Cant get enough of the Rose City Rollers? Come get your fix at Derby Day ‘07 at Oaks Park today. Starting at 4 pm, you can check out scrimmages, followed by BBQ and beer and $12 unlimited ride passes good until 10 pm. Proceeds go to benefit ovarian cancer research at OHSU, as well as the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association.

Notice something about these two URLs?

ConcernedOregonians.com

ConcernedOregonians.org

They look pretty damn similar—plenty of organizations snap up URLs with every ending under the sun, so potential visitors are sure to find them. I’m guessing the homophobes at Concerned Oregonians/Restore America/Defense of Marriage and Family, AGAIN!—the troops looking to overturn two recently passed laws that ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and enact domestic partnerships—wish they’d followed that most basic of campaign strategies.

But they didn’t, and the kids at Basic Rights Oregon’s Basic Rights Education Fund nabbed the “.org” one—now it redirects to “50 Voices for Equality,” a great site showcasing the views of 50 allies who stand up for the two laws. (Indeed, they too are “Concerned Oregonians,” concerned that the civil rights of their gay and lesbian neighbors are about to be yanked away.)

Of course, the ‘phobes are upset.

Writes Restore America’s Director David Crowe:

Our opposition has staked out a domain as close to ours as possible, hoping to siphon off a few of our viewers by using Concerned Oregonians.org instead of .com. I say this not to send you there but to show you their tactics know no ethical boundaries. If you think this is bad, think about HB 2007 and SB 2 becoming law in Oregon! Their demand for “Tolerance” will go out the window!

Crowe’s hysterics extend to his interpretation of HB 2007, the domestic partnership law:

On July 22nd the state of Washington’s ‘domestic partnership’ law went into effect. If you think their law is bad, guess again. While Washington grants 10 marital benefits from their statutes, Oregon’s new law, HB 2007 grants close to 500! If the below quote does not tell you anything about what HB 2007 is all about, you did not graduate from the third grade!

“We are waiting for full marriage. This is a big day, but it’s not the real deal.” ~ Activist Anna Schlect, on registering as a domestic partner in WA, as quoted in the Seattle Post- Intelligencer

Of course we’re still waiting for full marriage, David. Because Oregon’s domestic partnership law falls far short, thanks to that little Measure 36 you guys rammed through (saying you wouldn’t be opposed to something like civil unions or domestic partnerships). Yes, Oregon’s law is a big step, granting 500 important and basic rights, like hospital visitation and parental rights. It doesn’t touch the 1,049 federal rights and priviledges of marriage that only full marriage equality across the U.S. would provide, and the protections it offers stop at Oregon’s borders.

So yes, folks like me—who can’t wait to get our domestic partnership contract in Oregon, to protect my partner and myself in the case of an emergency or major life change, like becoming parents—will continue to push for “the real deal.” And we will continue to call out people like you, who insult everyone’s intelligence by arguing that the basic rights extended by domestic partnerships are anything close to full marriage equality.

A follow up to the story I wrote this week on the city’s lobbying regulations: This Wednesday, city council is scheduled to lower the threshold for reporting from 16 hours to eight hours.

What does that mean? Currently, only lobbyists who spend 16 hours or more per quarter are required to report their lobbying activities; that high threshold has meant that the vast majority of the lobbying that happens at city hall is going unreported.

The new ordinance (pdf)—co-sponsored by every council member except Mayor Tom Potter—will lower that number to eight hours per quarter in an attempt to give a more complete picture of city hall lobbying. With four commissioners already signed on, it’s likely a done deal.

They aren’t, however, even touching the exemption for neighborhood associations although, if you’re a betting person, you could put money on Randy Leonard making a speech about it this Wednesday. I got five on it.

For your musical quest this weekend…

FRIDAY
Crystal Ballroom–Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Cool Nutz, Rebellus, 9 pm, $25, all ages
Doug Fir–The Cribs, Sean Na Na, Kiss Her for the Kid, 9 pm, $12
Grapedrink–The Newspapers, Ghosties, Simpl, Oh Captain, 8 pm, $5, all ages
Holocene–Nightclubbing: Tim Sweeney, Reverse Dotty & The Candy Cane Shivs, Linger & Quiet, 9 pm, $6
Mississippi Studios–Last Town Chorus, 7 pm, $10; Barton Carroll, Buoy La Rue, 10 pm
The Modern Age (PSU)–The Ramshackles, 7:30 pm, all ages
Rotture–Thin Pink Line: DJ Girlfriends, 10 pm, $3
Someday Lounge–Sissyboy, Splendora & The Gender Fluids, Felina’s Arrow, Adam Hurst, Garret Potter, 9:30 pm, $5
Tonic Lounge–My Life in Black & White, The Rubberneckers, Fistful of Cash, Sid & Fancy, 9:30 pm
Towne Lounge–Nudity, The Pink Snowflakes, Bonanza City, 9:30 pm, $5
Wonder Ballroom–3 Leg Torso, Vagabond Opera, DJ Dimon, 9 pm, $11-13

Saturday and Sunday after the jump.

SATURDAY
Berbati's Pan–Polly Panic, 9 pm, $6
Branx-New Romantix: Chromatics, DJ Beyonda, DJ Linoleum, 10 pm, $3
Crystal Ballroom–Benefit for Eric from the Lashes: Crosstide, Climber, Caves, Oceana, The Greater Midwest, New York Rifles, The Antecedents, 7 pm, $10, all ages
Dante's–Hillstomp, Bark Hide & Horn, Glassell Park Three, 9 pm, $5-6
Doug Fir–Fernando Viciconte, Jasmine Ash, Jonah, 9 pm, $10
Dunes–Headful of Pills: Dome, Tortuga, Lady B, Curtis Vodka, Flufftronix, 8 pm
Grapedrink–Paper or Plastic, The Maybe Happening, Delightful Young Man, Lars Ballard, 8 pm, $5, all ages
Kenton Club–Plants page
Lone Fir Cemetery–A Midsummer's Night at Lone Fir Cemetery: Petty Cash, 5 pm, $5
Music Millennium NW–Last Town Chorus, 3 pm, free, all ages
Rererato–Bad Spellers, The Ocean Floor, Invisible Airship, Psaltier
SE 12th & Division–Clinton St. Fair: Saturna, Theda Bara, Southerly, Wester Daywick, Bugs of Lightning, Hollowdog, noon, free
Slabtown–Blue Skies for Black Hearts, Soda Pop Kids, The Parties, 9 pm, $5
Sloan's Tavern–Swallows, Swan Island, Ninetynine, 8 pm, $5
Towne Lounge–Adrian Orange & Her Band, The Watery Graves, Young, 9:30 pm

