Saw two different programs yesterday with economic talking heads predicting the biggest recession since the Great Depression. The guy from Financial Armegeddon was on the Beck Show (hey, I was channel flippin'...). And the publisher fellow on the McLaughlin Group (yes, I watch it sometimes....).


LaPine wants to secede from Deschutes County. Oh, please? Would you?


The Bend Public Works Director decides to take the word of the salesman of the buses rather than his own mechanic who was sent down to inspect.

"Fuller said he decided not to talk directly to Pierce, even though Pierce said in his deposition he was waiting by his phone at home for Fuller to call. Fuller said he felt it would not be appropriate protocol for the director to call a mechanic directly."

I feel like inserting the words, "LOWLY" mechanic. How screwed up is our city government, anyway?

So, of course he took the word of the salesman. He probably actually talked to the guy. The mechanic? He's some peon on the bureaucratic ladder. What would he know?

So perhaps it wasn't about status? It was about 'protocol?' The whole point of the exercise is to get adequate information and to communicate that information and if you can't do that, then your procedures and 'protocols' are too constipated to be useful.

If they day ever comes that I feel like I can't talk to an employee, it will be a sign that my business is really messed up.

And, oh by the way? It looks to me like the City of Bend is going to be on the losing end of another lawsuit, so we can add the lawyer fees as good money after bad.