A Round of Applause for RISD Insurance

The Richardson ISD is not perfect (no one is), but it's willing to correct its mistakes when they are pointed out. That's worthy of notice and applause.

When I first looked at the issue of school districts leaving its student athletes on the hook for thousands of dollars in doctor and hospital bills for injuries suffered while playing sports for their schools, the RISD was one of five out of sixty five in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that did not provide catastrophic insurance for its student athletes. As I said then, "Richardson ISD?!? No coverage? Seriously?"

Now, the RISD has corrected that egregious oversight. According to The Dallas Morning News, the RISD added a catastrophic insurance policy that will take effect before the 2014-15 school year. Three cheers for the RISD!

So be true to your school now
Just like you would to your girl or guy
Be true to your school now
And let your colors fly
Be true to your school

Source: The Beach Boys.

Something in the Air (2012)

IMDB

Something in the Air (2012): Paris 1971. Rebellious teen drawn to revolution, art, love. Seeks purpose. Not my life story but I relate. A-

Review: A Short History of Nearly Everything

Amazon

From A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson:

That to me remained the greatest of all amazements -- how scientists work things out. How does anybody know how much the Earth weighs or how old its rocks are or what really is way down there in the center? How can they know how and when the universe started and what it was like when it did? How do they know what goes on inside an atom?"

After the jump, my review.

Much Ado About Nothing (2012)

IMDB

Much Ado About Nothing (2012): Shakespeare comedy shot in 12 days in B/W, set in director's house. Mostly works. It is still the Bard. C+

Mayor Maczka Shows Leadership on Palisades - ctd

Monday night (actually after midnight, so very early Tuesday morning), the Richardson City Council approved, 5-2, a rezoning request for Palisades Village, increasing the number of multi-family units from 600 to 1090. This was in response to the developer's request after acquiring 20 acres to add to the original 59 acres in the development. Once again, Mayor Laura Maczka displayed strength and resolve in leading the council to this decision despite vocal opposition from her neighbors in Canyon Creek.

I haven't had anything to say about this second round on this rezoning matter because I had my say during the first round. Rereading what I said then, I find it applies equally well now. So... follow the link and save me the time and trouble of rephrasing the same arguments.

But, after the jump, I do want to add a word about Paul Voelker.

Valley House Gallery

Valley House Gallery and Sculpture Garden: A hidden gem in North Dallas.

More photos after the jump.

American Hustle (2013)

IMDB

American Hustle (2013): The big con. Plot twists. Unforgettable characters. 1970s clothes and music. Pushes without going over the top. A+

OTBR: A Field of Rapeseed in Ukraine

Latitude: N 49° 19.176
Longitude: E 027° 13.524

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".

Relatively Speaking at PST

Source: Pocket Sandwich Theater.

Relatively Speaking at PST: 3 one-acts by Coen/May/Allen. Plots and jokes feel dated, but enthusiastic local acting makes up for that. C+

As Richardson Goes, So Goes Plano

Wendy Hundley, of The Dallas Morning News, thinking about the news that Toyota would be building on a 100-acre site in the Legacy business park, notes that Plano's open land is almost gone.

Less than 8 percent of Plano's 72 square miles remains available for residential or commercial development. Of that 8 percent, 6.6 percent -- or 3,052 acres -- is earmarked for commercial development. A mere 1 percent -- or 428 acres -- is left for housing. Plano officials say that leaves plenty of room for business expansion, and future housing may take new forms to accommodate a population that will continue to grow. Buildout, to Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere, simply means "a new phase of the city’s life."

Source: The Dallas Morning News.

Sound familiar? After the jump, more echoes of Richardson's experience.

Repeat Tweets: We Want More Speech

Repeat tweets from May, 2014:

• May 1 2013: MT @SenTedCruz: "We don't need less speech, we want more." But Cruz doesn't want billionaires to have to put their names on their speech.
  
• May 2 2013: MT @SenTedCruz: "Religious liberty is under assault like never before." You do know who is denying wall between church and state, don't you?
  
