We've got issues.
For police officers and judges, dishonesty is a firing offense. Without integrity, none would trust them. So why are these law enforcement officials lying to hype crime? Eugene’s acting Police Chief Pete Kerns and a gaggle of local judges have declared that the area suffers from a crime wave of apocalyptic proportions. The local mainstream media has repeated their crime claims without question, causing much confusion. Continue reading
The UO is looking for an architect for a new 400-500 room dorm, apparently somewhere behind the Natural History Museum. The UO has been sharply criticized for building lavish athletic facilities instead of relieving dorm overcrowding. Continue reading
Republicans are pushing to add more tax breaks for the rich into the Obama stimulus. An idea to use taxpayer money to subsidize lower mortgages is gaining traction. The Register-Guard endorsed it today. But most of the tax break would go to the rich, who are unlikely to spend it to stimulate the economy. Continue reading
I took too long to write about last Friday’s episode of Battlestar Galactica, and hereby vow (with fingers only a little bit crossed) to do better in the future. But there are a couple of things I want to scribble down before tonight’s episode airs … So this is longer than intended. It happens. Continue reading
I’m a bit embarrassed that I completely forgot to mention this last week, when I first heard it, but better late than never: Culiarnia Eugenius, also known as EW’s food columnist, Jennifer Burns Levin, reminded me with her recent post that hey! Mark Bittman ate at Bellly last week! And that’s kind of nifty. Continue reading
I dithered. I didn’t want to. I never cared. Etc. What a pack of hooey. Battlestar Galactica isn’t perfect. Television almost never is, even the television I love best. (OK, Deadwood comes fucking close, and if you’ve ever seen it, you understand why it was vital I swear in the middle of that sentence.) But it’s astonishingly good, and powerful, and sometimes beautiful, and incredibly acted. Continue reading
Ho, hum. I realize it’s a little bit weak to comment when you’ve not yet seen all the films, so I’ll be brief: Even the surprises this year (Melissa Leo, Richard Jenkins) don’t feel like surprises. Slumdog Millionaire ceased being an underdog even before it got here, and while it a perfectly fine film, it is not a Best Picture. Not, not, not. I think I’m attached to exactly one category: Man on Wire had really best win Best Documentary. Continue reading
Keeping Cool Amidst a circle of sophisticated wordsmiths by Sally Sheklow Continue reading
Yesterday, the Oregon Arts Commission announced the recipients of its annual fellowships, given to “performers and writers of exceptional talent and demonstrated ability, professional achievement and continuing dedication to an artistic discipline.” The cash awards ($3,000 each) can be used “to complete work in progress or embark on a new body of work, undertake research, study or experiment with new materials or media.” Continue reading
Yesterday, I got one of those makes-your-heart-skip-with-joy press releases: a new And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead album, Century of Self, comes out in just over a month! They’re independent again! MTV News says they’ve “amped up the guitars!” And they’re coming! To Portland! Well, you can’t have it all. (You apparently can’t have anything, if you’re me: Mates of State are passing us by again, too. What gives?) Continue reading