by Wm. Steven Humphrey GOOD MORNING, SUNDAY! It's the perfect time to catch up on some of the great reporting and stories the Mercury churned out this week! (PRO TIP: If you despise being "the last to know," then be one of the first to know by signing up for Mercury newsletters! All the latest stories shipped directly to your email's in-box... and then... YOUR HEAD.) • Portland’s Ranked Choice Voting Was a Success (Despite What the Oregonian Claims) The Oregonian makes the extremely dubious claim that Ranked Choice Voting "cratered" voter engagement. 🧐 Ummmm... the Mercury's Wm. Steven Humphrey would like to have a word. chokkicx / Charles O'Rear / Getty Images • City Council Urged to Postpone Vote on Controversial Downtown Service District Contract With a lucrative contract that gives unchecked control to a powerful business lobby, Portlanders are urging City Council to table a vote on a boundary expansion and $58 million contract renewal for Downtown Portland Clean & Safe. Courtney Vaughn • It’s the Mercury’s Guide to the HO-HO-HOLIDAYS! Need advice on how to survive the holiday season? The Mercury HOLIDAY GUIDE has arrived to save the day! Read it online or pick it up in more than 500 holly jolly spots around the city. ☃️ Mika Rane • THE TRASH REPORT This week: Bad people vote badly, the Venn diagram of Portland and RFK Jr, and somebody peed on the floor at the Sabrina Carpenter concert. 😲 Justin Sullivan / Getty Images • Secret Aardvark Drops Hot Nut News Portland hot sauce company Secret Aardvark celebrates 20 years of flavorful, spicy sauciness with a new snack. Suzette Smith • Holidays For Humans ALERT! Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Are you emotionally prepared for when your bitch Aunt Barbara insults your turkey day gravy? The hilarious and wise Courtenay Hameister (with help from smart therapists) has the life advice you need! Beth Jensen • Cosplay Break: Bask in the Charm of Costumed Fans at Kumoricon 2024 After 20 years, Oregon's largest anime convention is still volunteer-led and bursting with enthusiastic energy. Corbin Smith • Screaming With Meaning: The Definitive Blood Brothers Lyrics Q & A We spoke with the Blood Brother's two frontmen about the group's intense, abstract song lyrics. We did not expect: Their shared theater history. The influence of Pulp's Jarvis Cocker. Suzette Smith • As Traffic Crash Fatalities Rise, Portland Auditor’s Office Recommends Changes to Vision Zero Program A new report from the Portland Auditor's Office highlights the daylight between PBOT’s stated Vision Zero goals and the increase in recent traffic crash deaths. In a response, PBOT leaders said they need more support to address the crisis. PBOT • Where to Find Comfort Food in Portland Comfort food is on the menu right now. If you could use some soul-warming suggestions, we've got Portland-area noodle soup-, dumpling-, pizza- suggestions—and more! Gabbiano's • Salami Rose Joe Louis: Making Catastrophic Ecological Dream Pop Sound So Good Salami Rose Joe Louis (AKA Lindsay Olsen) has blazed a distinctive trail in that fertile sector of California's underground where electronic music and jazz converge. Fabrice Bourgelle • SAVAGE LOVE Feeling abandoned by democracy? Dan Savage has some soothing advice for you on this topic... oh, and on "sex stuff," too! Joe Newton WOW, THAT IS A LOT OF GOOD READIN'. I hope you didn't have any other plans this weekend! Dig in, and remember: Producing all this hard work costs moolah—so please consider contributing to the Mercury to keep it all coming! Thanks!