On the way to the Moda center last night, amongst all the fans jaywalking to the arena, and the ones guzzling beers before the game at Dr. Jacks, the ratio of blue and gold to red and black was most definitely skewed in the Golden State Warrior’s favor. Normally I glare in their direction and […]
Deathwatch
Posted inSports
Report: LaMarcus Aldridge to Leave Blazers? More Importantly, Has Anyone Checked in on Ian Karmel?
According to Mike Tokito at the O, the Portland Trail Blazers may be losing All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge to another team in free agency. This disappointing revelation came courtesy of Assistant Coach Kim Hughes who blurted it out during an interview with an Indiana TV station on Tuesday. Here’s what he said. “We didn’t publicize […]
Posted inTV
RIP Fraggle Rock‘s “Doc”
Courtesy Muppet Wiki Fraggle Rock‘s Doc & Sprocket Gerard Parkes, best known as “Doc” from the Jim Henson kids show Fraggle Rock passed away on Sunday at the age of 90 from natural causes. A prolific actor in Canada with many roles under his belt, his biggest fame came from playing the kindly inventor on […]
Posted inDrunk
Damn It. There Goes the Matador.
After weeks of rumor and speculation, the owner of longtime West Burnside watering hole the Matador—by anyone’s account one of the finest bars, dive or otherwise, in our fair city—announced this evening the place will be closing its doors on Friday. Owner Casey Maxwell had told the Mercury as recently as a week ago that […]
Posted inComedy
Joan Rivers, Pioneering Comedian-Turned-Contentious TV Personality, Has Died
The official word, from Rivers’ friends and employers at E!: Joan Rivers has passed away at 81 years old. Her daughter, Melissa Rivers, released the following statement: “It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother. She passed peacefully at 1:17pm surrounded by family and close friends. My son and I […]
Posted inMusic
“Metal Band to Play In a Box Until They Run Out of Oxygen”
This almost sounds like the best-worst idea I’ve heard in a long time. As part of an art installation by Portuguese artist João Onofre, the UK death metal band Unfathomable Ruination will be playing in an airtight, soundproofed box until they can play in that airtight, soundproofed box no more. Onofre’s box has been on […]
Posted inTV
R.I.P. Brit Comedian Rik Mayall
Though perhaps best remembered for his starring role in Drop Dead Fred, comedian/actor Rik Mayall (who passed away suddenly today at age 56) was also featured in such great British comedies as Black Adder (as the hilarious Lord Flashheart) and as anarchist/poet Rick in the verrrrry funny “punk” sitcom The Young Ones which ran from […]
Posted inBooks
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The AP is reporting that Gabriel Garcia Marquez has died: BREAKING: Source close to family says Nobel laureate novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez has died.— The Associated Press (@AP) April 17, 2014 The Nobel Prize winner has been ill for a very long time. This is very sad news. We won’t see another talent like his […]
Posted inDeathwatch
Fred Phelps Is Finally Fucking Dead!
Jesus, that took a while. But the guy’s dead, finally. Thank fucking God.
Posted inReligion
Fred Phelps: Excommunicated and Near Death
So… it sounds like the hate machine founded by Fred Phelps—Westboro Baptist Church—has turned on its founder: Some online sources are reporting that Fred Phelps Sr., pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church, a Topeka church known for its virulently anti-gay pickets, may be near death…. The reports are mostly based on a late Saturday Facebook […]
Posted in?!?!?
Plane vs. Ocean
It sounds like the search for the missing flight 370 may be shifting west, into the Indian Ocean. So how hard is it to find a Boeing 777 in the Indian Ocean*? Since we humans are so bad at contemplating things at massive scale (the solar system, for example), Rob Cockerham has helpfully translated this […]
Posted inMusic
Devo Guitarist Bob Casale Dies at 61
Sad, sad news: Bob Casale (or “Bob 2”) of Devo has passed away today from heart failure. Bob’s brother Gerald Casale, also a founding memeber of Devo, wrote on the band’s Facebook earlier today: As an original member of Devo, Bob Casale was there in the trenches with me from the beginning. He was my […]