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Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

We Have a Winner! Free Passes to Bumbershoot!

That Washington   August 16, 2010 at 2:38 pm Josh Feit

Last week, we offered a pair of tickets to Bumbershoot’s 40th Festival gig. All you had to do was write a brief essay explaining the political subtext of a ’70s hit. (As we all know, even Tab commercials were political in the ’70s.)

This week, we’ve got an ’80s question. (Next week, we’ll hit the ’90s.)

Our ’70s winner is Karen Hedberg for her poignant essay about Terry Jacks’ 1973/1974 No. 1 hit Seasons in the Sun. She scores a pair of standard tickets (with guaranteed Mainstage access) to each day of the Festival.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eec6fYuUTYU[/youtube]

The song “Seasons in the Sun” hit the charts in 1973.  I was only 7 years old at the time, but I remember this song playing on the radio and some of my friend’s mother’s being very emotional while hearing it.  I had the 45 and am not sure why, but I was a bit obsessed with it.  Several of the girls in my neighborhood decided to put on a talent show that summer.  We chose this song as our interpretive dance/lip sync number.  Not exactly uplifting.  Again, we were shocked by the emotional response from the crowd.

It wasn’t until my brother pointed out that the song was about death.  It was so emotionally charged because of the Vietnam war.  Here we were, just liking the sound of it.  Not ever thinking of how damned sad it was.  I am guilty of listening to it on you tube to conjure up that summer I was 7 years old.

Karen Hedberg
Seattle

Congrats Karen! We’ll be in touch with you so you can arrange to get your Bumbershoot tickets.




  • Barleywine

    Nice song, and nice job.

  • Josh Feit

    Barleywine,

    You are a good sport. You were the runner up.

  • Barleywine

    Thanks. I'll tweek it a bit & resubmit for the eighties:)

  • http://43rddemocrats.org Michael M.

    Congrats! Although, just because I'm a Debbie Downer that way – Bumbershoot has sucked ever since they started requiring wristbands for the main stage shows (after Beck performed in 99, I wanna say), and made the tickets all semi-expensive (instead of super cheap)…I still remember $9 a day.

    And I'm not even that old!

  • Barleywine

    Thanks a lot, Karen.
    Now I can't get that song out of my head, and others are wanting to creep in. Shannon. Wildfire (thanks to my Karen for putting a name to that song about a horse.) Billy Don't be a Gyro. More are coming, I'm sure.

    It brings me back to 72-75, when the family only had one stereo, in the living room, and my older sisters were in charge of the tunage. We would lay on the floor and listen all day & night. Especially me and my closest sister. She loved that kind of music.
    Not long after, we all got our own casette players and disappeared into our rooms; me blasting Toys in the Attic as loud as I could.
    And my sister's now a right-winger.

    But those days ARE the seventies for me. Thanks for hauling me back.

  • Karen

    I am thrilled to be a winner!!! Thanks Publicola! See you at Bob Dylan! It’s your turn next Barleywine (Billy Don’t Be a Hero-another favorite of mine BTW).

  • Barleywine

    I won’t have a next time. Shot my wad.

    But since I’m in a YouTube mood, this was my tune:
    (and I didn’t mean any disrespect by the Gyro thing…)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbwXwR3ETm0

  • Karen

    i enjoyed the Gyro thing Barleywine ; )

  • Barleywine

    So…, you have two tickets, right?

    I’ve seen Dylan. But that Weezer video that shipped with Windows 95.
    Can they do that again? I mean, re-create the Fonz, etc?

  • Barleywine

    Tell me this wasn’t an inside job.
    I mean, I liked your submission more than mine.

    But Urbanspoon.com? And all the rest?
    I never had a chance. You’re a pro.

    I mean, I liked your submission more than mine…

  • Irving

    Karen, congratulations! There was so much excellent music from the 80s it didn’t occur to me that many of the hits of 70s left their marks on us as well. BTW, are you the Karen that used to drink PBRs at the Island?