Newspaper Ad Revenues Lowest in 62 Years

"The decline in print newspaper advertising to a 62-year low is amazing by itself, but the sharp decline in recent years is pretty stunning,” noted the report. “Print ad revenues fell by almost 50% in just the last four years, from $37 billion in 2008 to less than $19 billion last year; and by 66% over the last decade, from $56.3 billion in 2002."

Ah. So that's how the eebil Koch Bros. plan on crowning themselves media moguls: buying red ink dead tree recyclers. Too crazy by half clever fox. Or something.

From Alex Halperin at Salon.com: Koch Brothers eyeing Tribune company; Tribune owns the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune and several large regional newspapers.

Is Martial Law Ever OK?

David Scott Whinery, Esquire at KC Confidential wants to know, but offers few answers.

Uh, oh. Frost warnings are posted in h3ll when Mary Sanchez at the KC Star and I agree: If Kansas City's 25th anniversary charity 'Trolley Run' no longer allows bags or backpacks at the event, have the terrorists won?

 Boston Residents Ordered Out Of Homes At Gunpoint By SWAT teams - and we're OK with this suspension of the 4th Amendment in the name of 'public safety?'

Then there's this; from Katy Waldman at Slate: Why the door-to-door manhunt for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev doesn’t violate the Constitution.

Value Diversity, Define it Broadly

I say hogwash. Diversity for its own sake is no accomplishment, and in fact, only highlights division.

David  Stoeffler, in an editorial at the News-Leader, offers up the usual goldilock multi-cultural bromide about the 'value of diversity:' not too European; not too Catholic; not too rich, but ju-ust right, so we 'reflect the community.' But not until he assails us with a tale about his sheltered small town boyhood with all those White people where he grew up, and how Black folks were either Cassius Clay or Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Oh, and a family of Jehovah's Witness, too.

Mr. Stoeffler elaborates:

"Race and ethnicity are key aspects to any honest commitment to diversity — particularly given the changing demographics in our country — but they are not the only factors. The key is to recognize the value of all types of differences, including gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, physical disabilities and socioeconomics. Differing political values also should be recognized."

Differences, differences, and more differences, said the multi-culturalist.

Odd. We, as a nation, spend billions per year on higher education at university (unity from diversity), only to be indoctrinated with the demand for diversity, which is merely a mutated relativism, disdainful of morality, conservatism, and human nature, yet claims the mantle of tolerance. It all sounds so double plus un-good.


Diversity for its own sake is no accomplishment, and in fact, only highlights division. Unity of virtue is common ground for all people and societies: honesty, charity, patience, hard work. And it matters not what the color of your skin or where you where born in order to embrace these ideals; only the content of your heart.

Or was that just crazy talk from some guy many decades ago which liberals conveniently disregard??

College of the Ozarks Encourages Debt-Free Students

Nicknamed 'Hard Work U,' the College of the Ozarks is a private, Christian liberal-arts college located near Branson, Missouri. The college offers over 30 academic majors, and degrees in Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science.

Tuition at the college is paid for via a student work program and charitable donations.

From the Joplin Globe:

"It’s definitely a lot of hard work,” said Gregory, who is majoring in animal science and agriculture business. “You’re just working for your education so you don’t have to pay it off. Just to know that you’re graduating and you can focus on getting a place to live, or a job, and you don’t have to pay (your education) off — you can focus on other things, like a car. We will have more freedom than being tied down to debt.”

During a time when most students are graduating from college with loan debt, College of the Ozarks, a private, four-year school of nearly 1,400 students near Branson, is swimming against the tide. It has long discouraged student debt by not participating in any federal or state loan programs, and its president, Jerry C. Davis, recently announced that the college will no longer honor private bank loans for students.

“Basically what we’re saying is if you want to borrow money, go somewhere else,” he said. “Trust me, there are plenty of colleges that will loan you money. This is not one of them.”

Many college students graduate other 4 year schools with an average of $26,600 in loan debt.

The College of the Ozarks website is here.

*KC Street Scene from 1938

It's from an issue of LIFE magazine. I'm not sure who is the photographer.

Judging from the landmarks of yesteryear, I'd guess we're looking east, standing near the corner of Walnut & 12th street (note the street car congestion!).

Dead center of this photo is the quasi-gothic tower of the Tower Theater located between McGee & Grand on 12th st.

Further off in the hazy distance, just a little to the right of the Tower, is the monolithic county courthouse building.

Near the middle left protrudes an old KATZ drug store sign. Isaac Katz started the iconic drugstore chain in 1917. OSCO - later renamed CVS Pharmacy - bought out the Katz Bros. in 1981.

The most famous KATZ store was built during the great depression in 1934. It's empty now, auctioned off last year, but the Art Deco building is located in Westport at 3948 Main Street.

