Cover Stories
Summer Movie Preview 2011
Now that we all have video cameras implanted in our foreheads, and editing software is available for free on the Internet, it seems like anybody can make a crappy movie. So I’m not sure why Hollywood studio bosses insist on doing it for us, but I guess they have to find some way earn to…
Summer Arts
Thank goodness for Etherton Gallery. This summer, as the Center for Creative Photography goes dark for three long months, Etherton is taking up the photographic slack with Masters of American Photography. “It’s great stuff nobody’s really seen,” says gallery owner Terry Etherton, all of it from the gallery’s own holdings. A highlight is Richard Misrach’s…
Spelunk Much?
During Tucson’s ungodly hot summers, there are creative ways to get out of the sun. Beyond the movie theaters and ice cream shops, there are other places Tucson residents and visitors can frequent that will take them off the beaten path for a fairly small amount of money. Those places? Caves. Yes, caves. Southern Arizona…
Shaquille O’Neal Retires
While Shaq hasn’t been much of a force in the NBA in recent years and nearly managed to ruin the Phoenix Suns single-handedly, he’s always been the source of quite a bit of entertainment. While he won’t be slowly lumbering around a court anymore after retiring from the NBA today, Quickish (my favorite sports website)…
This Speech Will Inspire You to Do Anything
This kid is the Andrew W.K. of learning-to-ride-a-bike motivational speeches. THUMBS UP FOR ROCK AND ROLL! [Videogum]
Critter of the Week (Dog Edition): Ethel
Ethel, a 6-year-old Australian Cattle Dog mix is into dancing, having her back scratched, and napping. What more could you ask for? “Higher… higher… there! Ahh…” Ethel loves a good back scratch. With both hands, please! A real people-pleaser, Ethel dives into friendships head-first and will no doubt be your instant, lifelong sidekick. Although she’s…
The Ethnic Studies Forum (Without TUSD’s Involvement) Is Wednesday
From the Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church: Confused about the Ethnic Studies program? Want to understand what it is, what it does, and the impact it has on students? You’ve read about the protests, you’ve seen the video footage, you’re aware about the controversy surrounding TUSD and the state of Arizona regarding the Ethnic Studies…
Eric Holder, Tackling the Real Issues: More Episodes of “The Wire”
Yesterday, Attorney General Eric Holder hosted some sort of launch of a task force to keep kids from becoming criminals or something and there was a panel discussion, but let’s get to the really important part, he demanded new episodes of The Wire: “I want to speak directly to Mr. Burns and Mr. Simon: Do…
Palin Can Afford a Giant Bus, But Not The Fuel To Drive It
That new, $1.7 million dollar Scottsdale home may have really put a dent in Sarah Palin pocketbook! Palin, who dined with Donald Trump last night, told Fox News (which pays her $1 million annually) that high gas prices might cause her to cut back on the buscapade she’s currently on. Talking Points Memo reports: In…
They Had Me at “Christian Sex Comedy”
It’s not every day that you can get disgraced former pastor/conservative religious icon Ted Haggard to make a cameo in your movie, but it’s also not too often that the often terrible world of Christian cinema turns out a movie inspired by Superbad: When you hear the word “Christian,” the last words you expect to…
Ultrasound for Pregnant Dolphin, Dentist and Patient Tussle Over Dentures and More: Rynski Radio at Party934
Update with playlist and download at bottom of post Illustration Ryn Gargulinski No dolphin image means catfish will have to do. Ultrasounds are the norm for many pregnant females — even if the female happens to be a dolphin. That story and more are up this week on Rynski’s Shattered Reality radio show on Party934.com…
Welcome Home, Endeavour
The Endeavour space shuttle landed safely late last night after a journey of 16 days and six-and-half-million miles. It was the last flight for Endeavour as NASA winds down the shuttle program. “The space shuttle is an amazing vehicle,” said Cmdr. Mark Kelly. “It’s sad to see her land for the last time, but she…
Buckmaster Is Back!
