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Rick Steves at Hempfest 2008 by Seattlest's own Ronald Holden.
We're not afraid to admit it, we kinda have a thing for Rick Steves. Steves has gone beyond local travel guru and bespectacled PBS travel host to become an outspoken advocate against the criminalization of marijuana and the U.S.'s "War on Drugs." He has done so while still coming across as sensible and trustworthy. Steves is the antithesis of every stoner stereotype in mainstream culture, but much more like the responsible adults we know that choose to smoke a bowl in their free time.
We're totally crushing on Rick Steves for risking it all--a successful business and a modicum of celebrity--to stand up for what he believes. We adore him for putting his money and his mouth behind his beliefs: filming a controversial "conversation" for local cable about marijuana and headlining this years Hempfest speakers and taking the stage both days at 4:20 p.m. The fact that he is super worldly and knowledgeable--with an inside scoop on the best restaurants, hotels, museums, and most everything else in the entire world--doesn't hurt either.
So, we raise our bowl and a nice glass of Italian red to you, Rick Steves, as a local who is not only totally crush-worthy, but also an inspiration.
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Look how HAPPY he looks! Who doesn't love a happy man?
Happy *and* I must admit to being a girl who totally makes passes, at guys who wear glasses.
*sigh*
I don't like how he travels. It's not my cup of tea and he enjoys British 'Quaintness' far too much.
I want his job, I mean empire.
We went to Italy last September, and you wouldn't believe how many people were invading small villages, armed with "Europe Through the Back Door" by Rick Steves.
I like him, but I'll bet half the Italians in those villages would like to beat his ass!
Love him, but not unconditionally (so, not totes then, I guess): http://seattlest.com/2007/09/14/rick_steves_blo.php
Three things:
1) Stop using totes. It's not cute or clever. Seriously. In US Weekly or Jezebel it might be kind of funny the first thirty times, but here, it's just sort of gross.
2) So Rick Steves is a brave, brave pothead for not being a hypocrite about it? Maybe. But most of the people who like his books seem to be insipid fans (like, say, the writer of this thing), so there's not a lot of risk there for him. If his business started to turn on him because of it, he'd drop it.
3) Could all of us in the northwest just decide to get over him already? The kind of people who love Rick Steves also are the people fawning over Spanish salt at Sur la Table and French soap at Watson & Kennedy. It's supertotes annoying.
And, no, I don't want to see your pictures from your Cinqua Terre trip, thanks.
ktli1010 - we use "totes" to maintain our junior high readability level. we have a standard to uphold here.
i'm totally with you on #2&3! well put!
kti01010
He doesn't smoke. So yeah.... your point kind of shit itself. He's doing this because he believes that the war on soft drugs is a waste of our resources and we could put that towards things that improve a society, like his precious European towns.
TroyJMorris
Yes, he does. Of course he does.
A choice quote:
and also
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2003879700_webricksteves12.html