Beggars and choosers

Portland is a great city, but like any city it has its fair share of beggars.

When I first arrived it was difficult to tell the difference between the people who have to beg and the people who choose to. After being here for a few years, I'd like to think that I'm a bit more clued up on this distinction.

Take the old lady who stands outside the Diesel shop on Couch Street for example. I read in the Oregonian that her son has followed in his mother's footsteps and taken up begging too. Lucrative business apparently. I wouldn't be surprised if at the end of every day she returns home to her penthouse suite in the Pearl.

Then right across the road there's a guy who stands outside Whole Foods of all places, asking for money so he can buy some Caribbean chicken wings. I don't even eat Whole Foods Caribbean chicken wings. Have you seen the price of those things?

So I thought I had seen it all, until I was told about a girl who stands by one of the MAX stops downtown, with a sign saying "Tired of sucking c*ck for crack. Give me money".

Now honesty usually goes a long way, but I reckon this particular approach would probably be about as successful as England were in Euro 2008.