Friday, August 29, 2008

The Naval Aviator and the Hockey Mom!





The Republican Ticket, Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin

Senator John McCain thought outside the Washington DC Box and introduced to the nation in Dayton, Ohio before a raucous crowd, that included our son, the next Vice President of the United States Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

In a line that will be long remembered she told the nation "Hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America,'' Palin said, referring to the votes Clinton won. ``We can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all.''

On John McCain she said: "Profiles in courage: They can be hard to come by these days. You know, so often we just find them in books. But next week when we nominate John McCain for president, we’re putting one on the ballot."


Click on the title for link to a video of the announcement. In watching her speech this morning I think John McCain picked someone who will be a new star in the Republican and Conservative movement. She didn't have the "deer in the headlight" look and appeared confident and at ease on the "Big Stage"of a national campaign. I liked her a lot! She has 5 kids one of which is in the Army headed to Iraq and chose to not abort another child who has downs syndrome. Did history just give us a new younger more personable Margaret Thatcher from the American frontier?

The following is the text of Governor Palin's speech today in Dayton, Ohio:

ALASKA GOV. SARAH PALIN: Thank you so much.

And I thank you, Senator McCain and Mrs. McCain, for the confidence that you have placed in me. Senator, I am honored to be chosen as your running mate. I will be honored to serve next to the next president of the United States.

I know that when Senator McCain gave me this opportunity, he had a short list of highly qualified men and women. And to have made that list at all, it was a privilege. And to have been chosen brings a great challenge.

I know that it will demand the best that I have to give, and I promise nothing less.

First — first, there are a few people whom I would like you to meet. I want to start with my husband, Todd. And Todd and I are actually celebrating our 20th anniversary today. And I promised him … I had promised Todd a little surprise for the anniversary present, and hopefully he knows that I did deliver.

And then we have as — after my husband, who is a lifelong commercial fisherman, lifetime Alaskan. He’s a production operator. Todd is a production operator in the oil fields up on Alaska’s North Slope. And he’s a proud member of the United Steelworkers union. And he’s a world-champion snow machine racer.

Todd and I met way back in high school. And I can tell you that he is still the man that I admire most in this world. Along the way, Todd and I have shared many blessings. And four out of five of them are here with us today.

Our oldest son, Track, though, he’ll be following the presidential campaign from afar. On September 11th of last year, our son enlisted in the United States Army.

Track now serves in an infantry brigade. And on September 11th, Track will deploy to Iraq in the service of his country. And Todd and I are so proud of him and of all the fine men and women serving this country.

Next to Todd is our daughter, Bristol, another daughter, Willow, our youngest daughter, Piper, and over in their arms is our son, Trig, a beautiful baby boy. He was born just in April. His name is Trig Paxson Van Palin.

Some of life’s greatest opportunities come unexpectedly. And this is certainly the case today.

I never really set out to be involved in public affairs, much less to run for this office. My mom and dad both worked at the local elementary school. And my husband and I, we both grew up working with our hands. I was just your average hockey mom in Alaska, raising…

We’re busy raising our kids. I was serving as the team mom and coaching some basketball on the side. I got involved in the PTA and then was elected to the city council, and then elected mayor of my hometown, where my agenda was to stop wasteful spending, and cut property taxes, and put the people first.

I was then appointed ethics commissioner and chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. And when I found corruption there, I fought it hard, and I held the offenders to account.

Along with fellow reformers in the great state of Alaska, as governor, I’ve stood up to the old politics as usual, to the special interests, to the lobbyists, the big oil companies, and the good-old- boy network.

When oil and gas prices went up so dramatically and the state revenues followed with that increase, I sent a large share of that revenue directly back to the people of Alaska. And we are now — we’re now embarking on a $40 billion natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence.

I signed major ethics reform. And I appointed both Democrats and independents to serve in my administration. And I championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. In fact, I told Congress — I told Congress, “Thanks, but no thanks,” on that bridge to nowhere.

If our state wanted a bridge, I said we’d build it ourselves. Well, it’s always, though, safer in politics to avoid risk, to just kind of go along with the status quo. But I didn’t get into government to do the safe and easy things. A ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not why the ship is built.

Politics isn’t just a game of competing interests and clashing parties. The people of America expect us to seek public office and to serve for the right reasons.

And the right reason is to challenge the status quo and to serve the common good. Now, no one expects us to agree on everything, whether in Juneau or in Washington. But we are expected to govern with integrity, and goodwill, and clear convictions, and a servant’s heart.

Now, no leader in America has shown these qualities so clearly or present so clear a threat to business as usual in Washington as Senator John S. McCain. This — this is a moment when principles and political independence matter a lot more than just the party line. And this is a man who has always been there to serve his country, not just his party.

And this is a moment that requires resolve and toughness, and strength of heart in the American president. And my running mate is a man who has shown those qualities in the darkest of places, and in the service of his country.

A colleague once said about Senator McCain, “That man did things for this country that few people could go through. Never forget that.” And that speaker was former Senator John Glenn of Ohio.

And John Glenn knows something about heroism. And I’m going to make sure nobody does forget that in this campaign. There is only one candidate who has truly fought for America, and that man is John McCain.

This is a moment — this is a moment when great causes can be won and great threats overcome, depending on the judgment of our next president.

In a dangerous world, it is John McCain who will lead America’s friends and allies in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

It was John McCain who cautioned long ago about the harm that Russian aggression could do to Georgia and to other small democratic neighbors and to the world oil markets. It was Senator McCain who refused to hedge his support for our troops in Iraq, regardless of the political costs.

And you know what? As the mother of one of those troops, and as the commander of Alaska’s National Guard, that’s the kind of man I want as our commander in chief.

Profiles in courage: They can be hard to come by these days. You know, so often we just find them in books. But next week when we nominate John McCain for president, we’re putting one on the ballot.

To serve as vice president beside such a man would be the privilege of a lifetime. And it’s fitting that this trust has been given to me 88 years almost to the day after the women of America first gained the right to vote.

I think — I think as well today of two other women who came before me in national elections.
I can’t begin this great effort without honoring the achievements of Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 and of course Senator Hillary Clinton, who showed such determination and grace in her presidential campaign.

It was rightly noted in Denver this week that Hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America but it turns out the women of America aren’t finished yet and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all.

So for my part, the mission is clear: The next 67 days I’m going to take our campaign to every part of our country and our message of reform to every voter of every background in every political party, or no party at all.

If you want change in Washington, if you hope for a better America, then we’re asking for your vote on the 4th of November. My fellow Americans, come join our cause.

Join our cause and help our country to elect a great man the next president of the United States.
And I thank you, and I — God bless you, I say, and God bless America. Thank you.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Mullings is Back!


