Here's an interesting suggestion from an e-mailer:

I often read the movie critics in the Star and I was thinking that it might be interesting if the paper solicited movie reviews from ordinary readers as well as the professional critics who have a tendency to perhaps "over analyze" movie plots, intent, actor performances, etc. I think reading reviews by the general public in conjunction with the pros, would help put a movie's quality in better perspective.

I just got off the phone with a caller who really misses the "How They Voted" boxes that ran in the Sunday A section for years. It gave a quick rundown of how the local congressional contingent voted in actions from the week before. This caller was one in a constant drumbeat I've heard in the past year or so since editors quit running the box.

I actually laughed at this comment from a reader, referring to today's story on legislation advancing through Jeff City to place new restrictions on adult-entertainment businesses in Missouri.

"I'm sure you could have sold a lot of (papers) if you did it, so your editors should be commended for not taking the tawdry way out," said the caller.

"Oh my god, who cares about a donkey?" asked the caller, referring to stories this week about Ebenezer, the 30-year-old donkey near Grandview who needs and is getting veterinary care.

"With all the pain and suffering in this world, there's no reason for The Star to devote space to something that doesn't matter," he said.

I get this reader's point:

"I was appalled to see the word 'planted' used in the article about the young woman's fate on page A4. ("Authorities never found her killer, and they planted her in a grave with a number instead of a headstone.") If it had been my relative, I would demand that the writer be reprimanded. Being elderly, I hope my obit won't state such a remark when I pass from this earth."

Nearly every day, I'll hear from a reader objecting to coverage in terms of what might happen under different circumstances. Two of the most common right now:

* If President Obama were a Republican, The Star would bury or not even mention positive story X.

* If any other country besides Israel did negative action Y, it would be front-page news, but Israel is always given a pass.

A good question from a reader: Why is the name of the fast-food restaurant where video surveillance footage captured a couple stealing a Haiti-relief donation jar not included in an item on KansasCity.com?

"It seems like (The Star is) covering up for a business. It seems like we'd have a better chance of figuring out if we know something if you could at least tell us where it was."

Yep -- good point. I'm inquiring with the Metro desk.

It's obvious readers are interested in today's story about Dutch entrepreneur Benoit Wesly's withdrawing financial support for the University of Central Missouri because of remarks made by a talk radio host.

"There has to be more going on behind the scenes there," said one caller, "and I want to know all about it."

Another caller says he doubts outgoing university president Aaron Podolefsky's figures about the value of the gift, and thinks The Star should investigate further.

A reader just e-mailed:

"Please repost your sketch of the Waldo rapist onto the front page of your website. It was only up for a day. If you leave it up for a few extra days, we might have a better chance of someone seeing it and finding this guy."

That's a request I hear a lot, about many different subjects. On a site that rotates through as much content as KansasCity.com, very little stays static on the main page for much longer than a day. Readers don't want topics they're personally interested to become out of sight, out of mind.

This one's a perennial concern: A caller thinks the photograph on yesterday's front page makes President Obama look "mean" and "arrogant." "Pick a better one next time," he said.