AltWeeklies Wire
'90210' and 'Gossip Girl': A High-School Rivalrynew
The similarities between the two shows end with the setup, though, and the differences are illustrative of how subtle variations in tone can mean the difference between a melodramatic primetime mess and light (really light) cultural critique
San Antonio Current |
Luke Baumgarten |
10-08-2008 |
Movies
Is Simplicity and Efficiency Behind the Rise of Texting?new
Why are text messages becoming more popular than voice communications? Being a scientist, the concept of parsimony -- in a general sense, following the path of least resistance -- came to mind.
San Antonio Current |
Carlos Bergfeld |
10-08-2008 |
Tech
Building a Better Hearing Aidnew
A California factory produces invisible device that could produce more natural hearing for people who attended too many rock concerts.
East Bay Express |
Susan Kuchinskas |
10-08-2008 |
Science
Giant Sand's Howe Gelb on His Band's Ever-Evolving Soundnew
"Whatever I've been a party of, music-wise, has been positive erosion," Gelb explained from his home in Tucson, his voice raspy and a little sly. "I think improvisation is too kind of a word, because it indicates talented people playing within a jazz structure."
East Bay Express |
Tom Chandler |
10-08-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Palin's Church History Brings Attention to the Third Wave Movementnew
MorningStar Ministries, a church linked to a movement that emphasizes miraculous healing, divine revelation, prophesy and "spiritual warfare" (including the expelling of demons from cities), has recently been thrust into the spotlight for its links to churches attended by the vice presidential candidate.
Creative Loafing (Charlotte) |
Karen Shugart |
10-08-2008 |
Politics
Birdmonster, Tamednew
Norah Jones' producer ushers the San Francisco rockers into acoustic terrain.
East Bay Express |
David Downs |
10-08-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Homemade Pozole is Time-Consuming, but Worth the Effortnew
Being a huge fan of grits, it came as no surprise to me that when I finally sat down in front of a bowl of pozole, I pigged out -- as if it and I had known each other our whole lives and were not meeting for the first time, but rather old friends catching up. With recipe.
San Antonio Current |
Burgin Streetman |
10-08-2008 |
Food+Drink
Patron Saints of East Bay Graffiti Finally Get Their Propsnew
A graffiti battle's inclusion in a literary festival says something about the current status of the medium. Now that hip-hop is the domain of pointy-headed intellectuals, it's not surprising to see graffiti follow suit.
East Bay Express |
Rachel Swan |
10-08-2008 |
Art
Pandora Boxes for Its Life in Congressnew
How the internet radio king harnessed an army of fans to beat back the broadcast radio industry and stay alive.
East Bay Express |
David Downs |
10-08-2008 |
Music
David Sedaris Has a Midlife Crisisnew
As we transition from talking about friends' houses where you could get high until four in the morning to the pitfalls of fatal elderly falls, it's evident that Sedaris' beloved sense of humor leaves him, and us, with many more years of good storytelling.
Chicago Newcity |
Selena Fragassi |
10-08-2008 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
The Winnebago Vote: How 12,000 RVers Tilt East Texas Electionsnew
A mail-forwarding business near Livingston allows these RVers to claim legal residency in Texas, while many have never been to Livingston, or even Texas, and own property in other states. Together these 12,000 overwhelmingly Republican voters have helped erode what was once a stronghold of yellow dog Democrats.
The Texas Observer |
Forrest Wilder |
10-08-2008 |
Politics
'The Gulf Stream' Helps Us Understand Human-Centered Ecologynew
Stan Ulanski has written a multilayered and eminently insightful book about the way the natural world works. His topic is what the founder of modern oceanography, Matthew Fontaine Maury, has called "a river in the ocean" -- the Gulf Stream.
The Texas Observer |
James E. McWilliams |
10-08-2008 |
Nonfiction
Is Yung Lyricist the Future of San Diego Hip-Hop?new
In a San Diego scene that has all too often focused on blunts, balling and bitches, Yung clearly represents that new breed of MC like Kanye West, Common and Lupe Fiasco with emphasis on issues of the heart rather than hos.
San Diego CityBeat |
Seth Combs |
10-08-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Modern Whig Party Arrives on the Political Scenenew
National chairman Mike Lebowitz says the party initially was reorganized as a military advocacy organization, but grew into a 10,000-strong grassroots party -- of which more than half are affiliated with the military -- with a general platform of fiscal responsibility, strong national defense and bold social progression.
The Other Paper |
Steph Greegor |
10-08-2008 |
Politics
'Rachel Getting Married' Brings Out the Best in Anne Hathawaynew
Hathaway's performance as an acerbic and bitter sister is so good that it’ll surely be considered come Oscar time.
San Diego CityBeat |
Anders Wright |
10-08-2008 |
Reviews