Rich Galen who suspended his "Mullings" political Internet column three months ago to go to work for Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison sent out an email notice today to all of his subscribers that he is starting up his column and a Dallas newspaper is reporting he is leaving the senators staff. Apparently Senate rules prevented him from continuing the column while he worked for the Senator. Does this mean that Senator Hutchison is out as a potential VP for John McCain. Very curious that today or tomorrow is the day McCain will make his announcement on his VP selection.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Joe Biden on Barak Obama


Barak Obama is not ready to be President. "The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training."

Bill Clinton on Barak Obama


Bill Clinton believes the Democratic nominee, far from practicing a unifying, transformational brand of politics, has the political instincts of “a Chicago thug,” (Click on the title for a link to the Politico.com news story on this quote)

Washington Week Part III




Washington Week Part III: The Game Day Experience ( edited reprint from last year)

If you are an Oregon Duck fan living in Medford, Oregon, attending a University of Oregon home football game is at least a 14- hour experience. That is 6 hours of driving , 3 hr from Medford to Eugene and 3 hours back, 2 hours of pre game fun and eating,4 hours of actual game and an hour to get back to the car after the game and an hour to eat on the way home. I attend all home games which is usually 6 each fall. Southern Oregon fans are a hearty lot. Our usual plan for a 12:30 pm kick off is to get up at 6 am and leave Medford at 7:30 AM. Stop for gas in Canyonville at the Seven Feathers gas station . They have clean restrooms. It fun to see other Duck fans going to the game in I-5 with their cars and vans decorated in yellow and green. By the time we get to Cottage Grove I can pick up Jerry Allen and the Duck pre game radio show. WE pull into Eugene by 10:30 AM and park on the campus side of the Willamette River. I like to park behind the New Oregon Motel at an office-building parking lot where they charge $10.00. From there we walk to the footbridge over the Willamette River. I like to walk from campus as it makes me feel like a student again. On the bridge is a guy who plays a saxophone for donations. The Oregon fight song is a big money maker. After we cross the bridge there is a winding paved trail through some woods. It is shaded and cool on a hot day. There are people on the trail selling Oregon Tee shirts. Free enterprise is wonderful. There are also the ticket scalpers. As you come out of the woods , standing in all it's glory, is Autzen Stadium. If you have ever seen the movie Camelot it's like the scene where King Arthur and Guinevere after they meet in the forest come out of it and there stands Camelot in all it's glory. After entering the front gate I always buy a program. $5.00...yekes and head for the Mochofsky Center or as we call it the Mo Center. The Mochofsky Center is the indoor practice facility but on game day it is a huge tail gate party with live music, TV monitors with college football games from all over the country, beer, the radio and TV pre game shows, The Duck Shop with all the Duck paraphernalia you would ever want, and a food court. We grab a table and get our lunch from the food court and spend an hour or so eating and just watching people. To say the least Duck fans are a zany bunch . Duck fans all dress individually in as many different outfits as there are people. However they do it in a green and yellow way. After lunch we head for the stadium. We go up the main staircase on the new South side. Thanks Phil Knight. From there we work our way around the concourse to the North side to section 13. We have had season tickets there for years and the same people always sit around us. We then settle in for the pre game warm ups. Then the big screen on the scoreboard plays highlights of past games to get the crowd ready for the game. The high lights always end with "the pick" as described below in Part II. The team is then led on to the field by a Duck on a motorcycle . The South side of the stadium then chants GO and the North side says DUCKS. There is nothing like 55,000 people chanting GO DUCKS over and over to get the crowd into a excited frenzy. The game starts. I like to bring my radio and listen to Jerry Allen and Mike Jorgensen broadcast it. . As I have said before it is like listening to the game with two friends. After the approximately 4 hour game we wait till most of the crowd has left the stands and we head for the field. At Autzen fans can go onto the field after the two teams have left. We then work our way back across the Willamette River footbridge to our car and the 3 hr trip home.Sometimes we get pizza or Chinese food in Eugene before we head home. I love Rolling Rapids Pizza ( Pietro's old location between Eugene and Springfield)I went there in 1967 after my first game at Autzen. It was also Autzen's first game.On the way home we listened to the post game radio show and usually lose it at Canyonville before we go over the mountains. Sometime we stop in Roseburg for dinner. Did I mention there are 4 passes in the Cascade Mountains between Eugene and Medford. Back home I go online to see what my Duck friends are saying about the game and try and find a late Pac 10 game on TV. At 11:30PM they show a replay of the game.( No more In Medford!) If the Ducks have won I try and watch it until I fall asleep. A full day experience and I LOVE IT. This year we play the Huskies at night so when then that happens unless you want to drive into the wee hours of the morning and dodge deer on the road in the mountains you reserve a motel in Eugene/Springfield or Cottage Grove for after the game. Go Ducks beat the Huskies.

Not a Greek Temple, but a Greek Tragedy by Victor Davis Hanson



Victor Davis Hanson posted this on the National Review Blog:

I think it's called blind hubris...

Let me get this straight: Obama goes to Europe, does a garish outdoor extravaganza before thousands, returns to find himself dubbed a publicity-seeking celebrity, analogous to Paris Hilton—and abruptly begins a tailspin in the polls. And now in reaction, at the greatest moment of his life, he transfers his acceptance speech to an open-air stadium to handle tens of thousands of frenzied fans, replete with Greek temple (Olympian Zeus or Parthenon?) as the backdrop stage, and outspoken rock stars?

His handlers now seem as inept in the general elections as they were once adept in the primaries. I don't see how you win Ohio or Michigan with Golden Gate Park circa 1967

Joe Giansante On Duck TV Deal: "If we lose 8,000 alums in Medford, we're picking up 50,000 alums in Seattle."



The above quote is from an interview of Joe Giansante in a news story on the front page of the Eugene Register Guard Newspaper on the Television deal between the University of Oregon's Oregon Sports Network (OSN), IMG and Comcast SportsNet Northwest Cable TV channel. The problem is that large areas of Oregon including Medford do not have that channel available on non Comcast cable providers such as Medford's Charter Cable TV. There is a link to the news story by clicking on the title above. Joe is a heck of a nice guy and bleeds green and yellow but my guess is that is a quote he would like to take back. How many of those alums in Seattle pay Oregon taxes that support the University of Oregon. Yes, I know the athletic department is self supporting but it has to represent a University that is in this case a public university in the state of Oregon. Ah, to gain Seattle but lose Medford. Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, Roseburg and Bend! In addition, for every alumnus in Southern Oregon there are many more Duck fans who never took a class at the U of O because the Ducks are the home state team. I bet outside of the alumni there are not many Duck fans in Seattle! You fans in Eugene don't be too satisfied ...... under this deal you are only going to get the live games on OSN but not the replays, coaches shows etc. Let's hope this is a "work in progress"! To put Giansante's quote in context here are a few more quotes from the RG news story:

Giansante said the university believes that Comcast SportsNet is on the cusp of becoming the dominant regional sports network. “They have the (Portland Trail) Blazers, and now they have the Ducks, and everyone else who wants to be there are going to have to work around us,” he said.

