Your Wednesday Afternoon News Update
— There’s a whole new Weekly issue! Look to the right for all the good stuff. — Tucson’s getting another nonstop flight. — If you believe Harold Reynolds, hugs can be a dangerous thing. — And finally, Arrested Development finally gets some love, although I have NEVER HEARD OF THESE CABLE NETWORKS. And the damn…
If My Cousin Becomes Famous, Then Maybe That Means I Get to Be Famous by Association
Ok, I know the show is egregiously bad (David Hasselhoff should just never open his mouth—or leave his house), but my cousin and his dunk team, Team Acrodunk, are going to be on America’s Got Talent again TONIGHT, at 7 p.m., and it’s the voting show. You know it’s the patriotic thing to do.
Restaurant Regulars
Here’s an interesting story about a woman who has been eating at the same restaurant for the past 20 years. She goes once a week and orders the same thing—something she made up that’s not even on the menu. Now that’s customer loyalty. The closest that I’ve come to that is eating at ZivaZ about three or…
Your Wednesday Morning News Update
— The news from the Middle East keeps getting worse. — You know, in a way, you really have to feel bad for Lourdes Lopez. — If this is genuine, this could be really cool. But call me skeptical. — And finally, Lass Bass of ‘N Sync has announced that he’s gay. I think I…
All You’ve Got to Offer Is a Bar of Soap?
On the rare occasion when I get really bored, or if I’m seriously procrastinating, I like to read Craigslist. Especially entertaining are the free and barter sections, because you get a nice glimpse of what we do not place value on in this culture. Which is nice for a change. Or, as in this case,…
MySpace Over Death!
This Agence France-Presse story, about the havoc caused by this nationwide heat wave, is not funny on first glance. But let’s analyze a bit. Here’s the lede: Americans are sweating through a searing heat wave that has caused major power meltdowns from coast to coast and knocked out the country’s most popular website MySpace. After some paragraphs about…
Your Tuesday Morning News Update
— Does it make any sense to allow relief flights into a country that you’re simultaneously bombing the shit out of? NO, IT DOES NOT. — Jury duty in Washington, D.C., is soooo much more interesting than jury duty here. — And finally, the Star editorial page goes out on a limb to say that…
Your Monday Afternoon News Update
— Sigh. — Be thankful that we have power. — And finally, we’d like to send our best wishes to the Tucson Fire Department firefighters who were injured in a traffic accident this morning.
Your Monday Morning News Update
— Are conservatives starting to turn on the prez? — Are lawyers starting to turn on the prez? — Condi makes a trip to Beirut to give some love to the Lebanese government. What a splendid conversation that must have been. “Yeah, we’re not doing anything to stop Israel from bombing the bejeezus out of…
National Night Out: Aug. 1
On Tuesday, Aug. 1, city of Tucson residents are encouraged to hang outdoors in the evening to enjoy the company of their neighbors and meet new neighbors. The purpose is to strengthen neighborhood spirit and police partnerships. In light of the fact that we’re a city racked by burglaries and personal-theft crimes, I’d say it’s a darn good…
Midwest Maudlin
Is this freaking scary or what? And in Indiana, of all places. Last time I was in Indiana, about the scariest thing I saw was some snow and some mud. And a Wal-Mart down the street from a Kmart and a Target.
Name That Fire!
Currently most of the wildfires burning in our state are contained or close to being contained—at least according to the Star—and of course, that’ll probably all change once we get another lightning storm—but I’ve been wondering about how wildfires get their names. According to a 2004 AP story, wildfires get their names from a landmark…
Your Friday Afternoon News Update
— If you teach at a university, don’t claim Dick Cheney had anything to do with Sept. 11. — Some nearby counties may get excessive heat. But, really, is there much of a dif between 110 and 119? — Can you believe there was even any minor DEBATE about extending the Voting Rights Act?!? –…
Your Friday Morning News Update
— Katie Couric is being a wuss. — Arizona’s making a play for presidential primary love. — More horribly bad news from the Middle East. — All this hot air in the area? Here’s one explanation.
Your Thursday Afternoon News Update
— Another soldier from Tucson has died in Iraq. — The Sidewinders will try to break a (gasp!) losing streak when they play the Portland Beavers tonight in a Thirsty Thursday getaway game. — Is it wrong that I chuckle, just a little, everytime I see “Beavers” used as a sports-team nickname? — If you’re…
Your Thursday Morning News Update
— Holy crap! Bush finally talked to the NAACP! — Viacom? Owning The Onion?!? (Please note that I’m blogging this even though I realize the New York Post is often full of crap.) — How can the Tucson Citizen do a story on blogs and not even mention our delightful li’l blog? And isn’t it just…
Learnin’
A note from the editor.
