Colbert notes that Arizona was able to help out California—by providing them with the drug they needed to execute a death-row inmate. The letter from a California official thanking Arizona officials included the punchline: "You guys in AZ are life savers."

Jon Stewart dedicated the entire episode last night to the delay in passing the Zadroga Bill, which would provide health-care benefits to Sept. 11 first responders.

The other two segments, including interviews with first responders and, less significantly (maybe) Mike Huckabee, below the cut.

Zinburger is opening a location on the East Coast. Here’s The New York Times story about it.

Mr. An opens his new restaurant at Casino del Sol on Sunday, Dec. 19. An del Sol will specialize in Chinese and Japanese food, and will have a sushi bar. More information here.

Thunder Canyon Brewery has its annual run of Ornament Ale on tap. This is the obvious choice of libations if you’re planning an inebriated outburst during Christmas dinner, and, yes, they sell it by the half-gallon. More information here.

As mentioned in Noshing Around, Hotel Congress’ Whiskey Weekend gets underway this evening and runs through Sunday. More here.

The Bears of the Old Pueblo hold a beer bust and chili feed at the Venture N from 3 to 7 p.m. this Saturday. It’s only $1 a beer, or $2.50 a pitcher, and bowls of homemade chili will be $2. Probably the best deal in town, and the money raised benefits Wingspan.

The new restaurant inside Nur Market sells the best freaking food, and the prices are low. The East African tea is unlike anything I’ve ever had, and you’d do well to snag a bag of the pita-like bread they sell in the market on your way out. You’ll thank yourself later.

Made any New Year’s Eve plans yet? The Tucson Weekly’s calendar of New Year’s events doesn't come out until next week, but it's already posted here. There are parties everywhere from the Meet Rack to the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort, and events ranging from fine-dining to laser-light shows.

Enjoy!

If you've been wondering how many African Americans had speaking parts during the 10 seasons of Friends
, a rapping computer drops the knowledge on you via YouTube today (spoiler alert: 24).

Mildly NSFW, although I think the educational nature of the presentation makes up for the profanity.

Colbert mocks Kyl's ridiculous assertion that senators shouldn't have to work on the week after Christmas.

Meanwhile, here's what MSNBC's Joe Scarborough had to say on Morning Joe:

It’s offensive that people would use Christianity for political leverage with an argument that is so baseless that I got to say, my breath is taken away. Do we want to start with the most obvious one about who else is not going to be home on Christmas day? Troops in Afghanistan. ... The Republican Party has the upper hand in so many ways; in these areas they need to just shut their mouth. They’re embarrassing themselves.

Ht: Daily Dish

Do you lack genital confidence? Welcome to the dark, dark world of the Tajazzle informercial.

I'm not entirely sure what the new Terrence Malick film is about. I just know that based on the trailer and the poster, the 7:40 p.m. showing of The Other Guys at Century Gateway has lost whatever meager appeal it might have once had.

Vice President Joe Biden dismisses Sen. Jon Kyl's latest complaints about possibly having to work around Christmas.

BTW: Did anyone else notice that even Pat Buchanan thinks the Senate should ratify the New START treaty?

Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona is holding up the treaty until he gets more assurances that the administration will do the tests and upgrades necessary to maintain the reliability of U.S. nuclear weapons. He should receive those assurances.

Maintaining the credibility of the U.S. deterrent is a vital national interest. But does this justify holding the treaty hostage?

Without a treaty, we lose our right and our ways and means to verify that Russia is carrying out the terms of arms treaties already agreed upon.

How does leaving the United States in the dark about who is doing what with Moscow’s nuclear weapons enhance our security?

Not only are our allies behind this treaty — as are Republican secretaries of state and defense and ex-national security advisers — so, too, is the Pentagon.

If the joint chiefs say this treaty is good for America, what do the reluctant Republican senators believe is wrong with it? Have they considered the impact of the treaty’s defeat on Russia?

When I was a kid and got an Sears knockoff of the Atari 2600 for Christmas, I never dreamed of this glorious age when I could have a digitally animated samurai yelling at me while playing a urine-powered video game.

Thank you, Japan.