TY KCwtRA

*repost

Missouri Revenue Director Resigns Amid CCW Controversy

From the Columbia Tribune:

"JEFFERSON CITY — Brian Long resigned Monday as director of the state Department of Revenue after four months on the job and as legislative inquiries into the release of concealed gun data and a new driver licensing system have the department facing tough questions." 

 That CCW data was released to the Feds via the Mo. State Highway Patrol.

"Lawmakers have reacted strongly to the release of the confidential information. They are also concerned about whether the new licensing requirements are part of an effort to implement the 2005 federal Real ID Act.

Concealed weapons permits are confidential. A state law passed in 2009 bars Missouri from taking steps to implement Real ID because of concerns about the amount of data that would be collected on individuals." 

 And therein lies the controversy.

Apparently, privacy is only a concern to govt. when your underage daughter wants to kill her unborn child without her parent's knowledge.

From 2005 until his appointment as revenue director in December, Mr. Long Long was chairman of the Council on Public Higher Education, the association of the state's public universities - which may help explain his anti-liberty, nanny-state tendencies. Deputy Director John Mollenkamp will serve as acting revenue director until a new permanent director is appointed.

Ozark Missouri School Employees Now Carry Weapons

And the parents approve.

From a perplexed NY Times:

"The school board, which includes a former county sheriff, worked out the details of liability coverage with Fairview’s insurance provider. Then, at an open meeting in late February, it authorized some of the school employees to undergo a training program that would certify them to carry guns on campus.

Those employees took a 40-hour course during spring break last month through a company called Shield Solutions, whose instructors included local SWAT team members. The training, which was paid for by the school, included firearms and situational drills. The employees, who have furnished their own guns, each also had to pass a background check, a drug test and a mental evaluation — all of which must be repeated annually, as well as additional firearms training and re-certification. 

“It’s not a ‘Well, here’s your gun; carry it,’ ” said Vic Williams, the Fairview superintendent. “It’s very closely monitored. It’s not a Clint Eastwood-type deal.”

Children are precious and priceless. We are required, by law, to entrust them to public educators 7 hrs / day, 240 days / yr., and pay for the privilege with tax dollars. It's only reasonable to do our best to protect them, and firearms in properly trained hands are a good solution. Govt. officials are protected by armed guards; entertainers are protected by armed guards; sports stars are protected by armed guards; our money is protected by armed guards. Our children are more valuable than all put together.

BRAVO to this district for making the right decision.

Why Are the Feds Trying to Identify All Gun Owners in Missouri?

Actually, it's all concealed carry weapon (CCW) permit holders in Missouri - not all gun owners - since CCW is the only registration of gun owners kept on file by the states.

But why do the Feds need with this info? Or, more specifically, what does the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General need with this info?? And why did the Missouri State Highway Patrol - which is directly answerable to Gov. Jay Nixon (a democrat) - supply that info to the Feds??


BTW: Anyone attempting to purchase a firearm via a federal firearms license (FFL) dealer is ran through the FBI NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System), but those records are destroyed soon after the check is complete.

More Brutal Global Warming Hits Mid West with Snow, Ice, Wind

Gov. Nixon declares state of emergency in Mo.;
Much of South Dakota shut down from snow and ice;
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton calls out Nat'l. Guard;
 
Al Gore no where to be found.

From a vassal AP:

"The National Weather Service said southwestern Minnesota could get 8 or 9 inches of snow by Thursday morning, while 8 to 14 inches was forecast for a large swath of southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, St. Cloud, Willmar and Mankato starting Wednesday night and into Thursday.

In Missouri and Arkansas, dangerous winds were the threat Wednesday. A tornado was reported to have touched down near Botkinburg in north-central Arkansas, said John Robinson, the warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in North Little Rock. Four people were injured...

Residents in eastern South Dakota were hunkering down Wednesday for the second wave of a spring storm that already downed power lines and closed roads, schools and businesses. Tens of thousands of residents in that part of the state remained without power as they awaited more bad weather."

Fortunately, no deaths have been reported, but there's plenty of injuries, property damage and just plain old disgust at the Winter that won't go away.

Missouri Senate Republican Proposes Ban on Credit Card Surcharges

Krykee doodle. More micromanaging, nanny-state gub'mint nitwit bull squat! This is why people are fed up with the Republican Party: they're often indistinguishable from Democrats.

'Sponsoring Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt, of Glendale, said his bill is an important consumer protection as credit card usage grows. Retailers could be charged with a Class D felony for continuing to assess a surcharge. (typically 1.5 to 3 percent).'

Opponents say businesses need to charge extra because it's expensive to allow credit cards as a form of payment. Schmitt says retailers could build that cost into an item's price rather than charge the extra fee.'

And there you have it; our betters in gub'mint with their genius thought process: take away consumer choice, and make it more expensive for everyone.

