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March 09, 2010
19:55
Yo! Democrats …
» ‎ Homeless on the High Desert

Tags: Amierka [edit]

Nitwits. Dipsticks. Back in the sixties and early seventies when her parents were hustling she and her siblings across the border into The Yukon for health care, Sarah Palin WAS A CHILD! Had no control over those decisions. I hate stickin’ up for bimbos as much as I hate pointing out the obvious. [...]

19:39
Spoolweave tactical keeper
» ‎ knives and lanyards

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Type 1 cord weaved around toxic green 550 cord that has a gitd tracer in it. Pull pin black snap-lock and a 35mm clip on the other end.

19:22
Yo! Republicans …
» ‎ Homeless on the High Desert

Tags: Amierka [edit]

You will lose the election if you don’t remind people of the Bush years. Remind people of the Bush years, you’ll win the election. Really. You will.

19:21
Peanut butter chips
» ‎ to knit in peace

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For those who don't love chocolate, and I realize there are probably very few of you, isn't it nice that there are so many other options for baking chips?

I somehow produced a daughter who isn't a fan of chocolate so tonight we made Peanut butter chip cookies. Yummy.

19:18
Color me embarrassed
» ‎ Run Bitches Run

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What's worse than farting audibly in pilates class? Farting audibly when you're getting a private pilates session. There's just no chance of pretending it was the guy next to you.

17:52
Bowerbirds “Northern Lights”
» ‎ Trading for the Masses

Tags: Trading [edit]

Great Band to take you into Tuesday nite and Wednesday’s action. I sure hope we see some soon! Ski day otherwise tomorrow! more about "Bowerbirds “Northern Lights” ", posted with vodpod Filed under: Trading

17:50
Funny craigslist spam email
» ‎ Dustin Cowell Enterprises Blog

Tags: [edit]

Today I was performing a daily routine involving clearing spam on my email and found a funny email! Sometimes Gmail will put legit mail in my spam folder so I skim through my spam folder to make sure there isn't any legit email in there before I do a massive delete all. Today the following email caught my eye...
====================
Subject: bend
Message: I stumbled across your craigslist posting for the bend. A little over a month ago I had a run of bad luck and had to get rid of some of my stuff on craig's list to make ends meet. One guy dropped in to buy my mitre saw and router and gave me twice what I was asking for. When I asked him why, he explained that he wanted to help me out as long as when things worked out I helped someone else out too.
I can't give you cash the way he did me, but yesterday I did come across these Walmart gift cards. I'm sharing the link, but if it works for you, I'm asking that you do the same and pass it on to someone else.
====================
Why can't you give me cash the way he did?!?!?!? I want CASH!!! I don't want crappy Walmart gift cards, I want cash! If you are not going to give me cash I am definitely not telling anyone else about this email!!!
Of course the link didn't work. The link went to a website that said "IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT THE KEYWORD WAS USED FOR SPAM, PHISHING, AND/OR ABUSE. AND IT WAS THEREFORE DEACTIVATED. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE." Nice web host for doing their part to stop them!
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17:30
BLOSSOMING
» ‎ Scott Louis Brown

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Cherry blossoms in bloom at the Japanese garden

It's happening now! Time to get to Portland to visit the Japanese gardens in Washington park.One of the most beautiful gardens in the country is a must see! For more information visit here.

17:27
Obituaries
» ‎ Redmond Spokesman Blog

Tags: [edit]

Ben Westlund, of Bend
Sept. 3, 1949 - March 7, 2010
Arrangements:Niswonger-Reynolds Funeral Homewww.niswonger-reynolds.com, 541-382-2471
Services:Friday, March 12, 2010, 2 pm, at Riverhouse Conference Center, 2850 Rippling River Ct., Bend.
2nd service on Saturday, March 13, 2010, 2:00 pm, at the Capital House Chambers, 900 Court St. NE, Salem, OR
Contributions may be made to:Opportunity Foundation of Central Oregon, 835 E. Hwy 126, Redmond, OR 97756.

Donald C. Smith, of Prineville
May 29, 1933 - Feb. 28, 2010
Arrangements: Prineville Funeral Home, 541-447-6459
Services: Visitation was held March 4, 2010.
Public memorial service was held at Powell Butte Christian Church March 5, 2010.

Louis A. Larson Jr., of Redmond
June 5, 1940 - Mar. 1, 2010
Arrangements: Autumn Funerals - Redmond, 541-504-9485
Services were held March 6, 2010, Highland Baptist Church, Redmond, followed by interment at Terrebonne Pioneer Cemetery.

Douglas James, of Redmond
June 12, 1916 - Feb. 7, 2010
Arrangements: Redmond Memorial Chapel. 541-548-3219
www.redmondmemorial.com
Services: March 14, 2010, at 3:00pm, at Zion Lutheran Church on Black Butte in Redmond.

Sue James, of Redmond
August 18, 1921 - Feb. 12, 2010
Arrangements: Redmond Memorial Chapel. 541-548-3219
www.redmondmemorial.com
Services: March 14, 2010, 3:00pm, at Zion Lutheran Church on Black Butte in Redmond.

Richard John H.S. Quam
August 5, 1971 - March 3, 2010
Richard John H.S. Quam of Redmond, died at his home on March 3, 2010, at the age of 38 years. He was born in Bend, Ore., on August 5, 1971, to
parents, Anton and Lavina (Sumter) Quam. He has lived in Central Oregon all his life and attended Redmond schools.
Survivors include his wife, Jessica, whom he married in Salem, Ore., on Oct. 20 2007; son, Tristin; daughter, MacKenise; and stepdaughter, Chloe Garver; his mother, Lavina Quam of Redmond; sister, Ann Neth (husband) Tim of Bend; brothers, Merlin, James, Eric of Redmond, Arlen of Tidewater, Ore., and Christian of Bend; very close and family friend, Clarence Wibel of Powell Butte, Ore. He was preceded in death by his father.
Graveside services will be held at Pilot Butte Cemetery, in Bend, on Friday, March 12 at 1 pm. Redmond Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. You may send condolences to family via www.redmondmemorial.com.

17:23
Virus Alert … !
» ‎ Homeless on the High Desert

Tags: Computers [edit]

CNET reports Drudge Report, ‘conservative’ websites deliver viruses, malware.

17:22
a place where dreams come true
» ‎ Redmond Spokesman Blog

Tags: [edit]
17:21
a place where dreams come true...
» ‎ Redmond Spokesman Blog

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12-year-old Una Wagner auditions for "Peter Pan."
One big dream came true for 12-year-old Gatlin Cyrus last Saturday, just not exactly the one he was aiming for.
“Come with me,” Peter Pan entices the Darling children, “where dreams are born, and time is never planned.” Cyrus attended a casting call March 6 for the upcoming Redmond High School production of the beloved musical “Peter Pan.”
“I’ll be really excited if I get cast as Peter because I get to fly,” said Cyrus after his audition. As it happened, he was cast as John, one of the Darling children – and John flies.
Previously Cyrus appeared in the RHS production of “Wizard of Oz,” in the role of the Coroner in Munchkinland. He loves to act and sing and performs regularly with the Central Oregon Children’s Choir.
There was no shortage of talent to cast the production’s 31 roles, according to director Phil Neely, theater arts teacher at RHS.
“The middle school crop is really talented,” he said after the auditions, and indeed, some mighty big voices came out of some pretty little bodies during the three hours of auditions for elementary and middle school actors.
Luckily for everyone, “Peter Pan” is one theatrical production that traditionally uses loose guidelines in casting: boys play girls, girls play boys, adults play children and humans play dogs.
Peter Pan will be played by Billy Brant, a 7th-grader at Obsidian Middle School. Wendy is Danielle Williams, an RHS student and Captain Hook/Mr. Darling will be played by Daniel Bradley, a junior at Redmond Proficiency Academy.
The May production will use theatrical “flying” technology with the help of a professional company, Flying by Foy.

--story and photo by Leslie Pugmire Hole
17:18
A place where dreams come true
» ‎ Redmond Spokesman Blog

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17:12
Event calendar
» ‎ Redmond Spokesman Blog

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WEDNESDAY
March 10
“SPANISH COMPUTER CLASS — USING MS OFFICE PROGRAMS”: Introduces users to MS Office 2000 programs. Taught in Spanish. Preregistration required; free; 3:30-5 p.m.; Redmond Public Library, 827 S.W. Deschutes Ave., Redmond; 541-312-1066 or sarahv@dpls.us.
DO IT YOURSELF FREEZER JAM: Make jam the simple way and take a jar home; free; 6:30 p.m.; Redmond Public Library, 827 S.W. Deschutes Ave., Redmond; 541-312-1032 or www.dpls.us/calendar.
SCHOOL BOARD: Redmond School Board meeting, 5 p.m.; public welcome; 145 S.E. Salmon Ave.; agenda items include the 2010-2011 budget, superintendent hiring, board communication; details at at www.redmond.k12.or.us.
HISTORY COMMISSION: Redmond Historical Commission meeting; 2 p.m.; public welcome; 529 S.W. Seventh St.; agenda items include financing an exhibit for the centennial, details at www.ci.redmond.or.us.
FIRE DISTRICT: Deschutes County Rural Fire District No. 1 board meeting; 7 p.m.; public welcome; 1390 C Ave., Terrebonne Fire Station.

THURSDAY
March 11
GOOD CHAIR, GREAT BOOKS: Read and discuss “The Welsh Girl” by Peter Ho Davies; bring a lunch; free; noon-1 p.m.; Redmond Public Library, 827 S.W. Deschutes Ave., Redmond; 541-312-1064 or www.dpls.us/calendar.

FRIDAY
March 12
GALLAGHER: Wacky comedian performs a sledge-o-matic show; ages 21 and older; $10, $15 or $20; 8 p.m., doors open 7 p.m.; Kah-Nee-Ta High Desert Resort & Casino, 100 Main St., Warm Springs; 541-553-1112 or [kahneeta.com.]
MANAGING YOUR YAHOO! E-MAIL ACCOUNT: Learn to create mailing lists, manage folders and attach files. Familiarity with Windows and Internet Explorer required. Preregistration required; free; 9 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Redmond Public Library, 827 S.W. Deschutes Ave., Redmond; 541-312-1055.
SPRING GARAGE SALE: A sale of new and gently used items; proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Redmond; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Humane Society of Redmond, 1355 N.E. Hemlock Ave., Redmond; 541-923-0882.
EARNED INCOME TAX CREDITS PREPARATION SESSION: Presented by Partnership to End Poverty. For Central Oregonians who are eligible for EITC. Offers access to TaxWise Online. Registration requested; free; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; M.A. Lynch Elementary School, 1314 S.W. Kalama Ave., Redmond; 541-504-1389 or www.yourmoneyback.org.
TRIP TO KAH-NEE-TA: Enjoy the natural hot springs and water slide into the double Olympic-sized pool.Add a round of mini-golf on the putt-putt golf course. Bring snacks and lunch. Ages 9 to 17. Transportation provided; $20-25; 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; Cascade Swim Center, 465 S.W. Rimrock Way, Redmond; 541-548-7275.
MONICA’S FRIENDS PRESENT: Featuring performances by Sarah Mattox, Trish Sewell, James Knox, Melissa Bagwell, Jason Stein, Rick Johnson, Jacob Looper, the Central Oregon Mastersingers and more; proceeds benefit Monica and Dee Torrey; Monica is battling cancer; $15; 7:30 p.m., doors open 6:30 p.m.; Tower Theatre, 835 N.W. Wall St., Bend; 541-317-0700 or www.towertheatre.org.

SATURDAY
March 13
BUYING AND SELLING ON EBAY: Learn how to post listings to sell on eBay and how to track and bid on auctions; $59; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Central Oregon Community College, Redmond campus, 2030 S.E. College Loop, Redmond; 541-383-7270.
EXPLORING THE DESCHUTES PUBLIC LIBRARY CATALOG: Learn to locate materials at the library, place a hold and access your account. Familiarity with Windows operating system and Internet Explorer required. Preregistration required; free; 9-10:30 a.m.; Redmond Public Library, 827 S.W. Deschutes Ave., Redmond; 541-312-1055.
SPRING GARAGE SALE: A sale of new and gently used items; proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Redmond; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Humane Society of Redmond, 1355 N.E. Hemlock Ave., Redmond; 541-923-0882.
GRIN AND BEAR IT RUN: 5K, 10K and 1-mile runs to benefit Healthy Beginnings; races begin and end at the amphitheater; costs vary, see Web site for details; free for spectators; 10 a.m.; Les Schwab Amphitheater, 344 S.W. Shevlin Hixon Drive, Bend; 541-383-6357 or www.myhb.org.
PRESCHOOL & CHILD CARE FAIR: Explore preschool and child care options in Deschutes County; free; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; St. Charles Bend, 2500 N.E. Neff Road, Bend; 541-389-5475, office@cirlcleoffriendsbend.com or www.cofamilynews.com.
DAVE RAMSEY’S TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER SIMULCAST LIVE: Learn how to get out of debt, save money and invest confidently; $10; noon-5 p.m., doors open 11 a.m.; First Baptist Church, 60 N.W. Oregon Ave., Bend; 541-749-3020, financialfreedom@westsidechurg.org or www.daveramsey.com/live/simulcast/.
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB ARTISTS: Boys & Girls Club Artists’ Reception
Sat., March 13, 2010,1-3 p.m. Redmond Public Library; Check out the photography exhibit of members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Oregon and meet the artists. Refreshments will be served. For information contact Jenny at jenniferp@dpls.us or 312-1064; 1-3 p.m.; Redmond Public Library, 827 S.W. Deschutes Ave., Redmond; 541-312-1050.
LADIES AFTERNOON OUT: Fun, shopping and friendship for women. Representatives from various home-based businesses will be on hand selling their products such as cosmetics, jewelry, handbags, legal services and more. Door prize drawings; free; 1-5 p.m.; Redmond Masonic Center, 627 S.W. Seventh St., Redmond; Shellie Schiel,541-410-9762.
LAVA CITY ROLLER DOLLS BOUT: The Lava City Roller Dolls Cinder Kittens play the Southern Oregon Roller Girls; $10 in advance, $12 at the door; 6 p.m., doors open 5 p.m.; Central Oregon Indoor Sports Center, 20795 High Desert Lane, Bend; www.lavacityrollerdolls.com.
LOCAL FLAVOR: Performances by the Moon Mountain Ramblers, Mark Ransom and Friends, appetizers and beer, with a silent auction of items from local businesses; proceeds benefit Waldorf School of Bend; $20, $30 for two; 6 p.m.-midnight; Sons of Norway Hall, 549 N.W. Harmon Blvd., Bend; 541-330-8841.

SUNDAY
March 14
REDMOND COMMUNITY CONCERT ASSOCIATION PERFORMANCE: Tango-, klezmer- and Gypsy-influenced quintet 3 Leg Torso performs; $50 season ticket, $105 family ticket; 2 and 6:30 p.m.; Redmond High School, 675 S.W. Rimrock Way, Redmond; 541-350-7222 or http://redmondcca.org.

MONDAY
March 15
CHILD CARE OVERVIEW CLASS: Learn how to become a registered family child care provider. Registration required by March 12; free; 9 a.m.-noon; NeighborImpact, 2303 S.W. First St., Redmond; 541-548-2380, deniseh@neighborimpact.org or www.neighborimpact.org.
RETIRED EDUCATORS: Central Oregon Retired Educators meeting and luncheon, 11:30 a.m.; Zion Lutheran Church at Black Butte and 11th in Redmond; Heidi Bolt will share her Peace Corps experiences; silent auction to benefit the scholarship fund; new members welcome; lunch $8.50; 541-548-2545.
INTRO TO REIKI: Practitioner Mona Mohler will share the history of Reiki and show how it’s performed. The different levels of training will be discussed along with tips for setting up your own practice; free; 6-7 p.m.; Redmond Public Library, 827 S.W. Deschutes Ave., Redmond; 541-312-1051.

TUESDAY
March 16
“CREATING A RÉSUMÉ WITH WORD”: Familiarity with Windows operating system and MS Office programs required. Preregistration required; free; 9-10:30 a.m.; Redmond Public Library, 827 S.W. Deschutes Ave., Redmond; 541-312-1055 or jenniferp@dpls.us.
“OREGON GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORICAL RESEARCH”: Bend Genealogical Society presents a program by Nancy Noble; free; 10 a.m.; Williamson Hall, 2200 N.E. Highway 20, Bend; 541-317-8978,541-317-9553 or www.orgenweb.org/deschutes/bend-gs.
AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOODMOBILE: Blood donations needed; free; 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 450 S.W. Rimrock Way, Redmond; 800-GIVE LIFE.
CITY COUNCIL: Redmond City Council meeting, 6:45 a.m.; public welcome; 777 S.W. Deschutes Ave.; agenda at www.ci.redmond.or.us.
PUBLIC ART: Redmond Commission for Art in Public Places meeting, 4:30 p.m.; public welcome; conference room A; 716 S.W. Evergreen Ave.; agenda at www.ci.redmond.or.us.
PLANNING COMMISSION:Redmond Urban Area Planning Commission meeting, 7 p.m.; public welcome; conference room A; 716 S.W. Evergreen Ave.; agenda at www.ci.redmond.or.us.
TODDLER ART: Toe and finger painting for tots 2 to 4. Wear clothes that can get messy; $5; 12:30-1:15 p.m.; Redmond Area Park and Recreation District, Activity Center, 335 S.E. Jackson St., Redmond; 541-548-7275.

WEDNESDAY
March 17
BENEFIT GOLF TOURNAMENT: Nine holes of golf, with prizes and a raffle; proceeds benefit Denise Donnelly, who is waiting for a lung transplant; registration required; $30; noon registration, 1 p.m. tee-off time; The Greens at Redmond, 2575 S.W. Greens Blvd., Redmond; 541-504-3803.
SCHOOL BOARD: Redmond School Board meeting, 5:30 p.m.; public welcome; 145 S.E. Salmon Ave.; agenda at www.redmond.k12.or.us.
AWESOME AUTHOR TODD STRASSER: Redmond teens are invited to attend a lecture with Toss Strasser. Students are invited to explore the mind of a prolific author for teens and to ask questions about what it’s like to be a writer out in the real world. Strasser has written several books including “The Wave” and “Boot Camp.” Hosted by the Deschutes Public Library Teen Services Department; free; 1:54 p.m.; Redmond High School, 675 S.W. Rimrock Way, Redmond; 541-312-1063.
“SPANISH COMPUTER CLASS — EDIT A REPORT WITH WORD”: Learn basic functions of MS Word and how to save and edit a report. Familiarity with Windows operating system required. Taught in Spanish. Preregistration required; free; 3:30-5 p.m.; Redmond Public Library, 827 S.W. Deschutes Ave., Redmond; 541-312-1066 or sarahv@dpls.us.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION: Featuring live music by the Tune Dawgs, Steve Allely, The Sweet Harlots and the Moon Mountain Ramblers, and Irish dancers; free; 5-11 p.m.; McMenamins Old St. Francis School, 700 N.W. Bond St., Bend; 541-382-5174 or www.mcmenamins.com.

THURSDAY
March 18
NARFE CENTRAL OREGON MEETS: National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. Topic is federal work experience; free; 10 a.m.; Redmond Senior Center, 325 N.W. Dogwood Ave., Redmond; 541-548-2228.
DISTRICT BUDGET: Redmond Area Park and Recreation District 2010-2011 budget committee meeting; public comment sought; 6 p.m.; 465 S.W. Rimrock Way; agenda at www.raprd.org.
GAMES DAY FOR TEENS: Teens 12 to 17 can play Nintendo Wii, Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and more. Bring in your own games if rated E or T. Snacks provided; free; 3:15-4:45 p.m.; Redmond Public Library, 827 S.W. Deschutes Ave., Redmond; 541- 312-1063.

FRIDAY
March 19
“ADVANCED TOPICS IN INTERNET SEARCHING”: Learn to use search engine features and critically evaluate Web sites and information. Preregistration required; free; 9-10:30 a.m.; Redmond Public Library, 827 S.W. Deschutes Ave., Redmond; 541-312-1055 or kathy@dpls.us.
EARNED INCOME TAX CREDITS PREPARATION SESSION: Presented by Partnership to End Poverty. For Central Oregonians who are eligible for EITC. Offers access to TaxWise Online. Registration requested; free; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; M.A. Lynch Elementary School, 1314 S.W. Kalama Ave., Redmond; 541-504-1389 or www.yourmoneyback.org.
INDOOR ROCK CLIMBING: Experience the fun and challenge of rock climbing in a controlled indoor environment at InClimb in Bend. All necessary equipment provided. Ages 7 to 17. Transportation provided. Hosted by RAPRD; $20; 1-4:15 p.m.; Cascade Swim Center, 465 S.W. Rimrock Way, Redmond; 541-548-7275.
AUTHOR PRESENTATION: Alan Contreras talks about his books “Handbook of Oregon Birds: A Field Companion to Birds of Oregon” and “Afield”; free; 6:30 p.m.; Paulina Springs Books, 252 W. Hood Ave., Sisters; 541-549-0866.

SATURDAY
March 20
BINGO: Refreshments available for purchase. Hosted by RAPRD; $4 minimum buy-in; Doors open at noon. Games start at 1 p.m.; Redmond Senior Center, 325 N.W. Dogwood Ave., Redmond; 541-548-7275.
LIVING ON A FEW ACRES: Classes hosted by the OSU Extension Service. Topics include marketing your farm product, tractor operation, first aid for livestock, berry growing in Central Oregon and more; $35 per person; $60 per couple if registered by March 15.; 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, 3800 S.W. Airport Way, Redmond; 541-548-6088, ext. 7957.
BASIC FIRST AID: Kids ages 8 to 12 will learn what to do in an emergency situation without panicking; $20; 1-3 p.m.; Cascade Swim Center, 465 S.W. Rimrock Way, Redmond; 541-548-7275.
DULCIMER DEMONSTRATION: Richard Neises plays an Appalachian dulcimer; free; 1-2 p.m.; Redmond Public Library, 827 S.W. Deschutes Ave., Redmond; 541-312-1051.

Afterschool offerings thru Rec District
Redmond Area Park and Recreation District is hosting the following afterschool programs for kids:
Basics of Knitting, Thursdays, 4-5:50 p.m., at Elton Gregory Middle School. Learn to cast on, knit, purl and cast-off. Basic instructions on how to read patterns and kids will take home a simple cotton washcloth pattern to work on. $5 per class.
Create with Nancy, Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursday, 4-5:30 p.m., through March 31, at Elton Gregory Middle School. Create a new craft each week. Cooking, sewing, and more. $15 per week; $6 drop-in.
Street Dance, Wednesdays, 4-5:30 p.m., at Elton Gregory Middle School, Thursdays, 4-5:30 p.m., at Obsidian Middle School through March 31. Learn hip hop, rhythms and break dancing. $7 drop-in.
Art class, Thursdays, 4-5:30 p.m., through April 1, at Obsidian Middle School. Printmaking, drawing, lithograph, painting and more. $20 all; $6 drop-in.
Voice lessons, Tuesdays, 4-5:30 p.m., through March 30, at Elton Gregory Middle School. Group session. $20 drop-in.
Information: 541-548-7275 or visit www.raprd.org.

Sportsman show all about outdoors
The Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show & Boat/RV Show opens March 11 at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center. Hundreds of vendors showcasing the latest outdoor toys, tools, tips and gadgets. Outdoor experts will host free demonstrations, seminars and interactive displays, and share up-to-date information for outdoor enthusiasts of every kind. Hours are Thursday and Friday, noon to 8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $9 adults; $5 kids 6 to 16; free for kids 5 and under. Two-day pass is $14. Discount coupons are available at Les Schwab Tire Centers, Baxter Auto Parts and online at www.otshows.com.

16:35
Another Editorial Break
» ‎ Dating Is Weird

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Yeah...We're bums. Sorry. I'm going on a trip and my co-editor is doing her thing on a new blog.

Promise we'll be back at the end of March with good stories and even better dating is weird madness.

