To Dennis Stewart, from Maggie May.Thank you for the US Flag installation and deliveries. And I hope you dance.

Dennis, thank you for the Flag installation and the deliveries of the Flag this past year. I did not tell you this because I missed out on seeing you. You must have personally installed a hugh chunk of all the Flags, hundreds of U.S. Flag holders and several thousand U.S. Flag deliveries over the last years covering the various Flag events and holidays. Thank you and thank you for starting the program too, and also thanks to Jay Dalehite, CCHA, Scouts, Rotary, the whole team.

Three sets of things have been on my mind to say for a while now besides the above. Do not take offense by what I am about to say next, I just want to say it to you first before I say the rest, so it will be known where I am coming from. I want you and everyone to consider accepting people as they are, such as gay people, people from other religions, or no organized religion, different ethnicities, cultures, faiths, etc. etc. etc., as long as they are honestly trying to follow the golden rule or get right with it, as one person put it, not that you are not already accepting of people as they are born or are. And by this, I am not saying to accept bad actors, bad habits or take it when people stick a boot in your face multiple times.

The second thing I want to say to you is I like you and it is not just because you are patriotically symbolically one of the most human (the word that came to mind is real, but I didn't want to use that word about now because it has been abused recently) people I see in Richardson, Texas. Oh, you got swagger and bravado, in spades. Your heart is real. That's what I'm talking about. I'm just saying.

The third set of things has already been said in one of the best written modern songs around. It is by Texas native Lee Ann Womack. I am sending the words and video for you. I hope you will see and hear them. And, when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.

Maggie May

(If video does not load when you press the button,
please try reloading the page and give it another try.
Alternate location for video is here).

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes
I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

Texas ENERGY STAR® Sales Tax Holiday This Weekend

Memorial Day Weekend; Saturday May 29, 12:01 a.m. (after midnight) through Monday, May 31, 11:59 p.m.

Instant Savings on appliances in May
Third-Annual ENERGY STAR® Sales Tax Holiday: May 29-31
Save dollars and energy on qualified ENERGY STAR appliances when you take advantage of Texas’ tax-free offer during Memorial Day weekend.View eligible ENERGY STAR products & get shopping details.

(Yes, I realize this may be robbing Dallas Area Rapid Transit DART of 1% of the sales price of the appliances if purchased in DART Member Cities, and them of 1% too, and other ramifications good and bad, but when you need a dishwasher that works, it is difficult to time that with convoluted tax policy that doesn't produce winners and losers. I hope having a more energy efficient appliance is a win, more than not).

What is The Authority of City of Richardson, Texas, to Issue Debt Without Voter Approval According To Charter And According To State Code

The City Council indicates planning to consider the authorization to sell $18.5 million CO's at its June 28, 2010, meeting, without seeking voter approval.

On May 10th, the Richardson City Council consented to publish a notice of intention to issue bond debt in the form of certificates of obligation. They plan to do this without seeking voter approval. This amount is in addition to the general obligation debt that was proposed and agreed to by voters in the 2010 bond package.

7. CONSENT AGENDA
B. CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS:
1. RESOLUTION NO. 10-8, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING PUBLICATION OF NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $18,500,000.00.

According to City of Richardson documentation, it appears that $7.63 million of this proposed debt would be payable by ad valorem (property) tax. (The rest would be a lein on and a limited pledge on net revenues of the City's combined Waterworks and Sewer System). The City Council indicates planning to consider the authorization to sell $18.5 million CO's at its June 28, 2010, meeting.

The City of Richardson Charter states under ARTICLE 19. ISSUANCE AND SALE OF BONDS

The City of Richardson shall have authority to issue bonds, payable from the ad valorem taxes, when authorized by the qualified voters of the city, for any purpose for which a city may issue bonds under the Constitution and the laws of this state.

And

In Section 19.02. Bond election.
Any proposition to issue new or additional bonds, payable from the ad valorem taxes as authorized herein, shall be first submitted to a vote of the qualified voters of the City of Richardson at an election to be held for that purpose.

However, Texas Local Government Code (CHAPTER 271, SUBCHAPTER C. CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION ACT of 1971) outlines permissions in regard to debt that work to trump the charters of cities that express contrary limits (the Charter of The City of Richardson retains voter approved limitation on the handling of the City debt but Local Governement Code 271 looks to supercede it).

A provision for a voter petition is included in the Chapter, but additional exclusions make it a large, but not impossible, challenge for voters to protest a local government issuing debt without voter approval. Obtaining enough signatures (5% of qualified voters in this particular case under Chapter 271) to block an issue is typically a high bar to meet.

An interesting article on this topic of issuing debt without voter approval in the form of certificates of obligation is found in The Daily News (Galveston County),

But when city council members tried to pay for the renovation with certificates of obligation — debt without voter approval — residents overwhelmingly opposed the plan.


In one afternoon, Former Mayor Katherine McIntyre collected enough signatures on a petition to block the city from taking on debt without voter approval, making Clear Lake Shores residents the second group of Galveston County residents to successfully kill plans to issue certificates of obligation. Earlier this year, five Friendswood residents opposed a plan to issue certificates...

The article goes on to quote Peggy Venable and John Boyle.

...John Boyle, an Irving attorney specializing in municipal finance who was a state legislator in 1971, said certificates of obligation were meant to help cities pay for projects quickly without having to call an election. “This hasn’t been used to sneak around the voters,” he said.

But,

The taxpayer advocacy group Americans for Prosperity argues that, when cities take on debt without voter approval, city leaders leave residents in the dark about the large amounts of debt saddled on taxpayers’ shoulders. Director Peggy Venable said people find it shocking when they discover the amount of debt carried by schools, cities and counties.

I have seen enough that I do not trust our governments (at any level) to the point of freely agreeing to provide carte blanche. Even if I did, I disagree with cutting out we the people, voters, to the large degree we are. The law using the reasoning that such laws (as it decimated) requiring voter approval for significant debt are “cumbersome laws” doesn't hold water when a city just held an election regarding bond debt.

A challenge with complaining to state representatives is that they are often tightly aligned with city, county and school government politicians and staff who helped them become and stay elected. As well, the Texas Municipal League is a very strong force and it honestly works for government officials and staff more than it can be argued that it works for the average citizen (tax payer), in my opinion. Of course, the average resident does not vote in municipal and other elections.

The law passed the House and Senate unanimously during the tumultuous 62nd session — lawmakers were called back to Austin four more times after the regular session that year to redistrict legislative seats — and it was overshadowed by more riveting legislation, including the ratification of a federal law allowing 18 years old to vote and a new tax on mixed beverages.

(Charles Ferguson) Herring, (an Austin state senator) the father of certificates of obligation (Act of 1971), died in 2004.

To Mark Steger, from Maggie May USA. An Historical Picture of Main Street and Greenville Avenue, Richardson, Texas, 1934.

Gulf gasoline station with covered drive-through, 4 pumps, 2 air compressors, corner of Main Street and Greenville Avenue. Advertising pole with 2 lights. Tillman Jones standing in front of station; young child standing near building. Water tower in background.

Photograph, 1934; University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, partner Richardson Public Library, Richardson, Texas.

Won't you be my neighbor (without smirking so much)

I was reading a post by Destiny at 28 square about Cottonwood Park and she made me think of some things, as she always does. (I remember the first time I saw her at City Hall, I knew she was awesome before I knew she was really awesome. She made me think about the history of the Eiffel Tower too just the other day. She is on my list of top fifty interesting people in Richardson, with Dave, Mark, Jason, Rick, Jennifer, Tom, Dianne, Ed, Chris, Nancy, JS, PH, JH, RA, DS, A... I might tell you about that later, but probably not.

