Cover Story
His Story
Del Hendrixson is not ashamed to talk about spending almost a year in federal prison for committing what he calls a “federal humanitarian crime.” The 64-year-old with a Southern drawl beams when he talks about his charity, which helps at-risk people by taking prison art and designs and turning them into commercial products. He comfortably…
Critter of the Week [Dog Edition]: Molly
Molly is a six-year-old shepherd mix. Meet Molly, a marvelous senior Shepherd ready to fill your home with love and cheer. Brought to the Humane Society after her beloved owner passed away, Molly is now hoping to find a supportive and understanding best friend. Molly adores people of all ages, including children, and also delights…
If You’re Betting on O’Reilly Interruptions, Always Take the Over
I had 36 in the “Tucson Weekly ‘How Many Times Will Bill O’Reilly Interrupt President Obama?’ Office Pool”. Honestly, I’m not sure what I was thinking, but 48? Bill O’Reilly, you’ve outdone yourself. [Wonkette]
Giffords Speaks, Her Staff Continues to Serve
The big news today is that Gabrielle Giffords asked for toast with her breakfast today, a remarkable achievement considering the severity of her injury. In a way, however, Politico tells a bigger story: how Giffords’ staff has persevered and continued to serve their constituents in the midst of massive media interest and their congresswoman’s struggle:…
Today’s Oprah is Going to Be Awesome, Seriously
While I could not care less about Luke and Laura from General Hospital or Mrs. Chancellor from Young and the Restless, getting together all of Erica Kane’s husbands on one stage might qualify as one of the television events of the year. For your reference, here’s Wikipedia’s list of Erica Kane’s marriages from All My…
A Stream of 67 Slow Jams on a Infinite Loop for Valentine’s Day
While NPR’s general music aesthetic can be a bit dubious at times (I like Iron & Wine too, but I GET IT ALREADY, THANKS) and there are some super shady inclusions in this mix (Aerosmith’s “Crazy” and Billy Joel’s “Just The Way You Are” , really? Really?), but if you’re looking to get some action…
The Risky Business Location in Oro Valley Is Closed
The owner of the local Risky Business restaurants says the chain restaurants that have been popping up along Oracle Road have made it necessary for him to close his Oro Valley location. From the press release: “The closing is a direct result of a substantial decrease in sales at this location due to the opening…
Your Wednesday Midday Adorable Video Break
Won’t someone let these red pandas in the house? Seriously.
Now Open: Taqueria el Pueblito
I’ve been quite excited about the opening of Taqueria el Pueblito. The information on Mercado San Agustin’s website has made it sound as if the place would sell some truly unique food, which it might at some point. The menu I was handed during my visit this morning was no different than what one finds…
Single People, This Chart is for You
I’ve been married for awhile, so I can’t speak to the general effectiveness of using OKCupid as a dating site, but the research they’re doing seems useful, at very least: [HT: I Love Charts]
Scientology Head David Miscavige is a Frightening Man
The New Yorker’s massive article about Oscar winning screenwriter Paul Haggis and his association with Scientology is a fascinating read, pulling together a lot of the revelations about the organization that have been revealed over the last few years. Scientology takes quite a beating in the article, but the most damaging aspects are focused on…
Love Private Prisons? Think Again
American Friends Service Committee, its partners and volunteers plan a legislative delegation and press conference on the Arizona Capitol House Lawn on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 11 a.m., to remind lawmakers that prison privatization is a bad investment. From the press release: In the same week that one of the Kingman escapees went to New…
Do You Like Poetry? I Mean Do You Really Like Poetry?
I wonder if the Tucson Poetry Festival considered an Al Valenzuela-style commerical for their spring fundraiser: “Do you like poetry? I mean do you really like poetry?” On Friday, Feb. 11, these poetry peeps are serving up Salsa and Tequila, 7 p.m. at 1336 E. 12th St., between Highland and Park, south of Broadway. From…
Critter of the Week [Cat Edition]: Sassy Cat!
