AltWeeklies Wire
'The Rocker' is Stupid But Enjoyablenew
There's something Novery sweet about it, even if much of the humor is found in physical comedy involving Rainn Wilson getting hit in the head or the nuts.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
08-20-2008 |
Reviews
Steve Coogan Continues Hot Season with 'Hamlet 2'new
Coogan, who was introduced to American audiences by playing legendary record exec Tony Wilson in 24 Hour Party People, here plays Dana Marschz, an actor whose failed career has led him to try to teach and direct theater at a Tucson high school.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
08-20-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Andrew Fleming, Hamlet 2
Beachwood Sparks Reunite and Reignite Indie Rocknew
Call it bad timing. Beachwood Sparks signed to Sub Pop long after groups like Nirvana and Mudhoney had established the Seattle record label as an industry standard-bearer, but they were still a couple years ahead of the next wave of Sub Pop stars, like The Shins and The Postal Service.
San Diego CityBeat |
Dryw Keltz |
08-20-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Sub Pop, Beachwood Sparks
Artists and Others are Using YouTube for More Than Just Home Videosnew
The biggest video-sharing website isn't just for lame home videos or amateur soft-core porn anymore: San Diego artists are using it as a new medium for what they're calling "X-stream Dadaism."
San Diego CityBeat |
Kinsee Morlan |
08-20-2008 |
Art
Why Does Minnesota Have the Nation's Highest Autism Rate?new
There are no good answers for why autism rates are rising in Minnesota. One camp believes it is due primarily to over-vaccination of infants and previous exposure to Thimerosal, a type of antiseptic containing mercury that was removed from regular childhood vaccines in 2001. Another camp points to increased awareness about the disease.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Bradley Campbell |
08-20-2008 |
Science
America's Energy Crisis Belongs in the GOP's Lapnew
In recent weeks, we've heard a rising chorus of Republicans blaming America's energy woes on the Democrats. It seems that they've all forgotten how Ronald Reagan gutted Jimmy Carter's energy plan.
Charleston City Paper |
Will Moredock |
08-20-2008 |
Commentary
Why These Portlanders Aren't Voting for Obamanew
To see how race relations and politics were playing out in Portland, a city that's 6 percent black, we went door-to-door in two neighborhoods. It wasn't hard to find swing voters who aren't Democrats or Republicans and also aren't voting for him. Their reasons may surprise you.
Willamette Week |
Raymond Rendleman |
08-20-2008 |
Politics
Aesop Rock Reaches His Peaknew
Much like his Def Jux boss and labelmate El-P, Rock has defied commercial logic by developing a successful career dropping notoriously esoteric (and at times, indecipherable) rhymes over highly textured rhythms and angular bass lines.
Chicago Newcity |
Brad Knutson |
08-20-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Long Walk: From Milwaukee to Chicago on Two Feetnew
I've bicycled from Chicago to Milwaukee a dozen or so times, including several trips during the dead of winter on the annual Frozen Snot Century ride. But lately I've been getting interested in walking as a form of travel that helps me take in more of my surroundings by slowing me down.
Chicago Newcity |
John Greenfield |
08-20-2008 |
Travel
The Georgian Debacle Could Break NATOnew
If the U.S. pursues its goal of bringing Georgia and Ukraine into NATO, there are only three options. If "old Europe" digs in its heels and refuses, then either the U.S. drops its demand, or NATO breaks up. The third alternative is that "old Europe" agrees to let the two former Soviet republics join -- but with the unspoken reservation that they will never actually go to war with Russia to protect them.
The Georgia Straight |
Gwynne Dyer |
08-20-2008 |
International
Now a Free Agent, Bilal Has More Love for Salenew
He shot Interscope to the left when the label shelved his 2006 sophomore album, Love for Sale. And now that he's independent, and resolutely so, he's composing most of his new material on Garage Band. Bilal likes it that way.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
08-20-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Thieves, Bigamists and Killers Walk the Walk in Mary Monroe's Novelsnew
The real shocker in Mary Monroe's new novel She Had It Coming isn't that a high-school girl murders a man on prom night. Rather, the shocker -- and the moral quandary it spurs -- is that sixteen years later, the killer's best friend is secretly married to two different men at the same time ... and wants to stay that way.
East Bay Express |
Anneli Rufus |
08-20-2008 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Mary Monroe, She Had It Coming
Six Reasons Why the HANG UP Act is Wacknew
Recently, the House of Representatives' Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced a bill that will permanently ban cell-phone use on planes. The bill will now move to the full House and potentially become law. There are so many things that are wack about this bill, let's examine them one at a time.
San Diego CityBeat |
Edwin Decker |
08-20-2008 |
Commentary
Product Testing Wine Tools: The Vinturi Wine Aeratornew
This groovy little wine toy is a clear plastic device that looks like some kind of space-age crack pipe and promises "all the taste with none of the wait" (which is pretty much the raison d'etre of crack).
C-Ville Weekly |
J. Tobias Beard |
08-20-2008 |
Food+Drink
Two Chicago Exhibitions Memorialize Polaroid's Heydey with Fervent Nostalgianew
Polaroid announced in February 2008 they would cease production of both consumer and professional instant-developing film and cameras. Now, as the distribution line trickles to a stop and the price of the film has nearly doubled, photographers are beginning to feel the bite of loss.
Chicago Newcity |
Jason Foumberg |
08-20-2008 |
Art
