We Have Issues: Best of Issues!
Well, kids, the Best of Tucson is finally completed, published and making its way to all our hundreds of distribution spots. It’s also online and ready to go, along with all the savory goodness that you can find in every issue of the Tucson Weekly. So, enjoy!
Your Wednesday Morning News Update
— The latest KAET TV/ASU poll has Napolitano and Kyl holding their enormous leads. — It’s big news that Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens tried to commit suicide, according to police. But you know who I feel really bad for? His publicist, who was the one who reportedly found Owens trying to off himself.…
Bill Maher on Torture in Iraq
He says: Now listen to this, the UN says that there is more torture going on now in Iraq than when Saddam was in power. And Bush shot back—he said, ‘That is just the opinion of one individual who doesn’t know the difference between regular torture and freedom torture.’
Tainted Spinach Love
I made a big delicious spinach salad with cherry tomatoes and flecks of goat cheese the day before the spinach recall. Fortunately, I’m not one of the three people in Pima County who is infected. I was lamenting to a friend and wondering if I would ever feel safe eating spinach again, and she reminded…
Hey, “Boondocks” Comic Fans
Bad news: Aaron McGruder does not appear to be resuming his strip anytime soon. I learned this yesterday, when Universal Press Syndicate called and said that “Boondocks” would not be back, as was expected. We picked up the strip right around the launch of the Iraq War in 2003, and ran it until McGruder announced he…
Playing With Politics
Proposition 107 proponents are decidedly unamused by a Web site, which, according to an article on azcentral.com, is a spoof. For those of you who don’t know, Prop 107 is Protect Marriage Arizona, which would deny legal recognition of relationships outside traditional man-and-woman marriage. Prop107.com asks people to take a “Straight Arizona Pledge” and outlines…
Your Monday Morning News Update
— Is there a more worthless person in this world than Nancy Grace? Seriously. Is there? I can’t think of one. Even the people who write “Thorns and Flowers” have some worth, even if it involves unintentional humor. — C.T Revere may be right that John McCain is standing up to George W. Bush on…
Let’s Party Like It’s 5767
Happy Jewish New Year, or Shona Tova, as some like to say. I am a lapsed Jew. I grew up in a kosher home with religious parents who ardently followed all the traditions and directives without question. Somewhere along the line, both my brother and I failed to move forward with that belief system, which really happened…
Stunning “Thorns and Flowers” News
OHMIGOD OHMIGOD OHMIGOD. The stupidest feature in one of the worst opinion sections of America actually almost took a hard-hitting position on something today. Almost. In today’s Arizona Daily Star, “Thorns and Flowers” started off in typical fashion by taking an obvious position (Free speech = good! Countries who squelch that = bad!), although it…
Wal-Mart to Sell Generic Drugs for $4 Prescription
As someone who intensely dislikes Wal-Mart, I’m kind of curious to see how this new policy will go down. My health insurance has no pharmaceutical drug coverage to speak of. If Wal-Mart can buy in volume, maybe they can afford to sell generic drugs for $4 for a 31-day prescription—which just goes to show you what the…
Carvel Grand Opening Benefits Tucson Boys and Girls Club
I received this press release too late to put in the Noshing Around column, but I thought it was worth sharing. Tucson’s first Carvel opens this Saturday at 1150 N. Silverbell Road (corner of Speedway Blvd.). Carvel serves ice cream and sweet treats. If you stop by this Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., 10…
Your Thursday Morning News Update
The space shuttle is home. (YAY!) Richard Branson has pledged $3 billion to combat global warming. (YAY!) Although he looks like a douche in this picture. (YAY!—um, oops.) But on a brighter note, school’s getting a hell of a lot more interesting for some students in this country. Meanwhile, I have this list of things…
Media Watch
If To Err is Human, The ‘Star’ is More Human Than Ever
Rhythm & Views
Locals The Provocative Whites know how to channel their rock influences into songs that sound like fresh versions of the things we loved about ’90s-era indie rock–pop choruses, guitars used for every sound imaginable, moments of limb-shaking exuberance and plenty of screaming, both from the vocals and guitars. They’re also one of those rare bands…
