Cover Story
Pepper Spray Nation
Arizona, it seems, is the gift that keeps on giving for Comedy Central. We haven’t run the numbers, but we’re sure that if we did, the residents of the Grand Canyon State would have produced more than 90 percent of the stories featured on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. (That comment, incidentally, was…
January 8th, As Told by Those Who Were There
Mayors Against Illegal Guns has posted a video featuring some of those who were at the Safeway on January 8th that’s nearly impossible to watch, but does reflect on the brutality of that morning as seen by those who don’t have the option of leaving that day behind.
Writer’s Block: Richard C. Johnson
Local author Richard C. Johnson examines religion, God and human consciousness in Religion: The Failed Narrative: Clashing Religious Doctrine and the Threat of Nuclear Terrorism. (55 pages, $11.95 on Amazon) He writes, “I discuss religion and science in parallel as worldviews and grand narratives. I am seeking discussion about why we should continue to rely…
Talking Comics: Mutants vs. Superheroes Edition
This future with mutants ruling the universe that Eric and Arnie describe this week while reviewing Avengers X-sanction frightens me. Also, I think Arnie got a haircut.
Ending Hunger One (License) Plate at a Time
A new Arizona license plate that benefits the fight against hungry is now available. The Hunger Relief specialty license plate costs $25, and $17 of that goes directly to numerous organizations that fight hunger across the state, including our very own Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. It´s pretty snazzy looking, too, with a nice…
Libraries Are No Longer Messing Around
In Charlton, Massachusetts, the local library sent two cops to shake down a five year old for her two overdue library books. This is where the police state begins, people. Maybe Ron Paul is right about everything. However, I also sense a sequel to that Paul Blart movie in the works. [The Daily What]
Bachmann Quits Presidential Race
In the wake of the Iowa caucuses, Michele Bachmann announced today that she is no longer a presidential candidate. We’d imagine that Rick Perry will be the next to drop out, although he’s making noises about staying in on Twitter today. It’s interesting (to us at least) that Bachmann never filed to run in Arizona.…
Your Tucson Weekly/Iowa Caucus Poll
Quipol I get that evangelical Christians think Mormons are weird and that three divorces are at least one too many for some values voters, but this guy? Weird.
New Music From Andrew Collberg
Drummer/laid-back-popster Andrew Collberg is featured on the first Fort Lowell Records release of 2012 (and the eighth overall) with two new songs on a quite attractive 7″ vinyl record. The single will be available on January 31st, but you can hear both sides of the release now; the a-side, “Dirty Wind”, below, and the video…
Barack Obama: Secret Visitor to Mars
This is absolutely my new favorite conspiracy. Hey, Arizona Republican legislators, is it time to amend the Arizona constitution to preclude visitors to space from running for president? According to Basiago and Stillings, Obama isn’t just lying about his identity. He’s lying about his military service record, too. While his political opponents in 2008 attacked…
Pat Robertson and God Are Keeping Secrets, Those Jerks
God and Pat Robertson were chatting the other day about the fate of our country (as they do), and the omniscient creator of the universe and some old guy who used to own a cable network played a fun little guessing game about what would destroy America as we know it. Spoiler alert: it’s the…
Finally, an In-Depth Look at the “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang” Video
This might only be of interest to me, since I remembered distinctly the first time I saw the “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang” video on UHF music video channel The Box, but Ego Trip has a two part interview with Dwight Patillo, the man behind nearly all of the Death Row videography, starting with the…
Political Roundtable: Looking Back at 2011, Looking Ahead to 2012
I’m a little late in posting this, but in case you missed the year-end discussion of the politics of 2011 and an advance look at what we can expect in the politics of 2012, here’s last week’s Political Roundtable from Arizona Illustrated.