Sassy is a ten-year-old domestic medium-hair kitty. She’s also a certified cutie. Sassy doesn’t act her age. By the way this rambunctious girl plays you wouldn’t believe she’s a day over one. Curious, cordial and brimming with love, Sassy will follow you around all day and let out content grunts whenever you scratch her chin.…
More From the Files of ‘You Can’t Make this Crap Up’
The Arizona Republic reported today that former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas is suing state officials for $23.5 million for personal and professional damages from the conflicts he had with county and state officials. You can read the story here. Takeaway: Tuesday’s claim, filed with a state agency, is Thomas’ second. On Jan. 24, he…
Buy a Cool Drawing, Help Tucson’s Homeless Youth
I can’t pretend that I know enough about comic books to know who Francis Manapul is, but I trust the guys from Heroes and Villains that he’s a big deal, plus the funds from this auction go to a great cause: He showed us his vision of a better future on LEGION OF SUPERHEROES… He…
Missouri’s Battle Over Puppy Mills
Only half joking, I’m a little afraid to post this, because I think the Arizona Legislature will move to try to pick up the leftover puppy mill business Missouri is leaving behind. The Week Magazine has an interesting round-up the balance between responsible dog breeders and those less concerned with animal welfare: An estimated 30…
Mark Kelly Posts on Rep. Giffords’ Facebook Page
From Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ Facebook page: It is hard to believe that only one month has passed since Gabrielle was shot. The doctors say she is recovering at lightning speed considering her injury but they aren’t kidding when they say this is a marathon process. There are encouraging signs everyday though. Gabby’s appetite is back…
Cosmic Origins: Everything You Always Wanted To Know About the Big Bang But Were Afraid To Ask. Bonus: Bill O’Reilly!
Last week’s debut lecture in the UA College of Science’s Cosmic Origins series was so crowded that they had to turn away some folks at the door of Centennial Hall—and others had to settle for sitting the aisles. This is a hot ticket on Tuesday nights. 100% free. Tonight, you can learn how it all…
How Do You Like Your iPhone Now, Verizon Fans?
After hearing from every AT&T hater (and I get it, they are a lousy provider) that the Verizon iPhone was going to be brought down from smartphone heaven by angels and unicorns, I found an odd sense of satisfaction from Verizon essentially pulling the same tricks to preserve their bandwidth: The launch of the iPhone…
AZ Republic Recounts Tucson Shooting Rampage
It’s the one-month anniversary of the shooting rampage that shattered so many lives in our community. The Arizona Republic is running a series that examines how the day unfolded: It begins with a phone call. Hi, this is Gabby Giffords . . . Supporters will gather for a quick photo. A few worried voters have…
A Mild Bit of Poetic Justice From the Animal Kingdom
Cockfighting is about as deplorable as acts between man and animals get, so there’s seemingly some karmic retribution going on here: A man attending an illegal cockfight died after being stabbed by a rooster. The incident occurred during a cockfight in which birds are strapped with razor-like knives to fight each other, often times to…
Based on Yesterday’s Judiciary Committee Hearing, It’s Going to Be a Long Two Years
Craig McDermott from Random Musings covered yesterday’s wildly frustrating Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on SB1308 and SB1309, anti-14th Amendment bills that even the bill’s sponsor Ron Gould admits would have no real effect unless the federal government acts, and it sounds like a delightful day of pseudo-legislating: Before a packed meeting room, the Judiciary Committee…
Finally! Sushi in Overly Complex Candy Form!
Suddenly, the bag of gummi bears I bought at Walgreens seems so dated and sad. [HT: Reddit]
Groupon Responds to “Your Ad Totally Sucked” Criticism
From Groupon’s blog: When we think about commercials that offend us, we think of those that glorify antisocial behavior — like the scores of Super Bowl ads that are built around the crass objectification of women. Unlike those ads, no one walks away from our commercials taking the causes we highlighted less seriously. Not a…
There’s No Pleasing the Fox Nation
Barack Obama went on Fox News for an interview with Bill O’Reilly and this was the response from the network’s official fan page:
Great, Now We’ve Upset the Sharks
The good news is that shark attacks are still a relatively rare phenomenon. The bad news is that shark attacks were up 25% in 2010 and there are two particularly mean sharks in the Red Sea. Still, humans are still totally winning the war with sharks: Burgess also emphasized that while sharks claim an average…
Congrats, Nimbus. You’re Our State’s Super-Semi-Official Beer
While any popular vote poll can be a little suspect, it’s nice to see that the readers of Good magazine recognize that Tucson has the rest of our state beat on the micro-brewery front. However, if the best Florida has going for it is Landshark, that’s another reason for me never to move there.
