If you say even the most mundane word enough times it can begin to sound nonsenical. Perhaps the folks having conniptions over the use of the title word of this entry in a Newbery-awarding-winning children's novel haven't said it enough. Given their objections, they might have avoided saying the word at all.

If you're clicking over to read the New York Times article linked above, you'll be able to take advantage of a new technological trick, double-clicking on a word (the trigger actually varies from browser to browser) to get a pop-up window with dictionary definitions and other references. Here's what you'd encounter for "scrotum":

The musculocutaneous sac that encloses the testes and is formed of skin, a network of nonstriated muscular fibers, cremasteric fascia, the cremaster muscle, and the serous coverings of the testes and epididymides.

We're still sorting out the details, but we tell you that it appears that Hear's Music, the independent music store at 2508 N. Campbell Ave., will be shutting its doors by the end of the month after 16 years in business.

Store owner Britton Dornquast, who has dedicated countless hours to improving the Campbell Avenue shopping district, got his reward on Valentine's Day, when he opened an envelope from the attorney for the strip mall's new owners with a notice that he was to vacate the property by Feb. 28.

"My business is toast," Dornquast says. "This is my life. This is my retirement. This is my kids' college. This is everything I've worked for 16 years. It's gone."

Dornquast's efforts in forming the Campbell Avenue Merchants Association has helped win the corridor more than a million bucks in local and federal grants. That money—much of which has yet to be spent—has helped pay for banners, crosswalks and other efforts to spruce up the street between Grant and Fort Lowell roads, not far from the Weekly's midtown bureau.

Dornquast had been trying to sell Hear's Music for the last year, but says the eviction makes that impossible.

He does, however, plan to throw one hell of a going-out-of-business sale next Saturday, Feb. 25.

"We're going to have live music," Dornquast says. "We're going to have a blow-out sale. There will be a lot people crying on the counter; there'll be a lot of people getting pissed."

Developing …

Several months ago a greyhound by the name of Boston was rushed to Pima Animal Care Center. Boston had been denied food, water, shelter, ventilation and human contact for more than a month. His abusers pled guilty, and one of them has been sentenced.

The primary abuser, Mr. Mendibles, will be sentenced Feb 26. He did not adopt Boston but instead was associated with a kennel at the Tucson Greyhound Park and was just given the greyhound.

Greyhound groups all over the country have been following this case and sent in letters for each hearing. During the previous sentencing of Mr. McCallister, the secondary abuser, the judge publicly thanked all the greyhound groups and animal lovers all over the country for writing letters. He said that they are the Mothers of Drunk Drivers in the greyhound world. (Power to the animal-loving people!)

Please join in the letter writing campaign and send a letter thanking the Pima County Prosecutors for prosecuting animal abuse cases and to recommend the maximum punishment by law to Mr. Mendibles for greyhound abuse.

Send to:

Diana Hofsdale, Legal Assistant, Crime Division

Pima County Attorneys Office

1400 Legal Services Bldg

32 N. Stone Ave

Tucson, AZ 85701

Boston has since gained 35 pounds will be ready for adoption through Racing Home Greyhounds in Phoenix when the case is finally closed.

I am sure you have a story or seven about editors who are idiots, but I doubt you've ever asked/told to do something this insane.

If you have, comment and let us know!

The Tucson Weekly wants your picture! If you are a local musician or play in a band, e-mail us a high resolution photo. We’ll keep it on file and try to publish it when you have a gig. We prefer jpegs, with a resolution of 200 dpi or higher. E-mail your photo or questions to [email protected].

Here are some events—and one cancellation—that were received too late to be included in our print issue.

CANCELED:

• Saturday, Feb. 17 from 8 to 10:30 a.m.

  Rural Metro Fire Department Station No. 71

  4445 E. Benson Highway

  Pancake Breakfast and Tour. Call 219-2069 or e-mail [email protected] for info.

LATE-BREAKING EVENTS:

• Saturday, Feb. 17 from 2 to 3 p.m. and

  Tuesday, Feb. 20 from 6 to 7 p.m.

  Bookmans, 1930 E. Grant Road

  Creating Captivating Animal Adoption Profiles. A free workshop for volunteers of animal-related nonprofit groups or anyone interested in reducting pet homelessness. Learn how to write to connect with adopters, what makes a photograph work and tips for posting animal profiles on Web sites. Call 237-2331 and visit www.savemoreanimals.org.

• Sunday, Feb. 18 from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

  McMahon's Prime Steakhouse

  2959 N. Swan Road

  Wine Tasting Event. Enjoy 25 wines from wineries around the country, sushi and hors d'oevures. A raffle will be held. $30. Proceeds will assist the Junior League of Tucson. Visit www.juniorleagueoftucson.org for info.

• Monday, Feb. 19 from 7 to 9 p.m.

  Christ Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall

  6565 E. Broadway Blvd.

  Open Reading. The Catalina Players read from four plays: America-Ojala, And Where Was Pancho Villa When You Really Needed Him?, Rowing to America, Dead Bolivians on a Raft. Must understand Spanish. Free.

• Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.

  International Wildlife Museum

  4800 W. Gates Pass Road

  A Photo Tour of Tucson's Wildlife. Young Cage, former president of the Tucson Herpotological Society, presents a program with pictures of flowers, insects, birds, mammals, repitiles and amphibians from the area. $3 for nonmembers. Members attend free. Call 629-0100, ext. 311 for info.

1. So the Motor Vehicle Division makes Tucsonans drive to one of three places for smog checks: the eastside (22nd/Sarnoff), the extreme northwest side (Prince and Interstate 10) or the southwest side (Valencia/Midvale Park). Wouldn't it make a hell of a lot of sense—and cut down on some serious vehicle emissions—to put a testing station in the *CENTRAL* part of town?

2. I noticed a sign at Benson Highway and Valencia Road touting the fact that the Regional Transportation Authority and our tax dollars are responsible for the new traffic signal at that intersection. Great! But how much of our tax money was spent for that idiot sign?

The new Weekly is online! Bask in its informative glow!

He's running. Too bad we can't trade him for Jim Pederson.

My thanks go to the anonymous person who sent me the e-Valentine from "Anna Nicole" that read "You might be my baby's daddy." That was very sweet.