300. RE: The Theatre > Theater > of LIFE!

STATVIEWS @ 20, 566


Getting silly in my old age? ....

There are, to me, a number of intriguing 'THINGS' unfolding amongst this, our ....general....
Human  RACE!  .... I stop, to comprehend...   RIGHT there! The word "RACE"  ??
..... read its 'definition'......I get the 'competition' part of it.

race 1 |rās| noun1 a competition between runners, horses, vehicles, boats, etc., to see which is the fastest in covering a set course: I won the first 50-lap race.• (the races) a series of races for horses or dogs, held at a fixed time on a set course.• [ in sing. ] a situation in which individuals or groups compete to be first to achieve a particular objective: the race for nuclear power.• archaic the course of the sun or moon through the heavens.2 a strong or rapid current flowing through a narrow channel in the sea or a river: angling for tuna in turbulent tidal races.3 a groove, channel, or passage, in particular:• a water channel, especially one built to lead water to or from a point where its energy is utilized, as in a mill or mine. See also millrace.• a smooth, ring-shaped groove or guide in which a ball bearing or roller bearing runs.verb1 [ no obj. ] compete with another or others to see who is fastest at covering a set course or achieving an objective: the vet took blood samples from the horses before they raced | [ with obj. ] :  attorneys have to think twice before they race each other to the courthouse.====================================================================
human racenoun (the human race) human beings in general; humankind: trees are vital to the survival of the human race.====================================================================

OBSERVATIONS

Human beings in 'general?' Where's the bit about differentiating between the various 'RACES?'   QUESTION?  Somebody explain to me; PLEASE ?  WHO? firsts coined this word ?

'RACE'  

Perplexed, I look at several of the other definitions, like:

• archaic the course of the sun or moon through the heavens.- I did NOT know the "course of the sun or moon through the heavens" is called a 'RACE!'2 a strong or rapid current flowing through a narrow channel in the sea or a river: angling for tuna in turbulent tidal races.- "turbulent tidal races" ???  never heard of it before!3 a groove, channel, or passage, in particular:• a water channel, especially one built to lead water to or from a point where its energy is utilized, as in a mill or mine. See also millrace.• a smooth, ring-shaped groove or guide in which a ball bearing or roller bearing runs.

- None of the above derivative meanings / 'explanations'/ 'definitions'  I have EVER heard of! 
So, WAKE UP, my friend! ....I say to myself...:).
- Was it Aristotle? who said? "The more I know, the more I know how little I know?"


Aristotle |ˈerəstädl| (384–322 bc ), Greek philosopher and scientist. A student of Plato and tutor to Alexander the Great, he founded a school(the Lyceum) outside Athens. He is one of the most influentialthinkers in the history of Western thought. His surviving works cover a vast range of subjects, including logic, ethics, metaphysics, politics, natural science, and physics.

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....and then there is / (was?) the 107 year old man my friend met at a New York PARTY?!
107 years old and he's at a PARTY?.... I may have mentioned him in an earlier posting.
So the friend introduces himself to the fella, and asks him 'How do you do it?' and the fella responds:
"Well, ....good genes help (not 'jeans':)... BUT! .....When you wake up......You still got to be 'curious'..... "

Presently at 79, and still in pretty  good shape (says I) I actually do not think I've got another 20 + years in me. I discovered 'TED.com' a while back, and really enjoy many of their informative talks. One was about 'Cancer' .... and the speaker, opinioning on it, argues, quite sensibly, the word 'Cancer' should be used as a 'verb' instead of a 'noun'.

That whatever 'Cancer' you may be suffering from, is, in fact, an 'ongoing' process. You were fine before.... your immune system was keeping the runnings of your body under control. But then something went awry, and you began 'Cancering.'

I have just started working online with a friend and former film partner of mine. He is completing a musical while going through chemo, suffering from a nasty Cancer. For whatever TIME he has remaining in this life, working with him on this project at least allows for part of his existence to be somewhat of a positive diversion to his pains and stresses. ...

SPRING is doing its very best to kick in on the Wet-Coast...Today is another SUNNY Day, with the birds and the BEES (whatever's left of them) doing their crucial pollinating.

