When I grew up in New Jersey my media outlets were pretty much all out of New York City, the center of the universe. Back then, before the internet or even cable TV, you got your TV, radio and newspapers. That was your media.
When I moved west to San Francisco I actually felt decompressed compared to New York. Locally, the news wasn't quite as important and the news from New York City. Oh, the culture was important, but it wasn't the center of the universe. It was an interesting corner of the cultural universe.
Portland is the biggest city in Oregon, but not as big as Seattle to the north, or the San Francisco Bay Area. Or L.A. It's hipper than, say, Bend, but the news is mostly drunk drivers or petty thefts with an occasional child molester thrown in.
The point was made again on Sunday when the folks at KGW did a followup story to Hornswaggle, the lost turtle. Or tortoise. Whatever. In New York City they don't do a story on someone's lost turtle, and they certainly don't do followups when the turtle is found.
Hornswaggle the tortoise went missing from the front yard of a North Portland home and her owner was desperate to get her back. She was happily recovered Sunday evening.
On Thursday afternoon, Hornswaggle was outside in her pen enjoying the nice weather. But when her owner, 28-year-old Tierney Campbell, got home from work, the tortoise was gone.
When Hornswaggle is not outside, she generally gets free reign at the home where Campbell lives with her boyfriend near North Rosa Parks Way and Interstate Avenue. On nice days Hornswaggle’s goes outside to a sturdy pen in the front yard.
After being lost for three days, Hornswaggle was recovered and returned Sunday evening.
It should be noted that Hornswaggle is a letter different from "hornswoggle" which means to swindle. No, Hornswaggle absquatulated.
