Tuesday, January 29, 2019
“Call Him Mac” Reception and Book Signing. You’ve probably heard of Ernest McFarland, the U.S. Senator, Senate Majority Leader, Arizona Governor, Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, founder of KTVK and father of the GI Bill. (Historian Marshall Trimble once suggested that if Arizona had a Mount Rushmore, it would be Carl Hayden, Ernest McFarland, Barry Goldwater and John McCain.) But you might not know much about his life as a husband, father and friend to people like FDR, Harry Truman and Winston Churchill. Call Him Mac: Ernest W. McFarland, The Arizona Years, a new book by law professor and historian Gary L. Stuart, published by the UA Press, delves into all of this. Meet the author, pick up a copy and get it signed at this event. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29. Arizona Main Library special collections room, 1510 E. University Blvd. Free. Details here.
Taco Tuesday at 1912 Brewing Co. Alright, Tucson, time to embrace your local borderlands culture by drinking craft beer and eating Mexican food at the same time. 1912 Brewing is hosting a tasty Taco Tuesday, where they’re selling tacos for only $2 each. And if you aren’t sure which of their beers go best with the tacos, don’t be afraid to ask! 4:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29. 2045 N. Forbes Blvd. Details here.
Maria en Tierra de Nadie. The University of Arizona Latin American Studies Student Organization is screening a documentary film that follows a group of three Central American women who travel through Mexico to the United States border. The screening also features a panel discussion from the film’s director, a community organizer, and a professor from the Center for Latin American Studies. English-Spanish Interpretation will be available. 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29. The Loft Cinema. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Free. Details here.
Turkuaz. These purveyors of “Powerfunk” behave more like a performance ensemble than a band, but don’t let that distract you from their music. The nine members of Turkuaz each sport their own color on stage, as well as their own instruments: bass, synthesizer, saxophone, drums, trumpet, guitar, and male and female vocals all mix together to make something relentlessly catchy, danceable and of course, funky. A typical Turkuaz song (if you could call their music typical) features jangly disco guitars, thumping bass, modern production and vocal hooks straight out of the golden age of funk. If vivid paint splatters had a sound, they would be the music of Turkuaz. Catch Turkuaz with Paris Monster at 191 Toole. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29. 191 E. Toole Ave. $20. Details here.
Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: things to do , five fun events , music , education , tacos , food , fun , Tuesday , Jan. 29 , Image , Video
Southern rockers Blackberry Smoke guide the Find a Light Tour into The Rialto Theater.
Shit-hot guitarist Chris Shiflett, best known for his tenure with Foo Fighters, opens the show. Details here.
Out on their first West Coast tour in more than 18 years, seminal indie rockers Duster grace the Club Congress stage. Backed by Hikikom ori, Soft Shoulder and Droll. Details here.
Tags: live music , where to rock , concerts , shows , things to do , shows to see , Tuesday , Jan. 29 , Image
Monday, January 28, 2019
- Halsey, five-year-old, Male
Would you like to learn more about Halsey? Give an adoption counselor a call at 520-327-6088, ext. 173 or visit at HSSA Main Campus at 635 W. Roger Rd.
Tags: Halsey , cat , pets , animals , Humane Society , HSSA , family , friend , adoptable animals , adopt , Image
The Arizona Wildcats were thumped on Saturday night by the Bruins of UCLA, thanks to a woeful shooting performance and a defensive malaise that allowed the home side to hit more than 50 percent of their shots.
The Wildcats were forced to play without Jeter once again against the Bruins, forcing Miller to play four guards against UCLA’s larger lineup.
That size disadvantage allowed the Bruins to finish the night with a resounding 47-30 edge on the glass, with freshman center Moses Brown pulling down 15 rebounds by himself.
The Bruins never relented offensively, taking a 38-25 lead into the half, before outscoring the Wildcats, 52-44 in the game’s final half of play.
An agitated Miller discussed his team’s two-game fate against the Los Angeles schools in the bowels of Pauley Pavilion on Saturday night.
