From California comes a terrible case of a rape conviction overturned because of an outdated law: According to the appeals court’s interpretation of state law, tricking someone into having sex with you by pretending to be someone else is only illegal if the rapist is pretending to be your husband. Here’s the case: A woman […]
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 inSexual Politics
In its Last Act of Failure, Congress Did Not Reauthorize Violence Against Women Act
The 112th Congress was officially replaced today, and good riddance. The legacy of this past Congress will be its staggering inability to get anything done. Prime case in point: The House let the Violence Against Women Act die. This should be a no-brainer bill. No legislator campaigns on a pro-rape-and-domestic violence platform. And yet! Conservatives […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning News!
Al Jazeera, Meet the USA: Arab news giant Al Jazeera buys Al Gore’s Current TV, aiming to expand into US markets. India Prosecutes Suspected Gang Rapists: The surprising, massive protests against the government’s treatment of rape victims and cases in India has fast-tracked the prosecution of five men accused of gang rape. The Rich Got […]
Posted inPortland
Good Advice for 2013 from Portland’s Best Bodega
The Belmont Bodega on SE 25th and Belmont always has excellent phrases stuck across its front window. I liked their wisdom on New Years’ Eve.
Posted inTransportation
Avis Buys Zipcar: Will it Hurt the Company?
Carsharing company Zipcar broke the news today that car rental giant Avis is buying the company for $500 million. The sale looks like it’ll be investigated as a raw deal to stockholders, but if the sale goes through, it could mean big changes for Zipcar. Carsharing is very popular in Portland, where about 15 percent […]
Posted inNews
“If It Bores You, It’ll Bore the Reader.”
Exit Interview with Oregonian’s Longtime Editorial Cartoonist Jack Ohman
Exit interview with whip-smart Oregonian editorial cartoonist Jack Ohman.
Posted inGeneral
Hot Dog in Spaaaaaaace!
How Two Portlanders Launched the First Hot Dog into the Stratosphere
The true story of how two Portlanders launched the first hot dog into space.
Posted inAstronomy
Watch Video of Two Portland Dudes Shooting a Hot Dog into Space
America! The land where you can achieve your dreams, as long as they’re ridiculous ones like sending a hot dog into space. As detailed in this week’s upcoming cover story, the engineers at Portland’s Ruckus Composites became the first people to ever shoot a hot dog into space this summer, when they launched an all-beef […]
Posted inNews
Oregon’s Prison Population is Growing Fast—What Can We Do?
Oregon is doing something very smart: Tackling the issue of our growing prison population before it eats up more of the state budget. As reported earlier in December, Governor John Kitzhaber has promised to build no more new prisons and flatline the state’s inmate population, using the saved cash long term to fund things like […]
Posted inNews
Set It and Forget It!
The 2012 Stories We’re Probably Jerks for Reminding You About
We didn’t die an apocalypse this year, so let’s look back on what actually happened.
Posted inTransportation
TriMet Extends Hours for New Years Eve Drunks
Here is your handy guide to TrIMet holiday schedule changes during the next week. Christmas Eve – Monday, Dec. 24All trains and buses are on regular weekday schedules. Christmas Day – Tuesday, Dec. 25All buses and MAX trains operate on Sunday schedules. Watch out, because not all bus lines run on Sundays. WES will not […]
Posted inPortland
Aquarium? More like a “Fish Petting Zoo”!
I went to the brand-new Portland Aquarium last week expecting it to be an abysmal scam, instead finding it to be a surprisingly cute and interactive place that was marginally better than what I expected from an aquarium built in six months in a former steakhouse. But I want to post an excerpt from a […]