AltWeeklies Wire
'How to Make Friends With Demons' Ranks as One of the Year's Best Novelsnew
Leaping forward and backward through time, Graham Joyce expertly weaves a cohesive novel that essentially chronicles a mid-life crisis.
San Antonio Current |
Rick Klaw |
09-10-2009 |
Fiction
'Big Fan' Piles Shame Upon Failure for Patton Oswalt's Football Lovernew
The director of Big Fan, Robert Siegel, is the screenwriter of last year's The Wrestler. I was not an admirer of that movie, but I'll concede that its patronizing melodrama was elevated by the grace notes of Mickey Rourke. Big Fan, however, is pure, concentrated condescension.
Willamette Week |
Aaron Mesh |
09-09-2009 |
Reviews
Back to School: A Grown-Up's Tale of a Return to Academianew
After losing her full-time newspaper gig, one reporter talks about her personal economic recovery plan: heading back to school to earn a second degree and head off in a new career direction.
Boise Weekly |
Lora Volkert |
09-09-2009 |
Education
Obama's Speech to Schools Sparks Discussion, Whether Aired or Notnew
Obama's address to the nation's school children was met with objections from conservative talk radio hosts, prompting schools in several states, including Idaho, to not air it. Kacey Schneidt, principal at Siena Elementary School in Meridian banned the president's speech on advice of about 15 calls to the school.
Boise Weekly |
Nathaniel Hoffman |
09-09-2009 |
Education
Those Who Know Him Best Say Gavin Newsom's Got the Wrong Stuffnew
As San Francisco's mayor gears up for his gubernatorial campaign, former supporters say he's "narcissistic," "thin-skinned," "disloyal," and "friendless."
It's Not My Fault: What People Will Say to Get Out of a Portland Parking Ticketnew
They pile up each week; the letters about dogs, diarrhea and dyslexia. Stories about autistic children and encounters with Sen. Ron Wyden. Diagrams, photographs, snide remarks and accusations. Pleas for mercy. And excuses, excuses, excuses. They're the things people say to get out of a Portland parking ticket.
Willamette Week |
James Pitkin |
09-09-2009 |
Transportation
Van Jones and the Right-Wing Attack Machinenew
The Oakland activist and Obama adviser resigned after critics tied him to an impolitic 9/11 petition. The affair again exposed the weakness of Democrats.
East Bay Express |
Robert Gammon |
09-09-2009 |
Commentary
Finding Great Australian Wines Out in the Bushnew
I spent a few days last month in the main winemaking region of Western Australia, Margaret River, tasting a lot of its trademark Cab Sauvignon and Shiraz and Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc blends. We got our palates on some more unexpected stuff, too.
C-Ville Weekly |
Cathy Harding |
09-09-2009 |
Food+Drink
Groundation Jams on More Than Just Reggaenew
For over 10 years, frontman Harrison Stafford has led his spiritualized reggae ensemble from their earliest days in the northern California scene through a world-wide musical journey that continues to aim far.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
09-09-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Memoir 'Traveling with Pomegranates' Offers European Reflectionsnew
Pomegranates goes back 11 years, when Sue Monk Kidd was contemplating trying fiction for the first time. Ann Kidd Taylor had just graduated college, suffering from depression with no clear picture for her life.
Charleston City Paper |
Jonathan Sanchez |
09-09-2009 |
Author Profiles & Interviews
'Localist Movements in a Global Economy' Explores Localism's Meaning, Potential and Challengesnew
David Hess has marshaled the intellectual arguments for localism using history, present success stories, and economic arguments. It is precisely in answering questions from friends and enemies that Hess' book is important.
East Bay Express |
Jay Youngdahl |
09-09-2009 |
Nonfiction
Death-Metal Pioneers Obituary are Content to Crush Eardrums at Medium Speednew
Brothers John and Donald Tardy (vocals and drums, respectively) formed the band under the name of Xecutioner in 1985 -- they weren't old enough to vote when they recorded their songs for the Raging Death compilation, released in 1987.
East Bay Express |
Jarret Keene |
09-09-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Decision on Offshore Drilling in South Carolina Nears the Surfacenew
The U.S. Department of Interior's Minerals Management Service is drafting up a plan that could open the South Carolina coast to offshore oil and natural gas exploration in five years.
Charleston City Paper |
Dan McCue |
09-09-2009 |
Environment
'All About Steve' Should've Been About Sandranew
It is reasonable to assume that the delay of All About Steve's release, from late February to Labor Day weekend, is not a sign of studio confidence. But with Sandra Bullock resuscitated by The Proposal and Bradley Cooper proven bankable by The Hangover, it's now or never for the tale of Bullock's nutty crossword puzzle designer following Cooper's TV news cameraman all across the country.
C-Ville Weekly |
Jonathan Kiefer |
09-09-2009 |
Reviews
Conservatives Need to Leave Afghanistan & the Neocons Behindnew
Now is the time to make the case that American soldiers shouldn't be the world's policeman, liberal utopianism is not sound foreign policy, and nation-building is not conservative. George Will has and serious conservatives should follow suit.
Charleston City Paper |
Jack Hunter |
09-09-2009 |
Commentary
