March Madness Cometh

The Portland State men's basketball team has earned a berth in the Big Sky Conference Tournament and will play at third-seeded Eastern Washington on Saturday. The game time is to be determined.

U.S. reclassifies government memos

The presence of American GIs and other U.N. troops in Korea in 1950 was well documented on film and in textbooks. But under a secret government program, memos on that war are among 9,500 documents now virtually erased from the National Archives.

Supporters cite national security; critics say the federal government is trying to rewrite history. Read or watch the story as aired on NBC Nightly News Friday.

"Well... ummm... I didn't know..."

Lawmakers from both parties continue to raise questions about a Bush administration plan to allow a United Arab Emirates business to take over shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports.

President Bush was unaware of the pending sale until the deal already had been approved by his administration, the White House said Wednesday.

Bush has brushed aside objections by leaders in the Senate and House that the $6.8 billion sale could raise risks of terrorism at American ports. In a forceful defense of the deal, he pledged to veto any bill Congress might approve to block the agreement involving the sale to the Arab firm.

Online tool helps cell phone users get out of contracts

If you've got a cell phone contract, chances are you're locked in for a year or two at a time. And if you want out early, it'll cost $200 or more. Some people view this as being 'held hostage' by their cell phone company. But now, a new Web site is promising you a chance at freedom for just $20.

Fill it up

The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in the Portland Metro area has hit a low of $2.06, according to a survey by AAA Oregon.

The prices vary in the Portland metro region, from $1.95 at one Beaverton station to more than $2.15 per gallon on Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

That's about 20 cents less than what local drivers were paying last year.

The statewide average of $2.17 per gallon ranked Oregon as the 17th lowest priced state. Hawaii had the highest price at an average of $2.79.

Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission

Oregon Families United launched its state chapter on February 24th. Read the Oregonian piece here.

Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission is a not-for-profit organization. A grassroots coalition of veterans, families with loved ones in harm's way, and Americans who share a deep appreciation for our men and women in uniform and support them in their efforts.

Gooooo Blazers!

Portland Trail Blazers guard Sebastian Telfair has been suspended two games without pay for violating the NBA's firearms policy, the league announced on Thursday.

Telfair brought a handgun on the Portland team plane after a February 11 game in Boston.
Local authorities in Massachusetts were notified immediately and accepted Telfair's explanation that he had grabbed his girlfriend's bag by mistake when he left for the team's flight. Telfair discovered the gun during the flight and placed it inside his pillow instead of notifying team officials.

No, dawg... You can't bring guns on planes.

44

Shawn Marion goes in for two of his career high 44 points Wednesday night against Boston in a 103-94 Phoenix win.

Marion is wearing the 80's style Suns uniform. That style is still my all time favorite.

Photo: Barry Gossage NBAE/Getty Images

Online teee veee... for everybody

The Participatory Culture Foundation on Wednesday announced the launch of Democracy, an open source Internet TV system that the group describes as “TiVo for Web video.” The free player is available for Mac OS X, Linux and Windows operating systems.

This enables users to subscribe to and watch full screen video on their computer. A built-in channel guide helps you navigate the content that is available.

Democracy is more than just a video player; it’s an entire Internet television platform that also enables users to turn their videos into an Internet TV channel.

AOL to Charge Same for Dial-Up, Broadband

America Online Inc., seeking to encourage its subscribers to sign up for high-speed connections, is raising the price of its main dial-up plan to equal that of its new broadband offerings.

That means most subscribers will pay $25.90 a month for either dial-up or broadband beginning March 9.

Bold move by the virus... I mean... the company.

My birthday is in October...

Sony Corp. introduced on Tuesday a high-definition camcorder that is small enough to rest comfortably in the palm of your hand.

Sony billed its 18 ounce, 5.5 inch-long HDR-HC3 as the world's lightest and smallest. The device, 26 percent more compact than the previous model, is set to go on sale next month in Japan for $1,300 and in April in the United States for $1,700.

High-definition TVs, which are increasingly popular around the world, can display clearer and more vivid images than old-style TVs. Home videos taken with the new camcorder will be high-definition quality.

Sony engineers were able to make the camcorder smaller by decreasing the size of the lens and combining three computer chips into one.

Worth another look

I posted this back in November, but its worth another look. Check out these awesome, hilarious new ads from TNT featuring Ali G.


My favorite is with "M.P. Free", Steve Nash.

Waaaay up...

New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson skies over 1986 slam dunk champion Spud Webb during the slam dunk contest at the 2006 NBA All-Star Weekend in Houston. The five foot nine inch Robinson won the event.

Left photo: (AFP/James Nielsen)

Right Photos: REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

All-star highlights

Left Photo: Western Conference forward Shawn Marion (wearing red) and Eastern Conference guard Allen Iverson have a laugh during a timeout in the second half at the 55th NBA All-Star Game in Houston. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Right Photo: Three time All-Star Shawn Marion soars to the rim for two of his 14 points. Marion also snagged 8 rebounds in 17 minutes of play. REUTERS/John Gress

Suns fly into Denver tonight, Host Houston on TNT Thursday

For the third time in four years, Marion will represent the Western Conference in the NBA All-Star Game, to be played Feb. 19 in Houston.

He's averaging a career-best 21.3 points and 12 rebounds. He ranks fifth in steals.

Marion will join teammates Steve Nash and Raja Bell in the All-Star festivities. Fans voted in Nash as a starter for the first time, and Bell will participate in the three-point shootout.

Photo: NBAE

Sling!

