Letters to the Editor

STRUCK BY LIPSTICK

DEAR MERCURY—What the fuck is Sarah Mirk on? I read her
article on transit technology with interest, being a person who’s
interested in both public transport and technology [“I Bus, I Bike,
iPhone,” News, July 16]. I was happily reading the piece over breakfast
when I get to the paragraph quoting TriMet Data and Technology Manager
Bibiana McHugh, which details not only her words on transit software
and opinions on open source, but also what color lipstick and suit she
is wearing. This is exactly the kind of journalism women do not
need. While the media insists on focusing on how a woman looks,
instead of what she says or does, we’ll be stuck with the mid-20th
century sexism this article stinks of.

-Liz Savage

THREE-FINGERED SNAP!

DEAR MERCURY—Who the fuck is this guy Three-Fingered
ass-bang Larry anyway [“C’mon Down to Mentally Incompetent
Three-Fingered Larry’s “Recall Sam Adams” Sign-Up Hut!,” New Column,
July 16]? Larry, go back to your doublewide and fry
something—preferably your brains! Oh, and Larry: Your thumb
is not a finger. You two-fingered asswipe from hell!

-Tom Charette

UP IN OUR BUSINESS

You want jobs but you don’t want the business-friendly environment
that attracts those jobs [“What Else Ya Got?” Hall Monitor, July 16].
Bottom line, Portland needs to attract more private sector jobs. Let’s
face it, art galleries on Hawthorne and farmers markets don’t produce
the same tax revenue that comes from an Intel.

-posted by Venzetti on portlandmercury.com

FOR WHOM IT TOLLS

If the Vancouverites don’t want to toll the bridge then they don’t
“need” a bridge [“Toll Order,” News, July 9]. Tolling now would reduce
a lot of “unnecessary” driving, reducing the need for a bridge today.
Expecting “free” money from the bankrupt federal government should be a
last option.

-posted by Tamer on portlandmercury.com

FOR LOVE, NOT MONEY

DEAR MERCURY—What!? I don’t how much money Dr.
Dwight Reid paid for his front-page cover ad [Cover, July 16] but good
on his clever little mind for sucker punching the Mercury and
its readers with his self-serving, creatively boring message. As for
the Mercury, it just goes to show how low you are willing to
crawl for a little money.

-C.R.A.

HAIKU TO YOU, TOO

DEAR MERCURY—I always imagined that you bought the
shitty-ass covers for your tawdry no-bit rag at some absurdist haiku
outlet out in Gresham somewhere. Did they go out of business? Perhaps
there’s a more craven reason for using the cover of your July 16 issue
to advertise Bridgetown Chiropractic and Wellness? Mind you, as an
advertisement it’s fucking brilliant! If I didn’t know better… wait a
minute, has there been a hostile takeover by the Willamette
Week?!? I’m scared.

-Mecca

WE’RE SCARED TOO, MECCA, by the lack of observational skills on
the part of both you and C.R.A., who did not catch the fact that last
week’s cover image was that of the winning bidder on the “You Design
the Cover!” item from our most recent holiday charity auction, during
which we raised over $16,000 for the Portland Women’s Crisis Line. In
another act of charity, we’re giving you two tickets to the Laurelhurst
Theater and lunch at No Fish! Go Fish! where you can write your own
absurdist haikus.

AUDITION FOR PIZZAZZ!

Do you have a fun, crazy talent? Want to win $1,000? Then audition
for Pizzazz! (Portland’s funnest talent show). Singers, dancers,
magicians, unicyclists—whatever! Share your gift with the world,
and win big bucks to boot. Sign up online at portlandmercury.com/pizzazz and get the attention and MOOLAH you deserve!