Over the last few weeks it's become clear that Alan Keyes lives in his own little world. And it's a pretty odd planet at that. In Keyes' version of reality, pro-choicers are like terrorist sympathizers, his Democratic opponent Barack Obama has a "slaveholder mentality," and Jesus would never even consider voting for Obama.

New Ground is one of my favorite local theatre groups because it doesn't settle for slapstick comedies, cliché-filled scripts, or sappy dramas. Instead, the not-for-profit organization with the mission to "bring the best in contemporary and original theatre to the Quad Cities" does superb work living up to that goal. New Ground's upcoming show, Talley's Folly, the recipient of the 1980 Pulitzer Prize for drama, is certainly no exception to the "best theatre" rule and is perhaps one of the most unconventional, intriguing love stories I've ever seen on stage. The production opens August 26 and runs through September 5 at Rivermont Collegiate in Bettendorf.

One thing that's certain about RIBCO is that metal doesn't play there. Well, that sentence is about to become obsolete, as the resurrection of the "Homegrown" local-music showcase at RIBCO features a new edge. The event's goal is to give an opportunity to bands that normally wouldn't be able to play the RIBCO stage.

The scandal of the year is not about Jack Ryan's sex life. It's about an obscure little state board that appears to have gotten completely out of hand. You've probably never heard of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, at least until recently.