AltWeeklies Wire
The Bonfire of the Inanitiesnew
2005: there were procurement scandals, media scandals, emergency-preparedness scandals, even treason scandals. Seriously, could it have been any worse?
Boston Phoenix |
Barry Crimmins |
12-22-2005 |
Commentary
Tags: yearinreview2005
Black and White and Bloody All Overnew
After being kicked to the curb since 9/11, journalists in 2005 began to fulfill their traditional watchdog role with a little more zeal. Whether that lasts is probably the big question of 2006.
Boston Phoenix |
Mark Jurkowitz |
12-22-2005 |
Media
Tags: yearinreview2005
Power Tripnew
Much of 2005 followed a script composed in the wake of 9/11: freedom was sacrificed to illusory and ill-defined security and "family values." But still there's hope.
Boston Phoenix |
Harvey Silverglate |
12-22-2005 |
Civil Liberties
Tags: civil liberties
Walking the Indie Linenew
Star Wars and Batman and Harry Potter and Narnia and King Kong may have made the big bucks in 2005, but for the most part it was indie and low-budget films that made the biggest impression.
Boston Phoenix |
Peter Keough |
12-22-2005 |
Reviews
Tags: yearinreview2005
Hacking Santanew
A computer expert reprogrammed an electronic Santa to say "Last year’s Rudolph was eaten by a polar bear, so I bought a new one from Wal-Mart!" And worse.
Boston Phoenix |
Mike Miliard |
12-22-2005 |
Shopping
Tags: shopping
Spy-der Mannew
Terrorists would have to be pretty dumb to have learned about electronic tapping by reading last week’s New York Times. And Bush would have to be pretty dumb for thinking we’d swallow such a line.
Boston Phoenix |
Harvey Silverglate |
12-22-2005 |
Civil Liberties
Tags: domesticspying
America’s Republican Problemnew
Like the good snake-oil salesman he is, Bush is betting he can continue to fool most of the people most of the time. But reality intrudes.
Boston Phoenix |
Boston Phoenix |
12-22-2005 |
Commentary
Nancy Had Two Mommiesnew
Nancy Drew has lasted 75 years as a childhood favorite. Melanie Rehak chronicles a character who influenced at least two generations of women in an exhaustive literary biography designed to give the perky teen her due.
Boston Phoenix |
Clea Simon |
12-20-2005 |
Nonfiction
Gangsta to Gangsternew
Two books about hip-hop expose and explain the scenes in New Orleans and New York.
Boston Phoenix |
James Parker |
12-20-2005 |
Nonfiction
Juelz Santana Takes the Keys from Cam’ronnew
In Santana, the Dips have found their Golden Child. One of the youngest of the bunch, he has the charisma and the good looks to pull the ladies, an audience key in translating street-level success into mainstream acceptance.
Boston Phoenix |
Chris Nelson |
12-20-2005 |
Reviews
Lost and Foundnew
The light in the eyes of the kids at a Lightning Bolt show, as they press in with blazing faces on the two players, is the light of thrilled recognition or rediscovery: at last, thank God, here it is.
Boston Phoenix |
James Parker |
12-16-2005 |
Profiles & Interviews
'Pokes Peeknew
Figuring, no doubt correctly, that more people will identify with loss than with gay lust, Lee gets the icky parts over quickly. Not only is it the love that dare not speak its name, it doesn’t speak at all.
Boston Phoenix |
Peter Keough |
12-16-2005 |
Reviews
Tags: Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain
Gorilla Filmmakingnew
Peter Jackson’s King Kong sports a pot belly, and it’s not a good look. His film carries extra baggage, too, nearly an hour and half’s worth.
Boston Phoenix |
Peter Keough |
12-16-2005 |
Reviews
Tags: King Kong, Peter Jackson
For 2006, Torture Is a Moral Issuenew
To effect policy change -- and to use the issue of torture to electoral advantage -- liberals have their work cut out for them.
Boston Phoenix |
Deirdre Fulton |
12-15-2005 |
Civil Liberties
Tags: civil liberties
The Atlantic Goes Southnew
After 148 years in Boston, the magazine of "the American idea" dreamed up by Ralph Waldo Emerson, et al., has produced its final issue from home. Owner David Bradley is moving The Atlantic Monthly to Washington, D.C.
Boston Phoenix |
Mark Jurkowitz |
12-15-2005 |
Media
Tags: media
