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KING OF THE SUBURBS STARTER KIT: SHOES

Everyone starts out as king of the suburbs once they make the move. How hard can it be? It’s just another move, right? From inner-eastside apartment to suburban property is just another move like running the Portland marathon is a walk around the block, swimming the Columbia River is a wading pool, and climbing Mt. […]

DRAWING LINES TO LIVE BY?

Who is drawing lines to live by? Picasso did. Unfortunately, you’re no Picasso, I’m no Picasso, so why bother? We bother with lines and borders for a sense of control like, “Don’t go there, girlfriend.” The big Question Of The Day: Who draws borders when they’re on the same side of the line you’re on?

BEST WISHES SENT ONE POST AT A TIME

Best wishes come when good things happen to others. That’s what we do, send best wishes and love. If we understand what happened and why, then what? Send best wishes and love. So I’m an expert on this? No, but I’m getting better at it. Now about you? Need some practice?

MAN’S FAILURE TO THINK DENIES HUMAN EVOLUTION? ASK JOHN STEINBECK

If you want to know more about about man’s failure, read John Steinbeck. He was born in a short span that brought us Fitzgerald (1896), Faulkner (1897), ( Hemingway (1899), Wolfe (1900), and Steinbeck (1902). (Turns out I’m not the first one to notice. Hey, Ed.) They knew plenty about man’s failure. And shared it. […]

MAKING HISTORY? THEN MAKE GOOD HISTORY

Making history feels like something you might realize after the fact. You did something well, felt good about it, then someone says, “That’s never been done before.” Does that make what you’ve done more important? Maybe important enough to try again?

HOW NORMAL HISTORICAL TIMES GO ABNORMAL

Normal historical times are also called boring, stuck in a rut, and monotonous times. Too much normal can drive people crazy. Nothing ever changes? Or maybe you don’t understand how changes happen. Is everything too slooooooooow for your liking?

GOOD LIFE? HOW LIVING IT HONORS THE PAST

A good life, living a good life, is a worthy goal. Give it a try if you haven’t already. It sets an example for those still working out right from wrong. When you talk about living that life to people who ought to know right from wrong based on their age and experience, and they […]

WHY LEGITIMATE POLITICAL DISCOURSE NEEDS SOME SCHOOLING

Since I’m an expert on political discourse I’ll tell you how I became such an expert After reading this, see if the same criteria applies to others who claim expertise in legitimate political discourse. For me, it all started in second grade. Experts, believable experts, need early references.

READING HISTORY BOOKS YIELDS MORE THAN BARGAINED FOR

Reading history books is about more than validating the opinion you already have. George Washington, first president and father of our country, chopped a cherry tree down and confessed because he would never lie? Honest Abe Lincoln never told a lie? No one questioned their honesty? Reading history books could answer those sort of questions, […]

FOR TEACHING HISTORY, FIRST LEARN HISTORY

My first awareness about teaching history came during a senior seminar class on the origins of WWI. I was a night school student finishing off history degree requirements; a ‘take classes at noon’ student, a ‘whatever class fits the right time slot’ student. It was the usual schedule for irresponsible college dropouts who get married, […]