“Depth sounding refers to the act of measuring depth; it is often referred to simply as sounding. Sounding is finding the depth of a given point in a body of water.”

Welcome back aboard, Shreveport-Bossier, to Sounding Off! This is a completely unscientific and shallow measurement of our area’s political and social flotsam and jetsam, and the aggregate effect it has on our quality of life. Celebrate, me hearties! After several months of well-deserved rehab shore leave, we return to answer the Siren’s Call. Or rather, the Siren’s Text Message; evolutionary selective pressure has rendered call answering a vestigial leftover in our species, sort of like the appendix, or the parts of our brain dedicated to long division. However! our sea legs are back under us, the mainsail is hoisted, and the nav system is set to Trump. “Listen, I’ll be so good at the directions it’ll make your head spin! I’ve sailed many, many seas, and let me tell you – we’re losing to Hispaniola, we’re losing to The Barbary, but I know how to parlay like no one else! I’ve parlayed with Red Beard, Black Beard, Yellowbeard, Plaid Beard, The Bearded Lady (who’s very beautiful by the way, a great lady, very talented), all the Beards, and I got the best deal from every one one of them…. oh, uh, take the left at this next atoll…”

You totally read that in Donald Trump’s voice.

Last Mark: 11 Feet

Thanks to the leadership of Council-mensch Jeff Everson, and the efforts and outcries of many Shreveport residents, Little Free Libraries are legal and unencumbered by unnecessary fees and burdensome regulation. The Shreveport City Council and the Metropolitan Planning Commission – after eight long, painful, arduous, bloody months – finally answered “Uh, yeah alright” to the free exchange of literature on private property. And the Republic still stands! We’ve heard a rumor that The Times will be making old, unused newspaper dispensers freely available for use by registered LFLs; we’ll be sure to get back to you with confirmation. Either way, though maybe not as quickly or as ‘let’s not go nationally viral with this’ -y as we’d like, the system works. +1 Foot

Late summer to mid-autumn seems to be the season for the SBC to show the world our best. We’ve just come off a stretch of several weeks of festivals, entertainment, showcases, and expos which speak to our regional and national position as a hub of sincere, honest-to-God talent, creativity, innovation, and culture. Between the Prize Family (Film, Music, Start Up, and Food), Red River Revel, DigiFest, Highland Jazz & Blues Festival, Stan Lewis Festival, CoCreative, 40 Under 40, and dozens of balls, fundraisers, and spin-off events, we’re doing a better job of advancing civic pride and visibility than we have in some time around here.* Most importantly, we are making the argument to ourselves, and we are the ones who need to hear it most. We’re good enough, we’re smart enough, and doggonit, people like us! +2 Feet

*Disclosure: So as to avoid any appearance of favoritism, I am an organizer of DigiFest, and I was selected for 40 Under 40 this year. Deal with it.

You know, I was going to write a longish paragraph about a certain Parish Commissioner who, despite facing a 12 count federal indictment, still managed to make the runoff for that Commission seat. But… is anyone really surprised? Or even the least bit put off? This is Louisiana, let’s be honest: we’ve all seen much worse, and most of us are less disappointed by the actual infraction alleged than by the ABSOLUTELY EMBARRASSINGLY PALTRY AMOUNT OF MONEY AT THE CENTER OF THE ALLEGATIONS. I mean, c’mon. If you’re gonna do some dirt, at least try to be respectable and get your money’s worth out of it. The voters will have the final say in the matter on Saturday, November 21st. Well, besides the federal prosecutors… Push

Forecast: 14 Feet

A chill is in the morning air now. The sun sets too soon. Han Solo season approaches. Somewhere, a junior account executive orders a pumpkin spice martini. A wolf howls in the distance. Ted Cruz howls in the distance. Yet the seas are calm. For now. Back to work, ye scurvy dogs! We mean that in the nicest way possible! Please don’t report this to HR.