Never mind all those pesky issues…
(Sources: Natalie Dee and Feministing)
Death … and Intervention
For some reason, I can’t go to sleep without leaving the TV on these days. And since my TV is on all damn night, I watch a ton of weird programs. My favorite is the A&E show Intervention. Have you seen it? It’s a documentary-style reality show where addicts are followed around as they abuse…
Blah Blah and I go for a ride
Last night, I was watching an episode of How I Met Your Mother, and the narrator couldn’t remember the name of a woman he dated, so he proceeded to call her “Blah Blah.” Because I never took the time to name my car — despite naming everything else precious to me, such as Isaac the…
Doo doo in Uptown
Why don’t residents in Uptown clean up after their pets? I mean, am I the only person who dodges dog shit every time I go for a walk downtown? Luckily, I’m totally paranoid about feces; I check my shoes all the time anyway. But when trekking across grass in Uptown Charlotte, I find myself moving…
Live Review: Solomon Burke, The Dixie Hummingbirds
Solomon Burke w/ The Dixie Hummingbirds Duke University Feb. 2, 2008 Review By Grant Britt It was billed as “The Definition of Soul: Solomon Burke with The Dixie Hummingbirds” at Duke University’s Page Auditorium. Part of a two-month long program Duke calls “Soul Power: From Gospel to Godfather,” the Feb. 2 show was an electrifying…
Spring fashions from Belk
By Garlana Hill CL’s fashion editor Garlana Hill recently met with bigwigs over at Belk department store to get a sneak peek at their new spring fashions. Some of it was great and some, not so great. Here’s a look at the stuff she actually liked: According to Arlene Goldstein, Vice President of Trend Merchandising…
Badges
— Cartoon by Jim Hunt
The Milch Cow
Okay, so not the most original position in the world, but sometimes it is nice to be reminded of some of the little pleasures we all have… and this is definitely one of them. The woman bends forward while gripping the bedstead, her buttocks raised high. The man then cups his hands to her breasts…
This week’s new releases (2/5)
Here’s a quick list of some of the albums being released this week: Sheryl Crow “Detours” Hot Chip “Made in the Dark” Jack Johnson “Sleep Through the Static” Lenny Kravitz “It’s Time for a Love Revolution” k.d. lang “Watershed” Jill Scott “Live in Paris”
Extra Boomer: Why we need Black History month
I once wrote about two young white guys in a bookstore whom I overheard griping about Black History Month (which, of course, starts today). They thought the whole thing was a waste of time, that blacks complain too much, and that what was actually needed was a “White History Month.” Raised in the ’80s and…
Sweet Game Day spots
Need a place to watch the game this weekend? Here are a few places around town that will have the game on and some sweet food and brew specials to go with it. DOWNTOWN CANS: A $5 entry fee gets you in for the tailgate buffet and $2 domestic cans 500 W. 5th St. 704-940-0200.…
Sarah Silverman f’s Matt Damon
Sarah Silverman went on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night to break some news to her boyfriend, Jimmy. She’s a comedian, but the song (and dance) is hilarious! \\\\\\\\\\
Can’t get enough?
If you didn’t see your favorite craptastic show in this week’s cover story, here’s a Web site that may sate your guilty, guilty desires for the wonders of cable TV. Pretty on the Outside Drawings of your favorite TV characters from shows like the whitewashed version of Flavor of Love, Rock of Love, the fake…
Walk the line, elephant
On opening night, PETA members protested the arrival of Ringling Bros.& Barnum Bailey Circus at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Wearing elephant masks and convict stripes, they stood shackled together displaying their message to hundreds of ticket holders lined out the door. “Ringling’s history of animal care is riddled with animal death and what we’re doing is…
You blew it, America
By John Edwards You no longer have Johnny Edwards to kick around. I’m bowing out of the presidential race. Going to help the poor and build some Jimmy Carter houses. But this once-every-four-years experience has taught me so much about our country. Specifically, how stupid you all are for failing to realize my greatness. I…
Live Review: Hellyeah, Machine Head, Nonpoint
Hellyeah, Machine Head, Nonpoint Amos’ Southend Jan. 30, 2008 The Deal: Metal supergroup brings along their friends to rock the foundation of Amos’. The Good: It’s been a while since I’ve seen a really good mosh pit, but the one at Amos’ rarely stopped as four metal acts hit the stage and hammered home a…
Deadly conflict in Congo
Sexual terrorism and corporate greed It’s the deadliest conflict since World War II. More than 5 million people have died in the past decade, yet it goes virtually unnoticed and unreported in the United States. The conflict is in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Central Africa. At its heart are the natural resources found…
Extra N Word: Post-traumatic slave disorder?
