-- Sigh.

-- Yet another newspaper cuts back. Mark my words: The Internet will not kill computers; a push for excessive profit over quality will.

-- Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio continues to be a dick, and people are starting to notice.

-- Meanwhile, in Tucson, the Star dedicates ink to the fact that it's hot out. They don't even credit this blog, which broke this stunning piece of news yesterday.

-- The Middle East is starting to get really scary.

-- Valerie Plame has lawyered up.

-- RIP, Red Buttons.

-- And meanwhile, in Tucson, it's hot.

--Some people have written a letter to the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, sniveling that Bill Clinton recently spoke to the organization (which you can read all about on this very blog). It's a fine letter. Just make sure you aren't drinking any beverages while you read it, for they may shoot out your nose.

--There's war in the Middle East.

--Is Ken Lay in the same boat as Jesus and Martin Luther King Jr.? One man of God believes so.

--If you can give blood, please do so. They need it.

In a letter that arrived at Chez Banks today, Arizona Theatre Company Artistic Director David Iran Goldstein announced a change in the lineup for the company's upcoming 40th anniversary season. The entire original Broadway production of Souvenir—which played this past season—will replace the previously announced String of Pearls.

Souvenir, by Stephen Temperley, is based on the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a wealthy but tone-deaf woman who loved to sing. Starring—and nominated for a Tony in the role—is Phoenix native Judy Kaye. Kaye won a Tony in the original Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera and was nominated for roles in Ragtime and Mamma Mia! She will be filling in for Patti LuPone in the revival of Sweeney Todd for a few weeks this summer.

Before showing up in Tucson and Phoenix for the ATC run in January and February, the production will be mounted in Los Angeles at the Brentwood Theatre from Oct. 5 to Nov. 5. Goldstein promises to deliver String of Pearls at some point in the future.

... can be located here. Or if you're mildly dyslexic, here.

-- If you're planning a visit to our nation's capitol, for the love of pete, be careful.

-- More problems for the AIMS Test?

-- When it comes to the U.S. Senate and the Internet, well, the Internet's fucked.

-- Vladimir Putin's mocking Dick Cheney.

That's all for now. We now return you to Cannon, starring William Conrad.

So did you see that big plume of black smoke a little while ago, somewhere south of Park Place Mall? That was, oh, about four houses away from me. Let me tell you: Seeing a house across the street from you in flames is not a happy sight. Also not a happy sight: Seeing the telephone poles and power lines in flames. I seriously hope no one was home at the time, and that the people who lived in that house are OK and will be OK in the days to come.

And let's all take a moment to appreciate our awesome firemen: They had that fire out in minutes.

For more interesting coverage of the aftermath of the New Times takeover of the Village Voice (and its sister newspapers), check out this story from NPR's Morning Edition.

Musica Obscura, the project fronted by local musician Mike DeCicco, is currently in the running to play Lollapalooza 2006 at Grant Park in Chicago Aug. 4-6. See, they're having this contest called Last Band Standing, and Musica Obscura has made it to the semifinals, which is pretty impressive in and of itself—he's competed against loads of national acts. Musica Obscura's in 12th place as of this posting, and needs to move up to the top four to make it to the final round, and you, my dear blog friends, can help. The deadline to vote is July 21, and you can vote every 24 hours.

Help send a local brotha to Chi-town, folks, to represent the Old Pueblo. Cast your vote here!

-- There have been deadly train explosions in India.

-- The Bush administration has decided to follow the Geneva Coventions. At least that's what they're saying.

-- The fact I just typed the sentence, "The Bush administration has decided to follow the Geneva Coventions," in a dead-serious, non-ironic fashion has suddenly made me depressed.

-- Possible fraud in a Mexican election? Wow, they must be learning from their friends to the north.

-- Gabby Giffords continues to milk the fact that she's dating an astronaut.

And that's your news update. We now return you to your e-mail/porn surfing/whatever it is you use the Internet for.