The whack psuedo-science of cosmetics has always really irked me. You know, the shampoo commercials that promise to infuse your hair with “strengthening protein” while animated DNA strands swirl into sexy, swishy locks? This is what my shampoo tells me, irritatingly, while I read the back of the bottle in the shower: “I’ll fight for […]
Sarah Shay Mirk
Sarah Shay Mirk reported on transportation, sex and gender issues, and politics at the Mercury from 2008-2013. They have gone on to make many things, including countless comics and several books.
Posted inHomo
Gays: Coming To Your Town
Watch out, Arkansas, you could be full of gay people. That’s the premise for a new educational DVD from the homo-hatin’ American Family Association (at 28 minutes long, the film is “perfect for viewing during Sunday School” the AFA promises!) which uses the “former Christian resort town” of Eureka Springs, AR, as the tragic example […]
Posted inPortland
Giving Thanks for Clone-A-Willy
A few weeks ago at a party, we were all standing around in the kitchen, awkwardly introducing ourselves and talking about our jobs. Then a guy named Todd spoke up. “I’m a lab tech for Empire Labs,” he said. “What’s that?” I asked. “We sell kits that allow anyone to make a rubber mold of […]
Posted inNews
It Will Get Worse
Foreclosure Wave Hits Portland
The foreclosure wave hits Portland’s elderly and black communities
Posted inFood and Drink
Blogtown Food Drive – So Great!
Check out this happy food train that’s about to make its way to the Oregon Food Bank: And just in time, too: thanks to the global economic collapse, etc., need for food has increased by 40 percent this year in some parts of the state. Yikes. Come by and drop your donation off by 4:30PM […]
Posted inNews
Black People Got Worse Loans Than Whites
Speaking of white privilege, this week I wrote an article for the news section about how the people hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis in Portland have so far been African American and elderly people. There was a big forum last weekend at the PCC on Killingsworth addressing the fact that North Portlanders are losing […]
Posted inNews
Maybe You Are Worried About Money.
Maybe you made the mistake of passing Sunday morning listening to radio stories of the Great Depression. Maybe you spent your weekly food budget on delicious pie makings. Maybe you planned to go see Yeasayer at the Aladdin and when you got there realized it was an outrageous $17 but had to pony up the […]
Posted inNeighborhoods
Facility for Mentally Ill Scaled Back After Long Fight
For a year now, neighbors out in Milwaukie have been trying to stop the construction of Balfour House a secure residential treatment facility for mentally ill criminals – this week, for the first time, the company building the center tried to work out a compromise. Instead of a 15-bed treatment center, the place will house […]
Posted inFood and Drink
Monday. You. Here. With Food.
So the donations for the Blogtown Food Drive have already started rolling in. Check out Mercury office manager Brad glaring down at the cans we’ve accumulated: You don’t have to spend a whole month’s worth of food stamps to donate, any food is better than no food! The rate of low-brow “For More Value” macaroni […]
Posted inTransportation
Miracle Occurs in Northeast Portland
Mercury reader Jason spotted this unbelievable sign on Lombard and MLK: I don’t keep obsessive track of gas prices since the price for me is always the same but I’m wondering if this means that TriMet might lose less money than it thought? I mean, look at this plunge! TriMet raised fares in part because […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning News!
“No No To America!”: 10,000 Shiites protest the Iraqi government’s plan to have American troops stick around till 2011. Yes yes to Hillary Clinton! Obama officially announces that some woman who ran for president once will be his secretary of state nominee. Lame Ducks: Congress ends its sessions without giving aid to SUV-lovin’ auto companies. […]
Posted inNews
Fired Up! Ready to Go… Where?
Oregon Groups Try to Keep Voters Heated after Election-Fever Breaks
When elections wrap up, where do campaign workers go?