All the while. the 'Human Race' keeps multiplying, spreading their garbage hither and thither...
It ain't looking pretty's all I can say...

CU in a bit...

299. Is Democracy a Wanting Fallacy?

STATS at #20,537

I BELIEVE

Nature in her inimitable manner over millennia of evolution has endowed all living creatures with varying attributes. With higher developed mammalian species like us :), assigned to function with different, complementing sexes, each created smartly - none innately superior - to allow the breed to function as a whole, in its appropriate niche. There's a Yin and a Yang to that equation.

However, clarity of definition is an acquired substance, discovered over time and development. And therein lies the rub! 

Although all is about who is created to perform how, or what, it is not about me more and you less. Me-too should not be at issue here, since each species, creature, or plant, is awesomely different. Yet, during 'Man's development', war has been created at its core!

During mankind's evolution over the millennia, it has come to pass that gender, as well as religious and political denomination, have become the underlying most influential driving forces in determining who is positioned to be at the forefront of running the species. 

A determined small number of highly dedicated, self-serving, focused individuals (mostly males), realizing opportunity, have acquired wealth and political determination to manage all that matters - across the Global spectrum.  In their efforts of Survival of the Fittest, the most seemingly fit have positioned themselves, like the Lords and Ladies Land Owners of yore, to control and run the populous masses! So you think 'Slavery' is dead?

Of all the political systems presently in place, the various democratic interpretations, in particular the several active in Northern Europe, are the most tolerant and citizen inclusive, regardless their status.

That said, as mentioned a number of times, 'Justice' is not a Natural Law, and as such, even though expressed and contained at the very foundation of its Democratic Laws, must by its very nature be constantly checked upon in order to make the essence of its intents be fully practiced.

And from experience we note that those who are in charge of up-keeping same laws, in practice, can manage to manipulate them as only they see fit. As chosen experts to render the results when parties are at odds, they are themselves held un-accountable for their verdicts.

As such, democracy's construct, not unlike a fiefdom, allows its graduate legal masters to subjectively control and use its foundation as a practical tool to rule over its un-informed plebeians.  

298. Margaretas in PalmSpring > Enter the 'Bachelor' :)> ?

STATVIEWS - 20, 475

The Reality of Being

- Do YOU know anybody in your immediate environment who lives a lifestyle in which the allowance of cock-tailing Margaretas in PalmSpring is a reality?
- Do YOU know anybody in your immediate environment who lives a lifestyle in which the allowance of cock-tailing 29 women on the Bachelor can be a reality?

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A little philosophy - fore get-n to the point. 

Observation/ Realization / Rationalization/ Aggravation/ Control/  Survival / Contentment?
Harmony or Chaos?

Whatever it all depicts, doing what we do, ultimately, we each are a self-contained system;  here today, gone tomorrow. (Fentanyl Saki?)

As one of those - 'systems' - I feel, comparatively speaking, a thoroughly fortunate 'being. 

My most telling residuals in life .. my 3 off-spring - 'Kids' ...R fine; their health is good.... ..fortunate me... YEAH!

The freedom of 'Democracy' is - to be allowed - left alone..... There's no-one to blame...
I did what I did. doing what I'm doing...
So far nothing too aggravating I can't deal with. 

Wishing, praying, or hoping, are NOT part of my essence. 
Remember ... I am a 'MALE' in the 21st Century / part of the H. Erective Species... 

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Now to the Bachelor! It must be realized, this is considered to be major 'REALITY TV!

Having watched the last episode, my take is the guy is following his heart, ie his 'feelings / emotions are leading him.'  My earlier take on 'Still Waters Run Deep' are clearly calling him. As in a gnawing, unfinished, yet potential sword of Damocles, the kid speed track freak, can not get Lauren out of his head.  (my vote) She is like 'Unfinished Business,' haunting him.