• May 2 2013: MT @SenTedCruz: "We need policies that encourage job creation & growth." Then pass the Job Creation Act already. #wacko
  

After the jump, more repeat tweets.

Not Lots Happening At LOTS

Speaking of LOTS, when I last checked in on the long-running saga surrounding the reconstruction of the trash transfer station on Lookout Drive in Richardson by the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD), it was to note that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) had prepared a draft permit for the enlarged operation. That permit was being challenged by a neighborhood group and a hearing was scheduled in Plano on January 8 regarding that appeal.

After the jump, an update.

In Real Estate, Is Garbage a Selling Point?

When I said goodbye to Spring Creek Farm and speculated on what might go there in its place, I focused on the potential impact on the nearby Spring Creek Nature Area. But I overlooked another nearby feature that might be even more important to this site's future, the Lookout Trash Transfer Station (LOTS). Face palm.

After the jump, the challenge of selling real estate along a garbage expressway.

Thank You, Linda Koop

I could post one item a day on the distortions and lies coming from the Stefani Carter campaign. That's because a new mailer hits my mailbox about that often with another load of you know what. Carter has reached high desperation mode in trying to hang on to her seat from Texas House District 102, in a GOP runoff campaign against Linda Koop... Integrity is something we look for in our elected officials, and we see not an ounce of it in Stefani Carter.

Source: The Dallas Morning News.

That's what Rodger Jones of The Dallas Morning News had to say about Stefani Carter, who represents parts of Richardson in the Texas House.

Here's a quote from a different source altogether. See if you can guess who said it and when.

It is these kinds of campaign shenanigans, personal attacks and dirty politics of which people are sick and tired.

Source: The Wheel.

If you guessed Stefani Carter back in 2010, give yourself 100 ironic points. Carter was prescient, but it took voters three elections to realize that the dirty politics were emanating from Carter's own campaigns. When they did, it was she who was voted out of office. Linda Koop defeated Stefani Carter in the GOP primary on Tuesday, winning 60% of the vote.

Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus (2013)

IMDB

Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus (2013): A free spirit and an uptight Michael Cera take mescaline trip, learn nothing. Neither do we. D+

Memorial Day in the Steger Garden (2014)

From Flowers

Memorial Day is a US federal holiday wherein the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces are remembered. The holiday, which is celebrated every year on the final Monday of May, was formerly known as Decoration Day and originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service. Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veterans Day; Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, while Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans.

Source: Wikipedia.

More photos after the jump.

Dallas, A Cosmopolitan City

Because nothing says cosmopolitan like a Confederate monument and a cattle drive right outside the convention center where thousands of visitors are sure to see them.


My apologies to the model, who most definitely is cosmopolitan.

War Witch (2012)

IMDB

War Witch (2012): African girl is kidnapped by rebels. Haunted by ghosts. Hard to watch. Maddening. Sad. Touching. Helpless. But good. B+

Review: Zealot

Amazon

From Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, by Reza Aslan:

The Christians, too, felt the need to distance themselves from the revolutionary zeal that had led to the sacking of Jerusalem, not only because it allowed the early church to ward off the wrath of a deeply vengeful Rome, but also because, with the Jewish religion having become pariah, the Romans had become the primary target of the church’s evangelism. Thus began the long process of transforming Jesus from a revolutionary Jewish nationalist into a peaceful spiritual leader with no interest in any earthly matter."

After the jump, my review.

Restaurant Row: Now Serving

Monday night, the Richardson City Council approved a rezoning request to allow the construction of four restaurants on land previously occupied by the demolished Continental Inn on Central Expressway.

I've had my say on this well-conceived but mismanaged project many times before. Now that the rezoning is approved, I'll just say that the City Plan Commission ought to be feeling both good about themselves and disrespected at the same time. It was the CPC's rejection of the first submitted (unpopular) plan that led to the (less unpopular) plan that was ultimately approved by the city council Monday night. Good for the CPC. But then, the council took up the revised plan without sending it to the CPC for their expert consideration and advice. Bad for the city council. Why have a CPC if you're not going to draw on their experience in a matter such as this, the so-called catalyst project for the whole West Spring Valley Corridor Planned Development?

