AltWeeklies Wire
Barbara Ehrenreich's Latest Book Tackles Our Oppressive Optimismnew

Rather than focus on some particular tool of oppression that's misled the masses into believing they're happy, in Bright-Sided Ehrenreich trains her ire on happiness itself.
Chicago Reader |
Noah Berlatsky |
10-19-2009 |
Nonfiction
Palin for President? Colorado Springs-Based PAC Says: You Betcha!new

One Colorado Springs library district worker spends up to 20 hours a week collecting money and mailing political paraphernalia as part of his federal political action committee's effort to persuade Sarah Palin to run.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Pam Zubeck |
10-16-2009 |
Politics
The Globe-Straddling Music of South Africa's BLK JKS Transcends Racenew
When a quartet of black South Africans reclaims that whitest of white genres -- progressive rock, long the bastion of pimply tech-heads and doughy shut-ins -- the predominately Caucasian world of indie rock sits up and takes notice.
The Portland Mercury |
Ned Lannamann |
10-16-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: After Robots, BLK JKS
The Assassination of Deputy Abel Escalantenew
A young father had nothing to do with LAPD's killing of Danny Leon last year. The 27-year-old officer most likely heard about it on the news, like everyone else. But, federal prosecutors believe, Escalante died for it.
L.A. Weekly |
Christine Pelisek |
10-16-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Documentary 'Taqwacore' Examines Muslim Punk Musiciansnew
Director Omar Majeed doesn't try to hide the artists' laziness and contradictory ideologies. His film embraces the musicians for the confused, irresponsible, sometimes delusional yet often admirable punks that they are.
NOW Magazine |
Radheyan Simonpillai |
10-16-2009 |
Reviews
How Alicia Silverstone Made Me Vegannew

The Kind Diet is a cookbook, yes, but the first half is dedicated to a surprisingly readable, occasionally affably ditzy, and heartfelt argument as to why one should consider the benefits of a "plant-based diet," which -- unbelievably redundant as it may seem -- is the politically correct way of saying "vegan."
The Portland Mercury |
Marjorie Skinner |
10-16-2009 |
Nonfiction
She's 101 Years Old and She Has 800+ Twitter Followers: Meet @grandmaflorencenew

Florence Hasegawa's tweets are ruminations on everything from family to food to whether she fears death (she doesn't).
Analyzing the Media's Lazy Reporting on ACORNnew
The current causus belli is ACORN's alleged promotion of voter registration fraud and voter fraud during the 2008 election campaign. That continuing assault and news media complicity are the subjects of an independent media study by Peter Dreier and Christopher Martin.
Cincinnati CityBeat |
Ben L. Kaufman |
10-16-2009 |
Commentary
Old Lights' David Beeman Gets by with a Little Help from His Friendsnew

Old Lights played its first official gig in April of this year, and after only about fifteen shows, the band has become one of the most talked-about -- and most promising -- new bands to emerge from St. Louis in the last few years.
Riverfront Times |
Christian Schaeffer |
10-16-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Feds Bust Twitterer, Impound Fuzzy Dolls and Buffy Videos in War on Terrornew
Elliot Madison's real crime, it seems, is being a self-proclaimed anarchist, which is no more illegal than being a self-proclaimed Democrat or Lutheran. His tweets were not more informative or subversive than MSNBC's live coverage of the G-20 protests.
Artvoice |
Michael I. Niman |
10-16-2009 |
Civil Liberties
How Canada Got Caught in an Afghan Election That Doesn't Add Upnew
The news on the Afghan election, backed so earnestly by Canada and its $35 million contribution, has gone from terrible to tragic.
NOW Magazine |
Paul Weinberg |
10-16-2009 |
International
Blogger Busted: Free Speech Goes on Trial in Central Illinoisnew

Scott Humphrey, a 57-year-old man from Springfield, Ill., faces four criminal misdemeanor charges for two specific online statements that he made on a political blog. Sources say civil suits and criminal charges will increasingly be used to stop speech on the internet.
Illinois Times |
Amanda Robert |
10-15-2009 |
Media
Bhutanese Refugees Move from Nepalese Camps to Our Slow Job Marketnew

The 15 refugee families settling in Colorado Springs face the unique challenge of surviving a time of economic turmoil while acclimating to a new culture and new language, all with limited assistance.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Anthony Lane |
10-15-2009 |
Immigration
'Before the Frost ...' is a Return to Form for The Black Crowesnew
The Crowes have not sounded this relaxed and vital at the same time in many years, tackling classic rock, psychedelia, blues, country and R&B.
Tucson Weekly |
Gene Armstrong |
10-15-2009 |
Reviews
Ignorance and Stupidity are Leading Too Many People to Avoid Flu Vaccinesnew
There are some parents who don't think that the H1N1 flu will be worse than any other flu, so why bother? I actually agree with them, but they're in the minority of the abstainers. The vast majority of those who are rejecting the vaccine are doing so out of wrongheaded politics or an empty-headed misunderstanding of science.
Tucson Weekly |
Tom Danehy |
10-15-2009 |
Science