Galactic Citizen
addresses local
issues
by K.T.
Radio personality Clyde Lewis conducts a “mini-town hall” meeting
at Bodacious Classics, 2433 S.E. Powell, every Tuesday. BC’s
is a restaurant and lounge, best known for attractions such as Klingon
Karaoke, The Singing Stormtrooper and Matrix Mondays. It is somewhat
less known for its great little steak dinners and its social awareness.
They also provide DJ music and dancing.
Owner Ralph McKee developed BC’s into a significant entertainment
venue. (Even their logo, which emulates fractal geometry, was commissioned
by McKee for BC’s, and is copyrighted.) BC’s and Clyde
Lewis’ Ground Zero Live outreach program are, in fact, world
famous for the authentic outerspace artifacts from the past, present
and future. The Tuesday night program is not yet broadcast live, but
radio and television productions are in the wind.
Lewis’ Ground Zero Live radio program is broadcast live on Saturdays
at 10 p.m., on KOTK 1080 AM. (Call the station for scheduled repeats.)
Guests for the Sept. 2 production at BC’s were Matt Rossell, “whistle-blower” of
the Oregon Health and Sciences University Primate Research Center;
and Dr. Larry Johns, curator of the Alien Museum, 1716 N.E. 42nd Ave.
Rossell presented information regarding his experience and observations
while working as a lab technician at the Primate Research Center. His
story is not a pretty one. He showed a videotape alleged to be a “hidden
camera” documentary of actual conditions at the Center. His presentation
included allegations of negligence, abuse and “bad science” involving
primates.
Rossell’s main point that evening was that his evidence regarding
poor or violated standards at the Research Center affect OHSU’s
ability to safely manage a Level 4 Biolab, proposed for Hillsboro.
A Level 4 biolab handles airborne infectious materials, whereas the
Level 3, currently in use by OHSU, handles non-airborne diseases. The
timeliness of Rossell’s presentation was connected to OHSU’s
recent (unsuccessful) bid for federal funding to build and operate
the Level 4 biolab, as part of the federal Homeland Security plan.
Since the rules regarding Homeland Security funding are different from
other National Institutes for Health (NIH) funds, not only would citizens
not be safe from mishandling of biological research materials, information
about their work is prohibited by federal law. Disclosing such information
would be a felony, tantamount to being a “terrorist” in
fact.
Rossell’s host organization is In Defense of Animals, a group
that opposes animal testing in general. It attempts to point out the
worthlessness and waste of animal experiments under poorly managed
lab conditions (not to mention alleged repeated escapes by the animals
at the Primate Research Center).
Rossell cites the motion picture 28 Days Later as a fairly realistic
portrayal of what happens when a contagious release is not adequately
contained. The issue of alleged dangerous management practices in the
OHSU Center relates directly to the management of a biolab experimenting
with airborne diseases and could make Hillsboro at lot more interesting
to terrorists.
Host Clyde Lewis relates his personal experience from his association
with places such as Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah. Lewis suffers from
tubular sclerosis, an inherited condition due to his grandfather’s
exposure to fallout from radiation-based experiments.
Dr. Larry Johns (Ph.D. in Theology and The Arts) did his dissertation
on Andy Warhol. He operates the Alien Museum, a popular stop for chartered
bus tours. Not to be confused with the old UFO Museum, the Alien Museum
is educational and enlightening. It houses a library, lots of information
and a safe place to talk about personal experiences that may be taboo
in mainstream society.
Johns claims that they have their own man-made vortex on the porch.
If you have been to the Oregon Vortex, you know what this is. It relates
to a natural anomaly of magnetism or gravity that is so strong that
it bends light waves. Visitors will appear to change height as they
walk across the area. Developed by Nick Nelson, author of The Golden
Vortex, the unit generating the vortex at the museum is said to be
about the size of a palm pilot. Dr. Johns says, “You can have
one in your back yard.”
Lewis says, ”You come here, you get the scoop before it’s
news.” Lacking mainstream financial support, he finds himself
struggling in the shadow of AM radio. “I am tired of pretending
to be tolerant of this morbid, excessive (censorship),“ he declares.
He avows that it is better to speak out and make people uncomfortable
than it is to just let injury or death happen to you passively. He
wants to look at issues “from the middle” so people can
decide about them based on information, not social pressure.
Lewis is also the artist who created the Klingon Karaoke featured on
Thursdays at BC’s. “There is a time and a place for fun,” he
says. Lewis’ credits include motion pictures and radio. It is
interesting to note that visiting celebrities agree that if BC’s
was in a bigger city, it would be “packed” all the time.
The evening entertainment at BC’s provides a whole range of discovery.
Lewis encourages patrons to come with “an open mind.” On
Thursdays, come dressed as your favorite alien, movie character, or
whatever creature you enjoy. “Have no preconceived notions,” Lewis
instructs. “Never before in the history of Portland can you have
two places where you can be yourself (ie: BC’s and the Alien
Museum). Stay tuned for the First Intergalactic Blaster bash at BC’s,
Sept. 27-28, featuring music, speakers, Kangaroo Court, alien barbershop
quartet and more.
The evening this writer visited BC’s, there was not a space vehicle
parked on the landing pad in the parking lot, but inside there is a
classic Chevy coming through the wall. Props and souvenirs, from motion
pictures television and various eras of history, surround you at BC’s.
The atmosphere is friendly, with good quality service, food and entertainment.
(Round-trip airfare on the Shuttle: $20 million; an evening at BC’s:
Priceless.)
Monday nights present Matrix Mondays, with DJs spinning “trance.techno.psi
beats” for your dancing and listening pleasure. Selections arise
from various media, including vinyl.
No matter what your taste or desire, secret or obvious, BC’s
is an intergalactic refueling station, soon to be rated as “Best
Of” by outworld fans. Drop in any time and take an outerspace
mini-vacation for your mind, heart, spirit and indeed your palate.
You’ll come away with intriguing information about life and joy
in your heart.
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