You look tense, bay-bee.
This San Francisco Chronicle story nicely summarizes the negative reaction to the impromptu shoulder massage President Bush gave German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Her facial expression tells me she loved it! My favorite quote about Bush’s actions comes from Dialog International, which bills itself as an opinion Web site on German-American politics and culture: “When he…
Your Wednesday Afternoon News Update
— One of the alleged Quik Mart killers has turned himself in. — George W. Bush: I’ll send troops into harm’s way for a war built on lies and/or mistruths, sure, and stand by idly while the Middle East goes insane, but stem-cell research crosses a moral line. — Ads continue to sneak on to…
Your Wednesday Morning News Update
— Have you ever gone to a fast-food restaurant, when all you wanted was a cup of coffee? And there was only one register open, but fortunately, only one group of two people was in line ahead of you? But these people acted as if they had never been to that restaurant before, even though PRACTICALLY…
Your Tuesday Afternoon News Update
— Jim Kolbe wants to kill the penny. — George W. Bush wants to kill people, essentially, by vetoing a stem-cell research bill. — The East Coast and Gulf Coast brace themselves. — Meanwhile, the Arizona Daily Star’s editorial page stays relevant by giving props to the corpses of very, very dead people
Your Tuesday Morning News Update
— The world continues to depress. — The Kyl-Pederson race is making TV stations lick their lips in anticipation. — TPD is looking for two suspects in the Saturday murder of a Quik Mart employee. — And finally, the National Enquirer is apologizing to Britney Spears. No word yet on when Britney plans to apologize…
Your Monday Afternoon News Update
— An 7.7. earthquake caused a deadly tsunami in Indonesia. — The president said a naughty word. — War rages on in the Middle East, with no end in sight. In other words, ALL FREAKING HELL IS BREAKING LOOSE. Meanwhile, the head of Hooters has moved on to the, um, big breast in the sky.
Brilliant!
Len Munsil scares me. I think liberals/Dems/moderates/etc. would be very, very smart to take his campaign very, very seriously. He’s showing a lot of smarts with his gubernatorial campaign, and while I’d still bet on Gov. Janet Napolitano to win in November, it would not surprise me if Munsil made it a race. And it’s…
Modify yourselves
Did you watch the Discovery Channel’s report on global warming last night, hosted by Tom Brokaw? Did you? Good. If you didn’t, shame on you (unless, of course, you don’t have cable, in which case, this link is for you). Sure, one can always argue that it uses too much energy to watch TV, but…
Your Monday Morning News Update
— Two Republican goober candidates think it’s a good idea to criticize the Napster because she’s single and has no children. Meanwhile, idiots like these Republican goober candidates keep breeding, creating a frightening future for the Earth. — The TPD is on the lookout for the killers of a southside convenience store clerk. — The…
10,000 Greyhounds Slaughtered
Folks, if you don’t already know, I have two greyhounds. They are calm and sweet and the ultimate couch potatoes. I am a couch potato, too, but I am nowhere near calm and sweet. I hate the greyhound racing industry, and believe me—it’s an industry. It’s not about the dogs but about the money. Here’s…
I’ll Have a Coors, Please
The CEO of Coors got his driver’s license revoked for a DUI citation. According to the report, he had one beer. One. And his blood alcohol level was right at the .08 mark, a good 50 minutes after he drank said beer. Now, I’m not much of a beer drinker anymore, but an hour after…
Neighborhood Crime Alert
On Thursday, we had a lot of police activity in my neighborhood with a flurry of police cars, motorcycles on the side walk, a canine unit and helicopter. This went on for a good 90 minutes from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The bad guys have been casing out our neighborhood. A lot of vehicles have…
Forbes Magazine Says Tucson Is Overpriced
When I think of overpriced cities—I think of San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City. According to Forbes Magazine, the above cities are mentioned—but so is Tucson, in the Top 10 overpriced cities. What they’re saying about Tucson is the pay scale is very low and the housing market (while lower than many other cities)…
The War Against the Media
Remember in late 2001, when some newspapers were mailed anthrax? Well, those cases have never been solved, and today, The New York Times received a letter with suspicious white powder. UPDATE: The powder is reportedly harmless. But still, jeez …
On Airline Tickets
After reading my Editor’s Note in this week’s issue, a helpful reader called in to tell us about a story floating around the Internet that poses this question: What if paint were sold like airline tickets?
Somebody Stop the Bleeding
This is a conversation between an AOL customer who wants to cancel his account and an AOL employee who, um, won’t let him. It confirms the widely held belief that AOL is a jilted lover who simply doesn’t understand when the feelings are gone. It’s quite sad, really; I’m shedding a tear as I type…
Your Friday Morning News Update
— Sigh. — Yet another newspaper cuts back. Mark my words: The Internet will not kill computers; a push for excessive profit over quality will. — Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio continues to be a dick, and people are starting to notice. — Meanwhile, in Tucson, the Star dedicates ink to the fact that it’s…
Your Thursday Afternoon News Update
— The Middle East is starting to get really scary. — Valerie Plame has lawyered up. — RIP, Red Buttons. — And meanwhile, in Tucson, it’s hot.
