Strangeness from Scottsdale

Two notes from Scottsdale, Arizona:

Through MySpace I got in touch with one of my best friends growing up and he happens to live in Scottsdale. I had forgotten I even had a MySpace account until I got the email that he’d sent me a MySpace message.

Fantastic. I’d mention him by name but people freak out when I do that unexpectedly (Hi Sherrie Dion!).

Anyway, great to hear from you, visit the blog often. As soon as the new website material comes up, I’ll pimp your band like a … well, like someone who pimps something really hard.

Second, I ran across this story on MSNBC online:

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - The name of a new restaurant in Scottsdale is stirring up trouble. The Las Vegas-based Pink Taco Mexican Restaurant is scheduled to open its second location in downtown Scottsdale in June.

Nearly half a dozen people in the upscale city recently expressed their objection to the name, claiming it's a derogatory slang term for a portion of the female anatomy.
In late April, the city received four e-mails, three of which bore no names, objecting to the restaurant's name.

One of those e-mails stated: "The City of Scottsdale has a very fine reputation around the world. Let's keep the standards high. Let's let what plays in Vegas stay in Vegas."

Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross has said she is offended by the name and went so far as to ask the owner to change it, although he refused.

Restaurant spokeswoman Lisa Perez said the company's name comes from one of its menu items.

Perez said the company has not received any complaints or objections about its name.

The original Pink Taco is inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

The Scottsdale City Council on Monday recommended that the restaurant get a liquor license.

The application was sent to the state liquor board, which has the final say.

Maybe it’s because Alaska prides itself on the establishment
“Skinny Dick’s Halfway Inn,”

but I think this is a big bunch of wasted newsprint.

And “nearly half a dozen?” If “nearly half a dozen people” makes up much of the mayor’s core constituency then she’s got worse problems than a saucily named Mexican restaurant.

Jesus (in this case pronounced “hay-suess”) wept.
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Oh and if you happen to be driving through Tempe and your car starts making strange noises, go by Greaser’s Auto.
Tell ‘em The Panic Blog sent ya.