Uncivil progressive blogger AND contributor to a music video!

I received an e-mail inquiry recently from one Don Coyne, asking if he could use photos I took in Denver at the DNC for the video of a song he'd written. I was pleased to be asked and readily gave my permission, and now the video is available on YouTube ... and, for that matter, right here at Blast Off! ...

As Don explains on the video's YouTube page:

This song was originally written with the intent of being included on a compilation CD to be distributed in the giftbags at the Democratic National Convention. Unfortunately, that project was cancelled because the sponsor did not follow the DNC rules. So, to get the song out there, I made this video. Hope you like it.

Nice song -- very uplifting and patriotic.

My photos: one from the floor of the Pepsi Center at about 2:10 of the video, and a couple from Invesco Field (2:38 and 3:15) also can be seen in Blast Off!'s full coverage from Denver (although several pictures mysteriously are unavailable as I write this).

Anyway, enjoy the song ... and enjoy the spirit.

Playing catch-up on DNC photos: Wednesday, part two

Well, I told you it would take all weekend to catch up. And it's a three-day weekend, too.

More security theatre just inside the outer perimeter around the Pepsi Center. "Go Denver Police, and leave the driving to us."

"Seen any good riots lately?"

Taking you behind the scenes ... I found it interesting to see how they handed out the signs several minutes before they were needed. Here, for example, the tall "Biden" signs shortly before his introduction; we also got the "McCain: More of the Same" signs and the "Obama: Change We Need" signs shortly before those key points in Biden's speech.

My slightly out-of-focus view from behind the Florida and New Mexico delegations.

Here's a wider (and clearer) look from my vantage point during the Biden speech.

CBS News anchor Katie Couric: "Oh, John, I never get tired of that Chelsea Clinton joke!"

The CNN crew. "So that's when I thought, 'Hey, if Hillary can wear orange, so can I!' " The mention of Hillary sends Paul Begala into trance-like paroxysms of joy.

Possibly my favorite photo of the entire week: outside the Pepsi Center, five Aurora (Colo.) police officers cap a long night (as I often do) by enjoying a cigar. Said one, "Don't worry, it's not Big Tobacco."

UPDATE (9:45 am 8/31/08): I'm really proud of "trance-like paroxysms of joy." I hope Begala likes that, too.

Suck it, Dobson

Here's your weather forecast for Denver:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 81. East southeast wind between 6 and 9 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. East wind 6 to 10 mph becoming south.

Suck it long, and suck it hard.

"Goodnight Bush": the musical

So yesterday I'm hanging with Mingo, a fellow Atriot, at the Tattered Cover bookstore at 16th & Wynkoop in Denver, when this group suddenly gathers on the stairway landing directly in front of where we were sitting. We'd just been handed copies of the children's book parody Goodnight Bush ("just for a few minutes," the guy said), and the next thing I knew, we were being serenaded by what I can only describe as a flash choir.

(yeah, I know it's kind of shaky, but it's one of a kind, so bite me.)

Naturally, I bought a copy of the book. It's brilliant, and the illustrations in particular are spot on parodies of Goodnight Moon. The author, or at least one of them, was part of the choir, I believe ... but I didn't find out who that was. I gave several of them my blog-card, so I'm hoping they can elaborate in Comments.

Can't wait to read it to my kids. I already told my son, age 9, about it. His response: "But I don't like Bush!" "That's the point," I replied. I need to work on my kid's snarking skills ...

(cross-posted at FPC Blog)

Catching up: photo goodness from the first two days of Denver

It's taken me so long because I have been so focused on things happening RIGHT NOW, but I think I can get some pictures up now before I head to the Trojan Condom-sponsored event featuring Bill Maher, an event I've affectionately nicknamed the "Condom-Nation."

Multiple choice: Denver International Airport (pictured) looks like:
a. A lemon meringue pie
b. That funky building in Vancouver, B.C.
c. A ship
d. Someone's deranged idea of cutting-edge architecture

Coors Field, Rockies vs. Reds. Nice ballpark, gorgeous day.

Denver skyline from Coors Field.

Denver's iconic Union Station, which MSNBC is using as the backdrop for KO and Tweety.

Inside the Big Tent on Sunday afternoon ... I thought it would be bigger. (If I had an nickel for every time I've heard that ...)

Invesco Field ... sorry -- "Invesco Field at Mile High" -- home of Thursday night's DNC festivities (and the Denver Broncos).

Delegate reception Sunday night at the Colorado Convention Center (CCC).

The College Democrats convention, in the Wells Fargo Theatre of the CCC.

Protestor outside the CCC: sign reads "A Vote for Obama Is A Vote for Dead Children." I disagree, of course, but don't forget that a vote for Huggy Bear is a vote for more dead soldiers. (Trust me, you didn't want to see the right side of the poster.)

Sunday night outside the CCC. More police than protestors, probably by a ratio of three to one.

Nighttime in Larimer Square, downtown Denver.

Okay, I've gotta go ... more pictures (from today) later tonight or in the morning. And, yes, those pictures will be more political in nature. Probably.

Protests draw in Florida blogger

One of our team ended up in the midst of the first violent protests of the Convention.

He's a little fired up on adrenaline right now. I'll try to quote him verbatim.

"Dude, it was so fuckin' cool! They were shootin' tear gas and shit ... the cops were fuckin' ON, bitch! They were yellin' 'Disperse! Disperse!' I got caught in the mouth by one guy ... I think my gum is bleeding. Dude, it was fucking AWESOME! Aw, yeah, motherfucker!"

Well, it was something like that. You get the idea. (And no, it wasn't me.)

(cross-posted at FPC Blog)

Day 1: Denver vignettes

Some thoughts from the first day in Denver, as the convention gets set to begin tomorrow:

• Checking in for DNC credentials at the Sheraton ... there was a somewhat familiar face in front of me. Okay, a somewhat familiar hairstyle, since I saw her from the back. It was none other than the lovely and talented Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake, whom I met at Eschacon last March. She introduced me to Jeralyn of TalkLeft, who was funny and peripatetic and kinda bouncing off the walls. In other words, cool.


• Celebrity encounters for today (besides Jane and Jeralyn): Howard Dean and Ted Turner, both downtown in or near Larimer Square.


• I don't have an exact count, but walking around downtown today, I believe I saw at least as many Hillary T-shirts and buttons as I did Obama ones. I know, anecdotal evidence ...


• I may have seen Obama's motorcade go by this afternoon. It was about five vehicles long, so not a huge entourage, but what struck me was the Suburban-load of law enforcement officers (I don't know what agency) in full body armor.


• The Big Tent isn't nearly as big as I expected. It is, however, warmer than I'd like.


• The altitude doesn't seem to bother me much at all. The dryness, however, does.


• Certain mainstream media personnel seem rather offended by the entire notion of blogging.


• I haven't seen a lot of giveaways as yet, in terms of buttons, stickers, etc. There is an "Official DNC Store," though, that will sell you DNC caps for $25 or golf shirts for $50. And they already have several Obama/Biden '08 items. Must be the money ...

Pictures coming up, although I may wait till morning to post them because I'm exhausted. Thanks for being patient.