AND IT'S THE ROYALS!!!

To all the non-believers and haters out there!!

A sample of a typical commenter at the TKC blog

To respond to a brief note about the White House announcing President Obama will be visiting Kansas City at the end of this month, someone wrote this today:

welcome to CK you stupid nigger said...

Take your muslim nigger loving self somewhere else stupid nigger boy!!!!

7/22/14, 12:55 PM

Too frequently, far too frequently, this is the kind of outrageous racism that can be seen and read there.

Ugliness, stupidity, ignorance and racism needs to have a light shown on it, in that nasty, dark, dirty corner in which it lives in hopes it will one day go away. It isn't edited so they post away.  Disgusting.

On the Royals vs Boston

Say what you will, after the Royals lost by one point to the Boston Red Sox in Boston yesterday, after Boston's awful experience first with the bombing and then rounding up the two reputed, suspected bombers, it seems possible, at least, if not plausible that the team threw Saturday's game, in the face of it all.

As Tony's Kansas City Blog reported:

KANSAS CITY ROYALS CONSPIRACY!!!! INTERNETS SAYS THEY THREW THE BOSTON RED SOX COMEBACK GAME YESTERDAY!!!

(link below)

Out of a weekend threesome, the Royals went on, today, Sunday, to beat the Sox 2 out of the three weekend games.

In the one we lost yesterday, we were ahead much of the game. Then the Sox hit in a three run homer and it was over, ending with a 4-3 loss.

Conjecture?

Sure.

We'll never know and maybe it's silly and maybe it's legitimate but it at least looks possible.

If so, good for Boston.

If so, I'd like to not ever think these games are thrown for anything but things like this.

And that rarely.

Very rarely.

Links: http://www.tonyskansascity.com/2013/04/kansas-city-royals-conspiracy-internets.html

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_04_21_kcamlb_bosmlb_2&mode=recap&c_id=kc#gid=2013_04_21_kcamlb_bosmlb_2&mode=recap&c_id=kc

http://www.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=26486165&c_id=kc&tcid=fb_video_21078335&v=1

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/21/4194948/santana-quiets-red-sox-as-royals.html#storylink=latnews

The website and effort I've been waiting for: SAVE KCI!!

Yes, and here it is:

KCI Still Rated #1 in North America | SAVE KCI !

Let's do this.

 

Let's save the original, existing KCI. It makes too much sense. We like it, it works and it would be not only a huge waste, walking away from the buildings there now but it would also be a huge expense.

 

And you know who'd end up paying for it, right?

 

If we need to cut costs for the airlines by giving them easier security access, let's look into making the center, B building for that security and then have walkways out to A and C where we'd go to the gates to board our planes and flights. There ought to be some good way to solve this.

They're on Facebook, too, so you can join there:  Save KCI | Facebook

Kansas City Sports 2013

Tony's Kansas City may say what he will but this year looks as though it will be at least good for Kansas City, if not very good or even, possibly, great. 

The Kansas City Royals are undefeated in the pre-season and that's nothing to be totally 

ignored, by any means. The players don't go out there in those pre-season games not to win. It seems they should go at least better than 50% of the games won this year and that's a huge improvement over last year and the last few years.

Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs have virtually, if not actually, gutted the team and

from top down. Say what you will about Clark Hunt and the management but these people a) know football and b) want to win, quite unlike David Glass and his discount management and ownership.

Sure, as ever, Tony and/or the pessimists (realists?) may be right but actually, this should, likely, be at least a good year for the home teams--including, of course KC Sporting soccer. 

Me? I think it's an entire possibility that either and even, possibly, both teams--the Royals and Chiefs--may end up in the playoffs, if only wildcard spots.

You have to admit, that's a heck of a lot better than we've done in past years.

Go Royals. Go Chiefs.

One of the few times they're all on the same side

The mascots of the Big 12 Basketball Conference all got together and visited the children patients at Children's Mercy Hospital today.  Pretty fun. Very cool.  Good for the kids and them and all involved.

More here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151544515710915&set=a.10151544301070915.1073741830.51136075914&type=1&theater

Link:

Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics

I'm so old...

I remember when there was a toll on the Broadway Bridge going into downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

THAT old.

Even as a kid I thought it a nuisance.

