AltWeeklies Wire
The Clash Between the Black Panthers and the Santa Ana Police, 40 Years Laternew
"I think people want to forget this," former Orange County Black Panther head Daniel Lynem says. "If they could wipe it from the history books, they would. And for the most part, they have."
Furry Fandom: Art, Community and a Second Skin to Feel Comfortable Innew
It's difficult to pin down exactly when "furry" emerged as a genre. In Western culture, nonhuman characters have been popular since the days of Aesop's Fables, which date back to Greek civilization before 500 BC. However, the furry fandom as a movement traces its start back to a science fiction convention in 1980.
Pasadena Weekly |
Claire Palermo |
09-15-2009 |
Culture
Like Herding Cats: A Report from the Hardcourt Bicycle Polo World Championshipnew
Bike polo itself isn't new, but it's just within the last 10 years or so that a new style, dubbed "hardcourt," has emerged, played on a hard surface instead of grass and using minimal, homemade equipment.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Isaiah Thompson |
09-15-2009 |
Sports
Despite Seattle's Battle Against Some Seedy Motels, Their Regulars Remain Undauntednew
After years of complaints from neighborhood residents and hundreds of calls to the police for service, the city has declared war on the seedy motels of Aurora Avenue North -- five of them, anyway.
Seattle Weekly |
Vernal Coleman |
09-14-2009 |
Culture
Sure, Food Prices Are Rising, but Trust Me, They're Sell-Offsnew
Only time will tell if we're at the point in the food debate to pop the taboo question: how come, despite widespread grousing about rising prices, our food is so bizarrely cheap?
NOW Magazine |
Wayne Roberts |
09-14-2009 |
Food+Drink
Budget Impasse Threatens Philly's Iconic Mural Arts Programnew
The city's tightening belt has already trickled down to MAP -- which has spent recent decades making Philadelphia the "mural capital of the world" -- and the doomsday budget proposed by Mayor Nutter could bring even more pain.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tara Moore |
09-14-2009 |
Art
A Mutant Protein Has Invaded Much of the World's Dairy Supplynew
While most dairy companies, trade groups and government agencies consider it harmless, a growing body of research implicates A1 beta-casein in diabetes, heart disease, autism and schizophrenia.
Missoula Independent |
Ari Le Vaux |
09-11-2009 |
Food+Drink
Bill Chott & His Fellow Improv Tricksters Aim to Bring Back St. Louis Sketch Comedy's Glory Daysnew
The Improv Trick has finally found a permanent dwelling in the increasingly hipster Cherokee 'hood. Chott has hired a full-time director of operations. The student roster continues to grow, and a program for at-risk neighborhood kids is in the works.
Riverfront Times |
Kristen Hinman |
09-11-2009 |
Performance
The Significant Objects Project Looks At What Gives An Object Its Worthnew
Significant Objects works thusly: a tchotchke is bought for a buck or two at a thrift store. A writer is told to craft the trinket's fictional back-story. The object is listed on eBay with that tall tale as its descriptor. The winning bidder gets the object; the proceeds of the sale go to the writer.
Boston Phoenix |
Mike Miliard |
09-10-2009 |
Culture
Tags: James Dean, Norman Rockwell, Stewart O'Nan, Josh Glenn, objects, Rob Walker, value, Luc Sante, eBay
Finding Great Australian Wines Out in the Bushnew
I spent a few days last month in the main winemaking region of Western Australia, Margaret River, tasting a lot of its trademark Cab Sauvignon and Shiraz and Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc blends. We got our palates on some more unexpected stuff, too.
C-Ville Weekly |
Cathy Harding |
09-09-2009 |
Food+Drink
Cartoon: Exit Interview - Van Jonesnew
Finally, it turns out that the Obama White House had a liberal working there. Fortunately, he's been rooted out and summarily fired.
Tags: Barack Obama, Van Jones
At the International G.I. Joe Convention, Grown Men Play With Little Dollsnew
Most of the attendees are male, large, and loyal to either the 12-inch original toys or the 3-3/4-inch figurines based on the cartoon characters. A slight edge goes to the cartoon fans, who tend to be younger and single, with more disposable income.
Cartoon: Afghanistan? No Matternew
Remember how Japan and Germany turned lemons into lemonade after World War II? By building new industrial infrastructure on the tabla rasa of total destruction. Now it's the Afghans' turn. Between US airstrikes and Taliban suicide bombing, there will soon be no matter left in Afghanistan.
Diamonds are a Ghoul's Best Friendnew
Why be buried when you can have your ashes turned into a diamond?
Las Vegas Weekly |
Richard Loncraine |
09-04-2009 |
Shopping
Animated Cartoon: Mercenary Madnessnew
Recent news reveals that the US government has been using Blackwater USA (now called Xe) to do everything from assassinate Al Qaeda members to load Hellfire missiles onto Predator drone planes in Pakistan. What next for the firm that does everything? New animated editorial cartoon by Ted Rall and David Essman goes there.
