Friday, July 16, 2010

Spinning wheels keep on turnin'...

Interesting.

Apparently, the City Club in Bend had a "debate" about whether Bend was hosting too many athletic events.

Though, from reading the KTVZ report, ("Bend's Big Events, Is Enough, Enough?") there wasn't much debating. Sounded like most of them already had their mind up that the "More Is Better" stance is the right one and were circling the wagons in support of that view.

Strangely, most of those who were quoted, also owe their jobs to finding and promoting such events, but never mind....

Anyway, the fact that the subject even came up probably means that there was some grumbling going on by some members somewhere -- probably not willing to go on the record. I mean, as Bruce so aptly put it, that would be like taking away away their lollipops! Not a popular view -- to the promoters, the organizers, the officials, the merchants who do profit, the event attendees, the media, or the public. Pretty strong lobby to argue against.

Still, I think maybe a few citizenss are starting to realize that blocked or clogged streets, and outside vendors, trash and litter, and insensitive placements have some downsides. I've heard pretty much the same thing downtown -- that even merchants who are in overall favor of the 'events' were not completely happy about the way they were handled. But no one wants to go on the record.

There have been a couple of minor rebellions over the years. I know the Drake Park neighborhood was pretty unhappy for awhile; I can't remember if they got any events canceled or moved. And the Skyliner Rd. folk were grousing recently.

I'm sure we objectors come across as selfish -- but in most cases, what we're really asking are adjustments and some consideration. For instance, I told Chuck Arnold I saw no real reason they couldn't hold the Cascade Bike Race on a Sunday instead of a Saturday, except that it was inconvenient for them to reschedule. This is an entrenched event now, so I doubt anything will change. Ditto Sunday for the Car thingy....

I know my yearly disquiet with these interruptions to the flow of my business isn't really making any headway with changing anything. But the next person who comes along who discovers the same circumstances won't be starting completely from scratch. Maybe, just maybe, someone a little more politically savvy and willing to fight the good fight, will be able to change things.

37 comments:

H. Bruce Miller said...

While attending the Summerfest last weekend (the only one of our innumerable "fests" that I attend anymore) it occurred to me that, while I have sympathy for you and other downtown merchants whose business is temporarily negatively affected, it's important also to realize that downtown is not just a place to sell stuff; it's also a community gathering place. So it's perfectly appropriate to have SOME of these street festivals. The challenge is finding the right number. I'm sure you think the right number is zero, and there probably are people who think the right number is 52 (one every weekend). The true right number is somewhere in between. I agree with you that we currently have too many.

I've also been wondering lately whether having all these athletic competitions (and other events like the beard contest) really helps Bend's economic development in the long run. I had a client some years ago who used to complain: "People come to Bend to play, not to work." Does being known as a mecca for cycling / kayaking / rock climbing / hiking and other fun and games make it harder for people to take Bend seriously as a place to do business, or to start a business? Places that are famous as centers of recreation rarely also are famous as centers of commerce and industry ... and vice versa.

As an old New Jerseyan would put it: "I'm not sayin' nothin', I'm just sayin', y'know?"

Duncan McGeary said...

If I was King of Bend, I'd allow the Fourth of July Pet Parade, the Christmas Parade, one of the bike races, preferably the Cascade, but hold it on a Sunday, either Bite of Bend or Summer Fest but not both, I'd get rid of the Car show and any other new events.

Off season, I'm cool with within reason.

But by bringing this up, at least I introduce the concept that there have to be limits. Which is the real goal here.

Duncan McGeary said...

I also have no problem with events in public venues -- the park, near the library, wherever.

You say,"...downtown is not just a place to sell stuff; it's also a community gathering place."

Funny, my landlord, and the electric company, and the phone company, and my insurance, and every other bill I pay seem to think my store is located in a "place to sell stuff" and not in a public park.

But then, I'm sure that I can claim "x-percent" as non-profit, and subtract those from my bills,right?

