Jabbering Johnny: Ashland Oregon’s Mealy-Mouthed Mayor

Note from the Publisher: Due to Covid conditions, our staff is on lock-down. (Hold the applause.) This is our first issue written exclusively by an independent journalist. Please join me in welcoming to the fray, award-winning investigative reporter and host of the wildly popular podcast “This American Joke,” the oh-so delightful LoShonda LaBamba. Now you can applaud. Following is her judicious article on the loose-lipped logorrhea emanating from Ashland’s mayor. Take it away, Ms. LaBamba! …Read more »

How To Avoid Dumb-Talking Politicians: A Teachable Moment in Ashland, Oregon

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Voting Community: To help you vote in a knowledgeable and informed way, here’s commentary on a political issue brewing in Ashland, Oregon: A proposed amendment to the city charter which would change the operating structure at City Hall, diminishing the power of the Mayor and councilpersons. I’ll take a career professional any day over an elected BuBu (Bumbling Bureaucrat). Consequently I’m voting in favor of Measure 15-189. Following is my rebuttal to an article written by a has-been politician who supports the opposing view. Read on. But be careful where you step. …Read more »

What Fresh Hell Is This? More blatherings from over-the-hill politicians in Ashland, Oregon.

There are two measures on the ballot to be voted upon by the residents of Ashland, Oregon. Measure 15-189 involves switching the city government from a Mayor/City Administor structure to City Manager/Mayor. We on the editorial staff have been acquainted with only two mayors–both of which did not earn our respect for quality governing. Therefore, we recommend a YES vote to make this change to make Ashland a better city. And which hopefully will deflate the egos and influence of these two mayors. Measure 15-193 is about taxing the already financially-strapped citizenry to pay for a remodel of the City Hall building. This should be a time for civic austerity. Not a chance to construct fancy digs for city hall employees when businesses are failing and no one is helping them. Not a chance for self-serving politicians to get to brag, “Look what I got built!” Not a chance for public servants to serve themselves instead of who they are handsomely paid to serve. Therefore we recommend a resounding NO on this vanity project. …Read more »

Thoughts on International Women’s Day – Especially about Women Supporting Women

March 8th is International Women’s Day. Its motto is: Diversity. Equality. Unity. Fantastic concepts. But more plain ol’ common sense than an earth-shattering manifesto. That’s why it’s puzzling to me that a large portion of the American female population does not embrace these ideals for themselves. In the spirit of trying to change the minds of women who are fully entrenched in the patriarchy as the acceptable status quo in life, here goes… …Read more »

What’s So Funny About Peace, Love & Understanding Feminism?

Last year was a wacky year for me–long story. Contributing to this were encounters with organizations that contained a veiled or overt anti-female mindset. Not new. Not rare. More like business as usual.
The anti-female thing is wrecking the world. Open your eyes and you can see the societal detritus of what devaluing women produces.
For me the answer is simple on how to fix this state of social/political/economic inequality we’re in: More women in positions of authority and power. Which will bring more respect for the female gender. You can label this a feminist mindset.
Following is my feminist viewpoint… …Read more »

How to Step Out of Line: For the Greater Good

Last year Alex Borstein won an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress. In her acceptance speech she told a story about her grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, standing in a line that would lead to her execution. She asked the Nazi guard what would happened if she stepped out of line. He told her that somebody would shoot her. She stepped out of line anyway. Alex said, “And for that, I am here, my children are here. So step out of line, ladies, step out of line.” Although nowhere near as epic as that story, here is one of mine about stepping out of line. …Read more »

Ashland, Oregon: Where Certain Turkeys Don’t Deserve a Pardon

Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude. But when your hometown is over-run with corrupt “turkeys,” they don’t deserve a place at the table. They don’t deserve a reprieve. They deserve to be thrown out or run out of town. Here’s a story how to accomplish this all-American goal–so important now more than ever–cleaning up government to make life better for all. (Note: Our cartoonist, M.C. Escher Jr., commented that drawing turkeys with no backbone was difficult. But we think he did a great job. See for yourself…) …Read more »

New Play about the Earl of Oxford: “To Be or Not to Be Enlightened”

The authenticity of the man named William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon being in fact the person who wrote the Shakespeare canon has been in doubt for hundreds of years. A viable alternative is Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford. For one thing, his biography matches the plots of plays and his level of education regarding subjects written about far surpasses the other guy’s. People who believe the theory that de Vere is Shakespeare are called Oxfordians. People who believe the antiquated notion about the Stratford grain seller are called Stratfordians. It’s kinda like the Hatfields vs the McCoys. Only more intellectual. And no guns. (At least not literally.) There are plenty of groups and organizations that support both camps. We at the Gazette are enthusiastically Oxfordian. Unraveling the veracity about the authorship is important if you value Truth–which is in short supply these days. It’s important to us because not only do we value Truth, we also value the written word. Sometimes it’s fun to be aligned with this mission in life. Other times not. Hence the need for this article. Read on, and remember: “The play’s the thing.” No matter who wrote it. …Read more »

KRAP-TV Launches New Reality Show: America’s Sleaziest Lawyer

Mark Twain said: “Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.” He very well could have been referring to the preponderance of lawyers in our government–as he also said, “Lawyers are like other people–fools on the average. But it is easier for an ass to succeed in that trade than any other.” Of course there are terrific lawyers. The kind that make the world better. The kind that help people; not make their lives miserable. Like the three-woman SCOTUS Squad and their pal Stephen, Stacey Abrams, Marcia Clark, Sandra Sawyer, Lawrence Kouns, Elizabeth Warren, Erica Sorosky, Katie Porter, Thomas R. Burke, Randi Weingarten, Kirsten Gillibrand, Joseph Cotchett, Michele Dauber, Kyrsten Sinema, Cory Booker, Deb Haaland, etc. But this article is not about those kinds of lawyers. It’s about the other kind. The kind that society makes the most jokes about. Like: “What do you call a platoon of lawyers in the 9th Circle of Hell buried up to their necks in a frozen sea? A good start.” We sent our reporter to review a live television show about these folks. Warning: It’s a bit saucy. Following is her report. …Read more »

Upcoming Feature Film: From Host Town to Ghost Town – The unfortunate demise of Ashland, Oregon

We at the Outlandia Gazette have been told again and again by citizens that all small towns have problems with city government–that Ashland, Oregon is no different–and there’s nothing you can do about it. We call that small-minded thinking. We think bigger than that. We have identified the problems and solutions. We feel if enough citizens are informed of the self-serving, unintelligent, and harmful actions/mindsets of elected officials and city employees, then change can begin to happen–if enough Ashlanders care enough to instigate change. That’s what our newspaper’s purpose is. To shed light on the entire picture. To let the will of the people decide what kind of town they wish to live in–not a privileged few who dominate the scene. Ashland cannot sustain its present course of viability–either financially or morally. The time to do something is now. …Read more »