Elton John Would Like Awesome/Handsome Guy to Play Him in a Movie
I suppose this is the advantage of putting together your own biopic, but I’m still relatively sure that picking Justin Timberlake to play you in a movie isn’t how it works, Elton John. I know you’ve been working on a biopic. Is that still in the works? That’s very much in the works. We’re making…
Critter of the Week [Dog Edition]: Lola
UPDATE: Lola has been adopted, but there are plenty of great animals still available at the Humane Society. Lola • #710926 2 Year Old • Shar Pei Mix • Female Are you an experienced dog person with an active lifestyle who is up for a project of love? If so, then Lola would love to…
The Food Network Has Descended Into Madness
Looks like we have an early contender for the worst show of 2012, with the cooking competition show, Rachael Vs. Guy Celebrity Cookoff. Food Network Humor’s review is particularly brutal, making it seem like the “Food” part of the Food Network is going to disappear like the “Music” did from MTV: It was no surprise…
Try to Understand the Iowa Caucus
If you want to feel sad about what passes for democracy in America, read Talking Points Memo’s explanation of how the Iowa Caucus works. The best part? Fewer than 200,000 people are picking with presidential candidates are viable tonight: Also keep in mind that turnout will probably not be very high. In the 2008 Republican…
Groupon Has Given Up
To be fair, they have sold “over 20” as I’m writing this, so there’s clearly an audience for these Justin Bieber singing toothbrushes that’s unwilling to wait a month for them to be sold in the clearance section at CVS. Also possibly worth noting, Groupon misspells the name of our city in their URLs.
Sir Pressure Has a Video
Here’s a remarkably intense video from local rapper Sir Pressure (formerly known as Pressure, I think, although there’s a reggae dude with that name, which might be the reason behind the “Sir”), who might be up your alley if you miss when Def Jux put out records. You can find him Facebook, Tumblr and relentlessly…
Iowans Hate Polar Bears
I’m not sure whether I want to believe this question captured in a Buzzfeed post about Rick Santorum fans at Iowa caucuses was sincere or not: In Sioux City this question was asked: “We have so much foreign influence today. I’m looking at a Coke can with a polar bear on it. Where do we…
Today in Good Things: A New Scissor Sisters Song
Featuring filthy mouthed genius upstart Azealia Banks (billed as “Krystal Pepsy”, for reasons that I don’t really need to understand and produced by Boyz Noise, but appreciate), “Shady Love” is the first single from the new Scissor Sisters album scheduled to be released at some point in 2012. Somehow I don’t think this song will…
“The Wire” Predicting the Universe Moment of the Day
Justin Fenton, a crime reporter for The Baltimore Sun, noted this strange (and sad) intersection of reality and television last night. He reached out to Wire creator David Simon, who called the incident “coincidence, completely”, so this Omar Little probably doesn’t have a “get-out-of-jail-free” card from testifying in Bird’s murder trial.
By the Way, Happy New Year
The only “new year” song you really need, by the Mountain Goats, from 2005’s The Sunset Tree.
Repeating That Reagan Never Raised Taxes Doesn’t Make It True
To his credit, it wasn’t Eric Cantor making the contention on 60 Minutes that Ronald Reagan never raised taxes (just that he “never compromised his principles”, whatever that means), but his off-screen press secretary (you can skip ahead to that part, if you’d like), but it’s still amusing to see today’s Republicans engage in a…
Watch the New “Portlandia” Episode Instead of Working
I had Friday off, so it’s only just and fair that I work today, but surely there are some Range readers out there cruelly oppressed by “The Man” who are forced to sit a computer all day and “be productive” and such. For you, I offer the first episode of season two of Portlandia, which…
Wil Wheaton Doesn’t Think Much of the Kardashians
Is 2012 the year of the Great Kardashian Backlash? One can only hope, right?
RIP, Sword Master Bob Anderson
It’s unfortunate when it takes an obituary to learn about the behind-the-scenes influence someone had on your life, but my hat is tipped to Bob Anderson, who died yesterday in a English hospital at the age of 89. Anderson was a World War II veteran and an Olympic fencer, but also had a multi-decade career…
County Supe Appoints New TUSD Board Member: UA Econ Lecturer Alexandre Sugiyama
According to a press release from the Office of the Pima County School Superintendent, Linda Arzoumanian has appointed Alexandre Sugiyama, a lecturer in the UA Department of Economics, to fill the late Judy Burns seat. And yes, he’ll be sworn in at the TUSD special meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 3. Press release: Pima County School…
Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails Adds Outdoor Seating
Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails at 135 S. Sixth Ave. is in the process of adding a patio area that will soon be home to an outdoor bar area and a bit of additional seating. The outdoor seating will be located in front of the restaurant along Sixth Avenue and was part of owner Janos Wilder’s…
Idiot Boksen: Too Much Good Stuff
There’s too much great television to watch. I can’t keep up. I’ll show you: Here’s the AV Club’s list of The top 30 shows on television this year. This list does not include shows like South Park or The Colbert Report or The Office, all of which have been pretty terrific over the last 12…
Retired 56-Year-Old Bikes Around the World
Christine Farrugia is a retired government worker, but she isn’t taking it easy just yet. She’s on a mission to teach and raise money for children by biking around the world. She started off in California and will be in Tucson through early next week. At noon on Monday, Jan. 2, she will be at…
The Only Novelty Nickelback Tumblr You Need
I always thought that Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger was sort of a misogynist knucklehead, but I guess I misread the dude. His music is still awful, however, even if he’s reading postmodern cultural literature backstage.