The Last Days of the UMC Memorial
While shrines popped up across the city in the wake of the Jan. 8 shooting rampage, it seemed to me that the shattered heart of our city could be found on UMC’s front lawn, where so many people came to deliver their flowers, trinkets and word of hope. Photographer extraordinaire and TW intern Josh Morgan…
Americans Agree on One Thing: Hating the Black Eyed Peas
From ESPN: While it looks like New Mexico is the outlier right now in not assigning the Black Eyed Peas a failing grade for their halftime show at the Super Bowl, it’s currently a tie between “D” and “F” at 29% there. In Arizona, the vote is 15% “A”, 17% “B”, 17% “C”, 18% “D”,…
Gabe Zimmerman’s Fiancée Calls for Smaller Bullet Magazines
Kelly O’Brien, who was engaged to Gabe Zimmerman, appears on Good Morning America to say that the Arizona Legislature should limit the sale of high-capacity magazines for for guns: Nearly one month after she lost her fiancé Gabe Zimmerman to a bullet in a Tucson, Ariz. parking lot Kelly O’Brien called on the Arizona state…
In Case You Were Really Confused by Those Groupon Ads
While there were a number of Super Bowl ads that were mystifying in a marketing sense, it was difficult to understand what the people at Groupon were thinking, connecting their brand to some sort of indifference to global issues in exchange for a passion for bargains. While that might be a largely accurate assessment of…
Welcome to an Exciting Day at the Legislature
Happy Monday! Random Musings’ recap of the bills to be heard in the Arizona Senate Judiciary committee is wildly depressing: Judiciary will meet on Monday in SHR1 upon adjournment of Rules. This one is nearly *all* ugly, even though a few bills were removed from the agenda (and even those were bad). On the agenda:…
Eat, Drink and Help
Tavolino Ristorante Italiano will donate the proceeds from two happy hours during the coming week to help those affected by the tragedy last month. The restaurant was located in the Safeway shopping center where the shooting took place before moving to its current location at 2890 E. Skyline Drive. “The Safeway shopping center is where…
Conservative Conundrum: Satisfying The Base Ain’t Easy. Plus: Sarah Palin’s Presidential Fortunes in AZ
Hank Stephenson Public Policy Polling does a survey that reveals why’s it’s so difficult to win by running to the left of an incumbent in a GOP primary: Jon Kyl is one Republican Senator who doesn’t appear to be at serious risk of a Tea Party challenge, but our polling about such a prospect says…
The Idiot Boksen – Week 5
Sunday may be the last NFL game any of us sees for a while due to a likely lockout next season. In a nutshell, the NFL Players Association (which may be the weakest union in the history of unions) wants to maintain the status quo (in which their players have awful benefits and literally kill…
The Arrested Development Movie Might Happen This Year
I’m sure this announcement is just a cruel joke designed to crush my emotions down the road, but for now, I’m going to be excited by what Digital Spy reported today: Mitch Hurwitz has revealed that he wants to have the Arrested Development movie in cinemas by the end of this year. Hurwitz, who created…
Take-Aways From the Mark Kelly/NASA Press Conference
The director is discussing the progress of Rep. Giffords and how her progress is allowing Mark Kelly to train and fly. At the time of the shooting, Mark Kelly assumed he would likely still be at Giffords’ bedside in the ICU at this point. The doctors told him to expect that she would have a…
That New Starbucks Cup Holds a Lot
In case you were wondering if the new Starbuck Trenta cup would hold an entire bottle of wine, someone has done the experiment for you.
Jon Stewart and Justin Bieber Go All Freaky Friday
At this point, I think we might all be legally required to have Bieber fever. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c <td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'Intro – Justin Bieber and Jon Switch Bodies www.thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog The Daily Show on Facebook
Mark Kelly Will Head Into Space in April
From NASA: NASA astronaut Mark Kelly will resume training as commander of the STS-134 space shuttle mission on Monday, Feb. 7. With the exception of some proficiency training, Kelly has been on personal leave since Jan. 8 to care for his wife, congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was critically wounded in a Tucson, Ariz. shooting. “I…
Redistricting Update: Disclosure Problems for Rick Stertz?
