Well, that was one hell of year.
With a nod to the guys at Esquire who do the Dubious Achievements, Leo Banks (with a bit of assistance from yours truly) does the Weekly‘s annual roundup of the weird stories of the year. We dub 2017 “the year of the dick”—and we’re sad to say we’ll probably see just as many (if not more) in 2018. Giant props to my longtime partner in crime, Hector Acuña, for a magnificent cover that really sums up the zeitgeist. It was a joy to work with both of these old pros again.
Elsewhere in the book: Our crew of music writers look back at the best music of the year; film critic Bob Grimm picks his favorite films; theatre writer Sherilyn Forrester shines a spotlight on the best productions; staff reporter Danyelle Khmara takes us to a homeless vigil; Mark Russell tells us about Kingfisher’s new oyster beer; comedy columnist Linda Ray takes in the Loft Cinema’s Friday Night Shorts; calendar editor Emily Dieckman has some great ideas of how you can spend your holiday downtime; music columnist Xavier Otero clues us in on what’s happening on the concert front in XOXO…; and, as usual, there’s a whole lot more.
For all that was lousy about 2017—and I really miss Emil Franzi and Tom Petty, both gone too soon—it was still a great year for me: I got to welcome Isabelle Margaret Nintzel into my family. She and her big sister Olivia are eternal delights, and my wife Jennifer and I could not be more blessed.
Hey, and somebody handed me the keys to this newspaper, so that’s been pretty cool, too. It’s an honor to be here, standing on the shoulders of giants and working with a team of young journalists who inspire and amaze me every day. Hope you’ve enjoyed my stewardship so far—or that I’ve really pissed you off, since I’m not doing my job if someone isn’t mad at me.
Here’s my resolution in 2018: This paper is going to kick ass.
Have a fun (and safe!) New Year’s eve, and good fortune in 2018—unless you’re a dick.
— Jim Nintzel
Executive Editor
This article originally misidentified theater writer Sherilyn Forrester.
This article appears in Dec 28, 2017 – Jan 3, 2018.
Hey Nintzel! That is a truly adorable baby & a great picture to start the New Year. God knows ’17 has been ugly enough all on it’s own, so to see a bright, smiling & happy baby is a great way to welcome ’18! Thank You!
Maybe this has been asked already, but will the NYT crossword puzzle on the last page continue being the recent Sunday version? The daily newspaper in Tucson prints that puzzle, so by the time it comes out in the TW, puzzlers have done it already. I miss the older weekday puzzles of before. Still, I like the TW and read it cover to cover. Thanks.
I hope to see some investigative reporting next year.
I hoped the last five years. What is the point?
Sherilyn Fenn? Don’t you mean Forrester?
Lets take a minute and look at the momentum going into 2018.
It appears the tax readjustment of monies mortgage, sole proprietors where most of new hire come from wont have to pay the individual rate but the almost half the corporate. Large corporations wont be able to write off subsidiaries/accounts that kill competition in small markets so the loss wont be deductible anymore. Willcox tomatoes just look at creditors same every chapter 11 filing has been for the last 20 years. Paying a few to lose more is not in the game anymore. No longer will tax payers, pay the relocation cost of employees that one city offers better incentives than another. No longer will tax payers of rural payers have 80 smaller piece of the pie on state tax write offs than Cities not that is paying their fair share.
Lets look at the Sex momentum the Woman’s voice for equalization in every industry. That movement will make all the ground rule on how we view our past leaders. The monuments as well as the future teaching of the Leaders. I wonder what kind of turmoil riots ciaos will happen when these rule are applied to MLK?
Files released in 2027 is there going to be a cover up to keep them away from the people and history ?
Jeff Sessions is on his way out but waiting for the make up of the next congress for strategy. Jeff only knows the roads he traveled as a young man and has not been able to navigate the interstate of politics anymore. Afraid of the traffic might as well park himself at waffle house drinking coffee. He is isolating so much of the economically stricken employment class with the marijuana bullshit Trump will cut his loss. The new Atty Gen will do performance review of Mueller ask for mile stones and fire and close the Russian election fiasco. Who will be the next Atty Gen?
Indians will grow Cannabis and start detox recovery centers on reservations for Indians only. While Pima County Has the Highest Diabetes rate in all the US and obesity is a problem Cannabis can curtail these social and health problems by double digits some possibly eliminate. Ducey wont be reelected because of his Hemp veto, everyone knows there is a payoff somewhere in that. Passed legislature by a 95% majority and vetoed without explanation the bruise will still be visible.
Just a view of the flow of local interest. You can tell me I am full of it I dont mind. All of the tigers the Dems have built when the took over congress in 2006 have been feed and some have turned and ate the owner. The attack on corporations that brought the elimination of Citizens United. The curtailing of 501 nonprofits, The equal marriage act. The failure of congress to govern on the Affordable Care act. The filibuster rule change and the congressional rule changes. The abuse of the antiquities act now repeal state will set aside as preserved not to be zoned by the Babbitt’s.