Love,
S.G.Loughlin

16:20
Ready for Tea!!
» ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

Tags: [edit]

After packing my teacups away nearly two years ago in readiness for moving, I finally have a cabinet and was able to unpack them yesterday. Jim made an open cabinet into a lovely place for my collection -- with glass shelves and lighting. It was like Christmas unpacking it all. I'm thrilled with the end result!
Wanna come and have tea with me?

16:16
It's Final Exam Time
» ‎ The Martini Chronicles

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Last night was high school orientation for the parents of new, ingoing students. High school. The words alone make me break out into a cold sweat. High school. I absolutely shudder at the thought. I’ve always known this day was coming. I just didn’t know it was Now. And I’m much better with some ideas in theory than I am once they’re put into practice. I know D is going to high school next year, but I didn’t really “know” it until orientation made it real. Real scary.

I found myself tearing up in the auditorium during the orientation. It didn’t help that the principal and vice principal were using words like “involvement” and “insight” and reminding us parents that even though our kids might seem like they’re growing up and don’t need us as much, now is the time that they need us more than ever. We were warned to not back off.

They went on to brag about their academic success, the number of social clubs available, how well their sports teams are faring this year. They told us how classes are chosen and how students are prepared for college and, ultimately, life.

And I was holding back tears because I realized, this is It. This is the real test and I don’t think I’m ready. I feel like my life is about to go into fast forward; I’ll blink and the next four years will be over and D will be gone. I don’t know that I have the energy or the strength to get her through it. I doubt whether my parenting skills can see us both safely to the other side.

She is so excited. She’s scared too, but it’s the good kind because it’s filled with hope and wonder and a sense of adventure. She’s about to embark on a whole new journey full of friends, football games, dates and dances. She’ll face new challenges academically as well as socially and start preparing herself for real life. A real, grownup life that doesn’t include me. Not so much.

I don’t know how to prepare her for her own life. The disappointments and heartbreak I know she’ll face. The frustrations and the stress of learning how to make her way in the world. I’m most afraid because it’s all on me. I never expected or wanted to be single with a high school student. I thought I’d have a partner, a backup, someone to hold my hand and figure it out with me. I don’t even have my own life together most days, and now I have to figure this part out on my own. I hope my mistakes aren’t the kind that can’t be erased.

I wish I could share her enthusiasm and embrace this part of our lives. I wish I could know that her life will be beautiful and full of all of the happiness and love and adventure I want for her. I’m afraid the best I can do right now is take it one step at a time and learn as we go and hope that we make it in one piece. I hope my best is good enough, but I know she deserves far better than just good enough.

15:50
Ice Cream Cakes!!
» ‎ White-House-On-An-Acre

Tags: [edit]

I (Marie) got a job at the end of February making and decorating ice cream cakes at Dairy Queen. I work 5 days a week for 3 to 5 hours each time. My days off will normally be Sunday and Monday. Here are a few of the cakes I've done since I started.

15:25
On Assignment: The Industrial Product Shot
» ‎ The Commercial Photographer

Tags: [edit]

Here is an industrial photograph of a new product release shot on location. This was toward the end of the day in 100 degree plus shooting day and everyone was worn out.

The client came in here, looked around and said she did not know what to do or how to shoot in here. It was a metal fabrication facility and very dirty with stuff everywhere. Not styled for a photo shoot.

As the photographer, you are often called on to come up with the answer, the killer shot that they want, they just don't know it.
So here is what I did. I started looking around and basically we needed a place to set up for the model to be working. The first thing I decided was to use a welding table as the platform for the model to use the product.
I shot a test shot and the background is lousy, lots of junk. I see this welding screen which is used to block the view of someone welding so someone does not look at the welding and injure their eyes.

It was blue in color so I pulled it into the scene behind the model. That blocked all the junk behind him. I took test shots and did not like the rear wall way back nor the screen, which went dark.

I placed a light way back with a colored gel and shot it at the rear wall and that added color and brought detail. For the blue welding screen I placed a light behind it and because it is blue it created a nice colorful glow. I had the model stand in front of where the light would hit the screen and he blocked the hot spot from the light.
Client loved it!
Related Posts:
Industrial Photography: Shooting the Wind Turbines Don't Take Pictures, Build Photographs Industrial Photography & Photoshop, Match Made in Heaven
Take My Class; Location Lighting

15:15
Discouraged Workers
» ‎ My Back Pages

Tags: [edit]

And to think the media reported the latest jobs number as "good news."
">[httpwwwannalyco_vkxqF.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'>] [httpwwwannalyco_vkxqF.jpg.scaled500.jpg"] /> via annaly.com

Posted via web from jessefelder's posterous

15:01
The Dude Abides
» ‎ G5 Search Marketing Blog

Tags: [edit]

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Morbi orci nunc, sagittis eu adipiscing eu, mollis eget felis. Suspendisse potenti. Pellentesque lorem dui, mattis gravida fringilla pellentesque, ultricies non purus. Sed aliquam facilisis erat, vel feugiat lacus bibendum id. Quisque ipsum magna, congue quis ultrices et, sodales ut diam. Curabitur odio erat, venenatis ut sodales pulvinar, blandit vel sapien. Vestibulum pulvinar molestie orci, sit amet molestie massa luctus sed. Fusce consectetur tortor nec purus euismod tincidunt. Nulla malesuada tincidunt augue id fringilla. Etiam ornare rutrum odio, non varius risus pretium sed. Vivamus suscipit placerat velit at iaculis. Proin ultricies consectetur justo eu consequat. Donec condimentum tempor ipsum, in lobortis ante malesuada et. Etiam eleifend, velit id condimentum eleifend, massa nisl eleifend urna, a ullamcorper tellus leo lobortis magna. Ut nulla risus, sodales ac venenatis eget, porttitor eu velit.

Etiam in tortor ac massa iaculis facilisis. Aenean blandit gravida urna vel consectetur. Nullam in ipsum quam. In quis massa et lectus vehicula gravida quis eget quam. In auctor vestibulum aliquet. Curabitur placerat consectetur metus, vitae dapibus lacus cursus nec. Curabitur eu velit massa, sed volutpat ante. Aliquam viverra mauris et neque mattis id sodales dui bibendum. Suspendisse tortor sem, consectetur vel condimentum vel, consectetur id magna. Vivamus tellus orci, egestas dapibus ornare et, cursus at magna.

Maecenas dapibus elit ac nulla viverra hendrerit. Praesent sit amet sollicitudin velit. Nunc ut dui nec elit dapibus condimentum id nec elit. Praesent orci arcu, venenatis eu porttitor posuere, malesuada quis nunc. Ut non nisl eu mauris euismod porta non nec leo. Vivamus tempus molestie turpis, ac lobortis mauris pellentesque in. Sed eget nibh tortor. Suspendisse cursus tristique eros in posuere. Pellentesque venenatis risus eget velit rutrum faucibus. Nunc vestibulum erat ac dui sollicitudin nec ullamcorper tortor porttitor. Maecenas convallis lacus ac ipsum ullamcorper dignissim. Morbi vehicula nisl id orci lacinia et sodales sapien laoreet. Sed vel elit vitae dui accumsan fringilla quis vel dolor. Ut commodo laoreet nulla, sit amet laoreet tellus varius in. Curabitur non sapien ipsum. Vestibulum ultrices, magna rutrum commodo adipiscing, ligula odio porttitor lacus, non tempus nisl sem cursus arcu. Vestibulum arcu leo, bibendum et posuere a, tincidunt et arcu.

14:58
Being There – Defining Moments
» ‎ Trading for the Masses

Tags: Trading [edit]

This goes out to the Leaders of our Big Govie and the PPT. more about "Being There – Defining Moments", posted with vodpod Filed under: Trading

14:53
The Flames, They Are A-Changin': Welcome to the New Campfire!
» ‎ Play Outdoors Campfire

Tags: [edit]

Part of a campfire’s draw is the constant changing of the flames — Welcome to the new Play Outdoors Campfire blog! Pull up a chair and get the scoop on what’s going on at Play Outdoors, including the latest updates...

14:52
WinesNorthwest review of our '06 Syrah
» ‎ Volcano Vineyards Blog

Tags: Volcano Vineyards [edit]

Chuck Hill just published his review of our 2006 Lakeside/Serenade Vineyards Syrah. He offers up weekly wine reviews of the best of Pacific Northwest wines, properly pairing them with food. Take a peek at what he thinks of our Syrah matched with a Churrasco Flank Steak with Chimichurri auce. Yum!

http://www.winesnw.com/chuckhill_winesofweek.htm

14:50
What makes Fred Real Estate Group different than other real estate companies?
» ‎ Fred Real Estate Group

Tags: [edit]

At Fred Real Estate Group, we believe that sellers shouldn't have to pay 6 or 7% to sell their home. We guarantee to beat any full service realtor's fees while backing it up with superior service or we will list your home for free. Our goal is to get your business and save you money.
Got a real estate question?

13:03
Great Eats And Cool Beats At Parilla Grill
» ‎ Snowboard Mt Bachelor

Tags: [edit]

If your looking for a quick bite or a place to hang out with your friends and have some drinks. Then Parilla Grill on the Flaming Chicken roundabout on the corner of Galveston and Century Dr on Bend’s West side is the place to be. One of the local west side hangouts for many years now, Parilla Grill features all kinds of healthy and tasty wraps and one of my favorites, the fish tacos. With a margarita bar and several local beers on tap, you won’t have a problem finding something to satisfy your thirst.

Parilla is also a huge supporter of the community, as they host multiple events throughout the year. The summer time also brings an outdoor concert series which is also part of the commute options program. What better than cruising on your bike and checking out the music on a warm summer night in Bend. With summer right around the corner it wont be long until we are enjoying the hot summer days. But as it is still winter, although a mild one, you can keep warm and full with great eats at Parilla Grill.

12:49
Hunting through an alien world
» ‎ there once was a girl

Tags: [edit]

On Saturday morning before I was even 4% awake I opened the fridge for milk for my coffee. 4% awake is not nearly enough to deal with the horrible smell that assaulted me...part sweaty farty man smell and part rancid festering foot boils with just a hint of fermenting fruit.It was time for a full-fridge clean, because a quick dash through the shelves to throw away any ancient leftovers wasn't

12:45
Final Hour from the CME pits with @rossgreenspan
» ‎ Trading for the Masses

Tags: Trading [edit]

@rossgreenspan from the CME sees nothing but quiet hubris as I do from this vantage point. Computers are being thrown in frustration on the floors today. I can empathize, this market is not for traders. Just thin Rats jumping for the same pieces of molded cheese! Party on Beuller! [...]

12:41
Let's Go Snowshoeing
» ‎ Wanderlust Wanderings

Tags: [edit]

We've got a brand new snowshoeing video up on our website, courtesy of intrepid Wanderlust guide Jack Newkirk. Please submit your comments as this is a fun video showcasing the myriad of adventurous tours we offer!

12:32
Four Goofy Boarders on the way Up [Flickr]
» ‎ Wrongdude

Enclosure: [download]

Tags: [edit]

carrrrrlos posted a photo:

A very fun day.

11:54
Focus on Indigo part IV, Katazome
» ‎ The Ardent Thread's Weblog

Tags: indigo [edit]

Today I present two katazome items, one from the SFAPA show and one from my personal collection. Click on the images to get a closer look. The first is from the Cavin-Morris Gallery in New York. It’s a stunning katabira (帷), an unlined (hitoe 単衣) ramie (jofu 上布) kimono for summer wear. This would have been [...]

11:50
Derek Anderson news
» ‎ Central Oregon Athlete

Tags: [edit]

Breaking news: Cleveland Browns to release Derek Anderson toda

11:43
Twitter and Social Media Spam @misstrade @lowerdlowerd @localbuttah
» ‎ Trading for the Masses

Tags: Trading [edit]

Please don’t spam me on Real Estate #inbend on your facebook or twitter feed. Stick to the old media whores if you want that. I don’t know all the etiquette for sure, but I’m learning after years of Twitting, Linkedin, FB etc. Just get to know me before you sell me! Filed under: Trading [...]

11:31
Dodgeball in Bend Oregon
» ‎ Central Oregon Athlete

Tags: [edit]

Ready, aim — dodgeball
New league allows players to take the court and let go

11:14
Sun Glow [Flickr]
» ‎ Wrongdude

Enclosure: [download]

Tags: [edit]

carrrrrlos posted a photo:

Resting on the trail.

11:06
Went and done it.
» ‎ best minimum wage job a middle aged guy ever had

Tags: [edit]

Well, I went and did the dirty deed. Ordered everything.

Now I have until July 1, to pay off the credit cards...I made a deal with myself that I would order through regular channels for the foreseeable future, which should save me a couple hundred dollars a month in postage. I have a full store, after all. I can wait a few extra days for re-orders...

In this splurge I ordered regular books, 'sale' books, specialty dice, stand-ups, art books....all the material that I order less often. (It also has a whole different timing to it....it's taken two weeks for it to show up, and I'm still waiting for a couple of orders to arrive...)

Interestingly, most of the books came in, and filled every single space. I now have ZERO books face out; they are spine.

I filled a wall with dice. I still have some art books I'll need to find room for. In a sense, this is the highwater mark in my store's inventory. I've said that before, but this time....Well, there isn't another inch to be had. Even being creative, even piling it up. Only the ceiling is bare.

As I said, it's a little bit of an experiment; what would happen if I got everything in the store I ever wanted to get in the store, all at the same time. I figure I can let this stuff settle in over the next 3 months or so, and then hopefully start to see some returns this summer and Christmas.

I can afford it. And I've always wanted to try it.

10:39
Type D Personality and How To Overcome theHealth Risks of Chronic Anxiety, Negativity, and Stress with Affirmations, Meditation, and Qigong
» ‎ Be Well with Qigong

Tags: [edit]

Type D Personality and How To Overcome theHealth Risks of Chronic Anxiety, Negativity, and Stress with Affirmations, Meditation, and Qigong

The article below is reprinted from Bottom Line's Daily Health News email newsletter of March 9, 2010

What I love best about it is that it advocates the use of Meditation and Qigong (related to both tai-chi and yoga) to regain health and wellness. Affirmations would also work well in this situation, especially if you have a recording on iPod or CD that you listen to at night while asleep. These are very powerful techniques time-tested and study-proven to facilitate self-healing.

Are You a Type D Personality?

You’re probably aware of whether you tend toward a type A or type B personality, since those labels are part of our lexicon. What you may not know, however, is that there is a third type -- type D -- and it’s not a great category to find yourself in. The D stands for distress, and a growing body of research links this personality type with a variety of health risks and even early death -- so it may be especially important for these inhibited and gloomy folks to do everything they can to lighten up.

Remember Eeyore -- the sad, self-conscious donkey character in Winnie-the-Pooh? To my mind, he is a perfect illustration of the type D personality. He always expected the worst and therefore, that’s what he usually got. Traits associated with this personality type include social inhibition, a negative self-image, depressed mood, hostility, tension, chronic anger and a tendency to overreact to stressful events.

Type D & Death Risk

It’s already known that having this type D personality elevates risk for people who have had heart attacks, cardiac bypass surgery and/or stent implants. In new research from the University of Tilburg in the Netherlands, scientists set out to determine the impact of these characteristics on people with a common condition called peripheral artery disease (PAD), a circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs. People who have PAD have four to five times greater risk for heart attack and stroke.

Researchers asked 184 patients (average age 65) diagnosed with PAD to fill out a 14-item personality questionnaire to assess character traits, such as negativity and social inhibition. They rated statements such as "I would rather keep people at a distance" and "I often find myself worrying about something" as false or true on a scale of zero to four. During the next four years, 16 patients (9%) died -- six of cardiovascular disease, seven of cancer and one each from emphysema, pneumonia and acute pancreatitis. After factoring in other variables such as age, gender, diabetes and kidney disease, investigators learned that those with type D personalities were more than three times as likely to have died as those who were Type A or B.

How Distress Raises Risk

There are numerous pathways linking this particular personality type with poor health outcomes, I learned from study coauthor Johan Denollet, PhD, a professor of medical psychology at Tilburg University. Some are physical, other behavioral. For instance, Type D individuals tend to...

•    Experience chronic anxiety and negativity. Living in such a state has a variety of physical effects on your body, none beneficial. Chronic stress drives up levels of inflammatory proteins called cytokines, which leads to increased oxidative stress and contributes to disease. The adrenal glands respond to stress by pumping out cortisol, the hormone that helps us meet perceived threats. Having high and prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream causes serious problems, including blood sugar imbalances, reduced immunity, slower wound healing and increased abdominal fat.

•    Have poor health habits. Research has shown that people with type D personalities often neglect their health by eating improperly, not having medical checkups and being sedentary.

•    Are unlikely to be proactive in seeking medical care. Perhaps because they are unable to express their emotions and are tense, insecure and uncomfortable in social situations, type D individuals are often slow to seek the medical help they need. In one study, type D patients with chronic heart failure experienced more cardiac symptoms and worried more about them than other people but, paradoxically, were less likely to discuss them with health-care professionals. Other research demonstrates that heart failure patients with "inadequate consultation behavior" face a six-fold increased risk for impaired health.

What Can Help

Generally speaking, you can’t change your personality -- but if you recognize these traits in yourself or a loved one, there are plenty of things you can do to address the issues and minimize the impact on your health. For example, Dr. Denollet notes that type D personalities are more likely to experience anxiety and depression -- and points out that these can be managed to a significant degree with counseling and/or medication. Other strategies include...

•    Adopting healthier lifestyle behaviors, such as better diet and regular exercise.

•    Participating in programs or counseling to conquer addictions, such as smoking or alcohol abuse, or to improve social skills and learn to relax.

•    Using techniques such as guided imagery, breathing exercises, meditation, tai chi and yoga to help manage stress and mood and learn to control anger and hostility.

While you can’t change who you are, if you have a type D personality, you can take these concrete steps to make yourself healthier and, I’ll bet, happier.

Source(s):

Johan Denollet, PhD, professor of medical psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.

* * * End Quote * * *

If you would like help applying Affirmations, Meditation, or Qigong (Chi Kung) practice to this debilitating health issue, contact me at bewellwithmichelle@gmail.com

10:00
Melissa Bell: The Oscars
» ‎ Official Shade Clothing Blog

Tags: [edit]

March’s two main events creates something of a battle of the sexes – with women lining up behind the Academy Awards and men locking arms in support of March Madness. I’ll share a little secret with you: one of the main reasons men love March Madness is the competition of filling out their own bracket. Having an Oscar ballot competition will create the same dynamic, and will suck even the most awards show-averse guy into watching 4 hours of Oscar with you.

You may be pushing your luck by trying to get him to watching Ryan Seacret on the red carpet on E! though, even if it is the best way to get in the mood for the evening’s festivities. Although Giuliana Rancic and her freak show clown fashion analyst sidekick drive me crazy, watching the red carpet is worth it due to moments like watching George Clooney arrive with a new shaggy ‘do and a new lady friend (who I think it’s safe to say won’t be accompanying George next year). I thought George’s interview with Ryan was a little bizarre, and wasn’t surprised to see reports that George was carrying around a flask with him.

Once the red carpet was over we cut to the opening number: Neil Patrick Harris singing a song introducing the perfect duo of Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. I thought these two had pretty amazing chemistry and made the night much more fun and watch-able than it normally is. (Side note: Did you know Steve Martin is also a great writer of both fiction and non-fiction? His book “Born Standing Up” gives a pretty fascinating take of what it’s like to one’s self in celebrity and face. Check it out and you won’t be disappointed, I promise you.)

In addition to the fun hosts, there were some pretty entertaining presenters this year - Ben Stiller dressed as one of the Na’vi from “Avatar,” Cameron Diaz and Steve Carrell’s were pretty funny, and who doesn’t appreciate a visit from “Twilight’s” very own Jacob?

To top it all off it was fun to see fan favorites Sandra Bullock (who looked amazing) and Jeff Bridges (who actually seems like a real person) take home statues. Also, who doesn’t love watching an underdog take home the gold? Kathryn Bigelow beating out her ex-husband James Cameron (who is by all accounts an insufferable jerk) to become the first woman to win for Best Director was my favorite moment of the night. I’d say it was a pretty exciting night in Hollywood. What were your favorite moments?

9:43
Tom Tomorrow, today …
» ‎ Homeless on the High Desert

Tags: If a tree falls [edit]

An update from Glox News.

9:14
Interweb Inspiration and Finds
» ‎ Elan Vital Anthology

Tags: [edit]

I love it when you have an hour or so to just cruise the web with no particular destination in mind, and just follow links with the frivolity and spontaneity of a road trip. Today I found some inspiration from a couple of my usual daily reads: the fantastic Purl Bee, and the funky-fresh CraftZine.
source
This lampshade looks like fun, and is giving me all sorts of ideas for how I can make my own....Also over at the CraftZine blog, I found this PostCarden, which is a refined replacement to the tragically tacky Chia Pet:
source
There's so much goodness over at CraftZine, I'll let you head over there to decide which project to do for yourself...next stop: the Purl Bee. Oh how I love the Purl Bee, ever inspiring me with endless possibilities for new media to work with, and delicate, stylish execution of said media. Like this stunning sashiko tote:
source
While at the Purl Bee, a button on the sidebar caught my eye for mixtapezine...I love mix tapes, music, and the type of people passionate enough about both to make a business of it - so I clicked my way on over. It did not disappoint. Not only is the zine and blog about music, it sneaks an awful lot of playtime for crafty goodness. It was tough to pick just one thing to show you, but I decided on this gorgeous garden hex quilt:
source
And before I had to run off to the Post Office, the Grocery Store, and who knows what other exciting locales a domestic goddess such as myself may visit in a day - there was one more link luring me to stay online just a little while longer. And I'm so glad it called to me like a beacon in a storm, the button for Home Ec, quite possibly the hippest craftiest shop this side of the Mississippi. A visit to LA may well be in order, if only to visit this shop; but I'll definitely be getting this online meanwhile:
source

http://elanvitalanthology.blogspot.com [elanvitalanthology.etsy.com]

9:05
Scone and Americano [Flickr]
» ‎ Wrongdude

Enclosure: [download]

Tags: [edit]

carrrrrlos posted a photo:

Breakfast at thump coffee.

8:51
So long, Ernie Kent
» ‎ Bend OR Bust

Tags: [edit]

Barring some freakish occurrence, like the Ducks winning the Pac-10 basketball tournament, Ernie Kent will end his 13-year stint as coach at the University of Oregon.
It's too bad it has to end on a sour note: back-to-back dreadful seasons despite having some talented players.
Still, Kent has the most wins in school history with a 234-172 record. He led the Ducks to five NCAA Tournaments, half of the school's total. The Ducks made it to the Elite Eight twice in his tenure. Also, the Ducks won the 2002 Pac-10 regular season title, the first since 1945, and won two conference tournament titles in 2003 and 2007.
He was the first African-American head coach in any sport at Oregon.
Plus, in the 1970s, Kent was known as "Million Moves" of the fabled Kamikaze Kids at Mac Court. He is a Fighting Duck, through and through.
Plus, Kent exuded class and refinement, and always impeccably dressed. Concessionaires at Eugene's Mahlon Sweet Airport had kind words to say about Kent. "Always pleasant," they said, even on coming home after tough road losses.
But, losing gets coaches fired. That's the name of the game. Also, Kent, a married man with three grown kids, showed poor judgment in having an affair with the daughter of a prominent booster (no, not Phil Knight), a few years ago that presaged his fall from grace.
Now, with the $200 million Matt Court set to open next season on the east end of campus, the university is looking for a fresh start for the shiny, new place.
Some names have been tossed around: Mark Few, the Gonzaga coach who has close ties to the Willamette Valley, and P.J. Carlesimo, the former Trail Blazers' coach whose best days on the bench were 20 years ago at Seton Hall. His coaching days are over after poor pro stints at Golden State and Oklahoma City. The only thing Carlesimo brings is connections to the NBA, which could help in recruiting.
It would be great to see Few jump to the Pac-10 where he would have a better shot of reaching the Final Four and, possibly, winning a national championship.
But, he's got a great thing going in Spokane where the Zags are the only game in town and are a source of inspiration in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and points beyond. In spite of getting drubbed this year in the West Coast Conference tournament final by St. Mary's (Kent also coached there), he's still the toast of the town.
In Eugene, football is king right now. Track and cross-country are also sources of pride.
But a new coach, a new arena and Nike backing could alter the future of Oregon basketball. It has known the ultimate glory once, in 1939, when the Tall Firs won the very first NCAA title. It's braced for greatness again.

remains the most winningest coach in school history.

