Credit Crisis Creeps Closer

Last week, I spoke too soon when I breathed a sigh of relief and said,

"Now that the federal government has raised the debt ceiling, the risk to Richardson is lessened. The city's Aaa credit rating appears to be safe, at least until the next crisis in Washington."

That didn't take long. Crises in Washington come fast nowadays. Moody's may have reaffirmed the US's Aaa credit rating, but Standard & Poor's went ahead and downgraded its rating of US debt from AAA to AA+.

There are legitimate reasons to question the competency of S&P, but that's not my topic today. I want to focus on the collateral damage being inflicted. After the jump, S&P's spreading damage and the risk to Richardson.

You Can Water on the Twelfth of Never

1916. That's even. That means I can water on even-numbered days, right? That's what the city's announcements said. But not more than once every three days. Huh? Is the combination of those two rules the same thing as once every four days? What's that, you say? Ignore all that? New rules? Now, because of my even address, I can water only on Tuesdays and Saturdays? That's straight from the city, you say? Who am I supposed to believe? The city or the city?

For the record, water conservation is important, despite the impression given by how the city may be bungling its rollout of Stage 2 water restrictions. The latest word on restrictions, which I believe the city will stick with, is that odd addresses can water on Wednesdays and Sundays. Even addresses can water on Tuesdays and Saturdays. No watering is allowed between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

If confusion still leads you to get one of those $150 citations, be sure to tell your lawyer about the city's mixed messages during the rollout of these new restrictions. It might help.

Two-a-Days: A Game Plan for Trouble

Let's take our eyes off the roller coaster stock ticker for a minute and talk about something else that can make your heart stop -- literally. Surely you know that Texas is in the midst of a killer heat wave. That's why I was left chilled when Lake Highlands Today (@LHToday) tweeted:

"With the start of two-a-days, the 2011 Wildcat football campaign is now officially underway. GO 'CATS! bit.ly/npcuVZ"

The excitement is misguided. Football two-a-day drills are a relic of an age when abusing your body was considered proof that you were tough enough for football. And what is more abusive than to overwork a body in extreme summer heat, then do it a second time the same day, before the body has time to recover?

After the jump, a new look at the unsafe practice of summer two-a-days.

83 And Under

The Health Department of the City of Richardson conducts inspections of restaurants on a regular basis. The department publishes the results for all to see. According to the city, "Scores are based on a scale of zero to 100. A score of 90 to 100 is excellent; 80 to 89 is good; 70 to 79 is acceptable; and 60 to 69 is marginal."

It's rare for any restaurant to be scored below "acceptable." Most are good or even excellent. Many achieve a perfect 100 score. After the jump, a list of under achievers.

Counting Trees

The City of Richardson has a goal of planting 50,000 trees in its 28 square miles. Impossible? Maybe. Or maybe not. That's a question for another post.

Today, I want to discuss how we'll count all those trees being planted as part of the "Tree the Town" program. 1, 2, 3, ..., 50,000. Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy, right? Maybe. Or maybe not.

After the jump, how another city is counting its own trees and the many benefits of the effort. Maybe Richardson ought to consider upgrading its own efforts in this area. (Hint to Amir Omar: think of an app as cool as RunKeeper, but for trees.)