will get new windows and doors and be cleared of lead paint and asbestos. Then next year officials hope to install a new climate-control system in the 1910 buildings so they can professionally exhibit objects in the museum collection.

Not like anyone will notice.

TKC link celebration: Santa doesn't exist!!!

Here are some links floating around that haven't inspired me but might be interesting.

As Nasty as they want to be: Obscenity indictment dismissed against Olathe convenience store

Surrender your butts: Petition seeks smoking ban in KC

KC Visit makes Rudy Sick: Giuliani Released From Hospital, Heading Home

KC attorney appointed to Missouri appeals court

Kansas City man sentenced to two life terms plus 115 years for rape, murder

McFunny: Robber Wriggles In Drive-Through Window

Forsee To Be Named New MU President

Now is the time on Sprockets when we dance

Raises high for some Jackson County aides . . . Forgive the inside joke for new readers of this blog.

For Goodness sake

Hey, I'm really influential again this week.

Strange, because recently most of my posts have been concerning labiaplasty - WHICH YOU SHOULD NEVER LOOK UP ON GOOGLE IMAGES!!!

Still, I'd like the thank Missouri Blog Net News and the d-bags who read this blog.

KC Catholics Stay Losing!!!

Crime Scene KC has the details . . . Also, it's sad I get a significant portion of my Catholic News from Crime Scene KC: 2 new abuse claims against priest, KC diocese

Thanks to Mayor Funky's stubbornness Kansas City spends X-mas in court

Cauthen's contract from the Council was approved this afternoon.

But that's not the end of it . . . By a long shot.

Everyone who is interested in will be watching the the outcome of Bill Skaggs' lawsuit against Kansas City scheduled for 3 p.m. today at the Jackson County Circuit Court.

The end result is that Funkhouser's lack of leadership has turned Kansas City politics into an episode of The People's Court.

Now a judge is slated to make the decision that Mayor Funky couldn't bring about on his own . . . It's the first big test for the City Charter and I don't necessarily take the word of the City Attorney (or any lawyer) as gospel.

Regardless, this legal battle represents yet another failure brought about by Funkhouser who couldn't wait for the Council to work out the contract and instead tried a stubborn unilateral move that has the business of Kansas City settled in a Courtroom like a messy divorce . . .

LT's last words at City Hall blame racism for attacks against her character

Other people might be skeptical of claims of racism from an employee who left under the circumstances involving computer porn.

HOWEVER, given the current racially divisive climate throughout Kansas City . . . I don't dismiss LaTrisha Underhill's allegations entirely and I agree that a lot of her trouble was politically motivated.

People who might disagree with me are pushing the fantastic notion that there is no politics involved in personnel decisions at City Hall and the subject of race is never a factor. Riiiiiiight.

Anyhoo, here's what she had to say in her own words with my emphasis added:

There has been a coordinated attack on my character since June 2007 by individuals inside and outside of City Hall. A phone call was placed to the Internal Auditor, by a City appointee, in June that made specific and malicious allegations against me that were defamatory per se. Rather than taking into account the clearly vitriolic and politically motivated nature of the allegations, the Internal Auditor chose to "investigate" one portion of the caller's allegations.

The totality of the allegations made it evident that the caller was alleging that I, as a young, African-American female, could not have achieved my position within the City based on my ability and education.

Since that time, the nature of the alleged "investigation" and my own name has been repeatedly leaked to the public through various media outlets and an anonymous weblog, in violation of Missouri law and City policy on personnel issues. Sadly, a personnel issue that should have been handled with sensitivity and in a discreet manner has been treated as a political issue.

I would like to apologize to the citizens and employees of Kansas City, Missouri for any inappropriate use of work e-mail on my part. It demonstrates a lack of judgment. I want to assure the taxpayers that no harm was committed to the City. None of the messages I sent have put the City's security at risk or opened the City to litigation or exposure.

I have met many wonderful individuals in Kansas City and am constantly encouraged by the positive energy and efforts to move the City forward. I wish only the best for Kansas City and its residents in the years to come.

That's right bitches!

Amato Predicts He'll Be Cleared Of Complaint . . . Personally, TKC doesn't like derogatory language of any sort unless it is being used by a big booty blonde in private.

TKC Question: Is it worth it to call the cops and get a patron Tasered for smoking?

An Independence Bar owner says the smoking ordinance is unenforceable and so do I.

