Strangely enough, I’ve recently collaborated on a book with good friend and weirdly talented Portland artist, Karen Wippich. It’s titled “Driving Strangers: Diary of an Uber Driver.” The book combines Karen’s oddly intriguing portraits with my brief, pithy musings about people I’ve ferried around Portland as an Uber driver. It features 25 art portraits, 75 […]
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“Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the arc of the covenant, too sacred to be touched. They ascribe to the men of the preceding age a wisdom more than human, and suppose what they did to be beyond amendment. I knew that age well; I belonged to it, and […]
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On a recent holiday trip to Morocco, I spent some time in Marrakech with various local freelancers, including storytellers, drummers, dancers with roosters on their head, fortune-tellers, cell phone hawkers, and one highly charming snake charmer. I came away with five insights into freelancing that can be applied in any country, any line of work. […]
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Every once in awhile I write short, true accounts of encounters with random homeless folks in downtown Portland. The following is one such account. No Hand Out I first noticed him as I was heading into a convenience store. He was sitting on the sidewalk in a gray hoodie with one leg splayed out. He […]
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No copy needed.
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It’s the thought that counts. On this, the last day of a year ending in 13, it seems fitting to end with a message of hope and good luck. The above message was written years ago by my daughter, Ruby. I couldn’t have said it, or written it, any better. From the entire staff […]
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And such fine penmanship In my mind, these are the greatest 273 words ever written. If you have better ones, let’s see them. Gettysburg Address 273 words 10 sentences 2 minutes 51,112 American deaths over 3 days (almost as many as the entire Vietnam war) “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth […]
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There’s no denying it, our time on the rock is short. So don’t waste it with verbose, yawn-inspiring writing and dense, thick-as-sludge blocks of copy. Cut it to the bone and use a sledgehammer to break it up. Get to the point and keep it punchy. Especially in writing for the web. Short sentences and […]
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Creatures respond to stimuli in different ways. You need to know your audience. Then find the right mix of image, language, tone, and content. It’s not just what you say, but how you say it. A great image (whether in an ad or Facebook post) draws attention and gets people to read the headline. And […]
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Les Overhead and Tom Vandel would both enjoy talking with you.
The best way to reach Les Overhead and Tom Vandel is by email (tom@...), by phone (503-505-4723), or by sending carrier pigeon or mail to 1750 NE 57th Portland, OR 97213. Thank you.