Here and there around Corvallis, there are aerial photos and aerial views of the city:
At the OSU Registrar, a painting dated 1932.
In the lobby of the Park Plaza Apartments at 124 NW 7th Street, a painting from the 1960s.
Upstairs at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, a photo from 1999.
At the city water department, a photo from the 2010s.
At the historical museum in the old Philomath College building, a painting of a speculation of "Corvallis in 2057" which was, fortunately, quite inaccurate in most details.
//The Magic-Eight-Ball says, "Perspective helps."\\
Monday, December 19, 2011
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Peace On Earth
I have just read Nate Powell's Any Empire, and I like it rather a lot.
It tells, in a non-linear fashion, about how children's "missions", the play which they approach in absolute earnest, shapes their choices in adult life.
I am especially reviewing it here because one of Powell's young protagonists is deeply impressed by the classic cartoon "Peace on Earth", which deeply impressed me, and remains one of my own holiday favorites.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "People say war exists because of 'the nature of the beast', and they are right, but the beast in question is not Homo sapiens but Leviathan."\\
It tells, in a non-linear fashion, about how children's "missions", the play which they approach in absolute earnest, shapes their choices in adult life.
I am especially reviewing it here because one of Powell's young protagonists is deeply impressed by the classic cartoon "Peace on Earth", which deeply impressed me, and remains one of my own holiday favorites.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "People say war exists because of 'the nature of the beast', and they are right, but the beast in question is not Homo sapiens but Leviathan."\\
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
No American Blackout!
In honor of American Censorship Day, I am turning my blog black.
Sorry if it hurts your eyes.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says: "I'm a good deal more conservative than John, and even I think Federal online censorship is a bad idea, much less giving corporations veto power."\\
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Boy, Does My Back Hurt
It started hurting on Friday afternoon, and it hasn't stopped yet.
At times it has been really, really bad. Naproxen helped. So did Cyclobenzaprine. A shot of Toradol at Immediate Care helped a whole lot. Also an electric heating pad and frequent hot soaks in the tub.
Kathe is taking good care of me.
Mostly, though, I'm just waiting for it to get better.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Don't despair. It will get better."\\
At times it has been really, really bad. Naproxen helped. So did Cyclobenzaprine. A shot of Toradol at Immediate Care helped a whole lot. Also an electric heating pad and frequent hot soaks in the tub.
Kathe is taking good care of me.
Mostly, though, I'm just waiting for it to get better.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Don't despair. It will get better."\\
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Occupy Corvallis
I told people attending tonight's meeting in Corvallis's Central Park that by the time they got home they'd be able to view http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OccupyCorvallis and http://OccupyCorvallis.blogspot.com, and here they are.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Don't forget the already-existing FaceBook page."\\
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Don't forget the already-existing FaceBook page."\\
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Questions From Sierra
My niece Sierra sent me an e-mail:
Could you please answer some questions for my family history project? here are 5 questions.
1.What was your life like when you were young?
My parents were college students, living in rented accommodations until I was six years old. I didn’t really understand what all of that meant, other than that Daddy went to “the school” every day to collect “day-da” for his “diss-ree-tation”, and that this was very important work.
Spending my childhood in an academic setting, I learned a great deal, and developed a large vocabulary from an early age. I absorbed concepts like cultural parallax and the need to test an hypothesis. I also absorbed an intellectual snobbery that I didn’t notice for the longest time, making it all that harder to discard.
2.What were people afraid of when you were young?
People talked a lot about pollution and about social changes that seemed to threaten civilization, but above all about the threat of nuclear war. Although my parents tried to divert me from thinking about it, I lived under the threat of destruction until I was twenty-nine years old. I went to school suspecting I would not live to grow up. I joined the Navy because I thought it might be safer than being drafted into the Army when Ronald Reagan inevitably went too far. I got married and had a child still under that shadow, because life did have to go on. It was not until Kathe and I saw the Berlin Wall being demolished that we really believed it was over.
3. What is a story from your childhood?
One day, Dad had been working on an old radio, the kind that was the size of a cabinet and stood on the floor, with a huge green light like an eye at the center of the dial. He talked about how much fun he and his siblings had, listening to old radio shows. He turned it on, joking that since it was an old radio, perhaps it would bring in an old radio show…and it did.
We listened, rapt, to an episode of Chandu the Magician. When it ended, the announcer came on and told us we were listening to the Old Time Radio Hour on KEX 1190 AM. We wound up listening to KEX every night, and recorded episodes on cassette tapes. But I will never forget the eerie experience of hearing those voices and sound effects coming through the radio just as Dad had predicted.
