Random Links: "Everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day" Edition
Last summer a colleague of mine was killing time on the streets of Nagoya, Japan when he wandered into an establishment with an "Ilish Pub" sign over the doorway. Unable to speak the language, he was unable to communicate with the bartender, who seemed eager for him to leave. Figuring it was a "locals only" joint, he headed for the exit where a hostess stopped him. Overhearing his British accent, she explained in English that the pub was still a day away from its grand opening. But since he was obviously a citizen of the Emerald Isle, they were willing to serve him in exchange for a critique. They plowed him full of free food and Guinness and, from what I've been told, the decor and the food were on the money. Despite his true heritage, he gave them a good review and a few pointers but didn't have the heart to tell them about the typo on the sign out front.
This leaves me to wonder about all the Kanji tattoos I see around Portland. While Mr. Random Bishops Barbershop Employee may think that symbol on his right arm means "wind," there's a good chance that it actually means "fart."
Yes, that's two fart jokes in the space of 24 hours. Tim, if you're out there reading this, sorry. Anyway, here's a batch of random links followed by a second round of random, holiday-related links.
Click here for further confirmation that Metro-Fi, Portland's free wireless service, completely sucks.
The Music Millennium location on NW 23rd is on the ropes, another soon-to-victim of an increasing monthly rent and a changing marketplace. While there's probably no way for the staff to distribute mp3s, they might make a go of it if they start selling overpriced art, accessories for tiny dogs, Zantac or whatever else all those nearby condo owners are into these days.
This Sunday: a full-scale anti-war protest hits the streets of downtown Portland. Ahhh, that takes me back to the woebegone days of spring 2003. We were so innocent back then. Remember when most of the country was duped into thinking Saddam was hoarding WMDs? Those were the days...
Steampunk Star Wars? Click here. That 19th-century Death Star looks sweet.
This Mario? A vast improvement over your average snow angel.
Disneyland Paris now has its own brand on wine. I'm sure Uncle Walt would approve.
Would you like to watch Las Vegas' Stardust Hotel and Casino implode? If so, click here.
A UFO has been spotted over Portland. Then again, it's probably just Venus.
Sleater-Kinney broke up last summer and now former lead-singer Corin Tucker is playing grade school cafeterias. The music business really is a "horrible bitch goddess."
Captain Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace (Katee Sackhoff) was born in Portland was raised in St. Helens. I did not know that.
St. Patrick's Day links? St Patrick's Day links....
Post-glacial Ireland has never been home to many snakes but St. Patrick still deserves credit credit for driving Druids out of the country. He was also supposedly born in Britain.
As part of its annual festivities, Chicago will by dyeing its river green again this year. Now if only City Hall in Portland could figure out how to dye the Willamette orange every Halloween, that would really be something.
A recipe for green beer: buy a light-colored ale, add six drops of green dye, enjoy. Hey, that was easy.
If you watch this web camera long enough, a leprechaun may or may not show up (heavy drinking and sleep deprivation might help). Or you may have better luck at the Mill Ends Park on SW Naito Parkway, which was scheduled to return its proper location today after road construction forced it to temporarily relocate elsewhere.
Click here for "The Case Against St. Patrick's Day" (?!!).
This St. Patrick's Day, consider making yourself a "Mickican," the only beer concoction suitable for both this holiday and Cinco de Mayo.
