Portside

Dr. Ben Goldacre doing standup at Nerdstock. In this bit, Goldacre explains that not only do placebos have real effects, they even have real side effects.

The Hong Kong Festival Orchestra gives a flashmob performance of Beethoven's Ode to Joy in 2013. A spiritual prelude to Occupy Hong Kong and the Democracy Encampments? 

Stevie Wonder performs Living for the City in Seattle (Dec 2014), preceded by his explanation of why it is relevant to the America of Ferguson and Eric Garner.

The Opera Company of Philadelphia Chorus, together with singers from a cross section of community groups, infiltrate a department store as shoppers and burst into a pop-up rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah," in one of 1,000 Random Acts of Culture. Watch the performers, delighted children, spontaneous videographers, and the entire public within earshot together "create culture."

For a biographical account of America in song, look to Pete Seeger (1919-2014). This song of Pete's is the one he chose to sing on national TV in 1968, ending his more than decade-long blacklist, and showing that he hadn't made peace with war and injustice.

With Funny Or Die, Mary Poppins (Kristen Bell) is working for minimum wage, and really needs a raise.

The view from 6th Ave and 29th Steet of the #MillionsMarchNYC. Approximately 90 minutes of footage in 30 seconds. 

A fast retrospective on the show that brought much-needed, often-awkward and cuttingly funny truthiness to America. Identify your favorite moments.

 It's ... hi-tech nature appreciation? the Lord having a bad day? a new media birth pang? WTF, just watch it. Nicolaus Wegner's time lapse storms to music by Mode.