On Monday, a bill that would permit the government to construct a “virtual fence” at the border between Arizona and Mexico passed through the Senate Government and Environment committee. The bill would provide $30 million out of the state general pay for the fence.

Sen. Bob Worsley (R-Mesa), the sponsor, said he doesn’t trust the federal government’s border efforts. Instead he talked to the chief executive of SpotterRF, a surveillance-technology company in Utah that has had some U.S. military contracts. “We can independently, as a state, then trust our federal government — but verify the claims that they are making to us,” Worsley said.

Not everybody was on board with Worsley’s message, though. Sen. Chester Crandell (R-Heber) said that he liked the idea if it was going to be used for law enforcement to cut down on border-related crimes such as trafficking in people and drugs, but he didn’t feel like that was the bill’s intent. “It seems that most of what you’re putting here is just to observe, to determine whether the federal government is actually telling the truth or not,” said Crandell. “I’m not sure it’s a good, wise use of money to tell the federal government ‘ha-ha we can see what you’re doing and we don’t agree with what you’re doing.’” … The bill passed 4-3 with the Republican majority in the committee, but it still has to get through Appropriations and Rules before it will be up for debate on the floor.

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That same day, a bill sponsored by Sen. Gail Griffin (R-Hereford) that would prevent the use of the Water Protection Fund to plant high-water-use trees, passed through committee. However, Sandy Barr, chapter director of the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon chapter didn’t agree that this was the best way to conserve water.

“We have no issues with restricting the use of the fund to plant tamarisk or any non-native vegetation, because that is contrary to the intent of the fund,” Barr said. But she also said that restricting it so that no high-water-use trees could be planted would limit riparian restoration. “You couldn’t plant trees like cottonwoods and willows, for example, and in fact that’s the whole intent of the fund — to restore those areas,” Barr said.

Griffin was unimpressed: “They actually planted mesquites in an area where water was a question, so if we want to conserve water, then planting high-water-use vegetation in my opinion is not the best use of tax payers funds.” The bill passed 4-3 along party lines.

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On Tuesday, the House Committee on Government heard a bill that would ensure that restrictions were not placed on ride-sharing vehicles, exempting airports from limiting the number of ride-sharing vehicles. … The bill was prompted the increasing popularity of ride share organizations like Uber, an app that connects passengers with local drivers.

John MacDonald representing Total Transit, the parent company of Discount Cab, spoke out in opposition. “It is about shifting liability to drivers and the public to give these companies a competitive advantage,” MacDonald said. “That’s why this bill exists. This is not about a unique business model as the proponents assert.” … Before voting yes, Rep. Warren Peterson (R-Gilbert) said: “To me the choice is crystal clear, are we going to get out of the way and allow success here or are we going to regulate this thing to screeching halt?” The bill passed unanimously.

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• Photo courtesy of Hero Phoenix.
• Hero Phoenix and Bad4AzBiz are planning a demonstration from 4 to 6 p.m. tonight at the State Capitol, 1700 W Washington St, Phoenix, Arizona.

Arizona was set back a couple decades on Wednesday when the Senate passed proposition SB 1062. The bill will allow businesses to refuse service based on the owners' religious beliefs. Jan Brewer's signature is the only thing that's keeping this piece of legislation from going into effect.

Some anonymous upstanding Arizonan created a Bad4AzBiz Facebook page in opposition of SB 1062 and HB 2153. HB 2153, also known as Religious Freedom Restoration Act, strengthens SB 1062 and jeopardizes a person’s free exercise of religion in Arizona. The Facebook page has gathered 1,400 likes and counting. Hero Phoenix and #Bad4AzBiz are planning a demonstration at 4 p.m. tonight at the State Capitol, 1700 W Washington St., Phoenix, Arizona.

From the Facebook event page:

Arizona’s State Legislature and the conservative majority in control are pushing to pass the expanded “religious freedom” bills and then have them signed immediately by Governor Brewer. These bills would allow businesses to deny services based on their deeply held religious beliefs, basically making discrimination legal and making the LGBTQ Community a clear target. But we know it won't stop there!

• Image courtesy of shutterstock.com

The question is still out there: How many non-right-wing votes does it take for a Republican to qualify as a moderate? Or, to put it another way, how many right-wing votes does it take for a Republican to lose any semblance of "moderate" cred?

Take Rep. Ethan Orr, who wants to appear moderate enough to appeal to swing voters in LD-9 (which stretches from mid-Tucson through the Foothills to Avra Valley) so he can retain his seat in November. On the one hand, he voted with Brewer to support Medicaid expansion and has taken a few other votes that break with many of his Republican colleagues. On the other hand, his was the deciding vote that moved the voter suppression repeal bill out of the Judiciary Committee, a bill that short circuits a voter referendum which amassed 146,000 signatures to make it on the ballot. If the bill passes, it takes away voters' right to weigh in on voter suppression. Later, the lege can thumb its nose at the citizenry and vote the suppression measures right back in bit by bit, making them referendum-proof.

