Blogging Advisory
Just an FYI that I am going to be traveling to Portland, Ore., for the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies’ annual convention today. So, too, will be blogmaster John. In other words, this puppy’s gonna be without a baby-sitter for a good chunk of the day. We’ll check in with updates from Portland and the convention as…
State of ER – Another Horror Story
This week’s cover story by Dave Devine details what it’s like to go to the emergency room in Tucson. As bad as it is here, it’s worse in Los Angeles, where at the Martin Luther King Harbor Hospital, a woman was writhing on the floor with blood coming out of her mouth—and the video monitor…
Who Watches the Watchmen?
I mentioned earlier that David Gonzales, U.S. marshal for Arizona, said over the weekend that the justice system is “just absolutely crumbling” under the weight of illegal immigration cases. Gonzales made the comments at last weekend Investigative Reporters and Editors conference up in Phoenix, where he joined Paul Charlton, the U.S. attorney for Arizona who…
Maybe Ted Haggard Was Hit By One
Here’s a revelation that the Pentagon probably wants to file under Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell: The military spent $7.5 million to develop a bomb that would turn enemy troops gay. KPIX of San Francisco reports that Edward Hammond of Berkeley’s Sunshine Project used the Freedom of Information Act to nab the background documents: “The Ohio Air…
Paris Finds God, Discovers “The Secret”
I was watching The View on Monday, like I always do, and Barbara Walters started telling the girls about her conversation with Paris Hilton. Paris has become much more spiritual and no longer thinks her dumb girl routine is “cute.” Also, she’s reading that pernicious bit of brain vomit, The Secret—you know, the one that…
Deal or No Deal?
The Wall Street Journal had an insightful piece over the weekend on Sen. Jon Kyl’s role in the effort to pass an immigration reform package. One key point: The lack of trust that people have in the government’s ability—or will—to secure the border (which came up in our earlier posting today): Mr. Kyl has also…
Speaking of TV and getting whacked
A loyal reader pointed out to me at the Investigative Reporters and Editors conference up in Phoenix over the weekend that I hadn’t mentioned the sad news that the next season of Battlestar Galactica would be the last. (Yeah, that’s the sort of thing we investigative reporters talk about when we get together. It can’t…
Whacked
So The Sopranos went out last night, not with a bang, nor even a whimper, but simply mid-sentence. It encapsulated my frustrations with the series for several seasons now: The lack of resolution to so many storylines. I understand that’s what David Chase was going for; I think he said—or maybe it was one of…
Border Bust
So it appears the Grand Bargain is proving to be a tough sell. Is the Kennedy-Bush-Kyl immigration-reform package dead for good? Ah, who knows? In an examination of why the legislation failed last week, The New York Times says that Sen. Arlen Spector thinks it might still have a shot: Members of the bipartisan coalition…
AZ Kids Can’t Get No Love From the Heat
When I moved to Arizona 8 years ago, I noticed that there weren’t any kids playing in theneighborhood streets in the summertime, much unlike my native state of Indiana. Then it became apparent to me that adults, not just kids, also have a tough time lasting in these summer highs of 100-plus, and thus resort to…
How Many Strikes Does Tucson Greyhound Park Get?
You gotta wonder what the hell is going on at Tucson Greyhound Park. How do they keep getting away with it? In one week, Tucson Greyhound Park has been in the news three times—and not favorably. Last Saturday, there was an article in the Arizona Daily Star about how the out-of-state corporation that owns TGP…
OK, OK, One More Dick Cheney Image …
James DiGiovanna contributes this. It seems pretty much right on to me.
The End of the Dick Cheney Photoshopping Contest
Thanks to the four people (presuming all four entries we received were actually from different people) who entered the official blog Dick Cheney Photoshopping Contest! What happens now? Well, our crack team of judges will assemble to decide the winner(s). We’ll announce the results when we do that; then we’ll contact the winners to get…
Poor, Poor Paris
What about that wave of criticism over Paris Hilton’s early release from the pokey? Wow. I was listening to BBC World News, and the presenter said they had received 1,000 calls on the topic in about 90 minutes. Only one of those calls was supportive of Hilton–that’s 0.1 percent! Someone told me one of the…
Dick Cheney Photoshopping Contest: William Bell
William Bell offers these fine entries, with the comment: Here are my Photoshop contributions. I thought you would enjoy hearing about the new Dreamworks animation movie starring Dick Cheney and friends. It is titled simply Dick and has our vice presidential hero made up in greenface for maximum cinematic wackiness! I included both the movie…
Dick Cheney Photoshopping Contest: Homer Pyle
This entry came with an elegant and simple comment: “dick cheney IS the puppetmaster!!”
Dick Cheney Photoshopping Contest: Fozzie Pumpah
A splendid blog reader with the e-mail name Fozzie Pumpah sends an entry with this note: You shamed me into doing a Photoshop entry. I am sorry to see there are not more people submitting images. I agree, they are slackers! Here is my lame pun-based entry: “Dick Chainey.” This is representative of Dick’s wonderful…
We Are the Champions!
