- Issue Archive for
- Jun 29 - Jul 5, 2006
- Vol. 1, No. 905
Art
Two Kinds of Magic
Jean Flint takes us deep into mind and body; Ian Lemmonds lights things up.
News
A Computer Recycling Company. Hmmm, Sounds Familiar.
This headline on an Associated Press story caught our eye: “Dell Will Offer Free Recycling For Its Computer Equipment.”
In other words, a real-life E-Cycle Management, the fictional FBI undercover company that nabbed former Sen. John Ford and other Memphis lawmakers in Operation Tennessee Waltz.
E-Cycle was going to recycle state computers and electronics. Dell’s explanation is remarkably similar to the one pitched by E-Cycle.
George W.'s Un-Op Stop in Memphis
ABC's Jake Tapper, a self-acknowledged acolyte of the King's who made his journalistic bones as an online columnist for Salon, showed off his Elvis-themed tie Friday, as he - like The New York Times' Maureen Dowd and several score other national reporters - filed stories from the car museum across Elvis Presley Boulevard from Graceland.
That's as close as most observers - tourists, protesters, reporters what-have-you - got to the grounds of the late music icon's mansion, or to the National Civil Rights Museum, where President Bush, Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi, and the rest of their party made an impromptu stop, or to the downtown Rendezvous Restaurant, where the two heads of state and a largish retinue of local officials finished off their highly private whirlwind tour of Memphis. (To read more, go to "Political Beat" here.
Holy Crap
You knew it had to happen: National attention would turn to Memphis because of the absurd desecration of the Statue of Liberty being done in the name of "Christianity" by the World Overcomers Church. The New York Times reports on Memphis' newest public "art" with a certain skepticism. You can almost hear the reporter biting his tongue to keep from laughing out loud — or is it gasping in amazement at such chutzpah?
The Sounds of Love
With various media reporting a split between actress Cameron Diaz and hometown hottie Justin Timberlake, the pair have jaunted off to Barcelona, Spain, to repair their relationship. While there, Timberlake is also scheduled to film the video for the first single off his new album Futuresex/Lovesounds.
Read more about it, if you just can’t get enough of the on-again, off-again, Cameron-wants-to-settle-down, Justin-wants-to-party drama.
Fireworks Tonight
American Idol contestant Gideon McKinney sings the National Anthem at tonight’s Red White and Blues July 4th Celebration at Tom Lee Park. Get the details in the Flyer’s searchable online calendar.
K-Fed V. J-Tim
Ever wonder which of Britney’s boy toys would prevail, you know, if it came down to a fight? Without their respective posses and hangers-on, that is? In the most recent episode of MTV’s Celebrity Deathmatch, Kevin Federline takes on Memphis homeboy Justin Timberlake. We haven’t seen it yet, but we’ve got our money on Justin (You just know all you’ve got to do is pull on those skanky dreads and K-Fed will be down for the count.)
Also on the bill are Gwen Stefani and Missy Elliott and Shaq versus Kobe. To see the highlights, go here.
In Flight
Hospital Wing celebrates 20 years of saving lives in the Mid-South.
School For Scandal
The politics and business of the semi-hustle. (*Parental discretion advised.)
Goin' to Graceland, Graceland, Memphis Tennessee ...
Today, President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi are heading down to the King's palace. Koizumi is a huge fan (and so, apparently, is his hair). The two leaders reportedly have a close friendship and the Graceland stop wraps up two days of consultations that touched on Iran, North Korea, and beef exports. But a word of warning: They're having lunch at the Rendezvous, so good luck navigating downtown today. And, sorry, their tour is a private one (led by Lisa Marie and Priscilla) so there's no chance of picketing the Jungle Room.
Totally Tubular
Earlier this month, downtown blogger Paul Ryburn dubbed June the official month of the tube top. His daily posts preached the importance of that snug-fitting, cleavage-baring garment. He’s posted pictures of girls hanging out in tube tops. He’s told us where to buy tube tops. He discussed the difference the between a tube top and a halter top. He’s even doled out advice on how often women should wear tube tops: “At most 10 to 15 percent of the time. Wear something else the other days, and let us wish that you had the tube top on.”
But now that July is upon us, Ryburn has decided to extend the holiday through July 31st. What a guy.
Q&A with Scott Linder
Director of Operations at the Memphis Futbol Club
Reading, Writing, and ... Podcasting?
Memphis City School principals stream into the digital age.
Come Home, Al
"Let the reverend preach to you a little," he told the crowd in the early going. He called for champagne from the bar, "the good stuff, not the cheap stuff," then launched into a moving rendition of "Amazing Grace."
That segue would be incongruous for almost anyone but Green, who exudes such sincere joy that it's impossible not to be swept along with it.
Every time we read rapturous stories like this one in the Orlando Sentinal about Al Green's transcendant performance there, we get a little jealous. How about a little sugar our bowl, Al?
