Cover Story
You Say You Want a Revolution
You might think that the small-government conservatives who captured the Arizona Legislature wouldn’t be eager to pass a lot of new laws. But you’d be wrong. It turns out that dismantling Big Government requires a lot of legislation, plenty of court action and—when all else fails—a surprising amount of red tape. Senators filed 608 bills;…
Beyond the Border: Staten Island
[Note from Dan Gibson: In December of 2010, we published a series of stories by University of Arizona journalism students who traveled to New York to see the lives of immigrants living far from the border itself. This week, we have an additional multimedia feature from the Beyond the Border project by Austin Counts and…
PBS Makes a Compelling Case for Why It Should Exist
The people of PBS are likely aware that the audience that’s likely to stand up for their continued funding also loves infographics, and this one makes a solid argument for why the network matters: [PBS]
A Disconcerting Cover of a Joy Division Classic
I’m not going to pretend I’ve heard of South African producer Spoek Mathambo, photographer Pieter Hugo, or cinematographer Michael Cleary, but their collective re-imagining of the Joy Division track “She’s Lost Control” featuring a neighborhood dance troupe is disturbing enough that you’d think Tony Wilson and Ian Curtis would approve: [HT: Dangerous Minds]
Is Tucson Prepared for a Earthquake-Caused Tiger on the Loose?
As far as I know, the Reid Park Zoo doesn’t practice animal escapes using people in adorable costumes, but they should. From Pink Tentacle: Yesterday’s dramatic simulation involved a Siberian tiger that escaped its pen following an earthquake. The mock animal wandered freely through the park, attacking zoo workers and visitors before it was surrounded…
Reason vs. Ideology: The Debate (Don’t Hold Your Breath)
Cathi Herrod, executive director of the Center for Arizona Policy, took to whining in a Feb. 19 guest column published by the local daily about being put on the hot-seat by the Center for Inquiry of Southern Arizona. On Feb. 3, The Range wrote about the CAP-supported legislation. The Center for Inquiry’s Gil Shapiro, in…
A Congresswoman’s Kindness
Tucson Real Estate agent and Asian-American community leader Shiraz Ali Peera recently shared a personal story about U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in reaction to the Jan. 8 shooting: I first met the Congresswoman in the late 1990s at a social event for our Alma Mater, Thunderbird Graduate School of Global Management in Glendale, Ariz. and…
Congressional Republicans Vote to Cut Border Security Funding
Congressional Republicans, in their zeal to slash the federal budget (without cutting the military, Social Security or Medicare), have voted to cut back on border security: With both chambers in recess until the week of Feb. 28, Senate Democrats are mounting a public relations blitz this week highlighting specific cuts in the House bill that…
Free Stuff: Preview Tickets for “Drive Angry”, Starring Nicolas Cage
No one does “angry” like Nicolas Cage: You’ve seen him drink angry, switch faces angry, train magicians angry, now see him Drive Angry…in 3D! The screening is tomorrow night and quantities are limited, so you’ll have to hurry over, but here’s the info: Summit Entertainment Invites You and a Guest to a Special Advanced Screening…
Al Melvin: End AHCCCS in Arizona
Sen. Al Melvin’s crusade against the poor and sick took a new turn yesterday. He voted in support of Sen. Andy Biggs’ proposal to end the entire AHCCCS program in Arizona. We’re not talking about just scaling back the expansion of health-care to 100 percent of federal poverty level that Gov. Jan Brewer supports. We’re…
Note to Legislative Democrats, Part II: This Is How Dissent Works
Just in case Arizona Democrats want to actually do something to keep the series of terrible bills currently making their way through our political system from becoming horrible state-crippling laws, here’s something from Reuters. Admittedly, this particular technique might not work within the rules of order in Arizona, but some modicum of dissent would be…
Just Another Tale of GOP Confusion
The Onion reports: “Embarrassed Republicans Admit They’ve Been Thinking Of Eisenhower Whole Time They’ve Been Praising Reagan” Following his discovery, Priebus directed RNC staffers to inform top Republicans of the error and explain that it was Eisenhower, not Reagan, who carefully managed the nation’s prosperity, warned citizens of the military-industrial complex’s growing influence, and led…
Suzi Hileman Opens Up About Jan. 8 Shooting
Suzi Hileman displays some of the hundreds of cards and letters she’s received from well-wishers around the world. (Sheila Wilensky) Writer Sheila Wilensky at The Arizona Jewish Post (an occasional Tucson Weekly contributor) has a wonderful interview with Jan. 8 shooting victim Suzi Hileman in the Feb. 25th Jewish Post. Hileman is the neighbor and…
Russell’s Big Day: Birthright Citizenship and Omnibus Immigration Both Clear Committee
The birthright citizenship bills and Senate President Russell Pearce’s new omnibus immigration bill both passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday, as did Sen. Frank Antenori’s new bill requiring random drug tests for welfare recipients. In other news: Lauren Gambino of Cronkite News Service gives us the details on Sen. Kysten Sinema’s bill to…
Thieves Nab $1.5 Million in Condoms; Mom Makes Kid Play Dunce on Street Corner; and More: Rynski Radio
Update with playlist and download at bottom of post Either Malaysia had a heck of a party planned, or it has a heck of a black market for prophylactics, since thieves stole some 725,000 condoms from a port where the items were destined for Japan. Photo Ryn Gargulinski Perhaps the thieves could have used some…
Critter of the Week (Dog Edition): Cynder
Cynder is a 5-year-old Chow mix currently recovering from surgery … and a broken heart. Easy going and so appreciative, Cynder is a dog you’re bound to fall in love with. House-trained, affectionate, and bursting with best friend potential, Cynder is destined for great things. Sadly Cynder’s lucky streak was cut short when her beloved…
Mayor’s Race 2011: Walkup’s Out, Asta’s In
With Mayor Bob Walkup announcing he won’t seek a fourth term this year, Republican Ron Asta told us he’d be running for the office. The only other Republican now seeking the mayor’s office is Shaun McClusky, who made his political debut with an unsuccessful campaign for the Ward 5 City Council seat in 2009. Democrat…
When in the Course of Human Events: Is Pima County Ready to Secede?
