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CRAFTSMEN KNOW HOW TO WORK, ARTIST KNOW WHEN TO STOP

Craftsmen know their work, the ins and outs, the customs and traditions; they know the lay of the land. The good news is you can tell a good craftsman by their work. As a young history worker I inventoried a donation of hand tools used to build the wooden ships of old. The toolbox was […]

GILBERT HOUSE IN SALEM: CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, ADULT PLAYTIME, OR BOTH

The Gilbert House Children’s Museum is fun for kids, a way for them to see new things in a new context. Gather up the kids and grandkids for an afternoon of the usual? Nope, not at the Gilbert House. There’s something undeniably sweet going on there for the big kids, the adults.

FAST LEARNING WITH PATRICK DEWITT AND BOB COMET

Reading new material for fast learning is the way to go. Hands on experience? Also good when combined with reading new material. But something happens when new material comes in the way of reading a novel. The novel is ‘The Librarianist’ by Patrick deWitt.

HOW TO GROW UP BETTER THAN YOUR PARENTS

It’s time to grow up, but there’s still a question? How to do it right. Based on empirical evidence gathered through observation, documentation, and experimentation, in other words the most popular posts on boomerpdx all time, I have some solid advice. It’s not advice for those set in their ways, resistant to change, and waiting […]

MORE ‘WANT TO?’ BUT WHERE IS IT

‘Want to’ is what you need starting out. More ‘want to’ is what it takes to keep going. Some folks use it all in the start-up phase, others in the keep going phase. Then there’s the closer who never runs out.

TWO STORIES AND ONLY TWO?

Two stories in 5000 years are not a lot of stories. Is that for slow readers too? Or do speed readers change the numbers? I have the feeling Mr. Eco is repeating the writer’s mantra: Buy More Books. Sounds good to me, but why not check in with other writers.  

PORTLAND PARK BLOCKS IN DECEMBER WITH DOG

The Portland Park Blocks, the south side, deserves a good look this time of year. Call it a learning moment, my dog did. Who’s a good girl. We started at Portland State University to see what the youths were up to.

TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS IN WASHINGTON AND OREGON

Traditions and customs reek of history and ceremony. Just the way I like it. The more the merrier is fitting for both. But, like George Harrison said, “All things must pass.”

SCOREBOARD TRAINING FOR SPORTS FANS

Scoreboard training is a class to take just in case things don’t turn out the way you wanted. At this point in  the college football season Oregon Duck fans have graduated. You get that when you show up for the last game of the regular season undefeated. Then they start over for the College Football […]

LESSON LEARNED, BUT WHICH ONE? TRENDS

A lesson learned ought to last a lifetime. What has lasted a lifetime: riding a bike, tying shoes. What should last a lifetime: That one perfect haircut, true love, your dog. In most cases we adjust the timeline.