And no certainly no way to associate with the introduction to an otherwise fun place to visit.

Or live.

KCUR's history: Great to know

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

2 KC Institutions that desperately need updating

There are two--count 'em, two--Kansas City retail institutions in the area that have locations that are in such really awful condition, it's difficult to believe how neglected and downright ugly they are.

The first is Berbiglia's Liquor stores.

The two stores that are ironically closest to the city's most prime retail space, the Country Club Plaza, are a couple of the best, worst examples of ugly retail spots in the city. The first is on Westport Road, just to the West of Southwest Trafficway while the 2nd is at the corner of 45th and Madison.

These 2 stores are dumps. It's stunning this company has the nerve to keep these ugly, rundown retail facilities open. It looks as though they only want to sell to alcoholic street people. Without updating this place, they have a lot of nerve keeping it open. It's an insult to the customers who come through the door. I should think the Berbiglia family is or would be embarrassed by these really awful eyesores, should any still be around, as I believe they are.

Both have what must surely the original linoleum vinyl tile flooring when the shops were opened, they look that bad. They're way overused and neglected. You'd think they'd be an embarrassment to the owners of the chain but clearly they're not. They've been in this condition for years and to date, it appears they have no regard for their stores and, worse, no respect for or appreciation of their customers. They simply want to suck all the money and profit from the stores they can and never update. The customers they seem to be catering to would be the alcoholics off the street. If this isn't the customers they want, they should invest in their stores at least enough to make it clear otherwise.

Their store out on 75th Street, near State Line makes it clear they know they wouldn't have clients without also having a nice-looking, attractive, comfortable store, too.

The second local company that sorely, sorely needs updating and a bit of investment are the two Winstead's restaurants.

Have you been in lately?

Sure, the hamburgers and fries are just as they ever were... but that carpet?

It's not only badly worn in the main path areas but it's downright filthy. Whatever shades of mauve it used to be is now a deep, dark, dirty brown. It is beyon not pretty. It doesn't give you the feeling you've walked into a clean restaurant, certainly. And it's true at both the Plaza location and the one out West on Shawnee Mission Parkway, near I-35.

If the owners are smart, they'll one day put in new carpet, then give the staff a bit of a refresher on great service and have a kind of "Grand re-opening" so it gets them some notice and--shock of shocks--free press, media attention and advertising. Imagine that--helping your business and sales by investing in it.

Both of these businesses need to do just that and the sooner the better.

In each case, would it cost the company to update? Sure, you bet it would.

But would it also pay the respective companies in media attention and increased sales?

I think it absolutely would.

Here's hoping.

Links: http://www.berbiglia.com/

http://www.winsteadssteakburger.com

Note to KCI Airport Authority: WE DON'T WANT A DIFFERENT, NEW AIRPORT!!!

I'll say this until I'm blue in the face:

KANSAS CITIANS--AND PEOPLE FROM THIS REGION--DON'T WANT OR NEED A NEW, DIFFERENT, AIRPORT

The latest on our airport (from The Star):

New plan calls for different site for new terminal at KCI

How did this happen, anyway?

The people of Kansas City were never--never--asked if we wanted a new, different airport for any reason, yet the powers that be in town have already decided it's happening and taking place.

You know why this is happening, too, right?

The airlines are paying what they see as too much for airport security so they want a new, more traditional airport where we'll all go through the same security checkpoint.

That's the real issue here, folks, don't kid yourselves.

It isn't as they have claimed that the old building needs replacing and that it's too expensive to redo.

That's nonsense.

It's a bold-faced lie.

It's about the airlines and their costs, period.

We need to raise heck about this. We want our airport left alone.

Let's start now.

Write to your city councilman now and tell them---

WE DON' NEED NO STEENKENG NEW AIRPORT.

We don't want it.

Heck, the way this city has spent money, we likely can't even afford it.

Link to original post: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/06/14/3658322/a-different-site-for-new-airport.html

Know how to anger a Kansas Citian?

Drive the speed limit on I-435 on the South part of the city.

Or maybe just drive the speed limit.

An example of why we don't need "guns, guns and more guns"

Kansas City got yet another example the other day on why we--our society, in general but Kansas City and the nation, both--absolutely don't need "more guns, everywhere, all the time" as the NRA and their supporters seem to support.