The Start Our State movement is underway: Start Our State (SOS) has been formally established as a political committee registered in Pima County. SOS is dedicated to creating the 51st American state in Southern Arizona, separating us from the extremists in Phoenix. Our mission is to establish a new state in Southern Arizona free of…
A Valley in Ruins
If you blink while heading East on Highway 92 going through Palominas, you may miss the decaying ruins of one of southern Arizona’s most peculiar settlements. Nestled in between Healing and Deliverance Way, the main tabernacle of Miracle Valley stands tall off the side of the highway, but in ruin. You can catch a glimpse…
I Guess Michelle Obama is Fat, According to Fat Guy Rush Limbaugh
Oh, Rush Limbaugh, I’m just encouraging you, I realize, but someone has to mention the stupid stuff you’re saying every day, right? Apparently, since Michelle Obama has encouraged people to consider what they’re feeding their children and convinced Walmart to make their prepacked food healthier and lower the prices of fruit and vegetables, she can’t…
Walkup: “I’ve Done a Good Job”
Bob Walkup, who announced today that he won’t be seeking reelection to a fourth term, told The Range after his State of the City speech that he’ll miss being mayor of Tucson. “It’s a great job,” Walkup said. “Contrary to what people think, the mayor has a lot of power for establishing the vision and…
Happy Birthday to Us
On Feb. 22, 1984, the first issue of the Tucson Weekly hit newsstands, with a profile of Arizona Theatre Company’s Gary Gisselman on the cover, ads from Futons Etc. and Nino’s on First (promoting shows by Gentlemen After Dark, Naked Prey and the Meat Puppets), and a place selling waterbed sheets. Take a walk down…
Who Needs a Board of Regents Anyway?
As referenced by Jim Nintzel in his post last night, there’s plenty of exciting action in the Senate Appropriations committee today as they consider twenty four bills (by my count) in one afternoon. If the “Immigration Omnibus” bill (SB1611) wasn’t enough, AHCCCS is up to be eliminated entirely, Sen. Antenori is trying to add mandatory…
Shawna Forde Gets Death Sentence
KVOA: The jury in the first-degree murder trial of border activist Shawna Forde decided that she will be put to death for the deaths of 9-year old Brisenia Flores and her father Raul Flores. Forde was convicted last week on two counts of first degree murder in the 2009 home invasion where Flores and his…
Walkup Not Running for Another Term
Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup will announce today that he is not running for a fourth term. Andrew Greenhill, the mayor’s chief of staff, said that Walkup has accomplished many of his goals. Jonathan Rothschild, a Democrat running for mayor this year, said Walkup was due at least some gratitude. “The first thing we need to…
Arizona, I’m Sorry I Mentioned the “Official Gun” Thing
So, a few weeks ago, I made a joke on The Range in a post about Utah passing a bill to establish an official firearm that Arizona hadn’t gotten around to getting our own official gun. Well, it certainly didn’t take long for our legislature to get to action on that front. Jobs, health care,…
Not Comforting: New York Times Lies on Behalf of the CIA?
