tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43706099108136451442024-03-15T09:48:10.592-07:00Business and Society Articles Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-69964536277304142012024-03-15T09:47:00.000-07:002024-03-15T09:47:38.644-07:00HubPages vs. Vocal<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@introspectivedsgn?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank"><img height="640" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:700/0*oixNFpEokGHwNVdy" width="427" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Gaining Context</h3><br />I opened my account at Vocal around two years ago when I published my first article. It was a syndicated article from my golf blog, which surprisingly has done better than all other articles since.<br /><br />Around three months ago, I decided to give Vocal a real chance with a renewed effort and by becoming a Vocal Plus member. They enticed me with half off a year’s membership ($50 for a year, usually it is $99 annually or $10/month).<br /><br />Since this renewed effort, I have published nine articles; six were written originally at Vocal (four were for Vocal Challenges), and the other 3 were syndicated from elsewhere.<br /><br />The plan for Vocal was to publish my creative writing there originally, which meant I had to switch from HubPages where these were published originally before. The distracting ads and lackluster RPM helped make this decision, although I’ve been writing on HP for over a decade.<br /><br />After three months of “working” Vocal, I’ve realized it isn’t worth paying the $10/month. I’ll explain the details.<div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Where are the Views/Reads?</h3><br />Essentially, it’s very difficult to get reads at Vocal. I even have one article with four likes and only one read, and two articles with 0 reads. While they pay $6 per 1000 reads, these reads are really hard to get! Even with a decent effort at networking the site and sharing the article to my social media sites (with a total of over 18k followers), I was only able to get around 25 reads in nearly three months!<br /><br />With HP in the same period without publishing, promoting, or networking, I received around 1,000 views on my 40 existing articles. Unfortunately, these views only pay around $2 per 1,000, yet this is more money than Vocal ($2 vs .15 cents).</div><div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Pros and Cons of Vocal</h3><br />Vocal does have frequent writing contests and a weekly leaderboard to make money from, yet these seem to go to the same writers, or at least the same type of writers each time — I never made any money from my four entries or the weekly leaderboard.<br /><br />See, Vocal is a very liberal, left-leaning platform; they tell writers not to write about their Christian faith. I was bucking the trend writing there, as I’m a conservative Christian who is open about his faith and views. To give them credit, I was never censored with the scant Christian views I expressed.<br /><br />HP is much more egalitarian when it comes to politics and religion. They welcome diversity and different types of writers. I’m not criticizing Vocal, just explaining what I see, as they have the right to be what they want.<br /><br />There is also the problem at Vocal of not being able to delete an article without writing a support ticket. Also, non-members cannot even edit their articles without doing the same.<br /><br />Ultimately, $10 a month isn’t something I’m willing to pay when views are harder to get than truth in politics. HP is looking better once again.<br /><br />The nice thing about HP is I don’t have to network to get views. It would help if I did, but it isn’t necessary. When I share an article on my social media platforms, I immediately see an uptick in views. Maybe these views aren’t reads, yet overall they pay around $2 per 1,000. That is even a recently low amount considering over the last decade the average has been around $6 RPM. Here is an article I wrote explaining the details:<br /><a href="https://businessandsocietyarticles.medium.com/rpm-for-hubpages-my-experience-c9a311512d5b?source=post_page-----18f6f422c7bc--------------------------------"><br />RPM for HubPages: My Experience<br /></a><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h3><br />With all that said, I’m going back to HP for my creative writing. It doesn’t have a membership fee, gets many more views, and isn’t ultra-liberal.<br /><br />The good part is I can still enter Vocal Challenges, at least the ones open to everyone and not just members. So, I can keep writing at Vocal, building upon the 10 subscribers I have and the .52 cents I’ve made over the last 2 years (they gave me an additional $10 when signed up, so $10.52 total earned) — the bad part is non-members have to reach $50 before a payout. Who knows, maybe I’ll place in a contest or make money with the weekly leaderboard — it’s fun trying.<br /><br />When it comes down to it, I only wrote two articles at Vocal that would have been published at HP. I can’t syndicate them over to HP because that isn’t allowed, so they are permanently at Vocal as vestiges of an effort gone awry. Still, they will be placed in my next creative writing book, the second volume of this sort.<br /><br />For those interested, here is the first book with my creative writing:<br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVWMRFQJ?source=post_page-----18f6f422c7bc--------------------------------"><br />Stories From the Lonely Abode</a><br /><br />Maybe this comparison and the experience I’ve had with Vocal will help others decide where to put their efforts.<br /><br />Ultimately, I appreciate being able to share my writings with these platforms and hope for their success in the future.<br /><br />Originally published on <a href="https://medium.com/new-writers-welcome/hubpages-vs-vocal-18f6f422c7bc" target="_blank">Medium at New Writer's Welcome</a><br /><br />Follow me on <a href="https://robbienewport.substack.com/">Substack</a></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-14373619120832204792024-03-05T09:15:00.000-08:002024-03-05T09:15:05.242-08:00Oregon mother jailed for treating daughter’s cancer with homeopathic remedies<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@nci?utm_source=Newsbreak&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank"><img height="640" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:580/0*PXRn-1bMn1Jrf1ks" width="427" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />In a highly controversial case, an Oregon mother was sentenced to 90 days of jail and 3 years of probation for essentially making health decisions for her now 17-year-old daughter that the state didn’t like. The details are found in <a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/2024/02/oregon-mom-who-chose-cbd-vitamins-to-treat-daughters-cancer-gets-90-days-in-jail.html">an Oregon Live article</a> by Noelle Crombie on Feb. 27.<br /><br />The article explains that the mother, Christina Gale Dixon, 39, decided to treat her daughter with CBD and other homeopathic remedies instead of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery (conventional treatments for cancer). This wasn’t always the case, as her daughter, Kylee Dixon, was first diagnosed with liver cancer in 2018 and underwent three rounds of chemotherapy.<br /><br />The article explains that the Oregon Department of Human Services got involved in late 2018 when the mother wasn’t allowing her daughter to be treated according to the allelopathic physicians. The state then took custody of her daughter, yet allowed her to live with her mother until Christina fled with her daughter to Las Vegas to avoid a scheduled surgery in June 2019.<br /><br />The law found the daughter in Las Vegas, then took the daughter away from the mother and put her in foster care back in Oregon. Christina remained on the run until she turned herself into the authorities in August 2019.<br /><br />The article explains that Deputy District Attorney Brain Powell urged the judge to sentence Christina to 19 months in prison.<br /><br />The daughter did undergo successful surgery in 2020 according to the prosecutors. The article explains that Klyee wasn’t at the courtroom, yet supported her mother on her Facebook page. The father, Jim Dixon, was in the courtroom and after the hearing said he supported the prison sentence for his ex-wife.<br /><br />This is an interesting story in Oregon that has far-reaching implications for parents who want to choose alternative paths of cancer treatment over conventional methods. What we learn from this case is freedom of choice with cancer treatments is no longer available in Oregon for parents.<br /><br />Originally published at <a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/3356475203455-oregon-mother-jailed-for-treating-daughter-s-cancer-with-homeopathic-remedies">NewsBreak</a><div><br /></div><div>Follow on <a href="https://robbienewport.substack.com/" target="_blank">Substack</a><br /><br /></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-77594246533834889442024-02-26T16:22:00.000-08:002024-02-27T07:52:50.004-08:00Love Without Offense<br /><a href="https://unsplash.com/@davidclode?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=vocal.media" target="_blank"><img height="427" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:700/0*5KA_EryNB2FDi6EJ" width="640" /></a><br /><br />Reflections on the seeming complexities of love.<br /><br /><div>When reflecting on the seeming complexities of love, contrasting the nemesis of love seems appropriate. Offending or being offended is not something one can do with love. It challenges our love and tempts us with unforgiveness and bitterness.<br /><br />When offense rears its ugly head, love gets stuffed down into forgotten compartments within ourselves. When we get offended, emotions like anger, wrath, and hatred come forth, as we seek to protect and get vengeance for ourselves and loved ones.</div><div><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">What is Love?</h4><br />It takes a special person to not get offended when others do. They have learned to overcome the temptation of anger by passing over the offense.<br /><br />Most of us get offended somewhat easily. When this happens we realize how conditional the love we give is. Are we only loving those who love us back? That seems to be the natural reaction for most people.<br /><br />What is love then? Is it simply a conditional behavior we extend to those who love us back? Is it possible to love those who don’t reciprocate, and why would we do this?<br /><br />As we all know, there are times when those we love offend us. While we can mostly avoid offensive strangers (or not care what they say), inevitably, those close to us will offend us (pressing our proverbial buttons).<br /><br />Being offended by those in our confidence or at work is often worse than when a stranger offends us. Offenses can threaten to derail relationships and create long-standing resentments and grudges.<br /><br />If offense wasn’t a nasty thing, love would flourish without restraint!<br /><br />We could love others without any worry of being offended. It would make life much easier.</div><div><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Offended Problem</h4><br />The problem is there are more offenses in the world than love.<br /><br />Maybe love is complicated and needs offense to provide the contrast.<br /><br />If offense was gone then love would be the default behavior. Love is kind, patient, tender-hearted, easily entreated, and true.<br /><br />People who are devoid or lacking love tend to spend their time and effort offending others. They are resentful for not receiving enough love, for being the victim of offense, so they extract it out of those whom they see as having too much love and not enough offense.<br /><br />Just because someone is victimized (offended), doesn’t mean they have to be resentful and extract it from innocent people who seem to have too much love and not enough offense. The hurt person doesn’t have to even the playing field.<br /><br />The hurt and offended could overcome their offense by being happy for those who haven’t had to endure the same offense and by helping those who have. The only way to help is to show the offended how to love instead of offending.</div><div><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h4><br />Everyone is subjected to being offended. How we deal with the offenses of life will determine how effective we are in our efforts. Marriage is full of offenses we have to overcome. Love is the result of this overcoming.<br /><br />Love is simple and easy, figuring out how to overcome offenses is the hard part.<br /><br />Forgiveness and patience are needed for love to find a place in our hearts. If we don’t have these, our hearts will be full of offenses, resentments, bitterness, and hatred.<br /><br />Everyone in our life (including ourselves) will disappoint us (offend us) eventually. Our efforts to love people will depend on our ability to overcome these offenses that inevitably happen in our daily lives.<br /><br />While love is simple, relationships are not because of offenses. In order to appreciate and foster love, learning to be patient and forgiving is key to overcoming offense. Until then, unconditional true love will continue to allude the unforgiving offended.<br /><br />Originally published at <a href="https://vocal.media/humans/love-without-offense-i93c095w">Vocal</a></div><div><br /></div>Follow on <a href="https://robbienewport.substack.com/">Substack</a><div><br /></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-26878561026983232902024-02-01T10:42:00.000-08:002024-02-01T10:42:36.370-08:00Making Substack the Center of a Writing System<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@nickmorrison?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank"><img src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:700/0*rv--luew5gIN7Jrp" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Focusing Distractions with Complexity</h3><br />With all of the options writers and content creators have now, finding the right one for each system sometimes takes experimentation. Flops and failures often come with such brimming efforts of zeal, yet the glimmer of hope remains in pictures of automated simplicity.<br /><br />In the beginning, things were simple; then came the expansion, the maintenance, building, creating, researching, and other such effort and time into what can only be called a writing system.<br /><br />Organizing this complex miasma of disparate platforms, the writer (insert content creator as needed) has become a blogger, marketer, promotor, maintenance tech, and organizing master. The actual writing is pushed to the side.<div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Finding Balance</h3><br />Each writer organizes their system differently according to their needs and abilities. I’ve always admired someone who focuses on one platform and doesn’t get stretched too thin. We can get distracted by constantly expanding and trying new things.<br /><br />What’s needed is the time to write with a clear head space not cluttered with widgets and feeds. For example, I’ve been subjecting myself to some blogging work and now I’m writing about it. If my writing system were balanced and working orderly, I would write about a topic outside of the enigmatic writing about writing topic.<br /><br />Not to worry, this is a strategic writing piece, helping writers get organized to create a balanced writing system that gains traction mostly through automation.<br /><br />Simple. Effective. Routine.<br /><br />The creative part can then be reserved for writing, etc.<div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">What About Substack?</h3><br />I created a Substack account around four years ago; since, it has been a relatively insignificant part of my writing system.<br /><br />This has changed. As I’ve been working on my writing system more in the off-season, I’ve gained more analytical and technical insight into my efforts. For instance, trying to get a popup screen on a website with a free book offer for an email subscription. Importantly, drilling down on view and read data for each blog.<br /><br />See, for the last decade, my blogs have been the center of my writing system — for better or worse. Mostly, they’ve been neglected in lonely shadows online, yet that was the strategy.<br /><br />While I will continue to write original articles on my blogs, they will not be the main target of my “sales funnel.” Substack will replace them.<br /><br />What Substack offers is a popular platform that people trust. Both creators and readers are on the quality reader app or desktop website. They allow people to follow your newsletter for free or pay a subscription. Creators can put up paywalls on content or have it all be free.<br /><br />Substack offers me a platform like Patreon, yet with a great app, a platform that is much easier to use, has more functions, looks better, and doesn’t censor people so quickly. Substack is like a mix between Medium and Patreon.<br /><br />What Substack offers me is a place where I can combine all of my writing, video, podcasting, and music efforts online in one place.<br /><br />It makes it easy for people to support my (mostly) writing efforts and get updates from all of the dozen or so platforms I write and create content for.</div><div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h3><br />I spent some time in blogger tech mode today, updating my writing system to integrate Substack as the conversion prize of my “sales funnel.” For instance, I replaced my website link with my Substack link in profiles across all writing and social platforms.<br /><br />Substack has become where I send people because it is more popular and reliable than my blogs. I will still write original content on my blogs, yet building up my substack has more potential for growth, interaction, and profit.