The Rat Post

     Neon signs, once commonplace on main streets of America, brought a bright glow to our eyes as it illuminated the storefronts of whatever curios or ephemera were being offered at the time, while also creating a nostalgic yet homey feeling to whatever town they graced. At a Glance What: Glass Tubed Neon Signs  Cause: Every neon sign must be hand-bent by a person; there is a dwindling number of skilled glassblowers trained in the art. LEDs are significantly cheaper, more durable, and more energy-efficient than glass tubing. What’s Next: Neon is making a return, except in the form of LED and in an “LED Flex” styling, paying homage to the original glass-tubed neon.  For More Information: www.armuseum.com and bentoncountymuseums.org   Neon Map Location: (Albany) Pix Theatre, Hasty Freez, Boda Furniture, The Venetian, Jordan Jewelers, Elmer’s, Ping's Restaurant, and Personal Barber Shop (Corvallis) Whiteside Theatre, AutoZone, Market of Choice, Jim the F...

    If you’ve recently driven on Oregon Highway 34, you may have noticed the street lights going from the typical halogen-type that cast the nostalgic “yellow” beam and buzz noise have been replaced with the more modern LED-style light. Photo by Skylar Wilkerson Intersection with Oregon Highway 34/Denny School Rd. But there’s something different about them … as they cast a purple glow?   At a Glance: What: Purple “Rain” – Purple LEDs casting a purple glow on Oregon Highway 34 Why: A manufacturer defect in the LEDs The Cause: LEDs naturally emit blue/purple light. They are typically covered in a phosphor coating to turn that light white. When the coating degrades or fails, the original purple hue leaks through. What’s Next: Replacing the affected fixtures in the next 10-12 weeks is estimated at $20,000 for time and materials. Website: www.oregon.gov/odot/engineering/pages/illumination.aspx For More Information: www.oregon.gov/odot/pages/media-contacts.aspx  ...

ALBANY – U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley , U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum alongside Albany Mayor Alex Johnson II gave local constituents a chance to voice their opinions about local and federal issues during a town hall event at Linn-Benton Community College.      On Sunday, Jan. 18, Merkley and Bynum spoke in front of a crowd of 100-plus people at the Russell Tripp Theater at LBCC’s Albany campus.      Of the attendees, most are a part of the older generation. Top discussed issues were the current political turmoil with the Trump administration, affordable housing, the cost of education, federal grants, reproductive rights, mental health, climate change, and protecting illegal and legal citizens against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.      Linn-Benton President Lisa Avery welcomed and introduced Merkley, Bynum, and Mayor Johson in the theatre. Later handing the microphone to Mayor Johnson to explain his plans for Albany and affordable housing. ...

     Man, how times have changed since my first introduction back in April… Almost a year later, and here I am still at Linn-Benton!      Not much has changed, aside from the usual “tweaks” in my degree focus and change of universities after LBCC. I originally thought about going to Arizona State after, but have settled on Oregon State to pursue my bachelors in Marine Studies and my masters in Oceanography.      Of course, once again, aside from the usual class assignment to say what's new. I am writing this and updating you all because I am taking Journalism 215 this term with Rob Priewe.      I’m still into surfing and actually entered my first surf contest this past September and came in 15th. Currently we are in the process of remodeling a former Bellingham School District bus that we purchased in Washington at Northwest Bus Sales. We are almost finished with No Rain the Bus.      As my last introducti...

     Local photographer Al Crane uses a double exposure with water and clouds to create an interesting effect of two photos mixed together as one. On Nov. 12, LBCC’s South Santiam Gallery hosted a reception for the photographer and his work. His work focuses on water in the forms of rivers, streams, rain, and clouds – as water is an essential part of our existence and a reminder of the ever-changing cyclical nature of life.      Double exposure involves layering two photographs over another at the moment of capture, leaving some aspect of the photos to chance. The constant movement of the water and clouds add to the spontaneity and helps focus on the beauty, power, and mysterious nature. This exhibit was displayed in the South Santiam Hall Gallery for a limited time. This on campus gallery features rotating exhibits from local artist throughout the year.      

     Stickers? In The Commuter!?      That’s right! If you picked up the October edition of The Commuter, you may have been one of the lucky 240 that got the fall/Halloween-themed stickers, plus you may be lucky enough to get them in the November issue as well! Look for them now in newsstands around the Albany campus.      You may be asking yourself, “That’s cool, but why are they in there?”      Well, it started as an idea to bring more student involvement into the publication. We at the paper are always looking for new ideas to bring a fresh perspective to The Commuter for all students, staff and faculty on campus to enjoy. Reaching out and making connections to students, the stickers are currently made by our on campus Art Club and Jesus Sandoval-Uribe, our comic strip creator.      To say that our October editions were a hit would be an understatement. They went out quicker than 2025 World Series tickets … ...

In the style of Van Gogh's painting "Starry Night," massive congregations of greenish phytoplankton swirl in the dark water around Gotland, a Swedish island in the Baltic Sea.      We talk a lot about climate change – rising temperatures, melting glaciers, extreme weather events. But there’s a critical, often overlooked, component of our planet's life support system quietly collapsing beneath the waves, and its demise could spell disaster for us all.       I'm talking about phytoplankton, the microscopic drifters that form the very foundation of our marine food web and, astonishingly, generate up to 80% of the oxygen we breathe.      Yet, despite their monumental importance, phytoplankton are consistently sidelined in climate discussions. We're so focused on terrestrial concerns that we neglect the vast, crucial world beneath the ocean's surface. This oversight is a profound mistake, one that directly jeopardizes the air in our ...