Mr. T encourages pedestrians to do the right thing at 20th and Burnside in Portland.
Category Archives: Portland
New street art in Portland
Given the solar panels on the top, we can only presume this is some sort of torch. There is a green one down the street, good times to come.
A Passionate Appeal for a Sidewalk
With the election cycle in full swing, we turn our attention not to the national scene, where two people we will refer to only as BO and MR are bombarding the nation with empty promises in hopes that the dangling chads in November will fall their way, but to more pressing local matters.
Here at The Mint, we recognize that the natural operation of anarchy renders much of what happens at the highest levels of government, which in the US means those seated at the State and Federal levels increasingly irrelevant. While they have the potential to do great harm, government on a large-scale generally suffers from a form of paralysis which makes their decisions increasingly meaningless to the average Joe. They have grown to the point where they are nothing more than an amoeba, which at best should be ignored and at worst, actively avoided.
As such, we consider it a great waste of time to obsess over them.
Government at the local level, meaning the City and, more importantly, the County level, has a much greater direct impact on the lives of its constituents. As such, we see government at the City and County level as absolutely necessary to the smooth functioning of society. We also present, for your consideration, that participation in government at a local level is not only time well spent, it can be profitable.
A great opportunity to guide public policy at a local level is presented frequently at events that are generally referred to as requests for public comment. While in some cases, these events are held to give an air of legitimacy to an already planned action, some of them present a grand opportunity to sway local policy and public resource investment decisions. Given this grand opportunity, it may come as a surprise that these events are often overlooked, even by those who would be directly affected by the action being considered.
For your perusal and enjoyment, we present the following example of yours truly taking advantage of such an opportunity presented by our County’s Minor Betterment Project Committee.
Each year, the committee is presented with a list of potential minor public works projects which have been vetted by overpaid consultants and assigned a ranking based on a point system which is theoretically designed by the consultant to capture potential public benefit of a project in a tidy little number.
This is like the BCS for your tax dollars, and, as any NCAA coach knows, it never hurts to lobby your case, especially when the voting is tight.
We recently found out that a much-needed improvement project, one that could modestly increase our property value, had made the “Top 20” of the latest version of the public works BCS.
Like any good coach, we picked up our digital writing implement and began to lobby for our own, local, pet project. The result of this activity is what we call “A Passionate Appeal for a Sidewalk,” a transcript of which follows:
As both a property owner and frequent pedestrian of this stretch of Madison Road, I can attest to the large-scale safety hazard that the lack of a pedestrian walkway on this stretch of road presents daily. Not only to the school children who wait for the bus on the thoroughfare during the morning, but all manner of pedestrians, bicyclists, school bus drivers, and vehicle operators who daily traverse it. Were it not for the vigilance of the drivers on this stretch of road, this perilous route would no doubt be the site of a lamentable tally of traffic fatalities.
For those who have not seen it, Madison road is narrow and increasingly relied upon by all manner of commuters (pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists) during rush hours. During these peak times, it is commonplace to see cars nearly miss a head on collision with each other as they make a noble attempt to give way for pedestrians (a majority of which are school children) who literally have no choice but to walk along the 12 inch border of the existing roadway alloted to them. Alternative routes for this pedestrian trail are far enough away to that they are not viable options, and, as we mentioned before, pedestrian traffic on this stretch of road continues to increase.
While the sidewalk project proposed to remedy this dangerous situation is the most expensive on the list, and can hardly be considered minor, the money spent will likely spare a tragedy involving the dangerous mix of vehicles and school children which is present every day of the school year. If the goal of these projects is to increase the safety of the community, this project has perhaps the greatest potential to do just that. In a sense, it is long overdue.
We, your neighbors along this deceptively dangerous stretch of Madison road, appreciate the committee’s attention to this matter.
What do you think, will our impassioned plea sway the committee to divert funds into our pet project? We should know by late October whether or not ours comes out on top. Either way, civic involvement, on a local level, is necessary given the proximity of the governing body. While the body and budget itself is small, its potential to wreak havoc on your everyday life is too big to ignore, just ask anyone who has found themselves on the wrong end of a dispute with an activist home owners association board.
As for the State and Federal versions of Government, in their late, degenerate, bankrupt form they can do little more than create the illusion of watching your every move and controlling the details of your life. Despite their large-scale propaganda and their presence at the airport gate, they are mostly harmless. Your impassioned pleas and time spent informing yourself on issues are best spent at the local level.
Who knows? You may even save a life or make the world a better place, all while increasing your property value at the government’s expense.
It is the closest thing to Nirvana that the governed can experience.
Buskers Flourish as Spring Approaches in Portland
Strolling down the street in Downtown Portland, one is as likely to encounter a busker as they are a plea to support a generically named non-profit group by an aspiring model. At times these encounters seem to take place on nearly every corner. Their presence is a reminder that the City is alive, and that there is more to life than hurriedly shuffling along from one appointment to the next.
Portland’s buskers come in every shape and size and those who perform music play a great variety of instruments and an even greater variety of musical styles and genres. As spring approaches and weather becomes less of a barrier, the City is blessed by the increased presence of bucket tinged dance beats and sidewalk serenades.
