AltWeeklies Wire
On American Campuses, Esperanto is an Extracurricular Languagenew
A recent Tuesday night meeting of the MIT Esperanto Club attracted four bookish-looking guys, chatting confidently in a language that sounds not unlike some weird mashed-up version of the Romances, with a dash of something possibly Slavic.
Boston Phoenix |
Eva Wolchover |
01-12-2009 |
Education
Oprah's Book Club is Dumbing Down Readers and Rewarding Mediocrity
Readers who rely on popular hype to choose books often come away disappointed. A few may decide to deep deeper, but most won't. Burned readers become non-readers.
Galveston and the Texas Gulf Coast Struggle After Hurricane Ikenew
While Katrina's destruction of New Orleans monopolized the eyes of the country and the world for weeks in 2005, Galveston was not as fortunate.
Dallas Observer |
John Nova Lomax |
01-12-2009 |
Disasters
'Don't Stop' Looks at Karaoke's Democratization of Musicnew
Despite his book's limitations, it's hard to disagree with Brian Raftery's basic proposition: Skill is overrated, and the music stars or publishing houses who own the big hits tend to be overpaid.
Seattle Weekly |
Brian Miller |
01-12-2009 |
Nonfiction
If Parkour Ever Takes Off, Michael 'Frosti' Zernow Could be One of its First Starsnew
Thousands of people are believed to practice parkour in the US, and Frosti is one of the most widely recognized. At five-foot-eight with a sinewy build, multiethnic features, and short black hair that's often pushed into a fauxhawk, he has a distinctive look.
Chicago Reader |
Rich Knight |
01-12-2009 |
Sports
George W. Bush, Texas' Prodigal Son, Returnsnew
George W. Bush is returning here to live, and that means people in our community are going to have to live with him. So my question remains: How?
Dallas Observer |
Jim Schutze |
01-12-2009 |
Commentary
Dems Have Taken Control of Wisconsin State Gov't. Now What?new
The good news: With the new Legislature's inauguration earlier this week, state Dems now control both the Legislature and the executive branch for the first time in more than two decades. The bad news: They face the worst political and economic conditions in modern memory.
What's So Funny About Cancer?new
Breast cancer memoirists all seem to agree that laughter is pretty good medicine.
Chicago Reader |
S.L. Wisenberg |
01-12-2009 |
Books
Single-Sex Schools Test the Limits of Equal Opportunity in Public Educationnew
New Village Charter High is part of a national mini-boom in single-sex public education. Many of the single-sex schools across the nation have opened in the past three years, thanks to federal regulations that have effectively loosened non-discrimination laws that had often barred their operation.
Pasadena Weekly |
Elizabeth Zwerling |
01-12-2009 |
Education
California's Great Olive Oil Floodnew
In the past decade, armies of trees have taken root in the Central Valley, the northern Bay Area wine country, and the Central Coast hills. California is still just a baby in world production, but has paced itself to enter the ranks of the world's leaders in olive oil milling in the next 15 years.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Alastair Bland |
01-12-2009 |
Food+Drink
Would You Vote for Roland Burris?new
Illinois voters have been asked this question repeatedly. Usually the answer is no.
Chicago Reader |
Ben Joravsky |
01-12-2009 |
Politics
Why Is Israel Bombing Gaza?new
Israel is attacking Gaza because Gaza was attacking Israel because Israel was attacking Gaza. Ctrl-A. Ctrl-C. Ctrl-V. Repeat. Instead of talking about which side is at fault, let's focus for a minute on all the innocent people who are suffering.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Andisheh Nouraee |
01-09-2009 |
Commentary
Busting Balls: 20 Ways To Improve Sportsnew
We blow the whistle on the ridiculous rules and quirks that make the games lame.
Boston Phoenix |
Lance Gould |
01-09-2009 |
Sports
The World of Cryptids: A Creature Featurenew
As our planet edges closer to the apocalypse, the escapist, fantasy world of cryptozoology -- literally, the study of "hidden animals" -- is suddenly coming to life.
Boston Phoenix |
Mike Miliard |
01-09-2009 |
Animal Issues
Prosecution's Case Against W.R. Grace is Dying as Time Drags Onnew
U.S. attorneys intend to prove at an upcoming trial that six W.R. Grace executives conspired to keep the truth about asbestos contamination secret from the federal government for more than a quarter century--contamination that has claimed the lives of hundreds of residents.
Missoula Independent |
Patrick M. Klemz |
01-09-2009 |
Environment
