In-Betweens: College.

            Fall, in Cambridge, is a bit of a sordid affair.  Miserable long weeks of rain flirt with hours, or even days, of blinding sun and mild temperatures.  Lawn crunches with morning frost one day, and the next you've accidentally left your sweater in the library because it's too warm to wear.  Boat crews battle hefty winds blowing sleet up and down the River Cam one morning, and then gut sunburned in their tank-tops the next.  Fall, in Cambridge, is full of baby-faced "freshers" and exhausted 4th year PhD students.  Fall in Cambridge (which I have now experienced a grand total of twice) is a less a season on it's own, than it is a sort of odd empty space between the long lazy summer, and the sort of cold grey endless thing that is winter.  
            In that sense, Fall is a particularly fitting time for educational journeys to start.  Universities, whether they be Community College, State Schools, Liberal Arts Institutions or Research Centers all share the fact that they serve as an intermediary in life's long journey.  Universities, and all the subsets of them, are a step that we take.  An "in-between" now and wherever we hope to be in 4, 5 or 10 years time.  A semi-traditional stepping stone for middle class kids, first degrees (let alone second or third) are becoming increasingly expensive, and fewer and fewer of us are able to afford the cost of taking a year or three out of our working lives to simply learn.  
            For undergraduates it's a time to explore exactly who they are and will be as people, time to learn how to budget time, money, energy and space.  To foster interests in subjects flung far beyond what every day working life will offer.  Algebra, History, Sociology and Art.  Time to lie on lawns and stare at clouds while discussion the post-modern implications of Foucaultian conceptions of modernity.
For those of us who continue on to do Master's and PhD's, maybe we're inspired to join an MBA--looking for better returns on the hours we'll spend working, or maybe we've caught some bug around cross cultural encounters or feel a deep seated need to understand how the universe ticks at some very particular sub-atomic level.  
No matter who you are, or how many times you've wandered through the halls of a college library, you are all sharing that space.  That space of being in-between.  Whether it's in-between childhood and adulthood, or in-between careers.  Whether you are looking for a fresh start or have come back to study physics at 90 to fulfill a lifelong dream, you are taking a breath.  Pausing.  Not knowing where you will live in four years, or how you will ever manage to pay off those loans.  You are doing an internal reset.  Relearning who you are, what you need to know and how to function in a new environment and a new space.  You are making new friends, and tasting new food.  You are learning to play handball and squash, because for once in your adult life you have time to just do that.
            Most importantly--and maybe this is where the rough weather comes in--you have a chance here, in this in-between, to break old patterns.  To decide that molds from a year ago, five years ago or decades ago, don't need to fit if they don't serve some good purpose.  You have a chance to take some time to become a better you.  Time that isn't swamped with a full time job or whatever demands "home" had for you.  Time where you get to be in-between.  No longer defined, if only for a moment.  So whether you are that 17 year old genius starting college a year or two early, or that 56 year old returning to education for a second professional degree, remember that despite the wind and the cold frosty nights.  Being in a place of transition has some glorious sunny days and a host of opportunities that cannot ever be overstated.

It's Time To Vote!

Hey Oregon Friends!

Even though I live abroad, I still have the nifty opportunity to vote!  And since Oregon is nice and forward thinking when it comes to things like voter turnout and ease of registration, I'm even allowed to vote via email since I'm a U.S. citizen resident abroad, so I've been staring my ballot down for the last few days, and as some of you know, I get a little obsessive over voting, but have finally made some decisions regarding our fine state, and how I think it oughtta be run.

Here's the breakdown:

US Senator:  Jeff Merkley.
Yes, he's a big(ish) name, but I've been watching this guy for the last few years, and he seems to have taken Oregon to the capitol.  He's developing a reputation as quite the progressive (for a US senator) and has gone to bad for things like extensions of unemployment, regulating Wall Street, tougher enforcement of environmental protections and better health care for Americans.  Sure, there's always the Pacific Green Party candidate Christina Jean Lugo to vote for....but Merkley's done good.  I'm happy to have him represent me for another term.

US Representative District 3: Earl Blumenauer.
This one's easy for me.  I interned for Blumenauer in 2007 and learned that he bikes to work or takes the bus almost every day.  He's huge into environmental protection, actually DOES give a shit about his constituents, treats his staff quite well and is always open to hearing from the people he represents.  Add to that the fact that he launched his political career by helping shut down the Mt. Hood Highway project, and I'm gonna say he's one damn good rep. all the way.

State Governor: John Kitzhaber.
I'm not nearly as gung-ho about Kitzhaber as I am about Merkley and Blumenauer, but Dennis Richardson is NOT the person I want running my state.  Particularly as Oregon has a lot of opportunities over the next four years to rethink the way we do higher education, recycling, electricity production, etc.  Not the sort of thing I'm gonna leave to the party of "hand it to the white upper-class businessmen then shut-up."   Although, ironically.  Both parties still mostly run white upper class men for all positions.

State Senator, 20th District: Jamie Damon.
I've known Jamie since high school.  We haven't always gotten along, but I know she means well, works hard and will absolutely represent rural Clackamas County FOR rural Clackamas County.  Who could ask for more?

State Representative, 39th District: Bill Kennemer.
He's running unopposed, so it doesn't much matter who I write in, but even though he's a Republican (which I am decidedly not) his voting record indicates he's willing to reach across the aisle, and limited interactions with his staff at the plethora of fairs I worked this summer convinced me that they were by no means a distasteful bunch.

Judge of the Circuit Court, 5th District, Position 8: Heather Karabeika
Karabeika is also running unopposed, however she has done some awesome work advocating for an expansion of legal aid so more folks can be represented more thoroughly.  So why not?

