In the Loop: September 3, 2008 Archive

Amy Goodman.........enjoys a latte

Posted at 12:46 PM on September 3, 2008 by Jeff Horwich (3 Comments)

I'm pleased to report to all of our concerned commenters that Democracy Now host Amy Goodman appears to be OK.

On my way out of the Republican National Convention last night, I spotted her just off "Radio Row," enjoying a coffee-related beverage:

Other media sightings: Andrea Mitchell, Robert Siegel, David Brancaccio. But none of them were drinking a beverage.

In the realm of other superficial and other wholly apolitical observations, Republicans seem to be having a very hard time setting a consistent music playlist for the event. While I was there they swung wildly from:

* boot-slapping country (which one might have expected given past use of the genre) to...

* Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" (which felt as dated as Clinton using Fleetwood Mac) to...

* some rumbly new-agey stuff that I wasn't even sure was music at all until a few minutes in, to...

* a live alt-teen-pop act they probably found on MySpace (great singer, though I can't imagine most folks in the hall were digging it) to...

* the smooth jazz warm-up set for the evening:

Again, good stuff in isolation (if you can tolerate smooth jazz, which I admit I can).

But...wha???? It was like the computers gone haywire at a Jack-FM station.

In related news, does it blow anyone else's mind that Toby Keith is a Democrat?

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This is not an endorsement.

Posted at 4:37 PM on September 3, 2008 by Jeff Horwich (2 Comments)

Lots of colorful people and vehicles in town during the Republican National Convention. Code Pink people around every corner, and plenty of abortion photo trucks.

But this one's in a class of its own:

What's "Christian Porn?" I guess I'm curious, but not quite curious enough to find out at the office.

That's the Children's Museum in the background.

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Behind the music: Rage Against the Machine

Posted at 6:57 PM on September 3, 2008 by Sanden Totten

Story Slam alum Matt Peiken has been helping out in our newsroom. He's been roaming the streets of St. Paul after hours, looking for something interesting to report on. Yesterday, he happened to be at the concert at the capitol where Rage Against the Machine made a surprise appearance.

Luckily, he had his camera. Check out the video on Matt's new site www.3minuteegg.org (careful, the band uses some colorful language). It's a behind the scenes look at the group trying to decide if and how they would perform with out any power for their gear. Their solution? Go A cappella.