Glenn Greenwald from Salon puts the pieces together from the increasing strange story of Raymond Davis, imprisoned in Pakistan for shooting two Pakistanis, and how the New York Times apparently agreed to deceive their readers on behalf of the CIA: Yesterday, as I noted earlier, The Guardian reported that Davis — despite Obama’s description of…
One Good Thing About the Oscars: More Work by Banksy
While it looks like the Oscars won’t let Banksy wear a mask on stage if he wins the Best Documentary award on Sunday (which he should, because as I’ve mentioned before, Exit Through the Gift Shop is great), the upside is that he still came to Los Angeles and seems to be painting his way…
Vegetarian’s Delight: The Tasteful Kitchen Is Open
So I hear the vegetarian food at the brand-new Tasteful Kitchen down at 722 N. Stone Ave. is out of this world. I also hear the owners occasionally hold events where a lengthy yoga session is followed by a multi-course meal fit for an herbivorous king and/or queen. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. most…
Russell’s Crowning Glory: Pearce Drops Immigration Bill to Find New Ways To Round ’Em Up
State Sen. Russell Pearce capped this year’s bill frenzy by dropping his long-awaited illegal immigration bill yesterday. SB 1611 is pretty much what you’d expect: Throwing illegal immigrants who drive cars in jail. Seizing their vehicles for auction, with proceeds swallowed by the state. Proof of legal residency to register for elementary schools. Eviction from…
Walkup’s State of the City Today: Should He Stay or Should He Go?
Mayor Bob Walkup will deliver his State of the City speech today. The big question on our mind: Will he announce his plans for this year? A graceful retirement? A vow to stand by the city in hard times and fight to steer us to a brighter future? We’ll do our best to liveblog it…
How Will State Employers Deal With Stoned Workers?
Rebekah Zemansy of Cronkite News Service tells us how lawmakers are dealing with the issue of medical marijuana in the workplace: Now that Arizona voters have approved the use of medical marijuana, employers need new ways to deal with employees who are impaired for any reason, a state lawmaker said Tuesday, Feb. 15. “Employers were…
Fundraiser at All Three Sauce Locations Tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 22)
Eat at any of the three local Sauce locations tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 22, and 20 percent of your bill (excluding alcohol) will be donated to Tragedy in Tucson Victims’ Fund. Sauce restaurants are located at 7117 N. Oracle Road, 2990 N. Campbell Ave. and 5285 E. Broadway Blvd. There’s more information here. For more information…
Coming Soon: The Onyx Room
Well now, the Onyx Room sure looks like it’ll be fun when it opens. It’s like a hybrid soul-food joint and cocktail lounge, with a big dance floor thrown in for good measure. It’s going in at the huge building at 106 W. Drachman St. that’s housed several Mexican restaurants over the years. We’re still…
Strong Beer Festival Review
[Note from web producer Dan Gibson: While the Strong Beer Festival in Phoenix isn’t exactly a Tucson-related event at first glance, the Tucson brewers were in attendance and it’s always good to have a list of new beers worth trying, so here’s a report from Range contributor Jordan Green who was there for a day…
Today Would Have Been David Foster Wallace’s 49th Birthday
There isn’t a modern author that means more to me than David Foster Wallace, so even seeing a reminder on Facebook this morning that today would have been his 49th birthday is still weird and disconcerting. I guess it’s still a little strange to me that he’s gone, but there’s still a lot to appreciate…
Sebadoh (and Quasi) Tonight at Club Congress!
My co-worker and general smart-woman-around-town Linda Ray said something the other day about how everyone is convinced the music they listened to in their teens was the best ever, and even though I try to spend more time listening to new music than older stuff, all it takes is some sort of 90’s indie rock…
Do Not Eat Loudly in Latvian Movie Theatres
I get a little enraged when people are making excessive noise at the movies as well, but the end of Black Swan was definitely not worth shooting anyone over: A man has been shot dead at a cinema in Latvia after a fellow movie-goer objected to the volume at which he was eating his popcorn.…
Zimmerman Funds Starting to Slow Down
Funds set up to honor slain Gabrielle Giffords staffer Gabriel Zimmerman are both over the $30,000 mark, although they seem to be leveling off. The Gabriel Zimmerman Memorial Fund has collected 182 donations collectively worth $32,000, up from $25,000 three weeks ago, says Colleen Bagnell, development director of Child and Family Resources in Tucson, the…
Saturnalia #2 Hits Hotel Congress Wednesday
We heard good things about the debut of Saturnalia last month, with certified sommelier/magician Kenny Stewart providing the wine and DJ Carl Hanni providing “a mix of Latin groove jazz, exotica, downtempo electronica and sexy sounds from around the planet”. This month’s installment is at Club Congress, this Wednesday at 9 pm. No cover, and…
Finally, Minimalist Architecture Comes to the Funeral Industry
I know that every time I’ve been in a funeral home I’ve thought: “This place is such a design drag.” Thankfully, a funeral home in Spain is bringing high concept design (an entirely white chapel with benches!) to the mortuary game. From Co. Design: The Funeral Home and Garden in Pinoso, by COR architects, is…
