We first became aware of Seattle’s The Stranger almost twenty years ago, when we were attempting a somewhat similar, though much smaller, enterprise in Eugene. Here’s one reason they survived, and we didn’t.

That and Dan Savage, of course.

Sneak Preview of the Cover of The Stranger This Week, Created by Dan Savage and Aaron Huffman [Stranger Slog, via Daring Fireball]

Despite Rachel’s plea, we’re going to sit out the gun-control debate, because, well, this is America, and that question’s been settled for now. But every time something like this happens, one side always claims that the problem isn’t too many guns, but not enough.

Let’s put that claim to the test. One of the Fox-embraced “heroes” of Saturday’s shooting is Joe Zamudio, who “was in a nearby drug store when the shooting began, and he was armed.” Joe rushes out, booger hook on the bang switch, and helps take down Loughner.

Just one thing:

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Meanwhile on I-10, about three miles from the Tucson Safeway…

If It Can Happen Here, It Can Happen Anywhere [Box Turtle Bulletin, via Tom Tomorrow]

The Huffington Post linked to this informative UK Channel 4 interview with the surgeon who treated Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. I think it’s worth re-posting here to update the Stinque crowd on Giffords’ condition (good considering) and long-term prognosis (too soon to tell).

[ Flash video not available. ]

(VIA: Huffington Post)

So PepsiCo is running a contest for Super Bowl Doritos ads, and somebody submitted the above, and then Fox caught wind of it last week, and, well, you know the rest:

After Media Wave submitted the ad in early November, a number of Catholic groups, including one called America Needs Fatima, took issue with the ad, which the group believed mocks the Holy Eucharist. That group started an online petition to ask Pepsi to reject the ad.

We were actually going to run this early Saturday afternoon, but then we got, um, distracted.

PepsiCo Snafu Illustrates Dangers of Crowd Sourcing [Mashable]

[We interrupt Stinque’s ongoing coverage of collegiate Sport (at halftime, which is a natural interruption point, so there) for a story about Glenn Beck being Glenn Beck.  Apologies in advance.  Sport thread appears below.]

So Glenn Beck made a pledge today to denounce extremism “from the Left, the Right or middle.”  [Note, of course, that two-thirds of that set is NOT HIM.]  Included in the pledge is this specific plea:

I denounce violent threats and calls for the destruction of our system – regardless of their underlying ideology – whether they come from the Hutaree Militia or Frances Fox Piven.

Well, isn’t that a refreshing thought from a guy — wait.  Rewind that last little bit there:

or Frances Fox Piven.

Dude.  I haven’t heard about Frances Fox Piven until today.  What puts her in the same discussion as a violent militia group?  Or anyone more radicalized than, say, Garrison Keillor?  Follow me for all the horrid details, post-jump.

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