page contents Google

NO KITTY GENOVESE FOR YOU

December 13, 2025 by

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 […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

MAKING CHANGE, EXACT CHANGE

December 12, 2025 by

With regular money transactions heading toward ‘tap and go’, the people making change, giving exact change, are growing more rare. You’ll find them at the drive through window, picking through coins for just the right combination. “Here’s four quarters instead of a dollar,” they say. Or, “$6.50 for my grande latte half-caff with oat milk? […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PUBLIC GOOD IS GOOD ENOUGH?

December 11, 2025 by

The idea of doing something for the ‘public good’ is a high standard in America. Why? Because the public, of which we’re all a part, is so broad. What’s good in one place is not so good in another, but no one talks about the ‘public bad’ as a goal. Or do they?

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

WE THE PEOPLE, NOT PEE-POLE

December 10, 2025 by

‘We the People’ are the difference makers others count on. Maybe not you or me, but the folks out there agitating for change, for better outcomes for themselves and their loved ones. Loved ones? You know, the people you think of when you get a warm fuzzy feeling that things are going the right direction […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

GREAT WRITING: WHEN WORDS MATTER MORE

December 6, 2025 by

From Google AI on current sentence construction:   Basic Structure: Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) Subject: Who/what the sentence is about (e.g., Matt). Verb: The action or state of being (e.g., eats). Object: Receives the action (e.g., pizza). Example: “Matt eats pizza.”

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

LIFE AND DEATH IN BOOMER PORTLAND

November 30, 2025 by

Reposted from 2013: Let’s face it, if you’re a baby boomer your life is over. Done. The problem is no one told you, but you’ve heard things. Younger smart-alecks say you’re sticking around for the big jobs and big money they deserve before bankrupting America with your anticipated retirement and health needs? “Life expectancy is […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

THE HEART OF PORTLAND

November 29, 2025 by

Repost from 2012 Urban life grows more imposing the closer you get to Burnside. The pretty lights you see from I-5, the beautiful reflection off the Willamette, disappear once you park your car. Trade wheels on the road for shoes on the sidewalk and the pace slows enough for a good look around. You still […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

MY COUNTRY TIS OF THEE

November 26, 2025 by

My participation in the civic life of my country is pretty minimal. I do my part. That’s me and Abe doing our part together. He does his oversight from his seat, me from mine. Only one of us writes about it.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

GOOD TEAMMATE? BE ONE FOR THE TEAM

November 25, 2025 by

Either you are a good teammate, you’ve been a good teammate, or get out of here. That’s me in the dark Oregon hat in back. We’re on the breach in Seaside after Hood to Coast. It felt more like a deathbed after a short illness. But I’m not complaining, didn’t complain then, don’t complain now, […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ONE NURSE STORY

November 23, 2025 by

If there’s a typical nurse story, it sounds like this: “I like to help people, and I don’t get grossed out.” A typical nursing patient has a similar story: “I need help, and I am grossed out.” Why are we grossed out about our bodies? I’ll start:

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,