Friday, November 15, 2013

S2L77: Ephesus

From 1977 04 08 Turkey

Most people today, if they know of Ephesus at all, recognize the name from Paul the Apostle's epistle to the Ephesians. Some might know Ephesus as the burial place of John the Apostle, the author of one of the four Gospels. Some others might know it as the home of the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. In any case, today Ephesus is the site of a large archaeological dig, giving the modern traveler an entrancing peek into the world of the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Christians.

More photos after the jump.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Review: Empire of the Summer Moon

Empire of the Summer Moon
Amazon
From Empire of the Summer Moon, by S.C. Gwynne:
Open quote 

Behind it all is the story of the rise and fall of the Comanches. No tribe in the history of North America had more to say about the nation's destiny. Quanah was merely the final product of everything they had believed and dreamed of and fought for over a span of two hundred fifty years. The kidnapping of a blue-eyed, nine-year-old Cynthia Ann in 1836 marked the start of the white man's forty-year war with the Comanches, in which Quanah would play a leading role. In one sense, the Parkers are the beginning and end of the Comanches in U.S. history."

After the jump, my review.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

The "Wow Factor" of Richardson's Goals

After complaining for months about the Richardson City Council's non-transparent process for deciding its near-term action items, I guess I ought to say something now that the goals have been revealed. But first, go ahead, read 'em yourself.

After the jump, my own reaction.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

42 (2013)

IMDB
42 (2013): America needed Jackie Robinson. A hero for his time, for all time. Hagiography at its finest because it's true. Take the kids. B+












Monday, November 11, 2013

A Round of Applause for Paralysis in Sports

Catastrophic Insurance
You know the ritual when a kid playing high school football goes down with an injury. When he eventually gets up and hobbles off the field, he gets a round of applause from the fans in the stands. Apparently, in the Richardson ISD, that might be all he ever gets, even if he can't get up at all and might never walk again.
Catastrophic care insurance offers a safety net for students who suffer life-altering accidents or illness while participating in an extra-curricular school activity, with policies providing as much as $7.5 million of coverage in cases such as spinal cord injuries, brain injury, infection or stroke. But coverage is not mandatory in Texas, nor is it officially recommended by the state's public school extracurricular governing body, the University Interscholastic League. A Dallas Morning News survey of 65 of the largest school districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area found five that don't provide any catastrophic care coverage: Birdville, Burleson, Cedar Hill, Mansfield and Richardson ISDs.
Richardson ISD?!? No coverage? Seriously?

After the jump, WTF?

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Make Believe (2010)

IMDB
Make Believe (2010): Teens from world over compete in magic contest in Vegas. Great kids but not much magic in this documentary. C-












Saturday, November 9, 2013

Season Ender Game: Skyline 48, Berkner 13

From 2013 11 08 Skyline vs Berkner

The 9-1 Skyline Raiders defeated the Berkner Rams 48-13 Friday night at Wildcat-Ram Stadium. The Rams' season comes to a close with a record of 4-6. From the 104 degree season opener at South Garland to the final playing of the Berkner fight song in 58 degree weather, it was a wild season of blowout wins ... and losses. Thanks for the fun, Rams.

More photos after the jump.