Woe is me. Over the last few weeks, I have recently learned that I suffer from post-traumatic slave disorder, am a “coon” and an “Uncle Tom,” or I guess the female equivalent, because I am a Hillary Clinton supporter. I did not know that when a black person was running for office, that I automatically…
Live Photos/Setlist: Matchbox Twenty, Alanis Morissette, MuteMath
Matchbox Twenty, Alanis Morissette, MuteMath Cricket Arena Jan. 29, 2008 For a review, pick up the Feb. 6-12 edition of Creative Loafing. MuteMath played a quick four-song set. Alanis Morissette setlist Intro Uninvited Citizen of The Planet All I Really Want Hands Clean Underneath Moratorium You Learn My Humps> You Oughta Know Thank U Ironic…
Comic proportions
Captain America No. 34 Published by Marvel Comics. Plot and script by Ed Brubaker. Pencils by Steve Epting. Inks by Butch Guice. The Deal: Captain America is still dead, so this issue, Marvel — at long last — reveals the new Captain America. Who is the guy behind the mask? (SPOILER ALERT) If you’ve been…
A call to justice
Sharpton expected to weigh in on sheriff controversy
Don’t hate the player, hate the game
The Game Show: Now more than ever, it’s the cure for prime-time ills, able to leap tall buildings — and dead air — in a single bound. It’s a win-win situation … unless you’re a writer. Networks can cheaply produce a game show and plop it into the nightly schedule — more than once a…
Theater: Love kills
In Verdi’s operatic masterpiece Aida, forbidden love is put front and center when Egyptian soldier Radamés falls for the enslaved Ethiopian princess, Aida. Alas, this is a tragic love story and our pair’s fate lies in the hands of the gods. Still, witness the splendor of ancient Africa brought to life with live wildlife from…
Karma Cleanser
Dear Karma Cleanser: I fell in love with a girl who is, in a word, flawed. She’s really a knock-out, with a great body, outgoing personality and a dorky-cute sense of humor that makes me fall over my shoestrings to make her like me. But she also has very low self-esteem and can be downright…
Wooing with wine
In a country filled with puritanical yet secretly red-blooded horndogs, it’s tough to admit what Valentine’s Day is really about. Although we shellac it with candy, roses and romance, can we finally admit we want the evening to end in one thing? Sex. We ply aphrodisiacs in many forms, from the disgustingly slimy yet somehow…
Video games: Rock out
Are you like the rest of young America? Addicted to a little game called Guitar Hero where you strum along on your ax-like controller to any and every rock song from Linkin Park to Lynyrd Skynyrd? If so, then you’ll wanna hear this. A brand-new chance for you to show off those monster chops has…
Stargazer
Aquarius The Waterbearer: (Jan. 19 – Feb. 18): Truths of your history that you may never have known or acknowledged will bubble to the surface to help you mature. Some may encounter old family skeletons that make a lot of difference in how you perceive your life story. Mysteries and shadows will come to light…
Deadly conflict in Congo
It’s the deadliest conflict since World War II. More than 5 million people have died in the past decade, yet it goes virtually unnoticed and unreported in the United States. The conflict is in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Central Africa. At its heart are the natural resources found in Congo and multinational corporations…
Visual arts: Over the Moon
Korean-born, Atlanta-based artist Jiha Moon gets her first solo museum exhibition with Vantage Point VII: Jiha Moon. Previously, the talented landscape artist who calls herself “a cartographer of cultures,” has been on display at the White Columns, Asia Society, and The Drawing Center, all in New York. Her art melds Eastern and Western traditions while…
