Image Field: 

Spring begins in less than two weeks, but it seems that Spring Fever has started early in the northern hemisphere. Oh yes, there are revolutions and riots in other parts of the world, but we also have celebrity meltdowns. TV's highest paid actor Charlie Sheen has gone as mad as a March Hare and fashion's reigning king John Galliano may be dethroned (and perhaps jailed) for a drunken tirade. Whether or not you think that pop and celebrity culture is beneath consideration, these are significant events, and the public reaction has been even more revealing (and disheartening) than the events themselves. How could we resist writing about it?

Tristan Uhl provides a thorough account of the Galliano scandal thus far. Sarah Caples provides an editorial on the responsibility of consumers and audiences to truly evaluate the products and stories they are fed. T.s. Flock examines the power of celebrity and social media and its disturbing effects on those on the screen as well those in front of the screen.

As always, we have less dour fare, too. Tristan Uhl also gives his review of designer Francisco Hernandez's recent fashion show for Built For Men in Capitol Hill, and Sarah Caples gives us the profiles of local and international Bellwethers: culture queen Barbara Malone and professional photographer Sarah Takako Skinner.

Cheers!