The smartest city in JOCO

The Leawood City Council had a work session Monday night as reported in the Kansas City Star Neighborhood section by Jennifer Bhargava. She does a nice little bit of reporting and is a good reason why the paper still matters. This Jennifer on the right. I love living in the smartest city in JOCO.

Historically, they have made some really great moves like controlling the state line all the way to just past 151st street but it really is those kinds of things along with the little things that make them so smart.

These little things are things most citizens don't pay much attention to until there is a huge crisis. These little things are things like the financial conservatism that will lead them to in all likelihood change their 5 year CIP plan in favor of a more elongated timeline due to the economic uncertainty.

If you haven't noticed already many cities in America, including most in Johnson County (are you listening Olathe?) have a huge financial shortfall to deal with coming right at them and they aren't prepared or equipped to handle it. Leawood is in good shape.

Simply put, they have infrastructure projects planned out for the next 5 years, like widening 143rd street, that will require spending and additional tax debt for residents. These projects are needed but by slowing them down and moving them further out, if they approve the recommendation and I'm sure they will, they will lessen the risk of the city if the economic downturn continues or deepens. Some might call it deferred maintenance, I'd call it waiting to remodel your kitchen until times are a little better.

Jennifer Bhargava said in her first line that "Even Leawood is no match for the economy." I think that is "glass half empty" thinking and I disagree completely. Little Leawood is outsmarting everyone again by showing financial restraint that others likely haven't and won't and it all goes back to not over-committing in the first place. Leawood is slowing down things they want to do while other cities are cutting things they really need: people, programs, services. This little sideline story in the neighborhood section won't be noticed by many but trust me when I tell you this is some fine work by local government.

While it was only a work session I can't see the council not embracing these recommendations. I want to encourage them in this effort. Hooray for Leawood. Smartest City in JOCO.

Why the KC Star is doing something smart for a change

The KC Star has announced a price increase and it is making the rounds of criticism on the blogosphere especially by Blog KC and TKC. BlogKC writes about it here.



It might surprise you to think that I think they are both wrong in their assessments of the business sense of the Kansas City Star. Certainly it is easy to pick at The KC Star's bias, their crappy website, their lack of quality but this latest move is a good move for them....although not for you and me.



Tony quotes some self proclaimed axiom of business, "The best way to go broke is to gain a larger share of a shrinking business" or something to that effect. It reminds me of funny lines from the musical Gypsy from Momma Rose where she would always make up quotes and attribute them to the Bible like, "The good book says the good Lord helps those to help themselves". Except the bible doesn't say that but she believed it.



Let's all agree that Tony is not a business genius but he does have a nice blog. Do you know how many companies have made a fortune by gaining a larger share of a declining business category? Loads of them. There are holding companies that only buy businesses in declining categories. Let's talk briefly about the life cycle of a brand. Early on you invest in building the brand through promotion and advertising. When the brand is mature you make sure you are priced just high enough to get maximum return on investment asyou work to squeeze out as much competition as possible. At the end of the life cycle you harvest as much remaining profit as possible taking advantage of those who refuse to be early adopters of the next better thing. Early adopters still account for only a small percentage of the market. This is often a great time of profit for a company because they own and have paid for much of their equipment, have eliminated as many inefficiencies as possible (ie layoffs), and aren't looking to reinvest for the future in things like innovation and new equipment. They are riding out the wave and trying to cash in. This is precisely where The Star is today and the newspaper business in general. The USA Today took a price increase last year.

In addition, you know all those economists we see on TV talking about the economy and inflation? Inflation is real and it will be thing that hurts average America more than anything else over the next couple years. Everything costs more and get ready. Prices on things consumable are definitely going up next year. The only 2 things not going up are homes and wages. In this regard, the Star doesn't have a choice but to raise prices. The cost of raw materials forces them to do so. Many businesses that have felt they couldn't take a price increase for the past 4-5 years are seeing now as the time to do it because everyone expects it.

But even if that weren't true they are smart to raise prices. The Star has a base of subscribers that won't live without a newpaper and they will complain but they will pay more because there isn't an alternative for them. If they don't use the computer where else can they read AP Wire stories? You'll see a few that say they are leaving but it will mostly internet people who were probably leaving anyway. For the early adopters who now get their news from the internet, they aren't coming back to the paper even if they reduced the price and for those uneducated bastards who don't read anything and just watch TV....well, the newspaper industry gave up on them years ago and so did the rest of us.

So, I say the Star is actually smart for realizing where they are in their life cycle. They will never grow their circulation from this point forward but they know a number at which it will not fall below for another 10-15 years due to baby boomers. After that, either the deadwood media will either be dead or it won't but it won't be The Star setting the trend.

Why do we always say nice things about dead people?

