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Monday, May 7, 2007
News Working for The Man
Posted By Karen Shugart on Mon, May 7, 2007 at 2:26 PM
I allowed myself to suspend disbelief and hope the "Support the Five-Day Weekend" billboards around Charlotte were serious. Whoever is behind it, I thought, is a lone voice of reason in a cold, cold world.
But I won't be sleeping in on Thursdays just yet. Even though the campaign's Web site encourages visitors to sign a petition lobbying Congress, the site doesn't look (surprise! surprise!) like a grassroots labor site. It's actually a front for Asheville tourism. Damn.
On the upside, several state legislators are supporting a bill that would entitle all workers in North Carolina to at least seven paid sick days a year. According to the N.C. Council of Churches, more than 40 percent of the state's workforce don't get paid sick leave. These 1.6 million people are mostly low-paid workers.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Music CD Review: Loosh
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Thu, May 3, 2007 at 2:32 PM
CD Review: Loosh
Madame JoJo’s
Sevenpillar
The Deal: Charlotte-based duo releases five-track EP with the help of their friends.
The Good: Greensboro-based musician/producer and Universal recording artist Evan Olsen got involved with “Quiet Simple Things,” an upbeat rock song about a relationship gone by. “You Fell in Love” has a punk rhythm to it, and I wonder if Nason has an accent at times. “Free” has a bit of a U2 feel to it while “Every Part” mellows things a bit to close out the album. You can hear some talent in the songwriting and melodies, which helps separate it from a mostly generic indie rock feel to the album.
The Bad: “I Just Want to Matter” has a gothic/indie feel in its rock roots, though its lyrics comes off as a little bit emo. Judging by the liner notes, most of the songs were recorded in 2001, which makes the listener wonder, “What took so long?” or “How old is this?” Since their Web site lists the band forming in the year 2004, I remain confused.
The Verdict: Wade through some mild confusion and there’s some potential in the band’s music, enough to make you want to hear more than five songs. They have plans to record a full-length album in the fall.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
The Scene Hip-Hop and Horses?
Posted By Branna Calloway on Wed, May 2, 2007 at 9:45 AM
I guess hip-hop culture really has gone mainstream. This past weekend I attended the Queen's Cup Steeplechase, an event not as exclusive as one might think. Yes, it has its blue-blood background with the attire guidelines and a hat contest only to be bested by African-American women on Sunday morning. But, as everything else in this life, change was inevitable. People were a lot less strict about dress, and then there was the horse named Hip Hop, who won the fourth race. However, everything wasn't all fun and horsing around. Tragedy struck when a horse broke its leg right in front of our tent in one of the earlier races. One observer spoke of the way it dangled helplessly and was sure the animal would need to be put down. Then, to make matters worse, a horse gone wild began to buck as it neared our tent, breaking part of the wooden fence and destroying another. I know, I know. The common denominator in both these instances was us, the Creative Loafing crew. Maybe, sometimes at least, we need to curb our desire to bring the party wherever we go ...
Naw.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Film Show Them The Money
Posted By Matt Brunson on Tue, May 1, 2007 at 3:24 PM
The first third of 2007 is in the books, and at the box office, it was business as usual. As in most years, there were a few out-and-out hits, a handful of decent moneymakers and a wide array of low earners or out-and-out flops.
Of course, the box office will enjoy its usual spike with the highly lucrative summer movie season, which begins this Friday with the release of Spider-Man 3. In the meantime, here's a look at the Top 10 moneymakers from the January-April time frame.
1. 300 - $206 million
2. Wild Hogs - $158 million
3. Ghost Rider - $115 million
4. Blades of Glory - $108 million
5. Norbit - $95 million
6. Meet the Robinsons - $88 million
7. Bridge to Terabithia - $81 million
8. Stomp the Yard - $61 million
9. TMNT - $53 million
10. Disturbia - $52 million
(Source: www.boxofficemojo.com)
News Have You Seen This Girl?
Posted By Karen Shugart on Tue, May 1, 2007 at 3:21 PM
UPDATE: She was found Tuesday night.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is looking for this 14-year-old girl who's been missing about two days. Aubreee Jenae Deal was last seen around the 4000 block of Folkston Drive in east Charlotte wearing jeans and a light-colored tank top.
Date of birth: 08/31/1992
Age: 14
Height: 5’6”
Weight: 110 pounds
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Blue
Anyone with information can call 911.
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Marilyn Chambers found dead
Porn star Marilyn Chambers found dead at age 56.
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Question the Queen City: The story of Nellie Freeman, aka 'Razor Girl' 2
She decapitated her husband, was declared innocent, and never hurt another soul.
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Question the Queen City: Joan Crawford and Charlotte 4
The actress visited numerous times after she married a board chairman of Pepsi-Cola, a Carolina-born product.
