Jubilation in Portland, Oregon (pic).

[Athelwulf]

This picture (link) is my wallpaper right now. I feel a rush of emotions every time I look at the expression on the guy's face. Portland is the greatest city in the nation, I have to say.

[Mme. Defarge]

1. I live in N.E. Portland, and,

I won't argue with it. It's like living in a story book.

[eleny]

2. Oh yeah!

[Beregond2]

3. I've lived in many, many places, and Portland is still my favorite.

[Arugula Latte]

4. Another Portlander checking in ...

:hi:

I've lived in and loved Berkeley and San Francisco, too, (as well as a few other places), but I am very happily living in Portland now.

[Athelwulf]

7. I don't live there, sadly.

But :hi: back. I've been to Portland several times, and the Bay Area once. Frisco is a close second, but Portland is my first love.

[treading_water]

5. That is an awesome pic.

I love my city. Have you seen the video from last night where everyone spontaneously breaks out singing the Star Spangled Banner? You can see that big Obama poster in it.

[Athelwulf]

6. I have not. I have dial-up. :(

That happened in Pioneer Square, right? And is that where this picture was taken? I see the MAX, but I can't make out any other details.

[treading_water]

8. Yes, that's Pioneer square.

Here's the link to my post in the DU video section.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x234953

But since you have dial up, I'll tell you about it.

Obviously you've been to Pioneer Square since you recognize it. In the video, the person taking the video is up by Broadway Ave on the West side looking down into the square. Across the square, in the background you see Pioneer Courthouse beautifully lit. A pretty good sized crowd of people have gathered down below and they are cheering, screaming, banging on pot lids and generally celebrating. The camera pans around the square and then focuses in on an area of the crowd. As the picture comes into focus, you can see the big Obama poster come into focus and another smaller banner with the words "President Obama".

The camera pulls back out and slowly the random cacophony of sound coalesces and you realize that they are singing the Star Spangled Banner. The first words you can clearly make out are "What so proudly we hail'd at the twilights last gleaming."

The singing becomes louder than the random screaming and suddenly everyone has joined in.

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?

Lots of cars are honking as they pass by. Everyone is still singing in a great musical chorus.

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.

The hundresds of voices lifted in song begin to swell to a crescendo.

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave.

A huge cheer!

O'er the land of the free and the

Slowly now, as if savoring each word

home... of... the... brave!

An even bigger cheer.

The crowd releases a roar and the banging of pots and buckets recommences for several seconds. Then you can hear one lone female voice scream, "Yes, we can!" "Yes, we can!"

The crowd picks of the chant and they all begin to chant "Yes, we can!" "Yes, we can!"

And we did, didn't we? We all did.