No one "banned" Borat in Russia. At least, not according to officials of Russia's Federal Agency for Culture & Cinematography. They just "advised" 20th Century Fox that the movie could offend some viewers and contained material that "might seem disparaging in relation to certain ethnic groups and religions." 20th Century Fox has promised to contest that "recommendation," which was accompanied by a denial of a screening license. (What kind of "advice" comes with a prohibition?)

On Tuesday, December 5, the Quad Cities lost its only progressive talk-radio station, WKBF 1270 AM. Considering results from the recent elections, there should be a market for progressive-talk programming in the Quad Cities. Is anyone else upset by this loss? Will another radio station pick up the Air America network programs and other progressive-talk shows?

Patti Franklin

Riverdale, Iowa

Political columnists usually focus on the dark side of politics, but indulge me today while I say goodbye to three of the best legislators I've ever had the pleasure to know.

All three are hard-working, honest pioneers. Senator Adeline Geo-Karis (R-Zion), born in Tegeas, Greece, was the first woman in Illinois history to become a member of Senate leadership. Senator Miguel del Valle (D-Chicago), born in Puerto Rico, was the first Latino elected to the Illinois Senate and the first Latino to make it to a leadership slot. Senator George Shadid (D-Peoria), born to immigrant parents from Lebanon, was the first Lebanese-American ever elected to the Senate and was also the first Lebanese-American to make it to a Senate leadership position.

Geo-Karis ("Geo" to her friends) lost her primary last spring, del Valle was appointed Chicago City Clerk last week (another Latino first), and Shadid is retiring.

Last week's announcement that the Rhythm City Casino's parent company, Isle of Capri, was reconsidering its contentious casino-hotel project on the Davenport riverfront tells you all you need to know about the future of casinos in Iowa: It's bleak.

In Quad-City Times articles on Friday, Isle of Capri officials claimed that competition from the Riverside Casino & Golf Resort - which opened south of Iowa City on August 31 - has dramatically cut into admissions and revenues at the Isle's two Quad Cities properties. The Isle of Capri in Bettendorf and Rhythm City in Davenport saw their combined adjusted gross revenues drop by nearly 12 percent in September and October compared to those months in 2005.

From here gaming companies will engage in casino arms races in which they will need to continually build bigger, more extravagant facilities merely to maintain market share.