SUNDAY
Ash Street Saloon–World Series Hip-Hop Tour: X-Kid, Alpha P, The Pirate Signal, Hollywood Kill, Cleveland Steamers, The Elefaders, Nasim, Auzriel, 9 pm, $5
AudioCinema–Summer Handmade Bazaar: The Online Romance, noon, free
Backspace–Adrian Orange & Her Band, Glacier Park, Splinter Cake, Mr. Frederick, 7 pm, $4, all ages
Doug Fir–Little Sue, Allen Hunter, 3 pm, free
Ground Kontrol–Black Sunday: Ludicra, Buried Blood, Aldebaran, DJ Nate C, 9:30 pm, $8
Hawthorne Theatre–Rainstick Cowbell, Miss Massive Snowflake, Larry Yes, Bill Horist, 8 pm, $6, all ages
Holocene–Tiny Vipers, Shelley Short, 2% Majesty, 9 pm, $7
Rotture–Sad Panda, Childhood Friends, Disgustitron, 9 pm, $5

I’m a big fan of Flicks on the Bricks, where they show free movies outdoors at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Between ticket prices, a ridiculous amount of ads, and jackasses with cell phones, going to see movies in theaters kind of sucks these days—but going out to the Square and sitting outside and watching stuff on a big screen is a blast. (Tonight, however, is Grease, which should be witnessed by no one.)

Taking their cue from Flicks on the Bricks, Portland Parks & Recreation is now offering Big Screen on the Green, in which they’ll be showing movies at dusk at various Portland parks. Tonight it kicks off at Sellwood Park with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Complete schedule below.

Friday, 7/27, Sellwood Park: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Saturday, 7/28, Westmoreland: Jurassic Park III
Thursday, 8/2, Sellwood Park: Charlotte’s Web
Friday, 8/3, Laurelhurst Park: The Pursuit of Happiness
Saturday, 8/4, Kenilworth Park: Wallace & Grommit
Thursday, 8/9, Col. Summers Park: The Breakfast Club
Friday, 8/10, Dickinson Park: The Wizard of Oz
Saturday, 8/11, Woodstock Park: Shrek 2
Friday, 8/17, Laurelhurst Park: Raiders of the Lost Ark
Saturday, 8/18, Hazeltine Park: Madagascar
Friday, 8/24, Brentwood Park: Happy Feet
Saturday, 8/25, Sellwood Park: Shrek 2
Friday, 8/31, Brooklyn Park: Blades of Glory
Friday, 9/7, Lents Park: Stomp the Yard
Saturday, 9/8, Dickinson Park: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

My first reaction to the Bone Thugs-N-Harmony “I Tried” video is how it’s snowing. Since when does it snow in hiphop videos? Isn’t it always supposed to be sunny? The lone exception being when the video is shot in the club, a locale where weather matters not.

But sure enough, that is snow. Lots of it, piled high on the desolate streets of Cleveland, where cops chase a kid who did nothing wrong, and Senegalese hit machine Akon belts out the mighty chorus.

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony play at The Crystal Ballroom tonight.

I’d kill anyone—yes, even YOU—if it meant I could be at Comic-Con International in San Diego right now. But whatever.

Anyway, straight from San Diego, the geek news just keeps on coming: Official confirmation of the long-rumored casting list for the Watchmen adaptation just hit my inbox.

Fuck. I really want to look forward to this—Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ comic is undoubtedly one of the masterworks of the medium. On the other hand, the dude directing it is the same guy who did 300, which was… ah, not a masterwork of any sort. So we’ll see. Anyway, let’s press release it up:

SAN DIEGO, CA, July 27, 2007 – Filmmaker Zack Snyder (300), who is set to direct Warner Bros. Pictures’ feature film adaptation of the award-winning graphic novel Watchmen, today announced the cast of the highly anticipated epic before 6,500 fans during a presentation at this year’s Comic-Con International convention in San Diego, California. Watchmen will be produced by Lawrence Gordon (Die Hard), Lloyd Levin (United 93) and Deborah Snyder (300), with Herbert W. Gains serving as executive producer. The film is targeted for a March 6, 2009, release.

Playing the film’s core group of “masks,” the masked adventurers at the center of the story, are Malin Akerman (upcoming The Heartbreak Kid) as Laurie Juspeczyk, aka Silk Spectre; Billy Crudup (The Good Shepherd) as Jon Osterman, aka Dr. Manhattan; Matthew Goode (Match Point) as Adrian Veidt, aka Ozymandias; Jackie Earle Haley (Little Children) as Walter Kovacs, aka Rorschach; Jeffrey Dean Morgan (TV’s Grey’s Anatomy) as Edward Blake, aka the Comedian; and Patrick Wilson (Little Children) as Dan Dreiberg, aka Nite Owl.

A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the “Doomsday Clock” – which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union – is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed-up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion – a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers – Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity…but who is watching the watchmen?

Watchmen was originally published by DC Comics as a 12-comic book series between 1986 and 1987, before subsequently being collected into a trade paperback. It is the only graphic novel to win the prestigious Hugo Award or to be named among Time magazine’s “100 Best English Language Novels from 1923 to the Present.”

Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins was one of the best comic book adaptations we’ve seen yet, and now they’ve released the teaser for the sequel, The Dark Knight, which sees Christian Bale returning as Batman, Heath Ledger stepping in as the Joker, and Maggie Gyllenhaal replacing Katie Holmes. Nolan’s back and directing, and the cast also features the awesome Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart, and Anthony Michael Hall (?). I’m most excited to see what Ledger does with the Joker, but Eckhart should be great as well.

Not a whole lot in this teaser, but I think it’s pretty damn cool nonetheless.

You want more? Okay, fine. By way of AICN, here’s a photo of Ledger’s Joker, being fairly to moderately menacing to Ms. Gyllenhaal.

If you’re one of those people who spends twenty minutes trying to decide which eggs to buy at the grocery store (weighing free range against cost against organic), maybe it’s time to buckle down and invest in some chickens.

I get all my eggs from my sister, who keeps six or so chickens and has more eggs than she knows what to do with—they taste good, they’re free, and I have nary a qualm about consuming them.

If your thoughts have ever run along those lines, tomorrow is the 4th Annual Tour de Coops, a goofy name for a cool little event designed by local non-profit Growing Gardens to “educate Portland chicken and bird lovers on urban chicken keeping and provide ideas for new and creative ways [of] housing your chickens in your very own backyard.”

$5 will get you a tour booklet listing the 17 Metro-area chicken keepers who are opening up their coops for the event, so if you’ve ever been interested in keeping chickens in the city, or in seeing how other urban dwellers have made it work, tomorrow is your chance.

Pick up a tour booklet from 10 am-1 pm tomorrow at Garden Fever (3433 NE 24th) or the People’s Food Co-Op (3029 SE 21st); the coops themselves will be open from 11 am-3 pm.

