The mythology behind Tacoma “Elf” Storage, which we unwittingly helped create last Christmas, was too good to be true.

But glory hallelujah, the real story is even better.

It was summer 2007 when the “S” in the neon self-storage sign on Holgate Street flickered out. We reported it then. And again in December, with wonder, when the homage to Santa’s sweatshop crew supernaturally reappeared in the St. Nick of time.

Recently we learned the same letter is dark again. Has been since the day after Thanksgiving. The company did it on purpose. And is looking for publicity.

Suddenly we felt cheap and used. A patsy for a holiday promotional stunt. Our belief in the magic of Christmas shattered.

Ten minutes later, we got over it.

Turns out the “S” had been installed upside down a few years ago, which left the power switch exposed to the elements, according to front-counter employee Jo Seward.

The first time it went dark, Seward tells us, birds landed on it and flipped the switch. Employees turned it back on. But when the feathered pranksters did it again last Christmas, the workers left it off for the holidays. This year they dimmed it themselves.

“We thought, ‘Shoot, we might as well start a new tradition,’” Seward told us Thursday.

Inside, the lobby area is decorated with elves. Seward customized a ceramic Christmas village with a “Tacoma Elf Storage” theme.

Thereafter, our cockles were warmed, our Christmas spirit rekindled, our faith in humanity restored.

Let’s just pray the whole operation isn’t an elaborate cover for the Earth Liberation Front.

Why all the fuss about the kid who found 10 grand in a Federal Way supermarket bathroom and gave it all back?

We’ve seen “No Country for Old Men.” We’d give it back, too.

A savvy University Place resident read our tidbit last month about the anachronistic UP city badge and the fact it’s one Narrows bridge short of a pair.

That’s not the only curious thing about it, writes Susan Halvorson.

Notice the insignia doesn’t actually show UP – as if to say, “Move along, folks, nothing to see here” – but instead presents a westward view of ever-desirable Gig Harbor.

In light of recent events, the logo seems even more symbolic of self-doubt today than when UP formed in the mid-’90s.

“How prophetic,” Halvorson writes, “that the city founding fathers selected a logo looking longingly toward the coveted Uptown shopping center.”

Come on, UPeople. It’s time to kick your inferiority complex, and nothing changes an attitude like a change in logo.

The one you should adopt is as obvious as the nose on our face.

After all, there’s still one reason the Peninsula in-crowd must come to you.

We’re shocked that Fox talkie Bill O’Reilly doesn’t like the atheist placard in our state Capitol.

He should love anything that fuels the stereotype that we’re all Left-Coast-sandal-wearing-God-bashing libbies out here.

What we need are a few more reasons for him to go nuts and tell the rest of the country to call our governor.

See what happens when he learns naked people ride bikes through Seattle. Imagine the horror when he finds out anything at all about The Evergreen State College. Watch him explode when told of a herpes outbreak in the Puyallup Fair dairy barn.

Fact is, O’Reilly shouldn’t be surprised by any of this. Dude was once a news anchor in Portland – former home of the 24-hour Church of Elvis.

Got news for The Nose? Call 253-597-8742, Ext. NOSE (6673) or write TheNose@thenewstribune.com.