[teh_funnay] How One Sometimes Feels When Watching The News Out Of Salem

3198.

Tomorrow's another day, Jake.

[web_design] Presumably He Has A Significant Greeking Constituency*

2680.Jim Greenfield, hopeful Oregon 1st Congressional District Republican candidate to succeed David Wu, still, at this date, has significant lorem ipsum (or, placeholder text) issues with his significantly-uninspired website, http://greenfieldforcongress.com. 


I've detailed his problems here. They still exist as enumerated thereon. I suppose it's possible that the candidate's site is a prank. If it isn't, I'm asking myself - as a voter, now, and this speaks to branding as I've said before - does he really care all that much?

If you want a look at a site about someone who actually cares about getting elected, check out Brad Avakian's. Not a ton of song'n'dance, no fireworks, just effective layout and sensible design and communication. And no placeholder text.

Just sayin'.

* "Greeking" is also designer-speak for random placeholder text, as in the old saw it's all Greek to me, and awkwardly-written designer-political jokes.

[web_design] Jim Greenfield, OR-1 Candidate, Is Very Proud of His Lorem Ipsum

2671.Via T.A.Barnhart on Google+, I find this bit of silliness courtesy of a member of one of the silliest groups of people in Oregon … Republican Congressional also-rans. In this case, it's one of the flock of candidates vying for the seat that was vacated by 8-term Congressman David Wu.

As of today, at this time, this is Mr Greenfield's website (http://www.greenfieldforcongress.com/)

It's really kind of template-y, nothing bad but nothing especially good or creative. The antique phone is a good touch. We're using different phones now, but it's an artistic point, I suppose, though I expected a little more from a candidate who's running "an active special primary race". It's got to be more active than his website is right now. But - what! Lower left and lower right there … there's some interesting text down there.

We all want to know what any candidate of any stripe has done, and Mr Greenfield has done us a solid by telling us. Looking at the third item on that list really impressed me. I'm not disposed to vote Republiclan, but anyone who successfully esqesed dolorliquam congue fermenumn impresses me. That's no mean achievement! But that next-to-last one is a deal-breaker for me … I don't think it's good for America to promote adipsicing allquetulla. That, to me, is a lifestyle choice, and people shouldn't be discouraged from making it, but don't think my taxes should support it!

Of course, you can say whatever your experience is, your achievements can be the proof in the pudding. In this case, Mr. Greenfield's greatest achievements were using three paragraphs of lorem ipsum text and a stock filler photo of two attractive women. As a trained graphic designer, I myself am a great advocate of lorem ipsum text, so at least, even if Greenfield is a Republican, there's one thing we all can agree with.

Although I will say this about me: I've used more at one go than he did, so in that case, I'm moar qualified to be a US Congressman than he is. I also know more dialects of lorem ipsum than he does, so if you want a man who speaks the true gibberish of the people, then I am that man.

Seriously, however,  I'm sure than Jim Greenfield is more serious about his run than this website suggests it is. At least I hope he is. This speaks not only to effective web design (the template-y design of the site and the failure to do something about something so fundamental as filler text in the template suggests a design process that's at best, sloppy, and probably non-existent in reality) but speaks to branding.

Everytime a candidate speaks they're expanding their brand, what they stand for. And, aside from some standard old-wine-in-new-skin (and the skin ain't even that new, actually) about free markets and the national budget, there isn't much of anything compelling to recommend him over, say, someone who has an actual chance of winning the special election.

Although it would have been more impressive if he'd just put up a simple "coming soon" page with a donation link. Or, failing that, not letting this bowser go live at all. Or maybe not letting his web designer knock off early and go home.

The screenshots above were current as of the writing of this missive. It may have changed by the time you look at it. At least I damn skippy hope it did.

