Jeez, how much of Obama's Kool-Aid did you drink? This president is an empty suit. His presidency is as weak as Jimmy Carter's. The last Bush term was an embarrassment as well. We wasted trillions in the desert with the Democratic Congress' blessing, when we could have used that money productively at home.
Intern
Posted inOpinion
CrossFit Didn't Get a Fair Shake
I was disheartened to read the negative article about CrossFit in the Source Weekly. I wanted to share my personal Oregon CrossFit experience with you and encourage anyone who has ever considered CrossFit to TRY it. Oregon CrossFit has been life changing for me.
I discovered Oregon CrossFit when my 12-year-old son started training with Coach Sean at Oregon CrossFit last fall. I noticed not only physical changes in my son but I also noticed a boost in his self-esteem. He was more confident and up for a challenge.
I too was a skeptic that CrossFit could take a middle-aged mom off the street and get her fit. At the time I was 44 years old and feeling fat and frumpy. Not much core strength at all. I thought the CrossFit workouts were waaaaaaaay out of my league. I thought for sure I would throw my back out and be in traction by the end of the first class.
Posted inOpinion
The Virtue of Patience in Land Conservation
A guest commentary about land conservation.
Patience is a virtue, or so the saying goes. In fact, there are many quotes and clichés which talk about patience. American theologian Lyman Abbott claimed, “Patience is passion tamed.” Journalist Ambrose Bierce was more cynical in his view, declaring patience a “minor form of despair, disguised as a virtue.” Whether your view of patience is something to admire and strive for in a complex and busy world or something akin to delay and procrastination, it's clear that patience and perseverance have key roles in the world of land conservation. The Deschutes Land Trust can only work at the pace of landowners – and conversations with landowners (whether private or public) take time.
“Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow. That is patience.” – Anonymous.
Fifteen years ago the notion of salmon and steelhead returning to the upper Deschutes and its tributaries was merely a dream, and the skeptics outweighed the believers. In 1997, the Deschutes Land Trust began an ambitious conservation program with partners such as Portland General Electric and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs to protect land for returning salmon and steelhead. Many believed in restoring crucial habitat, yet were unsure if these magnificent sea-run fish would ever return to the rivers and creeks of Central Oregon to reestablish one of the Northwest's most unique and notable fisheries. And yet, back in May, a four-year-old male Chinook that was spawned at the Round Butte Hatchery in 2007 calmly navigated his way back up the Deschutes and became the first upper basin fish to do so since dams blocked migration in the mid 1960's. With patience, hard work and community support, the “steelhead stronghold” the Deschutes Land Trust is creating along Whychus Creek will soon tell similar success stories.
Posted inOpinion
The Legislature Gits 'Er Done
This week’s glass slipper goes to the Legislature.
Redistricting is a job that can't be done without making some people unhappy. In fact, it often seems like it can't be done without making everybody unhappy.
So fraught with partisan rancor and political peril is the redistricting process that the Oregon Legislature hasn't managed to do it in 30 years. Since 1981, every time it tried to draw new district lines it wound up so hopelessly tangled in partisan knots that it had to turn the job over to the secretary of state.
Posted inOpinion
Church Vandals
Churches are vandalized and left with a message to praise the FSM
When it comes to cowardly acts, vandalism is right up there with kicking kittens. It doesn't take a lot of guts to tag a building with a can of Krylon.
Posted inOpinion
This Fresh Straight Poop Is Guaranteed E. coli Free
Take a sniff of this week’s poop.
Monday, June 6
And now, Weinergate! A weepy Rep. Anthony D. Weiner (D-NY) admits Tweeting gross photo of himself to woman, apologizes, but says he won't resign … Meanwhile House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi calls for ethics probe and right-wing gadfly Andrew Breitbart leaks what he says are more Weiner photos … It wasn't the sprouts: Bean sprouts blamed for Germany's E. coli outbreak exonerated by lab tests … Things are clouding up: Steve Jobs introduces Apple's new iCloud service, says: “We are going to move the digital hub, the center of your digital life, into the cloud” … If they holler, let 'em go: Scientists at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research manage to catch 300 atoms of anti-matter and hold them for 16 minutes.
Posted inOpinion
Cut the Crap
A Bend local resident has a strong opinion and wants all to know.
I recently read the Letter to the Editor by Vanessa Schulz in TS Weekly. I looked into [her] other work and now realize that the sanctimonious crap she peddles is much more a danger to community than youngsters dissecting a trout.
I notice you are a Vegan and the question arises, just how much do you really respect life? Organisms, living ones, are displaced from the carrots you eat. Do you carefully place them elsewhere while you eat the carrot? No! You eat living organisms like the rest of us. The only way to truly follow the path you’ve insinuated in your work is to become a Jain. If you are unfamiliar with Jains, they are a mouse click away in a Google search. You may be interested in joining as their numbers are always dwindling since they hardly get enough to eat. C’mon, for crissake. Get some real problems!
Posted inOpinion
Stop the Senseless Slaughter
The slaughtering of geese continues and one Bend resident opposes it.
With a brand new goose kill permit in hand, Bend Park District [BPRD] may move sometime this week or next against the geese in Drake Park.
The community is invited to come to the park to peacefully and lawfully bear witness to yet another extermination. The Bend Police Department has graciously offered us the sidewalk on the east side of Riverside Drive as an assembly point.
If you can join us at Drake Park on the morning of the operation and would like to be alerted, please call 541-280-0802 or e-mail goosewatchalliance@yahoo.com. We will have daily updates on our website www.goosewatchalliance.com and Facebook – Uncle Goose.
Posted inOpinion
Instant Karma
After moving to Alaska, a loyal Source Weekly reader keeps on reading issues!
I recently moved here from Anchorage, Alaska, and I’ve become a faithful reader of The Source Weekly. It’s one of my “go to” places to look for events and information in the Bend and Redmond area.
This past issue on “Why Local Matters” was fantastic! I really enjoyed reading about some of the stories of local businesses and seeing their passion to make it here in Bend. As a wannabe foodie, my list of places to try out is now doubled thanks to all the ads too! All of the positive karma here just confirms my decision to move here!
Keep up the good work, and I look forward to the next issue.
Posted inOpinion
To Joplin With Love
Concerned Bend citizens help Joplin residents after a devastating tornado.
Two weeks ago, after a devastating tornado ripped through Joplin, Missouri, a concerned group of Bend citizens with ties to the affected area approached the Common Table with the idea of a Joplin Relief Dinner. Josh Hart, a local do-gooder, provided inspiration through his work in the disaster zone. The Common Table team was activated, donations for the event were solicited, and within a matter of days, local musicians, professional chefs, and a host of volunteers had come forward to assist with the charity event. Despite the inclement weather, over 100 citizens of Central Oregon were served a fantastic meal, including top-notch entertainment. A resulting $2,500 was netted for the people of Joplin. My thanks go out to all of the folks that showed up and also to the wonderful people that made the event possible. Donations for Joplin continue to be accepted at the Common Table.