County Clerk: David Robinson
I dislike it when my tiny county makes national news for repeated errors in the election process.  Plus, although it may have just been poor timing, the fact that Clackamas County officiants started using rubber stamps on marriage certificates the same week that equal marriage took effect in Oregon (see the Oregon Dems website) is just a little "meh" at best and distasteful at worst.  I don't know if Robinson will do better, but at least it'll be a different approach.

County Treasurer: Shari Anderson
Running unopposed, but I like that she preferentially invests county money in local and regional banks, and the fraud hotline is cool.

Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District Director Pos. 2 At Large: Roger Fantz
Seems open to dam removal and REALLY into sustainable farming.

Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation Director Zone 1: Write-In
I picked someone I knew from the area who would do the job well, Jesse didn't even bother to answer the county questionnaire.

Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation Director Zone 3: Jeff Becker.
Running unopposed, but big into organic stuff and farmers markets.

Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation Director Zone 4: Joan Zuber
She was appointed back in February, has done a decent enough job as far as I can tell and to top it off, she is one of only a handful of female faces in the district's leadership.  Provides tiny slice of a diverse viewpoint in a place where diversity is lacking.

Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation Director Zone 5: My mum
No compelling reason to vote for the only candidate running.  It's not like he'll lose.  And hey, why not?

Measure 86: Yes.
This measure allows for a state debt funded pot to help provide Oregonians pursuing secondary education with more opportunities to succeed.  I'm ALWAYS for higher education being more accessible.  ALWAYS.   Plus, Portland City Club agrees.

Measure 87: No.
Despite the fact that a lot of papers and such are coming out to say "yes" to 87's "unleashing" of Oregon State Judge's, I'm okay with the continuing separation of powers.  Even if it means they can't necessarily serve on the National Guard, or get paid to teach at public universities.  They can do both of those things if and when they retire.

Measure 88: Yes.
Just because the immigration system is broken, doesn't mean that all folks living in Oregon shouldn't be licensed to drive.

Measure 89: No.
It's symbolic.  But it already exists.

Measure 90: No.
No, no, no, no and no.  Yes our election system is broken, but no this ain't the way to fix it.  The Pacific Green Party might never end up the ballot if we lose our primary system, and what happens if we end up with a Dem/Dem election?  Or a Rep/Rep election?  NOT COOL.

Measure 91: Yes.
It's 2014.  Time to stop treating a joint like they treated a beer in 1929.

Measure 92: Yes.
Yes.  GMO's aren't probably as scary as some people think, but what's wrong with a label?  It provides for consumer choice and helps us all know what we are eating.

Then there are the itty bitty ones, but know that I'm a fan of public funding for things like education, but not for pest control.  And if you haven't yet. VOTE.  It's important, and in some states this election will really have the potential to change things locally and nationally.

Cambridge Colleges: Downing College

       Downing College, founded in 1800, was the only of Cambridge's Colleges founded between 1596 and 1869, giving it the unique honor of being able to call itself both the newest of the "old" colleges, and the "oldest" of the new colleges.  The fortune, that eventually provided the for the founding of Downing came from one Sir George Downing, 3rd Baronet, who divorced and with no children, left a string of four heirs (starting with his cousin Sir Jacob) in his will, and detailed instructions as to what should be done with his wealth should none of these heirs end up with children to whom the family fortune could be passed on, and that there should be a constituent college of Cambridge founded named for the Downing family.  This was in 1749.  By 1764 all the named heirs had died.  Legally, this ought to have been the year of the founding of Downing, but thanks to a legal challenge by the wife of Sir Jacob, claiming the right to the fortune.  A legal challenge that her sister and second husband continued years after her death in 1778, only relinquishing the funds to the founding of a Cambridge College when legally compelled to do so shortly before 1800.
       So, some 40 years after it's possible conception, committee were formed, an architect (William Wilkins) was appointed, and Downing College began to take shape.  With the Downing fortune having been greatly reduced during the 40 some odd year long legal battle, the property purchased for the college site greatly exceeded the funds available to build  the college.  To this day Downing College maintains a massive sportsfield/green site simply known as the "paddock."  Empty space where the original architect had envisioned the fourth side of a set of buildings surrounding a central square.  As it was, even the current three "squares" of Downing weren't entirely completed until 1951, marking almost 150 years since the college's founding.  Should Downing ever complete this fourth side of the quadrangle, it would mark the end of Trinity Colleges claim to having the largest enclosed square in Cambridge.  A long running urban myth is that Trinity College as paid Downing College a considerable sum each year in return for a guarantee that Downing will never complete that fourth quadrangle.  Downing maintains a unique look among Cambridge Colleges, and the Greco-Roman influence in it's design is clear.
       Downing prides itself on having produced Union Society Presidents, Blues Captains and winning Rugby Teams over the last several decades, and having re-built their college boathouse in 2000, they can claim some of the best access to training facilities for rowers amongst the "new" colleges.  Training that has paid off, with Downing Men's crews taking "head of the river" in Lents Bumps in 2014, and sitting second on the river behind Caius for the upcoming May Bumps.  There will be a blog about Bumps.  Once I figure out how to possibly describe them in a way that makes them sound sane, even if they may not be.  For now, consider "bumps" the heart and soul of rowing culture in Cambridge, and a response to a river on which side by side racing is impossible.
       With a student body of approximately 600-650, 400ish undergrads, 200ish grads and 50ish fellows per year, it is an average size for a Cambridge College.  Notable alum include Martin Kemp, Annie Vernon, Martin Baker, David Lister, Gordon Reece, David Holbrook, Quentin Blake and Monty Python's John Cleese.
       Downing has a sister college relationship with Lincoln College at Oxford and prides itself on the academic and athletic achievement of it's members.