On paper, J.J. Abrams’ 2009 “Star Trek” is one of those movies that should have crashed and burned. A reboot of a beloved franchise with younger, lesser-known actors stepping into the shoes of an iconic cast of characters. The fact that Abrams went on record stating that he was never a huge “Star Trek” fan didn’t bode well either. Against all odds, though, Abrams not only produced a great “Star Trek” picture, but quite possibly the best “Star Trek” ever made. That’s right, even better than “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.”

When the new Phoenix Premium Outlets opened last week it was flooded with eager shoppers, but many of those shoppers were confused when they saw the taxes applied to their purchases.

I’m tired of reading Don Kennedy’s guest commentaries (“A nation divided,” AFN, March 3) where he rails against “socialism or communism, plus all of the misery which goes with collectivism.” I’m frankly unsure who he is speaking about but those three terms he bandies about are not at all similar and have widely divergent connotations. I’m not sure he fully understands the difference, or perhaps he just doesn’t care. Scare tactics.

Unable to get the plan through the Republican-controlled Legislature, a party activist is seeking a public vote on a measure that would undermine union political influence.

The tale of two Americas. We have the America which is comfortable with the collective government control of production through socialism or communism, plus all of the misery which goes with collectivism. On the other hand, we have the America which wants liberty for the individual to control the means of production and all of the benefits which derive from the spirit of the free man.

In Mike McClellan’s guest commentary in the AFN on Feb. 15 (“The inmates do indeed run Ariz.’s asylum”), he ridicules three state lawmakers for proposing legislation that would “require Arizona judges and law enforcement to act in an unconstitutional manner” because the federal government has “supremacy” over gun laws.

Joe Arpaio is the best sheriff ever in the history of Maricopa County! No, he’s the worst Maricopa County sheriff ever!

“Beautiful Creatures” is yet another addition to the unendurable genre of “Twilight” wannabes. The fact that “Twilight” could inspire so many shameless copycats in both the mediums of film and literature is a true testament to the moribund state of originality. Compared to the effortless “I Am Number Four” and the inexplicably laughable “Red Riding Hood,” “Beautiful Creatures” may not be the worst of the “Twilight” rip-offs. Heck, it’s actually a major step up from any of the five “Twilight” movies. But not even the occasional impressive set piece or clever twist can save “Beautiful Creatures” from its perceptible longing to be the next fantasy romance phenomenon.

House Speaker Andy Tobin is sidelining two anti-union measures rather than bringing them to the floor for a divisive -- and potentially losing -- vote.

So let’s look at Arizona’s reaction to the gun control controversy.

“Beautiful Creatures” is yet another addition to the unendurable genre of “Twilight” wannabes. The fact that “Twilight” could inspire so many shameless copycats in both the mediums of film and literature is a true testament to the moribund state of originality. Compared to the effortless “I Am Number Four” and the inexplicably laughable “Red Riding Hood,” “Beautiful Creatures” may not be the worst of the “Twilight” rip-offs. Heck, it’s actually a major step up from any of the five “Twilight” movies. But not even the occasional impressive set piece or clever twist can save “Beautiful Creatures” from its perceptible longing to be the next fantasy romance phenomenon.

‘One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. Which road do I take? She asked. Where do you want to go? was his response. I don’t know, Alice answered. Then, said the cat, it doesn’t matter.”

Saying students are getting only one side of the debate, a state senators wants to free teachers to tell students why they believe there is no such thing human-caused "global warming.''

WASHINGTON — Side by side, leading Democratic and Republican senators pledged Monday to propel far-reaching immigration legislation through the Senate by summer providing a possible path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people now in the U.S. illegally.

Of course only law enforcement and military should be allowed the possession of assault rifles. And, of course, alcohol should never be served to drivers. Never. And, illegal drugs should be kept away from everyone. Period. Anything that kills should be hidden from the mentally ill, the angry, the bullies, the too-young-to-know-any-better.

Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) has once again been recognized by G.I. Jobs magazine as being a top military-friendly employer. Ranked 40th on the magazine’s annual “Top 100 Military-Friendly Employers” list, CCA is recognized as a company that exceedingly embraces America’s military veterans, National Guard and Reserve members as employees.

‘Lincoln’

We’re battle worn. The past two years of campaigns were no less hostile than Hurricane Sandy. Election pundits tell us we’re a nation divided and stuck in this place. All the while, the critical mass of the big government crowd has taken control. We’ve been told this day would come, and it has.

You know the education system is broken when...

My reason for writing is that if President Barack Obama is not re-elected he would be disappointed, but overall he and his family would be OK. Now the rest of us, millions of us that depend on the president to champion the causes of the middle class, the small business man, the elderly, education, etc., would be at risk to be diminished.

This is in response to the Oct. 12 Ahwatukee Foothills News letter to the editor from Moira Turner (“McComish political attack mailer in bad taste”).

I’d like to commend Mike McClellan (“We’ll believe anything that conforms to our world view, contrary to the facts,” AFN, Sept. 5) on an extraordinary well-written commentary in defense of the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).

Gov. Richard Lamm of Colorado gave a speech in 2004, titled “I have a plan to destroy America.” In order to give you some of his ideas, it’s necessary to paraphrase his speech to give you the substance of his words.

Gov. Richard Lamm of Colorado gave a speech in 2004, titled “I have a plan to destroy America.” In order to give you some of his ideas, it’s necessary to paraphrase his speech to give you the substance of his words.

Arizonans will get a chance to decide if they want to keep state sales taxes as high as they are now.