We have a winner!

Congratulations to Katherine T. Sutula of Omaha, the winner of LOCCAL's first poetry contest! Her poem "You Make Me Sick" uses a stomach-churning slice-of-life event to remind us why handwashing really does matter:



YOU MAKE ME SICK



I know you didn't
Wash your hands
I heard the toilet flush
But I didn’t hear the
Faucet
And then
You opened
My kitchen cupboard
Pulled out a glass
And opened my freezer

And grabbed some ice.



If the scanner at LOCCAL HQ was working, right now you'd be admiring the sickening imagery of the new poster featuring "You Make Me Sick." But I'm sure your imagination can conjure up something even more troubling. The guy at the copy shop this morning actually requested a copy, so you know it's a good one. Katherine is being sent a full set of the health posters and a check for thirty dollars. May LOCCAL suggest she use it to buy some bagged ice?

Thank you DBD

This blog links to the KUOW interview in an easier way...

"Bathroom Poet"

LOCCAL on KUOW's Sound Focus!

Happy National Handwashing Week!

"Among the most fervent hand-washing advocates...

....were medieval poets... "

Today's NY Times featured guest op-ed is about LOCCAL's favorite subject.

Maybe next year it'll make 93rd!

The Stranger named its bathroom its 94th "favorite" in Seattle, and the great folks at Ali Baba ran with it, posting the clipping on the wall. When LOCCAL asked if they could post our handwashing poems in those famed bathrooms, the owner shrugged, "Do what you want, they'll tear it down." When LOCCAL asked if they could use double-sided tape to affix the posters, the owner shrugged, "If you have nails, use a hammer." LOCCAL wasn't that concerned--even though the bathrooms are trashed (the men's much more than the women's') any student of grafitti would have noticed that things have calmed down there as regards vandalism. "I've got more keys than Alicia" and "like a locksmith I've got the Keys" are the most recent additions and they've been there for at least a year. So how long will the LOCCAL posters stay up? We recommend heading in for the best falafel in Seattle (be sure to wash it down with a Vimto) and seeing for yourself.

Contest

To celebrate the release of its series of ten public hygiene poem-posters, LOCCAL is pleased to announce its first contest. A prize of $30 and a rare complete set of hygiene posters will be awarded to the best poem about bad hygiene. The deadline is December 1, 2007. Entries should be in the text (no attachments, please) of an email sent to LOCCALLIT@yahoo.com.
Please send any questions there as well. This contest is only open to people who don't have a poem in the poster series. Thanks, and good luck!

Finally!

LOCCAL's public hygiene posters have finally been produced. They are now being carried at Seattle's legendary Open Books: A Poem Emporium as well as being put up in bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and movie theaters. The posters are currently on display at a large mental health facility as well. The ten posters address hand washing and dental care and are accompanied by appropriate illustrations. Laminated, they are perfect for bathroom use! The posters are available for $3 each, please send an email to LOCCALLIT@yahoo.com if interested.