The Traveling Camera: Australia
Australia is a great travel destination. One of those iconic countries you just have to see.
Mt. Bachelor To Decide on Thanksgiving Soon
For the past two ski seasons, the gods of snow and cold temperatures have blessed Mt. Bachelor with the needed white stuff to open the mountain in time for the Thanksgiving weekend.
Making The Tour: Back to cross-country ski basics
Back in the early 1970s when the cross-country skiing really began to make an impact on America's winter sports scene, the only way to ski was to make your own tracks. Skiers made them anywhere there was enough snow to open skiing along marked hiking trails. Machine groomed trails were, well, not even considered. That…
Surface Water Project: Voice your opposition today at public hearing
Opposed to the SWIP? Join your neighbors at a Public Hearing held by the Bend Planning Commission today at 5:30pm. WHAT: Citizens speak out against Tumalo Creek Water Project at Public Hearing held by the Bend Planning Commission. WHEN: Monday, November 14th 5:30pm WHERE: City Council Chambers, City Hall, 710 NW Wall St. From Paul…
Ski Area Stimulus: More fun stuff allowed year round at hills across the Northwest
Yay! more mountain biking, zip-lining and frisbee golfing! The ski world got another boost this month. Obama recently signed the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2011, which permits year-long recreation opportunities on U.S. Forest Service ski areas. The bill promises to boost local economies while continuing to uphold the environmental safeguards already in…
Swords, Sandals and Rourke: Immortals is what theaters were invented for
I'm probably breaking every rule in the critic handbook here, but I have to recommend Immortals, even though it misses the boat on some things “good” movies should contain. I could moan about subtext and character motivations until the cows come home, but if you've seen the trailer for Immortals, then you know exactly what…
How Full is Your Glass?
Even though the climbing community can widely be referred to as a dirty group of mostly white people who seem to have more time than they know what to do with, we seem to have one thing down – passion. Climbers: Where passion crawls along the fine line of obsession and we find ourselves jobless,…
Australian Singer Gotye Returns With “Making Mirrors”
Over the last couple of months I’ve clued BENT readers in on the amazingly creative sounds of the art group NewVillager, the rebirth of former Roma Di Luna singer Channy Casselle as Polica, and now I’ve got some great music from you from the land down under. Gotye’s third studio album, Making Mirrors came out…
Happy 11-11-11 Day
No, this day doesn’t really mean anything, other than the fact that if you write a check, you’ll be making a lot of vertical marks. But don’t say that to fans of annoyingly loud pants, who will be celebrating Corduroy Appreciation Day (the date resembles the design of those pants, I suppose) or these weirdos…
Stop the Water Project: Former Mayors and concerned citizens drop 1,000 signatures on City Hall
In this age of partisan politics and self-interest groups, it’s refreshing to see environmentalists, builders, Tea Partiers, liberal democrats and social conservatives rally around a common cause. At noon today, just such a varied crowd met in front of City Hall to officially present the 1,000 petition signatures opposing the $68 million Surface Water Project,…
Rick Perry: Eliminating Government Agencies He Can’t Name
In case you didn’t watch last night’s GOP presidential debate, here was a highlight (or lowlight if you’re a Rick Perry fan). [video:http://www.
No Same-Sex Marriage Measure on the Oregon Ballot in 2012
I wrote extensively in this week’s paper about the move in Central Oregon — and throughout the state — to test the waters for a ballot measure that would negate 2004’s Measure 36, the move that defined marriage in our state constitution as between a man and a woman. Well, as it turns out, Basic…
Portland Mayor Lauds Occupy Bend
On this morning’s Think Out Loud on OPB, Portland Mayor Sam Adams was on the program to discuss the next steps for the Occupy Portland movement, which has come under fire for drug and alcohol abuse, among other problems, in recent days. Adams recently sent an open letter to Occupy Portland, but took questions from…
Onward, Upward: Meet the unlikely face of Central Oregon's marriage equality movement
Author’s note: Since we published this story, Basic Rights Oregon announced that after a careful study, their board has voted unanimously to not place a measure on the 2012 ballot. You can read more about their decision and see a statement from the board right here. Bruce Morris knows that he might be one of…
In the Five O'Clock Shadow of Man: A dispatch from this year's Beard Team USA national championships
Editor's note: Last year's inaugural Beard Team USA National Beard and Moustache Championships took place at Bend's own Les Schwab Amphitheater, and as many of you recall, it sent Bend into a facial hair frenzy for a good month or so. It also gave birth to Whisker Wars, a reality television show about the world…
Our Picks for 11/9-11/17