Your Thursday Morning News Update
–Some people have written a letter to the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, sniveling that Bill Clinton recently spoke to the organization (which you can read all about on this very blog). It’s a fine letter. Just make sure you aren’t drinking any beverages while you read it, for they may shoot out your nose. –There’s…
Dramatic Change
In a letter that arrived at Chez Banks today, Arizona Theatre Company Artistic Director David Iran Goldstein announced a change in the lineup for the company’s upcoming 40th anniversary season. The entire original Broadway production of Souvenir—which played this past season—will replace the previously announced String of Pearls. Souvenir, by Stephen Temperley, is based on…
Mailbag
Howls of outrage and squeals of delight from our astonished fans.
Timeless Tunes
Cult-favorite Camera Obscura leaves Scotland for a tour of the United States
Art From the Border
The Tucson Museum of Art spotlights works by men and women living in the ‘hybrid culture’
Decadent Revue
A dessert and a Cirque du Soleil show help catalyze this series of summer cabaret shows
Textile Tiff
Union organizers–without evidence–claim a laundry is cutting potentially dangerous corners
Soundbites
TIME WARP ON CONGRESS STREET If one were to hover around the easternmost part of Congress Street on Wednesday, July 19, one might be convinced by checking out the marquees of the Rialto Theatre and Club Congress that it was 1968. If I were that “one,” I’d be mighty confused, considering I’d yet to be…
The Shooting Party
Hunting groups fail to derail a biologist’s nomination to the Game and Fish Commission
Nine Questions
David Forbes
Red Tape Run Amok
Downtown’s Rio Nuevo isn’t the only interminably delayed government project
Rhythm & Views
Remember the Cranberries? That waifish lead singer, standing on the Irish cliffs, wailing about zombies? It’s kind of hard to forget. Now, imagine the Cranberries, only in Los Angeles, and you have The Slow Signal Fade. There are a few differences: On certain sustained notes where Dolores O’Riordan would add a touch of yelp, Slow…
Top Ten in Music
Zia Records top sales for the week ending July 9, 2006 Gnarls Barkley St. Elsewhere (Downtown) Rise Against The Sufferer and the Witness (Geffen) AFI Decemberunderground (Interscope) Yung Joc New Joc City (Bad Boy) Tool 10,000 Days (Volcano) Johnny Cash American V: A Hundred Highways (Lost Highway) Tha Dogg Pound Cali Iz Active (Koch) Nelly…
The Skinny
BALLOT BUZZ Oh, The Skinny is so delighted. Two years ago, the most exciting political contest was the race for county assessor. We were moping around so much from June to November that the boss was worried that we needed to get back into therapy. But this year, we’ve got a real congressional race, a…
Live
Built To Spill, Brett Netson, Rialto Theatre, Thursday, July 6
Laughing ‘Til It Doesn’t Hurt
Gaslight hosts a fundraiser for a new group dedicated to helping those with chronic pain
The Range
A recap of last week’s news
Rhythm & Views
The folks at local label Funzalo and Wavelab Studio decided to put together a compilation of songs recorded at Wavelab as a benefit for Habitat for Humanity’s Musician’s Village Project in New Orleans. The likes of Robyn Hitchcock, John Doe and Steve Wynn have all recorded there, and the best thing about this compilation is…
Inspired Pairings
An awe-inspiring collection of art and writing legends come together at the UA Museum of Art
Media Watch
Meyer In Extra Innings After Major Heart Surgery
Rhythm & Views
Jackie Greene is something of an American myth. Touted as a legend in the making since before he was old enough to drink at the bars he played in, Greene is a modern Horatio Alger story, rock-star version: Unpopular kid from broken home discovers golden cache of ’60s LPs in the basement one summer when…
Problem Solver
Pete Hautman’s new novel stars a life-challenged Tucsonan
T Q&A
Tucson Q&A with Dermot Brannick
Top Ten in Books
Antigone Books best-sellers for the week
Police Dispatch
His Best Assets UA Area, July 1, 7:29 a.m. A drunken Finnish grad student noisily declared that he was wearing only underwear in public so that authorities could see what he was packing, a University of Arizona Police Department report stated. Someone called the police to report that Samuli Antti Kursu, 29, was intoxicated in…
Cheese With Care
Fresh mozzarella needs TLC, from curd to the dinner plate
Pick of the Week
The Border in Context
Noshing Around
Don’t Cry For Me Argentina Every Wednesday night at Hacienda Del Sol’s Grill or its patio-inspired Terraza, specially selected wines from the Mendoza wine region in Argentina will be $6 a glass. Add an Argentina sampler plate, and you just might feel like dancing the tango to the parking lot at 5601 N. Hacienda Del…
City Week
Our top picks of what to do and where to do it for the week.
Danehy
Faux conservatives and the governor sold out by opening the door to school-voucher whores
Perfection of the Moment
This Hitchcockian French movie is a flawless execution of the art of film
Downing
This is your brain on sudoku–any questions?
Sunken Sequel
Orlando Bloom may be pretty, but his boring acting sure can destroy movies
Guest Commentary
Why are the feds worried about peaceful Americans while true threats are on the rise?
Now Showing at Home
“Night Watch,” “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party: Unrated,” and “Neil Young: Heart of Gold (Special Collector’s Edition)”
Airline Madness
A note from the editor.
Top Ten in Movies
Casa Video’s top rentals for the week
