Wednesday, August 22, 2018
The Alarm was to Wales what U2 is to Ireland—playing off the epic rock band bit, embedded with and reflective of the cultural signifiers of its homeland. Try hard and you can’t fault the earnestness of The Serious Young Men. Quick backstory: founded four decades ago as punk band The Toilets, The Alarm quickly wove lotsa Clash into their songwriting, the Mick Jones-y guitars, the Joe Strummer sloganeering, the anthemic boot-stomp hooks and fist-jack vocal melodies. So they weren’t the first to pen the singsong punk-inspired anthem, still, they were really good at it. Founding frontman Mike Peters has lived his adult life on the road, and the resulting rambles, built upon a workingman’s love and losses—always with a singsong anthem in his big old ear—as varied and well-worn as The Boss. Now, Peters is re-imagining The Alarm’s early work, updating the 1984’s mighty song-driven Declaration for tenderer ears. (We can’t forget their Brit chart-topper, “Sixty-Eight Guns,” and the fantastic “Marching On,” two songs The Clash absolutely wished they wrote. And here’s hoping they whip out the later, and unironically brilliant, “Rain in the Summertime”). Recent live shows prove that post-cancer, Peter’s voice stays strong, filled of youthful passion. And the tour contains unsung guitar hero James Stevenson (Chelsea, Gen X, Gene Loves Jezebel, The Cult). We ain’t ageists around here and The Alarm remains a band worthy of (re)discovery. In fact, the heavy new album Equals is highly recommended too; it’s absolutely ageless. With The Rifle on Wednesday, August, 22. 191 Toole, Doors at 7 p.m. $24. 21+. Details here.
The Cat Video Fest–Summer Spectacular! “Cats do not abide by the laws of nature”—Charlie Kelly. This is an encore presentation of the Cat Video Fest that screened at The Loft Cinema in December. And it’s so much fun, they can’t even contain the encore to one day! Turns out, people really like cats. Gather around to see some of the best cat videos from around the internet, and raise money for local shelters at the same time. Hosted by Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter & Sanctuary and The Loft Cinema. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22 & 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25. 3233 East Speedway Blvd. $8. Details here.
Cardio Party-O! Dance Workout. Dance your way over to Fourth Avenue to shimmy your troubles—and your calories—away. Hosted every Wednesday at Floor Polish by Marina, this class combines everything from old school hip hop to cumbia and from disco to Bollywood. All of the moves are unique but relatively easy to follow, so it’s perfect for people without dance backgrounds, or just for people who hate the gym. It’s less of a “gym rat” atmosphere and more of a “house party” vibe, which we didn’t realize until this very moment is exactly what we’re looking for in a workout. 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. Every Wednesday. Floor Polish Dance Studio, 408 N. Fourth Ave. $6 drop-in, or pick up a five-class pass for $25. Details here.
Events compiled by Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: Things to do , fun in general , events today , August 22 , Tuesday things to do , Tuesday night , Image
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Police lined a waist-high barricade during a protest at Reid Park, on Saturday Aug. 18. On the inside of the barricade was Patriot Movement AZ (PMAZ), a group whose members support Trump and the most far-right political candidates, including Senate candidates Joe Arpaio and Kelli Ward. Many in the group brandished guns on their hips. They flew banners and signs calling for deporting immigrants, re-electing Trump and defending semi-automatic rifles.
And on the outside of the barricade, an eclectic group of counter protestors, gathered to denounce the group largely viewed as being white supremacist. Winged stilt walkers danced to a marching band. Clowns theatrically laughed and cried, falling to the ground before the men with guns. Counter-protestors ranged from punks with tattooed faces to parents wearing sun hats and birkenstalks, their children in toe.
A faction of counter protestors wearing all black, with helmets and handkerchiefs covering their faces, stood at the front and held two large signs: “Rest in Power Heather Heyer” and “No one is illegal on stolen land.”
They wouldn’t take questions from the press but were handing out a flyer that explained the garb as being necessary to protect their identities against alt-right retaliation. The flyer also said they are there to keep things safe, not to instigate violence.
PMAZ rented the two ramadas that day. On Facebook, they called the event “Tucson March Against Far Left Violence.” A shade tent housed their pulpit, with speakers blaring out their cause. At the picnic tables, they had supplies to keep their own children busy, with a few sitting around looking bored. A man sold shirts bearing slogans with anti-immigrant sentiments. “I hope you tell both sides of the story,” he said to me, as I walked by, taking photos.
