Fallujah Strikes Again!

One of the most gruesome episodes in the U.S. war on Iraq began calmly enough as two SUVs with darkened windows negotiated the dense traffic of downtown Fallujah. It was the morning of March 31, 2004, and the vehicles—each containing two American civilians guarding kitchen supplies for the U.S. military—belonged to Blackwater USA, the world's …

You win some. You Laos some

Is it just me, or does it seem like everyone is conspiring to overthrow the government of Laos these days? Apparently, Vang Pao, a former Laotion general from Orange County, and Harrison Ulrich Jack, a retired California National Guard lieutenant colonel, were arrested this morning and accused of doing just that. The San Francisco Chronicle …

Sheer Kon

Trying to describe the cinema of Japanese animator Satoshi Kon is a mighty task indeed. Many have attempted to do so, with mixed results. Roger Corman, upon seeing Kon's feature directorial debut, Perfect Blue, said, “If Alfred Hitchcock partnered with Walt Disney, they'd make a picture like this.” After a screening of his latest, Paprika, at …

Walls

When Mexico finally takes over the United States (editor's note: already happened!), historians will look back on the fence separating California from Mexico as folk art. Seriously, ever seen it? The Mexican side is filled with memorials, graffiti, posters, murals—critics would treasure it on the same level as the Watts Towers if it wasn't created …

All Coked Up

Vanilla Coke is back! You might not have realized that it went away, of course, especially if you eat regularly at Rubio's, the only major food chain to keep it on its soda fountains. But yeah, they replaced it with Black Cherry Vanilla a while back, which was decent but not as tasty. Now plain …

Bootylicious

You can say many things about Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, but you can't say it doesn't give you your money's worth. For 167 minutes, you get familiar characters, elaborate set pieces, visual spectacle, multiple double-crosses (some genuinely unexpected), epic battles, thoroughly un-Disney-like blood and guts, and some impressively weird moments that would never …

Cream of the Coachella Crop

Coachella has overtaken Lollapalooza as the major gathering of alt-music tribes. For three days in Indio, California, music fanatics congregate to hear sanity-threatening numbers of bands in intense heat and nipple-hardening cold. Braving Coachella's elements, vile toilets and clogged parking lots has become a rite of passage for adventurous hipsters. This year's fest abounds with …

Grub Guide

Visit the rest of Orange County's best damn dining guide at ocweekly.com/food, where it says “Where to Eat Now” on the right side of the screen. If there are any bugs with it, e-mail Gustavo at ga*******@******ly.com with your complaints! DINNER FOR TWO: ¢ . . . . . . . . . . . …

Grub Guide

Visit the rest of Orange County's best damn dining guide at ocweekly.com/food, where it says “Where to Eat Now” on the right side of the screen. If there are any bugs with it, e-mail Gustavo at ga*******@******ly.com with your complaints! DINNER FOR TWO: ¢ . . . . . . . . . . . …

Thanks for the Work!

Hi, guys and gals, I know you're all big fans of OC Weekly, so there's probably no need to tell you that the past six months have been busy for investigative reporters like myself who just love writing about cop scandals. I just wanted to thank each of you personally for making my job fun …