Cover Story
Inglorious!
Walking slowly across the lobby of Caesars Palace, dejected at the tail end of a three-hour Las Vegas scavenger hunt, the Inglorious Budsters thought they’d arrived just a little too late. Nearing the finish line for the Gauntlet—the biggest and penultimate challenge in a competition that stretched across months—the Budsters figured a couple of mistakes…
An Open Letter to Dr. Gerba
Dear Dr. Gerba: I understand your latest study makes the bachelor pad look like a breeding ground for the plague, while comparatively, bachelorettes have tidy, practically germ-free abodes. I almost cried, thinking back to the days before husbands and children, when my life was practically germ-free. Have you considered another place where germs are breaking…
Your Future Robot Overlord Finishes Its Jeopardy Mission Today
This afternoon, the challenge between IBM’s Watson supercomputer and Jeopardy! legends Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter wraps up, and based on the results so far, it appears we should begin accepting that Watson will soon be our new king/lord. Still, the process is sort of amusing, if only for Jennings looks of annoyance and general…
Giffords’ Friends Begin Raising Money For Her
Politico reports that Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ friends in Congress are starting to raise money for a future campaign: As Rep. Gabrielle Giffords recovers from last month’s shooting, her closest friends in Congress are moving to raise money for her reelection committee to make sure she has the necessary resources to run a campaign in 2012.…
Farley Report: Tax Cut Plan Is Disaster for State
The latest bulletin from state Rep. Steve Farley sounds warning bells about the tax cut moving through the special session: This week is Special, yet again. The Second Special Session of the year was called on Monday by Governor Brewer. Did she want us to enact a solution to save transplant patients’ lives? Did she…
AZ Republic: Slow Down Tax-Cut Plan
The Arizona Republic urges lawmakers to slow down the rush to pass a massive tax cut, given the state’s structural deficit: But the fiscal parts of the legislation need a hard-nosed, cold-eyed, cost-benefit analysis. House Speaker Kirk Adams argues that Arizona will become more competitive by cutting business taxes. But his proposal includes a four-year…
Northwest Side’s Borders to Close
As part of their bankruptcy filed today, Borders is closing at least 200 stores in the coming weeks, with an option to close up to 75 more, including the store at 4235 N. Oracle Rd. This would likely be most troubling to the people who sit in the cafe and read magazines they have no…
Giffords Doesn’t Know Details of Shooting
Pia Carusone talks to the CBS Morning Show about Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ recovery: In an “Early Show” interview, Pia Carusone, Giffords’ chief of staff, said the congresswoman isn’t fully aware of what happened the day in early January suspected gunman Jared Loughner allegedly opened fire on a crowd gathered for her political event. Carusone said,…
McClusky: “We Need to Stop Wasting Money”
Shaun McClusky, the only Republican to have announced a bid for mayor of Tucson this year, responds to last week’s Q&A with Democratic mayoral candidate Jonathan Rothschild: He wants to concentrate on the revenue side: It’s what I’ve been saying for the last two years—we need to grow the pie. But that’s not going to…
Lunch With Joe? More Like ‘Arpaio Media Makeover’
The Fox station (Channel 10) in Phoenix aired a little story about taking Sheriff Joe out to lunch at an authentic Mexican restaurant. Taking Joe to lunch could be a real hoot, not just because its fun watching him pop chips and salsa into his mouth, but also because the piece may make it seem…
KXCI to Broadcast Homelessness Marathon
Community Radio station 91.3 KXCI will be broadcasting the 14th Annual Homelessness Marathon from Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. to Thursday, Feb. 24 at 5 a.m. The Homelessness Marathon is a nationally syndicated radio event, broadcast overnight. The Homelessness Marathon features call-ins from homeless people across the nation who share their stories of hardship…
Understanding the Obama Budget With Charts
While I have a difficult enough time trying to understand my own household budget, the numbers that go with Pres. Obama’s proposed 2012 budget are clearly very important, but wildly difficult to process in raw form. The New York Times is all over charts these days, and their display of what’s gone up and down…
