The Wandering Eye

There is rejoicing today all over Duckdom: The University of Oregon football team is ranked Number 1 in the nation for the first time in history, and stands at Number 2 (behind Oklahoma) in the season’s first BCS standings.
Following last week’s upset of Ohio State by Wisconsin, the undefeated Ducks edged Ohio State out of the top spot in all three major polls – USA Today coaches’ poll, Harris Poll and Associated Press poll.

Jonathan Heiliger, Facebook’s vice president for technical operations, was in town yesterday, and he said an astonishing thing.
“I think Bend has the potential to be as good as Palo Alto – if not better,” Heiliger told the crowd at the Bend Venture Conference.

Democrats are crowing and Republicans are harrumphing over the new Forbes magazine list  of the best states for business, which ranks Oregon at Number 6.
An even nastier pill for Republicans and others who predicted grass would grow in the streets after passage of Measures 66 and 67 was that Oregon actually jumped four spots in the ratings, from 10th place last year.

T.A.

The Oregonian’s Rachel Bachman has written an investigative report that ought to make even the most diehard supporters of the green and gold see red.
It seems the University of Oregon athletic department’s claim that it’s financially self-sufficient is a few yards shy of the truth.

Steve Duin’s column about Greg Oden in The Oregonian last week is going to make a lot of Oregonians mad – and not just Greg Oden fans.
Oden, you may recall, is the center who was acquired as a first-round draft pick with much fanfare (and a great many dollars) by the Portland Trail Blazers back in 2007.

Bend has made another of those “Top 10” lists, but this time it isn’t about skiing or mountain biking. Forbes magazine has proclaimed it one of “America’s Best Small Cities for Business and Careers.

So the first – and probably last – televised debate between John Kitzhaber and Chris Dudley is over. Who won? As usual, that depends on who you talk to.

The “video activist” who got into a fracas with John Kitzhaber supporters at a Portland Urban League event last week has been identified, and – brace yourself for a shock! – he’s linked with the Tea Party movement.
Oregonian political reporter Jeff Mapes writes that police are looking into a complaint by Daniel Sandini, 48, of Southwest Portland that he was assaulted while attempting to film the Democratic governor candidate’s speech.

This one is too funny to pass up.
Carla Axtman, one of Blue Oregon’s contributors, has posted on her Facebook page a photo of a phony lawn sign that she says is appearing around Lake Oswego.