Over the weekend, Orange County's own nationally syndicated yack-mouth Hugh Hewitt announced what everyone who follows the fool already knew: He'll be voting for Mitt Romney in California's Republican primary. Even crazier, Baby Hughie spouted off this gem:

We need another Reagan. I think that is Romney.

Where to begin...instead, let's leave it at this: ever since the publication of his Romney hagiography this past March, Hewitt has insisted his mind wasn't made up on the Republican presidential candidate he'd support. BULLSHIT. Anyone who bothers to read and listen to Hughie knew he'd come around to publicly kiss Romney's ass--but a full-blown snowball with that Reagan reference? Next time, spare us months of false indecisiveness, Hughie, and just spill your junk pronto.

So my weekly "Didja do anything cool I can throw into that Monday morning post?" note to the OCW staff was meet with *crickets* and Zzzzs. Everyone's in holiday hibernation mode and your regular "What You Missed" programming will resume next week.

What I hope you didn't miss was this blog entry from last Friday, in which R. Scott Moxley challenged Sheriff Mike Carona to a duel. OK, not quite, but Mox did indicate that His Indictedness was chickenshit for not playing a couple of tapes that will -supposedly- prove his innocence.

To further stress the sentiment, Moxley taped a couple of papers to Weekly Headquarters windows:

The fine folks in our production department inform us that a large sheriff's deptartment helicopter was not pleased, aiming its nose at Mox's paperwork and making a noise so loud we heard it at the opposite end of the building (where we assure you we were up to no good).

We tried to convince Jay From Production to don a chicken suit and stand on the roof for the occasion, but he refused, wondering aloud if such 'copters were armed with missiles. Instead, he drew us a lovely Carona chicken icon with a badge and boots, which the prod. folks gaily pasted next to the rest of the statement. (My camera died just as I lifted it to capture the fowl, but hopefully someone will snap it and we can paste it here later. Pssst. . .Rich?)

Happy last day of the year, folks! No "To Do Tonight" post today, as the lovely Rachel Leeson is off on a much deserved vacation. But do check out Erin DeWitt's compilation of New Year's Eve posters if you don't have plans.

And before I forget, a very Happy Birthday to our gorgeous and talented Ms. Amanda Parsons.

Earlier today, we wrote about the Renaissance Blob, the strange drawing of boundaries in SanTana's Renaissance redevelopment plan that weaved around properties operated by the families of Mayor Miguel Pulido and councilmember Vince Sarmiento. In a comment, Liberal OC blogger/SanTana planning commissioner Sean Mill wrote he was told by city staffers "that the reason that those properties were left out was so that Vince and Miguel would be able to vote on the plan. If they were included they would have to recuse themselves."

Pulido didn't always have such concerns.

Today, a chingo of SanTana residents met at State Senator Lou Correa's office to discuss the Renaissance Specific Plan, which seeks to transform the city's downtown in a good (according to proponents) or gentrifying-Mexicans-outta-there (says opponents) way. I'm sure the other SanTana blogs--specifically Sean Mill at The Liberal OC and the Orange Juice! gang--will have something to say, but here's something for everyone to ponder in the meanwhile: what's with the weird blob in the bottom middle of the proposed area as shown in this included map?

Sometimes you get way more good quotes than you can use in a story, and such was the case with my year in horror piece in today's issue. Here in cyberspace, we have a lot more room, so enjoy these bonus interviews.

TOBIN BELL, star of the SAW movies

On the violence in this year's Oscar-contending movies
The envelope has been pushed, and they're including horror elements in mainstream films.

on his own reaction to gore in movies
I did watch some of HOSTEL 2, and I do mean some. I didn't make it to the end.

on his favorite recent horror movie
THE DESCENT -- what I liked about it was the fact that they developed characters and relationships for the first 40 minutes of the film. I thought they created real claustrophobia and real caring about the characters.

on his newfound fame as John "Jigsaw" Kramer
I understand now the difference between the average moviegoer and horror fans -- horror fans are very passionate. I think you can accomplish the same thing in horror that you can accomplish in any other genre, whatever it might be...you just have to be determined to write a very smart script

What’s better than a sweet pink Nanette Lepore dress at nearly half off? Not a whole lot if you ask me. This whole Santa-Ana-makeover-thing to boost the city’s image has brought in a lot of spiffy new spots; notably brand new boutique Hannah Bean right down the street from the Weekly office.

