August 1998 August 26 August 19 August 12 August 5 back to Archives home   Volume 24, Issue 43, August 26, 1998 NEWS LEAD STORY He's got the chiseled countenance of Kesey, the political savvy of Hatfield and the persuasive powers of McCall. He once used those unnatural resources on behalf of the city, the state and the nation. Now he's shaping the civic landscape for his corporate clients. Crime and Justice Black & Blue: Last week's standoff between protesters and police reveals a division within Portland's African-American community. King 56 Case Not Closed: Sen. Ron Wyden and the the crew members' widows dispute the Air Force's new theory about the King-56 crash. Politics Birth of a Notion: Think the '98 ballot lacks emotional issues? Try telling that to adoptees across the nation, who view Oregon as the next battleground for their civil rights. Letters "It's the dog days of summer, the doldrums, and of course, time for Willamette Week to put a pot leaf on the cover." 500 Words opinion column Media Watch: What's this? Mother Jones in the guise of the National Enquirer? NewsBuzz Making Tracks | Just Read It | Seeking Enlightenment | McIntire Backs Tax! (Commission) Scoreboard This week's winner and losers Rogue of the Week This week's Rogue goes to editors at The Oregonian for letting squeamishness about sex rob readers of crucial information. CULTURE Music Recorded Music Reviews of new releases from Darrell Grant, Squirrel Nut Zippers, The Lucksmiths. Timbre a music column by Richard Martin Epiphanies and Disasters: The highs and lows of North by Northwest '98 Rock Preview From the Inside Out: The beauty of Loren Mazza Cane Connors' guitar work is even rarer than his records. Screen Screen Reviews --Don't You Be My Neighbor: In Your Friends & Neighbors, the director of In the Company of Men finds more viciousness in love and friendship. --Kids of the Black Hole: Penelope Spheeris returns to the sceneof her 1979 documentary, The Decline of Western Civilization, and discovers just how far it's fallen. Dish The Mash beer column by Jeff Alworth Macropilsner: Should you always buy cheap, or does it really pay to "tap the Rockies"? Dish Review Stocked Markets: Local farmers markets offer everything from organic produce to ostrich sausage. Performance Stage Review Renting Engagement: Jonathan Larson's Broadway success comes to Portland. Words Books of the Month: SEX It can be trivial, or it can be profound. It can make you happy, or it can make you miserable. Sex is so complicated, you could almost write a book about it--or several. Visual Art Art Review Pop Culture Alternatives: Armed with icons of popular culture, James K. Yu and Ren Sakurai evade artistic traditions of style and subject matter. Volume 24, Issue 42, August 19, 1998 NEWS LEAD STORY The West Hills COCAINE CAPER: A year after the celebrated drug bust, investigators begin to unravel what really happened. Environment Fish Wishes: Environmentalists worry that Gov. John Kitzhaber, in an effort to keep his voluntary coho restoration plan alive, will sell them down the river. Education Survival 101: Oregon's revamped higher-education funding system reveals that not all majors are created equal. Politics Backing Greens: U.S. Senate candidate Karyn Moskowitz says it's greenbacks, not Gaea, that will bring the public around to the Pacific Party. Letters "I urge every conservative in Oregon to avoid the temptations of hypocrisy, to stand by their defenses of freedom... and support Measure 67." 500 Words PORTLAND'S MOST WANTED: Searching for clues to this city's most talked-about crime spree NewsBuzz Taking the Lead | Will Work for Bus Fare | Jumping Ship | Humble ¹ Scoreboard This week's winner and losers Rogue of the Week Courtney Love has made a lot of enemies on the road to becoming the bad girl of grunge, and this week the former Portland street punk was true to her Roguish form. CULTURE Music The Official NXNW Program Guide This weekend, August 20-22. Complete show schedule including bands and venues, conference information, picks and previews. Recorded Music Reviews of new releases from the Eighty Mile Beach, birddog, Liz Phair. Timbre a music column by Richard Martin Picks of Portland: Top 10 picks of Portland NXNW participants NXNW Previews Electronic Ladyland: The Angel spins her way out of the conception that women can't bring the beats and soundscapes. Human League? Seattle's Sweet Mother label zaps electronic music with an organic touch. Courage and Conviction: Dave Bazan keeps Pedro the Lion running after his bandmates split. Screen Screen Review The Bitter Spirit of '66: His performance in front of the camera mars indie actor Vincent Gallo's gritty and striking directorial debut, Buffalo 66. Performance Dance Preview Dancing the Light Fantastic: Daniel Kirk and Eric Skinner stretch from traditional roots toward a choreography of intimacy. Visual Art Art Review Redefining Regionalism: A round-table discussion and concurrent exhibition attempt to tackle the question of the artist's role in defining a community.   