In a just world, enough customers would come in to reward my business for paying rent in a "public gathering" place but since that is never even mentioned by any of the promoters -- ever -- that seems to be forgotten.

Duncan McGeary said...

Seriously, is there any reason why in the ads, the promotions, the flyers, the public meetings, they couldn't at least include the phrase -- "Please reward our local merchants for supporting such an outstanding event by being customers?"

Duncan McGeary said...

What is always thrown in my face is that these events help "promote" downtown Bend.

1.) Prove it. Really. That's just an assumption. No real evidence, and I'm sorry surveys aren't going to arrive at the truth.

Thing is, I kind of doubt it is true, despite everyone assuming it is.

2.) How many events? I think the Fourth of July parade, the Bend Fest, the Cascade Cycling classic (on a Sunday) would keep us being a Happenin' Place in the summer. The rest of the time, I don't know, -- we could be a "Place to Sell Stuff."

3.) I think a non-viable shopping district can't be saved by events, and a viable shopping district can survive without events. I had a store in the Mountain View Mall for years, and not all the special events in the world could save the place. Downtown Bend has made it's mark, and it's time to enjoy the fruits of it, instead of distracting people every Peak weekend of the summer.

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

I think what needs to be said, OVER&OVER, and HBM included and his SORE which is owned by SWITZER, who owns most of the EVENT&PROMOTION racket of Bend not owned by the Sisters Geeks.

That the few with JOBS and payroll still in hand in this fucking city are those who are sucking the TIT of COVA/COBA/CORA, and all paid by city tax revenue.

To suggest that an army of consultants and promoters, flush their own toilet is Bend.

On this subject of meetings when we were debating growth in 2004 the ONLY people who showed up were developers.

When we're debating endless all summer events to SELL RE, the only people who show up are promoters.

Is anyone missing anything here? Nobody fucking cares about this town, except those that make money off the topic. The rest don't live here ( 2nd home ), or simply don't give a fuck, cuz if you have been in this town long enough, you know that if HOLLERN, & B-SMITH(OM) like something, then its a done deal.

I concur with DUNC, drives me fucking crazy, yesterday was a fucking mess. @Deschutes I asked the 'bartender' does this shit ever end? This reeling them in? and he said "NO", its all fucking summer, every fucking summer, reel them fucking in,

Now here's the REAL fucking issue I know for a fact that their is NO fucking ROI for these events, they're NOT selling RE to the fuck-heads who come here to get drunk and play and leave. So in effect, what Bend has devolved into is that the CARNIES run the town for the sake of looting the actual citizenry. Just stating the fucking facts.

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

1.) Prove it. Really. That's just an assumption. No real evidence, and I'm sorry surveys aren't going to arrive at the truth.

*

NADA NOTHING just the other day GARNER group spent a fortune a few weeks ago up at NWXC on their event that fucked skyline all weekend.

My understanding in spite of the ten's of thousands spent on promotion, the band, marketing and advertising, ... not a fucking home was sold.

But it all continues to go on, like that fucking park even last night at drake park, ... the food is now average $9 for shit, and the booze tent what a fucking joke the OLCC corrals the fuck-heads far from the music, and its $5 for a 10oz pour, ... so everybody headed over to deschutes or 10 barrel for a 20oz for less ...

Then the fucking music, ... Reggae which I love, ... promoted as 5:30pm->9:30pm, the band started at 5:30 and broke at 6:15pm, then started again at 8:45pm, and broke at 9:15pm, ... and the second set of songs was same as the first. Where the fuck do they find this shit? What's the fucking POINT? Yes it was full of people, but there was NO food their I would feed my dog, ... so I hoofed over to deschutes for a sandwich and beer during the second set break.

In summary ALL these fucking events ONLY exist for the sake of the Carnies, its full employment for a rag-tag team of booth vendors, and PR consultants, and that's fucking it.

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

2.) How many events? I think the Fourth of July parade, the Bend Fest, the Cascade Cycling classic (on a Sunday) would keep us being a Happenin' Place in the summer. The rest of the time, I don't know, -- we could be a "Place to Sell Stuff."