4. What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
Bicycling home from work after a night shift, I came upon a group of men standing over a fallen jogger. None of them seemed to know what to do. She had a pulse but wasn’t breathing, so I dove in and started giving her mouth to mouth. I gave her breaths until I couldn’t find a pulse, and then started CPR. To spare the others from the risk of infection, I gave her all of the breaths while they took turns giving chest compressions.
One of the men peeled back her eyelid and said, “There’s no pupillary response. I don’t think we need to bother.” I heard the voice of Sergeant Preston of the Yukon shouting, “We will continue until we are relieved!” – and it was me. That’s literally how it felt at the time.
An ambulance came and took over. I went home and went to bed. I heard later that the woman had died, but I knew we had done our part.
They always tell you at CPR classes that the person in charge at an emergency was whoever spoke up first, but I never thought that would be me.
5.What is one thing you’re proud of?
I am very proud of whatever role I have played in how my children have turned out. Some of them were half-grown when I got them, and none of them were related to me genetically, but I did what I could for them. They had many difficulties to overcome, and some of their problems could not be solved, but all four of them have faced and are facing life on their own terms with tremendous courage and persistence.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Teach the children well."\\
Could you please answer some questions for my family history project? here are 5 questions.
1.What was your life like when you were young?
My parents were college students, living in rented accommodations until I was six years old. I didn’t really understand what all of that meant, other than that Daddy went to “the school” every day to collect “day-da” for his “diss-ree-tation”, and that this was very important work.
Spending my childhood in an academic setting, I learned a great deal, and developed a large vocabulary from an early age. I absorbed concepts like cultural parallax and the need to test an hypothesis. I also absorbed an intellectual snobbery that I didn’t notice for the longest time, making it all that harder to discard.
2.What were people afraid of when you were young?
People talked a lot about pollution and about social changes that seemed to threaten civilization, but above all about the threat of nuclear war. Although my parents tried to divert me from thinking about it, I lived under the threat of destruction until I was twenty-nine years old. I went to school suspecting I would not live to grow up. I joined the Navy because I thought it might be safer than being drafted into the Army when Ronald Reagan inevitably went too far. I got married and had a child still under that shadow, because life did have to go on. It was not until Kathe and I saw the Berlin Wall being demolished that we really believed it was over.
3. What is a story from your childhood?
One day, Dad had been working on an old radio, the kind that was the size of a cabinet and stood on the floor, with a huge green light like an eye at the center of the dial. He talked about how much fun he and his siblings had, listening to old radio shows. He turned it on, joking that since it was an old radio, perhaps it would bring in an old radio show…and it did.
We listened, rapt, to an episode of Chandu the Magician. When it ended, the announcer came on and told us we were listening to the Old Time Radio Hour on KEX 1190 AM. We wound up listening to KEX every night, and recorded episodes on cassette tapes. But I will never forget the eerie experience of hearing those voices and sound effects coming through the radio just as Dad had predicted.
4. What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
Bicycling home from work after a night shift, I came upon a group of men standing over a fallen jogger. None of them seemed to know what to do. She had a pulse but wasn’t breathing, so I dove in and started giving her mouth to mouth. I gave her breaths until I couldn’t find a pulse, and then started CPR. To spare the others from the risk of infection, I gave her all of the breaths while they took turns giving chest compressions.
One of the men peeled back her eyelid and said, “There’s no pupillary response. I don’t think we need to bother.” I heard the voice of Sergeant Preston of the Yukon shouting, “We will continue until we are relieved!” – and it was me. That’s literally how it felt at the time.
An ambulance came and took over. I went home and went to bed. I heard later that the woman had died, but I knew we had done our part.
They always tell you at CPR classes that the person in charge at an emergency was whoever spoke up first, but I never thought that would be me.
5.What is one thing you’re proud of?
I am very proud of whatever role I have played in how my children have turned out. Some of them were half-grown when I got them, and none of them were related to me genetically, but I did what I could for them. They had many difficulties to overcome, and some of their problems could not be solved, but all four of them have faced and are facing life on their own terms with tremendous courage and persistence.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Teach the children well."\\
Sunday, October 09, 2011
OMTA Meeting
Kathe and I just got back from the Eugene edition of the annual meeting of the Oregon Massage Therapy Association. The theme of the meeting was keeping your business afloat during the current difficult times.
I noticed that in addition to the meeting being divided into Eugene and Portland editions, almost everything else at the meeting was oriented to either Portland or Eugene. No big surprise, since those are the largest centers of massage activity, but as Kathe put it, there was a distinct lacuna, and we were in it.
So now I am thinking about setting up a mid-Valley chapter covering the Philomath-Corvallis-Albany-Lebanon area, extending maybe as far as Salem and Sweet Home. I will be contacting local LMTs to see what they think of the idea.