Collie Buddz wednesday 9 This reggae/hip-hop innovator from Bermuda is often called a “singjay” for his ability to not just spit rhymes, but to do so melodically and awesomely. This full-fledged party of a neo-reggae will be a good chance to see one of the biggest up and comers in the genre in a cozy…
Mustaches and Mandolins from Kalamazoo: Greensky Bluegrass returns to Bend behind its best album to date
As a man who wears a mustache year round, I had to ask Dave Bruzza, the guitarist for Greensky Bluegrass, if he had any special grooming plans for “Movember,” the unofficial moustache solidarity month currently underway on a lip near you. “Nothing special. Every day, it's always mustache time. I am a fan of the…
Lowdown on the Root Down: Galveston neighbors hold community supper ending in standing ovation
“This is like Thanksgiving!” was an apt and echoed declaration at last Saturday's sold-out Root Down Community Supper, a nearly four-hour, family style feast with the air of a holiday celebration rooted in the primal carnivorous lore of a country pig roast. Diners gathered elbow to elbow around three long white tables that filled Primal…
Going Down: Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy go for the gold in Tower Heist
We've seen Occupy movements pop up all over the country in response to capitalist America's actions, but they seem to be getting little to no results. At least so far. But Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy and Matthew Broderick may have unveiled a plan to finally show those greedy, bloodsuckers that the little guy means business.…
Deck the Halls with Marijuana: Harold and Kumar bring you a very stoner Christmas
On Prancer… on Donner… on Harold… on Kumar? With Halloween just over and Thanksgiving looming in the wind – bam – we get our first Christmas flick. Here's my advice: prepare for A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas. I think it's genius for the guys who bring stoner humor, lame sex jokes, bodily functions…
Ooooh! Fancy Ring!
I've spoken at annoying lengths about how Aquaman is the worst superhero in the universe. [Short version? A) Talking to fish serves absolutely no purpose unless I'm able to talk them into my mouth. B) With the small exception of Somali pirates, 98.99% of all crime happens on LAND. And C) Aquaman's Boooooooooooooring!! End of…
Low and Slow: Foul weather can make for fair steelhead angling this month
The Tug is the Drug. This bit of steelheading gospel is plastered on the rear bumper of the Ford Ranger hell-bent on passing every car driving less than 75 mph on Hwy. 97 between Bend and Maupin. Through the canopy's dust-covered back window, just visible in the grey light, is a rod holder filled with…
Any Band > Nickelback: Detroit Lions fans (and the rest of the sensible world) would rather not have this band ruin Thanksgiving
For the past 20-plus years, I've been watching the Detroit Lions play one game each year. And if you're a football fan, so have you. This historically bad – until very recently – squad gets (or is forced) to play on Thanksgiving Day on an annual basis. This is weird and some people don't support…
All the Straight Poop on Bieber's Baby and Herman's Harasses
Monday, Oct. 31 Raising a little Cain: Two women said to have accused Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain of sexual harassment; first he denies it, then says charge was “baseless,” then admits paying off one woman … In more trouble for The Hermanator, a Wisconsin-based corporation might have illegally funneled $40,000 cash to campaign ……
Facebook Finds Friends in Politics
Back in the 1970s, when Steve Jobs was taking acid trips in what would later become known as Silicon Valley and Mark Zuckerberg hadn't even been thought of, the State of Oregon came up with a special approach to taxing businesses like utilities, railroads and communications companies. Unlike other businesses, which can be taxed only…
The No-Ideas Party
Whomever the Republicans run with next fall, Obama will clean their clocks. Why? Because it's already clear that Republicans have no new ideas about the economy, and that lower taxes for big corporations are only good for big corporations.
Tell the Real Wild Horse Story
Open letter to Alex Dawson, Fish Creek Films: Dear Alex, It is with great sadness that I viewed the trailer for your movie, Wild Horse, Wild Ride, which is set to play at our local theatre November 17. While it looks like a lovely film, there is a side of the BLM roundups that is…
Heed the Lessons of the Badlands
Last week's “The Boot” brought to mind some of the work and opportunities offered by wilderness areas for local communities. As the article correctly pointed out, the sky over Oregon Badlands Wilderness, 15 miles or so to the east of Bend, has not come crashing to the ground, but rather has stayed above this 30,000-acre…
The Clever Ones: The truth about ravens and crows
“Tis the Season…” for the Christmas Bird Count (CBC), in addition to giving and getting gifts, of course. The CBC is more than a birding ritual, even though it's been going for over 100 years throughout the U.S. The count period for this 112th Christmas Bird Count will begin on December 14 and you're invited.…
