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November is National Caregiver's Month, and lots of folks are caregiving their older parents, children and possibly spouse. The Multnomah County Library has a series on Caregiving even! I think it makes a lot of sense to cover. Great "thank you" message, too.

http://www.multcolib.org/events/lifebydesign.html

posted 2 years, 6 months ago
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CBS' 60 Minutes just covered it as well: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/10/21/60minutes/main6978943.shtml?tag=mncol;lst;1

I'd like to know how this impacts Oregon, which has 31% of people over 50 living in the state and nearly 11% unemployment.

posted 2 years, 7 months ago
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The NY Times had an article about the thing I'm concerned about -- older workers losing security and not sure what to do next. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/20/business/economy/20older.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

Vashon Island isn't that far away and imagine with a 10.4% Portland unemployment rate (and 10.6% for the state)?

posted 2 years, 8 months ago
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Metro's a hard job. I think David Bragdon has done pretty well and wish him luck in NYC. I also think his parting words on KGW (wish that were covered) about growth for the Portland area - mainly jobs - is excellent advice. I'm nervous about the state of Oregon, particularly the state of Portland.

posted 2 years, 8 months ago
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This is more of a process suggestion. I've given a few ideas and haven't heard anything. (In other words, I don't know if you're reading the ideas .) I love when David Miller comments to say, "Thanks! We just had a similar show so we can't quite cover that again, but we'll think about it in another year." Having a comment is helpful!

I'm sure it's impossible to cover everyone's ideas (as you indicate on this page), but it might help for:

1. Some criteria for how you select shows. For example, it seems you cover rural communities once every two weeks or so. That might help to know. That way, you're getting suggestions for something you'd like to cover anyway. "Juicy topics" seems to be relative. What is exciting to me may bore someone else and vice versa. I'm sure you're having to weigh that all the time. You may be saying, "We really want to appeal to people 30-ish on topics that are important to Oregon."

2. When an email is sent to you for ideas, some automatic response (no extra time required) that says, "Thanks, we received your email." There you can also give criteria there, so people understand what you're looking for or not looking for. We don't want to waste your time either!

3. I've seen a lot of people, myself included, suggest multiple topics in one post. Is that easier to read than three separate blog posts?

And since David is still reading the blog, thank you!

posted 2 years, 8 months ago
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I think those of us who were lucky enough to grow up acting, singing, playing instruments, dancing and painting as part of early school cirriculum are taught after high school to seek degrees in things that "matter" (accounting, business, etc.). I can't think of many parents who encouraged their children to get a liberal arts degree, even my own parents!

Into our later years, even if the arts is a passion, we may not have time due to work obligations or family. And in our advanced years, chances are good we left the arts long ago never to return ... even if the arts was once a passion.

Reseach shows the arts is actually good for us even into our advanced adult years. For example, studies have been done that prove (without question) that acting -- rememberring lines -- staves off the affects of dementia. More than that, the arts gives us a sense of purpose after we retire; it makes us feel good. And that sense of purpose also increases our longevity and that "feeling good" increases our health (including our mental health).

Tami Matthews, Life by Design NW (BA in English)

posted 3 years ago
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I'm a card-carrying, liberal (probably bleeding heart) Democrat, and I'm worried about a "yes" to this measure for several reasons:

1. We do not have a lot of multi-bllion dollar corporations here in Oregon. We have precious few. In my opinion, we need more. I'd be happier if Kulongoski and Adams were working harder to attract companies, especially green companies, to Oregon.

2. Small business. Many people forced to leave companies, especially over 60, are choosing to start a small business. Why hamper their ability to do so? Why hamper innovation and creativity now?

3. Jobs. Jobs. Jobs. Jobs. Jobs! Oregon has some of the highest unemployment in the US. Who can change that? Companies. They can hire workers, and are starting to because they feel the economy getting better. Why encourage companies to move out of state? Why penalize companies so they tighten the belt further and can't hire workers, further affecting our ability to hire workers?

I agree with the comments above, let's encourage the state to keep the kicker (rather than send it back out to us). And for God's sake, let's encourage companies to come to Oregon. We love the state and I think other people would love it too, especially if they get some incentives to come here and sell products and services to us.  Oregon is creative and innovative, so ... let's show this!