[OR_liff] 18 Days In Jail And He's A Freakin' Jean Valjean

2667.Welcome, my friends , to the story that never ends: Crime and Punishment, Bill Sizemore Edition.
After eighteen days of a sentence that he was released early on (that at least one report I've read said he probably shouldn't have been) due to good behavior, Ol' Bill was going all Victor Hugo on the conditions in Jail:

"I think it borders on cruel and unusual punishment," he said. "I was there 18 days and rarely ate the meals," he added. "I just ate Snickers bars out of the vending machines - to the best of my ability - and ate things other than what was on the trays because it was just too disgusting to me."

Thank God for the blueberry danishes in the machine, or it would have been total hell, I suppose. But credit KATU for going for the prize - since jail was such a hardship, will he turn his Energizer Bunny of Justice on the court system?

The meals costs taxpayers about $1.15 each and Sizemore suggested maybe they should spend more. But when we pointed out the irony in a tax activist wanting taxpayers to fork over more money for jail food, he changed his tune. He then said maybe they should just add fruit and other healthier choices.

One short jail sentence and it's Les Miz all of a sudden. 
KATU, thank you for the spot-on question.
Bill, thank you for just being you. Shine on, you crazy diamond.

Not Quite All In The Family

1855.

Jeff Merkley's election as junior US Senator from Oregon (Senator Merkley has such a charming ring to it) averted a strange and interesting sort of record.

Gordon Smith happens to be part of a branch of the legendary Udall family, of whose name the most famous and well known to this generation would be perhaps Mo Udall, the congressman from Arizona's 2nd who Jimmy Carter defeated intraparty to become the Democratic nominee for President in 1976.

Actually you may know that. What you may not know that he's second cousins (to be precise, double-second cousins ... I'd explain it, but my eyes just glazed over) to Mark Udall, Democratic junior-Senator elect from Colorado, and Tom Udall, Democratic junior-Senator elect from New Mexico. Had Gordon been successful in re-election, there would have for the first time been three members from a single family holding Senate seats.

There are 100 Senate seats. There are 300,000,000 USAians. I mean, what are the odds here? You guys run the numbers, my brain is doing layout for the OryCon pocket program book.

On the downside, Gordon can't show his cousins around the Capitol. Upside? Probably would have been a little awkward.

Tags: Strange But True, US Senate, Gordon Smith, Jeff Merkley, Tom Udall, Mark Udall, Udall Family

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President Obama: The Complete Victory Speech

1853.

I know quite a few other people are doing this, but I want to chime in too.

Love him or hate him, this is by far the best, smartest, brightest and most positive and hopeful political victory speech yet uttered since the days of ... well, pretty much ever.

Take it away, Mr President-Elect:

Election Night – Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 – Chicago, Illinois

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled – Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It’s the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.

I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he’s fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation’s promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation’s next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House. And while she’s no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics – you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you’ve sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to – it belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn’t start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington – it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.
It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.

I know you didn’t do this just to win an election and I know you didn’t do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime – two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they’ll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor’s bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you – we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years – block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek – it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers – in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House – a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, “We are not enemies, but friends…though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.” And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn – I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world – our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down – we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security – we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright – tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America – that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that’s on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing – Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons – because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America – the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves – if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes We Can.

Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.

I feel as though I've exhaled after holding my breath for almost eight years.

Tags: President Barack Obama

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Repeat After Me: Tim Hibbetts Is NEVER Wrong

1852.

Been busy the last twelve hours, so I couldn't follow things as close as I'd like to have.

But, catching bits and pieces from the media coverage, after Jeff re-overtook El Gordo in the afternoon, the lead remained small for a while but Jeff's campaign didn't have to look back.

Just down the street, where Jeff actually lives, cars were parked outside his house all day as friends came by to help him watch the results.

And then, last night, the media started calling it; first, KGW, then The Big O.

Some outlets are relcutant to call the election as also is, understandably, the Smith campaign.

But it looks like the Real Democrat is winning.

And Tim Hibbetts remains the way to bet.