According to the Willamette Week, a recent forum was held to explore possible changes in Portland’s Street Musicians and Performers Partnership Agreement. While there was apparently a lively debate, it appears that there will be no changes to the current agreement. While not perfect, the agreement appears to acknowledge the concerns of and offer remedies to all parties involved, whether willingly or otherwise, in a busker musical performance.
Busking has its origins in antiquity and in many cultures is alternately enjoyed or tolerated, depending upon the quality of the performance, as a part of urban life. While some cities have attempted to regulate busking via the use of permits and performance scheduling, Portland busking’s current self regulation is for the most part acknowledged in the Agreement.
Permits, scheduling, and agreements aside, a majority of busking takes place within the bounds of what can best be described as an unspoken busker code of conduct involving numerous tacit and express agreements amongst the buskers, local shop owners, and inhabitants.
How well will this unspoken code of conduct hold up in Portland this summer? With an increasing amount of buskers performing and a majority of them unaware of the Portland Agreement, there are bound to be disagreements. Asking a busker to keep his melodies with 100 feet of his person is like asking the wind to blow at a set speed. A limited number of prime performance spots in the City makes competition for those spots increasingly intense.
To the credit of buskers everywhere, they have always found a way to resolve these inherent conflicts and at times even work in harmony to provide Portland with an abundance of music in the air. So the next time you see a busker, show your appreciation by stopping and, if you are able, tip them something for their trouble. By doing so you are supporting the arts in their purest form, whatever that form may be.
Tattoos: A sure sign of spring
Spring is just around the corner in Portland and residents of the Bridge City will soon arise from their collective hibernation to partake in the five months of sun that is our annual allotment at these latitudes.
Portlanders will step out the door to a number of sure signs of spring, flowers blooming, preparations for the Rose Festival, the Timbers opening kicks, and tattoos of every shape and design proudly displayed on bodies of all shapes and sizes.
It is no secret that Portland is somewhat of a nexus of tattoo culture. Tattoos here are as common as bicycles and tattoo parlors as numerous as coffee shops (well, almost). Shops such as the Sea Tramp Tattoo Company have honed their craft over many years and in the process have become the stuff of legend.
Here are a few interesting statistics about tattooing in America courtesy of a survey conducted in 2008 by Harris Interactive:
- One in five (20%) of people living in the West have at least one tattoo
- 32% of persons aged 25-29 have at least one tattoo
- Only 16% of those surveyed regretted getting a tattoo
- Over half of the population, both the tattooed and un-tattooed, perceive that someone who has a tattoo is more rebellious
- 19% of those who have a tattoo say that it makes them feel attractive and strong
Being a resident of Portland gives you a front row seat to a city wide living and breathing art gallery that few metro areas (save Miami) can boast. With some of the finest tattoo artists in the world calling Portland home, it is safe to say that this seasonal exhibit of body art will be on-going on the streets of our fair city.
The thought of it all may give you the “inkling” to put a masterpiece on your canvas.
Full Disclosure: Your author does not have a tattoo.
Coffee Culture: Thoughts on Coffee Consumption in Portland Continue reading on Examiner.com Coffee Culture: Thoughts on Coffee Consumption in Portland
A familiar sight in Portland on a Saturday afternoon. Students, friends, families, empty nesters, foreigners, the among the things that many of them have in common are the need for a good cup of coffee, companionship, ambiance, and maybe even a little peace and quiet. As winter gives way to spring, they will grab their cups and populate the cafe patios and occupy the parks to soak in the short season of natural vitamin D, otherwise known as sunshine, here in our fine city.
Coffee drinking is called by some a cheap luxury. Even with the increasing threat of higher coffee bean prices being passed on to coffee house patrons, it is still a relatively cheap way to pass the time. If you are truly concerned about rising coffee prices, you can effectively hedge against the rising cost of your caffeine addiction by placing a portion of your portfolio in an Exchange Traded Fund like the iPath Dow Jones-UBS Coffee ETN, whose stick ticker symbol JO must have been cleverly devised by some brilliant marketing mind.
A familiar sight in Portland on a Saturday afternoon. Students, friends, families, empty nesters, foreigners, the among the things that many of them have in common are the need for a good cup of coffee, companionship, ambiance, and maybe even a little peace and quiet. As winter gives way to spring, they will grab their cups and populate the cafe patios and occupy the parks to soak in the short season of natural vitamin D, otherwise known as sunshine, here in our fine city.
Coffee drinking is called by some a cheap luxury. Even with the increasing threat of higher coffee bean prices being passed on to coffee house patrons, it is still a relatively cheap way to pass the time. If you are truly concerned about rising coffee prices, you can effectively hedge against the rising cost of your caffeine addiction by placing a portion of your portfolio in an Exchange Traded Fund like the iPath Dow Jones-UBS Coffee ETN, whose stick ticker symbol JO must have been cleverly devised by some brilliant marketing mind.
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For years, it had been accepted that Starbucks’ wild success had cemented Seattle’s place as the coffee capital of the world. If the average coffee drinker were to partake of his or her 3.1 cups per day in Seattle, they were considered privileged.
As Starbucks, which now pours 1 out of every 100 cups of coffee served on the planet each day, struggles to find a place to expand in the northwest that is not within five blocks of one of their existing locations, coffee connoisseurs are quietly speaking of Portland as the new Mecca of coffee culture. As Starbucks continues to go global, local Portland roasters like Stumptown continue to develop what just may be the best coffee in the world.
