AltWeeklies Wire
Chinese Drywall Has Screwed Thousands of South Florida Homeownersnew
"Some people indeed say that the drywall Knauf Tianjin produces is toxic," Liao says cautiously in soft Mandarin. "Everyone in the company has heard about it." In fact, this bustling factory is the epicenter of a global consumer disaster that reaches all the way to South Florida.
Miami New Times |
Tim Elfrink |
01-11-2010 |
Housing & Development
Miami Dolphins' Tony Sparano is a Conservative Coach Who Takes Huge Risksnew
Though Sparano is a conservative coach, he has also been known to take huge risks. Take, for instance, the time two decades ago when he gave up a high-paying job to earn pennies an hour at his first football gig. Then there was last year, when he introduced the wildcat and nailed the hated Patriots.
Miami New Times |
Eric Barton |
12-21-2009 |
Sports
Homeless Under Julia Tuttle Try to Pass for Sex Offendersnew
Since 2006, Florida Department of Corrections officials have forced convicted sex offenders to live under the Julia Tuttle upon their release from prison. At last count, 140 of the social exiles have lived on what might be post-recession Miami's only high-demand waterfront property.
Miami New Times |
Gus Garcia-Roberts |
12-21-2009 |
Crime & Justice
At Florida Memorial University, Surviving Assaults is Part of the Curriculumnew
A student named Robert tools his Toyota Camry in semicircles around campus and points out past crime scenes. "That's where the kid was thrown into the lagoon," he says nonchalantly as he drives. "The student center's where the riot went down... There was a shooting at that bookstore."
Miami New Times |
Gus Garcia-Roberts |
12-14-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Worm in the Apple: Rebel Florida Company Takes on the Beloved Computer Giantnew
Psystar legally buys Apple's OS X software and then installs it in boxy black desktop towers that sell for as little as $599 -- about half the price of comparable Macs. But Apple hasn't taken the affront lightly.
Miami New Times |
Tim Elfrink |
11-16-2009 |
Tech
In South Florida, Dogfighting Rages on Despite Tough Lawsnew
What seemed like a straightforward case in Boynton Beach would ultimately evolve into an expensive and drawn-out legal quagmire that would serve as a test case for Florida's new laws targeting the clandestine world of dogfighting.
Miami New Times |
Michael J. Mooney and Tim Elfrink |
10-26-2009 |
Animal Issues
Jerry Powers, the Man Behind 'Ocean Drive,' Refuses to Surrendernew
After 15 years as publisher of one of America's best-known glossy magazines, Powers was recently pushed out by the new owner, Niche Media. Now he's at war with his former partners. On one front, he has sued Niche in federal court for illegally trying to silence him. Meanwhile, the widow of former Ocean Drive investor Derick Daniels has accused Powers of swindling her out of millions of dollars.
Miami New Times |
Francisco Alvarado |
10-19-2009 |
Media
Cuba's Black Market Moves Online with Revolico.comnew
On an island where selling almost anything on the street, over the airwaves, or in the newspaper is forbidden by the socialist constitution, Revolico offers tens of thousands of items. Legions of Habaneros shop on the site every day, making it the most obvious crack yet in the foundation of Fidel Castro's Cuba.
Miami New Times |
Tim Elfrink and Vanessa Grisalez |
10-05-2009 |
International
The Florida Marlins Manatees Shake Two Tons of Bootynew
They are a motley crew in terms of race and height -- the shortest among them stands five feet eight inches, the tallest six-foot-eight -- and their body types range from big-boned to Marlon Brando's Last Years. They are the Manatees, Major League Baseball's only plus-size male dance team
Miami New Times |
Gus Garcia-Roberts |
09-28-2009 |
Sports
Lil Jon Talks 'Crunk Rock,' Pitbull and Fine Winenew
Don't make the mistake of thinking rapper/producer/all-around Svengali Lil Jon is a buffoon. The man behind the blinding grills and creatively shocking lyrical allusions to sex is a shrewd businessman and songwriter who swirls the winds of pop into his own entertainment hurricane.
Miami New Times |
Arielle Castillo |
09-28-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
After Losing His Penis in a Botched Penile Implant Operation, a Florida Man Fights Back in Courtnew
All 62-year-old Enrique Millas ever wanted to do was have sex with his wife of 25 years, Gloria. But he couldn't. So he went to local penis guru Paul E. Perito, a urologist who touts himself as a national leader in penile implant surgery. And here our story swerves into Saw-caliber horror territory.
Miami New Times |
Gus Garcia-Roberts |
09-21-2009 |
Sex
In Miami's Jungle of Condo Towers, 16 People Have Jumped to Their Deathsnew
Some cities have fabled bridges where the hopeless go to end it all. Others have eerie cliffs where bodies plunge into rocky canyons. In Miami-Dade, the suicidal have found their own vehicle for death: posh, shining, and often brand-new condo towers.
Miami New Times |
Natalie O'Neill |
09-14-2009 |
Crime & Justice
What Will Free Thinkers Do When the Amazing Randi is Gone?new
For more than 60 years, he has performed magic, debunked psychics, and discussed the perils of all things paranormal. But now his foundation is hemorrhaging money, and Randi, who has spent his career challenging the notion of an afterlife, is facing his own mortality.
Miami New Times |
Michael J. Mooney |
08-31-2009 |
Culture
In Miami Beach, 'Introducing Ethics Reform' is a Sneaky Way to Take Down Your Political Rivalnew
The city commission is engulfed in a power struggle, with an election less than three months away. The bickering can be traced to last year, when Richard Steinberg gave up his commission seat to run for state representative.
Miami New Times |
Francisco Alvarado |
08-24-2009 |
Politics
Those Who Practice Bestiality Say They're Part of the Next Sexual Rights Movementnew
Most researchers believe 2 to 8 percent of the population harbors forbidden desires toward animals. Cody Beck believes he and other members of this minority sexual orientation, who often call themselves "zoos," can follow the same path as the gay rights movement.
Miami New Times |
Thomas Francis |
08-24-2009 |
Sex
