Cordish Co. says proposed dress code law ought to apply citywide

By DEANN SMITH
The Kansas City Star
Breaking News

A proposed dress code ordinance is unfairly aimed at the downtown entertainment district, and any such regulations should apply throughout Kansas City, Cordish Co. officials say.

The developers of the Power & Light District oppose the municipal law, saying any dress code regulations infringe on the rights of businesses. They say the current dress codes at district establishments are needed for both taste and safety reasons.

“It appears to us it was all about the Power & Light District,” said Zed Smith, director of asset management for Baltimore-based Cordish.

Smith and Kevin Battle, general manager of the nine-block downtown district, met Friday for an hour with The Kansas City Star’s editorial board.

Cordish had previously declined to publicly discuss the proposed ordinance intended to bar businesses from arbitrarily defining the length of jewelry, hair, sleeves, shirts or pants, or the type of shoes worn by patrons. The ordinance would regulate dress codes at any “businesses or facilities” that have received tax abatements, relief or incentives. That would include the entertainment district and the 18th and Vine Historic Jazz District.

But Cordish and some council members think the ordinance is worded so broadly that it would bar dress codes at business such as H&R Block. Smith said if the council imposes dress code regulations, then it is “only fair that it apply to every business establishment in Kansas City.”

City Councilwoman Beth Gottstein, the major sponsor of the ordinance now pending in the council’s Planning and Zoning Committee, said Friday that the city attorney’s office says the ordinance is worded to affect only businesses open to the public.

Gottstein said the proposal is not intended to focus on Cordish, but on developments receiving tax assistance.

“When there are public dollars involved, I think our stewardship is all the more important. The facilities belong to everyone,” she said. “The intent is not to be the decency police or the fashion police. But we have to be especially protective of public accommodations.”

Last year a public outcry arose when Cordish and some of its tenants imposed dress codes that some thought were inconsistently enforced and discriminatory against African-American males. The ban includes chains or necklaces worn by men, untucked shirts, white T-shirts, work boots and long, baggy clothing.

Smith said Friday that there were problems last year with one tenant and that Cordish worked to ensure the dress code was consistently enforced. He also said that the dress code is in effect only when alcohol is served in the evening.

“We have been working with the city and made adjustments,” Smith said. “We thought it was behind us.”

Smith explained that parts of the dress code are rooted in safety concerns to prevent gang paraphernalia from being worn, such as the ban on sagging pants or men wearing oversized jewelry, while others are a matter of decency and taste, such as barring men from wearing tank tops, which expose their armpits.

Cordish wants to create a safe and welcoming environment for a special night out downtown, Smith said.

“It becomes a huge nightclub,” he said. “Ninety-nine percent of people are dressed up.”

To reach DeAnn Smith, call 816-234-4412 or send e-mail to dsmith@kcstar.com.

Oh, We've Got Change!

Tonight, President Barack Hussein Obama, our first (but not last) African-American president, addressed a Joint Session of Congress. That means The House of Representatives, The Senate, and the Justices of The Supreme Court.



The entire government of The United States of America.

Our President, our Commander in Chief, the man addressing this amazing assembly is the child of a white American, Christian woman from the heart of Kansas and an African, Muslim father from Kenya. He was born in Hawaii and attended school in Indonesia.



After his speech, the Republican...let me repeat that...the REPUBLICAN response, was given by Piyush "Bobby" Jindal, the Governor of Louisiana and at 36, the youngest Governor in the country. His parents were Punjabi Indian immigrants. Jindal was born and raised a Hindu, but converted to Catholicism in high school.



Barack Hussein Obama and Piyush Jindal.

Get used to it, Bubba. This ain't your daddy's America anymore.

It's new and improved! With more color, more diversity, fresh ideas and yes, hope.

I've never been more optimistic about the future of America.

Poll: Politicians trusted more than business leaders on economy

Story Highlights

30 percent express confidence Wall Street will make right decisions to end recession

75 percent say President Obama will make the right moves regarding recession

Poll: Obama has more Republicans trusting him than Wall Street has

Majority opposes providing rest of bailout money to banks

By Paul Steinhauser
CNN Deputy Political Director

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Call it a sign of the times. A new national poll indicates that when it comes to dealing with the economy, Americans have more confidence in the White House and Congress than Wall Street, the banks or auto executives.

So much for the Free Market Economy and Republican policies that got us into this mess.

It's time for the grown ups to take charge.

Boy, 11, kills pregnant stepmom with his own gun

"WAMPUM, Pa. (AP) — Fifth-grader Jordan Brown boarded the bus and headed to school like he did most other mornings in this rural western Pennsylvania community.