*

There are 'events' all fucking summer, or all year for that matter, every fucking day.

The point here is that COVA staff is now probably the busiest fucking government agency in town. :)

Self promotion for its own sake, ... feeding off the public tit. Sure it feeds back to the hotels, ... but last night I saw a ton of kids loading their campers at Newport Market, ... personally I think a lot of people for these weekend events are living out of their rig at campgrounds.

Duncan McGeary said...

Bruce, you've arrived at something there when you say, Bend becoming known for:

"...fun and games make it harder for people to take Bend seriously as a place to do business."

I've had that thought about downtown. We train people to come down for 'free' events, we focus their attention to the middle of the street instead of the stores lining the street and people buy from outside vendors, and then....

for the first three days of the following week, we're dead.

Hey, no ballons or ice cream, no ponies, no music -- why bother to go downtown.

To shop? What?

We were there just a weekend ago, no point going back.

Until the next "Special Event" where we can stand around and get drunk and listen to music.

Oh, they have shops downtown? Who cares?

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

Downtown Bend has made it's mark, and it's time to enjoy the fruits of it, instead of distracting people every Peak weekend of the summer

*

It's every fucking day, all summer. I counted dozens of 'events' yesterday just walking around town, I usually ride my bike, Yesterday I wouldn't even think of riding my bike, the town was just too fucking crowded. Damn near got run over on the sidewalk many times, the kids ( 20+) yelling move aside geezer, ... on their bikes.

What's really the point of all this?

Personally I think its about the YOUTH, I noticed last night at the Drake Park Reggae, it was almost all a young crowd, trouble is kids ain't got money or jobs, and they ain't going to buy RE. The folks corraled in the OLCC prison, were all drunks, ... not the type to buy RE.

Then you have the cops now who are force DUI's harder on bikes than cars, ... so now when I drink I always walk ( nope never had a DUI, and don't want one ).

So Bend seems to be marketing this town to peak capacity, I saw tons of WASH license plates yesterday, ... they all come here to play.

I have never understood like the 'car event' why they have to TRAMPLE drake-park all summer long with events. But then I know in PDX the city gets $10k a day for events, so I'm sure the city is renting out drake on the same basis. Same for downtown, ... the permit fee's for downtown probably go straight to the COVA budget, which then just feeds the monster, ...

In a normal town its about the citizens, but BEND AINT NORMAL. BEND is a town ran by GRIFTERS. All we do here is fucking state the obvious, there are no fucking solutions, ... except to leave.

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

I think you hit it on the nail dunc.

Downtown ONLY exists for FREE shit.

But that is what we have evolved, everything on the net is free.

Everybody wants free. Nobody pays, but somebody pays.

Follow the money folks.

It's like the fucking city-hall is absent and some strange force of brain-less monster CARNIES have taken over the city, we have no leadership, only self promotion by PR&MARKETING.

Duncan McGeary said...

The "fee" for downtown if nothing, Buster. A pittance.

Here's a thought. Maybe these events are feeding off the vibrancy of the "place to sell stuff" instead of the downtown feeding off the vibrancy of the "community gathering place."

Maybe all the promoters have it backward.

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

I have sympathy for you and other downtown merchants whose business is temporarily negatively affected, it's important also to realize that downtown is not just a place to sell stuff; it's also a community gathering place.

*

The spokesman for SWITZER-SORE has spoke, downtown ONLY exists as a public place, we 'us' who work for the SORE sympathize with your PAIN! But the fact is the 'community' owns downtown, so we have a legal right to be there, ... Sounds like typical trickle down socialism, where the merchants cost has been privatized so ONLY they PAY for downtown, but the rewards to the SORE for ALL THEIR FUCKING EVENTS have been PRIVATIZED PROFITS. THE SORE makes MORE fucking MONEY off these EVENTS then it does off its fucking ad revenue, and so the 'pain continues'.

