Monday, February 27, 2012

Posted By on Mon, Feb 27, 2012 at 9:07 AM

Medical marijuana patients will have a new place to get meds starting Monday.

The Green Halo Caregiver Collective is the brainchild of Ken Sobel, who has practiced law in Arizona and California since 1980. The collective will offer patients a variety of meds from a group of local patients and caregivers. The city approved the building at 3359 N. Freeway, which is near Prince and Interstate 10, for a dispensary. But until Sobel can open a dispensary — the state has said it will accept applications in April — he is opting to get patients connected with MMJ via each other.

For a one-time $20 membership fee, new patients can choose 2 grams of a variety of MMJ strains. After that, Green halo will take suggested donations for various strains.

Sobel is not a carpet-bagger, swooping in to try to soak cash out of Arizona's medical marijuana infancy. He has southern Arizona roots - he graduated from UA and was ASUA president when he was there, he owns property here and splits time between Californian and Tucson. His planned dispensaries and the collective are non-profit.

Mr. Smith approves.

Green Halo Caregiver Collective
3359 N. Freeway, near Prince and I-10
10 a.m.-noon; 2-6 p.m. on weekdays
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays

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Sunday, February 26, 2012

Posted By on Sun, Feb 26, 2012 at 11:05 PM

It appears that Rick Santorum's weak debate performance last week was a game-changer for him—in the wrong direction. Public Policy Polling's latest numbers have Mitt Romney crushing Rick Santorum:

Mitt Romney is headed for an overwhelming victory in Arizona's primary on Tuesday. He's at 43% to 26% for Rick Santorum, 18% for Newt Gingrich, and 11% for Ron Paul.

You can make a fair argument that Romney's already won the Arizona primary. Almost half of those planning to vote have already cast their ballots, and Romney has a 48-25 advantage over Santorum with those folks. That lead makes it nearly impossible for Santorum to make up the difference on election day, and Romney has a 39-27 advantage with those planning to vote on Tuesday anyway.

Romney's winning basically winning every voter group in Arizona, even those he's tended to do quite poorly with. He leads Santorum 39-33 with Evangelicals, 39-23 with Tea Party voters (Santorum's in 3rd, Gingrich is actually 2nd at 30%), and 37-29 with those describing themselves as 'very conservative.' We project the Mormon vote at 14%. Romney leads 77-9 with them, but he has a 38-29 advantage with non-Mormons as well. Seniors are a key base of support for him in Arizona as they are everywhere. He leads 53-22 with them.

Santorum's image has taken a big hit over the last week in the state. His net favorability has dropped 15 points from +34 (61/27) to just +19 (54/35). The debate Wednesday night may have damaged his cause. 51% of likely voters report having watched it and he's actually in 3rd place with those folks at 21%, behind Romney's 43% and Gingrich's 23%.

Santorum may also have misstepped by talking too much about social issues in the last few weeks. 68% of Arizona voters say economic issues are their top concern when deciding who to vote for, compared to just 11% who say social issues are paramount. With the folks most concerned about economic issues he trails Romney 48-24.

It's worth noting that Romney's improved his image in the closing stretch in Arizona- it's not just bringing down Santorum that's put him in position for this big win. Romney's net favorability is now +31 at 62/31, up from +24 at 58/34 a week ago.

We had been planning to do a 2 night Arizona tracking poll but with the numbers this lopsided we're not going to bother, so this will be our final word on the race there.

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Posted By on Sun, Feb 26, 2012 at 8:56 AM

While watching another embarrassing media appearance by Governor Jan Brewer on Meet the Press this morning, it finally hit me: Jan Brewer is a doppelgänger for Rexella Van Impe, wife of Chicken Little end-times televangelist Jack Van Impe.

Seriously, can you tell the difference?

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Also, Brewer endorsed Romney, which is awfully convenient since he's winning.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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Saturday, February 25, 2012

Posted By on Sat, Feb 25, 2012 at 12:00 PM

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Protestants don't have things like Bar Mitzvahs, so the concept of becoming a man for me was less a specific day than a nebulous array of benchmarks. There was the day I became a member of Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church. There was the day I earned my driver's license. There was the day I joined the Army and moved away from home.

There was also my first adult television series. Some time during my seventh grade year, I sat down to watch an episode of Seinfeld with my dad and he didn't shoo me away. I didn't get a lot of it at first, but I knew it was funny because Dad laughed. (I distinctly recall assuming the female body part that rhymed with Dolores in "The Junior Mint" was "femoris".) As far as coming-of-age rituals go, it was no walkabout, but it was something. Thursday nights became a ritual that would last until my senior year of high school.

