Four Thousand

Posted inOpinion

Four Thousand

Joseph Oguiza

A macabre milestone was passed on Sunday: The 4,000th American soldier was killed in Iraq. The 4,000th death was recorded when four troops were killed by a roadside bomb that exploded near their vehicle in southern Baghdad.
The American death toll since the invasion of Iraq five years ago this month has now exceeded by 1,002 the number killed in the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001. It does not, of course, include the nearly 30,000 US troops who have been wounded in action, nor the Iraqi civilians who have been killed, a number that probably will be forever unknown but that has been estimated at more than 600,000.
Vice President Dick Cheney (he of the five Vietnam-era draft deferments) was interviewed by ABC News on Monday and asked to comment about the 4,000 American troop deaths. He seemed to think they were not that big a deal, pointing out that those who went to Iraq all volunteered for military service.

Posted inCulture

Life in Murals: Dave Kinker puts his inspiration

Eric Flowers

A window onto the wall. You know David Kinker's work, even if you do not know David Kinker. You may have noticed the murals and sign paintings by this 19-year Central Oregon resident enlivening the likes of the Deschutes Brewery, McMenamins OId St. Francis School, and St. Charles Hospital, among many others. Or you may simply have noticed the way a seemingly unremarkable wall in a public place actually expanded the space, deepening its connection with the viewer.
 
Kinker grew up between Arizona and an area outside of Jackson, Wyoming. He has painted the Grand Canyon, but only on commission.
"Arizona is my history," he says, "but Bend is my home."

Posted inOutside

Bachelor Butte: A fiery past lies under the blanket of snow

Jim Anderson

No matter what the name, or how it is used or abused, Bachelor is still a fine old volcano.Most residents of Bend, Sunriver and Redmond see the lovely, 9,000-plus-foot-high volcano every morning. It stands alone, like an old bachelor, among the crowded Cascade skyline. Millions of people have hiked and been hauled to the top, then hiked or skied down her slopes and – I'm sorry to say – probably never given a thought as to when and how it got there.
 
Bachelor wasn't alone in its violent and hot past. It belongs to a string of volcanic events about a mile and a half long, known geologically as the "Mount Bachelor Volcanic Chain" (MBVC).
If the volcano hadn't become an outstanding skiing area, it would probably still have its early name, "Bachelor Butte" as it was known when it was just a fair-to-middling shield volcano just across the Cascade Lakes Highway from Tumalo Mt.

Posted inOutside

Kiddie Bikes and Clown Feet: An spectator’s perspective on EX-treme winter triathlons

Luke Smith

Off To the RacesI was totally baited. All I had to do was either keep commuting on my bike in the winter (which I did for three and a half years) or train a bit in a spin class (somewhat less likely), or run a bit in the snow. (How hard could that be? I coach high school cross-country and track.) I skate ski a bit and feel race-worthy in the winter.
 
Well, I broke down and bought an $800 Volvo this winter, so Mr. Smith the bike commuter became Mr. Smith, the guy with four pairs of skis in the car who went through headlamp batteries like a (insert simile here).
And Mr. Run All The Time developed a foot ache best described as the "sissy foot" that precluded any running other than down to the mailbox, or over to the coffeehouse, or more frequently, "how fast do I have to run to set a personal record for sliding across the hardwood floor."
In other words, I had no reason not to enter.

Posted inCulture

Let’s Brawl! : “Super Smash Bros. Brawl” finally makes its way to the Wii

Shawn Wallbaum

It’s time to get smashed. Nintendo has heard the cries of gamers and released the highly anticipated "Super Smash Bros. Brawl." In collaboration with Japanese game makers Game Arts and Sora Ltd., Nintendo has come up with yet another reason to buy a Wii (if you can find one). This game features an updated roster, improved fighting system, a bucket load of more content than its Nintendo 64 and GameCube predecessors and a fully-fleshed out single-player mode with online play.

 Gamers and fans of the "Smash Bros." games who are worried about too much change in this game can rest assured; the game you loved on the 64 and GameCube is very much back but with a polished facelift and a lot more layers. The game looks and sounds like its predecessors, and yet it provides a completely different visual and audio experience.

Posted inCulture

Cross-country Music: A small tale of connection

Eric Flowers

Personally, I think the uniforms are definitely working."Once, not long ago," says the text at the start of Eran Kolirin's The Band's Visit, "a small Egyptian police band arrived in Israel. Not many remember this. It was not that important."
 
The dry introduction sets the tone for Kolirin's bittersweet, thoughtful film: Sure, it wasn't that important - unless it happened to you. In subdued, gentle scenes, through careful performances and wonderful casting, against unusual skylines, Kolirin weaves a gently observant story about the things beyond physical borders and boundaries that set people apart or bring them together.
The blue-uniformed band that arrives in Israel is Egypt's Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra, led by Tewfiq (Sasson Gabai), a serious, order-loving man who's feeling the pressure of possible budget cuts that would lead to the dissolution of his orchestra. When no one meets the band at the airport, Tewfiq is certain they can manage on their own and thereby help prove their worth. But juggling Hebrew, Arabic and English while asking for directions proves more than just awkward.

Posted inCulture

Fear the Reaper: Doomsday carries the banner

Eric Flowers

Chick power busting loose in DoomsdayDoomsday is overkill road-kill at its finest.
A bastard offspring of classics and cult favorites like Road Warrior, Dawn of the Dead, The Warriors, 28 Days Later, Escape from New York, and Gladiator, Doomsday is the brainchild of Neil Marshall the director of Dog Soldiers and the Descent.
From the beginning, this film is laugh-riot-gangbusters. No shortage of guns blazing, bayonets thrusting, tanks zooming, blood spurting, guts spewing, chopped-off limbs flying, virus-infected zombies puking, heads rolling and stuff exploding. And that's just the first five minutes. Eventually you get the "why-things-got-so-bad" prelude: A deadly virus (codename "Reaper") infected the populace of Glasgow and a huge quarantine wall was built, sealing off the populace regardless of infection-all are doomed to remain and die.

Posted inMusic

The Buckethead (Freak) Show

Eric Flowers

Wearing his trademark KFC bucket (logo free) and white mask, Buckethead pushed the limits of the electric guitar to the brink Friday night at the Domino room, before the packed all-ages show. Three of four songs into the set he pretty much demolished all notions I had of the technical limits of the instrument and human musicianship.
But I'll confess that at this point I was starting to wonder how much guitar theatrics I could take. Plus I was getting a little weirded out by the whole chicken bucket hat, serial killer mask shtick.
An hour and half and one Buckethead nun chuk exhibition later, I was still standing in the same spot with my jaw hanging somewhere near the ground.

Posted inFood & Drink

Quit Your Wining: extended hours and wine diners on tap

Eric Flowers

Wine dinners seem to be gaining momentum as we head into spring with CHOW, Bistro Corlise, Jen’s Garden and Jackalope planning monthly regional or varietals themed meals with an expert on hand to describe the wines and pairings. Jackalope continues to offer cooking classes, which have been wildly popular over the last two months. Both the wine dinners and the classes sell out quickly.
Spring is also bringing with it extended hours for many local spots. Townshend’s Tea has extended their weekday hours until 11pm for a little late-night tea sipping. Zydeco is now open Monday nights, and Fireside Red has started serving lunches daily and Sunday brunch.

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