8:45
Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar Play “Big Sur” Live in Studio
» ‎ Trading for the Masses

Tags: Trading [edit]

Loving this album on the Jack Kerouac Trail. Jay and his other Band, Son Volt tore it up #inbend in the late Fall. This show would be even bigger. more about "Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar Play “Big …", posted with vodpod Filed under: Trading [...]

8:35
Chris Parnell + Andy Samberg + The Roots: Lazy Sunday LIVE!
» ‎ My Back Pages

Tags: [edit]

via latenightwithjimmyfallon.com

Posted via web from jessefelder's posterous

8:27
PLEASE … !!!
» ‎ Homeless on the High Desert

Tags: Healthcare [edit]

Limbaugh vows to flee the country if health care passes. I’ll just tell you this, if this passes and it’s five years from now and all that stuff gets implemented — I am leaving the country. Don’t let the door…

8:07
San Diego Man Says Prius Accelerated Out of Control
» ‎ My Back Pages

Tags: [edit]

Yesterday was the day Toyota was to "take the gloves off and respond to their critics." But the company's media thunder was stolen by a San Diego man who was taken for a very scary ride in his Prius:
via ritholtz.com

Posted via web from jessefelder's posterous

7:45
This Just In: KOHD Discontinues Local News – Nobody Cares
» ‎ BendTech

Tags: general [edit]

As mentioned, KOHD has discontinued their local news program. Here’s the official announcement, with various other sources weighing in here, here, and here. True, to say “nobody cares” is being a bit harsh. Strictly speaking, those posts have a combined 16 comments from people who do, in fact, care (including Drew Bledsoe, btw). But [...]

7:27
Your average, everyday typical Portland residents under ...
» ‎ The gr8ful grind

Tags: [edit]

Your average, everyday typical Portland residents under the cherry blossoms. Portland, Oregion; March, 2010.

6:48
Spoos Stuck at the top area 1136 magnet here
» ‎ Trading for the Masses

Tags: Trading [edit]

Will we see new highs today or are we just stuck in the middle like so much of the market after a 100 pt ES move in past 4.5 weeks? Time will tell , place your bets.888-201-4201 more about "Spoos Stuck at the top area 1136 magn…", posted with [...]

6:01
Please Scroll Down Underneath the Contest for New Posts:
» ‎ Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy

Tags: [edit]
6:01
Okay, everybody, here it is, the very ...
» ‎ Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy

Tags: [edit]

Okay, everybody, here it is, the very first contest on this blog in honor of the site meter recently hitting 10,000! It is very easy to participate, so please do.

All you have to do is leave the funniest quote you have heard recently ... but it has to have been said by somebody that you actually know. You don't have to name them if you don't want to. This is the funniest one I have heard in a long time: "Patty melts make me horny. So, I only ate half of one." - Anonymous WHAT????

Please leave the quote you like under "comments" at the bottom of this post, and sign your name. The contest will close next Saturday, March 13th. I will keep this post on the top of all the other posts that I write this week so that everybody will have a chance to see it. Therefore please scroll down daily to get to the newer posts.

There are three prizes being given away, and I made them all, just for such an occasion. Good luck, and thanks for playing, I cannot wait to read the funny things that your folks say!

Prize #1 - Set up two matching tapestry pillows.

Prize #2 - Cute set of Country
Alphabet Bean Bags in a Basket.
Prize #3 - Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix in a Jar
and 5 small drawstring bags.

Just leave your quote below!

Posted by Kathy at Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy Welcomes You! at 10:15 AM
3 comments: Gwen B. said... A friend of mine, during the first face-to-face meeting with a girl he'd been talking to on the phone for a while: "You aren't talking very much...you are usually talking, not thinking" And yes, this did happen. I was there...poor guy will never let me be present for a first date again. March 7, 2010 5:54 PM

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PUuJucNIcGw/S2mnFaZ3WqI/AAAAAAAAAcc/uBm7GCY5Ims/S45/HPIM14761.JPG" width="35" height="35" class="photo" alt=""&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;BECKY said... Hi Kathy! Love this contest and your items are beautiful! Here's my funny quote. My friend Rita said this to me a few years ago when we were complaining to each other: "Husbands! Sometimes you can't hardly look at them without snarling!" She also has a big of a southern accent, and it was so funny, I immediately had to jot it down! March 8, 2010 7:14 AM

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5aB9QElkafw/Sc62HfTliSI/AAAAAAAAABM/XepBNUu4Z9s/S45/100_0390.JPG" width="35" height="35" class="photo" alt=""&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Lisa Ricard Claro said... Hi Kathy - Last summer we were transporting several teenagers up to the lake for a day on our boat, and two of the boys (Adam and Jamel) were teasing each other, comparing one another to different animals. Jamel told Adam he was a squirrel, because his brain was so small. To which Adam replied, "No way. I'm not a squirrel. I'm an ape, because they are almost as smart as humans." Everyone cracked up and it took Adam a beat or two to realize that he had just dissed himself. LOL March 8, 2010 10:46 AM Gwen, Becky and Lisa ... great quotes! Thank you for entering the contest. There is still plenty of time to enter it is open for 5 more days. ~ Kathy

5:00
Dixie Williams: Baked Ziti
» ‎ Official Shade Clothing Blog

Tags: [edit]

I love recipes that are forgiving and accommodating. This particular dish, Baked Ziti, is just that. If you don’t have ground beef, but happen to have some spicy sausage – great. Chicken? Fine. And rather than Ricotta, you found some Cottage Cheese in your fridge? No problem. Just substitute as you go. I have yet to make this dish and have it fail. You can even use plain yogurt in place of the sour cream.

Baked Ziti
1 lb. dried Ziti
1 onion, chopped
1 lb. ground beef
2 (26 oz.) cans spaghetti sauce
6 oz. Provolone cheese slices
1 c. sour cream
1 c. Ricotta cheese
6 oz. shredded Mozzarella cheese
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Cook Ziti pasta according to package directions. Drain noodles and set aside. In a large saucepan, cook ground beef and onion until beef is browned through and the onion is translucent. Add spaghetti sauce to the meat and onions. Cook an additional 15 minutes over medium heat. In a medium-sized bowl, combine sour cream and Ricotta cheese. In a 9x13 baking dish, layer the ingredients as follows: ½ of the Ziti noodles, Provolone cheese slices, the sour cream and cheese mixture, ½ of the meat sauce, the remaining Ziti noodles, Mozzarella cheese, the remaining meat sauce, and finally, top with grated Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

And something even better.. this meal freezes like a dream! Place one 9x13 pan in the freezer (before its cooked) and a week later, simply defrost the meal overnight in the fridge or add 30-40 minutes to the baking time.

3:48
Solar Powered Gates
» ‎ Solar Power -- PV Panels

Tags: [edit]

Solar gates and fencing to provide convenient security

In beautiful Central Oregon where I live, there are several things that are abundant here: sunshine and property are two of them. Wide open spaces and sunny skies are a wonderful combination!

Many people here own larger tracts of property that they farm and/or on which they raise livestock. More and more often, I’m noticing solar powered gates at the entrances to the ranches’ driveways. The solar gates are useful for a number of reasons: security, privacy and convenient top the list.

At my in-laws’ 40 acres near Sisters, Oregon, there is a long, metal swinging gate in front of their driveway. Whenever we drive up, we need to get out of the car, unlatch the gate and swing it open. Then we drive through, get out of the car and repeat the process to close the gate behind us.

We firmly believe that they need an electric gate opener powered by the sun. Think of it like a garage door opener for a gate. You can purchase a solar powered gate kit (for several hundred dollars), or create your own. Using a car battery connected to a small solar panel, trickle charging during the course of the day can generate enough free solar energy to power the electric gate opener whenever you need it. A perfect project for DIY ranchers!

There are also beautiful wrought iron solar gates for less rustic properties. Check out the video below:

Single swing solar gate options are also available:

Why not make your life a little easier with a solar powered gate?

2:52
News Flash: Snow Does Not Disprove Climate Change
» ‎ Peachy Green

Tags: [edit]

Will it ever stop snowing?

It seems to me that the world has lost its senses.

Climate change is happening. We have vast tracts of empirical evidence to call on which show an increasing trend of the planet heating up. Then we have a couple of snowstorms in the UK and the US, and everyone is ready to abandon the evidence in front of their eyes and believe that climate change is a myth.

Global Warming huh? Well if the globe is heating up so much, why did we have so much snow in Washington DC in February?

Maybe I am missing something, or maybe people are just been deliberately dense, but at what point did we allow a couple of isolated incidents to set a precedent against a convincing trend?

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world busiest airport, servicing some 88 million passengers annually and handling close to a million flights. Whilst most of those flights take-off and land as normal, on exceptionally rare occasions, one of those aircraft will crash. Now, just because one aircraft crashes, does that mean that we should abandon the principles of aviation? Should we give up on flights altogether? Of course not, because in everyday life we accept that occasionally, freaky things happen, but it’s just one of those things, and we don’t let the exceptions to the rule determine our actions.

People go on about the recent snow storms as though they were some sort of Black Swan Event. Nothing could be further from the truth. One isolated fall of snow, even a significant one such as was seen in February 2010, by no means disproves the theory that the planet in general is heating up.

It’s incredibly disheartening therefore, to see people latch onto isolated instances of cold weather and somehow devise from this that climate change is a myth.

Maybe all this snow is proof of climate change!

Maybe it’s the fault of environmental PR for misleading the general public with a confusing term like global warming. After all, cold is the exact opposite of warm, so if it’s cold enough to snow, then it can’t be simultaneously warm and cold! I wonder if proponents of such a theory suddenly expected the world to turn into a desert, where cold weather would be eradicated completely.

Well here’s a news flash – cold weather is not inconsistent with climate change. In this more aptly chosen buzz phrase, the key word is change. Holy cow, Philadelphia received the highest snow falls this winter it has ever gotten – guess what, that’s climate change right there in action. The climate is getting more extreme in its hot summers and cold winters than ever before, of that, surely there can be no doubt.

Global warming? Does that mean no winter?

Sadly it appears that there is doubt, despite the vast swathes of empirical evidence. A poll conducted last month by the BBC showed that skepticism surrounding climate change is growing, with one in four people believing climate change is not happening at all.

These 25 per cent are the ignorant, the naive and the stupid. The same people who will ironically claim that extreme snow fall somehow proves that the climate is not changing, without even realising the contradiction in their statement.

Climate change IS happening, it’s a simple fact. The problem that remains is whether we attribute the changes to the environment or to human intervention. Doubts may have been raised about the severity of human impact on climate change in the recent “Climategate” scandal, but what is certain is that human consumption of fossil fuels and production of CO2 is making some form of impact – it’s the degree of that impact that is uncertain.

Winter 2010 - Global Warming?

If we accept that humans are affecting the environment and in turn climate change, even to a very small degree, then we should also accept a duty to do something about said climate change. Pessimists might well believe that our efforts will be insignificant and that we cannot halt the tide of change, but one has only to look at the progress that can and has been made by those willing to believe and make a stand to see that small changes can make a difference.

Humans may not be the largest contributing factor to climate change, but we ARE a contributing factor, and no amount of snow can prove that climate change isn’t happening.

With that in mind, we should do our utmost to make the small changes, in order to affect big differences globally on our impact on climate change.

What do you have to say about Winter 2010 after digging out this year?

1:18
Garden Inspiration
» ‎ High Desert Diva

Tags: [edit]

The Sweet on Spring sale at Living in the Garden.Inside the conservatory, Suzanne St. Pierre in yellow.Carla Wesson Scotty Thompson's mosaic masterpiece.

Exterior detailsSeen in the garden...Talk to the hand

this blue pot = yummyand these...

This bench seat (and the pillows) came home with me...Sigh.

1:04
What's your state nut?
» ‎ she's just saying ...

Tags: [edit]
Why I enjoy living in Oregon
1. No valet parking in the entire state.
2. It's got ocean, mountains, desert, lakes, rivers and a cool city. And Bend, of course.
3. Tumbleweeds still roll through our airport parking lot.
4. The state schools' mascots are a Duck and a Beaver. Isn't that cute?
5. State motto: "She flies with her own wings." (Way better than WA: "Bye and bye.")
6. People are really chatty here (something that annoyed both sisters on visits).
7. It's the home of the hazelnut.
8. Only state with a trail named after it. Ever heard of the Ohio Trail?
9. No sales tax.
10. You don't have to pump your own gas: it's actually illegal. 'Nuff said.
The Official State Nut. The only state with an official nut, actually.

0:43
the vintage pearl {giveaway!!}
» ‎ Tangled and True

Tags: [edit]

It's official.. I am the big 3-0. Depressing? No, not nearly as bad as I thought, and my husband (with the help of a few amazing people) threw a surprise birthday celebration that will not soon be forgotten. (more details on that later). For now, let's talk about this amazing giveaway.
From the day I first laid eyes on the jewelry from the vintage pearl, I was in love.
First, not all hand stamped jewelry is created equal. I've learned that the hard way. This is the real deal. Beautiful, timeless and unique designs I haven't found anywhere else.

Are you excited? You should be! Look at these designs. They are beautiful. I have been daydreaming for weeks about how to customize one for myself, my mom, sister or favorite friend.

The layered mother of pearl is my absolute favorite... I would need to have quite a few more kids to fill it out, which isn't likely, so I think I'm going to go for the mother of pearl. What design would you choose?
Today's winner will receive a $50 gift certificate toward the item of their choice. Good Luck!!
Would you love to win? be sure to:*comment on this post - with your name*answer question above*extra entries for facebook, twitter, blog posts etc. (just leave a link back) or for becoming a follower.*giveaway will be open until 11:59 pm Thursday 3/11*winner will be announced Friday morning (or maybe Monday depending on the status of our move)

March 08, 2010
23:39
Press Release: Free Document Shredding Event & Food Drive Set for Saturday, March 20
» ‎ Hack Bend

Tags: Press Releases [edit]

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Data Delete of Oregon are collaborating March 20, to provide residents the opportunity to safely destroy personal documents and learn identity theft prevention tips. At the event, the Sheriff’s Office will also have a deputy available to collect outdated or unwanted prescription medication or over-the-counter drugs.

Data Delete of Oregon will be offering on-site document destruction at no cost to the public Saturday March 20. The event will take place at the Bend Sheriff’s Office parking lot, 63333 W Hwy 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

NEW this year: The Sheriff’s Office is asking event participants to consider bringing a donation of non-perishable food to benefit Neighbor Impact (www.neighborimpact.org). A Neighbor Impact representative will be at the event to collect food items and to answer questions about the organization.

The drug disposal program is designed to keep unwanted or unused medications away from abusers, children and animals. The program is also intended to reduce negative environmental impact by using proper disposal practices.

“We want to make Deschutes County citizens aware of the risks of improper document and drug disposal while helping local families at need in the community,” said Sheriff Larry Blanton.

The event is intended for private residential document shredding and drug disposal, not for business or company disposal. At the event, the Sheriff’s Office will also have an information booth to provide citizens with the information on how to avoid becoming an identity theft victim and what to do if you believe your identity has already been stolen.

No advance document sorting is necessary as shredding equipment can destroy paperwork with paper clips or staples attached. File folders and binders may also be shredded.

The Sheriff’s Office will continue its efforts of providing this service on a quarterly basis at Sheriff’s Offices in Sisters, Terrebonne and La Pine.

23:32
Session #38 announced
» ‎ The Brew Site

Tags: Theme Week [edit]

The roundup for Session #37 has been posted (hmm, seems a little sparse; I don’t see mine or several others I remember reading listed there yet…) and the topic for The Session #38 for April has been announced:

With Kate the Great Day a recent memory and the day of the Dark Lord fast approaching, I started thinking about what beer or beers that I would get up at 4:00 in the morning, drive across state lines, stand in a long unmoving line in the cold and rain for the chance to taste with a crowd the size of Woodstock.

So here is my question to you (with a couple addendums).

What beer have you tasted recently (say, the last six months or so) that is worthy of their own day in the media sun?

And to add a little extra to it, how does “great” expectations affect your beer drinking enjoyment?

AND If you have attended one of these release parties, stories and anecdotes of your experience will be welcomed too.

The host for April is Beer Search Party. The usual rules apply: publish your Session blog post on Friday, April 2nd, and shoot an email or leave a comment on the host blog. And be sure to read all the others posts that day, too—putting the “group” in “group blogging” you know.

22:57
February 2010 Bend Spirit Club: Irish Whiskey
» ‎ Bend Spirit Club

Tags: [edit]

Excellent tasting. I have a new appreciation for Irish Whiskey.

The food and beer pairing was probably cliché as hell but it worked great to complement the whiskey. Irish cheese, smoked salmon, dried cherries and mangos, and…. duh…. Guinness.
Knappogue Castle 1995
Tyrconnell Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Jameson 12 Year Old Special Reserve
Bushmills Black Bush
Redbreast Pure Pot Still Irish Whiskey

And some photos from the night…

I SAID DON’T TAKE MY PICTURE!!! I KILL YOU ALL!!!

Nah, it’s all good…

Great group!!

22:29
Based on a true story
» ‎ Run Bitches Run

Tags: [edit]

Tonight at a birthday dinner for my Tiny Running Pal, she confessed she's trying to turn another girlfriend to the dark side.

"So, I went for a walk with Ms. P the other day," TRP said, eying Ms. P across the table. "I've decided she needs to start running."

I took a bite of falafel (This is an important detail. The falafel was good.)

"Why?" I asked.

"Good question," TRP said, while Ms. P shook her head.

It all came down to a matter of pants size.

"Oh, if that's your concern, then do it," I said. "Sorry, I'm on her side. Run."

"OK," Ms. P admitted. "I'll admit, I'm intrigued by the idea."

"How long have you tried running before, did you get up to two to three times a week for a couple of months?" I asked.

She shook her head. No, she'd only lasted a couple of weeks.

"Then you don't know," I said. "Look, if I can run, and get to the point I enjoy it, you can run."

I spared her the details, about how profoundly lazy I was as a kid. How I'd fall asleep in my dinner. How I'd been on a swim team at one point, and though I'd shown some proclivity, I simply hadn't a competitive bone in my body. I'd finish a race, and my dad would be standing there, shaking his head.

"You were in first until the last few yards. You were winning," he said.

I'd shrug. Third was good, too. What was the big deal? Also, was snack time coming? And were we going to make it home in time for "Charles In Charge"?

In the car on the way home from dinner, Ms. P admitted it may be time. She may be willing to hit the trail. But, she was clear on one point: Bitching and moaning is something she enjoys. She simply refuses to give it up. And although I'm lazy, I'm not much of a complainer. Still, I'm fine with the potential bitching. I want to join TRP and Ms. P on the trail.

I've decided the physical therapists have three weeks to get my heel in shape, or I'm searching out an injection. I need to join them. I can't let Ms. P and TRP run without me.

22:27
I’m probably way off base
» ‎ Beth Patterson

Tags: [edit]

A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That are Transforming the Faith by Brian McLaren A Christian synchroblog that I have written with sometimes in the last few years has sort of gone extinct. Every now and again a theme for a synchronized blog raises...(read more)

22:10
Ben Westlund - R.I.P.
» ‎ Bend OR Bust

Tags: [edit]

Sad to hear of Ben Westlund's passing on Sunday. Oregon's state treasurer had battled lung cancer, beginning in 2003 and returning with a fatal vengeance in October of last year.
He was a Bend-area political chameleon, changing affiliations to remain in a position of influence. To some, that makes him a political opportunist. To others, it showed how a man can change for the better.
He was first elected to the state Senate as a Republican opposed to "special rights" for gays and lesbians. This was when Republicans held majorities in the Legislature, but faced "Dr. No" John Kitzhaber in the governor's chair who would veto the screwy bills Republicans concocted.
In 2004, Westlund won re-election, but the state Senate was now controlled by the Democrats. Also that year, Oregon voters rejected marriage for homosexuals.
Eyeing statewide elective office, Westlund stunned the Republicans by championing civil unions for homosexuals. Afterall, the anti-gay marriage folks insisted during the campaign that they weren't against civil unions, but they lied.
Naturally, Westlund's stance enraged his Republican base. Westlund had no shot of ever getting elected again as a Republican, particularly from conservative Central Oregon.
So, he switched to become an independent and ran for governor in 2006. Once he realized he had no shot at winning, he dropped out of the race and endorsed the incumbent Ted Kulongoski, a Democrat.
This placed him in the Democratic camp, which gained control of both chambers of the Legislature for the first time since 1989. So, Westlund morphed into a Democrat.
Because of his health battles, Westlund knew how fortunate he was to have health insurance and pushed for insurance coverage to those far less fortunate.
In 2008, riding the Obama wave, Westlund was elected state treasurer as a Democrat.
Westlund was a child of affluence who embraced the Republican claim to upper class entitlement. Once he saw how hollow that was, he changed his views.
He developed a big heart as the air was being sucked out of him through lung cancer.
He cared about Oregon and what was best for the state.
Republicans, who usually hate Democrats and hold particular disdain for a turncoat, had nice things to say about Westlund after he died.
From The Oregonian:
"I will say one thing about Ben Westlund -- he tried to make things better," said Senate Minority Leader Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day. "And I have to say, at the end of the day, that he succeeded. He left things better than he found them."
Good for Ben Westlund. He showed how compromise and tolerance do more for the public good than obstinance and intolerance.
Here's hoping that Republicans and Democrats in Salem learn something from Westlund's legacy.

21:17
Flat Tire!
» ‎ Fox CX

Tags: [edit]

Damn, a flat tire. That was my race, but certainly not the end of my day. What an awesome day ripping around the pastures and vineyards of Echo. Race report and photos coming soon.

21:00
In You Alone
» ‎ Pressing On

Tags: [edit]

This is the sixth in a series of journal entries begun in October, 2009. Please see initial post on February 21, 2010.
October 23rd and 24th
Suttle Lake Retreat with the Women of TFAB

“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul, O my God, in you I trust. Let me not be put to shame, let not my enemies exalt over me. Make me to know your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths. Lead me in your truths and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation, for you I will wait all day long.” Psalm 75

This is my prayer, O God, for this week-end retreat and for the days and weeks and months which shall unfold. I lift up my soul to you, although sometimes, as I am so keenly aware, it is had to get my eyes off myself and back upon you. This I know, in you I trust…let me not be put to shame…even more…let me not bring shame upon your name, Jesus, my precious Savior.

“In you alone is where I find my comfort, in you alone is my security, in you alone is where I find my shelter…only in you alone.” May I find firm footing when I stand only upon you. When I am weak Lord, as I know I will be, I pray you will be my strength. When asked of the hope that is within me, may I be quick to declare your glory.
In this season Lord, more than I have ever known, make me to know your ways. Show me your paths that I may skip along them, as a hind in high places. Lead me in your truth - may your truth be upon my lips and heart – may I speak of naught but what you are showing me.

You are the God of my salvation. Such hope is mine. May each new day bring new desire to simply wait upon you.

You have created me to praise you, O God. In that I find my greatest joy. Such glory I found in your presence in worship this morning, oh that I might have remained there forever! Eternity's beauty pierced my heart, how I long to be in that place forever with you.

And yet…I desire to be here. To share of what you are dong in me, to somehow communicate your great love and tender mercy. Tonight Lord, I will attempt to share something of that with these precious women. Give me words to speak, not of my own, but of your Spirit. May my words speak only of you, Jesus, you and you alone.

20:49
Giant Loop Rider Jim Thomson Camping in Washington with Great Basin Saddlebag
» ‎ Go Light. Go Fast.

