AltWeeklies Wire
2008's P.U.-litzer Prizes: America's Stinkiest Media Performancesnew
Now in their 17th year, the P.U.-litzer Prizes recognize some of the nation's stinkiest media performances. As the judges for these annual awards, we do our best to identify the most deserving recipients of this unwelcome plaudit.
Weekly Alibi |
Norman Solomon and Jeff Cohen |
01-06-2009 |
Media
Tags: media, Year in Review
Brazilian Immigrants are Leaving Connecticut for a Better Life Back Homenew

Ester Sanches-Naek, the president of Hartford's Shaheen Brazilian Community Center, guesses that at least 20 percent of the Brazilians in the state had returned home recently because of the economy.
New Haven Advocate |
Daniel D'Ambrosio |
01-06-2009 |
Immigration
The Anti-Library of George W. Bushnew
The architects of George W. Bush's legacy face a daunting challenge in the years ahead: How to build a presidential library for a man who -- Karl Rove's absurd claims of Bush's bookishness notwithstanding -- doesn't seem to read?
Philadelphia City Paper |
David Faris |
01-06-2009 |
Commentary
The Kresge Foundation Fends Off Artist Starvation and Fuels the Creative Classnew
The Kresge Artist Fellowships -- which will annually award 18 local artists $25,000 -- are one part of an $8.8 million overall commitment to arts and culture in the Detroit area made by the foundation.
Metro Times |
Kelli B. Kavanaugh |
01-06-2009 |
Art
Can a New Generation of Visionaries Revive the Watchdog Press?new

As the traditional media contracts and struggles for survival, new approaches like Huffington Post, Spot.us, and the Public Press are trying to reinvent journalism.
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Steven T. Jones and Tim Redmond |
01-05-2009 |
Media
Rod Lurie Makes a Political Thriller for Our Times

Clearly inspired by Judith Miller's role in the Valerie Plame case, writer/director Rod Lurie takes dramatic liberties to allow for a provocative treatment of an ongoing battle for civil liberties exacted in the name of national security.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
01-05-2009 |
Reviews
No Clear Path to Peace for Obama Administrationnew
We are anxious because now it appears Obama, like LBJ, wants it both ways and isn't really as much about getting us out of any of our recent military quagmires as he is about negotiating settlements in which we stay.
Pasadena Weekly |
Kevin Uhrich |
01-05-2009 |
Commentary
Users Get Tests for Bad Cocaine in British Columbianew

The province's health officer has confirmed that testing is now available for people with a fever who believe they may have used contaminated cocaine.
The Georgia Straight |
Matthew Burrows |
01-05-2009 |
Drugs
Only One Solution: Eat the Rich
Three decades of income inequality have allowed a small group of corporations and individuals to aggregate our national wealth. The question now is when, and how, they'll be forced to share it with everyone else.
Jerry Hancock Moves from Law Enforcement to Prison Ministrynew
Much of what the Rev. Jerry Hancock has to say about the criminal justice system sounds reasonable coming from a clergyman who heads a prison ministry program. But when you consider that he's spent more than 30 years as a lawyer in this system, many of them as a prosecutor, his perspective is positively stunning.
Isthmus |
Esty Dinur |
01-05-2009 |
Crime & Justice
George W. Bush's Departure is the End of an Eranew

In the minds of most people -- a majority of Americans, and the overwhelming majority of people elsewhere -- we are saying good riddance to a long period when brutal and ignorant policies reigned supreme. We are saying goodbye to George W. Bush, and Muntadhar al-Zaidi said it most eloquently.
The Georgia Straight |
Gwynne Dyer |
01-05-2009 |
Commentary
Many Musicians Died This Year, but Not Nearly Enoughnew

The Western male now lives on average to about 78. Think about that. And then think of Phil Collins, Elvis Costello and Chris Martin -- and weep.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Steven Wells |
01-05-2009 |
Music
Can We Save the Music Industry? Do We Want To?new
If you are the type of person who cares passionately about the future of music in America, this is one of the most exciting and frightening decades in modern history.
Boulder Weekly |
Dale Bridges |
01-05-2009 |
Music
Handling the Hangovernew
Here are some preventative techniques for handling the day-after doldrums.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Taylor Eason |
01-02-2009 |
Food+Drink
Clint Eastwood Bids a Limp Farewell to Acting in the Laughable 'Gran Torino'
As Eastwood delivers his self-professed farewell performance in Gran Torino, people are lining up to hand him gold statuettes -- this despite the fact this may be one of the worst performances ever by a guy who's turned in a lot of fairly lame ones.
Salt Lake City Weekly |
Scott Renshaw |
01-02-2009 |
Reviews