Bill Buckmaster, the longtime anchor of KUAT-TV’s Arizona Illustrated who stepped down last year, brings back his eponymous radio show after a one-month hiatus. Buckmaster is on a new station, KVOI 1030 AM, and a new time, noon to 1 p.m. Today’s guests include state Senate President Russell Pearce, who will comment on the recall…
The Food at Sahara Café and Hookah Lounge Is Really Good
Middle Eastern food offers a serious flavor blast, and what’s going on at the new Sahara Café and Hookah Lounge is a very delicious version of it. The chicken shawarma is so good it’s almost unbelievable, and the kabobs—there are three kinds on the kabob combo platter—are gently-seasoned, soft and fragrant. But it’s the little…
Need to Catch Up on the NBA Playoffs?
TBJ Video: 2011 NBA Playoff Recap from The Basketball Jones on Vimeo. NBA blog The Basketball Jones has a four minute recap of what took six weeks of games to accomplish: the evil Miami Heat vs. the not quite as evil Dallas Mavericks tonight in game one of the NBA Finals.
Deadline Approaches: Mayor and Council Candidates File Petitions
The deadline is upon and the election season is set to officially begin: Tucson City Council and mayoral candidates must turn in their nominating petitions by 5 p.m. tomorrow. Here’s how the races are shaping up so far: Mayor’s Race Democrat Jonathan Rothschild filed his signatures on May 9. A potential primary opponent, Democrat Marshall…
Green Party Mayoral Primary: Croteau vs. DeCamp!
It appears we’ve got a Green Party mayoral primary on our hands in Tucson. Mary DeCamp, who ran for the Ward 3 City Council seat two years ago, jumped into the race for the Green Party nomination last week against Dave Croteau, who ran for mayor four years ago. But don’t expect a lot of…
If You Have to Say “I’m Not Racist, But…”, Nothing Good Can Follow
Today in Tumblr sites that made me laugh at/weep for society, but I will likely forget about by tomorrow, presenting notracistbut.tumblr.com which collects Facebook posts including the phrase “not racist but…” by people who have clearly forgotten to change their privacy settings:
Court: Fort Huachuca Must Do More To Protect San Pedro River
Bad news for Fort Huachuca: A federal court has ruled in favor of the Center for Biological Diversity and the Maricopa Audubon Society that the military must do more to protect the San Pedro River. Here’s the press release from the Center for Biological Diversity: A federal judge has rejected the latest plan by the…
Home Files Paperwork for Mayoral Run on Democratic Ticket
Democrat Marshall Home, who hopes to challenge attorney Jonathan Rothschild in the Democratic primary for mayor of Tucson, filed his campaign paperwork today. In a brief interview, Home said he was in the race because of “all the lies and the deceits. How about all the thievery? There doesn’t seem to be any integrity in…
You Should Probably Just Let Your Children Have Dolls
A cautionary tale: one moment of fury-based parenting and then you have an adult daughter with house full of too many dolls to count. “My sister’s doll had blonde hair and mine was a brunette, and I wanted the blonde-haired doll, so we were fighting in the back of the taxi. When we got out…
There’s a Trailer for the New Season of “Breaking Bad”
I’m not entirely sure when TV shows started releasing pre-premiere trailers (although I’d imagine HBO was probably the culprit), but when a show is as good as Breaking Bad, why not get people excited with a glimpse of the season to come? While we still have a while to wait for Mad Men, at least…
New York Times: Conspiracy Groups Claim Tucson Shooting Was a Hoax
The New York Times reports that conspiracy nuts are now pushing a vile claim that the January shooting rampage in Tucson was a government hoax: Some conspiracy Web sites are claiming that the shootings that nearly killed Representative Gabrielle Giffords and did end the lives of a federal judge, a 9-year-old girl and four others…
Coachella Expands to Two Identical Weekends?