A Music Video About Luggage
Probably to try to convince people that their luggage handlers don’t randomly beat the crap out of your stuff, Delta Airlines made a suitcase with six cameras mounted inside to show the journey your bag takes when you fly between Atlanta and New York. The video’s sort of interesting, but it’s made far better by…
Gabrielle Giffords is the Republic’s Arizonan of the Year
I’m sure everyone involved wishes that Rep. Giffords would have earned this honor under different circumstances and maybe next year she will, but who else could the Arizona Republic choose as “Arizonan of the Year”? Giffords has made amazing progress since the shooting. Miraculous, some say. She continues her recovery in the face of the…
Occupying Mitt Romney
Protesters attempted to “occupy” Mitt Romney’s Iowa campaign headquarters yesterday, only to be thwarted by the police.
Soundbites
More New Year’s Eve stuff; the Meat Puppets come back to town; Greyhound Soul; and more!
Without a Trace
The holidays are meant to be a happy time filled with friends and family, but they can also bring up memories of loved ones lost. For those who know and love Bruce Evans, this time of year means recalling the last moments they spent with their beloved brother, son and boyfriend—and wondering if he’s still…
Nine Questions
Originally from Nogales, Jon Villa is a singer, trumpeter, songwriter and longtime leader of The Jons, who are recording their fourth album. The group recently performed the tunes of Electric Light Orchestra during The Great Cover Up. Villa also is a member of Kiss and the Tells, and Gabriel Sullivan and Taraf de Tucson, and…
Another Perry for President
Local country-punk musician Al Perry is throwing his hat into the ring for the 2012 presidential race. “Somebody has to run,” says Perry, who is well-known to Tucsonans as the singer-songwriter who has penned tunes such as “Loserville,” “Hit Over the Head” and “Dreaming.” “I don’t agree with any of the candidates,” Perry says. “I…
Live
It was telling that Howe Gelb stuck to the sidelines while performing at Club Congress last Friday. One of the pioneers of Tucson independent music, the prolific and ever-inventive singer-songwriter has done as much as anyone in these parts to put the Old Pueblo on the musical map—but he obviously recognizes the vitality of younger…
A New Year’s Roast
Community-radio station KXCI 91.3 FM is ringing in the new year by dishing on some of its most popular DJs at a charity event called “Roast ‘Em and Toast ‘Em.” On Friday, Dec. 30, the station will roast hosts Milo Solujic, Carol “Ruby” Anderson, Kidd Squidd and Marty Kool, said Randy Peterson, general manager of…
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (Sour Mash)
As the more-thoughtful Oasis brother, Noel Gallagher’s best moments tended to turn up on hit singles as well as around the band’s fringes, like B-sides and the Noel-sung MTV Unplugged. Boastful and arrogant, Oasis was gunning for the highest peaks, and that often involved a certain sound and swagger that didn’t incorporate the best of…
City Week
Drop-in acupuncture; Watercolors; Mozart or hiking for the new year
Chris Isaak: Beyond the Sun (Vanguard)
Chris Isaak was born to make this album, his tribute to the influential confluence of country, blues and rock ‘n’ roll created during the 1950s and 1960s at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, Tenn. Much of his material during his career has been an homage to that era. Here, he tackles many of the…
TQ&A
