The dead bodies part is actually awesome. The More You Know! Plus, isn't this the first Fleet Week since DADT was nixed? Also awesome!

I mostly get tired of getting waggly-eyebrowed "LOOKIN' FORWARD TO FLEET WEEK?" cold opens from every weird server and store clerk downtown. Psh, if I wanted to hook up with the military industrial complex, I'd be down at Duke's in Gresham every weekend (not once a month).

Also, obligatory Boat Coap reference, and also, it's "fightboat", not "battleship".

I hope some of those sailors notice your KBOOse, Sarah.

For non-Portlanders -

Bridge lifts last a total of about 2 hours

The 'city fair' is open longer than fleet week

Downtown is always full of drunkards

If you don't try to f#C% with the military, you don't have to worry about the security

A break from the public who 'heavily use' the waterfront for their shooting up and begging is not a bad thing

Ms. Mirk- This actually IS a treasured Portland celebration going back a lot longer than you were even able to find this fair city on a map. Not sure how long ago it was that you moved here to live your Awesome Portland Life! (trademark), but before 9/11 there would be at least 15-20 Navy ships and submarines every year. This year there are 2. The rest are Coast Guard and Canadian Navy, making a grand total of 7 watercraft. Quit yer lame bitchin'

I blame the inbound Green line.

@8- I'm sure she is just fine with the Canadian "Navy." Whatever. This is what I would expect from someone who didn't even see Alien until encouraged by the Prometheus hype, never mind the fact that it is considered one of the best-crafted films of the last 40 years, regardless of genre.

All I want to know is, was pirate-flag waving, shirtless-drum playing, shanty-boat dude forced to move???

The first year I moved here I was like "Whoa, are those dudes really for make-outs?" But my friends said they're all homophobes. SAD. WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR EVEN. UGH.

The notion that all events in Portland are graded by how much said events inconvenience cyclists is truely a testament to how moronic this city can be.

Fact of the matter is, if this were boats filled with people supporting whatever flavor of the month cause you align yourself with, you'd be beside yourself with self satisfaction.

The irony is those boats have a more diverse population living together than Portland ever has or ever will. We could all learn something from those who would so greatly offend the schedule of Sarah Mirk.

Also worth pointing out how much the Merc aligns themselves with the causes of the young and poor... until they join the military. Then it's "fuck 'em, I've got to get me and my Bianchi to the eastside." If the same poor kids, white, black, latino, were camping out in a park instead of living at least the next 4 years on a boat, you'd be singing their praises.

If I can't get a sailor the first year after DADT fell, I may as well just retire my leather chaps.