boycotts, buycotts, and speaking out

In recent days, I’ve received several e-mails urging people to keep their wallets closed on Inauguration Day (January 20th). You may have received this message, too — entitled “Not One Damn Dime Day.” The idea, according to the e-mail is that “our government will wake up and listen if they are hit economically.” I have […]

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new year’s revolution

Here’s something I wrote nine years ago, in 1995. I was in the midst of changing direction in my life, and while I knew instinctively that the results would be very good — and even though I’d faced and conquered big change before — it was scary to take those first steps. Big shifts and […]

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fear

I’ve been seeing trailers for the upcoming movie, “White Noise,” and while the premise appeals to me, I have no interest in the way the story has been developed; at least, I have no interest in what the trailers tell me the movie is about. Granted, I’ve not read a script or even anything more […]

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small-mindedness

Last night, I dreamt that I was in attendance at a very large “open house” at a local church. There was music, lots of flowers and candles, and many members of the church on hand to greet guests from the community. With its massive columns and other classical features, the church itself looked as though […]

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the futon life

I’ve had an interesting e-mail exchange this afternoon with a friend in the Bay Area. What started out as a conversation about an orphan deer being adopted by a large dog, grew into a discussion about the joys of sleeping on a futon mattress. After I clicked “send” on the last installment in this e-mail […]

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without a coat

It’s official. I’m an Oregonian. Even though it’s only 36 degrees F outside today, I was one of those annoying people running around without a jacket. Just the other day, when it was perhaps a few degrees warmer, I insisted upon taking my winter jacket with me on the train ride into downtown, even though […]

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scarlet o’hara

This Thanksgiving holiday the AMC channel has been airing “Gone With the Wind” — a classic, and one of my favorite movies. Sure, it’s long, the music is cheesy (as is some of the acting), and it’s rife with stereotypes. But I still remember when my parents let me stay up late to see it […]

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