The Occupying force is still set up in Chapman Park and Lownsdale Square, settling in for what looks to be a couple of soggy days. There are still several dozen tents set up and, as of 10am today, a couple people waving signs and getting an occasional honk from traffic. Taking in the scene, I immediately wondered: What happens if Occupy Portland stops being an Occupy protest and starts becoming a homeless encampment? I could see that being a distinct possibility if the parks remain okay to legally sleep in for the next couple weeks.

I was up in Seattle this weekend and stopped by their protest. It's a bit different—smaller, but also more visible. They've set up camp right in the middle of Seattle's commercial core, surrounded by Nordstrom's shoppers. Seattle's mayor says he supports the protest, but there have been bizarre crackdowns on umbrellas and drivers who honk in support.

Anyway, today is the most imperialist of holidays: Columbus Day! A Columbus Day Convergence is slated to start at noon across the river at NE 8th and Oregon, with some activities (open mic, free chili) and an eventual march at 6pm in support of indigenous rights.

Over at the main Occupy site, the big debate is over whether the protesters should open up Main Street, the currently barricaded block between the two parks where the elk statue is. The city and police have been asking Occupy to open up the block to traffic since Friday and I ran into police Captain Sara Westbrook doing the rounds at the protest and trying to meet with organizers to get them to open up the thoroughfare. But so far, no dice. The street remains lined with barricades and soaked cardboard protest signs