I noticed that in addition to the meeting being divided into Eugene and Portland editions, almost everything else at the meeting was oriented to either Portland or Eugene. No big surprise, since those are the largest centers of massage activity, but as Kathe put it, there was a distinct lacuna, and we were in it.
So now I am thinking about setting up a mid-Valley chapter covering the Philomath-Corvallis-Albany-Lebanon area, extending maybe as far as Salem and Sweet Home. I will be contacting local LMTs to see what they think of the idea.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
I Suspect This Is Not Going to Feel Good Either
Carpal Tunnel Release surgery in the morning.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Adulthood. What fun."\\
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Adulthood. What fun."\\
Monday, September 19, 2011
They Broke It
I used to be a free-market anarchist, but that was back when the free market hadn't been broken.
Now? The rotters have broken it as thoroughly as they broke the Code of Honor.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "This is why we can't have nice things."\\
Now? The rotters have broken it as thoroughly as they broke the Code of Honor.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "This is why we can't have nice things."\\
Friday, September 09, 2011
Now, This Does Not Feel Good
I have had chest spasms and pains on rare occasions for years, but every test and exam indicated that my heart was in fairly good shape given my overall physical condition, but after today, I am wondering.
Chest pains, a vague sick feeling, no energy -- it does not feel very good at all. I took one of Kathe's nitroglycerine tablets and it seemed to help a little. A few hours later I took another.
I do not feel good right now, no I do not.
Dying right now would really stink.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "It usually does."\\
Chest pains, a vague sick feeling, no energy -- it does not feel very good at all. I took one of Kathe's nitroglycerine tablets and it seemed to help a little. A few hours later I took another.
I do not feel good right now, no I do not.
Dying right now would really stink.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "It usually does."\\
Saturday, August 20, 2011
A Couple of Bits of Family News
Kathe sent out this message to the family:
"First, John's grandmother Zoe is definitely on her deathbed, although it seems to be in no hurry to bear her away. We see her at least once a week, and the last time we were there, she slept most of the time. She was awake for five or ten minutes and completely lucid, so we had some conversation. She was completely herself, although Pat and Dorothy say she has been delusional sometimes.
"Second, we have been telling people that we know where Tes is, and that he must be at least mostly okay. But the last letter we sent him, with a money order enclosed*, came back yesterday. We sent it in June to the rehab place where he was staying, and I guess they held it until they were sure he wasn't coming back for it, so now we don't know.
"We're still okay, still discovering new horizons of household economies, but I think winter is going to be a challenge.
"*We send money orders because he can cash them more easily than personal checks."
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Tesfaye can be more easily located than Zoe."\\
"First, John's grandmother Zoe is definitely on her deathbed, although it seems to be in no hurry to bear her away. We see her at least once a week, and the last time we were there, she slept most of the time. She was awake for five or ten minutes and completely lucid, so we had some conversation. She was completely herself, although Pat and Dorothy say she has been delusional sometimes.
"Second, we have been telling people that we know where Tes is, and that he must be at least mostly okay. But the last letter we sent him, with a money order enclosed*, came back yesterday. We sent it in June to the rehab place where he was staying, and I guess they held it until they were sure he wasn't coming back for it, so now we don't know.
"We're still okay, still discovering new horizons of household economies, but I think winter is going to be a challenge.
"*We send money orders because he can cash them more easily than personal checks."
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Tesfaye can be more easily located than Zoe."\\
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Zoe Cook: No Longer Improving
She isn't planning to return to her apartment anytime soon.
But she is surrounded by family and taking a positive attitude. We'll see what comes next.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "There is never anything to do but see what comes next."\\
But she is surrounded by family and taking a positive attitude. We'll see what comes next.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "There is never anything to do but see what comes next."\\
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
GoodBlogs
I am trying something new, called GoodBlogs.
http://www.goodblogs.com/bloggers/6565
I don't know whether this "get votes and be paid money" thing really works, but I am willing to give it a try.
Also, it's been years since I wrote reviews of the things I read, but I find I still enjoy it.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Try it and see."\\
http://www.goodblogs.com/bloggers/6565
I don't know whether this "get votes and be paid money" thing really works, but I am willing to give it a try.
Also, it's been years since I wrote reviews of the things I read, but I find I still enjoy it.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Try it and see."\\
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Buy My Massage Book
If you haven't been to my new massage blog, go take a look:
http://johnmburtlmt.blogspot.com/2011/07/buy-my-book.html
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Nice book you have there."\\
Friday, July 08, 2011
The Salmon Cage
I have just published a story of mine on Amazon.com for the first time:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Salmon-Cage-ebook/dp/B005BCP7L4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1310151380&sr=8-2
I am hopeful for the story. I think it's a good one. Of course, that is no guarantee that anyone will be interested in it, or even know that it exists.