So wrap your hands around a cup of locally brewed coffee and know that not only will you make it through another seemingly endless winter, you are one of the privileged 500,000 to live in what will soon be recognized as the coffee capital of the world. After athletic shoes and coffee, could the movie and tech industries be next to defect to Portlandia?
The 511 Federal Building: From Post Office to Prison to Art Parthenon Continue reading on Examiner.com The 511 Federal Building: From Post Office to Prison to Art Parthenon
The 511 Federal Building located at 511 NW Broadway is eerily one of the more impressive examples of turn of the Century Architecture that we have in Portland. It is also an example of how far the Federal Government feels that it must go to protect itself after the attacks of September 11th.
The building is currently home to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Offices. This one time Post Office is located at what may be considered the gateway between the upscale Pearl District and the less attractive Old Town Chinatown neighborhood. It stands as a testament to the dichotomy of its surroundings, altogether grisly and glorious.
Built during World War I, as many of the older Federal Buildings in Portland were, its adornments of Eagles, buttressed columns, and men and women dressed to compete in the ancient Greek version of the Olympics are examples of an architectural style called Neo-Classical or Classical Revival. The 511 Federal Building was deservedly placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
The 511 Federal Building located at 511 NW Broadway is eerily one of the more impressive examples of turn of the Century Architecture that we have in Portland. It is also an example of how far the Federal Government feels that it must go to protect itself after the attacks of September 11th.
The building is currently home to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Offices. This one time Post Office is located at what may be considered the gateway between the upscale Pearl District and the less attractive Old Town Chinatown neighborhood. It stands as a testament to the dichotomy of its surroundings, altogether grisly and glorious.
Built during World War I, as many of the older Federal Buildings in Portland were, its adornments of Eagles, buttressed columns, and men and women dressed to compete in the ancient Greek version of the Olympics are examples of an architectural style called Neo-Classical or Classical Revival. The 511 Federal Building was deservedly placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
This scene outside of the 511 stands in stark contrast to the open arms of Bud Clark Commons which is currently being constructed across Broadway. The building’s once proud architecture is obscured by additional adornments of security cameras, chain link fences, and mirrored windows. These security enhancements apparently keep the Federal Employees safe from the outside world and to keep the world safe from any unfortunate immigrants who may be awaiting deportation inside one of the building’s three holding cells.
What was once a symbol of a rising Empire, the 511 Federal Building circa 2011 appears now as a symbol of an Empire in decline. More precisely, it looks like a prison. This image was further confirmed on Tuesday with the presence of two Geo Transport buses. Geo Transport is in the business of prisoner transportation and these buses are often used to transport immigrants who do not have legal status to the Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Center in Tacoma, Washington.
Fortunately, this once proud building will get a new lease on life. While the City of Portland begins to squabble about where to move the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service Offices, waiting in the wings to occupy the 511 is the Pacific Northwest College of Art. The College of Art will enter the 511 like a warm breeze on a cool day, and the presence of hundreds of art students alone will go a long way towards restoring this treasure to its previous glory.
THE LORD IS SALVATION: Proto-Isaiah
We have been tasked with the privilege of teaching chapters 1-39 of the old testament book of Isaiah, which is commonly known as Proto-Isaiah.
Isaiah recorded prophesies for over 60 years and saw four Kings of Judah ascend to the throne throughout his ministry. Proto-Isaiah is generally thought to have been written in Isaiah’s lifetime by Isaiah himself.
The remaining chapters (40-55 and 56-66) are thought to have been added on to the original Isaiah text at a later date. In reading Isaiah, it is clear that this is the case.
We could not find a summary of themes which did justice to the complexity and rythym which characterize Isaiah’s writings. As such, we offer the following outline of Isaiah which we compiled as we poured over it earlier this month.
Please let us know what you think and if possible, join us at GSM in Beaverton for the 2012 series of Bible classes, which this year will focus on the old testatment.
Without further ado, we present to you Proto-Isaiah:
Introduction
Chapters 1-5 – Judah on trial
The Prophet
Chapter 6 – The world ends – the call of Isaiah
Act I
Chapters 7-8 – Jerusalem attacked by Assyria – God tells King Ahaz of Judah to stand firm
Chapter 9:1-7 – Prophecy about the coming Messiah
Act II
Chapters 9:8-10 – The destruction of Israel (Samaria) by Assyria, Assyria’s destruction
Chapter 11:1-10 – Prophecy about the coming Messiah
Chapter 11:11-16 – A remnant will return
Chapter 12 – PRAISE
Act III
Chapters 13 – 17:3 – The destruction of Babylon, Assyria, Philistia, Moab, and Damascus
Chapter 17:4-11 – Israel is judged
Chapters 17:12 – 23 – Cush, Egypt, Babylon, Dumah, Arabia, Jerusalem, Shebna, Tyre, and the whole earth are judged and destroyed
Chapter 24 – APOCOLYPSE, the judgment of the entire earth
Chapters 25-27 – SALVATION
Act IV
Chapter 28:1-22 – Drunk with the Law, man is unprepared to deal with death
Chapter 28:23-29 – The supremacy of the Lord’s natural law
Chapter 29 – Jerusalem: God’s mercy on those bound by the law, the unjust are vanquished and the righteous are rewarded
Chapter 30:1-17 – Condemnation of seeking help from Egypt
Chapter 30:18- 31 – Mercy, victory, and help come from God alone
Chapters 32-33 – The Lord Arises, the Righteous Kingdom Comes, peace for the righteous and terror for the unjust
Chapter 34 – APOCOLYPSE
Chapter 35 – The Holy Way
Act V
Chapter 36 – Assyria threatens Jerusalem
Chapter 37:1-7 – Hezekiah Inquires of Isaiah
Chapter 37-8-13 – Sennacherib’s threatening letter
Chapter 37:14-35 – Hezekiah Prays, the Lord confirms Isaiah’s word
Chapter 37:36-38 – Victory is the Lord’s
Act VI
Chapter 38 – Hezekiah’s illness and recovery
Chapter 39 – Hezekiah opens the door to Babylonian captivity
O Christmas Tree!
