Egypt

Katatonia Bring The Power of Swedish Metal to the States

By: Alex Distefano Sweden is well known for producing some of the darkest, gloomiest metal bands on the planet--from Bathory, At The Gates, Entombed, Amon Amarth, Meshuugah Ghost, Opeth and many more. Katatonia is no exception. Formed in 1991, the band launched into a sound that was a more melanc ... More >>

Are Mexicans White?

[¡Ask a Mexican!] And why shouldn't we tell Mexicans to learn English?

"Good Job Bub": Lil Bub and Friendz Turns the Internet Cat Video Into an Adorable Documentary

Maz Jobrani Explains Why Its Way Harder to Tell a Joke in the Middle East

When it comes to supplying laughs, Iranian-American comedian Maz Jobrani enjoys his share of racial banter. Born in Iran and raised in CA, he delivers jokes rooted in his own heritage, mixing in jabs at his family, upbringing, even audience members. Before he headlines the Brea Improv February 21st ... More >>

S.S. Coachella: Nail Master Class with Sleigh Bells' Alexis Krauss

By: Liz TracyFashion and music are the funniest-looking twin sisters. They're always together, always kinda sloppy. Sometimes they dress up like a swan or wear a big mouse head. Together, they're always looking to make a bold statement. If you follow Sleigh Bells' Alexis Krauss on Instagram (@Krau ... More >>

Mark Basseley Nakoula Gets Year in Prison (But Not for Inflaming the Muslim World)

Mark Basseley Nakoula, the Cerritos conman who lived in Orange County and has gone by Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, Sam Bacile and several other aliases, was sentenced to a year in prison today for violating his probation.What's the big whoop? Well, he should be punished for crimes against humanit for m ... More >>

The 25 Creepiest Heavy Metal Album Covers

By: Jason RocheHalloween is the time where it's acceptable to wallow in the creepy, the crawly, the dark, and the macabre. Sounds like the themes of heavy metal, year-round! Here then, are those most spine-tingliest metal album covers, for your All Hallow's Eve viewing pleasure. Step inside... ... More >>

Straight Outta Syria

Orange County is home to growing numbers of refugees from that country's growing civil war

[BREAKING: Filmmaker Arrested!] Is "Sam Bacile" a Figment of Orange County Imagination?

See Update No. 2 on the arrest of Nakoula Basseley Nakoula. See Update No. 1 on a Santa Ana nonprofit fearing the film is backfiring on Christians in Egypt and Libya and more OC ties for the film's consultant. ORIGINAL POST, SEPT. 13, 7 A.M.: The mystery of how Sam Bacile came to be attached to Ora ... More >>

OC Copts and Muslims Meet To Move Forward After Crazy Film

Leaders of Orange Couny's Coptic Christian and Muslim communities met yesterday evening at the Islamic Society of Orange County in Garden Grove to discuss the amateur (emphasis on the "amateur") video that is blamed for sparking violent protests across the Middle East, and how to move forward from i ... More >>

Zakaria Botros Henein, Crazy Coptic With Westminster TV Network, Defends Anti-Muslim Film

If there's a story involving California, crazy religious people and Islamophobia, it's always a sure bet that there's an Orange County connection. And now we have it. Or rather him. Zakaria Botros Henein may not have made "Innocence of Muslims," the 12-minute trailer that trashes Islam and which has ... More >>

The Mein Event: OC's Best Noodles

Noodles, noodles everywhere, from pho to pad Thai and everything else

Norin & Rad: A Pair of Local DJs Putting OC Trance on the Map

See Also: Above & Beyond's Tony McGuinness Shares Why He Loves SoCal Above & Beyond - The Shrine Auditorium - 5/18/12 Armin Van Buuren - Sutra - 5/28/12 Before joining Norin & Rad, Bruce Karlsson had been dabbling in producing and other music projects while Nick Sember was spinning ... More >>

Syrian Musicians Asala Nasri and Malek Jandali Criticize the Government, Get Death Threats

As violence continues to plague Syria, superstar singer Asala Nasri is joining forces with award-winning composer and pianist Malek Jandali. The two will take to the stage Sunday at the City National Grove of Anaheim, generously lending their time and support for a benefit concert. Proceeds from "Fo ... More >>

Tariq Ramadan: Shariah Law and U.S. Constitution Go Hand-In-Hand

A small group of about a dozen protesters gathered outside the Embassy Suites in Anaheim where a prominent Muslim theologian was scheduled to deliver a lecture on Shariah - the Islamic legal code akin to canon law in Christianity or Judaic law in Judaism. The Islamic Shura Council of Southern Califo ... More >>

Ahmad Alam Turns to Facebook to Promote His Competing Vision of Little Arabia

​Since the Weekly profiled the Anaheim ethnic enclave unofficially known as 'Little Arabia' in a January cover story, hundreds of folks on Facebook have 'liked' the neighborhood page that has existed since 2010 on the social networking site, sending its total to over 1,100. Rashad Al-Dabbagh, who ... More >>

[UPDATED with Syria Convoy News] Violent Repression in Syria Claims Relative of Anaheim Businessman Bill Dalati

Bill Dalati​UPDATE JAN 17, 3:38 P.M.: Anaheim Businessman Bill Dalati returned back to OC yesterday from the Liberty Convoy for Syria. As Reuters, Al Jazeera, and other news agencies reported on Thursday, the group of about 150 expatriate activists were unable to deliver food and medical supplies ... More >>

The Cure at the Pantages Theatre Last Night

​The CureNovember 22, 2011The Pantages TheatreClick here to see more photos from the showForty-five songs, three classic albums spanning three-plus hours constituted one unforgettable night with the Cure. If you don't have tickets to the show tonight, you may wanna scalp some or book your flight n ... More >>

Midan Al Tahrir Rocks the Khaleeji

[Hole In the Wall] Maybe the Reg will get around to reviewing this Little Arabia gem in 10 years or so

Omaima Aree Nelson, Who Killed, Chopped Up, Cooked and Ate Husband of 2 Months, Seeks Parole

​How could I forget that Thanksgiving weekend 1991 rampage? Egyptian-born model and 24-year-old nanny Omaima Aree Nelson bludgeoned, skinned and chopped up her husband of two months--and twice her age--in their Costa Mesa apartment. With her olive skin, slender form and impeccably dressed in red h ... More >>

Who Harvested Maize First: The Aztecs or the Mayans?