Remember now: NONE of us (humans) EVER received instructions on how to run/ interpret/ control  a relationship!   He 'COULD' have said (me as Bachelor) while confronting both at the alter ..
with Becca as his first choice calling:

"Hey!  it's obvious, you are the ultimate love of my life...(I think/ I feel)
But, although I sense YOU are the one I want to be with .... etc..
I am still SO intrigued by Lauren, that I am going to ask you an allowance to complete my realization with her... (under these extraordinary circumstances)

(Pause) .....Would you grant me that? 

Response? .......
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All I can say, as a somewhat 'been there-done-that' old fart now, life's circumstances put you up to constant decisions.  You do what you do! When making a wrong choice is when your brain naggingly suggests it. That's what happened to this ARIE - 'Charlie Brown!' Race-car driving offspring of the Dutch LowLands did not mean to do HARM!

BUT, he is, in fact, an unfolding, growing creature, being honest to his changing, gnawing, wondering feelings. Likely he has never felt like this before. And, in life, most of us never even get close to checking this out to this realistic stand!

From a Homo Erectus Humanoid's perspective? Do we ultimately follow our continuous questioning heart, constantly wanting for more?

OR, overcome its impractical conundrum and acknowledge the easier goings of more rational decisions? This tale of 'Reality' will soon tell us.

297. 'HELLO OUT THERE?' It's my TIME for moving on......

STATVIEWS@ 20, 447

At circa 21, 000 'VIEWS'  I have decided to dis-continue this BLOG.
Instead, I will be committing my remaining precious online TIME to a website I have been working to complete for years now: Gocascadia.com  (my vision our global village will be fragmenting )

I admit I have been somewhat self-indulgent over these few years.
'THEY' say (the better informed), by writing down your thoughts, your brain has an enhanced ability to reflect - i.e expressing thoughts in writing gives you a somewhat more 'objective' view on what  initially may be impulsive, scattered thoughts.

TIME is precious; TIME is all we have. So it is now TIME to dedicate myself more fully to what will hopefully become a more inclusive, purposeful, and rewarding cause. Rather than my self-indulgency with this Blog over these past few years, my energies will instead reach out to hopefully include others, with focussed intentions to create a more practical, integrated, and self-sufficient environment. It is a more practical vision. I am referring to the Pacific Northwest Bio-region of Cascadia.

To say my TIME and expressions here have been somewhat lonely, is to say the least. Without factual personal feedback from ANYONE, to continue in anonymity, is like writing a diary to strangers you will never know their thoughts of. Yet I was motivated to continue expressing myself, after taking my experience with the abominably corrupt Canadian Legal System to its very heart, culminating by actually taking on the Ministry of Justice of BC single handed, with a claim ending up in a most collusive, Summary Trial.

It was Theatre at its most bizarre absurd.

Astonishingly, I experienced first hand, in this 21st Century, that a modern democratic legal system can blatantly dare to express itself as it did, under the guise of being the epitome of legality and justice!  No wonder the hordes of thousands who have decided to challenge these quasi just, primarily democratic societies of the West > with their guns (ISIS and its like).

However, ultimately, their efforts at a quick-fix attempt, are one-dimensional and similarly destructive;  destruction gets us nowhere; it merely creates more mayhem with no solution. Mankind has not advanced for thousands of years.

The Google Map indicates my Blog readers are mostly from the US and Canada, but every month,  like the other day some 22, there appear a number of views from Russia. Though curiously appreciated, I wonder what is the attraction / motivation here?

Another reason for quitting the Blog is that since I will be motivated to start expressing even more personal views, alerted by growing and powerful influencing online matters these days, doing so can become personally DANGEROUS.  Freedom of speech is proving to no longer be a safe and allowable luxury.

296. TRUTH, REALITY, PRIVACY, JUSTICE ?

STATVIEWS @ 20,321

WORDS, WORDS, WORDS!

Although I have left delving in to our Legal 'Business Affairs' - as a Self-Representing Litigant having experienced full-on and blatant collusion - I need to take this posting to revisit some of it, since it (i.e. 'LIFE') all seems to come down to one's mindset of both identifying, then deciding to belong to the 'group' you feel to be a part of and choose to represent, and, as such determine the very 'individual' you believe, or decide yourself to be!