About Cottonwood Park, I remember back before COR installed berms (those little hills) in the park. One of the biggest complaints was that soccer was being played in the park by certain people that certain other people did not want to play there. The berms would help prevent that. There was congregating going down (still is). Allegations of probably drug use. Complaints of children being bullied. There were accusations of outsiders (living in Dallas) using the park too much.

Regardless of why Cottonwood was redesigned, I do think it is a nicer park now. A hero of mine at the COR Parks Department really took the lead in helping redesign it and he didn't break the bank.

There are still complaints, but more about people being "panhandled" by those chucks (chickens + ducks) Destiny mentions.

Cottonwood Park makes me think of good things and not so good things. One not so good thing is I remember not too long ago when a man, "DK", who is into the Richardson political scene to a certain degree came and made a display of being thankful to the city for having fixed it up, letting it be known that it was good to have attention paid to the neighborhood, his neighborhood. But then oddly a few short days later he was going around accusing another neighborhood who was concerned about an issue in their neighborhood as being NIMBY's (not in my back yard'ers).

Odd, very odd. Of course, he had a political sign in his yard of someone who is very smirky, making fun of young people and women. I hope that is not the norm or a growing trend in Richardson for people to be influenced by other smirky people. Sounded like he was the NIMBY, not the people he made fun of. I guess he did not know that one of the neighbors he was making fun of had a longer history than nearly anyone in town of trying to make Richardson an even better place to live.

People in a position of power in the HOA, or on Council, (he is a board member), and anyone in general should be more considerate of their neighbors. (Including not being caught on tape saying that an entire section of the neighborhood should be bulldozed). Before that, this NIMBY guy had not acted smirky, nothing like that all the years before, but then he acted smirkier and smirkier. I expect soon, he might just smirky himself away. I know he has bad influences because the person he sits by at council meetings is a person who snears and rolls his eyes constantly at anything and anyone who he thinks he is superior to. This is a man who repeats what someone else has mentioned regarding the notion that he supposedly pays more in property taxes so should have more pull than the "average" person. They make it an unpleasant affair to try to be an active citizen at times because it can be a trial, however not impossible, to ignore their grunts, moans and constant assailing prejudiced remarks.

I really hope that people can stop and walk in another neighbor's shoes before they dismiss their opinions in such a haughty fashion. I could understand way better if he had been assailed or the neighbors he was mocking had mocked him or done something to him, but they had not. He said, "I never seen those people before." Well, just because you have not met someone before does not mean they are not a part of Richardson. This is a refrain of yet another Councilman who has said several times, "well I don't know who you people are." It would be one thing if it were just a bad hair day, but this is a continual attitude. Rude, rude, rude. Myopic. Selfcentric. This has made me and other people feel like being rude to them in return. I have been rude back to people who have shoved me. I can't say that I am proud when I do, but I have and probably will be. I have to go pray about that again. It is true that when power players dis other citizens, citzens start to get frustrated. There, so now you know one of the reasons why people can become frustrated with the local government scene. When they are treated worse than that, they then become wolves (because they have been wolved upon first and it is a protection mechanism and a way to fight back and to hold it off).

I Heard

I heard there is going to be a joint Planning Commission and City Council meeting on June 7 to discuss the property north of Renner and south of George Bush.

Thank you to those who gave their lives serving their country

Michelle Ring
Martin, Tennessee
Killed by enemy mortar fire in Baghdad, Iraq.
July 5, 2007
Age 24, Army Cpl, 92d Military Police Battalion, Fort Benning, Georgia
She is survived by her sons, Marc and Brandon; her parents, John and Shirley Stearns; and her sisters, Karen Harbuck and Marilyn Haybeck.

When Are Improvements, Improvements? (Richardson, Texas, Dallas County, Collin County)

Spring Creek Nature Preserve - four lane divided road and other additions completed; For surface transportation, capacity management; development of adjacent corporate campus.

(The woods at SW corner of Plano Rd at Renner Rd is private / investor property, not owned by City. The preserve owned by the City is adjacent, to the south. The new roadway runs through the Nature Preserve and private property.)

Discovery Point Park part of Prairie Creek - various elements under construction; For nature learning center.

Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary - large pipe installation for raw sewage under construction; For NTMWD utility sewer line. Collin County Commissioners hearing found in favor of NTMWD’s eminent domain suit. Sanctuary said to be examining its appeal options.

Breckinridge Park - proposed master plan future recreational center, parking lot, pool, etc.; For recreation.

under study, Widening of East Renner Road (Breckinridge area of Richardson) - funded study; For surface transportation, capacity management.

...

...

RE: Senior Tax Freeze (In Favor), Response (Not In Favor), further reply to comment

Dear Name withheld,

Allowing one segment a freeze as to what they pay in property taxes is not a guarantee of any reduction in the overall amount of tax revenue demanded and collected by a city from property owners. Think of a tube of toothpaste. If you squeeze on one part of it, the paste is going to move, somewhere.

Regarding your other comments, I have no information on the hiring of illegal workers by contractors hired by the city. I do know of complaints and problems regarding workmanship of crews installing sidewalks and have contacted the city in the past with partial remedial responses resulting. Communication and language issues were pointed to as one of the causes for workmanship problems. If the city is hiring contractors whose crews are composed of illegal workers, this is a problem.

I do think it was slight of hand that additional planned certificate of obligation bond debt was announced the Monday following the passage of the general bond package (voter approval to move forward with that other package) so if that is what you mean by “obscure their intentions,” I agree that it was a less than forthright move by the Council and City Management. I have also commented that there are open ended items in the bond and that it had excessive contingency amounts added to project estimates. Lack of sufficient information on a number of projects is a problem. You can read everything else I wrote below. I agree with the statement, "taking on additional debt in this manner at this time, in the amount proposed and under this packaging without sufficient controls and disclosures in place, would not be prudent."

I hope the City is able to secure low interest rates on its planned borrowing and refunding if and when it happens, that it is able to start and complete the needed projects well and within or under budget. If the City is successful to that extent, the tax payers should see not only desired projects completed, but a lower tax rate increase or a faster debt reduction (pay off). This last part is what I am skeptical of because of the practice of sweeping and lack of public tracking and public accounting for each project cost and the tendency of absorbing any increase in revenue coming into the city without reducing taxes or debt.

Because of a loose fashion of operating, the city is able to provide ad hoc funding to ad hoc projects that were never discussed (in the budget or bond) with or in the public, the public who approved the bond amounts for certain projects, not those projects. The general fund is treated much the same way. You might ask where $5 million came from or $380,000 came from, or an extra $65,000 annually promised, or $120,000 (that turns out not needed, but where is it assigned after), and so on, to pay for ad hoc items.

I respect the people who go out and lobby for good things for the city that they truly believe will make things better as long as they do not mislead people intentionally. I think our money would go a lot further and our city reputation not be damaged if better checks, balances, and transparency in city finances and adherence to (needed) city administrative standards and policies.

This includes online checkbook and credit card reporting, charter and compliance reveiw, ethics policy, and administrative policy, including publicly showing how the agenda is publicly set and reducing all the “offline” policy and decision making between the council and city manager in outside meetings, group phone calls, lunches, and "offline" meetings. These offline meetings also include the ones with select citizen groups, staff, and mayor (and or some council or not) where no minutes are reported or input are allowed by those impacted who happen to not be"invited" where decisions are fomented and "data" or "facts" established, sometimes using an approach that involves not legitimate "leading" so much as "misleading" to achieve a particular desired result.