<br /><br />While I still work at making money with writing platforms and my books, having a platform where followers can find my consolidated online creative efforts and give support financially is perfect for what I need.<br /><br />Now, I can get back to writing.<br /><br />Hey, if interested, follow me on Substack:<br /><a href="https://robbienewport.substack.com/?source=post_page-----54bef72087cd--------------------------------"><br />Robbie Newport's Newsletter<br /><br /><br /></a></div></div><div>Originally published at <a href="https://medium.com/new-writers-welcome/making-substack-the-center-of-a-writing-system-54bef72087cd" target="_blank">Medium in New Writers Welcome</a></div><div><br /></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-54373350117815392972024-01-27T12:04:00.000-08:002024-01-27T12:04:33.485-08:00Views are Like Customers to Writers<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@timmossholder?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank"><img src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:700/0*LyPDcjlppMIC0SCU" /></a></div><br />Writing online entails considering how many impressions, views, visitors/reads, comments, shares, and reactions each article gets. These digital assets symbolize the money made from each article.<br /><br />How many views did that article get — that poem, story, blog post, picture, art piece? The number will determine how much money the article made.<br /><br />While most writers appreciate even one single read, this doesn’t pay much. On the high end, this might bring .02 cents. Usually, around half a cent, or $5 RMP.<div><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">Different Writing Platforms and Efforts</h4><br />At Medium views don’t turn into a specific amount of money, rather they are merely an indication of possible money — reads are more important at Medium, as they correlate closely with any money made. Each read at Medium this month made me around that .02 cent mark!<br /><br />The reads at Medium might not be from members, so may not make us money. Still, on average, both views and reads equal a certain estimated amount for each Medium writer.<br /><br />At Vocal, they make it simple with $6 RPM, plus the chance to win bonuses each week and place in writing contests.<br /><br />Each platform is different, yet the overall focus for writers is on the views (orders of books for authors). The writing business depends on views like service industries depend on customers or clients. They are vital for making money.<div><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">Oversaturated Online Writer Market</h4><br />The problem is many other writers are trying to get views too. The industry is oversaturated with writers, leaving fewer customers/views to go around. The ebb and flow of those who join and those who quit has been leaving a growing amount of ambitious writers giving it their all.<br /><br />For many, their all is seemingly insignificant in the sea of mass competition. Trying to bite and scratch for views, trying to bribe and cajole, trying to barge our way through the crowded room of writing fools, hacks, journeymen, and savants— to get somewhere, to get some views!<br /><br />Just like different business approaches, each writer has their own way of getting views/customers (whether it works well or not). Their writing style, efforts at marketing, and building a writing system they groove with. Mostly, their writing voice.</div><div><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Writer’s Voice:</h4><br />Craft, heart, skill, intelligence, talent, temperance, English literacy, editorial skills, understanding of diction and syntax, range of vocabulary, values, beliefs, bravery, and soul.<br /><br />How many views can each writer’s voice attract?<br /><br />What are their writing intentions?<br /><br />The variables are myriad and infinite, yet the goal is the same. Finding/attracting and building an audience, which brings views.<br /><br />Each book sold is like a view for authors; maybe, the impressions on the ads, the clicks, and then the orders— how many impressions and clicks for each order.</div><div><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Ebb and Flow of Views</h4><br />Tracking our failures and successes. Stat pages on each platform and analytical tools tell us the cold hard truth. How many views…<br /><br />Views go up and down, writers come and go. The cycle continues, yet only those who cling on for dear life or have talent and favor will make it to the other side — the place where views are plentiful and writing takes on a new meaning within your loving soul.<br /><br />Only the desperate and naturally talented will make it. While some may get favor in one time-space moment, one day it may be your time while they whither away on their laurels from one simple creative hack.</div><div><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h4><br />Views are like customers to writers, we must have them to make money and be heard. How much money do we need to satiate the money monster ruling our lives, each writer knows, maybe none for the altruistic wealthy or comfortably retired writer; maybe none for the poverty-stricken menial worker dreaming to create and be heard as a reward in itself.<br /><br />The art tries to live on within the views and reads, within the comments and likes, within the money and acclaim, and within the hearts and minds of those who intently seek its expression despite disruptive challenges and frail human propensities. Maybe the art lives on because of these things and not despite them.<br /><br />Yes, views may come and go like the wind, yet our intent as writers shouldn’t. We should steadfastly approach the unknown, even with fears of failure, and write the words that we feel need to be said. Not for money, not for views — for our love of writing and expressing what we feel is important.<br /><br />Remember, we always get two views, one from ourselves and one from God. Maybe we don’t get paid for these, yet they mean the most.<br /><br />Happy writing.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Originally published at <a href="https://medium.com/word-garden/views-are-like-customers-to-writers-46c176c2f6b3" target="_blank">Medium in Word Garden</a></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-78022055781218169832024-01-25T07:23:00.000-08:002024-01-25T07:23:23.176-08:00One-Year Review of Writing on NewsBreak<a href="https://unsplash.com/@charlesdeluvio?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral"><img src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:700/0*hTimnJPJPAsrhvuD" /></a><br /><br /><br />I started writing on NewsBreak around the end of Dec. 2022 with my first published article on Dec. 25 (an unintentional date, but isn’t it fitting). It was about the renewal of the Christmas Valley Golf Course and it has accumulated 129 views up until now.<br /><a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2869010388529-the-renewal-of-the-christmas-valley-golf-course-in-eastern-oregon?source=post_page-----a23fd1fff692--------------------------------"><br />The renewal of the Christmas Valley Golf Course in Eastern Oregon | NewsBreak…<br /></a><br />Although I started writing in Dec. 2022, I didn’t start making money until February because I had to apply and be approved. This entailed having 100 registered followers, writing ten articles, applying, and waiting around for a month. Here are the details of my journey if interested.<br /><a href="https://medium.com/business-articles/approval-time-for-newsbreak-monetization-3513cf931210?source=post_page-----a23fd1fff692--------------------------------"><br />Approval Time for NewsBreak Monetization<br /></a><br />Being a seasonal golf course greenskeeper, I have 4 months in the off-season to write more on NB, writing around 10–20 articles a month. During the other 8 months, writing is just a part-time effort — I usually write 1–2 articles a month.<br /><br />The theme for all of my articles at NewsBreak is #Oregon.<br /><br />Here are my stats for the last 13 months:<div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>112 articles (average 8.62/month)</li><li>14 million impressions</li><li>704k views</li><li>8,667 likes</li><li>2,720 followers</li><li>9744 comments</li><li>8108 shares</li></ul><br />The total amount made up until now:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>$3,597.98</li><li>$32.12/article</li><li>$300/month</li><li>$5.11/RPM</li></ul><br />The most popular article so far is:<br /><a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/3248372571047-should-1998-thurston-high-school-shooter-kip-kinkel-be-let-out-of-prison-his-sister-thinks-so?source=post_page-----a23fd1fff692--------------------------------"><br />Should 1998 Thurston High School shooter Kip Kinkel be let out of prison? His sister thinks so |…<br /><br /></a>It has 109,803 views and made me around $675.<br /><br />The exact dollar amount made is hard to calculate the way NB does stats, as it goes month by month and doesn’t give a total for all time with each article.<br /><br />The runner-up has 109,668 views (essentially a tie for first):<br /><a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/3233989088377-woman-shoots-a-gun-at-the-portland-international-airport-to-avoid-shooting-her-family?source=post_page-----a23fd1fff692--------------------------------"><br />Woman shoots a gun at the Portland International Airport to avoid shooting her family<br /><br /></a>The article with the most comments (1,618) is ( BTW this article was basically ignored at Medium — I syndicate select NB articles):<br /><a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/3222531511272-opinion-most-communities-in-oregon-and-the-us-are-republican-yet-democrats-are-in-charge?source=post_page-----a23fd1fff692--------------------------------"><br />Opinion: Most communities in Oregon and the US are Republican, yet Democrats are in charge<br /><br /></a>The article with the most likes (891) is ( stirred up a hornet's nest, so they made me change the title, it was better before),<br /><a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/3285661493195-trump-agrees-with-the-conclusion-of-oregon-secretary-of-state-to-keep-him-on-primary-ballot?source=post_page-----a23fd1fff692--------------------------------"><br />Trump agrees with the conclusion of Oregon Secretary of State to keep him on primary ballot |…<br /><br /></a>The article with the most shares (1,190) is:<br /><a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2984267631840-accepting-pro-lgbt-views-is-now-a-requirement-for-adopting-children-in-oregon?source=post_page-----a23fd1fff692--------------------------------"><br />Accepting pro-LGBT views is now a requirement for adopting children in Oregon<br /><br /></a>Those are the stats and details of my writing career at NewsBreak. Hopefully, the popular news app will continue valuing its local contributors in the future, so I can keep making money writing about Oregon!<br /><br />NB has been my best earner as a writer, blogger, and author. I also write for HubPages, Medium, Vocal, Blogger, WordPress, and my books. Out of all of these writing income sources, NB has far surpassed them.<br /><br />For instance, my most popular book has made around $600 in its lifetime (nine years old). My most popular article on NB made more than that. Just one article that took about two hours. Wow.<br /><br />You never know when and where you will get favor. I started out writing for All Voices in 2013 before I started blogging at Blogger and WordPress. All Voices turned into a closed system with select writers…It has been a long online writing road…Squidoo…Daily Two Cents…Bubblews…Teckler…InfoBarrel…Persona Paper…<br /><br />Unfortunately, if you’ve been writing online long enough, you realize how transient and capricious things can be when it comes to long-term stability with platforms. Things change and sometimes the platform doesn’t make it — HubPages is in the throes of this now, will it change and survive? Hopefully, it’s had a long run of nearly two decades, starting in August 2006.<br /><br />NewsBreak could change as well. AI seems to be the culprit of future gloom for most creative platforms. Until the bots take over I’ll keep writing online, remembering to stop and smell the roses along the way.<br /><br />Here is the help page explaining what is required to apply for monetization if you are interested in writing for NewsBreak:<br /><a href="https://support.newsbreak.com/knowledge/monetization-options-and-application?source=post_page-----a23fd1fff692--------------------------------"><br />Monetization options and application<br /><br /></a><br />Originally published at <a href="https://medium.com/business-articles/one-year-review-of-writing-on-newsbreak-a23fd1fff692" target="_blank">Medium</a></div><div><br /></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-4971300238483312392024-01-12T07:07:00.000-08:002024-01-12T07:07:47.389-08:00Top 10 Ski Resorts in Oregon<p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@lexvalishvili?utm_source=Newsbreak&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=1YCXuj_0qiYSPxa00" /></a></div><br />With all the snow already here and coming, some will wonder where to go downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, or tubing in Oregon.<br /><br />This list rates ski resorts by their acreage, lifts, trails, and vertical rise (ft. from the base to the peak). There is great information about ski resorts in Oregon online; the data included is from <a href="https://www.skicentral.com/oregon.html">Ski Central</a>, which has current snow reports and other helpful info on its website.<br /><br /><b>#1. Mt. Bachelor:</b> base 6300 ft, vertical 3365 ft, summit 9065 ft, annual snowfall 387 inches, 71 trails, 3685 acreage, 1.5 miles is longest run, regular adult lift ticket $155/day, lifts 13.<br /><br />Mt. Bachelor has grown into a very popular ski resort with the rapid population boom in Central Oregon over the last 50 years. It offers beginning to advanced lifts and all the trails your freezing hands and feet can handle. Mt. Bachelor started in 1958 and had its first chair lift in 1962. The closest city is Bend 21 miles away.<br /><br /><b>#2. Mt. Hood Meadows:</b> base 4523 ft, vertical 2777 ft, summit 7300 ft, annual snowfall 430 inches, trails 85, skiable acres 2150, longest run 3 miles, regular adult lift ticket $159, lifts 12.<br /><br />Hood River is 35 miles away, Government Camp is the closest city only a few miles away. The ski resort started in 1967. This is the largest of the four ski resorts located on Mt. Hood on this list. The most expensive on the list, yet has a lot to offer, rivaling for the first spot.<br /><br /><b>#3. Timberline:</b> base 7000 ft (est.), vertical 3690 ft, summit 11245, trails 41, skiable acres 1415, regular adult lift ticket $135, 10 lifts.<br /><br />Located high up on the largest Oregon mountain, Mt. Hood, the Timberline ski area offers the best chance for an extended and early season for skiing. Government Camp is the closest city just miles away; Timberline is part of 4 different ski areas on this list on Mt. Hood.<br /><br /><b>#4. Mt. Hood Ski Bowl: </b>base est. 3600 ft, vertical 1500 ft, summit 5,100 ft, annual snowfall 300 inches, trails 65, skiable acres 960, longest run 3 miles, regular adult lift ticket $89, lifts 9.<br /><br />This ski resort is also on Mt. Hood at a lower elevation and closer to Portland around 65 miles away. Government Camp is the closest town.<br /><br />Mt. Hood Ski Bowl is significant because it is the largest night ski area in the U.S. It also has an adventure park with bungee jumping, zip-line, and alpine slides. It is one of the oldest ski resorts in the country and Oregon starting in 1928.<br /><br /><b>#5. Willamette Pass:</b> base 5120 ft, vertical 1563 ft, summit 6683 ft, annual snowfall 430 inches, trails 29, skiable acres 555, longest run 2.1 miles, regular adult lift ticket $66, lifts 6.<br /><br />Willamette Pass is located 70 miles from Eugene on Highway 58. This ski resort gets a lot of snow, offers affordable prices, is in a good location, and has a large area to explore. It was founded in 1941.<br /><br /><b>#6. Hoodoo Ski Area:</b> base 4668 ft, vertical 1035 ft, summit 5703 ft, annual snowfall 450 inches, trails 34, skiable acres 800, longest run 3 miles, regular adult lift ticket $79, lifts 5.<br /><br />Sisters is the closest town 20 miles away, Eugene is 80 miles the other way along Santiam Pass, Highway 20 through the Cascade Mountains. Hoodoo Ski Resort also has an 800 ft tubing hill with a handle tow lift. It was built in 1938, making it a piece of Oregon history too.<br /><br /><b>#7. Anthony Lakes:</b> base 7100 ft, vertical 900 ft, summit 8000 ft, annual snowfall 300 inches, trails 21, skiable acres 1100, longest run 1.5 miles, regular adult lift ticket $50, lifts 3.<br /><br />The nearest town is North Powder 20 miles away in Union County in northeastern Oregon. The ski resort has been around since the 1930s and under new ownership since 2010.<br /><br />This is a good option for those in eastern Oregon, it is affordable and has a large area to play in with multiple lifts and trails. Significantly, this ski resort has the highest base elevation in Oregon.<br /><br /><b>#8. Mt. Ashland:</b> base 6338 ft, vertical 1150 ft, summit 7500, annual snowfall 300 inches, trails 23, skiable acres 220, longest run 1 mile, regular adult lift ticket $69, lifts 4.<br /><br />The closest city to the ski resort is Ashland 23 miles away. The ski area is located on Mt. Ashland. It started in 1964. This is a great option for those in southern Oregon. It is affordable and has much to offer, including stunning scenery.<br /><br /><b>#9 Warner Canyon:</b> base 5700 ft, vertical 1080 ft, summit 6480 ft, trails 21, regular adult lift ticket $40, lifts 1.