Opinion

Thorns & Flowers

A FLOWER to, er, um ... oh yes, we remember - to the Austrian researchers who discovered that caffeine makes people more alert by perking up part of the brain involved in short-term memory. Using advanced brain imaging technology, they discovered what coffee drinkers have known for decades - that coffee helps its drinkers focus attention on the tasks at hand. That's good news for java lovers. Now if we can just remember where we put our coffee cup. A FLOWER to the Transportation Security Administration for updating security measures and airline passenger screening procedures. The changes are designed to disrupt the now-familiar security screening routine. Federal officials are concerned that would-be terrorists have studied the current system and devised methods to circumvent it, according to an article in Thursday's Star. The changes' goal will be to make the screening system less predictable with a new type of random search and a revision of the pat-down process. The changes go into effect Dec. 20, just in time for the peak holiday travel. No one likes the hassle of the security check, but all recognize its necessity, especially if the new procedures enhance airport security. A THORN to the news that Prime School of Music, 3434 E. Broadway, will be closing at the end of the year. Why are the doors closing? Money. The school had a goal of catering to "underserved youth," but it just didn't generate enough cash from donations and fund-raising efforts to keep its doors open, the Star reported Thursday. The Prime School was founded in 2001 and serves about 350 students a year in vocal and instrumental programs. It teamed up with the Arizona Jazz Academy this year and expanded some of its offerings. Prime School of Music's closing hits a sour note, but the folks involved plan to offer scholarships for students to enroll in existing music programs. That should keep some students singing and playing a happy tune. A FLOWER to one of our favorite Tucson holiday traditions, Borderlands Theater's "A Tucson Pastorela." One of the reasons it is so sublime is that it uses rhyme all the time. It's the 10th year that Borderlands has presented the traditional Nativity story with characters and story lines customized for our community, which means plenty of local references and political overtones. It would have been easy to lower the curtain this year, because Albert Soto, who played the role of Lucifer for the past nine years, died Saturday after suffering a massive stroke on Thanksgiving Day. The show will go on: Richard Ragsdale will take over the role, and this year's performances will be dedicated to Soto's memory. "A Tucson Pastorela" previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday; the opening is at 7:30 p.m. next Friday with performances continuing through Dec. 18 at the Leo Rich Theatre, in the Tucson Convention Center complex. Call 882-7406 for information. - A.B.