Oregon Public Broadcasting put up a quick, four-minute video featuring an interesting collection of lightweight idiosyncratic questions for Charlie Hales, Eileen Brady, and Jefferson Smith, all of whom are running for Mayor in Portland.
After 25 years, Simpsons creator Matt Groening finally reveals that the town of Springfield in the Simpsons is named after the real town of Springfield Oregon.
The only reason is that when I was a kid, the TV show “Father Knows Best” took place in the town of Springfield, and I was thrilled because I imagined that it was the town next to Portland, my hometown. When I grew up, I realized it was just a fictitious name. I also figured out that Springfield was one of the most common names for a city in the U.S. In anticipation of the success of the show, I thought, “This will be cool; everyone will think it’s their Springfield.” And they do.
Have you tumblroos heard of Out of the Darkness Overnight? It’s a walkathon, of sorts, where people get together and walk 18 miles through the night. Why are they walking and why through the night? It’s all to help raise awareness about depression and funds in support of suicide prevention.
Have you ever been depressed? I have. It took me a while to even realize it, because for me, in my life, it was such an unfamiliar experience. But that’s not the case for many people, indeed, I know that many of you out there struggle with depression every day.
Growing up I’ve had friends who had their own struggles with depression or depressed mood disorders. In middle school and high school I didn’t know how to handle it, and, in retrospect, I think I often handled it poorly. I didn’t understand and their depression scared me with its weight. Unfortunately, I think this is an all-too-common response. People too often turn to look the other way because they don’t know what to do. Sure, not everyone who’s depressed needs the same thing, and sometimes, alone is good, but I know that for me, and for many people I know, just knowing that support is there, if and when it should be needed, can make a world of difference.
To be completely honest, I don’t know all the ins and outs of this organization, Out of the Darkness, but one of those high school friends I mentioned is doing the walk this year in honor of another one of those high school friends, and while you all have things to do, bills to pay, and trips to save for, I thought that maybe, just maybe, some of you might like to support her in her efforts to help this cause.
Or if not her, anyone, anywhere. Depression is hard, but ignoring it doesn’t make it go away. Be an ear to listen. Volunteer for a crisis center or hotline. Smile at a stranger on the street. Just try to remember, that as fucked up as this world and the people in it can be sometimes, at the root of it, we are all humans, and we are all emotional creatures.