Its that time of year, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose. Time to deck the halls, stir the eggnog, and trim the tree. The Christmas season is a special time of year where time honored traditions surround us.
One of those traditions is conveniently located down the road in Helvetia: The Helvetia Christmas Tree Farm’s Enchanted Evening.
Like its summertime counterpart, The Oregon Lavender Festival, the Enchanted Evening takes place at the farm of Don and Nancy Miller located at 12814 NW Bishop Road in Hillsboro.
The Enchanted Evening is a wonderful family event which rings in the season with joy, singing, and hobby trains. The festive atmosphere makes it easy for one to focus on finding what is often the first and most important component of the holiday decor: The Tree.
Its that time of year, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose. Time to deck the halls, stir the eggnog, and trim the tree. The Christmas season is a special time of year where time honored traditions surround us.
One of those traditions is conveniently located down the road in Helvetia: The Helvetia Christmas Tree Farm’s Enchanted Evening.
Like its summertime counterpart, The Oregon Lavender Festival, the Enchanted Evening takes place at the farm of Don and Nancy Miller located at 12814 NW Bishop Road in Hillsboro.
The Enchanted Evening is a wonderful family event which rings in the season with joy, singing, and hobby trains. The festive atmosphere makes it easy for one to focus on finding what is often the first and most important component of the holiday decor: The Tree.
As many can attest, a well chosen tree can turn the holiday season from just another year among many into a Christmas to remember.
With fields full of Nobles and Grands the Helvetia Christmas Tree Farm is bound to have a tree that will look great in your living room. If cutting the tree is not up your alley, the staff will provide as much assistance as necessary.
Once your tree is shaken, baled, and firmly tied to the roof of the car, you can warm up with some hot cocoa and take a stroll through the gift shop, where all of the proceeds go to benefit children in Africa and the Ukraine.
The Helvetia Christmas Tree Farm’s Enchanted Evening, a local tradition with an international impact.
Rockaway Beach, Jaca, and the illusion of Market Homeostasis
11/29/2011 Portland, Oregon – Pop in your mints…
We are back from a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday spent with family in lovely Rockaway Beach, Oregon. Rockaway Beach is a gem of a town on the Oregon coast which straddles Rock Creek as it descends from the Coastal Range and violently collides with the Pacific Ocean.
We were fortunate to awake each morning with a front row seat to this raging battle. At low tide, the creek appeared to make headway as it made its final run into the great unknown. The beach was immense and inviting, and seagulls roamed the sands to find what the sea had left behind as an appetizer.
At high tide, the sea was angry. The creek’s advances were violently thrust back again and again as the full weight of the Pacific came in against it. The beach and its inhabitants disappeared and we were glad to be looking down on the raging waves from the third floor of the townhouse.
We now understand why navigating the mouth of the Columbia River was a fool’s game for centuries.
The central Oregon coast is unique. It is never quite warm enough, no matter what time of year one visits, to be a suitable substitute for the tropics. Nor is it ever quite cool enough to be easily categorized as Nordic. It permanently exists in a state somewhere between these two extremes.
The State of Oregon declared the entire coast a state highway in 1913 and affirmed the beaches as public lands via passage of the Oregon Beach Bill in 1967. These two actions have kept the coast both accessible to the public and in generally pristine condition.
Essentially, these are no private beaches in Oregon For this, we are grateful, as the coast may be one of the most peaceful and photogenic places on the planet.
Our time in sleepy Rockaway Beach was pleasant. Apart from seven miles of coastline, the town has a park and a number of antique and craft dealers. On Friday evening we were treated to the annual town Christmas tree decorating and lighting ceremony along with an old fashioned sing-a-long led by the school choir.
Songbooks and cookies were passed around and the choir took requests from the crowd. The last time we experienced such an expression of civic merry making was in the mountain town of Jaca in Aragon. As we arrived in Jaca, it was dark and persons were flocking to the green in front of the Castle of San Pedro. They appeared to jump at our car as if from nowhere.
Once settled in to our accommodations, we joined them and were invited to a sing-a-long in the early autumn evening in the Spanish Pyrenees. But that is a story for another day. We are having a hard enough time returning from our vacation bliss. If we reminisce on our time in Spain we may be on permanent vacation.
Homeostasis?