Just thinking of the disparity is mind-boggling: In a de-facto sense it's okay to deal crack in some Kansas City neighborhoods while smoking a cigarette could bring down the long arm of the law. I'm not one to rant against the "nanny-state" but the question of priorities and selective enforcement does come to mind.

Here's who KC hates this X-mas

A pretty good list put together by The Pitch of all the people who are getting the shaft (nullus) this X-mas season.

KC folk kicked out of their home for X-mas

Tess Koppleman files an amazing story that will put everyone in the holiday spirit.

Apparently, a local rent to own scam deal went south and people who paid their mortgages are getting left out in the cold (literally) because the Subprime crisis STILL has not taught mortgage lenders to stop trying to get rich off of numbers games.

Below are some details . . . Check out the whole story for the rest:

Several Metro area families have been getting foreclosure notices in the mail just in time for Christmas.

The catch is they were in a "rent to own" contract and they said they were making their payments to the developer. So why is the bank foreclosing?

Ramos and her husband thought they were buying their house from developer Ed Bonuchi. Now they're told they have to be out January 4. Ramos' records show she paid every month, although she was late sometimes.

Some investors told her a different story.

"He said this month you're six to seven months behind," Ramos said.

A lawyer told her not to pay until she knows Bonuchi's paying the bank and that's when Bonuchi left this voice mail:

"If you wanna buy it, great and if you don't, start packing because your days are numbered," he said.

Apparently, the story is getting a lot of play on Fox 4 and in local message boards. Personally, this kind of situation is why home ownership has never been a dream of mine . . . Also it reminds me that it's impossible to pay bills with X-mas "spirit" no matter how cute TV specials happen to be . . . TKC Question: Do they still run those specials with the current Writer's Strike?

KC Santa tearjerker

I'm not completely made out of stone and this local blogger Christmas story was surprisingly touching.

Not everyone hates "Harrah's Lucky Break"

The folks at KC Talk have some begrudging praise and a few great suggestions for the show other than turning the channel which is what I always do.

OneKC and economic competition

Forsythe files a post full of great ideas concerning how the entire area can elicit more cooperation with one another.

Mayor Funky CITES A STUDY in order show he really cares about crime!!!

Don't get it twisted, posts on the Funky blog about crime info count as fighting against local crime in Mayor Funky's bean counter corner of the world. Meanwhile, more relevant information directs us to the fact that both Kansas Cities stay losing when it comes to crime. TKC: It'll take years for me to forgive Mayor Funky for staying completely silent during this year's gang war.

My back is F-ing killing me!!!

I set aside some time today to do a few bloggy posts but I'm typing this tripe upside down while sucking my thumb, crying and praying to Santa to take the pain away from me.

TKC injured the hell out of himself putting up X-mas lights (late, of course) and I'm pretty sure the scene looked like something out of Christmas Vacation to the outside observer. I'm guessing it was a curse from Gloria Squitoro but I have no proof other than a very handsome voodoo doll broken in half and left under my bed.

So, for the most part I'll be taking it easy as we approach X-mas.

For some strange reason I can't get that Sheena Easton/James Bond move song "For Your Eyes Only" out of my head . . . Therefore I'm thinking that my backache (which - admittedly - is getting better) could be psychosomatic and my way of dealing with the Holidays . . . Other than writing mean spirited garbage about everyone and everything that crosses my mind, of course.

Bloggers can ruin careers . . . Other than their own

The story of a City Hall porn controversy and sessy e-mails started on the local Internets.

For better or worse, The "Garden Party Skunk" was the first to let the public know about these rumors floating around City Hall involving someone named LT.

Months later . . .

KMBC fills in the details:

City Official Resigns Amid E-Mail Probe

Assistant City Manager LaTrisha Underhill has resigned following an investigation that uncovered inappropriate and sexually suggestive e-mails on her city computer.

KMBC's Micheal Mahoney reported that the investigation showed that Underhill received numerous inappropriate e-mails and passed some of them along to other city employees.

Personally, to me it seems kind of silly to get canned over dirty e-mails . . . But then again I work from a basement. Nevertheless, if the City is going to uphold this kind of rigid standard . . . More power to them but I only hope it applies to the Mayor's wife as well.

To me, the most interesting part of this tale is that it broke on the Internets and involves dirty e-mail which once again proves the Internets is dangerous and unsuitable for children or adults . . . Or anyone else who doesn't know how to use a delete button.

