Cinema has long been obsessed with the concept of machines that can think, feel and one day be indistinguishable from their creators. When done correctly, artificial intelligence as a cinematic device can serve as a perfect mirror for human anxiety, ambition and existential dread; at its worst, it’s a goofy stab at speculative fear-mongering, nervously […]
Culture
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The Psychedelic Frontier
A Word on Background Checks
Q: I’m a psychedelic practitioner, and I’ve been thinking about safety in ceremony. I’m wondering about your thoughts on background checks. It feels like it goes against my value of holding space for everyone seeking transformation. How do you navigate this? A: There’s a very frank conversation we need to have about background checks in psychedelic […]
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Free Will Astrology, Week of June 25
Cancers, it’s your month to set yourself free and release past angst
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Now is an auspicious time to declare a sweeping amnesty and observe a personal season of pardon. To the best of your ability, release your clenched feelings about people who have caused you pain. Banish blame! Purge any lingering resentment and regret that has curdled into self‑reproach. Celebrate atonement and absolution! […]
Posted inCulture
Holiday Festivities & 250th Birthday Celebrations
A roundup of local events happening on July 3 & 4
With the Fourth of July holiday on Saturday this year, and coinciding with the nation’s 250th birthday, there’s no shortage of celebrations around Central Oregon. Bend The Discovery West neighborhood west of Northwest Crossing in Bend is celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday on Friday, July 3, with food vendors, square dancing lessons, games and a […]
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Artist Michele Michael Reflects on Art Journey Ahead of Meet and Greet
Michael says she’s inspired by the color blue and creating and giving people a sense of place through her art. She offers words of support for other aspiring artists
Local Artist Michele Michael was selected to feature her painting, “Strawberry Skies,” as the face of Sunriver Music Festival’s 49th season. As she geared up for a meet and greet event on June 20, she reflected on her career trajectory and what inspires her. the Source: What does it mean to you to be the 2026 selected artist for the Sunriver Music […]
Posted inCulture Features
I Read for the Human Experience in Books; AI Can’t Replace That
Concerns about artificial intelligence within the literary community
Human experience is the totality of what it means to live — our interactions, our emotions, our thoughts and perceptions as we go through our day-to-day lives. This experience is what shapes how we understand ourselves and the world around us. Reading is one of many ways we enrich our human experience, just as art […]
Posted inFilm
The Truth is Around Here Somewhere
“Disclosure Day” is a profoundly watchable mixed bag
I think how much you’ll like “Disclosure Day,” the newest film from Steven Spielberg, depends a lot on what your favorite film of his is. From the raw, thrumming energy of “Jurassic Park,” “Jaws” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” to the throwback sentimentality of “E.T.” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” back around […]
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Don’t Shoot the Messenger
Examining root causes and treatment of migraines
The old adage “don’t shoot the messenger” has its roots in ancient times when messengers were literally people traveling to deliver news that may or may not be taken well by the receiving party. It was understood that to ensure these messages made it through, the messenger must be guaranteed safe passage and not be laid […]
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Free Will Astrology, Week of June 18
Interpreting the celestial bodies
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Eastern monarch butterflies migrate annually from the American Midwest to central Mexico. The individuals who start the journey from Nebraska or Wisconsin die long before they reach the oyamel fir trees of Mexico. So do their children and their grandchildren. Their great-grandchildren finish the trip, though they have never been to […]
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Nourishing the Body & Soul
A pop-up art exhibit will benefit artists and Family Kitchen
A partnership between Family Kitchen, FREAK’N ART and Open Space Event Studios will culminate with a pop-up art show to raise money for local artists and to feed the homeless. Family Kitchen is celebrating its 40th birthday with a renewed energy. The nonprofit provides free, nutritious meals to anyone in need in a safe and […]
