Drop names, not bombs.

[October 29th, 2003] * If you want the inside scoop on the hottest local literary coupling, check out the November issue of Details magazine and look for the byline of Anthony Swofford , the former Portland writer who hit it big with the best-selling Jarhead, a memoir set in the first Gulf War. He pens an ode to an unnamed woman eight years his senior who is sexy, strong and fit, but also domestic enough to mend his shirt. Swofford, 33, has been sighted at several local parties in the past month, including soirees at Bluehour and other arty P-town outposts, in the company of 41-year-old workout fiend Jill Spitznass , style columnist for the Portland Tribune.

* When Michael Moore hit town last week, the only local political issue he wanted to talk about was the People's Utility District election (see our endorsement, page 11), which brings him full circle. Back in January, WW mentioned that signature gatherers for the PUD found their greatest success in the lines of people waiting to see Moore's movie Bowling for Columbine . Moore read the story and wrote back to WW. "Could you please let these people know how proud I am of them and thank them for the important work they are doing!!" Last week, Moore thanked them in person, urging his audience of 9,000 to vote "yes" on the measures.

* Spotted at the Friday night White Bird presentation of noted local dance project Minh Tran & Company at Portland State University's Lincoln Hall was the star and director of the internationally infamous cult movie/theatrical phenom Hedwig and the Angry Inch, John Cameron Mitchell . In town to sign copies of the locally produced Hedwig-themed charity album (Wig in a Box) at Jackpot Records, Mitchell told Murmurs he "was a modern-dance virgin" and said his knowledge of the subject compares to his know-how on wine--"I just know what I like."

* Speaking of performance, Los Angeles-based acrobatic dance company Diavolo Dance Theatre had a bit of a struggle getting to Portland for tonight's show at the Keller Auditorium, due to the wildfire raging throughout the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. Proceeds from the Wednesday show will benefit the American Red Cross fund set up for fire victims.

* In the 2004 presidential ballot, Oregonians will have an opportunity to select one of their own. On Oct. 19, at the Socialist Party National Convention in Chicago, local gadfly and pro-bono do-gooder Walt Brown won the party's nomination for U.S. President. Brown, a 77-year-old semi-retired attorney, former Oregon state senator and naval veteran, is a Harvard Law grad and a heck of a nice guy. Unfortunately, his platform's anti-capitalist message is tainted by the irritating pop-up ads swimming about the party's campaign website (http://
members.tripod.com/redlabour/index.htm) like leeches around a dock. "Dear Comrades," says the site, "NOTE: Disregard all pop up ads in this page."

* Once considered a mild-mannered politico, Metro President David Bragdon is raising eyebrows--and blood pressures. On Oct. 7 the tri-county agency's commander-in-chief sent an email to certain staffers and council members announcing a "preemptive counteroffensive" to "smash" Hillsboro's opposition to Metro's plans for designating certain lands for industrial use. Yeah, it's technical, but what's clear is that Bragdon is not making friends: He refers to a group called the "Regional Partners" as a "nefarious shill group" and accuses them of being part of a "sinister alliance" against Metro. Unfortunately for him--since the email is being faxed all over town--this is a reference to the Regional Economic Development Partners--a group of suburban towns and counties joined under the umbrella of the influential Portland Development Commission, or PDC. Stay tuned, as this is likely to get ugly.