News The weirdest summer diversion in town has come to an end. In case you've been living in a cave, the Merc's Amy Ruiz and I are moderating an inexplicable but monumentally consequential duel between the blogs of the Portland Water Bureau and the local Red Cross chapter. Here's the recap. We're not revealing the winners yet. Monday: Base a post on the news of the day, Musharraf's resignation. Blood, ...   More

News You Tell 'Em, Jon! Jon Stewart scolds assembled media in Denver: "Why do I take this more seriously than you?" You Tell 'Em, Space Alien: Apparently, he's called every election since 1980. John McCain thinks he's hardcore but these guys could kick his ass. But Seriously, this New Yorker story on the tragedy that is modern Burma is required reading. I Hear You Callin': 911 reports ...   More

News Anybody who has ever moved halfway across the country—and there are more than a few of you out here in PDX who've done just that—knows that it can be a hell of a lot of work. You've got to secure housing, find a job, figure out what's worth bringing, find a way to transport it, and then spend days driving or riding across often barren landscapes, alternating weight from one butt cheek ...   More

News SARAH SINGS: It's pretty easy to pick on Sarah Bin Laden...oops,I mean Palin. The woman is a treasure trove of material. Especially when she sings. Yes, sings! Here's the Fey-looker singing (and dancing) with the Wassila Singers. The Pop-Up video bits are genius. Oh, yeah. And The New Yorker has a nice piece here, too. [youtube KNVuuhurbZA] (Hat tip: World of Wonder.) (FORMERLY) PREGNANT MAN ...   More

News If you've been around long enough to remember to remember the last time the banks went kablooey , you've probably been wondering why John McCain hasn't been haunted more in recent weeks by the specter of convicted influence peddler Charles Keating, whom Sen. (then Rep.) McCain protected in the late 1980s as Keating looted the failing Lincoln Savings & Loan and left taxpayers holding the bag for ...   More

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News Tuesday update: We have some good video clips for you! One of the highlights of last night's Candidates Gone Wild came early in the program, when City Commissioner Randy Leonard interrupted the proceedings to show a video documenting his shocking claim that Mayor-elect Sam Adams is not gay. Here's the setup: [youtube dAO0WFcIECo] Here's the video (bootleg footage from the audience by Byron Beck): [youtube ...   More

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News Over at Politico, Jonathan Martin has a post on a back-of-the-jet conversation with McCain campaign manager Rick Davis about his candidate's dwindling chances of victory. It closes with an Oregon punchline: Pressed for details on McCain's election day travel – he's slated to leave Arizona and hit Colorado and New Mexico while the polls are open – Davis joked:“We may not ...   More

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