AltWeeklies Wire
Three Comedians Scrawl Self-Portraits With Poison Pensnew
Lisa Lampanelli, David Cross and Russell Brand reveal different facets of their confrontational stage personae in new books.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Curt Holman |
09-22-2009 |
Books
Following Raid on Gay Bar, the Atlanta PD Reels from Harrassment Complaintsnew

Why did police feel they needed to take down the club with the kind of force usually reserved for busting meth labs? Why did officers seem to act so unprofessionally toward the Eagle's customers, none of whom was arrested? And was the whole thing really just about sex?
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Scott Henry |
09-22-2009 |
Civil Liberties
Did Obama Just Surrender Europe to the Russians?new
Although I was repeatedly warned by my patriotic brothers and sisters via conservative media and countless e-mails that begin "FW:" about how Obama is a secret Commie planning to destroy the U.S. from within, I chose to dismiss the warnings as hysterical fear-mongering. Well, it turns out the fear-mongerererers were right and I was wrong. I admit it.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Andisheh Nouraee |
09-22-2009 |
Commentary
Salon Culture is on the Rise in Philly as Local Art Lovers Make a Case for Intimacynew
The kind of audience-performer bond that you find at a salon helps to build a real sense of community around the arts. But who in their right mind would let their rugs get worn and their walls get smeared all in the name of intimacy, creativity and communal vibes?
Philadelphia City Paper |
A.D. Amorosi |
09-22-2009 |
Art
Animated Cartoon: Legion of Superzeroesnew
A couple of weeks ago, the Disney Company acquired Marvel Comics, which has the rights to most of the most famous superhero characters.
Why We Should Feel Sorry for Joe Wilsonnew
His priorities were these: With his numbers dropping, Joe wanted to make himself an instant hero to the far right -- something that is indeed starting to happen. He got to be on a Fox network talk show Sunday; last week, he probably would have had to buy a ticket to be in the studio audience.
Metro Times |
Jack Lessenberry |
09-22-2009 |
Commentary
Philly's Stewart Ebersole is Searching for the Meaning of Your Black Flag Tattoosnew

Ebersole hopes compile a book about the people across the country who wear the simplistic, clean Black Flag tattoo and to answer two questions: What do Black Flag, and the Black Flag tattoo, mean to people? He plans to call the book Barred for Life.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Andrew Thompson |
09-22-2009 |
Culture
'Amreeka' is Too Predictable to be Great, Too Broad to be Profoundnew
By keeping the tone impish, the characters humane and the issues personal, Amreeka explores post-9/11 Arab anxieties and injustices without condemnation or proselytizing. In fact, Dabis smartly puts the focus on sisterhood and family while tackling the obstacles to assimilation and acceptance.
Metro Times |
Jeff Meyers |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
Tides and Waves Could Be a Key Source of Power for British Columbianew
As the climate-change crisis continues to grow, the search for alternative sources of energy is intensifying. If proponents of ocean energy have their way, B.C.'s coastal waters will become a key power source for the province.
The Georgia Straight |
Dawn Paley |
09-22-2009 |
Environment
Was Roland Carnaby a Con Man or a Super Spook?new
Either way, he wasn't supposed to meet his death on a Houston highway in a high-speed chase with the cops.
Houston Press |
Chris Vogel |
09-22-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of 'KISS Alive'new

I say to you snobs who stayed away from "the greatest live album ever re-recorded" because you were too busy, I dunno, reading books or getting indoctrinated into disco or est, here's a track-by-track re-creation of what you missed (which poses no danger for you of hearing even a single note of it).
Metro Times |
Serene Dominic |
09-22-2009 |
Music
Remaking Theo van Gogh: Stanley Tucci Goes Dutch With 'Blind Date'

As a theatrical filmic exercise, Blind Date is a fair experiment. Just don't go expecting to see a traditional movie.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
09-21-2009 |
Reviews
Health Care Reform is On its Way -- But Will it Be Just a Band-Aid Solution?new
This is how screwed up the debate about health care is: When reform critics predict dire results of government intervention, their worst-case scenario is pretty much what we already have.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Chris Potter |
09-21-2009 |
Politics
Will Gossip Blog Notoriety Translate into Music Industry Clout for Perez Hilton?new
You could almost hear universal snickering in the music industry a few months ago when Perez Hilton announced his intention to start a label and become the next Jimmy Iovine. Now the industry watches to see what the Perezcious Music label will bring.
NOW Magazine |
Jason Keller |
09-21-2009 |
Music
'Throw Down Your Heart' Would Make a Better Soundtrack than a Movienew
The premise here is simple: Despite its toothless-white-guy connotations, the banjo comes from Africa -- and Grammy-winning banjo genius Bela Fleck is bringing it home. But really, that mission is mostly just an excuse for Fleck to jam with musicians across the continent.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Chris Potter |
09-21-2009 |
Reviews