Boyhood (2014)

IMDB

Boyhood (2014): Clever concept in service of an uncompelling story. Every character is more interesting than the boy. Please, no Oscar. B-

How to Succeed in Business at PHS

How to Succeed in Business at PHS: Great lighting, sound, voices and especially choreography in this old sexist musical. Learn from it kids.

Ill-suited Building

Peter Simek doesn't think much of a building under construction in Dallas. It reminded me of one in Richardson. See if you can identify each.

The very fact that the building sits right next to a DART station demonstrates that:
1) Our light rail system doesn't count as a real public transit, at least not in the eyes of decision makers at companies who want to work in the core. We need to improve public transportation desperately,
2) Market demand is still driving development that is ill-suited to the long range viability and potential of our urban neighborhoods.

Source: FrontBurner.

OTBR: A Multi-armed Saguaro in Arizona

Latitude: N 32° 20.196
Longitude: W 110° 24.588
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".

Sweep: Richardson 64, Berkner 56

From 2015 02 03 Berkner vs Richardson

In District 10-6A action Tuesday night at Richardson High School, the Richardson Eagles men's basketball team defeated the Berkner Rams 64-56. Berkner's Torey Everett led all scorers with 23 points.

With the win, the Eagles sweep the Rams in the season series. More importantly, with this win and a loss by Mesquite to Highland Park (27-26!), the Eagles take sole possession of first place in the district with a record of 9-1.

More photos after the jump.

Repeat Tweets: Boxcar Children at Richardson Public Library

Repeat tweets from January, 2015:

• Jan 1 2015: The Richardson Public Library acquired Kindle editions of the Boxcar Children series of mysteries. Great choice for bedtime stories.
  
• Jan 1 2015: Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon is the man. With 2,587 yards this year, Gordon finished just 41 yards shy of Barry Sanders' all-time NCAA record.
  
• Jan 2 2015: "I'm not suggesting that we're on the verge of fully replaying the 1930s." It's that "fully" that's got me worried. nytimes.com
  
• Jan 2 2015: Auburn Tigers are 0-2 against schools that lost 59-0 this year (Texas A&M and Wisconsin).
  
• Jan 2 2015: "They're going to be holding the Rose Bowl at AT&T Stadium on Jan. 12." Champion of Big Ten vs champion of PAC 12. dallasnews.com
  
• Jan 2 2015: MT @ESPN_CoachMack: "Michigan State's only two losses this year came at the hands of the two teams playing for the national championship."
  
• Jan 2 2015: Final: North Mesquite 57, Berkner 80. It's a great time to be a Ram. #txhshoops
  

After the jump, more repeat tweets.

What's to Show for Revitalization Efforts?

Wendy Hundley of The Dallas Morning News has a story questioning whether there's anything to show for Richardson's revitalization efforts. Actually, she doesn't question it; she quotes some Richardson residents who question the efforts. Then she gives the mayor and city manager an opportunity to dismiss the criticism.

After the jump, unpacking the story.

Little Shop of Horrors at BHS

Little Shop of Horrors at BHS: So much to praise, including orchestra, tech, Audrey II, Mr Yartym, Doo Wop Girls and Audrey's awesome voice.

Showdown: Mesquite 79, Berkner 67

From 2015 01 30 Mesquite vs Berkner

In District 10-6A action Friday night, the Mesquite High School men's basketball team defeated the Berkner Rams 79-67, knocking the Rams out of a first place tie with Mesquite and Richardson. Bummer. But the Berkner Bandolera drill team put on a great halftime show. Come out and support your local school kids. The entertainment is the best value in sports.

More photos after the jump.

Richardson, "Wonderfully Diverse Land of Opportunity"

"Don't read the comments". Always good advice. Still...

After an otherwise too-easy takedown of Sarah Palin by Jim Schutze in Unfair Park (in which he pitches the theory that Texas is becoming the Sarah Palin of states, using the example of the newly elected representative from Belton who wants Texas Muslim visitors to her Capitol office to pledge an oath of allegiance), there was one comment that I just can't help passing along to Richardson readers.

I love Texas. Batshit crazy right-wingers are not Texas. Texas is the wonderfully diverse land of opportunity and the American dream that I see in Richardson, for example, where people have gathered from all over the globe to seek opportunity and better themselves and their families. The crazies like that lady in Belton are like mesquite -- an unfortunate legacy of past mistakes.

Source: Unfair Park.

The commenter was "JimSX," who sounds a lot like Jim Schutze himself, making the comment all the more remarkable as perhaps the first kind thing Schutze has had to say about, not only Richardson, but any Dallas suburb.