Tags: Jeff Merkley, Gordon Smith, US Senator Oregon

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Merkley's Got The Lead Back

1851.

About 1,200 up now, according to KPTV

Merkley, 645711. Smith, 644544.

Tags: jeff merkley, gordon smith

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Merkley's Closing In

1850.

Gap's down to just over 2,000 now.

Tags: Jeff Merkley, Gordon Smith

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Tim Hibbetts and the Case of the Disappearing Checkmark

1849.

Last night Tim Hibbetts at KPTV called it for Merkley, and I went with that, knowing that Tim seems never ever to be wrong.

We are on edge here watching the Smith lead, of course. We think Jeff should win! But the interesting thing is how the results on the KPTV web page have been displayed.

Hibbetts, noting that the the majority of the Multnomah County results had not been released (only 72 per cent of the vote has still been counted as of this writing, Smith at approx 623,000 and Merkley at approx 612,000, around a 12,000 vote difference) stood by his prediction as the night wore on and Jeff's lead became Gordon's lead.

Since I'm obsessive about Jeff winning, I stared at that KPTV web page for a lot longer than I should have. Eventually, sometime during the night ... about 3 am or so ... the red check declaring Jeff the winner came off.

In the morning, tho', on GDO, Tim's word was reported: he's standing by his projection, because the Multnomah vote still remains largely uncounted. And there's more than enough Multnomah County votes left over to swing this election the other way.

The checkmark went right back on.

Whoa. Just checked the KPTV page. Jeff's gained about 4,000 while Gordon's only up another 1000. Looks like the lead's shrinking. 625994 to 616745. Smith's lead was as great as 15000 at one point when I looked.

Jack's got a good explanation as to why it's premature to count Jeff out just yet.

We're staying with Jeff too.

Tags: Jeff Merkley, Gordon Smith, Oregon US Senate 2008, KPTV

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Election Night Speeches

1848.

Two different speeches, two slightly different worlds:

• Barack Obama: He speaks from the heart. It's nice to have someone like that talk to me and not at me.


• John McCain: If he'd of run his campaign with the class he delivered that speech with, he might have had more of a chance of winning.

And how about that crowd at the McCain party, huh? One thing about republicans ... they know how to keep it classy.

Tags: Barack Obama, John McCain, Election 2008, 4 Nov 2008, President Obama

The Real Democrat is Winning

1847.

On KPTV, Tim Hibbetts has called it for Merkley.

And Hibbetts is never wrong.

Update: The thing about Hibbetts is, even though I can't see what he's thinking, I understand where he's going: All uncounted vote totals are not created equal. So, while KOIN's election analyst was noting that there were still 40 per cent of the vote yet to count and was reluctant to call it, Hibbetts observed that the areas that remained uncounted were primarily from Multnomah County (which we can expect to go hard for the Merk) and in the rural Oregon counties which are Smith's strength and reliably republican, he's not winning by the margins he once did.

For example: Hibbetts (I'm working on memory here) said that while Deschutes County was voting Smith, the margin was much, much smaller than in 2002 ... I think he said that it was right now something around only 2000 votes. And with the Multnomah vote still not completely counted, even though 40 per cent of the vote remains to be tallied, what's left over will more than likely go for Smith.

This is why when Tim talks, you should listen.

Repeat after me: Tim Hibbetts is never wrong.

Tags: Jeff Merkley, The Merk, Gordon Smith, Tim Hibbetts, Oregon_politik

Hart's Location, New Hampshire, Goes For Obama

1844.

One of the first votes in the nation, done at 12:01 am Eastern Standard Time, 4 Nov 2008 in a place called Hart's Location, New Hampshire (who disputes the first balloting honors with Dixville Notch, has gone to Obama:

for those who don't wish to clicky to embiggen, here's the tally:

Obama/Biden 17
McCain/Palin 10

... and two knuckleheads who wrote in Ron Paul.