Actually being able to go to the Coachella music festival in Indio has become a more difficult process each year, with tickets gone essentially once the lineup was announced last year. While the festival is generally worth attending regardless of who’s headlining, it’s generally nice to know what you’re playing for. In order to make…
You Should Buy This: The Good Sam Club Complilation
Local musician Sam Abate was the bicyclist struck by a hit and run (and uninsured) driver on May 20th on Swan, and sadly/predictably, his extensive injuries are going to be the source of a series of large medical bills. To that end, his friends have put together a compilation of local music to help offset…
Heroes of the Day: The Skilled Veterans Corps of Fukushima
Workers trying to keep the Fukushima nuclear power plant as manageable of a disaster as possible by all accounts are facing up the idea that the endeavor will kill them, either sooner or later from the massive amounts of radiation they are exposed to. In a remarkable act of self-sacrifice, a group called the Skilled…
‘Stop the Practice of Scapegoating the Border’
Today marks the second anniversary of the murder of 9-year-old Brisenia Flores and her father Raul. From Border Action Network: Today, Monday, May 30th, marks two years since three Minutemen members stormed an Arivaca, Arizona home. In an elaborate plot intended to raise money for their Minutemen chapter, they brutally murdered nine-year-old Brisenia Flores and…
Cmdr. Mark Kelly From Space: Gabby Wants To Get Home To Tucson and “That’s Coming Soon”
The crew of the Endeavour space shuttle is on the way home. This morning, Cmdr. Mark Kelly picked Calexico’s “Slowness” as a wake-up call to honor his wife, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and her hometown, Tucson. Kelly tells mission control in Houston that Gabby “really wants to get back there and is really looking forward to…
Padres Win Big Again Last Night. Home Stand Wraps Up Tonight!
Samantha Sais The Tucson Padres brought out the big bats last night, with a 13-4 win over the Salt Lake City Bees. The T-Pads take the field again tonight for the final game of the home stand. It’s Family Night, meaning any group of four can get four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas…
Live From the International Space Station
Cmdr. Mark Kelly and his Endeavour crew aboard the International Space Station talked with kids from Gridley Middle School on Friday night. Hosting the event is Michael Drake, who was just named principal investigator of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft that the UA Lunar of Planetary Lab will be running for the next decade or so. The…
Hot Dog! Bark in the Park at Kino Stadium Tonight!
It was a tough game for the Tucson Padres last night as they fell to the Salt Lake City Bees, 10-2. But they’ve got a chance for revenge tonight—and it’s Bark in the Park night at Kino Stadium, so you can bring your dog to the ballpark! Details here. Tim Hagerty of the Padres has…
Fireworks Tonight at Kino Stadium!
Samantha Sais The Tucson Padres clobbered the Salt Lake Bees last night, 11-1. The Memorial Day weekend homestand continues tonight with a post-game fireworks show, so if you aren’t going to see Flor de Muertos at The Loft, you sure should be heading to Kino Stadium. Oh, and tomorrow night, you can bring your dog…
Flor de Muertos with Calexico at The Loft
Michelle Hotchkiss Calexico performing at The Loft cinema The Range caught Circo at The Loft last night. It’s a terrific film—an award-winning documentary about a Mexican circus that paints an extraordinarily intimate portrait of the struggles faced by the Ponce family’s traveling circus in today’s hard world. The big bonus: A performance by Calexico, who…
Indie Rock Punching Bag Weezer Cover Indie Kings Radiohead
I can’t bring myself to push the play button. Someone tell me if this is as bad as I fear. To restore order to the universe, Radiohead performing “Paranoid Android”, on Later with Jools Holland: And Weezer from long, long ago, performing “Suzanne”:
Garrison Keillor: Not Boycotting Arizona
I’m not making the claim the Prairie Home Companion host Garrison Keillor is the coolest guy around, but his blog post about why he’s not boycotting Arizona (his show broadcasts from Flagstaff on June 4) is an interesting read: Suddenly one night last week there was a tidal wave of emails urging us to cancel…
Al Melvin: The Private Sector Is the Answer, Even When It’s Not
