Central Oregon’s first-term legislators emerged on the opposite end of the spectrum on environmental issues, according to the legislative scorecard released this week by the environmental policy watchdog group Oregon League of Conservation Voters (OLCV). The non-profit has been tracking the votes of individual legislators on environmental policy issues for more than three decades and compiling the information into post-session scorecards for voters.
Telfer Gets a Failing Grade From OLCV
wRite: the ritual
Beneath the moon
Beside an ancient lake
Enter again the sweet forest
Enter the hot dream
Come with us
Everything is broken up and dances.
AWAKE
– Jim Morrison
I've taught writing for seventeen years.
Dr. K's Radical Prescription for Health Care
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John Kitzhaber, The Man Who Would Be Governor Again, had some right-on-the-money things to say about health care reform last week at the Columbia Forum in Astoria. The gist of his message: We need to create a new and better system, not just prop up the failed old one.
Cats Out of Control: Time for a Sensible Policy
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The weather might not show it, but the birds know it: Autumn is here, and they’re heading south along the Pacific Flyway, the main migratory route along the West Coast.
The Pacific Flyway runs right over Central Oregon, and the autumn and spring migrations bring entertaining and colorful tourists to my bird feeders – white-crowned sparrows, red-eyed towhees, evening grosbeaks, rufous hummingbirds and more.
Video from Deer Tick at McMenamins last night
If you happened to be wondering how many people will willingly cram themselves into a relatively small room to see a free show by one of the most buzzed-about bands in all of indie rock, last night’s Deer Tick show at McMenamins gave you the answer—a hell of a lot.
By the time the Rhode Island Americana-influenced rock band hit the stage at about 7:15pm, the Father Luke’s Room at McMenamins Old St.
A Tarnished Treasure?
It’s one of life’s great truisms. Something very unique is cherished by a few, becomes a cult classic, and then, as more people find out about it, becomes more of a classic trashed.
Letter of the Week: What Do We Have To Lose On Health Care?
This week's letter comes from Elsan Zimmerly who makes a compelling case for rethinking health care, a topic that's gotten a lot of attention and not enough intelligent discussion recently. Thanks for your well written and researched letter Elsan. You can pick up your winner's prize, a bag of Strictly Organic coffee, at our office, 704 NW Georgia, anytime this week.
What do Congressional opponents of a public health care option have in common? My guess is they didn't go to kindergarten – they never learned to share. They have something they value and covet but won't share. Sounds selfish. Send them all back to kindergarten.
Okay, health care is a serious subject. What is stunning in this whole debate is that not only Congress enjoys government-subsidized health care, many of the already insured are government employees who also have the same plan as Congress. Yes, the federal government is the largest employer in the US. The largest employer by far. Total the remaining top ten employers and the feds are still #1.
Wilkommen to Cabaret!: Cat Call Productions brings Berlin to the Tower
“We have no hassles in here. Here, life is beautiful!” intones the Emcee of the Kit Kat Club in Cat Call Productions' inaugural showing of Cabaret.
Do Something Oxymoronic: Have some serious fun at a work party
What are you doing this weekend? If you've got random plans to do nothing, I've got an incredibly convincing argument for you to consider a Work Party. Sure, you could enjoy a Staycation eating jumbo shrimp, drinking dry martinis and watching reality TV. I am hopelessly optimistic that you will find a Work Party to be an oddly appropriate way to spend your time. Work Parties are serious fun. Not to mention that they're wonderful opportunities to give back to the trails you love.
Ladybird, Ladybird, fly away home… The truth on Lady Beetles
Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home
Your house is on fire and your children are gone
All except one, and that's Little Anne
For she has crept under the warming pan.
In Medieval England, farmers would set fire to old hop vines after the harvest in order to clear the fields for the next planting.

