This Issue Is a Bridge, of Sorts
It’s the last issue of the year! And it’s the first issue of next year, too, kinda, seeing as it’ll be on the stands for the first few days of 2008. In any case, here it is, our new issue, fully readable online. Feel free to comment on its contents here.
Project White House: The First Challenge!
We’re excited to announce that the Project White House Blog is now up and running! And that bring us to our first challenge for the Project White House candidates: Blog the Vote! Remember that moment in 1992 when President George Herbert Walker Bush expressed amazement over a scanner in a supermarket checkout line? Most pundits…
Project White House: On the Air
Mark McLemore of Arizona Spotlight, which airs Fridays on KUAZ radio (89.1 FM/1550 AM), was kind enough to have me in the studio last week to talk about Project White House. You can hear the interview here.
Cigna Health Insurance and Corporate Greed
I have been hearing this story all weekend. It’s shocking! In what is considered the richest nation in the world–the good ole US of A–Cigna health insurance company refuses to pay for a liver transplant for one of its insurers, in this case a 17-year-old-girl who has her whole life in front of her. You gotta wonder how these…
Blogging Advisory
Please note that blogging will probably be a little lighter than normal over the next week or so, as many Tucson Weekly employees and contributors will be spending the holiday season with family, traveling or getting hammered on eggnog. We will be around the blog here and there, however. And to all: Have a fantastic holiday season!
Project White House: Open Invitation
As we noted a few days ago, we’ve opened Project White House up to anyone on Arizona’s Feb. 5 presidential primary ballot. Just so none of the “big-time” candidates can say they didn’t know about our Reality Journalism contest, we sent the following letter to all of them yesterday. Dec. 20, 2007 Dear Presidential Candidate,…
Berky’s Bar Is Closed
The Shell Shock performance scheduled tonight at Berky’s Bar has been cancelled. Berky’s Bar, 5769 E. Speedway Blvd., has recently closed. At this time, there is no word as to when the bar will reopen.
Brewer Loves McCain?
Project White House got some attention earlier this week in the East Valley Tribune–sorta. Trib writer Paul Giblin mentioned that “political pranksters” had filled up the ballot. Giblin didn’t tell his readers that many of these pranksters had been inspired by Project White House, although he was kind enough to mention our Reality Journalism escapade…
Dems Ready to Take on Supes, Part 2
Now that Judge Michael Miller issued his ruling Tuesday that allows the Dems to have the 2006 primary- and general-election data files, all is well, voting-wise, in Pima County, right? Well, that depends. At the Jan. 8 Board of Supervisors meeting, the supervisors may decide to appeal and refuse to hand over the files despite Miller’s ruling. …
A Holiday-Season Question
Am I the only one kind of baffled by the song “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”? Yeah, yeah, Daddy’s supposedly dressed up like Santa Claus or whatever. I get that. But what if that’s not the case, and Mommy’s just a chubby-chasing ho who lacks the good sense to do her macking out of…
Correction to Michael Blake Book-Signing Event Listing
On Page 39 in this week’s issue, the location for the Michael Blake book-signing is incorrect, due to an editorial error. The book-signing will be held tonight at 6:30 p.m., at the Arizona Historical Society, 949 E. Second St., and not at the downtown location at 140 N. Stone Ave. Call 327-7922 for information. We apologize…
The Nice List
A note from the editor.
Top Ten in Movies
Casa Video’s top rentals for the week
Mailbag
Howls of outrage and squeals of delight from our astonished fans.
Get Your ‘Nog On
It’s a tradition: Our Jewish music editor reviews Christmas CDs we get in the mail!
