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‘SECURITY THREAT ASSESSMENT (STA)?’ I’LL HANDLE THIS ONE

When an agency sends an email about a security threat assessment that is ‘underway’, I feel sort of special, but I can save a load of time if it includes scanning the internet for clues.
In this photo I’m a threat to all decent hotel bellhops.
Jed Clampet don’t need no bellhop. Git away from my travel sacks.
Hotel luggage cart threat?

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MODERN RUNNING FOR YOUR LIFE

Running for your life used to be pretty simple.
There’s something that might kill you if it gets close enough.
And it’s a surprise, a big surprise.
No one needs to tell you what to do:
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PDX WOOD A WELCOME SIGHT

Call it PDX wood, Portland wood, Oregon wood.
Or call it what it is, Douglas Fir from the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua.
And call it a nice wall.
It’s nice in a way, but unfinished looking.
Your call:

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PORTLAND TRAVEL NOTES: THE BOOKENDS

This is the flat spot in the river bank where people used to take a break.
Whether coming up from the Columbia River, or down on the Willamette, this was the original rest stop for paddlers.
Then it grew, grew some more, and for those of us who’ve traded punches on her streets, it’s all grown up.
And it has bookends on the part people think of when they hear the word ‘Portland.’

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MISTAKEN IDENTITY? MAYBE NOT

It could be a case of mistaken identity if you’re in an outfit led by a naked lady and winged horse all clad in gold.
Where’s the plan? What’s the goal? Is it safe?
No one gives a good answer.
Where’s your plan, what’s the goal, is it safe?
If the plan is to paint yourself gold and get a winged horse you might want to take another look.
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toughen up

HPV AWARENESS DAY STARTS MARCH 4, START WALKING

  “Love is everywhere, unfortunately so is hpv.”   That’s the message on the first HPV Awareness Day, and from the looks of things, a message that is taking root.   It didn’t resonate with me in years past, not when I learned more about hpv and the numbering system, like hpv16. Not even last […]

F CANCER WALK DOWN PORTLAND SOUTH PARK BLOCKS

  If holding paper from an institute of higher learning means anything, it means exposure to civil discourse.   I hold paper from Portland State University, so F Cancer.   Can I get a, “Hell Yeah!”

CANCER STORIES: FEEDING PUBLIC FEAR AND PRIVATE WOE

Things you’ll never know until you get cancer, any cancer:   You’ll either be an object of sympathy, or an antenna of sympathy. Or both.   “Keep up the fight,” or, “You’re a fighter,” or “You look like you’ve got this thing whipped.”   That’s what I heard after running Hood To Coast at 49 […]

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boomer years

NATIONAL VIETNAM VETERAN DRILL SERGEANT DAY

    By the time of September, 1974, people joining the armed forces knew they wouldn’t go to Vietnam. At least the people who kept up with the Vietnam War knew, and keeping up was as easy as watching the six o’clock news.   Back then joining the Army wasn’t the same as being drafted, […]

BACK TO THE FUTURE AT 60

Back To The Future Or How’d You Know It Would Turn Out Like This? By 1985 the oldest baby boomers were around 40 years old. They were old hippies by then, or peppy preppies if they cut their hair and learned how to trade bonds. Yes the boomer generation was settling in quite nicely toward […]

HOW BROKEN HEARTS STAND

Future Nobel Prize winner Bruuuuce nails broken hearts. Badlands, you gotta live it every day Let the broken hearts stand As the price you’ve gotta pay Broken hearts happen all the time. Hearts break next to you and you don’t hear a thing. Bruce Springsteen sang about broken hearts in Badlands. It fit the song, […]

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buckle up

TRAVEL ENGLAND WITH FOREVER YOUNG MILLENNIALS

  Aging in travel England Some moments remain frozen in time for better or worse. Remember when you missed middle school graduation and summer football workouts? Your parents decided to drag you around England instead. And your life was ruined. That last thing you wanted to do was be a show pony for your folks. […]

BOOMER FUTURE, WITH BELLS

Paolo Soleri Sets The Stage With A Desert Vision Of Boomer Future. It might be a Star Wars set, a home on a distant planet, but it’s not. Instead you see the cement/earthen buildings of Cosanti in Arizona. Some of you might mistake Arizona for a distant planet, and you wouldn’t be far off. With […]

BILTMORE: BIG MONEY BUILDS A BIG HOUSE

    Sneaking up on the big Biltmore House The first question is appearance. Not the house, you. What do you wear if you’re visiting the biggest privately owned house in America? This isn’t Disneyland and Sleeping Beauty Castle, so shorts and flip flops aren’t good enough? If that’s true, you’ll find dress code violations […]

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