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Friday, May 24, 2013
Music A SpudBoy Picks His 10 Favorite Devo Songs
Posted by Casey Dewey on Fri, May 24, 2013 at 9:19 AM
It's no secret I'm a huge fan of Devo. In anticipation of their show at the Rialto tonight (tickets still available!), I though't I'd share my 10 favorite Devo tracks.
10. Space Junk/Q:Are We Not Men? A:We Are Devo!
A fragmented and paranoid tale of falling space debris and a particularly unlucky girl named Sally. Skylab fell out of the sky and landed over parts of Western Australia in 1979, a year after this album was released.
9. That's Good/Oh, No! It's Devo
Devo on full-on synthpop mode. An upbeat song about the joys of bland conformity. So upbeat in fact that the "Bad Boys" from San Francisco used it for their dance routine in the 1987 Crystal Light National Aerobic Championship. I don't think they were in on the joke.
8. Gut Feeling (Slap Your Mammy)/Q:Are We Not Men? A:We Are Devo!
Probably the best intro of any Devo song. Imagine if the Autobahn was placed smack-dab in the middle of Ohio. People tend to forget that Devo is a damn good guitar band.
7. Come Back Jonee/Q:Are We Not Men? A:We Are Devo!
Again, Devo being a great "rock" band is often forgotten. Devo takes the cars 'n' girls songs of rock and roll's past to its next logical step. What happens when you're having too much fun and you're driving a little too fast? Come back, indeed.
6. Red Eye Express/Duty Now for the Future
If I had to pick a favorite Devo album, it would have to be Duty Now for the Future. Their second album, this is when they struck the perfect balance between the guitar and synthesizer. Red Eye Express is the album's closer and includes some of my favorite off-the-the-wall lyrics. "Something's flattened my cola/something's wrong with my brew/something's rotten in Idaho/and I don't know what to do."
5. Booji Boy's Funeral/Hardcore Devo Volume 2
R.I.P. young man. Taken from the incomparable Hardcore Devo Volume 2, the second installation of Devo's raw and humble beginnings.
4. Mongoloid/Q:Are We Not Men? A:We Are Devo!
The tale of a man who had one chromosome too many. He wore a hat, he had a job and he brought home the bacon, so no one knew. Years before David Lynch's Blue Velvet, Devo peels away the layers of suburban blandess and finds mutants running amok. The music is ominous, spooky and robotic, and like "Gut Feeling" it also has a stellar intro.
3. I Desire/Oh, No! It's Devo
In a career full of subversiveness and pulling media-savvy pranks, this might be the crown jewel in the Energy Dome. Lyrics are credited to "Casale/Hinckley/Mothersbaugh". Who's Hinckley? None other than John Hinkcley, Jr., the man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan to impress Jodie Foster, living out some sort of sick Taxi Driver fantasy. Some of the lyrics are taken from the love poems Hinckley Jr. wrote to Ms. Foster. How they snuck this past Warner Bros. is beyond me. Does this mean Hinckley Jr. receives royalties?
2. Jocko Homo/Single
The Devo Manifesto. Planet of the Apes meets crazed religious sermons meets Revenge of the Nerds.
1. Beautiful World/New Traditionalists
The moment Devo realized devolution has caught up with modern society and there's no going back. It's a somber, almost melancholy track that's full of spite. "Beautiful people everywhere/they way they show they care/it's a beautiful world/for you/it's not for me."
Thursday, May 23, 2013
News The Boy Scouts of America To Admit Openly Gay Scouts
Posted by David Mendez on Thu, May 23, 2013 at 5:34 PM
Big, big news out of Texas, where the Boy Scouts of America have lifted the ban on membership based on sexual orientation, allowing for openly gay scouts to join for the first time in the organization's history.
According to CNN, the vote maintains a ban on gay adult leaders.
From CNN.com:
"The resolution also reinforces that Scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting," the 103-year-old organization said in a statement.The BSA said there are no plans for further review of the issue.
"The Boy Scouts of America will not sacrifice its mission, or the youth served by the movement, by allowing the organization to be consumed by a single, divisive, and unresolved societal issue," it said.
Predictably, there are large swaths of the country now unbelievably offended by this decision:
Boy Scouts of America today abandoned decency, integrity and courage in favor of popularity, convenience and aimlessness. It's a sad day.