Great system this Bend, where a little fucking paper ran by a dick from UTAH best know for tossing frisbee's can dictate use of DOWNTOWN. But NOTE BEND is absentia, nobody is running the town, so why shouldn't SWITZER run his events all summer downtown as he wishes??

Downtown merchants pay all the rent, tax, fee's, and insurance, ... and the owners of the SORE get all the fucking PROFIT.

But hey this is BEND, if you can't fight them, ... then join them.

Fuck comics dunc, start a pr&marketing outfit, promote yourself on the streets of Bend, fuck having to pay rent on a building, ... live like the SORE-PIGS and privatize the street profits for yourself, and socialize all expense to the tax-payer.

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

Bend HAS NO FUCKING "Community"

I guess the PET-PARADE is the closest thing ALL year we can get to real family community.

But these fucking events, ... like you so eloquently said, its all about FREE and getting PISSED. Just like the sage-brook classic,

You know WE all had this debate 4 years ago, ... then and now BEND was ONLY about GLUTTONY, where golfers and their spawn could drink and indulge all summer, at YOUR EXPENSE dunc, ... but never mind to HBM, because if his SWITZER lost these events the SORE would be BEND-DEAD(tm).

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

What is the 'fee' for downtown, maybe hbm can ask switzer to tell us?

I know its a fortune in PDX. Let's also remember you have to hire private GOONS ( security ), there are a lot of fucking costs to host an event. I find it suspicious that the city charges next to nothing to close the fucking streets? Maybe this is why we have these fucking 24/7/365 'activitys', most towns charge at least $10k/day for events. Just the fact that 'visitors' tax our city and cops have to OVER-TIME, ... the cost MUST be passed on to those who profit from this shit.

But maybe your write, since HOLLERN/SMITH beget the BULL/SORE, and the citizens always pay for everything, maybe ALL these SORE events really do cost SWIZTER a big zero, ... which just once agains proves my recurring point that ALL cost of BULLSHIT in this city is passed to the tax-payer.

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

it's important also to realize that downtown is not just a place to sell stuff; it's also a community gathering place.

*

HOLA GRINGO bitches, ...

"Bend isn't just a place to sell shit, ... its a place to generate event revenue" For Bends, most talented and beautiful people, aka the 4th estate.

So what did we establish today?

1.) That the SORE pays the city ZILCH to close the streets.
2.) That all the fucking taxpayer money squandered hasn't sold a fucking house to a sucker.
3.) That FREE is why parasites come to Bend, and that parasites are our only visitors.
4.) That the downtown merchants are being Bend-Fucked(tm), by the 4th estate ( media ).
5.) That the only people who 'profit' from the events are carnies, consultants, and PR&Marketing hacks. Who could have guessed?

H. Bruce Miller said...

I just wrote a fucking 1,000-word post and when I tried to send it the fucker told me it "couldn't process my request." So fuck it.

I'll just restate a couple of things, briefly:

Dunc: Downtown is BOTH a place to sell stuff AND a community gathering place. The streets and sidewalks are public and are maintained by the taxpayers. So the downtown merchants don't get to call ALL the shots. If you got a problem wit dat maybe you should move into a mall or the Old Mill District, where the streets and sidewalks are private.

Pedro/Buster: The Source had nothing to do with the Summerfest; it was a Cameron Clark production. The Munch 'n' Music events in Drake Park also are Cameron Clark productions.

But I'm wasting my time telling you because you'll go on believing what you want to believe in your own little reality-free universe.

H. Bruce Miller said...

Pedro-Buster: "So what did we establish today?"

That you're a fucking moron. But we already knew that.

H. Bruce Miller said...

Dunc: "Here's a thought. Maybe these events are feeding off the vibrancy of the "place to sell stuff" instead of the downtown feeding off the vibrancy of the "community gathering place."

Maybe they feed off each other? Symbiosis? Maybe the events don't benefit your business, but benefit others? The restaurants in particular seem to do well.

