I still remember when I was nine years old and Nickelodeon came up with a following of the election between Al Gore and George W. Bush that was kid-friendly and gave a watered-down version of politics and what makes the president so important. It was educational and I felt like I had a small grasp of being a grown up. I never cared about another election since then, but at least I paid a little more attention than I used to.

In an interview with Jonah Goldberg, editor of National Review Online, he gave his rash opinions about how incredibly stupid the youth in America really are and that the voting age shouldn’t be as low as it is. And it reminded me of that time 12 years ago.

On last night's Political Roundtable, Pima County Democratic Party chairman Jeff Rogers and Republican strategist Sam Stone talked about the latest twists in the June 12 special election between Republican Jesse Kelly and Democrat Ron Barber, looked ahead at some of the big races of the upcoming 2012 election season and shared their thoughts on Tucson City Councilman Paul Cunningham's troubles.

Every Friday, the Weekly's Senior Writer, Jim Nintzel, hosts Arizona Illustrated's Political Roundable, airing at 6:30 p.m. on KUAT Channel 6. (The program repeats on Saturday at 12:30 a.m.) We're partial to that show of course, but there are plenty of additional great shows on our local PBS station.

Support public television during their membership drive, which runs from June 2 through June 10. To kick it off, a series of music specials will air. Read on and visit www.azpm.org for more information.

“Big Band Vocalists” – June 2nd at 7 p.m. (with encores)

• Doris Day

This special looks back at the “crooners” and “canaries” of the 1940s, featuring the greatest vocalists of the period when they started their careers performing with orchestras and dance bands. Among the legendary artists and timeless hits included in the rare, vintage footage are Louis Armstrong, Perry Como, Doris Day, Helen Forrest with the Harry James Orchestra, Peggy Lee with the Benny Goodman Orchestra, Jo Stafford and the Pied Pipers with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and many more favorites from the World War II era. Nick Clooney and Peter Marshall host.

"British Beat” – June 2nd at 9 p.m. (with encores)

• Petula Clark

This MY MUSIC special travels to London and around the UK to the places where the British Beat was born. The program features a mix of rare archival full-length performance films mixed with live performances from the Zombies, Wayne Fontana, Eric Burdon and the Animals, Gerry and the Pacemakers and many more — including sets from Chad and Jeremy and Peter Noone. Petula Clark hosts.

Il Divo– June 3rd at 6:30 p.m. (with encores)

• Il Divo

The operatic pop vocal group Il Divo — Spanish baritone Carlos Marín, Swiss tenor Urs Bühler, American tenor David Miller and French pop singer Sébastien Izambard — has garnered more than 50 gold and platinum awards in 33 countries. In this concert at the beautiful London Coliseum, home of the English National Opera, the four men unveil songs from their new CD, Wicked Game, including the sensational “Dov’è l’amore.”

Tony Bennett: Duets II – June 3rd at 8:30 p.m. (with encores)

• Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga

At age 85, the legendary Tony Bennett is the oldest person to have reached the number one position on Billboard's Hot 200 chart with the release of another album of duets — which, amazingly enough, also marks Bennett's first number one album. Yet another career triumph, Duets II teams Bennett with a diverse roster of contemporary stars including Queen Latifah, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Andrea Bocelli, and Michael Buble, performing more classics from the Great American Songbook, including "Body and Soul," "The Lady is a Tramp," "On the Sunny Side of the Street," "Speak Low," and "Stranger in Paradise.”

Andrea Bocelli Live in Central Park - Sunday, June 10th at 8 p.m.

• Andrea Bocelli

Beloved tenor Andrea Bocelli performs a free concert on Central Park's Great Lawn, with the New York Philharmonic conducted by its music director Alan Gilbert. Joining Bocelli on stage on this memorable night are Céline Dion, Tony Bennett, Chris Botti and David Foster. Sopranos Ana María Martínez and Pretty Yende, violinist Nicola Benedetti, bass baritone Bryn Terfel and flutist Andrea Griminelli are also part of the spectacular evening.

Tucson City Councilman Paul Cunningham issued a statement tonight at 4:45 p.m.:

STATEMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER PAUL CUNNINGHAM
June 1, 2012

I am releasing this statement in regards to multiple requests concerning my actions during the recent trip to San Diego.

I acknowledge that I had too much to drink and said some things that might be considered inappropriate.

I apologize for my behavior. I have some personal issues that I'm dealing with. I will make amends to anyone I offended and to my constituents as best I can.

I fully support the City Attorney’s inquiry into this incident. I will reserve further comment until the conclusion of the investigation.

For further reference please see http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/053112_cunningham/cunningham-acknowledges-drinking-problem/

Food trucks have come a long way since the little carts with hot dogs and pretzels. Adam Borowitz, blogger and Noshing Around columnist extraordinaire, has chronicled the Tucson food truck scene in his column and Food Truck Diaries. Read the latest post here.

