The best advice (and perhaps simultaneously the worst) anyone ever gave me when I arrived in Tucson was "hop on a random bus and see where it takes you.'
It came from my Spanish 102 Professor, after discovering that no one in her freshman class had ever dared to step foot off of campus before, myself included.
Sure, for a 130 pound freshman with a face that just says "mug me," the idea of wandering into the oldtown barrios, the scorching desert, or even the back alleys of downtown sounded downright suicidal.
Yet I took her advice, said a few "hail mary's" and jumped on a bus bound for Reed park. Anyone who has ever taken the Tucson bus system is no doubt in for a shock... lets just say it's a good place to people watch. And while my Professor's "method" may have been a little risky, her intentions were only for the best.
It is her advice I'm passing on to the next generation of U of A students, especially those in the field of journalism. Sure, you can find stories, do interviews, and pass classes all from the safety net of the UA campus, or you can do what you came to college to do and expand your horizons.
If I had never gotten on that bus, I very well may have never have experienced any of the things I most treasure about college. For instance, I never would have stumbled to the corner of Ft. Lowell and Campbell for what would be my first 4 a.m. breakfast burritos from Nico's
I would never had had the high elevation realization that I could freeze my butt off at the top of beautiful Mount Lemon in the middle of September
I would never have met Harvey Brooks, bass player for the Doors and owner of the amazing 17th Street Market, or Yuri Makino, UA Professor and filmmaker whose film "Alma" challenges conventional stereotypes of the Southwest.
Granted not every experience has been a good one. Take for instance the jacket ruining parrots of the Reed Park Zoo.
The point I'm trying to make is that, as journalists we can only present the world accurately if we get out into it. So leave the internet research in high school journalism where it belongs, stuff your pockets with a notepad and a few pencils and "hop on the bus" so to speak. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.
Imagine yourself as the parent of an undocumented immigrant, the worry and paranoia that would haunt you every time that child went to school, to work, to play with their friends.
Imagine being plagued with fear, knowing that any day, they could be shipped away from home and all they ever knew... back to a country they barely know.
Now pretend the child doesn't know they're illegal. How would you tell them? When would you tell them, and how could you tell them without them hating you for keeping such a secret? These are the issues tackled in University of Arizona professor Yuri Makino's short film "Alma."
The film centers around an undocumented family in the SW, with the mother and father trying to control their rebellious teenage daughter (who thinks she was born a US citizen).
When the daughter has a run in with border patrol and barely escapes, her parents are forced to tell her their secret... (that she was not born in the United States and is not a citizen)
Makino has proven herself to be a masterful storyteller, highlighting issues of race, citizenship, personal identity, and growing up, all set against a colorful backdrop of scenic Tucson locales that any local will recognize.
The actors are all very convincing, especially the actress who plays Alma, Carmen Corral and her friend played by Cindy de la Cruz."I still laugh every time when I see it at those endearing funny moments between the two lead girls," said the films executive director Vicky Westover.
In addition to filming in Tucson, Makino also utilized local media arts faculty, and some UA and Pima Community College film students to work on various aspects of the film.
The films cinematographer is none other than celebrated industry professional Gonzalo Amat, who has worked in the past as a creative producer for HBO.
Makino was awarded a "Best Director Award" at the Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival and the film also received The Ledo Matteoli Award for Best Immigrant Story at the Humboldt Film Festival.
Makino has since revised the script for a full length feature version of the film and is currently pitching it to a number of producers.
With it's strong relevance to the current immigration issue and it's entertaining and thought provoking story line, we can be sure that this isn't the last we'll see of Professor Makino's "Alma."
To watch a trailer for the film, click the following link and then click on the trailer "Alma."
It's was used by the Mayans to create ancient "pepper spray," it's present in many of the Mexican dishes we eat and was an integral part of the human diet throughout history.... what is it? The chili pepper of course.
Archaeological records indicate that chili peppers similar to those we eat today have been consumed in the America's since roughly 7500 BC, making it one of the most "authentic" American foods. After being "discovered" in the New World by Columbus, the chili quickly caught on, replacing pepper as the strongest available spice in the known world.
According to the site, The Chemistry of Chilli Peppers , chili peppers belong to the family of Solanaceae, or nightshade plants, and are revered for their high levels of Capsaicinoids, the chemical components that give chilli's their "heat."