Everyone’s offloading summer merchandise, even though there’s plenty of summer left to wear it—gotta love the sale season. Today marks the kickoff of Local.35’s (3556 SE Hawthorne) big one: Almost everything from Spring and Summer is 30-70% off, and will continue to be marked down until it’s gone! That’s because they’re making room for fall, with deliveries coming in from B.Son (a San Francisco label that was one of around 40 featured at the recent, first-ever Capsule trade show in New York—a well-edited event that, when I read about it, rekindled my periodic fantasy about being a buyer), RVCA, Nudie denim, Bing Bang, Surface to Air jewelry, Jfold wallets, Track and Field bags, Ser-vice shirts, and Feiyue Kung Fu shoes—so cute.

(more sale and other fashion news on M.O.D.)

Watch this, and prepare to be befuddled by one question and one question only: “What is UP with this guy?!” Ladies and gentlemen, “Chocolate Rain.”

Do you think he’s really turning away from the mike to breathe, or is he afraid someone’s going to sneak up behind him with a baseball bat?

Just sayin’

UPDATE—Little Pixie will be at Safari Club, 3000 SE Powell, this Saturday night

Don’t miss the Mercury Alleycat Bike Race on Saturday! It should be loads of fun, and the winner gets $250 smackaroos! Sign up by yourself or as a team of up to four people, then pedal your way to victory. The race/scavenger hunt starts at 2 pm at the Mercury office parking lot (605 NE 21st). Bring $5 to enter, then get ready to scavenge the city on your two-wheeled fun machine. You’ll be asked to complete a series of tasks based on the following themes: physical, mental, spiritual, and gastronomical.

More details.
Did I mention there’s a free beer for everyone that participates?!

As we mentioned previously today, TMZ.com got a hold of the 911 tapes in which a distraught woman is being chased by an obviously psychotic, and allegedly loaded Lindsay Lohan (the woman doesn’t know it at the time, though). Want to listen to it? SURE YOU DO.

HERE YOU GO!

Also over at TMZ, they’ve interviewed the guys who were with Lindsay in the SUV at the time of the chase. At the time of her arrest, she claimed, a) that she wasn’t drunk, and b) it was “the black kid” who was driving. Nice. But according to the horrified kids in the car, Lindsay commandeered their vehicle, and drunkenly gave chase after her assistant had the gall to quit her job.

According to the group, Lindsay suddenly jumped in the driver’s seat of the Denali, started the engine and began driving — chasing the assistant’s car. Ronnie says he was so fearful, he jumped out of the vehicle as it accelerated. Just as he hit the ground, he says Lindsay ran over his foot and just kept going.

Dante and Jakon say Lindsay then hit Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. Dante says he tried to grab the wheel, prompting Lindsay to say, “If you touch me I’ll sue you.” Jakon says they pleaded with her to stop.

OH YES, IT GETS BETTER!

Dante says they were going 100 MPH. They say Lindsay caught up with the assistant and began doing circles on PCH, around the assistant’s car.

They say at one point, Lindsay boasted, “I can’t get in trouble. I’m a celebrity. I can do whatever the f**k I want.”

After losing the assistant, Lindsay went to the assistant’s mother’s house—who unfortunately was backing out of her driveway at the time—and began chasing her! (That’s when the 911 call kicks in.)

Dante realized the mother was driving to the police station and warned Lindsay if she didn’t stop she’d get in hot water. He says Lindsay responded, “I’m a celebrity. I’m not going to get in trouble.”

The two cars stopped in a parking lot near the cop shop. When police arrived, Dante says it seemed as if Lindsay told officers, “I wasn’t driving. The black kid was driving.”

As Ronnie put it “It was pretty much the worst night of my whole summer.”

Sounds to me like the most awesome summer ever!

Believe it or not, Lindsay Lohan’s still trying to pretend she’s still an actress and not just tabloid-fodder. I know. Weird, right? Well, at least she’s using her notoriety to her advantage. (What? You thought the fact that her most recent DUI/coke bust happened just a few days before the release of her new movie was a coincidence?)

Anyway, the movie studio refused to screen I Know Who Killed Me for press, but our stealthy critic Zac Pennington managed to sneak into last night’s advance screening all the same. Turns out there’s a reason Sony Pictures didn’t want us to review LiLo’s latest:

I can say with clear conscience that I Know Who Killed Me is unequivocally the worst film I’ve ever reviewed.

The rest of Zac’s review is here. Meanwhile, here’s a totally gratuitous but nevertheless awesome photo from the film.

Tonight the sun shines on my sad little world as The Cribs finally return to Portland.

Below is their video for “Men’s Needs,” which despite being packed with tons of nudity and decapitation is actually safe for viewing at work. I am serious.

The Cribs will be playing tonight at the Doug Fir

Several months ago, the Portland Art Museum announced that it was doing away with the Oregon Biennial, and replacing it with a more select exhibition of artists living in OR, WA, MT, ID, or WY, called Contemporary Northwest Art Awards. From this show, one artist will be awarded $10,000 and be given a rousing rendition of “For (S)he’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Shortly after this announcement was made, members of the Northwest art community at large (John Motley and myself included) were invited to nominate artists whom we thought should be considered for the prize.

This morning, PAM announced the show’s 28 finalists. According to the press release, “[Curator Jennifer] Gately will continue reviewing the artists’ work through studio visits during the next several months. By year end, she will present her recommendations to the Museum’s curatorial staff and announce the award recipients. These artists will be featured in the Contemporary Northwest Art Awards exhibition opening in June 2008.”

Major congratualtions go to:

Daniel Attoe (Washougal, WA)
Gretchen Bennett (Seattle, WA)
Joshua Berger (Portland, OR)
Buddy Bunting (Seattle, WA)
Cat Clifford (Vashon, WA)
Judy Cooke (Portland, OR)
Claire Cowie (Seattle, WA)
Marc Dombrosky (Tacoma, WA)
Ellen Garvens (Kenmore, WA)
Jesse Hayward (Portland, OR)
Mary Henry (Freeland, WA)
Fay Jones (Seattle, WA)
Michael Knutson (Portland, OR)
James Lavadour (Pendleton, OR)
Margie Livingston (Seattle, WA)
D.E. May (Salem, OR)
Jeffry Mitchell (Seattle, WA)
Seth Nehil (Portland, OR)
Richard Notkin (Helena, MT)
Geraldine Ondrizek (Portland, OR)
Joseph Park (Seattle, WA)
Akio Takamori (Seattle, WA)
Whiting Tennis (Seattle, WA)
Storm Tharp (Portland, OR)
Oscar Tuazon (Tacoma, WA)
Laura Vandenburg (Springfield, OR)
Marie Watt (Portland, OR)
Robert Yoder (Seattle, WA)

Two out of my three nominees (Tharp, Lavadour) made the final cut; granted, they’re not unknowns in the area. My dark horse nominee, Jessica Jackson Hutchins, didn’t make the cut. And while I haven’t pored over this list yet, I’m surprised to see that neither Kristan Kennedy nor Sean Healy made the list.

