We’ll Get to the Oscars in a Minute, but First a More Important Story: Protestors in Pasco, Washington, shut down traffic on a bridge over the weekend to call attention to the police’s killing of a man named Antonio Zambrano-Montes, who was running away from them with his arms in the air when he was shot multiple times. The man, “who reportedly battled with depression,” had been throwing rocks at people.
A Motorcyclist Was Injured in a Collision with a Bus This Morning in the U-District: Medics transported the motorcyclist to Harbor View Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
Man Walking Home from Church Yesterday in Kennewick: Was “struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver.” He was 68.
This Bangladesh Ferry Disaster—the Second Bangladesh Ferry Sinking Since August—Is Absolutely Horrifying: “Rescuers recovered 48 bodies on Sunday and another 22 on Monday.”
Quick, Someone Find a Story About a Whale’s Life Being Saved or Something: “A 45-ton humpback whale tangled in heavy fishing line in Hawaii waters for more than a week has been freed.”
Remember the Train Carrying Crude Oil That Derailed in West Virginia Last Week? And remember how, as we’ve reported, the number of oil trains carrying Canadian tar sands crude through Washington State has increased? The federal government now “predicts that trains hauling crude oil or ethanol will derail an average of 10 times a year over the next two decades.”
Okay, So—Oscar News: Neil Patrick Harris Walked Out Onstage in Tighty-Whities: As Sean Nelson pointed out in the blow-by-blow live-Slog of the telecast, NPH’s underwear looked stuffed. Something bulky. Was that a box of lightbulbs in there?
PHOTOS: #NeilPatrickHarris in his underwear at the #Oscars2015 http://t.co/7mES0PY5mt #FCOscars pic.twitter.com/L2NkvinYHL
— FCN2go (@FCN2go) February 23, 2015
Oscar Winner Patricia Arquette Called for “Wage Equality Once and for All, and Equal Rights for Women in the United States of America”: Which “caused Meryl Streep to jump out of her seat, jab her finger in the air, and scream, ‘YES!’ over and over again. (Here’s a .gif.)
Here’s That John Legend Acceptance Speech: Common’s half of the acceptance speech was pretty skilled, too. Also, Selma was robbed, so it was nice to see it at least get something.
Lady Gaga Sang a Medley of Songs from Sound of Music: And you have to admit she did a bang-up job. The only thing that could’ve stolen any of her thunder was if Julie Andrews herself strode onstage right as she was done singing.
Simultaneously, John Hodgman Made an Announcement over Twitter: “I think this is a good time to tell you guys and also my wife and also Julie Andrews that I am secretly dating Julie Andrews.”
When Eddie Redmayne Won for Best Actor, He Very Graciously Decided to Sing This Song About the Dashed Hopes of the Other Four Nominees in His Category: Had me in tears.
Joan Rivers: Was “unexpectedly absent” from the dead-people montage.
Citizenfour Won Best Documentary, Which Is Absolutely As It Should Be: Laura Poitras said, “I share this award with Glenn Greenwald and the many other journalists who are taking risks to expose the truth.”
Kicky, Fun-Loving King 5 News Called Last Night’s Weather: An “award winner!!”
Speaking of the Sky, People Who Happened to Look Up in British Columbia Yesterday: Were “treated to a spectacular scene in the heavens that looks like something straight out of the imagination of a futuristic Hollywood blockbuster special effects maven.”
Meanwhile, the Gods Continue to Punish Boston for Reasons Presumed to be Super Bowl-Related: Boston, on track for snowiest February ever, will have below-zero weather again tonight.
Speaking of the Gods, Here Is a Picture of Jupiter—King of the Gods—Making Out with a Human: Her name is Semele.
Who Cares About Movies? What You Really Have to Go See Is Semele at Seattle Opera: It opened over the weekend at McCaw Hall, and OMG it’s good. To all my non-opera-knower-abouters out there: Are you aware that this one is in English? I wasn’t aware, and I was thrilled. Second of all, that it’s all about sex and fire and self-love and wanting too much? Third of all, that Lady Gaga’s friend did the costumes and that the staging and special effects are awesome? All of this is true. I’m telling you: Go!!!