But before he left home on Friday, authorities say, the 11-year-old boy had shot his father's pregnant fiancee in the back of the head as she lay in bed. He then put his youth model 20-gauge shotgun back in his room before going out to catch his bus, police say."

Yeah. That's right.

An 11 year old, fifth-grader had his own fucking 20-gauge shotgun!

Because some stupid, redneck, inbred, asshat parent thought that it was entirely appropriate to not only have guns in the house, and not only teach his children to shoot them, but to give his 11 year old kid a fucking shotgun and say "Here ya go. Have fun! I trust your judgement!".

OK. Enough of this bullshit.

Round up the guns and take them the fuck away from people, because people are too fucking stupid to be trusted with them.

Unless they can prove that they need them for protection because there is a legally filed restraining order, or they live way the fuck out in bumfuck egypt where police response is measured in calander days, or they need a fire arm to kill animals in order to survive.

If they don't meet those conditions, then they don't need to own a fucking gun!

Every gun taken away from an idiot is a victory of smart over stupid.

An Epiphany

My last blog post garnered way more attention than I thought a cartoon that I borrowed from another blogger deserved.

But the comments from people I know (the anonymous commenter's can go fuck themselves, I don't care what they think), and a conversation with a friend today got me to thinking about some stuff.

Most of the people who visit my blog are other bloggers. Some are my atheist buddies, but a lot of them are people of some sort of faith. These are people I like and respect and whose friendships I cherish.

I can't think of a single one of these bloggers-of-faith who put up posts quoting scripture, telling inspirational stories designed to get the reader "right with God", or condemning other people for what they believe (or don't believe). For the most part, they just keep that shit to themselves.

So I got to thinking maybe I should try to do the same.

I haven't made any secret about the fact that I'm an atheist, so hammering away on the subject isn't really giving my readers anything they didn't already know.

Apparently they don't find it very fucking entertaining or enlightening, just as I wouldn't find it entertaining to hear about how much God loves me every time I visited their site.

I'm sure as shit not going to change anyone's mind and am not certain I would want the burden of having done so if I did. I understand that people's faith is important to them. For some, it recharges their batteries, gives meaning to the world around them and helps them get through life without totally losing it on a daily basis.

To each his own. To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson (because I'm too fucking lazy to google the exact quote), "What another man chooses to believe or not believe neither breaks my bones nor picks my pocket."

You know, it would be one thing if this blog had some HUGE national or international audience who turned to me for their atheistic talking points for the day. But it's not.

I've never been exactly sure why people visit my blog. It's always been a bit of a mystery. It isn't really "about" anything. I don't have a consistent theme. It's pretty much whatever the fuck pops into my head that I think I might be able to share in an entertaining way.

I'm not compromising my point of view, or letting other people determine my content. I'm simply going to make a conscious effort to tone it the fuck down a little and not go out of my way to offend actual, real life friends that I care deeply about.

I won't always succeed. I am who I am. So don't expect this blog to become totally free of any discussion about religions. But I'll try to be a kinder, gentler, asshole.

I may even start up a separate blog dedicated to all of the atheist stuff where I an yell and scream and wave my arms to my hearts content without throwing it in the faces of the people who come here for other reasons.

If I do, you can betcher ass it will be linked on my blogroll.

That is all.

Quick Summary of Christianity

Thanks to Atheist Homeschooler!! LUMI!

Time For Some Remedial Training

Police Chase Ends After Suspects Bail

[access KSHB's story and video of the chase here]

Reported by: Jeff Vaughn
Email: vaughn@nbcactionnews.com
Posted by: Aaron Heintzelman
Last Update: 4:13 pm

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – A police pursuit of three suspects in a white Chevy Equinox ended Monday when they jumped out of the vehicle as it was moving.

Click on the video player to the right to watch the chase captured by NBC Action News Skytracker.

The suspects attempted to run from the scene, but officers quickly apprehended all three people near the corner of 16th and Quindaro in Kansas City, Kan.


View Larger Map

Dandridge N. Washington was charged on Feb. 17, with two counts of felony eluding a police officer in connection with the high speed chases on Feb. 16. Police say the chase went on much of the day after beginning on Interstate 70 in Kansas City, Mo. The chase started at around 2:11 p.m.

Police say the vehicle was traveling as fast as 110 miles per hour during the chase. The chase lasted approximately 29 minutes.


The District attorney charged 26-year-old Dandridge N. Washington, of Kansas City, Kan. Tuesday afternoon in connection with the high speed chase. He was charged with two counts of felony eluding a police officer in connection with two separate pursuits Monday, Feb, 16. The first occurred in Kansas City, Kan., and was terminated when the vehicle fled into Missouri. The second originated in Missouri and ended with Washington’s arrest at 18th and Short in Kansas City, Kan.