Giansante acknowledged that the university is concerned about potential backlash from viewers who live in areas without over-the-air reception or who can’t afford cable. About 20 percent of the area TV market does not have cable or satellite, Giansante said. While the three football games to be shown on Comcast SportsNet include an over-the-air alternative, that won’t be true for all UO sports or contests.

Comcast SportsNet encountered a similar outcry when it landed the Trail Blazers broadcast rights, with games unavailable to viewers living in areas outside Comcast SportsNet’s reach.

“The tough thing is, we have fans everywhere who are equal in their passion for Oregon sports,” he said. “But when networks like these grow, these are the growing pains. If we lose 8,000 alums in Medford, we’re picking up 50,000 alums in Seattle.”

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

But, will we get Oregon Duck programs in Medford and Southern Oregon?


The Oregon Sports Network (OSN) issued the following press release today:

Comcast SportsNet Northwest and OSN-IMG have reached an unprecedented agreement to televise University of Oregon sports, including comprehensive live coverage of Oregon football, basketball, track and field and baseball. Comcast SportsNet will begin their partnership by televising the OSN broadcasts of three live football games; Sept. 6 vs. Utah State at 12:30, Sept. 13 vs. Boise State at12:30 p.m., and the Sept. 27 contest at Washington State at 3:15 p.m.. In addition, Comcast SportsNet has agreed to have FOX TV KLSR EUGENE simulcast these three live football games in order to fully serve the Ducks’ home market.

Comcast SportsNet will also air replays of Oregon football games (as Pac-10 agreements allow) Saturdays at 11:00 p.m. and Sundays at 7:00 p.m. as well as a comprehensive slate of other Ducks sports programming.

The long-term relationship keeps all current OSN produced programming in place, and adds new shows and contests accounting for a record minimum of 35 live games to be aired on Comcast SportsNet. Included in that total are 14 exclusive live Oregon

basketball games-the most ever televised by OSN, selected live women’s basketball games, track and field, and 15 live Oregon baseball games. It also provides coverage of women’s soccer, volleyball, softball, women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s golf, as well as men’s and women’s tennis.

“We know being a Ducks fan is a year-round passion,” said Comcast Executive Vice President of Sports Programming David Manougian. “Comcast SportsNet is proud to deliver the most in-depth coverage of Ducks athletics, including live football, basketball, baseball and track and field available anywhere on television.”

“This landmark agreement represents a new chapter in the televising of Oregon athletics, and takes us to an entirely new level in programming, reach and revenue,” said Director of Athletics Pat Kilkenny. “We are thrilled at the chance to partner with national sports media experts to help us remain innovative and exciting, while at the same time expanding our offerings on a traditional, northwest local level. Comcast SportsNet’s northwest footprint and growing distribution opportunities are also extremely exciting and in our view will give us the most comprehensive television agreement of any college athletics program in the country. With the strength of Comcast SportsNet and their incredible leadership this is now possible.”

Comcast SportsNet will air a multitude of additional OSN programming, including coaches shows for football, men’s and women’s basketball, track and field and baseball. They will also air other specials and series related to University of Oregon Sports, and provide regular updates and exclusive interviews on Comcast SportsNet’s daily sports news shows SportsNite and SportsRise.

“We are pleased to partner with the fastest growing sports outlet in the country, providing unlimited opportunity and exposure to Oregon fans that did not exist before,” said OSN President Tim Roberts. “This agreement allows us to build on our 20-year programming foundation with new and exciting programming for Duck fans everywhere. Through this new agreement, combined with the growth of Comcast SportNet, we expect that hundreds of thousands of Duck fans who didn’t receive any programming at all will now be able to be a part of the OSN family.”

Joe Giansante will serve as the play by play announcer for OSN broadcasts on Comcast SportsNet. Former Duck player and NFL star Anthony Newman serves as analyst for football. Rob Closs will serve as analyst for basketball and the inaugural baseball telecasts. Closs is a former Oregon letterman in both basketball and baseball.

In addition to game coverage, Comcast SportsNet’s comprehensive University of Oregon football programming will include:

Ducks Pre-Game Show – Before every Ducks regular season game, join this live show straight from the broadcast booth for in-depth opponent analysis, game expectations, and up-to-the-minute coverage of game-changing developments like injury reports, game-day strategy changes, and roster updates. Ducks Pre-Game Show will air for 30 minutes immediately before every game, live and delayed.

Ducks Post-Game Show – Tune into Comcast SportsNet for highlights, reaction and analysis following every live game produced on Comcast SportsNet by OSN.

Sunday Night with Mike Bellotti – a weekly 30-minute interactive coaches interview show featuring Ducks head coach Mike Bellotti reviewing the Ducks’ latest game, with never before seen and heard elements straight from the Oregon sideline and locker room. The show premieres on September 1st and airs every Sunday night from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 through the end of the season. It will re-air Sunday’s at 10:00 pm, and throughout the week on Comcast SportsNet

Sunday Night Live – a weekly 30 minute live show from Taylor’s Bar and Grill in Eugene featuring a live audience and a breakdown of the previous Duck game, plus a look at the upcoming opponent and the Pac-10. It will air at Sunday’s at 6:30 p.m. and will re-air at 10:30 pm, and throughout the week on Comcast SportsNet.

Special Coverage – Comcast SportsNet will air four Ducks’ specials, marking milestones of the football calendar: a preseason special, the Civil War, a bowl game special, and 2009 signing day.

In addition to being carried by Comcast Cable, Verizon, Ashland TV and Scio Cablevision, Comcast SportsNet continues to negotiate with other cable and satellite carriers to carry the network to sports fans across the Northwest. Viewers with cable and satellite providers that don’t currently carry Comcast SportsNet are encouraged to call their cable and satellite providers. Limited programming will also continue to be available on goducks.com.

In addition to the television agreement, OSN will soon introduce two new services; OSN Online, and OSN Mobile. These services will be available on Comcast SportsNet including daily interviews, videos and breaking Duck sports news straight to computers and mobile phones. Also, the new OSN In-Game experience will feature state-of-the art productions for new video boards purchased by OSN-IMG for football and baseball.