When you eat a pepper, the capsaicinoids "bind" themselves to the lining in your mouth and trigger a flow of calcium ions from one cell to the next. This flow of ions triggers the same pain receptors normally triggered by extreme heat, resulting in the painful "burning" sensation chilli's are famous for.
Yet, while consuming chili peppers straight can be quite painful, the plant has many benefits as well.
For instance after consuming chili peppers, your body counteracts the effects by releasing endorphines (a natural painkiller) which calm the nerves and induce a sense of euphoria. Chilli's are also very high in vitamins and anti-oxidants and can be used to make a Capiscum cream which is used in the treatment of arthritis.
Chili peppers may be prepared in dishes many different ways but perhaps one the most popular is as an ingredient in hotsauce. Made from a variety of recipes and flavors, vendors like Firegirls Hot Sauce Catalog provide a hot sauce for every taste from mild to suicidal.
Chilli's come in over 25 varieties and intensities, which are organized according to the Scoville Scale which measures pungency and ranges from 0 (bell peppers etc.) to more than 300,000 (habenero, scotch bonnet peppers, etc.) The various parts of the chili pepper have different concentrations of capsiacinoids and are used in different ways. Strangely enough while the seeds are usually pungent, it is the placenta part of the chili that is the "hottest."
Feeling brave? The check out Pepper Fools Recipe Page for some of the hottest Chili pepper dishes this side of the border.
For many who are unfamiliar with the history and culture of the Southwest, it is easy to sterotype and stygmatize certain things as "Mexican" "Indian" or "Spanish" without understanding the proper heritage and cultural context from which those things came.
Take for example the flamenco guitar. Undoubtedly one of the most popular guitar playing styles in the Southwest today, flamenco guitar did not origniate in Mexico. Despite what we see in music videos and the stylish intro to Robert Rodriquezes "Desperado," flamenco guitar was born and bred entirely overseas; remade and refined over hundreds of years.
According to the site classicalguitarmidi.com, the roots of flamenco style probably stemmed from the myriad of cultural influences in Spain after the "Reconquista." During this period, the Spanish had just reclaimed their land after 700 years of Moor occupation.
It is likely that during this time, persecuted "outside" groups like the gypsies, Moors and Jews banded together for survival, sharing many aspects of their culture with one another, including their music. Shunned from popular culture, they took aspects of their own styles and added them to traditional Andalucian folk songs to create something entirely new.
According to the site flamenco-lessons.com the genre did not gain popularity in Spain until it was adopted and modified by the Spaniards themselves.
While aspects of the musical style may have followed the Spanish to the new world and been adopted in Mexico, practitioners insist that it's development into a formalized style hinged mainly upon developments overseas.
It was not until the 19th century advent of "Cafe Cantantes," that the genre as we know it today began to spread beyond Spanish borders. Here, in these musical performance houses, travelers from all over gathered to watch Flamenco artists perform in highly competitive competitions centering around bravado, skill and showmanship.
It is from these musical competitions that Flamenco drew it's dramatic playing style and stylish "tricks" (i.e, playing with one hand or with the guitar held overhead.) Even today, the genre retains some aspects of its "medieval outlaw" image, defined by complicated scales and heart racing percussion.
The modern Flamenco guitar can be recognized by several characteristics. First, the body is smaller than a normal guitar and is made of cypress, a lighter wood which lends itself to the unique sound of flamenco. Second are the plastic faceplates or "golpeadores" which keep the guitar from being scratched or damaged when the player strikes it with his fingertips. Lastly, flamenco guitars usually utilize more traditional push pegs for tuning rather than modern guitar machine heads.
For those interested in playing, be prepared to spend some money on your new hobby. Flamenco guitars can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on the model and the luthier (the guitar maker).
Finding someone to give you lessons can be difficult, but I found my teacher through a very helpful website called privatelessons.com. The site asks you for the instrument or style you want to learn and your area code and then provides you with a list of instructors in your area.
By preserving the proper context of the flamenco guitar and it's relation (or non-relation) to the Southwest, we pay homage to the unspoken geniuses throughout history; the poets who let flamenco music flow out of the hearts, through their hands, and out into the world around us.
