Surfing The Web So You Don't Have To
Man, I’ve had these links sitting here for a long time….
Remember Groundhog Day, that movie with Bill Murray? How long did Phil’s day actually last in that movie? JWZ estimated 4 years, but the screenwriter says about ten years (mentioning a plot device that was deleted that would’ve cleared things up a bit).
Some Hood River residents are getting fed up on how the Oregon legislature is treating rural communities, sothey’re seriously wanting to create a 51st state (More from KVAL in Eugene). While their division for east versus west is the Cascade mountains, Bend and Deschutes County (which are both east of the Cascades) are apparently not included in the running for the new state’s capital or even included in the new state at all:
Koch said the booming tourist town simply isn’t rural enough anymore.
“The Bend area doesn’t fit as a rural community,” said Koch.
The border would run right down the Cascades but go around Deschutes County. One thing Koch is sure of is that the new state would have fewer regulations.
While I agree that Bend is probably more like Portland than Klamath Falls, I don’t think I could say the same about the rest of the County.
While this will probably never, even, happen, it is an interesting conversation topic: How would the state be funded (especially if Bend weren’t part of it)? Where would the capital be? How about we just create a state with rural Eastern Washington, which pretty much is in the same boat as us with east-versus-west?
This also isn’t the first time that a 51st state discussion has happened around here, as I remember some groups back in the day discussing making a state out of Southern Oregon and Northern California.
Apparently so, and here are eight things that really should be in it (though I’d say there’s a ninth: we need Anyong or whatever that Korean kid’s name was).
In case you missed it, the Bulletin today had a printing press problem and their paper was minimal today — just one section, a bunch of ads, and a puff piece about Bend. So even when they can’t print a full paper, the content doesn’t really change (props to Duncan).
I just find it ironic that on the day they couldn’t print the paper (and the online edition, which is usually behind a pay wall, was free today because of it), they announced they’re raising rates for print subscribers — but they’re throwing in online access with the rate increase. Read on for the full e-mail from their online department that was sent to subscribers:
Dear Valued Bulletin Subscriber,
You’ve asked for it and we’re delivering. Starting May 1st, we will be including full E-Edition access with your daily, home delivery subscription. You will receive both the print and the E-Edition for only $11.00 per month. Only a $.50 monthly increase to our print subscription rates will now include full E-Edition access. We will automatically transfer your current E-Edition account balance to your print subscription.
Your account information, including password, will remain the same. Your seamless login will remain intact.
Plus, you’ll be able to experience a variety of new subscriber-only features of our re-designed web site, including:
* Ability to comment on articles;
* All articles from the print paper, including wire-service content.
On May 1st please check us out at www.bendbulletin.com. We’d welcome your suggestions.
Sincerely,
Jan Even, New Media Director
The Bulletin
I had heard rumors for months that this was going to happen, I just think it’s funny that they increased the rate along with it. Yes, I know it’s only 50 lousy cents, but they’d easily be able to make that up with the added eyes their online advertising will now be exposed to. Just poor timing to me. Hopefully the redesign that’s coming out makes the whole site easier on the eyes.
And it’s making for an interesting final weekend in the pick ’em. As it stands right now, Rusty In Portland is leading, but after crunching the numbers, there are six folks who are still in the running (full scores are here), depending on how the Final Four plays out next weekend.
Fighting Yoopers has already locked in the dummy prize because he/she is currently in last, and didn’t pick a single one of the Final Four teams (The Dren had the prize nearly wrapped up until one of his teams actually won today and made it to the Final Four). So if you’re reading this, Yoopers, contact me via the group tournament page, either by messaging the commisioner or by posting your e-mail address in a public message there so we can send your prize. If you don’t claim it by tournament’s end, it’ll go to the next person on the list.
In the nearly 30 years I’ve lived in Bend, I’ve slowly watched this area go into the crapper. Here is a good collection of the latest reasons things suck (a good summation) and five things that can be done now to help fix things from the two local economy blogs. Some I agree with, some I disagree with, but the moral of the story is that something really needs to be done.
Oregon turned 149 years old last week, and the Baker City Herald has a little pop quiz on how much you know about Oregon and its history. I think I’ve seen this quiz before somewhere, but it was still a fun read.
Remember that broken spy satellite that’s heading towards earth that the government doesn’t know what to do with? Apparently they’ve just decided to blow the thing out of the sky because “its fuel poses a danger to people on the ground.” Or it could be because it holds the secrets to the alien landings in Nevada and the location of where Elvis is currenty living, but whatever.
Apparently there are 23.