We love the word homeostasis. It is a complicated way of saying that an organism, or in our case, an economic system, is in balance, in touch with its inner Chi. We think of a frog sitting on a log, slowly breathing. Perhaps it is an image burned into our minds by a biology text we once read. Whatever images the word conjures in your mind, fellow taxpayer, it is unlikely to trigger a flight or fight response.
We seem to have returned from the raging coastline to a market which appears to have achieved a sort of homeostasis. The rise and fall of equities, many times over 200 points a day as measured by the Dow, should evoke a fight of flight response from market participants. Yet now commentators and participants barely blink an eye at such moves.
After trillions of dollars of stimulus, dozens of government bailouts and guarantees, and collectively learning to think the unthinkable, the market must finally be achieving equilibrium, right?
Oh fellow taxpayer, if only it were true. Unfortunately, the very perception that the market may be at homeostasis may be the indication that we are at an intermission before the dramatic final act of the play in which we all find ourselves unwilling participants, gets underway.
In the final act, the sovereign debt debacle that first appeared in Greece and is now enveloping France and perhaps Germany finds its way across the ocean to the United States of America. At that point, the US will succeed where Europe, until now, has failed.
As the financial world trains its binoculars on the equity and bond market indicators, they will continue to declare that all is well, the homeostasis that the American authorities so desire will appear to have been achieved. US bond yields will remain steady and the equity indices will steadily rise. Even housing may begin to march forward after its long slumber.
No, the US will not default in the traditional way, as Europe is on the verge of doing. In fact, perceptive fellow taxpayers will quickly point out that the US has been in the process of defaulting for some time now via quantitative easing (QE).
In markets as in a biological system, all of the actors are always pursuing a state of homeostasis. Yet the rub of homeostasis is that it is impossible to achieve by unilateral force. It is something that must collectively be achieved. It is something that only Anarchy, the absence of the State, can bring about.
The final act of this play will be the ultimate display of unilateral force. In an increasingly desperate attempt to keep bond and equity indices steady, the Federal Reserve will lose control of the currency in what historians will call a hyperinflationary blow off.
Then modern Central Banking, Western Governments, the warfare/welfare state, and all of its grotesque machinations will take a bow and exit stage left…or they will jump off the stage and attack the crowd.
Come to think of it, we may just leave after this intermission.
Stay tuned and Trust Jesus.
Stay Fresh!
Email: davidminteconomics@gmail.com
Key Indicators for November 29, 2011
Copper Price per Lb: $3.38
Oil Price per Barrel: $99.34
Corn Price per Bushel: $5.98
10 Yr US Treasury Bond: 2.00%
FED Target Rate: 0.08% ON AUTOPILOT, THE FED IS DEAD!
Gold Price Per Ounce: $1,715 PERMANENT UNCERTAINTY
MINT Perceived Target Rate*: 2.00%
Unemployment Rate: 9.0%
Inflation Rate (CPI): -0.1%
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 11,556
M1 Monetary Base: $2,095,600,000,000 RED ALERT!!! THE ANIMALS ARE LEAVING THE ZOO!!!
M2 Monetary Base: $9,664,500,000,000 YIKES UP $1 Trillion in one year!!!!!!!
Credit Unions: Join the people’s banking system
As public disgust with the commercial banking industry continues to grow, many consumers who were simply content to grumble about the Federal tax dollars that are being committed to bailing out the banks for their bad decisions are now being driven to the unspeakable action of renouncing commercial banks altogether.
What is it that has driven these otherwise reasonable people to take such a drastic step?
In a word: Fees. In addition to increasing the fees which consumers pay for overdrawn checks and various other “services”, some banks have taken the additional step of charging fees for debit cards, checking accounts, ATMs, and a host of other services which many Americans have come to expect free of charge.
Such has been the public outcry at this unthinkable insult that even Congress couldn’t help but notice. Senator Dick Durbin, (D-Ill) had this to say: “Bank of America customers, vote with your feet, get the heck out of that bank, find yourself a bank or credit union that won’t gouge you for $5 a month and still will give you a debit card that you can use every single day. What Bank of America has done is an outrage.”
While it is a mystery why Durbin singled out Bank of America, as the fee cancer has spread throughout the commercial banking system, what is clear is that many Americans are already voting with their feet and are ditching fee mongering commercial banks in search of alternatives.
In Portland, the search will lead them to a number of local credit unions that offer superior service, unbeatable interest rates, and low or no fee alternatives to services provided by commercial banks.
How can credit unions afford to do this? The simple answer is that credit unions are banking coops. By definition and by statute, they are locally owned and operated. Credit unions are non-profit organizations whose only “shareholders” are its members. Therefore, credit unions exist exclusively for the benefit of its customers and the community which it serves.
To become a member of a credit union, one must be a member of a group that is served by a specific credit union’s charter. A person is typically eligible to become a member of a credit union based on where they live, work, or worship. In some cases, becoming a member can be as easy as simply applying for a loan at the credit union.
Once a person is deemed to be eligible for the credit union’s field of membership, all they would need to do to become a member is to complete an application and make a one-time deposit (typically $5) into their savings account. From there, the member is not only on their way to investing in their community, they are on their way to receiving better interest rates on both deposits and loans, superior customer service, and having the right to vote on important decisions affecting the credit union.