Tags: [edit]

Hey man, just thought I would share. This was our camp spot (with my Great Basin in action) this weekend. The lights you can see at the end of the lake are the lights of this cool old dam, built in the '50s, that dams up the river (the picture doesn’t do justice to how deep this canyon is). Second camping trip of the year. Thanks, Jim

FOR THE REST OF THE STORY, CLICK THE HEADLINE LINK. GiantLoopMoto.com.

19:28
PPB Winner!!
» ‎ Tangled and True

Tags: [edit]

Sorry this is late getting up, we are in a packing whirlwind! Stay tuned tomorrow for another fabulous giveaway!!!

Congratulations Tori! Please email me (tangledandtrue@gmail.com) by Wednesday morning to claim your prize.

18:06
JUST LISTED: Fantastic Gresham Condo!
» ‎ Fred Real Estate Group

Tags: [edit]

Spacious 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom condo in Gresham. Offered at $134,900!

18:01
Bend racers place well @ “The Great Ski Race”
» ‎ Central Oregon Athlete

Tags: [edit]

Bend’s Andrew Boone was 9th, Colin Mahood 15th and Damon Kluck 26th @ the 35th Great Ski Race in Lake Tahoe.
FULL RESULTS

17:48
JUST LISTED: Charming SE Portland home
» ‎ Fred Real Estate Group

Tags: [edit]

Priced to sell! Charming 2 bedroom/1 bathroom SE Portland home. Offered at $149,900!

17:45
Breaking News: Some Bullshit Happening Somewhere
» ‎ Trading for the Masses

Tags: Trading [edit]

Random BS happening somewhere right now. Can we drag this out for another hour? This is what this market feels like right now. Meaningless market continues to meander aimlessly. Bullshit! more about "Breaking News: Some Bullshit Happenin…", posted with vodpod Filed under: Trading [...]
17:42
The Pink Panther Strikes Again parallel bars
» ‎ Trading for the Masses

Tags: Trading [edit]

If you are over trading this market check yourself or you may end up like Inspector Clouseau doing the parallel bars. more about "The Pink Panther Strikes Again parall…", posted with vodpod Filed under: Trading

17:16
Bend Brewing Co. release at Abbey Pub
» ‎ The Bend Beer Blog

Tags: [edit]

The BBB was just at Abbey Pub on the west side for our Monday beer, and we found out Bend Brewing is having a release party for its Doppel Bock today, at 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. And you can meet the BBC brewer. Go check it out!

And sorry if you got a goofy feed from us...I was trying to post from my mobile earlier, and that ended up being a lot of gibberish. We're still trying to work out the kinks.

17:10
A Quiet Mind?
» ‎ Elan Vital Anthology

Tags: [edit]
This afternoon, after a successful morning of working - I felt like taking a nap with my adorable little daughter. Now that she's in her big-girl bed (read: crib), I figure I've only got so many of these lazy afternoons left - so I'd better take full advantage of them. Trouble was, once I rest my weary head to my pillow, my mind began to stir.
Thoughts took flight like a chaotic flock of seagulls, dipping and diving through my brain - each one showing only a glimpse of its wing before the next appeared.
sourceIt really was a mess. I thought about:
- Making these bloomers that Alli blogged about, over at One Pearl Button.
- Contacts, schedules, and articles for the "Eco-Clean How-To Week"
- Finishing some of my crafty projects already, like my sexy adult version of these baby blocks
from Rachel Denbow's tutorial at Smile & Wave (I just can't WAIT to show y'all those!)
- Starting an indoor herb garden for my kitchen and my Julia Child moments
- A super-cute design for dust cloths (yes, I've got cleaning on the brain, over here!)
- How I should stop thinking about all of this and enjoy the nap with Marley.
- How I should get off my ass and at least do one of these things.
- How I should just blog about this.
There were probably at least a hundred other thoughts fluttering by like so many butterflies, too flimsy to catch and keep. But at least I caught one of those thoughts and settled on it, huh?
source
Yeah for Me!
If you've got some secrets for how to quiet a busy mind, please share them with me - obviously, I could use some help in this area. And if you've got the same problem - let me know - misery loves company [elanvitalanthology.blogspot.com] http://elanvitalanthology.etsy.com

17:05
Generalissimo
» ‎ David VanKeuren's Photography

Tags: [edit]

David VanKeuren's Photography
17:04
Yellow
» ‎ David VanKeuren's Photography

Tags: [edit]

David VanKeuren's Photography

16:34
The Unforgiven, Scott D. Davis – solo piano
» ‎ Trading for the Masses

Tags: Trading [edit]

Rock concert pianist Scott D. Davis performs “The Unforgiven” by Metallica on a solo grand piano. From a house concert in Florence, Oregon, June 6, 2009. This arrangement also appears on his CD “ more about "The Unforgiven, Scott D. Davis – solo…", posted with vodpod Filed under: [...]

16:30
New Monoprints Layered with Drawing and Painting
» ‎ Create and Relate

Tags: [edit]

Blending spirit with physical energy is a direction in my original art work that is now surfacing in different images for me. Working with the art form of the monotype at Atelier 6000 printmaking studio has opened new ways for me to translate creative inspiration to image and surface.www.CristinaAcosta.com artist, illustrator, color consultant & designer, speaker, educator, writer & author of Paint Happy!

15:33
Chubby Mommy and Perky Mommy, the Movie
» ‎ Chubby Mommy Running Club

Tags: [edit]

Here is Luann over at Training for Fun and me, in all our glory. We are being featured on KBNZ's Media Minute today (KOIN, channel 6 in Portland and Bend, airs 7 times today!) which profiles interesting people and businesses in Bend, Oregon. This is quite flattering, if you think about it, because at least someone thinks we're interesting.
Here's the video: Chubby Mommy and Perky Mommy - Look! We're working out in this video - for real! It's not even staged! We're super natural and fun! Just like usual!

Here's what's not flattering: my stomach, doing sit ups. I'd like to blame Brandon, the camera man, but he's not the one who made my chubby tummy. I guess I am the one who made it. I guess I have to keep doing sit ups.
Thanks for watching.

15:22
? ?:h v???2 DG?Aby?^?? ...
» ‎ The Bend Beer Blog

Tags: [edit]

? ?:h v???2 DG?Aby?^??
15:21
? ?2(,/???? ???bq9 ?????? ??A??? 2??n2?]???bq9 ????? ...
» ‎ The Bend Beer Blog

Tags: [edit]

? ?2(,/???? ???bq9 ?????? ??A??? 2??n2?]???bq9 ????? ? ???3( ?????? ????<?????e7 $???i?? J?Os?Y?n?j? D ?n? d~?Att9- ??px? ??k (?&??

14:57
Frank....er Francine?
» ‎ Diner Life

Tags: [edit]

His name is Frank. Most people know him here in Central Oregon as that big guy with the crazy car. His latest car is a Chrysler Sebring convertible. You might have seen him driving down the road in a snowstorm with the top down, his dogs and cats hanging out the side. He has glued a montage of things on his hood and trunk attempting to turn his car into a work of art. I am kind of surprised that he has not been pulled over to insure that nothing will fly off going down the road and hit the car behind him.

Frank has been to just about all the churches in town. I recall the first time that I saw him, years ago in my church he was making demands that people needed to feed him. A few years back, he began playing a guitar down town close to the Pine Tavern and I actually thought that was OK. At least he was earning his keep.

He has come in in the evening a time or two and although has been demanding and annoying, he has not given me what I would call true cause to ask him to leave. Even lately, with his newest attempt at either art or making a statement. Frank has decided to become a cross-dresser. We all just pretty much ignored that...just as long as he didn't bother anyone.

This morning, as the Band of Brothers began to filter in, Cindy warned me that he was there. I looked and saw him in the entry way but it didn't look as if he was going to stay and I figured if he goes into the back room and just eats, who cares.

I was making a coffee round and the room was filling up when I noticed him. He had brought a chair over to the entryway to the main floor. He sat down on that chair, facing the guys on the floor. Hiking up his short dress, he sat legs spread right out so that all could see his fishnet stockings and blue panties. His blouse cut clear down to his belly button, with gaudy necklaces and ear rings dangling down. He had make up on and had combed his hair in a sort of bangs.

I walked up to him and asked him to move. I told him that he was blocking the entrance which was very much the truth. I hoped that he would just leave or at least go into the back room and not cause to much of a scene. But no such luck.

The next time that I came into the room, he was talking to Zin about joining the group. I grabbed Zin and asked him to follow me. We went into the waitress station and I explained that I was going to have to do something. "This is going to get real ugly if I don't, you know that.", I said. Zin agreed to back me up and one of the girls yelled into me that I needed to do something now as a couple of the vets were just about to take matters into their own hands.

I stepped out onto the floor with Zin on my back. Frank was explaining to Lauren, our vet who takes the pictures that when he takes his picture, he wants a full on shot, not just his face. "Frank!", I spoke, louder than normal. "Please follow me." I lead him to the entry way and out one of the doors. I was so glad that he agreed to follow me because I was in my mind preparing for if he refused. I knew there were enough big vets in that room that if we needed to we could just carry him out.

I was happy to see Tony, another friend and brother standing at the end of the building. With adequate backing, I made my announcement, "Frank, I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone and I am now refusing service to you. Please leave and don't come back.". Now I have heard that Frank has an anger problem but he could easily see that he was far out manned with the two marines by my side. He started to walk away and then turned around and said, "But, they let gays in the military now.". "I don't give a damn about that, Frank, you are not welcomed her. Please leave and do not come back.".

With that, he left. I stood there shaking from the ordeal. I turned to Zin and said, "I have been in this business over 30 years now and I can count on one hand the number of people that I have said what I just said to him. In all my years, he is my third.". I went back into my office to help calm my nerves. I am sure that my face was quite red from it all. Judy stuck her head in the door and suggested that I call the police to at least get it on record of which I did. They told me that the next time he comes in to call them and they will make it official. After that, if he comes back in, it is criminal trespass.

As I walked through the floor pouring coffee, vet after vet thanked me for doing what I had done. But, through it all, I have no anger or hatred for Frank. Only sadness and sorrow that he feels the need for attention so badly that he does what he does. I just only hope that he heeds my words and that we don't have the need for another confrontation.

14:46
Why Aren’t You Running With Me, Mom?
» ‎ Training For Fun!

Enclosure: [download]

Tags: [edit]

Striking a Pose?

What do you get when you mix two goofy girls and a guy with a camera? Click this link and see:

Chubby Mommy Running Club

Julie and I were excited to talk with Brandon Anderchuk at KBNZ Local News 6 about our fitness blogs (you can always get a laugh over at Chubby Mommy Running Club and great family fitness tips right here on trainingforfun.com), and Julie’s upcoming trip to FitBloggin. If this video isn’t proof that it is possible to have fun working out, I don’t know what will convince everyone!

The best part though, is what my son said after he watched it: “Why are you running without me, Mom? I have my workout clothes on.” Now that’s my inspiration!

14:22
Monday Things
» ‎ Violaceous

Tags: [edit]

Just a few random things from today...
Making: A little package I put together for a swap partner - vintage buttons on a handmade card. Pretty cute, I humbly say.

All wrapped up and ready to go.

Dreaming: An idea from my favorite magazine; how to make an outdoor bath that you can heat up with a propane stove. I really don't think I can talk my husband into this without him thinking I'm a little weird, or that I could actually take a bath outside with someone (Lucy) pulling the curtains open and running off with something. But the idea sounds wonderful. Someday...

Feeling: My itchy growing tummy. Itch, itch, itch. I'm a little scared because this photo is from today, at 15 1/2 weeks. How big am I going to be towards the end!?
Tired. Lucy has a terrible cold and is teething her bottom molars, which means she's up every 3-4 hours all night long and is sensitive and fussy during the day. Poor sweetie.
What do you have going on today?

14:14
thumpology: Exploration of Brewing Techniques
» ‎ thumpology

Tags: [edit]

Siphon Brewing

Last month, we described in depth the press pot (aka, French Press) brewing method, its ease of use resulting in a great cup of coffee. This exploration prompted us to change our format for a few upcoming public coffee tastings, or cuppings, (usually the third Sunday of each month). Instead of comparing different coffees from around the world, in March we will compare the same bean, using different brewing methods. Each brewing method brings out different characteristics in the coffee. We will examine a handful of brewing methods, such as drip coffee, press pot, Hario pour over method and siphon brewer.

Join us for this mad scientist’s experimentation and discover your favorite brewing method. Feel free to ask questions that will help you improve how you brew coffee at home!

Our March Cupping is Sunday, March 21, 1:30pm-2:30pm at thump.

14:08
KOHD News Is No More
» ‎ UtterlyBoring.com

Tags: Local [edit]

This news broke last week on Oregon Media Central, but KOHD made it official: KTVZ will be the only game in town for local TV news broadcasts, as KOHD is going to be rebroadcasting KEZI news out of Eugene, with a few packages created by a few Bend-based reporters. KOHD will still exist as a station, but they won't have a local news broadcast. This comment sums it all up nicely.

Honestly, I liked the look/feel of the KOHD broadcast, and felt they did have some good people, but their Web site absolutely sucked. While KTVZ's is full of ads (they have to pay the bills), at least there is useful content and conversation there. For those of us who aren't able to be in front of a TV when the news actually is broadcast on TV, online local news is important to me. Thanks to Barney's inability to ever stop working (I don't think that dude sleeps), KTVZ has the best online local news content. (The Bulletin's might be good, too, but it's mostly hidden behind a paywall.) KOHDs site was usually riddled with typos, layout errors, and ugly grammatical errors, and I never considered it a useful place for online news.

That being said, competition in a market is always good. But it appears KTVZ doesn't have any now, since KOHD and KBNZ are both just broadcasting sister-station content (and KTVZ-parent company NPG also owns the local Fox affiliate, so that eliminates the other major network).

Update: Forgot to even check, but Jon at HackBend is all over this, too. I knew about the news a few days ago as well, but with Band concerts and other family functions and work projects, this is the first I've been able to post anything.

13:49
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
» ‎ Escape to Books

Tags: the south [edit]

Each year the Deschutes County Public Library picks a novel and encourages the whole community to read it. This year’s “A Novel Idea” is The Help. This novel is set in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960’s and focuses on the lives of black maids in white households.

This was a very interesting novel to read. It was not a tradition to have maids where I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and so this is a window into a whole different life where a woman invites another woman into her house to clean it and to raise her children. Added to the mix is that the maids were always black and that segregation was in full force during this time period. One of the maids in the story, Aibileen, has to listen to a discussion about building a separate bathroom for her in the garage so that she won’t “contaminate” the inside bathrooms.

The main plot is that a white woman, Skeeter, has returned home and is hoping to break into journalism. She sees how Aibileen is treated at her friend’s house and comes up with the idea of writing the stories of black maids. Aibileen agrees to do it and after much coercing and some traumatic events finds other maids that are also willing to talk with Skeeter. During this time period Medgar Evers is shot in Jackson and the author brings that into the story. It highlights the danger these maids are exposing themselves to by simply telling their stories, even anonymously.

It did take me some time to get into the dialect used in parts of the story. The story is told by alternating from the points of view of Skeeter, Aibileen, and another maid Minny. I also found it hard to believe the characterization of some of the white women in the story. For example, Skeeter’s friend, Elizabeth, seems to really dislike her own child. It is an interesting look into the everyday lives of people who were not actively engaged in the civil rights movement, yet were impacted by it, either by trying to keep the old ways of segregation or by trying to live in a different, and at that time, unacceptable way.

In looking at the events the library will be putting on around this book, it is great to see there will be some discussions about segregation and civil rights leaders as well as demonstrations of Southern cooking. I’m hoping they’ll add some events for kids.

Escape to Books

13:48
ART: Photography by Dave Kamperman
» ‎ thumpology

Tags: [edit]

Scenic Oregon landscape photographs and hand-built frames by Dave Kamperman are on display throughout March. A professional shooter for more than 30 years, Kamperman’s move to Bend from Pittsburgh in 1983 inspired a transition from formal wedding and portrait photographer to landscape and outdoor portraits.

“For me, the Northwest, and in particular Oregon, allows us to witness God’s creative power in all its diversity,” explains Kamperman. “Since we too are part of God’s creation, it seems right that the one should complement the other. My goal as a professional photographer is to portray each of His creations in all of their character and beauty by producing the highest possible quality images. In doing this, I believe that both the Creator and His creations are honored.”

For the last 5 years, Kamperman has created unique custom frames for his works, starting with a rough-cut piece of solid hardwood lumber. “No two frames are exactly alike, even if they come from the same board,” he says. “It is always exciting for me to see exactly what the wood has to reveal when it is combined with the appropriate matting and image. For this reason, I am beginning to enjoy the matting and framing aspect of my art – almost – as much as the photography itself.”

For more about Kamperman and his art, visit the Dave Kamperman Photography website.
13:42
march featured coffee: Burundi Bwayi Direct Trade
» ‎ thumpology

Tags: [edit]

Stumptown Coffee Roasters has worked for several years with Burundi coffee growers to bring their coffee to us, and we’re excited and grateful to share in the fruits of their labor! Here’s how Stumptown describes the Burundi Bwayi Direct Trade: “Violet and raisin aromatics open the flavor gates to perfectly clean notes of plum, black cherry and orange zest that are complimented by a syrupy body.”

Stumptown writes that “Bwayi is one of the pearls in our East African Direct Trade program. We’ve been working closely with this group of farmers over the past three years. In addition to improved cherry selection and a return to double fermentation, a la the Kenyan style, we’ve now installed a pre-drying stage to the Bwayi process. This addition has given the coffee’s mouth feel pronounced depth. Our quality control team cupped through each day of the harvest to construct this lot of coffee.”

If you ever wondered what goes into bringing you exceptional coffees through Direct Trade relationships between Stumptown and coffee growers around the world, check out Aleco Chigounis’s source trip notes. To read specifically about coffees from Burundi, scroll down to Burundi March 15, 2008, when Aleco was establishing Direct Trade relationships and sharing observations about life in Burundi.
13:37
around town: Two Young Artists & Writers Programs
» ‎ thumpology

Tags: [edit]

In this new occasional feature, we’ll highlight cool things people are doing to promote our community and creativity! This month, we spotlight two innovative collaborative programs in downtown Bend that support young artists and writers: Poet House’s CADA/CASA Project and Dudley’s Bookshop Café & The Nature of Words’ Storefront Project.

Poet House & CADA/CASA (next door to Thump, above the Wine Shop): Slam poetry and the art of hip-hop, stencil graffiti, silk screening and t- shirt design, art movements and technique, and more are being offered to high school students across Central Oregon by CADA/CASA, a community education project. Currently, they have students interested in taking these classes who do not have the financial means. Please visit the CADA/CASA website to learn how you can become a sponsor.

Dudley’s Bookshop Café & The Nature of Words (135 NW Minnesota Ave.): The Storefront Project is a new program that provides free drop-in creative writing workshops and one-on-one writing and language arts tutoring for middle- and high-school students. It aims to appeal to all segments of young writers, including traditional and alternative school students, home schoolers, homeless students, and everyone who is interested in developing creative writing skills. Students can drop in any time and participate in a workshop on Mondays or Thursdays between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. Individual tutoring is available after the workshops.

For details and to make a donation, please visit the Nature of Words website.

The Bend Bulletin recently reported on the Storefront Project. (Note: You will need an online Bulletin subscription to read the full article).

13:35
A great place to watch a game in Bend
» ‎ Central Oregon Athlete

Tags: [edit]

Brother Jon’s Public House on Galveston is a great place to watch sports and eat some delish food! I was sitting in front of three TVs there watching NBA, golf and a snowboard video… pretty hard to beat!

13:30
Echo Red-to-Red
» ‎ Bend and Beyond

Tags: [edit]

Don told me the Trek EX 9.8 would change my life. Considering I have fallen in love with mountain bike riding, I have to tell him he was right.
Saturday I joined the herd of folks rolling out through Echo for the second running of the Red-to-Red. All the Pro, Cat 1 and Singlespeed men and women started together. Strange feeling to start a race and have no idea who you are racing against. The Women’s field was swallowed up by the Men’s field. There could have been 100 women starting that race or just 3. Turns out there were 16. I saw only one of them the entire 29-mile race.
Endless ribbons of single track wound itself up the rolling Eastern Oregon landscape, a couple of steep climbs, a few slat bridges and a load of sunshine. There was nothing I would have rather been doing on Saturday afternoon.
The race unfolded pretty close to my expectations. I got passed on the descents and preceded to pass the same guys on the climbs. My confidence grew stronger as the race progressed and by the end, I felt like I was actually attacking the corners instead of letting them attack me. I have a lot of technical improvement to do, but the season is young, I have teammates who specialize in Super D and I have a new bike that I absolutely love riding.
When the results were posted, Sunnyside claimed 6 podium spots! Not a bad way to start off the season. I placed 1^st in the Cat 1 category, shared the podium with my stellar teammate Julie, and took home a bottle of wine and a sweet medal (which will be swiftly added to my nephew’s growing collection).
Now, off to pack and purchase books for my upcoming Spain adventure. Did I mention I was going to Spain? Did I mention how excited I am?

13:05
march @ thump
» ‎ thumpology

Tags: [edit]

Cupping – “Exploration of Brewing Techniques”
Sunday, March 21, 1:30-2:30pm
Learn how to brew better coffee at home! Join us for this exploration to determine your favorite brewing method — and feel free to ask questions that will help you improve your own coffee.

Trad Cap Happy Hour – Every Friday from 2:30pm – Close
Join us every Friday for a celebration of the classic Italian espresso drink, the Traditional Cappuccino. During TradCap Happy Hour – or Cappy Hour, if you will – enjoy half-priced traditional espresso drinks, dopios, macchiatos, and traditional cappuccinos. Many people have never ventured to try these delightful little drinks. No syrup, no chocolate, just espresso and perhaps a small embrace of milk steamed to sweet, velvety perfection!

ART: Photography by Dave Kamperman
Scenic Oregon landscape photographs and hand-built frames by Dave Kamperman are on display throughout March. A professional shooter for more than 30 years, Kamperman’s move to Bend from Pittsburgh in 1983 inspired a transition from formal wedding and portrait photographer to landscape and outdoor portraits. READ THE REST

Seasonal Bites & Sips

Baked Treats
• Scrumptious Cupcakes
• Berry Poundcake
• Cocoa Banana Bread
• Apple Spice Bread
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
• Blackberry Bars
• Frankly Naturals Gluten Free Bars

Seasonal Drinks
• Burundi Bwayi Direct Trade
• Nutty Love Mocha
• Peppermint Mocha
• Organic /Fair Trade Loose Leaf Teas
• Kombucha Mamma, by the bottle
• Hot Lips Fruit Juice Sodas

Thump Travel Mugs & T-Shirts! We’re fully stocked – check out the display at the front of the shop!

Kombucha Mama is now available by the bottle at Thump! Look for them in the grab & go case.

12:44
Latest LSA Announcement: Willie Nelson Coming to Bend
» ‎ The Blender

Tags: les schwab Amphitheater [edit]

Here it is, the next installment of Guess Who's Coming to the Les Schwab Amphitheater?

And in this edition, we're announcing a familiar name to the LSA stage, Mr. Willie Nelson. The Red Headed Stranger last played the LSA in 2007 and is touring this summer in support of his upcoming album, Country Music. This year's show is slated for Friday, September 17.

This is the second country artist to make the LSA schedule thus far, joining legend Merle Haggard, who will play on June 20Read More...

11:59
Oscar Moments
» ‎ Sentences We Love

Tags: [edit]

"The Best Picture category was doubled - and all of us in Hollywood thought one thing: 'What's five times two?"

Steve Martin, Hosting the 2010 Academy Awards

There were many moments from last night's Oscar's best forgotten. The loud woman who interrupted an acceptance speech, Sean Penn's bizarre ad lib, the blue face gag, and several of the dresses. But Steve Martin's wit showed in several moments during the long night. His humor also shines in his books. Martin closed the evening with...

"Ladies and gentlemen, the show is so long that Avatar now takes place in the past."

