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Thursday, April 18, 2013
News / Opinion MJ worshipped for paltry gift
Posted By John Grooms on Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 10:03 AM
Charlotte Bobcats majority owner Michael Jordan received a ton of favorable - oh, let's just say it - fawning publicity this week for his announcement of a team charity. The excitement on TV and the web - no doubt inspired by the fact that MJ came out of his hole and deigned to speak to Charlotte's traditionally celebrity-worshipping media - overshadowed the essential puniness of the Bobcats' charity in this case.
The Bobcats, in partnership with Lowe's, plan what big-money companies looking for good press and a decent tax write-off commonly call an "investment in the community." The two new businesses will have someone drive a renovated school bus, now called a Book Bus, around Mecklenburg County all year, giving away books to kids ages 5-13 in elementary schools and summer literacy programs.
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Thursday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Thu, Apr 18, 2013 at 9:24 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, April 18, 2013 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
* Reception for Social Fabric exhibit at Center for the Arts
* The Whiskey Gentry at The Evening Muse
* The Pearl Fishers at Belk Theater
* World Voice Day at CPCC
* Alive After 5 at Wells Fargo Plaza
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Music / Live Reviews Live review: Stone Sour, The Fillmore (4/16/2013)
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 2:49 PM
Stone Sour
The Fillmore
April 16, 2013
As each round of applause grew louder during Stone Sour's concert at the Fillmore on April 16, 2013, singer Corey Taylor piled on his praise of the audience. Clearly they each fed off of the compliments.
As the crowd chanted his name, Taylor told the packed, rowdy N.C. Music Factory venue that though the band was "only three songs in, this is already my favorite show of the fuckin' tour." A handful of songs later, Taylor told the audience, "This is one of the best crowds I've ever played in front of." By the end of the night, it was "This is officially the loudest crowd of the tour."
Who can blame either one? Taylor was constantly battling to get his voice above the crowd, which was singing every word with him. Fans, meanwhile, were enjoying Stone Sour's first Charlotte appearance in two years and maybe trying to impress Taylor enough to bring his other band, Slipknot, back to town - that group hasn't been to the Queen City in four years.
Perhaps part of the charm is Taylor's humility. When technical difficulties interrupted the band's first song, Taylor laughed it off. (Worth noting - The band didn't start the song over, they picked up right where they left off.) When they chanted his name, he jokingly threw in "sucks" after each call. When he addressed the crowd - full of longtime fans and first-time Stone Sour concertgoers - he told them, "Whether you've been with us for 10 years or 10 minutes, welcome." These days, with plenty of pop stars thinking they are "holier than thou," a little charm goes a long way.
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Wednesday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 9:50 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, April 17, 2013 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
* The Exit Interview at Actor's Theatre of Charlotte
* Iron Fork at CenterStage@NoDa
* Joe Bonham Project Lecture at CPCC
* Off The Record w/ Elonzo & Birds and Arrows at The Evening Muse
* Taste of the Nation at Two Wells Fargo Atrium
News / Opinion No, YOU need to be quiet, Mr. Tucker!
Posted By Mark Kemp on Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 9:22 AM
Political arrogance reached a new extreme on Tuesday when Republican Sen. Tommy Tucker of Waxhaw told a North Carolina newspaper publisher, "I am the senator. You are the citizen. You need to be quiet."
Ok, well, that's one way to operate in a Democratic society. Another way is to turn the table on this pathetic excuse for a public servant and tell him, "No, we are the people. You are the slimy bastard who wants to conduct public business in secrecy. You need to go away."
According to a story posted Tuesday at The Charlotte Observer, Tucker made his outrageous statements after he'd "railroaded a bill through his committee that would let government operate in more secrecy":
The legislation, Senate Bill 287, would allow certain local governments to stop notifying the public about crucial government activities in the local newspaper. The governments could instead just post legal notices in the bowels of their websites, where few people are likely to see them.
Just last week, according to NC Policy Watch, Tucker effectively told another mere citizen - Bill Rowe of the N.C. Justice Center - to be quiet when the senator ordered Rowe to "sit down." Rowe had questioned the constitutionality of a bill that would require drug testing of people applying for public benefits.
Questioning authority? Easy access to public information? Transparency? Pfft. Who needs it? The "people" just get in the way, don't they, Tommy boy?
Music / Culture Enter for a chance to chronicle your 'highest' thoughts!
Posted By Ana McKenzie on Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 2:00 AM
Stoners and stoner-culture fans, we know your national holiday is fast approaching, so to celebrate we're giving away My High Times: A journal for all your greatest stoned ideas, stupid quotes, and plans for world domination! The book features instructions on becoming a better stoner, including how to roll a good joint, space for all your genius high ideas, and tasty recipes.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
News / Opinion Lovely details of MetLife bribe emerge
Posted By John Grooms on Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 4:19 PM
WRAL-TV in Raleigh used a public records request to obtain 5,000 pages of documents giving more details of the deal that handed MetLife $100 million in publicly funded grants.
One of the most interesting revelations is the manner in which elected officials and corporate lawyers communicate with one another when those officials are essentially groveling before Uptown Charlotte sharks.
News Thinking about Boston today
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 1:01 PM
Tragedies like what happened yesterday at the Boston Marathon are gut-wrenching. But until we experience something like that firsthand, that's all it is. We feel uncomfortable. Sad. Helpless.
When tragedy actually touches our lives, though - snatching one of our children, burning our brother, breaking the legs of our friend - gut-wrenching doesn't begin to describe the emotional aftermath.
- AaronTang/CreativeCommons
By now, you've read the Observer's story on the Charlotte folks who were hurt in yesterday's Boston Marathon explosions. If not that, you're sure to have seen the photo of Charlotte resident Nicole Gross in shock floating around the Internet. I saw it last night on Reddit.
Gut-wrenching.
Rather than use this tragedy to rail on unsecured borders, drone attacks in the Middle East or whatever, let's think about the folks who wish they had been at home yesterday trolling the Internet for news on Boston instead of at that finish line. Let's think about the people who wish they could put one or two words on what they're feeling today.
Our creative director Melissa Oyler has never run the Boston Marathon, but she knows the feeling of elation after completing a run like that. She posted this status on Facebook last night after finding out her participating friends were OK.
I know the elation of approaching the finish line at a marathon. The feeling of absolute joy and accomplishment. The crowds sharing in what was, for me, one of the greatest moments in my life. Looking over and seeing my family, cheering me on, my dad crying tears of joy and my mom with happiness all over her face. My sister, who came to run the last mile with me, and my brother, my fellow marathoner. Colleen was holding a sign and my husband Jeff was capturing it all by camera. Marathon 2 I had Jeff and my father-in-law Big Gray, who got up before dawn to walk me to the start line and then waited hours for me to cross the finish.Today was the marathon of marathons. This should have been the greatest moments of their lives. Friends and family, cheering and waiting for hours for just a glimpse of someone they love to fly by (or crawl in) on their way to have Their Moment.
My heart is broken.
Mine, too.
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Tuesday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 9:46 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, April 16, 2013 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
* Silent Movie Night at Petra's Piano Bar & Cabaret
* Meet the Artist: Christina Cordova at Mint Museum Uptown
* Andrew McMahon at Visulite Theatre
* Live Show & Taping of Crazy Late with Johnny Millwater at The Comedy Zone
* Poetry Reading at Davidson College
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