[¡Ask a Mexican!] And what are the three milks of pastel de tres leches?

OC Foodie Fest 2011 Announces Food Truck Lineup

Christopher Victorio/OC WeeklyLast year's event. ​This is the big one, folks. The Coachella of OC food truck events. Get out your walking shoes, elastic waistbands/maxi dresses and dollar bills. The OC Foodie Fest 2011 is coming to the Angel Stadium of Anaheim in two weeks--Sat., Aug. 27. It' ... More >>

Hosni Mubarak Corruption Trial Fills Cafe Seats in Little Arabia

​Like a caged animal, former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was shown today on television behind bars, in a hospital bed and certainly much weaker than your typical Arab world strong man. Watching Mubarak like zoo visitors were members of Anaheim's Little Arabia community.As the Facebook photo o ... More >>

Tom Morello as The Nightwatchman to Release 'Union Town' to Benefit...Unions

​Remember when Tom Morello declared that he was a union man to protest Governor Scott Walker's anti-union bill in Wisconsin? Well, he's putting his money where his mouth is and releasing the album Union Town via New West Records digitally on May 17, with a physical CD and vinyl release to follow o ... More >>

Sinclair Roberts, Local Zimbabwean, Ponders the Future of His Country Amid Revolts in North Africa

Sinclair, in a 1980 photo​The day before Egyptian President Hosni Muburak resigned, one local man who has lived the past couple decades under political exile in Orange County wondered if social media could reignite political passions in Zimbabwe against the 31-year rule of dictator Robert Mugabe. ... More >>

Beaver Hide Trading Company 'Fesses Up to Graffiti Urging "Revolution!" at Santa Ana Chase Bank, Vow More

​Remember that mysterious graffiti earlier this month outside a SanTana Chase branch urging "Revolution!" (as seen in the photo to the right)? I openly wondered who might've done it, given political protest in the county usually doesn't take anarchistic tones, and cholos (who do most of SanTana's ... More >>

In Memoriam: Five Strange Stories Related to the Death of John Lennon

Vickie ChangJohn Lennon, 1940-1980.​Thirty years ago today, John Lennon's life was cut short by a disturbed fan while returning to his home at the Dakota on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. As with any legend, countless tales--the bizarre, the depressing, the totally untrue--surround Lennon's mur ... More >>

(100) Days of Summer Movies

[Summer Guide] Flicks to help you enjoy the great indoors

David Kesler of the Cellar, Part Two

Courtesy of the Cellar​Executive Chef David Kesler of Fullerton's The Cellar Restaurant is on the line this week. Here's a random fact for the readership: people who excel at both cuisine and pastry are rare in the extreme. Every culinary arts student studies pastry, but it's like being both an ou ... More >>

Letters From OC Weekly Readers

Milo the Witch Finds Toil and Trouble at Ralphs

Milo Shiff loves his job, but hated that Halloween display enough to file a discrimination complaint

Rembrandt's Sympathy for the Poor Still Holds Lessons Today

Nixon, John Taylor and the Bohemian Grove

Early 1990s Cave Man campers. Taylor is in red polo at far right, Nixon sits at left and Meese is behind him.In his August 2006 story "Bohemian Grove Exposes Itself!" the Weekly's Nick Schou interviewed an unnamed Orange County resident and former employee of the private, all-male, 2,700-acre forest ... More >>

Sinners and Saint Onuphrius

Saturday's Headlines & Surprises: One Down in Murder at Sea Case

Inaction Action! In their hunt for additional pay and perks, Orange County sheriff’s deputies flexed their muscles again Friday by delaying the transfer of incustody folks to court for criminal hearings. The, if you will, inaction action is designed to frightened county supervisors at the negotia ... More >>

Tuesday's Headlines & Surprises: MTV films Newport Harbor High!

A patriot act: To celebrate a trip home from Bagdad to Laguna Niguel, Army Cpl. Jon Warren sipped a Corona beer, smiled and bit into a tuna sandwich. Greg Hardesty of the Reg tells us that Warren spent “a frightening eventful first nine months in combat.” He's been injured in three bomb blasts ... More >>

Yes, Vagina, There is a Santa Claus

Even for battle-worn sluts, genitals are a difficult thing to contend with

Bohemian Grove Exposes Itself!

OC insider reveals dark secrets of California club plotting world domination

Commie Girl

Loaves and Fishes: Tales of toast and sushi and the Strawberry Fest

No Bueno, Big Guy

OC life is not the life for D.I.

The Bloodhound Gang

With Electric Eel Shock Beat Me

Tilting at Quixote

Southland Ballet Academy ditches the donkeys, focuses on the essence of the knight errant

Tattooed, Screwed and Stewed

Tattooing marks its gory history at the Queen Mary in Long Beach

An Immodest Proposal

Pacifist professor: Lets bomb Baghdad

We Know Evil

In Praise of Faux Castrati

And list in the lines in Willie Nelsons face

Living in the USA

Booker on Bosnia, Washburn on Kmart

Orbitones, Fela Kuti, Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Music Compiled by Bart Hopkin

Orbitones, Fela Kuti, and Jimmy Dale Gilmore

CD Reviews