Warped Priorities

Two days after the Salem city council approved a $25,000 gift to the Festival of Lights Parade, the Salem Repertory Theatre announced its curtains would fall for the final time after December's performance of "A Christmas Memory."

On the surface, the two incidents have little to do with each other, but they are indicative of city officials' warped priorities. Rather than bolstering a venue that provides year-round entertainment adding to Salem's cultural canvas, the city chooses to dump a huge wad of cash into a one-time parade that is essentially a mile-long commercial.


Article from "Facing the Facts" in the December 2009 issue of Salem Monthly

Happy Eat-Til-You-Puke Day!

Turkey: A large bird whose flesh, when eaten on certain religious anniversaries has the peculiar property of attesting piety and gratitude.

What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they only see once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often.

Jon Stewart:
"I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land."

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

The Sharpie Show

Oktoberfest

I'm up in NE Washington visiting my dad. :) Haven't had much to really post about lately.

But everyone should know that Oktoberfest is oompahing in Mt. Angel, OR! Started today and goes til Sunday!!!

http://www.oktoberfest.org

Community Service Has Come So Far

12-Year-Old Boy Scouts Volunteer To Give Women Breast Exams

Captain's Log: Earth Date 2009/7/5

I have returned from the brown, flat and heated abyss known as the Midwest.

As the crew and I began our mission out there we knew it would be a hard quest, for our transport's air conditioning unit had failed us.

2,075 miles later and in only 2 days, thanks to our hyper jets, we arrived in an unfamiliar world. The world's sun was blazing. The air humid. And many species unknown back home. Many of them that survive on our blood!

The creatures that lived on this world were surprisingly hospitable. One crew member, 1st Officer Rosenkoetter, is actually a native to this world. And she was able to communicate with the local creatures, allowing us to find food and shelter. The 1st Officer's parents lived here and we were eagerly ushered into their dwelling space.

While visiting this world we managed to find a local mechanic with the appropriate knowledge of our earthcraft. This fine fellow managed to fix our conditioning unit, which was most appreciated for the long journey home.

Our trip home was a struggle, however, for fatigue was setting in on the crew. Morale was low and we all were longing for the familiarity of home.

However, it was a successful mission, with little incident occurring.

The Words of Humans Fill Me With Fear

by Rilke


The words of humans fill me with fear.
They name all the things with articulate sound:
so this is called house and that is called hound,
and the end's over there and the start's over here.

Their thinking is scary, with scorn they have fun;
they know what will come and what came before;
and even the mountain is sacred no more:
their property ends just where God's has begun.

I'm meaning to warn them and stop them: Stay clear!
It's the singing of things I'm longing to hear.
You touch them and stiff and silent they turn.
You're killing the things for whose singing I yearn!