Reddit is a wildly fascinating corner of the Internet. It seems unfair to call it just a link-sharing site, since there's an actual community and even a somewhat powerful social force (the Jon Stewart rally sprung from a Reddit prompt) behind the collection of wacky photos, inside jokes, links to news stories and whatever else comes up on the front page on any given day.
One of the most popular running features on the site is "Ask Me Anything," in which someone with a unique experience takes questions from the Reddit audience. At the heart of the concept is an opportunity to get a glimpse into someone else's life.
On Saturday night (March 12), a post went up with the headline "On Tuesday I'll finally end my battle with cancer thanks to Oregon's death with dignity act." The thread quickly became one of the most popular in the history of the series, with more than 9,000 people responding that night. Some people offered condolences; others wanted a glimpse into what it's like to know the date of your own death. However, a few people questioned whether the thread was a hoax, including Gawker's Adrian Chen, who briefly claimed on Twitter to be the original poster.
The poster has since disappeared and is not responding to messages from the press, so maybe we'll never know what happened. But the fact that someone might even consider spending one of their last days answering questions from strangers online is a strange turn of events.
THE WEEK ON THE RANGE
We shared horrifying images from Japan; translated the latest moves in the battle over Tucson Unified School District's ethnic-studies program; continued to watch Republican state Senate Majority Leader Scott Bundgaard try to salvage his political career following a creepy domestic-violence incident; kept up with other silliness at the Arizona Legislature; followed the Arizona Wildcats into March Madness; and encouraged you to join our Hoops Hysteria pool, where you could win $1 million!
We followed the latest updates from Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' doctors; reviewed the benefit concert featuring Jackson Browne, Alice Cooper and a cast of thousands; suggested that you sign up for free Red Cross CPR training as part of the Gabrielle Giffords Save-a-Life Saturday on March 19; brought you the news from accused shooter Jared Lee Loughner's court appearance; and noted that Republican Jesse Kelly took another step toward a rematch with Giffords.
We noted Politico's report that Sarah Palin might base a presidential campaign out of Scottsdale; wondered if Sen. Jon Kyl was the senator who was blocking a law aimed at protecting federal whistleblowers; and were surprised to see Glenn Beck taking on James O'Keefe over the NPR faux-posé.
We delivered reports from the Festival of Books; chewed our way through another dispatch in the "Food Truck Diaries"; linked to a dispatch discussing rocky times for Rocky Point, aka Puerto Peñasco; traveled to Sonoita's wine country; brought you photos from Mr. Free and the Satellite Freakout's Red Room performance; salivated at the thought of Culver's frozen custard in Tucson; and sighed at the arrest of The Wire's Felicia "Snoop" Pearson.
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
"I guess laws are just for us little people. ... His behavior is a clear indication that he lacks the ability to make reasonable decisions that affect the state and everyone in it."
—TucsonWeekly.com commenter LouisWu, remarking on "Bundgaard Skates: GOP Lawmakers Stand Behind Senate Majority Leader" (The Range, March 8).
BEST OF WWW
In our Yum! dining guide this week, we look at the trend of microdistilling. The modern drunkard is used to having a number of craft beers available nearly everywhere, but it wasn't until a few years ago that hard-liquor options beyond the big names were available. While there aren't many Arizona options yet as far as microdistillates go, Hotel Congress' master of all things alcohol, Aaron DeFeo, shows us how to use some of the new American craft spirits in a cocktail. Yes, it's the return of the "Secrets of Tucson Bartenders" series! The investment in buying a good bottle of booze is a little more intimidating than an investment in a six-pack of beer, but many of these new liquors are worth the risk.