Located north of 22nd street, Reed Park is much more than a place to ride bikes, grill some burgers, or play Frisbee with the dog. The site is also home to the Reed Park Zoo and a plethora of the globe's furriest,scaliest, and straight up amazing creatures.
The zoo was "unofficially" started by Parks and Rec. Director Gene Reed in 1965. By 1967, the zoo was put under the control of the City of Tucson. Today, the city supports and maintains the site with the help of a non-profit corporation, the Tucson Zoological Society.
It takes about two hours to wander the various paths through the park's many exhibits, which includes everything from typical desert animals to Asian Elephants, Africa Lions, and pythons from South America.
My personal favorite was the polar bear. While it might seem strange to keep a polar bear in the desert, he seemed very comfortable, staying cool and floating lazily in an icy chilled pool.
If you're looking for a specific type of animal, the following map shows the different exhibits where each species can be found.
One of the coolest (albeit, riskiest) attractions at the zoo, the atrium allows visitors the chance to wander in an enclosed setting with beautifully colored tropical birds and have them poop on you. . The one on the right is the one that got me... watch out for him.
Other animals like peacocks and squirrels wander freely about the park, and for the "hands on" types, zoo employees and volunteers host special "touch stations." There, visitors can pet and play with the animals while experts inform you about their diet, their native regions and their behaviors. You can even "adopt" one of your favorite animals, with the "adoption fee" going toward programs in wildlife conservation and management.
Currently, the zoo is planning the expansion of the "African Loop" infrastructure just south of the existing zoo facilities. The new site will provide a more comfortable home for the zoo's two elephants.
For those with a real taste for adventure, traveling events and opportunities are occasionally co-ordinated at the zoo as well. In the past, these events have included things like a two week trip to India with Zoo Administrator Susan Basford to explore its parks and native reserves.
The zoo is open from 9 to 4 except on major holidays and costs $6 for adults and $2 for children. The animals are most likely to be active early in the morning and late in the afternoon, so visitors are encouraged to plan their trips accordingly.
About this time of year, 33 years ago, cave explorers Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts made one of the most influential decisions of their lives.
While hiking in Benson, Arizona, on the desert property of James and Lois Kartchner, the friends came across a limestone sinkhole. Exploring it further, they discovered a large crack that ran for some distance, working its way into the mountain.
Through the narrow channel of cracks and crevices, sometimes on their hands and knees, they pushed on until they broke into a large honeycomb system of pristine and impressive caverns.
Keeping the cave a secret for several years, they eventually decided to inform the Kartchners of their discovery. In 1988, the park was purchased by the government and opened to the public under the name of Kartchner Caverns State Park.
While claustrophobic like myself may laugh at the notion of going deep underground to explore dark caves, have no fear. The park offers guided tours, with lights, sidwalks, and plenty of room to stretch out. The scariest part of the tour is passing through the enormous airtight steel doors which preserve the moisture level in the cave and prevent damage/vandalism to the mineral growths..
These guided tours consist of two paths. One which leads to the Rotunda/Throne room where visitors are told about the cave's formation, and treated to a laser light show at the site of a massive underground column. It's sounds corny, but when the lights are bouncing off the millions of shiny stalagmites and stalactites, it's actually pretty impressive.
The other, more popular "big room" tour, leads tourists along the path Tenen and Tufts followed as they explored the cave. This tour is only open from October to April because in the summer months the cave is a breeding ground for myotis bats. Without a doubt, one the the most impressive facets of the big room tour is seeing Tenon and Tufts prints (where they they crawled on hands and knees through the deep silty mud), still undisturbed for all this time. This tour also includes a more lengthy, in depth explanation of the cave's formation.
The caves themselves were formed from Escabrosa limestone deposited on the seabed millions of years ago. Through normal geological processes, these sedimentary basin sunk and shifted, forming the tilting rock faces of the cavern, all angled 15 to 35 degrees toward the southwest.
The caverns within the cave were expanded and enlarged through a complicated process of water erosion and wear from sediments. For a more complete scientific explanation, check out part the following video "Discovering Hydrology at Kartchner Caverns State Park."
The cave are still the focus of much paleontological study, according to the website. Throughout the caves lie the remains of thousands of years of cave dwellers, including the skeletal remains of an ancient sloth (86,000 years old) and horse (34,000 years old).
