Carolyn Classen

Carolyn Sugiyama Classen, a life long Democrat, was born & raised in the State of Hawaii, was a Legislative Aide for U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye on Capitol Hill, and practiced law for a while. In Tucson she worked as a tribal staff attorney for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and later was the Interim Executive Director of the now defunct Domestic Violence Commission. In 2008 she became a “My Tucson” guest columnist for the Tucson Citizen newspaper, then continued blogging for Tucsoncitizen.com for over four and a half years. Her blogsite was entitled “Carolyn’s Community” about community events and some political news, until Gannett Publishing shut down the site on January 31, 2014. She started with Blog for Arizona on Feb. 11, 2014. Part time she sat as a Hearing Officer in Pima County Consolidated Justice Courts Small Claims Division since April, 2005 for 15 years. She is married to University of Arizona Distinguished Professor Albrecht Classen, a native of Germany. They have one son, who lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and daughter. She is also the Editor of the Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition website, www.southernazjapan.org (since Jan. 2013).

General Election 2014 results – Southern Arizona (updated)

by

General election returns for Arizona posted at Sec. of State’s website: http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AZ/53314/144530/Web01/en/summary.html.  Check that site for updates.  Latest news posted below for selected races in Southern Arizona.  I will now only continue to update for the close races: CD 2,  State House races in LD 9 & 10, TUSD race.

Congressional District 1

Ann Kirkpatrick (D), incumbent   79,588

Andy Tobin (R)  70,219

CD 2  too close to call

Ron Barber (D), incumbent 92,810

Martha McSally (R) 94,103

CD 3

Raul Grijalva (D) , incumbent  45,053

Gabriela Saucedo Mercer (R) 36,816

Legislative District 2 Senate (1 seat)

Andrea Dalessandro (D), incumbent 18947

Daniel Estella (R) 15606

LD 3 Senate

Olivia Cajero Bedford (D), incumbent 20,559

LD 9 Senate

Steve Farley (D), incumbent 36,430

LD 10 Senate

David Bradley (D), incumbent 26830

Mark Morrison (R) 25,111

LD 11 Senate

Jo Holt (D) 19,904

Steve Smith (R)  28,424

LD 14 Senate

Gail Griffin (R), incumbent 25,551

——-

And for the AZ House seats (2 elected  in each legislative district):

LD 2 House 

John Chris Ackerley (R)  16,400

Demion Clinco (D), incumbent 14,420

Rosanna Gabaldon (D), incumbent 17,544

LD 3 House

Sally Ann Gonzales (D), incumbent 17,453

Macario Saldate (D), incumbent 15,429

LD 9 House – too close to call

Randy Friese (D) 27,766

Ethan Orr (R), incumbent  27,774

Victoria Steele (D), incumbent 28,025

LD 10 House – might be too close to call for 2nd seat

Todd Clodfelter (R) 25,398

Stefanie Mach (D), incumbent 25,897

Bruce Wheeler (D), incumbent 27,338

William Wildish (R) 21,468

LD 11 House

Mark Finchem (R) 27,319

Holly Lyon (D) 20,427

Vince Leach (R) 25,490

LD 14 House

James Burton (D) 10,878

David Gowan (R), incumbent 19,590

David Stevens (R), incumbent  19,519

Read more

“Dear White People” film about racism in America

by

Dearwhitepeople2

 

Winner of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival’s Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent, Dear White People is a sly, provocative and often laugh-out-loud funny satire of race relations in the age of Obama.

At prestigious Winchester University, biracial student Samantha White begins her radio show, “Dear White People, the amount of black friends required not to seem racist has just been raised to two. Sorry, your weed man, Tyrone, doesn’t count.” Sam becomes president of the all-black residential hall Parker/Armstrong, whose existence is facing extinction in the name of diversification. TV reality show Black Face/White Place smells gold in Sam’s story and decides to follow it, rejecting the proposal of fellow black student Coco Conners, who pitched her show Doing Time at an Ivy League. The clamor over Sam’s rise also becomes a career-defining opportunity for black misfit Lionel Higgins when he is asked to join the school’s all-white newspaper staff to cover the controversy, even though he secretly knows little about black culture. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, writer/director Justin Simien makes an auspicious debut with Dear White People, a witty and whip-smart examination of black militancy, post-racial fantasies and the commodification of blackness. Nothing is black and white in this playful portrait of race in contemporary America. (Dir. by Justin Simien, 2014, USA, 108 mins., Rated R)

Coming to the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway on November 7, 2014.

Read more

“Why is Germany Doing So Well Today”? lecture on Nov. 7 for UA Homecoming

by
UA Distinguished Professor Albrecht Classen
UA Distinguished Professor Albrecht Classen

From the Past to the Future: Why is Germany Doing So Well Today?

Many countries have struggled to survive the economic crisis in recent years, but Germany has fared far better than most. Based on world records of economic success since 1949, Germany is booming ahead. There are many reasons for this phenomenon including basic cultural and economic conditions in Germany’s long history since the Middle Ages. In fact, the past has helped to shape future developments, with one eye backwards, and the other eye turned forward. Learn how Germany’s past perspectives can help us understand modern conditions. Presented by Dr. Albrecht Classen, University Distinguished Professor of German Studies.

Lecture will be on Nov. 7,  at 2 p.m. in the Kiva Room on the first floor of the UA Student Memorial Union, NE side of the building, 1303 E. University Blvd.

Read more

Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos at Raices Taller

by

JOIN US TONIGHT FOR THE OPENING CELEBRATION OF DIA DE LOS MUERTOS – 2014 A BEAUTIFUL AND SINCERE EVENT CELEBRATING DIA DE LOS MUERTOS IN THE TRADITION OF THE HISPANIC SOUTHWEST ALTARS AND OFRENDAS BY COMMUNITY GROUPS AND INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AS WELL AS PAINTINGS, SCULPTURE, PHOTOGRAPHY AND MIXED MEDIA WORK. EVENT STARTS AT 6:00 PM … Read more

Kilauea lava flow in Hawaii has stalled (for now)

by

lavaflowstalled

A week ago the active Kilauea lava flow from the Pu’u O’o vent in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park  crossed over a county road (Apa’a Street) and headed onto private property. It destroyed several fence lines, a Buddhist cemetery, some agricultural sheds and a pile of abandoned automobile tires.  This particular flow started up on 6/27/14 heading in the northeast direction, and is about 13 miles from Pu’u O’o.

It is now a few hundred feet in front of the first residence in its path, owned by Alfred Lee, a bulldozer contractor.  Mr. Lee apparently has built up a berm (dirt/gravel wall, with a sunken area) on the sides of his property, and in front of the lava flow, up to 12 feet high to protect his property.  Read more about that controversial berm in the local Big Island newspaper Hawaii Tribune-Herald.  He was recently photographed shooting down the front of the flow with water from a hose (which in the past has been done by Hawaii County firefighters to attempt to slow down the slow-moving lava).

The lava flow has now stalled in the front, but is experiencing breakouts in the rear, mauka (moutainside) areas.  Above is the latest 10/31/14 USGS map of the flow, with the newer areas marked in bright red.

Read more