Hey, remember Osama Bin Laden? Whatever happened to that guy?

OK, so December's photo of the month is pretty lame but I was short on ideas and wanted to do something with a Christmas theme. I may change it around a bit to make it look like "Osama" was caught on camera while wandering through Pioneer Courthouse Square. Originally, he had a word bubble that was a riff on Verizon's "Chrisma-hanu-kwan-zikah" campaign, which, all things considered, made the whole concept even more like a Jay Leno segment.

OK, time for two pointless anecdotes.

While taking multiple pictures from different angles, a guy with two Chihuahuas stopped to watch. Each was wearing an Xmas doggy sweater. Two women walked over and he explained. The sweaters weren't just for show. The breed, because they're so small and practically bald, get cold when the air temperature dips below 60. You learn something new everyday, I guess.

Then a bald guy wandered up. I was drawing a crowd so I decided to wrap things up. As I was tossing the camera and Osama in my bag, he turned away from his cell phone conversation to shout "OGHA BAGA BOO!" I guess his mock Arabic was meant to draw big laughs but it sent everyone scattering. I nodded politely and made my escape but he followed me halfway across the square. He spat out another "OGHA BAG BOO!" before turning back and laughing hysterically.

I can only assume that he was some sort of performance artist and thought a: I was trespassing on his turf or b: was putting together an christmas card for Portland's anti-terrorist task force. The next time I do a public "photo shoot," I'm bringing along mace.