OK, I've said more than I intended to already. What I meant to say is that two people closer to the matter than I am have already said pretty much all that needs saying. After the jump, Cottonwood Heights NA President Jason Lemons and Richardson Heights NA President Richard Dotson. Both were speaking in an individual capacity and not for the associations they lead.

Tear Down Stemmons Expressway

Anyone who follows Dallas journalism knows the names of Wick Allison (D Magazine founder) and Jim Schutze (Dallas Observer muckraker). To be a fly on the wall listening as these two longtime observers of Dallas politics talk to each other is worth twice the price of admission (free on the web).

After the jump, Wick Allison's heretical conversion concerning freeways in Dallas.

So-Called Mixed-Use Development

Last week brought news of another mixed-use development coming to Richardson -- Northside at UTD -- and the expansion of another -- Eastside. That's on top of earlier news of two expansions to Richardson's premiere mixed-used development CityLine. First was the announcement that Raytheon would build new offices there. Second was that Whole Foods would anchor a new retail development there.

All this is great news for Richardson. The city is growing. The growth is balanced between commercial and residential. So, why am I not ecstatic? After the jump, my wistful epiphany.

Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, at DTC

Dallas Theater Center

Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, at DTC: Played straight, like a greatest hits collection. A perfectly serviceable mystery. B-

May in the Steger Garden (2014)

From Flowers

The photo was taken on Mother's Day, but I waited until today to publish it because mothers deserved to be honored more than one day a year.

The Mayor and the Schools: Candidly

Yesterday, we looked at a controversy Richardson Mayor Laura Maczka created by recording a robo-call endorsing a candidate in the Richardson ISD school board race.

Today, we look at how Maczka herself sees the controversy.

Candidly, the reason I did the call is because I was asked. Rachel Chumney is my neighbor, our children attend the same school, and I got to know her in the last school board election, but as I told the city manager yesterday, endorsements matter but they really don't.

I honestly don't know if my endorsement is really all that important.

Source: Lake Highlands Today.

After the jump, candidly.

The Mayor and the Schools: Picking the Trustees

Richardson Mayor Laura Maczka found herself in some hot water with some voters for recording a robo-call endorsing one candidate in the Richardson ISD school board race.

And it wasn't just voters who were concerned. RISD trustee Kris Oliver said:

Some of you may have received messages from Richardson civic leaders suggesting you vote based on the candidate's city of residence; I urge you to reject this notion and remember that all of our trustees serve at large without regard for any particular geography. Please vote for the candidate you feel has the best qualifications, not the best zip code.

Source: Lake Highlands Today.

RISD trustee Adam Meierhofer said:

I am not sure if there is much precedent for the Mayor of Dallas, Richardson, or Garland endorsing candidates for the RISD school board.

There is precedent in RISD for a strong team of trustees. I understand this has created some distraction and could potentially be divisive, but the board has a strong legacy for collaborating and serving with whomever the community elects, wherever they may reside.

Source: Lake Highlands Today.

After the jump, I weigh in.

Creationism in Science Class in RISD

Do you think Creationism should be taught in science classes? That was the yes/no question asked of the five candidates for Richardson ISD school board at a League of Women Voters forum April 24, 2014.

Four candidates answered no. Justin Bono said yes.

My reaction? Horror. "His actions on the RISD school board deserve heightened scrutiny to make sure the district as a whole does nothing to promote this misguided idea."

Unknown to me, before I wrote that, Justin Bono had already clarified his answer (my bad). After the jump, Justin Bono's clarification.

RISD School Board Election Analysis

Justin Bono and Kristin Kuhne won election to the Richardson ISD school board Saturday by large margins. Unofficial results:

• Place 6
  
  • Justin Bono: 64%
    
  • Rachel Chumney: 36%
    
• Place 7
  
  • Kristin Kuhne: 69%
    
  • Judy Yarbrough: 23%
    
  • Bonnie Abadie: 8%
    

After the jump, I'll give my own analysis of the election, which is just my opinion, of course. There was no exit polling done to learn from the voters as a whole why they voted the way they did.