Tags: Election 2008, Obama, New Hampshire, first vote, Hart's Location

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Why I Think People Should Vote No On Measure 64

1843.

Because if you do, it's the same as going to the home of a public employee, sitting down, and telling them that you have more of a right to tell them where their political dollars go than they do.

Would you take that from some stranger (are you goofy enough to answer that one yes)? Anyone who tried that with me would get a swift kick out the door.

The ten-dollar-word-of-the-day from these mobsters who are running the slick ads telling you to vote for it is "co-mingling". And, in typical Frank Luntz-inspired cynicism, they hang thier hat on that like you wouldn't believe.

But it's the wrong word, of course. The concept you should be fixating on is "payroll deduction". As in "I choose to support something, so, please, take something out of my paycheck ... my own money I got paid for work I did for someone else, and it's my money to do with as I please, thank you very much".

There's already mechanisms in place, I'm told, that allow state employees who don't like the employee unions' politics, to to contribute to those political causes. So state employees can already opt out.

And thats why you see those commercials saying how you'll silence the political voices of nurses, firefighters, and police. Because that's what you'll be doing. And political voices are something all of us deserve to have – whether you like it or not. And the money they're doing it with is thier pay. Certainly they get paid with "our tax dollars" – another concept that gets beat to a bloody pulp in the service of cynical people. But once that money gets paid to them, that's their pay, and if they want to support thier union with it, to be blunt – that's none of our say.

How about if I came to your house and told you you don't get to donate to a Democrat or a republican just because I didn't like them?

Now imagine you're going up to a policeman, firefighter, or nurse and telling them the same thing.

Good luck with that.

Measure 64 is an insult. Don't vote for it.

Tags: Or_politik, Oregon Politics, Racketeer Bill Sizemore, Measure 64

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Why I Think People Should Vote For Jeff Merkley

1842.

Life is a lopsided thing. In some ways, I have a great deal. In other important ways, I desperately need a great deal.

One of the lucky things in my life is that me and mine is that, in a literal way, I am almost a neighbor of Jeff Merkley. He and his live in a house very near to me and mine. I live in Oregon's 47th State House district, which, if you wonder, is on the east side of Portland, east of I-205, in the area that Willamette Week thinks is Gresham. It looks like this:

Just a big ol' tract of suburban folks of all sorts of incomes (but none of us are especially wealthy), lots of ethnicities, and about as many different levels of success as there are people who live here. I don't think we're all necessarily liberal or conservative at our hearts regardless of our world view – we're just good neighbors­–the kind who live and let live, and who won't hassle you but will ask how you're doing or pitch in a little if you need help.

And Glendoveer Golf Course ... a public course, not a private one ... is right near the middle of the district. And we have two Target stores. And 122nd Avenue, where you can pretty much find anything you need.

Anyway, as I was saying, I live very close to Jeff Merkley. I found this out only very recently. Me and The Wife™ met his wife as she was doing her daily run with thier dog down my street. Very sweet and friendly lady, who took a moment as we were leaving on our own little errand to stop and chat with us for a few minutes and thank us just for putting up a lawn sign for Jeff.

She didn't have to do that. She did do that.

Since I live in the same neighborhood Oregon's next junior Senator lives in, I have some idea of how he and his family lives. Those commercials where he's being just folks and meeting people where they are aren't just image. They're him. And I've only met him once in person, but just knowing he lives in a house about the same size as me tells me a few things: he probably has a mortgage, he and his wife come from a place where they have had to work in regular old jobs like myself.

And he actually lives here. I don't imagine his opponent actually finds himself in Oregon all that much, except when he has to campaign. I understand he recently spent one day knocking on doors in Oregon. Just one day. It made news. But when Jeff comes home from the campaign trail? It's just to a normal old house, on the east side of Portland.

