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).

It’s time for All Souls Procession Weekend

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25th annual All Souls Procession will be on Sunday, Nov. 9, starting at 4 p.m. to assemble north of the 6th Avenue underpass into downtown, at 6:30 p.m. proceed along Alameda Street to Congress Street, then under the I-10 to the San Agustin Mercado, 101 S. Avenida del Convento (for the finale).  About 20,000 people are expected at this event, one of Tucson’s largest celebrations, a Mexican tradition to remember loved ones who have passed on.

Map of the route below:

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The official poster for 25th All Souls this year was drawn by local Tucson artist Mel Dominguez, and this poster will also be on the All Souls Procession 2015 Calendar, available shortly for sale on their website, www.allsoulsprocession.org.  Pre and post  All Souls Procession activities are also listed on their website.

AllSouls25thposter

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Get unscrewed at 2nd Annual Unscrewed Theater’s fundraiser

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Get your advance tickets at www.unscrewedtheater.org. This Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed troupe opened their new theater on January 31, 2014 at 3244 E. Speedway Blvd. Tucson (across from the Loft Theater), (520) 861-2986 or 520-289-8076.  You can purchase tickets separately for each event, OR buy a full-day pass for only $65/person! All of the money goes … Read more

General Election 2014 results – Southern Arizona (updated)

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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

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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

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“Dear White People” film about racism in America

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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.

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

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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.

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