Book Review: Alan Alda’s take on better communication

Posted by & filed under Advertising, Book Reviews, Tips of the Trade.

Alan Alda
Some actors astound us with their performances, while others are lackluster. Wonder why?
A new book by Alan Alda, If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?, underscores why getting into character requires communication skills.
You may recall that he did a TV series interviewing scientists. He realized that he wasn’t listening to them, […]

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A fledgling – and fun – stop at the Oregon Country Fair

Posted & filed under Community, Life.


It seems like most people have strong opinions about the Oregon Country Fair. In the short time I’ve lived in Eugene, I’ve heard so many stories – some good, some bad, but all of them strange. I had to find out for myself what it was like. My girlfriend and I decided to go on Friday, […]

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What we dream creates our tomorrows

Posted by & filed under Office, Work.


How true! That’s what we’re doing at CAWOOD right now. We’re in the throes of a massive remodel – interior walls, ceilings, flooring are all gone. We dream of a more collaborative space with lots of room and flexibility – big tables for collaboration, sitting areas for casual conversations, places to reflect, and a deck for gathering and enjoying being […]

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Community Spirit Abounds Here

Posted by & filed under Community, Web, Work.


One thing we don’t lack for in the Eugene-Springfield area is a commitment to make life better for everyone who lives here. Two upcoming events we’re helping promote underscore just how we do that:
You Play. Children Win: Get Tickets for The Great Rotary Raffle
It’s that simple. You buy a book of raffle tickets (25 for $125) and the money goes […]

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Is it copying or is it learning?

Posted by & filed under Life, Tips of the Trade, Work.


When I was in Yachats recently, I saw a display of work by pre-school children who were recreating a couple of works by great Masters – Van Gogh and Picasso. At first, I was impressed by how well they did. Then, I realized that I often hear people say, “I could have created that.” It’s easy to replicate, yet harder […]

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Color energizes and connects us

Posted by & filed under Branding, Life, Tips of the Trade, Work.


I like to capture the seasons in my home. This weekend, I was bringing out glass balls to catch spring’s light (the weather was wonderful!) tucking dappled wooden eggs in baskets, and putting away an evergreen tree theme that hung around after the Holidays. I realized that this new color palette was energizing and by making fewer than a dozen […]

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One biker’s view on texting in traffic and running red lights

Posted & filed under Life, Work.


I ride my bike everyday in and around Eugene, pedaling through traffic in the rain and fog over dimly lit streets. I look into the faces of people riding bikes and driving cars, and I see trouble in the streets.
Far too many people are using their phones and texting while driving. And judging by what I see, it is not […]

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Slow down – you’ll get more done

Posted by & filed under Life, Work.


Lots of people took some down time over the recent holidays, and now they feel like they have to shift into overdrive. We tend to live our lives in clumps: load up on rest, work an 80-hour week, do all our exercise on the weekend, overindulge in a spectacular night out, starve for the rest of the week. That yo-yo […]

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Winter Solstice 2015

Posted by & filed under Community, Life.


Sun lovers will celebrate the arrival of the Winter Solstice on December 22, because our dark days start to slowly become longer and lighter. Most of us will agree, bring on the light! This is the season when animals hibernate and nature sleeps, we humans tend to turn inward as well. Solstice marks the time to celebrate the light and […]

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Flood the streets with art!

Posted by & filed under Community, Life.


Are you up for a random act of kindness the day after Thanksgiving? For the third year, Scott Wong, an artist in Wisconsin, is encouraging people to make an art piece and leave it in a public place for someone to find, pick up, take home and love. Let’s see how much art and love we can flood into our […]

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