Siftings
Apr
14
Death and Taxes
The best idea I ever had was someone else’s. I got it from the back page of the American Planning Association’s monthly magazine. A stolen idea. From the last page of an APA mag. That makes me a thief, a planning nerd and one of just seventeen people who ever made it to the back page without...
Mar
25
Consumption
How many Ferraris has this wall consumed? In two days at Sonoma Raceway, I know of two. The durable goods of Maranello, at play in the land of the fancy winos, are a symphony howling around the track. Until the crunch of carbon fiber meeting concrete interrupts the crescendo. The late sixty...
Mar
25
Craig’s Friday Countdown 2016 Lala Names
The 2016 Lalapalooza line-up gets announced, which spurs the annual ranking of band names at the fest. This year, I’ve researched what the bands called themselves before settling on their current name.
18. A Guy Who Says Hello --> The Greeting Committee
17. 12/31/74 --> The...
Mar
20
Pair of Aces
Right door, wrong rig. I’m an idiot could be one explanation. Another could be that Engine 6211 and 6212 look exactly alike, and 6212 is on the Fire Station apron while 6211 is still in the station when the alarm goes off. Training on the enclosed space entry equipment comes to an abrupt end as...
Mar
18
Craig’s Friday Countdown - ELDP Prep
The ICMA informs me I’ve been matched with an Emerging Leaders Development Program participant and will soon receive an e-mail introducing my mentee. This gets me to laying in a supply of helpful, mentor-type things to say:
28. My outbox = your inbox. There are other systems. There is no...
Mar
15
Shadows
They want a tuberculosis test. Were I inclined to panic attacks, that would be the trigger. I thus begin the department head meeting with a question; where can I find the closest licensed health care professional to fill out my TB assessment form? Varied perspectives on how sick I’ll get by...
Mar
13
Thou Shall Count To Three
“Like you got a pair.” The instructions on how to shout fire in the hole are simple enough for a city manager (with either testes or ovaries) to follow. Shout it three times and push the button – hard – for three seconds. It seems the shift will end with a bang. A shaped charge of C4 to cut the...
Mar
11
Craig’s Friday Countdown Pretty Ponies
Best Mustang Colors
10. Wimbeldon White
9. Silver Frost
8. Kona Blue (GT500 in it's natural setting)
7. Hertz (the loud and fast ones)
6. Legend Lime
5....
Mar
02
Remain In Light
“Let’s go off the record”. A fourth estater stops by the office with questions. The door’s open, no appointment necessary. Question. Answer / smile. Negative question. Answer / smile. Slightly more negative question. Answer / smile. Even more negative question. Answer / I can do this...
Feb
26
Craig’s Friday Countdown - You Go We Go
Dexter Fowler returns to what has to be the best spot to earn a living on the planet for a season that is loaded with possibility. The Countdown below lists all the MLB teams with more weaponry than Joe Maddon has at his disposal.
