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Monday | March 21, 2011

Come Hang With Local Civic Wiki Geeks
Tonight's Discussion: User Interface!

How can PortlandWiki present a more inviting user interface?

And: Rehearse sampling of community-approved hijinks and practical jokes in anticipation of upcoming April Fools Day. Come enjoy some friendly discussion! We usually have a good time. Hope to see you this evening!

What: PortlandWiki Monday Meets
Where: Powell's Technical Books
Address: 40 NW 10th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209

Corner of NW 10th Avenue & NW Couch Street. (This is Powell's Tech's new location.)

(OpenStreetMap, Google Map)

Day: This evening! Monday, March 21st, 2011
Time: 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Go to meetup page: Monday Meets

Go to event calendar: PortlandWiki Monday Meets -- Come Hang With Local CivicWiki Geeks

Sunday | March 20, 2011

Bradley Manning Freedom Rally
And direct action event.
Army Private First Class Bradley Manning is a genuine American hero. He is the presumed whistleblower who provided documented evidence of serious war crimes and other abuses perpetrated by U.S. military and non-military forces operating in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Those crimes and abuses included those documented in a video showing U.S. helicopter gunship troops slaughtering close to a dozen Iraqi civilian non-combatants.^[1] Manning, 23, has endured nearly 300 days of solitary confinement under conditions described as "torture."^[2] Tomorrow you are invited to join Veterans For Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Code Pink Portland, the Surge Protection Brigade and others calling for the government to "Arrest the Real Criminals, Free Bradley Manning!" The rally includes a short march to the site of a direct action to raise awareness and support for Manning.

What: Bradley Manning Freedom Rally
Where: Director Park
Address: Downtown Portland: 815 SW Park Avenue (between SW Yamhill & SW Taylor Streets), Portland, Oregon
Day: Monday, March 21st, 2011
Time: 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Go to event RSVP page: Bradley Manning Freedom Rally

Go to story: Private Manning and Abu Ghraib Tactics

Go to story: Bradley Manning Is Stripped At Night And Made To Stand Naked By His Cell: Tortured For His Own Good

Saturday | March 19, 2011

Today's Antiwar Rally: The Egyptian People Set The Example
Cairo's Tahrir Square^[3] is the current model for pushing back oppressive regimes. Can we make Pioneer Courthouse Square the same?

What: Antiwar Rally & March
Where: Pioneer Courthouse Square
Address: Downtown Portland: 715 SW Morrison Street, Portland, OR 97205
Day: TODAY! Saturday, March 19th, 2011
Time: 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Go to story: Rally For Peace

Friday | March 18, 2011

The food coloring gives it an extra kick, you say? How about a head-on collision? Photo by Jonathunder.

St Patrick's Portland legacy: 16 drunk driving arrests
Sixteen drunk celebrators were arrested for driving last night, according to Oregon State Police. While the arrests were three fewer than last year, any of the sixteen could have found their green beer-lubricated partying suddenly cut short by a fatal accident. Designating a driver, taking a bus or the MAX, or calling a taxi are options that still remain ignored by some reckless individuals that would rather risk taking the lives of innocent bystanders than shell out a few bucks or endure the inconvenience of waiting a few minutes for a bus or taxi. Fortunately, there were no fatal accidents last night, but next year the "Luck of the Irish" may run out.

Go to story: On St. Patrick's Day, 16 drink, drive and get arrested

Thursday | March 17, 2011

Small Potatoes
Ah, the luck of the Irish!^[4] Whether it's boatloads of unruly Vikings storming the Celtic Isle to enslave its "blooming, lively women" and carry them off to parts unknown "over the broad green sea,"^[5] or planeloads of rapacious neoliberal plunderers swarming in to loot the entire economy,^[6] it's the Irish people who're always caught one leaf short of a four leaf clover. But today is Saint Patty's Day! It's OK to drown your sorrows in ale and dance and cheer. And thank ol' St. Patty that you're (for now) spared the luck of the Japanese.

Go to story: St. Patrick Catholic Church.

Wednesday | March 16, 2011

Bleached Bones And Jumbled Residues
The nature of the most dangerous cults is that "they are led by unstable, power-wielding authoritarians who believe they alone know the true answers and can change the fate of the world."^[7] Shortly after the Dear Leader ^[8] steps into the "emotional abyss," the people follow. Whether the cult leader is a charlatan preacher promising a "socialist paradise,"^[9] or a b-grade movie actor cum U.S. President^[10] announcing "morning in America,"^[11] the delusional fantasy always ends badly. The people become upset, and the poison Kool-Aid is dispensed.^[12] Absurd economic dogmas^[13], crafted by the most mendacious and powermad among us, are enforced. Wars without end are launched. A torture regime is set in motion.^[14] Economic war is declared on working people.^[15] Fortunately you're invited to cheer up and bring all that gloomy madness to a screeching halt with a lazy Saturday afternoon march and rally this weekend!

What: Antiwar Rally & March
Where: Pioneer Courthouse Square
Address: Downtown Portland: 715 SW Morrison Street, Portland, OR 97205-3103
Day: Saturday, March 19th, 2011
Time: 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Go to story: Rally For Peace

Tuesday | March 15, 2011

Oregon Convention Center, the venue. Photo by Cacophony.

April Fools: Metro invites the public to climate summit on April 1, but makes attendance inconvenient
Metro, the Oregon agency that supports the Oregon parts of the Portland Metro Area, is hosting a climate summit on April 1 that is free and open to the public. The event is intended to bring together local planners, elected officials, and the public to discuss climate strategies. However, scheduled at 8am-12pm on a Friday, and with an unnecessary but required registration, very few interested citizens will likely be able to peek their heads inside. The stated goal to "Learn about public attitudes about climate change" seems insincere when, as usual, convenience for public attendance is either ignored or intentionally discouraged.

Go to story: Metro hosts Climate Summit

Calendar page with details and registration (required, though free): Calendar

(Go to older news stories >>>)

References

[1] Collateral Murder

[2] Why is the United States torturing Private Manning?

[3] 2011 Egyptian revolution

[4] 6 Reasons the Irish Aren't So Lucky

[5] Ancient Celtic Warriors: Vikings and Irish at War

[6] Ireland: Neoliberalism a total failure

[7] The power of persuasion: 900 deaths left an unforgettable legacy

[8] Dear Leader's Faith In Deceit

[9] Jim Jones: Jonestown's formation and operation

[10] Ronald Reagan: From Actor to President

[11] Morning in America

[12] Drinking the Kool-Aid

[13] In The Land Of The Magic Asterisk

[14] Private Manning and Abu Ghraib Tactics

[15] The real Republican strategy: The anti-union push in Wisconsin is part of a broader national effort by the GOP

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