Children’s Action Alliance: GOP Tax-Cut Plan Is “Education Destruction Act”
The Children’s Action Alliance responds to the tax-cut plan devised behind closed doors that’s flying through the Legislature. Would that lawmakers could act as swiftly to find $5 million to restore transplant funding as they can to find $500 million for tax breaks. Late yesterday, Governor Brewer called a special session so the Arizona legislature…
CBS Reporter Violently Assaulted in Egypt
Wow. This is terrible. On Friday February 11, the day Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak stepped down, CBS correspondent Lara Logan was covering the jubilation in Tahrir Square for a “60 Minutes” story when she and her team and their security were surrounded by a dangerous element amidst the celebration. It was a mob of more…
Board of Supes Renames Trails for Gabe Zimmerman & Christina-Taylor Green
The Pima County Board of Supervisors renamed the Davidson Canyon trailhead for Gabe Zimmerman and the Cañada del Oro linear river park for Christina-Taylor Green today. Here’s the press release release from Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ office: The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously today to name park facilities for an aide to U.S. Rep.…
Grijalva Stands Up for NPR & PBS
Congressman Raul Grijalva responds to the GOP’s call to eliminate federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting: Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today questioned why Republican leaders have offered a budget resolution that completely eliminates funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The…
Schapira Picks McNulty for Independent Redistricting Commission
State Sen. David Schapira makes his pick for the Independent Redistricting Commission: Linda McNulty of Tucson. McNulty is married to Michael McNulty, who has been the campaign chair for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. So if Sen. Russell Pearce’s pick, Rick Stertz, is going to be looking out for Republican Jesse Kelly’s interests, we imagine that McNulty…
Something Surprising About the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Model
From a SB Nation interview with Irina Shayk: SBN: I read that you were a fan of the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, right? IS: Yes! I love him. You know what I love about his books? He’s so easy to read. You get three pages in and you have to finish the whole thing. In…
Glenn Beck Would Like You to Stop Googling
May I recommend if you’re doing your own homework, don’t do a Google search. It seems to me that Google is pretty deeply in bed with the government. Remember, maybe this is explaining why Google is being kicked out of all the other countries. Are they just a shill now for the United States government?…
Fiscal Fast Track: GOP Lawmakers Rush Tax-Cut Plan
GOP lawmakers dropped a tax-cut plan yesterday that they hoped to get through the Legislature by tomorrow. What’s the rush? Well, maybe they just didn’t want a lot of testimony complaining that the legislation will cost the state $38 million next year and will grow to $538 million when fully implemented in 2018, according to…
Clever Music Video of the Day
I can’t quite decide whether I think the song is sort of fun or incredibly annoying, but even with the sound off, the video for Kraak & Smaak’s “Squeeze Me” is quite clever. Kraak & Smaak from WEAREWILL on Vimeo. [Laughing Squid]
Slashing the State: Kiss the Arts Goodbye!
When Gov. Jan Brewer released her proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, officials at the Arizona Commission on the Arts had to do a double-take. The state general funding for the commission had been cut from $665,000 to zero. “We did not see this coming,” said Bob Booker, executive director of the Arizona Commission…
You’re Likely Having a Better Day at Work Than Misery Bear
Oh, Misery Bear…so adorable, but so miserable.
Let’s Take a Minute to Appreciate the Genius of Ronaldo
Slate has a nice tribute to Brazilian soccer player Ronaldo, whose strange career mixing brilliance and disappointment came to an end with his retirement today: Ronaldo’s 1996-97 season with Barcelona was the sort of event in sports that you simply can’t count on witnessing. Rather than lamenting that it didn’t happen again, we should be…
Foodies Rejoice! Pasco Kitchen and Lounge Is Open!