From The Kansas City Star:

Metro Squad investigates killing of Raytown man

"Harry M. Stone looked forward to his next physical challenge.

For the 60-year-old longtime Raytown resident, that meant jogging daily to prepare to join relatives this summer to climb Aspen Mountain in Colorado.

He was doing that Sunday morning when a gunman leaned out of a passing sedan and fatally shot Stone in what police believe was a random, unprovoked drive-by shooting."

A random, pointless, needless shooting that creates a tragedy. A life lost. A family deeply hurt. Friends who lose someone close and dear to them.

For nothing.

And sure, this is where the NRA and those supporters say "Sure, but if you take away guns, only the bad guys will have guns."

Right. I get so tired of that logic.

How, exactly, was this Mr. Stone supposed to know he was going to be shot for no reason, out of the blue, for starters? And so how, after that, was he supposed to know he should be "packing heat"--carrying a gun--for self-protection on his morning walk.

The logic doesn't fit. It doesn't fit at all.

As a society, as a culture, we Americans are just far too reliant and dependent on guns in our lives and in our world.

No nation on the planet has more shootings and so, more killings by handguns and other weapons than we do. And it's been this way for decades, at least. We're gun-wacko.

No, it just makes no sense.

The trouble is, I don't know how you reduce the number of guns that are in a society, once they're already out there. It's a deadly Pandora's box that can't be re-shut, it seems.

And just try suggesting that we register them.

Good luck and God help you with that.

So in the meantime, these people will suggest we have guns on our buses and in our passenger trains and in our National Parks, everywhere.

It's "All guns, all the time."

Yeehaw.

Links: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/05/13/3608567/man-wounded-in-raytown-shooting.html; http://www.kctv5.com/story/18375518/metro-squad-raytown-man-out-for-jog-gunned-down;
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/05/14/3609598_metro-squad-investigating-killing.html; http://www.tonyskansascity.com/2012/05/rage-and-reaction-regarding-innocent.html; http://www.kshb.com/dpp/news/crime/daughter-of-raytown-man-shot-while-jogging-speaks-out; http://www.kctv5.com/story/18407272/raytown-church-leader-fatally-shot-during-jog-mourned-as-police-release-surveillance-video; http://fox4kc.com/2012/05/14/church-family-disturbed-by-members-murder/;;

On "Anonymous" commenters and the cowardice they display

"...for the sweaty mobs of posters going incognito as they drop poison on others, they are simply gutless. Forums should put a yellow stripe beside their words." --Froma Harrop, The Real Problem with Online Anonymity; Link: http://www.nationofchange.org/real-problem-online-anonymity-1332077774

KC Royal's current excitement

Well good for the Royals. They did, in fact, pick up Gardner Edgerton's Bubba Starling to play for the team. Standout as he is and "local boy", at that, it just made too much sense. Great player. Lots of prospects and possibilities. Has his "feet on the ground", so to speak. This is good for the Royals both long and short-term, as well as for Mr. Starling. The thing is--and I hate to sound even remotely like Tony over at his TKC blog--but if he is good and stays good and improves, etc., those same Royals--short-sighted cheapskates they are--will never keep him long-term, once he gets "expensive", in their eyes. Winning be damned, this team doesn't keep good players that they see as costly or too expensive. That said, good on you, Bubba. Enjoy. We'll love seeing this "local boy making good" right here at home, for as long as they'll keep him. Also, one final note, Bubba--we and likely your family, too--are especially glad you picked baseball instead of Nebraska football. You should be able to play much longer in life and with far fewer injuries. Links: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/08/15/3078827/bubba-starling-signs-with-royals.html; http://videos.kansascity.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=106822291; http://www.kansascity.com/2011/08/15/3077679/bubba-starling-chooses-between.html; http://www.kansascity.com/2011/08/15/3078792/royals-come-to-agreement-with.html

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day out there, indeed.
This shot is dedicated to all the Moms and Mothers out there, sure, and particularly and especially to Helen Marie McCall Evans--Mom.
We lost her in 2000.
A harder working, more dedicated, sincere, compassionate and passionate person you could never want to meet.
We love and miss you, Mom.

Hypocrisy, anyone?

Tony "I love scantily-clad babes on my blog" Botello pointing out someone else's sexism:

COST OF SEXISM: FEMALE WORKERS STAY LOSING IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI!!!

