KCUR---Wth?

KCUR, buddy, we had a great thing going.

Every Friday, we could count on you for either restaurant reviews and criticism, one week, and movie reviews the next.

It's been great. Week in and week out, you were there.

Sure, we had Walt Bodine for years--decades, actually--and at 90, he finally retired but we still had this every-other-week date and arrangement.

Now, this week, you had what?

Actually, who cares?

You didn't have Charles Ferruzza and his crew for local foodie input.

Additionally, this happens to be a HUGE weekend for movies coming up, what with another big Tom Hanks film coming out and so on.

Yet you covered neither?

What, you don't love us any more?

Stupid for 30 years is still stupid

I ate lunch this afternoon with friends at the Westport Flea Market.

Wow.

We all decided it was a mistake and that we won't repeat that a second time and for a few reasons, too.

First, we ordered. That shouldn't be tough, right?

Except you order your food at the walk-up counter, just as I'd remembered from years past. That was okay. Lots of restaurants have you do that.

But your drink?

If you want a drink with your meal--and most of us do--you go to your table and order that from your waitperson. (I'm being PC here).

Yes, you got that right. You order your food at the counter, pay for that and then go to your table, only to order your drink AND THEN PAY AGAIN.

I asked the young lady at the register if I had that right and she confirmed.

I told her how absolutely silly it was and asked if there were some parallel universe or planet on which that made any sense.

The "boss lady" said "That's the way we've done it for 30 years", thus making for today's headline.

The effect this 2nd-order-for-your-drink policy had was to insure that no one at our table ordered any additional drink. All they did was assure they made less money. Brilliant.

Then, be forewarned, ladies and gentlemen. If you order one of their burgers--most all in the $7.50 to $8.50 range--you are asked if you want anything additional on it.

CHECK THE MENU.

"Garnishes" are extra.

If you say, like in most burger joints, that you want "everything on it", you will be summarily charged for the onions, mushrooms, cheese, anything and everything, you will be additionally billed for it all.

What effect does that have, you might ask? What's the big deal?

Well, it turns that big $8.49 burger into a ticket that ends up costing you more than $14.00 AND YOU HAVEN'T EVEN ORDERED A DRINK YET.

Care for a screwing? Here's your place.

One final word of caution.

If one in your party orders, as I did, the Cajun chicken sandwich--and enjoyed, I will give them that, lest you think all I want to do is complain--while the rest of your group orders burgers, prepare to sit through at least half your friend's lunches WHILE YOU WAIT.

Apparently, after all these years of cooking and serving food, they haven't figured out how to get everyone's meal in one group out at remotely a similar time frame.

Maybe that will happen sometime in the next 30 years.

Links: http://www.westportfleamarket.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Westport-Flea-Market-Bar-Grill/95092657967?fref=ts

On Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue

I'll be happy--very happy--when the newness of Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue is over.

I'd like to get back to more people liking more than one barbecue joint in town.

This week, they're being covered yet again. This time by The Pitch Magazine. (link below).

I mean, come on, Joe's is good, sure, but this whole trendy, citywide zeitgeist that they're the best right now is far too lemming-like, for me, anyway.

As I've said here before, I hate trends and trendiness, period, but I especially dislike food trends. They're the worst.

Can we not think and act as individuals?

Are we not capable of that? Of independent thought?

Between its newness and the fact that Anthony Bourdain likes them and put them on his TV show ("No Reservations") and a local food blogger came out and said they were "best" on Mr. Bourdain's same show, it makes it "their time." And it's cool, too. I love the idea that it's in a gas station. So sure, I get all that. Fine.

I'll just be glad when all the new wears off and the hoopla is over.

The only thing is, it will all be replaced with some other new, "next" trend.

And it will start all over again.

In the meantime, you can find me at Arthur Bryant's.

Link: http://www.pitch.com/kansascity/oklahoma-joes-jeff-stehney/Content?oid=2914103

Congratulations, Kansas City!!

You're not on the FBI's "Most Dangerous Cities in America." (But St. Louis, is. See links, below).

So... what, if anything, do these "top ten" cities have in common?

Anything?

Bueller?

(Side note: We have also, it's been decided and declared, been listed as the nation's 20th "Most Manly City." Wth? See link below for this, too).

