Saturday, November 7, 2009
Snapshot Weekend Warriors, or Birds of a Feather
Posted by David Kish on Sat, Nov 7, 2009 at 8:16 AM
They lack the body fat to make it through the winter, so they travel in small packs, sometimes three or four abreast, often blocking the shared paths and causing bigger animals to slow to a crawl.
After a calorie-burning circuit, they prance about the cafe in special shoes, wrap-around shades and flamboyant spandex. The wind has eroded their faces into perma-scowls. Like preening birds, they display their fantastic colors against the beige stucco. And then, they tweet to each other. They exchange survival tips: divorce lawyers; hot stocks; protein recipes ... until the last drop of decaf, sugar-free, soy-milk java has been imbibed, when they rise as one, seemingly through mnemonic resonance, and place their thousand-dollar bicycles into their 8-cylinder vehicles, and migrate back to their familiar suburban stomping grounds.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Politics Latest Election Results: Uhlich Leads By 195 Votes
Posted by Jim Nintzel on Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 9:33 PM
The final City of Tucson election results:
Democratic Councilwoman Karin Uhlich now leads Republican challenger Ben Bueher-Garcia by 195 votes.
Republican Steve Kozachik now leads Democrat Nina Trasoff by 1,728 votes.
Prop 400 is now losing by 927 votes.
Uhlich has released a statement:
I want to congratulate my two opponents, Ben Buehler-Garcia and Mary DeCamp, for running strong campaigns. I also congratulate my two new colleagues on the City Council, Steve Kozachik and Richard Fimbres. I am ready to work with them to deliver for the City of Tucson.
Politics Friday Roundtable: Elex Wrap, Special Session and Ann Brown Says Goodbye To All That
Posted by Jim Nintzel on Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 7:12 PM
We bid goodbye to Star editorial page editor Ann Brown as she departs the morning daily and the Arizona Illustrated Friday Roundtable.
Politics Friday Roundtable: Police Chief Villaseñor and Fire Chief Kelly
Posted by Jim Nintzel on Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 7:06 PM
Police Chief Roberto Villaseñor and Fire Chief Patrick Kelly stopped by the Friday Roundtable. We got them to confess to their photo-radar speeding violations!
Watch it after the jump.
Politics Warehouse Auction Update
Posted by Jim Nintzel on Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 5:17 PM
We mentioned in The Skinny this week that the state-owned warehouse that's home to Solar Culture is set to go to auction on Tuesday:
More than two decades ago, artist Steven Eye first opened the doors to an abandoned downtown produce warehouse on Toole Avenue that he had rented for the princely sum of $300 a month from the Arizona Department of Transportation.That warehouse, which had been acquired by the state and was slated for destruction to make way for a Barraza-Aviation Parkway extension that was never built, has blossomed into Solar Culture, which is part art gallery, part performance space and part artistic hub of the downtown Warehouse District.
But there are dark clouds gathering over Solar Culture's building, which is set to go up for auction next week as the cash-strapped state seeks to unload surplus properties in an effort to find revenue.
Dave Devine was on the scene as another downtown warehouse—the one right on Toole and Stone avenues that used to be home to Zee's mineral gallery—went up on the auction block today. He reports:
After a spirited bidding process, real estate company Peach Properties bought the vacant warehouse at 1. E. Toole Ave. Appraised at $165,000, the warehouse was sold for $252,000.Artist David Aguirre, who heads up Dinnerware Gallery, says he's a partner in the project and will manage it. Aguirre says Dinnerware and some other galleries will move into the space.
Shopping Discounts for Veterans
Posted by Irene Messina on Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Veterans Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11. Here's a sampling of discounts offered to veterans at some local and national establishments. Hats off to these organizations, and to all current and former members of the military, thank you for your service.
Every day:
-Sport Clips offers veterans and active-duty service men and women a 20 percent discount. On Veterans Day, all stores in Arizona will be donating $1 from every haircut to the VFW's Operation Uplink, "the premiere calling program for deployed service members that provides free phone time to active-duty military personnel and hospitalized veterans." (7625 N. Oracle Road and 1880 E. Tangerine Road)
Now through Wednesday, Nov. 11:
-The Home Depot offers a 10 percent military discount for in-store, single-receipt purchases.
-Lowe's offers a 10 percent discount for active, reserve, honorably discharged, retired military and their immediate families on in-store purchases.
