Culture

Trends. Beliefs. Lifestyles.

Illustration. (Lisa Inoue/FLUX)

A Fair Exchange



Dylan Schwartz first discovered the instability of the U.S. dollar while researching The Great Depression for a project in high school. “The problem was the intentional and willful manipulation of the nation’s money supply,” says Schwartz. “The most shocking thing … Continue reading →

Sarah Parsons helps create the plot that her younger brother attending Edison will use come Spring.

An Edible Education



On a cool, cloudy afternoon in the backyard of Eugene’s Edison Elementary School, a small group of parents and children toil in grassy fields, their shovels knifing through the dampened grass to reveal dark soil beneath. No one shies away … Continue reading →

John kneels before the alter praying and asking for blessings before he prepares the food dishes.

Chant and Be Happy



“Just chant the Hare Krishna mantra and be happy,” says Jnana (gah-nuh), a 39-year-old Hare Krishna devotee who founded and now oversees the Hare Krishna Consciousness Center in Eugene, Oregon. “It’s really so simple.” Jnana opens the Hare Krishna Consciousness … Continue reading →

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The Rise of the Coffee Community



In the Northwest, coffee shops have evolved from pit stops for professionals in need of a morning caffeine jolt to central gathering spaces that welcome relaxation and community. But will these coffee communities last? It’s eleven o’clock on a Sunday … Continue reading →

Slacktivism

Activism 2.0



As the debate over internet activism continues, a new social activism organization is leveraging the power of the web to do good both online and offline.  The aroma of incense wafts through the air. Motivational messages and the Grateful Dead … Continue reading →

Crystal Chaffin shuffles through worn microfiches at SCRAP in Portland. She plans to put them on the front of small robots as “motherboards.” She makes these toys as gifts for her children, nieces, and nephews.

From Trash to Treasure



Marc Gaudin likes to leave the bullets in. Keri Piehl doesn’t wash her spoons. Leela Brightenburg thinks trash can change the world. Flux looks at the growing trend of upcycling.

Larko described the difficulty of matching separate beats and balancing different levels while simultaneously playing two records.

The Record Revival (Print Redux)



Vinyl records aren’t just a novelty. To some, they’re tools used to produce art.edroom near campus.

Pioneer Youth Corps, Willamette Leadership Academy

Falling in Line



The Willamette Leadership Academy in Veneta has evolved from a disciplinary center for troubled youth to a fully functional military school

Farmers sell their produce through a wholesaler called Organically Grown Company, which then distributes the fruit to local grocery stores. Everything they grow is 100 percent organic and profits are split evenly among the farmers.

Harvesting Hope



s Margarito Palacios drives up the gravel road to his farm, he begins to forget. He forgets the death of his father, his lack of sleep, and the discrimination he faces on a daily basis. Palacios’ eyes wander over the … Continue reading →

Jackie Smith, Twila Dery, and Don Dery enjoy the sun at the Willamettans Family Nudist Resort. Instead of going to Mexico for their 27th wedding anniversary, they decided to spend the weekend at the Willamettans.

Your Confidence is Showing (Print Redux)



This story appeared in our Spring 2012 print edition. A different version of this story was published to the website in March of this year. To view the original story, click here. he clouds part slowly, reluctant to surrender their … Continue reading →