If you know any of these artists, drop them an email of congratulations. Stay tuned to find out who gets voted off the island next.

A suicide bomb killed 12 at the Red Mosque in Pakistan, and a nitrous oxide explosion at the Mojave Air and Space Port killed three.

NASA was shocked to find out that its astronauts have been flying while drunk. Hey, there’s a lot of pressure being an astronaut. Just ask David Bowie. Or Stanley Kubrik. Or that lady with the adult diapers who went nuts.

A couple of days ago, in an email Lindsay Lohan sent to Access Hollywood declaring her innocence in Cocainegate, the entertainer said “…I was almost hit by my assistant Tarin’s mom I appreciate everyone giving me my privacy.” That didn’t make much sense at the time, but now that a 911 call made by her assistant’s mother that night has been released it’s all coming into perspective—Lohan is fucking crazy.

I’m torn on this one: The California Supreme Court has ruled that cities can’t seize the cars of prostitution and drug suspects. On the one hand, that’s great for the idea of due process. On the other, anything that gets people out of cars and onto bikes is okay by me.

Spock Party! Leonard Nimoy will reprise his only role in the next Star Trek movie, due out at the end of next year.

Lastly, some “doctors” are claiming that smoking pot increases your chances of developing a psychotic illness later in life, like schizophrenia. More like schizo-FUN-ia, am I right?

I just stumbled back from a press tour of the Oregon Brewers Festival, which kicked off this morning with the Brewers Parade and is happening at Waterfront Park through Sunday. We got a whirlwind tour of a few of the fest’s highlights, including Laurelwood’s crisp, intensely hoppy PNW Pils; a balanced, surprisingly light organic IPA from one of Portland’s newest breweries, Hopworks (currently under construction and slated to open on SE 29th and Powell at the end of the summer); and Flying Fish’s love-it-or-hate-it bourbon-barrel aged Abbey Dubbel, produced specially for the fest (personally, loved it; big, malty beer with a strong bourbon flavor). There are so, so many beers to try, though (the program boasts “73 craft breweries from across the country showcasing a score of beer styles ranging from Amber to Wit”), that the press tour really just piqued my curiousity. Guess I’ll be going back this weekend.

Entrance to the festival is free; mugs, $4, plus $1 per tasting token (4 tokens fill a mug). Thurs-Sat noon-9 pm, Sun noon-7 pm

Got anymore? List ‘em below! Tip o’ the sorting hat to Fashionista!

It’s been years since this longtime Whiskeytown fan had anything nice to say about Ryan Adams. Everyone knows he’s a remarkable songwriter who seems to miss his mark with each and every new record he churns out. But there once was a time when my Adams obsession involved bootleg collecting, message board posting and my first—and only—foray into dressing like an artist I admired.

Deliberate bedhead hair and pearl snaps? What was I thinking?

Since he is in town this evening (it’s sold out, you aren’t going), here is a little trip back to the year 2000, where a young Adams made the best drunken mixtape jam of the past decade. I sort of miss him.

MP3:
Ryan Adams - Come Pick Me Up

Even before he decided to jump into the race to take down Republican Sen. Gordon Smith, Steve Novick regularly railed against Smith’s tax policies—specifically pointing out his sponsorship of a bill that gave tax breaks to multinational corporations.

And now, in the past two days, the New York Times has pounced on the same policy, calling it a failure.

First, some history: In 2004, Smith sponsored a provision in a tax bill (the ironically named American Jobs Creation Act) that would give multinationals a break on their taxes if they “repatriated” their profits—in other words, if they pulled their money out of offshore tax havens and brought them back into the country. Instead of the 35 percent tax rate they normally would have paid, Smith offered the low, low tax rate of 5.25 percent if they returned the money within a year.

In a chest-thumping press release sent out after the bill passed through Congress, Smith claimed that it would return $400 billion to the U.S. economy and create 660,000 jobs. At the time, critics—even in the Bush Administration—argued that the tax breaks were inappropriate:

“Treasury Secretary John W. Snow objected that the measure would unfairly benefit multinational corporations over domestic firms, while White House economists said it would produce no substantial economic benefit.” —Washington Post, August 19, 2005

And while it’s led to billions for tax-evading drug companies (Pfizer alone scored $11 billion from the policy—that’s a lot of Viagra), it’s failed to lead to any new jobs. On Tuesday, the Times’ Alex Berenson wrote a stunning piece on the failure of Smith’s tax holiday: “Drug makers were the biggest beneficiaries of the amnesty program, repatriating about $100 billion in foreign profits and paying only minimal taxes,” Berenson wrote. “But the companies did not create many jobs in return. Instead, since 2005 the American drug industry has laid off tens of thousands of workers in this country.”

The following day, the same paper ran a brutal editorial lambasting Smith’s provision, though neither piece connected the law back to Smith. Both articles pointed out an even more dangerous aspect of the policy: Now that the tax break has expired, multinationals are dumping even more money into offshore tax shelters in anticipation of the next tax holiday. Smith’s grand idea to bring money back from tax shelters has actually encouraged companies to hide even more money.

“Gordon Smith has supported many outrageous policies, but this particular tax break is absurd, maybe even criminal,” Novick says. “It’s throwing money to businesses who are stashing money overseas. It’s not available to stand-up companies who are doing the right thing, and it’s going largely to companies who are evading taxes.”

Smith has since become something of an offshore hero. Last year, he brought in $47,000 and a vacation from Virgin Island corporate interests—shortly thereafter, he came out against a law that would have cracked down on people who use the Islands as a tax haven.

Someone hire the boy detective, there’s a mystery afoot!

According to sources at last week’s You Am I show at Dante’s, the Australian band (along with support act, Bobby Bare Jr.), had a couple of guitars stolen. Turns out that the alleged thief was no one other than Jonny Roe, guitarist for local openers The Hugs. The guitars were returned, and within hours, Roe (far left on the above photo) was booted from the band.

Here’s the part of the post where I remind local bands that it’s in bad taste to steal from national (or in this case, international) headliners, who are gracious enough to allow you to open for them. This sort of thing happens every few years, and it’s amazing that anyone ever thinks they’re going to get away with stealing a couple large instruments from a crowded club that has both security guards and cameras.

Treadmills are soooooooo 2006. Especially when used in music videos (yes, OK Go, I’m looking at you). See, all the kids who are really “hip,” “now,” and “happening” use mini-trampolines in their music videos, just like our friends Architecture in Helsinki and their new super fun song, “Hold Music.” Let’s get jumping!

