AltWeeklies Wire
My Brief Encounter with Portland's Swinger Communitynew
I find myself at the front door of a modest-sized home on a unseasonably warm night in late May, notebook in hand, ready to attend my first swinger party. After a knock, a cordial middle-aged couple who host about one party a month, open the front door and greet me. She is wearing a green visor with the phrase "Penis-Centric" written across the brim.
The Portland Mercury |
Matthew Vollono |
06-19-2009 |
Culture
Mainstream as Porn Might Be, It Still Has Dirty Little Secretsnew
It's not all hip Hollywood premieres and political temperature-taking for the nation's carnal professionals. On July 1, a federal judge is scheduled to sentence porn producers Robert Zicari and Janet Romano for conspiracy to distribute obscene material through the mail and over the internet.
Las Vegas Weekly |
Greg Beato |
06-19-2009 |
Culture
Who's Living Beyond Their Means?new
In many sectors, it seems money has been poured down the drain. Yet in Boston's glitziest watering holes, people are pouring $14 drinks down their throats like there's no tomorrow.
Boston Phoenix |
Kara Baskin |
06-18-2009 |
Culture
How the Recession Created a New Breed of Stay-at-Home Dadsnew
When the economy finally collapsed a few months back, my short-lived run as the only stay-at-home dad in the neighborhood evaporated along with tens of thousands of jobs. Dads began popping up everywhere. At the park. At the library for Storytime. At Baby Gap.
New York Press |
Chuck Pagano |
06-18-2009 |
Culture
Matt Gone Hated His Ailing Body ... Then He Drew On Itnew
Gone says 98 percent of him is tattooed, the only exception being his palms and gums because it would be painful and difficult to tattoo both areas. So, is he just an attention whore? Decide for yourself, but realize that without his tattoos, Gone says his life would be lonely.
Willamette Week |
Katie Litvin |
06-17-2009 |
Culture
A Dumpster Diver Loses His Right to Rummage at Vanderbilt Universitynew
Vanderbilt officials say their concern isn't theft—it's lawsuits. Dumpster diving isn't a big problem for the university -- they've never arrested anyone for Dumpster diving, and they continue to issue warnings of trespass charges for repeat offenders.
Nashville Scene |
Tracy Moore |
06-12-2009 |
Culture
Touring Anarchists Stop in Louisville, Pushing Propaganda and Sipping Lattesnew
Jeff Redmond and Casey House are a pair of anarchist revolutionaries on a bright green school bus, promoting The Zeitgeist Movement. Recently they stopped in Louisville to drum up support.
LEO Weekly |
Farrah Johnson |
06-11-2009 |
Culture
'Transformers' Celebrates 25 Years with an All-Out Pasadena Gatheringnew
Transformers will reach a milestone when fans of all ages pack the Pasadena Convention Center for BotCon 2009, celebrating both 25 years of robotic success and the June 24 release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
Pasadena Weekly |
Marry Pivazian |
06-08-2009 |
Culture
Tags: BotCon 2009, Transformers
Amateur Sociologist Uses Social Experiment to Expose Mullet Bigotrynew
Just as John Howard Griffin attempted to expose racism,Jake Nyberg hopes to expose "mulletism"—the mistreatment of mulleted Americans. He's been documenting his experiment at www.mulletlikeme.com.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Erin Carlyle |
05-22-2009 |
Culture
Tags: Jake Nyberg, mulletlikeme.com
'Amazing Race' Contestant Shows the World that Gay Dads Can Be Greatnew
Jet-setting around the globe on The Amazing Race was just another in a series of unique life experiences for gay father Mel White, a biographer and speechwriter for such conservative Christian icons as Jerry Falwell and Billy Graham.
Pasadena Weekly |
Carl Kozlowski |
05-18-2009 |
Culture
How an Oregon Guru Raked in Millions as a New Age Psychicnew
Eric Pepin is a balding, heavyset 42-year-old from Beaverton, Ore. who claims he can heal the sick, control the weather, travel between dimensions and communicate with God. He teaches his secrets on CDs and DVDs that sell for up to $299 each on his website. And people buy them.
Willamette Week |
James Pitkin |
05-13-2009 |
Culture
Tags: Eric Pepin, New Age
Making Peace: First, Love Yourselfnew
The acts of forgiveness and being forgiven are so powerful that if we could bottle forgiveness and issue it to every human being, we could solve many of the world's problems.
Jackson Free Press |
Jackie Warren Tatum |
05-11-2009 |
Culture
Tags: forgiveness, advice
Ready or Not for Babynew
Babies have a habit of appearing at the least opportune moment, like when a verdict is due on a big story. And no two pregnancies (or births) are ever the same.
Jackson Free Press |
Dawn Dugle |
05-11-2009 |
Culture
Lessons From My Mothernew
Maggie Neff passes on six lessons her mother taught her, some commonsensical, some not so much.
Jackson Free Press |
Maggie Neff |
05-11-2009 |
Culture
Tags: motherhood, advice
I Know I Should Kick the Habit, But...new
By the time I was legally old enough to smoke, I was already addicted. And for almost 30 years, I have been trying to quit. I think, no, I know, that if I don't do it soon, it will no longer be my choice.
Boise Weekly |
Amy Atkins |
05-01-2009 |
Culture