Ciudad Juarez Out of Control (More So)
When CNN runs a headline that starts with “Even by Juarez standards…”, no good news can possible follow: Fifty-three people were killed in a 72-hour span in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, making it one of the deadliest three-day periods in recent memory, state attorney general’s office spokesman Arturo Sandoval told CNN Sunday. Among the dead were…
Someone Should Really Keep Governor Brewer Away From Video Cameras
Despite rewinding a few times, there are several occasions during these clips from KPNX’s Sunday Square Off, hosted by Brahm Resnik, where I have absolutely no idea what on earth Governor Brewer is talking about. Hey, people in the health services industry will likely lose their jobs and thousands of people will be without healthcare,…
GOP Lawmakers Urge End to Endangered-Species Protection for Gray Wolf
Photo Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal officials began reintroducing the Mexican gray wolf to Arizona in 1998. Tara Alatorre of Cronkite News Service fills us in how GOP lawmakers want to urge Washington to stop trying to help wolf populations recover with the Endangered Species Act: A group GOP lawmakers wants to…
Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds Review
The classic crossover returns after a decade-long hiatus. After over 10 years of waiting, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is finally here, bringing us updated chaotic three on three battles with a revamped look and refined controls. The core experience is just as over-the-top and chaotic as ever, but is that enough to enthrall gamers after…
NYT: UA Setting Up Civility Institution
The New York Times reports that in the wake of the Jan. 8 shooting, the UA is setting up the National Institute for Civil Discourse: The University of Arizona — whose Tucson campus President Obama used for his nationwide address on civility after the shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords last month — will announce on…
Jenkins Quits Ward 4 Council Race
Republican Mike Jenkins quits his bid for the Tucson City Council seat now held by Democrat Shirley Scott. His statement: It is with regret that I must inform you that due to personal issues I will withdraw from the ward 4 city council race. I thank all of you for everything that you have done.…
One Last Day at the Races
Nintz Winner, winner, chicken dinner: Railbirds watch as the horses thunder down the stretch It’s the last day of the racing season out at Rillito Park. Go box a trifecta. Details here.
Welcome to the Pita Jungle!
Nintz Turkey/pesto lavosh and side salad We’re delighted to let you know that Tucson’s Pita Jungle has finally opened at Broadway and Craycroft. I don’t know what Borowitz would call it, but I’m going with Neo-Mediterranean meets California hippie goodness. Lots of great salads, wraps, hummus, pitas, smoothies, seafood and so much more. Menu and…
City Elections 2011: Ortega Out of Ward 1 Race?
We’re told by two sources that Democrat Marcia Ortega, who was making her political debut with a campaign against Ward 1 Councilwoman Regina Romero, will be dropping out of the race. We’ve contacted Ortega to find out her plans and will let you know when we hear back from her.
Artistic Range: Francois Robert at Etherton Gallery
“Kalashnikov,” 2008, from “Stop the Violence” by Francois Robert, is part of Flesh, Bone, Spirit, continuing at Etherton Gallery, 135 S. Sixth Ave., through March 26.
Legislative Week in Review, via Random Musings
Random Musings rounds up highlights from the week at the Legislature, including a list of bills that are made progress in recent days: -A lot of very bad bills gained committee approval this week. A very brief list: SB1467 (barring educational institutions from enacting or enforcing a policy that bars possession of concealed weapons on…
Grijalva & Congressional Progressive Caucus Stand By Wisconsin Workers
Press release from Congressman Raul Grijalva: In video statements today, Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chairs Raúl M. Grijalva and Keith Ellison voiced their support for the workers of Wisconsin and decried the ideological attempts of conservatives to cut jobs and benefits for working families. The statements come as Wisconsin’s Republican governor, Scott Walker, seeks to…
Watch Instead of Working: A Short Film About The Roots
The Roots occupy a strange place in music right now. They spent the 90’s trying to make it as a critical favorite, the last decade dealing with label issues and personnel changes, and now have a regular gig as Jimmy Fallon’s house band, the reputation as one of the best live bands in the world,…
At Least Arizonans Can Still Buy Beer on Sundays
Tough break, Georgians. Sure, we both can buy booze at restaurants on Sundays, but of all the things wrong with Arizona, at least we can still buy a six pack on the Christian Sabbath and drink our sorrows away.Creative Loafing Atlanta: This was supposed to be the year that state lawmakers would finally do something…
Delicious Pizza for a Great Cause
Obviously, after the year so far here in Tucson, we’re all aware of the amazing work being done at UMC’s Trauma Center. Still, running a first class medical unit isn’t cheap, so an new organization has been founded to help keep care there at the highest level. As one of their first fundraising activities, they’ve…
Who Wants to Fix A TUSD High School?