If it was up to me, The Polar Express would be retitled The Creepiest Movie of All Time. Pretty much a cinematic definition of the uncanny valley, Robert Zemeckis’ treacly Xmas flick was unintentionally but absolutely terrifying, with its dead-eyed, Santa Claus-crazed CG children roaming about. Just thinking about it gives me the willies.

All the same, I’ve been looking forward to Beowulf, Zemeckis’ next film. Like Polar, it’s all CG and motion capture—in other words, while the film stars Angelina Jolie and Anthony Hopkins, that’s not really them onscreen. They acted their shit out on greenscreen or whatever, and a CG representation of them is what actually makes it into the film, alongside plenty of CG backgrounds and effects. While a ton of recent genre movies have been mostly or all CG (Sky Captain, the Star Wars prequels, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, 300), the ambitious Zemeckis is, I think, the only one who’s still trying to push it all the way.

If you couldn’t tell by the title, Beowulf is an adaptation of that one really old (but totally badass) book you had to read in eleventh grade English; it (sort of) stars a whole bunch of solid actors (including Crispin Glover as Grendel!), and the screenplay was written by Neil Gaiman. The trailer’s interesting: I really like the tone of it (esp. the creepy/sexy stuff w/ Jolie, who’s playing Grendel’s mother, who apparently invented high heels in the middle ages). But the film’s look, at this point at least, is really uneven—some shots looks great, indistinguishable from live action, while others look like they’re from Shrek. Check it out here. Thoughts?

Thanks to AICN. And yes, this is yet another trailer that uses that Requiem for a Dream song.

Did you hear about the brouhaha with Adidas and kangaroo leather in California? Federal law allows the use of kangaroos in Adidas’ products and others, part of the effort to cull Australia’s overpopulation of the cute little buggers, but California state law forbids sale of kangaroo products. This weekend, from Friday through Sunday, animal rights organization Viva! USA is kicking off a boycott of Adidas at the USA headquarters (5055 N Greeley), planning to confront them with a video called “Killing for Kicks.”

To get you pumped up for the Straight Outta Nowhere Tour happening this Saturday, July 28th at Dunes, So Hot Right Now host, Mike Williams, brings you a fancy dance-y mix by Flufftronix. So go get your show sneak peak, and your pre-show booty jiggle on.

There’s no punch line. I’m asking for “professional reasons” for our upcoming Drinking Issue. So does anyone know (I’m looking at all you bartenders and servers and lesbians out there), what do lesbians imbibe?

Another week of music articles to take your mind off how bad The Simpsons Movie is…

UK pop sensations The Cribs have a big ‘ole crush on our town. Portland, do you like them? Check yes or no.
MP3: The Cribs - Men’s Needs

Rufus Wainwright hurt his voice so bad, he couldn’t talk to us for an interview. Not a bad excuse, but I’d rather go with the “I don’t get cell reception” one. Or the “what the hell is a Portland Mercury?” excuse.
MP3: Rufus Wainwright - Old Whore’s Diet (Feat. Antony)

Band Of Horses. Wolf Parade. And now Tiny Vipers. When did Sub Pop become a petting zoo of band names?
MP3: Tiny Vipers - Aron

At the tender age of 23, Annie Clark (aka St. Vincent) has already played alongside the Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens. Hey Annie, thanks for making my life seem worthless.
MP3: St. Vincent - Marry Me

The Last Town Chorus reworks a Bowie hit on the lap steel guitar, and both the Thin White Duke and Grey’s Anatomy are impressed. Yet sadly, no word on what Doctor McDreamy thinks about the song.
MP3: The Last Town Chorus - Modern Love

This is actually from a few days ago, but it was diverted to my spam folder—because it is that crazy. It’s a Fish Head Statue Thing!

Hey Merc PDX People of Today People,

This thing is on 27th, just down from Thurman in the Northwest. I’m sure it’s just me who doesn’t know what it is, but, what is it? Do you know? What is it in honor of? Should it be banned? Can you please assist?

xo,
ddt

There are two detail photos after the cut.

todayinpdx@portlandmercury.com

In this heartbreaking (and naturally, HEEEEE-LARIOUS) edition of “Who’s the Daddy?” on Maury, a Caucasian wife reveals to her Caucasian husband that their three-year old African American baby might not be his. His shock (and stupidity) is genuine.

You’d think that after everything, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales would be completely hosed, especially now, after it looks like he might have been caught lying under oath. But, since Bush is in charge, he’ll probably get a promotion.

Meanwhile, the House Judiciary Committee has called for contempt charges against Harriet Miers and Josh Bolten. But is the effort doomed?

SPOILER ALERT! Over at MSNBC, J.K. Rowling is spilling the details of what happens to Harry Potter and his friends after book seven. I don’t want to ruin it for you, but it sounds like a very bored woman is just pulling things out of her ass.

Are your friends fat? You could be next!

Here’s one cat you don’t want to see. “Oscar,” who lives in a nursing home in Rhode Island, has apparently been at the bedside of more than 25 residents right before they died. The doctors think Oscar can detect pending death, but they’ve skipped over the most obvious explanation—the cat is sucking the life out of the patients in order to go on living. Maybe I’ve been watching too much Buffy.

Oh snap! Michael is coming back for the fourth season of Lost.

One night, two very different shows.

Before the sun set, the 2nd Annual PDX Pop Now! City Hall concert took place downtown. Despite the ominous Homeland Security SUV parked on SW Jefferson, the crowd was very calm, although there were unconfirmed reports of a game of leap frog breaking out before Old Time Relijun played.

There are few moments of Portland living that can top the pride you feel while sitting on the grass and watching a free concert of amazing local music on the very doorstep of this city’s elected officials. We are very lucky to live here.

Next up was the super-not-so-secret Menomena show at the Wonder Ballroom.

The event was a private shindig thrown by those party animals at Mozilla and Creative Commons, who are nerdin’ it up as part of OSCON. By the time the band took the stage, the place was almost empty, which felt odd when you consider that Menomena is absolutely blowing up right now. But hey, more band for me, plus the beer was free. Open Source knows how to party, WOOOOO!!!

Have you guys seen this site, KeepPortlandWeird.org?

It’s one stop shopping for Drag Queen Chorus Lines, Pioneer Courthouse Square pillow fights, and other goofball only-in-PDX events.

Any idea who’s behind the site?

For those of us who can’t afford to go to Comic Con (or just… wouldn’t), San Diego Dreaming is an ongoing compendium of e-mails and text messages sent “from the San Diego Comic Convention to a small house in South West London.”

It is funny.

