December 18, 2003 - VOL. 13, NO. 14

FRONT OF BOOK Letters: A full page littered with--of course--several immature retorts from The Stranger's spectacularly thin-skinned writers.... Last Days: Pure joy.... NEWS Perhaps putting themselves to sleep as of late, The Stranger's news department resorts to such titillating fodder as prostitution.... SHORT FEATURE #1 A slightly humorous diatribe by Neal Pollack. Emphasis on the word "slightly".... SHORT FEATURE #2 Speaking of prostitution: Here's yet another on The Stranger's "Strangercrombie Holiday Auction".... FEATURE This week's feature sponsored by Ambien.... THEATER Skimmed.... BOOKS Also skimmed.... ART The paper's best criticism, week in and week out.... MUSIC A decent section, with a surprising amount of hiphop coverage.... FOOD Didn't read.... FILM Sean Nelson's "triumphant" return to film reviewing after an extended absence. I had forgotten just how pretentious and long-winded Mr. Nelson could be. This week's review served as a rather unpleasant reminder.... ETC. Theater News: See Art News.... Art News: Didn't read.... Nightstand: The winner of Christopher Frizzelle's lame literary contest is revealed. Can Seattle contain its excitement?... Live Wire: Didn't read.... Drunk by Noon: Nate Lippens' inane column is finally given the word count it deserves: about one-half its former size.... The Truth: Didn't read.... All Ages Action: Didn't read.... Data Breaker: Didn't read....The Score: Didn't read.... Some Candy Talking: For some unknown reason, none this week.... Savage Love: Horrendous writing on a horrendous crime.... I Love TV: Troubling, but funny.... Control Tower: Huh?... Celebrity I Saw U: Too gay....