— theFinancialSkinny (@FinancialSkinny) May 23, 2013
The Boy Scouts of America have every right to torpedo themselves. An alternative scouting org will arise. #GodIsNotMocked
— Alo Konsen (@OhioCoastie) May 23, 2013
Unfortunately for them, they're part of a minority who appear to be content to choke on the dust of history. Which is cool for them I guess.
What remains to be seen is how openly gay scouts will react when they age out of the organization and are left unable to remain part of an association that they've taken part in since they were children.
Congratulations, Boy Scouts of America — you've only got a little further to go.
Blogislature Brewer Wasn't Kidding, Vetoes All the Non-Budget Bills
Posted by Bethany Barnes on Thu, May 23, 2013 at 5:19 PM
If Senate President Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert, was wondering whether or not Gov. Jan Brewer was bluffing about her bill moratorium he got his answer.
Brewer vetoed five bills the Senate sent to her desk Thursday.
Two weeks ago she said didn’t want to see any more bills until the Legislature resolved the budget and the plan for Medicaid.
“It is disappointing that I must demonstrate that the moratorium was not an idle threat,” Brewer wrote.
It’s on the House now to make a move with the Senate’s budget.
"The Arizona Legislature has now been in session 130 days. We have just five weeks until the end of the fiscal year, by which time it is necessary that the State of Arizona have a new budget in place in order to assure there is no suspension of critical services or programs," Brewer wrote in the veto letters.
Brewer vetoed SB 1323, SB 1445, SB 1236, SB 1178 and SB 1088. To come back from the dead, the bills would need to start from scratch or be tacked on to a bill that's still relevant.
Blogislature Lawmaker Threatened Over Medicaid Expansion
Posted by Bethany Barnes on Thu, May 23, 2013 at 4:30 PM
Emotions are running high at the Arizona Legislature now that the Medicaid expansion debate has become the House of Representatives’ problem.
A caller left State Rep. Kate Brophey McGee, R- Phoenix, a threatening voicemail and House security is investigating. She said she wants to know who the caller is and what inspired his seemingly inebriated menacing.
“I’m not sure what kind of grassroots work is going on here,” she said. “I don’t know if this is an intended consequence from someone who heard something and took it as ‘Go do something to her.’ But it is irresponsible of whoever is organizing this initiative to not craft their message in such a way that people can focus on the issue and not the legislator. It’s wrong,” she said.
The voicemail came after Rep. Bob Thorpe, R-Flagstaff, sent out an email urging people to, “especially put the pressure” on six representatives, including Brophey McGee, to oppose Medicaid expansion. Thorpe asked people to be polite and steadfast and urged recipients of the email to forward it to “every Arizonian” they knew.
Thorpe sent out an apology for the email after House Speaker Andy Tobin suggested that the email wasn’t the best idea. Thorpe wrote in his apology email that upon reflection he “screwed up,” and that he wasn’t trying to be unkind.
“I was very disheartened when I watched our 6 Republican Senators repeatedly vote against our caucus while I stood on the Senate floor last Thursday, something that I truly do not want to see repeated in the House,” Thorpe wrote.
Brophey McGee brought up the issue to the House as a reminder that everyone needs to keep their rhetoric in check and take caution when firing people up about politics, particularly if those people aren’t usually politically engaged, she said.
She said she isn’t singling out Thorpe’s email as the cause for the vitriolic voicemail, but that his email was a dumb move.
“I’m so tired of the ‘Oh Gee I’m Sorry,’” she said. “Think it through.”
The caller, who sounded male, indicated that he had voted for Brewer a couple of times and the gist was that he demanded she vote against Brewer’s push for the Medicaid expansion or else, Brophey McGee said.
“The things that he called me were horrible,” she said.
She said since former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot she’s more aware of the dangers of things getting out of hand.
“Think about that. What did she ever do to anybody? People are just crazy,” she said.
The calls increased after the Senate passed the budget and really ramped up Wednesday, she said.
“We are being singled out. I understand that there are concerns and disagreements but this is making it very personal and I shouldn’t feel afraid to come to work,” she said.
Tobin said he doesn’t have to work to keep members civil because lawmakers are adults that have been in public service and lived "exemplarily lives."
“This is a pressure filled place. I don’t think that surprises anyone. None of the members here are going out of their way to harm anybody,” Tobin said. “People are passionate on both sides. I think they’re all professionals. Occasionally the passions get a little out of hand but we’re also human beings and they’re acting professionally in my view and I try to stay very close to them.”
Although not a lot of actual business happened in the House this week those passions were palpable.
