Eric Flowers

editor@tsweekly.com
Posted inOpinion

Lose Ben Stein’s Money: The Boss comes out, the Putin

Eric Flowers

Big Bomb Theory
Stein is a lot of things, but movie star ain’t one of them. Ben Stein has had a checkered career - speech writer for Richard Nixon, TV game show host, business columnist, movie actor. But his latest foray into the entertainment world as movie producer doesn't seem to be panning out too well.
 
Stein's movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed opened last weekend with mediocre box office numbers and less than mediocre reviews. It's a purported documentary intended to support the theory of "intelligent design" and show how proponents of intelligent design face discrimination and harassment in academia. Among other subtleties, it attempts to link Darwinism to Nazi genocide and the Berlin Wall.

Posted inOpinion

If You’ve Moved, Re-register

Eric Flowers

Letter of the Week 
Nothing is more vital to OUR democracy than fair and effective elections. We rely (with varying success) on public officials for fairness and competence in the design and administration of our election process. We also rely (with varying success) on our citizenry to participate in the process.
We must also rely on the media to do its part in promoting fair and effective elections. By providing adequate and appropriate information, commentary and analysis, our media can educate and inform voters on candidates, issues and on the electoral process itself.

Posted inOpinion

King’s Inspiration

Earlier this month we marked the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s death, or should I say his assassination, in Memphis, TN. Hours have been
Eric Flowers

Earlier this month we marked the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's death, or should I say his assassination, in Memphis, TN. Hours have been spent on radio and television commemorating the event. Articles, some at great length, have been written about what this Baptist preacher accomplished not only for his race but for the problem of segregation we have in America.
What never seems to be mentioned is what context, motivation and background motivated this great man. Sure, he was a Baptist preacher, but what made him do what he did, say what he said, motivated this man?

Posted inOpinion

Hard-Hitting Tax Day Coverage

Kudos to the local TV station for positioning a reporter outside the 4th Street post office on April 15. What a strategic place to pin
Eric Flowers

Kudos to the local TV station for positioning a reporter outside the 4th Street post office on April 15. What a strategic place to pin down the people of Bend and ask some hard-hitting questions about taxes! I approached the reporter to offer my view: Paying taxes sucks when nearly 50% goes to military spending and not even 5% goes to education and social services.

Posted inCulture

Life as Art: Cristina Acosta is making her art at all costs

Brushing up on tile work. Bend artist Cristina Acosta is challenging the old truism that art imitates life. A painter, Acosta has learned to let
Eric Flowers

Brushing up on tile work. Bend artist Cristina Acosta is challenging the old truism that art imitates life. A painter, Acosta has learned to let her art into her everyday world.
"At one point I realized that I needed to take my art off of the canvas, and put it into my life," says Acosta
Acosta's vivid and joyful painting ranges from traditional Mexican influenced Madonnas and tri-paneled ex-votos to her "Paint Happy" series of flowing still lifes. They all explode with the color of an artist doing more than putting paint to canvas. Acosta has transformed her art in a business with her tile painting and color consultation services.
Originally trained at the university level in fine arts, Acosta has branched out dramatically - although this was not necessarily easy. The elite art world of the 1980's didn't necessarily encourage disciplines like tile painting and home decor. However, she says, "I realized that everything could start becoming art for me, and that was incredibly fun. It opened up a whole new world for me."

Posted inCulture

Slashed to Pieces: Prom Night probes new depths of lame

Quick, act like a cat. My first reaction leaving the theatre after this movie, besides ramming my head into the wall, was to consult my
Eric Flowers

Quick, act like a cat. My first reaction leaving the theatre after this movie, besides ramming my head into the wall, was to consult my thesaurus for new ways to say horrible, terrible and awful (words I've been using a lot lately to describe movies). Wretched and abominable seem to work.
 
The only thing faithfully reproduced in this remake is the prom night setting. The predecessor-flick was pretty bad to begin with, but the remake makes it look like Citizen Kane. In the original, four students were stalked and victimized by a knife-wielding ski-mask wearing psycho because they were responsible for the accidental death of a child. This time around a non-masked stalker escapes from a mental institution to wreak havoc on all in his path because he has an unhealthy infatuation with Donna (Brittany Snow), an ex-student of his before he was put away.

Posted inCulture

Indie Picks: Fields of Fuel

Filmmaker Josh Tickell is aiming for “a shift in human consciousness,” with his film, Fields of Fuel. Focused on biodiesel and biofuels as alternatives to
Eric Flowers

Filmmaker Josh Tickell is aiming for "a shift in human consciousness," with his film, Fields of Fuel. Focused on biodiesel and biofuels as alternatives to reliance on big oil and soy production, the film asks us to choose more self-reliant, peaceful, and healthier lives.

Posted inCulture

Corn Fed: A look at America’s most planted, processed and subsidized crop

Stuffing their cornholes.You might think twice about devouring another McDonald’s Quarter Pounder after watching Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis’ eye-opening documentary, King Corn. The film
Eric Flowers

Stuffing their cornholes.You might think twice about devouring another McDonald's Quarter Pounder after watching Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis' eye-opening documentary, King Corn. The film won Best Documentary at the 2007 Bend Film festival and will screen again on April 22 at the Tower Theatre as part of the Indie Reels series. Co-producer Curt Ellis will be on hand for discussion.
 
Best friends Ian and Curt moved from Boston to Greene, Iowa after college to find out where their food really comes from. The film follows them as they plant an acre of corn in the heartland and attempt to navigate modern agribusiness. Remarkably, both Ian and Curt's great-grandfathers were from Greene, and the two also trace their family histories throughout the story. They assimilate into the community and learn how to drive tractors and drink Budweiser. On the way, we-along with the filmmakers-learn everything from what a grain elevator is, to the fact that corn is present in about 60% of the American diet.

Posted inFood & Drink

Quick Bites: On To The Big City

It’s a fact of life in Central Oregon that many of your friends will move away to the big city (i.e. Portland) at some point
Eric Flowers

It’s a fact of life in Central Oregon that many of your friends will move away to the big city (i.e. Portland) at some point to chase things like romance, nightlife and living wages. Next month one of Quick Bite’s best “friends” is making the move to the big city. Deschutes Brewery launches its new Portland location May 2. The brewery is hosting a media event April 25, allowing a sneak peek at the new digs. The brewery is located in swanky Pearl District and will offer a similar selection of craft brews and pub food that has made Deschutes famous. Unlike other friends who don’t write or call, Deschutes will stay connected to Central Oregon. In fact it’s not really leaving at all, just branching out. Take care of her Portland. She’s one of our best friends.

Verify your email

We'll send a verification code to .

Sign up for newsletters

Get the best of The Source - Bend, Oregon directly in your email inbox.

Sending to:

Gift this article