COVER STORY
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 • THE BULLETIN
GO! MAGAZINE • PAGE 23
Many pandemic-prompted firsts
BY DAVID JASPER
The Bulletin
W
ith Wednesday’s inauguration of
President Joe Biden, we at GO!
headquarters decided to take a
look at new beginnings and recent firsts.
Subsequent to the arrival of COVID-19 in
the U.S., there have been a lot of innova-
tions as well as new twists on existing things
in business, education, entertainment and
more.
It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since the
coronavirus disrupted life around the globe.
The pandemic, and ensuing need to quar-
antine and social distance, forced the pivot
heard ‘round the world.
Here’s a look at some of our culture’s
newer developments, a lot of which seem
here to stay.
Language
As much as it pains some people to accept
it, language is constantly evolving. We’ve re-
cently ushered in a slew of new words and
wrangled new meaning from existing ones.
Below are but a few examples, some offi-
cially in dictionaries, others on their way.
Pivot — If people and the businesses they
ran and worked for were going to make
it through the pandemic, it was critical to
make a shift in the way they did things —
such as speaking. Enter the word “pivot,”
which, when used in the context of the pan-
demic, means a quick redirection of the way
one does things. A few examples from the
local entertainment world: Bend Comedy
pivoted to making masks. BEAT Children’s
Theatre pivoted to pre-recorded shows
available digitally. And in October, Bend-
Film Festival pivoted to outdoor and online
screenings.
Social distancing — Had anyone heard
this seemingly contradictory term before?
Doesn’t just saying “distancing” say it all?
An abundance of caution — Because
plain ol’ caution is like throwing caution to
the wind. Don’t get caught without an abun-
dant quantity of caution.
Dining
Food delivery — Sure, it’s been around a
while: For instance, DoorDash was founded
in 2013. According to Morgan Stanley,
though, the pandemic accelerated the pro-
jected growth of food-delivery
Outdoor dining — Again, nothing new,
but with COVID-19 in the air, it certainly
seems safer than sequestering yourself in-
doors with strangers.
Curbside pickup — And you thought the
drive-thru was the only way to get a meal
without getting out of your car.
Takeout cocktails — Oh dear God, yes,
please.
Work and education
Zoom meeting — Before 2020, many of
us had never heard of Zoom. And during
2020, we never heard the end of it. The fun
of changing backgrounds, the impressive
immediacy of high-speed internet and the
plus of not having to wear dress pants for
meetings were soon offset but eyestrain, the
general tedium of conversing with a screen
and creeps not wearing pants during Zoom
meetings.
Telecommuting — The term’s existed for
about two decades now, but not everyone
felt empowered or brazen enough to actu-
ally try it. Now, as one former coworker put
it to this reporter, the lie that one can’t be
productive from home has finally been put
to rest. The ability to work remotely has tech
workers and other professionals pouring
out of cities — according to one study, re-
mote-work policies have led to a projection
of between 14 and 23 million expected to
relocate to new regions and cities. For bet-
ter or worse, those places seem to include a
growing Central Oregon.
Entertainment
Livestreaming — Musicians, comedians
and theater companies turned to livestream-
ing and pre-recorded entertainment in or-
der to assuage boredom — theirs and ours.
Bingeing — Again, not remotely new, this
past year has found even the most disci-
plined consumers willing to play one more
episode, and another, of their favorite show.
Or any show.
First-time marijuana users — Business
was a-booming for dispensaries in Oregon
and elsewhere. With cannabis legal and the
pandemic meaning we should quarantine,
Dorothy was right: There really is no place
like home — especially when you’re stoned.
Outdoor recreation — With a great many
people wanting to get outside, the pandemic
reversed a downward trend in outdoor rec-
reation, making it difficult to find gear from
kayaks to snowboards. The New York Times
wrote “Now there’s a mad rush for outdoor
gear. All of it.”
Honorable mentions
We’re running low on space, but don’t
sleep on these recent developments:
Twice-impeached presidents
Storming the Capitol
Being turned in by a relative for storming
the Capitol
Stress-induced body aches
e e
David Jasper: 541-383-0349, djasper@bendbulletin.com
things to go! do
Thursday 1/21
Yin and Flow Yoga: The weekly yoga class is limited to 5
students each week to maintain social distance. Proceeds
got to the Chuush Water for Warm Springs Campaign.
Email or text to RSVP your spot; 9-10:30 a.m.; $15; Wine
Down Ranch, 6500 NE McKay Creek Road, Prineville;
go.evvnt.com/727219-0 or 541-362-1142.
Orangetheory Fitness Run Club: A guided 3- to 5-mile
hike with body weight workouts mixed in will be held
every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Free for members
and nonmembers; 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Orangetheory
Fitness, 320 SW Powerhouse Drive, Bend; go.evvnt.
com/729405-0 or 541-904-5123.
