Sputnik Mania details the start of the arms race between the USA and those no-good commie bastards.
Ned Lannamann
Ned Lannamann is a writer and editor in Portland, Oregon. He writes about film, music, TV, books, travel, tech, food, drink, outdoors, and other things.
WELCOME TO THE BEST OF 1988 ISSUE
It’s the 20th anniversary of 1988—and to celebrate, the Mercury is taking you on a trip back in time to that fateful year when… well, okay, not a lot of stuff happened. However! For those of you (and us) who have only recently arrived in Portland, a glimpse 20 years into the past reveals that […]
Better Than Shakespeare
Titus Andronicus love the Bard and the Boss.
Ebert Kicked Off His Own Show
Readers, I am concerned about Mercury Film Editor Erik Henriksen’s level of respect for his fellow film critics. When I mentioned I wished to blog about esteemed film critic Roger Ebert getting kicked off his TV show, At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper, he said that I should, as long as I referred to […]
A Well-Respected Man
Bow down to the mighty Ray Davies.
Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July Celebration
Willie Nelson is probably stoned in this concert documentary.
Oldest Joke in the World: Not Funny
Ha! Ha! Ha! A post on MetaFilter today cites an article in Smithsonian Magazine from February 2008. “Found: the oldest joke in the world,” read the headline in the Sunday Times of London on June 29, 1997. Inscribed on a roll of papyrus, the hoary jape could be translated as a riddle: “How do you […]
It’s Kinks Week!
To coincide with Ray Davies‘ Portland appearance this Friday, we’ll be posting all week long about the Kinks on End Hits! We’ll have video and audio, and as many pictures of Dave Davies wearing plaid pants as we can find. So come on over to End Hits and find out what the Kinks really meant* […]
Mississippi Records Shuns Street Fair, Plays Dickish But Humorous Prank
At the Mississippi Street Fair yesterday. After an initial groan of “Ohhhhh shit!,” we determined this was a hoax put on by Mississippi Records, who decided to get the hell out of dodge for yesterday’s street fair. They shuttered their storefront and played Kenny G from an outdoor speaker; they left a marker with a […]
It Can’t All Be Low
Low’s Alan Sparhawk unleashes the Retribution Gospel Choir.
Hot Air
Balloon-twisting documentary ties itself up in knots.