From Jason Snell - macworld.com:
Slingbox is a clever little $250 device that attaches to your TV set, cable box, satellite receiver, or TiVo, as well as your home broadband Internet connection. Once it’s installed, you are free to leave your home and go anywhere with a high-speed Internet connection — your office, a hotel room, a Wi-Fi-enabled cafe, wherever. When you get there, you open up your computer, launch the SlingPlayer application, and something crazy happens. Back at your house, SlingBox starts compressing the video coming out of your TV set-top box and streaming it to you. Yes, this means that you can now sit at work and have your local team’s baseball game playing in a window. Or that you can go on a business trip and still watch your favorite show, played back from your TiVo.

Slingbox even comes with a built-in infrared transmitter, so that you can change channels (or navigate through a TiVo’s menu system) remotely. Yes, if you’ve got a family member still at home, they might get a bit freaked out when the TiVo starts flipping channels under the control of someone 2500 miles away. But these sacrifices must be made in order for technology to continue marching on.

Right now SlingPlayer works on Windows PCs and is being rolled out for handheld devices running Windows Mobile. But last month, Sling Media announced that they’re working on a Mac version of SlingPlayer as well.

Why not free?

Last month, CBS offered free streaming video of two popular comedies, "Two and a Half Men," and "How I Met Your Mother," on Yahoo Inc.'s site. That experiment yielded nearly 500,000 downloads — and a jump in viewership.

"We saw a pop among the younger demos the following week," said Larry Kramer, president of CBS Digital Media, referring to the coveted 18- to 34-year-old demographic.

As excited as I am that networks are now offering programs online, (Apple, for example, sells popular shows such as ABC's "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" for $1.99 an episode) -- why not take a look at the CBS experiment and make online content free? It certainley doesn't appear to hurt viewership of the program, in fact, it appears to promote it.

Aersomith rocked Rose City

Fantastic show last night people.... fantastic.

Photos: Carlos Chavez / The Arizona Republic

Another reason to love Lincoln City...

A number of businesses in Lincoln City have agreed to offer special discounts from lodging (15% off), dining (10% off), and retail (10% off) for those military members engaged in active duty in an effort to support our troops. Discounts have been effect since October 1, 2005 and currently run through May 25, 2006.

Reporting live from the Oregon Coast.... I'm Dan Blanchette.

Now, back to you in the studio.

Down by the seashore

This poor girl I found wandering down the beach let me take her picture with her after several minutes of my pleading.

Get this...

...Her name is Shell.

Happy Nash

Paul Coro / The Arizona Republic
When Mark Cuban let Steve Nash sign with Phoenix in the summer of 2004, the Dallas owner cited how "improbable" it was that Nash had missed so few games (four in his last three seasons there) and that it would be "a matter of time before his style of play caught up with him."

That time has yet to arrive. Granted, Nash has four more years to go on this contract. But the way he has played, it may not be his last deal.

Even as he turned 32 Tuesday, Nash is the media's majority choice to repeat as Most Valuable Player. Nash has played in all 48 games, racking up career-high averages in minutes (37.1), points (19.4) and rebounds (4.4). After a daylong flu battle, Nash emerged for 31 points Monday.

"I feel younger almost every year," Nash said. "I feel like I'm getting better every year. I feel like the season gets easier for me the last two years."

"It's nice to feel good at 32," Nash said. "I don't feel old. I don't feel like this is getting harder. I feel like this is getting easier, if anything."

Photo: Michael Chow / The Arizona Republic

Bad luck...

Kevin Garnett blocked Shawn Marion's short jumper at the buzzer to preserve the Minnesota Timberwolves' 103-101 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Monday night.

The Suns complained vehemently that it was goaltending, but to no avail, and Minnesota had its first victory in five tries against Phoenix.

"I feel like the Seattle Seahawks," said MVP Steve Nash, referring to what the Seahawks felt were bad calls by officials in Sunday's Super Bowl. "It's remarkable. There's like five games this year where we've not gotten a call in the last 30 seconds. After awhile, you realize you don't get those games back, and it's tough to take."

(AP Photo/Paul Connors)

Nash will start

The NBA announced its staring lineups for the February 19th All Star Game. Phoenix's Steve Nash is a first-time starter after improving the numbers that earned him MVP honors a year ago. Nash is averaging a career-high 19.1 points and an NBA-leading 11.3 assists this season, the first player since Magic Johnson in 1990-91 to average as much in both categories.

Nash will be back to defend his crown in the skills challenge event at this year's NBA all-star game as well.

Nash set a course record en route to winning the 2005 skills challenge, an obstacle course that tests players' dribbling, passing and shooting skills.

FYI: To see if your favorite player makes the All Star team: All-Star reserves will be announced Feb. 9. If Shawn Marion isn't selected, it will be a sad day for the NBA, indeed.

For more, check out the NBA's official All Star comprehensive site.

Heeeees coming baaaack!

From the Arizona Republic: Suns forward Amaré Stoudemire received the positive news Thursday the team hoped he would get. The pivotal magnetic resonance imaging exam showed no problems.

The condition of his surgically repaired left knee will allow him to move forward with his rehabilitation, leading to the resumption of basketball activity, probably within the next few weeks.

Stanford for all

Forbes reports on an interesting service called Stanford on iTunes (http://itunes.stanford.edu/) which made its debut in October 2005.

In an unprecedented move, Stanford University is collaborating with Apple Computer to allow public access a wide range of lectures, speeches, debates and other university content through iTunes.

There are presently 500 tracks available for free to all iTunes users. The Stanford iTunes section is only available from a direct link on the Stanford iTunes site.

Of interest to Mac users, they have recently added the full video (iTunes Link) of the Steve Jobs 2005 Commencement Speech at Stanford. A transcript of the speech was previously posted in June 2005.

The Stanford service appears to be a part of a larger initiative by Apple called iTunes U. The service from Apple offers universities the ability to deliver educational content for free.
It’s the most powerful way to manage a broad range of audio or video content and make it available quickly and easily to students, faculty, and staff.