Now, it may seem naïve to look at the world so. But I came from a working class world. I'm still in that world. And I can't help but think that someone who is almost literally my neighbor and lives closer to my level will probably do more for me than a man who's looking at life from Senator Gordon "I'm not a Democrat, but I play one on TV" Smith's POV, who might not ever see me as the kind of person who could ever be his neighbor.

I don't think Senator Smith really cares all that much about Oregon unless you're someone like him. I'm sure Jeff Merkley cares about Oregon and all Oregonians, even if you don't see eye-to-eye with him.

Because that's the way Democrats roll, regardless of what you've heard about him.

And, like most of us, Jeff and his wife know what it's like to earn a paycheck. As do I. And people like us never forget where we came from.

I'm voting for my neighbor, Jeff Merkley. And I think everyone should too.

Because, in an election between a Democrat and a pretend Democrat, you should always vote for the Democrat.

Tags: Oregon Politics, Or_Politik, Jeff Merkly, Oregon 47th, Oregon Senator

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I Am All Oregon, Baby, The List Explained: Nos. 1-10

1841.

In the master I Am All Oregon, Baby list, reprised here, I listed a fish-ladder's worth of trivia and personal observations on a life lived as an Oregonian. It's not a quiz, but I think it would be fair this time to post my commentary on my remarks (which Stan did the yeoman's job in taking on in the comments to that listing).

We'll do it in sections. Here, comments on the items 1-10.

You could really be an Oregonian if:

1. You know who Gene Brendler is: Gene Brendler, who passed away a few years back, was one of the stalwart faces of KPTV Channel 12 ... Yesterday's KPTV, anyway. If you follow the link previous, you'll see his young face in the upper right hand corner of the fabulous YKPTV front page. Perhaps not the most classically-handsome face ever on TV, but warm and affable and a definite sign you were watching Oregon's 12. He hosted more than a dozen programs over the course of over 30 years with KPTV and was, as much as Rod Anders or any one of those pesonalities, part of the heart and soul of the legendary 12.

2. You watched Ramblin' Rod: Speaking of whom, Rod Anders was KPTV to the kids. For about as long as Gene Brendler was employed, Rod helmed the morning kiddie show, which was for years known as Popeye's Pier 12 and lastly The Ramblin' Rod Show. Smile contests, the button-replete sweater, the never-ending smile and the commercials for Pop Shoppe pop ... there won't be another like Rod coming this way, we fear. He was one of the last of a breed of purely Portland entertainers, including such names as Rusty Nailes the clown and Bob Adkins ... or as the kids knew him, Addie Bobkins.

3. You or some family member appeared on Ramblin' Rod, no matter what age you are: while the on-stage audience for RR was chiefly kids from elementary school, sometimes the adveturious group of teenagers would be on as a lark. Rod cheerfully welcomed all.

4. You inveigled your parent(s) to buy Pop Shoppe pop because you saw it on Rambin' Rod. Yes, The Pop Shoppe, pioneers in recycling and amazing flavors. You bought the little bottles, gulped them down,and took them back to Pop Shoppe for more. And RR was the place most of us heard of them first. And me and my brothers begged until we got 'em.

5. You know what Ramblin' Rod and Lars Larson have in common. This one is for real heavy locals. Both Rod and Lars came from Tillamook. Wikipedia on Rod has it that he started at KTIL radio in Tillamook, as did Lars. KTIL today is known as KMBD-AM 1590, though the KTIL brand still exists on the FM side. Fittingly, Teh_Lars's show is still carried on KMBD ... how's that for closing the circle?

6. You can name which TV stations the following personalities anchored for: Richard Ross, Pete Schulberg, Ivan Smith, Kathy Smith (no apparent relation), Bill Lagatutta, Bill O'Reilly (yes, that Bill O'Reilly), Robin Chapman, Tom McCall, Fred Jenkins, Rod Luck, Jim Bosley, Rick Meyers: Stan did a great job at answering this one, so here, for the edification of all (and ups to Stan) is the answers to the above (I'm way sketch on the dates, so if anyone can offer them up, I will edit):

• Richard Ross (d. 2007, age 86): Started at KGW, finished with KATU.