But not all retailers like the surcharge idea, nor will they add they surcharge. And what's to prevent a work-around like providing a discount to cash customers?

I got a crazy idea: why not treat customers like responsible adults and let the market place decide!!

Until this January, companies like Visa and MasterCard had policies that prohibited participating retailers from adding surcharges. The settlement of an antitrust suit brought by some retailers forced the change. Debit cards are exempt.

Yet, as many as 10 states already have laws on the books to prohibit the credit card surcharge. Missouri seeks to be the eleventh, with 12 more states considering the legislation.

Go away. STOP. HELPING. US.

Uh, oh. Nanny is unhappy in Australia.

Stores Charge Customers $5 'Just Looking' Fee to Combat 'Showrooming.'

Sweet 16: Bill Self Kicks Roy Williams Butt (again), 70-58

OK. That's not the real headline, but it's close enough.

Before Missouri headed South East in 2012, whenever KU & MU met on game day, fans went fanatical over the 'border war' - you know, ala pre-civil war raiders and bush wackers - except the modern incarnation has more beer and less blood.

Needless to say, folks in these parts carry a grudge for a while, so they're still a bit PO'd at ol' Roy for doing his double-talking yo-yo impersonation and sneaking off to North Carolina in 2003. But Bill Self has helped heal the rift.

From Rustin Dodd at the KC Star:

'The No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks had buried No. 8 seed North Carolina with an emotional second-half comeback, advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year with a 70-58 victory. And the coach, Bill Self, had vanquished former KU coach Roy Williams and his Tar Heels for the third time in six years.'

Missouri's Tigers were shot down and out in the 1st round last Thursday by Colorado.

Dang it.

Kansas City Broadcasting Icon Walt Bodine Dead at 92

His legendary catch-phrase was “What Do You Say to That?”

RIP

8 Secrets of Sexually Satisfied Couples

Mrs. Locomotivebreath - that curvaceous raven-haired beauty whom I'd marry all over again - is a very happy woman. We both agree that the most erogenous zone in the body is the mind, and foreplay begins long before the bedroom door closes.

This Woman's Day article doesn't really say those words, but it does remind us loving adults to be realistic about our daily lives together; be pragmatic in accommodations; and most of all, have fun with each other. And that makes me a very happy man.

Achieve bliss in the bedroom by applying these real-world tips.

KC Rep. Emanuel Cleaver(D-MO) promotes KC Bike / Walk Trails

Because draconian sequester cuts.

From comments: "Balancing a bike is easier than balancing the budget."

I always wear a suit n tie while riding, too. (PICS)

Seattle Mariners end Kansas City Royals’ Win Streak at 11

The 'surprise' in Surprise couldn't last forever, but it was a nice ride.

From Pete Grathoff at the KC Star:

"A Seattle split squad roughed up Guillermo Moscoso for five runs in the fourth inning, breaking a 1-1 tie, and the Royals never recovered as they lost 12-2. They are now a symmetrical 11-1-1."

For far too many seasons, the KC Royals have been a 2nd rate major league team, with last year being downright dismal. So, up until Thursday, who could blame our ol' buddy Joe Posnanski, apparently giddy with spring training fever, when he cautiously dubbed them 'The Unbeatable Kansas City Royals':

"Now, let me make this clear: I believe this 10-game spring training winning streak means almost exactly nothing. It means about as much as an NBA player making 20 three-pointers in a row during warmups or an NFL kicker making a 68-yard field goal in pre-game. It might buoy the confidence a bit. It might sell a couple more early season tickets. It might help create a more positive atmosphere in the clubhouse. But that’s it. The Royals began last year by losing their first 10 home games in the regular season — THAT means something.

But … hey winning 10 in a row is better than losing 10 in a row. And there is something exciting about this team. That exciting thing is, paradoxically, something kind of boring: For the first time in what seems like forever, the Royals don’t enter a season needing miracles..."

 Indeed.

&&&

Lake City Army Ammunition Plant Modernization Spurs Voluntary Worker Layoffs

In 2012, the federally owned, but privately managed, munitions plant near Independence, MO. delivered its 2 billionth round of 7.62-millimeter ammunition to the U.S. Army. It currently employs 2600 people, and it's unclear how many will be offered the voluntary layoff option - or if a round of mandatory layoffs will follow.

From the Kansas City Business Journal:

"The layoffs are not related to sequestration, the automatic federal budget cuts, said Bryan Kidder, a spokesman for Alliant Techsystems Inc. (NYSE: ATK), which operates the plant for the federal government.

“The workforce reduction is the result of a multi-year modernization effort at the 72-year-old facility and recent draw downs in military actions,” Kidder said in a written statement. “ATK will update employees as more information becomes available.”

Employees who choose a voluntary layoff will be provided with a separation package based on the number of years of service, Kidder said in the statement."