But I agree with your idea of the event promoters giving a plug to the downtown businesses. In fact they should do more than that: They should include a map showing the downtown businesses in the events guides. I bet many people who come to the fiestas would drop in at your shop if they knew where it was and what it sells. Maybe some might even buy something. Couldn't hurt.

Pedro/Buster: "Personally I think its about the YOUTH, I noticed last night at the Drake Park Reggae, it was almost all a young crowd, trouble is kids ain't got money or jobs, and they ain't going to buy RE."

Shit, I agree with Pedro/Buster about something. Maybe I got sunstroke.

The Munch 'n' Music event has always been a place for teenagers to hang out and (I surmise) hook up. But I agree with your point about the over-emphasis on the youth/jock "culture." This town is fucking paradise if you're a 20-something slacker who just wants to work for minimum wage, snowboard in the winter, ride your mountain bike in the summer and get shitfaced on PBR all year round. If you have a little more ambition than that, if you want to have a career, build a successful business ... not so much.

And I think the word has gotten around about that. Ties in with my earlier point about Bend having the rep of being a place to play but not to work.

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

6.) That HBM lives at the HOLLERN/SMITH PIG-TROUGH, that HBM will always defend his master until his dying breath. To justify the 'taking' of the city on the behalf of those who feed him.

On to the OM just noticed that where people usually watch the show across the river, has all been turfed off today by a realty company the best 'community public' seats to watch the steve-miller for FREE are now zoned by RE with BOOZE!!! Tents along the path, ... with no where for the POOR to view the show... Who could have guessed? Already the west side of the river is banned 'private property move along', .. now the likes of HBM & BSMITH have turned the eastside of the river into 'private property'.

It's funny that these folks OWN downtown, but have 'privatized' all the area around the OldMill. Where is your FUCKING 'community' around the old-mill HBM??

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

HBM, you always want to make a cut&paste copy of your master work (1,000 word copy ), .. before you hit 'publish' on this google shit, ... quite often shit gets lost, ... just friendly advice, .. better yet is use an editor, and then cut&paste a copy over to google, ... then when you get the limit error you can come back to post 2 parts or more ...

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

Whoopee hbm can cite one fucking event in our year-round SORE events that ain't owned by the SORE, ... its funny cuz the SORE got a ton of ad-revenue from summer-fest, ... funny as hell as a Nazi dripping with Jew blood can say the bullets weren't there's, even though the pockets are full of gold teeth.

Duncan McGeary said...

buster-- I wish I could separate your bile from your insights, but they go together, don't they?

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

The FACT is ARRON SWITZER of the SORE ( HBM's BOSS ) pretty much CONTROLS ... BEND-EVENTS-INC.

Poor fucking Dunc, ... his only option for 'freedom' is to move to the fucking OM, ... oh my god HBM given you a mandate if you can't handle the way the SORE run's downtown, then move to the old-mill and live under direct control of boss-hoss-#2 (bsmith) ... What a fucking choice, ...

How about option#3, ... put HOLLERN, SMITH, HBM, SWITZER on the tar&feather route, and ban them or ostracize them from our city, and declare 365 days a year as "Bend pet parade", and QUIT killing fucking Geese, you god-damn nazi bastards.

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

One man's BILE, is another Man's Caviar. You know that Dunc, ...

HBM thinks that everything that comes off his keyboard is caviar, and I take honor to my diatribe as bile.

As we all know the problem with Bend, is there ain't more people like me, telling it is like it is, ... too many people being told how to think by HBM ( and his owners ), and too many people like you being ever so coy to continue the debate.

I'm fond of HL-MENCKEN and G-SELDES who both advocated telling the truth and then running to hide :)

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

"Play but not work"

*

But HBM that has been my theme since day-one here, that's what I have always said "Bend is basecamp", ... just a place to keep your toys.

It's only HOLLERN (B-SMITH/JD-GRAY) who decided back in the 1960s' to market this desert land as a fucking subdivision. The rest if fucking history, now we got 1/2 the town full empty STD's who could have guessed.

