OTBR: A Field of Snapdragons in California

Latitude: N 34° 39.288
Longitude: W 120° 26.160

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".

"Full-Fledged, Boot-Licking, Lackeydom"

Offered without comment.

Kevin Chumney, husband of the candidate for Place 4 on the Richardson ISD board of trustees, Rachel Chumney, in a public comment elsewhere on this blog:

Mark: thank you for being so brave in standing up for these poor, defenseless politicians. How dare these parents and kids fight for their legal rights and question their elected officials. It's downright un-American! I have always chalked up your nonsense to the fact that your not very bright, but you've now crossed over to full-fledged, boot-licking, lackeydom.

Source: Kevin Chumney.

Attendance at School Board Meetings

Question: How many school board meetings have you attended in the past two years?

Rachel Chumney: I have attended about three or four board meetings, most of which have been attended since I have filed for office. I have to say I don't think I have been missing much. The board meetings are not very interesting.

Source: RichardsonISDVideo
(starting 25:57).

A runoff election for Place 4 on the Richardson ISD Board of Trustees will happen on June 15 (early voting June 3-11 at Richardson Civic Center). The runoff is between incumbent Lanet Greenhaw and Rachel Chumney. I endorsed Lanet Greenhaw in the joint election on May 11. I endorse her again in the runoff. The question above is one reason why.

If you think that someone who doesn't think school board meetings are interesting, who didn't even attend any school board meetings before deciding to run for school board herself, if you think such a person might not be a good fit for school board trustee, then you might want to look beyond Rachel Chumney for a better candidate.

Look, Rachel Chumney is a nice enough person. She's just not qualified for school board. Don't rely just on the quote I found telling. Listen to Chumney's whole answer (starting 25:57). Then, compare with Lanet Greenhaw's answer (starting 27:15). No contest. Vote for Greenhaw.

• The Dallas Morning News VOTER GUIDE
  
• League of Women Voters of Richardson VOTERS GUIDE
  

---

See also:

• The Other Election: RISD Place 4
  
• Preparation for School Board
  
• Experience with Racial or Religious Minorities
  
• Technology in our Schools
  
• 6th Grade: Elementary School or Middle School?
  
• Advocacy for Public Schools
  
• Managing RISD's $250 Million Budget
  

Mahatma Chumney

Kevin Chumney: "First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win." M. Gandhi

I'm not comparing Rachel to Gandhi (though she has lost a bunch of weight during this campaign), but that quote pretty much sums up our experience with this campaign. We have had several reports of similar personal attacks that would appear to be coordinated. Rachel and her supporters have never made any kind of personal attack on her opponent and have run a positive campaign solely on issues. I think this kind of personal attack speaks for itself.

Source: Facebook.

"Never made any kind of personal attack."
"Have run a positive campaign."
As Seth and Amy might say, Really!?!

Let's have a look, shall we? After the jump.

Technology in our Schools

Question: What are your thoughts concerning how to provide technology upgrades to the schools for classroom instruction?

Rachel Chumney: This is something that I have to admit I need to learn more about. I'm not sure we're lacking in this area. I feel that like on the elementary level which I'm most familiar, we're doing ok. I'm not sure about the junior high level and the high school level.

Source: RichardsonISDVideo
(starting 16:30).

A runoff election for Place 4 on the Richardson ISD Board of Trustees will happen on June 15 (early voting June 3-11 at Richardson Civic Center). The runoff is between incumbent Lanet Greenhaw and Rachel Chumney. I endorsed Lanet Greenhaw in the joint election on May 11. I endorse her again in the runoff. The question above is one reason why.

If you think that someone who admits to not knowing what's happening in junior highs and high schools might not be ready to be school board trustee, then you might want to look beyond Rachel Chumney for a better candidate.

Look, Rachel Chumney is a nice enough person. She's just not qualified for school board. Don't rely just on the quote I found telling. Listen to Chumney's whole answer (starting 16:30). Then, compare with Lanet Greenhaw's answer (starting 18:31). No contest. Vote for Greenhaw.

