Hello and welcome to the new QuadCities.com! We are so excited to share with you some of our new additions to the site, along with the new design and technology involved. I’ve been working with our Publisher, Steve Holmes and our Lead Developer, Trevor Bertucci, the past few months building up to the official debut of this revamp and we’re really excited to unleash it on the world. We know you’re going to love it! Not only is the content terrific but we’ve added a lot of awesome new technology that you can enjoy whether you’re on your PC, your laptop, your tablet or your phone. And we’re... Read More

Some tribes in Africa require a boy to battle a wild beast. Some natives of South American jungles have their adolescent males endure painful rites of strength and endurance. And some groups indigenous to North America believe a boy must make a hallucinogenic journey to find his spirit guide and commune with the otherworld. Here in modern America, there are a handful of important things a boy must accomplish before he can become a man. One in particular is a sacred obligation that will no doubt be one of the most useful skills he will obtain and utilize throughout his life. Of course, I’m... Read More

By now, I’m sure all of you have heard about the controversy surrounding Melania Trump’s speech at the Republican National Convention, which, as countless memes and articles have pointed out, bears something of a more than passing resemblance to a Michelle Obama speech from some year that I don’t feel like Googling right now. But, Melania, stay sweet, girl. I feel you. Tonight, I will give my speech at the Republican National Convention. I know, I know, you might not have heard about this. Perhaps this is because the Trump people or the RNC have wanted to keep my appearance hush-hush, perhaps... Read More

Welcome to the column for all carbon-based life-forms. If you breathe oxygen, this is for you. And if you live on a planet, especially Earth, well, then, you’ve come to the right place. Sorry, but I’m just following the new trend in advertising: casting as absurdly wide a net as possible. Products used to be advertised to a fairly specialized base. Each ad could be counted on to pander in its own unique way. You’d have your commercials aimed at seniors, in which someone sincere who was on TV when it was still seen only in black-and-white would give a testimonial about the product. Said... Read More

I’m not a big casino guy. I can count on two hands the number of times I’ve gone to casinos to actually gamble, and every single one of those instances was at the insistence of one of my friends. That said, if you are a casino person, you’re going to love the new Rhythm City Casino venue. And if you’re like me, and lukewarm at best on the casinos, you’ll still enjoy the other amenities quite a bit. I was invited to a special sneak preview of the venue at 7077 Elmore Ave., last Sunday, along with the contractors, construction workers, employees and their families, who were there to see... Read More

A man’s worth is determined by the number of people who feel more valuable for having been in his presence. And in this way, Bob Murdock was one of the richest men in the Quad-Cities. “Dr” Bob Murdock passed away late Sunday night and since then a large part of the Quad-Cities community has been awash in shock and sadness over the loss of a great man, a longtime beacon of the community and a good friend. Murdock grew up in Ohio and moved to the Quads in 1991 to help open the long defunct Funny Bone Comedy Club. But like so many things in life, the plans we make often lead us to the destiny... Read More

The city of Rock Island needs to stop pining like John Cusack lofting a sad boom box of tax incentives outside the window of the richest people in America and instead turn that attention to where their music could really be heard and appreciated – ringing through the streets of its downtown. For months, Rock Island has been panting after a Walmart location on 11th Street, and as most cities do, they have thrown a boatload of incentives at the owners of the chain, the Walton family, who need it about as much as Scrooge McDuck needs another bed of gold bars. Listen, I get it, guys. Walmart is a... Read More

Is it Shop Small Business Week? I never pay attention. Because for me, and thousands of other Quad-Citians, every week is shop small business week. And honestly, that should always be the case. Local businesses aren’t just the economic and entrepreneurial life blood of an area, they offer you a world of new adventures you’re never going to find anywhere else. And if variety is the spice of life, the Quad-Cities offers you a pretty ample spice rack that’s full of delicious flavors for you to enjoy. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. I see your eyes rolling, “ANOTHER damn patronizing editorial about... Read More

My son Jackson turned eight this week. He is undeniably the best person I’ve ever had the honor of meeting, and I’m looking forward to experiencing the adventure of his life with him. And as that time goes by, he may ask me for the advice I’ve gained in my years before him. Which is why I started writing this list shortly after he was born, and I’ve added to it and published it every year on his birthday since. And as I look at the list, it’s good advice for me to follow as well. A friend is someone who is with you when you have nothing to offer them but your friendship. Remember... Read More

“A straight line may be the shortest distance between two points, but it is by no means the most interesting.” –  Jon Pertwee Hey! Good to see you again! I’m happy to meet you, and me, actually. I hope you’re saying the same. After all, it’s been almost eight years since my last column. The previous one was published in the first week of 2009 and I’ve been on sabbatical ever since. Thanks, Obama. Actually, believe it or not, the president had very little to do with my leave of absence. I would’ve easily been able to sneak in my duties as a special ops secret agent guarding Air... Read More