Between the outrage over the secular prayer to budget bickering on the House floor lawmakers were emotional.
On Wednesday, several members railed against the budget — despite the speaker pointing out that members would get a chance to officially debate the budget.
It kicked off with Rep. David Livingston, R-Peoria, saying that he needed to sound the alarm because the budget is out of control.
Majority Leader David Gowan, R-Sierra Vista, joined in saying that the budget had been high jacked.
For Rep. Lupe Contreras, D-Avondale, it became an opportunity to ask the GOP what it feels like to have a taste of their own medicine.
"You guys are now in our shoes. How does it feel? How does it feel to go, to put your vote, to cast your vote everyday but fail? Regardless of how we feel we keep failing. Why? Cause we're the minority. Well welcome to our world. That's what we've been going through everyday."
The House has adjourned until next week and it’s clear the House is going to play things a little differently when it comes to the budget that sped through the Senate.
Pets and Beasts Critter of the Week: Lucas
Posted by Irene Messina on Thu, May 23, 2013 at 3:00 PM
The Humane Society of Southern Arizona presents Lucas, a 4-year-old, male, Pit Bull mix.
Reference no: 750009
Lucas is a ray of sunshine! This peppy high achiever is learning new tricks and honing his skills in the Humane Society of Southern Arizona’s Canine College program. We’re so impressed with his progress and know that you will be too! Found as a stray in pretty rough shape, Lucas has transformed over the past few months into a gorgeous, healthy, social love sponge. He gets along great with his dogs pals and delights in going for daily walks. This high energy boy is searching for a special person willing to continue his training and offer regular exercise. If you’re interested in adding a giddy goofball to your loving home, let Lucas win your heart today at the HSSA!
For information, call 327-6088. The Humane Society of Southern Arizona is located at 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd.
Music Look, It's Tucson's Brian Lopez (oh, and KT Tunstall)!
Posted by Mari Herreras on Thu, May 23, 2013 at 1:42 PM
Here's a sweet, sweet video of a new tune by KT Tunstall. Its beautiful, but it's also beautiful to see Tucson's Brian Lopez singing along and the entire moment taking place in Tucson's Wavelab Recording Studios.
TV Oh Hey, the University of Arizona Was Knocked by Family Guy
Posted by David Mendez on Thu, May 23, 2013 at 12:35 PM
In what I can only assume is some sort of retaliatory shot at our fair city for celebrating the cancellation of The Cleveland Show, the folks at Family Guy dropped another insult on Tucson, this time mocking the young minds being molded at the University of Arizona:
Ooooh, man. That...that one stung. I'm not certain we'll be able to make it back, as a community, from a burn of that magnitude. SOMEONE, BUY ALL OF THE ALOE.
For those keeping score, that was the second insult lobbed in our direction in the past year by Fox's Animation Domination Sunday Broadcast Funnytime Cartoonshow Block, as another Seth MacFarlane animated comedy, American Dad, got us—hard—by calling the Old Pueblo "unnecessary," which, like, still hurts.
Near as I can tell, no one associated with the most recent episode of Family Guy is affiliated with Tucson or UA in any way — which means that this one was personal.
Do This! POW! Time for Comicon, Arizona!
Posted by Chelo Grubb on Thu, May 23, 2013 at 11:38 AM
Alright, nerds: Phoenix Comicon starts today.
Notable guests include Jewel Staite (Kaylee, from Firefly), Walter Koenig (Chekov, of Star Trek), Grant Imihara (Mythbusters host and Star Trek Continues cast member) and Wil Wheaton (from the Star Trek: The Next Generation, the Big Bang Theory, and the Internet in general).
A handful of Tucsonans will also be in attendance, including Jon Proudstar, Ross Demma, recent Tucson Weekly cover subject Adam Rex and frequent Weekly contributor and writer of on-going the ongoing comic series Smell Ya Later!, Eric M. Esquivel.
A full list of vendors, guests and a complete con schedule can be found on the Phoenix Comicon website.
The event is being held at the Phoenix Convention Center, 100 N. 3rd St., in the heart of downtown Phoenix.
The Exhibitor Hall hours are:
Thursday, May 23: 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday May 24: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday May 25: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday May 26: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
See you there — I'll be the one dressed like Captain Hammer.
News Atheist State Rep's Secular Invocation Done Over 'In Repentance' By Christian State Rep.
