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BE SOMEBODY? THERE ARE CLUES ALONG THE WAY

You’ve heard the request to ‘be somebody?’ Be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, and more. The request usually comes from an adult speaking to someone who screwed up. They ask why we can’t be better than what we’re in trouble for. It’s different when we’re in trouble with ourselves.

ARMY LESSON: SALUTE THE UNIFORM NOT THE MAN

The big Army lesson for me was outlined by a Drill Sergeant. We were scheduled for an inspection by one of the big guys on base, some colonel named Blackjack something or other. But Colonel Blackjack got side tracked and they brought out the butter bar from the administrative office to cover for him. It […]

LIVING HISTORY? IT WORKS FOR ME

Living history is what you see when people put on costumes and churn butter. At least that’s what comes to mind for most people. It’s a farm, a museum, a town. History is one thing; living it another. Which one is right for you? I have the right answer:

BOOMER BAR SETS HIGH STANDARDS

Who set the baby boomer bar for making a better world for our children? Our parents, our grandparents, our teachers, and coaches? If that’s your guess, it’s a good one. But who set it so high; why did they do that to us?

OREGON SPORTS ILLUSTRATED COVERS AND MORE

Oregon sports didn’t begin with Steve Prefontaine, but he was the first Oregonian on the cover of Sports Illustrated. At least that’s what the smart-guy talent online say. Sports Illustrated and I were born the same year. With the end of the magazine this week everyone is sad. I’m sad even though my subscription lapsed […]

VOTING AGE FIRST PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER

I came of voting age just in time to vote for President Carter. Why not have a naval academy graduate in the White House? I was eighteen in 1974, not an election year. That was the year Gerald Ford pardoned former president Nixon.  

ATTENTION ECONOMY PAID IN EXPOSURE . . . TO WHAT

The attention economy is an agreement between those seeking, and needing attention, and those who accommodate them. But what about the end-user, the audience, you know, The People I like to call ‘the rest of us?’ We still matter since the ‘I’m paying attention’ economy is based on time, not money. No money for those […]

THANK A VETERAN, THEN BRACE YOURSELF

Everybody knows you can’t thank a veteran without a veteran story in return, so: I served in the medical community doing pre-physical work ups on my civil service patients in South Philadelphia. It was a remote clinic administered from the Army hospital in Fort Dix, New Jersey although there was a Navy hospital just up […]

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION USES GOOD MANNERS

Manners matter, good manners, if your aim is for effective communication. Steady eye contact and active listening nods and acknowledgment are part of the deal, but don’t stare unblinking like a psycho. Also, “Yup, yup, yup,” and “okay, okay, okay,” are not examples of active listening. Unless you do it ironically, but only if you’re […]

BIRTH WATERS: YOUR RIVER, LAKE, OR BAY. OKAY, AND OCEAN

Birth waters are usually called ‘breaking waters.’ I’ll get back to that. For now let’s say “Birth Waters,” and leave the amniotic fluid for later. Let’s throw in some suspension of disbelief while we’re at it, okay?