New Blog: May's Machete

I found a new local blog today in my comments entitled "May's Machete." It's pretty cool and it features a lot of smart content that's over my head. I think the author insulted me but I'm into that kind of thing and that wouldn't turn me away from an interesting bloggy read.

It's just doesn't feel like X-mas in KC

Maybe it doesn't feel like X-mas to me because it was above 50 degrees today and I wore flip-flops on a walk to the corner liquor store. Maybe because I'm not a little kid anymore I realize that this holiday was invented for shopping and Roman man sex. Or just maybe a city led by a crew of incompetents, divided (more than ever) upon racial lines and constantly ignoring important issues like crime just doesn't put me in the X-mas spirit.

Truth be told, every X-mas with a nation at war is bound to be a bummer even if all but a few talk radio wackos forget the US is still engaged in two major conflicts . . . Three if you count the Mexicans.

But let's face it, from the get-go the Mayor ruined X-mas with his stupid tree and since then it's been downhill.

Already the downtown renaissance seems overrated as the delay in the Electric Avenue debut marks an important shopping season missed for retailers in the loop.

Let's not forget about the current economic downturn. The US is in the middle of a housing crisis, not a slump. The Subprime scandal put a lot of people out of their homes this year and the economic impact is just starting to be felt. Additionally, X-mas retail sales are reportedly disappointing.

Look around, we're at the beginning of a recession.

And because X-mas in the US is directly correlated to consumerism and economic data . . . There's little reason for holiday cheer.

This year, the baby Jesus not only failed to inspire people in Kansas City to get along with one another but also hasn't encouraged many people to spend beyond their means.

So, no, it just doesn't feel like X-mas in Kansas City this year but maybe that's just for po'folk.

TKC's "Help a Ho for the Holidays!!!"

X-mas is the time of publicity seeking and meaningless sentimental gestures so I figured I might as well take part.

Thing is, so many X-mas charities in Kansas City seem to completely and purposefully overlook the underlying social problems that contribute to poverty and the hardships faced by the working class.

Sure, handing out money to the dregs of humanity makes for a great media presentation but in the long run it doesn't really solve the lingering problems which put so many more people in the same kind of impoverished situation with no Santa Claus to save them.

Essentially, during X-mas time Kansas City's media repeatedly and mistakenly propagate the misguided notion that charity can take the place of social justice.

Year after year I've listened to the sob stories put forth by Johnny Dare and not only do I resent the fact that the guy and his audience only seem excited to help white people down on their luck but also there's a gross indifference toward the root causes of poverty, the lack of adequate health care coverage (i.e. Republican policy) in this country and the abundance of predatory lenders who keep the working poor counting on the charity of hard rock listeners.

Still, I'd like to come off like a nice guy for a change during the X-mas season so I'm sponsoring the 1st Annual TKC Help a Ho for the Holidays!!!!!!!!

And while other charities try to elicit support for white people in need, cold and sniveling brats or dangerous homeless bums . . . TKC is looking for (yet another) way to help white women.



That's right, I want to give money to strippers having hard times this X-mas season. Sure, I like to give these good looking working mothers as much of my cash as possible during the rest of the year but a lot of folks don't know that family orientated holiday cheer spells hard times for Kansas City strippers and hos.

Extra cash for strip clubs is hard to come by for dudes who have to buy gifts for their wives and girlfriends and hos often lose their best customers because of family obligations.



The first quick e-mail I've received in this effort comes from a ho/stripper who is in desperate need. While Johnny Dare and his fans go all glassy eyed for cancer stories . . . I think you'll find that the medical drama faced by this Kansas City Ho puts all of our good fortune and good times in perspective.

Kansas City Stripper and Ho "Brandiee" writes:

OMG! Last night was so insane. RU kidding? The club was dead so I had 2 call that married bastard Steve for a little late night DL action. The chump can usually knock out my rent and that makes his bald spot easier 2 deal with but he said that he had to go see some stupid holiday concert his daughter was going to sing in. As if! I bet his wife was there too. What a loser.

So I went to Westport instead. Not a lot going on there either but I met a great guy named Dexter and we ttly hooked up.

The bad thing is I didn't know the guy was packing a coke can and now I'm really paying the price. I've been walking like John Wayne all day and I took a quick peak down there with a hand mirror and it looks like Angelina Jolie got hit in the mouth with a baseball.

