"dr-know"

We all Know the Famous Story of Oregon’s Exploding Whale. But Why Would Someone Think Blowing Up a Whale Was a Good Idea?

We all know the famous story, and the equally famous video, of Oregon’s exploding whale. But what I’ve never heard satisfactorily explained is: Why on earth would anyone think blowing up a dead whale was a good idea to begin with?

When I Take My Plastic Cup Back For a Refill at a Music or Sporting Event I’m Usually Told That the Health Code Forbids This. Isn’t That More Wasteful Than the Straw Thing?

Yes, the moment you’ve all been waiting for is almost upon us. “That’s Edutainment! With Dr. Know,” the multimedia extravaganza that I (along with a bunch of more talented people) have been slaving over for the past four months is THIS COMING SATURDAY.

Can You Get a 10 Cent Deposit on Cans Bought in Washington?

Several readers called bullshit on my recent bottle-redemption column (Dr. Know, WW, Aug. 14, 2019), in which I discussed Oregon’s rising tide of interstate bottle fraud, and the law recently signed by Gov. Kate Brown to combat it.

How Did Portland Become the “City of Lindens,” Using So Many Linden Trees For Its Street-Landscaping Choices?

To be brutally honest, Diane, I’m not sure anyone calls Portland the “City of Lindens” besides you.

Do Stores Get Compensation For Handling Bottle Redemption? Some Employees Seem to Spend Their Whole Shift on It

have her reply, “The ‘reward’ is I don’t beat your ass”? No? I guess you didn’t grow up in Southern Illinois in the 1980s.

Increasingly, People Are Bringing “Service” Dogs Into the Restaurant Where I Work. How Do We Kick Out the Poseurs?

Increasingly, people are bringing “service” dogs into the restaurant where I work. I have my doubts, but I’m told it’s an Americans With Disabilities Act violation to ask if the dog is a service animal. How do we kick out the poseurs?

Isn’t There Some Kind of “I’m Sorry” Signal That At-Fault Drivers Could Use to Make Amends For Their Errors?

I have barely escaped head-on collisions twice in two days. Neither of the offending drivers acknowledged their error. Why isn’t there some kind of “I’m sorry” signal that at-fault drivers could use to make amends? It might prevent a lot of road rage.

If Gov. Kate Brown Can’t Run For Re-Election, Why Did She Email Me Soliciting Campaign Contributions?

Well, Hazy, as it turns out, money is awesome. I sympathize with your lack of familiarity with this miracle substance—I barely remember it myself—but I had some for, like, three days in 2004 and it was amazing. You can do all kinds of cool shit with money!

Hundreds of New Apartments Are Springing Up on Southwest 4th Avenue. Will Developers Build Crossover Walkways For the New Pedestrians?

I hate to be the guy to kill your Tinker Bell, Wannabe, but hoping to get an urban planning job in Portland by slagging on pedestrians is like trying to get a job as a cop by bragging about how much heroin you shot up on the way to the interview.

Is the Dyno Nobel Factory Out in the Middle of Nowhere Because What They’re Making Is too Dangerous for the City?

Nobel made his fortune in the arms trade, profiting from the 19th century’s many bloody conflicts, and his advances in the field of high explosives (notably, inventing dynamite) made existing weapons even more deadly.

Willamette Week

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