Hearts and Mines
Spin doctors tweak the Rosemont numbers
Live
The Great Cover-Up, Club Congress, Thursday, Dec. 6, through Saturday, Dec. 8
The Skinny
PROJECT WHITE HOUSE: LET THE GAMES BEGIN! The final ballot is set for Arizona’s Feb. 5 presidential primary–and we’re excited to announce that half of the candidates on the Democratic ballot are participating in Project White House! One-third of the candidates on the GOP ballot are also participating in PWH. For those who came in…
Nine Questions
Scott Barnett
Vetting Voting
Election watchdogs say the battle for fairness in local elections will continue
Soundbites
FA LA LA LA ZZZZZ … ‘Tis the season … for not a hell of a lot going on musically around town. There’s a touring band or two, a handful of holiday shows and, well, not much else. Here are a few of your scant options for the week. STICKITIN, JUST BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS! Earlier…
Home Sweet Horror
After discovering problems with their rented mobile home, one local couple learned nobody would help them
Rhythm & Views
Musicians long have attempted to create music that sounds, looks and feels like it’s by and for aliens. Consider rock stars from David Bowie to Marilyn Manson, jazz genius Sun Ra and his Arkestra, funkateer George Clinton and his various ensembles and, lest we forget, the cantina band in Star Wars. Finally, though, here’s a…
Local Heroes
Our fifth annual look at Tucsonans who make the world a better place
Rhythm & Views
For The Flying Club Cup, Beirut’s Zach Condon took inspiration from a 1910 photo of hot air balloons flying next to the Eiffel Tower. A couple of minutes into the first song, “A Call to Arms,” sound clips from a French film slip in, and the songs are sprinkled with French words, history and places.…
The Range
A recap of last week’s news
Top Ten in Music
Zia Records top sales for the week
Media Watch
After Journal Takeover, a Revolving Door Installed at KGUN
Top Ten in Books
Mostly Books best-sellers for the week
T Q&A
Tucson Q&A with Danny Mannheim
Noshing Around
Open Christmas Eve Many Tucson Originals, Fox Restaurant Concepts and Metro Restaurants are open Christmas Eve with regular menus and some with special holiday menus. Learn specifics at the Tucson Originals Web site, Fix Web site and Metro Web site. Both Elle and Terra Cotta say their bars will be open, and bar food will…
Police Dispatch
Poor Cactus! North Caida Place, Nov. 20, 4:04 p.m. An unsuspecting man found a hand grenade in his mailbox, according to Pima County Sheriff’s Department report. The man reported that the grenade had been inside an unaddressed box. After finding it, he immediately put the package back in the mailbox and called the Sheriff’s Department,…
Rhythm & Views
The world needs another loving re-creation of a famous Judy Garland concert like we all need holes in our heads. Regardless, Rufus Wainwright, the last of the classic singer/songwriters, (re)performs Garland’s 1961 recording to the hilt, complete with imitative cover design, photos and liner notes. Sure, there’s playfulness to the project, and one can sense…
Pick of the Week
Artistic Eyes
Nature Versus Nurture
Jan Olsson’s big-city paintings pair with Joy Fox’s desert-based sculptures at Davis Dominguez
Danehy
Forget the writers’ strike; Tom is getting entertainment from his e-mail
City Week
Our top picks of what to do and where to do it for the week.
Pertinent Pageantry
Thoughtfulness is replaced with gentle laughs in this year’s ‘Tucson Pastorela’
Tuttle
Want to avoid a recession? Get knocked up (or knock someone up), and go shopping!
Dylan Avatars!
Despite some boring parts, ‘I’m Not There’ successfully revolutionizes the biopic
What Would the Bums Think?
Brooklyn’s Beer and Burgers needs to work on its service and menu–but the pizza is pretty darned good
Guest Commentary
Yet again, one senator is blocking a piece of legislation vital to the public’s right to know
Delicious Mincemeat
Sick of holiday cheer? Tim Burton, Johnny Depp and Stephen Sondheim have a fine present for you!
Myth and Murder
This border-area police procedural enthralls, but errs by meandering into the supernatural
¡Ask a Mexican!
It’s way past the time for our government to tell Latin-American government-elites to end their caste system and take care of their own people.
Now Showing at Home
“Blade Runner: Two-Disc Special Edition,” “Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland–Secrets, Stories and Magic,” and “The Bourne Ultimatum”
