AltWeeklies Wire
After Rough Patches, Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds' Hits its Stridenew
Not since R.W. Fassbinder (and Godard) has a filmmaker shown so much clever, creative interest in how the Third Reich attempted to put mass culture in the service of mass slaughter.
New Anthology 'Love Is a Four-Letter Word' Examines Relief, Regret and Repentancenew
This anthology of "true stories of breakups, bad relationships and broken hearts" included stories from well-known writers like Junot Diaz, Gary Shteyngart, George Singleton, Lynda Barry and well-linked lit blogger Maud Newton. The book's epigraph, from Oscar Wilde, captures the complexities of the book's tone nicely; the heart, the Irish satirist tells us, was made to be broken.
INDY Week |
Gerry Canavan |
08-21-2009 |
Nonfiction
Another Reason to Ditch Coal: The Ashnew
When wet coal-ash sludge dries, it becomes toxic dust. The particulates are so small that they can burrow deeply into the lungs.
INDY Week |
Lisa Sorg |
08-21-2009 |
Environment
At Least Four North Carolina Dems Hope to Unseat Sen. Richard Burr in 2010new
Any of them has a good chance to win next year's Democratic primary, but whether they can beat Burr depends on the amount of money the candidates raise, the national sentiment toward Dems and the cachet the Democratic nominee carries, not only in the state's progressive locales, but in more conservative regions in the mountains and down east.
Suzanne Simons Gives Us a New -- and Timely -- Biography of the Man Behind Blackwaternew
Heroic in Master of War's opening pages, Simons ends her portrait with Erik Prince sputtering in impotent rage against a media he believes has unfairly maligned his company.
INDY Week |
Gerry Canavan |
08-14-2009 |
Nonfiction
Neo-Confederate Lawyer Kirk Lyons on What Could Be His Final Flag Casenew
For more than a decade, Lyons has been filing lawsuits that challenge restrictions on the display of the Confederate battle flag and its depiction—thus far—on T-shirts, cell phone covers, prom dresses and purses.
INDY Week |
Dick J. Reavis |
08-14-2009 |
Race & Class
The Tuba Exchange Makes Durham Something of an International Tuba Meccanew
The Tuba Exchange, which has specialized in tuba trade, repair and distribution for a quarter-century, is the only business of its kind in the country, specializing only in tubas and accepting trade-ins.
U.S. Rep. Brad Miller Stumps for Health Care Reformnew
While opponents took to the streets to attack the specter of socialism and the possibility that big government could deny them critical care, reform's defenders, including Miller, tried to focus public attention on the denials of care that private insurers are getting away with right now.
Bland Love in '(500) Days of Summer'new
(500) Days is that it's cloying and dishonest, indulging all of the clichés and false optimism of an average love story while masquerading as something that is questioning those things.
Tags: (500) Days of Summer, Mark Webb
Soccer Journeys in Rudo y Cursinew
Two brothers confront the pitfalls of sudden celebrity as soccer players: wild spending, drugs, gambling, avaricious women, demanding fans.
Tags: Carlos Cuaron, Rudo y Cursi
How Pure is Pure?new
"Brewed according to the Beer Purity Laws" -- when American beer drinkers see this as part of a beer promotion, they might wonder: Whose laws? And how pure?
INDY Week |
Julie Johnson |
08-06-2009 |
Food+Drink
How Coldplay Became the First Band to Beat the Digital Deficitnew
Chris Martin and company can claim is that they're the first band to break the million mark in digital album sales. In other words, they're the Internet Music Kings.
Tags: Coldplay
'Material Support' Charges the Feds' Best Shot in Terrorism Casenew
Prosecutors have increasingly exploited the low threshold of proof necessary to convict suspected terrorists on "material support" charges -- with mixed results
INDY Week |
Matt Saldaña |
08-06-2009 |
Crime & Justice
In Raleigh, Muslims View FBI with Fear, Mistrustnew
Three days after FBI officials attended an open house at the Islamic Center in Raleigh, the feds arrested seven local Muslims on terrorism charges.
INDY Week |
Bob Geary |
08-06-2009 |
Crime & Justice
It's Your Noise, Too: Merge Records Turns 20new
Instead of pursuing the cold, quick cash-in of some hot new trend, Merge has consistently sought out the songs and bands its owners loved.
