Finally proving that they can do the nation's business without bipartisanship or any semblance of full disclosure - having learned well from the Bush Admin and GOP - Democrats passed the $787 billion stimulus bill with a House vote of 246-183, and a Senate vote of 60-38 (with only three Republican Senators saying "Yeah, sure…"). Republicans, obviously exhausted from blowing our nation's future over the past eight years, will soon be replaced by a third-party known as "2012 Mayans and Other Loonies Enshrined Symbiotically" (acronym: MOLES). Despite a firestorm of criticism, President Obama can now claim victory, and is only eclipsed by Abraham Lincoln as the greatest president ever: Seriously, name one president who has dealt with more bullshit than Obama in his first few weeks. "Shovel-ready" projects will promptly receive funding, including $15 million to lowly Bend to widen U.S. 97. Unemployed carpenters should start digging ditches to refill, service workers should learn to gut and cook panhandlers (young bums can be rather sinewy, and older should be served well-done, to avoid ring-worm and to fully baste the Thunderbird). Meanwhile, monkey butlers approved in the stimulus bill will be arriving at Broken Top in the next few weeks.
Stimulate This!The people’s bailout, trials of the Taliban, and Bristol Palin
Impufficient: Or, Hijacked by Harvard in Central Oregon
During my lifetime, there have been more than a few occasions where I've felt the impulse to act to fix something. Typically, my wife recognizes this devious, uniquely intense, gleam in my eye as she observes me moving about rather deliberately, locating the tools I'll require to address the task at hand. (She usually rolls her eyes and makes a barely audible, primal grunting sound indicating, oh boy… Here we go again). My family has learned over the years that when I act on these impulses, the consequences of my efforts are rarely sufficient to produce the desired results (especially if it involves electricity or plumbing). My family characterizes these episodes in my life as impufficient. Let me explain.
Keeping the Light On: As unemployment soars so does demand for energy assistance
Krieg Brooks doesn't look like he's hit bottom. A muscular Iraq vet with a firm handshake and a Red Wings cap cinched down over a full head of hair, he appears younger than his 47 years. But keeping up appearances is part of the game when you're out of work and struggling just to keep the lights on.
A jack-of-all-trades who has worked in everything from construction to gourmet kitchens, Brooks got laid off from his last full-time job as a cook at Cascade Lakes Lodge in December. He's currently working two nights a week at a small resort café. But he's not bringing in nearly enough to make ends meet - $300 last month by his own account - just enough to make him ineligible for unemployment.
Social service providers say Brooks is representative of the kind of people they are increasingly finding on their doorsteps and in their lobbies - hardworking folks who have never, or rarely, been in the position of asking for assistance in their lives.
Ben Cannon’s Brutal Beer Tax Increase
Don’t mess with successTimes are tough in Oregon, and all of us - including beer lovers - have to swallow hard and bear our share of the pain. But a proposal to raise the state tax on a barrel of beer by almost 1,700% is asking beer drinkers and the state's craft brewing industry to swallow way too much.
Oregon's state tax on beer currently is a mere $2.60 a barrel, one of the lowest in the country. Raising it by a moderate amount - even to about $8 a barrel, the national mean - would be completely justifiable in this fiscal emergency.
Connecting Some Dots on the Metolius
Carla Axtman of the Blue Oregon blog takes a look at the lobbying going on in favor of the proposed Metolius destination resorts and raises some intriguing questions. For instance: Why is Rep. Gene Whisnant, whose southern Deschutes County district is nowhere near the Metolius, getting contributions from resort developers?
Let’s Do Lunch: Great lunchtime deals let you loosen the belt
All you can possibly, ever eat at Taj Palace.In lean times, we all find ourselves cutting corners. Dining
out-particularly for lunch-is usually among the first casualties of a
slashed budget. It's true, it's easy enough to save and grab a slice or
a taco at midday or (gasp!) pack a sandwich from home. But sometimes
there's business to take care of that's best done over food, or maybe
you just want to sit down for a civilized meal at midday. Well, don't
sweat the bill. Bend has some excellent options in a variety of flavors
for inexpensive lunch, and it's a great way to get your eat-out fix for
a fraction of the dinner price. The maximum cost for two at the
restaurants below was $16 (without drinks). So treat that potential
client, indulge in a hot meal that doesn't come out of a can. As the
saying goes, there's no free lunch. But it's pretty impressive what you
can get in this town if you're willing to shell out a few bucks.
Let’s Do Lunch: Great lunchtime deals let you loosen the belt
All you can possibly, ever eat at Taj Palace.In lean times, we all find ourselves cutting corners. Dining
out-particularly for lunch-is usually among the first casualties of a
slashed budget. It’s true, it’s easy enough to save and grab a slice or
a taco at midday or (gasp!) pack a sandwich from home. But sometimes
there’s business to take care of that’s best done over food, or maybe
you just want to sit down for a civilized meal at midday. Well, don’t
sweat the bill. Bend has some excellent options in a variety of flavors
for inexpensive lunch, and it’s a great way to get your eat-out fix for
a fraction of the dinner price. The maximum cost for two at the
restaurants below was $16 (without drinks). So treat that potential
client, indulge in a hot meal that doesn’t come out of a can. As the
saying goes, there’s no free lunch. But it’s pretty impressive what you
can get in this town if you’re willing to shell out a few bucks.
Report from the Eye of the Hurricane
Forbes magazine columnist Joel Kotkin took a peek this week at the outlook for the Oregon economy in general and Bend's in particular, and what he saw ain't pretty.
WinterFest Video – Dirty Dozen
There were memorable moments by the handful at last weekend’s WinterFest and one of those was Dirty Dozen Brass Band kicking out a steaming version of Stevie Wonder’s "Superstition" as snowboarders cut through the crisp winter night air behind the crowd.
Through the Looking Glass With John and Bill
In his Sunday column, Bulletin Editor John Costa talks to three of Bend's biggest movers and shakers to find out why the Bend real estate market went belly-up and how to keep it from happening again. They offer a number of ideas. Some of them make sense; one is just crazy.