If you've been following the intense competition among local comics taking place on Thursday nights at Laff's, be aware that everyone's taking the night off to get schooled.

YouTube's star comic satirist and Tonight Show frequent giest Chris Bliss is in town for four shows, Friday and Saturday and 8 and 10:30 p.m. But tonight, he's doing a special show at 8, and you can only get in by making a reservation by calling 34-funny or filling in the blanks at the Laff's website: http://www.laffstucson.com/

(Pssst: It's FREE.)

Friday and Saturday tickets and more information are also available at the Laff's site. Those tickets range from $10 to $15.

Just saw this video from the Pride of Arizona roll across my Facebook feed, and I'm already into it.

If you're unfamiliar with the tune, it's Radiohead's 15 Step, off of their In Rainbows album.

For what it's worth, this isn't the first time that the Pride (tagline: "The World's First Alternative Music Marching Band") has based a show around Radiohead, doing so in 2006, and certainly not the first time they've done something you'd hear on alt-rock radio, with a Red Hot Chili Peppers show back in 1996.

Keep in mind, this is an early play-through, as they're still subjecting their bodies to the rigors of UA band camp—considering the full days of running through 100 degree heat and 54% humidity, I'll overlook any lack of crispness in that video.

It's good stuff with great potential. As a former band geek and member of the PoA, I might head to a UA football game and leave after halftime this year.

Just like most of the student section. Sorry, Rich Rodriguez.

The Australian government has decided that tobacco companies have no right to brand the products that they produce, legislating that all cigarettes must be sold in boxes with the same font over a dark background.

This ruling comes out of the High Court of Australia after the dismissal of a lawsuit by four tobacco companies against the government.

From AdAge.com:

"It's now broken the wall," Rob Moodie, professor of public health at the University of Melbourne, said in a telephone interview. "Governments with sufficient guts and resources can stare down the saber rattling of the tobacco companies."

...

Once a country implements a tobacco-control measure, it becomes easier for other countries to do the same, Rob Cunningham, a senior policy analyst at the Canadian Cancer Society in Ottawa, said in an email. Canada was the first to make pictorial health warnings mandatory in 2001 and about 50 nations followed, he said.

"The industry knows that plain packaging is a massive threat and that if Australia implements plain packaging, then other countries are sure to follow," Mr. Cunningham said.

The United States is soon to follow suit, to an extent. Graphic warning labels are coming down the pipeline, and will be required by law to cover 50 percent of the front and back of each pack of cigarettes.

So smokers, now might be a good time to invest in cigarette cases if you'd rather not stare at side-by-side images of healthy versus ruined lungs.

State Rep. Matt Heinz has produced a low-budget TV commercial designed to call attention to Congressman Ron Barber's vote to allow the Department of Homeland Security to waive environmental laws within 100 miles of the border.

You can read more on the race between Heinz and Barber, including Barber's reasons for voting for the bill, here.

Meanwhile, Barber, who has paid little attention to Heinz during the primary race, sent out a bulletin this morning revealing that he had more than $377,000 on hand as of Aug. 8. Here's the press release:

A finance report filed today with the Federal Election Commission shows continued widespread support for Ron Barber’s reelection campaign, with more than $288,000 raised between July 3rd and August 8th, and $377,132 cash on hand.

Since being elected to Congress in June’s special election, Barber has raised more than $420,000. He has raised nearly $2 million since declaring his candidacy for Congress in February from 15,188 contributions.

“This latest fundraising report is yet another demonstration that Southern Arizonans support Ron’s work in Congress and are investing in his reelection so that he can continue to fight for middle class families in this community,” said Jessica Schultz, Campaign Manager for the Ron Barber campaign. “Since being elected to Congress in June, Ron has voted against tax cuts and giveaways for Big Oil, voted to extend tax cuts for middle class families while ensuring that the richest two percent pay their fair share, and introduced legislation to protect our veterans and secure our border. Ron works every day to fight for Southern Arizona's priorities, and he’s running so he can continue that work.”

What does it mean that Congressional District 2 is "On the Radar" as a "Young Gun"? Read below, but in summary, it means she's likely to get more dough and love from the national Republican types in her likely race against Ron Barber.

