Iowa City, it’s been too long. We’ve missed you. But we had a good break. Hope you enjoyed your festivus, like the rest of us. It’s January, so it’s time to make some resolutions. Here goes: 1) More weekenders. That’s right, we’re coming back after a short hiatus. And we’re starting this weekend, see below. […]
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Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: Disaster Footage at Night by The Lonelyhearts
The Lonelyhearts Disaster Footage At Night Scenester Credentials www.thelonelyhearts.net Lonelyheart John Lindenbaum lives in Oakland, while Andre Perry lives in Iowa City; so the band is not quite bi-coastal — maybe sesqui- or hemi-coastal? It doesn’t really matter, what with the Internet turning us all into quivering monads afloat in a dimensionless sea. The songs […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: Flight Time by Pieta Brown
Pieta Brown Flight Time self-released www.pietabrown.com Pieta Brown’s latest EP Flight Time is written in a world occupied by Cadillacs and run away lovers, and in which a gallon of gas still cost 36 cents; somewhere just down the road from Tom Waits’ “Burma Shave.” However, this isn’t some sort of forced nostalgia. When she […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: Veins by Raw Mojo
Raw Mojo Veins www.rawmojo.net Raw Mojo is a 3 piece rock band you may have seen at shows around Iowa City. Their M.O. is to deliver short, concise stabs of pure rock and roll, without frills, pretension or irony. They deliver 10 songs in less than a half hour, and each song comprises the same […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
On the Beat: Prepare to be judged
January is the month of perpetual hangovers, and if December was any indication, the whole damn town might be frozen over. So I’m going to partake in the long tradition of using the New Year to pass judgment and make changes—though, not on myself (fine, more vegetables), but on the local venues (Mill: more vegetables!). […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
The Best Movies of 2008 (Most of which I didn't actually see)
Sydney Smith once observed, “I never read a book before reviewing it; it prejudices one so.” As a rule, I do watch the movies before reviewing them; though when it comes to the big Hollywood productions anymore, I wonder how necessary my principle is. So many of them have been made to order according to […]
Posted inCommunity/News
With a Bachelor's & a Backpack
My Grandfather had a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. He taught classes, was involved in the state legislature and founded a business. My Dad has an M.B.A. I always felt my parents had great expectations for me. At times, my dreams were greater than their expectations. But, throughout most of my adult life they would probably just […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Gitmo in Verse
Imagine being 14 years old when you arrive in Pakistan to learn English and study information technology. Then imagine being arrested, tortured and taken to Guantanamo Bay as an “enemy combatant.” This is what happened to Mohammed El Gharani, a Saudi-born Chadian national. In January 2002, he became one of the first men imprisoned by […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Kicking the Habit
Obama keeps sending me emails. It’s been two months since the campaign breakup, and while I appreciate that he still relies on me, talks to me, thanks me — it’s just time for me to move on. He’s getting desperate, I know — even getting his Davids to approach me (the Plouffe, the Axe), asking […]
Posted inCommunity/News
New Politics, New Media
August 13, second day on the job. The 12th I spent in Barack Obama’s Iowa City office, blasting his Facebook supporters with mass emails. The promotion du jour: the senator’s “Be the first to know!” text-message program, a nifty campaign to buzz cell phones “the moment Barack makes his decision” for a vice-presidential candidate. I […]
Posted inAstrology, Community/News
Astrology Forecast for January 2009
FOR EVERYONE ~ A watershed moment. Many things are moving forward. Many other things are up in the air and will remain there for some time. The powers that be have put a lot of things on hold. And the planets are about to reshuffle the deck, too. No one can offer much in the […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Is the Answer Blowin' in the Wind?
On the campaign trail President-Elect Barack Obama made a commitment to revitalize the economy with green-collar jobs as part of his overall energy initiative. After he takes office on January 20, the nation will be watching to see which components of his energy initiative actually make it into legislation. And many states will be anxiously […]