Mary Jo Pitzl of the Arizona Republic digs up some old legal problems that Rick Stertz, one of two candidates for the Independent Redistricting Commission, had back in the late ’80s: A candidate on Senate President Russell Pearce’s short list for a committee to redraw Arizona’s political boundaries failed to disclose tax liens and court…
Tucson Audubon Society’s Institute of Desert Ecology
Now in its 41st year, the Audubon Society will be holding the annual Institute of Desert Ecology program. Beginning Apr. 28 and continuing through May 1, the four day program studies Sonoran Desert ecosystems, specifically the relationships between plants, animals and physical characteristics of the desert. “This is a chance to learn about North America’s…
Tucson Streetcar Fits the Bill for Shopping Therapy Thrill
When you’re down in the dumps — broke, depressed, bleak and weary — there’s a surefire way to lift your spirits. Shopping, shopping, shopping therapy. Photo Ryn Gargulinski Tucson’s new streetcar is bigger but not as cute. It never matters that we neither need nor can afford whatever we buy, nothing beats the blues like…
Artistic Range: Second Annual Tucson Sculpture Festival
How does sculptures coming to life and messing with a guy who is none the wiser sound? What about an interactive live performance by a man named Andy and a literal ton of welded sculpture instruments? Add those with 45 artists showcasing 300 pieces of sculpture and a couple extra local bands in the mix,…
Game Review: Visceral Steps up the Action in Dead Space 2
“Dead Space 2” is the next chapter in Isaac’s quest to solve the mysteries of the Markers. Players will once again assume control of Isaac Clarke, an engineer who survived the necromorph outbreak aboard the Ishimura. The story in “Dead Space 2” is full of subtle intricacies that returning franchise veterans will pick up on.…
Your Cold Pueblo Update: Many TUSD Schools Closed Tomorrow
From TUSD: Due to weather related conditions, which include many broken water pipes and issues with no heat, Tucson Unified School District will be closing the following schools for Friday, February 4, 2011: Elementary Schools: * Banks * Blenman * Borman * Borton * Carrillo * Cavett * Collier * Corbett * Ft. Lowell/Townsend *…
I Don’t Feel Good About the “On the Road” Movie
Maybe it’ll be great, but seeing Kristen Stewart as Mary Lou and Garrett Hedlund, the lead from Tron: Legacy, as Dean Moriarty in the new press photos from the long awaited film version of On the Road isn’t entirely encouraging. A French site has two other photos as well, which wisely focus on Stewart, since…
If Your Heat is Out, There Are Warm Places to Go
From the City of Tucson: Two community shelter locations have been established to provide a warm place for families to stay overnight. Pantano Christian Church, 10355 E. 29th Street will be open at 5 p.m. and can accept people without pets. Service animals are exempt. The Udall Recreation Center, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road will…
‘What Would You Do?’ Episode Taped at BK Carne Asada and Hot Dogs Airs Tomorrow
How did patrons at BK Carne Asada and Hot Dogs react when an actor posing as a security guard racially profiled another group of actors posing as a Hispanic family? Let’s roll the tape and find out! “Are you flipping kidding me?” yells Rebecca Russ, a restaurant patron who gets in the guard’s face. “You…
Tucson Shooting Victims Aren’t Immune to Health Care Concerns
NY Times: Mary Reed, who was shot three times that morning, said her insurer, through her husband’s job at the University of Arizona, had been unusually responsive and accommodating since the shooting, approving medicines and services in 24 hours, significantly faster than usual. One concern she has, though, is whether her 17-year-old daughter, who was…
Arizona Basketball Fans, You Could Learn Something From Utah State
The Zona Zoo concept is all well and good, but is there a fan wearing Disney merchandise to distract opposing free throw shooters? Not that I recall.
House GOP Drops Effort to Redefine Rape, But Pushes New Abortion Restrictions
TPM notes that Congressional Republicans have dropped an effort to redefine rape, but are pushing for new abortion restrictions: The altered bill language will be undoubtedly be seen by some as a victory for pro-choice activists. But the bill still contains numerous provisions that appear to dramatically expand federal limits on abortion funding. The new…
Will Cathi Herrod Ever Apologize?
