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Saturday | February 19, 2011

Congressman Earl Blumenauer will discuss how Portland can take the easy way out at City Club of Portland; Friday, February 25, 2011; 12:15pm - 1:15pm.

Federal Alignment: Taking The Road More Traveled
From City Club of Portland Web Site: "Since the near collapse of the financial system two years ago, both the United States and Oregon have struggled to get their economies moving. The federal government faces significant challenges in solving issues related to Social Security and Medicare funding, massive defense spending and a seeming inability to solve educational problems. Though daunting, none of these challenges has been unforeseen. On February 25, Congressman Earl Blumenauer will consider opportunities for reform that need not be as radical as some are predicting. In particular, the Congressman will describe unique opportunities for Oregon to better align its plans with federal priorities, and will explain how, by making these adjustments, both national and state program could become more sustainable and effective. Congressman Earl Blumenauer was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996 and is a member of the Ways and Means Committee and the Budget Committee."

Go to story: A Decade of Decision: Why it Doesn't Have to Be This Hard

Friday | February 18, 2011

Michael Scheuer, former chief of the C.I.A.'s Osama bin Laden unit, appears at Powell's City of Books on Burnside (Sunday; February 20, 2011; 7:30 p.m.) to talk about his new book: Osama bin Laden.

It's A Tough, Brutal, Dishonest World Out There
And it's getting even nastier. The President (who briefly swung through Hillsboro today) is forced to cut deals with "business leaders" running massive, multinational corporations in hopes of making "America more competitive." Those same executives, who publicly fret that Obama's economic policies "increase business uncertainty" are quickly targeted by "grassroots" teabagger propaganda mills, like FreedomWorks and Free Enterprise Project, for imbibing in "crony corporatism in its purest form." Naturally, these same teabagger groups are financially propped up by other crony capitalists. Our Secretary of State is forced to talk out of both sides of her mouth as the Egyptian people rid themselves of their U.S.-backed dictator, masterfully displaying her flip-flop artistry (she was for Mubarak before she turned against him) as if she had taken private lessons from Flip-Flop King himself. Her training quickly paid off. Clinton managed to keep impeccable poise as she mouthed empty platitudes glorifying the many wonders enjoyed by "free people" everywhere, even as her security goons brutally dragged away an elderly, peaceful and quiet dissenter. In fact, in his earlier life, that same dissenter was a high-level C.I.A. analyst and an Army veteran. Fortunately, you have an opportunity to meet another former C.I.A. officer on Sunday! Michael Scheuer is scheduled to appear at Powell's (City of Books on Burnside; Sunday; February 20, 2011; 7:30 p.m.) to talk about his new book: Osama bin Laden. Scheuer, who served as chief of the C.I.A.'s Osama bin Laden unit from 1996 to 1999, will explain how the U.S. "mindlessly" played into bin Laden's plans to provoke a war on Muslim soil, which catalyzed a jihad designed to "obliterate America from within, by making it economically weak, until its markets collapse." It's a tough world out there. And it's getting nastier.

Go to calendar: Michael Scheuer, former chief of the C.I.A.'s Osama bin Laden unit, appears at Powell's City of Books on Burnside (Sunday; February 20, 2011; 7:30 p.m.) to talk about his new book: Osama bin Laden.

Go to story: Former CIA analyst accosted during Clinton speech about tolerating free expression

Thursday | February 17, 2011

Prague Spring? Obama delivers hope, change and missile defense in Prague, Czechoslovakia, April 2009.

Obama visits Intel in Hillsboro to prove he cares about jobs
Tomorrow morning, Obama's speech at Intel's lab in Hillsboro will be streamed live at about 11:30. He is not scheduled to speak about Intel's anti-competitive, monopolistic practices that squash innovations and jobs created by other processor manufacturers. However, he is scheduled to talk about how he and Intel are partnering together for better education and innovation. For America.

Go to story: President Obama's visit to Intel in Hillsboro will be streamed live Friday morning

Wednesday | February 16, 2011

Cult Of Ecstasy

Banging The Bhagwan
Nearly 30 years ago, followers of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh "bought the ranch" and led thousands to a remote area east of Portland for unrestricted sexual activity, communing with UFOs, taking drugs of all kinds and "spiritual" excess. Who says religious fanatics aren't any fun?

Go to story: Rajneesh and his wicked ways revealed on 30th anniversary of Oregon cult

Tuesday | February 15, 2011

When you're driving a BMW, you just have to endanger the lives of others. It's a rule!

Oregon driver films speeding for YouTube, goes to jail
Is there any better way to achieve YouTube "fame" than to endanger the lives of you and everyone else on the road? One Oregon man couldn't think of any. Filming himself speeding down I-5, the driver (who has had three other speeding incidents in the last year) was clocked at 118 mph when he was pulled over. When the cop asked him why he was filming, he responded that he was recording his speeding and arrest to later post on YouTube. However, his lofty plans for internet fame were thwarted when the video was confiscated by police, who will instead use it as evidence against him. Since the camera was intentionally pointed at his speedometer, police easily discovered he had achieved speeds in excess of 140 mph. According to a police spokesperson, winds were gusting at 50 mph that day, and there were branches on the freeway. "To be driving at these speeds today was just plain crazy."

Go to story: Man jailed after filming himself driving 140 mph

Monday | February 14, 2011

Where's the (geek) love? Right here!

Yaay! It's Valentine's Day! And So Much More...
Love, pollen and CO² is in the air. And history is in the books. Here are some highlights from this date in the annals of years gone by:

• In 1859, Oregon was admitted to the Union as the 33rd state.
• In 1912, Arizona became the 48th state of the Union.
• In 1929, a hail of bullets slaughtered seven rivals of Al Capone's gang in a Chicago garage, an event instantly dubbed "St. Valentine's Day Massacre."

(One wonders how such ferocious gunplay happened outside Arizona.)

• Today, February 14, 2011, you can show your wikigeek love by hanging out with other PortlandWiki geeks at Monday Meets!

Go to story: Happy 152nd Birthday, Oregon!

Go to factoids: Today in History

Go to Monday Meets: Monday Meets

Sunday | February 13, 2011

For decades, Amtrak has mastered the art of low-speed rail.

America Is Number One In Low-Speed & No-Speed Rail
Whether political inertia, public inattention, corporate malfeasance, natural "events," or just plain stupidity, nothing stops American Rail from delivering decent, reliable and effective passenger service, with one exception: everything. This time a mudslide north of Vancouver shut down Amtrak train service between Portland and Seattle. The tracks -- which are owned by BNSF railroad -- were passable, but BNSF protocol was "not to have any live passengers shipped through the area" at the time.

Go to story: Mudslide Halts Amtrak Service Yet Again

Go to story: Mudslide halts Portland-Seattle Amtrak service

(Go to older news stories >>>)