L2G - well put!   eugene is like rotting from the inside out.  it's not the street happenings so much as how our ruling body has become so twisted, tangled and rotten.  i remember the big deal was with being former mayor brian obie coming out of office and getting right into creating commercially generated wealth - personal wealth. remember when 5th street was the dumpy, fragmented place that was hippie heaven?   like when down to earth was the alternative peoples source for back to nature type living? bought a huge stainless steel bowl, 16" across! for less than $10...   now it's spendy, trendy "cool" little niche shops and best bring serious money!
  the music at the saturday market was good and not just the same locals  doing the same songs for the last 15 years. big sue and uncle T rocking it are still a treat though.
 L2G - we are getting old, or are there. i swear i heard my grandmother speak the same words -" it just ain't what it used to be" (she was referring to inglewood CA)