Washington is in custody in the Wyandotte County Jail in lieu of $50,000.00 bond.

You may notice that part at the end of the video where the driver of the car gets his FUCKING ASS KICKED by the police.

Now there is a lot of controversy here in Kansas City about whether some of the police officers used excessive force. I'm sure some of the boring local bloggers who continually harp and shriek away on the same tired notes will yell about racism, racial profiling, cultural divides and blah, blah, blah.

But there is a much simpler explanation of what happened and a much easier way to prevent such incidents in the future.

Apparently our local residents have forgotten the A,B,C's of how NOT to get your ass kicked by the police.

Here is a remedial training course, presented by The Hip Suburban White Guy as a community service.



You're welcome.

"Who Watches The Watchmensch?"

Is this the "Bored of The Rings" to "Watchmen"?

Now This Is What I Call Hope

A president that values modern scientific fact over Bronze Age fantasy.

There may be hope for this country yet.

I Wish I Could Wear Hats Again

Before I started shaving my head, when I was younger, I could wear hats.







These days, I just can't find one that looks good on me. Particularly of the western variety.

A woman I was dating once gave me a very nice cowboy hat which I had custom blocked in a style to my liking and dressed it up with a hatband I liked.



But everytime I'm about to go someplace where I think it might look appropriate, I put it on my head, look in the mirror and think "Oh FUCK no." and back in the box it goes.

But if I could pull it off and had the money to spend, I'd be dropping some serious coin over at Baron Hats.

"Baron California Hats has been serving the Motion Picture, Television, and well as the general public for 75 years.

For two decades we personally have made hats for many of the entertainment work's top names, television shows, and movies, Film epics such as "How the West Was Won", Paul Newman's "The Sting", and "Exodus", "The Man from Snowy River", "1941", "Crocodile Dundee", "Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom", "The Whole Ten Yards", and "Hidalgo". TV's popular mini-series, "Centennial", "The Thorn birds", "North and South", and the Emmy award-winning, "Winds of War", as well as the long-running weekly series "Gunsmoke", "Bonanza", "Star Trek" and "Little House on the Prairie", were but a few productions who relied on Baron's hat making abilities to lend authenticity to their overall look.

We have created hats for many of John Wayne's immortal classics like "The Alamo", "The Searchers", and the film that earned Duke his academy award for best actor, "The Grit"."

Here are a few of the hats I wish I could pull off.

The Kilgore from "Apocalypse Now”


"The Kilgore"
200XXX
100% Hand Brushed Beaver
$898
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
and our Exclusive Baron's Lifetime Guarantee
Available New or with Special Aging
for an additional charge of $99

The Charley from "Open Range"


"The Charley"
200XXX
100% Beaver
$699.00
Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
Available New or with Special Aging
for an additional charge of $99

The J. B. Books from "The Shootist"



This was the hat John Wayne wore in his very last film.



The one where he was shot dead by Opie Taylor.



THE J.B. BOOKS
100% 200XXX Beaver
Crown: 6” Extra High Crown with Classic Tear Drop
Brim: 4 1/2” Galloping Wave-Shaped with Cliff-Razor edge
Hatband: 1” Real Naturally Harvested Snakeskin
$725
Available New or with Special Aging
for an additional charge of $99

But I know I would look ridonkulous in all of those.

So hear is your challenge, dear reader. Find me a hat that would actually look good on me!

Not a western hat. Just something that would look good. GO!

Happy VD!

You know the drill guys. Valentines Day is here.

Every 14th of February you get the chance to display your fondness for a significant other by showering her with gifts, flowers, dinner, shows and any other baubles that women find romantic. Every Valentines day you rack your fucking brains for that one special, unique gift that will show your wife or girlfriend that you really do care for her more than any other.

Now ladies, I'll let you in on a little secret; guys really don't enjoy this that fucking much. Sure seeing that smile on your face when we get it right is priceless, but that smile is the result of weeks of blood, sweat, unacustomed thought and, on average, half a fucking paycheck.

Another secret ladies; guys feel left out.

That's right, there's no special holiday for the ladies to show their appreciation for the men in their life. Men as a whole are either too proud or too embarrassed to admit it.

Which is why a new holiday has been created.

March 14th is now officially "Steak and Blowjob Day".


Simple, effective and self explanatory, this holiday has been created so you ladies finally have a day to show your man how much you care for him.

No cards, no flowers, no special nights on the town; the name of the holiday explains it all.

Just a Steak and a Blowjob.