Hank Stephenson of the Nogales International has a story for you: Three Nogales businessmen go to a state border security committee to ask for the committee to recommend to the federal government that more customs employees are hired to decrease the wait time at the Nogales port of entry. This wouldn’t cost Arizona a cent,…
Idiot Boksen – The Art of the Opening (Part 1)
Last week, in discussing Treme and one-season wonder Terriers, I mentioned how both have excellent main title sequences. I love opening credits, and posting them kicked off a bi-annual binge on my part, where I re-watch all my favorite openings. I figured I’d share them after the jump. The best opening credit sequences are doorways,…
There Goes the Neighborhood: Palin Moves to Scottsdale, Prepares Presidential Bid
Sarah Palin has confirmed that she’s one of Arizona’s newest residents: Despite its rustic flair, there is nothing ordinary about Ms. Palin’s new neighborhood, one of the most elite in the Phoenix area and a place that some refer to derisively as “Snobsdale.” “Scottsdale is a unique combination of cowboy country, open spaces, sophistication, snobbery,…
Craig Schumacher Could Use Your Support
We wrote about Wavelab owner Craig Schumacher and his battle with cancer on the blog before, but as he enters another round of chemo, he’s having a rough go of it and according to an email newsletter that went out yesterday, he could use the community’s support: Hello… Thank you, everyone, for your response to…
Sen. Al Melvin To Arizona Residents Who Will Lose Unemployment Benefits: “How Long Have They Been On That Already?”
State Sen. Al Melvin, who represents the Catalina Foothills and Oro Valley in the Arizona Legislature, remains opposed a change in state law that would allow out-of-work Arizonans to receive extended unemployment benefits from the federal government, even though it would not cost the state a dime. Hank Stephenson, a reporter for the Nogales International…
Get Your “Sarah Palin’s Associates” Bingo Card Ready
Who knows whether Sarah Palin is running for Senate, president, Paradise Valley school board, or nothing at all, but since it seems like we’ll be sharing a state with the former governor and she’s going to still be in the public eye, it might be helpful to have your bingo card (from Vanity Fair) and…
GOP: Cut Medicare or We’ll Destroy the Economy
Having voted for huge Medicare cuts, Republicans are now holding them hostage to lifting the debt ceiling. Talking Points Memo reports: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) says substantial Medicare cuts must be part of a spending and deficit cut package to get his support to raise the debt limit. In a Capitol briefing with…
Sorry, Kids: Miss Tiggy Winkles Toys Is Shutting Its Doors
Sad news from Miss Tiggy Winkles Toys: As many of you have observed the toy store has struggled in this challenging economy. Despite all hope a full recovery has not come. We have fought with all of our creativity and bravado for Mrs. Tiggy Winkles Toys. However we have come to the end of this…
Slate: Restoring Loughner’s Competence
Slate’s Explainer has a quick take on how doctors will attempt to restore Jared Lee Loughner to competence to stand trial in the Tucson shooting rampage that killed six and wounded 13, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords: How do you restore a defendant’s competence? With drugs. A competent defendant must be able to understand the proceedings…
Padres Home for Memorial Day Weekend! Go See a Ball Game!
Samantha Sais The Tucson Padres return home for a big weekend of Memorial Day baseball fun at Kino Stadium. Tonight, you’ll get a free Tucson Padres T-shirt if you’re among the first 2,000 fans; On Saturday, you’ll be treated to a fireworks spectacular after the game; on Sunday, you can bring your dogs out…
Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market Is Relocating
The popular Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market on the corner of Speedway and Riverview boulevards is relocating next month to the Mercado San Agustin at 100 S. Avenida del Convento. Organizers say the market needs more room due to a steady increase in vendors and visitors, and that the Mercado San Agustin offers more shelter…
Please Bring Me This Magic Ice Cream Making Machine
The MooBella vending machine (currently distributed in the northeast part of the country) makes made-to-order real ice cream in a number of flavors in 40 seconds. If this machine was in the Tucson Weekly break room, I might weigh 400 pounds within a year. I am, however, willing to take that chance.
