Last night after another wretched episode of Battlestar Galactica, Mike and Chris Higgins and I stayed up watching TiVo bits. Chris showed us the “Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job” on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. Much of the time it’s baffling and lightly amusing, but then this gem came on and I think my entire life might be different now.
Yesterday’s drive into Condon, was during the long-shadow part of the day in the dryland wheat farming hills of north central Oregon. Wind farms have been expanding ferociously in this corridor, and ones of truly epic proportion are clustered in the dozens, hundreds in total.
Here is a quick, 20-second clip of the beautiful shadows they create right at low-sun. The blistering wind chill–I’d estimate the wind was gusting upwards of 30 or 35 miles per hour–kept me from photographing as much as I’d like. There will, I hope, be a few acceptable shots once I develop my film.
p.s. Yes, sorry, I had something on my lens.
I’ve seen bazillions of old photos of Portland, especially on my photo trips to the Oregon Historical Society’s research library. What I haven’t seen before is footage like this, traffic surveys from 1939 that show familiar intersections with vintage cars ‘n folks. I find it fascinating, even though nothing happens.
Via Cafe Unknown.
6th & Washington
6th & Alder, with scary bicylce moment
12th & Burnside (E), still a messed up intersection–in color! 1939!
6th & Morrison, also in color
Wow, downtown was hopping with pedestrians! Also: left turns were chock full of danger back then. Or at least appear so to this denizen of the 21st century.
fascinating footage! the lane dividers are solid lines. the electric trolley car is a nice reminder of what was and whats possible. there is so much car traffic! i guess 1939 is too late to see people on horseback.
Holy crap that is SO AWESOME!
I’m forwarding on to all of my Portland history geek friends (and there are a lot of us.)
I once found a 1950’s 20 minute video from the city of Portland about local bomb shelters and what to do in case of an attack….
Not nearly as cool as those vids tho! So oooold.
Thanks!
I find myself annoyed at myself that I like another Kanye West song because the guy’s such a megalomaniac. But seriously. This video pretty much rules, and the song isn’t bad, either. Sigh.
Whoa - reminds me of my single days. Hot and dangerous women. Yikes.
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
when i saw this headline i thought we might be in for another crohn’s related post. glad it was waaaaay more amusing than that would have been….
May 16th, 2008 at 1:41 am
That bit at the end is my favorite. The weird Lynchian humming; I laugh just thinking of that.