Maggie May

RE: Senior Tax Freeze (In Favor)

Maggie, I am FOR the senior tax freeze. The game at city hall is hurry up, have low interest rent on borrowed money and shoddy work where they can get away with it. They hire contractors with crews of illegal workers, squander and pocket the “change” their way! They are desperate to save face over the lowest FOR vote in Richardson history after they spent SO much to pass it. They obscure their plans and that to me is the same as lying. They had what they call a street team knock on my door! Knocking on my door asking for more money! Is this a joke? I took them and showed them the shoddy sidewalk work the city won’t repair from last time still sits. None of the work crew could speak English to understand instructions and our money is going to hiring illegal workers. Illegal trafficking of human beings is horrible and it is a crime. The "street team" left real quick. Vote FOR the freeze and they have less of our money to play with and abuse. Hold them accountable. They have never been held accountable. Why on earth would you give them a penny more?

(Name withheld)

I'm just catching a ride.

The show is over there.

Q. What law pertains to the tendency of work to expand to fill the time available for its completion?

Parkinson’s Law. The concept has been applied to other areas.

Uh, oh. Here we go again. To freeze or not to freeze seniors,

their city property tax assessment.

Not an unusual topic, particularly in times of economic difficulty, Dallas, Texas, is being pushed by a segment of its residents to look at increasing the property tax cut for senior and disabled residents, but is benching such taxing discussion for two weeks. Living in Richardson, Texas, I know it's coming on, again. The talk of freezing seniors' taxes (city property tax assessment or bill ). The idea comes around like clockwork here in Richardson. I hear the rumbling growing. There have been some politicians who were for it, spurred it on, because they knew it would get them some votes, before they ran the numbers and determined that they did not support it. (They were for it before they were against it, as the old saying goes). Unfortunately, at least two new councilmen are promoting the notion these days.

I say don’t do it. Really don’t do it for Richardson. Richardson has a higher percentage of its population falling into the "senior" category, the oldest population among area cities. There is a $50,000 senior homestead exemption already currently applied.

Freezing? It is certainly not equitable to cap city taxes for some (more than is already done) and shove more of the city funding needs onto others who in an estimated equal number of cases can no better pay for it. It is an old general pit game. Disability, poverty and need are one thing. The "isms" like ageism (age discrimination) and favortism are another.

I suspect sooner or later such a measure could be passed because those voting who benefit from the $50,000 protection comprise the bulk of muni voters. What is to stop them from voting themselves a greater tax reduction and shifting the costs of city services, projects and debt (even more) onto others who are already shouldering the higher amount of taxes (whose school taxes are not frozen and who are paying to feed and clothe the doctors, nurses and other workers of the future that everyone of us needs). Common sense of fairness if such exists coupled with the desire on some peoples' part to collect as much revenue as possible under their control at the city are two stops, but will those hold out? Will the 12% of Richardson's population who votes, who are more likely to be over age sixty-five, pass a measure if these councilmen are successful in bringing it to a vote, or residents put it on the ballot?

I could offer that because I may become the age of sixty-five it does not mean I stop flushing the toilet and driving on the roads and needing city services. If I am older, I am more likely than a younger person with a growing family to have my mortgage paid off or down. Fixed income? Whose is not? There are a thousand general comparison of who has what going on financially or who is inheriting what or who has capital and equity amassed. And there is nothing that stops vote hungry politicians from making loopy or pandering promises.

If taxes are to be legitimately reduced, spending must be cut or other sources of revenue found. When someone claims to have cut taxes, I rarely see that he has. I actually see government just shifting taxes or postponing them onto our children and grandchildren. Or, conveniently growing taxes to fit the increased revenue (brought on by increased appraisals). It is difficult to get a government to truly cut taxes on all of us legitimately (other than rhetorically) because there is an entrenched system and society built into place to protect what amounts to earmarks and shuttling of money (sometimes for unspecified uses), beyond basic services. Often times those responsible for raising taxes are those who want to vote only themselves a tax cut.

I hope the two councilmen who support the freezing, Omar and Macy, are listening. It is a bad policy idea, sirs. It is especially bad since you along with the leaders pushing and fixing the idea to raise our taxes in the way that it has unfolded promised the exact opposite. Mr. Omar, you specifically promised to cap spending and freeze taxes. You say you will work for a senior tax freeze this summer. Mr. Macy, you point a negative finger at people claiming they do not care about costs when the opposite is true, you fail to notice you have your own three fingers pointing back at you, you are in favor of cutting your own taxes but shifting them upon others.

Their conflicted positions do not make sense. I am questioning them both on this issue and not necessarily the other councilmen because the others make more sense on it (this one particular issue), or in Mr. Solomon's case, won't publicly state a position.

(Y’all's idea to shift taxes is about as bad an idea as Mr. Omar and Mr. Laska’s idea to put a moratorium on redevelopment on West Spring Valley. Of course anyone in their right mind would be for redevelopment. But not for your way. There is a real bad way to go about it and a moratorium is it. I could ask what you would do next, use eminent domain? That is something four of the others on council, Slagel, Townsend, Murphy, Mitchell, agreed to support in another redevelopment case.)

The senior city tax freeze idea is bad policy for Richardson. It won't pan out well for Richardson now or in the future if put into place.

Dreaming of Real Chickens

Near where I live, there is a neighboring family from El Salvador that raises five laying hens and a rooster. (Don't worry, the rooster has such a low urrr urrrh urrrhurrr that you have to be right upon him to hear him.). (There are some other farm animal hobbyists in R-town, but I am not going to inadvertently bust you, but, you know, the dangle of bells and bleets are going to give it away. I'm just saying).

When I visit the Urban Reserve in Dallas not too far from here I admire the hens.

I have been online watching bloggermouse's progress.

There are chickens all around my home away from Richardson.

I've been wanting a tiny teeny urban mircro farm to accompany my plants and wildlife in R-town for a loooooong time. I might be thinking on it harder. However, I have to finish installing four other projects, that will be paying for themselves, first, before I get to that. It's just nice to fantasize about it for now.

Richardson's Top Planner Departing For Frisco (Texas/Dallas News)

I like John Webb a whole bunch. Good luck.

Luck is the residue of design. (John Milton)

Beyond Collective Consciousness, Pass the Sitar

Communal bereavement and other aspects of connectivity, synchronicity, spiritualism, mysticism (a misnomer in my opinion), genetics, physics (nanotechnology, string theory) and related topics are vastly interesting.

A study recently released (article linked above) says during 9/11 male infant mortality (death) rate rose for those not directly involved as victims of the 9/11 attack. I will have to study the study because the male birthrate goes up during times of war according to a cursory tracking of published studies. What were the main differences in the case of 9/11 or the study compared to prior ones? Some of the differences can be easily estimated but I don't know that they would explain a reverse trend, if that is what it is.

(Simplified) examples or theories of connectivity

An ape on one island learns how to wash her treefruit in the tidewater to remove grit and the same time another ape living on a geographically unconnected island makes the same discovery, and this is duplicated about the same time in other noncontiguous islands, thereby changing culinary habits of apes and impacting in significant ways the chain of events of history. Preprogramming (genetic clock), predestination or something else (theory)?