Volume 24, Issue 41, August 12, 1998 NEWS LEAD STORY DOPE with DIGNITY: A Portland internist is the unlikely leader of the effort to legalize medical marijuana in Oregon. Richard Bayer says the feds should keep their war on drugs out of the examining room. Business Arbitrary JUSTICE: If you're buying a car from a dealer, check that fine print. A new clause on some contracts limits your legal recourse. Politics Dishonor Roll: Thirty-seven Oregon candidates get failing grades in a test of their willingness to come clean with voters. Media Monster of the Week: Public service or publicity stunt? KNEWS radio will begin a weekly on-air "pedophile alert" this Thursday afternoon. Letters "When heat waves like the one last month in the Midwest drive wholesale energy costs sky-high, who will end up paying the bill, and who will decide how those costs get covered?" 500 Words Paulzilla: Commissioner Jim Francesconi is finding thatgood intentions are no match for the monsterthat seeks to swallow the Portland entertainment scene. NewsBuzz They Scream at Ice Cream | Party? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Party | A Lagerheads | Quick: What's the Capital of Saskatchewan? Scoreboard This week's winner and losers Rogue of the Week CULTURE Music Recorded Music Reviews of new releases from the Body Lovers, Tricky, Dead Voices on Air. Timbre a music column by Richard Martin G-Word: Portland has come a long way where musical diversity is concerned. Rock Preview Home on the Pain: The Cowboy Junkies somehow make gloominess fashionable, or at least profitable. Malignant Fields: Cantankerous electro-poptician Stephin Merritt has written multitudes of weepy songs--but he'd rather not talk about it. Screen Screen Review Garden of Gothic Delights: Beauty, horror, humor and pathos come together in the re-released documentary Grey Gardens. Performance Dance Review Heaven and Earth Contained in One Name: Indian master Vempati Chinna Satyam brings an ancient dance tradition to Portland. Opera Review Loving Large: Seattle Opera's mighty Tristan und Isolde makes desire unto death come alive. Culture Buzz: Sports Review Do the Masters Matter? Portland hosts the biggest multisport competition in the world, though you may not notice.   Volume 24, Issue 40, August 5, 1998 NEWS LEAD STORY Zapped: It may not be broke, but we're going to fix it anyway. Last week it became clear that Oregon's system of cheap, reliable electricity will be scrapped for Enron's free-market version. Here's what it means for you. Crime and Justice The TOM CURTIS Show: Local and national reporters commit random acts of drive-by journalism in their efforts to document the capture of one of "America's Most Wanted." Politics Pension Tension Union resistance prompts city commissioners to delay fixing a $30-million-a-year problem. Growing Opposition Ron Wyden's efforts to fix a flawed farmworker bill have united some of his traditional allies--but not in the way he hoped. Labor Hoffa Huffs: The son of the legendary Teamsters leader blows through Portland and rolls over the press on his campaign for the union's top job. Letters "You may think politics sucks, but it was liberal politicians and their judges who gave you the freedom to take the birth-control pill last night, safeguarded your right to an abortion, set aside that park land you played Hackeysack in this weekend." 500 Words Water Hazards: Personal watercraft are more than noisy; they're polluters. NewsBuzz Dog of a Race | There Goes the Neighborhood | Pass Out the Kleenex | Power Failure Scoreboard This week's winner and losers Rogue of the Week CULTURE Music Recorded Music Reviews of new releases from Maxwell, Rx, Shellac. Timbre a music column by Richard Martin Aw yeah: The Beastie Boys sound like a sociology experiment gone amok. Rock Preview Last of the HardcoreTroubadours: Richmond Fontaine's Willy Vlautin chats with Dave Alvin about songwriting and the decline of the American West. Screen Screen Review Bippity Boppity Drew: Director Andy Tennant's take on the classic tale of Cinderella is a PC whitewash, but it's a spectacle worthy of a Barrymore. Dish Restaurant Review Travel on to Avalon: Avalon's serious and structured French-Asian dishes are as ethereal as a trip to the island paradise itself. Visual Art Art Review Gardens of Meditation: A thoughtfully curated exhibition considers memory and experience as a cross between the real the illusory. Culture Buzz: Culture Essay The Millennium Bug: The reinterpreted Beetle attempts to recapture the spirit of its predecessor, but it has the soul of a new machine Volume 24, Issue 39, July 29, 1998 NEWS Letters "For this choice slander [Campbell] owes both Noelle and the law enforcement community an apology." 