Tucson as Western Fountain of Youth: How Desert Heat and Sun Keeps us Sexy, Young
Photo Ryn Gargulinski Tucson’s desert heat and sun does wonders for saguaro, too. With another birthday barreling around the bend, it’s only natural that I spent the past week doing what many folks do around birthday time: staring in the mirror looking for wrinkles. Despite people warning me that if I moved to Tucson, within…
A New/Amazing Release From the Rainer Archive
Whenever unheard music by Rainer Ptacek is released the city of Tucson should declare some sort of city-wide holiday. A lot of Rainer’s music is out of print, previously released on a strange assortment of European and/or extinct music labels, but thankfully English label Fire Records is planning on reissuing much of his catalog in…
One Woman Was Happy About the American Idol Results
Don’t tell this woman that Scotty will likely end up on the mall opening and casino show circuit with other past American Idol winners not named Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson. Let her enjoy the moment. [Buzzfeed]
International Photojournalist in Town for Documentary Project
SAMANTHA SAIS Gary Knight, Newsweek photographer, lectures in the Magazine Photojournalism class at the UA School of Journalism. Gary Knight, an international photojournalist and VII Photo Agency co-founder, is in Tucson to add his visual style, and those of his students, to the immigration discussion in the nation. Knight, who is also the founding director…
Bummer of the Day: A Koala-Less Future
Apparently, there might be as few as 50,000 koalas left in the wild. Not only is global warming an issue, but the koala population has also been ravaged by a variation of chlamydia. Gross and sad: Every gum tree contains a koala, or so most Australians assume. But complacency could be killing off the emblematic…
The Harry Houdini of Tucson
On Saturday, May 28, a Harry Houdini-esque illusionist will perform at the Screening Room, 137 E. Congress St. Michael Howell takes the stage from 7 to 9 p.m., with a night of magic and illusion. Howell is the 2006 runner-up as Arizona State Magician of the Year. The show is $17 for adults, and $7…
A Twist to Brewer and Horne’s Anti-Marijuana Crusade
So, to understand the idea put forth by the Phoenix New Times’ Ray Stern, by trying to clamp down on medicinal marijuana in Arizona, it’s possible that Jan Brewer and Tom Horne might have created a total “Hey, I tried to apply!” free-for-all. Well played, you two. Well played. Arizona law requires that: If the…
YouTube News You Can Use: How to Use the Toilet
Robert Jackson has a Masters degree from Harvard and is a retired school superintendent. For some reason, he offers instructions on how to play the piano, take a shower, and use a toilet on YouTube. This is all very confusing. Also, I think videographer Vivian might want to pursue a new line of work. [Videogum]
OSIRIS-REx: Huge Win for UA, Giant Leap for Mankind
The UA Lunar and Planetary Lab has scored a huge win with OSIRIS-REx, an astonishing space mission that aims to drop a spacecraft onto an asteroid, gather samples and photographs, and then return home to earth. The $800 million grant is largest in UA history. Here’s the release from UA: NASA has selected the University…
Tyler Vogt: Not Exactly Running a Charm Offensive
I enjoy political swagger and bravado probably more than anyone, but Ward 4 candidate Tyler Vogt might want to dial it down just a little. I live in Ward 4 and haven’t had the best personal constituent experience with Shirley Scott, but when you’re going to judge someone’s job performance, it might be helpful if…
Pearce: Supreme Court Ruling “A Death Penalty for Employers Who Continue To Hire Illegals”
State Senate President Russell Pearce reacts to the Supreme Court decision upholding Arizona’s employer-sanctions law: The U.S. Supreme Court this morning upheld an Arizona law that penalizes companies for knowingly hiring illegal aliens and requires firms to use the E-verify system. The law came out of HB 2779, the Fair and Legal Employment Act, sponsored…
A Game-Changer in Food Truck Design
Tucson food truck people, I love what you’re doing, we’ve dedicated a whole series on the blog to the mobile food phenomenon, but until I can get a sandwich from a truck decorated with the theme of a popular science fiction franchise, the score is Fayetteville, Arkansas: 1, Tucson: 0.