Pasco Kitchen and Lounge opened last night! There’s a lot to say about Chef Ramiro Scavo’s first restaurant, but for now, I’m just going to observe a moment of silence and let the restaurant’s menu do the talking. All right, the moment’s over. Did you see that they serve chicken-and-waffles, gourmet tater-tots and spiced pumpkin…
Jon Wolf Backs Off
Late this afternoon, photographer Jon Wolf issued a statement to some media sources regarding his copyright litigation regarding the portrait he took of Jan. 8 shooting victim Christina-Taylor Green: About a half hour later, at 4:20 p.m., we received this statement from Jon Wolf: “My actions regarding this matter have been misunderstood and sadly mischaracterized.…
Maybe the Arizona Senate’s Not Completely Insane
Sure, as anyone knows, no stupid idea is dead in the Arizona Legislature, but Random Musings is reporting that SB 1526, one of the multiple “birther” bills floating around died in the Judiciary Committee today: Republicans John McComish, Adam Driggs, and Rick Murphy joined Sinema and Gallardo in questioning the expansiveness of the bill and…
Flake Announces Run For Kyl’s Seat
No great surprise: Congressman Jeff Flake says he’ll run for the U.S. Senate seat held by the retiring Jon Kyl: U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona has announced he is a candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 2012. Flake made the announcement Monday in Phoenix at the same hotel where Republican Sen.…
This Flan Is Amazing
After I ate a slice of this flan, I could not stop thinking about it for a day. This flan taught me that flan fresh from the oven practically vaporizes in the mouth. I’m considering going back for another slice so I can spend another day thinking about it. This flan was made by the…
Apparently the “Atlas Shrugged” Movie is Actually Happening
A few fun facts about the film adaptation of Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand’s very long 1957 novel. 1. The movie will be in three parts, although only the first volume currently has a scheduled release date. 2. At various times, famous people such as Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron, Russell Crowe, and Brad Pitt have been…
The Duality of Valentine’s Day Videos
Your call…the adorable TV Squad recap of television’s famous kisses and kissers: or FilmDrunk’s collection of the most disturbing filmed kisses of all time:
My Favorite New Website, Post-Grammys
Among the culturally aware crowd that reads this website, Arcade Fire are probably sort of a big deal. Sure, they once played Solar Culture, but now they’re about as big as an indie band is going to get, headlining festivals, getting endless coverage from NPR, etc. However, for a decidedly more mainstream part of America,…
Forde Found Guilty
According to various reports, after a day and a half of jury deliberations, Shawna Forde has been found guilty this morning of two counts of murder—and the state plans to seek the death penalty. Forde was accused of killing Raul Flores and his 9-year-old daughter, Bresenia Flores, in their Arivaca home.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Ralph Wiggum Style
Truly, nothing is more romantic than Ralph Wiggum discussing a valentine he received, in French. It has a picture of a train, after all:
Payday Loans: The Industry Arizona Can’t Kill
Seriously? Payday loans again? I guess there’s always lobbyist money hanging around to get things done in Phoenix. From the East Valley Tribune: Saying the demise of payday lending left a gap, a veteran legislator is proposing a new kind of consumer loan, one with higher interest rates than now allowed. Rep. Jim Weiers, R-Phoenix,…
NYT: Giffords “Making Progess Every Day”
The New York Times gives us the closest look yet at Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ recovery: PHOENIX — Representative Gabrielle Giffords, an eloquent speaker before she was shot in the head last month, is relearning the skill — progressing from mouthing words and lip-syncing songs to talking briefly by telephone to her brother-in-law in space. With…
‘Hello Gabby! Well, Hello Gabby!’
Daniel Buckley videotaped this message last night for U.S. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra in hopes she’d see it at breakfast this morning. From Daniel’s Facebook page: Just back from videotaping a message for Gabby Giffords from the audience of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. With a little luck she’ll see it at…
2nd Saturdays Downtown Tonight
The lineup for tonight’s 2nd Saturdays Downtown includes two restaurant openings (more on those here and here) a screening of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, a theatrical performance by Tucson’s Christian Youth Theater of Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka and live music galore. The event also includes art shows, drink specials, free marbles for kids,…
Want to See 300 Wine Bottles Break?
Sure you do. Who wouldn’t (besides the guy who had to clean it up)?
