The Real Immorality

Posted inOpinion

The Real Immorality

Eric Flowers

The latest on Marylin Shannon, former Republican state senator, is so repugnant and irresponsible that it's worth repeating. Here's what she said: "Two laws created in Salem have established a whole new era in re-verse discrimination, with a new and alien set of moral values that have now been foisted on the people of Oregon. … We're starting a new effort to gather signatures to repeal these two laws." That was followed by a statement from State Sen. Gary George to Basic Rights Oregon: "My ad-vice to the gay community is SHUT UP, just don't talk about it. If you walk around talking about what you do in the bedroom, you should be on the pervert channel."
Wow! My response to Shannon is that the entire state of Oregon knows that's a plea of desperation. I would ask Shannon if strip-ping someone of their basic human rights is part of her "set of moral values." Isn't that better defined as "immoral"? Measure 36 had nothing to do with domestic partnerships or anti-discrimination; it's a ruse. As for Sen. George, his comment sounds like what you might hear on an elemen-tary school playground - i.e., juvenile.

Posted inOpinion

Bachelor’s Not Worth the Trip

Eric Flowers

Though there are many things I don't like about Mt. Bachelor's spring schedule, there is one that bothers me the most. Having Sunrise and Summit as the only lifts for the last three weekends is unacceptable.
This is my sixth year to buy a season pass and I love spring skiing. However, I can't see driving over from Corvallis to ski those two lifts, and if I do, I will be upset that the skiing is so limited.
I am an advanced 49-year-old skier and have little interest in Sunrise lift. Summit is unpredictable, and even when it is good the window of time is limited. We need Pine Marten or at least Skyliner to make the day interesting and worth the trouble. In past spring seasons, we get most of our runs on Pine Marten groomers waiting for the top to soften up.
Why can't Skyliner be the weather back-up? (Who skis Rainbow?)

Posted inNews

Controversy in the Cascades: 4 Peaks Presents, LLC meet opposition

Mike Bookey

Four Peaks Music Festival has already announced its lineup and plans for a bigger and better get-together with overnight camping and two days filled with live music and revelry on private land outside Bend. Early birds can even grab advance tickets for the event on the festival website. The only thing, it seems, missing is a permit from Deschutes County that will allow the event to go forward.
Event organizers had hoped to clear that last hurdle during a hearing Monday before the three-member Deschutes County Commission. The county's own staff was recommending approval of the festival's permit. However, faced with a group of vocal opponents that object to the potential for traffic jams and noisy crowds, the commission decided to hold off at least another week before deciding whether to green light the fledgling festival set for July 25-26.

Posted inCulture

Politics is a Joke: Creating caricatures on the Capitol Steps

Eric Flowers

Gonna get all wacky on ya. The earliest traces of satire can be found on ancient Egyptian papyrus, poking fun at various trades in society. The roots of western political satire date to the works of Aristophanes in ancient Greece. A more modern foundation for satirical treatment of politicians can be traced to Swift's "Gulliver's Travels".
 
And there is no shortage of political satire in the United States, (who doesn't, these days, recognize Jon Stewart's face) Television personalities aren't the only ones mining this rich vein of material, thespians are getting into the act as well. Enter the Capitol Steps, a unique group that incorporates drama, music, and comedy in their send up of current American political figures and issues. The D.C.-based troupe has been creating active caricatures for the American public since 1981. The goal is simple, says troupe member Mark Eaton.
 

Posted inOutside

Consider Fleas, Please: Things that bite in the night II

Jim Anderson

Dog flea, Ctenocephalides canis, and cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. They can cause more problems than the entire spider combined. Last week we had a discussion regarding how brown recluse and spiders are made scapegoats for misdiagnosed human ailments. This is a timely topic because of the recent misinformation published in newspapers and an extreme email circulating that purports to show the thumb of a man that was allegedly bitten by a brown recluse.
 
What the medical community and pet-owners have apparently overlooked as the culprit, and should be looking at, is the tiny flea – that enigmatic little beast that has been living with and on Man ever since we walked out of our caves into the sunlight.

Posted inOutside

Sliding and Gliding : Still plenty of winter sports to be had

Eric Flowers

Paragliding off Bachelor
Chip Miller spreading his wingsSeveral Paragliding gurus call Bend home. Last Thursday, Steve Rotti, Chip Miller, John Iraggi, Tim Reynolds, Wade Holmes, and Mike Teixeira took advantage of the stunning spring day to spread their wings and soar. The group took off from the summit of Mt. Bachelor and flew to the base of Skyliner lift. According to Rotti, "Thursday was great for flying because the winds aloft were light and the mountain wasn't cloud-covered (referred to as "cloaked" in the local paragliding vernacular). Spring is typically a good time for flying at Bachelor. We look for thermals (columns of warm air) rising up from the ground to provide lift, which can keep us airborne for hours. On exceptionally good days paraglider pilots have flown from Bachelor to Bend and beyond." Mt. Bachelor is just one of the many hills, or buttes, in the area that provide a good ride. Imagine flying like a bird, and it is easy to see the attraction drawing these pilots to paragliding.

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