Bark at the MoonHere we go with another Japanese remake to accompany The Ring, The Grudge, Dark Water, and Pulse. The original versions have always achieved a creepy ghost story atmosphere, perhaps due to the fact that the Japanese have been telling these "possession" stories for centuries. Now, the tales have become a loose-cannon commodity, as spin-offs run rampant in Japan as well as in the U.S. The only thing the American versions have in common is their ability to botch a potentially cool idea. One Missed Call (a remake of the 2003 Japanese flick Chakushin Ari) is no exception. Although this idea is pretty damn far fetched, even by Japanese horror standards-ghosts in a cell phone? Yeah right, sure.
Hanging on the Line: One Missed Call is laughably bad
Posted inNews
A Historic Lay Off: City of Bend cries poor, lays off historic preservation watchdog
Pat Kliewer had been called the historic preservation "sheriff" for her dogged efforts to protect Deschutes County's historic and cultural resources. And she's been called other things too - not all of them flattering - for her unwavering enforcement of the county's sometimes strict historic codes.
But come March she's being called something else - unemployed.
Posted inNews
New Year, New Problems: City Council tackles budget and ethics laws
In a unanimous vote last week, the City Council authorized adjustments that cut back on funding for fire and police service, as well as road maintenance, while backfilling a shortfall in planning revenues that will temporarily stave off additional layoffs.
The council has previously discussed how the slumping housing market is the reason behind a downturn in revenue from the city's engineering, planning, and building departments. These revenue shortfalls were also cited as the reason for the city dismissing 10 employees by March of this year.
Posted inOpinion
The Perverted Initiative Process
Oregonians have a long and proud tradition of being ahead of the curve when it comes to social and political reforms. One of the most important of those reforms was the creation of the initiative process back in 1902. The idea was that if the legislature was too stupid, cowardly or corrupt to pass laws that the people wanted, the people could do it themselves through the ballot box.
It was a good idea at the time, and it was quickly copied by more than 20 other states. But over the past century - and especially in the last 20 years or so - the initiative process has been perverted into something its progressive creators would hardly recognize.
Posted inOpinion
Basic Fairness, Basic Rights. It’s About Time
Last March, I took my 3-year-old daughter to Salem to lobby for two laws that would increase the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the state of Oregon. Both laws - an anti discrimination law and a domestic partnership law passed during the 2007 legislative session. As the director of Human Dignity Coalition, I joined my family, friends and others in the Central Oregon progressive community, celebrating this victory in the civil rights movement for sexual and gender minority rights. Legislative successes like these lead me to be optimistic that my daughter will grow up in a society free from hatred, oppression and discrimination. But, we are not there yet and this last week proved it.
Posted inOpinion
Scanned into History
Much of Bend's rich history centers on its early sawmill days. Fortunately the Brooks-Scanlon company kept meticulously detailed records about its inner workings - much of which is currently on loan at the Deschutes Historical Society.
While it's here, historical society volunteers have been scanning the entire archive to creative a massive digital exhibit. The society got a big boost last week with $2,500 state grant for additional computers, scanning equipment and digital storage capacity. Museum director Kelly Cannon-Miller said she expects it will take about two years to scan the entire collection. In time, the historical society hopes to have the entire archive available online for the public.
"For us, this is priceless," said Cannon-Miller.
Posted inOpinion
My Top 10 Predictions for 2008
10. I will have a wildly successful year, dadgummit!
9.
Posted inOpinion
Get Big Business Out of Health Care
The United States "health care" system is a national disgrace. Two changes in the current "Privatized For Profit" mess would guarantee a fair and just system of health care for everyone from womb to tomb.
First…insurance companies must be totally excluded from the health care system. Insurance companies must not be allowed to insure people capitalizing on health problems to reap enormous profits. Insurance companies must be restricted exclusively to insuring property, not people.
Posted inNews
Video & photos: Back Door Slam & Smokin’ Trainwreck
Back Door Slam’s Davy Knowles, cold workin’ it.Much like Costco and Burger King, the Blender Shakycam Alliance always brings you more of what you want — bonus photos and video clips of your favorite hometown and worldwide artists rockin’ and/or rollin’ local venues. Use them to torture yourself for missing the show, or to reinforce the sweet memories if you did make it in person. Either way, you win. Everyone knows sweet memories and torture are equally awesome.
Read on for the goods. This week we bring you video and photos of Back Door Slam — plus photos of Smokin’ Trainwreck — from their January 7 performances at the Domino Room.
P.S. Leave a comment at the bottom if you think this stuff sucks, rules, or something in between. (Or if you just have a proclamation, pronouncement or poem you need to get off your chest.)
Posted inNews
Property Rights and Property Wrongs
As Oregon's "Big Look" task force resumes its job of re-evaluating the state's land use regulations, it might want to take a close look at a couple of new studies that seem to shoot holes in the accepted (well, accepted among conservatives) view that the state's land use regulations have depressed property values and made property owners into paupers.