Cheated on Chips?

Joan and I had a great lunch last week in Milwaukee. Cafe Dulce is in the Chase building along the River Walk between Wisconsin Avenue and Michigan Street. The food is great and well worth stopping by. My only gripe is that the sandwich comes with a lame bag of potato chips that was really lite on the chips.

Panini at Cafe Dulce
http://www.cafedulce1.com/

Chips at Cafe Dulce
Obsidian Flow (Flickr)

Social Security Ends 2037

For the first time in several decades social security is laying out out more money than it brings in. A recent report indicates the account will be depleted in 2037, when I’m 64. Doh!

Maybe it’s not all doom and gloom though. Check out The myth of the Social Security system’s financial shortfall for a little optimism.

Six Ideas for Improving Downtown Bend – Part 2

downtown, Traverse City, Michigan
Obsidian Flow (Flickr)

4. Install more public artwork. There are some excellent artists in Bend and Oregon. Let’s get their artwork on rotating display in the downtown. Those wider sidewalks will be great for displaying fountains and sculptures.
5. Close down Wall St. and or Bond St. to only bicycle and transit traffic. Taking away the cars and parking is not going to destroy business downtown. Minneapolis, Madison, and Boulder seem to have no problems.
6. Build up to 2-3 stories for all of Bond and Wall streets and have housing in the upper floors. Increasing the density of the living downtown will provide a ready supply of customers for businesses that we all want plus encourage some needed businesses downtown, like small grocery and drug stores.