Few changes stand to make such a profound impact on both the individual and the community than the decision to bank at a local credit union instead of a commercial bank. The individual and their community are both empowered by this seemingly simple choice.
There are a number of great credit unions in the Portland area. A great place to start is by locating a credit union near you. Websites such as findacreditunion.com and creditunionaccess.com can help you to locate a credit union in your area.
If you need any additional encouragement or have doubts about leaving your bank behind, a peek at this brief article at moneyistheroot.com on the advantages of credit unions should quickly put those doubts to rest.
In Portland, it is easy to cast your vote against the commercial banking regime and put your money to work building our community. Start banking locally today at your local credit union.
Stay Fresh!
Occupy Portland and Mayor Adams take the high road
The Occupy Portland movement, which has been the focus of much discourse and debate since it was launched on October 6th, faces its first possible confrontation tonight. Mayor Sam Adams has issued an eviction order to those camping in Chapman and Lownsdale squares effective at midnight tonight.
Mayor Adams issued the order after a Molotov cocktail had been thrown at the World Trade Center by someone allegedly from the camp. The Mayor has cited generally rising crime and reports of drug overdoses in and around the camp as additional reasons for ordering that the camp be disbanded.
“I cannot wait for someone to use the camp as camouflage to inflict bodily harm on others,” said Adams in his November 10th statement.
The Mayor has taken what anyone outside of Portland would have considered an unusual step of giving the protesters three days to dismantle the camp. The protestors, in turn, have complained that three days is too little time.
It is admirable how both sides, the Mayor and police as well as the protesters, have strived to maintain the dignity of and respect for what the protestors are striving to accomplish.
By placing the focus of the action on public safety, Adams appears to be accomplishing what few mayors in the country have been able to do: Order a peaceful transition of the Occupy Portland movement from the outside.
In a gesture that speaks to the maturity of the Occupy Portland movement, it appears that a majority of those taking part in the protest camps are heeding Mayor Adam’s eviction notice.
By choosing to embrace and cooperate with the Occupy movement, the City of Portland has a chance to not only peacefully dismantle the camps, which threaten to become a public safety hazard, but to give those drawn to the Occupy movement a model of truly peaceful and powerful resistance in place of the confrontation which has marred gatherings in other cities.
True lasting change can only come about through the superiority of ideas, not arms or the willingness to engage in violence. This is something that Portlanders, whether they occupy a tent in Chapman Square or a house on NE Glisan, can all agree on.
All Aboard the Cow Train at the Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island
The Harvest Season is in full swing at The Pumpkin Patch. The time of year when this Sauvie Island mainstay draws swarms of city-dwellers to its gourd-filled fields and welcomes them with a combination of activities and hospitality which have made it a great Northwest pumpkin patch experience for a generation.
The pumpkin patch, apart from serving as a warm up for the all important Christmas tree selection season, is a wonderful family tradition in its own right. It involves, in no particular order, eating, hayrides, climbing hay pyramids, tromping through corn mazes, petting farm animals, and of course, locating the perfect pumpkin to display on one’s front porch.
On Sauvie Island’s Pumpkin Patch Farm, located at 16511 NW Gillihan Road, the regular festival fare is supplemented by their outstanding produce market and, what just may be the highlight of the pumpkin patch season, the Cow Train.
What exactly is the Cow Train? In literal terms it is a small tractor pulling about a dozen modified barrels with names like Bessie and Chloe over a course through pumpkin and corn fields at moderate speeds to give the rider the perfect balance of velocity and agitation.
Who thought cows and tractors could be so much fun?
If it is not in your autumn plans already, we encourage you to participate in this Great Northwest tradition at The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island or any of the other great family farms in the area which open their fields annually to give the city dwellers a taste of fun on the farm.
Your pumpkin is waiting!
Occupy Portland: Widespread Discontent meets Acceptance in Portland
On October 6th, Portland joined other US cities by kicking off its own version of the increasingly popular Occupy Wall Street protests with approximately 5,000 people amassing at Tom McCall Waterfront Park where SW Ankeny meets Naito Parkway. While no specific manifesto has come forth, the group generally comes across as unified against corporate greed and corruption.
Approaching Occupy Portland’s ground zero, it became apparent that the perhaps the only thing that unified this loose coalition of protesters was a general feeling of discontent. It was equally apparent that general discontent can be a powerful unifying force, and that as the marches and occupation got underway, the protesters found in one another the camaraderie that is inherent in common struggle and sacrifice.
Amongst the many and varied grievances that could be observed by reading the protesters’ signs, flags, and slogans, were: support for the cause of the Palestinians, pleas to tax the rich, outrage against corporate greed, and long-suffering environmental concerns. While these grievances have been longstanding for certain sectors of the population, what was most striking was the breadth of demographic and socio-economic makeup of those gathering to launch Occupy Portland.
- Protesters of all Stripes Gathering to kick off Occupy Portland on Thursday, October 6th 2011
While students resembling John Lennon and Guy Fawkes masks tended to stand out in the crowd, the presence of veterans, college students, retirees, and stay at home mothers spoke to the wide ranging discontent that has gripped Americans who are increasingly identifying themselves as the “other 99%” in sharp contrast to the top 1%, the label that has come to represent the wealthy and corporate interests.