Sure, the video below from Soulforce is three years old, but it’s still a good reminder that those who work to destroy the lives of LGBT people and their families have a lot of explaining to do and why we need to start demanding that they stop and apologize. Which reminds me of the Center…
Christiane Amanpour Talks to President Mubarak
According to ABC News, Hosni Mubarak is “fed up with being president” of Egypt: I’ve just left the presidential palace in Cairo where I sat down for an exclusive 30-minute interview with President Hosni Mubarak. He told me that he is troubled by the violence we have seen in Tahrir Square over the last few…
Laurie Roberts: Arizona “About To Pitch Headfirst Over The Edge and Into the Gorge”
The Arizona Republic’s Laurie Roberts sizes up the Arizona Legislature: Our leaders are obsessed with the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution yet strangely uninterested in Article 11, Section 10 of the Arizona Constitution – the part that says the Legislature must improve and properly maintain public schools. Or Article 11, Section 6, the part…
Southwest Gas: Conserve, Please, If You Have Natural Gas
From Southwest Gas: Tucson and Sierra Vista Customers Experiencing Outage. Due to the unusually cold weather throughout many parts of the country, Arizona’s natural gas supply has been impacted. In the Tucson area, natural gas customers in the Rita Ranch and eastern foothills areas, and those in the Sierra Vista area south of Buffalo Soldier…
Bad Idea, Kenneth Cole. Bad Idea
If you thought there wasn’t a marketing person in the world who would try to make a quick buck off the struggle for democracy in Egypt, you’ve wildly underestimated the depths of American greed! Just a few minutes ago, whoever is running the Kenneth Cole feed responded to the collective outrage of the internet by…
Happy Birthday, Sergio Mendoza
It’s Tucson bandleader Sergio Mendoza’s birthday today, so why not celebrate with some mambo (from his group’s performance at last year’s Tammies)?
It’s Really Cold. Here’s Two Dogs Playing Tetherball
The Old Pueblo? More like the Cold Pueblo? Am I right? While we try to warm up this morning, why not enjoy the site of two corgis playing tetherball? [Fark]
Mark Kelly at the National Prayer Breakfast
“Maybe something good can come from all this.”
Foreigner’s Coming to Town! Hide Your Wives!
While it’s not exactly the band’s heyday or the classic lineup, there’s still something to be said for a band that was once as big as Foreigner playing the Rialto Theatre. Sure, former singer Lou Gramm won’t be there, but as far as I’ve heard, his conversion to Christianity keeps Gramm from playing the group’s…
Black Owls: June ’71 (Amish Girls)
Somebody recommended several weeks back that I check out Black Owls, a band from Ohio, describing the music as a mixture of psychedelic blues and glam-punk. Good call. The band’s second album shows off a sense of classic, take-no-prisoners rock ‘n’ roll, with an undercurrent of just enough artsy pretention. The rambling poetry and insouciance…
Revolution Viewed Through Tumblr
Revolution viewed through Tumblr; The week on The Range; Comment of the week; Best of WWW; and more!
Iron and Wine: Kiss Each Other Clean (Warner Bros.)
The spacey neon album cover of Kiss Each Other Clean announces the 22nd-century version of Iron and Wine, but it’s not a reinvention so much as another wave of progression from those home-taped, four-track roots. For a songwriter—Sam Beam—who arrived so fully formed that his acclaimed debut record was literally just a batch of demos,…
¡Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: My gabacho friends look at me askance for being a gabacho who enjoys mariachi music. Even some of my Mexican friends run and hide when I go a step further and start listening to the mournful ballads of Vicente Fernández, backed up by—you guessed it—a mariachi band. Not that the music of my…
Collision of Countries
British journalist Ed Vulliamy remains fascinated by the line in the desert, “the contradiction of porous and hard” that allows two countries to crash into each other in a place he calls “Amexica.” Vulliamy is flying across the pond this week to share his perspective on this place which piques his fascination, and led him…
City Week
Brain Teasers 2; The next word in poetry: a reading by Rusty Morrison and Fred Moten; UA’s 35th annual Viscom exhibition; Warehouse stomp
T Q&A
Lon Huber
Mailbag
A Letter to Rep. Terri Proud
Controversial vs. Quirky
The complexities and contradictions of life are illustrated in two very different late-night shows on Tucson’s stages: the stirring, tragic My Name Is Rachel Corrie, part of Live Theatre Workshop’s Etcetera series, and the lighter Interrogating the Nude, at Beowulf Alley’s Late Night Theatre. My Name Is Rachel Corrie began its controversial life in London…
What Possessed Them?