Very nice for those in Portland who get Comcast Cable; but, I repeat will we get Oregon Duck programs in Medford and Southern Oregon?

Washington Week Part II: "The Pick!"



I have re-edited a post I made a few years ago for "Washington Week" the week the Oregon Ducks play the Washington Huskies in football. In Washington Week Part I (posted below) I outlined why Oregon fans learned to hate the Huskies and were always losing to them. Now on to Part II.

Washington Week Part II: "The Pick"

On October 22, 1994, Oregon football changed. The 1994 season didn't start out that way. Oregon lost to Hawaii, Utah and Washington State. There were only 25,000 fans at Autzen for Utah. At that game I looked around the parking lot and wondered "where is everybody?." The Ducks had beaten U$C in LA but we thought it was a fluke. Then came the Washington game in Eugene on October 22. I didn't want to drive three hours from Medford to Eugene to watch another Washington "blow out" of the Ducks. ( see post below) I had been there too many times before. In those days with two teenage children at home my kids took turns going to the games with me as we had two season tickets. It was my daughter's turn and so we drove to Eugene. I always like to park on the campus side of the Willamette River and take the footbridge over to Autzen. On a nice day it's a wonderful walk over the river and through the woods to Autzen. I parked on Franklin Blvd. and walked by the New Oregon Motel. It was full of Husky fans. We had also stopped by the book-store on campus and it was full of Husky fans. We got to the game and took our seats and the game started. Washington was ranked the # 9 team in the nation. Oregon kept it close. Oregon was leading by four points when Washington scored to go ahead 20 - 17 with 7:44 minutes to play. The game seemed to unfold as it had so often. "nice try"..." a moral victory" ... "close but no cigar". NOT THIS TIME. Danny O'Neil Oregon's QB led the Ducks on a 98 yard drive to regain the lead. It will forever be known as "The Drive." The Ducks now led 24-17 with 2:40 to go in the game. Washington then started their own drive and advanced to the Duck 8 yard line with 1:09 to play. With each yard the Huskies made, every Duck fan knew that Washington would score and win the game as they had so many times before. " So close, but no cigar." Then there was a play that will live forever in every Duck heart. Washington had plenty of time to give the ball to heralded tail back Napolean Kaufman. Instead, QB Damon Huard threw the ball in the flat toward Dave Janoski. Kenny Wheaton the Oregon CB timed the throw perfectly and stepped in front of the Washington receiver and intercepted the ball and ran it all the way back for another Duck touchdown to win the game 31-20. I was standing watching the play with my daughter. We both began to jump up and down!!! We then hugged as we both jumped up and down!!!. It was redemption! My daughter and I will always have that moment in time. On my dying day I will remember it. The play became known as "THE PICK". It is shown on the big screen at every Oregon game just as the team comes on the field. Jerry Allen the radio broadcaster's call of the play has become a favorite of Duck fans "KENNY WHEATON'S GOING TO SCORE....KENNY WHEATON'S GOING TO SCORE" I have a framed print of the play hanging in my office.(See picture above) After the game the many Husky fans looked crushed. The three hour trip back to Medford was like floating on air. Oregon went on to win the Pac 10 Championship that year and the entire family went to the Rose Bowl. It was the Ducks first time since 1958. Lets Go Ducks!... Beat the Huskies!

Now, for a real treat click on the title for a 6 minute You Tube video of the play and it's aftermath. Watching it caused the hair to stand up on the back of my neck.It brought back all those memories.

Washington Week Part I


This is a re post of a post I make every year when the Oregon Ducks play the Washington Huskies with a few minor changes.

To every Oregon Duck Fan "Washington Week" is the week the University of Oregon Ducks play the University of Washington Huskies in football. This year it will be Labor Day Weekend Saturday night August 30th in Eugene at Autzen Stadium. (TV Game on Fox Sports Northwest... FSN at 7 P.M. PDT) I Will be there! There has been bad blood between these two schools for years.. It started in 1948 when there was a tie between Cal and Oregon to go to the Rose Bowl. In those days ties were settled by a vote of the Pac 8 schools. (the Arizona schools were then not part of the conference.) Oregon expected the Northwest schools to stick together but Washington voted for Cal and as a consolation the Ducks led by QB Norm Van Brocklin went to the Cotton Bowl. Before Autzen stadium was built Oregon would play some of it's home games against Washington at Multnomah Stadium in Portland. In the 50's it was not unheard of for fistfights to erupt in the stands between Duck and Washington fans. In 1968 I drove to Seattle to watch Oregon beat Washington 3 to 0 on a Ken Woody field goal during a rain swept game. During the 1970, 1980 and into the 1990's Washington dominated the Ducks and were the premier team in the Northwest. Husky fans would descend on Eugene and Autzen Stadium in their god awful purple and would almost outnumber the Duck yellow and green. They would fill up Eugene hotels like locusts and bring their large band. Husky fans became known for their arrogance. Once on a trip to Seattle I ask a Husky fan the outcome of a game and was treated like a fool to expect anything but a Husky win. My Dad, not a football fan, was treated the same way when he struck up a conversation with a Husky fan at a hotel before an Oregon/Washington game. I know it's only a game but I learned to hate the Huskies and their fans. At Husky home games they would blow their siren after each score as they beat the sh** out of hapless Duck teams. That all ended on October 22,1994, and I was there!!! (Has it been 14 years!) To be continued... Lets Go Ducks!

Monday, August 25, 2008

Michelle Obama Helps Hospital Shun Uninsured Poor People


There is an interesting story in the Chicago Sun Times to keep in the back of your mind as Michelle Obama speaks tonight at the Democrat Convention. The Obamas have positioned themselves as the champions of the poor and all those that can't afford health insurance.

The Chicago Sun-Times Reports:


Sen. Barack Obama's wife and three close advisers have been involved with a program at the University of Chicago Medical Center that steers patients who don't have private insurance -- primarily poor, black people -- to other health care facilities.

Michelle Obama -- currently on unpaid leave from her $317,000-a-year job as a vice president of the prestigious hospital -- helped create the program,....


Obama's top political strategist, David Axelrod, co-owns the firm, ASK Public Strategies, that was hired by the hospital last year to sell the program -- called the Urban Health Initiative


The story was published over the weekend but "Good Morning America" didn't thinks it was important enough to report in their "puff piece" on Michell Obama on today's show.

To read the rest of the news story click on the title for a link.

Judy Collins at Britt



Judy Collins sang last night at the Britt Festival in Jacksonville, Oregon. Dar Williams also performed.