Carl "Tuffy" DeLuna was a mobster, a murderer and was one of the top guys in "The Outfit" aka The Kansas City Mob. They crushed and ruled minority neighborhoods, stole and killed for money and power. They beat people down instead of lifting them up. I've read two different articles now and both talked warmly of him and his life. The Kansas City Star takes the prize though for noting how much of a gentleman he was toward the FBI. This guy was a prick and a grade one asshole. He and his organization ruined countless lives during their rein of terror in the 1970's and 80's. The Rivermarket may never be the same thanks to these guys. You must be kinding me! Why do we still glamorize the mob?? For people to say nice things about him because he died is ridiculous. You can read about his life and work resume here. Not much of it was mentioned in the article. At detailed article appeared in Fortune magazine in 1986. You can access it here.

I've often pondered this notion of trying to turn people into saints after their death. I've sat in quite a few funerals over the past couple years while people are saying nice things about them thinking.....this guy was a real son of a bitch most of the time. If you were a son of a bitch during the core of your life becoming a nice old grandpa doesn't erase all that other stuff.

I had an uncle who passed a couple year's ago and while everyone was remembering him so fondly I whispered in my wife's ear that he was the meanest uncle I had and he did incredibly mean things to me when I was a little boy. That's how I remember him.

One old guy in the family beat his children, probably his wife too and at a minimum verbally and emotionally abused her in front of us and was a blatant racist and I've never seen so many tears when that old bastard died. He was truly hated in life by many and loved in death.

I could go on and on (you probably think I already have) but I have a really hard time looking past the sum of a person's existence as crap and then saying nice things about them in death.

It is funny how we have short memories and we revise history. The founder of the company I worked for is an example. We was a tough and ruthless man. He ruthlessly put competitors and customers who didn't like him out of business with unethical business methods. Managed with fear. Sued his own family. He lived a long life and in his final 10 years or so people talked like he was a grandfather to all of us. Like he was this nice little old man who everyone loved. Most of his life he was a hard, mean, screwd man. When you outlive most of the people you've screwed in life I guess it makes it easier.

Carl Angelo "Tuffy" DeLuna is dead. He lived too long. I didn't know the man and perhaps he deeply regretted his younger life, asked forgiveness, made amends. I don't know but it wasn't reported if he did. He was a sorry excuse for a human by the choices he made and the life he lived. Reports suggest while retired from the crime family he was an unofficial consigliere until his death. In other words, he didn't renounce his life. I'm sure he told good old stories of back in the day when loyalty to the family meant something.......Good riddance.

Mike Hendricks is an elitist journalist: Takes swipe at "lesser" forms of communication

There is so much in the news this morning to write about I was having a hard time figuring out where to focus. As a Republican, I love observing the ongoing hate between the moderates and conservative in Johnson County and there is plenty reported in today's KC Star. I think there will be time to get to that later.

Today, Mike Hendricks wrote a commentary in the paper about how newspaper people are better than radio people and bloggers under the guise of an article about outrageous adults involved in kid's sports programs.

See, Mike uses the article to make sure paper readers understand that getting their breaking news from blogs and talk radio is horribly unreliable. Newpaper people have always looked at their craft as a newpaper journalist as a more elevated form of writing, more serious if you will, more credible. Mike and others like him feel threatened by these "lesser" forms of communication. If softened over a Martini at lunchtime, Mike would probably tell you that he thinks the print media is actually the 4th branch of government.

Let me be clear, I don't dislike Mike and I regularly read his work. I think he is a fine writer and I usually find it interesting. I dislike and take issue with his attitude and elitism.

I'd like to correct a notion Mike Hendricks puts forth in his commentary. He asserts that most of us bloggers and most talk radio personalities view ourselves with Mike's most sacred of titles....journalist. Most of us don't. I consider myself to be an amateur writer. The times we live in remind me a little of the 1770's when the printing press allowed all manner of people to publish tracts for mass publication. Thoughtful little writings like The Federalist Papers were a result that greatly influenced the founding of our country and are still referred to by political philosophers today....and radio talk show hosts. It caused debate and made people think. Don't blogs serve the same purpose today? Of course we should all strive for accuracy......I could provide many links to journalists who have not only got it wrong but got it wrong on purpose, created stories and lied. This interesting site chronicles some of the better examples but many, many more are more subtle and go unchecked everyday. Mike, we no longer trust your institution as we once did. What newspapers mostly serve up is old, old news before it lands on my driveway and what you do serve up has a decidely liberal-elitist slant to it. In this election cycle the media is unabashedly for Obama unlike anything I've ever seen. Chris Matthews practically piddles down his leg when he talks of Obama. Trust me and don't worry, we know not everything written on the internet is true. It kills guys like Mike to know that they are losing their power to influence the way America thinks.

