AltWeeklies Wire
Abracadabra: St. Louis Has Become a Flourishing Place for Magiciansnew
The city has a thriving magic community, and membership in the International Brotherhood of Magicians is on the rise. The local chapter, or "ring," is now up to 150 people, five times more than the average large city.
Riverfront Times |
Matt Kasper |
10-10-2008 |
Performance
Dropping Acids: Life is Sweet with 'Miracle Fruit' Pillsnew

My friend Jim and I are here to purposely warp our palate with a "miracle berry tablet," the amuse-bouche of choice these days among food chumps who host "flavor tripping" parties. The tablets apparently turn your tongue into your own personal Krispy Kreme outlet.
Washington City Paper |
Tim Carman |
10-10-2008 |
Food+Drink
Guerilla Artist Shepard Fairey Takes a Giant Step into the World of Politicsnew
As he waited behind bars during the Democratic National Convention in August, the two worlds that Shepard Fairey now inhabits -- one where he's a street artist, the other as an impassioned supporter of Sen. Barack Obama -- collided in the strangest of ways.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Haire |
10-09-2008 |
Art
Boston's Secret World of Fire Artistsnew

Of the four elements of nature, fire is by far the sexiest, druggiest, and rock-and-rolliest -- and Boston's fire spinners know how to use it.
Boston Phoenix |
Sara Faith Alterman |
10-09-2008 |
Culture
Is Simplicity and Efficiency Behind the Rise of Texting?new

Why are text messages becoming more popular than voice communications? Being a scientist, the concept of parsimony -- in a general sense, following the path of least resistance -- came to mind.
San Antonio Current |
Carlos Bergfeld |
10-08-2008 |
Tech
How the Pagans Bested the Mobnew

A former member of the Pagans tells how an attack against the South Philly mob helped create a biker legend.
Philadelphia Weekly |
John Hall |
10-07-2008 |
History
Ask a Mexican: Why do Mexican Women Hate Spanish Women?new
"I'm half-Catalan, and the women on my mom's side of my family have spent most of their lives being hated by Mexicans. I've never understood it."
'Mayan Cuisine' Cookbook is Not for Beginnersnew

Regardless of my inability to re-create the recipes in Daniel Hoyer's Mayan Cuisine: Recipes from the Yucatan Region, the book is still amazing. Well-researched and impeccably compiled, it's at least a fascinating read.
Weekly Alibi |
Maren Tarro |
10-07-2008 |
Food+Drink
Llewellyn Werner Thinks Skateparks Could Get Iraq's Economy Rollingnew
Werner has many projects in Iraq, everything from the installation of fiber-optics networks to constructing several large power plants to setting up international distribution for Iraq-grown dates.
Invasion of the Amazon Womennew

Four Miami-area Amazons hold private fetish sessions for up to $500 an hour. They work both interdependently and collaboratively, and most are avid bodybuilders, strong enough to lift a midsize man above their heads. Usually, clients request the same things: trampling, overhead pressing, lifting and carrying, and/or wrestling.
New Times Broward-Palm Beach |
Natalie O'Neill |
10-06-2008 |
Culture
The Clothes That Got Me Laid Tracks Sartorial Choices on the Sexual Playgroundnew
The blog, run by 28-year-old Emily Bartlett Hines, weaves the details of amorous hookups with the duds that made them possible, all with the thoughtful and inquisitive tone of an enthusiastic sexpert.
Nashville Scene |
Tracy Moore |
10-03-2008 |
Fashion
The Rise and Fall of Michael Brandonnew

The gay porn star goes from meth addict to antidrug poster boy and, tragically, back to meth addict.
Digg's Top Users Banned for Ever and Evernew
Since early September, nearly 100 users have been banned from the San Francisco–based news-sharing site Digg.com. Speaking out across the blogosphere, some are confused: Did minor crimes warrant erasing their profiles? Others are expressing melodramatic mourning for their "fallen comrades."
With Honeycrisp's Patent Expiring, U of Minnesota Looks for a New Applenew

The popular breed has been called one the 25 innovations that changed the world.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Rachel Hutton |
10-02-2008 |
Food+Drink
Female MMA Fighters are Fighting for Mainstream Acceptancenew

Historically, women's MMA in the U.S. has been more of a spectacle than an actual sport. But female MMA will be in the spotlight during EliteXC on CBS this Saturday.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Bradley Campbell |
10-02-2008 |
Sports