Every now and again we get a piece of reader mail that bears remarking upon. Yesterday's sampling, bearing only the return address of "poet/artist," was the torn-out first page of "Dumped" by Andrew Steinbeiser.

This one was drawn and written on in ways that appeared to suggest that the sender was blaming the Portland's Dumpster-overload problem on Muslim men who "demand the women haul the trash" and, presumably, drop it in Dumpsters late at night and in the early morning.

In this week's issue of the Portland Phoenix, our editorial staff and freelancers (and one ad rep who joined in) explore a bit of why we live here. We invite you to participate as well - tell us why you live here. It needn't by any stretch be all positive (read ours for evidence of that) but it should acknowledge that you are, in fact, here, and not somewhere else.

Brad McCurtain, owner of Others in Monument Square, took issue with Brian Duff's description of his lemon bars as "sort of gummy and the crust was pasty," in a review of various desserts earlier this month (see "Treat Yourself," September 12).

But - in a move we find ourselves eager to encourage in other restaurateurs who disagree with our reviews - McCurtain decided not to call and complain, and didn't opt to write us a letter, either.