I'm always inspired by people who have figured out the whole barter world. For our cover story coming out in this week's issue, I talked to an artist who has bartered a few of her prints for things she needs. For her, it makes environmental sense--and makes sense to me, too.

Lots of swapping and free stuff Web sites are a big deal right now. But take a look at the Craigslist Tucson page under free and barter. The area has some pretty good finds that I imagine you'd have to move on fast. It seems like excellent place to give out stuff, like if you're going through a divorce and want to get rid of your husband's baseball caps or T-shirts.

The barter area, however, is most interesting. It seems that lots of people in our dear city wouldn't mind bartering things like bikes, go-carts and such--for GUNS. So if any of our Libertarian friends out there have some extra guns they want to get rid of, I did indeed see an ad for bikes, a go-cart and an iPhone; the owners want to trade for a handgun or two. Let's make a deal.

All this bartering stuff reminded me of this cool program I remembered from Seattle. Fremont Time is a group that is still around and coordinates the bartering of skills. You're an attorney that can do a divorce, but you need someone to landscape your yard? Well, there might be a landscaper who needs a divorce. No guns involved, just some paperwork and topsoil.

Seems like something we could use here in Saguaro Land.

In this week's Skinny, we meant to say that Republican lawmakers had decided there was no other space for reporters to rent for their press room. I screwed up and the column ended up saying that there was another space for the media to rent. My apologies for the mistake.

Hank Stephenson has more on the Sunshine Week follies in this week's TW.

So that's it for Battlestar Galactica. The space porn was beautiful to watch, but I'm left unsatisfied. Not in a "I want more BSG" way, but in a "I don't feel like they answered enough of the questions they raised" kind of way. Angels? Really? WTF?

Oh, well. The first two seasons were among the finest bits of television I've ever seen, and the rest kept me enthralled, even when it disappointed.

I'd say that Jacob over at Television Without Pity summed up my feelings pretty well. Money quote:

So if this poor showing is the end of the marathon, I'm grateful they paced themselves as well as they did, for as long as they were able. I don't think we'll see a story this wonderful again in our lifetimes, and we are privileged to have taken part. And that's really what matters.

Hey, folks. We messed up and forgot to include info (other than a listing) in this week's issue on a very important benefit show coming up on Sunday:

Here are the details, from Cathy Warner at the Boondocks:

This is to inform you of a very important benefit coming up at the Boondocks for local musician Plato T. Jones, the iconic percussionist extraordinaire of Tucson’s favorite reggae band, Neon Prophet.

Plato is fighting cancer and has been unable to work.

Sunday, March 22 at 6 p.m. at the Boondocks, many local bands and friends are having a musical celebration/benefit for Plato.

We are asking a $10 donation, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds!

His contributions over the years to music in this country and Europe are numerous. In 1967, Plato started playing with Baby Huey and the Babysitters in Chicago. They played on the Merv Griffin Show and at the Apollo Theatre with their classic R&B and soul sound. Curtis Mayfield was the producer of their LP.

Continuing his relationship with Mayfield, Plato played in 1970 with Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions in the Chicago area.

He moved on to play in Aspen, Colo., with the Black Pearl Band. They played concerts with the up-and-coming Eagles.

He then moved on to Palm Springs, Calif., to play with Mr. Clean.

In 1977, Plato played with Redbone on live albums in L.A. and Texas, moving on in the late ’70s to play with Bobby Womack from L.A. After that, he played six European tours with Veronique Sanson, the wife of Stephen Stills, ending in 1981.

Along the way, Plato played with Freddie King, Richie Havens and numerous others.

After 1981, he joined Walt Richardson and the Morning Star Band in Phoenix. During his time in Phoenix, he played backup many times for arizona fave Hans Olson.

In 1986, he joined David Dean and Neon Prophet for an unprecedented longevity of reggae-plus for Tucson.

The bands involved in Plato’s benefit are Bad News Blues, 22 black, the Rowdies, 80’s and Gentlemen (formerly the Mockingbirds) and numerous others to be announced!

The Etta James and the Roots Band performance scheduled for tonight at 7:30 at Centennial Hall has been rescheduled to Tuesday, April 14, at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.uapresents.com.

The all-new edition of the Weekly is online! Feel free to comment on its contents here.

We've gotten word from sources at TNI that the Citizen will live on--at least for now.

More details to come.

Update: The Citizen has a story on its Web site about the "day-to-day" reprieve.