Police Dispatch
The Great Grader Chase Cortaro Farms and Thornydale Roads, Sept. 3, 5:05 a.m. At least two men took a full-sized road grader for a joyride, a Pima County Sheriff’s Department report said. A man phoned authorities to say he had heard at least two males shouting and screaming, and then heard an engine start up…
Rhythm & Views
There’s something mildly comforting about the remedial synth-pop of the Junior Boys’ second CD. The retro bleeps and beeps pay tribute to the days of Kraftwerk, early Human League and later Ultravox. Following their impressive debut album, Last Exit, the Canadian duo of Johnny Dark and Jeremy Greenspan do a sweet job of exploring minimalist…
The Red Rock Bar
The Red Rock Bar and its owners have a long history. Bob Meeks left Texas at age 14 to join his brother in Tucson. Meeks went to work for Sunset Dairy here, and at age 17, borrowed money from his boss to buy some cotton farmland several miles west of present-day Red Rock. In his…
Rhythm & Views
Jonesin’ for a blast of loud, fast and snotty punk in an old-school style not beholden to anything vaguely emo? The Lawrence Arms are ready and willing to supply it with their latest album, mysteriously named for the infamous nudie play. From the opening salvo of drums on “The Devil’s Takin’ Names,” and escorted throughout…
The Range
A recap of last week’s news
Top Ten in Music
Hear’s Music top sales for the week
T Q&A
Tucson Q&A with Anne Maley
Event Cut Short
Pinal County’s sheriff investigates a raid at outdoor arts fest GLOW, and apologizes for officers’ behavior
Danehy
Tom has a bit of advice for ESPN radio
Top Ten in Movies
Casa Video’s top rentals for the week
Gender Confusion
Strong performances overcome forced chaos in ATC’s production of the Bard’s ‘Twelfth Night’
Downing
We’re living in a weird world where democratic governments sit on their hands, yet terrorists rebuild
Selfish Simplicity
‘Half Nelson’ is a heartbreaking, heavy and philosophical movie
Coaches’ Corner
Invisible Theatre gets a hit with its new baseball-related play
Guest Commentary
A teacher needs special qualities to handle at-risk kids in South Tucson
Pick of the Week
Sight and Sound
Top Ten in Books
Antigone Books best-sellers for the week
Work Miracles
A note from the editor.
A Film That Fumbles
This hokey football flick fails, but The Rock shows he can actually act
Gazpacho and Politics
A conversation while making dinner one night …
Mailbag
Howls of outrage and squeals of delight from our astonished fans.
Now Showing at Home
“United 93,” “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977 and 2004 Versions),” and “Taps: 25th Anniversary Special Edition”
One Side of Health Care
Tucson’s David Russell wants to open minds–but is too close-minded himself
Primary School
Lessons from last week’s election
Balladeer of Love
Salvador Duran makes them swoon
Noshing Around
Ice Cream Social Fundraiser On Thursday, Sept. 28, from 5 to 8 p.m., all 1,350-plus Cold Stone Creamery locations will dish out a free 3-ounce serving of a rich mix of chocolate ice cream with yellow cake, chocolate chips and rainbow sprinkles. This concoction called Cole’s Creation is inspired by a 10-year-old boy whose Make-a-Wish…
Questioning Authorities
Is Pima County drifting toward unrepresentative regional government?
City Week
Our top picks of what to do and where to do it for the week.
Wage War
Sen. Jon Kyl remains mum on a minimum-pay ballot question, while Dems press the issue for political purposes
Illusion of Equality
The legendary Joan Jett reminds that there’s still a glass ceiling in rock ‘n’ roll
The Real Deal
For once, preservation wins out, as a state purchase protects land and fish
Soundbites
RIP: AL CASEY AND JASON MASHBURN For a number of reasons, it’s been a rough week here at the Soundbites desk. First, we received word from Al Perry that Arizona guitar legend Al Casey passed away. Casey, who is best known for his work alongside Lee Hazlewood and Duane Eddy, also appeared as a session…
Rumbles at Red Rock
As Pulte Homes builds northwest of Tucson, a tiny, eclectic bar stands in the way
Nine Questions
Demion Clinco
The Skinny
CLEAN SWEEP The Skinny has been a-rantin’ and a-ravin’ for some time about the unintended consequences of Clean Elections–namely, that handing out public dollars for political campaigns is enabling social conservatives to take out moderates in GOP primaries, with the end result being that the Legislature is lurching further to the right. Two years ago,…
Live
The USA is a Monster, The Crowd, at Solar Culture Gallery, Saturday, Sept. 16