Links: http://realestate.yahoo.com/news/most-dangerous-cities-in-america.html


http://247wallst.com/2012/06/11/the-most-dangerous-cities-in-america-2/

http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2012/06/13/kansas-city-is-americas-20th-manliest-city

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oklahoma-city-claims-title-of-americas-manliest-city-158474215.html

Mayor's family not doing him any favors

First Mayor Sly's son got in trouble with the police--twice, I believe--now, his brother is doing similarly:

Mayor's Brother Charged With Domestic Assault

La Vance James Accused Of Domestic Assault, Armed Criminal Action

Yikes.

That's some PR department, there, Mayor.

Good luck with that. (And I'm not being sarcastic).

Links: http://www.kmbc.com/news/30966236/detail.html; http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2011/08/30/mayor-sly-james-son-accused-of-punching-a-woman-in-the-face-at-the-point; http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/shock-waves-arrest-sly-james-son/; http://www.massappealnews.com/2011/08/08/sly-james-drunken-sons/; http://fox4kc.com/2012/02/10/assault-charges-dropped-against-kcmo-mayors-son/; http://www.kctv5.com/story/15356012/kc-mayors-son-accused-of-punching-woman-in-face

The End of a Kansas City Era

Hail and farewell to Walt Bodine, Dean of Kansas City media, radio and history.

Thank you, Walt, for all your years of great and entertaining work and the memories you gave us all. (What KCUR is doing right now for his farewell show is at least embarrassing. What else it is I won't say in order to be polite. I will say this, the only thing in worse taste than today's show is how they first tried to prematurely fire Mr. Bodine).

Links: http://www.kcur.org/topic/thank-you-walt-bodine; http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2012/04/26/walt-bodines-last-day-on-the-radio-is-friday-but-first-bodine-stares-down-a-lion; http://kcurstream.umkc.edu/CENTRAL/blog/wbs2preview.mp3; http://kcur.org/post/walt-bodine-special-documentary

Rep. Cleaver's SBA loan: A story made for a good media outlet and reporter

If ever there were a story that seemed made for a good reporter and media outlet--be it newspaper or local TV station--this one right now about Representative Emanuel Cleaver and his $1.46 million loan from the SBA that's "going South" seems to be just the one. Here you have a situation where the local, sitting government representative to Washington and the Federal government has taken out a government loan AND HE'S NOT GOING TO REPAY IT? This on top of the fact that in the past he's gotten caught with outstanding taxes unpaid? I'm not saying anyone's guilty of anything here, either. I'm just saying here's a story that has stink all over it and some reporting bloodhound should be all over it. Where's Russ Ptacek when you need him? Say, what about Chris Hernandez? SOMEBODY, please take this and run with it. Please. According to Newsbusters today, no one is going with the story, so far. This, I repeat, stinks. Somebody, somewhere, sic 'em. Please? Links: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/06/3540958/taxpayers-could-have-to-cover.html; http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2012/04/09/more-emanuel-car-wash-cleaver-coverage-ap-does-local-story-doesnt-name-p; http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2012/04/09/kid-glove-treatment-emanuel-car-wash-cleaver-kc-star-ap-has-no-national-

Noteworthy from Nick Haines

In the latest Pitch Magazine, they gave their questionairre to host and producer of KCPT Channel 19’s Kansas City Week in Review Nick Haines. While it's all interesting, fun, brief and rather light-hearted reading, I thought the answer to this question was most--the most--illuminating and important for the city: The Pitch: Finish this sentence: “Kansas City needs ...” Nick Haines: "To stop beating up on itself all the time. I’ve lived other places. This is an easy, amenity-filled city without the annoying ego of the East and West Coasts. Enjoy it!" I couldn't agree more. Thank you, Mr. Haines, for your work and advice, both. Read the rest of the interview here: http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2012/01/04/the-pitch-questionnaire-nick-haines

Don Harman, WDAF weatherman, dead at 41 (update)

Sympaties and best wishes go out to the family and friends. Links: http://fox4kc.com/2011/11/30/fox-4-statement-on-the-passing-of-don-harman/;http://www.kansascity.com/2011/11/30/3294132/fox-4s-don-harman-dead-at-41.html; http://fox4kc.com/2011/11/30/fox-4-statement-on-the-passing-of-don-harman/

Please, KCMSD, please...

No new, big, ugly surprises this week, please. We're begging you. Haven't you had enough? We know we surely have.

"Love?"

