Portland City Hall + computers = (Jack Bog's Blog)

Meter updates every 30 seconds. Click here for
an instant update.
Our complete Portland debt series linked here.

Clearance sale
The bojack bumper sticker -- only $1.50!

To order, click here.

Search this site

... or let Google look around our site -- including comments:

Custom Search

Excellent tunes -- free! And on your browser right now. Just click on Radio Bojack!

E-mail us here.

About

This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on January 26, 2012 4:36 PM. The previous post in this blog was They wouldn't have been "Lost" without him. The next post in this blog is Andre, we hardly knew ye. Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

Clippings

E-mail, Feeds, 'n' Stuff

E-mail me

[What is this?]

« They wouldn't have been "Lost" without him | Main | Andre, we hardly knew ye »

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Portland City Hall + computers =

You guessed it.

Posted at 4:36 PM | Permalink

Comments (17)

A computerized system from a company in...Louisiana? Doesn't instill me with confidence.

Posted by dg | January 26, 2012 4:44 PM

An email went out last week requesting City employees update their info so that we would get the emergency alert. I immediately went into the database and made sure my number was NOT listed.

I will note that the O's article is incorrect. Supposedly only 2100 people were notified, and it was just City employees with names starting with A, B or C. Even if that included both first and/or last names, I think that number is probably closer to 300-500.

I did get a phone call about that time from an unidentified source. I rejected the call, and in talking to fellow co-workers, most everyone doesn't answer unknown phone calls. Wonder if that played a part as well.

And, as someone else said - after Katrina, do you really want to do business from a company from Louisiana?

Posted by umpire | January 26, 2012 4:45 PM

So, who ya gonna call? Contractbusters!

Posted by Mojo | January 26, 2012 4:47 PM

All 2,100 people are city employees whose contact information was stored on a city database and whose last names began with A, B or C.

As "umpire" notes above, this seems wildly off. How many employees does the city have if there are 2,100 in the category of those with a last name beginning with A, B, and C?

Posted by Dave J.. | January 26, 2012 4:50 PM

Sure 1% success rate sounds bad. But it's still comes out to like a B+, graded on the CoP curve.

Posted by Alex | January 26, 2012 4:51 PM

Dave J - the 2,100 were subscribers in Portland - not exclusively city employees.

Posted by Leaving | January 26, 2012 5:13 PM

You know what almost always worked? Air raid sirens. Cheap, effective, indiscriminate.

Unfortunately since they are not linked with iPhones and Wi-Fi internet access, they aren't cool.

Posted by Erik H. | January 26, 2012 5:22 PM

I wondered what they did with the Water Bureau billing computer.

Posted by Steve | January 26, 2012 5:43 PM

Bet if we spent another 250 million we could see 2%.
Government good, businesses baaaaaaaaad.

Posted by fancypants | January 26, 2012 6:05 PM

fancypants--

Please note that the "system" was obtained from a private business.

No city folks wrote code or assembled servers.

Yes, in this instance, "business baaaaad".

Please do try to keep up.

Posted by Nonny Mouse | January 26, 2012 6:22 PM

Even funnier - the "system" is 18 months old and it still fails to function as planned...

I think Bill McDonald could get some comedy gold out of this event..

Posted by Dave A. | January 26, 2012 7:04 PM

the "system" is 18 months old and it still fails to function as planned

Oh, get real. It crapped out. Every year-and-a-half-old does it. That's why Pampers™ are such big sellers - and why a lot of Portlanders have had about enough of Sammy and his friends screwing around with the garbage system.

Posted by Max | January 26, 2012 7:19 PM

So....since we are such smart folks we made sure that the contract we signed had a decent SLA (Service Level Agreement).

With this failed test 18 months into it we get our money back for year 1 from the vendor, right? RIGHT????

Never mind.

Posted by Bingo | January 26, 2012 8:37 PM

I am shocked simply shocked the CoP has had yet another failure on a computer project. Wait, maybe I should be shocked if there ever got it right...