And there is the old butterfly-hurricane deal too. The butterfly effect is a metaphor that encapsulates the concept of sensitive dependence on initial conditions in chaos theory; namely that small differences in the initial condition of a dynamical system may produce large variations in the long term behavior of the system.

And there is the blood leader among women that has to do with women and their periods. True.

And pheromones.

And parallel universes.

And all sorts of goodies.

So, in summary, karma alert, in theory you may think your plan to bully and banish good people, or different people, so that you are free to carry out your small-minded, private schemes is a great idea, but it just might not be, in theory. Did you consider what you might have triggered with your vulpine behavior and prejudices? It might bite you in the end. backlash to righteous backlash alert

Speaking of karma, do you remember when The Beatles went to India (first together and then some separately) and got all spiritual and sitar familiar? Do you remember Hayley Mills from the Disney movie, The Parent Trap? Okay, so if those elements plus Deep Purple and The Kinks collided and one of them had a baby, which Mills did (named Crispian, with her then husband), this is what it might be like:


(Please turn volume up for this video)
KULA SHAKER performing GOVINDA "LIVE", Crispian (now named also by a Hare Krishna name, is the blond lead singer)
(not the best of live videos but one of my favourite groups.)

So some intersections are fortuitous even if you think they are weird or different, it doesn't mean everyone agrees with your dismissive attitude.

And sometimes I find myself thanking God for unanswered prayers, as GB would say.

Dallas transit board, meeting today, will weigh cuts in jobs and bus service

Wal-Mart slashes iPhone price to $97

Two-fers

In this volatile economy, dual purpose items are chicER than ever.

USB sushi, anyone? (yes, they are real, but not real sushi)

What about a stylish wristband that's music to you(r wrist) usb? It contains Ringo Starr's album, Liverpool 8, plus many other features for your listening and viewing pleasure. You can wear it next to your yellow and pink wristbands on your wrist when it isn't plugged in. (What if you can plug it in AND wear it at the same time while listening... doesn't that sound impossibly groovy? It sounds too good to be true. That part is, but the rest is true.)

What about a paperback, a used paperback, with some pages missing, The 2007-2012 World Outlook for Mattress Inserts for Dual-Purpose Sleep Furnitre and Futons Mattresses by Philip M. Parker (Paperback - May 18, 2006) . I would say you have octo'ed your buck on this baby. Because interest rates are lower than they will ever be in history, you should charge it up and pay it out over 20 years and use the dollar you would have spent on that, on THIS:

Benefit: Worth every lil' ol' recreational three million where did it go, how did you do that! OR... send it down this!

A New Machu-Picchu Water Park Implant Mountain AND Slide! Offer void where prohibited. Does not include sales tax, interest, licensing, insurance, maintenance, staff and pothole costs. Does include titles. Gratuity extra. Project not to be completed for thirty years. All numbers are quoted as millions. Take 350+190+66+18.5+3+... add 30% then X1.04, carry the $Ms ...add the added taxes... oh who cares! It's an investment with endless vistas and a bridge! Bridge sold separately with launch pad package with real shoots and ladders. Please, please, please ask for it at the Refreshment Stand, now selling floats, slushes, smoothies, cushions and padding, located next to the comptrollers office near the broom closet. Location for adjacent parks to be determined. Right to use eminent domain reserved. Right to sell future select vacation packages reserved. Private Public Partnership Golf Course membership not included, available at undisclosed price. Bondage Club Membership available at extra charge. Hotel not available during festivals, holidays and sanctioned events. Chamber location to be determined. Drainage fee not included.

Why I might (could learn to) love Oklahoma a little bitty bit (don't worry, Texas, it's only a tiny crush)

It's handy and close by. I travel through it or over it, so I rely on it to get to where I am going, if I go that way. ow.

Family; A fantasy aunt who kilns clay pigeons from clay deposits on her farm and a crazy pretend in the good way uncle who challenges me to shoot skeet, using said clay disks, and doesn't mind when I win so I can't help but to accept his invitations to go there on my way back home to Texas.

Family; it's Hanson Day all year round in Tulsa.

Family; The Hicks in Oklahoma are better Hicks than the Hicks in Texas and they know they are so they don't got nothing to prove (my other crazy pretend in the good way uncle says so, it must be true. I have doubts).

Red River, Red Soil, Red and Other Peoples, including birth state of Tony Hillerman.

My most favorite mid-century modern chairs straight out the hood OKC. OKC is becoming a cool music scene too.

Coveted water.

(UPDATE) Lots of free venison on the side of the road?

I've never been to Spain, or heaven, but I been to Oklahoma, well, they tell me I was born there, but I really don't remember, in Oklahoma, not Arizona, what does it matter.
Okay, so I filched that last one from Hoyt Axton, son of Mae Boren Axton, but sounds good.

Mh? My list needs work? I'll work on it.

Polk, poke, pokeweed, polk salit, poke sallet, pokeberry...a plant by any other name... it's what's for supper

Some warn against using or partaking of it at all because of its toxins, but properly prepared poke or polk salad is a delicious dish and its leaves and berries are also used to make juice, wine, jelly, health remedies (from arthritis relief to menstruation aid), dye, and ink. As kids we also used the ripe berries as war paint. It is muse for song and dance and its berries (ink) have been used to write a number of noted documents and correspondence. I see it being used more these days to dye natural yarn and fabrics and its properties are reportedly being studied for use in fighting AIDS. I can attest to at least three of its helpful medicinal uses.

It is fun finding this plant and preparing it for a dish or remedy or using its berries for dye and ink. Pokeweed’s rich roots in the U.S. still inspire festivals in the South. Outside the U.S. a variation of the plant has been venerated as a national symbol. Depending on region, it has different spellings of its name or description.

It is a tradition in my family to prepare and eat polk salad. The way I make the dish and my mother and grandmothers before (and my brothers today), is I boil and drain well the leaves three times, sometimes only twice if an early in the season spring pick. Some only boil and drain it twice and leave more acid in it, but boil it at least five minutes each time. Take the final very well drained, squeezed leaves, which will look similar to spinach, and sauté in a skillet, seasoning to taste with what you have on hand, e.g. sea salt, dried garlic granules, onion powder, adding what you wish, mushrooms, onions, etc. Traditionally, eggs are added to the polk and scrambled with the leaves. You can add them, use a substitute or forego them. Polk salad is a delicious dish and can be eaten alone, in sandwiches as you would any type of egg salad, with or without a dressing, or, the possibilities are endless.

The web is teeming with advice, pictures, and instruction the uses of this green leafy pokeweed plant and its green maturing to magenta colored berries. If you don’t know how to identify and pick polk, typically from fields and woods especially where birds roost (birds deposit the seeds where the seeds overwinter and grow), it’s best to go with someone who does know until you have experience. I haven't grown it in a garden, however a few of my relatives and friends over the years have had plants located in or around their gardens, but I think that is a result of nature because it is hard to grow it without the seeds being naturally processed first. Pokeweed looks something like turnip greens with a magenta (pinkish or reddish) vein in the stalk. Its berries go from green to magenta when it seeds in the fall.

Picking polk will involve a large brown paper bag or two, or tote sack, for the leaves and cutting device, like a clean pocket or paring knife. (As with mushroom harvesting, do not put it in a plastic bag). You will want a good mess of it because it cooks down to a fraction of the bulk.

I have seen fresh poke leaves at certain natural markets in the produce section in the spring and summer. You can find it occasionally in cans before it is sold out for the late spring and early summer, but it is not as good as picking a mess fresh and making it.