I don't think I'll ever get over or forget that a pastor--a religious minister--named "Love" killed his "girlfriend's" husband, for starters, then DID THE OFFICIATING AT THE MAN'S FUNERAL. I mean, come on. Dickens didn't write stuff any better than that. That is some kind of sick and twisted. Links: http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2011/11/09/ex-pastor-david-love-pleads-guilty-to-killing-parishioner; http://www.kansascity.com/2011/11/09/3256188/ex-pastor-david-love-admits-killing.html

Reminder for tomorrow

The article the Star is hopefully researching

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

Not a good sign for sports at the Sprint Center

Plog (The Pitch Magazine blog) reports that the "NBA cancels preseason game at Sprint Center". Not good news, not good news at all. Between the national and international economy and possible strike in the NBA looming, it doesn't look as though our Sprint Center will have a national sport team in there any time too soon, if ever, no matter how beautiful a facility it is. Link: http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2011/09/23/lebron-james-wont-be-coming-back-to-kansas-city-nba-cancels-preseason-game-at-sprint-center

Kansas City: Rope in the 'burbs?

There is a terrific article out now at The Atlantic (link below) telling of "The Beginning of the End of the Suburb." To which I say, good riddance. It has separated us horribly, it has added, also badly, to heavy traffic, pollution, bad air days, highways that go on for miles and eat up farmland, etc. And we--Kansas City--are famous for our sprawl, of course. We're one of the worst spots in the nation for it. Heaven forbid we tell any developer "no", right? It seems that, between the downturn in the economy and the higher price of fuel, at least, people are far less likely to keep buying ever further out of cities. Again, thank goodness. It's long overdue. As the article says: "We need a new model for American prosperity that doesn't require ever greater injections of fossil energy." All that said, though, I'm sure the Kansas City metropolitan area and all its various cities will never institute any hard and fast policy, limiting growth even if for the benefit of the city, the way they did long ago in Oregon and the likes. We're way too insecure about business and even the thought of pushing business away. Links: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/The-Beginning-End-Suburban-atlantic-1156625650.html?x=0; http://www.pitch.com/kansascity/in-kansas-city-tax-breaks-dont-cure-blight-andmdashandnbspthey-create-sprawl/Content?oid=2190006; http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2011/04/18/kansas-citys-sprawling-ways-make-growing-old-a-bitch; http://www.kansascity.com/2011/04/16/2804933/a-long-way-home-challenges-faced.html; http://www.kansascity.com/2011/04/17/2807142/getting-around-kc-is-tough-for.html

Price Development: Yet more corporate blackmail

There's a story in last week's Pitch Magazine ("Unhappy Meals", see link below), telling of one Price Development Group that wants to build a 4-story retail, commercial building at the corner of 39th Street and Stateline Road but to do it, they'll need "a tax break of $2.76 million." Sound familiar? It should. It's just one more example of a development group who hands out their hat to some local government--in this case, the suckers over at KCMO City Hall--wanting a handout so they can build what will likely be a profitable building anyway. As I've written here before, it's just corporate blackmail and there's far too much of it. Forget that it's near KU Med Center and that a big development of yet more offices and business is already being put in, as we speak. Forget that they bought the building in 2007, boarded it up, didn't get a tenant in and then let the building go to heck. Forget all that. All that's important now is that they need the city's tax money to make yet more money. They say they need the handout help. You know what's additionally sick--really sick--about this, too? Two things. First, they'll likely get it and second? I bet all the bigwigs at this company--Price Development--are "Conservatives" and Republicans--maybe even Libertarians--who are all for "small government" and not giving handouts to people who need it. Wanna' bet? How long are we going to let people and groups do this stuff to us? Let's stop being suckers for this nonsense. Let's give them the "free market Capitalism" they're always bitching about. Whaddya' say? Link: http://www.pitch.com/plog/archives/2011/09/07/request-for-tax-break-comes-with-threat-of-french-fries