As the exuberance of the protesters grew and their numbers at Waterfront Park began to swell, a few blocks away, up Burnside and 5th, the mood was quite different.
Despite assurances by both the protesters and Portland Mayor Sam Adams that the protests would be peaceful, financial and governmental institutions, which imagined themselves in the path of the unannounced route of the march, were taking precautions. Banks planned to lock their doors and the increased Police and private security presence in the neighborhood was conspicuous.
There were rumors of Anarchists from Eugene coming to cause trouble. Adding to this perceived threat was the uncertainty of the effects on transportation in the downtown core. Needless to say, on this autumn day, Portland did not feel like the relaxed City in which we dwell.
Thankfully, these fears were unfounded. Both Protesters and Police are to be commended for tacitly working together to maintain the peace and dignity of the protest. Mayor Adams went as far as to waive the City’s no camping ordinance so that protesters could pitch their tents and stay the night.
Whatever the outcome, it is refreshing to see that Occupy Portland is helping so many people to find their voice and the City of Portland, true to form, welcoming them with open arms.
Reflections on the Stump on the Park Blocks
The other day, as we strolled down the Park Blocks between NW Flanders and Glisan, we came upon a stump. Trees in this part of the Northwest are not uncommon. Neither are stumps, for that matter. Yet this was no ordinary stump; it was a large, low cut stump which bore a striking resemblance to Gondwanaland.
What was also striking about this stump was its location. The Northwest Park Blocks, stretching from Burnside to NW Hoyt street along 8th Ave, are home to a great many oversized trees. The trees stand, lining the blocks like a royal guard creating a corridor for kings and queens to pass. The kings and queens of Portland’s NW Park Blocks represent all ages and walks of life.
These grand trees have observed and endured many a changes in their surroundings as Portland the frontier town has grown into the pleasant city which we now enjoy. The trees, circa 2011, enjoy the delight of children racing through the playground, the musings of men and women as they commune on the many benches lining the blocks, and the gentle, respectful pace of both car and bicycle as they quietly traverse the paved portion of the blocks.
The trees serve as a constant reminder to the contemplative passerby that our noble lives are but a whisper on the winds of time. Much of what one does will be forgotten, and in an age where information is abundant but wisdom is in short supply, the trees offer a humble reminder that in order to stand tall, one needs roots which run deep and branches which extend to embrace.
This day, amongst the grandeur and wisdom which the trees continuously display, the stump served as a reminder that even the grandest of trees can be laid low on a temporal whim. There is nothing to gain by lamenting its passing. Rather, as with all loss, we must take the opportunity to pause and reflect on our daily actions. Perhaps the stump’s resemblance of Gondwanaland is not an accident, for it offers a glimpse of the eternal time in which everything around us yearns to live.
The Ron Paul Revolution Reaches Oregon
Ode to the Auto Feo, Part V – The Bitter End
9/1/2011 Portland, Oregon – Pop in your mints…
With the markets relatively calm until the sparks fly later next week, we conclude our tale. Our tale is, among other things, a recount of the recent history of Bank of America wrapped up in a vehicle metaphor: “Ode to the Auto Feo,” originally inspired by the recent passing of a vehicle that taught us many valuable lessons.
You can catch up with the “Ode to the Auto Feo”, Parts I,II, III, and IV by clicking on the following links.
Ode to the Auto Feo, Part I – The Birth of a “Need”
Ode to the Auto Feo, Part II –Optimism and Desperation are Poor Bedfellows
Ode to the Auto Feo, Part III –Lemon Discovery
Ode to the Auto Feo, Part IV – Acceptance and Admiration
Our story continues:
After careful reflection, we could see that our reasons for adopting the fateful “gasoline only” policy in the Auto Feo were two-fold and that they reflected two of our character traits which, taken individually are admirable, yet when combined, can lead to terrible decision making.
The first and most obvious of these traits is frugality. While we do not think of ourselves as especially frugal, we do tend to choose certain items or activities upon which to focus our frugality. This focused frugality in and of itself can prove extremely useful where investments in proven strategies are concerned.
The second, perhaps less obvious, trait which was expressing itself in this decision was our sense of adventure. This trait can prove extremely useful when there is something to be gained from the undertaking and adequate margin for error for the undertaking’s failure.
The terrible decision, then, comes when we combine this sense of adventure, which, we repeat, requires ample margin for error, with our frugality which, by definition, does not provide for any margin of error.
Hence, in retrospect it was obvious that adopting the gasoline only policy in the case of the Auto Feo was a terrible decision. The only thing to be gained was sheer entertainment value reaped by those unaffected by the decision, a group that you, fellow taxpayer, are happily a part of.
Now that we understand the motivation for such a decision, we offer you the inspiration.
We were inspired by the desire to avoid buying a quart of oil each week (frugality) and, by extension, to avoid further staining our driveway with oil spilled out of the engine block. To accomplish this, we discovered (or perhaps imagined) an experiment that the military had conducted in which they had never put oil in new vehicles and had been able to rely on the resulting engine shavings caused by the friction to serve as a sort of permanent lubricant for the pistons as they slammed up and down in the engine block.
