AltWeeklies Wire
New Book Looks at How Billy Graham Shook Up the Solid Southnew
Billy Graham played a key role in shaping the American political landscape of the second half of the 20th century, as confidante to presidents and adviser on domestic issues (particularly civil rights) and foreign policy (Communism and the Cold War).
INDY Week |
John Sinclair |
07-17-2009 |
Nonfiction
'70s Commune Band YaHoWha 13 Opens the Fold With a Drag City Collectionnew
Magnificence offers nine vital tracks that touch on garagey psych-pop, ritualized jamming, improvised noise and frantic chanting. The band may follow its own logic, but it's a committed one, roughly like a spiritualized version of Captain Beefheart's Magic Band.
INDY Week |
Marc Masters |
07-17-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Why the Health Care Lobby Opposes the Public Optionnew

As a caravan rolled to Washington, Health Care for America Now's message about the incredibly complicated legislation had been reduced to one simple message: Whatever emerged, the bill must contain the strong public insurance option that Obama proposed -- and the private insurers, in league with the Republicans, were trying to kill.
'Public Enemies' is Less a Biopic Than a Glossy, Stylish Elegynew
What keeps Public Enemies from being a masterpiece is a peculiar lack of emotional accessibility to the key characters.
A Half-True History of Shelton Hank Williamsnew
Shelton Hank Williams -- known on stage as Hank III -- might only be the most recent generation of three Hank Williams boys to make his name in music, but, with or without the legacy, he's an absolute American original.
INDY Week |
Chris Parker |
07-02-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Suds and Flames Make Great Summer Mealsnew

Caramel is the reason beer goes with grilled food and wine often doesn't. Here are some beer and summer food pairings, followed by some recipes for beer-based summer sauces.
INDY Week |
Julie Johnson |
07-02-2009 |
Food+Drink
If Your Love is Cheap, Windows Loves Your Bandnew
Microsoft's Sponsored Songs program is the latest in a series of variably successful attempts by large companies to use independent music to reach a new audience. If it is to be a long-term strategy, though, many say it must form a stronger bond between the bands and brands it links.
North Carolina GOP Still Caters to its Bible Base, Alienating Moderatesnew
The party's recent convention showed clearly that rather than reach out to attract more moderates, the Republicans are intent instead on solidifying their conservative base. The "liberal media," warned outgoing party chair Linda Daves, hitting a popular theme, "is trying to brainwash us" into being ashamed of America and abandoning basic Republican principles.
Green Beers That Are More Al Gore Than Dr. Seussnew
Green beers are friendlier to the environment, and most of the ingredients are grown without pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. For a beer to be USDA-approved organic, 95 percent of its ingredients must be organic.
INDY Week |
Matthew McGibney |
06-18-2009 |
Food+Drink
Why is Andy Ives Biking Across America?new
The recent graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and member of Bike and Build is biking cross-country to raise awareness for the affordable housing crisis in America.
INDY Week |
Shanae Auguste |
06-18-2009 |
Housing & Development
'The Book of Dads' Elicits Pungent Prose from Nearly All of its Contributorsnew
It seems appropriate that both The Book of Dads and Father's Day arrive at the onset of summer, when dads and kids head for the shore. A handful of these 20 essays take place on the water, and an aquatic vacation might be the best time to give your favorite father this enlightened, enlightening book.
INDY Week |
Adam Sobsey |
06-18-2009 |
Nonfiction
'Easy Virtue' May Be a Country Manor Movie for People Who Don't Like Themnew
The genre has gone downhill ever since Jean Renoir's The Rules of the Game set the standard in 1939. But it's been a long slope with the gentle upswings and plateaus of such films as Gosford Park and Atonement.
Tags: Easy Virtue, Stephan Elliott
'The Proposal' Manages to be Both Predictable & Unbelievable At the Same Timenew
This film, mechanically directed by Anne Fletcher (responsible for last year's worst movie, 27 Dresses), is the second Taming of the Shrew retread appearing this month, after My Life in Ruins, which, in comparison now looks tolerable.
Mike Tyson Reveals and Rationalizes in New Docnew
The mere existence of yet another documentary about Tyson—the latest titled, appropriately, Tyson—speaks to the public's continuing fascination with this defrocked warrior.
The Murder of Dr. George Tiller Recalls the Long History of Anti-Abortion Violencenew
Angela Williams of Chapel Hill recalls an experience 20 years ago in which she faced down abortion opponents organized by Operation Rescue and became convinced of their violent extremism.
INDY Week |
Angela Williams as told to Fiona Morgan |
06-04-2009 |
The War on Women