Off Piste

Bashing TimeIn the not too distant future snow will fall in the mountains which will soon be covered with several feet of it. And when the snow gets to a certain depth, the ski lifts will begin operating at Oregon ski areas.

One of the more fascinating bad consumer product sagas of recent memory has been that of sports water bottles. That’s as in bottles that don’t contaminate the water that’s put into them.

55 or NothingWhat with school is back in session you’d think drivers would be slowing down. That’s simply not the case.

      The band had barely mastered three chords and the lead singer brought new meaning to singing flat. Yet when all was said and done and their set was finished,they got a standing ovation. In fact every act, good, bad or indifferent, at a recent music festival got a standing O.    In one case, […]

For one reason or another, my name and e-mail address are on about 250 public relations firm’s e-mail lists. So daily I get a batch of e-mails extolling some new book, travel opportunity, gear, and more recently more hype about “green” products and services.

Easily the most enjoyable part of blogging (I’m new at this, or is that stating the obvious?) has been some of the responses I’ve received. There have been the truly creative and the not so creative, and, unfortunately, the way predictable.

    Balloon tires, wide comfortable saddles, cool paint jobs-what’s not to like about contemporary cruiser bikes that have become popular get-around-Bend vehicles during the warm months. Given the fact that most of our fair city is relatively flat, it’s ideally suited for cruising.

It’s one of life’s great truisms. Something very unique is cherished by a few, becomes a cult classic, and then, as more people find out about it, becomes more of a classic trashed.

    I’m giving up coffee. Not because of some medical reason but for the simple reason that I can’t find a coffee shop that I like to drink my morning cup.

    Every so often a Bend citizen comes up with an idea that he or she feels will benefit the community and sets about their task quietly and effectively. They work the system the right way not making demands or braying in the press but with civility, working in an organized fashion making sure that the most minor details are taken care of properly.