11:45
And the winner is ...
» ‎ Bend OR Bust

Tags: [edit]

Women.
Kathryn Bigelow's Oscar for best director for the Iraq war film "The Hurt Locker" should help the cause of other women who want to direct films, but it's still going to be a long, hard slog.
That's because "The Hurt Locker" was the lowest-grossing movie ever to win best picture at about $15 million. As they say in the trades, it never opened.
In Hollywood, as in every other human endeavor, it's always about the money. Bigelow won enormous respect with her film and now Oscar, but in order to buy clout in Hollywood, you gotta show them the money.
Perhaps "The Hurt Locker" will get a modest bump from winning the big awards -- picture, direction, writing and editing -- but it still won't make what "Avatar" makes in a single day three months after it was released. "Avatar" has grossed $2.5 billion worldwide. As co-host Alex Baldwin quipped when the camera zeroed in on James Cameron, "Avatar" creator and Bigelow's ex-husband, "That cutaway of James Cameron just earned $3 million."
I'm sure Cameron was a little miffed "Avatar" didn't win best picture, but pleased that it won the awards it definitely should have for technical achievement: visual effects, cinematography and art direction.
Speaking of the co-hosts, Baldwin along with Steve Martin, it went better than expected. They had some quick jokes that nailed it. Some were even edgy: "Christoph Waltz played a Nazi (in 'Inglourious Basterds') obsessed with finding Jews," Martin said. "Well, Christoph," he then gestured across the Kodak Theater, "(here's) the mother lode."
In spite of that jab, Waltz had the classiest acceptance speech all night.
When the screenwriter for "Precious," Geoffrey Fletcher, won in an upset over "Up in the Air" for best adaptation, he gave an emotional, personal speech. Immediately afterward, Martin quipped, "I wrote that speech."
Yes, the awards show was too long and boring during stretches, but it's always been that way and likely always will. When it ended, Martin joked the show was so long, "that Avatar now takes place in the past."
The doubling of best picture nominees to 10 seemed to help ratings because they were up 14 percent over last year and the highest in five years.
But, back to Bigelow. She was clearly stunned by all the adulation as Barbra Streisand handed her the Oscar. (Streisand is famous for many things including not being nominated for directing "Yentl" in 1983 even though she won the Golden Globe for it.)
It should inspire girls and young women that they, too, can direct movies someday, and be successful at it. If women can flourish directing war films, their possibilities are endless.
Different voices and viewpoints are always welcome, especially at the movies.
Here's the official list of winners.

11:31
Bend Oregon Home Buyers Beware
» ‎ Bend Oregon Real Estate Blog

Tags: [edit]

Bend Oregon buyers should be aware that inventories of homes for sale in Bend are down substantially. The graph below is self explanatory. It shows inventories are way down. Sales and pending sales are headed up. Pending sales have more than doubled in the past year.

Bend Oregon Home Sales

Many of the pending sales are bank foreclosures. There are some really good buys out their right now. We are seeing some amazing buys out there. I just showed a house in Broken Top, one of Bend’s most prestigious neighborhoods. It was listed for $475,000 and had sold for $960,000 in 2006. It’s value could have been over $1,000,000 at the peak in 2007.

So the bottom line is most homes are now selling at half the price they were at the peak of the market. More and more buyers are snatching up the good buys and inventories are down. I think we are hitting the bottom of the market right now. I think it will be a flat recovery but now is definitely the time to buy!

Falling Home Inventory

If you’re thinking about buying a home in Bend you should sign up for Jim’s free New Listing Notification Service or call or e-mail today. Jim Johnson is a Certified Residential Specialist and has been selling quality homes in Bend Oregon since 1981.

Call 541-389-4511 or see his web site to search the MLS - Bend Oregon Real Estate. Jim is licensed by the State of Oregon as the Principal Broker for Bend Oregon Real Estate Expert. E-MAIL or go to Bank Foreclosure Information.

If you have questions about Bend or Bend real estate just type in the subject in the search box in the right hand column and click search. You can use this blog as your search engine for Bend Oregon real estate and many subjects about Bend.

11:13
State basketball preview – the Bulletin
» ‎ Central Oregon Athlete

Tags: [edit]

Four to the floor
Two boys teams and two girls teams from Central Oregon took very different routes to their respective state tournaments

11:05
PS22 Chorus “LISZTOMANIA” Phoenix
» ‎ Trading for the Masses

Tags: Trading [edit]

This is the way music and all disciplines should be taught in school. With realism and music that kids like, they will have fun and perform and learn in the best way imaginable. I love this style of teaching. Thanks for the hard work kid and keep it up!! [...]

10:44
We Would Rather Drink Manchuela Wines!
» ‎ WAVE Journey.com

Tags: [edit]

WAVEJourney.com contributor Lucy Komisar talks about her recent wine-tasting in NYC and discovering the wines of Manchuela.

I was sitting next to Chris Campbell, who described himself as "an Irish Catholic kid from Queens" who learned about Spanish wines working in bars and restaurants in New York for 15 years. He said, "I realized Spanish wine was coming on and that importers were bringing in the safe stuff." He became an importer, and his C&P Wines is bringing in red Bobal from the Manchuela wine region, which you may have never heard of. I met him at a Manchuela wine-tasting at a restaurant in New York, where on his left was Juan Antonio Ponce, whose private winery Bodegas y Viñedos Ponce do Manchuela makes 50,000 bottles of Bobal a year.

Click here to continue the article:
www.wavejourney.com/TaleManchuela.html

Salud!
Viv and Jill
AKA: WJ

10:31
John Hussman: Why It's "Margin of Safety" Time
» ‎ My Back Pages

Tags: [edit]

I couldn't have written it better myself:
A deleveraging cycle is much like a secular bear market in that the market experiences a great deal of volatility, but tends to establish a sequence of troughs, each at lower levels of valuation (even if not at lower absolute prices). In that environment, there is significant risk of abrupt spikes in risk aversion (which implies abrupt price spikes to the downside), so you can't trade with "hot" valuation or market action criteria. It should be no surprise that Graham and Dodd wrote Security Analysis following the post-credit crisis period of the 1920's and 1930's. If there's one lesson from those environments, it is that valuations and the idea of a "margin of safety" takes precedence over all other considerations.

Here's to one mutual fund manager that doesn't think "cash is trash."
via hussmanfunds.com

Posted via web from jessefelder's posterous

9:41
Big Change Number 1.
» ‎ Oh No She Didn't!

Tags: [edit]

I said I have some big changes coming up in my life, so here is the first….. If you have read the About This Girl section on this blog, you will know that for years I have had no IDEA what to do with my life. I couldn’t really answer the question in college, when it [...]

9:37
A sad day for Oregon …
» ‎ Homeless on the High Desert

Tags: Oregon [edit]

Ben Westlund, 1949 – 2010

9:14
Quote Of The Week
» ‎ Harold's Blog

Tags: [edit]

"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me."
Isaiah 49:16 (i.e., the Bible passage that Sarah Palin quotes to justify her use of notes scribbled on the palm of her hand).

The Bible doesn't refer to teleprompters, so I guess that's why Palin has no problem attacking Obama for using them.

9:11
Beardapolluzza!
» ‎ best minimum wage job a middle aged guy ever had

Tags: [edit]

All right, Blazers.

I've had it.

Next time draft the 'best player available'.

Period.

**********

I don't know, Sandra Bullock seems like the same actress I first saw in DEMOLITION MAN.

That is....a lightweight.

Man, I really enjoyed Jeff Bridges winning, man. Really, man.

And we were saved from a giant ego speech by Cameron who is an Ego with Feet. All he's done is make the two biggest grossing films of all time....

Will they rerelease the Hurt Locker to the theaters?

**********

I ordered 30 copies of the TWILIGHT graphic novel.

Seemed like a good idea at the time, and now it's just seems crazy. It's easy to get carried away when you're trying to predict.

I'm getting some Mad Hatter Depp standups, which is going to be eye-catching, at least.

Also, a couple of copies of ABRAHAM LINCOLN, VAMPIRE HUNTER.

**********

There's a hilarious review of SPARTACUS on Salon, which says -- in a much funnier way -- some of the same things I've said; especially about boobies (she says boobs, I say boobies. Same thing.)

**********

I think every man in Bend should grow a beard.

That would be pretty cool. Visitors to Bend would be treated to a Beardland. A Beardtopia! A Beardfest!! Beardapolluzza!!!

The Beardiness would be spectacular. We'd be the hairiest town in North America. We'd be Yetisvelle. Sasquachs Unite!

What say you?

**********

Watching T.R. Reid, a journalist and author I was not aware of, for 3 hours on C-Span. (Yes, I lead an exciting life...) He very calmly and commonsensically diagnosed the health care system, and yet, two and a half hours into the program you still had nitwits calling in with questions he'd answered ten times already.

And, I'm not being political to point out that all the nitwit questions came from the right. No one is so deaf as those who refuse to hear.

Also, it was refreshing to see him at his desk and for him to say, "Turns out.....writing is hard."

Yep.

**********

Respect for the National Enquirer.

Sure...but has the mainstream media moved toward them or have they moved toward mainstream media?

************

Blogs are out of date?

Unhip?

Good. I'm back where I started.

9:02
MissTrade TV- Josh Harris of Infinity Futures talks Trading Futures, and what you should expect from full service Futures Broker with Matt Davio @misstrade
» ‎ Trading for the Masses

Tags: Trading [edit]

Josh was kind enough to sit down and tell us his story from the order taking side of the futures trading business. There’s more to a broker than an internet connection in my eyes. You should consider fail safes when your internet goes down, how do you handle orders if you need to work an [...]

8:56
Sums it up nicely …
» ‎ Homeless on the High Desert

Tags: g'da said [edit]

8:42
Tall in the Saddle - 100 Years of the Pendleton Round-Up
» ‎ The Lone Cowgirl

Tags: [edit]

If you have an opportunity to visit Portland, Oregon anytime between now and July 4, you must see the Oregon Historical Society Exhibit, Tall in the Saddle - 100 Years of the Pendleton Round-Up. The minute you walk in, you are transported back to another time in history as you feel the sandy, golden Pendleton earth beneath your feet. Make a right turn and you can imagine all the cowboy stories that were told around the table at Severe's Cowboy Hotel, complete with bunks and a poker table.

Saddles, spurs, chaps, hats, even a complete indian village wind you down corridors, each with music, video, photographs, letters, trophies and awards. Video clips from "American Cowboy" and "Oh, You Cowgirl!" will entertain with photographs, vintage footage of cowboys, cowgirls and indians. As well as interviews with some of the people who were there and tell the story of cowgirls and cowboys like Bertha Blancett and Jackson Sundown.

For more, great stories about the cowgirls, the unsung heroes of the west, visit [thecowgirlmovie.com]

8:41
Just Plain Stupid …
» ‎ Homeless on the High Desert

Tags: McMansion [edit]

“extensions of unemployment benefits keeps people from finding jobs“ That argument is absurd: “[W]hen the economy is deeply depressed, extending unemployment benefits not only helps those in need, it also reduces unemployment. That’s because the economy’s problem right now is lack of sufficient demand, and cash-strapped unemployed workers are likely to spend their benefits. In fact, [...]

8:34
Reminder: Band of Horses / She & Him ticket contest ends at noon today
» ‎ Frequency: The Bulletin's music blog

Tags: [edit]

We’re giving away two tickets to see Band of Horses and She & Him May 30 at Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend. The contest ends at noon today. Click here to enter.

8:10
Best Oscar Looks
» ‎ Official Shade Clothing Blog

Tags: [edit]

I have to say my favorite part about watching the Oscar's isn't watching the Oscars, but watching the red carpet. I love seeing what designers do for celebs for the most important night of the year.

Sandra Bullock, in Marchesa, and Cameron Diaz, in Oscar de la Renta, both looked beautiful and elegant in champagne gowns and bold red lips.

Chanel + Diane Kruger can do no wrong. I love both these Chanel looks! But Sarah Jessica Parker should think about laying off the mist on tan.

I love black evening gowns, they are tasteful and classy. Tina Fey wore a sophisticated Michael Kors look very well. And Carrey Mulligan, in Prada, was the most darling thing at the awards!
Oprah, in Carolina Herrera, and Gabourey Sidibe, in Marchesa, looked stunning in deep jewel toned blues.

Vera Farmiga, in Marchesa, and Penélope Cruz, in Donna Karan, looked brightfully bold in red dramatic gowns.

Prints can be tricky but when done well are amazing. I loved Maggie Gyllenhaal, in Dries Van Noten, and Rachel McAdams, in Elie Saab Haute Couture.

8:08
Search the Blog
» ‎ Community Learning Instructor

Tags: [edit]

Looking for something specific on the blog?

With 80 posts, many of which contain a great deal of information, it can be a daunting task to find just the right item. Sometimes using the keyword/labels in the sidebar can prove time consuming. The good news is that there is another way to find what you seek that is usually faster.

It is the search function in the upper left corner of the screen. Notice the Blogger icon with a blank area to its right. Type in a keyword or phrase in the blank area and click on the magnifying glass icon. Viola! The post(s) that contain the word(s) replaces the most current post.

8:01
Rockin' the Bard
» ‎ Blooming Eventually

Tags: [edit]

Of particular interest to anyone who has ever made-out in the back of a school bus...or wished they had...

An essay from my upcoming book, Chance of Sun: A Perfectly Imperfect Oregon Upbringing, is in this month's Oregon Quarterly Magazine.

Rockin' the Bard

7:41
I'm spending a few days on the ...
» ‎ The gr8ful grind

Tags: [edit]

I'm spending a few days on the Western side of the state and things are surely busting out all over as Spring weather appears to have arrived. So this week, we'll be posting much among the cherry blossoms. In this one, cherry blossoms recede into the far background from a small plaza along the Willamette River. (Click the thumbnail to see how far into the distance they go) Portland, Oregon; March

7:34
pictures.
» ‎ Tangled and True

Tags: [edit]

I am having my kids pictures taken on our stop in Utah (on our way to Colorado) in a couple weeks, and instead of obsessing over how I should be packing my house, or organizing, cleaning, throwing things away, I am obsessing about what they will wear in their pictures. Some things I like..
For Stella:Girls' organdy Bea dress

Converse Jack Purcell in sweet papaya
For Lily:
Girls cotton classroom dress (with some kind of funky belt or leggings)

Converse Jack Purcell in citron

For Finn:Paeja Vest Bulguska Print Shirt
Hahoe Plaid Shorts
I realize Finn doesn't match the girls and that these combos are a bit pricey, this is just preliminary picture dreaming. I would love suggestions if you've seen something you think would be perfect, and I of course will continue perusing right up until the last minute.

**Petunia Pickle Bottom winner will be up this afternoon, and another AMAZING giveaway tomorrow on my actual birthday. Don't miss it!!

7:18
Cash Is Trash Again For Mutual Fund Managers
» ‎ My Back Pages

Tags: [edit]

Tomorrow will mark the 1-year anniversary of the rally that has seen stocks surge over 70%. Evidently, mutual fund managers have decided it's now time to go all-in. Bloomberg reports:

Equity mutual funds are burning through cash at the fastest rate in 18 years, leaving them with the smallest reserves since 2007 in a sign that gains for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index may slow.
Cash dropped to 3.6 percent of assets from 5.7 percent in January 2009, leaving managers with $172 billion in the quickest decrease since 1991, Investment Company Institute data show. The last time stock managers held such a small proportion was September 2007, a month before the S&P 500 began a 57 percent drop, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
via bloomberg.com

The last time before that was never (via sentimentrader.com). And a year ago, at the bottom, funds held nearly twice as much cash as they do today. So I think it's safe to say this is a fairly accurate contrarian indicator.

Disclosure: long SDS

Posted via web from jessefelder's posterous

7:12
Monday [Flickr]
» ‎ Wrongdude

Enclosure: [download]

Tags: [edit]

carrrrrlos posted a photo:

Srsly?

7:11
You get what you think about
» ‎ Ethereal Graphics

Tags: [edit]

I'm keeping in mind my wishes for this year. I am really becoming aware of my thoughts and how they create my world. Thoughts are those yummy little ovals of color in the old-school water color paint tins and we...

6:47
After the opening HIghs last week ES up Net 2 for Last week
» ‎ Trading for the Masses

Tags: Trading [edit]

Interesting that after the opening 30 minute highs last week, meaning the first 30 minutes of trading 630 -7 am PST,we were only up +2 from that high to the close of the day for the week. All the action is muted intraday and the only moves have been in light volume overnite. Strange [...]

6:38
Alternative Energy For Dummies (Paperback)
» ‎ Solar Power -- Green Energy

Tags: [edit]

Review

“…this book really does offer a comprehensive picture of the possible future of energy…well priced.” (UK-Energy-Saving.com, August 6th 2009)

Get the truth about alternative energy and make it part of your life Want to utilize cleaner, greener types of energy? This plain-English guide clearly explains the popular forms of alternative energy that you can use in your home, your car, and more. Separating myth from fact, this resource explores the (more…)

5:34
Wesson's Bunkhouse
» ‎ High Desert Diva

Tags: [edit]

We were invited to stay at the Bunkhouse of friends Carla & Rich over the weekend. Our 7 1/2 hour drive took us to Pullman, Washington, a college town/farming community smack on the Idaho border.
The Bunkhouse as seen from the driveway.Welcome.Love the vintage leather chairs and the cozy fire place.Rich & Carla made the Murphy bed (which also folds out into a table).The details...Carla made the quilt. The pillowcases are vintage with embroidered flowers.
Trux wanted to go chase rabbits.The entry hall has a built-in bench and storage. Ladder to loft.The bathroom countertop is brass which is turning a charming speckled verdi-gris. The faucet and metal wash tub used as vessel sink are vintage.
Details.Looking out at the morning frost.
Our hosts: Carla and Rich Wesson.
Sometimes one hears people say they built their home. In reality, they had it built. Carla and Rich are professional do-it-yourselfers. They built the bunkhouse and did all the finish work. The carpentry by Rich complete with vintage square nail detail. Carla is a master tile setter and did all the tile work, mixed her own paint color for the walls which she refers to as Palouse Green, and handmade the quilt that adorns the bed. The thoughtfulness that went into the building of this space is remarkable. Heavily insulated, impressively wired for sound and lighting. Connection for Ipod available as is wireless internet. There is both a front and back deck where one can sit and listen to the creek. We'll be back!
For info on renting the Wesson Bunkhouse, contact carlawesson@msn.com

5:00
Creating with Colors from the Landscape
» ‎ Color Conversations with Cristina

Tags: [edit]

Walking through the streets of Bordeaux, France I saw these beautiful faded purple doors. Against the grays and browns of the buildings and the weather that day, the violet color brought a subtle and rich dimension to the street view. Photo: Cristina Acosta

Inspired by the colors in the landscape of urban city streets I've been exploring the colors by painting textiles. The sheer matte quality of the silk is the perfect substrate to convey the feeling of the colors from the street in Bordeaux, France. My intent was not to replicate the colors visually as much as to convey the sensations I received while walking through the colors in that landscape. Photo credit: Cristina Acosta

I’ve been thinking a lot about color and culture, and have been exploring that theme in my fine art for many years.

The landscape around us effects how we perceive color. The geography of a place along with the cycle of seasons as well as the weather and light combine with the presence or absence of human culture to create the colors of a place.

In my paintings and drawings other concerns (like image or texture) overtake this concept, so I decided to work with these color ideas in textiles.

Painting silk scarves for myself or friends is a relaxing way for me to play with color stories. (And I have something fun to wear when I’m done!) This week I painted this silk scarf directly from the inspiration of some recent travels. I’ve been fortunate to be able to travel with my teenage daughter, Isabella Barna during her fencing competition season. She competed in a few fencing World Cups, so we both enjoyed traveling to both small and large towns in Europe for the events.

The many changes in landscape I’ve experienced this year contrast in my mind, mixing with the sensations of place. Each memory has a different palette of colors and values. Playing with these memories and translating them to visual ideas allows me to re-live the sensations of the memories as I create visual structure around them. It’s sort of like selecting photos for a scrapbook page, I select among the thoughts and feelings of memory for the creative expression.

www.CristinaAcosta.com

5:00
Shade Online Warehouse Sale
» ‎ Official Shade Clothing Blog

Tags: [edit]

Final Clearance and Final Day. Get some great tops for $5, $15 for for skirts, and much more!
Last call for Online Warehouse Sale shoppers!

0:54
A Quick Post
» ‎ How the Real Mother Hen Sees the World

Tags: [edit]

So here I am, staring at the clock, waiting for it to strike midnight, wanting the fancy carriage to turn into a giant pumpkin, oh pumpkin, can't get pumpkin in the winter, can I? Cinderella sure didn't attend the ball in the winter. Not a chance to walk on the snow with that flimsy little glass slippers. Nah, the truth is I'm waiting for a bird. A small bird flying in from SFO, carrying a friend who has probably not showered in two days. Aw!!! Oh no, you actually can shower at airports. Last year I showered at all the British Airways lounges that I went through, just for the fun of it.

It has been a busy winter for me. You know, a few years ago, if you looked into the crystal ball and said I would be a ski bump, I would have said, not in a million years.

I had taken multiple ski lessons - private, group, even free ones from friends. I had tried Alpine and Nordic. I had hit a tree, fell face down, lost all control and flew off a hill while coming down at 50mph speed. I should have given up. It was easy to give up. Somehow I continued, doing just a tiny bit every year. Like I devoted one season just to learn my balance, then focused on my glide in another season. Small baby steps. One by one. I fell countless times and got up countless times. I studied how other people skied. I even asked a stranger once, "Could you do what you just did again? That was beautiful and I want to learn that." Yup, I was shameless. Anyway, I pressed on, without reason, without aim.

I never thought much about why I did it. But often I do wonder at what point, exactly, that I switched from being a very lousy skier to having the confidence to ski, even in the backcountry where I need to ski up/down steep hills?

At what point I stopped fearing but started savoring the joy, the pure joy, when I glide through the snow?

One day, when I get to another dimension, I hope to see myself back in film, you know, in slow motion, one frame at a time, to pinpoint the particular moment and say, that was it!

---

A couple weeks ago we were playing fetch with the dog. The tennis ball hit the wall, bounced off, and hit the dog in the eye. Now, if the dog were our dog, we would probably say no big deal and shrug it off. But the dog was a friend's dog. This friend was away and we were dog-sitting. Oh shoot! Knowing the dog wasn't ours, and precisely because the dog wasn't ours, we felt a lot more responsible. Immediately and dutifully, we notified the owner, the vet, checked the dog every hour, provided updates to the owner blar blar blar. Responsibility is a funny thing isn't it? I mean if the dog was mine, I would not even think about doing all that!

(And if I had a dog, what would my dog say about the drama we took to ensure that the friend's dog was ok? Hmmm, probably something not very nice?!)

---

Ok gotta go now, take care.

PS: Oh yes, I've disabled the comment feature, since I won't be coming here to check them.

23:05
Gold
» ‎ David VanKeuren's Photography

Tags: [edit]

David VanKeuren's Photography

21:56
Gotta Keep Reading
» ‎ BendTech

Tags: book Club [edit]

The music video all book club members must love. Lyrics after the jump… Gotta Keep Reading Cause this books gonna be a good book Cause this books gonna be a good book Cause this books gonna be a good good book to read Ooo hoo Cause this books gonna be a good book Cause this books gonna be a good book Cause [...]

21:46
[Video] Eric Tollefson and the World’s Greatest Lovers go to L.A., Act II: Family Day
» ‎ Frequency: The Bulletin's music blog

Tags: [edit]

The Bend-based blues-rock band Eric Tollefson and the World’s Greatest Lovers headed down to Los Angeles to play at the world-famous Whisky a Go Go club in Hollywood, and they’re keeping a video diary of the journey for Frequency. Here’s part two, “Family Day,” which includes some cooking tips from guitarist Tim Schroeder and the [...]

20:14
#8 Courage
» ‎ A Year In The Life of Krystal

Tags: 2010 book [edit]

20:05
A Sunday Wander
» ‎ Wandering Words

Tags: [edit]

A beautiful spring day and some exploration of trails and rivers I’ve never seen before.

