Interesting how the horrible job statistics are coming out now, just as the busier spring building season is gearing up. Wonder if it's just priming the pump for a nice cheery story in a month or two about how employment is up. Up I tell you!

But I can't help wondering how 8000 construction workers are going to find enough to do, if only 25 building permits were taken out in December, 07 and only 11 building permits in Jan., 08; with my guess of not much more than that in February. Even with the big projects included, which are probably done by Kirby Nagelhut and Hap Taylor, there wouldn't seem to be much to do.

Or the real estate agents, or the mortgage people, escrow and title, appraisers, etc. etc.

Or the places that fill those 25 or 11 houses with furniture or kitchenware or linen.

Or the landscapers and tree-trimmers and the painters and roofers and plumbers and electricians.

Not the mention all the folk that probably weren't on the official payrolls in the first place....self-employed contractors and such.

But no worries.

We're diversified.

Tourism will save us.