The episode of the Travel Channel's Man V. Food that takes place in Tucson airs this Wednesday, Dec. 2. Check the show schedule here.

I can't wait to see the show's star, Adam Richman, take on the O.M.F.G. burger—a 12-patty behemoth—at Lindy's on 4th. It looks like he made stops at El Güero Canelo and Mi Nidito, too.

Tuesday, Dec. 1 is the 21st anniversary of World AIDS Day. There are several local events taking place to mark the day.

First off, tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 28), BOBFEST 2 takes place at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St. This World AIDS Day warm-up is a benefit show for Positively Beautiful, a nonprofit which "exists to assist people living with HIV/AIDS regain their independence and reclaim their identities."

The show starts at 7 p.m. and is free. Bands to perform: AIDS Free, Logan Greene and the Bricks, Boogie Nazis. According to a press release, the members of these bands are young, straight and loud. They play to raise money for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Next, on Monday, Nov. 30, a number of HIV-positive artists will show their recent works at Rocket Gallery, 270 E. Congress St. and in the Hotel Congress Lobby. Reception at 7:30 p.m.

Then, on the official World AIDS Day (Tuesday, Dec. 1), a free event at Club Congress begins at 4 p.m. Entertainment includes performers Parasol Project, Batucaxé, Namoli Brennet, Sebastian, MetalHead and others. Also on tap: speakers living with HIV/AIDS, hors d'oeuvres and info booths.

And if you are unsure of your HIV status (nearly 25 percent of those living with HIV don't know that they are positive), free HIV testing will be offered in private rooms donated by Hotel Congress through COPE.

Could the owner of the Explorer really be the East Valley Tribune's savior?

Ray Stern of the Phoenix New Times has some thoughts.

My thought? Randy Miller, the Explorer's main owner dude, may indeed save the Trib in some form, but it's worth noting that when he arrived in metro Tucson, the Explorer had somewhere in the area of 9 to 11 people in the newsroom. (The exact number escapes me at this moment.) There are now three or four in the newsroom.

Explorer editor Dave Perry's done a great job with what he has ... but he doesn't have much.

Twenty nine businesses and restaurants on Fourth Avenue between University Boulevard and Ninth Street are coming together to provide sales and promote local shopping Friday, Nov. 27, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. In addition, other shopping areas with specials are Campbell Village, La Placita and Maynard's Market. All are part of Local First Arizona, an organization that supports local commerce. From their Web site www.localfirstaz.com, a description:

Local First Arizona (LFA) is a non-profit organization working to strengthen communities and local economies through supporting, maintaining, and celebrating locally owned businesses throughout the state of Arizona. We educate citizens, stakeholders, business leaders, and legislators about the significant environmental, economic, and cultural benefits of strong local economies. We build vibrant communities that make residents proud to call home.

In addition, Etherton Gallery will hold a holiday book sale starting Friday through Jan. 2. They will offer signed fine-art photography books for 25 percent off retail prices. They are located at 135 S. Sixth Ave. Call 624-7370 for info.

Remember, when you shop local, 45 cents of every dollar you spend stays in Arizona. When you shop at national chains, 13 cents of every dollar stays in the state.

The Arizona Guardian brings us this video of a press conference with Gov. Jan Brewer, Senate President Bob Burns and Speaker of the House Kirk Adams.

Check it out: Brewer cheerfully announces that the state has now cut a billion dollars in spending under her watch. That includes $130 million from the Department of Economic Security in the last go-round, which means that poor people who depend on government assistance are going to see a whole lot less and workers who are employed by DES or social-services that get money from DES are going to lose their jobs.

Then Brewer wishes everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Yes, Tiny Tim is sure to have a wonderful holiday season!

Brewer also tells reporters that maybe she's not so worried about asking voters to approve the temporary one-cent sales-tax hike that had been the centerpiece of her plan to save the state.

