You'll probably be busy today reading the new issue of our paper, but when you're done, GQ's profile of disgraced Colorado Springs pastor on the comeback, Ted Haggard, is well worth reading. Turns out he's willing to admit some of what he was accused of, but his penitence is still a bit murky.

Ted may be telling the truth, but his peculiar brand of self-victimization and protestation—in which every "I messed up" is followed by a "but... "—makes it hard for people in Colorado Springs to believe that he's actually sorry for what he did. One former New Life member expressed what seems to be the general sentiment surrounding his resurgence: "I think Ted genuinely loves God, and I think he has a sincere interest in helping people, but I don't believe a word that comes out of his mouth."

[GQ]

The Daily Caller:

Behind closed doors, California Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez has proposed removing Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords from the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) until she recovers from injuries sustained after being shot in the head on Jan. 8 in Tucson, The Daily Caller has learned.

The proposal sparked an outrage, according to those in the room — including from those in Sanchez’s own party.

“It’s not appropriate,” Texas Democratic Rep. Silvestre Reyes told The Daily Caller, adding that there was outrage among some members in the room when Sanchez made the suggestion. “It’s bad for morale during her recovery period.”

Reyes and Rep. Adam Smith of Washington put up most of the fight against Sanchez, and helped squash the idea.

“From a woman who memorialized her cat, you’d think she’d show a little more compassion for a woman shot in the face,” said one GOP aide, referring to Sanchez’s 2010 Christmas card that paid tribute to her late cat, Gretzky.

Sanchez told her Democratic colleagues on the committee that every vote would be crucial, and since there was little indication Giffords would return soon, they should seek a replacement. A spokesman for Sanchez defended her proposal and called the criticism “ludicrous.”

“Gabby has always been one of the most active members on the Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Sanchez wants to make sure HASC Democrats preserve her voice until the congresswoman has returned,” Sanchez’s Press Secretary Caroline Hogan told TheDC. “Rep. Sanchez simply inquired whether a proxy could represent the Congresswoman on the Committee at Rep. Giffords’ request. That way, Gabby’s legislative priorities and seniority would be preserved until her return. Any other interpretation of her question is ludicrous.”

When it comes to committee votes, Giffords’s absence will have little impact since Republicans hold a majority in the House.

“I think the congresswoman forgets what it is like to be in the minority,” said one former Democratic aide. “Minority still loses whether you have one more vote or not.”

A spokesman for Committee Chairman Rep. Buck McKeon told TheDC that he does not support Sanchez’s call to have someone fill in for Giffords.

Pixar's Up reimagined as a Spencer Tracy vehicle from the 1960's.

[AV Club]

I'm no fan of Kings of Leon (I once titled a blog post "Why I Hate Kings Of Leon: Part XXVIII" and on other occasion wrote "Have you suffered a head injury and become a Kings Of Leon fan?", among other nasty things I've said about the band online), so I've already picked my side in this fight, but I could see where some people might hope for mutually assured destruction:

Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill has fired back at Glee creator Ryan Murphy, who criticizes the band in this week's Hollywood Reporter for turning down the Fox show's request to Glee-ify the song "Use Somebody" last year.

Murphy tells THR: "F—- you, Kings of Leon. They’re self-centered assholes, and they missed the big picture. They missed that a 7-year-old kid can see someone close to their age singing a Kings of Leon song, which will maybe make them want to join a glee club or pick up a musical instrument."

On Wednesday, hours after the THR story hit the web, Followill Tweeted: "Dear Ryan Murphy, let it go. See a therapist, get a manicure, buy a new bra. Zip your lip and focus on educating 7yr olds how to say f—-l."

Kings of Leon, bulwarks of artistic credibility, declined to allow their music to be performed on Glee, but have lent their work to more purely non-commercial outlets such as Volkswagen, Ford, Microsoft and the CW show Gossip Girl.

[Hollywood Reporter]

Not everyone gets to eat a deep-fried pastrami and bacon sandwich constructed by the Montreal kings of pork products. These Barely Political guys should be more respectful.

Also, I'm in to the whole drinking booze from a jar idea. Totally working that into my daily life.

Honored the family's request to not provide updates until Giffords was transferred to TIRR.

CEO Dan Walterman (sp?): Moved to TIRR today to begin the rehabilitation portion of her recovery. Giffords is resting comfortably in her new room.

Assessment was done, care was excellent in Tucson.

