AltWeeklies Wire
Burning Man Seeks a Higher Profile as Black Rock City Cultivates the Metropolitan Idealnew
Maybe Burning Man can't save the world, but its leaders and participants are increasingly focused on using the models and principles involved with building and dismantling Black Rock City in the Nevada desert every year to help renew and restore urbanism in the 21st century.
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Steven T. Jones |
09-16-2009 |
Culture
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
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
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
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.
Living With HPVnew
It's the STD that afflicts millions. And yet few have come forward to share their travails with this nightmarish virus. Now one woman is ready to tell her story.
Boston Phoenix |
Lisa Spinelli |
09-02-2009 |
Culture
What Will Free Thinkers Do When the Amazing Randi is Gone?new
For more than 60 years, he has performed magic, debunked psychics, and discussed the perils of all things paranormal. But now his foundation is hemorrhaging money, and Randi, who has spent his career challenging the notion of an afterlife, is facing his own mortality.
Miami New Times |
Michael J. Mooney |
08-31-2009 |
Culture
Jessica Cox is Just Like Any Other Licensed Pilot -- Except She Has No Armsnew
At a small airport northeast of Tucson, Cox is the only pilot preparing for a flight this morning. She removes the chains that hold the 1946 Ercoupe 415-C in place, unscrews the fuel cap to assess the gas level and begins checking the plane over. She performs all of these tasks with her feet.
Tucson Weekly |
Irene Messina |
08-28-2009 |
Culture
Dustball Drivers Search for the True Wild West on a One-of-a-Kind Scavenger Huntnew
I belted in for the 2009 Dustball 1500 and copped rides between some of the 30 teams participating in the 1500-mile road rally across the American Southwest. Launching from El Paso, Texas, teams were handed a manila envelope filled with instructions, directions, visual clues, riddles and math problems that must be solved in order to earn points and, in some instances, find their way.
Santa Fe Reporter |
Dave Maass |
08-27-2009 |
Culture
Eight Philly Artists Tell Us How They Pay the Billsnew
The following profiles peek behind the curtain, revealing how artists' day jobs affect their work and vice versa. More specifically, they reveal how eight local artists make enough dough to get up in the morning and create paint, make music or simply entertain us.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Molly Eichel |
08-25-2009 |
Culture
College Guide: Dorm Room Etiquettenew
Four simple rules about sharing a 5x5 space with a total stranger.
North Bay Bohemian |
Cassandra Landry |
08-20-2009 |
Culture
College Guide: College During a Recession is as Bad as it Seemsnew
Four students, ranging from junior college to the just-graduated, weigh in on how the college experience is different during a recession.
North Bay Bohemian |
Daniel Hirsch, Jackie Johansen, Cassandra Landry and Denis Lindsay |
08-20-2009 |
Culture
What Happened to the NYC Teenager?new
The recent Bravo reality show about elite prep schools espouses a glam lifestyle, but as I remember it, high school was way more boring.
New York Press |
Emma Allen |
08-20-2009 |
Culture
Taxidermist Rick Nadeau Has a Lot of Fun With His 'Little Buddies'new
Nadeau specializes in "characters": military squirrels in brightly colored felt berets clutching M16s with lit cigarettes dangling from their lips. There was Secret Squirrel who huddled in a trench coat and fedora, and a fiddler in railroad overalls.
Riverfront Times |
Aimee Levitt |
08-14-2009 |
Culture
The Different Kinds of People that There Arenew
A complete list.
The Portland Mercury |
Lindy West |
08-06-2009 |
Culture
Tags: personalities, people
