The folks at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory put together a snappy video tribute to the Phoenix Mars lander, which was the subject of this week's feature story.

I read that a Wal-Mart employee died on Black Friday when a frenzied stampede of customers broke down a door in New York (Long Island, no less). We all have our Wal-Mart jokes but this is not funny. What are people, fucking nuts?

On a very different note, a friend of mine was in a five-car pile up hit-and-run accident in midtown where fortunately no one sustained serious injuries except for her two greyhounds.  

The Tucson Citizen covered the story today and captured Lizzie Mead's positive attitude even during a time of crisis and a $14,000 vet bill.

Mysterious Mezcal

On December 2, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Janos welcomes back his former sommelier, Richard Betts, for a very special tasting event. Betts, who began his career with Janos in 1998, has since moved on to become a Master Sommelier and an accomplished wine maker. Under the label Betts & Scholl, Betts created some of the highest-ranked wines in the world and now has turned his talented palate to the world of Mezcal.

Mezcal, a product similar to tequila is produced by smoking and distilling the agave plant. Betts aims to open eyes with his new product and to prove that the quality of Mezcal can be equal to some of the finest tequilas made. The tasting includes special appetizers created by Janos. Reservations are required; 615-6100. The cost is $30/person (not including tax and gratuity).

Spice Market

From now through Dec. 5, Flavorbank's signature spice will be $5 (regularly $10-$12). That's a deal and a great way to support a local business. Flavorbank is located at 6372 E. Broadway Blvd in the El Mercado Shopping Center. The store is open Monday thru Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.; 747-0283.

Locals Only

On the last Sunday of most months, Feast has a wine tasting event. This Sunday's event features all locally made wines from SE Arizona's wine country. Think Kent Callaghan, Todd Bostock, Tim Meuller and Chris Hamilton from Callaghan, Dos Cabezas, Canelo Hills and RanchoRossa, repectively. There’ll be more wine than usual so these guys can strut their Arizona stuff, and consequently, instead of the mini-dinner style this will be Feasty cocktail-party-style snacks. Save your spot by calling 326-9363.

My friend Leighton is a Hives freak and put this up on his Facebook page.

I like it and think it has great potential to bridge the divisions we have growing in our lovely town, county and state. This could be the song that brings Sen. Aboud together with Capt. Al. This could be the song that brings together Chuck Huckelberry and Bill Risner. This could be the song that makes water-hungry developers admit they are wrong and that Councilwoman Regina Romero is right. Endless possibilities. So much listening to do. Get busy.

If you want to send the tune to any of these folks, you can download if for free from Nov. 28 through 30.

Happy Thanksgiving!

In this issue of the Weekly, we give thanks for the Phoenix Mars Lander, Blitzen Trapper, tweeting on Twitter, and election databases, among many other things. Feel free to comment on the issue here ... and have a festive Thanksgiving!

I really just don't know whether to find this appalling or charming.

Now here's one we didn't see coming: Politico is reporting that Barack Obama may be considering Congressman Raul Grijalva for secretary of the Interior Department:

Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) may be emerging as a top contender to be Barack Obama’s secretary of the interior, according to sources close to the transition.

The Interior Department — which oversees federal lands, national parks and endangered species — has traditionally been headed by a Westerner.

Grijalva recently lambasted the administration for poor treatment of national parks and opposed President George W. Bush’s recent decision to allow coal mining in Arizona. The congressman also has introduced several pieces of legislation to restore and protect federal lands. And he’s supported global warming legislation and funding for renewable energy.

The Interior Department is expected to play a leading role in greenhouse gas regulation next year, an issue that some environmental groups say he could be instrumental in advancing.

On page 48 in our Nov. 20 issue in Soundbites, we report that The Kate Becker Project will celebrate the release of its debut CD with a release party on Friday, Nov. 21 at The Hut. This show will be at Plush on Nov. 21 with Vampyros Bonobos opening and Tom Walbank closing out the show. 

The correct performers on Nov. 21 at The Hut are No F&*%ing Bueno and Dirty Me. We apologize for the error.

This week's Skinny discusses many of the rumors floating around regarding local political possibilities come 2010. One name oft-discussed in these rumors: Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Well, Arizonans who breathed a sigh of relief earlier this week--upon learning that the Napster apparently wasn't President-elect Barack Obama's choice for AG--have resumed butt-puckering: Media sources are reporting that Obama has tapped Napolitano as his Homeland Security head.

Gov. Jan Brewer just became a likelihood, not a possibility. *Gulp.*

UPDATE: Brewer just sent out this statement:

"Within the past 12 hours there has been a tremendous amount of media speculation concerning Governor Napolitano's potential appointment as President Elect Obama's next Secretary of Homeland Security. At this time I have not heard from the Governor and am focusing on my job of certifying our State's voting results. Until such time that I hear from the Governor, I will have no further comment."

I repeat: *Gulp.*

Story Corps, a national oral history project, is coming to downtown and giving us Tucsonans a chance to interview each other. The group will be in Tucson with its MobileBooth from Dec. 1 through Jan. 18, 2009. Select interviews will be broadcast on KUAZ and NPR. They are planning to record 140 stories, half of which are reserved for nonprofits serving underrepresented communities. Public reservations will be accepted (anyone can reserve a spot for a suggested donation of $25) starting Nov 20. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD and is preserved at the Library of Congress. For more info on Story Corps, get to www.storycorps.net.