Check it out if you are like me and into things like poke, dandelions and acorn flour.

Here is Tony Joe White with Polk Salad Annie. I wanted a different version I like that's even cooler but I couldn't get blogger to load and play it correctly. He also performed a duet of this song with Johnny Cash. Elvis Presley did his version of this particularly song which was probably the most popular version. Conan O’Brien and his Polkettes do a twisted version of it in his Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television tour.

Stock Market Drops Thurs. Oil Spill Worse Than Thought. Flood Recovery Costly for Nashville, Over $2B...

Good that Nashville Rising is http://www.nashvillerising.org/.

Senate Passes Finance Bill

WSJ Senate Passes Finance Bill, article

TX SBOE is arguing about whether "separation of church and state" should be included in HS social studies cirriculum

[read here]

To Destiny, Congratulations For Graduating From Citizen Fire Academy. Here Is Level II How To Fight A Fire (A Non-Existent One, That Is)

In case it's not covered in class. I don't think it was. You never know when RickyBobby will show up. Or when you might be in Talledega at night. (Help me, Tom Cruise! Help me, Oprah Wen eah free!)



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Electricity the New Math (WSJ)

...a retired computer database designer, signed up for the new Reliant plan because utility bills for his 1,350-square-foot home in Richardson, Texas, have run as high as $600 a month.[read more]

Good story, She May Be 16 But She is Advancing Cancer Research (Richardson, TX)

Richardson resident Amy Chyao is not just any explorer; at 16-years-old, Amy is already forwarding cancer research. [read more]

Flashback Congressman Pete Sessions & Richardson City Leaders, but where'd the bondage club dancers go? Can he help the team NRCC style for 2011?

(I hope so).
(The dangers of a two party system and blind partisanship)
Congressman Pete Sessions hasn't hosted a fundraiser at a bondage club this year. What gives? Oh, I get it. Nevermind. Bondage taken care of by the locals. Check. Sign removal this month? Can we ask UTD Students and City Hall employees? Check.

Congressman Pete Sessions receives endorsement from Richardson city leaders, Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts and Politicians, 2004.

This reminds me of something else. Now what was that...

Response to "Barb"

Dear, Barb

I am replying to you in public as you requested. Thank you for your detailed email and all the unrelated compliments, and curiously odd interest. I will try to answer some, but not all, of your questions.

Yes, it is okay if your real name is not "Barb." No, I do not mind if my blog is not the first blog you have ever tried to make contact with. And no, I can't say I would want a "fan" so to speak as you offer. No, I have never had a love hate relationship or a bad romance and I do not desire one. Yes, you are correct, we are both southern women, if you say you are, so we would have that in common. No, I do not care to play a game called word matchy. The words you list do not match the people you list. I will leave it at that.

Your humor is engaging, to say the least. Thanks for telling me what a mirdle is and who is wearing one in Richardson. You know, I have never thought about it.

What compliment could I pay to you? I would say that your vast knowledge of local fashion trends is impeccable and unimpeachable, by the sounds of it. You are obviously a fashionista. You are certainly busy with many social affairs and hormonal fluxuations going by your description of your life. I will completely understand if you never, ever have time to write to me at my blog again.

Yes, I had planned on sending some songs out. Okay, sure, I will send you two as per your request. I have selected Be Like That by 3 doors down (I suspect I know who you are and where you live, by the way). The second video, I know you will simply go gaga over, to steal your phrase, because of the shoes. The last pair would accent your stated stature exquisitely, don't you think? I do not know many women, or men for that matter, as tall as you say you are.

Goodbye and so long. Again, I will completely understand if you never, ever, ever have time to write to me again.


Maggie May



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Is there a “Real” Richardson, Texas?

Received from Kathy

“Maggie, it goes beyond the examples you have on your blog.

I am distraught over what I see happening. I am pushing 60 but see a disturbing division in Richardson where a small number of people of different ages, primarily influenced by older people, are pushing their pseudo cultural war of a “real” Richardson or being "a real" resident over everybody else. It is not founded on anything but foolishness.

Full commentary from Kathy is here.

Cotton Belt Rail Stations, Richardson and Plano both desire an east side station (Texas)

Fast forward two decades and then some from the past. Richardson may have an advantage in forging a PPP that prefers to have Cotton Belt routed for PGBT DART station than for a 12th St Plano station. Politics, land and legacy lean to Richardson in my opinion. Specifically in regard to land, it is a generous greenfield (undeveloped land area) at PGBT except the DART facility itself and planned (funded subdiving) roads. Engineering considerations may look to favor Plano but traffic comes into play. I may expound on these comments later. Ian (Dallas News) and Mark (The Wheel's Still In Spin) say interesting things on the subject.

Long Train Runnin (DB)

Good story, 7-Eleven CEO attends opening of franchise owned by a man he met on 'Undercover Boss'

Good story @DallasNews about the new Richardson Texas 7-11 store operator at Eastside on Campbell Rd.
[here]

According to the two women at work who know everything about Idol

Casey is going to be out-ers.

Ride of Silence is this evening

Information is here http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php

Have you ever seen the rain?

A song today. Creedence Clearwater Revival. John Fogerty. Have you ever seen the rain? With lyrics. I t'ought about a couple of people I would dedicate this one to. The second one is a former e-ville brother in law who thinks lyrics to another CCR song include, there's a bathroom on the right.

I thought, naaaah.

For the first person, I decided I have another dedication in mind that I will get around to. I have several to make.

Available film of a live performance is very grainy, so here's this.

Using the Texas Open Meetings Act like a cloak, and a dagger

Texas Open Meetings Act And Agenda Setting Richardson Texas Style

Received from Homemaker3000

"Misinformation is being spread by closed government apologists regarding the Texas Open Meetings Act.

There is nothing in the Open Meetings Act that says you can’t receive a factual answer to a question you ask at the time you ask it or come back the next week to receive your answer in public at a council meeting.

There is nothing in the Act that says your topic should not be put on a consideration agenda for the council’s next meeting to see if it will be a future agenda discussion topic.

This topic goes further than looking at the Act. Do you even know how an agenda is set in Richardson, TX? Have you ever seen one set in public?

For rest of comment received from Homemaker3000, click here

Raccoons Eat Tomatoes

Raccoons eat tomatoes. Don't let anyone tell you they don't. Their little stealing paws nabbed the best looking ones. They were not red yet, still green.

Attention Richardson Texas, Beware THE NEW PEOPLE. AND WATCH OUT FOR OLD PEOPLE USING THE PORTAL!

"new" residents who have no clue as to how to be "real" Richardson residents. Posted by rowerson @ 6:18 PM Sun, May 02, 2010, Dallas News Richardson Blog.

We "old" and actively voting Richardson residents of 20-plus years think you newcomers are not knowledgeable, unpleasant in public, and clueless as to the candidates that are best for Richardson. Posted by rowerson @ 8:48 PM Sun, May 02, 2010, Dallas News Richardson Blog.

Don't be fooled. These CAVE dwellers are against everything. It's their hate that will bring this city down. None of the anti-bond people has proposed anything positive. They have no unique forward looking vision about Richardson. by GetoutoftheCAVE @ 9:32 PM Mon, May 03, 2010, Dallas News Richardson Blog.

I lived here when I was younger, moved away, came back seven years ago , and I know what vision is and I have a real vision for Spring Valley. We need to choke some things out. You don't have a vision. You haven't lived here more than my combined time. Richardson is my city, not yours.

