Celebration; Madonna; Warner Bros.

“Who’s That Girl?” Seriously? Thirty-six songs on the two-disc version of Madonna’s otherwise groovy, career-spanning greatest hits compilation, Celebration, and she includes “Who’s That Girl?” If you’re going to bother with that largely forgettable movie soundtrack, why not include the vaguely danceable “Commotion,” instead? Upon further consideration, maybe it’s a wise number to include—if not […]

Deborah Eisenberg nabs MacArthur grant

When Ben Marcus reviewed UVA professor Deborah Eisenberg’s most recent collection of short fiction, 2006’s Twilight of the Superheroes, he characterized the 63-year-old Eisenberg as a sort of archaeologist of American domestic secrets. “Eisenberg has given us these remarkable stories,” wrote Marcus, “machines of perfect revelation deftly constructed by a contemporary master.” UVA professor Deborah […]

Shooting Ace

The world is getting to be a pretty scary place, Ace. I don’t know how I’m supposed to protect myself, for example, from the type of person who would carry an assault rifle to a presidential speech. Or in the event of the zombie apocalypse, which is also starting to look pretty likely. Where can […]

Congressman Eric Cantor mouths off

Suffice it to say that this will not go down as Rep. Eric Cantor’s finest moment. Appearing at Richmond Times-Dispatch “Public Square” healthcare forum, Virginia’s most-photographed congressman was confronted by a Virginia voter with an all-too-common tale of woe: One of her relatives had recently lost her job and her insurance, leaving her without the […]

Candidates swarm to challenge Perriello

Ah Virginia, where the political merry-go-round never knows to stop. With five weeks remaining in the 2009 political season, the 2010 race for congress in the Fifth District is already as crowded as a Saturday at the City Market. Five Republican hats are already in the ring for the right to challenge first term Democratic […]