Desperately Seeking Salem

Sometimes, other people get there faster. They do it quicker. They say it better.

So I’m starting a new feature on DSS. Once a month, I’ll feature the best of the Salem blogs.

The BEST:

1. LOVESalem.

That’s the thought I had while reading LoveSalem’s recent post on backyard chickens. If you’ve been consuming news media, you know half a billion industrially-produced eggs have been recalled this month after an alarming salmonella outbreak. What hasn’t been reported as frequently is that controlling the environment that your own chickens live in can significantly reduce the risk of your eggs being infected with the salmonella bacteria.

If you’ve been out of the loop on Salem’s backyard chicken debate, you should know that the issue will be discussed at its own public hearing on September 20.  Don’t be an egghead. This isn’t some twee agri-fad that has temporarily captured the heart of Depression 2.0 urban homesteaders. If you believe in controlling the safety of your own food, be there.

2. Poetry and Popular Culture.

Local poet Mike Chasar has illuminated, in a simple blog post, the things that I love about Oregon. Here, everyone is an artist/barista/biker/rock-climber/inventor/farmer/mom. Or, in this case, a biking viking/master baker/ physicist. Full disclosure: I know the Biking Viking. My husband gave him his nickname. But I think we can all agree that there is nothing hotter than split personalities of talented Oregonians. I think we must drive ourselves crazy with all of our separate passions, but personally, I don’t know any other way to live.

3. Capital Taps.

Zombies. Monks. Beer. Enough said.

4. Farmer Brewing. (not actually a Salem blog…)

This blog posed the questions that has been on everybody’s mind since Gilgamesh Brewing announced plans for Salem’s — shock and awe! — first beer and cider festival of its own (and you thought what everybody wanted was a room…).  Yes… it is by now a running gag of a meme that has attached itself to Salem. Is Salem really ready for a [insert already trendy event/product/place here]? In this case, the answer is yes, by biblical proportions.

5. EatSalem.

Screw you all. I have tried to find this godforsaken waffle stand on three separate occasions in the past week. Sell me a freakin’ waffle! From the picture, it sure doesn’t look like it’s hiding in plain view. But I have yet to dip my lips in the hot pockets of these waffles, despite following this waffle stand on Twitter and setting out with it as my destination. Waffle stand, please take your cues from Woody Allen and keep showing up.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 4:37 pm and is filed under Celebrities, Food, Media, There's something about Salem. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.