Supreme Court Upholds Employer Sanctions
A big win for state Sen. Russell Pearce today at the U.S. Supreme Court: The Supreme Court, giving states more authority to crack down on illegal immigrants, upholds an Arizona law that punishes employers who hire illegal workers. In a 5-3 decision, the court said federal law permits states to take away the business licenses…
Taxes and Timing
The Pima County Sports and Tourism Authority needs to answer several important questions: When should the county ask voters to increase taxes? And what should be done with the proceeds if voters say yes? The answers to those questions could greatly impact future recreational opportunities for local youngsters. Two years ago, the state Legislature gave…
tUnE-yArDs: w h o k i l l (4AD)
By the time Merrill Garbus, who performs under the name tUnE-yArDs, uses her own sampled voice to replicate the sounds of kora and gamelan on the arresting track “Bizness,” it’s easy to fall under her irreverent spell. She shuffles, sorts and folds together industrial jazz, clattering no-wave noise, static-laden hip-hop and Caribbean and African dance…
Other Films (Not) Opening This Summer
• Milk II: Harvey’s Revenge • An Inconvenient True Grit • Water for Heffalumps • Fasixt and Furiousix Six: Part Six • Predator vs. Hello Kitty • Thor II: More Thor! • Couch: The Motion Picture Experience in 3-D • iPad: The Movie • Birth Certificate II: The Long Form • The Shining II: The…
Tolerant Tucson
In a world of egotistical, truth-stretching memoirs, it’s refreshing to come across one written with modesty and apparent candor. It’s extra-refreshing to read about this Republican ticking off Russell Pearce. In A New American Family, Peter Likins puts into cultural and historical context the story of his unusual family. Likins, who lives in Tucson with…
The Skinny
A legal challenge to Gov. Brewer’s plan to block poor people from state-subsidized health care…Democrats talk smack about GOP candidates for Tucson City Council…Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords can finally get rid of that damn helmet…and more!
Editor’s Note
When we announced three weeks ago that we were looking to hire a freelance medical-marijuana critic, I expected perhaps a little bit of local attention. Sure enough, KGUN Channel 9 came calling, and Sergio Avila did a silly but wonderfully accurate piece on the opening. I did not expect what came next. The KGUN piece…
Danehy
About a million years ago, I was the point guard for the Cochise College Apaches in Douglas. Yeah, that was me, with the too-long sideburns and the Italian afro, running the floor at three-quarters speed and dishin’ out those sweet assists. (Actually, back then, in the 1970s, it was illegal to dunk in high school…
Unearned Treasure
A few weeks ago, Michael Bolton joined Andy Samberg and Lonely Island for an SNL Digital Short called “Jack Sparrow.” Bolton kept interrupting a hip-hop song with obsessive verses about Johnny Depp’s character from the Pirates of the Caribbean series. It was funny, catchy and a nice primer for the latest chapter in the tale…
Yardsale Heart: Watercolours (Self-Released)
Locals Yardsale Heart are a family band: Vocalist/guitarist Belinda Peters is married to drummer James Peters (who also plays drums for The Jons), and bassist Lizzie Peters is James’ sister. Keyboardist/guitarist Charlie Rodriguez is also in The Jons, which makes him sort of related as well. All that family love translates into bright and nostalgic…
Care Bear
While it doesn’t offer a very compelling story and may actually be too serious for young kids—in some spots, it’s rather grave—Kung Fu Panda 2 will probably be a runaway success this summer. In large part, that’s due to being in the catbird seat: Panda is the first cartoon of the blockbuster season, a full…
Lady Gaga: Born This Way (Interscope)
One of the songs on Gaga’s new album is the country ballad “Yoü and I.” Note the umlaut. It’s neo-Nashville pablum, and a great example of Born This Way’s general incoherence—though I’m not sure it’s fair to expect a coherent album from an artist like Gaga. “Yoü and I” is fascinating, because it reveals Gaga’s…
Now Showing at Home
The Great Dictator (Blu-ray); American Graffiti (Blu-ray); The Hustler (Blu-ray)
Health Issues