Not only is the park famous for its underground attractions but it's beautiful topside scenery as well. Numerous trails run throughout the park and camping permits can be purchased on site for $22. The tours through the caverns themselves cost around $20 for adults (14 and up) and around $10 for children.
If you haven't already, take the time to explore one of Arizona's most impressive subterranean wonders. For information or reservations call, (520) 586-CAVE (2283)
It's that time of the year again, when stage actors turn in their pistols for faux bloody limbs and broomsticks. When crowds of families, youngsters, and bored teenagers fill the darks streets of one of Tucson's largest Halloween oriented events, Old Tombstone Studio's "Nightfall."
Forget the haunted house concept, "Nightfall" is a full blown haunted town, with shows, rides, food and entertainment of all kinds. Starting the first week of October and running through the Halloween night, the event is open from six to ten weekdays and six to twelve weekends.
The premise for the event, according to the website, is that the town has been taken over by the evil creations of a mad scientist (the pitifully named Dr. Hyde). Yet what the event lacks in creative storyline, it makes up for in a creative and unique presentation.
From the skeleton mariachi who play atop of the hotel to the miniature "ghost train" that runs throughout the premise, the event manages to capture the excitement of live Tombstone shows, but with a decidedly macabre Halloween twist.
Granted the main downfall of the event has always been the rather tame nature of it's events compared to more intense (and bloody) haunted houses, but this is after all a family oriented event.
While some of the people I went with seemed rather unimpressed with the special effects... the same people screamed their guts out in the haunted house when brushed with spider webs. It's the simple stuff that gets you...
Each event, show, or ride is labeled with a rating of one to three skulls so parents can keep little ones out of the more intense areas. New shows this year include the "darkness rising stunt spectacular" and "gross anatomy"(comedy, stunt, and pyrotechnic shows) as well as as haunted houses like "cannibal house" and "caverns of despair." By far, highlight of the event was the trash talking "Transylvania Twins" show. Two gargoyles perched high above the audience, who fling insults at each other and the few unlucky spectators who happen to catch their attention.
The bottom line... don't go expecting death and mutilation on the scale of one of the "Saw" movies. Instead, keep and open mind and enjoy the fun, friendly atmosphere the event has to offer.
Admission prices for adults (ages 12 and over) is $21.95 and $18.95 for children.
When someone says "Mexican music," what kind of things pop into your mind? No doubt that for most people the image would look something like this. The conventional flamenco guitarist with their Guitarras and Guitarrons or maybe a mariachi band with violins, trumpets, and perhaps even an accordion, all underscored by a thumping baseline.
Familiar as these images are, many of the instruments used in modern Mexican music did not originate in Mexico but were transfered here from other cultures. Now, when it comes to pre-colonization, indigenous Indian instruments, most of us wouldn't know a Huehuetl (a drum made from a hollowed trunk) if it hit us in the face.
Accroding to Henrietta Yurcheno's Survival of Pre-Hispanic Music in New Mexico the indigenous music of the native peoples was outlawed during the Inquisition as a method of exterminating native ways of life. Thankfully, the knowledge of how to make and play these ancient instruments was preserved in secret and passed down from generation to generation, as a way to protect the musical heartbeat of the "true" indigenous culture.
Here's is a quick overview of some of the most popular indigenous Mexican instruments still in use today, as featured on the site yxayotl.com
For example, the Yaqui Indians adopted and modified a traditional Mayan instrument called the Bubaleks. These hollowed out gourds were played while floating in water to produce a eerily hollow, percussive sound. Another popular percussive instrument was the Ayotl, drums made from hollowed out turtle shells and played rhythmically with bone antlers.
The flute or "Tlapitzalli" in the native Nahuatl tongue, was incredible important to the native peoples and came in various shapes, sizes and materials. Some of the most impressive were the multi branched double or triple barrel flutes, an indigenous design that is still utilized in modern flute making today. Check out this video to see the modern day variation of the ancient instrument.
The only indigenous example of native stringed instruments are found outside Mexico, with the "Berimbao" of the Amazon region and the "Gualambao" of Paraguay. These instruments aside, string instrument were unknown to the indigenous populations until colonization.
Here is a video showcasing a variety of indigenous instruments, courtesy of Marco Antonio Sanchez.
