It Goes to The Weight, and not the Admissibility, of The Band – The Weight is Americana Rock’s Favorite Cover

“The Weight” off The Band‘s 1968 album, Music From Big Pink has become the favored cover tune for every flavor and sector of Americana rock. Something in the loping, star-spangled bounce of the tune gives voice, meter and harmony to subtle, reassuring myths of rural America and has found appeal, not just in the land …

Jefferson v. Cuccinelli – Does the Constitution really protect a right to “academic freedom”?

From Slate: “Last week the University of Virginia decided to fight a sweeping subpoena served upon the institution in late April. State Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli subpoenaed documents in connection with five grants awarded to Michael Mann—a former UVA climate-change scientist who now teaches at Penn State. Cuccinelli is using a state fraud statute to …

Oregon Vet Injured in Iraq Billed for Army Eqpt. Lost in Injury Skirmish – Government Docks Disability Payments

From Komonews.com: “Three days after he was shot, Pfleider received a Purple Heart. Almost two years later, he received a bill from the military for missing equipment. The sum of the bill, which includes interest, is $3,175. It itemizes a list of gear the military issued to Pfleider that did not come back with his …

Cry, the Beloved Country…

“High court rules suspect must invoke own silence right. The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a criminal suspect must explicitly invoke the right to remain silent during a police interrogation, a decision that dissenting liberal justices said turns the protections of a Miranda warning “upside down.’’ http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/06/02/high_court_rules_suspect_must_invoke_own_silence_right/

“The Weathered Underground” – A Thrilling, Vivid, “Choose Your Own Adventure-style” DVD and iPhone app.

My old friend and one of Pandomag.com‘s stellar photographers, Justin Renney, was involved in putting this amazing project together. He was Director of Photography, Music Director, filmed every scene, and is listed as an Associate Producer on the page called “The Team.” It’s an interactive movie, out now on DVD and available for a limited …

Unbiased Journalism: Not Now, Especially Not Then, Another Pipe Dream Unrealized

Confirmation Bias, Regional Elitism, and Narrative Seeking J-School Students Impede Quest for Unbiased Journalism… Is there such a thing as “unbiased journalism?” Should there be? Where is it found? by Foster Kedzie III First, we should distinguish between opinion journalism (even if its characterized as entertainment) and reporting. Opinion journalists are supposed to have opinions. …

This Grynch Drives a Volvo

A few things. Grynch‘s new tune is lovely, hook-laden and sweetly touching. Song is about a car and not remotely obscene, but uses connection word obscenities to denote generational authenticity. Be warned, if suchlike bothers you. AND, for those of you who don’t live in Seattle, this video shows exactly what Seattle looks and feels …

On Faith and Hope, by Gordon Jack Schultz

Having faith in a person, a spouse perhaps, doesn’t require any specific action from the one in whom you have faith. It is a matter of sheer trust. It is open-ended: My faith in Christine is based not on facts I know about her (though they certainly enter in), but on my relationship with her, my experience with her. Faith in her doesn’t require her to do something, as in “I have faith that she will win the race.” It just requires her to be her. Faith in a person is trusting the character of the person. And that comes from relationship–shared experience over time.

Greatest Cartoonist of All Time!

Many of you already know and love John X. Ambrosavage. In the 1990s, he was named “America’s Best Loved Cartoonist” and “An American Treasure” by persons who ought to know. Time has only sharpened his humor. He has built up a website loaded with years (decades) of furious hahas. East PortlandBlog is an ardent Ambro …