Now Orr has earned a merit badge or two to bolster his 92% NRA approval rating.

Orr voted with his Republican colleagues to get HB2339 out of the Judiciary Committee. It would allow someone to carry a gun pretty much anywhere except in places with security personnel, metal detectors and safe storage for weapons. Because, according to the "guns anywhere, any time" crowd, we don't have nearly enough guns in nearly enough places in Arizona.

Orr also voted for HB2338. This bill adds a new item to the list of actions classified as aggravated assault. If anyone other than a peace officer "attempts to exercise control over . . . a person's firearm that is lawfully possessed by the person in accordance with federal and state law," that will be considered aggravated assault.

The UK is known for a lot of things, but exceptional customer service isn't one of them. Some blokes filmed a pizza delivery guy successfully launch a pizza box three stories to an awaiting customer near his window. The customer floats the money down to the pizza magician and away leaves the scene like Mary Poppins with a car.

I can't tell if the video is real or not, so I'll just remain blissfully ignorant and share it anyway.

The Humane Society of Southern Arizona presents Dawson, a male, 1 1/2-year-old, Shepherd Mix
Reference No. 749499

Meet the darling of the Humane Society of Southern Arizona! Dawson is an energetic love sponge seeking an active, committed family. Dawson is house trained and has a terrific history with other dogs of all sizes. However, Dawson can be a little too rambunctious for young children and cats. This extremely motivated and bright boy is packed with potential and would likely excel at obedience training, agility, flyball… you name it! Dawson needs an exceptional home prepared to not only train him, but also offer regular veterinary care. Dawson had a mast cell tumor removed from his skin and will need to be closely monitored to make sure new lumps don’t appear. Considering how fantastic Dawson is, it’s a small favor to ask in exchange for his unbeatable friendship! If you could give our enthusiastic rock star the chance to thrive, please ask to meet Dawson at the HSSA to see why he’s an absolute favorite among staff and volunteers!

It’s Rodeo Weekend, but unfortunately there is no motherlode of cowboy cinema classics to be found. It’s a dry gulch out there, lil’ doggies. Fill your hand, Tucson!

The Loft Cinema presents Fateful Findings on Friday, Feb. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 22 at 10 p.m. I caught this flick last fall when it premiered at the Arizona Underground Film Festival, and I gotta tell you, this makes the barometer of so-bad-it’s-great cinema, The Room, look like Citizen Kane. Watch what happens when a computer programmer gains supernatural abilities, deals with his drug-addled girlfriend and exposes government secrets. I’m gonna guess that this was made on a $10 budget and free donations from Winchell’s Donuts. Forget Sharknado, test some truly dangerous waters with Fateful Findings. You’ll be talking about it for days. Tickets are regular admission.

On Sunday, Feb. 23, the Loft presents the 1966 film Daisies as part of the Loft Staff Select series. Daisies is a high-water mark of the Czech New Wave film movement, and people who view it for the first time have a tendency to fall in love with it’s two leads, Jitka Cerhová and Ivana Karbanová. The two teenage girls both play characters named Marie, and the film recklessly captures their free-spirited attempt to strike against bourgeois society with a series of fun pranks. See what all the fuss is about and prepare to be smitten at 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 for general admission and $5 for Loft members.

Veteran grizzled actor Bruce Dern is currently receiving a lot of (justifiable) accolades for his performance in Alexander Payne’s Nebraska, but I’ve always thought every Dern performance is worth it’s weight in gold, especially his wacko tour-de-force performance in the 1974 sci-fi classic Silent Running, directed by special effects wizard Douglas Trumbull. Dern plays a space botanist who would rather spend time with the his three robot friends in the Biosphere 2-like containment center aboard his spaceship. It beats playing cards with the other guys on the ship who eat Hungry Man dinners instead of fresh fruit, I suppose. This extremely eco-friendly movie (complete with a Joan Baez soundtrack!) plays at the Loft on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. as part of their Science of Fiction series. After the film there will be a Q&A with several science experts. Tickets are regular admission. For more information, visit the Loft’s website at loftcinema.com or call 795-0844.

We interviewed the riotous comedian Lewis Black in this week's T Q&A. Black was very vocal about his opinions reguarding politics in the state of Arizona and what our elected officials should do with their time. Tweeting isn't one of them.

They just shouldn't do it. Just move on. Senators and congressman don't have time for this. There's too much work to be done to be telling me your reaction to whatever. They aren't there that much of the year, so use it. You want to Twitter when you're wandering around with your campaign, fine. Oh, you loved the game today? Rooting for the Seahawks? Fuck you!

