The High Desert Journal recently released its 12th issue. This biannual literary magazine continues to focus on its mission statement of “dedicating itself to further understanding the people, places and issues of the interior West” though in my opinion, the journal is going off in new and exciting areas that may have seemed absent in earlier issues.
Editorial
Posted inOpinion
The Republican Meat Cleaver Strategy
“There is always an easy solution to every human problem – neat, plausible and wrong.” – H.L. Mencken
The Republicans in the Oregon Legislature believe they've found a problem: Businesses are burdened with too many state regulations, and that's holding back economic growth and stifling job creation.
Posted inOpinion
That Was the Poop That Was
Monday, Jan. 17
Kumbaya time: In the wake of the Tucson massacre, members of Congress try to be more civil. Sens. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Chuck Shumer (D-NY) say they'll sit together for next week's State of the Union address. No word on whether they will hold hands … Sidelined: Apple mogul Steve Jobs, 55, announces he's taking indefinite leave of absence for health reasons … Quarterback Brett Favre, 41, announces retirement for being-over-the-hill reasons. Sources say he means it this time. No, honest … Hey, nobody's perfect: The New Yorker reveals Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), in charge of investigating the Obama administration, has skeletons rattling in his own closet, including arrest for possessing unregistered gun and accusations of car theft and arson … Reassuring: Natalie Portman, accepting Golden Globe award for best actress, tells the world that fiancé Benjamin Millepied “totally wants to sleep with me.”
Posted inOpinion
Whisnant Tries an End Run Around the DLCD
Laws can be a real pain in the ass. They often make you do things you don't want to do, or stop you from doing things you want to do.
Laws can be a real pain in the ass. They often make you do things you don't want to do, or stop you from doing things you want to do.
But without laws, society would be in one hell of a mess. Which is why state Rep. Gene Whisnant's effort to eviscerate the Urban Growth Boundary approval process is a mistake.
Posted inOpinion
The Poop, the Straight Poop and Nothing But the Poop
We're Number Three: University of Oregon Ducks
Monday, Jan. 10
We're Number Three: University of Oregon Ducks lose BCS National Championship to Auburn 22-19 on a last-second field goal, drop to third place in the polls behind Auburn and TCU. Just a little too much Cam Newton and Nick Fairley, not enough LaMichael James … Class act: John Kitzhaber sworn in to unprecedented third term as governor of Oregon, opens inaugural address with the line: “So I guess none of you could get tickets to the game either” … No-class act: Police called to break up a post-game brawl between Auburn and U of O fans outside downtown Bend sports bar … “The Hammer” drops: Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas, aka “The Hammer,” gets three years in the hoosegow for political fundraising shenanigans.
Posted inOpinion
Fueling the Fires of Violence
Come on people, it’s time to tune down the ridiculous rhetoric in the wake of the Tucson shootings.
Whenever a horrifying event like Saturday's massacre in Tucson happens, the phrase “senseless tragedy” inevitably turns up in every news report and commentary.
The Tucson attack – in which a lone shooter opened fire at a political event outside a supermarket, critically wounding Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 13 others and killing six people, including a 9-year-old girl – unquestionably was a tragedy. But was it really “senseless” – meaning there was no reason for it, that it was a random act like an earthquake or a bolt of lightning?
Posted inOpinion
All the straight poop that fits this page
Justin Bieber gets death threats and tons more birds died…any plenty more.
Monday, Jan. 14
Sacked: Patrick Flaherty is sworn in as Deschutes County's new district attorney, says it's time for healing. He immediately fires five deputy DA's … Sacked again: Two former massage therapists for the New York Jets sue Brett Favre and the Jets, claiming Favre sent them naughty text messages. “Brett here,” one allegedly says. “[Y]ou and crissy want to get together im all alone [sic]” … Drunkvana? Portland, which calls itself “Beervana” because of all its brewpubs, makes The Daily Beast's list of America's 40 Drunkest Cities, coming in 32nd, ahead of Las Vegas but far behind the leaders, including #1 Milwaukee, WI and #2 Fargo, ND. Yes, Fargo … Ah, young love: Selena Gomez, romantically linked to Justin Bieber, gets death threats from the prepubescent sex god's twittering fans. “@selenagomez stay away from Justin pedophile, retard wait i’m gonna kill ya in the night underneath your smelly bed,” tweets one.
Posted inOpinion
Legislating More Traffic Congestion
Imagine yourself trying to negotiate the traffic at the north end of the Bend Parkway, in the area of the Cascade Village Mall shopping center. (We know it's painful, but please try.)
Now imagine thousands more cars and trucks stirred into the mix every day. And imagine that no improvements have been made to allow the road grid to handle that extra load.
Posted inOpinion
Straight poop from around town and the world
Editor's note: As we usher in a new year and a new decade, we've decided to re-vamp our Upfront column. To our great surprise and delight the decision coincided with the re-emergence of Scoop Lewis, Ace Reporter ™, from self-imposed exile. He's back and ready to give the straight poop on the past week's events every Thursday in the Source.
Posted inOpinion
A Year (and Decade) That Won't Be Missed
The year 2010 gets The Source Weekly’s last BOOT of the year.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the …
Well, actually, no. Although the year 2010 probably wasn't the worst of times – for instance, it wasn't as bad as 1348, when the Black Death was ravaging Europe – there's no way to pretend it was the best of times, or even one of the almost-pretty-good times.
How did 2010 suck? Let us count the ways. Or at least some of the ways, because we don't have room for all of them.