There's a seriously clever website for all things legal named: lexology.com 

It explains itself gloriously as follows:

"Lexology delivers the most comprehensive source of free-to-access legal updates, analysis and insights. We publish in excess of 450 articles every day from over 800 leading law firms and service providers worldwide across 50 work areas in 20 languages. Our searchable archive now contains more than 650,000 articles. Our combination of timely, quality, granular information and relevant insight supported by our intuitive, innovative technology provides an unparalleled user experience.

Timely: We scour the legal information landscape so you don’t have to. Our unique content ingestion system utilises the latest in natural language processing and entity extraction techniques to deliver relevant information and insight to our subscribers in real time.

Quality: Our strength lies in our contributors’ domain expertise combined with our in-house editorial input. Adding over 450 new articles per day, we provide our audience with a service which is unique in both its depth and breadth.

Relevant: Subscribers can receive updates via email and search our online intelligence platform for specific information relevant to their work area, jurisdiction and many other segmentations, all designed to optimise their user experience.

Intuitive: We have a passion for innovation and continually refine and develop our technology to ensure that subscribers can access the information they need, whether delivered direct to their inbox or by searching our online intelligence platform."

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Having had my earlier Summary Judgment experience, I came across one of LEXOLOGY's articles from several years ago, and quote several paras below:  

"A new Rule 20 came into force on January 1, 2010 which greatly expanded the powers of judges to weigh evidence, evaluate credibility and make findings of fact. However, judicial interpretation of this new rule was not consistent, with some cases interpreting these powers narrowly, risking making the new rule largely useless in obtaining early resolution of matters and avoiding trials.

Even though the Ontario Court of Appeal took a bolder approach to the new rule, the Supreme Court held that the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision did not go far enough and placed too much emphasis on the benefits of a conventional trial. The question should not be whether a full trial is needed to fully appreciate the evidence, but rather, whether the added expense and delay of fact finding at trial is required for a fair process and a just result."

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Ah yes! "Our unique content ingestion system.." "...passion for innovation "  "a service that is both unique in both its depth and breadth." ..... Words/words     "...a fair process and a just result."

How about being in a lavish Supreme Court surrounding with just the Ministry's JUDGE,  the Ministry's DEFENCE Counsel, and lil old ME! "So what can we do for you today, Mr. Steen?"

After I stated all was explained in the text I had supplied, then being told the Judge had "read my materials" .... for about one hour Judge and Counsel discussed the situation, and not a single WORD I had supplied was referred to; not a single piece of EVIDENCE, or ARGUMENT I had posed was addressed. Instead it was decided that people like me were merely 'wasting the Court's time!' ...... DISMISSED!

 "..... making the new rule largely useless in obtaining early resolution of matters and avoiding trials."

COLLUSION  I SHOUT!....A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE I MAINTAIN! ...... There simply ain't any such thing as Justice folks! All is WORDS > WORDS > WORDS!....... meaningless WORDS!

I have read a book about a psychiatrist who takes a patient through deep hypnosis revealing details of former lives; another is called 'Uncharted' and takes you in to the soul and spirit world. Skeptical as I continue to be, all I can contribute is a personal wonder at my own experiences. Often when I wake from yet another dream, I am bewildered by the worlds of things and people I encountered. 'WHO were these people? What was THAT all about?' ... Where am I getting that stuff from?

Then, also, my seemingly taking forever to get my website created properly. Is it just my lack of money to pay for the right talent? Or are there in fact multiple lives we have lived and still more to live, and in this one my main objective is indeed needing to learn to be more patient? Or am I somehow needing to be punished for something in this present life and the site is simply not meant to be? Even though I feel its timing is absolutely perfect.

One thing is TRUE, and as such - a FACT, and - 'REAL'. 

IF technology then (in the sixties) would have been what it is today, and IF ADATA (USB) sticks had been available to carry the data and representation of my films, my life, very likely would have unfolded very differently.  

And ....IF..... the overpopulated world would just slow down, stop breeding us in to oblivion with its ever growing numbers, and spend more time being less greedy, and care more for the multi-millions of deprived individuals....  then...

Reality = Reality and everything else is WORDS.

Still - YES! Timing plays a HUGE part of how things unfold.  