Artistic Range: Art After Dark at the Tucson Museum of Art
Meredith Hayes/Tucson Museum of Art It’s the debut night of Art After Dark, a new after-hour party at the Tucson Museum of Art. You’ve got four new exhibitions opening up, fire daredevils, performance artists, love confessions and more, all set to the music of DJ Carl Hanni. If you’re not going to see Snoop at…
Finally, I Know What the Most Popular Answer on Jeopardy Is!
My favorite thing about the internet is that if you wait around long enough, someone will spend an extensive amount of time researching the answer to a question that you’re too lazy to do the work to answer yourself. Today, that work has been done by Slate, as they dug through an archive of episodes…
Can Giffords Run for Kyl’s Seat?
The Washington Times suggests that Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is a “shoo-in” for Jon Kyl’s Senate seat if she decides to run: Any discussion of who’s likely to succeed outgoing Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona needs to factor in the following: If Rep. Gabrielle Giffords wants the seat, it’s hers. The three-term Democratic congresswoman explored the…
Valentine’s Day With the Super Friends
In what is probably a wild but delightful act of copyright infringement, Mark Anderson of the website Andertoons scanned and uploaded an entire box of Super Friends valentines from 1980 to cut out and give to the love of your life that won’t be upset by your sentiment being delivered by the Penguin. Sadly, I…
More Grist for Senate Speculation Mill: Fife Symington and Kurt Warner
Politico reports: Add one more name to the list of Republicans considering a run for Senate in Arizona: former Gov. Fife Symington. Symington, who served as governor for six years in the 1990s, told POLITICO Thursday afternoon that he considers the Senate an “interesting, fascinating place” and “wouldn’t rule out” a campaign in 2012. “I’ve…
Jennifer Allen on State’s 14th Amendment Babble
If you missed Jennifer Allen, executive director of Border Action Network, taking on the birthright-citizenship bills in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, you can watch Allen below explain the latest version of Arizona Legislature-crazy below. HB 2561 and SB 1309, if they pass, could define children as citizens if at least one…
Slashing the State: Cutting Back State Parks
Jim Nintzel Flagstaff’s Riordan Mansion is one state park that remains open. Budget shortages are nothing new for Arizona State Parks over the past few years, but Gov. Jan Brewer’s most recent state budget proposal is slashing the state parks system even more than usual. The most notable cut of the parks’ state-allocated funds shows…
Tonight: Kinch at Plush
I don’t know why they continue to call Phoenix home, when it’s obvious they would be more at home here in Tucson. Go to Plush tonight, check out the club’s new remodel, and check out Kinch, on at 9:30 p.m. You can listen to their music here, and even download their tunes for free. But…
The Black Keys Make Great Videos (Starring Corbin Bernsen)
I wasn’t a huge Black Keys fan until their most recent album Brothers came out last year, but I’m not sure I’ve listened to any disc more in the last six months or so. They’re skipping Tucson to play Mesa on their current run of shows, but I guess a stylish music video/trailer for a…
Who’ll Run for Kyl’s Seat?
Blog for Arizona gathers together the media speculation so far: The Arizona Republic Republicans Rep. Jeff Flake Rep. Trent Franks Former Rep. John Shadegg Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth Former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods Former Arizona Treasurer Dean Martin Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters Mesa Mayor Scott Smith Democrats…
Mubarak Steps Down (At Least, We Think So)
After yesterday’s “He’s qutting!” then the following “Wait, I don’t think he is, but he’s passing power to Suleiman”, I’m not sure what to believe, but watching the events unfold on Al Jazeera English is still incredibly exciting. Best of luck, Egypt.
