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Thursday, February 14, 2008
Portland Bojack’s Backflips
Posted by on Thu, Feb 14 at 11:54 AM
I love when Jack Bogdanski does backflips to avoid giving us props, and to keep up the impression that he’s so above reading Blogtown. (Because, you see, we’re mortal enemies, given that he’s a cranky ol’ curmudgeon, and we’re uberhip hipsters who are probably responsible for all of Portland’s troubles.)
Yesterday on his blog, he pointed out a new local blog on “Portland Gentrification and Other Problems.”
Wow, that really is a great quote Bojack appropriated for his headline. I wonder what the Portland Gentrification blog had to say about it?
MEANWHILE, a very pedestrian-friendly distance away on Hawthorne, local independent record store Jackpot has gotten the boot while we weren’t looking.First profiled in the Mercury last month, the story related to the owner of Nick’s Coney Island cashing in his retirement chips, one of which was the building where Jackpot was. I have it from a well-connected source however, that rather than getting a 50% rent raise, as implied in the article, Jackpot’s rent was in fact doubled from $2,000 to $4,000 — and when they expressed hesitancy of the “can ya work with me” variety, they were informed by the new owner that McDonald’s-owned chain-horror Chipotle’s was “interested.” (the hypocrisy of course being that Hawthorne Central Command, on principle, banned the Golden Arches from their suzerainty some years ago - said principle being that black people like to eat at McD’s, I’ve always assumed).
Well, all’s well enough for Jackpot; they’ve moved to a less-more-expensive place down the street, making lemons into lemonade as it were. And here’s at least one bit from the comments under that link which has the ring of truth to it: “My commercial real estate friend told me the other day he hates to do it but he looks at Hawthorne and all he sees are bulldozers and dollar signs.” So says “Garrett.”
Yup. That great headline on bojack’s blog originally came from one of our dear Blogtown readers. (Thanks for the link, Portland Gentro, even if you “kind of hate” us.)
You can admit it, Jack. You’re a fan of what’s going on over here, even if you need to hide it by linking to blogs that reference us. Gotta keep up appearances! We understand. We won’t tell.
Comments
If grandpappy doesn't worry about all those newfangled street-train-a-mabobbers and those funny kids with crazy hair who listen to that garbage rock and roll, who will? Somebody's gotta shout "get off my lawn!"
I think maybe I'm not cut out for this journo biz. I used to kinda like people, even other media hos. But I'm learning, I really am. I do get tired of the catfights. Even tongue-in-cheek, they get old. But I do the best I can to participate nonetheless.
"uberhip hipsters" WOW! I think I'll just
twitty all over the place (with a fresh
rumor heard about the Brotherhood of the
Strong). Thanks!
McDonalds does not own Chipotle. They had a majority interest at one point, but have been divested since October 2006.
"said principle being that black people like to eat at McD’s, I’ve always assumed"
oh ok, Hawthorne doesn't want black people ...because obviously all black people only eat fast food...?
am I reading this racist crap right?
I REALLY AM starting to think everyone in pdx is a biggot.
If I remember correctly, the concern was over the trash that fast food places usually generate on the street as well as the general vibe that would be out of balance with the neighborhood, not black people. As if you just build a McDonald's and then all of the black people would just come running. What an ignorant fucktard.
Looking for legitimacy in the eyes of others is a sign of insecurity.
The other big issue was that the McDonalds drive thru would have funneled people right onto SE 34th, which is a fairly narrow street that can be difficult to navigate under the best of circumstances. But I guess it's far easier to attribute racist motives to people you've never met before, and even more hilarious when you have to think up your own stereotypes (blacks love teh McDonalds!11!11!1) and then attribute them to others. Stay classy, anti-gentrification guy.
Why does Blogtown care what Bojack does? Have I missed Bojack's relevance to what happens in Portland?
Yeah, it's pretty tired. You don't like him, he doesn't like you. We get it. I'm also tired of the- "Hey, we had that headline first" coverage. Really? Is this high school?
Blogtown is great most of the time, but yeah, one of the big weaknesses is its obvious insecurities and pettiness, manifested in the constant instigation of childish cat fights with the Oregonian, Willy Week, and even blowhards like Bojack. Lame.
Very funny you crazy, hip boys and girls.
Gentrification Guy's observation about race there is one that was repeatedly made about those insular white Southeasters during that time period (if I'm not mistaken,it was a Mercury staffer, amongst others, who made this one).
It's the kind of whiny bullshit I so love: people have a legitimate beef- i.e. traffic- so the forces of congestion cry racism, meaningless debate results...And now there's a mixed use building there with no parking that I've ever noticed.
The real issue is that a law professor is plagiarizing.
OMG Mercury vs. BoJack... that may be too much for me ---- Im getting a cyber boner.
Can anyone even remember what this shit between Bogdanski and the Merc blog was about? Matt Davis thought one of Bog's posts was racist, and Bogdanski blocked the Mercury staff from viewing and commenting on his blog? You both have a lot to add to the conversation about Portland's future, so I wish you'd stop this silliness. Or not, it is mildly entertaining.
Ed,
I'm not 100% sure but I think it goes back farther than that.
Is it just me, or does anyone else get the instinct to behave extremely childishly whenever someone says "stop being insecure childish?"
Stop being a fucking loser.
Yeah, that kind of thing.
Can ya mention race without 22-year-olds who haven't learned anything whining "you're the racist, duude!"
Can ya talk about gentrification without 60-year olds who've forgotten everything bitching about money spent on mass transit?
Portland Gentro says maybe not but the blog is up, some are mad, some are glad, and that's what the internet is all about!
"Can ya mention race without 22-year-olds who haven't learned anything whining "you're the racist, duude!""
Ahem,
Go fuck yourself and your silly generalizations of African-American consumers, 'duude'.
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I love Jack. I like that he pretends he doesn't read us.
It's like the Oregonian pretending they don't read us, either.
It gives us a twisted kind of legitimacy.