AltWeeklies Wire
'Il Divo' Takes a 'Goodfellas'-Style Approach to Italian Corruptionnew
If you're a longtime follower of European politics, you might have an easier time with Il Divo's dizzying summation of Italy's power structure and the knotty criminal conspiracies linking Giulio Andreotti to murders, suicides and a scandal nicknamed Bribesville.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Curt Holman |
07-21-2009 |
Reviews
Creating Jobs, Unfortunately, Doesn't Seem to be an Obama Priority
Obama's plan is Reaganomics redux. Give trillions of dollars to big corporations, he argues, and they'll use it to capitalize new ventures, hire workers, and unclog the credit markets. Eventually.
Prometheus Radio Project Moves Radio Legislation in Washingtonnew
Prometheus has become remarkably good at working it in D.C., bringing religious groups, labor unions, civil rights groups, musicians and public safety advocates together in the fight for community radio.
They're all lining up behind the Local Community Radio Act (HR 1147), and they're more optimistic than ever about getting the legislation passed.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Daniel Denvir |
07-21-2009 |
Media
Missouri Professor Hopes to Bring Democracy to Sudannew
There are plenty of reasons for Abdullahi Ibrahim not to run in 2010's Sudanese presidential election. The election could be rigged. The repressive ruling regime could target opposing candidates. But that's exactly why Ibrahim decided to run -- and why he believes he can win.
What Happens to Ticket Prices When Live Nation & Ticketmaster Merge?new
This is a story about fat cats agreeing to merge with rivals rather than outperform each other and getting one over on the consumer. Enjoy the rest of the summer concert season -- it might be the last you can afford.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Brian McManus |
07-21-2009 |
Music
Why Did Gay-Rights Activist Carol Anne Burger Stab Her Wife With a Screwdriver 222 Times?new
To outsiders, it seemed Burger and Jessica Kalish were the embodiment of contemporary domestic bliss. Soon, though, all of South Florida learned the unsettling truth.
New Times Broward-Palm Beach |
Michael J. Mooney |
07-21-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Colleagues Reflect on Sotomayor's Formative Legal Experience in Connecticutnew
From the moment the self-described "wise Latina woman" was tapped by President Obama to be the first Hispanic to serve as a Supreme, the cheers and jeers from those judging her prevailed over her actual record of service.
Hartford Advocate |
Chandra Niles Folsom |
07-21-2009 |
Politics
Is Jon Stewart Funny in France?new
Each day my daughter is faced with the challenging job of translating Comedy Central's The Daily Show into French, rendering hip American cultural references, Yiddishisms, bleeped-out expletives, and quirky American slang into something a French audience will understand and find funny.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Jaime O'Neill |
07-21-2009 |
TV
Health Care Consumer, Beware: They're Called 'Limited Insurance Plans' for a Reasonnew
The real problem with limited insurance plans appears to be the way they're marketed. Like the rent-to-own or payday-loan industries, these types of insurance agencies seem to make their money off the most vulnerable segments of the population.
Houston Press |
Craig Malisow |
07-21-2009 |
Science
Swingers Amiss: Is Group Sex Obscene?new
When swingers swing, is it obscene? Depends on your definition of "obscenity." And of "public."
Hartford Advocate |
Brianna Snyder |
07-21-2009 |
Culture
'The Ugly Truth' is That an Uptight Heroine Doesn't Make a Romantic Comedy
There's something basically chilly about the way Katherine Heigl comes off in The Ugly Truth. A character like this needs to be more than a ball-buster who learns to soften up; her complexity needs to make sense from the outset.
Salt Lake City Weekly |
Scott Renshaw |
07-20-2009 |
Reviews
'Orphan' Relishes Suspense Over Exploitation and Dread Over Abstract Terror
Orphan is a persuasive addition to the subgenre of bad-seed-horror films like The Omen where a creepy little kid wrecks havoc and murder on the lives of ill-equipped adults.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
07-20-2009 |
Reviews
After Nearly 50 Years, Bob Fisher's Ice House Remains L.A.'s Top Comedy Spotnew
The show has gone on -- for almost half a century now. Next year the Ice House will celebrate its 50th year in business, making it the oldest comedy club in America, and on Saturday the club welcomes its four millionth customer.
Pasadena Weekly |
Bobby Pollier |
07-20-2009 |
Performance
The Colorado Voice Clinic Thinks Every Person Has the Right to be Heardnew
Although the clinic has seen more than its share of famous patients, the facility is designed to help everybody who needs to keep their voices healthy, and clients range from students to housewives to lawyers to politicians to local musicians.
We Crash the Rainbow Gatheringnew
In a desperate attempt to see eye-to-eye with this Rainbow family, I had even broken an eight-year hallucinogen-free run and eaten a mixture of honey and psychedelic mushrooms. But there I was, in the midst of a mellow trip, further from understanding them than I had been when I arrived.
Weekly Alibi |
Maren Tarro |
07-20-2009 |
Culture