NRA Head Has Interesting Perspective on the Tucson Shootings
Wayne LaPierre, if nothing else, is a dedicated spokesman for his organization, the National Rifle Association. He doesn’t bend, give in, or sway from his pro-gun beliefs ever, and at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, DC yesterday, he gave another impassioned speech that mentioned the events of January 8th. “If Tucson taught us…
Valentine Heartbreak: Tucson Ranked One of Least Romantic Cities
When it comes to romance, Tucson made the top 10 list of cities that have no clue. Photo Ryn Gargulinski Heart-shaped cactus add to Tucson’s romance At least that’s the verdict from Redbox, the large vending-machine-type contraptions outside of convenience stores where you can rent a DVD for cheap. Redbox based its romance ranking on…
Young Couple Donates $250,000 to Tucson Community Food Bank
This just in: A young couple has anonymously given the Community Food Bank a gift of $250,000 on behalf of their family. According to the food bank’s chief development officer, Pauline Hechler, “This is the largest one-time cash gift ever made to the food bank, and we are so grateful.” Hechler says the couple chose…
The Food Truck Diaries,Volume Seven: Planet of the Crepes
Small trailer, big crepes. When Tucson Weekly readers talk, we listen. So when somebody asked if there were food trucks serving something other than Mexican food or hot dogs, we knew it was time to head east. Way east. As in Tanque Verde Road and Camino Principal, where Planet of the Crepes spends its days…
Speaking of “Arrested Development”…
Five years ago today, Fox aired the last four episodes of Arrested Development on a Friday night. Against the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. An shameful last rites for one of the greatest television comedies of all time. Feel free to share your memories of the show in the comment section, but here’s mine:
Read a Long Story About “Party Down”, a Show You Should Have Watched
It’s a cliche at this point to talk about TV shows that didn’t the attention that it deserved, some mistakenly canceled work of genius that slipped under the popular radar. Arrested Development is the usual subject of these long-winded apologetics, but there’s new moment for Party Down, a show that made it two seasons on…
Have You Seen This Scientist?
I am a big fan of jokes in the form of posted signs. Also, Muppets, right? [Pleated Jeans]
Nope, Mubarak’s Sticking Around
Al Jazeera English: Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, has refused to step down from his post, saying that he will not bow to “foreign pressure” in a televised address to the nation. Mubarak announced that he had put into place a framework that would lead to the amendment of six constitutional articles in the address…
Epic Meal Time Make a Burrito Called “El Gigante”
I’m not going to lie, I wish I would have thought of making taco shells out of bacon.
No ‘Miracles’ on Saturday
The 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 12, performance of Invisible Theatre’s Miracles has been cancelled. The schedule is as follows: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday; 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 3 p.m., Sunday, through Sunday, Feb. 20. Invisible Theatre1400 N. First Ave. $25 general; one half-hour before curtain, tickets are half price, subject to availability.Runs 2…
RIP, Marvin Sease
Marvin Sease was from the era of gospel singers that ended up pursuing a career in R&B, but while Sease never made it big nationally, he made an interesting name for himself with a raunchier take on the genre in the late 80’s, including a minor hit with a ten minute track called “Candy Licker”…
HUB Restaurant and Ice Creamery Opens Saturday
If you like meat, ice cream and/or beer, the grand opening of HUB Restaurant and Ice Creamery at 266 E. Congress St. this weekend is the place to be. There’s more information here. The opening day menu includes honey-basil, oatmeal-and-cream, bourbon-syrup and nine other flavors of ice cream. The restaurant will eventually boast a 30-flavor…
Artistic Range: Einar and Jamex de la Torre at the Tucson Museum of Art. Plus: After-Hours Party!