Mike mocks the bloggers that call themselves "citizen journalists".....he should be ashamed of himself. Aren't all journalists really just citizens? Newspaper journalist weren't elected to anything were they? Officials of some sort? Oh, I see perhaps an official member of the press??? Again, just elitists trying to elevate themselves to some point above the average man on the street. Would it have been covered in the paper at all if it hadn't hit the blogosphere and later talk radio? Does anyone else see the irony? Would you have revealed the name of the parent if it was a well known conservative republican running for office? See all of those press policy decisions are now things we can't trust you about anymore because your motives are regarded as suspect. By the way, bloggers have scooped the newspaper guys countless times on big stories in the last couple years. If you want a chance at knowing what is going on right now boot up your computer, if you want to read about what happened yesterday grab a paper.

Bloggers serve a purpose albeit a slightly different purpose than newspaper journalists. It is an increasingly important purpose and I know Mike Hendricks and his colleagues hate that. The purpose is redistributing the power of thought back to the people.

Okay, I can't resist......here is a simple example from the front page of the local section from the same page as Mike's commentary. Largest print headline top right: "Kline Camp Regrets Error: Request in name of ANTI-ABORTION group sparks questions for campaign" while just below it is "Nixon's plan would boost health care" and then the flip to the continuation of that story on B4 reads, "Nixon: Children's plan would be expanded". Hmmmmm......let's see "boosting health care" and a "children's plan" are powerful little phrases while the Star's hatred of Phill Kline (whose candicacy I criticized in an earlier blog) is clear by making his campaign manager's error a top story in bold print. To make the point perhaps the headline could have just as accurately read.... "Nixon's plan for $265 million tax increase: Insurance companies support idea" while the story on Kline might be more more worthy to be reported on the second or third page with a headline like, "Kline Camp works to correct mistake, apologizes". My point is that the paper has tremendous power in simply how and where they place a story without even getting into the ways facts are presented. Thankfully, that power is waining.

If some aspire to be electronic journalists I have no problem with it. Do your best to get it right. Some will have more credibility than others and it is pretty easy to tell. Most of us already know The Kansas City Star's lack of credibility.

No sympathy for Bill Maas: Comments on the The Star Article

In Sunday's Sports section there was an article written about the pitiful life of Bill Maas. The interview was offered by Maas for the opportunity to come clean to the public and try to begin the process of rebuilding something of his public career. It was pathetic and sad.

You can link to Sam Mellinger's story from The Kansas City Star here: http://www.kansascity.com/666/story/693351.html

I appreciate how Mellinger didn't write this glowing "Give Bill another chance" piece. Mellinger did a nice job of taking the opportunity given him and I think pretty fairly portrayed the life and times of a spoiled, asshole athlete. If you read between the lines I think it was fair to say Bill Maas didn't get the sympathic hearing from the reporter for which he hoped. I think Bill Maas probably thought given the opportunity he could charm the reporter and get a nice article out of the deal that would make people actually feel sorry for him. WRONG.

Even before this incident (giving up my bias here) most of Kansas City has known Bill Maas to be an arrogant, spoiled, asshole athlete even back to his playing days.....before his uh, brain injuries. I had heard first hand stories about how he like to smack the women in his life around. Battering women is sooooo manly isn't it? I wonder how Frankie from the old KY102 felt about the story? He acted like as an athlete he was above everyone else. In short, he didn't have a good reputation around town even when he was an All-Pro for the Chiefs. Bill Maas suggests in the article that his problems, drug abuse, depression, etc is a result of head injuries from playing football. Still blaming someone or something else for your behavior eh Billy? See, isn't that typical? Bill needs to take responsibility for his actions and show what he is doing NOW to make it right. It is conspicuous that statements of responsibility and notation of his current acts of humanity are lacking in the article. In his days at 810 WHB and later 610 the buzz wasn't much better. On the radio he was often a hypocrite chiding athletes for their behavior while his was none better. Listening to him on the radio repulsed me. I never understood what Fox saw in him as an announcer. I never thought he was very good in that role and often received criticism from fans for how he worked a game. He started off apparently being well liked by fans and critics alike but the last few years he was on the air his performance weakened (I wonder why Mr. Coke Guy????) and Fox had already made the decision to not bring him back to the booth before the latest arrest and cut all ties in the aftermath saying he would have no role at Fox Sports moving forward.

