My Debate Take-Away

During last night’s vice presidential candidates’ debate, Paul Ryan said something in reference to women’s reproductive rights and Roe vs. Wade that gave us a glimpse into his soul: We don’t think that unelected judges should make this decision; that people through their elected representatives in reaching a consensus in society through the democratic process […]

Pima County’s Love/Hate Relationship with Bicyclists

In January 2010 I wrote about a bicycle mini-park and trailhead to be built at the foot of Mount Lemon, a popular bicycling route in East Tucson, and how at the last minute—after ten years of planning, after land had been zoned and architectural plans approved, T’s crossed and I’s dotted—asshole NIMBYs and a chickenshit […]

Tuesday Bag o’ Grumpiness

Confidently awaiting a new round of News at Ten hysteria over teenagers burning out their stomachs after quaffing liquid nitrogen cocktails. Do you know what your children are drinking? So sick, so very sick of the 24/7 media focus on the recent presidential candidates’ debate. Yes, Obama did poorly. Yes, Romney told a pack of lies […]

Things to Ban Instead of Commonly Banned Books

I don’t often copy from other blogs, but IMHO The Hairpin scored major points here and I feel the need to blockquote a couple of samples: Commonly Banned: The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger. Ban Instead: Explanations of why The Catcher in the Rye is overrated to people who’ve just said that it’s meaningful to […]

Debating with Myself

All I could think, watching Obama and Romney debate last night, was how furious Bill Clinton must have been with Barack: “There! Right there! Call him on that! He’s lyin’! He can’t back that up! Now’s your chance! Go for the throat! Arrgh, what’s wrong with you tonight, son?” So many easy setups. So many […]

Prohibition and Gun Control: That Dog Won’t Hunt

A Facebook friend shares a letter to her home-town newspaper: Dear [name of town], I almost lost a good friend last night. After an evening of drinking he stumbled, by accident, into the wrong house during the wee hours of the morning and received two gunshot wounds for his mistake. While I don’t know all […]

Another Bag o’ Friday Happiness

Hey, I may not drink any more, but I still know what TGIF means to most Americans! And I can still dream (sob). I feel like frying some fish filets tonight: catfish, red snapper, tilapia, whatever catches my eye. Good bread and a green vegetable to serve on the side, maybe Swiss chard … something […]

You Can’t Read That! Banned Book Review: Forever

You Can’t Read That! is a periodic post featuring banned book reviews and news roundups. Arizona Banned Chicano writers respond to the Tucson Unified School District book banning by publishing an anthology titled “Ban This!” What do you suppose the odds are it’ll be adopted by TUSD? The only thing better than having a locally […]