Like we have said all along, long before HOLLERN inherited this company town, it was an exhausted resource colony, and now its an exhausted retirement colony. Now its being marketed as a coney-island for parasites ( freefood & music ), ... funny as hell I read the sore today the MOUNTAIN-HOUSE is giving away free beer tomorrow, ... will it ever fucking end??????

p.s. dunc, I really don't give a fuck about downtown that is your love, I don't know what hbm loves, my peeve has always since the 1960's here is anti-growth.

H. Bruce Miller said...

Pedro/Buster: "now the likes of HBM & BSMITH have turned the eastside of the river into 'private property'."

Always has been, ever since Shevlin-Hixon built their mill on it.

"I don't know what hbm loves, my peeve has always since the 1960's here is anti-growth."

And here you are 50 years later still bitching about it as you wander around with spittle dribbling off your chin. You're just a bitter old man, Pedro.

H. Bruce Miller said...

"Hey, no ballons or ice cream, no ponies, no music -- why bother to go downtown."

Ponies?? I didn't see no fuckin' ponies!! Where were the ponies?? D'ya mean I MISSED 'em??

"WHO doesn't love a pony?" -- Seinfeld

Annie Schrader said...

It's discouraging to hear this as I think that the things that make the downtown great are that there are local, unique shops that aren't giant Pottery Barn furniture stores (for the most part!)

I agree, it would be would be nice to see fewer events but of high quality, and perhaps ones that could even cater to the retailers downtown. How about a Tour de Book, there's almost half a dozen bookstores on this side of town alone!

At the minimum, I love the suggestion that the community should "Shop the stores that make downtown great!"

Owen said...

I predict that 20 years or so from now most if not all retail will be done on line. Shops that serve immediate needs will be all that's left. Food, hotel, fuel for vehicles, that kind of thing.

They'll probably teach the 2nd graders in the BLP school district in 2050 that some wise folks recognized this trend in 2005, and slowly but wisely turned Bend's economy into a 85% tourist-income economy, following the model put forth by Costa Rica (minus their national health care plan and excellent education system and maybe their stewardship of their natural resouces).

Personally, I don't mind if Bend goes this way. I am so very fortunate to sell my mugs all over the world from my website. The local scene does not make or break my business.

But you know what?

This trend towards kiling downtown business is a goddamned shame, especially in the case of Duncan's store. You just don't see a store like his anymore. It's a throwback to another time, and it truly puts Bend on the map. It really is an amazing place and I'd hate to see it go the way of Masterson St. Clair.

And Dunc? You said a week or so ago you weren't going to bring it up this year. Dude, you probably should think about moving - this is a huge sore under your saddle, and by the looks of things, it will get worse. (Or better, depending on your point of view, but from your viewpoint as a retailer who loses business during Fest Season it will get worse.)

Pedro/Blackdog: I would love to buy you guys a beer and chat. Now that would be a very interesting evening, would it not? ; ]

Duncan McGeary said...

Nah, it's o.k. I wasn't going to talk about it, mostly because it wouldn't do any good.

But I think a good discussion got going, and if City Club is talking about something similar, well, sure I'm willing to pitch my ideas one more time. For the good of the future, you know.

Not going to move over it; hey, I was here first! The anger you hear is from Buster not me.

Duncan McGeary said...

About ten years ago, maybe longer, it was such a problem that the city council actually dealt with it, by limiting the number of events, which was all I was asking for back then.

They've gotten around the limits a bit, by extending existing events and concentrating events on peak weekends, but at least there is a limit in place.

Believe me, I was much more angry about it 15 years ago -- now? Hey, I've outlasted many of the stores that thought it was such a great thing to do.

It isn't a dealbreaker, just inconvenient.

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

Pedro/Blackdog: I would love to buy you guys a beer and chat. Now that would be a very interesting evening, would it not? ; ]
*
We live together, we're lovers, ... anybody that has followed this thread 4+ years knows this thing.
My only complaint about BD is his Princeton tendency to fall back to adolescent name calling rather than focus on the enumerated assertions.

