"Your growth is typical, minus construction."

The quote above was into today's Bulletin article: "With fewer seasonal jobs, region sees unemployment rates creep upward."

Combine that with the national news: "New Home sales plunge 33%." and "Sales of existing homes fell in May."

So the "minus construction" part of the equation is unlikely to change anytime soon. Even a year ago, Bend had some major commercial construction jobs being finished up, but those appear to be over.

What we have are: "accommodation and food services" jobs; you know, waiters, cooks, maids, clerks, etc. etc.

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Meanwhile, for those who aren't paying attention. Cascade Bancorp is fighting to keep their Nasdaq listing, by having a reverse stock split. Again, I have a simple question. How does this address the fundamental problems? It seem like merely a trick.

Anyway, some of the stockholders apparently didn't care for it at all, and CACB's stock dropped nearly 12% yesterday...

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How do I get one of these fancy "consultant" jobs?

From the 10/23/10 Bulletin. "Deschutes County needs strategic epicenter, consultant says: A four-year university, an innovation epicenter to commercialize research, a friendlier regulatory environment for businesses and more outgoing people."

Also, lots of free money.

And rich people.

Um.....Disneyland, maybe. Harry Potter Theme Park?

And as well as more outgoing, we need smarter, hard working, honest, oh, the hell with it:

On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my Country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

As long as you're paying me a consulting fee, I should mention I'd like mostly good-looking and healthy types, well-educated and read, and socially, politically and culturally active.

Can I have my money now?