I was vaguely aware George Costanza was based on the show's co-creator, but it wasn't until I saw the first season of Curb Your Enthusiasm a few years later that I knew who Larry David was. I'm going to assume I wasn't the only one. After all, Seinfeld was named after, co-created by, and starred Jerry Seinfeld. I hate to tarnish his legacy in being the face of the most influential sitcom in history, but if there's one thing Larry and Jerry's subsequent careers have taught us, it's that the success of Seinfeld had more to do with Larry David than anyone knew.

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Posted By on Sat, Feb 25, 2012 at 7:41 AM

A bull rider takes a moment to himself seconds before he rides the bull into the arena at the Tucson Rodeo Friday Feb. 24, 2012. Photograph by Roxana Vasquez
  • ROXANA VASQUEZ
  • A bull rider takes a moment to himself seconds before he rides the bull into the arena at the Tucson Rodeo Friday Feb. 24, 2012.

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo rode into Tucson again this year for its 87th run. Thousands of attendees came from all over the country to participate, compete and to watch the annual tradition.

The Tucson Rodeo will celebrate the late Louise Serpa today, Saturday, at 2 p.m. and will wrap all events on Sunday night. More photos after the jump.

A young girl competes in the girls barrel racing at the Tucson Rodeo Friday Feb. 24, 2012. Photograph by Roxana Vasquez
  • ROXANA VASQUEZ
  • A young girl competes in the girls barrel racing at the Tucson Rodeo Friday Feb. 24, 2012.

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Friday, February 24, 2012

Posted By on Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 7:17 PM

Tonight's Political Roundtable: Pima County Republican Party chairwoman Carolyn Cox and Pima County Democratic Chairman Jeff Rogers hash out next week's GOP presidential primary election, the idea of a double fence along the entire border, the political future of Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, the race to finish Gabrielle Giffords' congressional term, the budget fight at the Arizona Legislature and more!

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Posted By on Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 5:00 PM

Animal Farm will be at Bookmans tonight.
  • Animal Farm will be at Bookmans tonight.

In case you haven't caught up with the relatively new batch of food trucks hitting the town, you have two chances this weekend. Tonight, the Bookmans on Grant will host a food fest from 6 to 9 p.m.

The trucks and other mobile food vendors scheduled to be there:

Guero Loco's Bubba Que
Animal Farm
Jamie's Bitchin' Kitchen
Seis Curbside Kitchen
Street Delights
Trucking Good Cupcakes
K-Bork Tacos y Gorditas
Ni Hao Amigos
Hawaiian Shaved Ice
The Patty Wagon
Mafooco
Pin Up Pastries
Foodie Fleet
Red Pepper

And tomorrow, a smaller gathering of trucks will be at art/retail hotspot Monterey Court (505 W. Miracle Mile) from noon to 4 p.m.

Scheduled for tomorrow:

Jamie's Bitchen Kitchen
MaFooCo
Guero Loco's Bubba-Que
Jones Street Bistro
Foodie Fleet

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Posted By on Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 4:00 PM

Hades 2 will be guest djing Bang Bang! on Saturday night (along with regulars Matt McCoy and Weekly contributor/krautrock aficionado Dewtron). I always wonder what the music will sound like at any given dance night, whether it'll be non-stop electro/techno pounding or tweaked versions of songs I already know or whatever, so whenever a DJ has some sort of demo mix on Soundcloud, it's a nice preview of what to expect. Check out Hades 2 above and if you like what you hear, head down to Club Congress tomorrow night. There's no cover, which is always a plus.

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Posted By on Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 3:00 PM

It looks like work is finishing up on the new Sawmill Run Restaurant up in Summerhaven on Mt. Lemmon. The restaurant is going in where the well-known Mount Lemmon Café stood for many years before closing several years ago.

Initial estimates were that Sawmill Run would open last fall, but that date was pushed back for a variety of reasons. The restaurant started hiring a couple of weeks ago, though, so an opening can't be far off.

The only description we can find of the food is a mention here, where it is described as "Western mountain food." We're thinking the place will likely serve hearty American fare that appeals to people visiting the mountain for leisure activities, but we'll have to wait until it opens to find out.

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Posted By on Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 2:00 PM

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A purse is more than a functional carryall at The Purse Museum, a personal collection of Details Art & Design Gallery owner Vicki Schwager.

Schwager says of her purses:

The collection includes purses/handbags that represent extraordinary style and design. They are antique to contemporary, elegant to functional, humorous to serious, plain and jeweled. Each is more wonderful than the next. They are handmade containers to enjoy.

Check out some of the collection, which will be on display through April 20, at the museum's website.

The Purse Museum is located inside of Details Art & Design Gallery, 3001 E. Skyline Drive.

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