One thing I learned on Amand’s campaign that was when looking at the Portland City Council agenda.

Emergency ordinances only get one reading and become effective immediately.  When an item is on the consent agenda it is grouped in with all the items and voted as a block.  I have learned that commissioners rarely look at the consent agenda… unless they want to slip something through.

Take for example this emergency ordinance that will cost the city $35,000

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Categories: Bicycling, Portland politics
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Yesterday I biked down to City Hall to turn in my application to be on the CRC.  While on the steps talking to D on my cell phone Les was walking in.  I only had time to say ‘Hi’, but it was really good to see him.

On the way home I stopped by Free Geek to get some shielded cable and DB25 connectors for the CNC machine.  Free Geek is such a wonderful resource and maturation of Open Source.  It was nice to see all the Ubuntu CD’s gone and the thrift store full of people recycling.

I the rest of the night soldering a protective circuit for the limit switches and getting the pinouts right for the shielded cable.  I was listening to Countdown on MSNBC with Micheal Moore really resonated with me.  People keep their jobs because of health insurance.  I have known many people that loath their jobs and\or employers… yet keep their job only because of health insurance.  His premis was that this stifles people by locking them in a job that they do not like and away from occupations that they could excel in.

Categories: CRC, Free Geek, geek, health care
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