Why waste money on the arts? The government boasts that between federal, state, and local appropriations approximately $1.85 billion dollars went to the arts in FY2022. Within this total, the National Endowment for the Arts received $ 207 million in

Though there are stories of rape in Lives of Museum Junkies and Over the Peanut Fence explains what happens when LGBTQ youth are sent from their homes, these books aren’t yet banned. You can find them in bookstores and on Amazon

An overnight trip to central Oregon inspired me to paint this Ponderosa Pine. It was early morning, with the sun rising to illuminate Mount Hood and cover the landscape with a soft blanket. An overnight trip to central Oregon inspired

 Diamond Crater Julie Anderson sings about her favorite things in the Sound of Music. Do you have time to enjoy yours. The Four-day Workweek. Two days ago, ten inches of snow fell by my home in the hills of Portland.

An Update on Trees I love trees, especially old-growth ones with limbs twisted and knarled like elders. I was even more enthralled after discovering they communicate for protection against insects and nurture young seedlings. I’ll go out of my way

Limitless Possibilities So many people, so many ways, and so many paths. Which one to take isn’t clear.  Should we use our minds to set boundaries or depend on biological instincts to lead the way? Oh, Rats!     Is

 Over 200 countries attended COP26m the international climate conference that took place in 2021. Its main goal was to keep a maximum of 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit of global warming within reach by mid-century. The conference held promise and excitement about

Mental Health Conundrum In the1960s, I was part of a Lexington, Massachusetts research project to train volunteers to help empty state mental health facilities. After nine months of training, our group of twelve was assigned patients. Our mission was to

Traveling east from Portland reminds me that nothing stays the same. Seasons change along with the landscape. The city gives way to fields and the cliffs turn into mountains. As I ride east, I question my preference for open quiet

To Move a Mountain “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” This 2,500-year-old quote is attributed to the philosopher Confucius. It remains true for anyone with a goal and entrepreneurial spirit. Yet, we make resolutions