Jack Bog's Blog http://bojack.org/ by Jack Bogdanski of Portland, Oregon en Copyright 2012 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:49:25 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Honeymoon's over at Umpqua Bank It's been two years since we pulled our banking business out of Chase Bank. We were gratified to get those thieving magpies out of our life. And we found a nice local bank, Umpqua Bank from Roseburg, who made us feel quite at home. Not only was our checking free, with no minimum balance, but we got 2% interest on the checking balance, free ATM use at other banks, and for a while they would even throw $10 a month into a savings account if we'd agree to put $50 a month in there ourselves and keep a $200 savings balance. We had to get a paperless monthly statement and use our debit card 10 times a month, but neither of those was a big deal. "Hip" checking, they called it. We knew it wouldn't last forever -- especially the $10 deposit part, which had an explicit, set expiration date -- but now all the other goodies are gone too. Yesterday Umpqua broke the news to us that unless we're willing to commit to an average monthly balance of $500, we'll be stripped down to a no-fee, non-interest-bearing checking account with no ATM freebies at other banks. That's kind of a drag, but the worst part of the notice was the way they handled the transition. Unless we told them otherwise, they were going to throw us into an account with a $15 monthly fee unless we kept a $2,500 balance. That would have been a nasty surprise, and it seems heavy-handed on their part to make that the default rule if the customer didn't call in and stop it. We did call, of course, and we got a nice person on the phone who said she moved us into the no-fee, no-minimum account. But suddenly our friendly neighborhood bank feels much like the big, bad banks we were trying to avoid. And so now we'll have to regard them with some suspicion. We have a feeling that another bad shoe will drop before too long.]]> http://bojack.org/2012/02/honeymoons_over_at_umpqua_bank.html http://bojack.org/2012/02/honeymoons_over_at_umpqua_bank.html Business Consumer Oregon Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:49:25 -0800 Belt and suspenders Surely there are many other dangerous spots in the city where one or the other of those tools could have been deployed. But for the bureaucratic mind, that thought would make too much sense.]]> http://bojack.org/2012/02/belt_and_suspenders.html http://bojack.org/2012/02/belt_and_suspenders.html City of Portland Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:44:06 -0800 We're no. 13! this study, Oregon's not so bad when it comes to the business tax climate. We're right behind Delaware and just ahead of Tennessee. The big contributing factor in our favor: no sales tax. In contrast, it's not a good place to die.]]> http://bojack.org/2012/02/were_no_13.html http://bojack.org/2012/02/were_no_13.html National Oregon Taxes Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:40:13 -0800 If TurboTax calls, don't answer warns users that it's being impersonated by evildoers.]]> http://bojack.org/2012/02/if_turbotax_calls_dont_answer.html http://bojack.org/2012/02/if_turbotax_calls_dont_answer.html Crime National Taxes Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:41:13 -0800 End is near for us and Tri-Met breathtaking. Now the good old no. 9 -- the only bus that still goes downtown from our neighborhood -- won't go down there any more. We're supposed to transfer to the crime train or the Crazy 8 at Lloyd Center. Yeah, right. Anybody want our leftover tickets? We've got two 1-zones, a 2-zone, and five all-zone tickets lying around for the taking. Once these changes take effect, we won't be riding Tri-Met, ever again. A perfectly good transit system has finally been destroyed. Way to go, Fred Hansen, wherever you are! Give our love to Neil Goldschmidt the next time you're kissing his ring. The fact that there is not a massive uprising against the people running Portland right now indicates to us that there's something seriously wrong with this town. The corruption runs too deep. It's a real shame that the boomers don't feel as though they owe it to their kids and grandkids to wake up and step up.]]> http://bojack.org/2012/02/trimet_longterm_plan_slash_goo.html http://bojack.org/2012/02/trimet_longterm_plan_slash_goo.html Portland Metro Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:49:41 -0800 Will Congress derail Mystery Train to Milwaukie? only hope. (And another nice job getting both sides of that story, Andy!)]]> http://bojack.org/2012/02/will_congress_derail_mystery_t.html http://bojack.org/2012/02/will_congress_derail_mystery_t.html National Portland Metro Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:43:10 -0800 More legislative goodness from Salem Re: Oregon Senate Bill 1521 What in the hell does Oregon need a "Board of Commercial Interior Design" for? Oh, I see: so the maniacs can establish a "Board of Commercial Interior Design Fund." Naturally, it's "an emergency." Can't have "interior decorator services" performed by someone who's not "registered." Subpoena powers, civil penalties, and a list of barriers to decorators and decorator companies with less than 10 years' experience. A job-crusher and the type of trust-enabler that would have Teddy Roosevelt getting back on his charger. This is the state that can't properly regulate midwives, but it's all over interior designers?]]