It was a wonderful night for a folk concert under the stars at the Britt Gardens in Jacksonville. We got there at 5:30 p.m. about 15 minutes before they opened the gates to the Britt Gardens. There were about 50 people ahead of us. As we sat on a stone wall waiting for them to open the gates we could hear Judy Collins warming up for the concert. When we go in we found a good location in the area where we could set up our green folding Oregon Duck chairs. My wife had fixed us a picnic dinner and we ate and enjoyed people watching. People come early to have fancy picnics on the lawn. Many bring fancy wines or purchase it there from a vendor. For desert I stopped by the Rotary booth and bought some delicious chocolate cake which we shared. I also went by the "Performer Merchandise" booth and bought a Judy Collins CD titled "Judy Collins Sings Lennon & McCartney." The weather was perfect not too hot nor too cold and there was no smoke from forest fires. You could feel the end of summer in the air. For Britt it was a smaller crowd and so it was not too crowded.

At 7:30 p.m. Dar Williams was the first performer. She sang only accompanied by her guitar and has a sweet voice and a quirky personality. She reminded me a little bit of Gilda Radner and I loved her music. She sings folk music that tells a story. I particularly enjoyed her song about her babysitter from her youth in the 1970's. I have never heard her before and she was a very pleasant surprise. She has recoded a number of albums and I plan on getting one of her CD's in the near future.

After intermission, as it was getting very dark, Judy Colling came out to sing. She is now almost 70 years old but she till has a wonderful voice that is as clear as ever. I watched her through my binoculars and she does look her age but most of us would love to look like that at 70. She sang a lot of songs and interspersed them with lengthy dialogs about her life. She talked about going to New York in the early 1960's and the "folk scene" there and meeting a guy named Bob Dylan. She talked about her high school group, her father, and the history of some of her songs. Sometimes she seemed to ramble on and was somethings somewhat cryptic with her references. It helped to know about her biography and the history of folk music for the last 50 years. She sang "My Father" and "Chelsea Morning" as well as "Norwegian Wood" and "Blackbird" from her newest album. She was only accompanied by a pianist and her own guitar. At the end of the concert she took over the piano and sang several songs. The Britt Festival has a 10:30 p.m. curfew at the request of it's neighbors so she had to cut short her concert. I had the feeling she wanted to go on and would have sung some of her big hits. She seemed to gather steam with as the concert progressed and was really going strong when she was told about the curfew.

All and all a perfect night as the Summer of 08 starts winding down.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Judy Collins tonight at Britt



Judy Collins is singing tonight at the Britt Festival in Jacksonville, Oregon. Darr Williams will also perform. Will have a review tomorrow. Hope she sings "Both Sides Now", "Someday Soon", "Send in the Clown" and "Amazing Grace".

Movie Magic!


Last night I ran the blu ray DVD movie Rio Bravo (1959) with John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson , Walter Brennan and Angie Dickinson. In the movie there is one magical scene I never grow tired of watching.The movie is about The sheriff ( John Wayne) of a small town in southwest Texas must keep custody of a murderer whose brother, a powerful rancher, is trying to help him escape. After a friend is killed (Ward Bond) trying to muster support for him, he and his deputies - a disgraced drunk (Dean Martin) and a cantankerous old cripple (Walter Brennan) - must find a way to hold out against the rancher's hired guns until the marshal arrives. In the meantime, matters are complicated by the presence of a young gunslinger (Ricky Nelson) - and a mysterious beauty (Angie Dickinson) who just came in on the last stagecoach.

The scene takes place in the sheriffs office/jail where Dean Martin is laying on a bed with his hat over his head singing "My pony my Rifle and Me" accompanied by Ricky Nelson on guitar and Walter Brennan on a harmonica while John Wayne looks on drinking a cup of coffee. If you click on the title there is a YouTube video of the scene. Everyone of the actors in the scene is gone now.....

This was Ward Bond's last movie with John Wayne. Bond died a short time later. they had been good friends and drinking buddies since their days at U$C playing football. At the time he was staring in the TV series "Wagon Train."

The movie was filmed at "Old Tuscon Studios" in Arizona. When the kids were younger I took the family there on our 'Southwest trip" and I love the place.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

McCain Ad on Joe Biden


Barak Obama is not ready to be President. "The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training."

Click on the title to see what Joe Biden has to say about Barak Obama and John McCain!


This from the Washington Post:

Joe Loves Joe
One of the most overlooked episodes during the 1987 collapse of Biden's campaign was a snippet of footage captured by C-Span in which the Delaware senator, in response to a question about where he went to law school and what sort of grades he received, delivered this classic line: "I think I have a much higher IQ than you do."

Friday, August 22, 2008

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison for McCain's VP ?


Kathryn Ann Bailey Hutchison, usually known as Kay Bailey Hutchison (born July 22, 1943), is the senior United States Senator from Texas. She is a member of the Republican Party. In 2001, she was named one of "The 30 most powerful women in America" by Ladies Home Journal. She is the first woman to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate.

Dick Morris thinks this would be a good counter move by John McCain! There may be a reason Rich Galen gave up his Mullings Cyber Column and went to work for Senator Hutchison.

Why is this man smiling?


Joe Biden

UPDATE:

ABC NEWS is reporting that Joe Biden has been given Secret Service protection.



One Year ago, Joe Biden on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopolous" talking about Barak Obama:

ABC’s George Stephanopoulos: “You were asked is he ready. You said ‘I think he can be ready, but right now I don’t believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training.’”

Sen. Biden: “I think that I stand by the statement.”

(ABC’s “This Week,” 8/19/07)


UPDATE: AP, CNN and FOX NEWS reporting the Joe Biden is Obama's VP choice.

Always a Bridesmaid !



"I't my party (Democrat Party) and I will cry if I want to..... you would cry too if it happened to you."

The Chicoms are Cheaters


But then we knew that ! "Chicoms"=Chinese Communists. The Red Chinese government of China forged theses girls passports so they would be old enough to qualify for the Olympics and the International Olympic Committee is gutless and will in the end do nothing!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Barak Obama: "The One" Part II





Due to the overwhelming popularity of the original web video, "The One" put out by the John McCain Campaign on Baraka Obama they have now put out a new one as Barack Obama prepares to head to Denver for the Democratic National Convention next week. As the biggest celebrity in the world, Barack Obama has millions of fans,thousands of which will fill "Mile High" Stadium like a Grateful Dead concert and the McCain campaign hopes that millions will check out their latest fun video.
Click on the title for a link.

How many houses does Obama own that were not purchased with the help of a convicted felon?



Does a guy who made more than $4 million last year, just got back from vacation on a private beach in Hawaii and bought his own million-dollar mansion with the help of a convicted felon really want to get into a debate about houses? Does a guy who worries about the price of arugula and thinks regular people “cling” to guns and religion in the face of economic hardship really want to have a debate about who’s in touch with regular Americans?

