Zimbabwe twins give up their loincloths

Well, I try and post Zimbabwe articles here from time to time, depressing as they can be. This one at least doesn't involve politics. Two brothers started wearing traditional dress (goatskin loincloths) in an attempt to combat 'mental colonialism':
...the 22-year-olds said that they had received a calling from God to give up their western clothing when they were living in the UK.
Unfortunately they were arrested for their trouble.

Stuff On My Cat

Blog recommendation: Stuff On My Cat

TarotMick

TarotMick
Originally uploaded by Alhazred.

New political party in Oregon

See this report from Oregon Public Broadcasting:
The Working Families Party, which focuses almost exclusively on pocketbook issues, has primarily been an east coast phenomenon.But now some of the most influential labor leaders in Oregon have banded together to create a branch of the party here.
I was going to make sarcastic comments about them joining all the others, but then did a minimum of research. This Oregon Secretary of State page only lists these as statewide parties: Democratics, Republicans, Constitution, Libertarian, and Pacific Greens. I was under the impression that at least the Freedom Socialists and Socialist Party also were Statewide.

Big Table Mountain Fire

Argh. I just read this BBC story regarding a big Table Mountain fire.
The flames are being fanned by strong winds. Thick smoke has engulfed the centre of the city as the fire spreads rapidly across the lower slopes.
More than 150 firefighters are struggling to fight the blaze, which is threatening residential areas nearby.
A British man has been arrested in connection with starting the fire.

Lincoln City, OR: boring, but good for books

We spent much of the weekend camping at Devil's Lake campground in Lincoln City, OR. Now, with it's strip malls and outlet stores, Lincoln City has got to be among the most boring and characterless cities on the Oregon Coast. But the book stores are wonderful. Check out especially Robert's on Highway 101.

Poe visitor

It is Poe's birthday today, and every year since 1949, a mysterious visitor has left roses and cognac on his grave in Baltimore. This year a crowd of the curious gathered, though sensibly the curator made them leave the ceremony.
Some of the 25 spectators drawn to a tiny, locked graveyard in downtown Baltimore for the ceremony climbed over the walls of the site and were "running all over the place trying to find out how the guy gets in," according to Jeff Jerome, the most faithful viewer of the event. [link]
It's a lovely ceremony and I'd not like to see it ruined by curious idiots.