19:42
Cascade Winds Symphonic
» ‎ Liana's Lifetime

Tags: [edit]

You know that feeling you get when you are in a remote wilderness that is so beautiful you wish you could experience it with your good friends? Or when you are in a touristy city and find a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with the best food you have ever had? You feel like you have stumbled into a gold mine and just can't wait to talk about it. That's how I feel each time I see the Cascade Winds Symphonic perform.

I don't remember my first experience seeing them, but it was about 4 years ago. They perform 3 times a year, during the "school year" and I have missed only a couple performances since then. What I still can't believe is that there are any open seats. Unlike the Central Oregon Symphony, which performs three performances at the Bend High auditorium to a consistently packed house (based on the Sunday afternoon performances I attend), the Cascade Winds Symphonic performs at the smaller, yet more comfortable, Summit High theater for one performance only. And the crowd is about 70% capacity, regardless of the weather.

The kicker is that these performances are absolutely free. Donations are, of course, welcomed and definitely needed, but you can walk in the door, have a seat and enjoy the music free of charge if you like. (The donations are used to help the performers defray the cost *to them* to participate. Can you believe they would have to pay to entertain us?) The quality of the concerts is comparable to anything you would see in a symphony hall in a big city. These musicians are energetic, personable, and out there socializing with the audience during the intermission snack breaks (which are also free, but donation-based). The people of Bend don't know what a treasure we have in these symphony opportunities.

I am not a musician, but I enjoy learning about music. When I was a child, I had a record album called "Children's Introduction to Good Music" which walked through the entire symphony and told the difference between all the instruments and what they sounded like. When my daughter got to the age where she could sit through a performance, I was determined to expose her to the symphony. The Bend symphonies made that possible. Granted, she still falls asleep during them once in a while, but I can tell it is opening her eyes to music, composers, instruments; teaching her not to clap between movements of a piece; and causing her to ask why there are percussion instruments in a wind symphony. I encourage anyone with children to attend these performances. For the most part, the audience is tolerant of children who might be restless, kids love the snack time, and you can always get up and leave knowing you aren't out a pocket-full of dollars for the limited experience.

As a starter, I recommend the Cascade Winds Symphonic over the Central Oregon Symphony for the following reasons: the Summit theater chairs are more comfortable, the venue is smaller and easier to navigate with kids (more leg room), the music is generally more upbeat (keeps kids attention), and there are no tickets required. (The Central Oregon Symphony requires tickets, but they are free at many locations.)

Check out the websites for more information and upcoming concerts. You'll be glad you did, and amazed that this caliber of performance has been here all along, just waiting to be experienced.

19:38
Barefoot/Minimalist Training Panel Discussionbv
» ‎ Foot Zone Blog

Tags: [edit]

19:16
Blogrolled … bwahahahaha …
» ‎ Homeless on the High Desert

Tags: If a tree falls [edit]

Funny, no matter how many times I call The Bullshiten on its bullshit, no matter how many highly crafted, long thought-out, finely worded letters to the editor they don’t print, no matter how many times I go on record that my wife’s parrakeet’s won’t let me line their cage with it… [...]

18:53
Project 52, Week 9 – Patterns
» ‎ Photos Northwest Blog

Tags: [edit]

Braden and I set out today to see what kinds of patterns we could find. The sun was out, the skies were blue, and our sweatshirts were left at home. Here’s my view of some of what we experienced. And here’s one from Braden’s day. It’s so much fun going out with my son on these adventures!

17:54
Oscar Party
» ‎ to knit in peace

Tags: [edit]

Yummy food and a nice beverage

Best Actor: Jeff Bridges

Best Actress: Sandra Bullock

Best Movie: Hurt Locker

17:41
Swallowed Up By Life
» ‎ Pressing On

Tags: [edit]

This is the fifth in a series of journal entries begun in October, 2009. Please see initial post on February 21, 2010.

October 20, 2009

2nd Corinthians 5:4-5

That is it exactly!! Listen…

“For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened –not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.”

This is what you are working in my heart Lord. It is not so much that I would chose to be unclothed; that is, anxious to shed this earthly tent that has served me well these many years. Rather it is that I look forward to being “fully clothed; that is, in my heavenly body, my heavenly home, my dwelling with you.

I am not afraid-yes perhaps I even long for that day when this mortal body must die that it might be swallowed up by life, your life, oh God, eternal life!

16:24
Book: The Politician
» ‎ Joan Quick

Tags: [edit]

by Andrew Young.

I’ll assume everyone already knows the lurid details of the sycophant Young who lied and claimed paternity of Mistress Rielle’s baby, and apparently she doesn’t have any friends or family, so she went into hiding/seclusion with the sycophant’s family. All went well until Young realized that his meal ticket wasn’t going to pan out as planned, and decided to write a book to cash in.

While reading, I thought I’d jot down “interesting” tidbits:

* I skimmed and determined that the first time Rielle is mentioned is on page 154 [of 301 pages].

* When Edwards first met Rielle, she was 41, divorced, unemployed and living rent free with a girlfriend in NJ. This means she was 42 when she got preggers.

That’s it. I thought I would have more revelations, but NO. So, NO need to buy or read the book. I did find it amazing that everyone seemed to know that he was having the affair. Everyone, except his wife, Elizabeth, who chose to believe all his idiotic explanations, of which everyone laughed at her behind her back. It is impressive that with so many people aware of the affair, that this wasn’t broken earlier by the press.

16:20
Diary of a Worm
» ‎ Wonder Worman

Tags: [edit]

This is such a wonderful, sweet, happy, adorable kid's book. It's actually a book for anyone who wants to laugh and learn some cool info about worms.
Doreen Cronin writes informative info about worms and how much they have to offer in such a fun way. The book is written in a diary format. Harry Bliss has amazing illustrations, and is able to make a worm look "cute"!!! I'm all about the cute factor.
So if you have time, and you're looking for a fun, easy read for yourself, your kids or your students. Pick up the book!!!
Forgot to mention, I do read this book to the students when I visit Bend's Schools. Enjoy!!!

wonderworman.blogspot.com

16:15
Rachel Corrie was murdered …
» ‎ Homeless on the High Desert

Tags: Israel [edit]

Israel, The United States Taxpayer and Caterpillar are complicit in her death.

16:08
Wall and Minnesota [Flickr]
» ‎ Wrongdude

Enclosure: [download]

Tags: [edit]

carrrrrlos posted a photo:

Sitting at Bellatazza, having an Americano.

15:08
A Missive From Mike
» ‎ The Grumpy Forester

Tags: [edit]

Dear Fellow American,

You have been selected from a sample of political leaders in your area to take part in a Nationwide Survey on the Obama Agenda called ASK AMERICA.

...this is how a letter I found in the mail box the other night begins. It came from the Republican National Committee (even has a blue facsimile signature by that political genius of a leader, Michael Steele) and goes on for two pages of widely-spaced text full of bullet points and numbered lists that convey the general impression that our beleaguered nations needs to turn its desperate eyes to the next Joseph McCarthy to stem the raging tsunami of Obama socialism threatening to sweep it away. The survey goes on for 32 questions, 31 of which generally are of the tone:
Do you think that Barack Obama sucks?

O Yes
O Majorly
O Well, Duh!
O Don't know

Question 32 asks "would you like to give lots of money or oodles of money to us?"

...I am, admittedly, just a little conflicted about this. On the one hand it is certainly flattering to finally be recognized as 'a political leader'. At the same time, the judgement of the RNC in spending money to send a survey to the likes of me is so seriously called into question that it tends to cheapen the accolade just a little bit. Still, I will not let my new friend Mike Steele down; I will absolutely fill this survey out because Mike wants America's voice to be heard. It's the least I can do, and answering "No" thirty two times won't unduly inconvenience me...

Of course I won't be sending any money (Mrs. Jack K. says I should tape a penny to the survey with a note saying that's what it - and the Republican party - are worth to me, but that's just harsh). And even though Mike asked me to use a postage stamp on the return envelope to help him save much-needed funds, I won't be doing that either. It says right there on the envelope that no postage is necessary if mailed in the US; a stamp on this envelope is one less stamp for all those other envelopes I need to mail, and economic conservatism starts at home, I say...

I can't really say why I got this survey. Perhaps the RNC is sending this thing to registered Independents in districts that McCain won last time. Perhaps my new friend Mike is just crazy. Perhaps the RNC thinks I won't have the guts to answer "No" 32 times and not use a stamp on the return envelope since my name is prominently displayed on the front of the survey. Whatever the reason, this certainly doesn't look like "A Game" material from the sort of cash-strapped national political organization that I would be looking to for leadership in these trying economic times. In fact, it looks pretty goofy to send me a blatantly push poll worded survey, but I'll do my part because my friend Mike wants to know what I think...

15:02
Not surprising, nothing to see, move along …
» ‎ Homeless on the High Desert

Tags: Physics [edit]

We could have had ‘green’ nuclear energy as a widespread powersource sixty years ago, but the military/industrial complex wanted to make bombs.

14:53
Mean Green and Clean...Okay, Not So Mean....
» ‎ Elan Vital Anthology

Tags: [edit]

I've been up to something lately over here...with big plans in store for you my friends. I've been spending a lot of late nights studying, researching, and combing the interweb for some detailed information on a subject that I am passionate about, and I hope you will be too: eco-cleaning.
source sourceCleaning isn't a topic that people usually get excited about, but if you'll just trust me - and stick along for the ride - by the end of the week long special, you'll be an eco-cleaning fool!
sourceLike all good presents, this one won't be easy to wait for - but it will arrive just in time for your spring cleaning, packed with homemade cleanser recipes, tips and tricks, diys and tutorials, and even some other little surprises!!
sourceIt's going to be great, friends - and it'll make that dreaded spring cleaning something that the crafter, cooker, and even gardener in you can look forward to! I'll be posting some buttons on the blog in the next couple of days for you to add to your blogs if you want to spread the good news and good fun around!
Best,Tar [elanvitalanthology.blogspot.com] http://elanvitalanthology.etsy.com

13:59
Are you willing to risk losing your local bookstore?
» ‎ High Desert Gallery Snippets

Tags: [edit]

We are big fans of supporting local business. As business owners, we live and breath local. We make every effort to support our Central Oregon friends who have taken the risk to chart their own coarse as small to large business owners. Here in Bend Oregon we support many companies like Thump Coffee, Lone Pine Coffee and in Sisters Oregon we're big fans of Navigator News and Depot Deli - just to name a few. We patronize them because they provide great service, chat with us and care about our communities. We don't patronize local businesses that provide poor service or don't have a mix of service, selection and competitively pricing. Do we shop at some big box stores? Yes, but not on a regular basis and only if it's necessary.
Do we buy our books at Amazon? No. We patronize our local book experts at Paulina Springs Books. Here's something for you to think about and taken from their most recent newsletter:
Spring is rapidly arriving. Some believe it already has, what with crocuses popping from the ground and trees budding in some areas of the northwest. The warm winter has many orchards worrying a bit about early fruit onset combining with late frosts. We'll keep our fingers crossed for them.

In the world of retail booksellers, one budding topic of conversation is e-books. They've been in the news a great deal lately for various reasons. Principally because sales have really begun to pick up steam. Kindle was the first e-reader to find a real marketplace. Now many devices are available that do an equally good job of delivering an electronic reading experience.

Book sales have shifted dramatically to the web in the last five years making Amazon the largest bookseller. E-books are a natural progression to this phenomenon. Current estimates are that independent bookstores such as Paulina account for only 5% of book selling.

Some estimates are that by 2015, 20% of book sales will be in electronic format, compared to about 3-5% today. This rapid growth threatens the viability of many segments of the existing marketplace, not the least of which is small independent booksellers. Are we concerned? Absolutely. It is our intention to develop a website to participate in this new segment of book selling, but truth be told, it is unlikely we will ever see it return a profit to our business.

As booksellers, we of course view the potential loss of book stores as a tragedy. More importantly however, we view the loss of local bookstores as a tragedy in the context of community needs met and not met. Over the last two nights we hosted an author in our two stores with nearly 60 people in attendance. Sunriver Books hosted two wonderful NW authors last night as well. Once you remove the bookstores, authors and readers will lose this opportunity to connect.

In the last month alone, Paulina Springs contributed to the fund-raising efforts of more than a dozen local organizations. Collectively, Amazon, Apple, Sony, etc contributed zero. Similarly, they contributed zero to our local tax base, while stores such as ours all do their share. Stores with a physical presence, such as Wal-Mart and Barnes & Noble might have made a local contribution, but as a percentage of revenue I can guarantee it is paltry compared to our contribution.

As consumers, the money we spend is one way we contribute to our community, as every dollar spent returns some portion to a local person. Your Amazon purchase helps to pay the UPS driver delivering to your door, for example. The question is, how well can a community thrive where less than 1% of dollars spent recycle within the community, versus the 45% derived from truly local business.

Here at Paulina Springs Books, we'd like to thank all of you for your continued support and patronage. It helps us survive, it helps the community and, we hope, it helps you to enjoy your reading experience.

Brad and all of the staff.
Here's something to think about: Are you willing to risk losing your local bookstore? How about your local art galley or frame shop? Did you know that our every day custom framing pricing beats Mike's big box store price? -- EVEN WITH their 50% off coupon! We won't even discuss the value of our expert knowledge, creative framing solutions, our award-winning designs and support of our Central Oregon Community. Don't be fooled by a perceived savings with a 50% off coupon. Just think about all the people that pay the big box pricing and don't use a coupon. Ouch!
Are you willing to take a chance of losing one of your locally owned businesses? We hope not. Be local and thank you for your continued support. When you are in our area stop by our High Desert Frameworks! in downtown Bend Oregon. Visit: www.highdesertframeworks.com

13:13
Commonsense = Defies all logic …
» ‎ Homeless on the High Desert

Tags: If a tree falls [edit]

“Jamming It Through” = to actually vote on a bill. The Washington Monthly updates the political lexicon: “Obstructionism,” for example, only refers to Democratic minorities opposing Republican proposals. “Tyranny” is found when an elected Democratic majority passes legislation that Republicans don’t like. “Reconciliation” describes a Senate process that Republicans are allowed to use to overcome Democratic “obstructionism.” “Terrorism” refers to [...]

12:46
When I am dead.
» ‎ Show & Tell

Tags: [edit]

When I am dead I hope they will play the Imperial March at the funeral.
I hope I didn't eat so much preservatives in my time that my body can decompose naturally.
I hope nobody had anything left to say to me and I hope I died in a non-embarrassing way.
I hope Terri Gross will rehash an interview she had with me years before in my memory and everyone will remember what I genius I was at one time and think what smart things I said.
I hope at least one person gets black-out drunk to deal with my loss. Just one.

12:08
Patricia Freeman-Martin & Rosalyn Kliot continues through March 28th
» ‎ High Desert Gallery of Central Oregon

Tags: Current Exhibitions [edit]

Do stop by our downtown Bend Oregon Art Gallery as our March Artist Feature for Patricia Freeman-Martin and Rosalyn Kliot continues at, 10, NW Minnesota Avenue at the Oxford. The exhibition and sale will run through March 28, 2010 and will feature new monoprints and mixed media paintings by Patricia Freeman-Martin and mixed media collage by Rosalyn Kliot.
Image: JulieJulie and Patty
Patricia Freeman-Martin has had ranching in her blood for most of her life, and after graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, magna cum laude, from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, she moved to New York, eventually returning to Oregon and the ranching life that she loves. Patty has woven together a beautiful and complex life of many different themes: cattle ranching, cutting horses, family and art. She uses a variety of mixed media and monoprints to talk about her experiences in the western landscape and her style reflects a fresh, honest and whimsical way of viewing the world. Patty's work has been exhibited in both museum and juried shows, and in is private collections throughout the West.

Rosalyn Kliot was born in Eastern Europe and raised in America, a background that allows her to have "a respect for both the traditional as well as the more contemporary and experimental approach to subject matter and theme." Rosalyn's mixed media collage and fiber art is all about color and texture and the combination of various and sometimes disparate materials and objects. Rosalyn Kliot received a Bachelor's degree in Fine Art from Roosevelt University in Chicago. Her work has been exhibited and sold in Chicago, Los Angeles, Oregon, Washington, and Tokyo, Japan.
The Bend First Friday Art Walk Artist Reception was a hoot! Here's some action photographs of First Friday at High Desert Gallery. Music was be provided by a Central Oregon favorite, Bellavia.

About High Desert Gallery: High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing, The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ is an award winning fine art and custom picture framing gallery with retail gallery locations in Bend, Oregon and Sisters Oregon. High Desert Frameworks! the award-winning framing studio for the gallery is located at 61 NW Oregon Avenue at Lava in downtown Bend, Oregon. The gallery specializes in Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ and Stellar Custom Framing. For more information please visit: www.highdesertgallery.com or call toll free 1-866-549-6250.

11:45
Cascade Winds Concert Coming Fast
» ‎ UtterlyBoring.com

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One last plug: Our concert is in a couple hours, and I hope to see some of you there!
11:43
Tour De France For The Everyday Biker
» ‎ UtterlyBoring.com

Tags: Funny [edit]

I really think somebody should stage this somewhere in Central Oregon:

10:15
Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy Contest #1:
» ‎ Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy

Tags: [edit]

Adele, Mary and Kellie
On Sunday afternoon, Cary and I drove over to Salem so that we could get up early to attend an early morning Monday meeting with the Oregon Independent Aggregate Association and guest speaker Attorney Adele Abrams.
The meeting was being held at the Red Lion Inn in Salem. They have spent a lot of money remodeling this hotel, and it looked nice enough, but was still old (as in you can hear people next door, talking and watching t.v.) It was $124.00 per night, and had a pool, restaurant and lounge on site. It was clean, but the room was kind of small. We still prefer going to the Mill Creek Inn when we stay in Salem.
I was downstairs by 7:00, hanging out with Mary and Kellie at the registration table. They were very proficient, as always, so I just welcomed people and made sure they put on their name tag. It was a pretty easy job. Then I wandered around and took a few pictures, and told Kellie that the food wasn't there yet, only the coffee and water. Kellie got that figured out. She's good at those kind of things.
I gave Mary a gift basket mostly full of things that I had made, homey things. Mary is the one in the middle in the picture up above. She is a wonderful person, and it was her house that burned down. Mary liked the gift, and it made us both feel good.

The meeting went well, and Adele was a very informative and interesting speaker.
After it was over, we packed the car and left town. Got out of Dodge. Headed back over the mountain. I was dying to take some pictures, so we stopped at Marion Forks to eat, because we saw that the restaurant was now open for the season. Except that it wasn't really open this week. So I took pictures anyway, because it was so pretty. Here are some of them:

I took a few more pictures as we hit the mountain pass ... sticking my arm and camera out of the window into the freezing air, nearly giving my husband a heart attack as he feared that I would drop my camera out the window, shattering it to bits. That he would have to buy me another one. But, thinking ahead, the strap was wrapped around my wrist. 'Sides that, it is my camera, I wouldn't wreck it, I love it!

When we got into Sisters, we stopped at Bronco Billy's for lunch. I had a Chicken Tostada Grande and Cary had Halibut Fish and Chips. Excellent food, as usual. We drove home and were beat, going to bed early. The end.

9:45
BREAKING: American Taliban Adam Gadahn Arrested in Pakistan
» ‎ Red Carpets, Saw Dust & DC Insiders

Tags: housley [edit]

UPDATE, 08 March 2010 – Captured Al Qaeda operative is NOT Adam Gadahn. From the New York Daily News: Pakistani officials initially thought they nabbed Gadahn, a 31-year-old Californian who has a $1 million bounty on his head for treason. Officials believe the man picked up in Karachi is an American who goes by the name Abu [...]

9:39
Wimpy Congress
» ‎ My Back Pages

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">[httpeditorialca_nzFow.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'>] [httpeditorialca_nzFow.jpg.scaled500.jpg"] /> via editorialcartoonists.com

Posted via web from jessefelder's posterous

9:34
Socksomatic
» ‎ she's just saying ...

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(with apologies to the Pointer Sisters)
When the apocalypse comes and we have to start knitting our own socks, there are a few things you should know.

First, there is nothing more comfy than a homemade sock.

Just like a side of beef, there are distinct sections to a sock, each of which is handled differently. (See chart at right)

Socks are normally knitted starting at the cuff and down through the toe.

Some people knit them the other way around for a variety of obscure reasons. I did it this time because I like a challenge. And sock-knitting can get really boring otherwise.
(I didn't knit this and I don't know who did)
Here's my first toe-up sock. It was touch-and-go there during the heel gusset, but I powered through with only a few mistakes that I won't point out.

Once they're washed and dried they'll fit perfectly and I'll re-post a shot of them then, because you all share my fascination with hand-knitted socks, right?
9:34
Socks-o-matic
» ‎ she's just saying ...

Tags: [edit]

(with apologies to the Pointer Sisters)
When the apocalypse comes and we have to start knitting our own socks, there are a few things you should know.

First, there is nothing more comfy than a homemade sock.

Just like a side of beef, there are distinct sections to a sock, each of which is handled differently. (See chart at right)

Socks are normally knitted starting at the cuff and down through the toe.

Some people knit them the other way around for a variety of obscure reasons. I did it this time because I like a challenge. And sock-knitting can get really boring otherwise.
(I didn't knit this and I don't know who did)
Here's my first toe-up sock. It was touch-and-go there during the heel gusset, but I powered through with only a few mistakes that I won't point out.

Once they're washed and dried they'll fit perfectly and I'll re-post a shot of them then, because you all share my fascination with hand-knitted socks, right?

9:11
Yo! T E A B A G G E R S …
» ‎ Homeless on the High Desert

Tags: Israel [edit]

Point of clarification: you’re a bunch of rubes. You’ve been played. Suckered, duped, bamboozled… had the wool pulled over your eyes, brainwashed. It isn’t The Government that is/has destroyed the country. The Politicians destroyed the country. The politicians, the multi-national bankers, insurers, mainstream media, drug manufacturers, and Israel destroyed America. Not “The Government”. You’ve been suckered, [...]

8:37
ECHO TO VIENNA
» ‎ Don's Sunnyside Blog

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Yesterday was a long day full of wonderful experiences. Due to my reoccurring bicycle disease, Jim, Ben and I decided an almost 4 hour drive to Echo would be be worth it to do a 2 hour mountain bike race. That means 8 hours in a car and 2 hours on the bike. Now where is Echo anyway. It is out in North Eastern Oregon, not really close to any mountains, nor trees nor anything that one would think would make good mountain biking, but then we would be wrong. The guys out there have become friends with a farmer who has allowed them to use the land he can't farm to put in some trails. These trails go up and down these these gullies that are not suitable for wheat or vineyards and are perfect for mountain bike trails. The great trails in addition to 65 degrees and sun made for a perfect day. Now when you include the Sunnyside Team all having a great time along with all of the other friends in the Mountain bike world (That is means all of the people who mountain bike race in Oregon) it is like a big party. When the last finisher crossed the line to a standing ovation you know this is a great sport.Now my back report. Last fall I ruptured a disc. I was off the bike for 2 full months, and though I did manage to race at cross nationals I really didn't do any real cycling until January. This was my first real test. I was over 20 minutes faster than last year, my back was a little sore but not unusually so, and I managed to pull off a win. Last October, when I was having a difficult time climbing stairs, I wasn't sure if I would be able to do mountain bike again. I am still not out of woods and maybe I never will be. I will rest my body more than I used to, but believe me this was sweet.Now on to Vienna. We had to rush home as Ben needed to get back to his family and I needed to go and hear the Vienna's Boys choir (Thanks to Sanna Phinney). What a joy that was. It is hard to believe that boys that young could sing so well. This is not like your usual children's choir, this is like seeing and hearing seasoned professionals sing but they are 10 years old. It was interesting to note the multi ethnic look of the choir. These were not all tow headed boys that filled the Boys choir in years past but children with roots from all over the world. This also showed in the music that they sang. Of course many songs from Austria ( how could you not from the land of Mozart and Straus), but also music from Native Americans, India, Pakistan, Korea to just mention a few. I do have one question for my readers, what is deal with sailer suits for children and Austria? The Vienna's Boy Choir all wear them and so did the children in the sound of music. Austria doesn't even have a port. You never hear of the might of Austrian Navy sailing the 7 seas. Just curious. I may have been tired when I finally got to bed last night but it was all worth it. Next week we are off to Mallorca for 10 days. I will keep you all posted.Don
8:37
[nt]
» ‎ Don's Sunnyside Blog

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8:28
The number 2 is the #1 !!!!
» ‎ My Scrap Home

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Becca said...
Happy Birthday Davinie! My favorite restaurant is Dish, here in La Crescenta, CA- it has all vintage furniture and decor and is SO cute. The food is great too. I hope you had a great day!

