December 14, 2006 Archive

Politics

• Federal Court Rules that Establishment Clause Allows Government to Run Religions

  A federal judge has ruled that San Francisco has the right to run religions to make them conform to preset notions.

  Opinion in Politics — by John Bambenek — on Dec 14, 2006

• News and Commentary: The Day's News Today Rather Than Yesterday

  Don't have time to read the papers? Read Mark Schannon's bite-sized news and commentary instead.

  News in Politics — by Mark Schannon — on Dec 14, 2006

• Interview: Loving To Hate Jeff Gannon

  Jack E. Jett chats with the former White House reporter and Mystery Man.

  Interview in Politics — by Jack E. Jett — on Dec 14, 2006

• Sen. Tim Johnson Ails And The Media Vultures Circle

  A lifelong South Dakotan looks askance at the media in light of the illness of the state's senior U.S. Senator

  Opinion in Politics — by Tim Gebhart — on Dec 14, 2006

• Q: Who Was Mata Hari and Why Was She Executed?

  Shedding some light on the mystery woman of the World War I era.

  News in Politics — by Mental_Floss — on Dec 14, 2006

• The Perils of Restricting Free Speech

  Banning bad ideas simply gives bad ideas credibility, as Iran is unintentionally proving.

  Opinion in Politics — by Sean Aqui — on Dec 14, 2006

• There Is No Justice In America

  Is justice only determined by the value of one's portfolio?

  Opinion in Politics — by Realist — on Dec 14, 2006

Video

• Movie Review: Touching the Void

  Based on the book of the same name, the film is an excellent trek for the armchair adventurer.

  Review in Video — by El Bicho — on Dec 14, 2006

• The Trailer Park: Alpha Dog

  Stolen boy.

  Review in Video — by Chris Beaumont — on Dec 14, 2006

• The TV Shows of Miami

  ... there is a bit of Hollywood inside Miami. Many television shows are filmed in the former, but set in the latter.

  Opinion in Video — by J Jordan — on Dec 14, 2006

• Golden Globe Nominees Announced

  The 2006 Golden Globe nominees, and the author's predictions.

  News in Video — by John Guilfoil — on Dec 14, 2006

• The Trailer Park: Smokin' Aces

  Ah, the sweet smell of potential mayhem.

  Review in Video — by Chris Beaumont — on Dec 14, 2006

• Blogcritics Goodie Bag: Lisa Nova, Jibbs, Codename: The Cleaner, DotComedy, and Restraining Order

  Digital media music and video downloads and streams.

  News in Video — by Anna Creech — on Dec 14, 2006

• Reality TV Casting Call: The Biggest Loser 4

  News in Video — by TV with MeeVee — on Dec 14, 2006

• The Trailer Park: The Hitcher (2007)

  I... want..... to die. Four little words.

  Review in Video — by Chris Beaumont — on Dec 14, 2006

• DVD Review: Groovie Goolies - The Saturday Mourning Collection

  Welcome back to Horrible Hall.

  Review in Video — by El Bicho — on Dec 14, 2006

• Movie Review: The Architect

  The story promises to touch on many themes but due to its clumsy writing and direction becomes a poorly executed melodrama.

  Review in Video — by El Bicho — on Dec 14, 2006

Music

• How Bucky Covington Saved Christmas

  There is more than one way to decorate a Christmas tree.

  News in Music — by Kathy Scovill — on Dec 14, 2006

• Music Review: Indie Round-Up Focus on Fionn Ò Lochlainn - Spawn of the Beast, and live at Joe's Pub

  Celtic soul, singer-songwriter acoustica, and Frampton-esque rock star magnetism fuse in this artist.

  Review in Music — by Jon Sobel — on Dec 14, 2006

• Music Review: Tom Brosseau - Grand Forks

  Grand Forks tells the story of the people hurt by the '97 flood in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

  Review in Music — by Connie Phillips — on Dec 14, 2006

• Music Review: Bootsy Collins - Christmas Is 4 Ever

  What, pray tell, is Bootsy doing with a bunch of white bread Christmas classics? He’s throwing a funky Christmas party.

  Review in Music — by Timothy Jarrett — on Dec 14, 2006

• Music Review: Faith & Fire, HIM, Tokyo Dragons, and Jeremy Clarkson

  What's going on in the world of Hard Rock and Metal? Check out Marty's Musical Meltdown.