“I’m coming after every la raza member involved with the Mexican government,” said Edna San Miguel, a primary Congressional candidate running in Rep. Raul Grijalva’s district. “The Mexican government is the greatest enemy to our nation.” She yelled into the microphone, pointing at the crowd outside the barricade, telling them they’re indoctrinated with hate.
A man with what looked like a billy club in his pocket took the mic as well. He pointed into the crowd and said he was ready to blow the heads off any one of the protestors who knocked him down. Another woman took the mic and repeatedly yelled at the protestors to "get a job."
Flipping the script and saying the left is violent has become a common tactic of PMAZ and other far-right groups. While they are not totally wrong (Vox reported anti fascist protestors assailing police and journalists during an Aug. 12 protest in Charlottesville, Virginia), members of PMAZ have repeatedly made local news for hateful and intimidating behavior.
The national “Patriot movement" goes back farther than the local one, which seems to have formed in support of Donald Trump. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, parts of group are composed of armed militias who believe in anti-government conspiracy theories with no basis in reality.
In March, two women affiliated with PMAZ received felony charges after going into a mosque, taking books out of a gated-off area and shouting anti-Muslim slurs at a man who approached them. One of the women had three of her children with her and encouraged them to join in the verbal attacks. This is just a portion of what happened during a Facebook live video, which has since been taken down. The Southern Poverty Law Center has a thorough (and disturbing) summary here.
PMAZ disavowed the women after the incident, in a Facebook post which read:
PMAZ stands firmly against racism, bigotry, and anyone who harasses people based on sexual orientation. Those representing PMAZ are at all times law-abiding, too.
The actions of one bad apple makes all of us look bad. It is extremely disappointing and while we cannot tell anyone how to behave, we also need to have clear separation and call out bad behaviors.
But this is not the only incident where PMAZ members have assailed people based on their skin color. The Arizona Republic reported on PMAZ members asking a Native American lawmaker if he was in the country legally.
Lawmakers said they were also questioned based on their appearance. Rep. Eric Descheenie, D-Chinle, said he was confronted by Trump supporters while helping defend a young student that he said was being harassed.
They asked Descheenie, a Navajo lawmaker, if he was in the United States illegally.
“I’m indigenous to these lands,” Descheenie said. “My ancestors fought and died on these lands. I just told them, ‘Don’t ask me that question.’”
In a YouTube video from the incident, some of the groups members incessantly yelled at a group of people, including young children, “Get legal or get out of America.”
A few protestors did try to talk to the other side, asking questions about why they believe something so unfathomable to the other.
Tammie Duncan, a Trump supporter, said she came down from her home in Las Vegas because a friend invited her to the event. She said she primarily supports Trump because of his stance on immigration, adding that she has two degrees but has trouble finding a job. She declined to say what field her degrees were in. She said she doesn’t think Trump is racist.
PMAZ did let some people take the stage who were not with their group.
Vana Lewis, a Tohono O'odham tribal member, took the microphone with a message of peace. She’s a member of both the Culture of Peace Alliance and their Nonviolent Legacy Project. In an interview after she addressed the crowd, she said a man of Mexican heritage who was with PMAZ had asked her to speak.
“I came with a message of peace, to neutralize the situation,” Lewis said “People have a built up aggression. Therefore, it’s going to come out in places like this where we don’t really need that to actually make stable change or hear each other out.”
She says even though it’s hard to find unity in such opposing views, we are all human, and if we remember that, negotiation is possible.
“Everybody needs a doctor. Everybody needs a home to sleep in,” she said. “So what do we do to make it all happen and come together? It’s hard to negotiate with something like this when we allow racism and we allow hate to come into our hearts. The bottom line is we’re all human and we’re all worthy of some human rights and basic necessities.”
Tags: Reid Park , protest , police , barricade , Patriot Movement AZ , PMAZ , Left , Right , opposition , Image
In a recent BradBlog post, Friedman wrote about the latest from the hackers convention, DEF CON, in Las Vegas. If this doesn't scare you, you're not paying attention (or you figure vote tampering is going to help your side). He also has a podcast you can link to with more detailed information and interviews.
[W]e head straight out to Las Vegas for today's BradCast, where the 26th annual hackers convention, DEF CON, held its 2nd annual Vote Hacking Village.
After every voting system on display at last year's event was hacked within minutes by conference attendees, organizers tried to make it a bit more difficult this year. They made unverifiable electronic voting systems, optical-scan paper ballot tabulators and electronic pollbooks from a number of companies —- almost all of which will be in wide use across the country once again for this November's crucial midterms —- available for investigation and penetration. Once again, the hackers in attendance made short order of pretty much all of them.