Blog for Arizona found the listing for openings for “Turnaround Principals” via an ad on an email from Education Week: Turnaround Principal Search Imagine leading a high school for which you were able to hire a dedicated staff, meet the challenge to design and implement an innovative and transformative model of instruction, and have resources…
Janos Wilder and Sam Fox, Beard Award Semifinalists
Congratulations to Janos Wilder, one of twenty semifinalists for the highly prestigious Outstanding Chef award presented by the James Beard foundation, last year won by Tom Colicchio of Craft and Top Chef fame. Janos has been a semifinalist for the award before, and won the foundation’s award for top chef in the southwest in 2000.…
Tucson Weekly TV: Tucson Sculpture Festival
Tonight’s the Grand Finale for the Tucson Sculpture Festival at Solar Culture, an event that seems rather unforgettable between the acrobatic yoga, live music, circus acts and whatever else they have planned. We went to the Sculpture Resource Center this week to see some of the work that’s been exhibited as part of the Festival…
Jim Hightower Coming to Tucson
Jim Hightower, the hell-raisin’ columnist who appears in TW every week, is coming to Tucson to help launch a local chapter of Progressive Democrats of Arizona. He’ll be appearing with Congressman Raul Grijalva at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 21, at the Tucson YWCA, 525 N. Bonita (Just south of St. Mary’s Road, a half-mile…
Birthright Citizenship Back On the Agenda Next Week
Random Musings warns us about what lies ahead at the Legislature next week: The two birthright citizenship bills (SB1308 and SB1309) and the hospitals/immigration checkpoints bill (SB1405) may have failed to gain committee approval the last two weeks (getting pulled from each agenda they were on before the committees voted on them), however, Russell Pearce,…
A Tribute to Justin Bieber’s On-Screen Death Last Night
R.I.P., Jason McCann (as played by Justin Bieber): [Popdust]
The Fight to Keep State Parks Open
The slashing of Arizona State Parks’ state-allocated funds means parks officials have started facing a harsh reality: They may be forced to close several parks, in addition to the three that are currently closed to the public because of lack of funding. Their general funding was cut from $20 million to zero, so the parks…
Idiot Boksen – Week 6
I was at a conference last week, and I missed my deadline, for which I am deeply sorry. Here’s what you missed because I wasn’t here to tell you about it. – The Grammys. Nothing very interesting happened. Apparently the Avett Brothers shared the stage with Mumford & Sons and an obscure songwriter known as…
Tucson ‘World of Warcraft’ Card Game Group
The Tucson World of Warcraft Card Game group meets every Sunday afternoon at Amazing Discoveries. Their fun doesn’t end along with the card games, however. Tucson WOW does a lot for charity. In December, as a group of 25 players, they participated in a can drive for local shelters. The group raised over 580 cans…
Tiger Woods Coming to Town: Hide Your Wives, and Grab Your Handkerchiefs
An honored guest is putting into town next week, but instead of tea and crumpets, we might need to break out the handkerchiefs and chastity belts. Photo Ryn Gargulinski Consider yourself warned: Tiger’s coming to town. Tiger Woods is coming to Marana. Woods’ website schedule says he’ll be attending the Accenture Match Play Championships at…
There’s a New Radiohead Video
“Lotus Flower”, from Radiohead’s new album King of Limbs, available now.
AZ Republic’s Robert Robb: GOP Tax-Cut Bill Is “Grossly Irresponsible”
The Arizona Republic’s conservative columnist, Robert Robb, delivers a scathing assessment of the tax-cut plan that just got rushed through the legislature in less than three days: The “jobs bill” Gov. Jan Brewer and Republican legislators hustled through a hastily called special session this week is grossly irresponsible. The only truly indispensible duty the Arizona…
Flake Denounces Birthers
Talking Points Memo highlights a clip of Arizona Congressman (and U.S. Senate candidate) Jeff Flake denouncing the birthers: On CNN’s American Morning, Flake responded to a poll that found that 51% of likely Republican primary voters don’t believe President Obama was born in the U.S. Only 28% of people who say they were voting in…
(Not Quite as) Dramatic Prairie Dog
This video is adorable anyone, if only to think of someone in Japan with a pet prairie dog listening to Feist, but one of the comments on the YouTube page is nearly as enjoyable: I am not confident of English conversation. However, it answers. Japan was able to keep the prairie dog only several years…
Wisconsin Democrats Offer a Lesson in Minority Governing
Sometimes you have to make new rules to do what you think is right. In a last-ditch effort to stop the passage of Gov. Scott Walker’s controversial budget repair bill, Senate Democrats staged a walkout Thursday, leaving the state to avoid a forced return to the Capitol and a doomed vote against the bill. Senate…
Spring Training to Return for an Afternoon
A good thing: There will be a spring training game at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on March 7 to benefit the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Fund. Not so good: The game features the former tenants of that park, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox, a fact that many local baseball fans might be a…
Health Care Showdown: Obama Slips GOP Trap
The Obama adminstration used a little political ju-jitsu on Gov. Jan Brewer and GOP lawmakers. Brewer and GOP leaders had made a big deal about asking the Obama administration for a waiver so they could go forward with plans to kick somewhere in the neighborhood of 280,000 people off the AHCCCS rolls. It was a…
Hawaii to Allow Civil Unions
CNN: Hawaii’s Senate has given final passage to a measure legalizing same-sex unions in the state, and Gov. Neil Abercrombie has said he will sign it. The state House had already passed the bill, which “extends the same rights, benefits, protections and responsibilities of spouses in a marriage to partners in a civil union,” according…
How About We Put That Nuclear Plant in Your District, Sen. Melvin?