Posted by David Mendez on Thu, May 23, 2013 at 11:00 AM
On Tuesday, Arizona's District 26 Rep. Juan Mendez made national headlines for delivering a secular invocation at the beginning of the day's floor session.
Yesterday, District 11 Rep. Steve Smith, apparently, didn't appreciate that at all.
From the Associated Press:
Republican Rep. Steve Smith on Wednesday said the prayer offered by Democratic Rep. Juan Mendez of Tempe at the beginning of the previous day's floor session wasn't a prayer at all. So he asked other members to join him in a second daily prayer in "repentance," and about half the 60-member body did so. Both the Arizona House and Senate begin their sessions with a prayer and a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance."When there's a time set aside to pray and to pledge, if you are a non-believer, don't ask for time to pray," said Smith, of Maricopa. "If you don't love this nation and want to pledge to it, don't say I want to lead this body in the pledge, and stand up there and say, 'you know what, instead of pledging, I love England' and (sit) down.
"That's not a pledge, and that wasn't a prayer, it's that simple," Smith said.
...
Rep. Jamescita Peshlakai, who represents a northern Arizona district on the Navajo reservation, did take offense. She said Smith's criticism of another member's faith, or lack of it, was wrong.
"I want to remind the House and my colleagues and everybody here that several of us here are not Christianized. I'm a traditional Navajo, so I stand here every day and participate in prayers," even without personally embracing them, said Peshlakai, D-Cameron. "This is the United States, this is America, and we all represent different people ... and you need to respect that. Your God is no more powerful than my God. We all come from the same creator."
Considering that Smith was so offended by Mendez's non-prayer, it sure seems that Mendez must have said some horribly offensive things, right? Well, let's take a read for ourselves:
Most prayers in this room being with a request to bow your heads. I would ask that you not bow your heads. I would like to ask that you take a moment to look around the room at all the men and women here, in this moment, sharing this extraordinary experience of being alive and dedicating ourselves to improving the lives of the people of our state.This is a room in which there are many challenging debates, many moments of tension, of ideological division, of frustration. But this is also a room where, as my secular humanist tradition stresses, by the very fact of being human, we have much more in common than we have differences. We share the same spectrum of potential for care, for compassion, for fear, for joy, for love.
Carl Sagan once wrote, "For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love."
There is, in the political process, much to bear. In this room, let us cherish and celebrate our shared humanness, our shared capacity for reason and compassion, our shared love for the people of our state, for our constitution and for our democracy. And let us root our policy-making process in these values that are relevant to all Arizonans regardless of religious belief or non-belief. In gratitude and in love, in reason and in compassion, let us work together for a better Arizona.
Thank you.
How dare Mendez say such things about the Arizona Legislature! I'm pretty sure you can get removed from office for baldly-untrue claims, saying that members of the House have the capacity for reason and logic!
Smith's response was an overreaction of the highest order to what should be a non-issue in a country that enumerated one's right to freedom of religion — even if your religion happens to be a celebration of one's fellow man, rather than an omnipotent creator.
If you want to watch Mendez's invocation for yourself, see the video below, or head here:
Politics Dance Film Sets Out to Claim Rosemont
Posted by Chelo Grubb on Thu, May 23, 2013 at 9:00 AM
Rosemont Mine? No, actually, according to local activists, it's Rosemont Ours.
You probably heard about it during election season. A Canadian mining company is looking to build a 14,000 acre open-pit copper mine in the Santa Rita mountains southeast of Tucson.
Rosemont Ours is a collaboration between NEW ARTiculations Dance Theatre and artist/filmmaker Ben Johnson. The group is trying to draw attention to the wildlife that would be impacted by the mine thorough a 10-15 minute dance film.
In the Kickstarter video, dancers are seen holding themselves up in trees to mimic cuckoos and crouching in a shallow pond to portray leapfrogs.
"Here, the human body is window through which we are raising awareness about a rage of species, many of which are federally recognized as threatened or endangered," Johnson says in the video.
The film will be shot on location, where the mine is proposed to be constructed.
They're working to fund the film through a Kickstarter Campaign.
Perks for pledging include tickets to a screening of the film, a signed Rosemont Ours poster and a DVD of the film. For $1,000 donors can receive a guided nature walk and on-site performance by project dancers. There are 15 days left on the campaign and the group is just under $2,000 shy of their goal.
For a more in-depth look into what to expect from the finished film, check out the film below. It was uploaded when the campaign reached its halfway point and features two dancers nestled in fabric and hanging from the celling to represent lesser long-nosed bats:
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