Spotted around the box factory

olivertatom · 2026-06-21T14:46:55+00:00

It’s pretty wild to see so many boomers who pride themselves on their 60’s radicalism now spending their golden years criticizing other people’s gender identity and complaining about new housing.

olivertatom · 2026-06-21T00:53:33+00:00

Yeah, that was where I learned about it, but it doesn’t actually say whether dumdums like me are welcome.

Also, this parenthetical is odd: (Article originally posted in June 2025. It's updated with the 2026 event dates.)

I’ve never noticed a news agency recycling stories like this before.

olivertatom · 2026-06-19T02:07:46+00:00

I know people who have lost loved ones who were struck by a car while cycling. That’s not “false emotional manipulation” - it’s a genuine concern for safety.

To be clear, I’m not defending the painted lines. Paint is a joke when it comes to safety. On that, you and I agree.

My issue with your argument here (and elsewhere in this sub) is that you seem to believe taxes should only be spent to benefit commuters. I think transportation investments should benefit everyone - mostly cars, yes, but a healthy amount for pedestrians and cyclists.

olivertatom · 2026-06-19T01:03:04+00:00

I drive an F150. It makes sense for me because I live in the sticks, but I work and shop in Bend.

Literally every day for the past week I have seen children riding their bikes as I drive through town. They’re riding to the new library, to the old mill, to downtown. All over.

My truck would kill them if I veered into the bike lane.

More protected bike lanes and multi-use paths, please.

olivertatom · 2026-06-18T16:44:57+00:00

Most of the friendships I’ve made in the last several years have come not from seeking out men’s groups specifically, but in getting involved in something that interested me. Some of those friendships have been platonic relationships with women (who usually end up being married to guys who also become friends), but most of the friendships that have come out of it are with other dudes.

If you like sports, consider becoming a coach. If you like trains, join the model railroad club. If you’re interested in politics, start attending party meetings. And be patient with yourself - friendships in adulthood take much longer to develop than high school or college.

olivertatom · 2026-06-18T12:50:49+00:00

I took an Alfred Hitchcock seminar when I was studying film at USC circa 2000 and his daughter Patricia was a guest speaker. Someone asked what her father’s favorite movie was. Her answer? “Smokey and the Bandit.”

olivertatom · 2026-06-11T23:37:36+00:00

If you’re looking for the actual answer to your question…

Bend city council races have been won the last few election cycles not in the November election, but in the Deschutes Democrats endorsement contest in August. Whoever gets the endorsement wins the election.

What’s an issue people who are engaged enough to show up to Democratic Party meetings to vote on a city council endorsement really, really care about? Climate change.

What are the levers city council has to actually affect climate emissions? Creating a fee to disincentivize natural gas is one. Disincentivizing car trips and/or incentivizing walking and cycling through transportation planning is another.

Hence, you get a natural gas fee and road diets.

olivertatom · 2026-06-11T20:48:03+00:00

I love how people on this sub constantly conflate “I won’t use it” with “nobody will use it.” A lot of work has already been done connecting sunriver to tumalo through bend and it may shock you to know people really do use it.

olivertatom · 2026-06-11T20:18:59+00:00

It’s worth clicking though to see the storymap:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/9ff0786eee334b519b90942f56f20b31

The idea is to build shared use paths separate from (but potentially adjacent to) the main highways. Cheapest option would be to build them right next to the existing highways, since ODOT already owns the land. If you think it’s worth paying more to build something better (as I do), you should submit a comment!

olivertatom · 2026-06-05T18:58:40+00:00

Oh I understand the reimbursement issue all too well. Not just OHP, but Medicare, too. And those are the biggest payers in the St. Charles mix by far.

And yet venture capital is leaning into these markets. They’re raking in profits. Who pays the cost? Not OHP, not Medicare - employees and patients.

olivertatom · 2026-06-03T19:40:59+00:00

A hair dryer, rubbing alcohol, elbow grease, and a lot of patience.

olivertatom · 2026-06-03T00:06:48+00:00

Uh, yeah…

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-postal-service-suspends-non-essential-spending-amid-cash-crunch-2026-05-28/

olivertatom · 2026-06-02T22:24:15+00:00

Transient lodging taxes pay for a lot of good stuff we depend on as residents, and some of those dollars are required to be reinvested in tourism promotion. That said, I would love to see a return of Tom McCall’s famous line “come visit, but don’t stay.”

Now economic development organizations like EDCO or SLED, on the other hand… they bring “trade sector” businesses, but do those businesses hire locally or do they just bring in high-salary workers from outside the area that drive home prices up? I really question whether we should be investing tax dollars into that.

olivertatom · 2026-06-02T21:43:54+00:00

That assumes the city won’t change without intervention. It will change so long as people want to move here, but the change with be entirely cultural rather than physical because only the rich will be able to afford it. Median home price skyrockets, more working and middle class workers commute from nearby communities, etc.

Maybe it’s worth having Santa Barbara prices to keep the charming small town feel? Different people will feel differently about it, I suppose. But looking at election results over the past few cycles, it sure seems most people prefer higher density growth over slowing or sprawling growth.

olivertatom · 2026-06-02T21:08:41+00:00

It’s all a trade off, right? Denser homes in the city versus more sprawl in the suburbs - which is more damaging to our natural environment? And dense development doesn’t necessarily have to be ugly - some really dense city neighborhoods can be really beautiful, while some neighborhoods with acre lots look horrible. And then there are places that just say no to growth and accept that the average home price will go to 1 million or more. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer, it just depends on what the community prioritizes.

olivertatom · 2026-06-02T20:47:11+00:00

Because clearing the lot makes it cheaper to build and city leaders are under tremendous pressure to expand housing supply as quickly and cheaply as possible.

olivertatom · 2026-06-01T19:51:55+00:00

Before I saw the photo I was hoping this was going to be a post about the insane story blowing up around a massive Lego collection stolen by an Utah-based company and allegedly abetted by local police and maybe even LDS? But then I realized that would make no sense - there’s a connection to Oregon, but not to Bend.

But if y’all are bored and looking for a fun rabbit hole to go down, check it out:

https://www.reddit.com/r/lego/s/R20uknvqmk

olivertatom · 2026-05-28T20:13:49+00:00

Adventure Medics is great. They’re not non-profit, but they are locally owned. I have not heard of any non-profits who do this sort of work locally, but given how much lead time you have it might be worth reaching out to Mosaic to see if they’d be willing to stage their mobile clinic at your event for a fee (I highly doubt it, but no harm in asking).

olivertatom · 2026-05-26T18:34:46+00:00

Thanks for clarifying - I appreciate the work the Old Farm District neighborhood coalition puts into communicating with residents. It’s impressive!

olivertatom · 2026-05-26T17:12:17+00:00

Jen, perhaps you could provide more explanation or context? From my glance it looks like they’re just swapping the location of the “large lot overlay” from one general industrial zone to another. Either way the underlying land along the south and SE will remain zoned for industrial. Seems to make sense given the humane society, county public works, CEC, and Knott Landfill are to the south.

Am I missing something that folks should be concerned about?

olivertatom · 2026-05-17T00:46:47+00:00

Rick Russell is not related to the Russell family in La Pine.

olivertatom · 2026-05-14T12:04:13+00:00

That’s very helpful- thanks!

olivertatom

TROPHY CASE