Archive | Portside

November 29, 2013

I'll Have What He's Having: Dogs Eavesdrop on Human Interactions

Michelle Dohm PLOS One

Do dogs "listen in" to interactions among human beings, and learn who it is best to beg from? Yup.

November 29, 2013

Vermont Approves Single-Payer Health Care: ‘Everybody In, Nobody Out’

Salvatore Aversa Occupy Democrats

Vermont is the home of Ben and Jerry’s, maple syrup, Bernie Sanders and the first state to pass marriage equality. Now, Vermont will be known for something that will impact every resident in the state -- a single payer health care system.

Billie Holiday Sings 'Strange Fruit'

November 29, 2013

Billie Holiday created the powerful classic rendition of the anti-lynching song by Abe Meeropol.

Nina Simone -- 'Strange Fruit'

November 29, 2013

Nina Simone's album Pastel Blues, released in 1965, included her version of Strange Fruit.

November 29, 2013

Strange Thanks

Robert Meeropol robertmeeropol.com

Although the great red scare of the 1950s almost erased the anti-lynching song Strange Fruit from the public arena, the strange fruit allusion - lynched bodies hanging from trees – was one of genius. It had gotten under our culture’s skin, and as time went on, it seeped out of its pores.

November 29, 2013

Protest at Wal-Mart in Ontario on Black Friday Draws Dozens of Workers

James Barragan Los Angeles Times

Black Friday Wal-Mart protesters, including community members, demanded fair wages and better working conditions. As they reached the front of the store, their chants of "What do we want? Justice!" grew louder.

'I'm on my way to Canaan land'

November 29, 2013

Burt Lancaster stars as the religious huckster Elmer Gantry in the 1960 movie version of Sinclair Lewis' novel. Find more Alt-Xmas music here.

Atheists Don't Have No Songs (Steve Martin)

November 29, 2013

Steve Martin fills a gap in the seasonal hymnal by creating a song for atheists. Musically appropriate, if irreverent. Find more Alt-Xmas music here.

Son House "Preachin' Blues"

November 29, 2013

Son House was a preacher before becoming a seminal figure in the development of blues. Here he creates short, vivid portraits of church-goers. Find more Alt-Xmas music here.

Way Down in the Hole (Tom Waits)

November 29, 2013

Tom Waits performs all the somewhat sardonic verses of Down in the Hole, a song best known from the fragment that serves as the musical signature for the tv series The Wire. Find more Alt-Xmas music here.