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HISTORICAL FATHER’S DAYS 2026

June 21, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

Historical Father’s Days in the olde country where I watched my children roam like Vikings conquering a new land. Corfe Castle fell to my marauders. The locals didn’t like our style of exploration. The walkway through the ruins led to more investigation off the path. “How would you like it if we went to your […]

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DO MORE? LIKE WHAT

March 13, 2026 by David Gillaspie

You need to do more to matter? That’s what you ask yourself when someone says, “You need to do more to matter.” Have you heard that? I still hear it and I’m not some spring chicken pecking my way around the pen. When is enough enough?

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WE DON’T NEED NO EDUCATION, (FOR ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL)

March 8, 2026 by David Gillaspie

From twitterX: I get yelled at for saying this but for many hundreds of years people went to university not to get diplomas or be employable but because immersion in the humanities was considered foundational to a good life, and school must return to its original purpose: the joy of learning. Doesn’t that […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: college, college degrees, education, family, higher education, history, ivory tower, learning, learning experience, Love, millennials, no education, Oregon, Portland, Portland Oregon, story, university, vision, western history, writer, writers, writing

OLD SONG RINGS TRUE TODAY

March 4, 2026 by David Gillaspie

These are the opening lyrics of an old song, for what it’s worth: There’s something happening hereWhat it is ain’t exactly clearThere’s a man with a gun over thereA-telling me I got to beware That’s the name of the song, For What It’s Worth. Click the link for the live video.

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HOW TO OREGON DUCK FOOTBALL PLAYOFF AT AUTZEN

December 23, 2025 by David Gillaspie

Oregon Duck football begins where all college football begins: on campus. This is the lovely yard we passed on the way to Autzen from Max’s Tavern in Eugene, Oregon. The place was hopping with Duck shirts, Duck jersey’s, and a few James Madison people. One in our group spent their college years at University of […]

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COLLEGE DIPLOMA, JUST ANOTHER PIECE OF PAPER?

December 19, 2025 by David Gillaspie

Every time I open the sleeve and look at my college diploma it takes me back to another time. What time is that? The mid-70’s? Nooooo. Early 80’s? Noooo. But I started freshman year in 1973.

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HISTORY MAJORS DECLINING? SO WHAT

September 15, 2025 by David Gillaspie

History majors in decline is the story. ‘So what,’ is the response. Is there a historical reason for this? There’s always a historical reason for everything. Here’s the ‘so what’ part for you:

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: anger, baby boomer, blame, boomer brain, college, cultural, dropout, education, emotional response, extra money, family, family event, fools, fun, help, higher education, historical, history, history major, history majors, learning, male emotion, school, shared conclusion, strike out, time, touchstone . cultural touchstone

THE UNITED FEELING FROM HERE

September 10, 2025 by David Gillaspie

I get that united feeling when I think about how much we all have in common. It’s a growing feeling, but still elusive when differences are strong. Fortunately, being different is a good thing, not a shame thing. We have that in common. But, still . . .

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LIFE STACK GETTING HEAVY? THEN WHAT

September 2, 2025 by David Gillaspie

I call it the life stack, all the stuff you look at every day, all the crap that just sits there. You look at it in passing. It’s not crowding you, not taking space better used for something else, but it carries reminders. Eventually you sound like someone who said, “I’ve had this hanging on […]

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CLASSROOM TAXING FOR BOOMERS

July 19, 2025 by David Gillaspie

What’s the difference between a classroom and a business meeting? Both involve giving a report, turning in homework. Both require good listening skills. You hope you pass, or get promoted, in each of them. So, what’s the difference? Cash flow.

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