Strong Arm: Obama says he’s committed to an assault weapons ban, despite political whining. Job Creators: WalMart announces a plan to hire any recent veteran who wants a job. Big Dope: Lance Armstrong comes clean that he doped and will testify against people he says pushed him to do it. Justice Clarence Thomas Says Something! […]
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 inTransportation
What Are Portland’s Best and Worst Bus Lines?
Local bike-ped-transit news magazine Portland Afoot has dug into the numbers on TriMet’s bus routes and determined which lines are the most and least reliable. Here’s the rundown of 2012 Portland bus rankings: MOST FREQUENT: The 72-Killingsworth, with 218 trips, followed by the 4-Division, with 174 trips. LEAST FREQUENT: SW Portland’s 55-Hamilton has only four […]
Posted inPolitics
For Gun Owners, Every Day Should Be “Gun Appreciation Day”
A coalition of gun rights’ groups and right-wing coalitions has declared this January 19th to be Gun Appreciation Day. As someone who is terrified of guns, I am totally in favor of Gun Appreciation Day. In fact, I think every day should be Gun Appreciation Day. But appreciating guns is the opposite of telling Obama […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning News!
Clean Plate Club: A new study shows that up to half of the world’s food is simply thrown away, thanks to customers’ demand for cosmetically perfect food and expiration dates (as well as, of course, unappreciative children who want only hot dogs). Here Are Some Movies Some Old White Dudes Liked: The Oscar nominations are […]
Posted inSexual Politics
Let’s Talk About 40 Murders.
How many people were killed by domestic violence this past year in Oregon? At least 40. But the only domestic violence incident that’s gotten national attention recently is this week’s case of a SE Portland man choking his girlfriend with his dreadlocks. Many people have jumped on the temptation to spin this into an easy […]
Posted inCats
St. Johns Dealing With an Actual Cat Burglar
The Portland Police have informed us that at least two cats in the St. John’s neighborhood have been deliberately stolen. Here’s the strange report, which seems to indicate a crime spree inspired by dog-theft-and-ransom film Seven Psychopaths: On November 15, 2012, at approximately 8:00 a.m., Portland Police responded to a residence in the area of […]
Posted inNews
Sexual Politics
Dreaded Violence
Congress fails to pass the Violence Against Women Act.
Posted inBlogs
Moving On
I’m thrilled to report that I’ve been hired as the new online editor for Bitch Media, a national feminist magazine and media nonprofit based here in Portland. I’ll be here at the paper for just two more weeks. Bitch is inspiring and I’m very excited to join their staff, but I’ve worked on and off […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning News!
Thanks for the Billions, Y’all! Bailout recipient AIG is considering suing the government, saying the strings attached to the emergency money were too onerous. Retroactive Equality: Military members who were kicked out of the forces in the past eight years because of the ban on LGBT folks will get full separation pay. No, You Shut […]
Posted inPortland
Someone is Changing Portland Stop Signs to “Poop”
A very simple and effective sticker has popped up in Old Town: Someone spotted the poop-aganda campaign at the Joan of Arc statue in the Laurelhurst neighborhood, too.
Posted inArtsy
Giant “Ghost Building” Under Construction Near Hawthorne Bridge
For weeks, I’ve been watching this strange structure take shape at the east end of the Hawthorne Bridge and thought, “What is that?” Lead Pencil Studio It’s art, of course. Part of the art installations going up along the new Eastside Streetcar line, funded by the city’s 2% for Art program. The strange structure is […]
Posted inLGBTQIA+
Oregon Scores Transgender Health Insurance Win
LGBT advocacy group Basic Rights Oregon is calling attention to a recent legal tweak in Oregon that will impact every transgender person in the state: Insurance companies in Oregon can’t deny medically necessary care for transgender people if it covers the same care for non-transgender people. This seems like a strange loophole to have to […]