After state lawmakers restored funding for transplants earlier this year, Emily Lori Cameron hoped that she would be eligible for a stem-cell transplant that could stop multiple sclerosis from ravaging her body. But AHCCCS officials rejected her request, calling the operation an experimental procedure. “I wasn’t surprised,” says Cameron, 42. “I was really just frustrated…
Night and Day
Two different days, two different meals, two extremely different dining experiences. That’s our J. Marinara’s experience in a nutshell. Let’s start with lunch: The older pop music was too loud, and service was sketchy. The décor was pretty simple—as was the lunch menu. The wine list, although limited, did have a few interesting choices at…
Pets and Pathology
From the outside, it was just another unremarkable home in a quiet eastside neighborhood. But on the inside, it was a reeking shop of horrors. Barbara Crummitt and Karen Wood remember the April day when they stumbled across that fact. As part of Tucson’s large, loose-knit community of animal rescuers, they’d arrived expecting to help…
Noshing Around
New gastropub in Oro Valley; New look for Cafe Passe; The Return of Nicky’s Week at RA; New stuff on Ina Road; Look for Street Delights
Police Dispatch
Can’t buy me maturity; Little rascal
Cross-Cultural Celebration
The members of Calexico have always been told that their music is theatrical—and that theatricality will be on display this weekend at a two-night Loft event, “Calexico at the Movies.” “Calexico at the Movies” includes screenings of two documentaries, each using the music of Calexico. Friday night’s screening will also feature a live performance by…
An Idealized Existence
Natalie Gordon and Lauren Hess, also known as the two-piece rock band Agent Ribbons, met in classic rock ‘n’ roll fashion. They met in a record store. “I was checking out, and Natalie was helping them paint some stuff. We started talking, and Natalie had just started playing guitar again. We just took it from…
Weekly Wide Web
Your photos and the fine print; The week on The Range; Comment of the week; Best of WWW; and more!
City Week
A musical salute to veterans; A Beatles confidante turned addictions counselor; Focusing on Tucson’s water issues; Celebrating cowboy music
Soundbites
Say goodbye to the Sand Rubies; Music on Mt. Lemmon…and much more!
A Dirty, Vicious Business
The murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry blew a big hole in the government’s claim that the border is being secured. But it has also scared some American citizens into silence. In the months since the Dec. 14, 2010, murder of Terry, two residents of the Peck Canyon smuggling corridor have called me to…
TQ&A
Jessica Shuman, who describes herself as a born animal-lover and activist, started a nonprofit called Tucson CARES (Companion Animal Rescue, Education and Support). The organization runs a trap, neuter and return program to decrease feral-cat populations throughout Tucson, and does cat and dog adoptions and rescues. To support the work, Tucson CARES opened Kismet, a…
Nine Questions
Matt Scholz has lived in Tucson for about 14 years. He left Champaign, Ill., where he was a writer (including for The Onion) and Internet entrepreneur, to pursue a career in the environmental sciences. He earned a doctorate in biosystems engineering from the UA, where he also served on the Green Fund committee that oversees…
Shameless Self-Promotion
The Tucson Weekly took home seven honors in the Arizona Press Club’s annual contest—and six of those were first-place wins. Five of those wins came in writing categories. In comparison, the Arizona Daily Star only took home one first-place writing prize, and three first-place awards overall. All of the Weekly’s writing honors came in metro…
Top Ten in Movies
1. Blue Valentine Weinstein/Anchor Bay 2. No Strings Attached DreamWorks 3. The Rite Warner Bros. 4. The Mechanic Sony 5. Black Death Magnolia 6. Mao’s Last Dancer Samuel Goldwyn 7. The Roommate Screen Gems 8. The Illusionist Sony 9. The Other Woman MPI 10. Vanishing on 7th Street Magnolia
Sabino Nights
We’ve reached that time of the year when the spring breezes flit away, and we’re left with the start of a 100-plus-degree Southwest summer. But there are ways to go outdoors and still beat the heat—like, for example, seeing Sabino Canyon’s sights at night. One million people visit Sabino Canyon every year, but only several…