Busy-ness on the Plaza

So many changes already on the Plaza, let alone coming on. I'd written before about the Michael Kors store going in soon. It's had signs up for a long time. No sign yet, saying when it opens but I assume this Fall, when they assume shopping will turn up. Then there are a few new restaurants going in. A Gram & Dun restaurant is going in old Baja 600 space. It seemed something should go in there quickly since it's such a high-traffic and highly visible spot and so popular. Next up is a Zocala "Mexican restaurant and Taquileria" going in the old Mi Cocina spot, if it hasn't devolved to attorneys, as The Pitch mentions in a column (link below). Now, today, it was announced in the Kansas City Business Journal that a Kate Spade store is going in. It's heartening to see these empty spots on the Plaza filled. At least there's some business and new business going on.Links: http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2011/07/19/kate-spade-kansas-city-plaza.html; http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/04/2993487/hm-new-pub-coming-to-plaza-this.html; http://blogs.pitch.com/fatcity/2011/03/a_big_shake_up_at_the_unopened.php; http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/29/2982564/new-restaurant-moving-into-former.html

Lucas Bates needed Curtis Mertensmeyer's luck

I read today on the Pitch's blog (Plog) that one Lucas Bates "gets life in prison for causing" a "drunk driving wreck that killed Shirley Harless".

There are a lot of "darn shame"'s to this thing.

First, it's a darn shame that Mr. Bates was so obliteratedly drunk.  Then, it's a darn shame he was driving.  It was a darn shame Ms. Harless--or anyone else--was remotely close to where he was driving.  

Some of the details are fairly shocking:  

"...Lucas A. Bates was so drunk on March 14, 2009, that he would have blown twice the legal limit ... but he was too busy causing carnage on the roadway.

Bates' blood-alcohol content was 0.174 when he sped down a two-lane highway in rural Clay County on his way to causing two head-on collisions, killing 60-year-old retired teacher Shirley Harless and injuring three other people."

More "darn shames":

Shortly before the wrecks, Bates lost control of his car and drove into a ditch along US 69 as a Missouri Highway Patrol trooper approached from the other direction.  Bates steered around the trooper.

The Trooper turned around and pursued.  A dashboard video shown during Friday's hearing showed the trooper exceeded 120 mph but couldn't catch up with Bates.

Bates smashed into Harless' vehicle while passing several cars. He then slammed into another vehicle before leaving the road -- his car in flames.

It was pretty insane, all in all.

But wait.  There's another big "darn shame".

It's a darn shame Mr. Bates wasn't born in Mission Hills like one Curtis Mertensmeyer.  

And it's a "darn shame" Mr. Bates' mother or father weren't attorneys, as Curtis Mertensmeyer's was.

Remember this story, from back in June, 2009?  Personally, I refuse to forget.

From my blog entry, here, June 20, 2009:

It seems a young 21 year old Curtis Mertensmeyer of MISSION HILLS, KANSAS (keep that address in mind) is to be released now, after having KILLED Daniel Reimann, 25, "as he was crossing

Ward Parkway

on foot near

55th Street

."

Curtis killed another man while drunk driving, late at night near his home in one of the absolutely wealthiest neighborhoods in town. For this he, Mertensmeyer, served a whopping 120 days in jail. 

Can you say "slap on the wrist?"

Check the stats:

"The victim's body was found 139 feet from the impact, his severed leg another 200 feet beyond that."

Nice, huh?

But wait, as they say, there's more--much more:

It seems this wealthy Mertensmeyer is a graduate of--where else?--Pembroke Hill and a student of Tulane University. Mertensmeyer "admitted drinking that night, speeding when the accident occurred and then fleeing the scene."

But besides the rich kid and his family getting justice at the expense of the poor schmuck, what really has to get you about this ruling by the judge--one Jackson County Circuit Court Judge John Torrance--is that he and the court ended up BLAMING THE VICTIM for getting struck by the other drunk driver and killed.

Check it out. The judge says "It is clear that the extreme intoxication of the victim was a significant contributing factor to his being struck by the defendant's vehicle."

That is beautiful.

So it's the victim's fault FOR GETTING STRUCK BY A CAR, DRIVEN BY A DRUNK DRIVER.

Wow.

I just thought the judge might admit the truth, and that is that the wealthy family and their position in society and their wealth is getting him off the hook but no. I should have known better than that.

In fact, the judge indignantly insists "that the defendant's ZIP code and family wealth played no role in his" (the judge's)"decision."

Yeah, right.

And pigs fly.

Listen to the state of Daniel Reimann's--the "guilty victim's"--body: "...head trauma, both femurs and pelvis broken, aorta cut, spinal cord severed, lacerated spleen and liver."

And let's not forget that amputated leg.

You wouldn't think it could get any worse, would you? But, oh yeah, it does. This all happened on Mother's Day.

