AltWeeklies Wire
How 'Douchebag' Became Everyone's Favorite Insultnew
James Matisoff, an emeritus professor in UC Berkeley's linguistics department, concurs that douchebag's pejoration -- its change from neutral to negative meaning -- has snowballed in recent years. The culprits: Jon Stewart and his comedic brethren.
SF Weekly |
Joe Eskenazi |
01-07-2009 |
Commentary
Kev Choice Created a Cult of Personality by Straddling Two Worldsnew
Choice's new downloadable album, The Bailout, is a return to the classical mixtape format -- it has three sampled tracks and eighteen original beats, all blended seamlessly together by DJ D-Sharp, all available for free. It's a strange convergence of genres and creative processes, but the result is fascinating.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
01-07-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Toxic Holocaust Provides the Soundtrack for a Post-Apocalyptic Worldnew
Joel Grind claims he writes songs about a "Mad Max kind of world" more influenced by science-fiction fantasy or art than today's headlines. Toxic Holocaust isn't trying to provide commentary.
East Bay Express |
Jarret Keene |
01-07-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
San Fran's Plastic Bag Ban Has Left the City with More Pollution and Costnew
It has become apparent that many of the rationales used to justify the ban -- such as its benefiting the environment and alleviating the city's litter problems -- are not playing out in the real world.
SF Weekly |
Joe Eskenazi |
01-07-2009 |
Environment
How Al Lucchesi Built the Biggest Incubator in Bay Area Musicnew
Over the course of twenty-plus years, Lucchesi's Soundwave Studio and its predecessors have been home to virtually all of the East Bay's biggest names in music.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
01-07-2009 |
Music
Virginian Artists and Teachers Struggle with Gov's Budget Cutsnew
As part of Gov. Tim Kaine's Oct. 9 budget cuts, state funds for the Virginia Commission for the Arts were reduced by 15 percent, and the Virginia Arts Foundation fund has been frozen.
C-Ville Weekly |
Brendan Fitzgerald |
01-07-2009 |
Economy
What's God Got To Do with It?: Ron Aronson and the Politics of Religionnew
The author of books on Marxism and the French existentialists now turns to the idea of an America that's been cowed by the religious right, but that is not, in fact, so religious as most of us have been led to believe.
Metro Times |
W. Kim Heron and Curt Guyette |
01-07-2009 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
Sour Grapes: If Anyone Orders Norton, I'm Leavingnew
Norton tastes terrible. There's just no way around it. I've had countless versions, from many of the 21 wineries in the state that offer Norton, and I just can't understand the appeal.
C-Ville Weekly |
J. Tobias Beard |
01-07-2009 |
Food+Drink
Darren Aronofsky Talks About Mickey Rourke's Comeback in 'The Wrestler'new
In the 1980s, Rourke was one of his generation's best actors, but he ditched the movies to try to make it as a pro boxer. When he discovered he needed Hollywood, it no longer needed him. Even director Darren Aronofsky was initially skeptical.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
01-07-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tom Cruise Gets Fuhrer-ious in 'Valkyrie'new
Valkyrie puts forth the idea that not all Nazis should be categorized as either ferocious barbarians or craven order-followers. We knew this, of course, from Schindler's List. And from history. And from not being idiots. And yet we watch. We are curious.
C-Ville Weekly |
Jonathan Kiefer |
01-07-2009 |
Reviews
The Year Ahead: A Comic Essaynew
2009? Really? Wasn't it just 1999? Oh, all right. Fine. Here's a look at the year ahead.
C-Ville Weekly |
Jen Sorensen |
01-07-2009 |
Commentary
The Delayed Gratification of 2009's Movie Awards Seasonnew
Surveying a couple hundred year-end lists by movie reviewers and entertainment writers can be a soul-squishing thing, particularly if you read the reasoning and rationales, the dithers, the doubts, the demurrals, the dishing and dashing to and fro, recurring, recurring.
Chicago Newcity |
Ray Pride |
01-07-2009 |
Movies
Movie Buzz: 'Bride Wars'new
Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway match wits in Bride Wars while Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino opens in wide release. Movie Buzz looks at all of this week's major movie openers.
Metro Spirit |
Mariah Gardner |
01-07-2009 |
TV
Austin Activist Admits He Infiltrated RNC Protest Groupnew
Brandon Darby has acknowledged that he provided information to the FBI leading to the arrest and felony indictment of two Austin men who participated in protests last September at the Republican National Convention.
The Texas Observer |
Renee Feltz |
01-07-2009 |
Politics
Enviros Urge Michigan to Stop New Coal Plantsnew
A coalition of citizens and environmental groups urged Gov. Jennifer Granholm at a press conference this morning to "Stop the Coal Rush" and place a moratorium on the construction of new coal-fired power plants.
City Pulse |
Angela Vasquez-Giroux |
01-07-2009 |
Environment
