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THE LEADING AGE, I MEAN LEADING EDGE

April 27, 2026 by

The leading age comes after long years of experience, and putting it into practice for the benefit of others. The best blacksmith in town learns to pound steel into the correct form and he teaches others the same skill before his elbow sidelines him. The best woodworker shapes stock into useful pieces and helps others […]

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MUSIC MUSCLE: USE IT OR LOSE IT

April 26, 2026 by

Where is the music muscle? In your fingertips? In your ear? In your voice? No wrong answer here. It’s all three, but there’s still something missing. Whether it’s ambient noise, sounds, notes, or whether it’s so important you buy tickets and make travel plans, there’s something about music I still don’t get. On one hand […]

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THE ART OF FRIENDSHIP, OR WHY YOU DON’T HAVE ANY FRIENDS

April 24, 2026 by

If you want to experience friendship, have friends, be generous. Loan money, loan tools, loan your car. That’s also the way to experience friendlessness when they don’t repay, return, and crash your car. The other way is spending time together. My wife says I don’t have any friends because the only people I spend time […]

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UNDERSTANDING REGIONAL EMOTIONS BY WEATHER

April 23, 2026 by

My California girl wife discovered regional emotions in her business. With empathy and experience she learned more about people by where they we’re from than where they are. I helped out with my research, and The Beach Boys. She grew up in the next town over from them.

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NW PORTLAND FROM 1980 TO YESTERDAY

April 22, 2026 by

I take snap shots of NW Portland, not out of nostalgia but celebration, where you walk past buildings like this block after block. It’s the only area in town where authentic city life happens, where new people arrive, settle in, and walk from apartment to work. That’s the plan, the dream, and when it works […]

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WHAT IS INDOCTRINATION AND WHERE CAN I GET ONE

April 17, 2026 by

Welcome to Indoctrination Class. This is your instructor. No, not really, it’s just me after a reader commented on my attempts to sway people, to pull them closer, to my way of thinking. Imagine that. I’m still scratching my head. But, I don’t disagree. I do try and sway people to my way of thinking. […]

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COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN, ONLINE VERSION. CHEERS

April 10, 2026 by

Communication breakdown happens when online behemoths find themselves on the wrong side of a tech case. Tech case? What else do you call instagram and YouTube but marvels of modern technology? One way or another the two of them navigated through competition and mergers and acquisitions so some kid can take an endless scroll to […]

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CALDWELL COUNTY BBQ? HOLY COW

April 3, 2026 by

This is Jimmy in the Caldwell County BBQ pit in Gilbert, Arizona. I was waiting for the occupied Men’s Room when we struck up a chat that was more historical than most history classes. He’s been running the show for a few years with the huge smokers, about five of them going full blast. On […]

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READING FICTION IN DECLINE?

March 26, 2026 by

Reading fiction has been in decline since the first person put a book down and said, “Not for me. Thanks.” A reader doesn’t finish every book. They don’t go into a library with the goal of reading everything. Maybe read everything one author ever wrote, but not everything from everyone. Which brings up one question:

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BORING, TRIVIAL, POINTLESS LIFE? GOOD JOB

March 17, 2026 by

Doing a good job means what? Following orders and delivering a finished product according to the highest standards of the industry? Let’s not get carried away. How about finishing on time with something that works the way it’s supposed to work? You can do that and your masterpiece at the same time. If you don’t […]

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