Kristen Nelson is the co-founder and director of Casa Libre en la Solana, a writers’ community she started about eight years ago when she moved to Tucson after working as a newspaper reporter. Casa Libre started as a writers’ residency program at 228 N. Fourth Ave. However, due to the economy, Nelson—along with assistant director…
The Tall Paul Band: Sleeper (Self-released)
Blues guitarist Tall Paul Webner has been flying under the local radar for more than 20 years, playing off nights in bars often well off the beaten path. Yet, mention his name to any number of working musicians, and the response is often, “Man, that guy can play!” Indeed, he can, and does, on this…
Living Lives
Sergio Troncoso’s new novel, From This Wicked Patch of Dust, is a tightly focused and affecting work of fiction that has much to say about family, fidelity, religion and politics without ever seeming heavy-handed and pedantic. Troncoso’s prose is crisp and clear, with nary a wasted word, and he manages to deftly handle numerous storylines…
Border Disorder
There was a time in Arizona when federal law was king. Until Valentine’s Day 1912, when the Arizona Territory became the great state of Arizona, we didn’t have a Legislature and, thus, didn’t have state law. Since we didn’t have state laws, we didn’t have state police to enforce them. Pretty much all we had…
Top Ten in Books
1. Tucson Oddities Arizona Daily Star ($14.99) 2. Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories From the Animal Kingdom Jennifer Holland, Workman ($13.95) 3. Yes Is Better Than No Byrd Baylor, Silvercloud ($19.95) 4. Queen of America: A Novel Luis Alberto Urrea, Little, Brown ($25.99) 5. Mission San Xavier: A Story of Saints and Angels, Art and…
Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: Thirteen years old, and I’m jacking off, not knowing I left the bathroom door ajar. Just as I blasted onto the shower curtain, my mom walked in. Aghast, she shouted, “¡Cochino, te vas hacer siego y se te va enchocar el pito!” (“You pig! You’re going to go blind, and your dick will…
Danehy
Two Thousand Eleven wasn’t a great year (mostly because of Republicans), but there were some bright spots for me. Among them: Favorite album: Adele’s 21. Quick, when was the last time there was such a momentous convergence of talent and mass appeal? Or put it this way: When was the last time the best-selling album…
Pointless Project
I very much liked the original Swedish film based upon Stieg Larsson’s book The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Unfortunately, I don’t like David Fincher’s Americanized version. It’s one of the dumbest film projects of 2011, a movie whose very existence constitutes a major waste of good, creative energy. I don’t see the logic in…
Editor’s Note
Around the end of the year, the staffs at many publications, including the Tucson Weekly, try to take it easy. It’s usually the perfect time to chill out: There are two straight weeks with a holiday. People want to take time off to see out-of-town-relatives. The period is generally slow, news- and events-wise. However, at…
Gargulinski
If ignorance is truly bliss, then many American news-media outlets are helping to ensure we have one big, happy country. The long-running joke has been that Fox News is a dumbed-down source of information, yet many other outlets have been consistently following suit. The Fox joke, by the way, has a basis in reality: A…
Top Ten in Movies
1. Midnight in Paris Sony 2. Rise of the Planet of the Apes 20th Century Fox 3. The Help Touchstone 4. Cowboys and Aliens Universal 5. The Hangover Part II Warner Bros. 6. Colombiana Sony 7. Margin Call Roadside 8. The Debt Miramax 9. Warrior Lionsgate 10. Dolphin Tale Warner Bros.