“The reality is that Barack Obama’s plans to raise taxes and opposition to producing more energy here at home as gas prices skyrocket show he’s completely out of touch with the concerns of average Americans.” —McCain spokesman Brian Rogers


So how many houses does Obama own that were NOT purchased with the help of a convicted felon? None

Click on the title for a link to an ABC News story on how Obama got a $300,000.00 discount on a house he bought from convicted felon Tony Rezko. The jury convicted Rezko of wire and mail fraud, money laundering and aiding and abetting bribery.

Republican Convention


Today they released an artist rendering of what the podium will look like at the Republican Convention starting September 1st (Labor Day) in St Paul, Minnesota. What can I say, I am a political junkie and I get a kick out of political Conventions and such things as the design of the podium. I like the open clean patriotic design.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Why the Ducks hate the Huskies.


The University of Oregon's first football game of the season is on Saturday night August 30th in Eugene against the visiting Washington Huskies.. I will on the week leading up to the game have a series of posts about the rivalry between these two schools who don't like each other; but, I just read a somewhat "tongue in cheek" post about the rivalry that I couldn't pass up. Click on the title for a link to a blog that lists 10 reasons Oregon fans hate the Washington Huskies. Go Ducks!

Obama, Bill Ayers the terrorist & the University of Illinois



The Obama campaign sent out an email announcing they were releasing a new ad in Georgia linking McCain to Ralph Reed and, by association, Jack Abramoff.

Brian Rogers, spokesman for the McCain campaign, fired back with this:

"Barack Obama's ad is ridiculous. Because of John McCain, corruption was exposed and people like Jack Abramoff went to jail.
However, if Barack Obama wants to have a discussion about truly questionable associations, let's start with his relationship with the unrepentant terrorist William Ayers, at whose home Obama's political career was reportedly launched. Mr. Ayers was a leader of the Weather Underground, a terrorist group responsible for countless bombings against targets including the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon and numerous police stations, courthouses and banks. In recent years, Mr. Ayers has stated, 'I don't regret setting bombs... I feel we didn't do enough.'

"The question now is, will Barack Obama immediately call on the University of Illinois to release all of the records they are currently withholding to shed further light on Senator Obama's relationship with this unrepentant terrorist?"


The University of Illinois is holding documents deposited with it by an organization in which Barkak Obama and Terrorist Bill Ayers were on the Board of Directors together and is refusing to release the documents to reporters. What are they afraid of?

Click on the title for a link to a story on this issue.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Potentially Good News for Duck Fans in Southern Oregon


Potentially good news for Oregon Duck fans in Southern Oregon.

For many years the University of Oregon Athletic Department had an office in Medford Oregon staffed by a department employee of The Duck Athletic Fund (DAF)who served as representative of UO Athletics and the Duck Athletic Fund in Southern Oregon, and was responsible for development activities for both annual gifts to the Duck Athletic Fund and major gifts to endowments and capital projects. This staff person also acted as a liaison to booster groups,such as the Oregon Club of Southern Oregon. The office was originally opened by Athletic Director Bill Byrne in the in the 1980's when he was trying to expand support for the Athletic Department outside of Eugene to other areas of the state. In fact Jim Bartko, current Oregon Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director and Greg Byrne, Athletic Director at Mississippi State University got their start in Medford working for the DAF.

About three years ago the office was closed for "budget reasons" while Bill Moos was Athletic Director. During this same time period a new regional office of the Duck Athletic Fund was opened in Bend Oregon, a growing and booming area of the state.

The good news is that the University of Oregon is now advertising online for the position of "Regional Director of Development, Duck Athletic Fund." The job listing describes some of the positions responsibilities as follows:

Serve as athletic department officer for Medford, Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, Sacramento, East Bay, Marin, San Francisco, and the South Bay.


Review of applications will begin August 25, 2008 and the position will be open until filled.

For more information about the job click on the title for a link to the University of Oregon's website where the position is advertised.

Let's hope that the Ducks fill this position and reopen an office in Medford.

Oregon Ducks 2008 Football Media Guide



Today my Oregon football media guide arrived by US Mail! The NCAA now limits the number of pages for college or university media guides to 208 and that is the number of pages to this years guide. The NCAA also limits the number of color pages inside the covers to one. The university has posted the media guide online and there is a link by clicking on the title above.

From a quick review it looks good. My only complaint is they have done away with the metal spiral binding of the last few years and have gone with a softback binding that will come apart before the season is over.

No quarterback is shown on the front or back cover nor the inside covers. On the front cover is Patrick Chung, Rover; Max Unger, Center; and Nick Reed, Defensive End. On the back cover is Jason Williams, Wide Receiver; Jaremiah Johnson, Running Back and Jerome Boyd Linebacker. Coach Mike Bellotti is on the inside of the front cover. The inside of the back cover has Cole Lineham, DT; Fenuki Tupou, OT; Matt Evensen,Placekicker; John Bacon,LB; Josh Syria,P; Mark Lewis,OG and Ra'Shon Harris DT. The only color is the front and back covers on both sides.

Since the publication of the media guide earlier this summer some of the information in the guide is already outdated. For example, on page 32 under "OSN Football Television Network" it still has the Chambers Communications TV stations in Eugene, Medford and Bend listed as broadcasting "all" games on a "tape delayed" basis. Still no word on that issue.

By the way, I love the cover. Go Ducks!

Summer of 08


On Friday night I did my yard work in 100 degree temperature. On Saturday I had a seven hour job of washing our house windows inside and out. Because of the heat I started at about 9 am outside and got our upstairs bedroom window and then had the outside done by noon. We have a three story house and it takes a long pole and a ladder to get the top floor windows. I then took a short brake and then as temperatures hovered in the upper 90's I did the windows inside. About the time I finished and was putting the screens back on the windows the wind blew forest fire smoke from northern California into the Rogue Valley turning turning the air into a smoking hell. Visibility was limited and it appeared to be a hot foggy day from inside but once you walked outside your could smell the smoke and realize it was not fog. I had to do some birthday shopping and after I got home my wife and I spent the night watching a Netflix blu ray DVD copy of "Bullet" with Steve McQueen in our movie room. San Francisco looked great in blu ray! Sunday morning was spent with the Sunday Mail Tribune and telephone calls from our adult kids who where both traveling across the United States ( One by car and one by plane). The forest fire smoke still hung in the Rogue Valley. My wife and I then drove to Shady Cove up in the mountains so I could perform a wedding ceremony for a couple at the "River House" on the Rogue River. After the wedding we stopped at the "John Wayne Saloon" at the Two Pines Smokehouse in Shady Cove and had a nice lunch/dinner and watched the Olympics on their big screen TV while we ate. Love all the John Wayne memorabilia and statues at the saloon. They may have more than I do in our movie room! They have a couple of realistic John Wayne statues about three feet tall that I would love to own. They are very well done and capture his face and personality. My guess is they are very expensive.