Is there anything you can do for me Tony? I would really appreciate your help or maybe one of your readers knows something about plastic surgury or where a gurl could get a discount on ice packs.

Hugs and kisses,

Brandiee :)

Heartbreaking. I know. But the fact is that there are hos and strippers all over Kansas City that are counting on the help of TKC readers. Clear plastic heels don't come cheap and neither does a weekly box of cereal for their bi-racial kid.

Please, consider sending TKC a donation of 100 bucks (in singles) so that I can make sure this money finds its way into the g-string of local strippers and hos in need.

Like Brandiie (or whatever) so many ladies in Kansas City are in desperate need of labiaplasty after years of "entertaining" the gentlemen of this town. I don't want to get too graphic but I'm not kidding about the severity and damage done to the female anatomy by Kansas City nightclub life . . . After years of abuse the "moneymaker" of a KC stripper and/or ho usually ends up resembling something like bat wings.



In the final analysis there's no denying that Kansas City skanks give so much to this community (other than STDs) so they deserve support.

Help a ho this holiday Kansas City.

Top 10 Best Kansas City Blogs

Where do you rank? Irish KC lists Kansas City's best blogs.

City Council fight is another indication that the Funky Bunch is out of control!!!

Instead of writing some rant regarding Bill Skaggs suing Kansas City, I figured it would be more productive simply to outline a few main points:

Funkhouser is behind the lawsuit. Arguing to the contrary is just insulting and it's something THAT NO ONE BELIEVES . . . On a personal note, I'm sad to see that - at such an advanced age, scumbag councilman Bill Skaggs is still taking marching orders from a guy who might be one of the most unpopular Kansas City Mayors in a generation.

Skaggs is alienating the Northland. I know these suburban folk are always somewhat out of sync with the rest of Kansas City but the move to back an unpopular Mayor will inevitably backfire on the entire community. Example: Cleaver used the place as a trash dump because the perception was that the Northland didn't have much in common with the rest of KC or the interests of anyone else at heart. Coincidentally, anyone who knows a bit about the Northland realizes that they're facing the same big city problems as the rest of KC proper . . . Meth, gangs and increased crime plague the neighborhood. This isn't the early 90's anymore and the Northland population boom is history. Like it or not, the demographics that Funkhouser and Skaggs are exploiting are quickly changing and Great White Northland isn't (completely) the enclave of support that Republicans and/or race-baiting Mayors can rely.

THE LAWSUIT IS A DESPERATE, DIVISIVE AND DUMB MOVE. NOW THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT FUNKHOUSER AND HIS SUPPORTERS ARE INCAPABLE OF COMPROMISE OR FORMING CONSENSUS!!!

Mayor Funkhouser doesn't keep his word. Folks wonder how the situation reached this pitch. Other Mayors have canned City Managers, without being outvoted, without half the City up in arms and without a lawsuit. The Star made a weak attempt to compare the current Cauthen controversy to a previous City Manager crisis faced by Charles Wheeler. They failed to mention that Wheeler didn't have nearly every minority leader in Kansas City lined up against him. In fact, it's worth repeating that Wheeler was instrumental in garnering more access to City Hall on behalf of KC's Minority community. But more importantly, the fact that this thing has to be decided in court is just an indication that Funkhouser can't get along with anybody but his wife. Like every other politico Mayor Funky talks out of both sides of his mouth but the difference is that he actually seems to believe what he's saying. So far Mayor Funky has betrayed the Latino Community, Light Rail voters and now his own City Council . . . His inability to keep his word and honor the deals that he makes is what has pushed this situation to a legal battle. A more skilled politico could have moved to oust Cauthen under the table but Funky has proven time again that he can't be trusted to keep his end of any bargain and that's a big part of the reason why the vast majority of the Council has united against him.

