Gone North: Tom Waits Upcountry by Robert Lloyd

Tom Waits is turning 50. His first album in six years, "Mule Variations," is receiving critical acclaim. He rarely gives concerts, yet his fans are as devoted as any Deadhead, maintaining active online discussions, exchanging bootleg tapes and jumping on a plane at the mere hint he might give a performance. Robert Lloyd's interview with Waits gives some insight into the enigmatic musician and actor who's been making great music for almost three decades.

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The Village Voice, April 21-27

Third Annual Women in Sports Issue

Title IX blah blah blah; woman succeeds in male-dominated profession (in this case, she's a coach) blah blah blah; girls different biologically from boys blah blah blah; WNBA, girls' self-image, those Nike ads blah blah blah. Move along, people. Nothing new to see here.

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The Spy Who Bugged Me by David Kushner

Not too long ago, I turned off the TV to listen to a woman cruelly berate her mother, claiming that she was a buttinsky sans clue about bridesmaids' dresses. The conversation was taking place on a seemingly private portable phone somewhere in the neighborhood. I'd picked it up on a friend's scanner, which we avidly used for eavesdropping entertainment -- it beats digital cable anyday! Earlier in the week, my friend overheard his neighbor who, after describing his ass as "hairy," ordered a male prostitute, who soon knocked on his door. Sound like wholesome fun to you? David Kushner reports on the growing popularity of phone scanners, digital spy cameras and other gizmos with which to invade the private lives of others.

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The Stranger, April 22-28

"For the Love of Liquor" by Wm. Steven Humphrey

Is it possible to praise one form of booze without dissing all the others? Can't a girl have her Scotch and drink her microbrew too? The Stranger celebrates hard liquor with an excessive package that includes drinking books, songs and essays on Jagermeister and a tribute to blacking out. While hard liquor is admittedly more interesting than women in sports, it's still far less interesting to read about than to imbibe.

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The San Francisco Bay Guardian, April 21-27

"Absinthe: The Green Muse" by Taylor Antrim

Not to be outdone by their binge-drinking neighbors to the north, the San Francisco Bay Guardian's Taylor Antrim sets out to get him some absinthe, which, in the decadent spirit of these fin-de-siècle times, has made a comeback of sorts.

Smells like teen spirit ...

In honor of the diversity of teenagers today, I offer these stories by, for and about the next generation.

His and hers teen Web sites: Teen Web sites, news and chat rooms for gurls and boys. I like the teen-written essays and short-stories.

Yo! (Youth Outlook) features serious articles and essays by teenagers.

Boston Phoenix reporter Nancy Gaines on allegations of homosexual rapes and molestations among the boys at the prestigious Groton School.

Thrift Score Al Hoff's anti-mall zine.

The I hate Jen homepage dissects the motivations and actions of one "Dawson's Creek" character.
salon.com | April 23, 1999

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