Today, many of these instruments have found revived popularity, becoming symbols for the pro-indian, anti-colonization grassroots movements that have formed throughout Mexico in recent years.
There are many downsides to having your car break down. One, waiting under the hot sun for hours until a towntruck arrives. Two, the ridiculous fees that said tow truck will charge. In fact, just about the only upside to a breakdown is that it gives you a chance to explore surrounding areas that you never would have set foot in before.
I'd driven past Tuscon's Evergreen Cemetery many times in the past, but never went inside. No one I knew was buried there and graveyards tend to, in general, creep me out. If it weren't for my auto troubles and my subsequent free time, I may never have gotten the chance to explore what might be one of Tucson's most underrated historical sites.
Evergreen Cemetery was opened in 1906 as a general burial site outside of city limits. Many earlier burials from Ft. Lowell Cemetery and the surrounding areas were relocated here, explaining the existence of the many pre-1906 graves. The site has been owned by the Addison Family since 1960.
One of the first things that strikes you is the wide diversity of people buried there. Judging by the headstones, no one could say that the southwest isn't a true melting pot of culture. Immigrants from all nations and cultures seems to be well represented.
One of the most interesting aspects is the high number of graves identified only by Chinese lettering.
Most of these dates occur on either side of the 1882-1943 legislation called the "Chinese Exclusion Laws." This ban on Chinese immigrants, according to the PBS website substantially reduced the Asian populations in the west by nearly half. The evidence of the act's effect can be clearly seen in the dispersion of Chinese burials during that time period.
Other historical aspects of the site include the graves and rumored graves for many of old Tucson's movers and shakers,according to the site findagrave.com
Among those rumored to be buried at the site is the famous John Harris Behan. Behan was the Cochise county sheriff, an enemy of Doc Holiday and Wyatt Earp, and a supporter of the cowboys during the famous shootout at the O.K. corral. Also buried there is Dan Gravey, Arizona Governor from 1948 to 1951, acclaimed Banjo player Eddie Peabody, and Morgan Earp's assassin Frank Stilwell.
The cemeteries military burial ground is also very impressive and moving, with rows and rows of white marble tombstones. There are fallen soldiers buried here from every major American battle, from the Spanish American wars all the way through to the ongoing Iraq conflict.
Even if you share my aversion for all things dead and creepy, the history of the site is alive and well and merits a little exploration. If your interested in learning about these historical figures and the many more buried at the site, a free centennial re-dedication ceremony with historic tours is set to take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 7.
Every plant I've ever had has died. It's seems simple enough right? Water, soil, sunlight... it's not brainsurgery. Having burned through my second houseplant since the beginning of the semester, I was beginning to think horticulture was not in my future. I was in need of a change and a friend purposed the perfect solution... a cactus.
Granted, cactus are a familiar sight in the southwest but surprisingly few people have considered the possibility of growing cactus inside as an alternative to houseplants. For one, cacti are notoriously hardy, if it can survive a desert it can survive your living room.
Second, generations of selective cross-breeding with exotic specimens have yielded a incredible variety of small sized, unique looking cacti that are perfectly suited to growing inside.
But picking out a cactus involves much more than a midnight trip to the arboretum with a shovel and a wheelbarrow. You should note that while "stealing" cactus is obviously illegal, poaching cacti from the wild is just as bad, and most breeds are highly protected. According to the Fish and wildlife service, cactus poachers often face fines of thousands of dollars and even jail time.
With no options left but the legal ones, I decided to head for the garden section of my local Target. Generally it's important to buy your plants from nurseries to assure they are free of defects, plant killing parasites, and molds. However, an expertly raised plant will cost you expertly raised prices. After a few insulting conversations with nursery workers ("Thirty dollars for a Ariocarpus retusus... I can't even pronounce that, much less afford it!"), I decided to live dangerously and headed to Target. Luckily, the garden guy there was just as knowledgeable as anyone working in the nurseries.
First he informed me that, contrary to my initial beliefs, you can't just put a cactus in a pot of sand and expect it to grow. He recommended a specialized gravel potting soil that better simulates the cactus's native soil. He also recommended re- potting the plant right away which can help cut down on excess root growth and save you the trouble of trimming them down later.