25/07/07 10:18 EMAIL: Overheard in the Hyatt at closing time:

Waitress1: That’s nothing. Come Friday there’ll be 400 of ‘em here.
Waitress2: 400?
Waitress1: Just on our side of the bar. Make sure you get their money every round. And be sweet. They’ll tip better.

25/07/07 23:14 EMAIL: First cab to the center, the driver had a Yoda figurine resting above the meter. “Is that something you have on there all year, or just a prop for the week?” I asked him. He laughed, but didn’t answer my question

Hat tip to The Beat

I wasn’t going to do a Harry Potter blog post today, but there was all this news… (and this empty feeling that just won’t go away):

From Dark Horizons, re: the Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince movie:

Naomi Watts, set to give birth in a few weeks, has just signed on for the supporting role of Draco’s nasty mother Narcissa Malfoy. The actress won’t have to start work on the film until September.

Also joining her are smoldering hunks Joseph Fiennes and Stuart Townsend, and whilst their roles haven’t been specified it’s expected both will tie into the flashbacks into the history of Voldemort. It’s quite possible Joseph will play either the father of or a younger version of the character his brother Ralph Fiennes portrays.

Spoilery stuff ahead, although if you haven’t finished it by now you’re obviously not a real fan, so I don’t feel too bad about it.

Joseph Fiennes is obviously in the Riddle family tree somewhere, but the other dude? any ideas?

If you haven't seen the Guardian's Harry Potter digested read, check it out, it's hilarious.

"Why have we been given this effing rubbish?" Ron laughed. "I've told you before that book seven is not the place for jokes and swearing," Harry answered sternly. Just then he saw Ginny passing. He didn't know why - though he suspected it was something to do with letting the reader know that although he was a goody-goody on the outside, he was a rampant horny hetty on the inside - but he kissed her passionately. "Stay safe for me," he whispered knowingly.

(I love that the word "effing" made it into Ron's vocabulary).

Also, from the Powell's blog:

Karen from the Burnside Kids' Team sends news that J. K. Rowling told The Today Show of her plans to revisit her beloved hero one more time — to write an encyclopedia of Harry Potter.

She said the encyclopedia would include background stories of characters she has already written but had to cut — such as Harry's school friend Dean Thomas.

She also said the book would include details of a new headmaster at Hogwarts, and who was teaching defence against the dark arts at the magical school.

"I'm not going to do it tomorrow because I'd really like a break," Rowling said, "so you may be waiting".

In a blog post the other day, I alluded to R. Kelly’s Double Up being my favorite album of ‘07 so far. I listen to at least part of it every day, and despite having heard “Same Girl” about five jillion times, I haven’t gotten sick of it yet: You can crack up over Kells’ narrative ridiculousness and silly word choice all you want (and I do), but it wouldn’t mean shit if he wasn’t so gifted at crafting melodies and writing catchy hooks.

But last week, the “Same Girl” remix came out, and I’ve never heard a song like it in my life. It sort of reminds me of that Christmas night I heard Stankonia for the first time when I was alone and high at my momma’s house (sorry, Mom), and “Bombs Over Bagdad” came on. It was kind of like that scene in Close Enounters, when the aliens land, and the wino rubs his eyes in an overexagrerated way, then dumps out the rest of his bottle. It was like that song changed the rules of everything, and I was going to need all my faculties to wrap my brain around it. The “Same Girl” remix is the same way.

(The original song’s conceit is that R. Kelly and Usher are on the phone, and Kells is telling Ush that he met the love of his life. The two sleuths that they are, they figure out that it’s the same woman, TT. It has to be—who else “loves some Waffle House” like she does?)

In the remix, Talahassee singer T-Pain starts off, interrupting the original conversation, saying he couldn’t help but overhear them talking about TT. Does T-Pain know her? Like a pastor knows his work—that’s his wife they’re talking about! T-Pain is brilliant here; he uses a lot of the song’s original tropes to turn it back on itself. (When Kells memorably croons “wait a minute, hold on dog,” T-pain tells his that he’s not waiting for shit. When the towns of Chicago and Atlanta come up in the original song’s punchiest moments, T-Pain hits those, too, but in a clever way that doesn’t seem forced at all.) And just listen to the sadness in T-Pain’s voice when he intones “I was even trying help her be a singer.” [ :( ]

Then R. Kelly weighs in with one of his funnier verses in a while. He affectionately reminisces on how he called her “bobblehead” (the way she wiggle it / when he’s hitting it from the back / up in her bed), compares the two of them to Whitney and Bobby, and gives the dopest inflection of “booty call” ever put on wax.

But he’s just getting started: He turns the remix into a two-step snap anthem before busting out in a Michael Jackson impersonation. (Literally!) Then he thows out a furious “Bee-eye-itch!” and plugs the album (in stores now), and the song is a wrap at 4:44.

There are tons of other little meta-Kelly references peppered throughout the song, and T-Pain sounds as good as ever. The song leaves me speechless every time: It’s at once structurally complex, and full of allusions and in-jokes to R. Kelly’s twisted little world of songs. But it’s also hilariously tacky, and incredibly infectious at the same time. And I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun thinking about a song and untangling all its threads. Am I alone here?

“Same Girl (Remix)”—R. Kelly with T-Pain and Usher

Here’s my idea for taking city council sessions out to the community: Conduct them on a conference bike!

It seats seven, so there’s room for the four commissioners, the mayor, the city attorney, and the city clerk. Perfect.

Some of you may know Tod Foulk for his work in various fashion events around town, including Portland Fashion Week. Now you may see him floating down the river—for a cause:

Harkening back to those daring do days of yore, Tod Foulk of SEMPER Fashion, the Portland, OR. fashion show production company responsible for Rock the Runways, Fashion Paloozazaza, and Portland Fashion Week since 2005 among many events, is helping Miss Oregon 2007 Kari Verdig to raise 100k for the Make a Wish Foundation. To do so he has chosen to inner tube the over 100 miles of rough and open water from the mouth of his beloved Sandy river in Troutdale to the Pacific ocean at Astoria. Piloting his vintage 1992 bellyboat/fishing tube named Fiona after his daughter, will not be an easy task. Millions of tons of cargo traffic bearing down can crush him in an instant, dangerous shoals lurk from below, tangled masses of dead trees promise to ensnare him in their claw-like embrace, while deadly sea creatures and restless native threaten to eat him at every turn of the river. The trip is expected to take nearly a week, with Tod pulling into shore at nights for a good meal, and a fine and refreshing Rockstar Energy Drink by fireside while hourly watching for cannibals. This trip is not all fun and games however, as Tod plans to keep up his studies with the latest volumes of Book Moda, Sunset Magazine, Cosmo and Vogue. He is well provisioned for the arduous trip with Rockstar Enegry Drink, dried apricots, oranges, and hershey bars to ward off the chill. But any further food donations Tod wishes made in his name to the Oregon Food Bank. He is seeking corporate sponsorship at the rate of 1.00 per nautical mile completed, please contact him directly at todfoulk@msn.com.

