AltWeeklies Wire
Paul Ross Spadafora Wanted to Demonstrate His Commitment to Boxingnew
In 1992, a 16-year-old boxing prodigy named Paul Ross Spadafora walked into the Island Avenue Tattoo shop in McKees Rocks. Weeks before, he'd dropped out of his sophomore year at Sto-Rox High School to focus on boxing. A natural righty who fought as a left-hander, he asked to have a paw-print tattooed on his upper stomach, with the word SOUTH inscribed above it.
Pittsburgh City Paper |
SEAN D. HAMILL |
12-22-2009 |
Sports
Philly's Broken Justicenew
If you haven't been reading the Philadelphia Inquirer's series on our broken judicial system, you really should: it lays out in excruciating detail the failures of our "system".
Philadelphia Weekly |
Brendan Skwire |
12-22-2009 |
Fashion
During an Election It's Just as Interesting to See Who Doesn't Stop Bynew
On Sunday, the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections cosponsored a campaign forum in a banquet hall on West Devon that got contenders for U.S. Senate, county board president, sheriff, judge, and water rec commissioner promising to look out for the rights and interests of Chicago’s Indian and Pakistani communities.
Chicago Reader |
Mick Dumke |
12-22-2009 |
Politics
Amherst liberates as Comcast conquersnew
I pulled out my iPod Touch to see if there were any available WiFi links from the restaurant or neighboring businesses, only to find—lo and behold—that the town of Amherst was offering me up a connection for nothing. Being a member of the public with a device capable of getting my Internet connection wirelessly was enough.
Valley Advocate |
Mark Roessler |
12-22-2009 |
Tech
'Red Cliff': Epic War Story is a Visual Stunnernew
Romance of the Three Kingdoms is the Chinese national epic, an 800,000-word historical saga that has been well-entrenched in the Asian mindset since its creation in the 14th century. Hence, it’s not too surprising to find that expat Chinese director John Woo has been eager for a shot at the story for decades.
Weekly Alibi |
Devin D. O’Leary |
12-21-2009 |
Reviews
Writer Collaborates With Iraqi Refugee to Tell a Different Story From Iraqnew
What Justin Sirois wanted to do was offer a different perspective of the war that wasn't being as accessibly covered in conventional war journalism. He wanted to argue that there might be more going on than journalism can offer. He wanted to tell a different story.
Baltimore City Paper |
Bret McCabe |
12-21-2009 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
New Haven Non-Profit Leaders Saw Big Raises Just Before the Market Crashed in 2008new
Sciulli was the bottom rung on the Advocate's last biennial salary survey, published in 2007. Now, the Solar Youth founder and director has moved up a notch. Nationally and statewide, experts predict there won't be as much good news to report on in fiscal year 2009.
New Haven Advocate |
Betsy Yagla |
12-21-2009 |
Business & Labor
In Seattle, Local Somalis Struggle to Understand Why Young Men Would Return to a Country They Never Knewnew
23-year-old Abdifatah Yusuf Isse's family thought he was visiting his girlfriend in Minneapolis during an extended break from studying economics at Eastern Washington University. In fact, he revealed, he was calling from Somalia.
Seattle Weekly |
Nina Shapiro |
12-21-2009 |
War
Can an Apparently Law-Abiding Citizen Be Arrested For Having a Bulge in his Pants?new
It happened to Dustin Warren Harrington around 11 p.m. on Aug. 13, 2005. Police Officer Scott Reiber thought Harrington looked suspicious walking through a neighborhood at night. He then flipped a U-turn and asked Harrington if they could talk.
Seattle Weekly |
Rick Anderson |
12-21-2009 |
Crime & Justice
An American Journey: Commemorating Robert Frank’s Landmark Booknew
Driving from New York to San Francisco, Robert Frank couldn't have foreseen how his photo essay The Americans would define both him and his adopted country. This short documentary is one of several tributes this year marking the 50th anniversary of that landmark book.
Seattle Weekly |
Brian Miller |
12-21-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Pass on the Grape Juice: Pair Your Holiday Meal with a Triple Alenew
What wine goes best with Christmas dinner? Most sommeliers recommend their favourite oak-y white wine, while the more adventurous will suggest a Pinot Noir. They are all wrong. Belgian triple ales are best for the fest.
Fast Forward Weekly |
Mike Tessier |
12-21-2009 |
Food+Drink
Miami Dolphins' Tony Sparano is a Conservative Coach Who Takes Huge Risksnew
Though Sparano is a conservative coach, he has also been known to take huge risks. Take, for instance, the time two decades ago when he gave up a high-paying job to earn pennies an hour at his first football gig. Then there was last year, when he introduced the wildcat and nailed the hated Patriots.
Miami New Times |
Eric Barton |
12-21-2009 |
Sports
Homeless Under Julia Tuttle Try to Pass for Sex Offendersnew
Since 2006, Florida Department of Corrections officials have forced convicted sex offenders to live under the Julia Tuttle upon their release from prison. At last count, 140 of the social exiles have lived on what might be post-recession Miami's only high-demand waterfront property.
Miami New Times |
Gus Garcia-Roberts |
12-21-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Roger the Dodger Gets Called Back to Lead One More Super Bowl Drivenew
Super Bowl XLV comes to Arlington, Texas in 415 days (February 6, 2011), and Roger Staubach, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, just happens to be the chairman of the host committee, the familiar, flawless face of our monumental moment.
Dallas Observer |
Richie Whitt |
12-21-2009 |
Sports
What Will We Remember as the Biggest Dallas Fort-Worth Music Stories of the Year?new
Chris Flemmons has been running a South by Southwest showcase for Denton artists called North by 35, the college town's best punk bands step out into the limelight, and a fresh-faced rapper named Dorrough all highlight DFW's 2009 Music Scene.
Dallas Observer |
Pete Freedman |
12-21-2009 |
Commentary
