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Portland Welcome Mat: How To Walk Around Downtown Portland

    One of the great things about sponsoring foreign exchange students after your own kids have been out of college for years is rolling out the welcome mat.   The Portland welcome mat. And dragging everyone possible along the Portland Trail.   My wagon train always starts with Saturday Market and the sort of […]

Five Miles From Tigard Equals Yellowstone?

  Looked for wildlife far and wide from Idaho to Wyoming to Montana and Washington.   Then I looked near Tigard in the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge five miles from home in Oregon.   There was more wildlife in one place than there was in four states.   Go Tigard, Go.

Hitchhiking Idaho With Stewart Abbe

    Forty five years is a long time. Just ask forty five year old men or women who are just getting used to what ‘middle aged’ means.   Right around forty five people either start feeling old, or fighting old. Both are a path to futility and failure, but that’s what feelings and fighting […]

Baby Bison Red Dog Travelogue From Yellowstone To Oregon

    She saw me in the bookstore outside the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone.   She wanted something to remind her of the visit.   I’m glad there wasn’t a moose in the house. She really wanted to see a moose and I’d still be in the park.   The first night was good. […]

NO KITTY GENOVESE FOR YOU

Would an Oregonian save Kitty Genovese? A few years back a little boy in Portland, Oregon was accidentally left on a train platform. He made it home safely with his dad. A young woman stayed with him until his father returned, just a bystander who saw what happened and took time to care. Those few minutes ended happily; it […]

Chain Of Command From The Bottom Up Point Of View

After you’ve lived in a chain of command culture the picture clears up. It’s not about being over-burdened, neglected, or picked on.   It is about preparing to be a better link in the chain. Not exactly another brick in the wall, a chain is more active.   Or it’s preparation to leave the chain […]

World’s Factory: China Fills Big Box America To The Brim

  The world’s factory, otherwise known as China, fills big box America from Costco to Target to Walmart.   From Home Depot to Lowe’s the world’s factory supplies America with the suburban necessities.   If it’s electronic components, or sporty textiles, or steel, look for the Made in China tag. You won’t have to look […]

F CANCER WALK DOWN PORTLAND SOUTH PARK BLOCKS

  If holding paper from an institute of higher learning means anything, it means exposure to civil discourse.   I hold paper from Portland State University, so F Cancer.   Can I get a, “Hell Yeah!”

CANCER RESEARCH THROUGH BETTER BEER

    “I’m buying you a beer,” G said.   “That’s awfully nice, but you don’t have to,” I said.   “It’s that one,” he said.   “Which one?” I asked.   “At the bottom of the Daily Specials.”   I looked at the beer menu and didn’t see it.   “Where are the specials?” […]

SHARED STANDARDS LIFT AMERICAN GREATNESS BAR

    In order to compete with Pew Research Center’s ‘fact tank’, nonpartisan, non-advocacy approach to public opinion, I ask strangers questions.   In a nonpartisan, non-advocacy approach I asked a fellow citizen in the sauna, an FCIS, if I could ask a few questions about shared standards. The old ‘question about asking questions’ technique. […]