There is a blizzard of statistics out there. It's hard to see either the forest or the trees through all the snow. Certainly, anyone can data mine for the stats that most support their view. I'd like to avoid that, to try to see some truth underlying all the information.

The true situation will emerge, and it won't matter how the real estate people try to spin it. I've said before that I don't think Public Relations will keep gravity from taking hold. But that isn't completely right. I don't think PR matters, but I do think psychology matters. So, in so far as PR is able to affect psychology it can have a --- small --- impact. But, reality has a much bigger impact.

I have a friend, Mike, who helped us move into our used bookstore. He left town a few years ago, but visits once in a while. What I like is that he is older and more experienced than I, that he is well read, and that he's willing the ARGUE WITH ME! Or rather, he can hold up his end of the argument.

So he saw the brighter side of things in Bend. I still don't agree with him, but it was interesting to see a person who's opinion I respect be able to make a case that I was being too pessimistic.

But I still think it's going to be much worse than he thinks it will be.