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HISTORY SPEAKS IN A LOUD VOICE FROM A ROOF TOP

April 4, 2020 by

History speaks in a loud voice, sometimes too loud. And if it tells something uncomfortable, the only thing louder is denial. A boompdx reader checked in to ask about the Fox Theater posts. Why all the Broadway posts. “All two of them?” I said.

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PORTLAND FOX THEATER HISTORY UP IN THE AIR ON A RAINY DAY

April 3, 2020 by

For Portland history, or any history, like the Fox Theater history, the events remain the same. It’s the interpretation that changes. This is why you trust your sources in regard to what you hear and believe, and what to reject. Primary sources make the difference. But what is a primary source? Take this, for instance:

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THE HISTORY WRITER YOU NEED, THE STORY YOU GET

March 29, 2020 by

Every history writer has a To Be Read stack of books. I like to think most people have the same stack. The difference for a writer is most of their books To Be Read explain how to write. I’m finally able to say they helped me. How? Thank you for asking.

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OREGON HISTORICAL: JOB THREE OF FIVE

March 21, 2020 by

Oregon Historical is the third of a five part series inspired by a twitter post asking to list five jobs. From mill work, to army medic, a museum job was a perfect fit. The idea started from three thousand miles away.

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ART WORLD DEFAULTS TO TRUTH IN THE ORSAY

February 27, 2020 by

Did the art world need a change in 1849? Who knows, I was just trying to keep up on a march through Paris in 2019. Ah, Paris. Just saying the name brings it all back: the museums, memorials, and churches; the neighborhoods, the Metro, and Versailles. Nothing hit harder than the painting in the top […]

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BEARD LIFE: WHY ADDING OREGON HISTORY TO THE STORY MATTERS

February 15, 2020 by

In the middle of every February it’s always the same: Oregon’s birthday, Valentine’s Day, and a celebration of beard life all at the same time. This year I brought some extra beard life to the chocolate and the lemon birthday cake. They both wore well.

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WHY AMERICAN MILITARY ARE STATIONED IN GERMANY AND JAPAN

January 30, 2020 by

My sources say over 33,000 US military personnel live in Germany, and 50,000 in Japan when their census came in in 2013. I’m part of the chorus asking, “Why?” Then I remember WWII.

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BOOK HISTORY: LIVE IT THEN WRITE IT

January 29, 2020 by

Book history could be about the printing press, except books existed before the printing press. Just not as many, and not all in Europe.

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DECADE ENDS IN SOFT TALK, HARD TRUTHS

December 26, 2019 by

    Me: This decade ends the best of times and worst of times. Them: Did you just make that up, or are you finally going to admit to stealing from Charles Dickens? Me: Writers don’t steal, they borrow. Them: Like the time you borrowed a notebook from Payless in Pony Village?

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FUTURE YOU, FUTURE ME, UH HUH, WHICH ONE IS GOING TO BE

December 11, 2019 by

Will future you be alone in the world, walking the same path until the end of days? Future me says, “I hope not.” I’ve got a habit of watching people when they don’t know I’m watching. I especially like watching people who remind me of a different time.

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