Rick Steves lecture packs the Civic Center  Anyone in the packed
Civic Center auditorium on March 15 that expected Rick Steves to
present a slide show travelogue of his European adventures was
probably surprised. Instead, Steves, the opening lecturer of the
second half of the Friends of the Public Library's Gifford
Lecture Series, presented a passionate look at the world's
perception of America and American travelers.  Best known for
his television travel shows for public broadcasting and his
series of European travel guides, Steves is a passionate
advocate for improving our global (and local) society. He's an
active member of the Lutheran church, a board member of NORML
(working to reform marijuana laws in the USA) and has provided
his local YWCA with a 24-unit apartment building with which to
house homeless mothers.  Running some forty minutes beyond the
typical lecture length, Steves encouraged us to travel as a
means of educating ourselves, educating others about us, and in
so doing, combating the effects