So, the article reports how Bill Maas is now just working on his rental properties, staying out of trouble and how he helped a couple charities BACK when he was playing. How about doing something now to make amends for the wrongs of the past. To me that shows regret and the real desire to be forgiven and demonstrates real change. How about helping at a women's shelter? Or how about people with mental illness that could use a hand up? Show us some of that.....that stuff where you practice doing the right thing even when nobody else is watching for awhile and then we think about giving you another chance. Nope......Bill is busy with his rental properties and he is so into it he doesn't even know how many he has........the arrogance is still there........he has so much property you'd have to ask his accountant how many he has......as he states in the article.

I read closely and the article talks about how he wants his broadcasting career back or just back in the easy life around professional football. He calls out the Chiefs for their poor drafting and suggests that he could help by looking at some film. How about volunteer coaching with heavy supervision at some KCMO schools or a rural Missouri or Kansas JUCO? How about taking that opportunity to tell those kids that if you do what he did you'll have big regrets? How about showing up there everyday, on time, with a great attitude and teaching some kids how to dominate on the defensive line? How about if you show us that and then we'll think about giving you another chance at some of the other things.

Bill Maas, from what I read on Sunday you might have stepped away from the drugs, whores, the fast life but in your head and your heart you haven't changed. You've been clean for about a year now but you've had to be or you'd be headed to jail. At least you seem to be smart enough to stay of jail. You are still the arrogant, asshole athlete who misses the privledges of your God given gifts. You wasted those gifts and essentially spit in God's face by not being thankful for them and not treasuring them and using them appropriately. You need to do more before you come back and ask us for another chance.

Different Angle on the Spitzer Scandal

This is going to shock you. I know you will be amazed that many of us continue to be shocked at the liberal bias of the press. Yesterday, The Kansas City Star printed a front page story on Governor Eliot Spitzer's involvement as a client with a prostitution ring. I like to think I'm a well read guy and usually know who the players are in national politics but I couldn't remember if he was a democrat or a republican. He is reputedly so tough on crime and has a reputation for high morals and ideals that it would seem like a reasonable bet that he was in fact a republican. So, I 'm reading the story and usually right after they mention a politican they note his party but not in this article. Nope, no mention that he is actually a democrat. In fact, I had to go off the front page to the rest of the story and glean from the fact that it mentions his Lt. Governor is a democrat to surmise his party affiliation. Now you can say I'm a little over the top on liberal bias but I think not. It appears they go out of their way to NOT mention his party. The Star should be ashamed of themselves. I'm so sick of the liberal bias of the media.

Also, on a complete digression.....I'd really like to punch Keith Olbermann right in the damn nose. I'm starting to really develop a deep dislike for the guy.

I'm not defending any of these fallen public figures indiscretions but when Larry Craig had a faulty stance in a Minnesota bathroom stall everyone knew this guy was a republican from the first sentence of the coverage. I'm sick of it. They carefully deceive the average person in this world who just don't pay as close of attention with the sum result as people being misinformed.

Now, on to Eliot Spitzer. Too much is already being said by lots of people but a couple thoughts. First, interesting little side note of the story how the feds were "routinely" reviewing bank transactions that had been reported as suspicious. Be careful and know that your bank transactions are not private and your bank has a obligation to report any large transactions to the authorities. This practice preceeded 9/11 by a long way so don't be ignorant and blame George Bush.

Also, don't you really feel for these wives? Silda Spitzer looked absolutely whipped standing up there by him. And if I can be a little caddy for a second.....what is he thinking? She is a nice looking woman and he is no glamour boy. That's a lucky guy and I'm sure on a better day she looks even better. I mean Larry Craig's wife, Suzanne, looks like a guy in drag so in reality that doesn't surprise me at all. Silda is a pretty, classy looking woman and uh....well was realitively free if you are Eliot. I mean there is that suggestion that no sex is free if you are a man, right? If you are dating you have to wine and dine them usually more than once, buy them stuff, dress right....and all that costs money. I bet if you add it up it might be cheaper to just get the whore. If you are married you better keep up the investment you made or the returns will diminish AND you have to take care of yourself by working out, eating right.......the whore doesn't care about any of that. So, with all morality aside if you just need some..."relief" from a pure cost to value ratio......perhaps I shouldn't go there.

I respect her for standing up there with him. They have kids and it would be easier for her to kick him out but I suspect she knows staying is the best chance for her family.

I think most of us really, really just hate the hypocrisy. Spitzer being the hard nosed, giving no breaks prosecutor with the high moralistic positions. Larry Craig actively working to make the lives of homosexuals more difficult. Locally guys like Pastor Jerry Johnston living the life of Rockefeller while preaching to us about humility and admonishing us to give back to God's work or that other Pastor who used homosexual prostitutes...I forget his name. Anyway, we all make mistakes in life and we don't get our dirty laundry hanged out for everyone to see but also most of us live our lives in way that is consistent with our morals both in the day and the night, in the sun and in the shadows. That is what makes these guys such jackasses.