Second, he reminded me that cactus do need to be watered occasionally. Outdoor cactus are generally hardy but because of the cooler conditions indoors, you have to be especially careful. The website cactusweb.us/ recommends an alternating cycle of dryer soil, followed by periods where the soil is kept saturated. This mimics the weather cycles of cooler climates and helps stimulate cacti growth. Now that I had the soil and a bit of knowledge all I needed was the plant.
According to CactiGuide.com there are more than a hundred different varieties of cacti and sub cacti called "succulents", each small enough to fit in a plant pot... and talk about weird looking! It's easy to get lost among the different varieties, from wicked looking Austrocactus with it's sickle shaped hooks, to the downright fuzzy looking flocossa. In addition, there are many breeds with no thorns whatsoever that are safe to the touch.
A half hour and ten dollars later, I was headed home with a pincushion cactus. Similar to a small barrel cactus, the pincushion not only looks cool, it occasionally produces the amazing purple flowers shown below. Video courtesy of djacob7
It's been almost a week now and so far so good. I don't know what I'll do if it dies... maybe get a goldfish.
If your having problems with your cacti or just need general information, check out the cactiguide.com forum
A few weeks ago, word started to spread in certain circles about a massive (1000 people plus) rave scheduled to take place in Tucson on Sept. 15th. What the official website referred to as a "peace festival," the rave was to be one of 360 taking place simultaneously in 57 countries around the globe. Moreover, while many raves take place outside the sphere of what could be considered "legal," Earthdance was rumored to be completely licensed and legitimate, ensuring a full night of dancing without police intervention.
Much more than glowsticks and booty shaking, Earthdance was a humanitarian event as well, requiring that half of all event proceeds go to a local charity. Being a strong humanitarian myself, the following video only enforced my resolve to go.
It was the ultimate call to the lazy activists of our generation. World peace was nearly at hand, and all it would require was a little partying on our part.
Intent on making my contribution to humanity, i began the difficult and extremely shady quest to find my tickets. The success of a rave depends on the organizer's ability to keep it a secret. The more people that know, the more likely an authority figure will be alerted and the operation shut down. Therefore, information is only passed on by word of mouth, usually from friends and people in the raver community.
On a tip from my friend, I was sent to a local jewelry shop. From there, I was sent into a back room where someone took down my name and provided me with my tickets. When I asked about the location, I was told he couldn't tell me anything. Instead, he gave me a hotline number to call two hours before the rave, with a message that gave more specific directions. Raves often use these hotlines to ensure that no one (including the police) can find out about the rave too early and have it shut down.
With my tickets in hand and a ridiculous glow in the dark cowboy hat on my head, I waited until sundown and called the hotline. The message gave directions to a location on the border of national park lands. Driving closer and closer, I could see the lights in the distance and feel the bass line pounding in my chest. I knew I had finally found my rave.... er, I mean "peace festival". And a festival it was. Crazy costumes,twirling glowsticks, and music loud enough to rattle your soul.
Drugs are an integral part of the rave scene as well, and the evidence was all around. Orange juice and pacifiers for ecstasy users, tabs of acid tucked into headbands. "Heads up man," said a kid who couldn't have been much older than 15, "The DJ in the back is selling Mollies for 30... I'm rolling so hard right now." Mollies are a particularly potent form of ecstasy that can also cause hallucinations.
I came to have fun but not that much fun, and drugs weren't my scene. After all, I was here on a humanitarian mission and the dealers definitely weren't going to be giving any proceeds to charity. I pressed on towards my target, the dance floor. There, I proceeded to move with as much rhythm as any Caucasian could muster.
Unfortunately, the festival wasn't without it's downsides. First, was the rag tag security team armed with shotguns who wandered the premise, hassling ravers and searching for contraband. Shotguns? At a peace festival? Not cool.
Second, the rave only ran a few hours before noise complaints from neighbors drew the attention of the sheriff's department. The music was cut and a drug addled army of ravers were instructed to get in their cars and go home. Obviously the sherrif's department realizes it's much safer to have people tripping out behind the wheels of cars than in a field dancing. Ridiculous.
As we headed en masse back to the parking lot, we lamented our rotten luck. "I don't get it" said Adam Westreich, an acquaintance and fellow dance fiend i met earlier in the night. "This was all for such a good cause, the money was suppose to go to help Tibetan refugees." Oh well refugees, we tried. Hope the rest of Earthdance had better luck.