There was some smoke in the mountains around Shady Cove but the smoke was still very heavy as we returned to the Rogue Valley. After dinner we stopped at Costco in Medford and fought the crowds and the smoke to pick up some things. I don't mind the heat but I do not like the smoke!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Why I will Vote for John McCain !


Last night both Barak Obama and John McCain appeared separately at a “Civil Forum” at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church.Each was asked the same questions. I find the question on "evil" the basis of my voting for John McCain. The difference in their answers can not be more revealing.



Among the questions Warren’s posed Saturday night was how the candidates would deal with “evil” during their respective presidencies.

“Should we ignore it, negotiate with it, contain it or defeat it?” the pastor asked.

Barak Obama's Answer:


“Evil does exist,” Obama began acknowledging the premise of the question as he ticked off the evils of genocide in Darfur, inner-city crime and child abuse. “I think it has to be confronted. It has to be confronted squarely and one of the things that I strongly believe is that, you know, we are not going to, as individuals erase evil from the world. That is God’s task. but we can be soldiers in that process and we can confront it when we see it.”


“The one thing that I think is very important is for us to have some humility in how we approach the issue of confronting evil, but you know a lot of evil has been perpetrated based on the claim that we were trying to confront evil,” Obama added. “Just because we think our intentions are good doesn’t always mean that we’re going to be doing good.”


John McCain's answerer:

"Defeat it",

“If I have to follow him to the gates of hell, I will get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice. I will do that and I know how to do that. I will get that done,” McCain added decisively, quickly turning the topic to the war on terror–his strength. “No one should be allowed to take thousands of American, innocent American lives. Of course evil must be defeated…we are facing the transcendent challenge of the 21st century–radical Islamic extremists.”

Obama:"Above my pay grade"



Asked at what point a baby gets “human rights,” Obama, who strongly supports abortion rights, said: “… whether you’re looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity … is above my pay grade.”

As the "church lady" would say: "How convenient!"

Happy Birthday !

Friday, August 15, 2008

V J Day + 63






63 years ago today Japan surrendered to the United States thus ending World War II. As one of the first "Baby Boomers" the day has had a special significance to me. This is from Wikipedia about the day:

In the United States, Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day, also known as Victory in the Pacific Day, or V-P Day) is a name chosen for the day on which the Surrender of Japan occurred, and subsequent anniversaries of that event. The term has been applied to both the day on which the initial announcement of Japan's surrender was made in the afternoon of August 15, 1945 (August 14 North American date), as well as the date the formal surrender ceremony was performed in Tokyo on September 2, 1945.

A little after noon Japan standard time on August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito's announcement of Japan's acceptance of the terms of the Potsdam Declaration was broadcast to the Japanese people over the radio. Earlier the same day, the Japanese government had broadcast an announcement over Radio Tokyo that "acceptance of the Potsdam Proclamation [would be] coming soon," and had advised the Allies of the surrender by sending a cable to U.S. President Harry S. Truman via the Swiss government.


Lest We Forget!

The Summer of 08


They are predicting a high of 107 degrees in Medford, Oregon today AND tomorrow on Saturday with it cooling off to 100 degrees on Sunday. I am not looking forward to mowing the lawn tonight!

UPDATE: It is 4:30 pm and it is up to 108 degrees!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

TV Coverage Map Under Old OSN (Oregon Sports Network) Contracts



Click on the title for a link to the old OSN TV coverage map as posted on the OSN section of the goducks.com web site. Basically, it shows that most Oregonians were able to watch the University of Oregon football and basketball coaches shows as well as OSN telecasts of Oregon games and replays of those games. The only areas of the state of Oregon without coverage were low population areas of Eastern Oregon (East of Bend) and some areas of Central Oregon near the Columbia River and two small areas on the Oregon Coast. It will be interesting if the new TV contracts negotiated by IMG will give as much coverage.

The Summer of 08



Hot time Summer in the city. Their predicting 105 to 109 degrees in Medford, Oregon today and the hot spell will continue into the weekend. More ice tea please! The Dog Days of Summer. Half the country is on vacation and the other half wishes they were on vacation.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

"WE ARE ALL GEORGIANS"


By JOHN MCCAIN
August 14, 2008;

For anyone who thought that stark international aggression was a thing of the past, the last week must have come as a startling wake-up call. After clashes in the Georgian region of South Ossetia, Russia invaded its neighbor, launching attacks that threaten its very existence. Some Americans may wonder why events in this part of the world are any concern of ours. After all, Georgia is a small, remote and obscure place. But history is often made in remote, obscure places.

As Russian tanks and troops moved through the Roki Tunnel and across the internationally recognized border into Georgia, the Russian government stated that it was acting only to protect Ossetians. Yet regime change in Georgia appears to be the true Russian objective.

Two years ago, I traveled to South Ossetia. As soon as we arrived at its self-proclaimed capital -- now occupied by Russian troops -- I saw an enormous billboard that read, "Vladimir Putin, Our President." This was on sovereign Georgian territory.

Russian claims of humanitarian motives were further belied by a bombing campaign that encompassed the whole of Georgia, destroying military bases, apartment buildings and other infrastructure, and leaving innocent civilians wounded and killed. As the Russian Black Sea Fleet began concentrating off of the Georgian coast and Russian troops advanced on one city after another, there could be no doubt about the nature of their aggression.

Despite a French-brokered cease-fire -- which worryingly does not refer to Georgia's territorial integrity -- Russian attacks have continued. There are credible reports of civilian killings and even ethnic cleansing as Russian troops move deeper into Georgian territory.

Moscow's foreign minister revealed at least part of his government's aim when he stated that "Mr. Saakashvili" -- the democratically elected president of Georgia -- "can no longer be our partner. It would be better if he went." Russia thereby demonstrated why its neighbors so ardently seek NATO membership.

In the wake of this crisis, there are the stirrings of a new trans-Atlantic consensus about the way we should approach Russia and its neighbors. The leaders of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Latvia flew to Tbilisi to demonstrate their support for Georgia, and to condemn Russian aggression. The French president traveled to Moscow in an attempt to end the fighting. The British foreign minister hinted of a G-8 without Russia, and the British opposition leader explicitly called for Russia to be suspended from the grouping.

