AltWeeklies Wire
New Report from Human-Rights Group Yields Another Reason to Stop Smokingnew
The Plan International report interviewed 44 Malawian teens about their experiences working full-time on tobacco farms. The kids described work that's too difficult for people their size, 12-hour days (at the least) with few breaks and average pay of 18 cents a day. They also reported being hit, tormented and raped by supervisors.
San Diego CityBeat |
Editorial |
08-26-2009 |
Science
Cancer: A New Front in the War Against Pot?new
A California panel concludes that cannabis causes cancer. But the research is still young, the industry seems undeterred and pro-legalization advocates don't seem fazed by the ruling or its potential consequences -- which they contend will not deter marijuana usage.
East Bay Express |
Paula Lehman |
08-26-2009 |
Drugs
The Rise of the Barter Economy: Online Trading Gains Momentumnew
Proponents of bartering tout benefits like increasing disposable income, gaining an appreciation for the true value of the goods and services, and finding an increased sense of community. But it can be hard to know if you're getting a good deal.
Boise Weekly |
Tara Morgan |
08-26-2009 |
Shopping
Historic Lutheran Vote Allows Gays to Preach God's Wordnew
Lesbian Lauren Wendt, a volunteer coordinator for Goodsoil, a Lutheran group working for the full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, can finally follow her calling into the ministry.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Bradley Campbell |
08-26-2009 |
Religion
Virginia's Gubernatorial Candidates Court Youth for High Voter Turnoutnew
During the last presidential election, young voter turnout was unprecedented. Among Democrats, the overall turnout jumped 90 percent in 2008, compared to four years earlier. Young Democrats' participation jumped 135 percent. Will the same number of young Virginians come out to vote for their future governor?
C-Ville Weekly |
Chiara Canzi |
08-26-2009 |
Politics
Is Tony Sutton the Savior of Minnesota's Republican Party?new
The "relentless" Sutton has the unenviable job of turning around a party that seems to have lost its bearings on a national scale. But don't tell that to Sutton. Far from playing defense, he has come out swinging with a gloves-be-damned attack on Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Bradley Campbell |
08-26-2009 |
Politics
No Need to Wait for Cooler Weather -- Go Ahead and Throw Your Red Wine on Icenew
There are still a few rules to this seemingly unruly idea -- the first relates to temperature and the other pertains to type.
C-Ville Weekly |
Megan Headley |
08-26-2009 |
Food+Drink
A Mexican Shark Fisherman Tells the Tale of an Illegal Industry Gone Overboardnew
In the last decade, the Coast Guard has devoted a growing effort to deterring illegal shark fishing. But that hasn't stopped men from making the dangerous trip north in search of sharks.
The Texas Observer |
Kevin Sieff |
08-26-2009 |
Business & Labor
Thomas Pynchon's 'Inherent Vice' is an Endlessly Entertaining Variation on the Detective Yarnnew
Unlike any previous Pynchon work, Vice fully embraces genre. And in doing so it's difficult to tell if the genre is merely pliable enough to accommodate all of Pynchon's literary whims or if the now 72-year-old author has basically been riffing on this form his entire career.
Baltimore City Paper |
Bret McCabe |
08-25-2009 |
Fiction
Ang Lee Revives an Idealistic View of a Legendary Event in 'Taking Woodstock'
Taking Woodstock falls squarely within Lee's sweet spot. This may not be a look at the Woodstock that was, but it's fairly charming as a look at the Woodstock that we sort of wish it had been.
Salt Lake City Weekly |
Scott Renshaw |
08-25-2009 |
Reviews
Ex-Marine Adam Kokesh Runs for Congress in New Mexiconew
Kokesh, who professes a libertarian-leaning agenda, will be seeking to replace the Democratic representative for the 3rd Congressional District, Ben R. Lujan. Because the 3rd Congressional District is strongly democratic, Kokesh will have to exert a novel appeal as he stalks the Nov. 2, 2010 election.
Weekly Alibi |
Alex E. Limkin |
08-25-2009 |
Politics
Eight Philly Artists Tell Us How They Pay the Billsnew
The following profiles peek behind the curtain, revealing how artists' day jobs affect their work and vice versa. More specifically, they reveal how eight local artists make enough dough to get up in the morning and create paint, make music or simply entertain us.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Molly Eichel |
08-25-2009 |
Culture
Conservation May be the Key to Georgia's Water Warsnew
Environmentalists say Georgia is overlooking a low-cost and common-sense approach that could save money, help the environment, and show metro Atlanta's downstream neighbors that it understands the dire situation. That solution is conservation.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Thomas Wheatley |
08-25-2009 |
Environment
For Freegans, Eating Garbage Is Getting Downright Trendynew
John Greentree's what many would call a "freegan" -- a vegan who dumpster-dives for his meals -- but he prefers the terms "post-consumer," "urban harvester," and "vegan reclamist." Everything he eats or owns is second-hand. He manages to live virtually money-free, but modern-day hunting and gathering is practically a full-time job.
Phoenix New Times |
Niki D'Andrea |
08-25-2009 |
Food+Drink
Why Did the Conflict Between Russia & Georgia Crash Twitter & Facebook?new
Does the inconvenience of a short Facebook/Twitter crash mean that Americans are victims of war on par with the estimated 2,000 people who died in the actual fighting last year? Of course not. But it does demonstrate that our increasing reliance on electronic communication networks makes the U.S. vulnerable to attacks in ways we never before imagined.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Andisheh Nouraee |
08-25-2009 |
Commentary
