It was SIMply a matter of Time: The Sims franchise drops on the Wii

Posted inCulture

It was SIMply a matter of Time: The Sims franchise drops on the Wii

Shawn Wallbaum

In a better world, we’re all cartoonsThis was going to happen; it was just a matter of when. Electronic Arts has taken one of their premier franchises and combined it with the hottest game system around. The first installment of the Sims franchise for the Wii has arrived under the name My Sims. This game is much more cartoon-like, giving it a bright atmosphere and different approach.
If you're looking for the standard Sims game, you're in for a surprise. This version of the game is a lot simpler and easier to play. And, thanks to the Wii controller, there are plenty of new features, most notably building. The one thing that is really annoying is load times. Every time you go into a house or access the design interface, it seems like it takes forever.

Posted inCulture

Slashed to Pieces: Prom Night probes new depths of lame

Eric Flowers

Quick, act like a cat. My first reaction leaving the theatre after this movie, besides ramming my head into the wall, was to consult my thesaurus for new ways to say horrible, terrible and awful (words I've been using a lot lately to describe movies). Wretched and abominable seem to work.
 
The only thing faithfully reproduced in this remake is the prom night setting. The predecessor-flick was pretty bad to begin with, but the remake makes it look like Citizen Kane. In the original, four students were stalked and victimized by a knife-wielding ski-mask wearing psycho because they were responsible for the accidental death of a child. This time around a non-masked stalker escapes from a mental institution to wreak havoc on all in his path because he has an unhealthy infatuation with Donna (Brittany Snow), an ex-student of his before he was put away.

Posted inCulture

Corn Fed: A look at America’s most planted, processed and subsidized crop

Eric Flowers

Stuffing their cornholes.You might think twice about devouring another McDonald's Quarter Pounder after watching Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis' eye-opening documentary, King Corn. The film won Best Documentary at the 2007 Bend Film festival and will screen again on April 22 at the Tower Theatre as part of the Indie Reels series. Co-producer Curt Ellis will be on hand for discussion.
 
Best friends Ian and Curt moved from Boston to Greene, Iowa after college to find out where their food really comes from. The film follows them as they plant an acre of corn in the heartland and attempt to navigate modern agribusiness. Remarkably, both Ian and Curt's great-grandfathers were from Greene, and the two also trace their family histories throughout the story. They assimilate into the community and learn how to drive tractors and drink Budweiser. On the way, we-along with the filmmakers-learn everything from what a grain elevator is, to the fact that corn is present in about 60% of the American diet.

Posted inFood & Drink

Quick Bites: On To The Big City

Eric Flowers

It’s a fact of life in Central Oregon that many of your friends will move away to the big city (i.e. Portland) at some point to chase things like romance, nightlife and living wages. Next month one of Quick Bite’s best “friends” is making the move to the big city. Deschutes Brewery launches its new Portland location May 2. The brewery is hosting a media event April 25, allowing a sneak peek at the new digs. The brewery is located in swanky Pearl District and will offer a similar selection of craft brews and pub food that has made Deschutes famous. Unlike other friends who don’t write or call, Deschutes will stay connected to Central Oregon. In fact it’s not really leaving at all, just branching out. Take care of her Portland. She’s one of our best friends.

Posted inFood & Drink

Quick Bites: On To The Big City

Eric Flowers

It's a fact of life in Central Oregon that many of your friends will move away to the big city (i.e. Portland) at some point to chase things like romance, nightlife and living wages. Next month one of Quick Bite's best "friends" is making the move to the big city. Deschutes Brewery launches its new Portland location May 2. The brewery is hosting a media event April 25, allowing a sneak peek at the new digs. The brewery is located in swanky Pearl District and will offer a similar selection of craft brews and pub food that has made Deschutes famous. Unlike other friends who don't write or call, Deschutes will stay connected to Central Oregon. In fact it's not really leaving at all, just branching out. Take care of her Portland. She's one of our best friends.

Posted inFood & Drink

Shaken and Up: Bendistillery Martini Bar and Tasting Room (AKA: The Martini Bar)

Eric Flowers

As I sit at my little round table at the Martini Bar waiting for the rest of my party, my cell phone rings.
My friends are at the Old Mill Martini Bar. “Aren’t we eating dinner?” they ask.
“Do they even serve food at the Downtown Martini Bar?”
Like many other diners, my friends didn’t know that behind Bendistillery’s velvet curtain sits a tiny kitchen from which 16 different dishes appear. This is a common misperception about downtown’s spot for locally brewed spirits and custom crafted adult beverages.

Posted inFood & Drink

Shaken and Up: Bendistillery Martini Bar and Tasting Room (AKA: The Martini Bar)

Eric Flowers

As I sit at my little round table at the Martini Bar waiting for the rest of my party, my cell phone rings.
My friends are at the Old Mill Martini Bar. "Aren't we eating dinner?" they ask.
"Do they even serve food at the Downtown Martini Bar?"
Like many other diners, my friends didn't know that behind Bendistillery's velvet curtain sits a tiny kitchen from which 16 different dishes appear. This is a common misperception about downtown's spot for locally brewed spirits and custom crafted adult beverages.

Posted inMusic

American Music Club – The Golden Age

Eric Flowers

The critically acclaimed Bay Area band has been making music since the mid-80s. The songs come quietly and deliberately from leader Mark Eitzel as he prods through curious subject matter. Past releases include song titles like: "What the Pillar of Salt Held Up", "How Many Six Packs Does It Take to Screw in a Light", "The Amyl Nitrate Dream of Pat Robertson" and my favorite, "In My Role as the Most Hated Singer in the Local Underground Scene". On The Golden Age, AMC drops in some very catchy almost-pop songs like "Decibels and Little Pills".

Posted inMusic

Northwest String Summit

Mike Bookey

Get YonderEven after Sunday's show at the Midtown Music Hall, we know you haven't had enough of Colorado's Yonder Mountain String Band. And how in tarnation do we know that, you ask? Well, see, it's just in the nature of a band that's so darn good it warrants its very own three-day, outdoor music festival in the glorious Willamette Valley.

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