Dr. Kim: Daily improvements have been seen. Recovery has been at "lightning speed".

Dr. Francisco: Giffords is undergoing therapy right now, including physical and speech therapy.

Trach tube is being downsized, soon a valve will be inserted to allow speech. Not requiring breathing support. Can swallow safely.

Giffords is "very interactive" with family and staff around her.

Busy afternoon already, anticipate therapy schedule will be very active.

Able to take drain out from brain. Fluid was building up in Tucson, but drain was clamped Sunday, removed on Monday. Will not likely need permanent drain.

Some weakness has been seen with Giffords' muscle function, but they have seen improvement already.

Giffords' sleep/awake cycle is similar to any of ours, but she is obviously tired after therapy.

Therapy is being done in her room at this time.

They haven't formally tested her vision at this time.

There is absolutely no evidence of infection anywhere, including her brain.

The doctors seem unwilling to answer questions about her specific abilities to understand speech or writing, but they do emphasize that she is making great steps and is able to interact in some ways.

The press conference has ended.

The new place will be called Lindy’s at Redline Sports Grill. It's going in at the former Pearl nightclub spot on the corner of Wetmore and Oracle roads. Construction is already underway on the 10,000-square-foot space, which will also contain a new nightclub called RPM Nightclub.

We’ll let you know when we learn more.

(UPDATE: The menu will focus on hamburgers and hotdogs, all done Lindy's-style. An outdoor patio will have a grill that is apparently going to be in the engine compartment of a car, and the place will be open until 3 a.m. on the weekends. It's expected to open sometime in February.)

Washington Post:

In the weeks and days before the shooting rampage in Tucson, suspect Jared Lee Loughner surfed the Internet on his computer in what investigators believe was an effort to prepare for his alleged assassination attempt, law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation said.

Loughner pulled up several Web sites about lethal injections and solitary confinement in prison, said the sources, who asked to be anonymous because the investigation is ongoing. He also viewed Internet sites about political assassins, according to an analysis of Loughner's computer that was completed by investigators last week, the sources said.

If you're looking for something to do tonight, it's hard to imagine anything cooler happening this evening than Saturnalia, a new monthly wine tasting and DJ event.

A description of the event from its Facebook page:

Saturnalia is a new journey through space and wine. Our concept is to present to you a monthly $5 dollar wine tasting with a mobile DJ at twelve different locations. Magic Kenny will pour five different wines and Scratchy Carl will showcase some of his finest vinyl for your listening pleasure.

Tonight, the wine will be flowing at the Best Western Royal Sun at Best Western Royal Sun (1015 N. Stone Ave.), but the idea is that the event will move to a new venue each month.

We asked Carl Hanni, the man playing the music tonight (and Weekly contributor) how one selects music for a wine tasting:

Choosing music for a wine tasting is pretty much like choosing music for a gallery opening, museum event or any other event I DJ for that isn't a dance-oriented. What I'm thinking about is what sort of atmosphere I want to create and enhance with the music being played; what would fit the ambience. I also might consider to some extent what the setting is and what part of town our event is in, and what sort of crowd might be there. I'm likely to tweak it a bit depending on if I'm downtown, on the North side or on the South side of Tucson; they all have different crowds. The same could be said for a club, restaurant, rental hall, cafe or whatever the venue is.

As always, it's a combination of giving folks what they want and giving them what I want them to want. I always try and provide something that fits the situation, although the music itself might not be familiar.

For Saturnalia I'll be spinning a mix of all sorts of loungey music, some jazz, some exotica, some mambo and other Latin jazz and some downtempo electronic stuff.

Saturnalia is tonight at 9 pm.

Bluegrass legend Charlie Louvin died this morning of pancreatic cancer. Bill Friskics-Warren has followed Louvin's career revival since what Steve Earle's guitarist Eric "Roscoe" Ambel dubbed "the roots rock scare" of the '90s. Friskics-Warren wrote in the New York Times about Charlie's connection to his late brother, Ira, who died in 1965:

Mr. Louvin’s solo career spanned five decades, but, as he told Terry Gross, the host of National Public Radio’s “Fresh Air” program in 1996, he never got used to singing without his brother.

“When it comes time for the harmonies to come in, I will move to my left because my brother and I always used ... one microphone,” he said of performing solo. “Even today, I will move over to the left to give the harmony room, knowing in my mind that there’s no harmony standing on my right.”

"I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby":