Thank you for keeping it weird.

From the site:

Is your pet feeling left in the dirt because of his/her unsightly rear? I’ve got them covered… Rear Gear is handmade in Portland, OR and offers a cheerful solution to be-rid your favorite pet’s un-manicured back side.

Rear Gear comes in many designs including a disco ball, air freshener, heart, flower, biohazard, smiley face, number one ribbon, cupcake, sheriff’s badge, dice, and you can even make yours custom, so there’s a Rear Gear for everyone.

You want to see what it looks like? Click here.

Which is why the Marysville Elementary School burning down this week hits close to my heart. These teachers have lost all their educational supplies, many of which they bought out of pocket.

But wait! What light through yonder Internet breaks? It is the Schoolhouse Supplies web page, ready to take your monies or direct you where you can drop off items!

Dear RPatz–

STAY THE FUCK OUTTA MY TOWN!

No love,
Mary Sue

For those of you who are blissfully unaware, Rpatz is Robert Pattinson a.k.a. Cedric Diggory a.k.a. Passive Aggressive Stalker Abusive Partner Sparkly Vamp-Boy Edward Cullen (and if you don’t know who the latter is, please educate yourself here). According to io9 via MTV:

Robert Pattinson says he’s heard the final Twilight movie will shoot in Portland,

That is what made me flip my shit, because, dude, just go ahead and read Cleo’s Tour of Terror ‘08 recap to see how batshit Twilight fans can get.

And I’m a Trekkie and an X-Phile and a Cross and Staker, I know from fandom, and Twilight fandom? Higher concentration of batshit insane than even Harry/Hermione fans.

DO. NOT. WANT. IN. MY. TOWN.

However, and this is a big however, it could be wishful thinking on the part of the R to the Patz, as he goes on to say,

and in his wildest dreams he’d like to see Portland-based director Gus Van Sant at the helm.

Yeah. If that happens, I’m going to just go right ahead with the plans for the 1950s era bomb shelter, sans the Tiki Bar*, ’cause that means the world’s ending.

—
*I came across out there on the Intertubes a collection of 1950s Civil Defense Administration bomb shelter plans, and I decided when I finally get around to building my house, I’m going to build a bomb shelter in the backyard and decorate the interior as a Tiki Bar. Why? BECAUSE I CAN.

I have two bottles of this year’s Deschutes Abyss and YOU (probably, as of this publishing) DON’T!

I took today off of work a couple months ago, and it just happens as I’m sitting at home noming a grilled cheese sandwich, this post popped up on my RSS reader.

So, as of 12.30pm today, Belmont Station had plenty. But while I was in there (I also picked up some of the Kona Brewing Stout and a bottle of C-Sons Greetings, because I could) two other people rolled in to pick some Abyss up. If you want some, git yerself down there ASAP.

Also also? Remember that this week Belmont Station began two-tiered pricing, so stop at the ATM first.

Portland, Oregon has become the mecca for comic artists in the last decade or so.

Or at least that’s what I’m told, my own tenure in the Rose City being of very recent vintage.

With Dark Horse calling our fair city home, and dozens of indie publishers around town (Minister Jade from Cellar Door Books is well worth seeking out, it’s in my regular read novel rotation), there are a lot of comics floating around. And when there are a lot of comics floating around, there are a lot of people who donate said comics to Goodwill and library book sales.

And sometimes, there’s coworkers who know you’re a comic geek and nab a couple long boxes that were destined for the recycle bin and drop a selection in your mailbox for you to see if you’ll like them.

If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got Green Lantern 119-130 on my desk. I have to, um, ‘work’ now.

I’m saving up this information for my next trip to Fire on the Mountain. Until now, I’ve just split the two bones apart and went cavewoman on it, but this looks much more fun (and less likely to involve El Jefe sauce in my eyes).

(HT to Consumerist)

Los Dias De Los Muertos is plural, and refers to the dates Oct. 31st through November 1st. In English, those three days are referred to as All Saints (or All Hallows) Eve, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day.

El Dia De Los Muertos is the singular form, and refers specifically to November 2nd, the day to celebrate all the departed souls, not just those who the church has stuck a fancy halo on.

Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace and rise in glory.
May those for whom grief is still an open wound
be comforted.

Write, kids, write!

Play safe, kids.

You’ll know my house, ’cause I do this kind of thing to pumpkins.

This ain’t your momma’s pumpkin pie, yo. Pumpkin’s like your acorn or your butternut squash– tasty, tasty, and also? TASTY. Please try one of these recipes this weekend, or let them be the jumping-off point for your own pumpkin cooking explorations.

Dulce de Calabasas (Mexican Candied Pumpkin) (vegan)

Rick Bayless’ Smoky Braised Mexican Pumpkin

Mexican Pumpkin Soup (vegan)

Savory Pumpkin Ravioli (vegetarian)

Pumpkin Empanadas (vegan)

Pumpkin Corn Muffins (gluten free)

Savory Pumpkin Casserole (vegetarian)

Chili Pumpkin Cranberry Risotto with spicy toasted pumpkin seeds (vegan)

Pumpkin Hummus (vegan)

Soft Pumpkin Pretzels (vegan)

Black Bean and Pumpkin Chili (vegan)

Thai Style Shredded Pumpkin (vegan)

Mark Bittman’s Autumn Millet Bake (vegan if you use maple syrup, vegetarian if you use honey)

Indian Pumpkin Curry (vegan)

Pumpkin Pasta