<br /><br />This smaller ski resort in southeastern Oregon has been operating since 1938 and is 4 miles from the city of Lakeview in Lake County. Skiers will have plenty of area to cover with 22 runs coming from a single lift. Having this non-profit ski area is a treat for those in the Oregon Outback.<br /><br /><b>#10 Summit Ski Area:</b> base 4000 ft, vertical 300 ft, summit 4300 ft, annual snowfall 150 inches, trails 3, skiable acres 70, regular adult lift ticket $49, lifts 2.<br /><br />Summit Ski Area (now called the Summit Pass) is the oldest ski area in the Pacific Northwest built in 1927. It offers downhill skiing, tubing, and Nordic trails. It is the fourth ski resort located on Mt. Hood and the oldest.<br /><br /><b>Summary</b><br /><br />With all of these great options, skiers should find something that works for them. Having the information and awareness of what is out there will help the process of getting there and experiencing the great outdoors in the Oregon wintertime.<div><br /></div><div>Originally published at <a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/3295432027728-top-10-ski-resorts-in-oregon" target="_blank">NewsBreak</a></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-29020829811515614442024-01-10T14:23:00.000-08:002024-01-10T14:40:49.086-08:00Why I Stopped Listening to Mainstream Worldly Music<figure class="graf graf--figure" name="6dc1"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@rocinante_11?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank"><img class="graf-image" data-height="3746" data-image-id="0*lBZmHRdZ2crn81zK" data-unsplash-photo-id="U6k17XLr99s" data-width="5760" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/0*lBZmHRdZ2crn81zK" /></a></div><figcaption class="imageCaption"><br /></figcaption></figure>Being the son of two musicians, music plays an important role in my life. I became a musician as well, although not to the level they were. <br /><br />Parents would play on the weekends at evening hotspots in Bend, OR in the early and mid-80s. They would play cover songs from the 70s and 80s, maybe an original here and there. They went on to have respectable careers in music until this day.<br /><br />Here is my mom’s music website:<div><br /><a href="https://www.maxiekinney.com/">Maxie Kinney Music<br />The Music Journey of a Country Gal from Oregon</a><br /><br />I started playing the guitar around 21 years old. I played the keyboard and piano when I was younger. <br /><br />Here is my music website in progress:</div><div><br /><a href="https://robbielowdown0music.blogspot.com/">Robbie Newport Music<br />Original Christian Folk Music</a><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Storytime</h3></div><div>I remember a time when I was around 11 years old in a music shop (in the late 80s and early 90s there were mostly cassette tapes for sale) and I had the choice between Bachman Turner Overdrive (BTO) or New Kids on the Block — I chose BTO and have always been proud of that decision. <br /><br />I have good taste for genuine music of all genres. At least, I think so. <br /><br />I kept collecting cassettes throughout the years (MC Hammer, Snow, Billy Joel, etc.) and then CDs (Boston, Blur, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Ben Folds Five, Chicago, Dave Matthews Band, etc.)<br /><br />By the time I threw almost all of them away being led by God, I had probably around 500 CDs of my favorite mainstream worldly music up until then (32 YOA).</div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Why?</h3>But why don’t I still listen to these classics that have supposedly brought so much joy along the path of life?<br /><br />That is the thing, I decided to stop punishing myself with nostalgic songs created by a music industry that goes against the Holy Bible. Yes, they represent Americana and ostensibly are innocent of anything more than having a good time and expressing the soul of that generation, yet often, their music has been cursed with demonic spirits by ruling occultists, and when the listener comes into agreement with the song, spirits can transfer to them. <br /><br />What I’ve realized is I can’t just listen to anything over and over. I have to be very careful of what music I input into my ears and brain. Listening to Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are” and getting it stuck in my head for days seems like a good idea because it is a great heartfelt song, one of the best love songs of all time, yet it still makes me depressed. <br /><br />See, I can only listen to songs over and over that don’t make me depressed and sad. The music is just too powerful to mess with.</div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Example</h3>It makes me laugh with pain when I think of the most depressing songs ever. How about Harry Nilsson “Without You” from 1971 — what a complete downer!<br /><br />Now, I don’t recommend listening to this song, but if you do, note how it makes you feel afterward compared to before. <br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="323" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rzB4q6KmX2E" width="515" youtube-src-id="rzB4q6KmX2E"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Are you depressed yet?</div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Clarification of Spiritual Implications</h3>What I’m trying to say is, I can only listen to some songs over and over and not get depressed and sad. And songs that are meant to make me depressed, angry, or sad, I stay away from those anyway. There was a time though I did listen to the likes of, Slipknot, Deftones, Seether, etc. <br /><br />Music will bring the spirit of those who are playing it into the listener if allowed. Some musicians know this and consider themselves casting spells, others are just expressing pain and negative emotions in a somewhat constructive way, yet being guided by a demonic spirit apart from God.<br /><br />Even happy songs can make me sad. For instance, I can’t readily listen to the Beach Boys without feeling depressed and sad afterward. It gets me to such a high, inevitably, I fall back down to my default austere reality. <br /><br />There are also talented artists who mean no harm, yet are not born-again Christians who believe in the Holy Bible. They are being led by a worldly spirit.<br /><br />People may say, so what, I’m not a believer. I understand, yet in my experience, listening to worldly music as a nonChristian ( I was a nonChristian from 19 until 26 YOA) or Christian is bound to make you sad and depressed. For Christians, the Holy Spirit in us will become grieved at the idolatry and unbelief and our conscience will bear it.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h3><div>This is why I stopped listening to most music, especially, worldly mainstream music. I like listening to old gospel hymns at church and older select Christian music like Carroll Roberson. I also like to listen to instrumental music, including some jazz, blues, classical, and folk. <br /><br />I don’t mind if song lyrics aren’t always about Jesus, yet it is important to me that the songwriter and singer is a Christian if I’m listening to lyrics.<br /><br />Ultimately, I no longer feel sad and depressed after listening to music. God has helped me filter out the worldly music and use the good music as a tool for true praise, worship, gratitude, and enjoyment.<br /><br />Hopefully, this helps the reader consider where their emotions come from when listening to worldly mainstream music, including popular nominal Christian music.</div><div> <br /><br /></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-25144415566520196192023-12-10T15:46:00.000-08:002023-12-13T11:02:06.411-08:00New Book Release: Staying Optimistic While Being Realistic<div class="separator"><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP6VMV2H" target="_blank"><img class="graf-image" data-height="2250" data-image-id="1*4WO4ao6OO7waAGvoZhGGMQ.jpeg" data-width="1410" height="640" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*4WO4ao6OO7waAGvoZhGGMQ.jpeg" width="400" /></a></p></div><br /><br />My 9th book has been published called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP6VMV2H" target="_blank"><i>Staying Optimistic While Being Realistic</i></a>. It is a collection of 13 society articles from the perspective of a Protestant Christian, middle-aged, married, Oregonian man from Dec. 2022 until Nov. 2023.<div><br />Essentially, this book is a social analysis of 2023 American culture, society, politics, and Christian faith. <br /><br />With an added introduction and 13 color photos, this book is 80 pages in print and around the same as an eBook.<br /><br />The main theme is society, specifically American society, yet drawing on the general term as a way to explore the complexities and challenges of people in terms of finding the truth of themselves and the reality around them beyond the periphery. <br /><br />I have a B.S. in Human Services, so this is part of my service to fellow humans. Making it easier to digest my writing efforts in hopes readers will find valuable inspiration inside that will direct their course with more stability, reason, peace, and faith in a loving God.<br /><br /> Eventually, with a love of the truth garnered, one can understand the importance of Jesus Christ, the Gospels, and the Word of God. <br /><br />It is a wonderful thing to find the faith of Jesus Christ. It can be understood by each of us if we are willing to learn and love the truth. <br /><br /><i>Staying Optimistic While Being Realistic</i> was named after an article by the same name within the book. It is toward the back of the book. A little long for a title, so I created a subtitle too: <i>Thoughts on society from a grumpy Luddite.</i> The picture comes from the article and it does a nice job of expressing what is inside somehow. <br /><br />This book and my other <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00OBP0PIW/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=55691995-0e96-44ae-af78-011934ac0664&store_ref=ap_rdr&ref_=ap_rdr">books can be found on Amazon</a> as well as 10 or so other eBook outlets online (Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple, Google, OverDrive, Smashwords, and 10 more). <br /><br />There are short and long articles in the book, including a movie review for the movie <i>Rocky.</i> Originally, I published that on HubPages hoping for it to be on their network site about entertainment and reviews. It wasn’t chosen for that, but was featured and placed on their Discover HubPages area, which maybe is better after all. <br /><br />Each article tells its own story, and the book is those stories together. I pray it finds a way to the people’s hearts God intended. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP6VMV2H" target="_blank"><i>S</i><i>taying Optimistic While Being Realistic</i></a></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-36379324490784041582023-11-30T13:57:00.000-08:002023-11-30T13:57:47.675-08:00Opinion: Most communities in Oregon and the US are Republican, yet Democrats are in charge<br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Oregon_gubernatorial_election" target="_blank"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=0jUxaw_0pY5j9tj00" /></a><div>2022 Oregon Governor Election Photo <br /><br />Assuming election results are valid in Oregon, which does take a lot of faith these days after the questions about the 2020 US Presidential election arose, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/election/2022/results/oregon/governor">Democrat Tina Kotek won the Governor’s race in 2022 by a slim margin over Republican Christine Drazan.</a> The interesting aspect of this win is how many of Oregon’s 36 counties voted Republican vs. Democrat.<br /><br />Looking at the political map, almost the entire state is red with only a few small counties in the northwest having the blue color. Specifically, there were 7 counties that voted Democrat and 29 that voted Republican. The difference is the 7 counties voting blue are the most populous counties, also the counties with the most residents coming from other states – much like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tina_Kotek">Tina Kotek herself, a transplant from Pennsylvania</a>.<br /><br />Tina only won the campaign to be Oregon’s 39th Governor by 66,727 votes over Christine Drazan. Said in another way, the Democrats pulled off another close election with mail-in balloting, which they have an uncanny ability to do.<br /><br />The interesting cultural point this election shows us is how the vast majority of Oregon’s culture and way of life is decidedly in the Republican camp with their values, yet they are being ruled by a small highly densely populated urban area that has Democrat values. In other words, big city and liberal university values are being imposed on the vast majority of Oregon’s communities without any recourse.<br /><br />Oregon is one of the worst cases of this imbalance of power going against the majority of its communities, yet this is what’s happening to the entire US. The vast majority of the US is red, while the large urban areas are essentially the only places that are blue.<br /><br />In other words, the vast majority of the communities in the US hold the values of Republicans, while the densely populated urban areas hold the values of the Democrats. Considering the immorality that has always been associated with large urban areas, and that large cities are where the majority of residents are who are not originally from the US, what does this imbalance of power mean for the US?<br /><br />The traditional values of the US that made this country great are held by those in the red areas, while the radical left’s values that are trying to change the US into something entirely different are held by the blue areas.<br /><br />Maybe seeing how the vast majority of American communities hold Republican values will help those who love traditional America see where the political fight is being waged, that is, against the densely populated urban areas where the liberal universities and transplants are.</div><div><br /></div><div>Originally published at <a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/3222531511272-opinion-most-communities-in-oregon-and-the-us-are-republican-yet-democrats-are-in-charge" target="_blank"><i>NewsBreak</i></a></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-16147718610761045372023-11-09T13:24:00.004-08:002023-11-09T13:24:59.449-08:00When are we good enough?<figure class="graf graf--figure" name="e06f"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@miteneva?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank"><img class="graf-image" data-height="3313" data-image-id="0*CDw4Ir7el-w3ck4o" data-unsplash-photo-id="1hJrVvSAp1w" data-width="2209" height="908" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/0*CDw4Ir7el-w3ck4o" width="592" /></a></div><figcaption class="imageCaption"><br /></figcaption></figure><p class="graf graf--p" name="4411">When have we done enough?</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="4411">When is it good enough, and to whom is it good enough for? </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="e159">This is a question many of us humans struggle with or ponder when we consider the meaning and purpose of our lives. Maybe we don’t consider it deeply enough to understand the underlying motivations, the subconscious drivings that make us never feel satisfied with our accomplishments. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="ffe6">Everyone has accomplished something if they are alive and getting by each day. If we have learned to dress ourselves, brush our teeth, drive a car, or ride a bicycle, then we have done something at least. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="0f34">As a child, expectations weren’t as high, and we, along with those around us, were generally happy with the small accomplishments that come with growing up. These expectations grow as we get older, sometimes from others close to us and sometimes from ourselves.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="ecf5">Many times, it is our own expectations of ourselves that really set the tone for our contentment with our accomplishments. Where do these expectations come from we must ask. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="8cde">The question persists, “when is it good enough?”</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="9a3a">Often, the question is when am I good enough, or what I accomplish?</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="d3e8">As a Christian, the question becomes when am I doing enough to fulfill my purpose for God? </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="5296">Then there are the relationships we have, the family we are part of…</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="a100">It seems like a never-ending quest to be something or someone, as some vague ideal drives our subconscious thinking. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="b6b5">Young adults are probably the most prone to having this central drive to do something with their lives, as they have just begun to accomplish things. It is when we get older that we start to wonder if this drive is still needed, or if we have done enough to be content with our vague or pointed goals. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="c9b0">Maybe it is when we get older we start to consider this question, but it would be advantageous for younger adults to consider it as well, as they may be driven to do things for the wrong reasons, and in the end, never be satisfied with the results. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="e938">On the one hand, there are super lazy people who have no ambition and don’t seem to care about accomplishing anything past mooching off others and getting by with hustling and crime. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="0733">On the other hand, there are super ambitious people who falsely think they are going somewhere and becoming someone only to find out when they get there, it isn’t what they thought. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="a0f4">There needs to be a balance. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="0812">There needs to be contentment mixed with the drive to achieve modest and healthy goals in life. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="1d84">I’m not here to tell you what is enough, as this is the question I’m asking. What I’m discussing and wondering is if this question is ever answered on this side of reality, or is it just part of our fallen nature?</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="69c7">There will always be someone bigger, stronger, better looking, who makes more money, has a better job, and nicer stuff, so setting our expectations and standards for accomplishment based on other people is a sure way to be disappointed, for everyone.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="122c"> Even if someone achieves some top dog status, it is only for a short time and then back to being inferior — and the superior status was just an illusion anyway considering how big the world is and the unknown supernatural. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="3a9d">If there is someone who bases their value on being better than others, they have a losing mentality. Eventually, they will realize this, likely, when no one is around to care. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="b9d7">Time, old age, and death are there to get us all in the end. That is, if we live long enough to become “old.” Being old is relative anyway considering Adam and Eve lived around 1000 years. Just imagine that. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="2811">Just having the luxury of contemplating when good enough is enough should make us grateful. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="658b">Truly, being grateful and content, even when things aren’t optimal, is a powerful achievement. Those who have these things, whether poor and ugly or rich and beautiful, have something truly valuable. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="359b">What I’ve noticed is those who are rich and beautiful are often the most miserable and unsatisfied. Isn’t that an interesting paradox? It seems the more people have, the more they want, and the more spoiled they get. Also, after people have experienced riches, beauty, and status, they can’t handle not living up to that high standard, which they generally can’t sustain for their entire lives. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="f802">What goes up must come down.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="d62f">It is better to stay consistent and not go up and down like a yo-yo. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="d7ba">As a dreamer of sorts, I still have a flicker of the ambitions once embraced. Instead of a burning desire or need for them to manifest, I now place their accomplishment in the hands of God, while I work on them when the time and motivation present themselves— I believe He gives me both. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="0077">The reality of how short life is, how precarious the future looks, and the vanity of being known by mankind, have tempered my ambitions down to a purposeful work given by God. This even enhances the importance of my efforts, while taking away the desperate need to become someone. As long as God knows me, I have already achieved the ultimate status longed for. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="1396">Many times in everyday life, the question of what is good enough, am I ever good enough, comes up with frustration. The many efforts to just get by, go to work, pay the bills, do the chores, and be there for those we love, all seem to be gobbled up sometimes by the insatiable need for more and more of ourselves. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="5e98">It sometimes seems like others and even God doesn’t notice our constant efforts to stay afloat in the sea of life, as nature continues to ask for more and more. Then I wonder if nature is asking anything at all, or is it just this insatiable vague prodding inside myself, this will to power as Nietzsche put it, this longing for greatness, the quiet desperation inside most people like Thoreau surmised, or simply some vain drive for a life of ease? </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="e893">There is nothing wrong with seeking the most of our potential, yet there is also nothing wrong with being content with a consistent effort within our means.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="375c"> Maybe it is the culture of watching movies in America that continues to ask me to become a hero, to inspire with some unique overcoming tale, to rescue the innocent and downtrodden masses oblivious to the sinister plots of a nefarious elite, perhaps.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="b1e0">Whatever the case, the question persists. The saving grace is the answer appears to be getting clearer as I get older.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="9f8b"> The balance of drive and contentment is more attainable as I realize with God’s help the true purpose of my existence. Essentially, I want God’s will in my life, whether as a dedicated and faithful hermit that speaks life unto a lone traveler meant for great things, or a daily teacher to the lost in a large city full of troubles and deceptions. Maybe more realistically, somewhere in between the extremes, in the place He has me now. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="fd1e">I have faith and hope that what I’ve done and who I am is enough, although the question still persists through the fallen nature within me. The fallen world around me needs more than I can give, yet I believe the answer is there for each person if they are willing to receive Him. That is their choice, just as it was mine. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="43dd">Whatever I’ve done and whoever I am, the best thing I ever did was accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. By believing and accepting the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ, I have become enough to be satisfied and content with my life and what I’ve done. If I didn’t make this choice, I’m sure I would be miserable, even if I had more things and a loftier status. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="43dd"><br /></p>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-67984661364113754342023-09-16T16:23:00.005-07:002023-09-16T16:23:48.389-07:00I will always stand for America<p><br /></p><section class="section section--body" name="a07b"><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><figure class="graf graf--figure" name="7b16"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@aaronburden?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank"><img class="graf-image" data-height="3266" data-image-id="0*F4KJ767JqC-MCv34" data-unsplash-photo-id="t2b1Z-jPT-w" data-width="4354" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/0*F4KJ767JqC-MCv34" /></a></div><figcaption class="imageCaption"><br /></figcaption></figure><p class="graf graf--p" name="9611">The united states of America is my home, it is where I have my citizenship in the State of Oregon. I left the unites states lower case because that is how it used to be before the federal government became more important than the states that formed it. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="0408">There are many reasons to want to leave America, yet the reasons not to are stronger. This is my country too, along with every other citizen. The difference between me and many other citizens is I love the good part about America, the essence of what it is. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="581d">Many citizens hate America and are working very hard to change it into something else; what they don’t realize is America is special because of those things they are trying to destroy. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="fa4d">Regardless of the haters, many people like myself still love this country, for what it is at its heart. We don’t want to change it into something that has proven to not work, we want to appreciate and enjoy it for what it is. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="a17a">With all the wokeness, I’ve struggled to love America, as my perception of modern America has been tainted by the mainstream, the establishment, which is being run mostly by people who hate this country and want to destroy everything good about it. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="2ad2">I’ve realized that I can’t allow these people to change my view of America, even if part of it is represented by these types who take it for granted and hate it with prejudice. There will always be ungrateful people who blame their bad choices on something else, something stronger than them. </p></div></div></section><section class="section section--body" name="a008"><div class="section-divider"><hr class="section-divider" /></div><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p" name="2004">The other day, I saw three young country boys playing in a field. They were brothers who were playing with a toy airplane. They didn’t have smartphones, they weren’t connected to a screen; rather, they were playing outside just like I did when I was a boy, and just like every generation of boys have since this country began. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="2e9a">This snapshot of these boys playing in a field with their toy airplane in America made me realize there is something very special we have to fight for. While I don’t have children of my own, I do have stepchildren, nephews, and nieces, and I care about the children of my neighbors. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="13e8">America is our country, and if we lose it to strangers and hostile elements within, then we won’t have anywhere for our boys to fly toy planes. If we lose our counties, states, and nation, then we won’t have anywhere to go and live our lives without hostility and enslavement. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="6ae0">It doesn’t matter if all hell breaks loose, or if I’m the last one standing who loves this country, as long as I stand for what I know is right, and I know America at its core is right and good. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="0501">Many evil things have been done and are being done in the name of America by those who hate this country and what is good. I’m not standing for those things, I’m standing for the real America, the country that believes in goodness, righteousness, individual liberty, and freedom for all. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="a4c9">I’m not interested in nitpicking the problems with a fallible government even when it was at its best. This is the best we have and could do with the circumstances presented at the time. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="80ab">The real America lives on in those citizens who love it and stand for it despite the evil being done in its name. We don’t support the evil, as this element is anti-American and seeks to destroy the real America. </p></div></div></section><section class="section section--body" name="76b2"><div class="section-divider"><hr class="section-divider" /></div><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p" name="a12b">I find myself living in a red county in a blue state. One could very well define the real America by the color red, and the anti-America by the color blue. Maybe the blue would argue their version is the real America, but they are wrong, as their version doesn’t line up with what the real America was and is, period. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="681e">The real America will continue, even if only in the hearts of those who love and stand for it. Maybe the blue areas of this country will be lost as they implode from their own destructive decisions, yet the red states will remain because the people within them love themselves, God, and this country, therefore, treat them accordingly with respect and honor. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="b10c">Living among hostile people who hate you for no reason except for your true love for America and God, isn’t going to work for long. Eventually, most people will have to gather in locations where people think like they do, so they can live peaceful lives with people who aren’t hostile to them. This will result in a continued migration to red states, counties, etc. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="95ec">Eventually, the blue areas will implode from their own madness and will have only themselves to blame. Meanwhile, the real America will continue in the red areas, as we stand our ground against all enemies foreign and domestic. </p></div></div></section><section class="section section--body" name="fb54"><div class="section-divider"><hr class="section-divider" /></div><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p" name="7b48">While I can’t stand most of modern America depicted in mainstream and establishment media and institutions, I know this perception and social engineering agenda comes from those who hate this country and its people. The real America lies beyond this fabricated illusion of hate and deception — this is the America I will always stand for no matter what. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="f646">The real America is full of good people who love God, freedom, and truth. This element of our country will remain no matter what forces of hell come against it, and this is the element that I am proud to be a part of. This is the element of people I want to live around, as only then can I live a peaceable existence with neighbors who aren’t hostile to me for no good reason. </p></div></div></section>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-75676020783687504922023-09-04T17:26:00.001-07:002023-09-04T17:26:19.338-07:00What are the values driving American society?<p><br /></p><section class="section section--body" name="da3f"><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><figure class="graf graf--figure" name="fbeb"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@ignaciobrosa?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank"><img class="graf-image" data-height="2336" data-image-id="0*DUr22fcXIUmOu5u2" data-unsplash-photo-id="vJDbPuxUS_s" data-width="3461" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/0*DUr22fcXIUmOu5u2" /></a></div><figcaption class="imageCaption"><br /></figcaption></figure><p class="graf graf--p" name="b27f">Where do our values come from anymore?</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="b27f">As Americans, we share similar experiences from culture, society, and geography in some measure. Many of us have been here for generations and have a historical connection as well. Even going back to where we came from before we came to America. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="76fe">Most of us can talk about similar movies, television shows, music, sports, and historical events that shaped our lives. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="c316">The Holy Bible used to create the majority of the values in America, yet now I would say the majority of the values come from social media. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="a1cf">Social media has replaced the Holy Bible when it comes to creating the values of American society. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="c9cb">Even the mainstream values before the smartphone and social media on the internet were much better than what we have now. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="1337">When we watched a sitcom, a movie, or listened to a song, we learned values such as:</p><ul class="postList"><li class="graf graf--li" name="328b">being honest</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="ec2c">caring for family and friends</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="e9a7">being a productive member of a community</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="8ba4">helping someone in need</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="5e13">staying true to our marriage partner and friends</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="34d2">doing the right thing</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="8b7a">having integrity</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="4a4a">being humble and thoughtful</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="964b">respecting other people</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="2773">being modest about our sexuality</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="bc26">work hard for what you get</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="8228">be accountable for actions and thoughts</li></ul><p class="graf graf--p" name="a109">Now, with social media creating our values, we have all but forgotten these. The new values include:</p><ul class="postList"><li class="graf graf--li" name="105d">betray your spouse or friend if it benefits yourself</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="4c16">lie about things if it benefits yourself</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="11f2">have no shame about being a prolific fornicator</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="9895">be a pervert and have no shame</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="fc78">be a criminal if you can get away with it</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="3ea5">stab a friend in the back if it benefits yourself</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="2663">have no shame about being a hypocrite</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="7d67">sell out your soul and values for material gain</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="86cf">have no shame about being vain and materialistic</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="e5de">have no shame about being lazy and entitled</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="06d8">allow the public to see your personal life on social media</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="8cb8">gossip about other people to the public on social media</li></ul></div></div></section><section class="section section--body" name="6b5e"><div class="section-divider"><hr class="section-divider" /></div><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p" name="b6e6">I realize we are under a sophisticated social engineering program that is conditioning us to lose our values and become degenerate, yet I wonder if people are clearly seeing the changes. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="6cd5">I also realize the powers to be are targeting the younger generations that aren’t familiar with the older values, thus making it easier to program them with the degeneracy we have today. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="c819">Still, the type of values we are being socially engineered to have now go against our conscience as human beings. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="908f">These degenerate values are the easy road, the path of least resistance, yet they still go against what we know intrinsically as destructive and wrong. People are accountable for adopting these new values even if the culture and society (represented through social media) validate them as good and empowering. </p></div></div></section><section class="section section--body" name="f246"><div class="section-divider"><hr class="section-divider" /></div><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p" name="1cd4">Even many of the older Hollywood movies have good values. The main character is usually someone we are rooting for, the plot line something we are hoping turns out well, and the climax something we are inspired by. All of this requires good character for us to feel good about the movie. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="8ee6">I realize there were also many evil movies with wicked plots and themes, yet the progression of these has steadily increased over the decades. The same goes for music, television, magazines, books, and now social media. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="6ee7">Everything is getting darker, values are getting more degenerate, and themes and plots more evil. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="eb28">Essentially, the social engineering program is trying to make what is good evil and what is evil good (Isaiah 5:20). They are turning everything upside down and backward. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="55ac">The fruit of this subtle change is evil, yet people can’t readily perceive the programming, nor can they conceive why this agenda is happening. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="e521">Slowly, we have drifted from good values to now accepting degenerate values that lead to destructive thinking and behaviors. Our individual lives and communities are worse for the change. </p></div></div></section><section class="section section--body" name="5b43"><div class="section-divider"><hr class="section-divider" /></div><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p" name="5ff8">Most people just go along with the prevalent flow, as this benefits their ability to make money and get along with the majority of people in society. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="2011">Just look at the majority of articles written on Medium (if they are even written by humans anymore and not AI). They simply parrot the main themes of the hive mind of society, they simply go along with the prominent themes being programmed by those who control the internet and influencing factors of society/culture. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="8353">Most people are simply trying to gain popularity, earn money, and become an influencer of some sort with their virtual brand. Multiply this by billions of people across hundreds of social media platforms and you have a powerful social engineering tool to control the thoughts and behaviors of the masses — to create the values of the society you are trying to control. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="26f3">So, ask yourself, what are the values driving Americans as a whole and where do they come from? Then, ask yourself if those are the values you want to live by as well.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="ce56">As for me and my house, we will live by the values of the Holy Bible (1611 AV KJV), which are becoming more and more the opposite of the values social media are creating for the majority of Americans. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="e128">By the way, the values of the Holy Bible aren’t those of a theocracy in a fallen world, so going back to the Holy Roman Empire with false religion ruling isn’t going to help.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="039a">Every person has to take responsibility for the values they believe and the effects they have on others. The values taught by the inspired Holy Bible are righteous, good, and true. Hopefully, people will realize this despite the hatred the programming has instilled in them for the book. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="039a"><br /></p></div></div></section>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-41068554848916296892023-06-29T17:12:00.006-07:002023-06-29T17:24:37.865-07:00Journey of an Obscure Writer <br /><a href="https://unsplash.com/@joshhild?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/0*5CjwbmhL3015O8hX" /></a><br /><br />Using a writing philosophy that can’t fail.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Writing always held a special place in my heart, likely because I was raised by a songwriter mother who encouraged my artistic efforts. I wasn't an avid reader at a young age, yet I like to create things. <br /><br />I remember creating a few role-playing games that no one would really play with me. I created a 9-hole hoola hoop golf course outside our home in the country while living in Tennessee, using Wiffle balls — had the course map to boot. Then, I remember writing my first story or book about three characters going to the big city — I won’t say the name of it because some uncreative hack will steal it before I finally get around to publishing it. Lastly, before I was in high school, I also wrote a few chapters for another book that was going to be a great novel. <br /><br />After all this initial creativity, I started reading fantasy books and other books required from school and found around the home. For instance, I read a Louis L’Amour book and Stephen King. Piers Anthony was my favorite fantasy author with the Xanth series, but I also read C.S. Lewis’ <i>The Chronicles of Narnia.</i><br /><br />Interestingly, I stopped writing during high school and about two years into the Air Force, which I entered right afterward. I remember starting to write again about 6 months before getting out of the Air Force. I would write these creative paragraphs of thoughts, which really helped me process my emotions and feelings at the time. <br /><br />After the Air Force, I dreamed of having a large library full of books and getting my college degree to become a high school history teacher. Little did I know then how real history can’t be taught in public schools. Still, the dream was pure and I did put a good effort toward this endeavor for about two years in college until becoming a dropout. <br /><br />Essentially, my adult writing began with those creative paragraphs in the Air Force and continued on with journal writings up until I was around 30 YOA. I didn’t want to get married and have children and I wasn’t ambitious to make money with a career, so I had plenty of time to write with a loner lifestyle as a menial worker. <br /><br />My writing became my purpose in life after I started reading more authors. I read Hesse, Thoreau, Emerson, Kerouac, Kesey, Walser, and others during my early to mid-20s as I played music, worked menial jobs, and scrapped by. I wanted to live a life worth writing about. <br /><br />Through difficult circumstances, I found myself destitute living in Portland, OR; I was homeless and at the worst low of my life around 26 YOA. It was then that I gave my life back to Jesus Christ, was born again and started living by faith. I gave my life to Jesus when I was 17 YOA, yet took it back when I was 20 when I decided I didn’t believe in the Holy Bible. I remained a truth seeker, which brought me back to the truth, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. <br /><br />Writing and reading have always been tools for searching for the truth in life and in myself. <br /><br />This journey may help inspire another writer or be at least interesting to other writers curious about the path another writer has taken. <br /><br />One of the most pivotal acts as a writer was burning all of my writings from around 20 YOA to 31. This consisted of probably close to 50 journals. My wife also burned her writings from the past. Up in the forest, we stood and watched the pile of journals and papers burning, praying to God in Jesus’ name to renew our minds and make us new creatures in His image. <br /><br />It wasn’t that I was ashamed of my writings, although they were mostly amateurish, rather it was because I wrote all of those words as an unbeliever who was focused on myself, as some genius writer. Through the smoke cloud of Cannabis, I had an exaggerated sense of my own creative genius. <br /><br />Other reasons I burnt them was because I didn’t want to waste my time working on them, re-reading them, carrying them around, and having them as my remembrance when I happened to die. <br /><br />It was liberating, yet a sacrifice as well. <br /><br />I’ve since done mostly the same thing to most of the musical recordings done during this time (except I threw them away instead of burning them). I made around 8 albums of music before my conversion. Also, I wrote about 3 books in rough draft form, besides the pages and pages of journal writing, poems, and creative stories. <br /><br />From then on, my writing was going to be purposeful toward my life with God in Jesus.<br /><br />I’ve found that writing a journal when married is much different. No longer am I writing to just this unknown higher power (as I understood it then) trying to analyze myself and the life around me. Now, I’m one with another person and everything I write must be filtered through her. <br /><br />Journal writing went by the wayside, yet I kept writing, now online. Only a couple of years since the bonfire, I started writing online and haven’t stopped since over ten years later. <br /><br />From 33 to now 44 YOA, I’ve written around 500 articles for my blogs and revenue-sharing sites, 1,000 content articles for businesses, and 8 books (7 are eBooks and 1 can be printed as well). <br /><br />I’ve made an estimated $2,000 from my writings and $20k from selling my copywriting articles. <br /><br />The latest book I’ve put together is the first one that I feel is worthy of promotion. The others are worth reading and have good messages, yet the writing itself isn’t so great, and they have a narrower audience.</div><div> <br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVWMRFQJ"><i>Stories From the Lonely Abode</i><br />An illustrated collection of 10 short stories and 3 poems. Seen through the eyes of a middle-aged American man…www.amazon.com</a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVWMRFQJ"></a><br /><br />Hey, writing takes a lot of work to do well. Honestly, I’ve yet to really acquire the work ethic necessary to write a book well. This last book is a collection of short stories or creative writing stories, not a single story. <br /><br />Partly, I’ve found that I don’t especially like to sit at the computer all day. I like to be outside working with my hands, playing golf, wrestling with the dogs, or talking with my wife.<br /><br />Maybe there will be a time in my life when I can sit down and write a book. I still have the desire to write something with a storyline. I always thought about it being self-autobiographical fiction. <br /><br />There are so many different types of writers and authors. Most of them it seems are more like hustlers; people using AI are these types. Just trying to use words as a tool to make money, market, or gain some type of status — rather than for exploring and analyzing themselves and the world around them. <br /><br />I don’t write content articles anymore and only did for a time because I needed to make some money between jobs. Otherwise, writing for me is a pure pursuit, a journey to express the truth within myself and how I see the world. If it is interesting, great, if not then it still served a purpose for me at least. <br /><br />I’ve always envisioned the type of audience who, like me, values the sincere effort of someone who isn’t a respecter of persons, nor desires to gain status in any group. It really isn’t an attitude of “success” as they call it now, rather it is an effort to create and find something unique about myself that I can value beyond comparing it to others. <br /><br />In this respect, my writing journey can’t fail, as it will always bring the value that I place into it with a sincere effort. <br /><br />With that said, working toward a structured goal and having a vision of a completed project are still necessary to get somewhere in the ever-rushing stream of life. This means my abstract writing philosophy must find a balance between creative whimsy and the grind of routine writing toil. <br /><br />This makes me think: Most people who say they are writers or want to be are more in love with the idea than the actual nitty-gritty reality of what it entails. Those who break through and put their money where their mouth is, inevitably find the process isn’t as romantic as envisioned, yet more rewarding than they imagined.<br /><br />One thing that is apparent, this obscure writer will keep plugging away until God takes him home. One way or another, I find myself back to the keyboard or pen to find again that peaceful method of making sense of this strange world and the infinite mysteries within. <br /><br />Blessings in Jesus and happy writing. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-81344070365806385632023-03-17T09:29:00.002-07:002023-03-17T09:29:20.638-07:00What is the oldest city in Oregon?<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Astoria_Riverfront_Trolley_-_Old_300_at_12th_Street.jpg" target="_blank"><img height="360" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:580/0*NZz5op2f-Dst5rVU" width="640" /></a><br /><br />When learning about the history and culture of Oregon, there’s one area that continues to come up in the conversation. Located in northwestern Clatsop County, the oldest city in Oregon has likely been featured in more famous movies than any other city in the state. This small city is also not far from the oldest golf course in Oregon and west of the Mississippi; interestingly, this city is also the oldest settlement west of the Rocky Mountains too. Have you guessed it yet?<br /><br />The oldest city in Oregon is none other than <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astoria,_Oregon">Astoria</a>, located near the mouth of the Columbia River with close ties to the historical Lewis & Clark Trail, it was first settled by fur trappers in 1811. Although incorporated later in 1856, it was first settled by John Jacob Astor and his American Fur Company which built Fort Astoria. This important fort and the deepwater Port of Astoria were integral to making this area a hub for settlers for many decades to come.<br /><br />Astoria is also only 15 miles from Gearhart Golf Links, which is the <a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2919781928367-what-is-the-oldest-golf-course-in-oregon">oldest golf course in Oregon</a> and west of the Mississippi, founded in 1892.<br /><br />Astoria is also known for having <a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2928956934267-10-famous-movies-filmed-in-oregon-part-2">famous movies filmed in the area</a> such as “Kindergarten Cop,” “Short Circuit,” “Goonies,” and “Black Beauty.”<br /><br />Looking at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astoria,_Oregon">population census</a>, Astoria has the same population now as it did in 1930, with just over 10k residents. The biggest it ever got was in the 1920s with over 14k residents. In 1860 it had a population of only 252 residents.<br /><br />Astoria was mainly the fur trading center of the American Northwest until it started growing with settlers from the Oregon Trail in the 1840s and immigrants in the late 1800s, including Nordic, Swedes, Finns, and Chinese. It became a large fishing, canning, brewing, and logging hub as it grew into the 1900s. Now,<a href="https://www.astoria.or.us/History.aspx"> Astoria</a> is more of a tourist destination with a flourishing art scene, the restored 1920s Liberty Theater, the Astoria Riverfront Trolly (the featured picture), the Astoria Column, museums, microbreweries, an important fishing and travel port, and a rich history for travelers to enjoy.