James Brown – “I’m Black and I’m Proud”

Marvin Gaye – “Let’s Get It On”

We’ve already featured “A Change is Gonna to Come” (a few times!), so here’s something to mix it up a bit. Here’s to history, and to all those who made it possible, with a tune for the fighters, and one for the lovers. We need ‘em both as we march to November, and beyond.

Oh, sorry, it’s the Democratic National Convention, 2008. Carry on…

(Cross-posted at Vagabond Scholar)

Silly or asinine coverage is nothing new, but I was struck last night by a few mind-numbing passages in Obama-VP pieces. Those concerns have been eclipsed by Ron Fournier’s AP hit piece today, though. Still, there’s a continuity in that the press continues to insert themselves into the story, and for the ill.

First up, let’s look at this one from The Politico, running on Yahoo:

Obama’s striptease may be risky

Fred Barbash
Fri Aug 22, 7:08 PM ET

In dragging out the announcement of his vice presidential nominee to almost the eve of the Democratic National Convention, Barack Obama has at once demonstrated his willingness to defy conventional political expectations — and to hold the news media in his thrall while doing it.
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We’ll be seeing an avalanche of Biden pieces in the next few days and weeks, Kathy G has a good overview of the positives and negatives on Biden. Washington Post blog The Fix earlier considered the case for and against Biden. The WaPo also asked a number of people for their reactions, and it’s sorta funny and educational to see the Republicans try out their attack lines. Still, the hawkish WaPo op-ed board likes the pick overall (even if the piece is sprinkled through with some bullshit, especially on Iraq, but then, this is the WaPo op-ed board). If the Beltway conventional wisdom is positive (more on that in the next post), that’s a good thing.
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Recently, I discovered that the solution to two big news stories lay in two other news stories. At least, that’s the Principle of Economy in Truthiness at work.

Let’s turn to our first story, from The Washington Post:
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The Beatles - “I’m So Tired”

Just the track here, but a great one, which goes out to all my fellow insomniac bloggers…

From the often brilliant Tom Toles.

(Cross-posted at Vagabond Scholar)

From someecards, via C&L. They’ve got quite a few funny cards, including this one:

It makes me think of this Simpsons exchange:

Marge: Well, most women will tell you that you’re a fool to think you can change a man. But those women are quitters! When I first met your father, he was loud, oafish and rude. But I worked hard and now, he’s a whole different person.

Lisa: Mom?

Marge: (forcefully) He’s a whole different person, Lisa.

Ah, love.

(Cross-posted at Vagabond Scholar)

John McCain’s desktop, from Quiddity at uggabugga:

(Click here for a larger view.)

Meanwhile, in “The True Story Of Blackazoid,” Jesse Taylor at Pandagon has posted “Obama’s real birth certificate”:
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Another recent loss was legendary music producer Jerry Wexler. Mike Finnigan, who worked with him, has a good remembrance. I’ll also pass on NPR’s piece. As with Wexler’s colleague, Ahmet Ertegün, he will be missed.

Every account I’ve heard about Jerry Wexler talks about what an encyclopedic knowledge of music he had, and how much he loved music and musicians. For the man who coined the term “Rhythm and Blues,” there’s another word that also comes to mind:

(Cross-posted at Vagabond Scholar)