Either Bendites really like the Dogwood at the Pineshed or the interest in the Hawthorne Bridge project is very high. Because there’s a lot of people at the project open house. I suppose that’s a good thing.

Here’s a cheesecake.

Just got back from a week in Reno and gotta say, that city’s downtown is hurting. Several big casinos shuttered and lots of homeless in the streets, many showing signs of fentanyl use. Not good. Wonder if Las Vegas is the same?

The Commons, downtown Bend.

Cool replica Sturgeon-class submarine featured in the Redmond, OR Veterans Day Parade. Sub was built by members of Central Oregon SubVets group.

Veterans Day 2025. I normally make the 2-block walk down to the local veterans memorial park to attend the brief ceremony but this year I debated doing it. Didn't want to listen to the reading of the president's proclamation. I went anyway. Fortunately traffic noise drowned out the speaker's words.

Great time at one of the better annual events in Bend: the Think Wild Chili Cook-off. 2nd year for this event. Lots of folks enjoying good chili to support a worthy non-profit organization.

I'm nearing my 70th year on the planet. I had hoped by this time that in announcing the election of two US governors, it would not be newsworthy to point out they are both female. We still have a long way to go in that regard.

I recommend A House of Dynamite (Netflix), directed by Kathryn Bigelow. It portrays events after an ICBM is detected heading towards the US, how the folks tasked with responding do so. While watching, imagine it's real and this administration is the one responding. Some Halloween horror for you.

The Cascades are out there on the horizon. View from atop Sand Rock in the Lost Forest Research Area east of Christmas Valley. The Lost Forest is known for its anomalous ponderosa pines growing many miles from where they should be.

Summer Lake, OR as viewed from The Playa looking north. Awfully big burn going on in the hills towards Christmas Valley. Dark smoke at the source.

You know what annoys me? A lot of things but today it includes well-meaning folks answering questions online concerning subjects for which they have little expertise or experience. Such as whether Oregon gay marriage legality will be threatened if SCOTUS overturns Obergefell.

Having a beer at Worthy downtown. Noticed this sign.

Every project in the woodshop involves a learning experience. I decided to make another slide box but this time using my box joint jig. Previous boxes had miter joints. I didn’t properly consider how the sliding piece would work with box joints so had to improvise mid-project. Worked out ok.

Standing on a goddamned street corner, again. Or I will be shortly. Right now I’m with what looks like half the population of Bend in Drake Park. No Kings!

Went out past Santiam Pass to check out fall colors. Great weather once over the pass. Colors were nice but not Appalachian Mtns nice. I stopped in at Fish Lake historical site just off 126. I had no idea it was there! Very cool and I need to go back and hike the lake bed, which is dry now.

This weekend I installed a pass-through power connector for use with the portable generator. Improves on the previous plan of running an extension cord outside through a propped open door. Winter is coming.

We live with wildfire danger in Oregon so it’s interesting to venture into a burn area (after the firefighting is done!) to experience closeup the destruction. I’m particularly amazed at the layer of fine dust left behind. Like moon dust, I imagine. Photo of the Flat Fire north of Sisters, OR.

Got a Covid and flu shot Friday. Saturday was a bit rough but I pulled through. Needless to say (but I will anyway) any temporary discomfort is totally worth the protection you get from vaccines. All vaccines. Yay medical science.

I’m a golf fan and used to like watching the Ryder Cup. Not anymore. Because of the American fans’ continued boorishness, I’m not only not watching but I’m rooting for the Europeans to win.

Today - Sept 25, 2025 - is a square day. The day, month and year are all perfect squares. Next one is in 91 years so celebrate accordingly.

It’s Fat Bear Week!

The mango Mussolini has threatened to invade Afghanistan if the Taliban don’t return control of Bagram air base to the US. For those currently serving in the military that still support this pos, is that what you voted for? You want another deployment to Afghanistan?

If this immigration incident with South Korea blows up, Trump may decide to abandon our treaty obligations, leaving the country open to invasion from the north. The US Army is pretty much the only thing stopping that right now.

Been a Democrat more of less a lifetime. Attending my first Democratic Party meeting today.

Attended the first part of today’s meeting of the Deschutes County committee to recommend County Commissioner map districts. I learned one thing: I really need to get a hearing aid. My interest was in the public comments but couldn’t make out half of what was said. 🤷🏻‍♂️🦻

Standing on a damned street corner, again.

I’ve been thinking about the current state of the federal government. Is there *any* agency that we can still rely on to function in a reasonable manner? Coast Guard? NRC? Corps of Engineers? I’m thinking no, there isn’t.

Bought a new car recently. Although not expensive as cars go, it has a lot of safety features including front and rear cameras. It even has radar to detect nearby objects! But what it doesn’t have and I don’t understand why: a dash cam. It would be trivial to add that function to the cameras.

My favorite sculpture in Seattle’s Olympic Sculpture Park. By Richard Serra.

Standing on a goddamned street corner, again.

After 8 months on this platform, I'm wondering if it's worth my time. I'm not here to gain followers (hell, I don't even know probably 120 of the 144 people who inexplicably decided to follow me) but I do expect folks to engage in reasoned discourse. It's not happening.

I had a humorous thought: assuming we’re allowed to have an election in 2028, will the Democratic candidate insist on debates? Seems like a thing of a bygone era. Back when the two parties both put legitimate candidates forward.

John Lewis was my Congressman when I lived in Atlanta.

Spent some time in a research forest, the HJ Andrews. Scientists are conducting various long-term ecological studies. A large portion of the forest burned in recent years, altering but halting the studies.

Happy Canada Day to our northern friends!

We’re halfway through the Give ‘Em Hell Tour, but we’re not slowing down! Redmond, you’re up! I’ll be at Ridgeview High School this Saturday at 11:00AM. I hope you’ll join me!

Ever had a dried salted plum in a cocktail? First for me. Pretty good margaritas at Dogwood. Located on 2nd Street, Bend. For those worried about the perceived ‘sketchiness’ of the area, don’t be.

Skylight Cave, Deschutes National Forest.

Bought a local jigsaw puzzle.

Out here standing on the street corner, again. FDT

As a career nuclear industry guy, my confidence is largely based on a strong independent regulatory agency. The NRC is one of the most effective agencies we have. Maybe not anymore. apnews.com/article/nucl... Trump fires Democratic commissioner of independent agency that oversees nuclear safety

I mentioned that the shootings might have been an effort to throw the Minnesota legislature to GOP control. The House was tied and the Senate has a 1 vote Dem majority. However, while the House is 1-vote GOP now, the Legislature is not in session until Feb 2026, well after any special election.

Great turnout in Bend for No Kings protest.

It’s Flag Day.

LA, 1937.