Ask An HOA Attorney — Kickoff Event: Join CORC
CAI via Zoom while we learn from HOA attorneys; 4:30-
5:30 p.m.; $5 nonmember, free for members; online;
go.evvnt.com/727000-1 or 541-719-8224.
Thursday Trivia Night: The weekly trivia game will
be held outdoors by fire pits and heaters. Subject
to postponement due to weather; 6-8 p.m.; Bridge
99 Brewery, 63063 Layton Ave., Bend; go.evvnt.
com/724898-0
to reserve a table for a $20 deposit (returned when the
team is there) otherwise, first come, first served; 7-9 p.m.;
Silver Moon Brewing, 24 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend;
go.evvnt.com/727220-0 or 541-388-8331.
SATURDAY 1/23
Private Book Sales: Supporters of Literacy in Deschutes
County has opened it9s 30,000 volume used book
collection for private, individual sales upon request. Call
or email literacyindeschutes@gmail.com to reserve a
time; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; registration required; Ponderosa
Elementary School, 3790 NE Purcell Blvd., Bend; go.evvnt.
com/725005-0 or 541-977-5341.
Aquatic Entomology Class: This class introduces
students to the river insects upon which our local trout
focus and how to stock your fly box with the most
productive patterns to imitate them. Call or stop by to
register; 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; $40; Confluence Fly Shop, 375 SW
Powerhouse Drive, Bend; go.evvnt.com/729414-0 or 541-
678-5633.
Americana Song Share: A song share virtual gathering
for high school students on Thursday evenings; 6:30-8 p.m.
through Feb. 11; $50; online; eventbrite.com
Ultimate Scavenger Bend Cleanup: Volunteers can join
in cleaning up trash and other debris from the plaza area
in the monthly cleanup event. Drop in for an hour or two,
bags and gloves provided; 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Brookswood
Meadow Plaza, 19570 Amber Meadow Drive, Bend;
go.evvnt.com/729433-0
Trivia on the Moon: The weekly trivia game will be held
on the brewery9s patio. Teams of up to eight are welcome
Know Place —’PLACED’ An Encyclopedia of Central
Oregon: Editors Irene Cooper and Ellen Santasiero discuss
8PLACED9 composition of writings based on place and
phenomena unique to Central Oregon; 2-3 p.m.; online;
go.evvnt.com/729136-0 or 541-312-1063.
Numa Breath Experience: Come taste the depth and
potency of the practices Nkma Breathwork. It provides
the space and time to dive more deeply into your own
personal journey, helping to resolve old burdens and
foster clarity; 3-5 p.m.; $50; Namaspa Yoga & Massage, 974
SW Veterans Way, Redmond; go.evvnt.com/729430-1 or
541-550-8550.
SUNDAY 1/24
‘The Nutcracker, A Child’s Tale’: Students from the
Acadamie de Ballet Classique will perform the ballet
virtually. The Theatre will be closed to all outside
audiences; 6-8 p.m.; $34; online; go.evvnt.com/721817-0
or 541-382-4055.
MONDAY 1/25
Know Place — Oregon’s African American History:
Delve into the history of African Americans in Oregon, with
a special emphasis on historic places, with Kim Moreland
of Oregon Black Pioneers; 5-6 p.m.; online; go.evvnt.
com/729138-0 or 541-312-1029.
Fundamentals of Bluegrass Guitar: An online six-week
virtual class via Zoom on Mondas; 6:30-8 p.m. through
March 1; $150; online; eventbrite.com
TUESDAY 1/26
Equitable, Safe & Green Transportation Webinar:
Come have a discussion with 350Deschutes,
transportation planners and community leaders about
public transit in central Oregon and how we can make it
more equitable, safe and eco-friendly; 3-4:30 p.m.; online;
go.evvnt.com/726810-0 or 561-329-7873.
Beginning Fly Tying Class: Novice anglers can learn
the basics of tying flies in this 2-hour class. Register at
the fly shop; 6-8 p.m.; $80; Confluence Fly Shop, 375 SW
Powerhouse Drive, Bend; go.evvnt.com/723287-0 or 541-
678-5633.
Writing the Songs Only You Can Write: An online
six-week songwriting class via Zoom held on Tuesdays;
7-8:30 p.m. through March 2; $150; online; eventbrite.com
WEDNESDAY 1/27
Private Book Sales: Supporters of Literacy in Deschutes
County has opened it9s 30,000 volume used book
collection for private, individual sales upon request. Call
or email literacyindeschutes@gmail.com to reserve a
time; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; registration required; Ponderosa
Elementary School, 3790 NE Purcell Blvd., Bend; go.evvnt.
com/725006-0 or 541-977-5341.