Rod Blagojevich, the beleaguered Governor of Illinois, must be incredibly naive to fail to recognize that warrantless wiretapping and other forms of police state surveillance are accepted methods of control in the Reign of Bush. Does Blagojevich think he is immune from such tactics just because he is an elected official? Silly him.
Lost in the Blago-sphere
Posted inOpinion
Death and Taxes
I believe that most of us assumed that the stimulus checks we received earlier this year were considered to be "tax free." But I was surprised when I read through my new Oregon Tax booklet that we must deduct the stimulus amounts from our federal tax liability before figuring out our Oregon taxes.
Posted inOpinion
Keep It Real
Raised in the Evangelical Christian church and community I have no ill will toward the Christian Right. People can believe and practice as they wish.
Posted inOpinion
See The Bigger Picture
In response to Mr. Funke:
There is a reason Obama picked this pastor to perform the invocation, but to understand why you'd have to step out of your personal feelings to See the Bigger Picture.
Posted inOpinion
Miller Vs. Old Man Winter
Last week H. Bruce Miller showed his ignorance of Pacific Northwest road conditions.
Posted inNews
Oregon Band Will March to a California Beat
An unusual marching band from Oregon will be part of Barack Obama's inaugural parade, but there's going to be something a little misleading about its musical repertoire.
Posted inOutside
A Sighting at 12 O’Clock: Kid’s Bend CBC 2008
The Birdies"Hey, Jim, there's a flock of birds over there…"
"Where?" I asked.
"Over there!" Ellie shouted, "I can see them plain as day!"
That was the way the first Bend Kid"s Christmas Bird Count (CBC) started out Saturday morning, December 20th - enthusiastic confusion. I met Kim Long of Bend with her three children, two Cub Scouts and one scout mom to see if it was going to be possible to keep 8 to 11 year olds on track to observe, know, remember and list every bird they spotted that one day. That"s the way the CBC works. As it worked out, Ellie Long kept the tally - and did an excellent job!
Posted inOutside
Flee to Ski?: MBSEF’s Nordic program in upheaval
Happier days in the MBSEF Nordic camp.BANG! That wasn't the sound of avalanche blasting at Mt Bachelor. That was the sound of the MBSEF Nordic program imploding like a bad New Year's firecracker over the holidays. Unfortunately, the proverbial Swix hit the fan for the Bend Nordic skiing community.
To some degree, the drama began on December 6, when MBSEF Nordic coach Brenna Knowles presented a written statement to MBSEF Executive Director Chuck Kenlan regarding her working relationship with her supervisor, MBSEF Nordic Program Director Ben Husaby.
According to Knowles, "Mr. Kenlan and I met in the fall of 2007 to discuss ongoing issues with Mr. Husaby. Over the course of the year, I was not satisfied with the way that Mr. Kenlan handled my concerns. So, when Mr. Kenlan called me into his office in early December and encouraged me to list all of my issues with Mr. Husaby, I was glad that he was taking another look at my work environment. Unfortunately, a few days later, Ben and I had a disagreement. That night, I hastily drafted a letter containing seven years' worth of complaints and presented it to Mr. Kenlan the next day."
Posted inFood & Drink
Welcome to the Grindhouse
Somehow Nelly's "Hot in Herre" appeals to a generation that I'm quite positive he did not intend to appeal to. I'm contemplating saying, "No shirt, no service," but I'm still caught off guard that a doughy 58-year-old man has decided to dance half-naked at the service bar.