This lawsuit and the Cauthen controversy is the last stand for Mayor Funky's supporters. The Mayor's advisers (or lack thereof) have backed the guy into a corner. Mayor Funky had a second opportunity to let this one slide but the transparent move on the part of Skaggs in support of his political daddy is a clear signal that Funkhouser would rather battle with opponents than work toward a settlement. It's a brave and stubborn move that's sure to elicit a lot of talk radio support . . . Too bad most of the listeners live in Johnson County and outlying suburbs. Additionally, my favorite part in all of this is that the Mayor's talk of transparency has amounted to another betrayal . . . Mayor Funky has learned to keep his mouth shut and he won't talk about any controversy. It's a good strategy but it's not at all close to what he promised KC voters who have grown increasingly antsy at the public lectures he tries to pass off as forums. Still, the Mayor and his people have went "all in" on this issue and if they lose, if the Council stays united, if The Black Community continues their support of Cauthen then Mayor Funkhouser has ultimately made himself a lame duck and can't really push bigger parts of his agenda like light rail or a mandatory requirement that all visitors to the Mayor's office must give Gloria Squitiro a foot massage.

Allstate defies Jackson County judge, scoffs at 25k a day fine over McKinsey documents

From The Star: "Last month the Missouri Supreme Court ordered the documents produced. Plaintiff lawyers allege they show how Allstate set up a claims payment system in the 1990s that shortchanges clients while earning huge profits. Allstate contends the 12,500 pages prepared by consultant McKinsey & Co. are trade secrets used to create company policies, methods and claims procedures."

KC Homicide #92

Crime Scene KC reports on the latest Kansas City Killing.

Parks Board Bans More Boobs Downtown!!!

The Kansas City Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners approved standards Tuesday that could prohibit an expanded adult-entertainment venue on Grand Boulevard two blocks from the Sprint Center . . . And while this move may be welcomed by family friendly businesses, let's not forget that when people actually wanted to visit Kansas City's downtown it was an area filled with vice, hookers and peep shows. Apparently, ignoring KC's history is at the very heart of corporate development schemes that aren't based in reality and are ultimately doomed to failure.

KCPD dash cams go high tech

The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners on Tuesday approved the purchase of 325 digital cameras to replace outdated analog cameras. The new system will cost about $3 million. Officials hope to outfit all patrol and enforcement vehicles by August . . . Because we all deserve to watch someone poop themselves after being tasered in digital quality.

Cowtown visit a great opportunity for Rudy to backtrack on immigration, gun control and reproductive rights

Giuliani in Kansas City Today

JoCo is getting tougher every day: Suburban cop is one step up from security guard

Johnson County Community College will have an Overland Park police officer on campus next semester.

BREAKING NEWS

Scarlett Johansson's Cleavage

Downtown desperately needs escort accommodations!!!

Hotel building boom under way in KC area

Overzealous OP janitor decides that "cleaning up the school" involves punching a student for using an inhaler

Blue Valley janitor mistakes breathing aide for weapon and allegedly beats the hell out of a 14 year-old student.

Fat Bastard Gets Babies!!!

The fight for a man's rights one again proves that only women need to worry about their weight!!!

Monkey suit man makes kmbc top story at 10

Suspected monkey-napper appears in court, protester shows up in a monkey suit . . . It was hard for me to believe that I was surprised by the news substitute.

New homeless hangout coming to the loop!!!

Downtown dwellers ready for grocery store

Local blogger beats TV news to a story about the weird placement of a GOV ad

Last night Channel 9 reported that a Homeland security ad looks odd given that it's on top of a Main Street porn shop.

Citizen media noted the same story last week . . . And again last night.

Only Baby Blunt deserves protection

The Blue Blog reminds us that Blunt Cut Over $1.9 Million From Efforts to Protect Children from Predators

Three Trails: Before and After

Soccer blog "Down the Byline" compares and contrasts present day photos with designs for future development in the Bannister Mall area.

"La Migra in Missouri"

This is one of the BEST AND MOST BALANCED POSTS I've read from a Missouri blogger on the subject of immigration. As partisans go back and forth it's comforting to read that people see through the political posturing. Here's the amazing opening line from the Branson Blog: "With only three percent of Missouri Citizens classified as Hispanic the Mexican American community appears to be an acceptable casualty in the battle for the hearts and minds of a majority of the states citizens." Actually, THIS IS A MUST READ POST and provides evidence that conservatives in the middle of the state realize that immigration is mostly a subject for political posturing and often ignores the plight of REAL PEOPLE.

Northeast Bottoms Ablaze

Last night there was a fire at a warehouse in the Northeast bottoms.

The fire started at a pallet company at Front Street and Interstate 435. Several explosions at the warehouse were reported.

So far were no injuries reported but I don't think this town counts homeless people anymore.