Still Talking
Former radio host Leon Gray opens up about his time on Air America.
Back to Nature
Dismals Canyon in Alabama is like no place else.
Toni Toni Toni
Tonight R&B artist Toni Braxton plays Live at the Garden. For more details, go to the Flyer's searchable online calendar.
We Recommend
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We Recommend
June 29-July 4, 2006
Music
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Coming-Out Party
Local rap strivers share the stage with hip-hop heroes at CrunkFest.
Politics
Reform in the Air
Some hope the wave of recent scandal turns out the vote; some may fear the same thing.
News from an Alternate Universe
Due to his never-ending researches, The Gadfly (who happened upon a strange passage in The Congressional Record) chronicles the bizarre discovery by Tennessee's own Zach Wamp of WMD's in Iraq! Real ones? Well...nope. For more news of Rep. Wamp's less-than-excellent adventure, go to Political Beat.
Can an American Idol wannabe swing a local election?
Ask Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton, who last weekend invited a flood of local dignitaries into his newly opened Whitehaven campaign headquarters (one of two HQs for Wharton – the other being located way off in East Memphis). But the true guest of honor, the piece de resistance at the mayor’s opening, was clearly Gedeon McKinney, the young Memphian who made the finals in this year’s American Idol competition --though crusty Brit judge Simon Cowell confessed to being made uneasy by McKinney’s preternaturally toothy smile. McKinney sang a couple of supportive numbers in his patented gospel-style manner, and who cares what Simon Cowell thinks about it all? He’s got no vote in Shelby County.
Keep Your Day Jobs
Dempseys' promoter Rollin Riggs sent us this photo of his group's recent gig with the Prez and Prime Minister Koizumi of Japan. Koizumi stepped to the mic and sang an Elvis tune. The president recorded the event for national security reasons and tapped the Dempseys' phones and bank records.
This picture also raises the quesion of whether heads of state get together before joint appearances to discuss how they'll dress: "Today, I'm going with an open-collared dress shirt and slacks. I'm rolling the sleeves up two turns."
"Cool. Me too."
For a slightly more accurate description of the event, go here.
Sports
How Did Jerry Do?
Now that the dust has begun to settle on a wild draft night for the Grizzlies, read our take on Jerry West’s big moves and scan reaction from around the country on Beyond the Arc, the Flyer’s Grizzlies blog.
Where Do They Go Now?
The Grizzlies face questions bigger than how to use a draft pick.
Who's More Ticked Off? ...
Rockets Fans or Grizzlies Fans? Boos erupted in Houston at the announcement that the Rockets had traded away draft choice Rudy Gay to the Grizzlies for Shane Battier. Get the Houston reaction details here.
Meanwhile, here in Memphis, Griz fans were still trying to get their heads around a trade that saw everybody's favorite citizen, Shane Battier, leave in a trade that brought back the erratic (to say the least) Stromile Swift. More about all this later today in the Grizzlies Blog.
And Speaking of the NBA Draft ...
Two Memphis Tigers were taken in the first round. Go here to get the reaction in Philadelphia to Rodney Carney's being selected by the 76ers. And here, to learn how Shawne Williams' selection by the Pacers is being received by the locals.
Theater
Gee Whizz
Playhouse on the Square makes Urinetown its number-one priority.
Film
Man of Myth
Superman Returns is a reverent take on a shared culture.
Local Movie Screens Tonight
Amusement parks have been prime real estate for low-budget horror movies. That's what local filmmaker Mark Jones had in mind when he was preparing to shoot his script Fraternity Massacre at the Haunted Amusement Park. Read the rest of the Flyer story.
Fraternity Massacre at the Haunted Amusement Park screens tonight at Studio on the Square at 7 p.m. (sold out) and 9 p.m.
Opinion
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Letter from the Editor
While driving through South Carolina, I heard the song "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" for the first time. It changed my worldview ...
"Cutting and Running"
It's a strategy that has brought new meaning to "flip-flop."
Books
Mommie Dearest
A novelist puts the past to the test -- and to rest.
Food & Wine
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The Family Business
At Conte's Italian Restaurant, it's all relative.
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Burn Baby Burn .... Or, I want mybaby mybaby mybaby mybaby mybaby back-ribs
Why do men love to barbecue? Three foodies (two chefs and a food writer) have an interesting theory on Slate — “guys love playing with fire, simple as that.” The three-way discussion also covers grilling, rubs vs. marinades, charcoal, and the assorted ways to grill veggies.
To learn more about Memphis’ own foodies — judges at Memphis In May’s International Barbecue Cooking Contest — read this Flyer story.
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Sweet!
The Peabody hotel’s executive pastry chef, Erika Davis, is featured in this month’s Black Enterprise’s magazine in a story focusing on black chefs. Turns out only 4 percent sous chefs are African Americans. To read more, go to the Black Enterprise site.
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