Now Showing at Home
“Man in Black: Johnny Cash Live in Denmark 1971,” “Ren and Stimpy: The Lost Episodes,” and “The Libertine”
Hoagies From the Far East
Unique sandwiches and sincere effort make Asian Sandwich Deli worth visiting
Mailbag
Howls of outrage and squeals of delight from our astonished fans.
Top Ten in Movies
Casa Video’s top rentals for the week
Ballot Measures
Wanna ban smoking? How about gay marriage, crates for pregnant pigs or welfare services for illegal immigrants?
Music to Heal
The Refugee Allstars of Sierra Leone continue their incredible journey
Staking a Claim
A new study shows that immigrants start new businesses at a higher rate
Managing Influences
Austin’s Maneja Beto puts the verse in versatility
Debt for Drugs
Seniors entering the Plan D ‘doughnut hole’ find themselves shelling out big bucks for their meds
Soundbites
YOUR LOCAL CD-RELEASE UPDATE This week brings two new releases by local bands that couldn’t sound any less alike. Though they previously released a limited run of CDs called do something (Hyperborean, 2006) that contained most of a live set recorded by Duncan Hudson at the KXCI 91.3 FM studios for Don Jennings’ Locals Only…
Arroyo Overhaul
Westside residents take matters into their own hands to restore a decaying wash
Nine Questions
Sean Randel
Sunshade for the Planet
A UA professor’s idea on how to reduce global warming is getting a lot of attention
Live
Ray Brown, The Red Room At The Grill, Friday, July 14
The Skinny
SPLITTING THE NUCLEUS From the Scramblewatch ’06 desk: Former state lawmaker Gabrielle Giffords struck back at her chief rival in the Congressional District 8 Democratic primary, former newscaster Patty Weiss, at last week’s Nucleus Club debate. The debate was a big draw. At least 300 people had gathered at the Viscount Suite Hotel to get…
Rhythm & Views
It’s a common dilemma: You and your art-school friends in Brazil need some new way to express yourself and pass the time. What to do with your never-ending talents, exotic beauty and senses of style? The solution: Start a dance-pop group and call yourselves CSS, which stands for Cansei de Ser Sexy, meaning “I’m tired…
Media Watch
Sac-ed Again: California Station Raids Third Tucson Talent
Rhythm & Views
Repeat listening is required to “get” this band’s music. Once you do, though, it clicks together, and you’re along for the ride through the rising and falling action, the joy and pain and the anger and love in frontman Pall Jenkins’ haunted compositions and tortured vocals. In many ways, this CD is the missing link…
The Range
A recap of last week’s news
Rhythm & Views
Prevailing music-biz lore has it that the bulk of this much-buzzed-about debut album by a duo of itinerant hippies was recorded while they lived in tents in rural northern California. Humboldt County, to be exact. Maybe that’s true, and it certainly adds a convincing back-to-the-garden, unwashed ambience to the psychedelic rock proceedings, which are mostly…
T Q&A
Tucson Q&A with The Rev. Michael A. Smith
Top Ten in Music
CD City’s top sales for the week
Police Dispatch
Curb Check River Road and La Cañada Drive, July 2, 5:46 a.m. The only memory a woman had of birthday bar-hopping was that her friend repeatedly slammed her head into the road, a Pima County Sheriff’s Department report said. The woman told authorities that she had “an enormous amount to drink” at Maloney’s Tavern, 213…
Orchestral Maneuvers
The Tucson Symphony’s new season shows the organization is being fiscally tight without selling out
Pick of the Week
Painting Politics
All About Water
Ingrid Williams uses paint derived from milk to create blue-heavy images
Danehy
Even if you’re against burning the flag, an amendment outlawing it makes no sense
City Week
Our top picks of what to do and where to do it for the week.
Top Ten in Books
Mostly Books best-sellers for the week
Tuttle
An ode to the days before e-mail replaced the phone and the letter
A Tale of Redemption
Thank goodness for family-values films like ‘Strangers With Candy’!
Noshing Around
New: Ari’s Downtown Ahmed Alani, owner of Aladdin Restaurant, has opened the lunch-only Ari’s. The dine-in and takeout menu features Mediterranean and Greek fare such as chicken pitas, gyros, vegetarian choices, salads, Arabic desserts, Turkish coffee, ice cream and smoothies, weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 17 N. Stone Ave.; 622-0684. View the…
Guest Commentary
Given what we’ve got, why would God bless America over other countries?
Unoriginal Insult
‘You, Me and Dupree’ is the worst kind of Hollywood comedy
Incomplete Narrative
Imagine learning at the age of 23 that your recently deceased father was a spy
