Previous Columns

• Never trust writers or their guilds - 6/7/2013

  There was a time when I fancied myself a purveyor of fiction, destined for greatness in the New York publishing scene or the sun-washed Los Angeles...

• The official start to summer - 5/31/2013

  A couple of weeks ago there was some consternation at Medford City Hall about the lack of a functioning water fountain at The Commons.

• More beer, less gear - 5/24/2013

  Portland is an interesting town for many reasons, including the fact there are nearly as many bike shops as breweries.

• A true Canadian hero - 5/17/2013

  "Here's what we can do to change the world, right now, to a better ride: Take all that money that we spend on weapons and defense each year and...

• Some random thoughts on the Britt - 5/10/2013

  I'm a little behind getting around to this, but between covering drive-by shootings in west Medford and more drive-by shootings in west Medford, I...

• Weener brings the cult of Boognish to Ashland - 5/3/2013

  The power of Boognish is strong with these ones.

• The Booze Lords of Salem - 4/26/2013

  Hats off to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission and the Legislature, as it appears they have mastered the art of handing down shortsighted rulings...

• Turn off the news, get on the bike - 4/19/2013

  So it's been the week from hell and after watching various things blow up around the country, the media reporting it in a brain-meltingly incompetent...

• And the new worst song of all time is ... - 4/12/2013

  Acouple years back, I dedicated 24 inches of column space to declare the Insane Clown Posse's "Miracles" as the single worst song ever recorded.

• Biking against slimy billionaires - 4/5/2013

  In the three weeks since I've adopted the bicycle lifestyle, I've nearly killed a Labrador and been cursed at by an angry old man along the bike path.

• Multiculturalism, Bud Light and baseball - 3/29/2013

  So there I was, the rain watering down my watery $9 cup of Bud Light, surrounded by a pack of fiery Dominican Republicans beating drums, blowing...

• 'The Next Day' is here for Starman - 3/15/2013

  I've listened to David Bowie's "The Next Day" at least 15 times from front to back this past week, and I can say with confidence beyond the stars...

• Turning the page on paper - 3/8/2013

  It's fitting that I chose a book about Scientology as my first e-book experience.

• Beers, bees and the Blazers - 3/1/2013

  As I walked into the Rose Garden last Sunday, I was struck by a sudden panic.

• An alternate take on the Naked Man Trophy - 2/22/2013

  I won't be watching the Academy Awards on Sunday night, but that won't stop me from voicing my opinion on who should take home one of those worthless...

• In praise of the love spoon - 2/15/2013

  I would be more apt to celebrate Valentine's Day if the carving of love spoons was encouraged.

• Blackout leads to tough realizations - 2/8/2013

  So there I sat, weighed down by bottles of Ninkasi IPA, pizza, Fritos and hot-dog casserole congealing in my stomach, watching football players...

• Beer in the stands and blood on the ice - 2/1/2013

  It was clear after five minutes of puck time that the Idaho Junior Steelheads were bigger, stronger and faster than our Southern Oregon Spartans.

• Busy week mailbag and other musings - 1/25/2013

  Not much time to don the Nightcrawler persona this week. Newsie-type things are happening on the day I crank out this thing.

• Kubler-Ross alive and well in sports pub - 1/18/2013

  For those of you who doubt the legitimacy of the Elisabeth Kubler-Ross model, aka "the five stages of grief," you weren't at a local sports bar last...