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Remember the old joke: I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out? It was never funny, but it was useful in highlighting how commonly accepted fighting is in professional hockey in America. Wikipedia even has an entry for "Fighting in ice hockey" that starts with a clarification: "This article is about condoned fighting in ice hockey. For disallowed violent acts, see 'Violence in ice hockey.'"
After the jump, a north Texas hockey player opens up about fighting.
Mention Richardson to almost anybody and what image pops into their head? Maybe nothing. Some, even residents who love Richardson, might snicker and say the Como Motel or the Continental Inn on US 75. That reaction alone might be reason for me to support efforts to erect a landmark entrance sign at the Richardson border on US 75, the highway that thousands of commuters use to travel through Richardson every day. Don't underestimate the symbolic power and marketing benefits of a striking landmark.
After the jump, what Richardson needs to think about.
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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".
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| Lord d'Abernon |
Ron Paul (R-TX) has a bestseller, "End the Fed," in which he calls for a return to the gold standard as the surest prevention of inflation. Although he hasn't won many converts among economists, he has sold a lot of books. Besides Paul, the Fed has picked up enough critics among politicians that Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke recently won confirmation for a new term by the slimmest vote margin in history.
After the jump, a different, more accurate criticism of the Fed.
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| George Clayton |
This week, The Dallas Morning News recommended Geraldine "Tincy" Miller for the GOP nomination for District 12 of the State Board of Education. I unenthusiastically went along. I wasn't enamored of Miller, but saw nothing in her opponent, George Clayton, for me to entrust the post to him. Clayton commented on the DMN's website, which led to a dialog between him and me concerning his position on science education. The upshot is that my doubts about his candidacy only deepened. I had hoped that a qualified, informed candidate who I could trust would put education above ideology would emerge to challenge Miller (like Thomas Ratliff has challenged Don McLeroy in District 9), but George Clayton is *not* that candidate. Miller may not be my ideal candidate, but George Clayton would be much worse.
After the jump, the transcript of my dialog with George Clayton.
"We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by." -- Will Rogers
The Richardson Coalition PAC has announced the creation of what it calls its annual Real Heroes Award. The award will recognize "unsung heroes" whose service to the Richardson community is often overlooked. You know, the volunteers who work with youth groups, social services, health care providers, etc. Why is the Richardson Coalition PAC sponsoring this award? In its words, "The Coalition believes strongly in promoting the positive image of Richardson. This award will be an opportunity for the Richardson community to celebrate our many citizens who give to the community with no expectation of any personal reward."
After the jump, this skeptic's doubts.
