TKC Ethics Policy: After 25k Posts You D-Bags Just Don't Understand That I Don't Care About Dead Tree Media Traditions!!!

As of late I've noticed a few d-bags on this blog complaining about the content I've been gracious enough to provide for free in the forum that I keep mostly unmoderated in order to grant a great many malcontents the semblance of free speech that mostly doesn't exist in the real world.

These comments haven't registered much interest with me . . . However, I was recently called on my "ethics" or lack thereof by local media blog Bottomline Communications. John Landsberg runs Bottomline and he is the foremost authority on local media, a great writer/reporter and one of the most intelligent people I've ever had the pleasure to hear speak. So the comments that appear on his page are worth addressing one by one. Some of this I covered this weekend at Hearne's place but I think it's worth revisiting one last time.

1. TKC never has or will take money or any form of compensation from a politico.

2. TKC will not trade page rank for money or any form of compensation.

This is a blog about Kansas City politics and culture decorated with bikini models and my dumbass humor . . . But I wanted to get the most important topic out of the way first. Still, even with this subject there is some explanation due . . . A long time ago Nadia "Still A Chickenhead" Pflaum called me out for the great crime of attacking my mom's opponents in a minor league political race without disclosing the relationship to you bags. The controversy created a firestorm of 3 comments and about three posts picking up the story!!! What Nadia didn't disclose is that this story came about after she initiated a conversation with me and I offered to buy her a beer after I went to go pee. I still think one of these days we'll end up together after she's done dating the vast majority of the Kansas City hip-hop scene . . . I can wait, I'm very patient. Natch. Also, there wasn't any followup which reported that I ended up supporting Beth Gottstein after the primary and this blog propelled her to victory!!! I still count myself as one of her most loyal fans. So much for dead tree media analysis.

Now, on the subject of Jardine's . . . Bottomline draws a connection between posts that appear on my blog supporting the local Jazz place and sponsored content. One of my favorite commenters "Orphan of the Road" wanted to know about my comps as well. I'll give the total:

The menu is actually excellent at Jardine's and it shouldn't be so shocking to note that I have been given a few comps.

1st meal:

Marsala Chicken
Marinated chicken Brest topped with mushroom's, onions and Marsala sauce. Served with Garlic mashed potatoes and chef's choice vegetables. $15

Honestly, this might be one of the best meals I've had all year . . . I know, I know food tastes better when it's free but I'm pretty sure anybody who has had this item would agree that it's one of the best values for gourmet food in all of Kansas City.

2nd meal:

The Pasta Bolognese is also AMAZING!!! It's a new item that runs about $12 but it's worth every penny . . . Of course I didn't pay which, again, made it taste even better but I think it might be a good value, especially for the winter months.

Now . . . I did pay for the Grilled Lemon Pepper Salmon
8 oz grilled salmon filet seasoned with lemon and pepper. served with garlic mashed potatoes, Chef's choice of vegetables and choice of house salad or soup. $15

This is probably my favorite dish that Jardine's features and it was the first time I've ever had salmon that didn't come in a can. Again, EXCELLENT STUFF!!!

There were also a FEW beers that I might have had "on the arm" but nothing that would make headlines.

I think maybe the most important thing to "disclose" here is that Jardine's owner Beena Rajalekshimi makes EVERYONE who visits her place feel like a friend so I actually feel honored going out of my way in order to do whatever I can to promote her classy place on this dump of a blog. Similarly, just about everybody who has had the privilege to meet Beena has an intense loyalty and devotion to her. She really is one of those people who makes Kansas City great and her work in the local Jazz scene makes music history almost every weekend.

One last thing on this note, I've liked the music of Dave Stephens since I've been in college but I guess I should mention that he gave me a free CD to review a week ago. More on that later . . .

Bottomline also features an anonymous accusation from a commenter that I wrote sponsored content for Scarlett Garnet Jewelry and Kander Rigby Legal Services.

Wrong on both counts . . .

I met Garnet Griebel and she told me the interesting story of how she started Scarlett Garnet online with a partner she had yet to meet in real life. I thought it was interesting and a much better suggestion for local shopping than chain stores. She doesn't advertise here or at Hearne's site. Kander/Rigby aren't advertisers here or at Hearne's either.

So, as I "explain" myself I realize that I don't really care what most of you d-bags think anyway. In fact, I really do welcome most of you to stop reading this blog.

If a couple of dinners and a few beers that I've had at a restaurant/club that I like are the biggest accusation haters have on my blog . . . Then they've got nothing.

Still, I like putting everything out there if only to demonstrate that the backstory on my blog generates more interest than the top headlines on most local online efforts including the last two columns written by Mike Hendricks and Mary Sanchez.

And speaking of conflicts . . . I hear Derek Donovan at The Star is now writing FYI articles which is pretty unheard of for any readers rep . . . Like it or not, we all have our conflicts.

Finally for this post . . . I think what I'm doing with this post is demonstrating that OF COURSE I have motives and so does every other newsie in Kansas City. To think otherwise would be dangerous and naive. Fortunately, I don't put forth the pretense that my bloggy content should be the final stopping point for local information . . . I always encourage people to make their own conclusions. And honestly, when it comes to entertainment or dining options: I tend not to think any of that stuff is important enough to define as a "conflict of interest" given that this blog isn't primarily dedicated to entertainment or food. Also, you-dbags aren't paying me so I'll write about whatever I want and if you don't like it, again, PLEASE READ SOMETHING ELSE!!!