Week Around the Ists

Retro futurism found at fabiofeminofantascience.org

• SFist looked into the future of San Francisco by worrying about the taco intake of its youth; hailing its first-ever bicycle traffic light, installed at an infamously dangerous intersection; and questioning Mayor Newsom's plan to turn the Civic Center, a notably violent neighborhood, into the "Sustainable Resource District" of tomorrow.
• Gothamist was horrified to watch a video of the police using a Taser on an emotional disturbed man, who fell to his death. The NYPD later admitted it looked like the Taser use violated rules.
• Phillyist was worried this week: worried that a Philadelphia neighborhood was misrepresented in Business Week, and even more worried about a city-issued request for proposals that could result in the "disposal" of 30,000 domestic animals annually.
• Bostonist learned about the Numerati, drank some beer, and stepped inside a giant speaker.
• Torontoist profiled the fame-hungry geniuses behind webseries Nirvana the Band the Show.
• Seattlest mourned Paul Newman's passing while noting his local kids camp legacy and fretted over why Washington independent voters thought McCain won the debate.
• Londonist anticipated the introduction of air conditioning to some tube trains over the next few years. Will it provide the relief that summer commuters are desperate for, or will it just make the platforms hotter? We'll probably find out in 2010.
• LAist found that residents of L Ron Hubbard Way are fighting their Scientology neighbors back.
• Shanghaiist was amused by the "technical glitch" that saw Xinhua News Agency publish its report on China's space mission before Shenzhou 7 even took off.
• Chicagoist celebrated the Cubs' clinching the NL Central crown, but then dealt with the City's controversial decision to ask bars around Wrigley Field to curb booze sales during clinching games.