Film Clips
Best Picture Oscar Nominees ATONEMENT This stately picture mostly lives up to its lofty expectations, even if it doesn’t possess the sweeping emotion that provided other British period pieces like Sense and Sensibility and The Remains of the Day with their enduring resonance. In this adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel, Keira Knightley plays Cecilia, who…
The Blotter
CLASSY LADY: An employee at a Harris Boulevard Food Lion said a woman entered the store, strolled to the alcohol aisle and put two 22-ounce beers in her pocketbook. She then tried to leave the store without paying for the beers, but was stopped at the door by the employee. The woman then turned over…
Special event: Circus maximus
Come one, come all! The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is coming to town! More than 100 human and animal performers will flip, swing, roll and herd into town (actually, they herded in last Thursday; tonight’s your last time to see ’em). They’ll be up to all their old tricks. Audience members will…
View from the Couch
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (2007). Fashioning a story around a catalogue of classic Beatles tunes, Across the Universe proves to be a magical mystery tour with the power to restore one’s faith in both movies and music. One can nitpick about the thin plot, though it’s sturdy enough to function as a support beam to director…
Watch out, you jerk!
Ask newcomers to Charlotte, aka The Land of A Million Stoplights, what they like about the city, and they’ll tell you it’s the weather, the jobs, their new friendly probation officer, whatever. But ask them what they don’t like, and they’ll look at you like you’re nuts and say, “What, are you kidding me? The…
Exhibit: Saturday evening inside
Ready for a trip down memory lane? Whaddya mean you can’t recall when gas was less than a dollar a gallon? No recollection of TV’s distant past (before regular cable even) when there were only enough channels to count on one hand? Ever had to put in work to call your BFF? If none of…
Bacon and eggs for dinner
Hello, my name is Kim, and I’m a bacon-holic. For a cook who prides herself on mindful moderation, this is a difficult culinary confession. No other comestible tickles my sensory neurons quite like smoked pork belly. All it takes is one little lardon, and I’m doing a jig, high as a kite. The problem is,…
Campaigners line up against Cliffside
Editor’s note: After this story went to press, the N.C. Division of AirQuality issued an air quality permit for Cliffside. The fight against expanding the Cliffside power plant has some high-profile political muscle, and Duke Energy isn’t happy about it. The electric utility last week condemned Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and State Treasurer Richard Moore…
Exhibit: The people speak of river
The Catawba River has gone through some changes lately. As have nearly every body of water in the world, thanks to global warming. The Light Factory Contemporary Museum of Photography teamed with York County’s Culture & Heritage Museums to give us a project focused on the Catawba River. River Docs: A Catawba River Narrative is…
Broadway comes to the Queen City
I am a bone-a-fide dog person (pun intended). My niece, Daisy May, is the pug of my life and I’m currently on a mission to rescue a pug. My sophomore year at Virginia Tech I rescued, distributed and kept two of 20-some pit-bull mutt puppies confiscated from a dog fighting operation. Wait a minute ……
Must everything change?