Stunning vulnerabilities were discovered, including some that officials have known about (and ignored or tried to keep secret for years) while others were revealed for the first time. Things like Chinese pop song files were found on one system used in actual elections recently, along with a host of other disturbing findings, which we summarize today.
Tags: Election integrity , Brad Friedman , DEF CON , Voting machines , Image
New research by Assistant Professor of Marketing at Eller, Caleb Warren and his research partner Gina Mohr, Associate Professor of Marketing at Colorado State University, indicates that consuming brands ironically is a way to secretly signal our identity and beliefs to those that know us.
The researchers define this phenomenon as ironic consumption. The term includes using a brand or adopting a behavior as an attempt to signal identity, trait or belief opposite from their perceived conventional meaning of the product, according to a UA press release.
"Throughout history, consumers have re-appropriated products to make a statement," Warren said in the press release. "For example, trucker hats were at one time low-status products and originally came into fashion through rural workers. They've since been revalued by young urban consumers."
Ironic consumption allows for an in-group and and out-group. Those who get it, and those who don't.
Another way that ironic consumption is used is to signal status. Researchers use the example of Bruno Mars eating at a Waffle House. It wouldn't be ironic if the star ate at a mid-level restaurant, but the contrast of an extremely rich celebrity and the humble walls of a Waffle House are where the irony comes in.
Warren and Mohr also found that ironic consumption can offend some audiences, for example those who like Justin Bieber might be offended at a hard rocker wearing Bieber's shirt in a way that makes fun of him or his fans.
Those that are wearing a Bieber shirt ironically, however, probably like the idea of offending his fans. It's all part of the irony.
Ironic consumption can also safeguard those who might actually like the subject of their consumption, researchers found.
"Consuming something ironically is also a security measure," Warren said in the press release. "No one wants to be mocked for watching, say, Jersey Shore. But if you so do with a behavior that suggests you're watching ironically, you won't suffer any stigma related to the product."
So, to those hard rockers out there in Bieber shirts, is it too late now to say sorry?
Why is this relevant to professors of marketing you ask? Ironic consumption can often lead to a new and desired brand identity. According to the press release, Pabst Blue Ribbon is an example of a product with an uncool legacy and known to be not the best product, that through ironic consumption has become the chosen brew of many-a-hipster.
The newest ironic consumption trend? Remember when big white ugly sneakers used to be just for dads? Think again.
Tags: UA , Research , ironic , hipsters , revival trucker hats , PBR , Justin Bieber , Image
Arizona Wildcats sophomore forward Ira Lee was cited for driving under the influence in the early morning hours of Sunday, Aug. 19, according to a University of Arizona statement.
Lee, who averaged 2.4 points per game in 27 appearances as a freshman last year, may face repercussions from the school and team, depending on the course of a review by academic staff.
“The incident has been referred to the Dean of Students for review under the University’s student code of conduct, and the Athletics Department is reviewing the incident for team consequences," the UA statement reads. "Students also have access to counseling and other support services.”
According to Pima County Consolidated Justice Court records, Lee was cited for Failure to Yield, Minor Driving After Drinking and DUI Extreme BAC .20 or More at the intersection of 6th Street and Warren Avenue.
Lee is scheduled for a criminal arraignment hearing on Sept. 10, according to the court's report.
The University's athletics department would not release any additional information regarding Lee's citation.
The Wildcats open the 2018-19 regular season with their Red-Blue intra-squad game on Oct. 14, with their first game on Wednesday, Nov. 7 against Houston Baptist.
Tags: Ira Lee , Arizona Wildcats , DUI , Tucson , Pac-12 , University of Arizona , Arizona , Image
Tags: comic , cartoon , politics , TV , reality show , celebrity , Image
Shaft (1971). “You see, this cat Shaft is a bad mother– Shut your mouth!” I mean, how do you not enjoy a movie with a theme song as good as that? All it’s missing is a badass New York detective beating up every bad guy in sight. Oh, this movie has that, too? Well then I guess we’re good to go. When you mix a leather jacket and funk, you get Shaft. 7:30 to 9:20 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21. 3233 East Speedway Blvd. Free admission. Details here.