Experience a rave firsthand at a similar event called "Innovation in the Sun"
or get a feel for what you missed with glowstick demos
You won't find any pre-movie advertisements asking you to turn off your phone or keep silent during the film. Not tonight anyway. That's because tonight is the Loft Theater's Friday Night Shorts competition, one of the Tucson venue's most creative and unique events.
The premise= anyone can bring in a film, ten minutes or less, and the Loft will screen it before a bloodthirsty (and let's face it, mildly drunk) audience of their peers. The film is run for three minutes uninterrupted. After that, things tend to get a bit crazy.
A red spotlight is lit, shining down on a large bronze gong just offstage. Standing next to it is host Max Cannon, who some people may know through his work for Comedy Central or his comic strip "Red Meat."
"The red light is the signal," said Jeff Yanc, the Loft program director. "If the audience hates it, it's their chance to scream and yell as loud as they can."
And yell they do... not to mention boo, curse, catcall, you name it. "We serve beer and wine, so the audience is expected to get a little rowdy during the show," said Yanc.
If the discontent of the crowd grows too great, Cannon smashes the gong with a mallet and the film is disqualified from competition. The few films left standing at the end are judged and the audience favorite receives a hundred dollars from the Tucson Film Office.
The best part of the competition isn't the audience interaction but the films themselves. From westerns to science fiction to claymation peas, these films probably aren't going be winning any Oscars. They are however, guaranteed to leap of the screen with an originality and an irreverently twisted sense of humor that, quite frankly, just wouldn't fly in any where else.
The films aren't rated or pre-screened beforehand, so you're never quite sure what you're going to get. "There's definitely been some questionable subject matter in the past but no one's gone too far overboard," said Yanc. "In between films we also have 'ringers' and funny clips like old exercise videos because we want to make this a fun event and keep people energized."
It's a winning formula and it happens the first Friday of every month, so come to the Loft and shout it out with an audience of students and the intoxicated. Just be sure to bring some attitude and a strong set of lungs.
Many people are already familiar with the work of Arizona born photographer Pedro E. Guerrero, they just don't know it yet. That was the reason Suzanne Johnson, President of the non profit organization Gnosis,Ltd. took it upon herself to capture Guerrero's life and work in a film titled "Pedro E Guerro: Portrait if an Image Maker."
If you've ever seen a picture of a Frank Lloyd Wright building, chances are it was a Guerrero Photo. According to the film, Guerrero got his start at 22 when, armed with only a camera and an art school portfolio, he approached the legendary Wright looking for work. Under Wright's supervision and guidance, Guerrero found not only a job but a launching pad to a brilliant career.
He became well known for the simplistic, direct manner in which he photographed buildings, letting them stand alone; pieces of art in their own right.
In addition to architectural photography, he worked to capture portraits of famous artists like Wright and the sculptor Calder in their creative environments. During the Vietnam war, Guerrero also became a politically active individual in his hometown, participating in anti-war protest and serving on a draft board. The film captures not only Guerrero's beautiful photography, but the humble personality and the joyful soul of the man behind the camera.
"Whoa man, check it out. See the barrels behind Rodrigo, that was my job, I put those there." Thanks to MTV's new commercials starring Dublin's incredibly skilled acoustic guitar duo Rodrigo Y Gabrielle, i get to hear that comment at least three times a day. Over the summer, my roommate worked as a production assistant for MTV and got to follow the pair around for a few days while they did their shoot... and yes, i am totally jealous.
My roommate has good reason to be stoked. According to their website, rodgab.com, they've topped the charts in Ireland, made appearances on talk shows for Letterman and Leno, and are, in general, poised to take the world by storm. Defying musical classification, the two blend classical and flamenco guitar sounds with rock and metal riffs that would give Brian May a run for his money. With their original songs and unique covers, the pair almost need to be seen to be believed. While Rodrigo plays a blistering lead guitar, Gabriella simultaneously strums out flamenco riffs and provides percussion by slapping the guitar front with her fingers. They may not be rock stars yet, but with MTV, my roommate, and the rest of the known world behind them, they're well on their way.
the idea of wandering into the oldtown barrios, the scorching desert, or even the back alleys of downtown sounded downright suicidal. 
