By Jim Heffernan Our country is being torn apart by opposing ideas that sit upon uncertain foundations of fact and logic. Our collective consciousness is infected. I always have to wonder if…
Category: Guest Column
THE OCEANSIDER: ODOT ANNOUNCES EXTENDED CLOSURE OF HIGHWAY 131 JUST NORTH OF HAPPY CAMP ENTRANCE STARTING AT 10 A.M. TOMORROW (DECEMBER 20) THROUGH AT LEAST JANUARY 6, 2025
By Jerry Keene, Editor Tillamook County Public Works Director Chris Laity just contacted The Oceansider with advance word that ODOT will close Highway 131 to all traffic starting at 10 a.m. on December 20 through at least January 6, 2025….
BOOK REVIEW: Become America by Eric Liu
By Jim Heffernan This book is a collection of 19 “Civic Saturday” sermons given by Eric Liu in Seattle between November 12, 2016 and August 4, 2018. Like it says on the…
Heard on the Bench: DMV Conversations …
By Jim Heffernan Today’s episode happened at the Motor Vehicle Department. There were four us waiting our turn — two men and two women. I started out with the man and opened…
BOOK REVIEW: Yes, Chef – A Memoir – Marcus Samuelsson
By Jim Heffernan I was attracted to this 12 year old book by watching the PBS series, “No Passport Required”. My wife and I enjoy “food porn” cooking shows and his show…
I’ve been thinking … I’m Mad as Hell!
By Jim Heffernan I’ve always thought of myself as “too cool” to ever feel kinship with Howard Beale in the iconic 1976 movie, “Network” but I’m there today. This last presidential election…
BOOK REVIEW: Invisible Doctrine – The Secret History of Neoliberalism by George Monbiot & Peter Hutchison
By Jim Heffernan Neoliberalism is a name for the general policy of cutting taxes, cutting regulation, and cutting benefits that has infected us for the last 50 years. It has transferred a…
WORDS OF WISDOM: Searching for Truth
By Neal Lemery I keep learning the important lessons of life, again and again. My guardian angel must think I’m a difficult student–certainly a stubborn one. A recent news story caught my…
I’ve been thinking … about whooping cough, vaccines & family history
By Jim Heffernan I’ve been thinking about whooping cough (pertussis), vaccines and family history a lot lately. I was reminded of whooping cough by a newspaper story about how whooping cough cases…
BOOK REVIEW: Tbe Serviceberry – Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer
By Neal Lemery This brand new book is a delightful and fresh look at our relationship with nature and with ourselves. It explores the idea of a gift economy, rather that the…