First up, don’t forget that this evening is the PDX Pop Now! show on the steps at city hall. Starts at 5:30, featuring Old Time Relijun, Watery Graves, and Little Sue. On SW 4th between Jefferson and Madison. Plus, word is that the cool kids at city hall (yeah, in Sam Adams’ office) are planning a similar event in August to coincide with Music Fest NW.

Second, this familiar bumper sticker is now adorning the bike rack directly outside of city hall. Yeeeeouch!

Yes, that’s my pink bike.

On now on to the serious business of city government, kindly put behind the jump for those of you who only have patience for reading Harry Potter.

So, everybody loves biodiesel, right? Council today considered an ordinance to partner with the state's agricultural department to monitor and enforce the city's biodiesel mandate. Since the state legislature managed to pass a biofuels bill this past session, the ag department is already going to be conducting statewide tests of biodiesel facilities, so the city is contracting with them for the additional services.

But how is the city planning on paying for it? Randy Leonard attempted to push through an agreement that would have the $140,000 coming out of the city's general contingency fund--problem is, that fund is dwindling, and council made a pledge to rebuild it before dipping back into the pot. Instead, the mayor and Dan Saltzman pushed to have the funds come out of the city's sustainable development fund, which is set aside for helping foster enviro-friendly business.

After getting a tiny lecture from Saltzman about the funding, and after Potter suggested that whatever enforcement money comes out of the Sustainable Development can be put back in during the fall budget "bump," Leonard relented.

"I had to try though," he said.

The real treat came when city council decided to applaud itself for all of its green practices in city offices. It was a fairly uproarious example of the self-congratulations Portland's city council is known for--but at least the commissioners recognized it and played along.

Each of the electeds' offices were certified as "Blue Works" businesses--meaning they do things like print on both sides of the paper, use reusable coffee mugs and bags, and recycle. It's a certification through the Office of Sustainable Development, but monitored by an independent consultant.

During the presentation, it was announced that Leonard's office uses the least amount of paper, to which Erik Sten asked, "That's not an indicator of the amount of work he does, is it?"

And when the Blue Works' reps cameras came out, Leonard warned, "Never get between Sam and a camera--you'll get trampled." (Later, after thumbing through WW's "best of Portland" issue, I realized that Adams is on nearly every page, which makes it look an awful lot like someone over there has a huge crush on him. Adams appeared to register a fair amount of discomfort over the attention.)

Here's what it looks like when a city council honors itself:

(I'm not saying I'm immune to the same behaviors. If I were mayor, I'd proclaim every day to be the Mayoral Birthday, and force my staff to bring me cake and presents. That would be followed by an awards ceremony, at which I'd always win first, second, and third prize. Eat it, bitches!)

The agenda item that took the longest, though, was an update on Sten's Schools, Family, Housing initiative, which is designed to increase enrollment in under-attended schools by placing affordable family housing near them.

I'll spare you the wonky details but the council discussion did produce this gem from Leonard: "Sometimes we overuse the word 'visionary,' but this is a visionary project."

Think that was directed at Potter and visionPDX?

Here’s what I get for being out covering local politics—I missed Dave Lister’s announcement that he’s decided to not run for city council in 2008. It’s a royal shame; no matter where your politics are in relation to his (he’s our favoritest libertarian), he would have injected much needed juice into the race, like he did in 2006.

Here’s what he has to say for himself:

Last year’s race took a heavy toll on me physically, emotionally and financially. To run a serious race for ‘08 I would need to start campaigning now and that’s just not in the cards for me, no matter what Potter decides. The earliest I would be a candidate again is 2010. I need to focus on my business and deal with some health issues. The Eastside Guy will continue to remain engaged and continue to sound off monthly in Brainstorm about what’s right and what’s wrong in Portland. I intend to continue to advocate for small business and the taxpayers.

Here’s hoping he reconsiders in September, when the political landscape becomes a little more clear.

Let us all shake our heads in dismay for former movie production assistant CASH WARREN who somehow bagged the lucious JESSICA ALBA, but has just been unceremoniously DUMPED. Says US Weekly…

Sources tell Us that Alba, who was abroad over the weekend promoting Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, called Warren on July 22 and told him, “I’m not in love with you anymore.”

Within hours, Alba had dispatched an assistant to the L.A. home they shared to pack up Warren’s belongings and move him out.

The breakup “happened…almost out of nowhere,” the source says. “[Cash] thinks it’s for another guy but doesn’t know….he’s totally devastated. But it was all her.” (Alba’s rep declined to comment.)

BUT IT GETS WORSE! When asked who Jessica currently has a crush on, she replied, “I would have to say Johnny Depp, Michael Caine…Morgan Freeman, and Jake Gyllenhaal.”

Mmm… Mmm… MORGAN FREEMAN? Jessica, why don’t you just stick a fucking knife through the poor guy’s heart?

It’s not that I don’t think it’s adorable, but doesn’t this fashion spread remind you of a certain fuzzy fetish?

This brand new video for “Women of the World,” by YACHT, is NSFW.

That is, if your place of employment has a strict no seizure policy.

Oh, my head hurts.

Lead Decemberist Colin Meloy lends his voice to the painfully unfunny Comedy Central animated tranwreck, Lil’ Bush. The clip is below, proceed with caution.

In related news, Hutch from The Thermals will be on Mind of Mencia next week.

Link courtesy of Pitchfork, Bush administration courtesy of Karl Rove.

First it was the Filipino prisoners doing a perfectly choreographed rendition of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Now it’s the Korean’s with the most awe-inspiring half-time show yet! A huge group of people with different colored ponchos make words, shapes, and spot-on animations? WTF?!? America sucks so HARD!! When did we lose the choreography wars??

Apparently, some people don’t like Wes Anderson. I guess I get where they’re coming from, even if I think they’re wrong—far as I’m concerned, Anderson’s got a beautiful style, a great eye, and a knack for writing characters who’re quirky and strange yet still have emotional weight. I’ve liked, or loved, every one of his movies so far. Anyway, here’s the trailer for his latest, The Darjeeling Limited. It feels very… ah… Wes Anderson-y. On a related note, I really like the line “I love you too, but I’m gonna mace you in the face!”

I would recommend watching the better quality version here.

Wondering why you can’t log on to myspace this morning? Perhaps you were one of the 29,000 registered sex offenders on the “social networking” site, whose profiles, in a massive example of e-castration, have all been deleted.

In a grand tradition followed by millions of kids who’ve been busted with drugs, Lindsay Lohan is claiming the cocaine that police say they found on her “wasn’t hers.” Here’s part of an email she sent to Access Hollywood: “I am innocent … did not do drugs they’re not mine. I was almost hit by my assistant Tarin’s mom I appreciate everyone giving me my privacy.” Hunnnnh?