And then there's the fact that Mertensmeyer was driving his Mommy's 2003 Saab (cheap car, you knew that, right?), he LEFT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT and "Five days would pass before Mertensmeyer surrendered to authorities."

Sounds innocent, doesn't he?

So young Daniel Reimann was in the wrong neighborhood--in this case, an extremely rich one, and you know how THEY are--got hit by a car and it's his fault.

My God, Judge Torrance, that is magnificent.

Actually, though, it shouldn't surprise me at all. It's a slight twist on an old, old story. To wit, if you're poor--or in this case, just not as wealthy--it's your fault.

It's just a darn shame Mr. Bates wasn't born right, as Mr. Mertensmeyer was.  Lucas Bates got a scolding from the judge and serious jail time.

Curtis Mertensmeyer ended up getting a 3-month vacation, meals included.

As I said, if only Lucas Bates were born where Curtis Mertensmeyer were, this would all have turned out radically differently.

Links:  http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2010/11/lucas_a_bates_gets_life_drunk_driving_wreck.php

http://moravings.blogspot.com/2009/06/obscene-and-grossly-unfair.html

Saturday evening's flash mob on the Plaza--redux

Plog--Pitch Magazine's Blog--does a great job today, describing the brief flash mob that took place on the Plaza Saturday night, specifically what happened at the Cheesecake Factory. To me, the real crux of the issue for the whole problem comes down to the author's last paragraph: I'm not going to presume to solve a problem better men than me have failed to answer. I'll bet against even the best of you solving it in the comments section, even though I'd love to hear what you think and I suppose some have ideas. But for now, know that it's a hell of a sad thing to see how quickly good cops can scare the shit out of innocent children. Sadder when you understand everyone did the only thing they could do. It seems that's what we have to do, too--that is, keep in mind that "everyone did the only thing they could do." That and not judge the situation or anyone in it, unless you were right there and can honestly, calmly, intelligently and fairly report seeing something or other that was right or wrong. The rest of us can and should just stay out of it and keep our opinions to ourselves. Sure it needs a solution. What it doesn't need is a bunch of emotional, uninformed reactions to what they perceived happened. Link to original post: http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2010/09/plaza_flash_mob_wasnt_about_race_until_it_was_about_race.php

Busy Tuesday morning on the Plaza

Yes, there was LOTS of activity on the Plaza this morning. Listening to the radio this morning, I heard there was an old-fashioned jewelry store heist there last evening, requiring hours of drilling through concrete and everything. Sure crime is crime and it's not good but, come on--that's a hoot. You wouldn't think that kind of thing would happen any more. From the Star today: Thieves punched through a concrete block wall and bored into a thick metal safe early Monday to steal gold and diamonds from a Country Club Plaza jewelry store. “It was like the Mafia,” said Simon Zouein, the owner of Vinca Jewelry at 4801 Jefferson St. “They had three or four hours, and nobody caught them.” Really. You wouldn't think this kind of stuff would happen any longer. Not in this century, anyway. I would have thought jewelry stores have ten kinds of alarms and cameras on them to make this non-existent. And then it seems like the Highwoods Security foot patrol would have kept this from happening, too. If you own Vinca Jewelers today, don't you know you have a bone to pick, so to speak, with Highwoods Properties? So much for security. “They came from behind the store through a private alley that’s usually locked, and it was locked,” Zouein said. “They broke the door to the alley. Then they went in and broke the concrete wall of our store.” The service corridor is controlled by Highwoods Properties, the owner of the Plaza. “No security caught them,” Zouein said. “I don’t know who to blame.” Oh, really? I'll bet. What do you bet a low-level security guard--or two--loses his or her $10-$15.00 per hour job over this? It's always the "little guy". The other activity, as I was leaving the area this morning, I saw the crews in their "sky buckets" installing Christmas lights on two different towers. Yes, it was certainly a busy morning on the Country Club Plaza today. Some good. Some bad. For real "busy-ness", though, you ought to read about the brief flash mob down there this past Saturday night, as described from an employee of the Cheesecake Factory, at Plog. See the 2nd link below. I can't tell you more about it than they can and do. Link to original story: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/09/06/2203508/thieves-hit-vinca-jewelry-on-the.html http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2010/09/plaza_flash_mob_wasnt_about_race_until_it_was_about_race.php