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

I love the suggestion that the community should "Shop the stores that make downtown great!"
*
BD aka ND brought up this today, this concept of 'community' and I would be the first to support this concept. But filling downtown events with out of town drunks and jerks isn't 'OUR' community.
Again I go back to everyday being "Pet Parade", dogs and kids are happy on this one day a year in Bend, otherwise Bend is a town of misery.
It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a community to make a village, but Bend ain't got no community, and HOLLERN&SMITH, the Pigs@SORE/BULL ain't going to make our community, ... sadly there may be never a community in the future of Bend.
Like the above assertion about ONLINE, ... that is NOT community. Fraud is NOT community. Larceny is NOT community, screwing your neighbor is NOT community. Bend has a long way to go. ND/BD made the assertion today that EVENTS-R-US had the right to take downtown, cuz they REP the community, I of course think not, they only represent a VIOLENT minority of parasites.
What will it take to create real community in Bend? Probably it will take a block at a time, ... for real community to grow from the nucleus of one single block somewhere in Bend composed of people who care about their 'small community', and out of that other people by example will see. Of course all this may or may-not transpire long after me&duncs demise.

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

Over 30 comments today Dunc, .. a record it is, ...

Me and HBM/ND/BD,... we rest now, ... see you tomorrow, .. xxx00xxx

H. Bruce Miller said...

mugmkr: "I predict that 20 years or so from now most if not all retail will be done on line."

I respectfully disagree. Shoppers (especially women) like to see the stuff, feel it, smell it, and, in the case of clothes or shoes, try it on. (It's a pain in the ass to order clothes or shoes from the Net and have to send them back because they don't fit right.) I think bricks-and-mortar stores will be around for quite a long time.

(If the statement about women shoppers was sexist, I apologize.)

Pedro/Buster: "We live together, we're lovers, ... anybody that has followed this thread 4+ years knows this thing."

Smoochies!

"My only complaint about BD is his Princeton tendency to fall back to adolescent name calling rather than focus on the enumerated assertions."

"put HOLLERN, SMITH, HBM, SWITZER on the tar&feather route, and ban them or ostracize them from our city"

"ND/BD made the assertion today that EVENTS-R-US had the right to take downtown, cuz they REP the community, I of course think not, they only represent a VIOLENT minority of parasites."

Nope, no name-calling there, just mature, adult discussion of the issues, in Pedro's usual calm, rational manner.

Mrs Sally Heatherton Esq said...

The anger you hear is from Buster not me.

*

'Anger', come on dunc, .. its all about love. I think 4+ years ago you said I would probably be the only one who stuck around and lasted. Looks like you were correct.

If only BD could sell his house, he would be gone, ... all the others are gone. Been fighting government here in Oregon since the 1960's. I concur that 15 years ago you fought the city over 'events' and that nothing has changed, same shit different day. This is why I don't testify in Salem anymore, did that in the 70's & 80's and we won, but along come the 90's and new poly-tick face's do the same fucking thing, ... So its time for a new breed of idiots to bang their heads against the wall, of this charade we call a 'civilization'.

Sorry I'm so hard on BD, but he's our ONLY REP for bashing HOLLERN, SMITH, COSTA, ... he's our tar-baby, our whipping-boy. Besides that he is a 100% apologist for the status quo that own the BULL/SORE.

Nothing ever changes in the poly-tick world, the same owners have an unlimited number of gun-slinger's to go on payroll and lie, cheat, and steal to perpetuate the 'company town'.

Who's angry? Why quite proud of what our boyz @ the BULL/SORE have done for our town post 1986 when BD/HBM arrived. I think this whole racket is a text-book HARVARD case of analysis that every plutocrat spawn will be studying for a millenium. Angry? Hell no, 100% pure amusement.

No anger, and no end of the world. Like we have established all along here, Bend goes through the cyclic changes every couple decades its just that this most recent BUBBLE lasted almost 20 years from 1986->2007, now we get to watch it go down in GLUTTONY, BEND-GLUTTONY.