A+ AMY

DEAR MERCURY—I live one block from ground zero of the
North Portland renaming controversy (Interstate and
the-street-formerly-known-as Portland Boulevard). I just wanted to let
you know how much I appreciate the thoughtful reporting that Amy J.
Ruiz has given to this issue. The coverage of this issue by the
“legitimate” press (I’m looking at you, Big O) does not even
come close to the excellent work done by Ms. Ruiz.

Geoff Kent

THE RIGHT REASON

[The following was posted on Blogtown, PDX, where there have been
daily red-hot debates over the issues surrounding the proposed renaming
of Interstate Avenue to César Chávez Boulevard. Jump into
the fray at blogtown.portlandmercury.com]

Reasons to rename street: (1) To honor and memorialize an important
historical figure. (2) A street reaches more people than a building,
little plaza, park, etc. The name is on intersections, on signs, on
maps, addresses, letters, business cards. (3) Streets named after
historical people or events are important symbols within our political
culture and the renaming of streets has often left out important people
in our history because they are minorities. (4) It is an act of public
commemoration historically denied to minorities.

Reasons not to rename the street: (1) Fear that the name of the
street will drive down property values. (2) Fear that the name of the
street will attract minority populations. (3) Fear that the name of the
street will lower residents’ class/position in society. (4) Fear of
inconvenience. (5) Fear of change. Did I miss any?

Posted by Skinny City Girl

WHERE MY GIRLS AT?

DEAR MERCURY—I keep hoping to find a post on Blogtown
by some equal rights and soccer-loving staffer about where in this town
I can catch an early morning Women’s World Cup Soccer game. What’s
that? The Women’s World Cup is going on? Crazy, I know. Comes around
every four years, just like the Men’s World Cup, which, incidentally,
was pretty well advertised when it was on a few years ago. This time
around? Nothing. I know I can pop into the local dive bar, and I will,
but the women just aren’t getting the same treatment, and it smacks of
suckage.

Sara

“HELLO MY DEAR NEW FREIND !!!”

DEAR MERCURY—Hello, My name is Natalia. I find your
profile and email on a site of acquaintances. If you is real are
interested, answer to me and we can begin our acquaintance. I was born
15 OCT 1979. I want to find the man who can love me whom I will also
ready to love and care. And i believe, i can have all part of what you
want in soulmate, out of thousands of people that is on here, i find
you to be my true choice and i hope that you should feel the same way
too. It’s mmmmmmmmm really a wonderful moment as am writing this letter
to you and i pray that i should hear a good and sweat reply from you.
You may be in long distance from me, but i believe that love can do
everything. I believe love can move mountain and love can turn people’s
life to wonderful life and sweet one. Ok, i wish that you should write
me in email and lets talk and get to know more about each other. My new
friend I ask you to write to me on email: nata_magnificent@yahoo.com.
because the Internet here is very bad, but on e-mail I can check my
mail easily. I will be great to read a nice letter from you. Hoping in
God of love and in power of love I hope to hear from you. Thanks for
the reading my letter.

Natalia

WHY, I OUGHTTA!

TO THE MERCURY VIA VOICEMAIL—”My name is Gary
Livingston. I’m 72 years old. I was reading an article by Jason
“Hammer” Smith, how he’d kick Brad Pitt’s wrinkly old ass any day of
the goddamn week [“Punkass Ol’ Pitt,” Letters, Sept 20]. Well, tell
this little punk sonofabitch I’m 72 and I could kick his ass, so
come on, I’m over here at [gives his address]. You’ve got a bunch of
super silly twits writing in here. How the fuck can you even come about
saying you’re a journalist? It’s bullshit yellow dog journalism!”

EASY THERE, GARY! We can tell just by the sound of your voice
that you can totally kick the Hammer’s ass! Way better than you can
distinguish a letter to the editor from an article, for sure! And this
week you won the letter to the editor, which means you get two
tickets to the Laurelhurst Theater and lunch at No Fish! Go Fish!,
which specializes in soup!