  Review in Music — by Marty Dodge — on Dec 14, 2006

• Music Review: Various Artists - A Winter's Wish

  Grab this great Christmas compilation and help out two charities at the same time.

  Review in Music — by tink — on Dec 14, 2006

• Music Review: Earl Greyhound - Soft Targets

  You know, there’s nothing funny about hearing loss.

  Review in Music — by Mark Saleski — on Dec 14, 2006

• Interview: Steve Roslonek from SteveSongs

  Honestly, it's really hard to decide what the best part of my job is, because I truly enjoy so many aspects" - SteveSongs

  Interview in Music — by Scott Butki — on Dec 14, 2006

• Music Review: Gary Lucas, Gods and Monsters - Coming Clean

  Listening to Coming Clean gives one the sense of attending a meditative session at a ritualistic sweat lodge.

  Review in Music — by Larry Sakin — on Dec 14, 2006

• Music Review: Josh Weinstein - Brooklyn Is Sinking

  Weinstein writes from deep within himself, committing blood, grit, and sensitivity to paper, creating a highly original masterwork.

  Review in Music — by Larry Sakin — on Dec 14, 2006

• Music Review: Mary J. Blige - Reflections (A Retrospective)

  Blige has improved over the years - not just personally, but in style. How long that holds up is to her.

  Review in Music — by Matthew Milam — on Dec 14, 2006

• Music Review: Sloan - Never Hear The End Of It

  The title implies it all: You will never want to hear the end of it.

  Review in Music — by Michael Jones — on Dec 14, 2006

Tastes

• Make Wine, Not War

  Winemaking for the DIY inclined.

  Opinion in Tastes — by Jenn Jordan — on Dec 14, 2006

• Calories in Wine

  Enjoy your wine without the weight gain.

  News in Tastes — by Jenn Jordan — on Dec 14, 2006

Gaming

• Nintendo Wii Review: Cars

  While it's the same game that's been out for months elsewhere, Cars fits nicely into the Wii lineup.

  Review in Gaming — by Matt Paprocki — on Dec 14, 2006

Culture

• Blogcritics Editors' Picks: November 29 through December 12

  The best of the past two weeks, end of the year edition. See you all again in January!

  News in Culture — by Lisa McKay — on Dec 14, 2006

• Day By Day for December 14, 2006

  Chris Muir's excellent Day By Day cartoon, for December 14, 2006

  Satire in Culture — by Chris Muir — on Dec 14, 2006

• Satire: Classic Games Offer New Ideas to Reflect Times

  A new take on a classic boardgame is set to launch soon.

  Satire in Culture — by Alessandro Nicolo — on Dec 14, 2006

Sports

• The (Crimson) Tide is Going Out

  Until there is a commitment to rebuilding, over time, Alabama is done.

  Opinion in Sports — by The Critic — on Dec 14, 2006

• Satire: Tuesday Morning Pretentious Douchebaggery

  Stat of the Week No. 4: My SAT score was 1560. And, if I took the test now, I'd get the full 2400. Face.

  Satire in Sports — by Kissing Suzy Kolber — on Dec 14, 2006

• NFL Picks of a Thoughtful Fool, Week 15

  Wherein I give my state of the league speech.

  News in Sports — by David Mazzotta — on Dec 14, 2006

• RJ's NFL Picks - Week Fifteen

  Ten teams in the NFL have records worse than 6-7. And seven of them are in the NFC.

  Opinion in Sports — by RJ Elliott — on Dec 14, 2006

• Bob Gainey's Pain and Loss

  The Canadiens general manager and former hockey star lost his daughter in a tragic accident in the Atlantic Ocean.

  Opinion in Sports — by Alessandro Nicolo — on Dec 14, 2006

Books

• Book Review: Imagine No Superstition - The Power to Enjoy Life with No Guilt, No Shame, No Blame by Stephen Frederick Uhl, PhD.

  Imagine No Superstition examines the ersatz nature of all religions, rooted as they are in anachronistic customs.

  Review in Books — by Larry Sakin — on Dec 14, 2006

• Interview with Charles Wilson, Co-Author of Chew On This: First Part of a Two-Part Interview

  A book I'd suggest you not read while at McDonald's, unless you have a strong stomach and love irony.

  Interview in Books — by Scott Butki — on Dec 14, 2006