Sen. Al Melvin isn’t talking to us, but he told the Arizona Guardian that he hasn’t yet figured out where he’d put his proposed nuclear recycling plant that allow the Arizona Legislature to spend fewer general-fund dollars on schools. Melvin tells reporter Dennis Welch that he’s in talks with several out-of-state companies who would like…
Pandering to the Birthers
Birther bills SB 1526 and HB 2544 have stalled out this week at the Arizona Legislature. But it’s easy to see why Republicans don’t see any harm in signing on in support of the bills. TNR’s Jonathan Chait flags a poll showing just how powerful the birther movement is among GOP primary voters: Birthers make…
Beavis & Butthead to Chuckle at YouTube Videos of Cats
While I’m for the return of Beavis & Butthead on MTV, I get the feeling the network that recently is better known for promoting teen momness across America is trying to figure out a way to screw the show up: The new show, which debuts later this year, will be very familiar to fans of…
Vegan in Tucson: A Preliminary Note
Veg•an (vee-guhn): A vegan is someone who doesn’t eat animal products: meat, fish, milk products, eggs, or honey. Many vegans also avoid fur, leather, and wool as these products generally result in the confinement, abuse, or slaughter of animals. True that, my friends. At the suggestion of web producer Dan Gibson, I am going to…
Steer Clear of Campbell and Sixth Street
There’s a big mess at Sixth Street and Campbell, which is likely to affect your drive to tonight’s UA-Washington State basketball game: Effective immediately Tucson Water crews will be working in the intersection of 6th Street and Campbell Avenue to repair a waterline break. The westbound curb lane on 6th Street and the northbound medianlane…
Flake Cuts Senate Ad, Raises Big Bucks
Congressman Jeff Flake has launched his first campaign commercial for his U.S. Senate run. In other Flake news, USA Today reports that Flake raised more than $100K for his Senate campaign in 24 hours: A fiscally minded group that successfully backed several upstart candidates for U.S. Senate last year has raised $100,000 for Rep. Jeff…
Tucson Wildly Unprepared for Zombie Apocalypse
New York City has a plan for the inevitable day when zombies walk the streets of their city, hungry for human flesh…does Tucson? Should New York City face a “very grim” situation, the government has the right to “establish curfews, quarantine wide areas, close businesses, restrict public assemblies and, under certain circumstances, suspend local ordinances,”…
The Trouble With Santorum
Former Senator (and likely presidential candidate) Rick Santorum has finally opened up and discussed the Dan Savage directed Google bombing of his name. Santorum himself sounded slightly defeated when asked about it recently. “It’s one guy. You know who it is. The Internet allows for this type of vulgarity to circulate. It’s unfortunate that we…
Nine Questions
Nathanial Hendler
The Other Rocket Boy
In the sixth-grade, Donavan Seschillie and his friend Jake Hoyungowa made a dramatic stop-motion film using G.I. Joes. The rest is history. “I grew up around filmmaking,” said Seschillie, a member of the Navajo Nation. He described his youth as a time when he would take photographs with old cameras, and his grandfather would develop…
Live
As Arcade Fire picked up the Grammy for Album of the Year, a very different show was happening at a spot where that band performed six years ago. While no one at the time would have predicted that Arcade Fire would make such a huge leap in such a short amount of time, the prospect…
City Week
Vegetarian Food and Jazz Swing; Every Show Is Unique; Medicine, Hold the Politics; Cruise Over to PCC
Very Special
Due to a scheduling fluke, three of the next four Tucson Weekly editions will be special issues. (I know what you’re thinking: “Jimmy, isn’t every issue of the Tucson Weekly special, like children, or snowflakes, or something?” Yes, you’re right. But these are extra-special issues.) Here’s what we have coming up: • On Feb. 24…
T Q&A
Cliff Berrien
Danehy
Now that we’ve all made it through the Ronald Reagan Canonization Week without screaming ourselves hoarse, it’s time to move on. It was actually kinda fun seeing all of those people who call themselves “Reagan Republicans” fail miserably as they attempted to cite his legacy and philosophy. As mentioned here before, Reagan presided over the…
Life and Art
The question of what is—and is not—art has been debated for centuries. So has the role of the artist in any given culture, as well as the ways in which life and art intersect. Neil LaBute gives us more to think about in his The Shape of Things, the current production by Arizona Repertory Theatre,…
Hercules and Love Affair: Blue Songs (Moshi Moshi)
The first time I heard the word discothèque was in sixth-grade French class, spoken by the mademoiselle teacher who looked like Laura Palmer’s mother and wore knee-high, zip-up leather boots that made her look both skanky and elegant. The word also seemed to have those same qualities. It was synaesthetic, sounding like pungent cologne, the…
Playfully Serious
When they were kids, the de la Torre brothers—Jamex and Einar—were plucked from the colonial city of Guadalajara in central Mexico and dropped into the freewheeling surfer town of Dana Point in Southern California. “It was culture shock!” Einar, the younger of the two, said during a lecture last week. “We went from a Catholic…
Serraglio
On a bright day in late January, hundreds of Tucsonans gathered to wish Gabrielle Giffords well as she left town to rehabilitate from a bullet wound to the head, while hundreds more gathered to mourn the death of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, who was gunned down in the line of duty. Within a few…
Tour Brochure?