Mondays: Nov. 9, 16, 23 and 30
The Salsa Soulseros team invites veterans from Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom to a free, introductory salsa class. (512 E. Sixth St. 396-4864)
Wednesday, Nov. 11:
-Applebee's: Veterans and active-duty military will be able to choose a free entree from six menu favorites.
-Simoniz Car Wash: Veterans and active military will receive a free full-service car wash.
-Chick-fil-a (3605 E. Broadway Blvd.): Veterans will receive a free eight-count order of chicken nuggets.
-Participating locations of Outback Steakhouse will offer veterans and active-duty military a free bloomin' onion and beverage.
-Dollar General (155 W. Valencia Road): Veterans, active-duty military, National Guard and Reserve and their immediate families will receive a 10 percent discount with a Veterans Day coupon (available at the store).
Monday, Nov. 16 (5 to 9 p.m.):
Golden Corral offers a free thank-you dinner for veterans, retired, currently serving, National Guard and Reserve personnel.
Politics Walkup Gets Towel-Snapped By GOP
Posted by Jim Nintzel on Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 9:52 AM
The Weekly's token libertarian, Jonathan Hoffman, delivers this dispatch from the GOP celebration on election night:
Mayor Bob Walkup showed up long enough to give a few interviews and leave. Though a Republican, Mayor Walkup is not very popular with members of the party. He did nothing for the Republican city council candidates, and when asked for an endorsement by Steve Kozachick, he refused saying that if Kozachick lost it wold make it harder for him to work with the Democrats. At one point, while Walkup was speaking with Sate Representative Frank Antenori, a Republican activist shook Walkup's hand and thanked him for all the work he did on behalf of the Republican candidates. When some people began to laugh, Walkup asked Antenori at what were people laughing. Antenori replied, "He was making fun of you, and you deserve it."
Media The Arizona Daily Star Is Now Friends With Scott Stiteler
Posted by Jim Nintzel on Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 9:44 AM
The morning daily proclaims in a hard-hitting editorial, "Facebook Group is shortsighted, destructive":
We're distressed and baffled by a destructive Facebook group that is opposing the planned 7,000-square-foot restaurant and bar at the southwest corner of Fifth Avenue and East Congress Street, across from the Rialto Theatre block.
Former state lawmaker Tom Prezelski's response on Facebook:
After years of slanted reporting about Downtown, the Star comes out with an editorial characterizing criticism of redevelopment as destructive.
Politics Colbert Celebrates AZ Prison-Privatization Plan
Posted by Jim Nintzel on Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 9:12 AM
I was catching up with Colbert and noticed that he had high praise for the Arizona Legislature's plan to privatize the prison system.
"Let's replace the long arm of the law with the invisible hand of the market!"
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| The Word - The Green Mile | ||||
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Thursday, November 5, 2009
Media 'Star' Buyout Rumors (updated): Layoffs on the Way?
Posted by Jimmy Boegle on Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Rumors are starting to bubble up regarding the list of people who agreed to take the Arizona Daily Star's buyout offer—and the biggest name on that list so far is Opinion page editor Ann Brown.
Those taking the buyout will celebrate their last day of employment at the Star tomorrow, Nov. 6
John Schuster and I are trying to confirm this rumor—and that's all it is at this point—as well as confirm other names.
Got any info? Let us know?
UPDATE (9:30 p.m. 11/5): Thanks for the comments and tips, everyone.
UPDATE (11 a.m. 11/6): We've fixed the last name of Rutha.
Names we've heard from sources and the rumor mill (please let us know if anyone sees any errors):
Mary Cooney
Margo Hernandez
Nick Pintozzi
Mark Stewart
Enric Volante
Bill Betterton
Ann Brown
Jim Davis
Rutha Grigsby (corrected last name)
Also, we've heard from several sources that folks at the Star are concerned about the possibility of layoffs—something which publisher John Humenik said would happen if not enough employees took the buyout. Those layoffs could come as soon as tomorrow, if they are to happen.
What's behind these layoffs? Well, one need only to look at the Star to know ad counts remain down. Also, some Southern Arizona newspapers as of late (including some of the Weekly's sister papers in Wick Communications) have taken a financial hit after losing some grocery-store inserts to a direct-mail outfit. That could be a culprit in all of this.
