Alt-Country -- Highlights From the World of Weeklies

An Alt-Weekly Death Watch contributor recently made the comment: Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in. Yes, AWDW took a break. But shit, these talented fuckers didn't, and it became so painful to sit on the sidelines and watch as they practiced Extremely Powerful Feature Writing that we simply couldn't help ourselves. So then, to the magic...

Alt-Weekly Death Watch is having a contest! The first person to forward us the memo instructing New Times VVM staff writers to write thousands of words about boobies, butts and dicks will receive a signed copy of Mike Lacey's vagina. Seriously, what's wrong with these people?

With the recent departure of Michael Tortorello, that just about completes the mass exodus of Minneapolis City Pages editorial staff members that took place in the wake of New Times VVM's acquisition of the paper and subsequent installment of the clearly talented and genial Kevin Hoffman as Editor in Chief. Are we the only ones to notice that the irony in New Times VVM's constant bragging about all the awards it receives is that it is also constantly chasing away its award-winning journalists?

Wait a second, wait a second -- really?