Weekly Wide Web
As I write this, there are 8,707 comments live on our website that were posted in 2011. There were 6,734 posted at this point in 2010, and 3,933 in 2009, so it would seem that more and more people are finding something worth commenting on within our digital pages all the time—and that’s not counting…
Editorial
If you’re visiting the Reid Park Zoo anytime soon, don’t be surprised when the groan of earthmovers drowns out exotic bird calls or the lion’s grand roar. This new rumbling is the sound of an institution at a crossroads. Back around 2005, the zoo began raising money for an expansion of its elephant exhibit. This…
Storytelling Triumph
The silent-film Wings won the first Best Picture award in 1929, but they were effectively outdated two years later. Not the Oscars—they wouldn’t be behind the times until Ordinary People beat Raging Bull. Rather, the advent of the talking picture made the silent-film era, and a large percentage of its stars, obsolete. So how is…
Mailbag
No more sick words; Defending Sound Strike; Stop smearing Occupy
Now Showing at Home
Warrior (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy); The Expendables: Extended Director’s Cut (Blu-ray); Midnight in Paris (Blu-ray)
Turbulent Times
The image of longtime Chicano-rights activist Guadalupe Castillo balancing herself with a cane in each hand while surrounded by Tucson police officers in riot gear at the May 3 Tucson Unified School District board meeting is difficult to forget. That meeting came one week after students prevented a governing-board meeting from occuring by taking over…
Substance With Style
There’s plenty to like about Sparkroot, a new downtown coffee bar that is unique in both style and substance. Sparkroot is the only place in the state that offers Blue Bottle Coffee. This roaster of Third Wave coffee—look that up in your Wikipedia—is known for its small-farm, organic products, and works with only a handful…
The Skinny
Unpacking the new congressional maps … Why the Democrats probably won’t be able to control the Arizona Legislature for the next decade … Some lawmakers are going to need to move if they want to stay in office … and more!
Noshing Around
New restaurants!; Downtown’s Playground opening soon; Even more in 2012
Media Watch
Silver hopes to raise gold in new role with UA Foundation
Faves From 2011
Every publication on planet Earth is publishing best-of lists at this time of year—and we’re no different. We’ve asked some of our resident music writers about their favorite albums of 2011, and here’s what they gave us. Another round of writers will weigh in on the same topic next week. Gene Armstrong (in alphabetical order)…
Hot Shots
Back in 1796, a British doctor named Edward Jenner performed the first smallpox vaccination. By the 1830s, his breakthrough discovery had struck a decisive blow against the vicious disease. Around that same time, anti-vaccination zealots began railing against Jenner’s marvelous discovery. The cure, they argued, was more perilous than the disease itself. This would not…
Top Ten in Music
1. Skinnerbox The Playhouse (Bobok/Toxic Shock) 2. Skinnerbox The Imaginary Heart Of (Bobok/Toxic Shock) 3. The Resonars Bright and Dark (Burger) 4. Zounds The Redemption of Zounds (Overground) 5. Smiths Barbarism Begins at Home: Incomplete B-sides, Vol. 1 (Torture Tunes) 6. Grannies For Those About to Forget to Rock (Wondertaker) 7. Void Sessions 1981-83 (Dischord)…
Police Dispatch
St. Philip’s Plaza has been claimed; Attacks with plastic weapons
Rick Perry Thinks Joe Arpaio Can Help Him
Texas Governor Rick Perry continued his quest to woo Iowa Republicans by appearing with Arizona’s Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio at the Main Street Cafe in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Tuesday, December 27, 2011.
Collegiate Skydiver Competition in Eloy
Michael McGowan WP Indifference Remember when winter break meant spending time with the relatives, watching the same old movies and eating too much? These days, kids have a more exciting option, and it’s just up I-10 at Skydive Arizona. But if your college days are behind you, spectators are welcome. Read on for more details:…
Let’s Look Back on 2011 and Be Sad Together
[Web producer’s note: Chris Patyk was, until somewhat recently, the co-host of the morning show on 92.9 FM back when it was called the Mountain and not a station rocking a Lady Gaga song every 20 minutes. He’s quite the pop culture savant, so I asked him if he’d like to reflect back on the…
New Year’s Dining 2012
What’ll it be this New Year’s Eve? Will you play it safe by dining at a tried-and-true favorite, or break new ground at one of the many restaurants that opened this year? Either way, you’re in luck. Restaurants across the city are pulling out all the stops to make your last meal of the year…
Tucson Weekly’s Guide to New Year’s Eve 2011
Keeping Tradition Alive “Thunder in the Desert” powwow and celebration Friday, Dec. 30, through Sunday, Jan. 8 Rillito Raceway Park River Road and First Avenue 622-4900 When we ring in the new year, many of us think about leaving the past behind for a brave new world, one in which we’ve conquered cravings for chocolate…
Welcome, 2012!
If you’re looking for a big bang for your buck, Boondocks Lounge, 3306 N. First Ave., is a pretty safe bet. Your ticket–$15 in advance, or $20 at the door–entitles you to a full dinner buffet starting at 7:30 p.m. After that, stick around for a dance party featuring Amo Chip Dabney’s AmoSphere with a…