• Pete Schulberg: KGW, later had a great column at The Big O, which I miss still. Ames Carlin has followed his act well, but there's only one Pete Schulberg.


• Ivan Smith: KGW. Started there with Richard Ross.


• Kathy Smith: KGW as well as KATU and KPTV when the "Oregon's 12" brand was rolled out. Either she or Tracy Barry (still working at KGW) was famous for changing hair color every so often.


• Bill Lagatutta: Kathy Smith's co-anchor during part of her service at KGW (early-mid 80's, if memory serves)


• Bill O'Reilly: The Factored One (yes, Mr. WE'LL DO IT LIVE!)was famously on KATU for a brief time in the mid-80's, which I (thankfully) missed). Legend has it that he was soon moved on after he neglected to remove his check stub from the copier. This is complete hearsay and I can't remember where I first heard it to say it. I respectfully request you put the appropriate amount of stock in it.


• Robin Chapman: KGW. I remember her from the Evening local magazine show. I had a crush on her. Loved her hair. This was mid 70s.


• Tom McCall: The Best Governor Ever™began as a news anchor on KGW with Richard Ross and Ivan Smith. left KGW in 1964 to become Governor of Oregon.


• Fred Jenkins: Science editor on KATU. I learned to identify and home in on his voice because science was, in my kid vernacular at the time, "neat".


• Rod Luck: Sports anchor at KATU toward the end of the Eyewitness News years. I remember something about his tenure being stormy, but I can't now say why.


• Jim Bosley (d. 2008, age 73): The Greatest Weatherman Ever™, his bald, smiling, avuncular countenance would be one of the defining voices on Oregon's unpredictable weather. His Rating The Day annoyed me a bit, though, because the rate depended on how nice the day was. A dry day in the 70s is great ... but not when you're in a drought. But I quibble, shame upon me thereon.


• Rick Meyers: The face of KATU during the Eyewitness News days. I liked this fellow. Something about his basic good looks and measured delivery just seemed to say that the man dripped intelligence. For some years after retiring from the anchor desk he gave occasional commentary, and I watched for those to. I was a Rick Meyers fan.

7. You know what Fred G. Meyer's middle initial stood for. Fred Meyer was the man when it came to shopping in Oregon. Credited as one of the originators of the One Stop Shopping concept, he started in downtown Portland at SW 5th and Yamhill and conquered the Northwest. But what did the G. in his name stand for? We surmise the following, because nowhere is it explained, but it is common-enough knowledge that his birth name was Frederick Grubmeyer. If there's one thing Fred understood, it's marketing, and Fred G. Meyer is a lot easier on the eye and the tongue than Fred Grubmeyer (and makes for more compact signs too).

So, strictly speaking, the G. either stands for nothing (if he was given no middle name at birth) or represents the part of Fred's name that was lopped off. It is entirely possible, of course, that he did have an actual middle name starting with G, but there's no record we can find of what that might have been.

We see nothing amiss in altering one's name to be more marketable, for what that's worth.

8. You knew that Freddy's was where you found things were "My-te-Fine". "My-te-Fine" was Fred Meyer's house brand until about late 70s/early 80's. The logo were three distintive crossing stripes (of primaryish colors of which I curiously forget) with the MY-TE-FINE on the one running from upper left to lower right. Succeeded by President's Choice, succeeded by whatever they're doing now. (NB: due to its ownership by the Kroeger chain, we sometimes call FM "Freddy Kroeger's". And calling it "Freddy's" just gets on The Wife™'s nerves)

9. You remember than Fred Meyer once had a store on SW Morrison St in Downtown Portland. There was one. It was a small thing, on the southeast corner of SW 5th and Morrison, and was about the size of a large 5-and-Dime/Drug Store. It really was a strange and wonderful little place. After the building (The Corbett Building) it was in was levelled, it moved to SW 6th and Alder, then became a PayLess Drugs. I think it's a Rite-Aid now.