Tuesday Bluesday at CeeDee's. Do you love blues music but have never figured out how to effectively dance to it? Well head over to CeeDee's Jamaican Kitchen Tuesday night for a half hour lesson and then open dancing for the rest of the night. Learn what you're doing and then dance the night away, no partner needed. People of all ages and dance abilities are welcome. Work up a sweat dancing and then grab some great Jamaican food to fill up afterwards. The dance lesson starts at 7 p.m. and then open dancing will be from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. CeeDee Jamaican Kitchen
5305 E Speedway Blvd. Details here.
Events compiled by Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot, Ava Garcia and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: things to do , fun , events , Tucson , August 21 , Tuesday , events to go to , concerts , movies , dancing , Image , Video
Monday, August 20, 2018
- Charlie
Go fall in love with Charlie at HSSA Main Campus at 635 W. Roger Rd. and bring your family, including dogs! Have questions? Give an adoptions counselor a call at 520-327-6088, ext. 173.
Tags: Humane society , dog , pet , Charlie , adopt , friend , family , animals , Image
The new batch is a smart one, according to UA, with seven percent more students entering with a 4.0 grade point average and 16 percent more students with high GPA's between 3.75 and 3.99.
"We are honored to welcome all of our new and returning Wildcats to campus," said Kasey Urquidez, vice president of enrollment management and student affairs advancement and dean of undergraduate admissions at the UA. "We are thrilled with the increase in applications and the number of students who have selected the UA as their college of choice."
Not only are there more A+ students at the UA this year, the number of applications also went up by 20 percent, with the percentage of freshman students from diverse backgrounds at 45 percent.
"The start of the school year brings a unique feeling of excitement to campus," said UA President Robert C. Robbins in a UA press release. "We have a very strong class of students coming to the UA this fall, and many of them are first-generation students from diverse backgrounds. Along with many others here at the UA, I can't wait to see what this year's new students will achieve during their academic careers."
Along side the new freshmen, around 2,300 transfer students enrolled this semester, with 53 percent of them being first-generation students and many of them online students.
"We're meeting our students where they are – offering opportunities to be a Wildcat from all over the world or down the street from the comfort of their home," Urquidez said in a UA press release.
The on-campus, online and even international student population has grown this year, now with students from over 100 countries.
"The incoming international freshman class is up 36 percent – in stark contrast to national trends – reflecting the UA's commitment to bold new recruiting strategies and growing reputation as a global university," said Brent White, dean of global campuses and interim vice provost for global affairs.
The most popular majors for incoming freshmen are:
- Pre-business
- Pre-Physiology
- Engineering
- Biology
- Pre-Computer Science
New degree options that have been added this semester are:
- Applied Humanities
- Food Studies
- Statistics and Data Science
- Food Safety
- Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences
- Nutrition and Food Systems
- Personal and Family Financial Planning
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Statistics and Data Science
- Deaf Studies
- Mild Moderate Disabilities
- Rehabilitation Studies and Services
An official count of all students enrolled at UA for the 2018-19 school year will be released on Sept. 10.
Tags: UA , University of Arizona , first day of school , by the numbers , increase , students , smart , international , transfer , freshmen , Image
We, here at the Tucson Weekly, receive lots of mail every day and so in efforts of paying it forward, here is a letter to you about a book that landed in our mail box.
Every now and again some kind publisher sends us a book with the hopes and dreams that we will write a wonderful review therefore skyrocketing their book sales. We get many books and are not able to read and review every single one, but sometimes one catches our eye.
Well, today that book was "The Best Damn Answers to Life's Hardest Questions" by Tess Koman.
The little pink, brown and gold book is inviting with its sparkly cartoon taco, sunglasses and bra on the cover, and that is where you get sucked in.
First you start reading thinking you are too cool for group think. That there is no such thing as universal relatablility. And then you follow through the flow charts and realize that everything describes your life. Perfectly.
Now, I don't know if this is a good thing or a bit sad of a thing, but it is certainly the truth.
This book asks the real questions in life, such as is a bra really necessary? Should I buy a plant? Should I text *that person*? And perhaps, most pointedly, am I too old for this shit?
Cute and colorful flowcharts illustrated by the talented Katie Vernon help millennials, and maybe even everyone really, navigate through some of life's smallest yet most important decisions.
And after reading through Koman's advice, my advice for her? Go open that bagel shop! You clearly want to!
EXTRA: A little interesting note about the author is that she is the features editor at delish.com and the former web editor at cosmopolitan.com. Web editors often are pretty cool people.
- Tirion Morris, Web Editor
Tags: Book , review , questions , answers , flowcharts , comic , cartoons , letter , mail , delivery , dear reader , Image