9:00 PM

Becca! You get to take home some crafty goodness from my Scrapbook room! Vintage decor at Dish sounds very cool!

8:22
February, 2010 results.
» ‎ best minimum wage job a middle aged guy ever had

Tags: [edit]

Despite a slow last week of the month, we managed to beat last year by 8%, which is now the sixth month in a row beating the 90 pound weakling that was last year. We'll have this low goal post at least until September again.

As I've said before, I prefer a good, strong, solid 10% growth rate to anything more spectacular than that, because that is an increase that can be believed and sustained.

Comics and graphic novels were down 10%, mostly because graphic novels were an inexplicable 35% down: I'm guessing that these sales are being entered under either comics or books by my employees. (It is often a fine, gray line between books and graphic novels...)

On the other hand, games were up by 40%. Books were up, and so were toys.

My collector card games seem to have stabilized, finally, and were up from last year. Sports were up a tiny bit.

It's probably coming time to drop anime as a category altogether; just a waste of a register key.

So, all in all, I'm pretty pleased. It probably should have been a bit higher, because I actually overspent (on purpose); but, like I said, we had one of those crappy weeks that come along.
Time of year, and all that.

First week of March was pretty horrible, too. Until yesterday, which was strong enough to pull up the entire average. A little too hit and miss, for my taste -- but results are what count.

I think the mix of product is working for the store, and I just need to keep it up.

7:49
The Summit track army
» ‎ Central Oregon Athlete

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The Summit Storm track dynasty looks like it’ll have plenty of athletes to work with once again this year. At last count Summit had 186 athletes out for track. Coach Dave Turnbull expects to have over 200 athletes when all is said and done.

“It’s going to be another fantastic year. So far, the energy is higher than it’s ever been and the kids are really improving quickly,” said Clark.

7:14
She thinks his tractor's sexy ...
» ‎ Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy

Tags: [edit]

Remember a few months back when those kids who were going skiing had their day rudely interrupted when they crashed in front of our house? The were five of them, in their brand new car. Three were not hurt at all, one was kind of, and the other a little bit. Thank goodness; it could have been a much worse situation.

Their car knocked down one of our Jack Pines, which wasn't particularly beloved. Now, if it were a Ponderosa Pine I would have been really bummed. But, it wasn't, and they certainly didn't mean to do it. It was an accident.

Well, the sun is out and the snow is melted and my best friend husband got the notion to get to work on that downed tree yesterday. I love to watch him work.

It reminds me of that silly old country song that says:
"She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy,
It Really Turns Her On"
by Kenny Chesney

Here is my Best Friend Husband taking some of the tree into the backyard.

It is so nice to have a backhoe on hand. If you live in snow country, which we do, you can plow your own driveway. Or dig you own hole for a swimming pool, which we won't. But having a pond would be nice. Hmmmmm. A light bulb moment has just occurred.

It is especially nice to watch your handsome husband do his chores on a backhoe; almost as much of a bonus as marrying into backhoes in the first place!
See what I mean?

She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy by Kenny Chesney
Plowin' the field in the hot summer sun Over by the gate lordy here she comes
With a basket full of chicken and a big cold jug of sweet tea
I make a little room and she climbs on up
Open up the throttle and stir a little dust
Just look at her face she ain't a foolin' me

She thinks my tractor's sexy
It really turns her on
She's always starin' at me
While I'm chuggin' along
She likes the way it's pullin' while we're tillin' up the land
She's even kind of crazy 'bout my farmer's tan
She's the only one who really understands what gets me
She thinks my tractor's sexy

We ride back and forth 'til we run out of light
Take it to the barn put it up for the night
Climb up in the loft sit and talk with the radio on
She said she's got a dream and I asked what it is
She wants a little farm and a yard full of kids
And one more teeny weeny ride before I take her home

She thinks my tractor's sexy
It really turns her on
She's always starin' at me
While I'm chuggin' along
She likes the way it's pullin' while we're tillin' up the land
She's even kind of crazy 'bout my farmer's tan
She's the only one who really understands what gets me
She thinks my tractor's sexy

Well she ain't into cars or pickup trucks
But if it runs like a Deere man her eyes light up

She thinks my tractor's
She thinks my tractor's sexy
It really turns her on
She's always starin' at me
While I'm chuggin' along
She likes the way it's pullin' while we're tillin' up the land
She's even kind of crazy 'bout my farmer's tan
She's the only one who really understands what gets me

She thinks my tractor's sexy
She thinks my tractor's sexy
She thinks my tractor's sexy

7:10
How Proof of Concept Can Improve Fundraising for a New Program and What Proof of Concept Is
» ‎ Seeking Grant Money Today

Tags: proof of concept [edit]

When a nonprofit organization is either launching a brand new program or project; of if a new nonprofit organization, itself, is beginning it is extremely powerful to raise funds (including grant writing and other methods) in part by providing a proof of concept that clearly demonstrates the efficiency, viability, and strong potential of the new program or organization.

Proof of concept means formulating a very similar or exact replica (or model) of an established similar program, organization, or innovation that works, when replicated demonstrates that this new project (or nonprofit) that is being implemented (or launched) works elsewhere. For instance, let's say that you and I are launching a brand new mentoring program at a local community college. We are going to pair local volunteer business people with our college students whose grades are suffering, in the afternoons, so that that the students receive tutoring, improving their grades.

Let me interrupt my example for just a moment to point out that it is often the case that new nonprofits or brand new programs are launched with the best intentions to address a current and as yet unmet issue. Whether a brand new program or agency succeeds at its new effort is the result of several things, such as, how well designed the new undertaking is (how well it truly addresses the needs of the beneficiaries in their experience), how well it is supported by its community (i.e. volunteer hours, financial or in kind contributions, community partners, etc.), and ultimately the results it actually delivers (does the new endeavor actually work or does it not do what it set out to). A nonprofit that has a proof of concept for its not yet launched new work allows that nonprofits to demonstrate the actual potential of its new program or agency because it can point to another nonprofit, elsewhere, that has conducted either the same (such as when an organization replicates what is called a model program) or a very similar recent program. The power in having this recent previous success story to point to is that (ideally) there is verifiable (quantifiable) data on the previous program's: participants (such as demographics that demonstrate the need that exists), results, outcomes (perhaps determined through anonymous client surveys and their findings); and a clear program design that has already gone through the benefit of being conducted, having its results reviewed, and the benefit of having improvements being made to that program after each review.

Back to my example... Perhaps the need for our mentoring program came out of several of our community college's professors coming to us saying you know, we have a few students slipping through the cracks, who don't need to be. We think that if they had both extra tutoring outside of class but also the benefit (from whomever tutors them) of increasing these students' self confidence, their grades would improve. Sadly, but understandably, our professors explained that they are concerned for these kids but only have so much time to give per student and the relationship necessary to potentially assist develop a student's self esteem is not available to them. So, before we begin to dream up a solution to this issue, we decide to conduct some research. You and I each speak to colleagues working at other community colleges, research the latest study findings in our professional journals in studies related to this very issue, and even speak to a few counselors at different local high schools and ask what they are doing to deal with this issue. Once we find some examples of actual programs that are working elsewhere, we begin to research these potential model programs that each have operated long enough and enough results and findings have been gathered from each, and also what their expenses are, what lessons they learned, etc. to help inform us in our work. Once we have gathered enough data, we sit down with our community college's curriculum designers, social workers, a few student representatives from the school's Associated Student Body, some of the concerned professors, and a few of the would-be volunteer business people from our community. This is our brand new Mentoring Program Committee. As a committee we conduct the research, discussion, and planning necessary to design, budget, fund, and implement our new Mentoring Program.

Having proof of concept provides not just potential donors but also others, including the nonprofit itself, with a certain amount of confidence, despite it either itself being a brand new operation or despite a program being completely new to an organization. In our example, above, our school's administrators, educators, and executives feel a certain amount of confidence in this new program because we have demonstrated that it should work.

(Ideally, at least a year or two before it is started so that we have money available to pay for at least its first year budget before it begins), when we begin to raise funds for this new program, we are coming from a very compelling standpoint. Having proof of concept can inform our communication with potential donors with demonstrable proof of potential success (the data that our committee gathered from other similar successful student/business people volunteers mentoring programs) to include when we write appeal letters, perhaps; or when we write grant proposals; or to include in our executives' conversations with potential major donors. Donors who feel confident not just about the nonprofit that they are supporting but also about the potential of a new program are comfortable giving. It's the same with other types of supporters, such as volunteers, etc.

Finally, when the nonprofit advertises its new program to its beneficiaries, (if the program is one that the beneficiaries attend such as in this example), the proof of concept can be included in the program's brochure and other press releases and marketing to instill confidence. If the posters on campus, for the new program, say something, for example, like, 'based on similar successful programs at other schools' when describing the program indicates to attendees that the program has proven effective for others.

Having proof of confidence frankly saves a lot of time, trial and error, the expenses that come with that, and the risk of a nonprofit losing its credibility over a potential program that does not work, ultimately. Not all new programs or organizations need be replicated from other programs, of course; but one way to both save resources and instill confidence among a nonprofit's constituency (its community) and its beneficiaries (in the example, here, the students) is to have, from the outset, a proof of concept.
7:07
Grants to Expand Under Utilized Child Nutrituion Programs
» ‎ Seeking Grant Money Today

Tags: RFP [edit]

From The Foundation Center...

Deadline: April 1, 2010

got breakfast? Foundation Announces Silent Hero Grants for Summer Food Programs

The got breakfast? Foundation, whose mission is to ensure that every child, regardless of background, starts the school day with a nutritious breakfast in order to learn, grow, and develop to his or her fullest potential, has announced the expansion of its Silent Hero Grant Program to participants in the federal Summer Nutrition Program.

The Silent Hero Grant Program is designed to encourage schools and nonprofit organizations to expand the reach of underutilized child nutrition programs, including the School Breakfast Program and, with this expansion, the Summer Nutrition Program.

Grants ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 will be awarded to public schools, nonprofit private schools, local governments, national youth sports programs, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations participating in the Summer Nutrition Program. Grant funds can be used for such needs as serving equipment, program staffing, and nutrition education materials.

To be considered for the summer grant program projects must be centered around creating, continuing, or expanding federal Summer Nutrition Programs. Priority will be given to organizations creating a summer program where one did not previously exist.

Visit the got breakfast? Foundation Web site for the Request for Applications.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP

7:04
Ernie Kent fired by Oregon?
» ‎ Central Oregon Athlete

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Pac-10 basketball: Oregon’s apparent firing of Ernie Kent raises questions (notes, links)
6:58
Mountain View boys basketball article – The Bulletin
» ‎ Central Oregon Athlete

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Cougars reach state tourney
Mountain View holds off Corvallis behind 21 points from Seth Brent – By Beau Eastes/The Bulletin

4:35
Through the car window
» ‎ High Desert Diva

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Whitman County, Eastern Washington.
“The fight to save family farms isn't just about farmers. It's about making sure that there is a safe and healthy food supply for all of us. It's about jobs, from Main Street to Wall Street. It's about a better America.”

~ Willie Nelson

3:53
Inspiring Quotes About the Environment
» ‎ Peachy Green

Tags: [edit]

Nature's beauty (image from delgaudm on Flickr)

What moves you to live a sustainable life? Its the weekend, which may mean recreation, rest or even some spring cleaning.

Have you thought about the impacts of your actions?

We have collected some inspiring quotes about the environment, as well as some gorgeous nature photographs. They’ll make you think. Make you wonder. Perhaps even trigger a few small changes in how you live your life.

Enjoy!

The things we take for granted (image from Debbeling on Flickr)

There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed. ~Mohandas K. Gandhi

Abundance is everywhere (image from snaps11 on Flickr)

Because we don’t think about future generations, they will never forget us. ~Henrik Tikkanen

What of our future generations? (image from lepiaf.geo on Flickr)

The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun. ~Ralph Nader, quoted in Linda Botts, ed., Loose Talk, 1980

Energy at our fingertips (image from respres on Flickr)

We cannot command Nature except by obeying her. ~Francis Bacon

Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints (image from WildHoneyPie36 on Flickr)

When the soil disappears, the soul disappears. ~Ymber Delecto

Connecting with nature (image from Pink Sherbert on Flickr)

For 200 years we’ve been conquering Nature. Now we’re beating it to death. ~Tom McMillan, quoted in Francesca Lyman, The Greenhouse Trap, 1990

Awe inspiring beauty (image from Athena Pix on Flickr)

When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves. ~David Orr

Natural healing (image from My aim is true on Flickr)

We never know the worth of water till the well is dry. ~Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732

What if the only thing rushing in our life was water? (image from naotakum on Flickr)

It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment. ~Ansel Adams

Such precious gifts (image from kiwinz on Flickr)

The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river. ~Ross Perot

One of our most precious resources (image from rkramer62 on Flickr)

We say we love flowers, yet we pluck them. We say we love trees, yet we cut them down. And people still wonder why some are afraid when told they are loved. ~Author Unknown

Reasons to protect the environment can be found everywhere (image from Taras Kalapun on Flickr)

It appears to be a law that you cannot have a deep sympathy with both man and nature. ~Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854

We must speak up for wildlife (image from Koshyk on Flickr)

The struggle to save the global environment is in one way much more difficult than the struggle to vanquish Hitler, for this time the war is with ourselves. We are the enemy, just as we have only ourselves as allies. ~Al Gore

Shifting sights, light and mist (image from atomicjeep on Flickr)

We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive. ~Albert Einstein

Alaskan majesty (image from janebelindasmith on Flickr)

After a visit to the beach, it’s hard to believe that we live in a material world. ~Pam Shaw

Ocean beaches for every living thing's use and enjoyment (image from Lee Coursey on Flickr)

To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one’s own in the midst of abundance. ~Buddha

Life is certainly abundant (image from Rodrigo_Amorim on Flickr)

There is hope if people will begin to awaken that spiritual part of themselves, that heartfelt knowledge that we are caretakers of this planet. ~Brooke Medicine Eagle

3:45
Solar-Powered Aircraft on the Horizon
» ‎ Solar Power -- PV Panels

Tags: [edit]

Aurora Flight Sciences Solar Powered Aircraft

We’ve blogged about solar powered airplanes in recent months, but the interest has seemed to be with respect to their novelty, rather than a real potential way to address the massive amounts of fuel consumed by aircraft (and corresponding CO2 emissions).

Recognizing the need for a variety of aircraft to serve multiple purposes, Virginia-based Aurora Flight Sciences has focused on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can be flown without pilots or passengers to carry cameras, computers and other equipment. For military, homeland security and space exploration, solar UAVs would be perfect. Saving on fuel and extending flight time are two of the primary benefits of using the renewable energy resource.

Last week, Virginia-based Aurora Flight Sciences announced that it had finished the fabrication and initial tests of a wing design that could revolutionize solar-powered aircraft. The company, which specializes in the design and construction of unmanned aircraft, created a test plane wing with a span of 22 feet that is constructed of composite materials and lightweight plastics. Advanced solar cells cover the top of the wing, which convert sunlight into electricity for use to power the aircraft and its payloads.

Solar UAV from Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora CEO John Langford enthused:

“Our very first externally funded study, in 1989, was for a solar-powered version of the Daedalus human-powered aircraft. Today’s designs are for much larger aircraft — literally hundreds of feet in wingspan. The idea of this test panel was to develop and validate designs and manufacturing techniques. Doing this is essential for the accurate planning of any future solar aircraft development program.”

The company has been working on a viable solar plane – and one with long-range capabilities – for some time:

Aurora was selected as a contractor by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (also known as “DARPA”) in 2008 to work on the “Vulture” ultra-long endurance aircraft program. The large solar test panel announced last week was privately funded as an adjunct to the Vulture project. In addition, Aurora funded the development/flight test of SunLight Eagle, another solar UAV (unmaned aerial vehicle) with a huge 114-foot wingspan last year.

2:46
Staring at Trees; A Day of Downtime in Meribel
» ‎ Gill Adventures Blog

Tags: [edit]

We shared a day of quiet yesterday. The girls and I opted to lounge around the house, lazy Saturday. From the rented chalet we look down out the bottom of the Meribel Valley toward the mountains to the North and East. The forested valley walls are broken here and there by small villages, clusters of buildings surrounding a church.
Open market booths in Meribel Center

Without a recent storm to renew the snow, it has receded into patches, rather than a blanket of white. South facing ridges and rooftops are bare, while their north facing counterparts are still covered, adding contrast to the relief.

We have spent the past week wandering and exploring by bus and gondola telecabine. We’ve made trips for groceries and wandered through the ski shops up at the resort center. In Meribel center, twice a week, there is an open market with vendor’s booths selling cheeses and candy, jewelry and polar fleece, dried fruit and sausages.

On Tuesday, we spent far too much on the fabulous cheeses and bags full of candy at this open market. Naturally, everyone in our family liked the most expensive cheese samples the very best. On Friday, when I returned with my camera to take photos, the woman selling candy, who happily took over 30 euros for her fancy confections yelled at me and told me I would have to pay her 10 euros if I wanted to take a photo of her colorful stand. Clearly, I won’t return for more candy when the girl’s bags have been emptied. Fortunately, the cheese man made no such threats.
The view of Mt Vallon from la Chaudanne in Meribel

In Paris, which has a reputation for snobbery, we were met with more grace and kindness than anywhere here in the mountains. When we were dragging our baggage through the metro, not once did the girls navigate a stairway where somebody didn’t lend them a hand. At each turn where we even looked confused, people stopped and offered help. Shopkeeper’s greetings were warm and people in the ticket booths were happy to help.

Here, in Meribel, many of the workers have the tired look of the end of a long tourist season. Faces that have seen too many skiers and helped too many confused tourists that don’t speak their language well, if at all. Of answering the same questions and pointing out the same bathrooms for endless days. I recognize the vacant look from my years working at Mount Bachelor and from the dude ranch. By the end of the season, I wanted to hide and do nothing except go stare at trees. Here, in the Alps, it translates into a grocery store clerk who says not a word nor looks at the customer, shoving and endless stream of food over the scanner, the bus driver who is a bit too short with the passengers, and the woman at the candy booth yelling at her customer.

Fabulous regional Savoy cheeses and sausages on display at an open air booth in Meribel.
This evening, the first of our friends arrive. By the end of the week, we will have a house full of guests; those who have come to share in a part of our experience here, skiing and eating the amazing Savoyard cheeses, sausages, and wines. We will need to move our community school and work desk off the dining room table to make way for meals together. The party is arriving.

At home, we often spend a Saturday entirely at the house. Yesterday was our traveling version. The girls watched a movie, and I read for hours. We played cards and stepped out on the balcony to look at the valley. No school, very little work. A bit of laundry, and lots of quiet. Time for staring at the trees.

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1:26
5A State boys basketball preview
» ‎ Central Oregon Athlete

Tags: [edit]

A year after not having any teams in the quarterfinals, the Intermountain Conference has three teams. All of the teams in the final eight finished first or second in their league, except for Summit, which finished fourth in the IMC. Four of the eight teams have never reached the Class 5A tournament before (Pendleton, Silverton, Glencoe and Summit). Two-time defending state champion Jefferson has a 17-game winning streak.
• BRACKET

(teams are in order based upon where they are in the bracket, from top to bottom)
No. 12 (t) Pendleton – IMC #2
20-5
2009 – DNQ
2008 – DNQ
2007 – DNQ

No. 4 Silverton – Mid-Willamette#1
23-2
2009 – DNQ
2008 – DNQ
2007 – DNQ

No. 1 Jefferson – PIL #1
23-3
2009 – 1st
2008 – 1st
2007 – 6th

No. 2 Wilsonville – NW Oregon#1
24-2
2009 – 3rd
2008 – DNQ
2007 – DNQ

No. 5 Glencoe – NW Oregon #2
16-9
2009 – DNQ
2008 – DNQ
2007 – DNQ

No. 3 Mountain View – IMC #1
24-1
2009 – DNQ
2008 – Quarterfinals
2007 – 3rd

Summit – IMC #1
14-13
2009 – DNQ
2008 – DNQ
2007 – DNQ

No. 12 (t) Crescent Valley – Mid-Willamette #2
17-9
2009 – Quarterfinals
2008 – DNQ
2007 – DNQ
0:58
Summit’s magical season continues
» ‎ Central Oregon Athlete

Tags: [edit]

Dan Munson and the Summit boys basketball team just keep rolling on! The Storm won their second-straight road playoff game to reach the state’s eight-team championship tournament. Summit beat North Eugene in double overtime 57-56.

March 06, 2010
21:35
Set your heart free . . .
» ‎ Ethereal Graphics

Tags: [edit]

Open the doors to your heart this weekend. . . Spread the warmth!

21:31
Fly
» ‎ David VanKeuren's Photography

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David VanKeuren's Photography

21:19
no worries, it’s just my heart hesitating
» ‎ Beth Patterson

Tags: [edit]

If the car stutters just a fragment immediately I go into diagnostic mode: how long has it been since the oil was changed? how’s about that timing belt? wonder what’s in the gas line? wonder what I should do for better carburetion? And then my heart does...(read more)

21:01
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT ?
» ‎ Scott Louis Brown

Tags: [edit]

This is what I am looking at right now. At any one time my desk is piled with at least ten books, some of my favorites are above. Remember most of these are available at Amazon sometimes you get lucky and find gently used versions. Whenever I need inspiration I head to the "Book pile"

20:17
When you break the social contract …
» ‎ Homeless on the High Desert

Tags: PitchForks [edit]

Forty-one years ago I got a Social Security Card and went to work on a cattle ranch a hundred miles the other side of Burns. When I first cashed that first paycheck, I entered into a social contract with The United States Government – specifically if I pay into the system for the next forty-five [...]

19:53
Stopping in at the Double Mountain release party in Bend
» ‎ The Bend Beer Blog

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We didn't have a ton of time to hang out at the release of Double Mountain's "Empire Strikes Back" English IPA release party at Brother Jon's Friday, but we did stop by and have a brew.

It was standing room only (as you can see in the pic) when we got to Brother Jon's. While it's usually busy there from 5 to 7 p.m., this was the busiest I've seen it, obviously due to the release party.

The beer itself was awesome, everyone in our party agreed. It was very malty, a characteristic you don't often get in beers around here. It went down very smooth, and is definitely not the kind of IPA you are used to drinking in the Northwest. Anyway, they might be out of the beer by tonight, since they only had a couple of kegs. And Double Mountain didn't make a ton of it. But if you see it here or in Hood River, I suggest you give it a try.

And despite my brief appearance, I won a T-shirt in one of the raffles. Beau insists I used one of the tickets he left after he bolted. I, however, didn't see his name on it. So I am pretty sure a court of law would award the shirt to me. Good try, though, Beau.

19:38
MV boys basketball in the final 8
» ‎ Central Oregon Athlete

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Mountain View beat Corvallis 67-62 @ Mountain View High School on Saturday night to advance to the eight-team Class 5A state tournament. Jesse Zapata came up big in the fourth quarter for the Cougars against a very physical Corvallis team.

18:17
JanaZavitz come on down....
» ‎ My Scrap Home

Tags: [edit]

Janazavitz, you have one more night to email me at cooperdees (at) yahoo (dot) com before I give away that big box of scrappy goodness to someone else. I have family coming to visit and I am trying to convince them that I do clean in between visits. heeeee. They are never going to believe me if they have to trip over a big box of craftiness to get into my craft room.

My box came from Studio Calico and I am having SO much fun. Many of the girls have declared this their favorite kit ever (most of the boy mama's) and I have to tell you.... I am along similar lines. Really and truly having a blast with it. Can't wait to share.