A title like The Desert Islands of Mexico’s Sea of Cortez conjures up breathtaking images of one of the most beautiful places in the world. Jacques Cousteau reportedly called this slice of ocean “the aquarium of the world.” The gulf islands have even been described as Mexico’s Galapagos. Hell, it’s my favorite place on the…
American Gods: EC-10 (Pitball)
Originally released as a limited-edition CD by Tucson’s PitBall Records last year, this debut album by Phoenix cyber-metal trio American Gods only recently became available digitally, and it’s a monster. What a shame the genre’s high-water-mark (Static X, Rob Zombie) receded years ago, because this band is good. There’s much to admire here—primarily the band’s…
Top Ten in Books
Antigone Books’ best-sellers for the week ending Feb. 11, 2011
Wanda Jackson: The Party Ain’t Over (Nonesuch)
Let’s assume that Jack White’s motivations for resuscitating the careers of female musical iconoclasts like Loretta Lynn and, now, Wanda Jackson are altruistic. A salutation to country and rock’s ancestry also seems to motivate White, but Jackson’s retrofit—with brassier instrumentation—is ultimately a bit uneven. Nevertheless, there is still much fun to be gleaned from White…
Youth Not Wasted
Suck it, Twilight. There are good and bad films in the young-adult category, which, using a broad definition, includes that blood-sucking saga, along with Harry Potter and the junkyard of failures like Eragon, The Golden Compass and Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. I Am Number Four, based on the novel of the…
Mailbag
A Dissenting Opinion on Panda Buffet; Could Do-Gooder’s Lack of a Permit Lead to Chaos?
Top Ten in Movies
Casa Video’s top rentals for the week ending Feb. 13, 2011
Guest Commentary
On Jan. 1, Arizona’s minimum wage increased 10 cents. This is bad news for those unskilled workers seeking employment, but not as bad as the whole notion that minimum/living-wage laws help the poor. Our Arizona law was voted in by referendum in 2006. Unlike the federal law, Arizona’s minimum wage is indexed to the “cost…
¡Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: I’m a white, rural, ninth-generation Texan who left the farm and is now a lawyer for a large corporation in one of the largest cities in the state. Maybe a quarter of the clients they assign to me speak Spanish, so the company’s paying for me to learn Spanish. I’m glad, not only…
Bieber Fever!
I kind of like Justin Bieber. He’s like a young Leonardo DiCaprio, the members of Hanson, Keira Knightley and Justin Timberlake, all rolled into one little cherubic pop star. His new 3-D epic bio/documentary movie, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, is a big, happy film that showcases his undeniable talents and tells the story of…
Police Dispatch
Weirder than usual; Performance problems
Soundbites
So long, Plato; New music!; Put on your dancing shoes; Short takes; On the bandwagon
Now Showing at Home
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within; Five Corners; Thelma and Louise: 20th Anniversary (Blu-ray)
Weekly Wide Web
Radiohead Save the Internet, Music; The week on The Range; Comment of the week; Best of WWW; and more!
Punishing the Critic?
When John Kromko ran against Phil Lopes and Olivia Cajero Bedford in the 2008 Democratic primary for the state House of Representatives in Legislative District 27, all he had to do to qualify for the ballot was turn in 400 signatures. On June 4, 2008, Kromko reportedly turned in twice that required number of signatures—some…
Gourmet Reinventions
The shopping centers at Sunrise Drive and Kolb Road are rapidly approaching market saturation in the restaurant department, but the most recent addition, The Abbey—the “sister” restaurant to Jax Kitchen on the northwest side—is most welcome. Dishing up gourmet twists on classic American comfort foods (think a grilled-cheese sandwich, a burger and pot pie), The…
No Budging
Early in the morning of Jan. 8, Jared Lee Loughner bought ammo at the Super Walmart on Cortaro Road in Marana, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Office. Less than three hours later, Loughner allegedly fired off 32 bullets, killing six Tucsonans and wounding 13, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. The Marana store that sold…
Media Watch
KVOA’s Jimmy Stewart calls it quits; Wolf halts lawsuit plans following outcry; Digital issues plague antenna viewers
Noshing Around
Downtown Monkey Burger—Finally!; New at Mercado San Agustin; New: Milagros Café; HUB Restaurant and Ice Creamery
The Skinny
Sen. Jon Kyl announces that he’s retiring, setting off more political speculation than we can hope to capture … The GOP comes up with a tax-cut plan that they don’t want any of us examining too closely … Legislative leaders find a way to make you fill out more paperwork—or risk seeing your property taxes…
Copper Capers
Most of us dig the notion of neighborliness—that friendly wave, those dog-walking chats, the sense that you belong, however loosely, to some sort of community. This concept is not lost on those who tweak facts for a living. Indeed, when it comes to a potential strip mine in the Santa Rita Mountains, public-relations professionals have…
Six Strings and 21 Frets
One of Joe Bonamassa’s favorite pastimes is driving. “I like to drive real fast on the highway, alone and late at night,” he said during a recent telephone interview from his adopted home of Los Angeles. That description might also apply to the manner in which the guitarist-singer plays his signature brand of blues-rock: heavy…
More Planes!