The KC Biz Journal puts a real dollar amount on sexism in the bi-state area that's A LOT MORE IMPORTANT than silly TKC jokes or tribute to hotties: Kansas, Missouri women earn thousands less than men -- "Kansas women working full time earn an average of $10,153 less than their male counterparts each year. In Missouri, the gap is almost as large —$9,667."

That's rich.

Thanks for today's laugh, Tone!

Oh, and keep up the great work!

Stay classy!  (no pun intended)

The great thing is, he didn't see it coming.

Apparently you can be sexist and show cleavage, you just can't be sexist and not pay them equal as men.  I guess that's how that works.

First over at TKC and now this

First I see and read racist rants over at Tony's KC Blog in the comments section (racist, knuckle-dragging morons using the "n" word, for lack of a better description) and now this:

Anger, shock over cross burning in Calif community

By ROBERT JABLON, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES – Anger and shock have penetrated a prosperous, mostly white Central California community where an 11-foot cross was stolen from a church and set on fire next to the home of a black family.

The cross was stolen from a garden at Saint John's Lutheran Church weeks ago and set ablaze Friday in a lot behind the house where the family lived, police Cmdr. John Hough said.

Whoever did this falls under the categories of thief, coward, racist and moron.

I point this out because first, we should be beyond racism and secondly, because pointing it out and bringing it to light should, hopefully, see to it that one day we rid ourselves of this kind of ignorance.  

It can't be tolerated.

It bears repeating:  we should be way beyond this.

Link to original story:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_calif_cross_burning

You got a DUI? In Westport? On St. Pat's?

You gotta' be kidding me.

Westport checkpoint leads to 41 DUI arrests

Kansas City authorities arrested 41 persons suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol during a sobriety checkpoint held last night outside of Westport.

More than 800 vehicles were stopped during the checkpoint held between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. at 39th Street and Southwest Trafficway.

And you didn't maybe see that coming?

I'm sorry but you have to be some kinda' stupid to get picked up drunk driving in Westport, Kansas City, Missouri on St. Patrick's Day.

Link to original post:  http://www.kansascity.com/2011/03/18/2734396/westport-checkpoint-leads-to-41.html

A KC "Convention Hotel"?

Oh, please.

I mean, even I want a brand new C-Class Mercedes Benz sedan, just like some here in KCMO want a convention hotel in downtown KC that would add 1000 rooms to the city so we could hold larger conventions but we just have way too many things going against us right now.

First, we simply don't have the money.  In spite of what the outgoing mayor said or says, we are not in some great financial situation where we can pull money out and help pay for the thing.

Second, check this out from The Kansas City Business Journal:

Fitch downgrades KC bond rating because of threat to earnings tax

Kansas City Business Journal
Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The specter of Kansas City losing its earnings tax revenue caused a major ratings agency to downgrade its score on the city’s general obligation bonds.

Fitch Ratings assigned a AA rating Kansas City’s general obligation bonds, down from the previous AA+ score.

Fitch’s report on Tuesday attributed its downgrade to the unstable future of 1 percent Kansas City’s earnings tax, which provides about $200 million a year in revenue.

“The downgrade reflects the greater inherent risks to the city’s financial performance and overall vitality created by the new initiative requiring voter approval of the continuation of the city’s principal revenue source every five years,” the Fitch Ratings report said.

The downgrade could make the cost of issuing and financing bonds more expensive.

So we don't have the money and we don't, likely, have the credit or credit rating to do it, either.

Added to this situation is that this is the worst economy in literally 80 years, since the Great Depression of the 30's and you just don't have the scenario to make a large convention hotel in downtown KCMO happen right now.  Maybe in years to come.  Maybe.  If the economy locally, state-wide and nationally comes back but no one foresees that happening anytime too soon.

As a few people wrote over on the TKC blog, this should put an end to the whole erasure of the e-tax but the way voters are and the way this issue is, who can say what will happen come election day?  

One thing is certain--election day is going to be fascinating if for no other reason than the vote on the e-tax.  Let's hope it's "good fascinating" and not "depressing fascinating."

Link to original story:  http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2011/02/22/fitch-downgrades-kc-bond-rating.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+bizj_kansascity+(Kansas+City+Business+Journal)