500 Words Lead Story Naito Divided: Two years after burying the patriarch, one of Portland's most exalted families unravels. Politics Wu's Woes: The Democratic congressional candidate is having trouble wooing local Chinese Americans. JAILS OF OUR LIVES: Can a spurned Democratic governor bounce back to find a home for his prison in a Republican suburb? Urban Pulse Endangered Spices: A summer rent hike may limit the menu of downtown vendors who sell their carnitas, crepes and cappuccino from parked trailers and vans. NewsBuzz Dog of a Race | There Goes the Neighborhood | Pass Out the Kleenex | Power Failure Scoreboard This week's winners and losers Rogue of the Week CULTURE Music Recorded Music Reviews of new releases from Susan James, Money Mark and Rorschach Test. Timbre a music column by Richard Martin The Big Stink: This year's lineup accurately reflects the disjointed, unfocused mess that is modern-rock radio in 1998. Rock Preview Vogue Things: Being fashionable and sexy is fine, but Girls Against Boys want people to love them for their music. Rock Preview Twists of Fate: The oft-overlooked Grant Lee Buffalo finally gets invited to the party with its new record, Jubilee, and the budding hit "Truly, Truly." Screen Screen Review A Fool Rushes In: With its fascinating questions concerning art, manhood and morality, Hal Hartley's newest film, Henry Fool, is a unique masterpiece. Dish The Mash beer column by Jeff Alworth Oregon Brewer's Festival Performance Preview Strings Attached: Portland plays host to an important regional puppetry festival. Words Books of the Month: AMERICA This month's book review looks at writers looking at the republic, with wry observations, historical analysis and memories of growing up biracial, bicultural and countercultural. Visual Art Art Review Conflict in Collaboration: The Hoffman Gallery's current show demonstrates how an artistic collaboration reveals the best of both artists. Culture Buzz: Mountain Bike Trail Review Fat Tire Furlough: Two nearby mountain bike trails offer freedom and fear--and they're not in Forest Park or on Powell Butte.   Volume 24, Issue 38, July 22, 1998 NEWS Letters "For this choice slander [Campbell] owes both Noelle and the law enforcement community an apology." 500 Words Lead Story "I" is for Initiative: An unorthodox A to Z guide to the ballot measures that made it Law Unprepared: A lawsuit settlement last week raises questions about the Boy Scouts' commitment to safety at its Oregon summer camps. Business Let Them Eat Dust: Local computer maker Casey Powell is enjoying life in the fast lane. Critics say his fun comes at the expense of employees and shareholders. NewsBuzz Microsoft Notwork | Unwelcome Guest | She's Gone Scoreboard This week's winners and losers Rogue of the Week CULTURE Music Recorded Music Reviews of new releases from Bad Religion, Beastie Boys, NoMeansNo. Timbre a music column by Richard Martin HipHop Preview Bulletproof:The Wu-Tang Clan seems unstoppable, and not even gunshots can pierce the mystique of the crew's crazed Ol' Dirty Bastard. Screen Screen Review ZORRO, THE DULL BLADE: Hollywood's newest version of the pulpy Spanish saga asks but doesn't answer the important question: "¿Donde está Señor Rodriguez?" Dish Restaurant Review Miso Hungry: Between them, Misohapi and Mio Sushi offer a wide variety of Asian cuisine--and two distinct dining experiences. Oregon Brewer's Festival Performance CD Review Sounds of Silence: Theater of Voices' new recording finds surprising musicality in the songs of John Cage. Stage Preview Now and Then: After a four-year absence, one of Poland's most innovative companies returns to PIPFest. Visual Art Art Review July Gems: Group exhibitions abound in Portland galleries.   Volume 24, Issue 37, July 15, 1998 ANNUAL SECTION: BEST OF PORTLAND: WE DISDAIN PURELY COMMERCIAL CATEGORIES TO DISCOVER THE BEST CABLE-ACCESS MUSIC SHOW, BEST COMPUTER DETECTIVE OR BEST BREEDING OPTION FOR DOGS WHO FEAR INTIMACY. Letters to the Editor "I refuse to wear a seat belt unless I think it necessary. I haven't strapped in for years, and won't unless I want to. It's my choice." NEWS: 500 Words THE BEST OF PORTLAND: Accompanied by a farewell to the editor who has overseen this special issue for the past five years. News Buzz Cyclo- Drama | Help Wanted | In the Same Boat | Sticking Their Necks Out | Wage War Scoreboard This weekâs winners and losers Rogue of the Week CULTURE: Music Recorded Music Reviews of new releases from Tortoise, Sexy Death Soda and Tom Waits Timbre a music column by Richard Martin Here's my latest mantra: "I will not fall prey to yuppie nostalgia!" World Music Review The Wrath of Khan: Pakistan's latest qawwali master, Ustad Badar, Ali Khan, marches toward international prominence. Electronic Music Preview DEEE LA SOUL: With "Groove Is in the Heart" a distant memory, Dmitry dances to the beat of a different DJ. Screen Scree Playn Review Weird and Weirder: The Farrelly brothers' latest film, There's Something About Mary, reveals our deepest fears of freakishness. Food & Drink Dish Story Talking with YOUR MOUTH FULL: Discussing great food can be as much fun as eating it--especially when you're talking to master chefs.Performance Classical Music Review The Master Cyclist Returns: Baritone Thomas Quasthoff provides the highlight of the summer music season for the second year in a row. Visual Arts Art Review Patterns of Chance: Tony Evanko and John Eric Byers reveal the meditative quality of repeated abstract images. Culture Buzz Gorge Games Stop, Drop and Roll: Sit back and soak up the sun at the Gorge Games while athletes maneuver toward victory.   