But! Like Rudolf Steiner stated: Before there is LANGUAGE, let there be MEANING.    

295. MEN and WOMEN. Identifying the 'ME TOO' movement.

STAT-VIEWS @ 20,276

HAS ANYTHING NOT BEEN SAID BEFORE?

Except for scientific discovery, from a philosophical perspective, just about every angle to life has likely been discussed. This would include the possibilities, for some already a given, of previous 'other' and proven lives, some living in a different sexual orientation.  

* Many Lives - Many Masters (Brian Weiss- Psychiatrist) 

In my number 289 Posting I discussed 'Apartheid,' i.e. 'differences'.

"Life is built on telling things apart. Without it, nothing can be defined. Any 'growing, living, existing creature,' that can't tell things apart becomes easy prey to those who do. This is the basic Law of Nature!"

Most of my life I have been fascinated by how incredibly different everything is. This is to me where  the mystery and attraction to life lies - its constant discovery - as long as one is open to it all.

'AYE' there's the rub! Because most of us shut down the input valve quite early. A creature that has configured the prerequisites for living, able to maintain it without much interference, has achieved life's essentials. Once there, drive and curiosity tend to slow down, if not shut down entirely.  

The objective of growth lies in the desire and ability to continue to recognize and value the beauty of our differences. From Butterfly to Crocodile, Ant to Lion, Man to Woman, Child or Adult. There is NO such thing as sameness or equality. Every species in its environment and situation brings its own and differing conditional displays.

Whatever is considered to be progress, improvement, or acceptable in one culture, may be strictly taboo in an other. Yet we are speaking of the same species here; Homo (Erectus) Sapiens. 'Wise' Man indeed, when most of 'his' world is controlled by highly restrictive and organized religions. This 'Ism,' very likely maintained for a long time to come.

What do we mean when we are speaking of the 'developed* versus un-developed world?'
Again, I really value what has been ascribed to be Rudolph Steiner's line:
'Before there are words, let there be meaning!' 

We tend to feel that 'developed' means better, smarter, and as such SUPERIOR. This takes us on the slippery slope of a certain false 'progress' where we are getting away from what is in fact a highly structured and well-integrated system which is the equilibrium, the very foundation of Nature in which everything has its place.

So taking stock of the rapidly shifting global conditions in which the latest 'ME TOO' movement in the 'Developed West' is gathering momentum, I dare caution a gentle warning.

Where in Nature everything has its place and purpose, not so much as 'better or worse,' but all as different and valuable, positioned over the millennia of time to belong, our species is lashing out, going for broke, come hell or high water.  And guess what? The Hell of High Water, controlled by Mother Gaia, is coming down on us in a variety of manners.

We are literally playing with fire!

Hopefully the 'ME TOO' women's surge will not become a run-away train and one-dimensionally blame all men for the ills and woes of those who have abused their positional powers. Although I have noted men attracted to positions of power, often to professions they should have no business of being in (since in fact it brings out their very weaknesses) - such are the foibles of character imperfection and attraction.

Remember, all men were former babies, mostly raised by their mothers. Although, YES, there are always going to be bad apples out there, and Mum's not the word to keep silent, we are in this together. Both sexes have their work cut out from across the gamut of our society.

Instead of primarily using the word 'equality,' I suggest the meanings of an array of to me more applicable words, such as ability. acceptance, allowance, appreciation, opportunity, choice, drive, recognition, status, consideration and, ultimately, respect !

Then, also, if we can keep gender out of the work-force, whenever physically possible, let only the very best person thrive in whatever field they so choose to excel in.

That's my take on it :)   
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*  'Many Lives - Many Masters' [ Dr. Brian Weiss - psychiatrist ]

* develop |dəˈveləp| verb (develops, developing, developed) 1 grow or cause to grow and become more mature, advanced, or elaborate: [ no obj. ] :  motion pictures developed into mass entertainment | (as adj. developing) :  this is a rapidly developing field | [ with obj. ] :  entrepreneurs develop their skills through trial and error.