10. You understand why all Fred Meyer ads that aired during that time seemed to indicated that virtually nothing Fred Meyer advertised was sold at that Morrison Street Store. It was intriguing to someone like me, familiar with Freddy's and reared in the hinterlands, to see how, as the avuncular voice of the FM commercials peppily stated, "Available at all stores except Morrison". It became an article of faith. Well, see the last answer: you could take the Morrison store and fit it into the Gateway store maybe ten times over and still have room left over for a 7-Eleven or two. It was tiny, strange, and wonderful. I must have spent an hour and a half browsing the Morrison store when I finally got to see it just because I couldn't believe there was a Freddy's this small.

Next time, the answers for numbers 11 to 20. Bis naechestn Mal!

Tags: Portlandiana, Oregon history, oregoniana, oregon stuff, personal history, Fred Meyer, My-te-fine, Rod Anders, Lars Larson, teh_lars

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PALINdrome.

1840.

Wasilla's all I saw

(via)

Tags: political clever, political teh_funnay, teh_funnay, brittany gilbert

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[liff, or_politik] Putting It Off

1565. Yeah, we wait until the last minute.

To some, vote-by-mail has been around forever it seems. But it wasn't actually that long ago that Oregon had its polling stations too. Election day was a real event then ... watching the news, staying up past midnight in tight races as the votes were counted from the precincts.

Needless to say, election day isn't the house party it once was. Thanks to the cool efficiency of modern vote tabulators combined with the immediacy of having all the ballots on site at 8 PM, they usually grind these things out real quick-like.

But we still sit in for elections.

And we wait until election day to drop off our ballots. It's kind of like going to the polls used to be.

Now, in this age of republicans gaming every polling system there is, vote-by-mail, which I hated coming in, looks pretty smart now, and I'm happy we do it this way. I admit it ... I was wrong about this.

But waiting to drop our ballots until the 20th ... sorry to keep y'all on pins and needles about how this household his going to vote, everyone, but it's just like old times.

Happy election day.

Tags: or_history, or_politik, May 20th, election day, or_elections

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[pdx_politik, teh_funnay] Portland Political Season Trading Cards, Series 2008, #5

1521. #5: Beryl McNair.

A note on style: While the other cards have been adapted from pictures of vintage baseball cards, this one is intended to look more like a modern card. The readers experience may be different, but our experience is that womens professional sports, as a marketable commodity on a par with the men's pro leagues, is a relatively recent development (and still somewhat on the bubble ... the WNBA is still playing, though sadly not here in Portland (who else misses the Fire?)) Consequently we feel that a sports card for a woman player would be most believable with a more contemporary look. This particular adaptation is 100% original, and takes its cue from the high gloss quality production levels we typically find in the modern sports collectible card.

Tags: Portland Political season, pdx_politik, Beryl McNair, Portland Mayor 2008

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[or_politik] Congratulations, Arlington

1393. For courageously holding a recall election that turned back the tide of hot, hardbodied MILFs looking to run your city, thus scoring the blue ribbon prize for "Biggest Waste Of Municipal Governing Time in Oregon", and making yourselves the butt of political humor in Oregon for at least six months to a year.

Actually, we find out that Arlington is just a simmering mass of civic unrest. Why, that Mayor-woman actually cut two positions at the city golf course!

As usual, everyone's for reducing the cost of municipal services until their sacred cow gets slaughtered.

Then, one flash of unmentionable and it's Katie-bar-the-door time. That's the way it is every danged time ...

Better not tell them about Silverton; they got a crossdresser on the city council down there! That'd make their collective heads asplode.

Tags: arlington, carmen kontur-gronquist, oregon politics, bluenoses

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