Missives from Pickathon, Part 2

The circus is gone. The kids that remain are crawling the ground under the apple trees for green fruit, which they toss up onto the shading, stretched fabric. It’s at an angle, so the fruit always bounces back down. Every so often, a cry of “APPLE!” goes up. I haven’t figured out the rules of the game. Continue reading 

Missivies from Pickathon, Part 1

It’s a strange thing, driving to Pickathon. You’re in the middle of Portland, tied up in its highway knots; you’re driving south on 205, trying not to feel like you’re heading home from the airport; you’re turning off an an exit that quickly begins to feel frighteningly like Agrestic, all matching complexes with intimidating names. And then you’re in the middle of nowhere. Continue reading 

‘Torchwood: Children of Earth,’ Day Four

It’s time to just suck it up and accept that it does not matter if I feel like the entire internet has had its say about the last two days of Torchwood: Children of Earth. I am not the entire internet! And I still have thoughts! They’re just delayed, is all. And of course there are plenty of spoilers. Click here and read further at your own risk! Continue reading 

City Moves Police Out of Downtown

In the worst blow to downtown since the hospital left, the Eugene City Council voted 6-2 today to move the police department out of the heart of the city. Critics charge that the $16-million plan to buy an office building on Country Club Road for the police department will cripple downtown, defy three votes, waste money, increase polluting sprawl and congestion, increase earthquake and flooding risk and reduce police accountability while damaging civic pride. Continue reading 

‘Torchwood: Children of Earth’: Unplanned intermission!

I watched, I didn’t weep, I got a little choked up, I have a lot to say — but I had all kinds of Things that needed doing the last few days, so I’m a bit behind. And I watched Day Four and Day Five pretty much one after the other, so they’re a touch blurry. But I’m working on it. Your Torchwood posts, they shall return. In the meantime, if anybody wants to talk about it, I’m here for you, man. We could probably all use a good heart-to-heart after that. Continue reading 

‘Torchwood: Children of Earth,’ Day Three

Well, that was kind of intense. Shall we talk about it? Let’s. “As a gift.” Day Three is a pivot point. The 456 arrives. A pillar of flame sinks into the glass tank at the top of Thames House (without burning anything in its path, I’d like to note). Something prone to splattering green goo against the walls is inside. We never see all of it, just sense a large, lumbering presence, strange and eerie. Continue reading 

‘Torchwood: Children of Earth,’ Day Two

It’s a little funny that I was just discussing Torchwood’s “adult” content levels, given that Day Two gives us entirely naked Jack. (And to think I just read a quote from John Barrowman about eventually getting his kit off.) It’s not quite as hot as it might sound, though. Mostly, it’s rather unpleasant. But let me tuck this all behind a spoiler cut. (For an introduction to Torchwood and my thoughts on Day One, look here.) “I’m a PA. It’s what I do.” Continue reading 

RIP Jo Fed’s

Shaun the intern just noticed a drastic change to the Jo Federigo’s website: As of this morning, it says that the venue has closed. Owners are looking for a buyer or investor. Some of the venue’s scheduled events have moved to Davis’ Restaurant, including Ala Nar (8 pm July 24; $5) and Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad (8 pm July 29; $12). Casey Mitchell, who was booking Jo Fed’s, says that “as many acts as possible” among the already-booked shows will be moving to Davis’. Continue reading