The world has learned at great cost the price of allowing aggression against free nations to go unchecked. A cease-fire that holds is a vital first step, but only one. With our allies, we now must stand in united purpose to persuade the Russian government to end violence permanently and withdraw its troops from Georgia. International monitors must gain immediate access to war-torn areas in order to avert an even greater humanitarian disaster, and we should ensure that emergency aid lifted by air and sea is delivered.

We should work toward the establishment of an independent, international peacekeeping force in the separatist regions, and stand ready to help our Georgian partners put their country back together. This will entail reviewing anew our relations with both Georgia and Russia. As the NATO secretary general has said, Georgia remains in line for alliance membership, and I hope NATO will move ahead with a membership track for both Georgia and Ukraine.

At the same time, we must make clear to Russia's leaders that the benefits they enjoy from being part of the civilized world require their respect for the values, stability and peace of that world. The U.S. has cancelled a planned joint military exercise with Russia, an important step in this direction.

The Georgian people have suffered before, and they suffer today. We must help them through this tragedy, and they should know that the thoughts, prayers and support of the American people are with them. This small democracy, far away from our shores, is an inspiration to all those who cherish our deepest ideals. As I told President Saakashvili on the day the cease-fire was declared, today we are all Georgians. We mustn't forget it.

Mr. McCain is the Republican nominee for president.

Joan Baez


I was listening to a Joan Baez CD tonight and even though I strongly disagree with her politics this lady can sing! When she sings "We Shall Overcome" it still brings tears to this old conservatives eyes.

I was watching on TV in 1963 when Martin Luther King said on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.:

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.


I still believe that!

Oregon Basketball Arena


Jay Jones of Duck Sports News.com is reporting that the Eugene City Council just voted 5-3 to vacate the Villard Street alley so the University of Oregon can build the new basketball arena. This is good news!

The next step and final hurdle is a "conditional use permit" for the property!

(Click on the title for a link to the story by Jay Jones)

Oregon Ducks on TV in Medford ?


It has been almost two weeks since Chambers Communications withdrew from negotiations with IMG to broadcast University of Oregon football and basketball games produced by OSN (Oregon Sports Network)in Eugene, Medford and Bend. In those two weeks there as been NO word out of the Athletic Department to Southern Oregon Duck fans on what is going to be worked out on broadcasting the games, replays and coaches shows in Southern Oregon. With Chambers, Medford Channel, 12(KDRV) out of the mix that leaves three other broadcast channels and Charter Cable as possible replacements. The first game is a little more than two weeks away. I have been receiving emails from angry duck fans who are of the opinion that Southern Oregon will be left out of the "work around". That is, Comcast Sports Network will broadcast the games on cable TV in Portland and maybe in Eugene but Medford and Bend will be left out because we don't have Comcast Cable in Medford and Comcast will make it so expensive our Charter Cable provider will not be willing to pick it up. Maybe it's a good thing there isn't a DAF Representative in Southern Oregon anymore because he would be getting a lot of calls! Let's hope this can be resolved in the next two weeks !

(Click on the title for a link to a Ryan White article in the Oregonian on the subject)

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

ANIMAL HOUSE



Tomorrow night the Biography channel will have a two hour documentary on my favorite movie comedy. It of course was filmed at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Below is the press release issued on the documentary.... has it really been 30 years?
Wednesday, August 13 9:00pm Animal House: The Inside Story on the Biography cable channel:

Toga! Toga! Toga! This special marks the 30th anniversary of Animal House, the legendary movie that celebrated youthful rebellion, college fraternities gone amok, and food fights. We'll interview the movie's creators and stars, including Harold Ramis, John Landis, Peter Riegert, Karen Allen, and Kevin Bacon. We'll delve into the world of fraternities past and present to uncover the inspiration for the film's outrageous frat-house antics, and to see how it inspired the toga party fad. We'll also travel to Dartmouth College with co-writer Chris Miller to revisit the scenes of his own college debauchery, and go to the University of Oregon, the producers' location of last resort after they were turned down by other colleges
.

(Click on the title for a link to a Eugene Register Guard article on the documentary)

He's Going to Kentucky


It's 7 a.m. and our Son just left our house headed for Kentucky via North Dakota. He is going back to North Dakota to pick up his "stuff" he put in storage after he obtained his Masters Degree and will then go on to the University of Kentucky for the start of Fall term to work on his Phd in History. His mother and I will miss him! He has been home for the last two months working as a cashier at a local box store to earn some money to continue his education. It was nice to have him back home and we will miss him. This may very well be the last time he lives at home for any extended period. I will miss the long discussions we have had about politics, history and movies. At Kentucky he will be able to cheer on Rich Brooks and the Kentucky Wildcats football team. Of course that is the same Rich Brooks that took the Oregon Ducks to the Rose Bowl in 1994 when our son was in grade school. As I posted below he will meet his sister in Indiana next month for the Oregon vs Purdue football game. Have a safe trip Son.*

*The political views expressed on this blog are not necessary our Son's nor those of other members of my family!

Sunday, August 10, 2008

WE FIVE



The "We Five" is one of my favorite singing groups of all time and most people have never heard of them. In about 1965 I purchased the above pictured record album and also the 8 Track tape so I could play it in my car. I still have the 8 Track Tape and Record and today I purchased the CD. In order to find the CD I had to drive over to Ashland to a music store that has an extensive collection on CD's. The CD has both of their only two albums that the original group put out. The first is the best "You Were On My Mind" and the second is "Make Someone Happy." When I put the CD in my car's player it was like visiting an old friend. From 1965 through 1974 I played the heck out of both the record and 8 track. Some things in the past seem better than they really were with the glow of remembrance. Not so with this albumn it is just as good as I remember it in my youth. The soft folk rock group sang mostly covers of Broadway songs and other songs written by others and just about every song on the "You Were On My Mind" album is a winner. The lead singer Beverly Bivens has a beautiful voice and she was a forerunner of the strong female voice for bands of the late 60's and 1970's. The only female vocalist who has her range is Karen Carpenter. The following is from Wikipedia:
We Five was a 1960s folk rock musical group based in San Francisco, California. Their best-known hit was their 1965 remake of Ian and Sylvia's "You Were on My Mind", which reached #1 on the Cashbox chart, #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The original group split before their second album was released in 1967, but a re-formed band produced three more albums between 1968 and 1977. The original group is probably best remembered for the fine vocal qualities of its lead singer Beverly Bivens.


To read more about the group click on the title for a link to Wikipedia.

Friday, August 08, 2008

1936-2008



The Opening Ceremonies the Red Chinese put on at the Olympics prior to the Parade of Nations entering the field made me sick! It reminded me of the Nuremberg rallies!