There have been a lot of movies about demon possessions and exorcisms in recent years—and The Rite might be the best of that bunch. But that doesn’t mean the movie is all that good. It can’t hold an altar candle to The Exorcist or The Evil Dead, but it is better than trash like The…
Young People
One of the cool things about this gig is the opportunity to work with a variety of young writers. This week’s cover story was first pitched to me last semester by UA student Tammy Stephens when I visited one of her journalism classes, taught by Jay Rochlin, an assistant professor at the UA School of…
Risky Business
It’s a rare thrill to witness a fully produced world premiere of a new play. Quite generously, Arizona Theatre Company has invited us to attend the birth of Ten Chimneys, by Jeffrey Hatcher. ATC and Hatcher have enjoyed a rather extensive relationship. The theater has produced several of his plays, including Dr. Jekyll and Mr.…
Now Showing at Home
Enter the Void (Blu-ray); Alice in Wonderland: 60th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray + DVD Combo); Nowhere Boy (Blu-ray)
Danehy
In Alexandria, Va., there is a bronze plaque that one would think should embarrass the residents of that city almost as much as the prominent statue of murderer Pancho Villa embarrasses us Tucsonans. And yet it doesn’t. In the early days of the Civil War, a giant Confederate flag flew over the Marshall House hotel…
Art on the Rise
Mike Stack started out as a figurative painter. Not realistic, mind you. His shows at Davis Dominguez Gallery once featured cacti billowing out into globe-like shapes, and little girls occupying a surrealistic desertscape. But some years back, Stack pared back, and then pared some more. His landscapes gave way to lines—nothing but lines, hundreds and…
Pie Time
Picture it: Saturday afternoon, around lunchtime. Downtown Tucson. In your mind’s eye, you’re probably seeing … well, not much of anything. There are lots of closed restaurants—places whose doors are only open for dinner on a non-workday like this—perhaps a few pedestrians, and maybe a tour group of some sort. And that’s it. That is,…
Downing
My husband says he’s sick of the whole topic, so I’m not going to write about the shootings, or about the people of Tucson, or the shock and shame and horror, or about the moral. (“Guns don’t kill people; paranoid schizophrenics do.”). Nor will I write about the sheer now-ness of first getting the news…
An Improbable Decision
In 2003, Susan and Tim Pohlman’s marriage was on the brink of collapse. They’d tried and failed at marital counseling, and their life had become a battle zone of hellacious fights and wounded feelings. Susan was secretly consulting a divorce attorney. In May of that year, however, they found themselves putting up a brave but…
Noshing Around
Lindy’s at Redline Sports Grill; Flight Grill; Cooking With Janos; Anti-Valentine’s Tasting
Guest Commentary
I don’t like guns. Before you erupt in outrage, let me clarify: I respect the Second Amendment. I’m a liberal Democrat, but I don’t want to take away anybody’s guns. I just wish Americans would leave their guns at home a little more often. I feel this way because of my own experiences. I’m not…
Top Ten in Books
Antigone Books’ best-sellers for the week ending Jan. 28, 2011
Respectfully Irreverent
Cloaked in moody shadows and leavened with subtle humor, the music of Murder by Death approaches country, blues and folk-rock with equal amounts of respect and irreverence. Combining those styles with seemingly out-of-left-field touches—mariachi horns, Irish and gypsy melodies, Southern Gothic atmospherics and a freewheeling sense of vaudevillian showmanship—the group from Bloomington, Ind., makes what…
Media Watch
Michaels presumably not laughing as format change pushes him to HD; KRQQ tops latest ratings
A Peek Into Lives
Writer/director Mike Leigh brings together another fine assortment of realistically lived-in characters in Another Year: a therapist and her geologist husband. Her co-worker who is more in need of companionship than her next drink. The couple’s son, other friends and relations. While this is not his best or most memorable work, Leigh’s latest is nevertheless…
Soundbites
This week at Hoco; And across the street …; On the bandwagon
The Rigid Code
For a year now, Karin Elliott has been feeding the homeless twice a week from the back of her truck in the parking lots of two city parks. After discovering a friend was homeless, Elliott decided she wanted to help. She noticed that many Tucson homeless people congregate in city parks, so she decided to…
Top Ten in Movies
Casa Video’s top rentals for the week ending Jan. 30, 2011
Top Ten in Music
Zia Records’ top sales for the week ending Jan. 30, 2011
The Skinny
The long-distance recall effort against Sheriff Clarence Dupnik has begun … City Councilwoman Regina Romero now has two Democratic challengers … more ways you can help the victims of the Jan. 8 shooting rampage … and more!