(Interim editor Jennifer) Boice told employees that (Gannett honcho) Dickey said negotiations are ongoing with two "very interested buyers" and those negotiations would not be completed by March 21, the date Gannett had set to close the Citizen should a buyer not come forward by March 17.

We can piece some things together here: Gannett previously announced that a deadline for offers had come and gone without anything meaningful. Then came word that the U.S. Justice Department was peeved at Gannett for not making all that much of an effort to sell the afternoon daily--with specific unhappiness about Gannett's demands that any would-be buyers promise to keep the paper going in print at least three times per week.

Well, after the DOJ crackdown--during which Gannett's broker had to touch base with everyone he'd contacted previously--apparently, lo and behold, Gannett found some serious would-be buyers after all.

What this all means remains to be seen.

More to come as things develop.

Today, the Seattle P-I printed its last issue and is moving into a new online-only format. And in only five days, the Tucson Citizen is slated to print its last issue, to--a commemorative issue of the paper's 140-year-history. Every news outlet in Tucson is hurting to some extent right now, along with other industries leaving a trail of layoffs. But this blog on the Citizen's end (wish there was more), brought the paper's end particularly close to home.

For those who have been on a newspaper ride for most of their life, how do you shake your identify as a journalist? I know folks who've easily walked away from the business and have fared just fine in public information jobs or nonprofit work. Others I know recall how odd it was to come to work and want to talk about some news tidbit they heard on the streets, but were treated as if they were gossiping; it's hard to break old habits. Hard to stop getting excited about something you heard or keep yourself from having that gut reaction, "That's a story."

I understand there's a wake being planned at the Shanty on Friday, and there have been online funerary arrangements going on for some time. I'd like to toss back a cold one for the Citizen on Friday--not just for its demise, but for the reporters and editors left wondering what to do next, and what to do with how they identify themselves: JOURNALIST.

"Downtown" Aleksa Brown has the scoop on the WXSW fest that begins tonight:

Tonight is the night!

The first night of Tucson’s West By Southwest music festival, that is. This year, shows will take place at Club Congress, Plush, and Solar Culture, with a total of 40 acts playing March 15-17 and March 22-25.

West By Southwest is Tucson’s take on one of the largest music festivals in the country: Austin’s South By Southwest. TW music editor Steve Seigel has more details in his Soundbites column this week.

With hundreds of bands traveling through Tucson to get there, entertainment bookers from local venues got together and organized WXSW, giving musicans a chance to take a break from the road, make a few bucks, and enjoy the Old Pueblo.

Lucky for us, that means seven nights of up-and-coming indie and folk bands playing tracks off their new albums, like Telekinesis, who kick off the festival at 8:30 tonight at Plush, 340 E. Sixth Street.

Telekinesis, a one-man-band featuring Michael Lerner of Seattle, will be playing songs from his debut album Telekinesis! due out April 7.

The album, which was produced by Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie, features the song “Coast of Carolina,” which has recently been floating around music websites boasting the band’s talent for making good old-fashioned power-pop and building up anticipation for the album release.

Following Telekinesis tonight will be Say Hi, who is set to take the stage at 9:30.

Say Hi, who is also out of Seattle, is no stranger to playing at Plush.

The sensitive, indie one-man-band, which consists of Eric Elbogen, has already played there three times. This time around, Elbogen will be singing tunes from his sixth album, Oohs and Aahs.

Next on tonight’s line up is (drum roll please…) San Diego-based Rafter.

Rafter, with his firey red hair and penchant for sweaty, rolling-around-on-stage shows, is a must-see. Known for his funky, experimental style and sexed up dance beats, his music is surprisingly catchy. Don’t forget your dancing shoes for this one!

Last but definitely not least, is indie husband-and-wife duo Viva Voce. Known for mixing textures as part of their “sonic tapestry” and entrancing listeners, their new album, Rose City, hits stores May 5. Annie Holub has details about the band in this week's TW.

Stunning in itself, this lineup is only one of seven nights in Tucson’s WXSW music festival. Catch all 40 acts en route to Austin for $8 per show, $10 per week, or $15 for the whole festival.

Judging by tonight’s acts, the $15 sounds like the deal of a lifetime. Just wait until you hear what’s in store for the rest of the week…

For those who just can't handle midnight or need Rocky Horror in your life more often, the Fox Tucson Theatre is giving everyone a Friday the 13th treat tonight at 8 p.m. Brad and Janet will be there, hoping you bring a little rain ... a little toast ... a little lace ...

I hope to see some Dr. Frank-N-Furters there and some other Tucson Transylvanians. Perhaps a perfect venue for social vampires!