It's a matter a time. I don't know what the time is, but it won't be long. It's astonishing considering where we were 10 years ago. A lot of it has to do with kids, and kids get it. My generation is unbelievable. It's like, really? Have you learned nothing over the course of time? Anyone living under the age of 25 is living in a different world. We are going from one age to another and a lot of the leaders are ill-equipped to deal with it. We are moving at the speed of fucking light and these idiots are tourists.

It's been four years since Black has performed stand up comedy in the southwest, so we want to make sure you don't miss it. We are giving two pairs of tickets to see Lewis Black on Thursday, Feb.27, at the Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave.

Andrew Sullivan weighs in on the anti-gay legislation nearing passage at the Arizona Legislature:

I know the danger to gay people remains great, and I don’t want to minimize the impact of living in a state where businesses of all kinds are empowered by law to put “No Gays Allowed” or “No Gays Served” in their best practices. But in America in the 21st Century, the movement that seeks to legislate outright discrimination against a tiny minority is doomed to bitter failure. It’s doomed because the principle of non-discrimination is now endemic in American culture — and among the younger generation the first article of their civil religion. Such a principle became embedded in the national identity in the Civil Rights era, where the evil of Jim Crow laws was exposed with fatal finality.

Now, the Christianist right is putting its full weight behind legal discrimination against any groups or individuals who might offend someone’s sincerely held religious conscience. Arizona’s Senate just passed a new bill expanding the concept of religious freedom from being the province of “religious assemblies and institutions” to a much broader category that includes “any individual, association, partnership, corporation, church, religious assembly or institution, estate, trust, foundation or other legal entity.” So rights once accorded to purely religious institutions are now for anyone — any business, any teacher, any pharmacist, any florist, any hotel-owner and on and on.

I’ve had my say on this, but it’s worth reiterating that this bill has absolutely nothing to do with Christianity. It is, rather, is an attack on Christian principles and a betrayal of the Gospels.

Yesterday we shed some light on the latest pathetic drinking game that has captured the drunken attention of young people all around the world. Instead of waiting for it to our hit home turf, there's a extremely better alternative to this fad that has probably already passed us.

The solution: Random Acts Of Kindness.

Anything is better than challenging your friend to poison him or herself, and who knows what kind of positive impact you may have on someone's life. The folks at Two Little Fleas created a "Random Acts Of Kindness generator" so you don't have to think of a selflessness deed yourself. Your ability to do what you feel is right is all it takes.

This kindness initiative kicked off earlier this month, and has received an overwhelming response from do gooders all over the world. Here's some more background information from the Two Little Fleas press release:

This positive twist on the original trend was inspired by Brent Lindeque, a South African with a social conscience. Thousands of others have now taken part in RAKNominate. Nominees have given out food and money in HongKong. One participant donated her hair to make wigs for unwell children. Schoolchildren have been sharing their sandwiches with those in need. Everyday Joes have been buying dinner for hard working guys trying to earn just a few pennies a day. All of these kindnesses have been triggered by an irresponsible social media trend. Proof that social media can be a powerful tool for good.

Adding to the good vibes spreading like wildfire across the internet are Two Little Fleas. Their community have compiled an instant “Kindness Generator”, ready to provide RAKNominees with all the inspiration they need to do something good. At the click of a button nominees can uncover their own perfect way to 'pay it forward'.

Over the last few days the official RAKNominate facebook page has attracted over 23,000 Facebook likes. Satellite RAKNominate pages are also going viral, chalking up over 20,000 likes combined. In the past 3 days over 2000 people in the UK have tweeted about RAKNomination including celebrities Russell Kane and The Last Leg C4 team.

According to official RAKNominate page owner, Robbie Matthews: "The response was really above any expectations we ever had, to think we had over 20,000 people like the page in over a week was overwhelming. The general public really embraced the idea of doing good deeds and encouraging others to do likewise.”

State Senator Steve Yarbrough has been sucking at the public teat for years, making loads of money with his various School Tuition Organizations (STO) and related businesses, all of which get their funding from Tuition Tax Credits — aka backdoor vouchers. The courts say the tax credits are legal even though state supported vouchers are unconstitutional, because the money goes straight to the STOs. But at tax time, the taxpayers get 100% of their "donations" back as refunds, making it a distinction without a financial difference, especially to Yarbrough who is living large off these publicly-funded programs.

Now Yarbrough is working actively to cut public schools' already scandalously low funding with three bills which would make it harder for school districts to pass bonds and overrides — SB1182, SB1254 and SB1287.

I co-host a cable access TV show, Education: The Rest of the Story, with Ann-Eve Pedersen, who is President of the Arizona Education Network and understands school finances better than anyone I know. The 5 minute video above is a terrific tutorial on the bills and how they will hurt schools if they pass.