Volume 24, Issue 36, July 8, 1998 LEAD STORY nine out of ten young voters... DONâT Forget burning the flag. Young people today donât even bother to vote. A new study suggests that young Portlanders are six times less likely than senior citizens to cast ballots. Is it any wonder that politicians slash education funding while defending Social Security? Letters to the Editor äIn 1996 Bordonaro did indeed advocate a constitutional ban on abortion--at least, that is what she told us at the time.ä NEWS: 500 Words Brillâs Content: A new magazine dedicated to watchdogging the media gets Ken Starr's goat and dishes plenty of dirt on the Monica Lewinsky story. News Buzz Like, No Whee, Man | Beach Blanket Bandido | Pension Tension Scoreboard This weekâs winners and losers Rogue of the Week Business One Path to Intel: By moving to a single supplier of highly skilled temporary workers, the state's largest private employer creates a new type of monopoly. Environment Tea for Trees: Environmentalists find a surprising ally in their effort to stop the logging of a pristine urban watershed. CULTURE: Music Recorded Music Reviews of new releases from Girls Against Boys, The Spinanes, Music from ãSmall Soldiers,ä and Music from ãMr. Jealousy.ä Timbre a music column by Richard Martin I'd dance a little jig if every guitarist in town could play with the fluency and expressionism that Joe Baker exhibits throughout the Starlings' debut CD. Rock Preview Whither the Warped Tour?: A slightly philosophical look at the traveling fest aimed at snowboarders and skacore fans. Tour Story All Aboard: Portland's Freight Train Casanova plays North by Northeast in Toronto and lives to tell about it. Screen Screen Review The A Team: Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer amass an unlikely crew of heroes for their loud, proud Armageddon. Performance Stage Review Ed's Head Revisited: If Portland theater seems beyond hope, go see Imago's latest production. Visual Arts Art Review Fear and WONDER: Dana Lynn Louis' enigmatic forms suggest the myriad forms of life, both awe-inspiring and repulsive.   Volume 24, Issue 35, July 1, 1998 LEAD STORY HELP WANTED U.S. farmers looking for strong, young, Mexican men to pick crops. Low wages. No benefits. No housing. Pay your own way to get here. Must go home after 10 months. Donât worry, itâs legal. Letters to the Editor äI try to chuckle at least once a day. Occasionally I let loose with a slightly more serious hardy-har-har. Rarely, and I do mean rarely, I'll run across something that results in an outright guffaw.ä NEWS: 500 Words Oregon Justices United: Getting to the bottom of the Supreme Court's ruling on Measure 40. News Buzz Full Frontal Assault  |  Up in Smoke  |  Err Jordan Scoreboard This weekâs winners and losers Rogue of the Week Crime and Justice Shootout at the MC Corral: After his first big fight with County Chairwoman Beverly Stein, Sheriff Dan Noelle is still standing tall. Business Star Struck: Parents of some of Portland's top child models suspect a local talent agency has been pilfering payments made to kids. CULTURE: Music Recorded Music Reviews of new releases from Highway 13, Lenny Kravitz and Radiolaria Timbre a music column by Richard Martin Here we are, five years later, preparing to commemorate the end of Queer Night's impressive run at LaLuna. Blues Festival Preview Have Blues, Will Travel: The blues are more than just music, more than a lifestyle--to these artists, the blues are life itself. Rock Preview LARGER than Life Hayden's intimate, finely detailed songs landed him under the pop-culture microscope. Now he's fighting his way out. Screen Screen Review Sex, Lies and George: Steven Soderbergh's smart and sexy Out of Sight may finally earn the director the credit he deserves. Food & Drink The Mash a beer column by Jeff Alworth Summer Beers Performance Stage Preview Stages of Travel: The local theater scene offers almost nothing this summer. Fortunately the world's coming to visit us. Performance Review A Different Kind of Musical Comedy: With talent and wit, Quartetto Gelato and Bruce Adolphe illustrate the compatibility of humor and classical music. Visual Arts Art Interview Yellowman Speaks: The Man in the Yellow Mask discusses art, action and alchemy.