I-345 vs US-75: Commute Times

Previously: "I-345 vs US-75: Daytime Employment."
Previously: "I-345 vs US-75: Same Standard."

Rodger Jones of The Dallas Morning News offers his solutions to north Texas' traffic woes. Jones wants US-75 through Richardson to get "three added pay lanes in each direction, sunken, with sound walls." To pay for this, he thinks "We should raise the gas tax and pay as we go. I know, fat chance."

After the jump, my reaction.

I-345 vs US-75: Same Standard

Previously: "I-345 vs US-75: Daytime Employment."

Rodger Jones of The Dallas Morning News asks whether the arguments to tear out I-345 in downtown Dallas should apply as well to US-75. It's Jones' way of using Richardson's supposed success story along US-75 as an argument for preserving I-345 in Dallas.

After the jump, I look at whether there's merit to Jones' suggestion that Dallasites are asking for favored treatment they would never grant to Richardson residents.

I-345 vs US-75: Daytime Employment

Rodger Jones of The Dallas Morning News points out that "daytime employment" in the city of Richardson is set to surpass the employment in Dallas' central business district. Jones acts like this fact argues against tearing out I-345 in downtown Dallas because, well, US-75 hasn't hurt employment in Richardson. Jones goes farther, seemingly arguing that Richardson's growth demands ever more freeways "criss-crossing the metro area" because, well, commuters have to get to Richardson.

After the jump, examining Jones' arguments.

Cottonwood Art Festival - Spring 2014

From 2014 05 04 Cottonwood Art Festival

Sunday was sunny and warm, perfect weather for Richardson's twice yearly Cottonwood Art Festival, now in its 45th year. After the jump, more photos from this Spring's festival.

Cinco de Mayo - Garland 2014

From 2014 05 03 Garland Cinco de Mayo

Excellent music and dancing was provided by México 2000 Ballet Folklórico.

More photos after the jump.

OTBR: Stony Ground in Nevada

Latitude: N 38° 14.556
Longitude: W 116° 20.016

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: POTUS is Dancing in the End Zone

Repeat tweets from April, 2014:

• Apr 2 2014: MT @SenTedCruz: "POTUS is dancing in the end zone while millions of Americans hurt." Cruz 2016 depends on getting voters to believe that.
  
• Apr 2 2014: MT @SenTedCruz: Bill Kristol: "No way, Mr. President. We do not accept this deplorable piece of legislation." Old Man Yells At Cloud. #wacko
  
• Apr 2 2014: MT @SenTedCruz: "#SCOTUS decision in McCutcheon v. FEC is a victory for the [one percent]." Corrected. You're welcome. #wacko
  
• Apr 2 2014: MT @SenTedCruz: "Our democracy works better when the free speech rights of the [one percent] are unfettered." Corrected. You're welcome.
  

After the jump, more repeat tweets.

Who is Stefani Carter Carrying Water For Now?

What do exotic animal ranches, North Texas' need for water, money, and politics all have in common? Give yourself 100 points if you guessed Richardson's state representative Stefani Carter was at the center of that unlikely Venn diagram.

After the jump, connecting the dots.

Departures (2008)

IMDB

Departures (2008): Japanese cellist gives up music to prepare dead for burial. A homecoming. A love story. Simple tale, beautifully told. A+

Lightning Strikes at School Board Candidates Forum

The League of Women Voters of Richardson and the Richardson ISD Council of PTAs jointly hosted a forum for school board candidates Thursday night at the RISD Administration Building.

The candidates for school board trustee are:
Place 6 - Justin Bono, Rachel Chumney.
Place 7 - Kristin Kuhne, Judy A. Yarbrough, Bonnie Abadie.

The election is May 10. Early voting begins April 28.