Sharing With Strangers
We tell ourselves stories in order to live,” declared Joan Didion in the first line of her 1979 book, The White Album. There’s a group in town whose members might wholeheartedly agree with Didion. Odyssey Storytelling set up shop in the Old Pueblo in 2004, and to hear those who have participated in the venture…
Live
The Possibles, a sublime four-piece desert-rock outfit, conjure up images of shifting organic landscapes with songs expressing immutable truths about the human condition. Sometimes moody and poppy, and always endearing and engaging, their music provided the perfect backdrop for drinking a couple of cold ones after a long week. Lead vocalist and guitarist Cyril Barrett…
Mailbag
State representative Ted Vogt doesn’t like the city’s vote by mail decision
Top Ten in Music
1. Gerry Glombecki 49 and Holding (Lost Country) 2. Greg Morton When Pigs Fly (self-released) 3. Kevin Pakulis Band Shadesville (self-released) 4. Francisco Gonzalez The Gift/El Regalo (17th Street) 5. Michael Falzarano We Are All One (Woodstock) 6. Mandophilia Mandophilia (Four Hands) 7. Arthur Migliazza Pumping Ivories (self-released) 8. Stefan George Cloth (self-released) 9. The…
Media Watch
A legend in Tucson media passes away; a Good Morning Tucson anchor leaves the station; Andrea Kelly joins KUAZ
Top Ten in Books
1. A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1 George R.R. Martin, Bantam ($8.99) 2. Dead Reckoning Charlaine Harris, Ace ($27.95) 3. The Land of Painted Caves Jean M. Auel, Crown ($24, sale) 4. 1001 Things to Spot in Fairyland Gillian Doherty and Anna Milbourne, Usborne ($9.99) 5. Worth Dying For…
Downing
Last week was interesting, news-wise, what with exploding watermelons in China and the embarrassing revelation for France that their media—and, apparently, their elite—are unable to grasp the distinction between “seduction” and “attempted rape.” (And this from the nation that had always led us to believe that they were the final experts on this area of…
Unapproved Art
Painter Lawrence Gipe knows propaganda when he sees it. For years, the UA painting professor has studied “totalitarian images” generated in Nazi Germany and in Soviet Russia—government-approved photos of robust Aryan youths or of the myth-drenched Russian forests. So when Rosemont Copper flooded Tucson last fall with an expensive color brochure extolling open-pit mining in…
Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: I’m a Spanish court interpreter in Santa Bárbara, Calif.; I’ve also worked in Los Angeles courts. I just read your column regarding the promotion of the learning and practicing of English by Latinos in the United States. Generally, I agree with your view. But my question is: Why can’t we also promote the…
Other Films (Not) Opening This Summer
This week’s cover story is film critic James DiGiovanna’s Summer Movie Preview, a look at what will be hitting screens this season, the good, the bad, and the latest Transformers film. However, James is nice enough to go beyond previewing what movies actually exist and extends into what movies won’t be coming out this summer.…
Loughner: “Thank You for the Freak Show!”
Jared Lee Loughner had to be escorted from a federal courtroom shortly before noon today after an outburst while U.S. District Court Judge Larry Burns was ruling on a matter regarding public records. “Thank you for the freak show!” shouted Loughner, who is facing 49 charges related to the Tucson shooting spree on Jan. 8…
Critter of the Week [Dog Edition]: Force
Update: Force has been adopted! But don’t cry, friend; there are many more animals at the HSSAZ that would love a home. Force, a 3-year-old Labrador Retriever mix, needs some TLC, and maybe a lightsaber. An unstoppable force! This remarkable Lab was found on the reservation in February with mange, ear infections, and a severe…
Vogt Launches Campaign Against Democrat Shirley Scott
Democrat Shirley Scott has a new opponent in her campaign for a fifth term representing the eastside’s Ward 4: Tyler Vogt, brother of state Rep. Ted Vogt, has filed paperwork for a City Council run on the Republican ticket. Vogt is still getting the campaign off the ground, but will be available for an interview…
