Blog Watch: Friday, May 4

Grammy-winning guitarist and songwriter Jack White has announced a surprise concert at Denver’s 500-capacity Bluebird Theater, and tickets are on sale this afternoon. Passes for the concert, with opener Acid Mothers Temple, are on sale at 1 p.m. today via bluebirdtheater.net. Prices were not listed, but a note at the bottom of the Bluebird Theater page mentions that $25 student tickets are available.

Interstate 70 is closed in both directions near Idaho Springs as crews work to remove loose and unstable rock from the interstate’s walls, state officials said. The interstate is closed between Exit 240 for Colorado 103 near Idaho Springs and Exit 248 for Beaver Brook and Floyd Hill, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. Traffic is being held for “rock scaling” — the process of removing loose and unstable rock from a slope or cliff face to reduce the risk of rockfalls — CDOT officials said. As of 10:30 a.m., traffic was experiencing up to 10-minute delays in the closure area.

Denver is unabashedly a burger town, even boasting its own annual Burger Battle. And it appears the writers at “Saturday Night Live” have noticed. The second episode of the venerable comedy show’s 50th season featured a sketch called the Mile High Burger Challenge. In it, several actors meet at a restaurant to solemnly discuss their dad’s dementia and how they should move forward with taking care of him. In the meantime, cast member Heidi Gardner unknowingly orders the Mile High Burger, a 95-ounce behemoth that comes with a 10-minute timer to eat the whole thing. “I ordered the Mile High burger, but I just thought it was an ode to Denver, like there’d be an egg on it,” Gardner says. She’s not about to accept the challenge — after all, dementia is no laughing matter — until she finds out she could win a trip for two to Hawaii.

Which facial tissue is best? What began as a makeup and cold cream remover has become the faithful companion to cold and allergy sufferers everywhere. Combining strength, absorbency and softness, facial tissue is now a must-have in homes, schools and offices. Not all brands of facial tissue are created equally, however. Some entry-level brands may not measure up to the performance standards set by recognizable names such as Kleenex or Puffs.

JERUSALEM — A year after Hamas’ fateful attack on southern Israel, the Middle East is embroiled in a war that shows no signs of ending and seems to be getting worse. Israel’s retaliatory offensive was initially centered on the Gaza Strip. But the focus has shifted in recent weeks to Lebanon, where airstrikes have given way to a fast-expanding ground incursion against Hezbollah militants who have fired rockets into Israel since the Gaza war began. Next in Israel’s crosshairs is archenemy Iran, which supports Hamas, Hezbollah and other anti-Israel militants in the region.

Check your lottery numbers — someone in Colorado is several million dollars richer this week. Related Articles Colorado News | Colorado man survives losing both legs in wood-chipper accident Colorado News | 75-year-old pedestrian killed in fatal hit-and-run crash near Boulder on U. S. 36 Colorado News | Jack White schedules surprise Denver show.