Christian thinker Brian McLaren is both heralded and vilified as an elder in the Emerging Church movement. In 2005, Time magazine named him one of “25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America.” On Feb. 1 and Feb. 2, he will be at Area 15 in NoDa. McLaren was in Davos, Switzerland last week, but he answered…
Reading: Sounding off
When I was 5 years old, I won tickets to Carowinds for having perfect attendance (yes, I’m aware how easy that is in kindergarten, but this is my story … thanks). Anyway, I couldn’t wait to get home and show my mom, but fate stepped in with a gush of wind that blew the tickets…
Unsigned artist keeps buzz growing
Until you’ve seen him live, Corey’s Smith’s people don’t want you talking to him. With over 2 million hits on his music on MySpace, Smith has gotten to be a big deal in a short time. But even though he’s being touted as the number one unsigned country artist in the country, management’s request is…
Keith Cradle
You’ve probably never even heard of the Mecklenburg County Health Department’s Male Involvement Program. That’s because MIP operates mostly under the radar. Program director Keith Cradle has been with the program since its induction seven years ago when it won the 2001 NACO award for outstanding program of the year in the state of North…
CD Review: Thao & The Get Down Stay Down
The Deal: Indie popper inspires smiles through the bullshit. The Good: Amid the hordes of downcast chanteuses dramatizing their weltschmerz in melancholic fare, it’s practically revelatory to hear Thao Nguyen cope with our fucked-up universe by remembering that they don’t call it “pop” music for nuthin’. Shot through with bubbly melodies, swinging horn arrangements and…
Benefit show will raise money for new skate park
Skaters everywhere may have a new refuge from waving flashlights and scolding security with a new skate park in the NoDa community. The Neighborhood Theatre is hosting a benefit on Feb. 1 to support the project. The all-ages event will feature a reunion show from Bellyfull, and performances by The Mantras and Dead-End Parking, while…
CD Review: The Whigs
The Deal: The Athens-based rusty garage rock trio releases 37-minute album blended with solid scratchy rock and rusty pop. The Good: This album is bubbling with a fresh pot of songs that contain ingredients of ’70s rock ‘n’ roll, Cobain-style grunge, punk, classic and indie pop rock. The band’s first single “Right Hand On My…
Music menu
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30 Nonpoint I’ve seen Nonpoint live a number of times and their energy is always infectious. Their fans are rabid – always requesting the obscure tracks and singing along to every damn word. They released a live album in November of 2006, but catching them in person is so much better than a…
Love and Heath
Celebrities. Oh, how we love our celebrities. We love them so much that we dedicate pages upon pages of photos of their every move. Even the mundane becomes “news” to the admiring public. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner picked up coffee at Starbucks. Paris Hilton kissed another Abercrombie-esque trust-fund hottie. Britney Spears bought a pregnancy…
BOOK Review: Legends of the Chelsea hotel
The Deal: Resident of legendary New York City hotel shares the stories of some of its residents and legends. The Good: Built in 1883, the 23rd Street hotel has been home to numerous people – Jack Kerouac, Dee Dee Ramone, William S. Burroughs among them. It’s where Sid Vicious may have killed Nancy Spungen, where…
New compilation CD aims to expose area’s talent
When I started working for Creative Loafing just more than 10 months ago, I knew that one of the things I wanted the music section to do was support more local music. The section should be about music — local, regional, national. I introduced the La Vida Local column so there would always be a…
There will be Oscars
Writers’ strike can’t dim shine of decent slate
Slow down
Ever feel like there are cops everywhere and they’re just waiting for you to drive too fast? Well, you might be right. Certain roads in Charlotte are speed traps. Maybe it’s the officers trying to reach their alleged ticket quota or maybe it’s about saving a life. If you just have to speed, then these…
We are Siamese:
Thai outpost is sure to please
Lust (and roller derby) is in the air
Heavy-ly rocking The group Heavy performed as an opening act for the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Centennial celebration on Jan. 18 at Grand Central. I Wu you Method Man and the Wu-Tang Clan graced the Q.C. with their presence Jan. 20 at Amos’. Any takers? A potential lust lister poses as provocatively as she…
Go getcha’ Hellyeah
Metal supergroup not just a one-time gathering
Hurricane hooey
After a series of violent hurricanes battered our coasts two years ago, gloom-and-doom stories blaming the supposed uptick in the storms on global warming became all the rage among journalists. Any scientist who published a study supporting that thesis was treated like a rock star by the media, with guaranteed interviews and television appearances to…
Bottled dreams
Entertainment for ankle-biters
On a mission from God
Acclaimed writer/historian Richard Rhodes wraps up his nuclear trilogy which began with 1986’s The Making of the Atomic Bomb and continued in 1995 with Dark Sun: The Making of the Hydrogen Bomb. Rhodes looks at American and Soviet nuclear policy, focusing particularly on how Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan — each of whom had a…
The week in craptastic television
We took one for the team and watched prime-time TV – so you don’t have to
