page contents Google

CORONAVIRUS SAFETY: PSA FOR THE VIGILANT

A boomerpdx fan asked about Coronavirus safety, and how this platform could help. “Have you written a Public Service Announcement on Coronavirus safety,” he asked. I said I had not; he said I should. I agreed. Here are a few Coronavirus safety ideas to pass around. First, for Men:

OREGON HISTORICAL: JOB THREE OF FIVE

Oregon Historical is the third of a five part series inspired by a twitter post asking to list five jobs. From mill work, to army medic, a museum job was a perfect fit. The idea started from three thousand miles away.

ARMY MEDIC: JOB TWO OF FIVE

Army medic was the job I signed up for when I joined after freshman year in 1974. Army medic was my dad’s idea. The old Marine also advised against joining the Navy, but that’s expected. I went in on the Buddy Plan with a high school buddy. We lasted three days together in receiving, then […]

GREEN CHAIN DANCER TELLS SISTER STORY

The green chain in the local plywood mill called for me after freshman year in college. I had a college loan and the job was the best for paying it off and putting money away for sophomore year. I was the new guy on the swing shift crew in 1974 with men who enjoyed a […]

MINDHUNTER + TALKING TO STRANGERS = YIKES

I started watching Mindhunter halfway through reading Malcolm Gladwell’s recent book, Talking To Strangers. It’s a strange combination ranging from creepy to creepier. Mindhunter tells about the FBI effort to understand what motivates serial killers. If that’s not creepy enough, the killers they interview had attacked women.

SOCIAL DISTANCE: AN EXERCISE IN LISTENING

Social distance is different in an apartment house. Shared walls and floors work the same, but the sound travels. Keeping out of circulation is the rule of the day, but the sound in apartments is constant. Sometimes I miss my old apartment, but then remember how it was.

VIRUS IN THE AIR = AIR POLLUTION?

The coronavirus virus asks for a social distance of six feet, which seems short considering how far a grown man can spit after a lifetime of practice. From Little League sunflower seeds to high school Beechnut, many men have learned how to cut loose closer to ten feet. A strong hack could take it out […]

WHAT READERS DO? READERS GONNA READ, READ, READ

Real readers handle books different than than rest of us. Who is that real reader? I watched a librarian friend pick up a book and go through the process. From contents to index, then everything in between, he handled the book like a pro. He was a pro, but what about the rest of us?

FOOTBALL SOCIAL DISTANCING THEME SONG BY STING

Don’t stand, don’t stand soDon’t stand so close to meDon’t stand, don’t stand soDon’t stand so close to me

PORTLAND WAY ON A CLEAR SUNDAY: WHAT DID YOUR TOWN LOOK LIKE

The Portland way means something different to everyone who crosses the city line. But the Portland way is the same thing for everyone who lived here and left. People miss Portland more than they thought they would. Why is that? Please proceed.