“Bethlehem Boy,” 2007, blown glass, mixed media by Einar and Jamex de la Torre, will be on display in Borderlandia: Cultural Topographies by Einar and Jamex de la Torre, one of four shows opening Friday, Feb. 11, at the Tucson Museum of Art, 140 North Main Ave. Friday also marks the debut of TMA’s first…
Democrats: Arizona a “Prime Pick-Up Opportunity”
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee reacts to Sen. Jon Kyl’s announcement that he won’t seek reelection: Senator Kyl’s announcement has instantaneously catapulted Arizona to a prime pick-up opportunity for Senate Democrats this cycle. But more broadly, his retirement, Kay Bailey Hutchison’s retirement, Jim Talent’s reluctance to run, and the ongoing Republican civil war are four…
I Would Be Willing to Taste Your Super-Strong Beer, Scotland
Scottish brewer Brewdog is responsible for one of the worst beers I’ve ever tasted (one they seem to no longer make, which is good because it tasted like the ashes left over after a campfire), but in the era of “extreme” brewing, they’ve certainly upped the ante as far as alcohol content goes. Move over,…
Downtown Monkey Burger Opens Saturday
Tucson’s second Monkey Burger restaurant is set to open this Saturday in the former Burger City location at 47 N. Sixth Ave. The new location is said to have more bar seating than the Monkey Burger at 5350 E. Broadway Blvd. The menu is also expected to be a bit more expansive, although fans of…
Politico: Kyl To Call It Quits
Politico reports that U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl is set to retire: Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl will announce Thursday that he is not running for reelection in 2012. The second-ranking Republican in the Senate is expected to make the announcement at 12 p.m. ET from his home state of Arizona. A source close to the…
MSNBC: Mubarak to Step Down?
I won’t believe it until I see it happen on Al Jazeera English, but this is the headline at MSNBC right now:
Block Heads
In the beginning, in 1504, Albrecht Dürer created “Adam and Eve.” In an engraving he created them, and he saw that they were good. He set them in a lush Garden of Eden bursting with fruit trees; and he filled the garden with birds of the air, and everything that creeps upon the earth, cattle…
The Go! Team: Rolling Blackouts (Memphis Industries)
Brighton, England’s The Go! Team makes a propulsive, kinetic music, drawing together indie-pop, dancehall beats, hip-hop and all manner of samples and screeching guitar noise. What might be an ADD mess waiting to happen, instead, somehow, finds cohesion yet again on Rolling Blackouts. Music this scattered could only exist in the mash-up era, but by…
Weekly Wide Web
You probably should be nicer to people; The week on The Range; Comment of the week; Best of WWW; and more!
Amateur Power
I receive a veritable ton of printed books from publishers and writers kindly asking for reviews in the Tucson Weekly. (Hint: I have a Kindle. Just e-mail me a PDF, OK?) I’m unable to evaluate 90 percent for any number of reasons: limited space, limited schedule, the book has already been assigned to another reviewer,…
Ask a Mexican!
Dear Readers: Although many of you have loved and/or loathed my columna for years, the Mexican still finds new readers every week in the unlikeliest of spots (hola, Chattanooga! See you in August, inshallah!). As a result, I sometimes receive questions about the methodology of the column, questions all of us know the respuestas to…
Top Ten in Books
Mostly Books’ best-sellers for the week ending Feb. 4, 2011
Mailbag
A Fan of Danehy Jumps to His Defense; Thanks for the Memories, 17th Street; Correction
Lord of Illusions
Among this year’s three Oscar nominations for best animated films, there’s one that many might not recognize. Sylvain Chomet’s somber, beautiful The Illusionist managed to sneak in there and take a slot away from Hollywood animation behemoths like Tangled and Despicable Me. While I love me some Tangled, and feel it should’ve gotten nominated instead…
Keys to Hope
Terrence Wilson recalls the exact moment he fell in love. He was young, 8 or 9 years old at most. “I was playing with the radio dial and fell upon a classical piano station, and I was so mesmerized by the power and the beauty of the music and I knew I wanted to play…
Top Ten in Movies
Casa Video top rentals for the week ending Feb. 6, 2011
Deep Doo-Doo
The main selling point for Sanctum is that James Cameron produced it. But that doesn’t get this one very far. Of course, the by product of being a 3-D movie with Cameron’s name attached is the expectation that, if nothing else, it will at least look phenomenal. Sanctum comes up empty on that front. And…
Evolution
