Source Weekly, Author at The Source - Bend, Oregon

The More Things Change: Twenty years after Valdez we've learned little

Source WeeklyJune 30, 2010March 5, 2024

When the Exxon Valdez oil tanker struck an Alaskan reef in 1989, leaking 11 million gallons of crude into a marine ecosystem, Greenpeace ran ads showing the ship's captain, Joseph Hazelwood, with the message: “It wasn't his driving that caused the Alaskan oil spill. It was yours.”
The ads scolded: “The spill was caused by a nation drunk on oil. And a government asleep at the wheel.” All the publicity about that disaster pressured Congress and President George H.W. Bush to pass a 1990 law establishing “the first coordinated, national system for responding to oil spills and compensating their victims,” according to the Anchorage Daily News. That law and follow-up regulations raised the limits on oil-company liability and spurred a shift to double hulls and other oil-tanker safety measures.

Opinion

The Room Tax Chiselers

Source WeeklyJune 30, 2010May 12, 2025

We've seen businesses perform some amazing acrobatic feats with numbers, but the cast of Cirque du Soleil couldn't top the stunt that Wayne Purcell, Brett Evert and some other Bend hotel owners are trying to pull off.
About 10 years ago, when the city decided to raise its transient room tax to 9%, the hotel owners pleaded for – and got – a $10-per-person credit for the supposed cost of providing complimentary breakfasts to guests. For example, if a couple rented a room for $100 a night, the hotel could knock off $20 for the meal credit and thus owe room tax on only $80.

Opinion

America the Fat: Our booming national waistline, Justices free handguns, Cheney's black heart and more!

EDITOR'S NOTE: After last week's column regarding kief suppositories and questions over President Obama firing General Stanley McChrystal, the Source Weekly was forced to fire Mick McMenaminuses

Source WeeklyJune 30, 2010October 23, 2024

EDITOR'S NOTE: After last week's column regarding kief suppositories and questions over President Obama firing General Stanley McChrystal, the Source Weekly was forced to fire Mick McMenaminuses. Kief suppositories may exist, but the demand sparked after Mick's mention overwhelmed international markets; meanwhile, questioning the President of the United States is simply unAmerican. We wish Mick well as he wages a legal defense of previous columns concerning aliens unearthing Gary Coleman's body and accusing members of the Tea Party of inbreeding.

Opinion

Wanna Ride My Crazy Bike?

What sort of witchcraft is being employed here? WTF?

Source WeeklyJune 30, 2010December 7, 2023

If you were down at the Bite of Bend, you probably ate some delicious food, got your mind blown by the dual sonic explosion that was Rubblebucket followed by March Fourth Marching Band and you also may have paid $5 to try to ride a wacky bike for ten feet in the hopes of winning $100 bucks. You didn't win the $100, because that bike – with its reversed steering mechanism – was impossible to ride, except if you were the dude running this operation, of course.

Opinion

Letter of the Week: Stick To Non-Lethal Goose Control

Letter to the Editor.

Source WeeklyJune 30, 2010September 19, 2023

This week's letter comes from Foster Fell, local goose champion, who makes a good case for staving off the goose execution in Bend. Thanks for the letter, Foster. We appreciate your taking the time to put your thoughts down on paper – so much so that we're hooking you up with a bag of coffee from Strictly Organic, which we can assure you is goose-suffering free. You can pick up your winner's spoils at our office, 704 NW Georgia. – the editor.

Wildlife rescue work this month will not be limited to the Gulf of Mexico, but will require local efforts to prevent the unnecessary euthanization of many of Bend's Canada Geese by the Bend Metro Park and Recreation District.
Earlier this spring BMPRD announced its affiliation with the respected organization Geese Peace. Its national program director David Feld traveled to Bend to conduct further training in non-lethal population control methods.

Opinion

I'll Have Some Car-Bike Peace, Please

Letter to the Editor.

Source WeeklyJune 30, 2010January 4, 2023

Today, I'm a disgruntled cyclist making the case for peace on the road. The epic saga of car vs. bike has raged on for centuries (right?) and has left in its wake unnecessary stress, turmoil, dented bumpers, cracked frames, injury, death and sadness. Recently, I've been markedly endangered while riding my bicycle by a car, and am disappointed to say that one incident was clearly intentional. But, I'm not writing to proclaim the inherent evil of driving (except right now: car full of chicks smothered in makeup, you could have killed me, seriously).

Opinion

We're All Geese At Heart

Letter to the Editor.

Source WeeklyJune 30, 2010January 11, 2025

I am writing to congratulate the Bend Metro Parks and Recreation District (BMPRD). Their staff does an amazing job. Those beautiful parks, the varied recreation programs, and the wonderful special events put on by this great organization I would argue are major contributions to the outstanding quality of life we all enjoy.
I would particularly like to mention the success the BMPRD has had in controlling the goose population. According to the front page article in The Bulletin last week (June 23) the population of geese is 200, the same as it was last year and the number of goslings hatched this year is actually down from last year.

Opinion

Bend Does It Right

Letter to the Editor.

Source WeeklyJune 30, 2010September 22, 2023

I am getting married in Bend this July and decided on Be Bop Biscotti to provide the favors for the wedding guests. When I went to pick up my order I was very shocked to find they had included a few extra boxes. When I called them to tell them about the extra boxes, they said that they were for us to enjoy! How nice! I was very impressed. I highly recommend Di Lusso and Be-Bop Biscotti to anyone looking for delicious food as the biscotti were excellent!

Culture

Ready to Roll: The Renegade Roller Girls have a new banked track, and it's time to take them seriously

For 30 seconds, I was a roller derby girl. That's the amount of time I managed to stay upright on the track before falling on my face.

Source WeeklyJune 23, 2010March 13, 2024

For 30 seconds, I was a roller derby girl.
That's the amount of time I managed to stay upright on the track before falling on my face.
Girls whizzed past me while a senior derby member, and leader of the practice, tried to guide me as my arms flailed and I reached out for something to break my fall. I found myself flying in her direction, her eyes widening as I approached. It is entirely possible that I inadvertently got to second base with her.

Culture

Our Picks for 6/23 – 7-1: Show Us Your Spokes, USA Cycling Road Racing National Championships Block Party, Steve Earl, Bite of Bend and more

Source WeeklyJune 23, 2010April 11, 2025

Last Band Standing
thursday 24
Round two of the semi-finals continues this week with performances by Klever Kill, Blackstrap, Tall as Rasputin, Absofreakenlutly, Eric Tollefson and the World's Greatest Lovers and Empty Space Orchestra. Top two vote getters go on to the finals! $3/adv, $5/door. 8pm. Boondock's Bar and Grill, 70 NW Greenwood Ave.

Show Us Your Spokes – Jukebot!
It's about that time when Bend turns back into bike central with the Show Us Your Spokes series. Grab your cruiser and pedal down to Parrilla, where a legitimate Bend super group will be rocking the burrito joint. Jukebot!, a local all-star band with members coming from Sofa Kings and the now-defunct El Dante, join forces for some self-described “Raw-some Rock.” Raw-some, indeed. $5, 21+. 7pm. Parrilla Grill, 635 NW 14th Ave.

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