The first floor in a 3-story artist loft, Hannah Bean is a bright and airy shop with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and BCBG hanging on the walls. You can also find labels like Rebecca Taylor, Theory, Ella Moss and LaRok. Co-owners and friends Christina Harrison (pictured) and Nicole Dale opened the femininely decadent boutique in September 07. They’re currently having a spazm-inducing sale through the end of January: the entire store is 40% off.

Hannah Bean is located at 111 City Place Drive, Santa Ana, (714)835-7371, www.hannahbean.com

NEW YEAR’S BUBBLY TASTING, 4pm
Try extremely affordable sparklers from all over the world that will keep you raising your glass toast after toast after toast....
Vin de Pays, 5103 Richfield Rd., Yorba Linda

HOLIDAY LIGHTS FESTIVAL, 5:30pm
The Zoo entrance and farm area will be transformed into a winter wonderland, with lighted displays, enchanting animals, seasonal music, arts and crafts tables, train rides, and, of course, storytelling.
Santa Ana Zoo, 1801 E. Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana

SWING DANCE LESSONS, 7:45pm
It doesn’t matter whether you know how to swing or you don’t.
The Neighborhood Cup, 1 Journey, Aliso Viejo, (949) 716-5100

SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS, 8pm
You have until the 30th to catch this show.
The Maverick Theater, 110 E. Walnut Ave., Fullerton

FUTURE DAYS, 9pm
DJ Eyad spins a mix of Rock to Indie Classics until 1am.
Memphis at the Santora, 201 N. Broadway, Santa Ana

It's Friday, so head to the Long Beach Museum of Art!

Friend: i watched the Helvetica documentary last night
Friend: RUN DMC is HELVETICA
Friend: that's why arial black was so close to it
Friend: because arial is the helvetica knockoff
Friend: and then someone was asking me about the jeep logo too
Me: NURDSPEEK.
Friend: and it took me forever to come up with a suitable substitute
Friend: HELVETICA!
Friend: AND i bought the $75 limited edition box set of the dvd
Friend: and i bought two helvetica t-shirts last night
Friend: http://www.districtlines.com/design/1821/helveticapparel
Friend: http://www.districtlines.com/design/1819/helveticapparel
Me: that first one's pretty nerdy.
Friend: i like pangrams, lol.

Remember Rebecca Schoenkopf? The Weekly's beloved, wildly popular Commie Girl? Whose column skewered the rich, mega-rich, and other idiots? Who unceremoniously bid our paper adieu in February--and who was unceremoniously booted out of the Weekly offices afterward?

You can always read her oeuvre on this website--or, better yet, buy her first book this summer. Titled Commie Girl in the OC and published by the chingón publisher of radical tomes Verso, Rebecca's book seems to be a collection of her greatest hits at the Weekly, from columns to features and other goodies. We say "seems to be" only because pages in the back of the uncorrected galley her publicist sent us promises more to come.

Congrats, Rebecca (and dig the Mike Davis love!), but just one quibble: Por favor, tweak your cover. The closest Orange County comes to a skyline like that is maybe the South Coast Metro area--but even then, it's all splayed out in accordance to old man Segerstrom's old farm and not so neat 'n' prim.

Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona--indicted by federal prosecutors for public corruption--claims that surreptitious wires worn by co-conspirator Don Haidl, a former assistant sheriff, prove his innocence.

Indeed, the sheriff's lawyer says that Carona “is so anxious to fight these charges that we have to hold him back.”

If this is true and not just shameless spin, I challenge Carona to do something in his power: play the contents of the tapes in their entirety for the public now.

Show us that FBI agents are liars, as you claim. Show us that you didn't try to get Haidl to perjure himself about bribes you took for years. Show the Orange County Republican Party that your character is pure. Show the Orange County Sheriff's Department that I've been wrong about you all these years.

Or, as I suspect, are you afraid--no, terrified--of what those tapes reveal?

We're waiting. . . .

P.S. We're familiar with your PR playbook, sheriff. Playing select portions of the tapes for a friendly OC Register reporter/columnist won't meet the challenge.

-- R. Scott Moxley / OC Weekly