The full video of the forum is available on the LWV's website. Watch it. Or just read my take on what was most important, or entertaining, or both. It's your choice. It's a free country.

Separated by 6,060 Miles

Award yourself 100 points if you can correctly identify the countries in which these two photos were taken.

Review: Oh Myyy!

Amazon

From Oh Myyy!, by George Takei

Fans (and the press) often wonder how a 75-year old actor who had his heyday in a science fiction series from the 1960s came to have some three million fans on Facebook. I honestly often wonder the same thing."

After the jump, my review.

12 Years a Slave (2013)

IMDB

12 Years a Slave (2013): Important history. Soul-deadening drama. Nothing redeeming about slavery, America's original sin, still with us. B+

Review: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

Amazon

From Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan

I pushed the bookstore's glass door. It made a bell tinkle brightly up above, and I stepped slowly through. I did not realize at the time what an important threshold I had just crossed. Inside: imagine the shape and volume of a normal bookstore turned up on its side. This place was absurdly narrow and dizzyingly tall, and the shelves went all the way up -- three stories of books, maybe more."

This novel is the 2014 selection for "Richardson Reads One Book".

After the jump, my review.

Easter in the Steger Garden (2014)

From Flowers

A Touch of Sin (2013)

IMDB

A Touch of Sin (2013): Tales of alienation. Characters are at once victims & sinners. China itself is a character: huge, drab, menacing. B-

Who's Running the Show?

Something amazing happened at the Richardson Civic Center Tuesday evening. The City Plan Commission (CPC) denied, by unanimous vote, a rezoning request to build a chain of pad restaurants along the US 75 frontage road just north of West Spring Valley Road.

The request was non-conforming to the zoning painstakingly worked out several years ago with all stakeholders as part of a revitalization plan for the West Spring Valley Corridor. Instead, the request wanted to ditch that form-based, mixed-use zoning and put in a same-old, same-old row of pad restaurants just like you see all up and down US 75 as far as the Oklahoma line. Obviously this doesn't fit the vision for revitalization of southwest Richardson, and critically, doesn't fit the spirit or the letter of the law as far as current zoning goes. So it ought to have been, and was, denied. Nothing to see here. Move along, right?

Still I was agape at the vote. I'll tell you why, after the jump.

Richardson is Going to the Dogs

The City of Richardson continues to move towards the construction of a dog park, an amenity that residents have long advocated for (along with a skate park, which isn't going anywhere, but let's focus on the positive here). The park is slated to go under the overpass of the President George Bush Turnpike just west of US 75.

The last time I wrote about this, I said whoever came up with the location for this park was a genius. A dog park is an amenity everybody agrees would be a good idea, just not in my backyard. And unused land under a freeway overpass is a waste that isn't good for anything.

The thing is, dogs are hard wired to chase cars, remember? Dogs don't care about traffic. For them, millions of cars whizzing by just out of reach is a feature of this location, not a liability.

After the jump, what's the point of this post today?

Twenty Feet From Stardom (2013)

IMDB

Twenty Feet From Stardom (2013): Oscar-winning look at anonymous backup singers behind the hits. A+ music. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. B-

Bait and Switch in Southwest Richardson

The bait was appealing when dangled in front of stakeholders in southwest Richardson four years ago when community meetings were held on redevelopment of the West Spring Valley Corridor:

Source: City of Richardson.

The future vision for this collection of properties includes a new mixed-use environment on the full block. Building faces could be established on James Drive, Floyd Road and US 75, giving the development a distinct, unified architectural character on all visible frontages. The land use mix of the new development could include ground floor retail and office with residential uses above.

Source: City of Richardson.

That was the bait. After the jump, the switch.

Stories We Tell (2012)

IMDB

Stories We Tell (2012): Daughter interviews her siblings, father and dead mother's possible lovers. A complex but very functional family. B-

Mitt (2014)

IMDB

Mitt (2014): Behind the scenes look at candidate and family in 2008 and 2012. Public Mitt is no act. Private Mitt doesn't get it, either. B-