Washington —- The National Republican Congressional Committee today announced Martha McSally as an ‘On the Radar’ candidate, the important second step in the ‘Young Guns’ program. Founded during the 2007-2008 election cycle by Reps. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Paul Ryan (R-WI), the ‘Young Guns’ program is a Member-driven effort that is the primary method for recruiting strong candidates for both open-seat and challenger races. McSally is running for Arizona’s Second Congressional District.

“We are looking forward to working with Martha McSally, who has already proven herself by meeting rigorous benchmarks in the ‘Young Guns’ program that will position her campaign for victory,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX). “Martha McSally’s dedication and experience positions her to advocate for pro-growth policies and fight the failed Democrat status quo in Washington. This will stand in stark contrast to the Democrats’ record of spending, borrowing and taxing that Arizona families know has failed.”

The ‘Young Guns’ program encourages candidates who have proven their ability to meet crucial campaign benchmarks to develop their campaigns further in order to achieve victory on Election Day. In achieving ‘On the Radar’ status, McSally has met the second set of these organizational and fundraising benchmarks and has already begun to establish herself as a strong contender.

Martha E. McSally is a proven leader and a pioneer. She is the first female fighter pilot to fly in combat, and first to command a fighter squadron in combat in United States history. She first made her home in Tucson in 1994, after graduating from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, during the first of her four assignments in the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. McSally has been the recipient of the Tucson YMCA Women on the Move Award and was named one of the three “Women Who Lead” by the Women’s Studies Advisory Council at the University of Arizona. Previously, Martha was Professor of National Security Studies at the George C. Marshall Center in Germany.

It shouldn't be hard for Mexican poet Javier Sicilia to convince US citizens that there's something wrong with our country's war on drugs—a war that has claimed the lives of more than 50,000 Mexicans. It shouldn't be hard, but Sicilia has spent more than a year leading a movement in his country to bring changes to his own country's policies and shedding light on U.S. culpability in a disaster that has hurt our neighbor.

Here's hoping that the Caravan for Peace with Justice and Dignity will help further the message Scilia and other victim's of this failed drug war are bringing to this side of the border.

The poet lost his son Juanelo more than a year ago, a loss that sparked the movement that inspired many in his country to demand reforms and is inspiring many in this country to ask the US to change policies that continue to contribute the deaths of Mexican citizens.

The Caravan, which left San Diego last weekend, arrives in Tucson today at 2:30 p.m. from a stop in Phoenix. First Tucson stop is a welcoming ceremony at 2:30 p.m. at the U.S. Federal Building, 300 W. Congress St., followed by a 3 p.m. press conference. Southside Presbyterian Church, 317 W. 23rd St., will host a dinner at 4:30 p.m., followed by a community forum from 6 to 9 p.m. Worth every bit of your time.

Waging Nonviolence's Marta Molina wrote about the caravan and has written about the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity the past year. You can read her entire story on the caravan here, but here's a snippet:

The first caravan, called the Caravan of Solace, left on June 4, 2011, and ran from Cuernavaca, Morelos, to Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, then crossed the northern border to conclude in El Paso, Texas. Over the course of 10 days, it united victims of the drug war, who began to turn their pain into organizing, while showing the world that they were not simply statistics or collateral damage. Rather, they were Mexicans seeking dignity.

Those were the first steps taken by members of the MPJD. During their first dialogue with Mexican President Felipe Calderón on June 23, 2011, they demanded justice for the victims of violence and a halt to the War on Drugs. Afterward, they organized a second caravan in September 2011. This caravan, called the Caravan of Peace, passed through Puebla, Veracruz, Oaxaca and Chiapas before reaching Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala. With those two caravans in 2011, the movement managed to bring together victims of the War on Drugs — and of the structural violence found throughout the country — as well as organizations and social movements in the north and south.

In doing, it reinforced alliances with those who already had long organizing histories, such as with Las Abejas de Acteal, in Los Altos de Chenalhó, Chiapas, whose members shared lessons from their long history of nonviolent struggle, beginning in 1997 with the massacre of 45 indigenous tzotziles. Representatives from indigenous communities in Chiapas, from the Consejo de Pueblos, or Council of Villages, in Morelos, and members of the Wixárica (Huichol) community, among others, will be accompanying the caravan to the United States.

