My first magazine editorial position was with one that received quite a few letters to the editor. And when it came to those letters, the head of editorial department was a stickler.
Sucker Punch: Hiding behind anonymity
Posted inOutside
aร·loร·ha [รยค-lร ๏ฟฝ'hรยค'] – noun, interjection 1. Hello 2. Farewell
Aloha from Hawai'i! We all know “aloha” as the traditional Hawaiian greeting, but there's much more than a simple “hi” packed into the literal meaning of the word. It comes from the root words “alo” meaning “sharing” and “in the present,” and “oha” meaning “joy” and “ha” meaning “life energy.” Aloha, therefore means: “joyfully sharing life.”
The Aluminum Man Biathlon Series in Maui is exactly that.
Posted inNews
Couch Surfing: A devotee of a new kind of retail therapy
My daughter and I found the perfect sofa on the way to school today. It was just the size and color I was looking to add to the living room. Unfortunately, someone had dumped it upside down in the mud of my neighbor's front yard. Apparently it took too much energy to have a garage sale or haul it to the Salvation Army, or even to leave it on the curb with a “FREE” sign. Apparently this person was also unaware of the unwritten code in the nearby student condos: If it is still relatively clean and usable, place it beside a Dumpster. Then anyone can take it.
Posted inNews
“Is There an Ex-Governor in the House?”
John Kitzhaber, the once and maybe future governor of Oregon, got a chance to show his medical skills as well as his debating talent at a candidates’ forum on the University of Oregon campus Wednesday night.
According to the account of Kari Chisholm on the Blue Oregon blog, Kitzhaber was in the midst of a discussion with Bill Bradbury, his rival for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, when somebody in the audience called out: “Is there a doctor in the house?” (Honest, that’s what he said.
Posted inFood & Drink
New Chow in Town: Burritos, Indian comfort food and an expanded menu at Jackson's Corner
It might be a sign that the economy is turning around when new restaurants start popping up. Proving that Bend can never have enough Mexican food options, earlier this month, Super Burrito cut the ribbon on its third restaurant, located on Highway 20 in the former home of A&W on Auto Row. Owner Patty Moreno, who worked at her father's downtown shop for years, jumped on the opportunity to expand the family business by opening an eastside location with her husband, Gama. The Morenos will serve up the same delicious breakfast burritos, tacos, supreme burritos and Mexican specialties as the downtown and Redmond locations, as well as margaritas and other traditional libations. The new joint will also feature a drive-thru window for when you need your carne asada on the quick. Open 8am-8pm. 2100 Highway 20.
Posted inOutside
The Great Scapegoat: Why some sink spiders end up in the closet
What a great way to start the day! It was about 6:30 a.m., I wandered out to the living room, stuffed a couple of pieces of wood on the coals in the wood stove, then rolled back the curtains to see (a) what the morning temperature is – as if it made any difference – and (b) who was on the bird-feeders.
Juncos, houses sparrows, house finches, quail scratching around under the big feeder, a Spotted Towhee trying to stay hidden, and the usual six or seven eye-catching American Goldfinches on the thistle feeder.
Posted inCulture
Send in the Clowns: Date Night never gets beyond formula gags
It's soul crushing to see great comedians on cruise control. Can we reconcile Steve Martin in The Jerk with Steve Martin in Cheaper By The Dozen? Or Richard Pryor's transition from Stir Crazy to Another You. Or Gene Wilder doing the same? How about the Eddie Murphy of Beverly Hills Cop becoming the Eddie Murphy of The Adventures of Pluto Nash?
So it seems with Tina Fey in Date Night. The best ever “Weekend Update” anchor on Saturday Night Live, Fey rose to scripting excellence with Mean Girls before arriving at the genius that is 30 Rock. Yet the disappointing Date Night finds Tina Fey on autopilot. She leaves the writing to Josh Klausner of Shrek the Third (and-only-Shrek the Third) fame and the directing to the sub-mediocre Shawn Levy (Cheaper By The Dozen again).
Posted inCulture
Estimated Prophet: A Prophet examines a criminal's metaphysical rise
A Prophet is a French prison/mob film that sucks you in from the first scene. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Picture, I guarantee this movie will inspire you to recommend it to others a) because it's that good and b) because… it's just that good.
Prophet is the story of the transformation of an impoverished young Frenchman of Arab descent, Malik El Djebena (Tahar Rahim), and his Machiavellian rise to power within the prison system. Learning the ropes as he goes, Malik is a quick study. From the Muslim gangs to the Corsican mob led by César Luciani (Niels Arestrup), he constantly absorbs knowledge.
Posted inCulture
Swinging for the Fences: Latest MLB dreams big but doesn't deliver
My first mistake was deciding to play as a catcher. The “My Player” feature, which joins Major League Baseball 2K10 in addition to its basic “play ball” mode, allows me to develop my own character from a generic nobody into a superstar. I assumed that catcher would be a good position to witness various hitters' styles and learn the idiosyncrasies that can tip off whether a pitcher is winding up for a fastball or a curve.
But the life of a “My Player” catcher isn't that insightful. The game only allowed me to play my turns at bat and my chances to run up and grab bunts. Not only did I not get to watch the entire game unfold, but I had very few opportunities to be an active part of the outfield. Trying to move from the bush leagues up to the big leagues was obviously going to be a long, slow stretch if I stayed behind home plate.
Posted inCulture
Torn Between Three Lovers
Oh, is that how it's gonna be, television? You're gonna make me choose? After years of dedicated viewership, you're going to treat me like I'm Tiger Woods and force me to settle on a single mistress/skank? Well, EFF YOU, my friend. I didn't make the ludicrous decision to program THREE AMAZING SHOWS to air at the same time this week. That would be like eating three of my favorite meals in the world – a Canadian bacon Totino's pizza, a hamdogger (three hot dogs crammed inside a hamburger), and a quart of vodka – in one sitting. It's ridiculous. And now I'm starving. And thirsty.