The UA softball team fought back after losing the first game of the Women’s College World Series, defeating the Lady Vols of Tennessee on both Tuesday and Wednesday to win the crown. Tuesday’s game was a nailbiter of a pitcher’s duel that went 10 innings before Danielle Rodriguez squeezed across the plate just ahead of…
Last Day for Dick Cheney Contest, You Slackers!!!!!!!
So, it’s come down to the last day of the official Dick Cheney Photoshopping Contest. I am sure we’ll be flooded with entries today, considering that three members of our blog-comment family promised they’d enter, but have not yet done so. (*Ahem.*) Thanks again to Max V. for his inspiring entries. I look forward to…
Pedal for the Medal
Just how bicycle-friendly is Tucson?
Nine Questions
Kerrie Wallis
Shore Bet
A Rocky Point research station is threatened by–what else?–development
Live
Morrissey, Tucson Convention Center Music Hall, Thursday, May 31
The Skinny
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST Yet another local business in the Campbell Avenue strip mall just north of Grant Road has closed its doors. Bob’s Deli joins the Book Stop, Hear’s Music and Santa Barbara Ice Creamery in closing down as a result of landlord Richard Shenkarow’s efforts to “improve” the property by jacking up…
Rhythm & Views
Much anticipated among rock-critic cognoscenti, the latest album by punk godmother Patti Smith proves that matching a great singer and a great song doesn’t always make for a great recording. Luckily, the combination works maybe half the time. Covering 12 songs written by others, Smith produced the disc with her longtime band, and they do…
The Range
A recap of last week’s news
Rhythm & Views
Since hitching his wagon to Bloodshot Records with 2004’s Your Country, Graham Parker has enjoyed yet another comeback in terms of songwriting inspiration. He does it every decade; take 1988’s The Mona Lisa’s Sister or 1991’s Struck by Lightning as examples. Parker has that rare ability to return to the well of inspiration and draw…
Media Watch
It’s Expansion, Not Abandonment, Says KSAZ
Rhythm & Views
From the mean streets of Portland, Ore., comes this amazing trio–composed of MCs Vursatyl and Jumbo and DJ Rev Shines–with its second CD. Working a late-’80s/early-’90s conscious-rap vibe, this monster album shows the group manipulating the sounds and imagery of “blaxploitation” culture of the 1970s. Echoes of De La Soul, Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, The…
Police Dispatch
A Brother Thing Benson Highway and Alvernon Way, May 12, 6 p.m. Deputies responded to complaints about a pair of brothers fighting on a barroom floor, a Pima County Sheriff’s Department report stated. Authorities arrived at the M&M Saloon, 3364 E. Benson Highway, and separated the brothers. One of the men had a bloody mouth…
Top Ten in Music
Zia Records top sales for the week
T Q&A
Tucson Q&A with Diane Kreinbring
Free but Isolated
A striking photo exhibit by ESL students shows the ups and downs of their new American homes
Pick of the Week
Planets on Parade
Tourism Kills
Are hikers ruining the West? Jim Stiles makes that very case
Danehy
Fighting rogue cell-phone use, one waiting room at a time
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
Escape the heat with some help from a good book
Imaginary Rock Gods
Who knew that fake guitar-playing could lead to such a real, compelling documentary?
Invigorated by Poetry
Top Native American writers get together for a three-day UA symposium
Guest Commentary
Sen. Jon Kyl’s cowardly, anonymous hold could derail open-government reforms
A Cinematic Crime
Poor writing dooms ‘Mr. Brooks’ despite good work by Kevin Costner
Lots of Plates
VinTabla’s food is unquestionably good–but its concept is complex and confusing
¡Ask a Mexican!
While Mexican men boast about their previous conquests, women are expected to stay mum about any past chorizos they stuffed.
Now Showing at Home
“Trading Places: ‘Looking Good, Feeling Good’ Edition,” “Coming to America: Special Collector’s Edition,” and “Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon”
Noshing Around
New: La Taverna di Gavi In May, Gavi Colaleo, owner of Gavi restaurants and Piazza Gavi, celebrated a grand reopening of his 6960 E. Sunrise Drive location. After being closed for only a week of remodeling, it reopened under the new name. Gavi teamed with his executive chef, Richard Knott, to create a menu rich…
The Death of Newspapers
A note from the editor.
Top Ten in Movies
Casa Video’s top rentals for the week
Mailbag
Howls of outrage and squeals of delight from our astonished fans.
Future of Jazz
Tucson’s music community creates a ‘Night for New Orleans’
State of Emergency
The wait times in Arizona’s ERs are the nation’s worst–but are improvements on the way?
Reinterpretations
Calvin Johnson exudes a low-fi charm that just may win you over
On the Migrant Trail
A night on a week-long, 75-mile walk to raise awareness of border-crosser deaths
Soundbites
NO RELATION TO WAYLON When Epic Records announced a couple of years ago that it was giving Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock his own imprint, Glacial Pace Recordings, indie-rock fans everywhere eagerly anticipated whatever discoveries he would make. This was, after all, a guy known for spotting great bands early in their careers, often taking…