Seriously, though, don’t let her drive.

The Transportation Security Administration is warning of “dry runs” at U.S. airports. Their suggestion: Steer clear of the in-flight chicken cordon bleu.

Speaking of poop jokes, President Bush is doing his damnedest to draw a link between Al Qaeda the international jihadist group and Al Qaeda in Iraq, as a way of justifying U.S. troops’ continued presence in Iraq. Not surprisingly, his attempts are being shredded by lefty wingnuts, like Robert Grenier, the former head of the counter-terrorism center at the CIA and the agency’s mission manager for the war in Iraq.

Will we see a land-for-peace plan in Israel? Wonder of wonders, it’s a possibility. Arab League leaders from Jordan and Egypt are meeting for the first time in Israel, and have called for a rapid time table for Palestinian statehood. Even Ehud Olmert sounds like he might be on board. All this in Tony Blair’s first week of work!

And, finally, a quick note to all the militant Basque separatists who are reading Blogtown this morning: For Christ’s sake, if you’re going to blow up something, don’t blow up bicyclists. It makes you look like a bunch of pricks.

Dieselboi over at Metroblogging Portland weighed in on the idea to rename N Interstate after Cesar Chavez:

While I understand the need for us to honor individuals who make an impact on our society and culture, is naming a street after them the right thing to do? Also, is N. Interstate the right street in the city to get the Cesar E Chavez name? I don’t know. I am also concerned that this new trend to rename streets is going to take off like a fad and soon, we’ll be renaming streets just for fun. Some ideas pop into my head:

N. Going Street leading to Swan Island: Kris Kristofferson Way, an homage to the movie Convoy.

SE Hawthorne or SE Clinton or SE Belmont: Jerry Garcia Ave….nuf said.

NW 23rd: Donald Trump St. (I know, I’m reachin’)

NE Sandy Blvd: William Burroughs Way

82nd Ave (or Avenue of the Roses): Pablo Escobar Ave.

I don’t know. I’m just making some fun here, but I do feel we’re not thinking these decisions through as a city. Avenue of The Roses? Come on!

Meanwhile, I’ve learned more about the effort to rename Interstate, again via the Arbor Lodge Neighborhood Association. The folks who want to change it presented at their last meeting. Number 4 surprised me.

Reasons for the change (and for picking Interstate Avenue) include:

1. it marks a south-to-north pathway, similar to the travel route of
most Latino families who settle in Oregon

2. 1 of every 7 new students in Portland Public Schools is Latino, but
many do not know of Cesar Chavez or his legacy of advocating for
workers’ rights. The representatives of the Committee reminded us that
Mr. Chavez used to tell people “Si, se puede,” meaning “Yes, you can.”
They believe Mr. Chavez’s success, in spite of no formal higher
education, could be an inspiration to students today.

3. Only two other public facilities in Oregon are named after Mr
Chavez, and neither of those (a school and a library) is in the
Portland metro area.

4. Cesar Chavez actually spent time in Oregon, working in the lumber
industry. He was hosted by a north Portland family (Jose and Kathy
Romero) during his time here.

5. Interstate is not named after another figure of historic
importance, so no one would be “replaced” by this renaming.

6. The proposed Cesar E Chavez Blvd would intersect with Rosa Parks
Way. New Seasons has expressed interest in helping to celebrate the
renaming of the street, and recognition of diversity that this new
intersection would create.

If someone could explain to me how new street names would create diversity… (which, to be clear, is likely a paraphrase of a paraphrase of what New Seasons has actually written in support of the proposal—I’ll be tracking down their letter).

From the so-called “YouTube” Presidential Debate on Monday night, candidate Hillary Clinton stuns the crowd by actually being kind of funny…

Can somebody explain this to me? Ikea opens tomorrow, which is a big deal to some people, I guess. I like Ikea just fine. Half my furniture came from the Houston store, and I’ve been known to stop at the Seattle store when I’m up north. On a scale of 1-10, my excitement level is around 3 in anticipation of having a store here in town. But the Portland Business Journal reports that as of yesterday there were already 20 people waiting in line for the opening.

This a new phenomenon, right? As a kid, I don’t remember adults and families camping out in line for anything, except concert tickets that were certain to sell out quickly. But sort of like how after Princess Di died, spontaneous public memorials with teddy bears and flowers became ubiquitous, Americans now seem willing to camp out for crap at the drop of a hat. The iPhone, movies, that Krispy Kreme that opened in the ‘burbs a few years ago… (I’d include the Harry Potter release parties of last weekend, but at least at Powells, there was a horse-drawn buggy or whatever and a mini-festival atmosphere. That was more like a party than a line.)

What I don’t understand is why you can’t wait four more days to get the newest gadget or to buy a collapsable entertainment center from Ikea. Have you been sitting on the floor of your apartment, waiting for years for this Ikea to open so that you can finally buy a couch? Or have big box stores (or Apple computers or whoever) gotten so adept at manipulating our relationship to them that we consider it an honor to be the first to give them money?

I’m not trying to get all Andy Rooney here (“What’s the deal with these campers? Maybe my bosses would let me go camp out for the new Nintendo thingamajiggle—but I doubt it. I’m happy to get my purchases in due time, just like when I was a kid.”), but seriously. Can somebody help me see this better?

(PS—If you’re in line at Ikea, reading this on your new iPhone, I’ll pay you $20 to pick me up a new gray bookshelf. An extra $10 to deliver and assemble it.)

(I got the link to that story from Urbanhonking.)

In case you haven’t kept abreast of the changes in the Laurelwood brewniverse (yeah I did!), here’s what I’ve gleaned from spying on other people’s blogs:

According to the Portland Beer Blog, the Laurelwood Pizza Co. opened last Saturday, in the space that the Laurelwood Pub & Brewery used to occupy, at 1728 NE 40th. Anybody know what style pizza they’re serving? The Pub & Brewery, meanwhile, moved up to new digs at 51st & Sandy a couple weeks ago. Good Stuff NW informs us that “owner Mike deKalb says the new place [at 51st & Sandy] has more separation between the bar and the kid-friendly areas, so we can hope for a bit of peace and quiet while we sip.”

This is smart. Very, very, smart. Lock the kids away behind a soundproof glass wall somewhere. I'm sure that once I start popping out babies, my appreciation for brewpubs will grow exponentially. As it stands, the presence of kids is enough to keep me out of most of them. It's not actually the kids, it's the parents who lose all interest in paying attention to their offspring as soon as they get a pint of beer in them. (Here's a thought: If you're going to ask a server to cater to the whims of your brat—to deal with picky eaters and special orders; to refill the co