Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Tags: Comics , cartoons , politics , Claytoonz , NYT , New York Times , cartoonist , Pulitzer , Image
Tucson Saguaros Home Game. It's not clear who will win the baseball game tonight, but one team definitely steals the trophy for most-fun team name. The Tucson Saguaros take on the White Sands Pupfish tonight at Cherry Field, 7 p.m. Tickets cost $7.50. Details here.
Acrylic Pour at Creative Juice. Have you ever gotten frustrated while painting and wanted to just pour paint all over the place? Well, here is your chance to do just that! Creative Juice invites you to get messy at their new technique class called "Acrylic Pour." Whether yours turns out like the night sky, some garish granite, or one of those mesmerizing mirror glaze cakes, this artwork is sure to brighten your wall. 6530 E Tanque Verde Rd. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Details here.
Events compiled by Tirion Morris, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: fun in general , Tucson events , happenings , things to do , Tuesday , June 11 , Image
His voice slurs like James Brown. And, the backbeat? Pure Stax Record’s Southern soul. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears narrows The Difference Between Me & You at 191 Toole. With the indie rockin’ soul of Amasa Hines. Details here.
“We’ll drink some beer, tell some stories and maybe do a few fun cover songs.” Lead singer/molecular biologist Dexter Holland expands, “And, Jonny Two Bags from Social Distortion will be with us performing a solo set.” At the Rialto Theatre. Details here.
This Texas singer-songwriter transports the flavor of Gulf Coast country soul found in his solo debut The Change to Club Congress.
“It’s a love letter, and a promise to my newly formed family,” says Kevin Galloway.
With the light-hearted yet fuzzed-out rock of Birds and Arrows. Details here.
Tags: music , live shows , live show , club congress , 191 toole , rialto theatre , black joe lewis and the honeybears , amasa hines , the offspring , johnny two bags , kevin galloway , birds and arrows , indie , indie soul , country , country soul , acoustic , Image
Monday, June 10, 2019
"The charter school movement is in trouble." So begins an article in the Washington Post. I think that's an exaggeration. Charter schools aren't in trouble as such — their numbers are still on the rise — but they may be cresting. Their once-shiny reputation is tarnishing. Charter proponents' mouths have made too many promises the schools can't keep, and people are beginning to take notice.
Some folks who have read my charter-related posts think I'm opposed to charter schools. Not so. I support any school — district, charter or private — with good teachers, a good curriculum and a strong overall educational philosophy. Plenty of charters fit that description. I would have no problem recommending a charter school to parents if I thought it was a good fit for their children.
What I'm against is the charter school PR machine, part of the ridiculously well funded "education reform"/privatization movement. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent every year demonizing public education while praising charters as the answer to our educational prayers, then propping up the schools with funding above and beyond what they get from the state.
District schools deserve criticism, but not the "failing schools" slam they get from privatizers, and charters hardly deserve the lavish praise they receive from their financial patrons. That's why I go heavy on charter criticism. With all the money and effort perpetuating the myth of charter school superiority, I feel it's my duty to debunk their myth-making whenever I can.
The first charters began in the early nineties. Arizona's charters opened for business in 1995. The schools have had nearly 30 years to prove their worth. Yet when you look at legitimate studies comparing charters and district schools, the results are pretty much a wash. In one state, charter school students have better scores than similar students in district schools. In another state it's the district schools that have the edge. Charter students may have higher test scores in fourth grade math while district schools top charters in eighth grade English, or vice versa.
People on both sides of the argument can cherry-pick the data to fit their narrative, but when you look at the numbers as a whole, the differences in student achievement are so slight as to be insignificant. If parents choose well, they can send their children to excellent charter schools, but if they fall prey to false advertising, they might end up sending their children to some of the worst schools you'll find anywhere.
Tags: Charter schools , "Education reform , " School privatization , NAACP , Image
In April, an ABC15 investigation found that many cell doors inside the Lewis state prison in Buckeye did not have functioning locks, which resulted in assaults on inmates and corrections officers. ABC15 reported that at least two inmate deaths have occurred as a result of the broken doors.
At the same prison, video surveillance showed inmates lighting fires outside of their cells, while correctional officers watched and did not intervene, due to a fear of having to report the incident to the Arizona Department of Corrections.
At the state prison in Douglas, the Arizona Republic reported inmates being given bottled water after the facility experienced low water pressure over the weekend.
KJZZ reported pregnant women in Arizona prisons being subjected to "deficient and dangerous prenatal and postnatal care," with some women giving birth alone in their cells or having miscarriages due to inadequate or nonexistent healthcare services.
In response to these concerning events, Governor Doug Ducey's office has indicated to press that they plan to investigate the Arizona Department of Corrections, but over a month has passed since then and no investigation has commenced.
The Tucson-based American Friends Service Committee, a nonprofit that works to promote criminal justice reform among other causes, has requested a meeting with Gov. Ducey to "convey the urgent concerns of incarcerated people and their families about the failed leadership of ADC Director Ryan, and to offer a new perspective for the way forward."