Now most sane persons and certainly those who are mechanically inclined will quickly realize that there is a big difference between our situation with a 17 year old vehicle which held two quarts of oil and the military who had new vehicles which had never been filled. There was also a big difference in our respective circumstances. The military could afford to lose a few vehicles to this sort of experiment. We, on the other hand, would be walking if it did not pan out.
The experiment began with promising results. The vehicle’s performance, which was not that great to begin with, deteriorated only slightly. This did not concern us as. After all, we only had 1.5 miles to drive each day. We continued through rain and shine, confident that we were actually on the verge of improving the Auto Feo’s performance and significantly extending its useful life.
Like so many of today’s fiscal and monetary policies, the delusion of sustainability was to be, uh, sustained until the day it came to a catastrophic end.
Six more months passed and two things happened in quick succession. One turned out to be an omen, while the other an illusory victory.
The omen appeared one late Spring evening when we came upon the Auto Feo in the parking garage on our return commute to find that the driver side window had been shattered and the vehicle’s contents, which consisted of a Bible and a pair of jumper cables, had been clumsily rifled through. The thief took the jumper cables.
With the bi-annual emissions test that is required in Oregon just one week away, our frugality again kicked in and we resolved to use clear plastic and duct tape to temporarily replace our driver-side window until we could be sure that the vehicle would be cleared by the authorities to operate another two years.
Note to self: If you need to cover a broken out window in a vehicle, make every attempt not to use opaque or transparent plastic.
We hobbled along for a week of near misses at intersections with limited visibility out of our driver’s side. On a Saturday, we made the trek to Hillsboro to submit the Auto Feo to the automotive equivalent of a colonoscopy.
Arriving at the emissions testing center, we found ourselves apologizing unnecessarily for the condition of the vehicle and explaining that we wanted assurance that Oregon’s green gods would allow the vehicle to continue to operate on the roads of their realm.
“We wanted to see if it would pass before fixing the window,” we offered.
“Looks like its seen better days, let’s take a look,” said the attendant.
She was apparently unfazed by the appearance of the vehicle and we later thought that apart from these people, only body shops and junkyards see more pathetic looking vehicles on a regular basis.
We winced as we watched the attendant place the probe into the Auto Feo’s tailpipe and had to remind ourselves that it was not human.
“Looks like it failed,” said the attendant. “But it did improve at 2,000 RPMs,”
“Can we give it another try?” we offered in a desperate last ditch effort to forestall the diagnosis.
“Why not?” said the attendant.
And then a miracle occurred. The Auto Feo passed the emissions test.
We joyfully drove home and quickly arranged to have the driver’s side window replaced. Our experiment was going swimmingly and the emissions test somehow validated our hypothesis. The military was right, we are better off not adding oil to your vehicle!
Our delusion, which was now government sanctioned, was allowed to carry on.
Astute readers will quickly draw a parallel between our Auto Feo tale and Bank of America and the current banking system in general: Our emissions test is a metaphor for the so-called stress tests that have been run on the banks in America and Europe in an attempt to shore up confidence.
When will these delusions end?
In the case of the Auto Feo, two short months after the government sanctioned emissions test gave it the green light, we were forced to make a journey farther than our normal 1.5 mile daily jaunt.
Through knocks, heaves, and roars, the Auto Feo dutifully carried us on our route until, a mere .5 miles from home, the Auto Feo froze up.
We feared the worst but in our optimism we had the vehicle towed to our house. We waited for the morning.
The next morning, it started! This truly was a miracle.
Alas, the miracle was that the Auto Feo was simply saying goodbye. For in the evening, when we jumped in to drive it home, the Auto Feo did not immediately respond. A brief heave was all it could muster as we cranked the starter. And then, all was silent.
Our experiment was a failure, the Auto Feo had passed on.
Bank of America has been in the news a lot lately, and for all the wrong reasons. The behemoth is too big to succeed and for every client that is making money, there seem to be two or three who are going bankrupt, leaving B of A to foot the bill.
Although management will never admit it, the Bank is now throwing Hail Marys late in the fourth quarter in a desperate attempt to raise capital. While this is exciting to watch, you probably don’t want to put your money on the team who has resorted to such a desperation tactic.
Returning for one last, painful look at our automobile metaphor, It appears that the FED has decided not to change the oil (i.e. replace member banks’ worthless assets for fresh cash) and the banks will be left to lubricate their engines with the metal shavings as its worthless assets disintegrate on the balance sheet.
How long until B of A seizes up?
Stay tuned and Trust Jesus.
Stay Fresh!
Email: davidminteconomics@gmail.com
Key Indicators for September 1, 2011
Copper Price per Lb: $4.15
Oil Price per Barrel: $88.71
Corn Price per Bushel: $7.29
10 Yr US Treasury Bond: 2.15%
FED Target Rate: 0.08% ON AUTOPILOT, THE FED IS DEAD!
Gold Price Per Ounce: $1,825 PERMANENT UNCERTAINTY
MINT Perceived Target Rate*: 2.00%
Unemployment Rate: 9.1%
Inflation Rate (CPI): 0.5%!!! UP 0.7% IN ONE MONTH, 8.4% ANNUALLY AT THIS PACE!!!
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 11,494 TO THE MOON!!!
M1 Monetary Base: $2,108,800,000,000 RED ALERT!!!
M2 Monetary Base: $9,473,600,000,000 YIKES!!!!!!!
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