You are absolutely free to describe me as a turtle or something.
-Paul Giamatti, actor
It's OK to do cute little things like kissing a turtle, but you can't kiss another person because he's a different color? Give me a break. And you have to remember, I'm from
-Aaron Spelling, director
-Dr. Seuss, author
My favorite turtle quote was spoken during the 2007 Rose Festival in Portland, Oregon, by 10-year-old Jonathan Ware. He had just left a face-painting booth at Waterfront Village when KGW-news reporter, Nancy Francis, stopped him for a quick 17-second interview about his new zombie look. In response to her question Jonathan said: "I like turtles!"
Someone stuck the news clip out on YouTube and the rest is history. Jonathan became an overnight sensation, a national media hit, and his fame spawned I like turtles t-shirts and gifts. The original video has been viewed over 5 million times, and there are now dozens of remixes and take-off videos on YouTube.
The 2008 Rose Festival is now upon us, with the Grand Floral Parade coming on Saturday, June 7 that will be broadcast locally and in various syndicated markets in the United States (check your local listings). A new Rose Queen will be crowned, thousands of people will line the parade route to be wowed once again by floats composed of only plant/floral materials, and there will be tours of Navy ships in town for the festival.
Waterfront Village is again bursting with color, flavor, sound, and energy. It has already rained on the Village and may even rain on the parade this year. No matter; nothing can top Rose Festival for joy-making in Portland, and nothing at Rose Festival can top this:
(P.S. I just realized that after viewing the video, a video strip appears at the bottom. It shows some remixes of I like turtles that others have done, +plus+ that clip of South Carolina's 2007 Miss Teen USA contestant with her now-famous map theory.)