> http://bojack.org/2012/02/more_legislative_goodness_from.html http://bojack.org/2012/02/more_legislative_goodness_from.html Business Oregon Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:46:59 -0800 MAX muggers strike just before 6 a.m. on a Wednesday On the train, at the Rose Quarter. They get up early to rob you these days.]]> http://bojack.org/2012/02/max_muggers_strike_just_before.html http://bojack.org/2012/02/max_muggers_strike_just_before.html City of Portland Crime Law Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:05:28 -0800 Portland "urban renewal" abuse enters new phase "neighborhood prosperity initiative," brainchild of the Sam Rand Twins and some bobbleheads at the Portland Development Commission. Satellite urban renewal, micro-urban renewal, it's all a ripoff. This city can't fix a pothole, but it sure can build junk apartments.]]> http://bojack.org/2012/02/portland_urban_renewal_abuse_r.html http://bojack.org/2012/02/portland_urban_renewal_abuse_r.html Business City of Portland Taxes Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:45:06 -0800 Vestas chair, vice chair, and CFO quit as losses worsen [UPDATED, 8:40 a.m.] The Danish wind energy outfit is coming apart at the seams. But that headquarters building in the Pearl District of Portland is going to be wonderful. For someone.]]> http://bojack.org/2012/02/vestas_cfo_quits_as_losses_wor.html http://bojack.org/2012/02/vestas_cfo_quits_as_losses_wor.html Business City of Portland Environment Taxes Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:03:13 -0800 Shoot unarmed man in back? Standard procedure for Portland cops. stunning, really. Maxine Bernstein of the O writes:
Officer Nathan Voeller, a lead defensive tactics instructor, was ready to testify that Portland officers are trained that they're not required to see a gun before using lethal force if the officer believes the suspect poses an immediate risk of death or serious injury. "They are trained they need to be preemptive," Voeller was to testify, according to a trial memorandum filed by Frashour's lawyer. According to the document, Portland police are taught that if they wait to see a person pull or point a firearm, they won't be able to react fast enough before the suspect fires. Chamberlain planned to testify that Campbell did not react to Lewton's beanbag shots in a "typical fashion," and "that moving his hands towards or into his waistband while running towards hard cover (a car) was indicative of the intent to pull a handgun." Officer Ryan Coffey, the bureau's lead defensive tactics instructor, was to testify Portland police are taught not to allow potentially armed suspects to "secure hard cover," the document said. Further, police are taught that suicidal people are "frequently homicidal," the instructors were to testify. Former defensive tactics instructor Todd Engstrom was to point out that Frashour's sole focus as the officer with an AR-15 rifle was to provide "lethal cover."
This really needs to be fixed, and the people running for City Council need to be pressured into make a firm commitment to fix it. We're ashamed to live in a city where this is what goes on.]]> http://bojack.org/2012/02/shoot_unarmed_man_in_the_back.html http://bojack.org/2012/02/shoot_unarmed_man_in_the_back.html City of Portland Crime Law Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:23:23 -0800 First Komen scapegoat departs others.]]> http://bojack.org/2012/02/first_komen_scapegoat_departs.html http://bojack.org/2012/02/first_komen_scapegoat_departs.html Health National Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:39:29 -0800 Stay the course
]]> http://bojack.org/2012/02/stay_the_course.html http://bojack.org/2012/02/stay_the_course.html Portland Metro Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:16:45 -0800 Joy to you and me only 11% this coming year! All right! And what are we getting for our money? Cleaner water? Better water? It seems as though we're getting a lot of mega-pork projects that aren't needed. Burying reservoirs that don't need to be buried. Planning treatment systems that don't need to be built. Why are we doing these things? Besides the fact that you-know-who says so? For the money they're blowing, you could probably replace the lead pipes in tens of thousands of houses within the city limits. Keep a lot of plumbers and sheet rock people employed, too. But no. The money all goes to some sweetheart engineers and contractors in big corporations with big talk and big blueprints. They want to own the water systems eventually, and wait 'til you see the bill you pay then. Already the city bureaucrats are urging us to compare our water bills with our cable TV and phone bills -- two of the ultimate ripoffs. Eventually you'll pay Pepsi to take a shower. For now, just pungle up your 11% extra and try not to think too much about it. Have you toured the Water House yet?]]> http://bojack.org/2012/02/joy_to_you_and_me.html http://bojack.org/2012/02/joy_to_you_and_me.html City of Portland Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:42:42 -0800 Press release meter reset state politician press release meter that we find irresistible. This year, with John Kroger retiring from public office due to a mystery illness, he may slow down enough to give one of his former rivals for the governorship a shot at the title. Anyway, here are the results for January. Ted Wheeler's making a run at top honors:
But of course, there's a long way to go until year-end.]]> http://bojack.org/2012/02/press_release_meter_reset.html http://bojack.org/2012/02/press_release_meter_reset.html Media Oregon Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:49:30 -0800