L.A.: THE MORAL CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE

DEAR WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY: I find it shameful and unethical that you would
give one of your own events, the karaoke night at the Blackbird [Jan 6], the
attention it got in the Mercury. I came up to Portland from L.A., where
the two major weeklies (New Times and the L.A. Weekly) both have
strict policies about their staff not giving “picks of the week” to themselves
and their friends. This creates a more level playing field, where events are
garnered attention based on the talent and hard work of the people involved.
Please consider adopting similar policies at the Portland Mercury.

Jonn Walterscheid

Wm. Steven Humphrey responds: Congratulations on being from Los Angeles.
But here’s how the Mercury does things in Portland: We pick the best
shows of the night–period. If Liza Minnelli had come to Portland that day,
we would have gladly deferred to her talent. (And though I suspect you already
know this, the New Times and L.A. Weekly really suck.)


STATE OF JEFFERSON ISN’T GOING ANYWHERE!

TO THE EDITOR: In Phil Busse’s article about the Cascadian National Party
[“Don’t Tread on Me,” Jan 10] there were several inaccuracies concerning The
State of Jefferson. The State of Jefferson did in fact secede on December 4,
1941, but they seceded only from the states of Oregon and California, not from
the United States.

Naturally, the US involvement in WWII slowed the momentum, and civil disputes
were set aside in favor of national unity, but the movement was by no means
dissolved. In the 1970s, there was a resurgence of the movement, evidence of
which, is easily found driving through the area. Yreka, California is the chosen
capitol of the State of Jefferson, and headed northbound on I-5, you will pass
a large barn painted with “The State of Jefferson.” More information may be
found on the State of Jefferson official website, www.jeffersonstate.org.

Nicole Gladwin

A PENIS CAN’T APPRECIATE A VAGINA

HEY MERCURY: Which dumb-ass sent a guy to review the Vagina Monologues [Theater, Jan 3]? Maybe someone with a vagina might appreciate the show a little
more than Justin Sanders.

In his review, Sanders wonders why “hundreds” of “liberated women” attended the show and loved it. Apparently, he forgot to ask any of them for their perspective. That’d a be a swing-and-a-miss for Mr. Penis.

M

NATURE’S: NOT JUST FOR HIPPIES ANYMORE

TO THE MERCURY: Many thanks for your coverage of our unionization campaign
at Nature’s on Division St. [“Hippies of the World Unite,” Jan 10]. But come
on can you guys just come off the high horse with that over-generalizing word
“hippies”? Workers at Nature’s are making a genuine effort to improve the conditions
of their workplace and earn a decent wage for the hard work they do. Your derogatory
classification of those efforts is misleading and lazy. Besides, Wild Oats doesn’t
give a damn about “hippies.” It’s the upper-middle class money they want, and
their organo-chic propaganda seems to be pulling it in.

And, it’s the INDUSTRIAL Workers of the World, not INTERNATIONAL. It’s a name you’ll be hearing more often, so enter it into your political spell-check, please. Kudos, and thanks for the overall positive reporting.

Ryan Gaughan
Nature’s Organizing Committee

JUSTIN, COME HOME!

HEY MERCURY! Are you punishing me for my mean thoughts? I was just thinking
about how your clearly enthusiastic and rather charming theater reviewer, Justin
Sanders, hasn’t read enough plays to be a reviewer. Other reviewers read a play
before seeing it, but Justin goes out for a few beers and walks into the show
shit-faced and ready for a good ride. And in a confused attempt at customer
service, you read my mind and ELIMINATED THE THEATER SECTION! I’m sorry for
my indecent thoughts. Bring Justin back. His “man on the street” style is kind
of cool and gives people who haven’t read the stupid play an idea of how they
might respond. I will be good to him from now on. RESURRECT JUSTIN! FORGIVE
ME!

Madeleine Sanford

The Mercury responds: Don’t fret! After a short
break, Justin is back in business. And for her tearful confession, Madeleine
wins two passes to the Laurelhurst Theater for writing the Mercury “Letter of
the Week!” Send in your rants and raves to the address above, and you could
be our next winner!