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FROM CENTRAL OREGON SMOKE TO PORTLAND AIR

To anyone who has gone over the mountain from the valley to Central Oregon, this is the last thing you ever want to see. It’s forest fire smoke, brush fire smoke, doing its scorched earth best to show the power of fire. Not fire-power, the sort of thing you can start and end, but Mother […]

SOCIAL MEDIA FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

To use social media to any satisfaction you need to be strong, at least strong enough to carry your feelings. One bucket for your feelings, another for social media. Which one is heavier? Which one ought to be heavier?

WHEN YOU NEED A FATHER FIGURE

This is my latest new mug, the Father Figure, and it’s my favorite of all time. The handle is right. The size is right. It holds so much ice water I don’t need to refill it during my workout routine and lose focus. But there’s so much more.

OLD AGE AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

Old age is a place to avoid if you can help it. It starts with the idea of, ‘I’m too old to do that,’ whatever ‘that’ is. Too old to skydive the first time? Maybe. Too old to bungee jump off a bridge? Probably. If you get past seventy without skydiving and bungee jumping? Good […]

WHEN THE AMERICAN DREAM CHANGES? KEEP UP

If you wonder how you’ll keep up when the American Dream changes, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Different people, different dogs, different places? Still keeping up? Start in the easiest place: know your place. Does that sound too rigorous? Too condescending? Here, I’ll help you adjust:

YAMHILL COUNTY FAIR 2026, THE OLDEST COUNTY FAIR IN OREGON

I went to the Yamhill County Fair for the rides? Noooo. Luckily I went with my wife and our friend (hey Josette) and they weren’t jumping in line. Neither was anyone else since we were there early. It opens at 10. So why drive out into the farmland past towns and graveyards full of pioneers? […]

OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER, BUT . . .

Age is determined by one moment. It’s when you hear this: You’re old enough to know better. You hear it the first time when you’re too young to remember your parents saying, “I thought they were out of that stage.” But you weren’t.

JAKE’S WALL OF FAME FOR NOTABLE OREGONIANS

If you’re a notable Oregonian your picture is in Jake’s Famous Crawfish. They they are, senators, governors, a president. Who’s missing? Mayors, councilmen and women, maybe a famous chef or two. If you’re going to have a can kicking Hemingway on board, why not reach out for others?

FINISHING TOUCH ON WHAT YOU START

How often do you get to add the finishing touch on what you start? Most of the time we move the pile of expectations, but it moves so slow it’s hard to know it moved at all. Give it a shot, do your best, and maybe, just maybe, things will work out the way you […]

EXPERT OPINIONS? CHECK REFERENCES

Before you act on expert opinions, do one thing first. Check references? Nooo, not yet. First, ask why you need to trust someone when they ask. After you’ve got trust locked in, be a good listener. Believe them when they tell you who they are, after checking references.