S2L77: Ayutthaya

From 1977 02 11 Thailand

Before there was Bangkok, there was Ayutthaya. The city was founded in 1350 and was the capital of Thailand until sacked by the Burmese in 1767, after which the Thai capital was moved to Bangkok. In recent decades, the ruins of Ayutthaya have been undergoing excavation and restoration. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, four years after my visit.

More photos after the jump.

Straus versus Perry

The opening of the biennial Texas legislative session featured two speeches that could influence what issues the legislature focuses on. Paul Burka of The Texas Monthly highlights the tension between those two speeches.

After the jump, my own take.

Weak Tea in District 102

Two years ago, newly elected Texas state representative Stefani Carter pissed off local Tea Party activists with her support for establishment figure Joe Straus for Speaker of the Texas House. The Dallas Morning News had the story in November, 2010. Carter's support for Straus cost her "TeaApproved" status from the North Texas Tea Party. The Texas Tribune had the story in January, 2011.

It wasn't just that Carter supported Straus (although that would have been bad enough for the Tea Party). It was that, in the Tea Party's view, in public Carter was professing to be uncommitted, but in private she was pledging her support to Joe Straus. As the North Texas Tea Party put it, "Stefani Carter has no problem talking out of both sides of her mouth."

Two years later, where do things stand? After the jump, let's catch up.

Enough with the Belt-Tightening Already

When times are tough, everyone needs to tighten their belts. It's a cliché but everyone agrees with it, right?

"Small businesses and families are tightening their belts. Their government should, too." Who said it? That would be President Barack Obama.

"It's time for government to tighten their belts and show the American people that we 'get' it." Who said it? That would be Speaker of the House John Boehner.

After the jump, what I wish President Obama and Speaker Boehner and every other American would learn.

Boosting LBJ/Skillman

Regular readers of this blog know of my frustration regarding Richardson's incomplete history of trying to redevelop the West Spring Valley corridor, the Main Street downtown area, and especially the neighborhoods surrounding the train stations along DART's Red Line.

Today, I turn your attention to another redevelopment challenge, this one just to Richardson's south in Lake Highlands. The Dallas Morning News has the story:

Construction could begin by late next year -- if additional funding becomes available -- on an overhaul of the confusing intersection between the LBJ Freeway and Skillman Street in Lake Highlands.

Source: The Dallas Morning News.

After the jump, my reaction.

Of Slumlords and Castles

Now that the arbiter of all that's important, The Dallas Morning News, has weighed in on the subject of home rental inspections in Richardson, I guess I have to, too. After all, the license every blogger is required to get specifically insists that he has to have a strong, uncompromising opinion on every subject, no matter how hard it is to get worked up over.

So, after the jump, my obligatory opinions on home rental registration.

S2L77: Bangkok's Floating Market

From 1977 02 11 Thailand

As large and as sprawling as Bangkok is today, hundreds of years ago it was a small trading post on the Chao Phraya River delta. It was built on a network of rivers and canals and was known by Westerners as the Venice of the East. Thirty five years ago, that history was still visible in Bangkok's floating markets. I'm told that the floating markets survive today mostly as tourist destinations.

More photos after the jump.

OTBR: A House Decorated for Christmas in Quebec

Latitude: N 46° 28.758
Longitude: W 071° 32.688
A child on a road trip with his family asks, "Where are we?" and the father answers, "Let's check the map. We're off the blue roads [the Interstate Highways marked in blue on the road atlas]. We're off the red roads [the US and state highways]. We're off the black roads [the county highways]. I think we're off the map altogether." It was always my dream to be off the map altogether.

After the jump, a few of the random places (and I mean random literally) that I visited vicariously last month that are "off the blue roads".

Repeat Tweets: Badgers, Beavers, and Eagles

Repeat tweets from December, 2012:

• 1 Dec 2012: Bucky Badger being tortured with pushups already just in the first half. Oh, the humanity. #B1G #Badgers http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120112aaa.html
  
• 3 Dec 2012: Headline: "Corporate Profit Share of GDP Reaches All-Time High Despite Sharia Socialism." Thanks, Obamacare??? http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2012/12/03/profit_share_of_gdp_corporate_profits_after_tax_are_at_an_all_time_high.html
  
• 6 Dec 2012: Headline: "Caltech Beavers women's basketball team snap 55-game losing skid." Go Beavers. (Really, that's their name.) http://www.pasadenasun.com/sports/pasadenasu-caltech-womens-basketball-team-breaks-streak-20121205
  
• 8 Dec 2012: Final: Dallas Skyline 17, Allen Eagles 37. #txhsfb playoffs
  
• 9 Dec 2012: After denouncing his rape comments, Cornyn secretly OK'd GOP money for Missouri's Todd Akin just before election. http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2012/12/cornyn-and-nrsc-pumped-760k-in-akins-senate-bid-after-all-despite-legitimate-rape-comment.html/
  

After the jump, more repeat tweets.

Armed Forces Bowl: Rice 33, Air Force 14

From 2012 00 Miscellaneous

Saturday, under sunny skies with little wind, which made the mid-40 degree temperature very comfortable, the Rice Owls defeated the Air Force Academy Falcons 33-14 in the 10th annual Armed Forces Bowl at TCU's Amon Carter Stadium. The Rice defense held Air Force to a season-low 214 yards and backup Owl quarterback Driphus Jackson led the Owls to 26 unanswered points in the second half to win going away. Jordan Taylor caught nine passes for 153 yards for Rice to win game MVP honors. Hoot!

From 2012 00 Miscellaneous