294. From Mom-'n-PoP to eBay, Amazon and Alibaba. Is it Back to Smaller next?

 STATVIEWS: 20, 235

NOTHING = 4 EVER / CHANGE = the ONLY CONSTANT 

(The Yin & Yang of Life )

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"Yin / Yang: Two halves that together complete wholeness. Yin and yang are also the starting point for change. When something is whole, by definition, it’s unchanging and complete. So when you split something into two halves – yin/yang, it upsets the equilibrium of wholeness. Both halves are chasing after each other as they seek a new balance with each other."

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So it's another numbered year on the Julian Calendar - 2018. Whoops! Make that .... Gregorian...
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"The Gregorian calendar is internationally the most widely used civil calendar. It is named after Pope Gregory XIII, who introduced it in October 1582. It was a refinement to the Julian calendar involving an approximately 0.002% correction in the length of the calendar year."

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Thank you your highness Pope Gregory X111 (1582). How could we have managed without you? What and where would we be, if not for that 0.002% correction?

I have just returned from LA (that is Los Angeles, city of Angels) I looked for Angels, but can report, as non-fake news, other than connecting with 2 of my off-spring, there were no Angels in site!

What I am motivated to report is that from my usual quiet-rural, mostly tree and local wildlife ruled existence, after 2 days back, I am still digesting the enormous input of data and experiences I was exposed to. Like being taken in to a private cubicle at the airport, because I had a hernia belt that was questionable. They even swabbed my hands, checking for explosives. It was explained to be routine procedure - when something untoward shows up.  Although it felt invasive at the time, I later respected their thoroughness.

Life is fickle, life is short enough, but my question at 78 is: How many more years am I physically and emotionally able to be rewarded by being with, and enjoying my off spring like this?

I continue to be impressed by our differences. Are individual Ants and Worms as different as We are?
A friend of mine told me about meeting a 107 year old man in New York - AT A PARTY! Stunned, he asked the man: 'How do you do it?' The man responded: 'Well? Good genes help, but when you wake up in the morning, you still have to be motivated. You have to be curious.'

At my daughter's, I read a book: 'Many Lives, Many Masters' (Brian L.Weiss) Its first sentence, if I remember correctly, states:"There is a reason for everything."
To me this statement indicates that some other force is in charge of running things. He, Weiss (a psychiatrist), then takes the reader through chapters in which his 'patient' is in a hypnotic state and consequently takes us in to what appear to be former lives. All her data is hugely impressive.

One of the main suggestions is that, in this life, we need to be more 'patient,' that there is a continuum. I immediately reflected, by remembering that as a young professional adult in the theatre business, I was told to be more 'Patient.' My response at that time was: "I will be patient once I'm dead!"

And guess what anonymous global readers? These past ten years of my life are the very first I allowed 'others ' to influence my objectives in a concrete manner. Technologies are changing rapidly. While this may seem hugely exciting, it is at the same time seriously alarming.

In essence. When you reach out in to a to you foreign area, you are allowing these 'others' to influence you.  The NEW reality then is? 'How prepared for their personalized inputs are you?'

As such, with my minimalist monthly government pension (budget) > thank you democratic Canada >  I ventured abroad to affordable India, then Serbia and Belgium, to find ready contacts to create my very last online website effort. I experienced mostly horror connectives, eager to take my money, but leaving me wanting for workable production results.

As a purposeful yet naive entity I am sure I was coddled along, not necessarily with the best of talent and know how. Pretence is the life-line online. But it was the best I could do during this continued battle, fighting Left Brain focused coders versus my mostly Right Brain, former Theatre/ Visual orientation.

So what wrung of the ladder are you envisioning yourself to be in these days? Is there more to come, or can you settle with it? Time and circumstance, questioning personal endeavours, or the lack. It's all a constant change!

How long lasts anything? The rub is all about the speed of change, and whether we, as a species, while aware of it, can keep up with it?
All I know is is that the 'Donald ' has his finger on a potential doomsday catastrophe.

Who am I? Who are you, wherever you are? Can we make a difference?
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If interested? Check my 1969, 16 MM film @:You Tube/ Halewyn Films/ Newspaper Careers 
OR: My website in progress: gocascadia.com