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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TOL, I have a lot of suggestions of hot topics:

• Unemployment is 11.1%, but true unemployment is somewhere around 20%. People over 55, according to the US Dept. of Labor, take at least a month longer to find work than their younger counterparts. Also according to the US Dept. of Labor, people over 55 are also more likely to be in mass lay-offs. Problem!
• Intergenerational workforce. Gen Y, Gen X, Baby Boomers and the Greatest Generation are all working together. Baby Boomers and Greatest Generation are going to retire. Are the Xers and Yers ready? Right now, X Gen is only middle management. (I'm an Xer, and I'm not ready to take over.) And what are the consequences as our older workforce starts to retire in the civic, public and private sectors? Is Portland ready?
• OMG - my parents are online d8ng. There's a new fad with people over 50, online dating and sexting (according to the AARP). What's it like to be back on the dating scene in the digital age?
• Green jobs. Where are they? We're a city that is bursting with innovation, but it seems an easy job market for us is falling out of grasp.
• What's happening with the interesting idea of having Portlanders comment on the Portland development plan.
• Oregon for the holidays. What do people do for traditions here, especially in a not very traditional place.
• Portland vs. Oregon. Portland politics swing liberal, but the majority of the state is conservative (excluding Eugene and perhaps Ashland). Are Oregonians mad when we elect liberals?
• Day care in Oregon. There aren't enough places to hold our children in the Portland area (waiting lists everywhere) and the day cares themselves are expensive for the quality of service. What gives?!
• Portland Business Journal does a 40 under 40, what if TOL did a 50 over 50 -- the 50 most influential people in the Portland area that are over 50.
• Media. Okay, let's have it out: newspapers vs. social media vs. radio vs. television. What do people think? And who do people turn to with ideas?
• Monthly feature: nonprofit of the month. We have tons of nonprofits in the area, more than just about any other city. (Portland is the second most active city in volunteering per capita, too.) Why not celebrate that?

posted 3 years, 5 months ago
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Mr. Vice President,

Thank you for coming and speaking to Oregonians.

I, like you, am very concerned about the environment. I've been trying to make changes: use my car less, recycle more, etc. But, the problem is much bigger than a me, Portland or even Oregon. Most of the US is heavily car-centric out of necessity (LA, Houston, etc. are built on sprawl), and even though many of these cities are making small changes like introducing some light rail, it's not widely used. It seems it won't be used enough to stop our polar ice caps from melting, which seems imminent.

I believe President Obama is right in that green jobs is a (not the only, but certainly important) way out of the recession, but I don't see a lot of stimulus money supporting business people to create these green jobs. I also don't see a lot of general support even statewide for green jobs, even in a green state such as ours. I believe most issues are really solvable when government and business (with some nonprofit help) work together.

How can we as average citizens encourage more green jobs besides buying green energy (which I'm doing) and investing (which I'm doing as much as I can)? 

Thank you!

posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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Speaking of talking with an aging parent, the Multnomah County Library has a series (free!) that helps aging parents ... and one is directly related to discussing money! http://www.multcolib.org/events/lifebydesign.html

posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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Life (Part 2) had a show called Money Is Love, an episode that covered how difficult it is to cover the taboo subject of money with family members. Here's a link: http://www.pbs.org/lifepart2/watch/season-2/money-love

I work at a nonprofit, Life by Design NW, and am often surprised how many times couples come to our programs and complain the other hasn't shared vital money-related information with them ... like plans after retirement, including travel or where to live. Scary!

posted 3 years, 6 months ago
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I'm not sure marketing is the answer to better education available to more people. And I think Portland actually has some good and fairly inexpensive colleges available. I also think people in higher education are being creative about how they get more people into their doors and educated. Commendable!

I think the real challenge is the number of people who want to go to college or back to college being able to readily afford it with the economic downturn. I know colleges are doing everything in their power to make it more affordable. I'm just wondering if "everything in their power" is enough; federal and state government could free some funds to help our schools (preschool - college). It's an investment in our future.

Also interesting, many people over 50 are going back to school now. As the economic downturn has claimed more Boomers, they're turning to local colleges to fulfill life-long dreams or get more training. Many local colleges have done a great job of getting those folks in the door, too. I also think some of these Boomers have time on their hands and have something to give back to the schools in the area and that schools (not just higher education) should be actively recruiting them.

posted 3 years, 8 months ago
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