Week Around the Ists

Palin artwork: Eddie Colla; photo credit: Brian Reynard

Chicagoist’s readers were not happy with a 67 percent increase in the state income tax. The staff, meanwhile, interviewed the director of a new Stephin Merrit documentary; asked author Ted McClelland why he likes winter in Chicago; chatted with the creator of Vladimir Putin Action Comics; got a behind-the-scenes tour of the soon-to-open butcher shop, The Butcher and Larder; and Art Shay reminisced on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Shanghaiist was terrorized by a "Tiger Mom" called Amy Chua.
DCist was all about poor customer service this week, ranging from a notoriously anti-customer chef posting YouTube videos criticizing her patrons to Metro operators urinating and defecating in the system’s trains and buses.
In the midst of the tragic news out of Tucson, Bostonist found reason for hope. Organs from Christina Taylor Green, the 9-year old girl killed in Tucson, were donated to a sick girl from Boston. In other news, five members of the state parole board resigned after a man they released allegedly killed a police officer; Vicki Kennedy isn't running for Senate.
Seattlest lamented our city getting knocked off our literacy throne and watched a local park get drawn into the Amanda Knox saga.
Gothamist found out why a City Council member wants to introduce legislation requiring bicyclists to get licenses/registration: It’s because of the jerk bicyclists. Councilman Eric Ulrich told us, “I have never, never seen a cop car pull over a bicyclist for running through a red light. I wish they would, because those are the ones who are creating problems every day in the city. If these people are not obeying traffic laws, they should be held accountable."
LAist readers rejoiced in Gov. Jerry Brown's executive decision to save California $20 million by snatching state-issued cell phones from public employees.
SFist discussed these anti-Sarah Palin posters that, shortly after the Arizona shooting rampage, appeared in San Francisco.