This is not my job. This was a HOBBY. Worse case scenario, Richardson falls apart tomorrow- I move. And you know what? My life will go on because I live for much greater things than following all of the ins and outs of Richardson's local government. February 24, 2010, by Destiny at Conserve and Protect.

maybe we should invite the school to leave. April 27, 2010, 8:05 PM, by anonymous, Just My Two Cents Worth

....the difference between you and me is, I love music.

I don't need you.

Uh oh, it's the new RC.

I pay more in taxes on my house so I should have more of a say.

The difference between you and me is I love wildflowers.

I've lived here almost one year. I agree, let's choke some things out. Let's get a moratorium against owners painting their businesses because we want total tear downs.

We need to stop the march of Santa Anna down our streets.

I was afraid you were one of those tree huggers.

We need to attract new young professionals!

Just don't tell them how to count cars.

You people are costing the city money with your questions.

I have been misled time and time again and I'm done with going along to get along. The time for playing nice with you has passed.

We need to sell more liquor.

City Government Spending Cap! Property Tax Freeze for Seniors!

I hear those NEW PEOPLE Are Cannibals and the OLD PEOPLE use glue to hold their dusty heads on long enough to yell, GET OFF MY LAWN!

PROOF, it's all on tape, see?

Proposed City Portal (based on TML and NCTCOG study).




THE NEW PEOPLE. (The proof that this is Richardson TX is at the end. Is that a pocket park?)
"What's IT doing here? Got any ideals? What's IT doing here? "
"Steve, you get back to the others. Bring them here."

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Dear Nero(es) We Don't Need Another Hero(es) But I Love Tina, and Mel (The Mel before he got all weird), & the 80's. I love the 80's. &50's. &30's..&

We don't need another hero.
Can't make the same mistake this time.
We are the children, last generation, we are the ones they (are trying to leave) left behind.

Is it all or nothing?

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When in Rome. NERO written by Edward Champlin, book review.

The reviews alone are fascinating and this one is accurate. Brings to mind a lot of local corollaries adjusted for mid-century sensibilities (permissibilities rather).

Synopsis,

From barnesandnoble.com:

The Roman emperor Nero is remembered by history as the vain and immoral monster who fiddled while Rome burned. Edward Champlin reinterprets Nero's enormities on their own terms, as the self-conscious performances of an imperial actor with a formidable grasp of Roman history and mythology and a canny sense of his audience.

Nero murdered his younger brother and rival to the throne, probably at his mother's prompting. He then murdered his mother, with whom he may have slept. He killed his pregnant wife in a fit of rage, then castrated and married a young freedman because he resembled her. He mounted the public stage to act a hero driven mad or a woman giving birth, and raced a ten-horse chariot in the Olympic games. He probably instigated the burning of Rome, for which he then ordered the spectacular punishment of Christians, many of whom were burned as human torches to light up his gardens at night. Without seeking to rehabilitate the historical monster, Champlin renders Nero more vividly intelligible by illuminating the motives behind his theatrical gestures, and revealing the artist who thought of himself as a heroic figure.

Nero is a brilliant reconception of a historical account that extends back to Tacitus, Suetonius, and Cassius Dio. The effortless style and artful construction of the book will engage any reader drawn to its intrinsically fascinating subject.

I have highlighted a portion of Jonathan Yardley’s review because I think it is important to take into account:

The Washington Post
Champlin's Nero will not diminish my fondness for Suetonius in the splendid Robert Graves translation, but it is a compelling reminder that historical "truth" is usually a lot more complex and elusive than we realize and that history is rarely written without bias or hidden motives, conscious or otherwise.

You will not love Nero any more after reading Champlin's account of him, but you will have a far keener understanding of him, and his context, than you likely had before.

Michael Is In (at WF2010 at Eisemann Ctr Hill Hall), Pink Floyd is out. When in Rome...

a retro one with gliiiiittteer. shiiiiiiinnnnyyy. liiiiiiightsss. boooooootttts.
I'm sad The Michael in the video is passed away, you know. Although we are always who we are. Have you ever heard someone say, "Well, that is just not like me." (Yeah, it is. It is exactly you). Reconciling incongruities in life is sometimes heartbreaking if it involves someone you personally know and you really like, even love, the okay parts about him (or her or yourself) and even some of the not okay parts, ...but when the bad turns out just too unpalatable to uphold, you have to make decisions that you feel, and know, are right about a situation. ...... I was talking about something else, I never met MJ. I have never seen a bad laser light show whether it was about the planets, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, or patriotism with Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA. Out of doors or inside a beautiful building.

Play the video to see what happens to you and stop looking at me that way, you. Gosh*. (*Gosh, as used in Napoleon Dynamite).



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Music > Rock Folk Swing Americana > Richie Bates

Had a chance to meet Texas singer-songwriters Richie and Cortny Bates in Denton one beautiful afternoon not too long ago. (They used to play as Radio Cowboys up in Wichita Falls and around the area.)
Walls, Richie Bates' album, with wife Cortny Bates on some of the backup vocals and bass guitar and Richie playing all other instruments with an assist on the first track vocals by Ali Walker, draws to mind Americana Coldplay Swingstein (my term) Dave Mathews U2 Ben Kweller Lane Staley Counting Crows Tom Petty and bare hint of Jon Anderson (Paradise album) and one song is in the way of Beck’s Ramshackle song (Odelay album). It's got that all curled up in a north Texas bar that used to be a cotton gin, wooden chair, on the outskirts of a college town feel. I especially like the gango (banjo + guitar) and the harmonica on this record. And the fiddle (violin).

It is a good eclectic first record. My favorite tracks are 1. Seek and Destroy (listen, audio only)(that is the one with Ali Holder on back up vocals who is an Austin singer-songwriter) and 3. A Walk With Odous (Listen, audio only)(western swing styled). Listen also at http://www.richiebates.com/

Hook it at Amazon.com or Itunes.com (search "Richie Bates"). 89 cents to $7.92. Richie and Cortny have more music coming out this year and I can't wait to see (hear) what it is.

Wildflower! Gone Wild, Going Rogue

Enjoy and support Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival in Richardson, Texas, this weekend. Information is found at http://www.wildflowerfestival.com/ .

Some of my personal thoughts and opinions on it as a tax payer.

A tremendous amount of conscientious hard work goes into putting on Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival by non-concert type City staff, volunteers, performers, a lot of wonderful people, paid and unpaid. Wildflower offers many benefits to the community from good will, advertising, business, social and neighborhood networking, volunteering and learning opportunities, charitable fundraising to, what else, Entertainment.

Like other entertainment events, it has gone from a small low budget affair (in a park, sometimes muddy) all the way to a large high budget anticipated event in cool digs 'n surroundings, albeit still not immune to the attendance dampening effect of rain (that puts risk in the musical sounding phrase, break ing eve n).

I feel however that certain aspects are disconcerting from a tax payer's perspective.

One example is that a LOT of hotel rooms, in addition to the suites, have started being booked up in town by the City of Richardson during Wildflower and people are getting them courtesy of the City who are not legitimately in need or due them, when tax payer resources should not be used up for that. Resources and credit need to be applied in a wiser way. What guidelines there are, are too loose, and they are not equitable, and there's no one checking who isn't involved. There is most certainly legitimate usage, and then some.

Another problem is when customers of a hotel who have reservations are bumped. I was at one hotel in line behind other customers and the hotelier told them the rooms they had booked in advance were now let out to the City and that they were bumped. The customers were upset at being bumped from the rooms they had reserved. Whether through lack of planning or whatever, this is not a good way to operate.

