Independence Day

We are free of Sarah Palin. Let the fireworks begin!

Friday Fireworks Song: Joni Mitchell

To celebrate this 4th of July, I can’t think of a better sonic tonic than Joni Mitchell’s lovely “Night Ride Home” from her 1991 disc of the same title. It’s easily one of her great works, an expert combo of wistful, perceptive lyrics and intricate musical stylings. I highly recommend you grab a copy for whatever journey you’re making this independence weekend. Roll down the window, crank up the stereo and drive safe in sound on the open road…

Hasta La Vista, Baby

Sarah Palin’s Crutch

From Flag Rules and Regulations:

8. When the flag is displayed in a manner other than by being flown from a staff, it should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out. When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag’s own right, that is, to the observer’s left. When displayed in a window it should be displayed in the same way, that is with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street. When festoons, rosettes or drapings are desired, bunting of blue, white and red should be used, but never the flag.

UPDATE: Hours after this post, Sarah Palin resigns as Governor. Uses strange basketball metaphor to explain decision. The GOP watches the dirt hit their coffin.

Karl Malden RIP

Here’s Karl Malden ripping it up as a preacherman from POLLYANNA:

Talk about an amazing century spanning career.

LOS ANGELES – The family of Karl Malden says the actor who won an Oscar for his role in “A Streetcar Named Desire” has died at age 97. Malden’s family informed the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences of his death on Wednesday. Malden served as the academy’s president from 1989-92.

He made his screen debut in the 1940 movie “They Knew What They Wanted,” and was praised for his role as Mitch in the 1951 classic “A Streetcar Named Desire.”

“We will, in fact, be greeted as liberators.”

Strike that, reverse:

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – U.S. troops pulled out of Baghdad on Monday, triggering jubilation among Iraqis hopeful that foreign military occupation is ending six years after the invasion to depose Saddam Hussein.

Iraqi soldiers paraded through the streets in their American-made vehicles draped with Iraqi flags and flowers, chanting, dancing and calling the pullout a “victory.”

Favorite Movie Song Theater: A Mighty Wind (2003)

Speaking of revolution, not only is this a perfect esthetic duplication of a folk anthem from the 1960’s, it’s just a cool tune that probably would have been a hit in the protest day:

Meanwhile In Iran

Here’s a link to a blog with up to the date messages from the revolution.

“Look At This Fucking Hipster”

Funniest site of the year.

Saturday Morning 1974

Ease On Down The Road

I walk into Tiny’s coffeeshop and the guy next to the counter asks me if I heard Michael Jackson is dead. I thought he meant his career so I said, “Yeah I know.” But no. He meant Michael Jackson Is Dead.

Michael Jackson dead at 50?

Farrah Fawcett RIP

This is how I’ll always think of her:

Don’t Cry For Him, Argentina

COLUMBIA, S.C. – After going AWOL for seven days, Gov. Mark Sanford admitted Wednesday that he had secretly flown to Argentina to visit a woman with whom he was having an affair. Wiping away tears, he apologized to his family and gave up a national Republican Party post, but was silent on whether he would resign.

“I’ve been unfaithful to my wife,” he said in a news conference in which the 49-year-old governor ruminated on God’s law, moral absolutes and following one’s heart. He said he spent the last five days “crying in Argentina.”

See Ya In Portland

Kodachrome No More

Somewhere Paul Simon is wistful…