Posted by LucsAdvo | January 26, 2012 10:26 PM

Nonny Mouse-- Once again the bureaucrat hands over millions in tax dollars probably to the highest bidder, receives his kickback and its all good. BTW,anybody know if Mr. McCoy has sued for wrongful discharge yet? No worries, city has lots to spend.

Posted by fancypants | January 26, 2012 11:09 PM

Funny how I haven't seen Amanda Fritz' name anywhere. Isn't that her bureau?

I think I just heard Mary Nolan let out a "When Harry Met Sally" scream.

Posted by Garage Wine | January 27, 2012 7:04 AM

Can we get a notification system to let us know when these clowns have left and the city is safe again?

(This comment in no way is implied to denigrate clowns- unless they choose to pretend to be elected officials who don't mind flushing another $200K down the rat-hole of suspect projects)

Posted by Ralph Woods | January 27, 2012 10:19 AM

In Vino Veritas

Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
Cameron, Chardonnay
B.R. Cohn, Cabernet, Silver Label 2006
Graffigna, Cabernet 2005
Palo Alto, Reserve Red 2008
Menguante, Garnacha 2008
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Felsina Berardenga, Vin Santo 1997
Anne Amie, Pinot Gris 2009
McKinley Springs, Bombing Ramge Red 2007
Vieux Papes Red
Dionysius Chardonnay 2009
Haden Fig, Pinot Noir 2009
Vega Montan, Mencia 2008
Chateau la Vernede, Coteaux du Languedoc 2007
Mount Defiance, Hellfire (White) 2008
Root: 1, Cabernet 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Pinot Grigio 2009
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 White, 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 Rose, 2007
Abacela, Grenache Rose 2009
Avia Cabernet 2004
Lemelson Pinot Noir, Thea's Selection 2007
Chateau de la Roulerie, Rose d'Anjou 2009
Casal Garcia, Vinho Verde Rose
La Ferme Julien, Rose 2008
Cana's Feast, Bricco Red, 2006
Hogue, Genesis Merlot, 2008
Owen Roe, Sharecropper's Cabernet, 2008
Kim Crawford, Unoaked Chardonnay 2008
J. Scott, Pinot Noir 2008
Edmunds St. John, White, Heart of Gold 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2006
Stevenot, Cabernet, Sierra Foothills, "Stanford" 2000
Portuga, Vinho Rose 2009
Taylor Fladgate, First Estate Reserve Porto
Franciscan, Cabernet, Napa 2006
Chaparral de Vega Sindoa, Garnacha 2008
Quinta da Aveleda, Vinho Verde 2008
St. Francis, Chardonnay Sonoma 2008
E. Guigal, Cotes du Rhone Blanc, 2007
Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Noir 2008
St. Innocent, Pinot Noir 2006
Jigsaw, Pinot Noir 2007
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Indian Wells 2007
Charles Shaw, Chardonnay 2008
Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Rosé 2009
Cameron, Willamette Valley Chardonnay
Il Valore, Sangiovese, Giovane, Puglia 2008
Duck Pond, Chardonnay, Wahluke Slope 2007
Kim Crawford, Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008
Domaine du Pesquier, Cotes du Rhone 2005
Cantina Zaccagnini, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006
Domaine Matrot, Chardonnay, Bourgogne 2007
David Hill, Oregon Sparkling Wine, Brut
Chandler Reach, Monte Regalo 2006
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2008
Kirkland, Columbia Valley Merlot 2008
D'Aragon, Old Vine Garnacha 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2005
Pavin & Riley, Merlot 2006
David Hill, Estate Pinot Noir, Barrel Select 2006
Castle Rock, Paso Robles Cabernet 2006
Magnificent, Cabernet, Steak House 2008
Conundrum 2008
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1998
Saint Cosme, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
La Granja, Tempranillo 360, 2008
Santa Rita, Mendalla Real Cabernet 2006
Columbia Crest, Grand Estates Merlot 2006
Andezon, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
Collegiata, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Troon, Druid's Fluid 2008
La Granja, Tempranillo 2008
Monte Antico, Toscana 2006
Vieux Papes, Blanc de Blancs

The Occasional Book

Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
David Sedaris - Holidays on Ice
Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 54
At this date last year: 50
Total run in 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269