Washington Business Winter 2012 | Seite 22

washington business The Water Cooler “We’ve been here before ...only to be sucked back into the mire.” — Then-State Economist Arun Raha on the tenuous nature of Washington state’s economic recovery. (1) “The United States is fighting terrorism — one snow cone at a time.” — Headline in a Michigan paper after it was discovered the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission purchased 13 snow cone machines for $11,700. The agency is responsible for managing and administrating the homeland security program for 13 Michigan counties. (2) “If you’re there to get arrested, pipe down and get it done. And no biting.” — Just one of several helpful protesting tips to the “Occupy Olympia” movement from Jim Camden, The Spokesman-Review’s Olympia bureau chief. (3) “President Obama returned home to the U.S. after a nine-day trip to Asia. Yeah. Well, he got to see some stuff he never sees at home, like jobs.” — NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (4) “At one point, a protester suggested maybe they should leave and return when the Senate was in session … But that idea was quickly vetoed.” — Austin Jenkins in his blog, “The Washington Ledge.” reporting on the Occupy Olympia protestors taking over the Washington State Senate galleries. (5) 22 association of washington business