Greg Walden Makes It Into Stephen Colbert’s Monologue… For the Wrong Reasons
Last night’s Late Show with Stephen Colbert featured Colbert reading a passage from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson or, should we say, Wayne Tracker’s “secret” journal. Before he dived in however, Colbert touched on the Congressional Budget Office’s report on the new Republican healthcare bill, unveiled by none other than Congressmen Greg Walden last week. “24…
Peanut Butter and Deli
“Nut Crusher Peanut Butter Porter.” This I’m reading off the chalkboard beer menu at Downtown Redmond’s popular garage-themed Wild Ride Brew. It’s a phrase I’ve never actually considered before. Fascinating. “One Nut Crusher, please,” I say to the 6-foot-tall bartender who could pass for Uma Thurman’s little sister. She begins pouring while I try to…
Natural World: Eagle Watch
It wasn’t snowing or blowing, and the temperature wasn’t down to the 20’s like it sometimes can be at Eagle Watch. In fact, the sun was shining all day while hundreds of participants strolled about Portland General Electric’s Round Butte Park. This two-day event, usually held the last weekend of February, has been an annual…
Road Trip: Oregon Shakespeare
I have to admit it: It took me a full 16 years of being an Oregonian to finally experience the many delights that a trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival can bring. Discussions about what constitutes a “local” aside, whether you’ve been in Oregon only six months or 60 years, I’m here to make sure…
Triple Threat
For many Central Oregonians, these are experiences that make life worth living: Skiing down the steep slopes of a mountain, trees going by at high speeds, letting gravity guide you with each turn through the snow. Or walking the tight rope, hundreds of feet above the ground, like a balancing act in the circus. Or,…
GUNG HO’ FOR SHOWS
Book these shows now so you don’t miss out. Indigo Girls March 20 LEGENDARY FOLK — Rocking out since the mid 1980s, many will recognize the Indigo Girls for their unique, Grammy-winning folk rock. Icons in the LGBTQIA communities, both coming out before it was deemed mainstream “safe,” the “Girls” are still going strong and…
The Debate Over the Elliott
The often-complicated debate over public lands plays out in an Oregon forest, which may be up for sale Stewardship and management of public lands in the United States is an often-tricky and challenging endeavor. In Oregon this is particularly complicated when it comes to a portion of state lands managed by the State Land Board…
Letters 3/1-8
Saving the Affordable Care Act The Republicans have released an outline of their plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. It should be noted that Representative Greg Walden is one of the principle architects of the plan. This plan will not provide health insurance for everyone and will leave millions uninsured or underinsured. The Republican…
Children as Clickbait
A like, a click, a few messages back and forth, and then an invitation. It can be as simple as that. The world of teenage dating has vastly changed since the days of notes left in lockers and telephone calls fielded by mom. Teenagers can tweet their every thought, share their every photo and make…
Discovering Founders
Ah, Central Oregon. For people who want the largest, most diverse and highest-quality beer scene in the universe, this is it. What the area doesn’t have, however, is commensurate world-class beer distribution. A visit to a beer shop will mostly turn up beer from Oregon and Washington, with a few stragglers from points south and…
Who knew health care could be so complicated?
The 129,200 people in Walden’s district who got covered under the ACA’s Medicaid expansion, for one… If you’ve been in Oregon for more than a few minutes, you’ve probably gotten a hint of the “better before you came” mentality that tends to pervade any conversation about incoming Californians… or anyone from out of area, for…
Old Man, Take A Look At My Life
On the surface, “Logan” is a superhero movie featuring the return of two of movie-dom’s most beloved and venerable mutants. Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman were both on hand when Bryan Singer’s 2000 feature “X-Men” blew open the doors to modern motion picture superhero movies, allowing Marvel to challenge DC’s previous dominance. Now, 17 years…
Picks 3/8-16
La Boheme Friday and Saturday 10-11 OPERA — Transport yourself to the streets of Europe with this ancient opera set at the turn of the century. La Boheme is a tale of lovers and artists in bohemian Paris. Although sung in Italian, knowledge of it isn’t needed, as English subtitles will caption the show. Michael…
A Teen Version of “Groundhog Day”
It takes a mediocre movie like “Before I Fall” to illustrate how brilliant Harold Ramis’ “Groundhog Day” is. Founded on the same premise, the movies show the variances that can result from different approaches. “Groundhog Day” uses comedy and wit to buffer its existential angst and cosmic sense of karma. “Before I Fall,” on the…
A child of D.A.R.E. recalls her first weed experience
Hello, reader! It’s me again, Josh’s girlfriend. Happy International Women’s Day! Cheers to all the ladies. Cheers also to my job at a baller nonprofit that has retained enough of a “fuck you” attitude from the 60’s that they close and give us a paid vacation day for International Women’s Day. (Were we open on…
Family Roadtrip
Long days, changing scenery, crisscrossing the country with a concert at the end of each day’s journey. This isn’t your typical road trip; this is the lifestyle of Birds of Chicago, a wife and husband duo who are the foundation of the acclaimed midwestern quintet. They’re sharing a tour with not only their bandmates, but…
The Politicking of theGreater Sage-Grouse
Decades of bipartisan effort between public and private entities has led to effective protection for the Greater sage-grouse. But proposed legislation at the federal level could change that. In some ways, this spring will be like any other for the Greater sage-grouse. Hundreds of thousands of the iconic birds will soon gather at their leks,…
New albums Rock Any Format
Looking for some new tracks to load on your device, or to pop on your vintage-replica record player? Check out these new albums. Hear These, Now! Temples: “Volcano” (Fat Possum) Three years ago, Temples took dead aim at T. Rex, early David Bowie and Pink Floyd, and crafted a slab of fuzzy, rockin’ British psych…
Source Spotlight: Wayne Kinney
Wayne Kinney was Oregon’s first rural field representative. After two decades of working for Wyden, Kinney says he will miss the people in Central and Eastern Oregon. After attending more than 300 town hall meetings throughout Central and Eastern Oregon and working with more than 200 county commissioners over 21 years, Wayne Kinney is retiring…
Don’t Sabotage the Sale of Your Home
A recent article I read addressed the many ways some sellers sabotage the sale of their homes. I have personally encountered a few of these items in my own listings and they very well could have cost the sale of the home and lengthened the time on the market. Most sellers do the right thing,…
Book (Sm)art
You won’t find these titles on the shelves at your big box bookstore. And don’t bother trying to download them, either. No, these handmade, one-of-a-kind “artist books” truly belong in a gallery – which is why a visit to Bend’s A6 Studio & Gallery remains your only chance to see, touch and potentially purchase them.…
