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Brownstein And Armisen's Comedic Take On Portland

Credit Chris Hornbecker / IFC

Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen film their sketch-comedy show Portlandia in the summer, when Armisen is on hiatus from Saturday Night Live. During the rest of the year, they communicate through constant text messages, says Armisen.

Credit IFC

In one episode of Portlandia, Brownstein and Armisen started a grassroots campaign to prevent the Olympics from ever coming to Portland.

By editor

Soon after Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen became friends, they started making sketch-comedy videos.

"We would email a link ... to our friends, but they were mostly for us," says Brownstein. "It was very understated and silly, and we were just sort of reveling in the absurd."

8:36 am

Thu January 5, 2012

On 'Back To Love,' Hamilton Makes Every Syllable Count

Credit Courtesy of the artist

Anthony Hamilton.

By Ken Tucker

On Back to Love, Anthony Hamilton makes music from declarations. He tells a woman "I'm missing you crazy" in "Who's Loving You," and it's typical of his strategy. He states his thesis, his opinion, his desire in a voice that speaks as much as it sings for the sake of emphasis. After he's sure he's gotten his lover's attention, he begins doing his rhythm-and-blues work, mixing soul and blues and hip-hop phrasing to heighten the emotion in a song.

8:33 am

Thu January 5, 2012

The Race To Dig Deeper Ports For Bigger Cargo Ships

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Credit Joe Raedle / Getty Images

A container ship prepares to leave the Port of Miami in 2010. Plans are under way to deepen the port to 50 feet to attract bigger ships coming from the Panama Canal, but they've recently been put on hold after environmental groups filed a petition.

Credit Joe Raedle / Getty Images

Port of Miami Director Bill Johnson (right) speaks to Florida Gov. Rick Scott at the port. "It is the game changer," Johnson says of the city's plan to deepen its port to accept new, larger ships from the Panama Canal.

By Greg Allen

Originally published on Thu January 5, 2012 3:27 pm

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In 2014, when expansion of the Panama Canal is complete, a new generation of superlarge cargo ships will begin calling on the East Coast. Cities like New York; Savannah, Ga.; and Miami are vying for the new business, as they race to deepen their ports and expand their facilities to accommodate the new ships.

But some of the cities are running into significant challenges. In Miami, where plans are under way to deepen the port to 50 feet, dredging is a hot topic. Some see it as a great business opportunity. To others, it's a threat to the environment.

8:15 am

Thu January 5, 2012

Obama: 'Military Will Be Leaner,' But Ready For All Threats

By Mark Memmott

Saying that "the size and structure of our military and defense budget have to be driven by a strategy — not the other way around," President Obama just gave a broad overview of his administration's new military strategy.

Speaking at the Pentagon, Obama said that:

8:00 am

Thu January 5, 2012

Man's iPad Passport Claim Is 'Categorically False,' Customs Office Says

By Mark Memmott

You may have heard about that Canadian man who says he got into the U.S. by showing a Customs and Border Protection officer an image of his passport on an iPad.

Well, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has this to say about that:

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9:14 am

Thu January 5, 2012