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SAM QUINONES ON IMPORTANT WRITING

What’s better than a writer hyping important writing, the importance of writing, and at the same time telling us about their favorite writing book from a dead writer? If that’s not writing advice, I don’t know what is. Good writing advice is hard to come by. Will it make you a better writer, you ask? […]

CHEESECAKE FACTORY v ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL: A STUDY

Timeless design. Classic vision. Tasteful architecture. What more could anyone want from the Cheesecake Factory? Or, St. Paul’s Cathedral?

A PORTLAND WALK WITH THE LADIES

What do you miss if you skip the Portland walk? Trees planted in brick walk ways? Always fun. The street lamps like the one in the top left? Wooden models are part of the Oregon Historical Society collection, and they are beautiful.

MISTAKEN IDENTITY: ONE ‘MY BAD’ MOMENT

‘My bad’ is not anyone else’s  bad, not your bad, not their bad, unless: What you did hurt others. You did it with malicious intent. You smeared your family name and showed a special kind of  jack-ass on C-span.

LONG MARRIAGE, WITH AGREEMENT DEALS

If you are in a marriage, long or short, bride or groom, and it’s your first one, you are aware of certain deals, made aware of certain deals, from the start. They begin with to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, […]

FINDING FAULT EVERYWHERE? BLAME SOCRATES

  Finding fault with the quote, “The unexamined life is not worth living?” You should. Social media demands an examination of the unexamined life beginning in two weeks. Or now. Let’s start by examining Socrates. And his life.

DANG GREEN ON OREGON FOOTBALL GAME DAY

Dang Green started strong for Oregon football on Saturday with six big boys left in the Safeway cooler. All six in the cart? Check. It felt like a good omen with three fans watching the game together from the same place. I’ll do the math: Two each. Wrapped in a game worn Oregon Duck shirt […]

THE NORTH BEND OF COOS BAY

Who saw this messy map and thought, “That’s where I’m going?” My parents, apparently. This is where they raised their family. I asked the old man, who had grown up in a logging company town, whose hometown was tougher, his or mine?

NATURE SIGNS TO WATCH FOR

When you make a plan to see nature up close, expect nature signs. Follow the message of the signs for best results. Do that and you’ll return home with sweet memories and solid experiences with exciting pictures to share. If it’s your first time out in the wild, pay extra attention. You can thank me […]

OFF GRID, NO PHONE SERVICE, BUT . . .

I’ve had mixed results with off grid peace and quiet. Once I stayed in a place the had no telephones in the rooms for just that purpose, peace and quiet. Sounded very thoughtful until a road grader started grinding across the parking lot pavement the next morning. It couldn’t have been any closer if it […]