AltWeeklies Wire
Drop the Drones: Remote Attacks Inflame Afghan Anti-Americanism
To Afghans on the ground, drones symbolize American callousness and project a smug sense of superiority -- because they protect us at the Afghans' expense.
Birth of a Blowhard: Glenn Beck in Connecticutnew
When Beck arrived at KC 101 in early 1992, he was a semi-failed, drug-and-alcohol addicted, Top-40s radio jock desperately looking for a route to stardom. By the time he left seven years later, he had figured out that talk radio was the future and conservative shtick could be revamped to serve as his escalator to fame and fortune.
Hartford Advocate |
Gregory B. Hladky |
10-21-2009 |
Media
'A Rebel Life' Remembers Molly Ivinsnew
In First Son: George W. Bush and the Bush Family, Bill Minutaglio deciphered Dubya's career as a campaign of filial devotion and rebellion. Turning now to Bush's spunkiest critic, Minutaglio interprets Ivins as similarly driven by resentment toward her overbearing, overachieving father.
San Antonio Current |
Steven G. Kellman |
10-21-2009 |
Nonfiction
Curling? Bedbugs? Daniel Johnston? There's an App for Thatnew
Some weeks are just not great for new movies, and it makes us crazy. What the hell are we going to do tonight if we don't have a screen to stare at? That's where the ol' iPhone comes in. But which iPhone games should you buy?
Willamette Week |
Casey Jarman |
10-21-2009 |
Tech
The Notorious Subject of 'Bronson' Inspires a Star-Making Performancenew
Bronson is utterly revved up in a way that's showy but not at all dumbed-down. Tom Hardy's prankster-rageaholic portrayal emerges amid several flavors: ironic Pulchinella à la contemporary music-theater sensation Anthony Newley; Tom of Finland bad-muscle-daddy fantasy; and adrenaline exercise of mainstreamed, po-mo directorial testosterone.
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Dennis Harvey |
10-21-2009 |
Reviews
The Americanized 'Astro Boy' is an Illogical Messnew
Actually it's all pretty lame, and not helped at all by the ridiculous dialogue and voice work, featuring several name actors (Sutherland, Bell, Theron) delivering their lines with the sort of single-take disinterest generally reserved for rushed bargain-bin-anime overdubs.
San Antonio Current |
Jeremy Martin |
10-21-2009 |
Reviews
Vivid-Alt's Vin Vericose Transforms from Minnesota Boy to Porn Starnew
Chad Fjerstad and his pornstar girlfriend are moving to L.A. to make a go in porn at one of the worst times for adult entertainment, when even the most prominent stars are seeing a dent in their paychecks and a deficit of work.
City Pages (Twin Cities) |
Emily Kaiser |
10-21-2009 |
Culture
Lessons from California's Political and Economic Disasternew
The tax revolts that started here under Gov. Ronald Reagan and continued to sweep the country and the world under President Reagan never abated. But now that California is showing signs of being the country's first failed state, it has become a cautionary tale for that anti-government ideology.
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Steven T. Jones and Tim Redmond |
10-21-2009 |
Politics
Keystone United: Kinder, Gentler Skinheads?new
The eight-year-old group wants to "break the stereotypes of skinheads being alcoholic thugs and violent, drug-addicted criminals," according to its website. It simply believes that the white race is superior to all others, and that white people should not mingle with people of color -- and really, what's so wrong about that?
Philadelphia City Paper |
Julia Harte |
10-20-2009 |
Race & Class
Mumiy Troll, One of Russia's Biggest Bands, Looks to Make Comrades in the U.S.A.new
Earlier this year, the group released its latest Russian-language work, Comrade Ambassador, via American distributive channels. Mumiy plans to release an English album before long; in the meantime, the band hopes to win over a new audience with its U.S. shows.
The Pitch |
Ben Westhoff |
10-20-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
'Paranormal Activity' Offers a Surprisingly Taut Storynew
Thanks to steady word of mouth, writer-director Oren Peli's debut feature has received a major-studio release after years of bouncing around the festival circuit.
The Georgia Straight |
John Lekich |
10-20-2009 |
Reviews
Tags: Oren Peli, Paranormal Activity
One Key Point Lost in the H1N1 Flu Hysteria: Best Prevention is Basic Hygienenew
How do we stay healthy in a germy world? In Soap and Water and Common Sense, Dr. Bonnie Henry suggests we scrub our hands well -- and vaccines don't hurt, either.
The Georgia Straight |
Gail Johnson |
10-20-2009 |
Science
How Maurice Sendak Unleashed a Multimedia Monster with 10 Little Sentencesnew
While plenty of books from childhood are remembered nostalgically and still others are simply forgotten, Where the Wild Things Are is, for many, beloved not only for what it was then, but for what it means now.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Lauren F. Friedman |
10-20-2009 |
Books
Ask a Mexican: Insurance Omissionsnew
"My insurance company tells me 60 percent of accidents in California are with uninsured Mexican drivers. Why don't they just take buses like I did when I couldn't afford a car?"
State of Fear in Arizona: Permanent Legal Resident Stopped For Being Brownnew
Rosa's husband is a U.S. citizen. She's a legal permanent resident, on her way to becoming a citizen herself. She plans to raise a family and go back to school. But she's thinking twice about doing either in Arizona after her run-in with two sheriff's deputies a couple of months ago.
Phoenix New Times |
Stephen Lemons |
10-20-2009 |
Race & Class
