AltWeeklies Wire
The First New Episodes of 'Mad Men' Have Been a Disappointmentnew
So far this season is like finally landing your Carnegie Hall debut and discovering your violin is out of tune.
Metro Times |
Jim McFarlin |
08-25-2009 |
TV
Federal Secure Communities Program Changes the Reality for Philly's Undocumentednew
ICE says that Secure Communities targets those illegal immigrants guilty of committing serious crimes. But immigrant advocates say the program will thrust lower-level offenders and innocent people behind bars, and hinder police in their work with immigrant communities.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Daniel Schwartz |
08-25-2009 |
Immigration
Local or Not? A Brief Guide to Whether 'Detroit' Brands Are Really from Detroitnew
It's not always easy knowing for certain what's local and what's not. Part of it depends on how you want to define the term. In reality, there's a spectrum of what qualifies as local, with the purest light coming from those companies that are locally owned with local manufacturing facilities.
Metro Times |
Curt Guyette |
08-25-2009 |
Business & Labor
Peter Bjorn & John Aren't Afraid to Change Artistic Coursenew
Last year the trio followed their almost fluke of a hit album Writer's Block with an under-the-radar instrumental album, Seaside Rock, followed by this year's Living Things, a darker, more minimalistic take on New Wave revisionism.
Las Vegas CityLife |
Mike Prevatt |
08-25-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Existing Gun Laws Weren't Written With Presidential Death Threats in Mind
Make no mistake: guns don't have anything to do with health care. This is a revival of Klannism. A black man is president, and the good ol' boys don't like it. That's what this is about: putting him in his place. Which, if they or someone they inspire has their way, will be six feet under.
Maui Time |
Ted Rall |
08-24-2009 |
Commentary
Jim Sturges and Ben Kingsley Share Ireland's 'Troubles' in 'Fifty Dead Men Walking'
There's a lot to understand -- politically and emotionally -- about Martin McGartland. Kari Skogland's film makes it happen with muscle, brains, and loins.
City Pulse |
Cole Smithey |
08-24-2009 |
Reviews
How Race Shapes Our Response to Bad-Boy Atheletesnew
The transgressions of Dallas Mavericks player Josh Howard didn't compare those of the Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton. So why were we more willing to forgive the outfielder?
Dallas Observer |
Richie Whitt |
08-24-2009 |
Sports
Cartoon: The Global War Against Global Warmingnew
First they sent the military to "help" (i.e., shoot) hurricane victims in Katrina. They they sent them to "help" tsunami victims in South Asia. Now they're using the troops to take on climate change. Really.
'You, the Living': Everything's Funnier With Weltanschauungnew
Perspective is what separates the brilliant You, the Living, a Swedish import, from the mediocre The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, which Paramount snuck into theaters last week without any timely press screenings.
Chicago Reader |
J.R. Jones |
08-24-2009 |
Reviews
Chrissy Murderbot Has Dance Music in His DNAnew
Under that plaid blazer is one of the midwest's sharpest dance-music vectors.
Chicago Reader |
Miles Raymer |
08-24-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Chrissy Murderbot, dance music
Roberto Maldonado, the Real Estate King of the Chicago City Councilnew
The brand-new 26th Ward alderman owns more properties than any other council rep -- including ten in his own ward. That's a lot of potential conflicts of interest.
Chicago Reader |
Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumke |
08-24-2009 |
Politics
Smokey Dare: Maybe it's Time to Regulate Marijuana Like Cigarettesnew
Not many supporters of regulated marijuana have undertaken the work completed recently by ProtectYouth.org, which has spent the past year or so compiling reams of government and law enforcement data to support a fairly straightforward, reasonable case.
Dallas Observer |
Patrick Williams |
08-24-2009 |
Drugs
In Miami Beach, 'Introducing Ethics Reform' is a Sneaky Way to Take Down Your Political Rivalnew
The city commission is engulfed in a power struggle, with an election less than three months away. The bickering can be traced to last year, when Richard Steinberg gave up his commission seat to run for state representative.
Miami New Times |
Francisco Alvarado |
08-24-2009 |
Politics
The Birther Theory: Welcome to the Bizarro Nationnew
A recent survey indicates that nearly 60 percent of registered Republicans openly question whether or not the President of the United States is a natural born citizen. Pennsylvania attorney Phil Berg, a lifelong Democrat, joins them.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Jonathan Valania |
08-24-2009 |
Politics
The 9th Circuit's Lion of Liberalism is Having the Last Laughnew
Betty Fletcher, 86, is a liberal icon and the most powerful woman in Seattle you've never heard of. Sadly for conservatives, she just won't stop working.
Seattle Weekly |
Nina Shapiro |
08-24-2009 |
Politics
