When Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner’s 2005 book Freakonomics debuted, the notion that standard economic analysis could explain social trends and phenomena like baby names and institutionalized cheating was at times nearly as startling as the findings themselves. But the work done by Levitt, a University of Chicago economist, and Dubner, a New [...]

In the run-up to its release, Waiting for "Superman”—which opens today at the Landmark E Street and Bethesda Row cinemas—has sparked an ongoing conversation about the state of public education in the United States. Its cast and crew have been profiled on Oprah and All Things Considered, the Newseum hosted a gala screening two weeks ago, and [...]

So, there was this show, EIGHT, presented as part of the Capital Fringe Festival that Fringe & Purge Action News and Commentary Squad MVP Ian Buckwalter and I both really dug. It's comprised of eight monologues, only four of which are performed on any given night, as selected by audience vote. The show is deservedly [...]

In the T2: Judgement Day-style techno-battle for punk rock's soul, the machines are winning. At least that's how it seems listening to Brooklyn's These Are Powers. On its '07 debut, Terrific Seasons, the trio was still pounding out wiry post-punk rhythms with fairly conventional gear–bass, guitar, a drum kit. But over the last couple of [...]

I only recently met S.L. (Shannon) Gallant, even though he's lived in D.C. for years. He's drawn the child-friendly Marvel Adventures for Marvel Comics, the Pink Panther for commercial insulation ads, and a bunch of adaptations of Dreamworks animated film characters for British comics. I'm glad he set aside his drawing deadline to answer a [...]

Udi Koomran is an audio engineer based in Tel Aviv, Israel, who has made quite a name for himself in the world of avant-garde progressive rock. Most recently, he remastered the 1985 debut cassette tape by French band Shub Niggurath. Released as Introduction by France's Soleil Zeuhl records, this album is reviewed in this [...]

Is there a formula for a successful viral video? What does Charlie Bit My Finger have in common with Daft Hands? At what mysterious coordinates do the Harry Potter Puppet Pals intersect with David After Dentist?
That's a tough one. The question of what makes a successful viral music video, however, may be easier to pinpoint. [...]

Before the main acts of the Music as a Weapon IV tour kicked off at 1st Mariner Arena last Tuesday, I had the chance to sit down with Cristina Scabbia, frontwoman and one of two lead singers of Italian rockers Lacuna Coil. (She's pictured above performing a couple hours after our interview – more photos [...]