After a year of working and learning, the MPJD continues improving its strategies and strengthening its national and international networks of support. Organizers decided to embark on the Caravan for Peace in order to unite and draw attention to victims of violence on the northern side of the border — migrants forced to flee their homes by violence or economic need, those who are threatened for defending human rights or those left unprotected by Mexico’s failed state.

Many who have been affected by the War on Drugs are no longer afraid. They have realized that they are no longer alone and continue to work to strengthen their organization. They are no longer fighting to find their parents or children, or to seek justice for their loved ones, but instead they are fighting for all parents and children of the disappeared.

This just in, from some Tucson Weekly readers. Note the gratutious kiss-up effort at the end:

WHO: All Short Film Fans!

WHAT: Short Film (20 min) by local director Rio Finnegan and Donny Tran

WHEN: 7 p.m., Friday August 17th

WHERE: Temple of Music and Art

Talented up and coming local filmmakers Rio Finnegan and Producer Donny Tran will premiere their 20 minute short film titled Pinata on Friday August 17th at the Temple of Music and Art at 7pm. The film was shot in Tucson, Arizona including Barrio Anita using local actors Mike Miller and Tanya Aksamentova and music by local musicians Eli Roepke and Ruben Moreno from the mariachi band Luz de Luna. The plot focuses on a man who brings the body of a murdered woman into his house. The mystery of the body becomes a catalyst to his mental breakdown. Rio recently won at the Loft’s “First Friday Shorts” for his short film My Life Has Stood A Loaded Gun. The filmmakers are thankful that the Temple of Music and Arts proudly supports their art and offered a venue dedicated to promoting local talent.

Following the film, Rio Finnegan, the movie’s director will host a Q&A session. The film will be screened at the Temple of Music and Art at 330 South Scott Avenue. There will be snack and refreshments afterwards.

*adult themes/situations PG-13

Rio Finnegan is a recent City High Graduate. Donny Tran taught documentary arts at VOICES Community Stories, which had numerous stories in the Tucson Weekly ... THE BEST PAPER EVER!

Being an aging, cranky editor-type, I rarely get excited about visiting performers.

But I am excited about this one.

UApresents just announced the great Carol Burnett will be coming to town on Saturday, Jan. 26. Tickets will go on sale Monday, Aug. 20, at 10 a.m.

Governor Jan Brewer just issued an executive order banning illegal immigrants applying for permits under the federal government's Deferred Action program.

The order cites concerns that the estimated 80,000 Deferred Action recipients would put "significant and lasting" strain on the state's budget and public benefits systems.

The young immigrants eligible for the Deferred Action program would avoid deportation and earn permits allowing them to reside legally within the United States while they work toward citizenship.

View Brewer's Executive Order here.

Rocco's Little Chicago image by Will Ferguson

The closure of The Safehouse last week is just the latest in a line of popular, somewhat-beloved local places suddenly shuttering up. In the last year, we've lost Grill, Zachary's, Colors and Cactus Moon, among others.

Each has their share of mourners, but let's be honest: We can only grieve for so long. I say that it's time to take some action, Tucson: We need to be finding locally owned replacements giving those our business before they follow in the steps of those who have disappeared.

Take Zachary's, for instance: The building, located just south of the University of Arizona campus, was muggy inside during monsoon season; the tables and chairs were nothing to write home about; and the service wasn't always spectacular. But the pizza was tremendous (often in both taste and size), and the beer selection left little to be desired. So what else is there to take its place?

Rocco's Little Chicago, now the pre-eminent deep-dish pizza in Central Tucson and Best of Tucson Staff Pick, is the obvious choice, though it's a bit far away for students to stumble to.

In Main Gate Square, there's two potential competitors, joints right next to each other: No Anchovies, practitioners of a New York-meets-California-gourmet style; and Frog and Firkin, a British-esque pub whose deep-dish pizzas share menu space with a number of sandwich and salad options. Both are great options for lounging about and enjoying beer in the afternoon; if you don't have a thin-versus-deep-dish preference, it regularly comes down to whether or not you prefer table service (Frog) to grabbing a slice at the counter (Anchovies).

1702 seems to be the next-closest possible successor, with its casual atmosphere, huge slices and great beer—unfortunately, the current construction on Speedway makes it a bit of a struggle to slip in and out with ease.

So what do you think, Tucson? Leave your comments, suggestions, and verbal abuse (for leaving off your favorites) at the bottom.