<br /><br /><br />Originally published at <a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2953350053651-what-is-the-oldest-city-in-oregon">NewsBreak</a>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-86623247483012465682023-03-08T14:44:00.001-08:002023-03-08T14:44:10.934-08:00Airbnb is causing the rental crisis in Bend, OR and the US<div class="separator"><p style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/tired-couple-sitting-on-car-luggage-boot-4506229/" target="_blank"><img height="640" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:700/1*iY_hGcgKW_rqnjXwnYm31g.jpeg" width="427" /></a></p></div>The high cost and low availability of rental homes in Bend, Oregon are worse than in America on average, yet the problem is universal. <a href="https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/finding-an-affordable-home-is-often-difficult-in-central-oregon/article_b6550ca4-b3a5-11ed-9773-8340">A Bend Bulletin article</a> written by Suzanne Roig on March 3, explains that the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development predicted Deschutes County would have a 4 percent apartment vacancy rate while the current U.S. vacancy rate is around 6 percent according to the U.S. Census Bureau.<br /><br />Essentially, as bad as the rental market is for tenants in Bend, it is only slightly worse than in the U.S. on average. The main factor this Bend Bulletin article and almost every other article is leaving out is how the global sharing economy companies Airbnb and Verbo are creating this outcome.<br /><br />Anyone can access these sharing economy services through their websites or mobile apps and see for themselves how many short-term rentals are available for rent in Bend and across the country in every single town and city in America. Ultimately, these are potential long-term rentals that have been turned into short-termed rentals, thus creating a shortage of long-term rentals in every city and town in America, including Bend.<br /><br />Considering Airbnb and Verbo hosts don’t have to comply with the same regulations to operate as hotels, nor do the hosts have to deal with any tenant rights and long-term landlord restrictions, it isn’t hard to see why many homeowners would rather make their rentals into short-term rentals vs. long-term. In addition, Airbnb hosts have the potential to make much more money each month from their short-term rentals vs. making them long-term rentals, even when the rental prices are so high.<br /><br />The article explains how a Bend resident is paying around $1,400/month for a two-bedroom apartment which he has been grandfathered into, as the going price for this size of an apartment is around $1,700/month if renters can find one.<br /><br />While residents of Bend and cities across America are struggling to find a place to rent and make enough money to afford the exorbitant costs, travelers have no problem finding hundreds if not thousands of Airbnb listings to choose from in these same cities.<br /><br />What is amazing about the issue is the lack of reporting on it. It seems reporters, state legislators, and executive leadership of cities and states can’t put together the correlation on why rentals are so hard to find and expensive.<br /><br />Maybe the impossible mystery needs common sense to be solved by someone who has been subjected to the struggles the issue creates; also, maybe there is some compromising element involved that makes a hyper-regulated country give Airbnb and Verbo a pass on regulations that similar companies have to comply with to do business, thus undercutting respectable businesses and creating unfair economic privileges to these sharing economy companies.<br /><br />Whatever the reason, we can see the results and the obvious problem as we look at the rental crisis in our cities and then look at the Airbnb and Verbo websites and apps to find hundreds if not thousands of short-term rentals available without the need of complying with the same regulations as hotels.<br /><br />The challenge for Oregonians and Americans is to believe the obvious despite the lack of attention it gets from our leadership, and to stop supporting these services that are causing so much harm to our communities from the bottom up.<br /><br /><br />Originally published at <a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2949171445924-airbnb-is-causing-the-rental-crisis-in-bend-or-and-the-us-opinion">NewsBreak</a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-43432157761259148382023-03-04T15:54:00.003-08:002023-03-04T16:07:30.857-08:00NewsBreak vs. Medium/30-day Comparison<a href="https://unsplash.com/@juansisinni?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank"><img height="640" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/0*YQhSmcU89Xs3nVrJ" width="427" /></a><br /><br />February was the first month for me being monetized at NewsBreak and the second month for Medium. The results are in and they are drastically different. In this article, I’ll share the details and some thoughts about them. <br /><br />To make this easier with how both of these writing sites show stats, let’s compare the stats from Feb. 4 to March 4, or the last 30 days.<br /><br /><b>NewsBreak</b><br /><br />Articles: 20<br /><br />Views: 60k<br /><br />Likes: 1,104<br /><br />Money made: $440<br /><br /><br /><b>Medium</b><br /><br />Articles: 14<br /><br />Views: 1,734<br /><br />Claps: 124<br /><br />Money made: $10.75<div><br />-----------------<br /><br />Although my Medium account goes back to August 2018, I’ve only started seriously writing there since early Dec. 2022 (three months ago). <br /><br />I started writing at NewsBreak in late Dec. 2022. <br /><br />Here are some stats on my overall efforts at these platforms:<br /><br /><b>NewsBreak</b><br /><br />Followers: 803<br /><br />Articles: 44<br /><br /><b>Medium</b><br /><br />Followers: 417<br /><br />Articles: 69<br /><br />--------------<br /><br />While I’m grateful for any money made on both platforms, the difference is fairly drastic. NewsBreak is a place where you can actually make decent money for your articles, Medium is a place where you can make at least something for your articles. <br /><br />I’ve read earning reports from Medium writers that show there is potential to make decent money, yet the amounts really don’t compare with NewsBreak. <br /><br />NewsBreak also doesn’t require writers to work at gaining a following; tasks such as reading other writers’ articles, clapping, commenting, and following, aren’t required to build a following and get views. <br /><br />I’m not sure how long NewsBreak will last or stay popular, but it is a very popular news app that gets your stories in front of many people quickly. The shelf life for a story isn’t as long as Medium, yet in reality, old stories likely get more views than they do at Medium, it just pales in comparison to the massive views they get at first. <br /><br />My most popular article at NewsBreak has gotten over 14k views and earned me around $180. <br /><br />My most popular article on Medium has gotten 443 views and earned $1.63. This is since I joined the Partner Program; I have an article that has 1,500 views and earned $1.02.<br /><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b>Conclusion</b></h4>If you wonder why Medium writers who get approved for monetization at NewsBreak suddenly disappear from Medium, this is the reason. <br /><br />I like Medium as a writing community more than I like NewsBreak, yet I just don’t have time to work the site enough to make decent money. <br /><br />Almost all the articles I publish on Medium are written elsewhere on my blogs or NewsBreak, so any money made from them is a bonus.<br /><br />What I’ve learned writing and reading at Medium for three months is the articles that do the best are written for the Medium audience. This means articles about Medium or articles about life itself. Writing about life lessons, social commentary, and inspirational pieces is what seems to do the best at Medium.<br /><br />With all that said, I’m grateful to be part of both writing communities and look forward to watching them grow in the future. <br /><br />---------------<br /><br />If you want to be a contributor at NewsBreak, use my <a href="http://creators.newsbreak.com/creators?source=open&referral_code=c81da0b">referral link</a> to get started.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you want to become a member at Medium, use my <a href="https://businessandsocietyarticles.medium.com/membership" target="_blank">referral link</a> to get started<br /><br /><br /></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-48583563940133766382023-03-02T07:57:00.003-08:002023-03-02T07:57:54.158-08:00How many Oregonians served and died in the Vietnam War?<a href="https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-obwav" target="_blank"><img height="360" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/580/0*8iodEyo1LXl362MH" width="640" /></a><br /><br />The Vietnam War was a conflict that had its beginnings for Americans in 1955 and lasted until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. The main timeframe of the war was after the Gulf of Tonkin incident in August 1964 until the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973.<br /><br />Detailed stats from the <a href="https://www.vva310.org/vietnam-war-statistics">Vietnam Veterans of America website</a> tells us that 2.6 million American military personnel served in the Vietnam War and around 1 to 1.6 million were in combat in some measure. The average age for these soldiers that served was only 19. Out of this number, 57,000 military personnel from Oregon served in the Vietnam War.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2017/05/oregonians_who_died_serving_in.html">An Oregon Live article</a> written on May 27, 2017, highlights the Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial located at Washington Park near the Oregon Zoo in Portland; the memorial was dedicated in 1987 to those who died or are MIA in the Vietnam War, which now includes 818 veterans. The total number of those who died and were MIA in Vietnam is 58,156 American veterans.<br /><br />The total number of wounded in action in the Vietnam war was 303,704 American veterans.<br /><br />The Oregon Live article has a database of all the names on the memorial and also explains that the years 1968–69 are when Oregonians suffered the heaviest toll with 400 names included.<br /><br />There is a group of Oregon Vietnam War veterans that has created <a href="https://ocvvm.com/">The Fund for a Vietnam Memorial on the Oregon State Capitol</a> as a way to establish another permanent memorial to honor the veterans and their families who participated in the war. This proposed memorial also includes a memorial stone for the six Oregonians who died in Operation Desert Storm in 1991.<br /><br />Let us take the time to visit and support these memorials and remember with gratitude the brave service of our fellow Oregonians and Americans who gave their lives for our freedom in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm, as well as those who came back and are still with us.<br /><br /><br />Originally published at <a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2935288059495-how-many-oregonians-served-and-died-in-the-vietnam-war">NewsBreak</a><div><br /></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-5317575597713133452023-02-22T08:53:00.003-08:002023-02-22T08:53:49.341-08:0010 Famous Movies Filmed in Oregon Part 2<p><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/time-lapse-photography-of-car-lights-in-front-of-cinema-436413/" target="_blank"><img height="360" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/580/0*db4ok8ljHzPlsVcu" width="640" /></a></p><br />It shouldn’t be too surprising that Oregon with its amazing scenery and diverse natural landscape has been used to make movies for the big screen. Still, with such a relatively small population it is somewhat amazing how many movies have been filmed here over the years.<br /><br />After naming 10 movies in <a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2918520971276-10-famous-movies-filmed-in-oregon">part one</a>, it became apparent there needed to be a part two, as these are just as famous, so here goes from oldest to newest.<br /><br />1.<b> Paint Your Wagon </b>(1969): Having Clint Eastwood star in a musical isn’t likely, but he did star in this American Western musical in the late 60s and even did his own singing. The film also stars Lee Marvin and Jean Seberg and was directed by Joshua Logan. Most of the movie production happened near Baker City, Oregon, a small city in Eastern Oregon with around 10k residents and at 3451 ft. elevation. The plot centers around a mining camp in the California Golf Rush era in the mid-1800s.<br /><br />2. <b>Five Easy Pieces </b>(1970): Starring Jack Nicholson, this early 70s drama was filmed mostly in the Pacific Northwest, including the coastal town of Florence and the big city of Portland, Oregon. There was also a scene filmed at a Denny’s along Interstate 5 near Eugene. Although not as famous as some other movies on the list, this movie received prestigious accolades such as being added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress and being nominated for four Academy Awards and five Golden Globe Awards. The plot depicts an oil rig worker who used to be a piano prodigy in his privileged childhood traveling back home to visit his father on his deathbed. Also starring in the movie are Karen Black, Susan Anspach, Ralph Waite, and Lois Smith; Bob Rafelson directed the film.<br /><br />3. <b>Sometimes a Great Notion</b> (1971): This is another great movie that came from a Ken Kesey book of the same name written in 1964. His first book was made into “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” which was highlighted in <a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2918520971276-10-famous-movies-filmed-in-oregon">famous movies from Oregon part one</a>. Paul Newman directed and starred in this poignant drama that was filmed in western Oregon in Lincoln County along the coast. The cities of Newport and Kernville were used in the filming, including scenes from Mo’s Shanty Fish House in Newport. Also starring in the film were Henry Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, and Lee Remick. The plot revolves around a prodigal son story and the modern changes that threatened the logging community, which the family is part of. Secondary plots of marriage difficulties, suicide, depression, and drinking all make this an especially entertaining movie that is fully Oregon and American at its core.<br /><br />4. <b>Just Before Dawn </b>(1981): Filmed on location at Silver Falls State Park in Sublimity, Oregon, this slasher horror film will make viewers wary of visiting this beautiful area. The relatively low-budget film stars Chris Lemmon, Greg Henry, Jamie Rose, George Kennedy and Deborah Benson, and is directed by Jeff Lieberman. The plot includes many disturbing details, including twin brothers born out of incest who murder a bunch of college-age teens around an old, abandoned church in the forest. The film met with mixed reviews and was distributed by an independent company named Picturemedia after Universal Pictures decided against acquiring it.<br /><br />5. <b>Short Circuit</b> (1986): This is a movie I remember watching as a boy, starring Steve Guttenberg, Ally Sheedy, Fisher Stevens, Austin Pendleton and G.W. Bailey, and directed by John Badham. This is a unique science fiction comedy that depicts a robot made by the military for Cold War operations being struck by lightning and serendipitously becoming sentient and escaping to Astoria, Oregon. An animal caregiver finds the robot and the plot thickens as the military wants him back. “The Goonies” was also filmed in Astoria, Oregon, which was highlighted in part one.<br /><br />6. <b>Kindergarten Cop </b>(1990): It seems like yesterday when this movie came out, but it’s been around 33 years now since Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in this action-comedy film! Interestingly, it is another movie filmed in Astoria, Oregon, specifically at the John Jacob Aster Elementary School, as well as the Bayview Motel, downtown Astoria, and the Seafare Restaurant. The movie was also filmed at Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach and the highway near Seaside. Pamela Reed, Penelope Ann Miller, and Richard Tyson also star in the movie. The plot includes Arnold as a tough undercover detective becoming a kindergarten teacher to catch an infamous dangerous drug dealer, not realizing the challenge the children would cause him in his serious duties.<br /><br />7. <b>Point Break </b>(1991): Rolling along in the early 90s, we have the famous action-crime movie starring Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey and Lori Petty. Parts of the movie were filmed at the Ecola State Park in Cannon Beach, Oregon, including the final scene. That is the second movie in a row filmed partly at this state park, interesting. The movie was directed by Kathryn Bigelow. The plot involves an undercover FBI agent infiltrating a group of bank robbers who are also surfers. There was a remake of the film in 2015.<br /><br />8. <b>Fire in the Sky</b> (1993): Maybe the most interesting movie on the list, based on a true story of an alien abduction detailed in Travis Walton’s book called The Walton Experience. Starring in the film are D.B. Sweeney, Robert Patrick and James Garner. Robert Lieberman directed the film and although not related to the director of “Just Before Dawn” with the same last name, they were both born in 1947 in New York State interestingly. The actual experience and movie are set in a town called Snowflake, Arizona and the White Mountains. Parts of the movie were filmed in the towns of Oakland, Roseburg, Sutherlin, and Idleyld Park, Oregon. The actual abduction account was spiced up for the movie, as the scriptwriter found Walton’s original account boring.<br /><br />9. <b>Untraceable</b> (2008): This more recent movie was filmed in Portland, Oregon. The movie plot was also set in Portland where star actress Diane Lane lives as a widowed single parent living in the suburbs who is an FBI special agent. Diane’s character is working with the cybercrime division to catch a sadistic serial killer who live-streams his murders online after the same victims visit his website. The Broadway Bridge and the roller-skating rink of Oaks Amusement Park are featured in the film as well. The plot thickens as the FBI can’t trace or shut down the website.