Since taking over the plant in 2000, ATK has increased the production rate of 7.62mm ammunition five-fold through expansion, automation, and modernization programs.

*Singer Patsy Cline Died 50 Yrs. Ago Today

 Patsy Cline was a stage name. She was born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8, 1932. The Country Music Hall of Fame published an authoritative encyclopedia in 1998 that declared Patsy Cline as "the most popular female country singer in recording history.

Patsy died in a plane crash near Camden, Tennessee, in 1963, when she was a mere 30 years old. I was way too young to know about Patsy, or even recognize her music, or care about it, but my mother - a consummate audiophile - enjoyed a plethora of different musical genres and artists, and she unwittingly introduced this young boy to Patsy Cline's haunting melodies, lyrical voice, and memorable music.

The poster at the left is a photo I took last year in a restaurant near Bolivar, Missouri called 'Smiths.' It's an original advert poster of Patsy final concert in Kansas City, Ks., 2 days before her fateful plane crash.

Two biographies, 2 hollywood movies, and at least two stage plays have been written about Patsy Cline's life and music.

&&&

Senate Bill would Block Missouri Welfare from Being Spent at Casinos, Liquor stores

From the Political Fix blog at the ST. Louis Post-Dispatch:

"In addition to placing specific restrictions on where Electronic Benefit Transfer cards can be used, the Senate bill would bar businesses from accepting them for purchases of alcohol, tobacco or lottery tickets.

Initial violations would result in misdemeanor charges, but repeat offenders would face felony charges."

The truly sad part? That this predictable abusive behavior concerning welfare wasn't predicted and thwarted before it became a predictable legislative afterthought, long after millions of tax payer dollars were wasted.

The bill has bipartisan sponsorship from state Sen. Will Kraus (R) and Sen. Maria Nadal (D).

And rest assured, the tax payers are being robbed by this type of welfare fraud in all 50 states.

Bank Employee with CCW Shoots Would-be Robber in Jaw

Now that's how you write a headline! Clear. Concise. Factual.

When finally apprehended by police, the would-be robber sputtered, "You guys going to let me die?"

From DeAnn Smith at KCTV5:

"TRIMBLE, MO (KCTV) - A First Security Bank employee with a conceal-and-carry permit shot a would-be robber in the jaw, authorities said Monday.

Michael Stephen Oliva, 34, of Liberty, was charged with attempted bank robbery on Monday by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Oliva allegedly was carrying a realistic-looking fake plastic gun when he tried to rob the bank about 1:30 p.m. Friday.

Oliva was arrested after a chase in which speeds exceeded 100 mph. According to court records, a bleeding Oliva asked, "You guys going to let me die?" when he finally pulled over on Interstate 435 in Kansas City."

Now that's how you write a news story. Clear. Concise. Factual. And highlights the swift and brave intervention of an armed citizen to thwart a would-be robber from stealing other people's hard earned peace of mind, along with their money.

Contrast the above news story with the KC Star's narrative about this poor guy's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, and we all hope he's learned a valuable lesson:

"Oliva’s purported adventure began about 1:25 p.m. Friday, when he invited bad karma by parking in a handicapped-accessible spot before entering the bank. Pulling on a black mask, Oliva allegedly pointed a plastic replica handgun at a teller and demanded money.

The teller instead dropped to the floor, crawled away and yelled for help, according to court records. When Oliva leaned over the counter to wave his plastic gun at her some more, the teller heaved a plastic trash can at him.

At least that missed."

 Got that? The would-be robber had an 'adventure,' and ' invited bad karma by parking in a handicapped-accessible spot'!! But, dang it, some mean ol' employee with an evil gun shot the guy instead of heaving another plastic trash can that would miss him.

Oh, the humanity - of being a cub reporter working for this rag.

I have to hurl.

Mass. Parasites Use EBT cards to Buy Booze, Guns and Pr0n

Gee. No one could have predicted that predictable abusive behavior. 

Plus, added tax payer goodness: $25 million in EBT money could be going to recipients who aren’t eligible.

From the Boston Herald: 

"The loophole, Health and Human Services Secretary John Polanowicz said last week, involves supermarkets, convenience stores and department stores that sell those things as well as EBT-eligible items — but there is no way the state’s cash card system can tell the difference."

Maybe. But the tax payers sure the h3ll know the difference between takers and producers, but apparently that skill set is above the pay grade for our betters in gub'mint.

And, of course, this fraud is not limited to Massachusetts. Last year, an audit by  the state of Missouri unearthed these welfare funds being accessed at ATMs in places like casinos and liquor stores, and in places as far away as American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Just last month, a Texas grocer was convicted of food stamp fraud (EBT) and sentenced to nearly five years in prison, plus ordered to pay more than $1.4 million in restitution.

Related: from 2012, EBT fraud and abuse in 50 states.