Also coming up, a little hint:

More to share on that later! Have a great day! Davinie

17:41
Getting Ready for the Season
» ‎ Wonder Worman

Tags: [edit]

I am excited to put my hands back into the bins, and my mind back into worm mode. That part of my brain and life has been on vacation as my worms were taking their much needed winter's rest.
During the winter, I have been chilling with my family and working at my day job. Now, I am ready to add that familiar spice to the mixture of my life! Worms are awesome. They bring so much to my life by connecting me to some really neat people.
My goal is April to be up and running once again!

wonderworman.blogspot.com

17:34
#7 Bounces of Fun
» ‎ A Year In The Life of Krystal

Tags: scrapbook [edit]

17:16
Another casualty - TV news
» ‎ Bend OR Bust

Tags: [edit]

Well, we discovered that Bend can barely support one TV news station, let alone two.

Poor ratings and a weak advertising climate took out the local news portion of the ABC affiliate Friday in Bend, a little over two years after beginning it. Yes, they'll have a few 3-minute segments throughout the day for weather updates, but by and large, it's the end of KOHD news.

Too bad, because it was more professional looking than KTVZ, a low-budget operation that has changed hands multiple times over the past three decades. Of course, all small-market TV stations are low budget with few employees compared to the local daily newspaper. Although, that too is now changing with the collapse of newspaper subscriberships.

KTVZ, an NBC affiliate, is owned by Missouri-based News-Press & Gazette, which took over the local Fox affiliate in 2007 and runs the same news on both channels.

KOHD, owned by Eugene-based Chamber Communications (KEZI), couldn't compete with the established broadcaster in KTVZ much as another daily has no shot against the long-time daily newspaper. Even a free weekly publication labors against the daily. Also, the added clout of offering advertisers good rates on two channels squeezed out KOHD.
The TV advertising pie is only so big in Bend.

Also, what is critical for local news is to have great lead-ins to their news. KTVZ has "Oprah" in the afternoon and better prime-time shows than ABC. Also, Fox has better lead-ins, particularly when "American Idol" is running. And, the national NBC news is superior to anything on ABC or CBS.

But KOHD's news product wasn't worse than KTVZ's despite its pathetic ratings. In many ways it was superior, particularly in sports. Its weather was better because it relied on The Weather Channel whereas KTVZ/Fox uses Accuweather, which is not as accurate as The Weather Channel in Central Oregon.
KTVZ always hypes the weather far beyond what is called for. If the temperature is going to drop a couple of degrees they always say a "cold front" is coming. Bob Shaw, though, tones down the weather hyperbole a tad in the morning.

As for news, there wasn't much to distinguish between KOHD and KTVZ/Fox. They both chased the same fires, accidents and crimes. KOHD tried some long-form work in its "Direct Connect" segments, but since the interviewers knew little about the issues or Central Oregon, it just came off as another P.R. piece.
The problem of community ignorance is endemic to all news. Faces come and go so often, or, in the case of the daily newspaper, bylines come and go so frequently, that background knowledge suffers the most.

The region won't be ill-served by having just one TV news station because the bar is so low for local TV news, it doesn't really matter. Most of the on-air personalities devote far more time to how they look and dress than they ever devote to the stories they're working on. (Do they whiten their teeth twice a day, too?) And that's the way it has to be. How someone looks on TV is more important than what he or she does on TV. It's what viewers talk about.
With newspapers withering too, former reporters are showing up more on local TV and that's helped KTVZ.
Without any direct competition, KTVZ will get more ads, but it is struggling, too, during this "Great Recession." Furloughs and pay cuts are common across the news business, particularly at the local daily newspaper.
Maybe it will finally dawn on the local TV news folks, though, that a half-hour of local news is plenty. A full hour is brutal. They simply don't have the resources to pull it off. Also, KTVZ's habit of running the same local stories for days does not help. Cut back. KTVZ/Fox finally restored its weekend sports, which is one of the only reasons to ever tune in on the weekends during the school year. And please, enough of the self-promotion, especially during your own news programs. Yikes!
In the end, the overall quality of the news will diminish as the Internet gains more clout. People can find out what they want through the same websites that the news people use. That may not be a great economic model, but that's democracy.

16:57
Custom Photography Blogs: Getting Ready for Vegas
» ‎ Jane Johnson Photography

Tags: Uncategorized [edit]

I’m getting ready to travel to Las Vegas for the 30th annual Wedding & Portrait Photographer International’s Convention and Trade Show. The last time I went, I had just started my business, and didn’t really know anybody in the industry. This time will look much different. I anticipate a jam-packed week of catching up with friends, meeting with clients, drooling over new products, taking some classes, and (of course) doing a little bit of shopping.

I’m also going out on a limb and sponsoring one of the many parties filling next week’s calendar! Many of you know about the hugely successful launch of Custom Photography Blogs six months ago. We now have a three month waiting list, and custom blog design and branding for photographers has become a full time job!

I’m excited to say that Custom Photography Blogs will be one of the sponsors of the 3rd annual PIF Party hosted by the Pay It Forward Photography Resources Blog!If you’re a photographer, and are planning to join 500+ other photographers at the party, make sure to be one of the first in the door.

The first six people at the MGM Grand Studio on Tuesday night will receive a mini bottle of champagne with an exclusive Custom Photography Blogs gift certificate tied to the neck!

We will also be giving away a $750 gift certificate at the party, as well as a Free Makeover Package worth $800 that includes a custom splash page, custom twitter page, and a custom blog header!

As if that’s not exciting enough, I also finally get to wear the gold sequins cocktail dress I scored at a vintage store in Central Phoenix last month!

Happy Weekend friends!

16:54
WINDFLOWER FARM - LOCALLY GROWN, SUSTAINABLY NURTURED
» ‎ Ginger's Kitchenware

Tags: [edit]

Windflower Farm is dedicated to growing gourmet-quality vegetables, herbs, fruit and flowers. They use only sustainable practices, no chemical herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers. The farm is nestled amidst ranches and the Badlands, in the pastoral “banana belt” of Alfalfa, about 15 minutes east of Bend. Owner/Manager Gigi Meyer has been practicing horticulture and farming for over 20 years, gardening in various climates and latitudes from the San Juan Islands to Taos, New Mexico to Tuscany, Italy. She embraces the challenges of growing in Central Oregon and wants Windflower Farm to be a regional model for small-scale, farm-to-table agriculture. Hens, goats and horses provide fertility that is carefully composted onsite. Greenhouses, windbreaks and rock walls increase radiant warmth for tender seedlings and extend the productive season. Crop rotation and the planting of flowers that attract beneficial insects ensure a healthy and vibrant ecosystem. Exotic and heirloom varieties of tomatoes and eggplants are offered alongside a wide array of vegetables – lettuces, fennel, braising and Asian greens, beets, potatoes, carrots, peas, squash, peppers, onions, beans and lemon cucumbers – the list goes on and on! Our members also receive a steady supply of fresh herbs, including tarragon, thyme, rosemary, sage, chives, Sorrel, parsleys, basils, dill, cilantro, lavender, savory, and mints. Our fruit plots are beginning to mature - we could barely keep up with the strawberry harvest in 2009. Last year we also had our first crops of currants, gooseberries, and apples. For those of you who are new to the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) concept, you will share in both the risks and the bounty of the farm for a full growing season. You are truly a member of the farm and will be able to experience, first-hand, the procession of edibles from the first shoots of spring to the last tomatoes of the fall. In the cool early months, this means lean bags, primarily of lettuces, greens, and radishes and smaller quantities because of the limited greenhouse space. As soil temperatures warm and more varied plants appear, your bags become more full and diverse and in the prime summer months, veritably burst at the seams. Now and then, due to weather, or what they call out here in Alfalfa, “dag-nab critters!”, or any of the other myriad challenges of high-altitude, cold-climate agriculture; a hoped-for crop might not make it. You can have confidence, though, that we do our absolute best to plan ahead, protect vulnerable plants with row covers, attract beneficial insects, rotate crops, use cured compost, and practice the most up-to date organic growing techniques to bring you the highest quality, most varied selection of local food possible. They welcome visitors. Just call for an appointment, 541-318-1417, and come see exactly where and how your food is grown.

So for the important stuff:
EGGS! Members who choose the egg option will receive a weekly ! dozen brown, white and blue eggs from our flock of free-range, vegetarian-fed hens. FLOWERS! The flower option: a weekly bouquet of fresh-cut, sustainably-grown flowers for your table. CHEESE! We’re very excited, this year, to be able to offer our members a local cheese option. Pierre Kolisch at Juniper Grove Farm studied cheese-making in France and brings his expertise to bear in operating his small family dairy in Redmond, creating a distinguished assortment of handcrafted goat cheeses.
HOME DELIVERY - Have our tote full of the tastiest, most nutritious produce money can buy, brought directly to your door each week of the growing season.DOWNTOWN DROP-OFF - Pick up your weekly shares at the Environmental Center at 16 NW Kansas Ave, conveniently located in downtown Bend.
• Be sure to call or email soon to get on our list early as we are taking a limited number of members to ensure a bountiful offering for each of you.
HOME DELIVERY – $825
DOWNTOWN DROP OFF – $675
FLOWERS IN SEASON - $115
EGGS - half dozen eggs/week – $75
JUNIPER GROVE GOAT CHEESES – weekly supply of cheeses – $158

Windflower Farm pays its employees a living wage. You can be assured that your membership not only contributes to the health of our planet but also to the well-being of our community.
26285 Walker Road • Bend Oregon 97701 • 541.318.1417 • gigimeyer@msn.com

16:36
Laurelwood IPA [Flickr]
» ‎ Wrongdude

Enclosure: [download]

Tags: [edit]

carrrrrlos posted a photo:

Yummy!

16:25
Padauk and Tiger Maple Top Whorl Drop Spindle
» ‎ Grizzly Mountain Arts

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Padauk and Tiger Maple Top Whorl Drop Spindle

Dave has carved distinctive checkering around the beautiful 2 5/8 inch diameter Padauk whorl of this drop spindle. The shaft has been crafted from a gorgeous piece of Tiger Maple and measures 10 1/2 inches overall, 9 inches below the whorl. The weight of this one-of-a-kind handspinning tool is 1.4 ounces. A brass hook has been added and a notch carved into the whorl.

16:22
Don't park in your front yard!
» ‎ Dustin Cowell Enterprises Blog

Tags: [edit]

Why do people park in the grass in the front yard of their house? This drives me nuts! It especially makes me crazy when there is space for them to park in their driveway or on the street. I understand when someone rips out all their landscape and paves over their front yard for more parking when there is no room anywhere else on their property (even though I think it looks horrible), but why park on grass and ruin a perfectly good landscape? Is it so they can jump from the front door of their house directly into their car? Is it because they are too lazy to walk from the driveway or street to the front door? Why is this? I want to know what drives the decision to park on your grass!
Comments (0)

14:29
Platyptilia celidotus, Plume Moth.
» ‎ David VanKeuren's Photography

Tags: [edit]

Canon 50mm F1.8 lens using a reverse mount ring with the aperture preset at f16. 1/160th of a second, ISO 100.

David VanKeuren's Photography

14:06
5A state girls basketball preview
» ‎ Central Oregon Athlete

Tags: [edit]

Bend is in its second elite-8 since the reclassification, all eight schools have qualified at least once. Willamette is the defending state champion and is going for their third state title in four years. The only other 5A champion is Jefferson, who won in 2008. Five of the eight teams are league champions. The Southern Sky and the Intermountain Conference are the only leagues with two representatives in the final eight. The only teams without at least 20 wins are West Albany (16), Bend (17) and Hermiston (17).
• Draw
• Polls

(teams appear in order of where they are in the draw)
No. 4 Willamette – Midwestern 1st
20-4
2009 – 1st
2008 – 5th
2007 – 1st

No. 3 Ashland – Southern Sky 1st
22-5
2009 – 5th
2008 – 6th
2007 – DNQ

No. 2 Wilsonville – NW Oregon 1st
21-4
2009 – DNQ
2008 – 3rd
2007 – 6th

No. 13 Hermiston – IMC 2nd
17-5
2009 – DNQ
2008 – 2nd
2007 – 4th

No. 10 Crater – Southern Sky 2nd
21-7
2009 – DNQ
2008 – Quarterfinals
2007 -DNQ

No. 11 Bend – IMC 1st
17-9
2009 – DNQ
2008 – Quarterfinals
2007 – DNQ

No. 5 West Albany – Mid-Willamette 2nd
16-8
2009 – DNQ
2008 – DNQ
2007 – Quarterfinals

No. 1 Jefferson – PIL 1st
20-3
2009 – 3rd
2008 – 1st
2007 – 3rd

13:55
My Maiden ebike Ride
» ‎ Joan Quick

Tags: [edit]

It’s 1.7 miles to the area where I can grab bfast and hangout at the coffee house. From my house, there is a very slight incline that one would only notice if you were cycling there. Normally, I’m beat by the time I make it there. Today, I rode my ebike, pedaling all the way, but using the oomph. Not only was it great fun, but I arrived happy and feeling invigorated!

13:14
Protected: Sunriver Color Correction
» ‎ Umami Media Blog

Tags: [edit]

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

13:11
Skier's Rail Jam at Bend WinterFest 2010
» ‎ Mt. Bachelor Blog

Tags: hot off the Press [edit]

Thanks for the video from Wes Coughlin

Bend Winterfest 2010 Mt. Bachelor Rail Jam from Wes Coughlin on Vimeo.

11:17
[Video] Eric Tollefson and the World’s Greatest Lovers go to L.A., Act I: The Gas Just Disappears
» ‎ Frequency: The Bulletin's music blog

Tags: [edit]

The Bend-based blues-rock band Eric Tollefson and the World’s Greatest Lovers are heading down to Los Angeles to play at the world-famous Whisky a Go Go club in Hollywood, and they’re keeping a video diary of the journey for Frequency. Here’s part one, which features Sigur Ros, Flight of the Conchords, some bathroom humor and [...]

10:58
Quick Retouch
» ‎ Ryan Phillips Blog

Tags: [edit]

All images, no matter how good the capture have to go through some Photoshop to really make the image it’s best. This a quick demo starting with a good RAW capture and then a few tweaks in Photoshop. I switched to lab mode, did a quick sharpen and curves bump and then back to RGB and cleaned up the eyes a bit. I also ran Alien Skin’s Polachrome film effect on it to give it some funky color. That’s it. The whole thing took me 4 minutes….although you are watching it at 2x speed.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

10:40
State HS ski results
» ‎ Central Oregon Athlete

Tags: [edit]

Summit, Bend wrap up solid state meet
Storm are second overall, Bears are fourth; Summit’s Schuster wins boys slalom championship

10:38
Rammed down our throats …
» ‎ Homeless on the High Desert

Tags: White Rose [edit]

1. War on Iraq, costing over 4,000 American service lives, 31,000 wounded bad enough to go to hospital, many of them maimed for life, and costing over our lifetimes $3 trillion (which we don’t have). All based on outright lies. 2. Torture. 3. Warrantless wiretaps. 4. ‘Protest zones’ and arbitrary arrest of people peacefully assembled. 5. [...]

10:15
The Olympics — The world’s most powerful brand?
» ‎ Brand Insight Blog

Tags: [edit]

I love the Winter Olympics.

I got hooked as a boy when Franz Klammer made his infamous gold medal run at the Innsbruck Games, and I’ve been watching ever since. I have to admit, I even watch some of the ice skating. (But no Ice Dancing.)

The summer games are fun too, but they don’t have the thrill-factor of the winter games. A diver doing a twisting three-and-a-half into a pool just isn’t as compelling as a guy on skis doing a triple with five twists.

Gotta land on your feet and ski away when doing a “Hurricane”.

The Vancouver Games delivered everything I expected from the Olympics, and a little bit more. The event started on a very sad note, with the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili, a luge competitor from Georgia. Only one other luge driver has ever died in Olympic competition.

But there have been other unfortunate mishaps over the years. Terrorism in Munich in 1972. The Soviet boycott of the Los Angeles games in 1984. A bomb explosion in Atlanta in 1996.

Every time the games suffer a set-back, the Olympic brand bounces back stronger than ever. The brand is perched on such a high pedestal around the world, it’s almost bullet proof.

Here’s an example: In 1995, the IOC awarded Salt Lake City the Winter Games for 2002. As it turned out, the decision was fixed. IOC members had taken millions of dollars in bribe money. As a result, the top leaders of the Salt Lake Olympic Committee resigned. Ten members of the IOC were expelled and 10 more were sanctioned.

But the Olympics rose above the fray. By the time the Salt Lake Games commenced, the scandal was all but forgotten. Organizers actually raised the price of corporate sponsorships 30 percent.

In the last 10 years the pricetag for an Olympic sponsorship has risen dramatically. NBC paid $5.7 Billion for television rights through 2012. Visa paid $65 million dollars just for the privilege of associating their brand with the Olympic rings for four years.

No other sporting event commands that kind of attention in the corporate marketing world. You could argue it’s the most desirable brand affiliation on earth.

Why? Because the Olympic brand represents something that goes way beyond athletic competition. It’s the intangible “spirit of the games” that makes it riveting for the audience, and desirable to the corporate world.

Every Olympic Games is filled with real-life stories of triumph and tragedy. Every night for two weeks there are new characters, new story lines, new scenic backdrops, new drama. It’s heroes and underdogs, great feats of strength and stamina juxtaposed with delicate dance moves and tears of joy.

As the San Jose Mercury News put it, “it’s the ultimate reality show.” And we eat it up. It’s human nature. It’s a two-week event, every other year, that has all the components of great brands.

If you’re trying to build a brand of any kind, keep these things in mind, every day:

• The Olympics are authentic and unscripted.

At the Olympics you find ordinary people pursuing their favorite sports, not for the million-dollar endorsement deals but for the pure sense of personal accomplishment. Especially in the winter games. (Even in Canada there can’t be much money in curling.)

The authenticity is obvious in the post-run interviews… The athletes are articulate, less rehearsed and obviously passionate about their sport, and about the Olympics. You don’t get those canned, banal responses like you do in the NFL.

And when it comes to PR damage control, the IOC has handled things pretty well. When Olympic officials went on TV to face questions about the luge incident, the tears were genuinely heartwrenching. No spin whatsoever.

Toyota could learn a thing or two.

• The Olympics are dramatically different.

Most notably, the Olympics are less commercial than other mega-events like the Superbowl or the soccer World Cup.

There’s no on-field branding allowed in the Olympics. You’ll never see a giant VISA banner hung behind the medals stand or along the boards in the figure skating arena. And the athletes aren’t plastered with logos, ala-Nascar.

At The Games, the Olympic brand always takes precedent over any other type of branding, personal or corporate. So even when you have NHL and NBA stars competing, it’s not about them. It’s about The Games.

The competitors even take an oath. They swear to uphold the tenets of the Olympic Charter and willingly pee in a cup after every event. They are required to put their own, personal gains aside for two weeks and compete “in the spirit of friendship and fair play.”

It may seem a little cheesy, a little old fashioned, but that’s a central element of the Olympic brand.

• The Olympics have remained relevant for more than 100 years.

The characters change, individual events evolve, but at The Olympics, the themes remain consistent.

There’s something uniquely compelling about obscure sports that you’ve never tried, and that you only see during the Olympics…

Ski as fast as you can — uphill — then stop and shoot, without missing.

For people who never ski, it’s hard to relate to ski racing of any kind. Same can be said for the skating events… The general public has no concept of the difficulty and physical demands of a 4-minute program. It looks too easy.

And even though most people can’t relate, they still watch. The Vancouver Olympics drew massive television audiences, even beating out American Idol in the Neilson ratings. Almost 35 million Americans tuned in to the last part of the gold medal hockey game. And in Canada, 80% of the population watched at least part of that game.

And hockey wasn’t the only big draw. Overall ratings in the U.S. were up 25 percent over the 2006 games in Torino. This year, snowboarding, skier-cross and short track speed skating helped bring in record audiences among the 12 to 24 year-old demographic. Just as I was enthralled with Franz Klammer, a whole new generation will be inspired by Shawn White and Apollo Anton Ohno.

• The brand is way more than a mark.

Five, multi-colored, interlocking rings. That’s the official mark of the games that dates back to 1920. As the Olympic Charter states, the rings “represent the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games.”

But the Olympic brand is much richer and more meaningful than that.

You’ll often hear brand managers and consultants talking about “core brand values” and the underlying meaning of great brands. When you watch the Olympics, and get sucked into the storylines, you can see what they mean.

9:59
The Dark Side of Crunches: Wendy Has a Knife
» ‎ Chubby Mommy Running Club

Tags: beer run [edit]

Today's post brought to you by the delightfully dark, hilarious writer of the blog "There Once Was a Girl" Wendy started running, and should be an inspiration to 40 year old moms everywhere. She even does crunches on balls. And she makes her cat work out on the treadmill.
I’m new to this whole fitness thing. Six months before my 40^th birthday, my body decided it was time to fail me and one day I woke up lumpy. I finally got boobs, but I also got thighs, a belly, and I those flappy skin parts under my upper arms when I raise my hands. The ultimate horror was buying a mom swimsuit that provides modest coverage. ‘Modest coverage’ is code for ‘too round for an adorable bikini,’ but they don’t put that on the tags. I decided I have to get in shape.
I started by turning the $800 coat rack into a treadmill. Crazy, I know. I started walking and it was deceptively easy. If I can walk, then I should be able to run, right? Yes, I can run. I can also lick my armpits, but that doesn’t mean I will. I hate running. I have a series of words mostly starting with ‘f’ that I say each time I slam my foot on the treadmill. It doesn’t make running easier, but it makes me feel better. Try it – “eff this, eff that.” Repeat. I’m trying to eventually run a 5k with my kid that actually likes running. I’m pretty sure he’s not mine. He’s only 13, so I need to find him a fake ID, because I’ve decided that the Beer Run in June is for me. Beer after every mile? Probably the best idea ever.
Running alone won’t get rid of the belly, so I do crunches and other bad things. I bought an exercise ball, because I was told they’re great for ab work. I flopped myself on my back across the ball and did a couple of test crunches and I didn’t roll off. Yay! Someone invented an easy way to do crunches! I crunched and crunched and crunched.
Unused muscles started screaming an hour later. I wasn’t going to let that ball get the best of me, so I did it again the next day. At the time I was watching Netflix Instant with a kid, so I couldn’t bring out the “eff this, eff that.” I’d have cried, but it would have hurt my tender ripped abs too much. I thought about crying instead. Natural childbirth might not have been as painful as trying to lift the upper half of my body. Exercise balls should come with percocet or vicodin or tequila.
Through trial and error and excruciating pain, I’m figuring out a way to make this exercise stuff work. While on the ball, I plot its hideous death. Today it might be gutted with a fork, and tomorrow I could hold it over a flame or snip it with rusty nail clippers soaked in lemon juice and salt. As for the treadmill, I have a chubby cat that will do anything for a treat. He’s learning to take over my treadmill duties. I hope he works hard so I’ll be ready for the Beer Run. I’ll need that beer to conquer weight lifting.

9:51
Give a Day, Get a Day
» ‎ Brysons of Bend

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I have seen these ads on TV for a while now. The whole “Give a Day, Get a Day” for Disneyland.

Well, a friend of mine here in Bend did just that with her husband. They spent a day fixing bikes for a local non-profit and are now getting their tickets for Disneyland.

I just didn’t think that there would be anything in Bend that would qualify for that program, so I never checked it out. When I did, I found all kinds of stuff! So, on March 13th Katya and I will be volunteering at a fun run supporting the local “Healthy Beginnings” child program.

Evidently we will be doing something like directing walkers and runners along the path and helping pick up trash from about 8:30am to 2pm. What an awesome trade!!

Everyone ages 6 and older can volunteer and earn their free ticket. What a sweet deal! Volunteerism is also an important thing for our community. This is just a way cool way to encourage it and be richly rewarded!

So, we are all scheduled for our volunteer day and at some point we will be getting our free tickets to Disneyland.

After that it will just be getting ourselves down South to go. Maybe we could meet up with some family while we are there!

Anyone care to join us?

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