<br /><br />10. <b>Twilight</b> (2008): Oregon has also been part of producing romantic fantasy films about vampires. This movie is based on the 2005 novel by Stephenie Meyer and is the first installment of “The Twilight Saga” film series, which includes five movies. The movie stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson and is directed by Catherine Hardwicke. The movie was mostly filmed in Portland, Oregon, including at the Cullen House, Kalama High School and Madison High School. Some scenes were filmed at St. Helens, Oregon as well. This may be the most monetarily successful movie on the list, making a total of over $400 million internationally.<br /><br />While this list doesn’t cover all the movies made in Oregon, in addition to <a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2918520971276-10-famous-movies-filmed-in-oregon">part one</a>, it does cover most of the most famous ones. From musical westerns to fantasy thrillers about vampires, Oregon has helped create many interesting tales, some of them even based on true events. We can only wonder what the movie world has in store for this great state next.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Originally published at <a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2928956934267-10-famous-movies-filmed-in-oregon-part-2">NewsBreak</a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-88059910928011416352023-02-18T13:52:00.002-08:002023-02-18T13:52:32.317-08:00The Busy Medium Bee<figure class="graf graf--figure" name="d136"><a href="https://unsplash.com/@artrachen?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank"><img class="graf-image" data-height="4000" data-image-id="0*bvCfLaSaqYz4wiGP" data-unsplash-photo-id="Asj5DFw8UAw" data-width="2667" height="640" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/0*bvCfLaSaqYz4wiGP" width="427" /></a><figcaption class="imageCaption"><br /></figcaption></figure><p class="graf graf--p" name="4907">Buzzing around and making honey. </p><p>I love honey. My teeth can’t handle sugar anymore, so honey is my sweet treat, mostly with a peanut butter sandwich. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="a3f9">The analogy of the bee buzzing around, working hard to make honey and the Medium writer staying active on the site to produce views and money is appropriate I think. Bees take time off in the winter in cold locations though. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="687f">Unless a person has a massive audience somewhere else they can successfully transfer over to Medium, building a regular audience on the site takes time and a consistent effort. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="9e64">What I’ve noticed since writing on Medium regularly for the last three months is the <strong class="markup--strong markup--p-strong">time spent reading and interacting with other writers’ work directly correlates with how many views and money you make.</strong> </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="b928">In the last few weeks, I’ve been posting as much as ever, yet have decreased my interaction by about 70%. I’ve noticed my views and interactions have decreased by about the same. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="843d">On the one hand, this can be discouraging because we may feel under the whip of having to interact to gain any traction; on the other hand, it gives us something we can do to help our chances of gaining traction. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="48bd">The good part is reading and interacting on the site helps us learn, gain insights, and feel more connected with other fellow writers. This is good considering how lonely writers can get when focusing on their craft and building their online presence. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="a6ec">There really is no substitute for purposeful interaction to help build a sincere audience of readers. This is true at WordPress, Medium, and other similar sites. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="998b">All of the shortcuts we see people do at Medium aren’t going to really help speed up the process. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="8614"><strong class="markup--strong markup--p-strong">The only way to stay consistent at Medium and WordPress is to genuinely like the communities and want to interact with them. </strong></p><p class="graf graf--p" name="a951">I imagine someone who can read and clap on 50 articles a day, leave 25 comments, and follow dozens of people they like would find they are stirring up a buzz around the place. If they could sustain this for a year they would likely have great success here along with posting quality articles. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="548c">Most of us can’t sustain this type of interaction, yet it is interesting to consider. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="0a12">At <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272" href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272" rel="noopener" target="_blank">NewsBreak</a> I make much more now than I do at Medium and I don’t have to interact at all. I already have over 500 followers even though only have half as many articles and hardly any interaction. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="f910">I think most writers find Medium requires too much energy for what they are getting in return. That’s why we see so many ghosted profiles. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="de3a">Maybe the best strategy is to schedule a certain amount of time you can spare for reading and interacting. Maybe a certain amount of articles you will read on Medium and WordPress. Staying consistent with the effort would bring the best results. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="2282">Watching the views go down and the followers diminish is discouraging, so instead of letting the downward trend gain steam, get busy and make some honey. That’s my advice. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="1a66">Happy writing. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="1a66"><br /></p>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-28484695294983648982023-02-15T09:46:00.001-08:002023-03-24T17:37:09.071-07:0010 Famous Movies Filmed in Oregon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_General_%281926_film%29#/media/File:The_General,_front.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="https://miro.medium.com/max/480/0*-675inwX3t77ibVC" /></a></div><p>“The Beaver State” has been part of some famous movie creations in the last 100 years. Here are ten famous movies filmed in Oregon from the oldest to the newest.</p>1. <b>The General</b> (1929): The comedic genius and amazing stuntman Buster Keaton starred in this silent black and white film. Part of the movie production was filmed in Cottage Grove, Oregon. The town of about 10k residents today still has a large mural of the film on the side of a downtown building.<br /><br />2. <b>One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest</b> (1975): Based on the 1962 novel by Ken Kesey and starring Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito and Christopher Lloyd, this interesting drama/comedy was filmed mostly around Salem, Oregon. It was also filmed around the coastal town of Depoe Bay. The Oregon State Hospital was used in the filming, which was an actual state mental hospital and the one depicted in the novel.<br /><br />3. <b>National Lampoon’s Animal House</b> (1978): This may be the most famous of all the movies, starring John Belushi, Donald Sutherland and many others, and filmed in Eugene, Oregon at the University of Oregon campus. The Dr. A.W. Patterson House on East 11th Ave. was the location of the Delta house, it was located between two fraternities used in the filming too; the building was demolished in 1986, yet there remains a plaque there to commemorate the filming.<br /><br />4. <b>The Black Stallion </b>(1979): Oregon is a state where wild horses still run free, making it fitting to have this movie filmed here. This was an adventure/drama film based on a 1941 novel by Walter Farley. The film stars Kelly Reno and Mickey Rooney; it is a timepiece set in the 1940s. Part of the movie was filmed in Gearhart and Nehalem towns in Clatsop County, the most northwestern county in Oregon.<br /><br />5. <b>The Shinning</b> (1980): Likely, the most infamous movie filmed in Oregon, the horror film by Stanley Kubrick starring Jack Nicholson and Shelly Duvall. The film depicted a hotel in the Rocky Mountains, yet the Timberline Lodge in Mount Hood was used for some of the exterior shots in the film, thus establishing the look of what was called the remote Overlook Hotel in the film where all the horror took place.<br /><br />6. <b>The Goonies</b> (1985): This was another classic movie filmed partly in Astoria, Oregon. The story written by Steven Spielberg also depicted the town of Astoria. The mid-80s adventure movie starred Corey Feldman, Sean Austin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Kerri Green, Martha Plimpton and Ke Huy Quan. The home is still intact in the same spot to this day and was recently brought to light again from someone’s vandalism of leaving a dead fish on the porch. <a href="https://www.beachconnection.net/news/bizarre_rescue_goonies020423.php">The vandal was later rescued</a> from a yacht that capsized at sea after the vandal stole it from someone nearby. I guess the adventure continues nearly 40 years later. Astoria is also in Clatsop County where “The Black Stallion” was filmed partly.<br /><br />7. <b>Stand By Me</b> (1986): Based on a 1982 novella by Stephen King and directed by Rob Reiner, this famous coming-of-age drama/adventure was partly filmed in the small town of Brownsville, Oregon. The movie was a timepiece from the 1950s and the small town with less than 2,000 residents set the tone for this period. The movie starred child actors Corey Feldman, River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton and Jerry O’Connell.<br /><br />8. <b>Drugstore Cowboy</b> (1989): This was an interesting crime drama filmed mainly around Portland, Oregon. Starring Matt Dillon, Kelly Lynch, Heather Graham and William S. Burroughs, the movie was based on an autobiographical novel by James Fogle and directed by the famous American filmmaker Gus Van Sant. The novel was published after the movie, as the author was still in prison during the filming. The movie timeframe was set in the early 70s and depicted drug addicts who robbed pharmacies and hospitals to support their addictions. Filmmaker Gus Van Sant also filmed “My Own Private Idaho,” “Elephant” and “Paranoid Park” in Oregon.<br /><br />9.<b> Free Willy </b>(1993): One of the best family drama movies in the 90s was also filmed partly in Oregon. Specifically, the Hammond Marina in Warrenton, Oregon was used in some of the scenes. Jason James Richter stars as the orphan boy who befriended the captive orca languishing in a rundown amusement park.<br /><br />10. <b>Maverick</b> (1994): It would seem fitting to have an American Western movie on the list, which is what this comedy movie starring Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster and James Garner was. This movie was partly filmed on the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon; specifically, the steamboat called the “Portland” was the last remaining sternwheel tugboat left in the U.S., so was used to depict a Mississippi-style gambling boat for the movie. After the filming, the boat was returned to the Oregon Maritime Museum in Portland.<div><br /><br />This list may bring back some good memories for movie watchers and Oregonians alike. It also may give us some ideas of what movies to watch next or what areas in Oregon to travel to and visit. One thing is for sure, Oregon has not been left out on the big screen as this list shows.<br /><br /><br />Originally published at <a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2918520971276-10-famous-movies-filmed-in-oregon?s=influencer"><i>NewsBreak</i></a><div><br /></div></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-68622072897162827852023-02-14T11:44:00.008-08:002023-02-14T12:05:52.180-08:00What are the Painted Hills in Wheeler County, Oregon?<section style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; max-height: none; overflow: auto;"><div class="jsx-b767e11e6b4614f3 NewsContent_content__8jcWa content" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box;"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=0OK94A_0kjPmwtj00" /><div class="jsx-f74ed5462f56f62a jsx-539932463 content" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; hyphens: auto; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="editor-content-img-wrap" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #242424; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-break: break-word;"></div><div class="jsx-f74ed5462f56f62a jsx-539932463 content" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; hyphens: auto; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div>The Painted Hills is a special geologic site located about 10 miles northwest of Mitchell, 51 miles northeast of Prineville, 40 miles south of Fossil, and 49 miles west of Dayville. The easiest entrance is coming from US Highway 26 (Ochoco Highway) where travelers will see a sign directing them to the attraction.<figure style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 30px 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><div data-type="SOCIAL_CARD" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; justify-content: center; margin-top: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" height="450" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d90884.09001696535!2d-120.29350030351611!3d44.61486159946523!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x54bc051cab41fe65%3A0xa1b1ffc4a2c07158!2sPainted%20Hills!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1676055866310!5m2!1sen!2sus" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin-top: 0px !important; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="600"></iframe></div></figure><div class="nb-ad-placeholder" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 30px 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"></div>This amazingly beautiful area is one of three units within the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/joda/planyourvisit/ptd-hills-unit.htm">John Day Fossil Beds National Monument</a>; the other two units of the park are the Clarno Unit and the Sheep Rock Unit.<br /><br />Located within the Sheep Rock Unit is the 11k square foot Thomas Condon Visitor Center where visitors can view murals, photo galleries, fossil displays, and a fishbowl paleontology laboratory. Visitors can also get some souvenirs at the Discover Your Northwest Park Store at the center.</div><div class="jsx-f74ed5462f56f62a jsx-539932463 content" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; hyphens: auto; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div><div class="jsx-f74ed5462f56f62a jsx-539932463 content" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; hyphens: auto; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=1FwFrl_0kjPmwtj00" /></div><div class="jsx-f74ed5462f56f62a jsx-539932463 content" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; hyphens: auto; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div><div class="jsx-f74ed5462f56f62a jsx-539932463 content" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; hyphens: auto; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">If you visit the Painted Hills, get your cameras out and take some amazing pictures of the area. The earthy vibrant tones and hues of reds, yellows, blacks, and golds will bring a sense of awe and wonder at the natural beauty of the unique attraction.</div><div class="jsx-f74ed5462f56f62a jsx-539932463 content" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; hyphens: auto; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div><div class="jsx-f74ed5462f56f62a jsx-539932463 content" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; hyphens: auto; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=2bVUY9_0kjPmwtj00" /></div><div class="jsx-f74ed5462f56f62a jsx-539932463 content" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; hyphens: auto; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div><div class="jsx-f74ed5462f56f62a jsx-539932463 content" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; hyphens: auto; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;">There is a road leading up to a vista point (picture above) where some placards detail the surroundings. From there is a quarter-mile hiking trail through the barren rounded hills devoid of vegetation and full of dry colorful surfaces containing stratified rock and soil.<div class="nb-ad-placeholder" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 30px 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"></div><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; margin: 30px 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"></p><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=1UalX3_0kjPmwtj00" /><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #242424; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; margin: 30px 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"></p>According to <a href="https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/destinations/parks-forests-wildlife-areas/painted-hills/">Travel Oregon</a>, the Painted Hills are one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon. The park is also part of the <a href="https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/trip-ideas/scenic-drives/journey-through-time-scenic-byway/">Journey Through Time Scenic Byway</a>, which is a 286-mile journey beginning at the town of Biggs along the Columbia River, going through Fossil, the Painted Hills, and ending at Baker City near the Idaho border. The route explores the past and present of Oregon with featured attractions like the Sherman County Historical Museum and the former wool shipping center of the world in the 1800s and now a living ghost town, the town of Shaniko.