AltWeeklies Wire
Fixed-Gear Fanaticism Rolls into Phoenixnew

Fixed-gear bikes have exploded in popularity in many cities across the nation over the past decade, and they've been getting more and more popular in the Valley since 2005. The wheeled weapon of choice for bike messengers and competitive cyclists for decades, fixies have caught on among a young and cool crowd.
Phoenix New Times |
Benjamin Leatherman |
07-29-2008 |
Sports
It's Been a Year Since Steven 'Butter' Miller Was Killed. Does Anyone Remember?new
When Butter was shot dead by police -- shot at 85 times, hit about 20 -- he was high, standing on a corner and waving a loaded gun. He hadn't pointed it at anyone, or if he had, it had been completely accidental, coincidental, because Butter was blank-eyed, detached from the world.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Tom Namako and Doron Taussig |
07-29-2008 |
Crime & Justice
The Hard Lessons Learn There's No Easy Waynew
To simply say newly storied Motor City trio tours, however, is almost an understatement. The Hard Lessons spent more than six of the last 12 months on the road and they estimate that they've performed at least 600 shows since they formed nearly five years ago.
Metro Times |
Bill Holdship |
07-29-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: B&G Sides, The Hard Lessons
Contract Killers: A Public/Private Partnership Goes Horribly Wrong in Iraqnew
Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Maseth was electrocuted while taking a shower in Iraq. His death, along with at least a dozen other soldiers who have met the same fate, is a tragic, and chillingly literal, symbol of what writer Naomi Klein calls "the Shock Doctrine." In her book of the same title, Klein argues that for modern corporations, wars and other disasters are just part of the business model.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Chris Potter |
07-29-2008 |
War
Tags: Iraq, KBR, Naomi Klein, death, privitization, corporate power, war & peace, The Shock Doctrine
Does Ct.'s Insurance Plan for Middle-Class Families Threaten the Health of its Poorest Citizens?new
Dozens of independent health care advocates say the Charter Oak Health Plan -- a new health care plan aimed at healthy middle-class adults -- is threatening to destabilize the state Medicaid program that serves some of the poorest, most at-risk populations.
New Haven Advocate |
Andy Bromage |
07-29-2008 |
Science
Round Two: Obama Needs to Conquer Philly All Over Againnew

Obama supporters were pretty excited for the primary. Can they get revved up for the general election too?
Philadelphia City Paper |
Emily Schultheis |
07-29-2008 |
Politics
Why Aren't There More Musical TV Shows?new
Like RENT or Carousel or Pippin or Moulin Rouge or whatever, but in televised episodic form.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Caralyn Green |
07-28-2008 |
TV
'Brideshead Revisited' Doesn't Want to Follow Its Sourcenew

Any adaptation ought to be its own thing, but the film's hesitation to follow its source to the end produces a confused, schizophrenic work.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Matt Prigge |
07-28-2008 |
Reviews
The Angry Grammarian: Words We Missnew
Good words are like muscles. They can be really strong and beautiful, but if you don't use 'em, they'll atrophy and eventually disappear.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Jeffrey Barg |
07-28-2008 |
Advice
Eric Roberson on the State of Black Musicnew
Does he have any suggestions on how to make black music less, um, pitiful?
Philadelphia Weekly |
Craig D. Lindsey |
07-28-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
M. Ward on Cool Girl and Collaborate Zooey Deschanelnew
So how did a Hollywood actress become a musician, and a venerated one at that?
Philadelphia Weekly |
Caralyn Green |
07-28-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Matt Davis Creates a New Ode to Philly Every Monthnew
Davis, a 29-year-old jazz guitarist and composer who's halfway through a yearlong project he calls City of Philadelphia 2008.
Philadelphia Weekly |
David Adler |
07-28-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Middle-Aged Comeback: Rainn Wilson Fishes for Attention
Rainn Wilson plays “Fish,” a washed-up and bitter heavy metal drummer who gets a second chance in life to rock out in this feel good comedy that’s more than the sum of its parts.
Tags: Peter Cattaneo, The Rocker
'The Dark Knight' is the Best Batman Evernew
In a summer jam-packed with superheroes, Batman has made a couple of smart moves. He's waited until everybody else -- Ironman, The Hulk, Hancock, Hellboy -- exhausted themselves, letting anticipation build. And he's kept things serious, refusing to stoop to comic-book hijinks.
Tags: Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight
Pa. Gov. Ed Rendell is Urging a Stronger Effort to Enforce Anti-Sweatshop Policiesnew
Pennsylvania is the first state to pledge its support for a proposed anti-sweatshop consortium, made up of states, counties and municipalities from across the country. "Rendell has taken the leadership of states nationally," says Kenneth Miller, who has long been active in local anti-sweatshop campaigns.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
Adam Fleming |
07-28-2008 |
Business & Labor