Thats it.

Finally, this twin pair of Valentine's Day and Steak and Blowjob Day will usher in a new age of love as men everywhere try THAT much harder in February to ensure a memorable March 14th!

The word is already beginning to spread, but as with any new idea, it needs a little push to start the ball rolling. So spread the word, and help bring love and peace to this crazy world.

Hey ladies, remember that old grade school tradition of giving a Valentine's Day card to every boy in your class?

You work with guys, right?

Why not give them a "Steak and Blowjob Day" card? I can guarantee you a newfound level of nerdy computer support, security walks to your car, and an increased interest in any words that come out of your mouth.

This is a win/win scenario.

[Any guy who reports you to HR for giving him a Steak & Blow Job card is gay!]


Steak and Blow Job Day was founded by Tom Birdsey (may God Bless his Brilliantly GENIUS Eternal Soul, Amen)

Blackwater, "XE" and KBR

Let's not let them get away with this subterfuge.

Our contractors, and the government officials who contracted them, need to be held accountable for their actions.

"In shift, Blackwater dumps tarnished brand name

By MIKE BAKER, Associated Press Writer Mike Baker, Associated Press Writer – Fri Feb 13, 5:33 pm ET Play Video AP – Blackwater's Iraq deal not to be renewed
Related Quotes Symbol Price Change
^DJI 7,850.41 -82.35
^GSPC 826.84 -8.35
^IXIC 1,534.36 -7.35

AP – In this April 4, 2004 file photo plainclothes contractors working for Blackwater USA take part in a … RALEIGH, N.C. – Blackwater Worldwide is still protecting U.S. diplomats in Iraq, but executives at the beleaguered security firm are taking their biggest step yet to put that work and the ugly reputation it earned the company behind them.

Blackwater said Friday it will no longer operate under the name that came to be known worldwide as a caustic moniker for private security, dropping the tarnished brand for a disarming and simple identity: Xe, which is pronounced like the letter "z."

It's a rare surrender for a company that cherished a brand name inspired by the dark-water swamps of northeastern North Carolina, one that survived another rebranding effort about a year ago, following a deadly shooting in Baghdad's Nisoor Square. The decision to give it up underscores how badly the Moyock-based company's brand was damaged by that incident and other security work in Iraq.

"They have established themselves as the bad guys," said Katy Helvenston, who sued the company following her son's death during a mission in Fallujah while working for Blackwater in 2004. "They've established such a horrible reputation. Why else would they change their name?"

Blackwater acknowledged last year in an interview with the The Associated Press the damage to its reputation had persuaded the company to focus on lines of business other than private security contracting.

The issue came to a head last month, when the State Department said it would not rehire Blackwater to protect its diplomats in Iraq after its current contract with the company expires in May. The company has one other major security contract, details of which are classified.

"It's not a direct result of a loss of (that) contract, but certainly that is an aspect of our work that we feel we were defined by," said spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell.

The company is also replacing its bear paw logo with a sleeker black-and-white graphic based on letters that make up the company's new name. In a note to employees, president Gary Jackson said the name change reflects the company's new focus, and he indicated Xe would not actively pursue new security business.

"This company will continue to provide personnel protective services for high-threat environments when needed by the U.S. government, but its primary mission will be operating our training facilities around the world," Jackson said.

It has expanded other businesses such as aviation support, recently building a fleet of 76 aircraft that it has deployed to such hotspots as West Africa and Afghanistan. The company got its start in training and continues to build up that business. Last year, some 25,000 civilians, law enforcement and military personnel attended a Blackwater class.

The company's changes aren't entirely voluntary. The 2007 shooting in Nisoor Square involving Blackwater guards left at least a dozen Iraqi civilians dead, infuriated politicians in Baghdad and Washington, triggered congressional hearings and increased calls that the company be banned from Iraq.

Late last year, prosecutors charged five of the company's contractors — but not Blackwater itself — with manslaughter and weapons violations. In January, Iraqi officials said they would not give the company a license to operate. The State Department responded by informing Blackwater it would not renew a contract that comprises a third of the company's nearly $1 billion in annual revenue.

"It would hurt us," company CEO Erik Prince said in an interview before losing the State Department deal. "It would not be a mortal blow, but it would hurt us."

Blackwater has rebranded before, introducing a new name — Blackwater Worldwide — and slight changes to its logo about a year ago. But Friday's announcement cuts ties entirely with a name created in 1997 when Prince and some of his former Navy SEAL colleagues launched the company.

Xe will cover the parent brand for the two-dozen subsidiaries, and none of those subsidiaries will retain the word "Blackwater" in their names.

Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky, chair of the Intelligence Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and a longtime Blackwater critic, said the new name won't change the fact that its actions have resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians.

"Blackwater's notorious reputation will outlast its name," she said."

And let's not forget Kellog, Brown and Root (KBR)

KBR Kellogg Brown and Root to be indicted for negligent homicide



The United States of America cannot be absolved of the actions of it's employees.

If our contractors are guilty of criminal action, then so are the government officials who authorized those contracts.

Let the prosecutions and convictions commence.

The Minutemen

BITE ME!

So I took my daughter, young Galadriel Tanqueray Onassis, to the orthodontist this afternoon. The first step on the path towards getting braces. We chose Dr. Thomas Lovinggood because:

He is right across he street from me and right around the corner from GTO.

My BFF had nice things to say about him.

GTO's teeth aren't all that bad. I mean, we're Americans!



We're not BRITISH!



But she does have an anterior crossbite that needs to be corrected.

I took her in for an estimate.

Total charge to fix her teeth is $4,521.00. My insurance will pay $1250.00 of that. So that leaves $3271.00 for us to suck up.

Good news is, NO big upfront charges. Easy monthly payments! No credit checks, no loans, no finance charges. I like this guy already!

Next step would be a "diagnostic records" appointment where they make molds of her teeth and whatnot. That's a $175.00 appointment. Divided between me and the ex, I'm only out $87.50.

From that point on, it's a flat $150.00 a month for the next 18-24 months.

Split between me and the ex, I'm looking at $75.00 a month.

I get paid twice a month. That's $37.50 per pay check. I think I can swing that.

Given that she is a freshman now and the dental treatment takes 18-24 months, she should have straight teeth and be brace-free in time for her Senior graduations pics.

This might not suck ass.

Rodney Carrington at Ameristar for Valentine's Day!

Rodney Carrington will be performing at the Ameristar Casino over the Valentine's Day weekend!

It just doesn't get any more romantic than a Rodney Carrington ballad.



That never gets old!

Some Squirrel Songs For Ya

In praise of Canadian Health Care



And the Kevorkian Scarf



But as my friend Satyavati (who turned me on to these videos) predicted, my favorite is "Hammers and Floodlights".



For someone who's never met me, she knows me SO WELL! Thanks!

I Like The Change

Tonight, MY President, Barack Hussein Obama, gave his very first press conference.

Most new presidents bury their first press conferences in the middle of the day so citizens don't see it in the raw. They just see the generously edited sound bits broadcast by a news media going easy on the new guy.

Not MY president! He went balls to the wall, live, in Prime Time, baby!

Good Gawd! We finally have a president who is intelligent, who thinks before he speaks, who takes the time to answer questions in depth instead of spouting arrogant, snarky sound bites in a condescending tone. Hallefuckinglujah!

I also noticed a cosmetic change in the presentation.

He abandoned the Dubya presidential podium and reverted to the old presidential podium.


I'm sure most of you didn't notice and have no idea what I am talking about.

Now, I'm no historian. I haven't done any real research, so most of what I'm putting forth is speculation. OK, all of it.

I'm guessing that the whole concept of a Presidential Podium originated with FDR when the idea was to disguise the fact that he couldn't stand upright without metal braces because he was a polio victim.


What better way to do that than by hiding his lower torso behind a substantial podium? Before that, presidents just stood up and talked wherever they were in front of whatever was put in front of them. No theatrical staging other than some patriotic bunting.


Our own Harry Truman, an unapologetic "bourbon and branch" aficianado, managed to turn the podium into button tufted bar with the president at the tap.


I think he was the first to formalize the practice of hanging the official presidential seal on any podium from which the POTUS was speaking.

Eisenhower certainly continued the practice.


As did JFK whom everyone acknowledges had a HUGE and widely used Presidential Podium.


As did LBJ.


And Nixon...


And Ford, who pioneered the first "modern", semi-phallic podium with the presidential seal bearing blue cap...



Continued by Carter...


And Reagan...



I know it was continued by George Herbert Walket Bush (a.k.a. "41"), but his son has so diluted the name that I couldn't find a single online image of George Herbert Walker standing behind the presidential podium. Seriously.


Clinton I could find...



But when Dubya took office he switched to some slender, wimpy, feminine, flaring, curvy podium with a tiny seal.




Next thing you know we had spent all the surplus of the Clinton years and gone deeply into debt by over-compensating our "manhood" in Afghanistan and Iraq.

So it is nice to see MY PRESIDENT visually disassociating himself from the previous administraion and reasserting the strong visual image of past administrations with the reintroduction of the old podium.

Presented Without Comment