LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

[May 25th, 2005] Burrito Pageant Rigged!

I smell something afoul in the scorings from the Great Burrito Pageant in the May 18 WW. How could Mr. [Mark] Baumgarten and Ms. [Jennifer] Rapf possibly award Fuego as the winner? As I ventured through the categories and compared them using the information that Rapf and Baumgarten themselves provided, I found some scores that did not match up to their descriptions.

For example, under the "Measurements" category, it states that Fuego's burrito is fairly small at 1 pound 3.8 ounces with measurements of 7.5 by 9 inches, while Shelly's are 1 pound 11.2 ounces and 9 by 11 inches. So how did these two award more points to the smaller burrito, when we all know that Bigger is really Better?

They made a comment about the "quality innards," but if I am not mistaken, that should only be factored into the "Talent Competition" section! Furthermore, under the "Value" category, these two so-called burrito aficionados awarded, yet again, Fuego with a higher score for value over Shelly's when it plainly states that they are really the same price. And if Shelly's are larger (a.k.a. more quantity), does that not automatically make it a better value?

Did they just think we'd roll over like Florida in 2000 and accept their ruling with such shoddy legwork? I demand that the editorial staff immediately look into this matter at once and hold these two personally accountable for their lack of taste, common sense and math skills. Furthermore, I strongly urge all WW staff to head to the burrito carts and declare the real winner-none other than Shelly's Honkin' Huge Burritos.

Ryland Moore
North Denver Avenue

Fight the Power

Both Portland General Electric and PacifiCorp have been collecting taxes from ratepayers which they then don't pay [see The Nose, May 11 and 18, 2005]. This is theft, plain and simple. If government will not protect us, massive passive resistance is the only solution.

Thousands of us need to stop paying that portion of our monthly utility bill that goes to (unpaid) taxes. If one of two people do so, the utilities will cut off our power. But if thousands do it, they won't be able to.

Willamette Week can play a pivotal role in organizing this community-wide protest. Let's name the date.

Jim Lewis
Lake Oswego