<br /><br />Originally published at <a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2921146806042-what-are-the-painted-hills-in-wheeler-county-oregon" target="_blank"><i>NewsBreak</i></a></div><div class="jsx-f74ed5462f56f62a jsx-539932463 content" style="--tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; hyphens: auto; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><br /></div></div></div></section>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-39012205146846250252023-02-08T12:53:00.002-08:002023-02-09T11:40:59.846-08:00Houses Aren’t For the Average American<p> <a href="https://unsplash.com/@rstar50?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank"><img class="graf-image" data-height="3181" data-image-id="0*sxmCw4N8afs8jRon" data-unsplash-photo-id="WhYsgTb1LMQ" data-width="4803" height="423" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/0*sxmCw4N8afs8jRon" width="640" /></a></p><section class="section section--body" name="47ce"><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn">Most Americans are priced out of owning a house.<p class="graf graf--p" name="cdeb">The powers to be in their infinite wisdom and social engineering manipulations have deemed the vast majority of Americans as unworthy of owning a house. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="85b9">You can live in a rented apartment or house, yet forget about buying a home, even one that is nearly 100 years old. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="61f3">Here is the pecking order of living standards as an adult:</p><ul class="postList"><li class="graf graf--li" name="e089">Live with parents</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="5f61">Homeless in bushes</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="8cff">Homeless in car</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="4e5b">Homeless in RV</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="4045">Live in RV in an RV park with utilities</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="1043">Live in a house with others sharing a bathroom and kitchen</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="9041">Live in a quint or quad and share kitchen and bathroom</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="8bb1">Live in a quint or quad and share kitchen, have own bathroom</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="f679">Live in a studio apartment with own bathroom and kitchen</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="1e40">Live in a one-bedroom apartment</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="afad">Live in a two or three-bedroom apartment</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="72c4">Live in a rented house</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="a6f7">Live in a house you are buying</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="492d">Live in a house you own (except for property taxes and eminent domain laws)</li></ul></div></div></section><section class="section section--body" name="8e78"><div class="section-divider"><hr class="section-divider" /></div><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p" name="4ecc">These cover most of the levels of living arrangements, yet not all. There is also living in a mobile home with space rent and on your own property, etc. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="73b0"><strong class="markup--strong markup--p-strong">The pecking order for living arrangements makes the point that buying and owning a house you are living in is at the top. </strong></p><p class="graf graf--p" name="eba5">Considering the median sales price for a single-family home is around $370k in the U.S. and the median household income is <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2022/demo/p60-276.html" href="https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2022/demo/p60-276.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">just below $71k</a>, we can see that for most Americans owning a home isn’t an option. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="5ddd">Here is an article I wrote that details the stats in Oregon and specifically in the high-cost-of-living area of Bend, OR. </p><div class="graf graf--mixtapeEmbed" name="3eae"><a class="markup--anchor markup--mixtapeEmbed-anchor" data-href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2917132714816-the-median-sales-price-for-homes-in-bend-or-has-nearly-tripled-in-9-years?s=influencer" href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2917132714816-the-median-sales-price-for-homes-in-bend-or-has-nearly-tripled-in-9-years?s=influencer" title="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2917132714816-the-median-sales-price-for-homes-in-bend-or-has-nearly-tripled-in-9-years?s=influencer"><strong class="markup--strong markup--mixtapeEmbed-strong">The median sales price for homes in Bend, OR has nearly tripled in 9 years | Robbie Newport |…</strong><br /><em class="markup--em markup--mixtapeEmbed-em">The last couple of years has seen a sharp increase in home prices across the U.S., which has made owning a home even…</em>original.newsbreak.com</a><a class="js-mixtapeImage mixtapeImage u-ignoreBlock" data-media-id="7cd865c0dd1d0a6da88f9b759da020fa" data-thumbnail-img-id="0*my1JBXqja1XiaqnO" href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2917132714816-the-median-sales-price-for-homes-in-bend-or-has-nearly-tripled-in-9-years?s=influencer" style="background-image: url(https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/fit/c/160/160/0*my1JBXqja1XiaqnO);"></a></div><p class="graf graf--p" name="edd8">The main point I want to make is unless a person has:</p><ul class="postList"><li class="graf graf--li" name="7fbc">VA loan</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="2ba2">Inheritance of money or a house</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="68b7">household income over $100k/year</li></ul><p class="graf graf--p" name="011a">Then houses aren’t for you. </p></div></div></section><section class="section section--body" name="5a4f"><div class="section-divider"><hr class="section-divider" /></div><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p" name="fde8">You can rent a house and spend over half of your income each month on nothing that increases your wealth or value, but you can’t afford to buy a house. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="af81">The common 20% down for a mortgage is $74k. Most people without high-paying jobs nor inheritances can’t afford to save this amount of money within their 20s and 30s while trying to raise a family or even live a married life with no children.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="728d">I realize there are special programs for some buyers to get nothing down — there are exceptions, but this is pointing out the general rule of what we have going on in the U.S.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="1631">For instance, I have a VA loan, so I don’t have to pay anything down and get low interest. I’m not worried about myself, it is the average American I’m advocating for. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="182e">The average American who works hard at an honest labor job or even has a college degree. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="b803">The attitude of “I got mine, so who cares about everyone else,” is what I don’t like about most modern Americans. </p></div></div></section><section class="section section--body" name="4fdc"><div class="section-divider"><hr class="section-divider" /></div><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p" name="afed">Keep in mind, living with your parents as an adult is the lowest of the pecking order. I truly value independence. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="27f6">If hard-working Americans can’t afford to buy and work toward owning a home without an inheritance, VA loan, or high-paying job (usually for the government), then who are the houses for?</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="b445"><strong class="markup--strong markup--p-strong">The houses are not for you.</strong> They are for commercial real estate investors, rich people with inheritances, and people who make a lot of money usually working for the government. I realize there are exceptions (like the VA loans, etc.).</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="1907">In general, using your money to invest in a home is not an option for most hard-working Americans. </p><ul class="postList"><li class="graf graf--li" name="4c6e">You can pay rent for an apartment or house to make other people rich </li><li class="graf graf--li" name="86be">You can live in an RV in an RV park</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="25f2">You can live in a mobile home in a mobile home park </li><li class="graf graf--li" name="7376">You can live at home with your parents</li><li class="graf graf--li" name="891a">You can live in your car or on the streets</li></ul><p class="graf graf--p" name="605f">Yet, you can’t live in a house, even one that was built 50–100 years ago. </p></div></div></section><section class="section section--body" name="17c7"><div class="section-divider"><hr class="section-divider" /></div><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p" name="6a5f">I just wanted to point out the problem most Americans are facing. They might not even realize this problem until they reach their 40s or 50s and still don’t have the money for the down payment. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="02c2">Most Americans are conditioned to simply be grateful to not be homeless. I understand this, as I’ve been homeless myself. I’ve lived every step of the pecking order except living with my parents as an adult and owning my own home. As of now, my wife and I are paying toward a home. </p><p class="graf graf--p" name="1840">What about all the hard-working honest Americans who can’t afford the massive down payment or the inflated mortgage payment? Don’t they deserve a modest house to live in?</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="2afb">When will the Americans who are paying toward or own their homes start advocating for the millions of Americans who have been told in so many ways:</p><p class="graf graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote" name="29a2">“You don’t deserve your own house.”</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="c24c">The richest country on earth, the best country in the world and in history?</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="c241">Explain to me this conundrum and don’t blame it on capitalistic independence because we have a socialist government as much as Europe, yet without the benefits for the citizens. </p></div></div></section><section class="section section--body" name="d853"><div class="section-divider"><hr class="section-divider" /></div><div class="section-content"><div class="section-inner sectionLayout--insetColumn"><p class="graf graf--p" name="6b63">I would happily go back to before 1913 when the Federal Reserve (a private organization given power by the Federal government) wasn’t around and Big Government didn’t manipulate every facet of our lives. It isn’t about me asking for our government to help us, but rather for our government to get off our backs and stop ruining our lives.</p><p class="graf graf--p" name="6b63"><br /></p></div></div></section>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-1789058766893822242023-02-03T12:08:00.001-08:002023-02-03T12:08:17.658-08:00Approval Time for NewsBreak Monetization<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://unsplash.com/fr/@jontyson?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank"><img height="426" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/700/0*NKlYdW7ysNG7z9ma" width="640" /></a></div><br />Explaining how long it took for me and all the details involved.<br /><br /><div>I’m happy to report I’ve been approved for monetization at NewsBreak! I wanted to share the details with anyone waiting or thinking about becoming a contributor.<br /><br />Here are some details:I wrote my first article on NewsBreak on December 24, 2022.<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>23 total articles</li><li>370 followers</li><li>734k impressions</li><li>46k views</li><li>853 likes</li><li>565 comments</li><li>742 shares</li></ul>As you may know, contributors have to have 100 registered followers and 10 articles before they can apply for monetization.<br /><br />I reached these markers after 15 articles on January 6, 2023.<br /><br />After applying, NewsBreak told me it could take up to one month until they got back to me. I also heard from some Medium writers that it has sometimes taken up to 45 days.<br /><br />I heard back from them yesterday January 1. That means it took roughly 25 days for them to get back to me, thankfully, to tell me I’m approved.<br /><br />I really wasn’t sure if I would be approved, especially considering I slowed down writing there to about 2 per week. I wrote 7 articles in 25 days while I awaited the decision.<br /><br />Now, I’ve been allowed into the contributor community and my dashboard has a few extra areas:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>earnings</li><li>contributor referral</li><li>user referral</li></ul>So far the earnings all say $0, yet the page tells me it can take up to 48 hours to see my estimated earnings.<br /><br />I didn’t realize we can get paid for referring people to download the app too. Nice.<br /><br />If you share your story from the contributor dashboard area, it has a special URL that works to credit you for every user referral.<br /><br />I thought this information might help those who are waiting on their application to be approved.<br /><br />If you are interested in writing at NewsBreak then become a contributor through my <a href="http://creators.newsbreak.com/creators?source=open&referral_code=c81da0b">referral link</a> and get started today.<br /><a href="http://creators.newsbreak.com/creators?source=open&referral_code=c81da0b"><br />Join NewsBreak's Contributor Network!<br /></a><br />You can also <a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272">follow me</a> if you are already there.</div><div><br /></div><div>Originally published at <a href="https://businessandsocietyarticles.medium.com/approval-time-for-newsbreak-monetization-3513cf931210" target="_blank">Medium</a></div><div><br /></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370609910813645144.post-65189630593696995102023-01-31T17:29:00.007-08:002023-01-31T17:31:10.376-08:00What is the Hole-in-the-Ground in Lake County, OR?<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hole_in_the_Ground,_Oregon_-_2.jpg" target="_blank"><img height="480" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/700/0*vSgGKpM2Y7oxtjFY" width="640" /></a></div><br />NASA used it to practice for the moon.<br /><br /><div>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hole-in-the-Ground">Hole-in-the-Ground</a> is a large crater caused by a volcanic explosion (maar). It is an entire mile across at the furthest point and 490 ft. deep in the middle. There is another maar 8 miles west of this one that is even bigger at 1.1 miles across called the Big Hole. The elevation of this area is 4,650 ft.<br /><br />This massive hole is one of the many geographic attractions found in Lake County, OR. It can be found off OR-31 around the 22-mile marker. There is a sign saying Hole-in-the-Ground and another entry point saying Outback Station.<br /><br />Off OR-31 at the second exit, visitors will take dirt roads and come across the Outback Station, which is an RV park, before getting to the Hole-in-the-Ground Vista Point about 2 miles later.<br /><br />The Hole-in-the-Ground is located within the Deschutes National Forest at the western edge of the Fort Rock basin. It is located about 8 miles northwest of the town of Fort Rock and 24 miles southeast of La Pine.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hole-in-the-ground/#.Y7XeBnbMLIU">The Oregon Encyclopedia</a> explains there are twenty sites in Oregon that have close iterations of the name Hole-in-the-Ground, but only the one in Lake County was caused by a volcanic eruption, specifically from the Newberry Volcano.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/anomieus/6133818436" target="_blank"><img height="360" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/580/0*0ni3ain-_LS5_xJ-" width="640" /></a></div></div><div> <br />Interestingly, in 1966 NASA astronauts and scientists visited Oregon and stopped by the Hole-in-the-Ground rim as part of their Apollo training sessions, according to the Oregon Encyclopedia. The volcanic landscape was similar to what they thought the moon’s topography would be like.<br /><br />Once visitors get through exploring and taking pictures of the Hole-in-the-Ground, they can head to Christmas Valley next to check out the <a href="https://oregondiscovery.com/crack-in-the-ground">Crack-in-the-Ground</a>, which is another volcanic formation that runs 2 miles long and up to 70 ft. deep.<br /><br /><br />Originally published at <a href="https://original.newsbreak.com/@robbie-newport-1602272/2879593556492-what-is-the-hole-in-the-ground-in-lake-county-or?s=influencer">NewsBreak</a></div><div><br /></div>Robbie Lowdown0http://www.blogger.com/profile/17902333056871259143noreply@blogger.com0