As Dan Gibson mentioned last week on the Weekly Wide Web page, some of us were recently in San Francisco for the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies’ annual Web Conference. Man, things have changed a lot in the eight years that I’ve had this gig. Back in early 2003, the Tucson Weekly was a weekly printed…
Now Showing at Home
Never Let Me Go (Blu-ray); Conviction (Blu-ray); It’s Kind of a Funny Story (Blu-ray)
Danehy
Things are looking up. Of the 20 or so e-mails I got after last week’s column in which I asked that the Confederacy not be glorified in this sesquicentennial anniversary of the start of the Civil War, only a couple tried to defend, in roundabout terms, the South’s military defense of slavery. Predictably, there were…
Courtyard Kitchen
Old Town Artisans is known for some of the neatest shopping in town- crafts from near and far, one-of-a-kind artwork, repurposed garden curios, lovely jewelry, unique clothing … you get the idea. Located in the historic El Presidio neighborhood, the adobe building itself is more than 150 years old. If you’ve never been, check it…
Downing
We think we are tough, but we are not. We think we are like gods, but we are just poor featherless bipeds when the gas goes off and the pipes freeze. Usually, swaddled in my pleasant, middle-class American cocoon of house, car and office—all insulated and heated, mostly—I rather like being reminded that Nature can…
Noshing Around
Noble Hops Gastropub; Campus Candy; Vito’s Pizza Kitchen; Whiskey, Scotch and Rye
Guest Commentary
The nativists’ attack on birthright citizenship, not surprisingly, has at its heart a big lie. That lie is clearly stated in H.R. 140, the legislation introduced in the U.S. House, and sponsored (so far) by 45 members, to “correct” the interpretation of the 14th Amendment. In Section 2(b) of the bill, it reads: “Acknowledging the…
Kick-Ass Sexy
According to Evie Evil, after a couple of decades of female empowerment in the arena of aggressive music, women in her chosen art form are “a dying breed.” “We are few,” says the bass player, songwriter, singer and guiding force behind the Los Angeles-based band Evil Beaver. She hopes, however, that her assertive presence will…
The Fight Continues
The 11 ethnic-studies teachers figured they’d ask one more time if the Tucson Unified School District would reconsider fighting HB 2281 with them and join the teachers in their lawsuit against the state Superintendent of Public Instruction and the state Board of Education. Now, Richard Martinez, the attorney for the 11 teachers, is getting ready…
Soundbites
Buy local; On the bandwagon
The Skinny
City Manager Mike Letcher makes one last stab at a rental tax; Sen. Jon Kyl looks like a shoo-in for reelection, if he decides to run; Obama beats Palin among Arizona voters; and so very much more!
Top Ten in Music
The 17th St. Guitar and World Music Store’s top sales for the week ending Feb. 4, 2011
Media Watch
Tu Nidito rejects funds from photo licensing litigation
Nine Questions
Sarah Terpening is a local music fiend who can often be found downtown taking in the sights and sounds of Tucson’s finest. When she’s not recovering from last night’s show, she spends her time working for the Presbyterian Church, pretending to understand football, and making snarky comments on the Internet. What was the first concert…
Resident Angst
They roam the airwaves of prime-time TV, and the University Medical Center’s hushed hallways. Charts in hand, stethoscopes draped around their necks, they are doctors-in-training, and they’re required to work shifts that put the rest of us to shame—up to 80 hours a week for some, often in 24-hour stretches. Over time, this hardcore training…
City Week
A 10-year perspective of Humane Borders; Humane Society of Southern Arizona benefit; Discussion of Urrea’s Into the Beautiful North; Music Is the Weapon documentary series
Live
All you really need to know about Phil Spector is in his 1960 demo of “Spanish Harlem.” It was that spirit that lifted Kiss and the Tells out of the realm of a wedding band Saturday night. Precisely raw, expert musicianship, with just enough instrumentation to suggest a hundred more layers, buoyed a selection of…
Steering City Hall
Democrat Jonathan Rothschild recently announced he would make his political debut with a run for mayor this year. Here’s an edited outtake from a recent interview; find more Q&A with Rothschild at The Range, Tucson Weekly’s daily dispatch. Who is Jonathan Rothschild? Jonathan Rothschild is a third-generation Tucsonan. His grandmother came here in 1942, a…
T Q&A
Bryan Davis
Ebsen and the Witch: Violet Cries (Matador)
As a study in atmospherics, Violet Cries works. On “Hexagons IV,” a spectral piano riff leads into stormy cymbal crashes. The band creates narrative through mood and atmosphere. “Hexagons IV” sounds like a doomed seafarer’s tale, using the texture of sound to describe haunted islands, violent waves, sinking galleons. Rachel Davies’ moody siren vocals are…
Sunny Future?