But, as I say, I am hopeful.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Your only choices are to live in hope, or to live without hope."\\
http://www.amazon.com/The-Salmon-Cage-ebook/dp/B005BCP7L4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1310151380&sr=8-2
I am hopeful for the story. I think it's a good one. Of course, that is no guarantee that anyone will be interested in it, or even know that it exists.
But, as I say, I am hopeful.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Your only choices are to live in hope, or to live without hope."\\
Saturday, July 02, 2011
Yes, Riverbend
http://www.peacehealth.org/shmc
patient tracking 370551
Mom and Pat are at her side.
She has had corrective surgery and is reported to be comfortable at the moment.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Hold on."\\
patient tracking 370551
Mom and Pat are at her side.
She has had corrective surgery and is reported to be comfortable at the moment.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Hold on."\\
Friday, July 01, 2011
Grandma's In The Hospital*
*Probably Riverbend, but I'll let people know when I know for certain.
She fell and broke her hip last night.
Mom (Dorothy) is rushing to her side.
I'll let you know more when I know more.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Keep calm and carry on."\\
She fell and broke her hip last night.
Mom (Dorothy) is rushing to her side.
I'll let you know more when I know more.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Keep calm and carry on."\\
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Kill Your Darlings
Peni R. Griffin recently posted a deleted scene from her latest story on her blog. That sounded like a good way of assuaging the pain of doing so, so I will now try it myself:
A two-lane paved road, the Niemandslandbahn, connected a row of towns from the Alps to the North Sea. Some had already existed, like Armentieres, while others grew out of the temporary shelters built in No-Man's Land, and had names like Pax Romana, Réconciliation and "Wir Sagen So". Thousand of French Citroens, British Wolesleys and German Autopopuli drove along it every day, except on December 25th, when all traffic ceased for 24 hours, and much of its length was used for festivals and parades.
Heh, that does feel better.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Learn from the experience of others."\\
A two-lane paved road, the Niemandslandbahn, connected a row of towns from the Alps to the North Sea. Some had already existed, like Armentieres, while others grew out of the temporary shelters built in No-Man's Land, and had names like Pax Romana, Réconciliation and "Wir Sagen So". Thousand of French Citroens, British Wolesleys and German Autopopuli drove along it every day, except on December 25th, when all traffic ceased for 24 hours, and much of its length was used for festivals and parades.
Heh, that does feel better.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Learn from the experience of others."\\
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Out With The Old, In With The Stored
Big events taking place around here -- big by our standards, anyway.
* We got rid of the two worst mattresses in our bed and replaced them with a mattress and box spring from the majestic bed, formerly belonging to my parents and given to me about 30 years ago, in which I slept for oh, a couple of years in the 1980s. The bed, stored in our shed for a number of years and eventually borrowed back by my parents, has now been rescued from my mother's Corvallis mobile home and stored in our storage locker. So, still not actually sleeping in the bed, but it is my hope to have it assembled in some room of the house eventually.
And meanwhile, the bed we're actually sleeping in is more comfortable. And taller.
* We finally pulled some of the old stuff out of the garage and placed it where it will do some good. The hardwood chunks left behind by Corky the woodcarver who used to have his workshop in our shed have gone to a woodcarver in Albany, and the organic gardening magazines have been claimed by someone else. Thank you, Freecycle groups!
* We are finally cleaning out "the boys' room" (where several young boys and teenagers have lived for most of the time Kathe has owned the house) and are turning it back into a habitable bedroom.
Not a lot of progress, but some.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "A little and a little and a little...."\\
* We got rid of the two worst mattresses in our bed and replaced them with a mattress and box spring from the majestic bed, formerly belonging to my parents and given to me about 30 years ago, in which I slept for oh, a couple of years in the 1980s. The bed, stored in our shed for a number of years and eventually borrowed back by my parents, has now been rescued from my mother's Corvallis mobile home and stored in our storage locker. So, still not actually sleeping in the bed, but it is my hope to have it assembled in some room of the house eventually.
And meanwhile, the bed we're actually sleeping in is more comfortable. And taller.
* We finally pulled some of the old stuff out of the garage and placed it where it will do some good. The hardwood chunks left behind by Corky the woodcarver who used to have his workshop in our shed have gone to a woodcarver in Albany, and the organic gardening magazines have been claimed by someone else. Thank you, Freecycle groups!
* We are finally cleaning out "the boys' room" (where several young boys and teenagers have lived for most of the time Kathe has owned the house) and are turning it back into a habitable bedroom.
Not a lot of progress, but some.
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "A little and a little and a little...."\\
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