A LOT of staff time is spent on the event during the entire year and it has been in some instances at the expense of other needs while city staff is occupied acting as manager, developer, promoter, and workerbee for Wildflower.

There is also a lot of expectation on employees to volunteer time, some beg to do it, and most are happy to do it, within reason.

While not all of the large number of courtesy VIP entrance and drink passes that are handed out or mailed out from the City Manager's Office are redeemed, it would save tax payer resources if the number were reduced or eliminated for the non paying guests. Tax payers should not be made to accommodate for other people's free alcohol consumption. If you ask them, they would probably be just fine to pay for their own drinks and tickets and not take away from tax payer resources if they knew people knew about it.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate Wildflower and some of the staff are so good at what they do with Wildflower, they are professionals at this stage of festival promotion because of all their intelligence, practice and budget given to it over the years and it keeps them working hard year round while having fun sometimes. I think not all the resources are put into the City coffer that legitimately should be but are instead spent as unnecessary expenses and perks for non workers, non performers, non sponsors and non paying people, and for hotel rooms and alcoholic beverages and food expense for non essential, non justifiable reasons. If non eligible people want all that, they need to buy a Wildflower! Friends of the Festival ticket package or sponsorship package.

Anything can apparently be justified, but it would be good to see the City cut hotel and alcohol tariffs on Wildflower. Keeping the spending evenhanded and under control is the right thing to do. Several have suggested comparing the full costs and benefits of the inhouse management of Wildflower to an outside commercial business running it.

There are many needs in this City outside of the three day festival and its goodness, that are not as costly and consuming but just as important, and the tax rate is being raised as it stands, unfortunately. Wildflower could have long ago been a greater self supporting event with funds to spare to help pay, for instance, on the large city committed Eisemann Center debt (instead of having had to dip into the road maintenance money for many years until recently to service the Eisemann Center debt, taking away from road maintenance, some of which is now pushed into the 2010 bond package). That is just one example.

History in the Making

(click on image)

Texas Instruments Semiconductor Product Plant, Dallas, Texas, Photograph, 1958 - 1962; digital image, University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, crediting Richardson Public Library, Richardson, Texas.

Reportedly, Richardson Symphony Orchestra Maestro Berated Musicians Who Complained of Not Being Paid by RSO, Audio Link

The City of Richardson Hotel / Motel Fund, comprised of tax collections from Richardson hotel and motel guests, in part is used to support qualifying arts groups, including the Richardson Symphony Orchestra (RSO) which receives several tens of thousands of COR Arts Grant funding in a typical year. The RSO is reported to have an $800,000 operating budget, and it includes covering courtesy alcohol expense for private RSO gatherings and patron parties.

The RSO consistently struggles to stay in operation with amounts requested growing substantially over the years. It is awarded one of the larger percentages of the Arts Grant amount made available to local art groups, which is only a percentage of the operating budgets of the groups successful in getting grant funding. This is outside of the millions of dollars of support, primarily from general taxes, paying for the Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts. It is a principal venue for RSO performances.

The Members of the Dallas-Fort Worth Professional Musicians Association, affiliated Local 72-147 of the American Federation of Musicians, released a press announcement (pdf) complaining that musicians were not being paid for performances yet claimed the management of RSO was being paid. The stance from the musicians of will play but under protest was indicated for the next performance at the Eisemann Center. Before the performance and literature distribution protest at the Eisemann Center happened, Maestro Anshel Brusilow, RSO Music Director and Conductor, is allegedly recorded on audio reportedly berating the musicians who apparently complained of the (lack of pay) situation.

I listened to the audio only once and it was a diatribe by the Maestro that included a verbal spar supposedly between him and one of the musicians (see link below for the reported name of the musician). The Maestro at one point alledgedly indicates that the difference between (him and the musicians) is he loves music and he points to not being paid for work in 2009 and 2010, contrary to an ascertion that had been made. The recording is just over four and a half minutes long. It is reported and linked at Inside the Classics, How Not To Address An Orchestra. The audio includes lines, it's nobody's business what I make (...can look it up), get out, and I don't need you.

There are a couple of distinct themes that seem to be repeating in Richardson.

Reading A Few Blog POV's in Richardson Texas Today

Mark over at The Wheel's Still In Spin describes a thing or two about what he dislikes concerning the Texas Open Meetings Act, asks about the status of the NTMWD Lookout Transfer Station and why he can't get no satisfaction (or openness) from the weekly email tease from the City Manager. He writes, "Does that sound like the city is close to finalizing a deal with the NTMWD? It better sound that way because it says so in so many words. Were the deliberations that led to that deal "open and accessible to the people?" Reportedly, the "adjacent neighborhoods" were clued in about the negotiations. Who, specifically, was invited? What about the rest of us? "

I wasn't invited by the City either. On the bright side, I did get the email telling me how important the bond debt package was to Chief Spivey. Alas, I didn't get an email from the City Manager about the plan to add $18.5 M in CO's to bond debt as soon as $66M other debt had been taken on.


Destiny writes about mommy privacy and boundaries at Pour Me Another Suburban. Disarming and witty. I enjoyed reading it.


DC over at My Two Cent's asks if tax abatements are fair to Richardson residents and do tax abatements work.


The COR run Wildflower! Music Festival scores a one song visit from American Idol Top Three Contestant Casey James, reports DN Richardson Blog's Ian McCann.

I had to miss the Sci-Fi Expo in Richardson this year. A Galaxy Called Dallas gives a take on it.

It Floats, But Texas Cities Should Not Get So Carried Away

An old joke of a ghost story had the taleteller, usually in the dark, around the campfire or with flashlight pointed chin up the face, in a quivering spooky voice, with much lead in and expected repetition, recite, "it floats, it floats" to which the planned inquiry is finally, "what floats!?" with the superior answer, "Ivory soap, of course." The story had several situational variations surrounding the basic lines.

The modern day spooky reality for a Texas city may not be so ha ha funny, or clean (99 and 44/100 percent pure) and innocuous, no, innocently useful (it floats!), as a take off on Ivory soap and an ingenius marketing tagline. But then again... What if it were, in simplistic lay terms (not using any words like arbitrage),

"it floats, it floats"
"what floats!!?"
"the city of course!"
"huh?"
"by using interest savings and interest earnings and cash flow from the sale of CO's (certificates of obligation) and GO's (general obligation bonds) and refinancing old bonds! With some slow pay outs on selected slowed projects! And, with a high percent of padding, like 30%! And, the ability to sweep savings from some projects to other projects that may come up or to free up general fund maintenance projects in the same category and put general fund dollars toward economic development agreements that have no budget! And to have included a number of maintenance needs like street striping in the long term capital bond financed category instead of the general operating fund to make it all slide! And raising the tax rate. And, should the need occur, not doing a certain promised bond project or two at this time if it can not be fit in. The bottom line for the upcoming budget review is spoooky sweeeet! Money can always be found to do what we want to do, but what we need to do can slide if need be."

Joke ghost stories and dreams of Cleo nominations aside, I hope float is not playing a substantial role in keeping any Texas city coffer afloat or bottom line looking flush today, in time for annual review, only to look not so rosy before revenue must be raised again. The challenge would be to, somehow, cover the mounted spending, those newly added operational and maintenance needs for what projects were completed, cover the old undone, delayed maintenance and some quantity of deferred promised projects, and point to some obviously unpredictable economic crisis or so as the cause for the need to place one or more already promised (and taxed for) projects and other short term maintenance into just another future long term financed bond debt program. And, to pay for the exisiting debt too, should appraisals not meet estimates. Such senario could seem familiar.