“If Gov. Ducey’s goal for ADC is to reduce recidivism and rehabilitate people, then he must acknowledge that Charles Ryan is unfit to lead the Department in that direction,” Caroline Isaacs, AFSC-AZ’s Program Director, said in a press release. “Ryan is one of the last vestiges of an outdated and ineffective culture of strict ‘custody-and-control’ prison management.”
Tags: Arizona Department of Corrections , ABC15 , Chuck Ryan , AFSC , American Friends Service Committee , Doug Ducey , Prison , Criminal Justice , Image
Ian Morgan of Sunrise Forge is a blacksmith based in Tucson who crafts tools to last for centuries. From shears and garden knives to hunting and chefs knives, Morgan supplies long-lasting, well made tools for hunting, camping, kitchen use and general abuse. Morgan became interested in metalwork and fabrication when he was a kid.
"I took one of my dads wrenches from his toolbox, heated it with a blowtorch and smashed it flat with a claw hammer on the sidewalk. I had vague intentions of making it into a knife," Morgan said.
Years later, he fashioned his own coal forge in true pursuit of that interest. Now, he has two forges he built himself-one for coal, one for propane.
"Hand forged tools have the benefit of being custom made for exactly your hand shape and size, exactly your application and will likely outlive the owner," Morgan said.
He works with mild, medium and high carbon steels. He has also crafted beautiful Damascus steel blades, the special mottled pattern formed through forging different metal alloys together.
The handles of the tools can be made with any kind of wood. He has used white oak from a bourbon barrel, mesquite, antler and cherry wood.
It takes Morgan about two weeks to complete one tool, but it can take more or less time depending on the complexity of his project.
"I think that old world crafts are getting rarer and rarer," said Morgan. "They carry knowledge of generations past that disappear if we let them. There will always be a demand for unique, well made steel tools...that never become obsolete. Blacksmiths, among others, make those things."
Contact Sunrise Forge at [email protected].
Tags: Sunrise Forge , Blacksmith , Forge , Tools , Craft , Image
McQuillin who guided the Wildcats back to the Women's College World Series this spring for the first time since 2010, will join fellow Arizona alumni Rebekah Quiroz (head coach) and fellow assistant Jennifer Martinez on the Aztecs staff.
McQuillin, who is currently playing for the Cleveland Comets of the National Pro Fastpitch league, will assume her new role this fall, according to a PCC release on Monday morning.
The former Arizona ace pitcher was quoted in the PCC release as being thrilled to join Quiroz's staff.
“My hope in working with this team is to help further grow their knowledge of the game and for me to learn from the coaches at Pima as well,” McQuillin said. “I hope the pitching staff as a whole is able to work together to win Pima a lot of ball games. It is not easy to be a pitcher at this level but in working with Nicki, I feel that this staff will learn how to compete to the best of their abilities.”
Quiroz said she's thrilled to have McQuillin on-board, giving the Aztecs another venerable voice in the dugout next spring.
The PCC coach is hopeful that McQuillin's input can help the Aztecs improve upon their 30-28 record in 2018, getting the team back into contention for a NJCAA championship in the coming years.
"We (coaching staff) have the knowledge and the experience but Taylor is going to bring a deep and competitive edge just coming off her Arizona career," Quiroz said. "She is going to bring a different perspective. My goal is for her to work with our pitching coach Nicki Johnson as close as possible, Nicki is going to show her a lot especially how to hone her teaching skills. I am honored to have two Division I pitchers on my coaching staff to help mentor and motivate.”
Tags: Taylor McQuillin , Arizona Wildcats , Pima Community College , Tucson , NJCAA , WCWS , Image
Monsoon Safety Fair. While beautiful and dramatic, Tucson's summer monsoons can also be dangerous. Learn how to make sure you and your family stay safe this summer with experts from the National Weather Service. Not only will the event be educational, but activities and exhibits will make it fun for the entire family! 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Park Place Mall, 5870 E. Broadway Boulevard. Details here.
Events compiled by Tirion Morris, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.
Tags: things to do , fun in general , happenings , Tucson , local events , Monday , June 10 , Image
These Bay Area “kinda grunge, kinda punk” indie rockers “Dip” into town for a show at Club Congress. Culture Abuse bring their vision of the Bay Dream along with a taste of “Goo” for all who care to sample. Songsmith Tony Molina, Dare and Entry lend support. Details here.
Drawing from traditional jazz, swing and the American songbook, Tucson Jazz Institute hosts JAZZ JAMbalaya. At Sheraton Tucson Hotel. Details here.
From deep in the bayou, Cajun bluesman Tab Benoit tracks the brackish water of the Mississippi Delta—along with a strong dose of “Medicine”—into the Rialto Theatre. Soulful blues rocker Eric Johanson helps “Burn It Down”. Details here.
Tags: music , live music , live shows , live show , culture abuse , tucson jazz institute , jazz jambalaya , sheraton tucson hotel , funky bonz , funky monday , elliots , club congress , tony molina , dare , entry , tab benoit , eric johanson , Image
