From WSJ Online: “Sometimes the outcome of a game seems so improbable that it defies belief—or easy explanation. Take Super Bowl III (1969), in which the upstart New York Jets of the AFL beat the NFL’s seemingly unstoppable Baltimore Colts. To explain the Jets’ victory there was, among much else, the abysmal quarterbacking of the …
From The Atlantic: “THE MOST UNSUNG birthday in American business and technological history this year may be the 50th anniversary of the Xerox 914 photocopier. Although it was introduced at New York’s Sherry-Netherland Hotel on September 16, 1959, commercial models were not available until March 1960. The first machine, delivered to a Pennsylvania metal-fastener maker, …
From The World, Pato Fu, a Brazilian band, performing Paul McCartney’s 1973 tune “Live and Let Die” on toy instruments with adorable performing children:
There’s nothing quite so heartwarming as the companionship of a nice, friendly pug. Thus, without further ado, here’s an internet sensation from last summer, a pug pushing a stroller. Jenny the Pug is not just a Portland pug, but she’s an East Portland pug, and thus of note to this East Portland Blog. Clips of …
“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 …
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 …
Community Channel can still be amusing.
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 …
“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/
An oldie but a goodie:
From “Jazz on a Summer’s Day,” filmed at Newport Jazz Festival, 1958. Lovely clip. It’s the hat and the crowd that make it special. Here’s her version of “My Funny Valentine” from around the same time. According to John Siscoe, “Ah, the forever lovely Anita O’Day. The hat, the dress, the heels, and holy mackerel, …
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 …
Disarming gospel standard “There’s a Sweet Sweet Spirit in This Place” has been loved and covered by many, including Elvis Presley, who included it in his shows. There are vibrant, life-restoring dimensions and layers to the song which make the listener feel as if the author truly knew the Creator. Written by Doris Akers, the …
NRBQ was one of the best, perhaps the best, touring act of the late 20th Century. This cover of Elvis’ “Too Much” is a historical record of live rock at it’s best, an expansive tapestry of precise cacophony. And, according to NRBQ.com, they’re still touring.
This little Youtube clip is a national treasure. Click on the photo above or view here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1__zadGXR3A
Here’s a compelling, unusually upbeat, noir flick from 1961 which can be streamed in its entirety on Hulu.com:
Thanks to Mark Erickson for this:
My UW friend Lou Trez and his band, Quickie, released this song on April 11, 2010 and since then it’s been viewed 120,000 times. Now the video is drawing attention in China, where it is discussed in this Chinese language news report. Only in America, only in Seattle…
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. …
The latest from Seattle‘s Unnatural Helpers is a video expressive of club rock’s gut level punch and fevered intensity, featuring anger, barbecue and vomiting (in a good way). To go straight to the vomiting, click here:
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 …
A few points to not talk about, for once 
It seems so many are working their little minds so hard in fruitless avenues, so it should be noted that: 1. The government will not be getting “smaller” – no matter what you define “smaller” as. Why? For one thing, the country is getting bigger, …
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.
by Thomas Paine Retiring Indiana Senator Evan Bayh is right on. The original concept of the public servant is dead. All we are left with is career politicians whose only ambition is to either hold their office forever or seek higher ones. There is no difference between Republicans and Democrats. In addition to voting out …
By Foster Kedzie III What is behind the Chinese government’s ideology that it needs to repress religion and cultural diversity? This question came up in the context of the supression of Tibet and the objections raised by the Chinese government when world leaders meet with the Dalai Lama. With regard to the “religion” issue, it …
By Steve Stav China is urging the US to cancel a meeting between Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama. This has gotten me thinking. If we’d only paid attention to MacArthur and dropped a bomb or two on these bastards, they wouldn’t be beatin’ up monks, imprisoning dissenters and executing retarded people today. But then …