The longtime Arizona coach didn’t mince words when describing his team’s play of-late, calling the Wildcats’ play against the Trojans and Bruins an offensive disaster.
“We can't make a shot,” Miller said. “You know, at times we really moved the ball. Attacked the ball by getting the ball in the middle. Dribble penetrating, but you know at the end of the day someone's got to throw that thing in and we're really struggling in that area.”
The high point of Saturday’s trouncing was the 19-point performance put up by freshman guard Brandon Williams, who led all Wildcats scoring.
Miller praised the L.A. native for his offensive prowess against his hometown team, saying he played a quality game against USC on Thursday.
That solid outing gave Williams confidence going into the Bruins game, according to Miller, which allowed him to pace the team’s offense.
“Tonight, he played a similar floor game except he made some shots as well, but he's playing the best basketball of his career,” Miller said. “It’s great to see him come back here to L.A. and really, in my mind, string two very solid games in, especially offensively.”
The Wildcats (14-7, 5-3) travel to Tempe to play Arizona State at 7 p.m. on Thursday in their lone game of the week.
Both teams are coming off losses in their previous games, with the Sun Devils falling to USC, 69-67, on Saturday night.
Miller hopes to have Jeter back for Thursday’s game, saying the Wildcats’ offense is in need of the junior’s height and defensive prowess.
“We’re a much better team with Chase and I don't know the outcome of either game, but he gives us the size up front,” Miller said. “He also allows everybody to be in the role that they once were in.”
Tags: Arizona basketball , UCLA Bruins , Westwood , Los Angeles , Bill Walton , Kareem Abdul Jabbar , Pac-12 , Sean Miller , Image
Tucson's only blacksmithing school is celebrating its grand opening on Saturday, Feb. 2, and the public is invited to see the sparks fly.
Desert Metal Craft, a new school started by three Tucsonans, is dedicated to "teaching the ancient art of blacksmithing together with the modern science behind the craft of metalworking." Classes range from absolute beginner to expert, and include blacksmithing, bladesmithing, art fabrication, and traditional Japanese steel-making or "tatara.”
“As far as we know, it’s the only blacksmithing school in all of the southwest,” said co-founder Pete Brown. “Some local blacksmiths do classes, but this is first to constitute a full, dedicated school.”
The other Desert Metal Craft founders are Liz Cameron, who teaches applied metallurgy at Pima Community College, and Rich Greenwood, who formerly competed on the History Channel’s “Forged in Fire” blacksmithing series. The three met in blacksmithing classes at PCC.
“I just got talking with those two, and when I found out Rich wanted to start his own school, I called him up and said ‘count me in!’,” Brown said.
The three then rented a warehouse and filled it with equipment. For the all-day grand opening, they plan on blacksmithing demonstrations, music, fire dancers and more.
“The railroad runs right by, so we don’t have to worry about making too much noise,” Brown said. “Which we’re pretty excited about.”
Classes range from single-day lessons up to more in-depth eight week sessions.
“We’re not doing commissions, it’s very much an educational place,” Brown said. “We want it to be a kind of community school.”
While still in the school’s infancy, Desert Metal Craft’s founders are speaking with local schools to host community programs, such as summer classes for kids.
“It’s extremely rewarding,” Brown said. “You can take a piece of junk metal and forge it into whatever you want.”
The Desert Metal Craft Grand Opening Launch Party lasts from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 at 544 E. 24th St. #3, Tucson, AZ 85713.
For more information, visit desertmetalcraft.org
Tags: Desert Metal Craft , metalwork , blacksmith , metal , craft , school , classes , education , PCC , celebration , grand opening , event , Image
Tags: comics , politics , political cartoons , Claytoonz , Diary of a Wimpy President , wimp , government shutdown , wall , Image
Meet Your Plants (and More). The Sonoran Desert has provided food and sources of color for humans for thousands of years. Learn about the abundant food plants found or grown in our desert home! Mesquite, cactus, and tepary beans are on the menu. We'll also learn how the nopal cactus has been used to bring color into our lives for millennia by hosting the prized cochineal insect. Presented by Carol Anderson, Tucson Botanical Garden Docent. Himmel Park Library 1035 N. Treat Ave. 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Details here.
Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: things to do , Tucson events , fun , family , friends , Monday night , Monday events , January 28 , Image
Mayhem ensues when The Black Market Trust cut loose their infectious brand of traditional vocal jazz in the Copper Hall at Hotel Congress. Details here.
Tags: music , where to rock , band , live , concert , Monday , Jan 28 , Image , Video
Sunday, January 27, 2019
TUSD is losing 6,000 students a year? Not even close. But that's what a front page article in the Star on Sunday, Jan. 20 suggested, putting it in the running for the worst misuse of numbers in a story about TUSD I've read in the paper, ever. And let me tell you, there's been some stiff competition over the years.
The 6,000 figure is in an article about the district's declining enrollment. Where does the number come from? That's not clear in the beginning of the article, and its origins become murkier as the story continues. Whatever the source, it's six times the actual decline.
Appearing to inflate TUSD's enrollment losses six fold is a big deal, especially when the story is splashed across the front page of the Sunday Star where it's the first thing the reader sees.
The opening paragraphs of the article contain three numbers related to TUSD's declining enrollment:
"This school year alone, around 2,200 students have left the Tucson Unified School District."Those are the only enrollment numbers in the article. They appear to be saying that the district is losing an average of 6,000 students a year. That's how I first read the article over my Sunday morning coffee, and I'm sure most readers took away a similar impression. That number, a 6,000 student decline, is jaw dropping. TUSD's numbers aren't just decreasing, the story implies. The district is hemorrhaging students.
"This accounts for less than half of the 5,100 students TUSD lost to in-state transfers last school year."
"The district lost around 6,100 students on average every year during the four years prior."
But if you know anything about TUSD's enrollment figures, you know the 6,000-a-year figure is impossible, ridiculous. If the district lost 6,000 students for each of the past four years as the story states, that would mean a 24,000 student loss. Four years ago, the district had just under 50,000 students. Take 24,000 from 50,000, and you would have 26,000 students left. In fact, this year the district has in the neighborhood of 47,500 students.
I have tracked TUSD's attendance numbers starting with the 2000-2001 school year. The largest year-to-year drop was 2,200 students in 2011. The district lost an average of 900 students a year since 2000, less than a sixth of the size of the loss the article appears to report.
Tags: Tucson Unified School District. Enrollment. The Arizona Daily Star.Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo , Image
Friday, January 25, 2019
Split the first game one and one but I was still feeling good about the Chiefs/Patriots game. That was until about five minutes in when the Patriots defense completely owned Mahomes and the Chiefs offense. Our -3 bet was looking bad but our under bet looked to be the right call and my feelings remained that way all the way into the 4th quarter. The under 55.5 was all but locked up. The game needed an additional 38 points in 15 minutes to go over, something that both teams had not been able to do the entirety of the other three quarters. And that was when all hell broke lose.
Scoring back and forth in the last 10 minutes and our number still seemed to look good. Then the impossible happened! Chiefs drive the field and go up by four with the total still going under. With only two minutes left to play we are on the right side of both bets. Any other quarterback beside Tom Brady would be in a tough spot. Unfortunately I bet against a cyborg of a man. Brady drives down scores the touchdown, points go over, Chiefs back in a losing spot, and we all know how the rest of the game panned out.
So two tough weekends has us at 48 dollars left in the bank and a record of 5-6-1 after a solid start. We’ve got over 500 prop bets predicted for this Super Bowl weekend and I’ll be doing a deep dive on my favorites next week. Still plenty of cash left to get us back on top before the season ends so stay tuned!
Tags: NFL , playoffs , Super Bowl , Picks of the Dragon , Tyler Vondrak , football , bets , gambling , picks , Image