Then Adams steps up the mike to complain that Democrats have offered no ideas through the budget crisis. Look, we're not buying that the Democratic plan that was offered was going to do all that they promised it would, but you can't honestly say they haven't offered any solutions. Their proposal, which included a plan to lower the overall sales-tax rate and extend it to services that are now untaxed, may not have been the GOP's liking, but Democrats made a serious proposal. Even the Goldwater Institute—rarely an ally of Democrats—said the idea was worth considering. (GI was less enthused about a Democratic proposal to increase income taxes on higher earners and increase property taxes.)

Why is Adams afraid to just say he doesn't like their ideas? Why is compelled to lie about them?

Jefferson Carter will read from his new book, My Kind of Animal, during KXCI's Poet's Moment. Air times are Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 3 and 10 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 28, at 8 a.m.; Sunday, Nov. 29, at 2 p.m.; and Monday, Nov. 30, at 10 a.m.

My Kind of Animal is Carter's eighth collection and is published by local Chax Press. Carter has read at the 2008 Tucson Poetry Festival and participated in the Tucson Festival of Books.

A book launch takes place from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4, at Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St. A portion of the proceeds from book sales that evening will be donated to the Sky Island Alliance, where Carter volunteers. He explains their work: "Sky Island is an alliance of scientists and environmental activists who protect the flora and fauna of Southern Arizona and northern Sonora. Among their many activities, they close down illegal roads in wilderness areas, try to protect jaguars and ocelots, keep intact the wildlife corridors between the mountain ranges, and generate data and advise government agencies on ways to keep the national forests healthy."

Call 870-6487 for more information.

Media Watch dude John Schuster has this report:

In the Monday, Nov. 23, edition of the Arizona Daily Wildcat student newspaper, an editorial rips into the Zona Zoo and other fans for their unruly behavior during Oregon’s 44-41 double-overtime football victory at Arizona Stadium.

One of the names listed as being a member of the Wildcat opinions board, which writes the editorials, is Shain Bergan.

That’s presumably the same Shain Bergan who was cited for disorderly conduct at the ESPN College GameDay event on the UA mall Saturday morning (Nov. 21) just before 6 a.m.

“Another person was holding a sign, and Mr. Bergan took the sign and damaged it. As a result of that, he was charged with disorderly conduct, issued a criminal citation, cited and released,” said UA Police Department Sgt. Juan Alvarez.

Bergan recently wrote a column chastising a fraternity for failing to come clean about allegations that it stole copies of the Wildcat in an attempt to cover up an unflattering story.

Rasmussen has a new poll today saying that Maricopa Sheriff Joe Arpaio polls well in a gubernatorial match-up against Attorney General Terry Goddard:

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is the Republicans’ best shot at holding onto the Arizona governorship in 2010 against likely Democratic candidate Terry Goddard.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Arizona voters finds Arpaio, famed for his crackdowns on illegal immigrants, leading Goddard, the state’s current attorney general, by 12 points — 51% to 39%. Seven percent (7%) prefer some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided.

Embattled incumbent Republican Jan Brewer, who stepped up to the governorship from secretary of state when Janet Napolitano became secretary of Homeland Security, trails Goddard by nine points — 44% to 35%. In that match-up, nine percent (9%) like another candidate. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure whom they’ll vote for.

More bad news for Brewer:

Arizona is one of the hardest hit states in the country budgetwise, and just 39% of voters now approve of Brewer’s performance as governor. Only four percent (4%) strongly approve. Fifty-seven percent (57%) disapprove of the job she is doing, with 24% who strongly disapprove.

Fifty-eight percent (58%) say economic conditions in Arizona are getting worse. Just 13% say they are getting better, while 22% think they’re staying about the same.

But again like voters around the country, most in Arizona don’t think tax increases are the way out. Fifty-one percent (51%) oppose increasing the state sales tax to solve budget issues, while 36% say an increase in the sales tax is a good idea. Thirteen percent (13%) aren’t sure.

Arizona Illustrated takes the Friday Roundtable on the road to Green Valley with special guest Ray Carroll, Pima County supervisor.

Watch it all after the jump.