SPIES ARE PEOPLE, TOO: My, my, the times they are a-changin'. If we didn't know for certain the following story came from Reuters news service, we would've been sure it was from The Onion (which also has a self-named website, for stalwarts of satire and cynicism): CIA Unveils Kids' Site WASHINGTON (Reuters)--The Central Intelligence Agency has unveiled a World Wide Web site aimed at introducing the spy game to the kindergarten set. The CIA's "Home Page for Kids" at www.odci.gov/cia/ciakids, features geography quizzes, interactive disguise games and thumbnail sketches of cloak-and-dagger figures dating back to the Revolutionary War. It also showcases "Who We Are and What We Do," a very basic primer on intelligence-gathering and analysis. A spokeswoman said the agency is trying to encourage kids to use computers and explore geography as well as attempting to put "a human face on the people who work there." INSIDER INFORMATION: Our first introduction to The Insiders' Guide to Tucson was a press release with the bold headline, "Experience Tuscon's (sic) Charm with Help from Insiders." Gee, imagine our excitement. Then the book arrived, and we were impressed with its comprehensive listings, which cover the expected range of accommodations, campgrounds, RV parks, golf courses, shopping outlets, and restaurants, as well as the unexpected: chapters on education and childcare, healthcare, retirement housing and resources, and a guide to local media and statewide arts organizations. It has some nice touches, like the identification and description of area neighborhoods, our sometimes-bizarre street schemes (see "A Road by Any Other Name," page 22), a monthly breakdown of local festivals and events, and civic and historic trivia ("Tucson is one of only 14 cities in the United States with a full complement of performing arts," they write.) Only 14? The 300-plus pages of this helpful guide seem to borrow substantially (and without acknowledgment) from recent Tucson Weekly publications and inserts, which we've offered to the public over the years free of charge--but who's quibbling? Now you can have it all, in one bound book, for under $20. Just like our fair city itself, the Insiders' Guide contains a few laughable anomalies, like a gray-scaled snapshot that looks more like San Francisco than Tucson, with the caption, "Nothing can compare to a desert sunset." And on the back cover, we learned that one of the authors, D.A. Barber, is a Tucson Weekly contributor. Turns out he wrote one story for us, back in April 1997. Considering we were impressive enough to be mentioned in his bio there on the back cover, we were somewhat amused at our lackluster description in the media section, in which our only outstanding feature is that we "even have a section supporting local book authors." Ah, well. What they lack in diplomacy, they make up for with...something. Perhaps bad spelling. You can meet the smiling, sun-tanned authors, David Barber and Chris Howell, at a signing and discussion from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at The Book Mark, 5001 E. Speedway. Call 881-6350 for more information. FILM FUTURES: Say what you will about Hollywood's sordid reputation, the behind-the-scenes truth is that film has afforded Tucson a relatively clean stream of industry over the years. It's a niche we should capture and exploit like the Next Big Thing, and we hope this weekend's discussion with Shelli Hall, Motion Picture Coordinator with the Tucson Department of Economic Development, is plotting to do just that. She presents The Future of Films in Tucson from 10 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday, May 2, at the Clarion Hotel, 102 N. Alvernon Way. Cost is $10 for AFTRA/SAG members, $20 for non-members. Call George Yonan 795-6154 for reservations and information.

Home | Currents | City Week | Music | Review | Books | Cinema | Back Page | Archives

		© 1995-97 Tucson Weekly . Info Booth