Nine Questions
Sean Madrid
Unjust Cuts
On Jan. 4, attorneys with Southern Arizona Legal Aid boxed files, packed briefcases and vacated their offices in an old tile-roofed building on a busy Nogales thoroughfare. Their clients—many of the area’s poorest citizens—were advised to find their way 60 miles north to Tucson for legal assistance. Closing the Santa Cruz County branch after 25…
Live
Chris Brashear and Peter McLaughlin; Suite 147 in Plaza Palomino; Saturday, Jan. 29
Deadly Tensions
Major disagreements surround many aspects of the August 1918 battle of Nogales. However, it’s certain that more than 250 men of the 10th Cavalry—a black unit with white officers—played a major role in the fighting. Established in 1866 by an act of Congress, the 10th Cavalry—one of the regiments given the Buffalo Soldiers nickname—was stationed…
The Tryst: Truth Be Told (Self-Released)
The Tryst is nothing if not ambitious. Their third studio album, Truth Be Told, once again recombines the genres of popular music history like Legos into abstract shapes: a little Sheryl Crow pop in the vocals; an Anita O’Day croon; some jazzy, silky brushing on a floor tom; lots of funk-twang bass; a dollop of…
Police Dispatch
Like mother, like daughter; He don’t wanna grow up
The National Perform “Conversation 16” on Letterman
Germane to nearly nothing on a Tucson level (they did play the Rialto last year), but it’s always good for me to see a band this emotionally heart-wrenching and evocative performing on a national stage.
Glenn Beck, Apocalyptic Post-Rock Vocalist
This seems like the sort of thing that neither the band Godspeed You! Black Emperor or Glenn Beck would be thrilled with, but thanks to whoever thought of blending the two together via YouTube Doubler. Click through and take it all in. “The entire Mediterranean is on fire”, indeed. [HT: GQ]
The Loft Gets Tougher for One Night Only With “Lemmy”
If you’re looking for something to do tonight, why not watch a documentary about Motorhead frontman Lemmy at the Loft? The whole One Hit Wonder series at the Loft is cool, giving films that can’t necessarily pull off a week’s worth of showings, the opportunity to be seen on the big screen and it’s nice…
No, Still Not Sold on Chemtrails
Dr. David Dixon has been working on trying to convince Tucson Weekly editor Jimmy Boegle that the chemtrail movement is more than just a kooky conspiracy theory. It’s a topic Boegle is familiar with, and he asked Dixon to give him some new proof that chem trails are an evil plan to … well, here’s…
Now Open: Vito’s Pizza Kitchen
A new pizza joint called Vito’s Pizza Kitchen is serving up New York-style pizza, sandwiches and desserts at 2921 E. Fort Lowell Road. Chef Roy Santana says visiting New Yorkers have assured him that his pizza is as good as any in the Big Apple. He says the recipe for the crust and sauce are…
Previewing Sunday’s Worst Super Bowl Ad
I’m no marketing expert, but somehow I doubt mainstream America are going to be too excited to see a baby (even a “test” one) smashed against glass. Mediapost Marketing Daily: HomeAway.com’s upcoming Super Bowl commercial and marketing campaign includes a “test baby,” which accidentally launches in the air and smashes against a glass wall in…
Farley: Why I Proposed a 300% Tax on Medical Marijuana
In his latest Farley Report, Rep. Steve Farley explains his call for an eye-popping 300 percent tax on medical marijuana: Another one of my bills, HB2557, has received a lot of attention from many of my friends who don’t agree with the concept — perhaps including many of you. But I want you to understand…
Alcohol Saves Man from Freezing to Death and More: Rynski Radio at Party934
UPDATE with playlist and download at bottom of postWe all know drinking can kill, but in one recent case, it actually saved. Illustration Ryn Gargulinski Alcohol gets credit for saving the life of a man who passed out in his underwear on a freezing park bench in Warsaw. That story and more are up this…