• The Dallas Morning News VOTER GUIDE
  
• League of Women Voters of Richardson VOTERS GUIDE
  

---

Previously:

• That Other Election: RISD Place 4
  
• Preparation for School Board
  
• Experience with Racial or Religious Minorities
  
• Attendance at School Board Meetings
  
• 6th Grade: Elementary School or Middle School?
  
• Advocacy for Public Schools
  
• Managing RISD's $250 Million Budget
  

Repeat Tweets: NPR Liberal Know-it-all

Repeat tweets from May, 2013:

• 1 May 2013: Overheard: "Mark reminds me of an NPR liberal know it all. You can argue with a know-it-idiot, but it is best not to."
  
• 1 May 2013: RT @SenTedCruz: "In my short tenure, my focus has been on fighting for conservative principles." Conservatives, he's making you look #wacko
  
• 1 May 2013: .@amiromar's latest mailer is the worst. Says @lauramaczka's "apartment policy" envisions Richardson becoming an "inner city." Disgusting.
  

After the jump, more repeat tweets.

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

IMDB

Silver Linings Playbook (2012): Bipolar patient meets flipped out young widow. Somehow it works. Uncomfortable with a happy ending. B+

S2L77: Delhi

From 1977 03 02 India

Finally, Delhi. Usually, when Westerners arrive in Delhi, it's by way of a long flight from somewhere like Frankfurt. Culture shock is huge. The new arrivals are stunned by the exotic sights, sounds and smells, the crowds and chaos of the streets, the poverty, the utter strangeness of everything.

More after the jump.

Experience with Racial or Religious Minorities

Question: What specific experiences have you had with RISD's racial, religious and/or non-English speaking minority communities?

Rachel Chumney: Well, um, that's kind of a challenging question because, um, well I am of a race and I am of a religion, so I have experience there. As far as different races and different religions and I don't know if you can remind me of the other specific categories or not. But I haven't had a whole lot of experience. We live in a little bubble.

Source: RichardsonISDVideo
(starting 6:08).

A runoff election for Place 4 on the Richardson ISD Board of Trustees will happen on June 15 (early voting June 3-11 at Richardson Civic Center). The runoff is between incumbent Lanet Greenhaw and Rachel Chumney. I endorsed Lanet Greenhaw in the joint election on May 11. I endorse her again in the runoff. The question above is one reason why.

If you think that someone who describes herself as living in a "little bubble" inside the largest, most diverse school district in the state might not be ready to be school board trustee, then you might want to look beyond Rachel Chumney for a better candidate.

Look, Rachel Chumney is a nice enough person. She's just not qualified for school board. Don't rely just on the quote I found telling. Listen to Chumney's whole answer (starting 6:08). Then, compare with Lanet Greenhaw's answer (starting 8:31). No contest. Vote for Greenhaw.

• The Dallas Morning News VOTER GUIDE
  
• League of Women Voters of Richardson VOTERS GUIDE
  

---

See also:

• That Other Election: RISD Place 4
  
• Preparation for School Board
  
• Technology in our Schools
  
• Attendance at School Board Meetings
  
• 6th Grade: Elementary School or Middle School?
  
• Advocacy for Public Schools
  
• Managing RISD's $250 Million Budget
  

Liftoff of Rocket Gateway Opening

The Heights Recreation Center in Richardson celebrated its Grand Opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday night. Thank you, Richardson taxpayers, for approving the 2010 bond package. Because of your willingness to reinvest in our city, Richardson will remain a great city to live, work and play.

The most visually striking feature of the new Heights Recreation Center is the old, beloved playground rocket ship now repurposed into the sculpture, "Rocket Gateway." I have to admit it far exceeds my original low expectations. I was wrong. I actually like it. I especially like how its crescent shape evokes an Islamic influence, celebrating the religious diversity in Richardson. ;-)