And now there's a new book about the national trend. Last month, Workman Publishing released The Truck Food Cookbook: 150 Recipes and Ramblings from America's Best Restaurants on Wheels by John T. Edge. The book includes the following recipes from Tucson trucks:

• OOP’S HOT DOGS: Toritos (Stuffed Güero Chiles)
• EL GUERO CANELO: How to Build a Sonoran Hot Dog w/Jalapeño Salsa
• TAQUERIA SAMMY EL SINALOENSE: Top of the Dog: Guacamole Sauce, Red Onion in Vinegar

Read on below the cut for more information about the book and author:

There's some technological innovation to TimeScapes, a film available for purchase as a download or on DVD and Blu-ray now, that I don't understand, but it seems like a solid buy you enjoy appreciating nature from your couch (the best way to enjoy such things, as far as I'm concerned). The trailer is quite impressive, at very least.

If you missed Paul Wine's review of Spirit Stones: Unraveling the Megalithic Mysteries of Western Europe's Prehistoric Monuments (Five Star Publications, 320 pages, $19.95) back in February, you may want to check it out here. Wine says the book is a "worthy read" and "... is an interesting and scholarly introduction to one of the ancient world's most-mystifying topics."

Last month, judges of The Eric Hoffer Award awarded Beeaff's book with a first-place prize in the spiritual books category. Read on and visit the awards site and publisher for more information.

The Eric Hoffer Award for short prose and books was established at the start of the 21st century as a means of opening a door to writing of significant merit. It honors the memory of the great American philosopher Eric Hoffer by highlighting salient writing, as well as the independent spirit of small publishers. The winning stories and essays are published in Best New Writing, and the book awards are covered in the US Review of Books.

Of Spirit Stones, US Review of Books writes: "Beautifully illustrated with many fine color photographs of the prehistoric standing stones of Great Britain and Brittany, this book seeks not only to explain what these megalithic monuments are, but also what they meant to the Neolithic and Bronze Age people who built them. A thorough, but fascinating and account of the culture and background of these ancient builders provides both secular and spiritual links to our own culture and beliefs. Many books offer scientific and historical explanations of the mysterious stones and theories of their possible uses, but this author goes beyond the hard facts to suggest how our own spiritual growth may be enhanced by understanding things common to both ourselves and our ancestors."

• Tim Glass

So, as Dylan Smith at the Tucson Sentinel got out of the city councilman, Paul Cunningham admits he had to much to drink during TREO's San Diego junket and "said some things that might be considered inappropriate."

However, the question remains, what actually happened and who's looking into it?

Early this week, the Weekly filed a public records request for a copy of and all communication regarding the alleged complaint filed with the City Attorney's office by assistant city manager/chief financial officer Kelly Gottschalk regarding the comments allegedly made to her (and then other women in the vicinity) by Cunningham in a bar during a TREO junket to San Diego two weeks ago.

We followed up with City Attorney Mike Rankin regarding the request and he explained that there is no formal complaint, although sources close to the Weekly have made it clear that a complaint was filed and statements provided by witnesses at the bar who saw the entire mess go down.

One source told the Weekly that Cunningham allegedly asked Gottschalk if she was going to go up to his room with him, and when she walked away, he turned and asked the same of two other women. No, no one took him up on his offer, but according to his comments since the story came out, he wouldn't have been able to remember anyway.

According to Rankin, there's nothing to provide the Weekly because "a complaint hasn't been filed," and that as of yesterday the City Attorney's office is no longer in charge of the "review." The case now rests with the city's Office of Equal Opportunity Programs.

Then he explained that the city has an administrative directive that sets a city policy that "governs how discrimination and sexual harassment are to be addressed by the city. ... the short version is that I don't investigate them and the office of EEO is charged with the investigative authority. That's the accurate way to characterize this. I have referred the matter to the city's EOP to investigate."

One source to the Weekly wondered if the case would be referred to the state's Attorney General's office. "Either there's no investigation at all (as Paul's claiming), or the City Attorney is obligated to refer this to another jurisdiction. They can't legally investigate this internally. ... No one's acknowledging the existence of a complaint, because that would indicate a paper trail. And yet actions are clearly being taken on reports of serious misconduct."

We'll keep asking for the paperwork and try to find out where the investigation is heading (if it's happening at all), and keep you posted.

#Tucson Councilman Cunningham latest independent-minded Dem attacked thru anonymous rumor by 'righteous' Dems bit.ly/JV9QYS

— Daniel R. Patterson (@DanPattersonUSA) May 30, 2012

Daniel Patterson, since he's seemingly less busy than he once was, has been quite active on Twitter lately, offering his opinions on sports (he's a Lakers fan, of all things), ecological issues, and bringing up his grudges with politicians and the media. Not surprisingly, I suppose, he decided to voice his suspicions that Paul Cunningham is being set up.

Also, just in case someone missed his almost-certainly-false previous claim that people are begging him to run again, he repeated it again today.

Thx, many #Tucson #AZ voters want me 2 run 4 re-election as independent voice for jobs, economy & education. 2012 no. 2014?

— Daniel R. Patterson (@DanPattersonUSA) May 30, 2012

Tonight on the Political Roundtable: Pima County Democratic Party chairman Jeff Rogers and Republican strategist Sam Stone talk about the latest twists in the special election between Republican Jesse Kelly and Democrat Ron Barber to complete Gabby Giffords term, look ahead to the top races of 2012 and dissect Ward 2 Councilman Paul Cunningham's political problems. It all airs at 6:30 p.m. on Channel 6.