I appreciate wildflowers and gladly pay and work to plant them, but I do not appreciate snookery.

How long can debt and increased spending be racked up higher and higher for a city, outpacing its growth? I do not want to find out.

No city should perpetually consent to a big float trip only to discover that the jump off points grow steeper and steeper as the debt financed float trip continues. It will come to a critical point and there will be less to show for it than if better stewardship had been practiced. Keynesian economics have not panned out well for many small scale governments or households. The ability to essentially (or literally for that matter) print money is not always helpful. Not passing a particular bond package can hardly be blamed for any city's ongoing whoas as some try to purport by pointing their version of a poster child distressed city. And, wise investment means fiscal discipline and good planning, and yes, some calculated risk, but not "to be determined" loosey goosey and poorly formulated sops.

Where's the Checkbook

Open letter to the Richardson, Texas, City Council,

Where is the online checkbook and credit cards?

A Course, Of Course. So Audit It Already

The Sherrill Park Municipal Golf Course of Richardson contract, including vendor accounts, and practices should be audited by an outside independent auditor given the unusual situation with the set up and unanswered questions about it. I do not see any valid excuse for not doing so. It has never been appropriately audited. Information reveals that at least one council member in 2009 asked for it to be properly audited, pointing to the dollar figures apparently involved exceeding the sole discretion of the City Manager. The City Council, Mr. Keffler, and Mr. Glanton should do the issue justice, which they did not in my opinion with the so called reveiw. There has never been an audit because the information was never opened up to do one. They should do the right thing and put all the golf course financials and information on the books because it is tax payer money and resources being used.

The golf course arrangement where Mr. Glanton makes more than the City Manager;

Repairs are needed at the facility

other things just like this are issues, like

the employee/non-employee retirement benefit arrangement that was cast with Mr. Sproull at the REDP (open records request was rebuffed because he was supposedly not an employee when it came to that, but he sure was when it came to benefits);

the sick leave approved / not really approved beyond the one year policy taken by Mr. Keffler but then extended by Mr. Keffler to select staff too;

double dipping of auto usage, auto pay allowances, using fleet cars;

not putting all accounts on the public reports

not using full accounting to apportion salaried staff time spent on events, like Wildflower! to accurately report tax payer costs (to benefit analysis)

the UTD land lease / land un-lease / lease different land, arrangement...

these are examples where it is tax payer money and interests being used, so tax payers have a right to know about the finances and status of these compensation arrangements and policies, up front, and clear.

I Heard That

For followers of the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary vs. NTMWD Sewer Line

NTMWD SEWER LINE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS AT HEARD
http://www.wylienews.com/articles/templates/news.asp?articleid=2126&zoneid=4

Comments from Collin County Observer
http://www.baumbach.org/b2evolution/blogs/index.php/2010/04/19/p1597

Earlier in the saga, The Heard Museum Preserve, NTMWD Sewer Line, Collin County Commissioners Court, Keith Self and Eminent Domain, A Lone Council Member, and, another golf course problem, all in one episode. "Ricchi steps from council seat to defend Heard (Museum)" http://www.planostar.com/articles/2009/12/16/news_update/737.txt

"Hello Baby" iPad Application, Is it pro life or not?

Some are saying the new "Hello Baby" application for iPad put up by Pampers is pro life. It shows the development stages of a baby inside the womb in 3-d images and sounds. I was going to paste an article link here from a web site called the stir but when I clicked on it, the page error message said, "operation aborted." Weird or ironic or ...?

My comments and opinions

Use cloth diapers when you can

Pampers is pro baby, hello

How would a pro abortion app similar to this look? Not a good thought.

Except in the rare case to save a woman's life, abortion is a bad deal for all concerned, consider me biased

I can't help but see people running around with sanitary napkins in their hand when I hear iPad

Help Flood, Tornado, + Victims

I saw up close and personal some of the tornado distruction in Oklahoma from this past Sunday + and took action to help, however small that help is. I have loved ones who narrowly escaped with their lives from flooding in Tennessee. Several places have seen their share of disasters lately. If you can help, look for ways to do so and just do it.

$18.5 Million Debt in Certificates of Obligation for Richardson Texas on Heels of $66 M Bond Debt Passage

This statement rings truer than ever,

taking on additional debt in this manner at this time, in the amount proposed and under this packaging without sufficient controls and disclosures in place, would not be prudent


(see prior posting for source of this quote).


My opinion is the failure of the current City Manager (Bill Keffler and his managment team of Dan Johnson, Michelle Thames, David Morgan, E.A. Hoppe) and the Council (Gary Slagel, John Murphy, Bob Townsend, Steve Mitchell, Mark Solomon, Bob Macy, Amir Omar) to fully inform us and draw to attention their plans to issue $18.5 M in debt in the form of certificates of obligation, before or at the same time of asking us to vote on the $66M general obligation bond debt package, is slight of hand on each of their parts.

The Sky Is Not Falling, But Think, Fiscal Responsibility

Received in an email,


"When voting, I look at good and bad. I'm fine with the good, it is the bad that gives me pause. I am a business owner and believe in fiscal responsibility. I love much about Richardson. In approaching the bond, there are needed basic projects, but a partial list of shared concerns, mine and others I see are

“Each project has a 30% contingency amount over the estimate and this increases debt requested. The sweeping of funds are a concern.”

“The staff has proposed that 5% of the bonds go to staff for salaries. Even if legal for bond projects, you do not finance $3.3million dollars in salaries for 20 years. A lot of things that are legal are still unwise to do.”JS

“UTD land, why lease and why lease if land can be bought, and how much does building and maintaining roads there cost, it is more than the listed amount and none of it is certainly “no cost” as quoted'

“repairing and replacing are different proposals than adding new things that must be maintained in addition to existing infrastructure. The future costs of additional maintenance on the newly added proposals has not been factored, estimated or divulged."

"There is a list of current repairs that are NOT included that SHOULD be included BEFORE new items are built”

“There are open ended and poorly defined items included”

“This is not the only bond we may need. It is easy for debt to mount. The large debt the city has is substantial.”

“Taking on additional debt in this manner at this time, in the amount proposed and under this packaging without sufficient controls and disclosures in place, would not be prudent.” X 4

“This is NOT our only chance as some declare”

“Think of the children”

"All the taxing entities have shortfalls and needs, this is not the only one to take into consideration"

"Other obligations of the city, will be upon us, particularly the very underfunded retiree system."

“The budget spending and the bond spending include non priority and over spending that should be removed before raising taxes. ”

“Lower taxes are better for our local economy and business owners if proper maintenance is performed first. This bond is missing some maintenances issue and including new less general use items instead.”

"The current down economy cannot simply be ignored. Afordability at the present time for the average taxpayer has to be considered. Those who can afford tax increases from different sources should not foist it all at once on those who cannot afford it."

"The water rate will increase and that is a consideration on top of any tax increases from the taxing entities"

"I lost my job. The economy has not rebounded."

UPDATE: "There are problems with the Galatyn bridge concept, dropping it essentially into the parking lot and it does not directly act as a carrier of any substantial measure of traffic."


I am not a sky is failing person, I love Richardson, but I do expect fiscal discipline in our city budget and bond proposals.