Operation Snowbird at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base will be the focus of public meetings—part of an environmental assessment—tentatively scheduled for March. While base supporters intend to focus on noise and safety issues, critics want the Air Force to consider relocating these military-training flights. “I’m getting the feeling the environmental assessment study is going to try…
Top Ten in Music
Toxic Ranch Records’ top sales for the week ending Feb. 13, 2010
Atomic Al Melvin Wins Passage of a Bill to Import Nuclear Waste to Arizona
Several of the bills we’re following at Blogislature 2011 are on the move: • State Sen. Al Melvin’s SB 1548, which would create a Nuclear Recycling Public School Fund, passed out of the Commerce and Energy Committee on a 5-1 vote. The legislation calls for the the federal government to pay to build a nuclear-recycling…
Welcome to the Blogislature
I visited with my old friends at Arizona Illustrated to talk about this week’s feature story on the Arizona Legislature and the launch of this year’s Blogislature.
The Food Truck Diaries, Volume Eight: El Gorrion Burrito
The dirt has piled up around El Gorrion Burrito’s flat tires, and there’s little chance the truck will see open road again. I like to think that if it ever closes, the owners will leave it until the sun reduces it to a rusty reminder that an honest taco stand once stood there. El Gorrion…
Legislature Passes Tax-Cut Bill With Just Three Days of Debate
Game over: The Arizona Legislature has passed the massive corporate tax-cut bill introduced on Monday and rushed through a special session. Gov. Jan Brewer is expected to sign it. The bill will reduce state revenues by $538 million a year when it fully kicks in 2018; if you’re feeling particularly wonky, here’s a summary of…
Tucson Teens to Face the Wheel of Fortune Tonight
Photo Credit: Carol Kaelson Tonight on Wheel of Fortune, you can take a night off from loudly cursing at the television about the inferior intellect of the contestants and cheer on two local teens. As part of “Teen Best Friends” week, Victoria Adamson and Melissa Tvedt, seniors at Catalina Foothills high school, will try to…
Payday Loan Bill Dies in Committee (For Now)
Following up on my post from earlier this week, possibly due to the outrage of a public that’s a little sick of seeing payday lenders come back from the dead again and again, the House Commerce Committee didn’t hear HB 2550, which would create a new payday-loan-lite, when the committee’s chairman and the bill’s author,…
‘Life in Prison a Viable Option’
A statement from the Coalition of Arizonans to Abolish the Death Penalty regarding capital punishment and the Shawna Forde trial: Life in prison a viable option to serve justice Feb. 16, 2011 — Jurors in the Shawna Forde trial are weighing whether Forde should be sentenced to death for felony murder in the 2009 slayings…
Jackson Browne Heads a Concert for Tucson
[Update: Jim Nintzel was at the press conference announcing the concert. Ron Barber said there would be a wide array of ticket prices, ranging from $25 to $95. He said that high prices quoted on Ticketmaster involved a VIP reception.] Although [some of] the tickets are expensive ($270.85 with Ticketmaster fees), any cause founded by…
Rep. Jeff Dial, You Are a Terrible Person
If you weren’t upset with the Arizona Legislature already, Jim Nintzel’s cover story hitting the street tomorrow will likely push you over the edge. However, what’s remarkable and frightening is that even his extensive and somewhat lengthy story couldn’t hold all the ridiculous crap the Republicans are coming up with up there. For example, from…
Colbert: “In the Wake of the Shooting in Tucson, Mr. Gould Is Protecting Those Most at Risk: Our Guns”
The Legislature might be terrifying for us, but it’s gold for Comedy Central. Stephen Colbert celebrates state Sen. Ron Gould: “In the wake of the shooting in Tucson, Mr. Gould is protecting those most at risk: Our guns.” Bonus points for the Palin family minivan reference.
It’s Wednesday. Let’s Talk About Beer.
First, the good news: Victoria beer is coming to town! The brew—which has been produced in Mexico since 1865—has been described as having just a hint of bitterness and a light brown color. It makes its Tucson debut from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 17, at the downtown El Charro. Samples and snacks will…
A Deer in a Bed, a Rat on a Plane and More: Rynski Radio on Party934
Updated with playlist and download at bottom of post. One Minnesota couple was snugly sleeping in late on a weekend morn—only to be rudely awakened by a deer that came hurling through their window and scampered across their bed. Photo Ryn Gargulinski Eek! A rat on a plane delayed a flight out of Seattle. That…
