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The human brain was not designed to take in and process information at the volume and speed at which we now receive it. Bad news used to arrive by ship or carriage weeks after the event, allowing it to age and air as it traveled. Now it pops up on our screens, fresh, raw and Read more
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Resentment is a dry, bitter pill. It tastes awful, and is incredibly hard to swallow. Read more
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315 homeless people died in Multnomah County in 2022; that’s almost one person per day, and 23% more than in 2021. The number of deaths has increased by nearly 30% each year between 2018-2022. “Accidental deaths” (146), which includes overdose (123) was the leading cause of death. “Natural causes” including infections, heart disease, cancer, strokes, Read more
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Happy Birthday, Deborah! Read more
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Have you ever been insulted, but not cared about the content of the insult? When I was in high school it was an insult to tell a girl that she was flat-chested. I knew from the nasty energy around the words, both written and spoken, that the comment was meant as insult, but being flat-chested, Read more
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When we were little, Dad came up with an idea to slow the pace of Christmas morning. We could open our stockings as soon as we woke up. But, before we could open gifts, Debbie and I were in charge of making breakfast. (Mom’s contribution to Christmas morning management was to allow us to open Read more
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I’ve found unexpected freedom living in the Pacific Northwest these past 25 years. I came west in 1997 when I moved to Federal Way, WA, located midway between Tacoma and Seattle, from Syracuse, NY in order to be closer to my sister and her family. I used to tell my middle school social studies classes Read more
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Genetically, I’m Wonder Bread White, with roots deep in rural Iowa and South Dakota. My ancestral geography stretches across Northern Europe: England, Sweden, Germany, and Ireland, with a bit of Scotland kilted around the edges. My roots are also rural and small town White, which, in the minds of the coastal elite, translates instantly to Read more
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Every generation faces a recurring choice between two paths: the path of fear—which breeds isolation, judgment, and exclusion—and the path of love—which calls for courage, hospitality, and recognition of shared humanity. Today, one path dominates our public discourse, fueling a legislative campaign built on panic and prejudice. Before we can propose a better way forward, Read more
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Chelle’s Say Gay the Smart Way List Several years ago Mom and I were discussing the current high pressure front of meanness toward the LGBT community, my community. When I shared my frustration that some straight allies can be careless in their language, Mom had the practical suggestion of creating a “what not to say Read more
The Hammer Times 