While the local economy boomed during a few of the last 10 years, overall the period was pretty much a bust. As a result, future economic trends don’t appear very positive, but some observers believe things can improve. Over the last decade, partially because of the severe recession, the local unemployment rate nearly doubled to…
Autism and American Culture
In Invisible Theatre’s latest production, a young woman with physical limitations and antisocial behavior has become a strain on her family, but a gifted teacher is helping her to communicate through her hands. No, it’s not The Miracle Worker. It’s Miracles, a 1997 play by Missouri writer Frank Higgins. Higgins clearly draws inspiration from the…
… music video?: If This TV Could Talk (Self-Released)
In a nutshell, … music video?’s third album, If This TV Could Talk, is full of electro-pop R&B jams about, naturally, ladies. More specifically, Paul Jenkins, Wes McCanse and J. Lugo Miller have crafted an impeccably-produced collection of songs that are equally listenable in a club setting or a candlelit bathtub. They’ve traded in the…
Police Dispatch
Shitzophrenia; Peep show with eggs
Listen to the Dark Sounds of Dead Neon
We have a number of quite talented people writing for us at the Tucson Weekly, including a number of our music scribes who fittingly have bands of their own. While the world is still forced to wait for my DC Talk tribute band “Nu Thang”, you can listen to Jarret Keene’s Las Vegas based apocalyptic…
That Was Fast: Rep. Lee of New York Resigns
Married congresspersons who rant about the decline of family values, when will you ever learn? Probably a bad idea to send half-naked photos of yourself via email. Rep. Christopher Lee is a married Republican congressman serving the 26th District of New York. But when he trolls Craigslist’s “Women Seeking Men” forum, he’s Christopher Lee, “divorced”…
Wildly Frightening Craigslist Job Post of the Day
If you’re in the area of Speedway and Swan, I’m not sure whether you should feel safer or not that “RANGE RESCUE” will soon be on the beat, patrolling your area. I’m leaning towards NOT SAFE AT ALL. STARTING ARMED MILITIA UNITS FOR ALL METRO PIMA COUNTY WILL BE SERCHING FOR DRUG DEALERS,BURGLARS AND VANDALIZERS…
Election 2011: An Extended Interview With Mayoral Candidate Jonathan Rothschild
In this week’s TW, I have an interview with Democrat Jonathan Rothschild, who recently announced he would make his political debut with a run for mayor this year. Here’s a longer version of the Q&A, edited for clarity. Democrat Jonathan Rothschild: “I don’t think there’s any question that our basic services—our police, our fire, our…
Finally, Ghostbusters 3 (Except Not Really)
1) I don’t want to know what they’re going to do with those proton packs. 2) I would say a number of “Gatekeeper/Keymaster” jokes are certain, with a “crossing streams” remark somewhat likely. 3) If there’s a sequel, I’d imagine Bobby Brown is available to do the theme. [Splitsider]
Yuma Courthouse Named For Judge John Roll
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously voted to name the new federal courthouse in Yuma after John Roll, the federal judge who was slain in last month’s shooting rampage. A press release from Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ office: The U.S. House of Representatives, with strong support from U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ office, unanimously passed bipartisan legislation…
‘Operation Immigration’ App, Woman Tries to Mail Puppy and More: Rynski radio at Party934
Updated with playlist and download at bottom of post.A Minneapolis woman wanted to surprise her son with a new puppy as a gift. So she stuck the puppy in a tightly sealed box and tried to mail it to her son in Georgia. Photo Ryn Gargulinski Dogs do better when you don’t send them in…
