Letterbox: a request from an "Andrew The L. El Liar" to meet over "chip and cookie jar koolaid" to discuss "visions" and "cave persons"

This was a little while back when I first started this blog and was soon after contacted about this. I say it is obviously a joke, but maybe not entirely, so my answer to the request of an "Andrew The L. El Liar" was that I did not trust him and I did not want to meet with him as he requested.

He then really went off about nobody but him having "visions" and that Richardson was not the great city it once was twenty years ago. He stressed that I must meet with him and he wanted "to interview" me.

I asked what his visions are.

His response was very unorganized, but in summary, he stated he was a "visionary." He explained what he thought was the real history of Richardson and that nobody but him knew it like and how he did. He said he loved writing ad copy. He said he and his organization had the largest continuous email list in town and he has great influence, so it would "behove" me to meet him. He went on to say he liked my ideas and said they were "unstale." (I looked up what "unstale" might meant and the closest explanation I found was that it was like the opposite of a stale chip. I found instructions on How To Unstale Old Chip that I will pass along to others who want to unstale chip. Anyway, he said he planned to use them and spread them around. He asked again if I would meet with him. He complained about people having common sense but it being "too common," and produced a diatribe about him "not being tapped." He concluded that he was accused of lying by so many people and accused of not being able to stop lying so he had decided to "use the idea." He did indicate that a "small amount of corruption" by the man he admires was acceptable to him because it gave him acccess to "a higher place that no one else could visualize."

I replied by asking him again to first tell me what his own visions are.

I never did get an answer. I really do not understand what he is all about. I have not heard from him since then.

I get the impression that he is a real person, but until he replies with an answer, I will not be meeting with him, not intentionally anyway.

Has anyone else received an invitation like this to "meet?" I would be interested in knowing.

Not to be incorrect about a comparison, but he reminded me of "Barb" (who was posting on blogs and who I had an exchange with a couple of months ago). "Barb" is someone on the council who does not like Omar, and he is jealous of him, in my opinion, but I get that because Omar attacked him, like right out of the cage, very skilled. I do not like him either, but I do not incessantly make fun of his Futon and Tweets, etc., and I can admit that he has talents. Like four other people who were recently on the council, at least he can get to the crux of a matter, so I give him that. But while I could be convinced to vote for them, with reservations in some cases, I would be extemely hard pressed to ever vote for him.

A few years ago, an older councilman sent an email to Highland Terrace neighborhood about an item where he pretended to be an actual resident of Highland Terrace named "Sandy" and several of us around city hall knew it was him because he let it slip. He was so angry at another councilman for grand standing and flip flopping, more than once. Plus "Sandy" was jealous of him taking credit for something (which was only partially something that the councilman actually did). (Thanks to someone else for reminding me of that episode).

I bring this up because "Sandy" is another one I would be hard pressed to vote for ever again, not because of his little emails against the other councilman, not because he makes fun of his accent, as he called it, or physical features of others he attacks, not because he is against things and then jumps on board when he sees it floating, not because he elbows out anyone he thinks he needs to in order to take credit for what is not his, but because of bigger, more important issues in combination with all those things. I was forced to vote against him finally last time when he ran for office (because of his actions). My hope is that he will not run again. If he does, I will come out against him.

And, one time about five years ago, one of the divorcing gadflys who had, to a point, teamed up with the same councilman who is "Barb" and his sidekick "Linda Sue" sent mean things in German (language) right after a forum at the Mosque. They had to do with how Muslims treated women. Now that was probably the most creepy thing that has ever been sent around, way more creepy than the white envelope in the mail sent to all the council candidates. It ranks up there.

Again "Barb" made an accusation as to who it was that sent the white letter that attacked the gladfly, but I am not entirely convinced that it wasn't "Barb" himself or team, although I think it probably was from who "Barb" said it was from. He said it was someone helping to head up the RC and one who is now on the Council.

I never did figure out the purpose in him/them sending out that unsigned letter about the gadfly except to discredit him. But, it wasn't as if they needed to do that since all but perhaps one candidate knew about that particular gadfly already and to a person realized what the white letter was saying about him was, well, pretty much true, but very mean, so it was a very "out of touch" attempt.

The gadfly had made up a bunch of stuff about nearly everyone, mixed with some actually true things, like the RC did, but unlike the RC, he didn't spend tens of thousands spreading his lies. But it is no surprise that someone would say something about him, but it is surprising that they wasted their eight bucks postage on that particular message about his personality, etc. And it was clear as coming from someone with their hands all over the elections, someone trying to get in there or stay in there, or keep their candidate in there, or more importantly to some, get the non team players off the council so they could control it better and go back to business as usual without so many questions. What actually happened was that there were people who defended the gadfly, who had and would have not done so usually.

I saw where the offended gadfly put in a public information request to the City of Richardson trying to figure out if "Barb" was telling the truth about having seen the same verbiage, that was used to describe the gadfly in the white envelope unsigned letter, in another email having come from the now-RC Councilman.

I do not know if the Secretary's Office gave him anything responsive to the request or not, but it would be interesting to know. I may pass by that way and glance at it.

I doubt "Barb" produced the email between him and the RC-now- Councilman and certainly the RC-now-Councilman wouldn't have because he is craftier and more upstanding and believable than even "Barb" (except to those who know better). Perhaps someone else will produce it who the RC-now-Councilman copied on that email and who also got ahold of a copy of that naughty unsigned letter.

As you may have picked up, while the facade of propriety and civility is sometimes feigned in public between some of these actors, to borrow a phrase from John Sweeden about something else, "peel back the onion." And now, thanks to them, more than just them and their sidekicks are kicking. I'd say they stirred some people up, people who had never been stirred up that much before.

Now some of this stuff amounts to nothing more than a hill of beans, because almost all of them had and are doing wacky things to each other, but when you get to the part where your business, important issues, your public hearing, and your money is concerned, and they have their and their sidekicks' filthy lying slick but sticky fingers in your cookie jar, you might just want to exam the ol' onion, cabbage, or what ever you want to call it.

It's propably like a forty pound cabbage, not an onion. So it's not like you should ignore it. A lot of people can be fed off a forty pound cabbage each time, whose grocery money and quarter acre it is in the first place.



photo: hgtv.com

City Council Agenda tonight, there are a lot of questions about the multi-unit development at Renner Rd and North Star Rd, AND NO to the monopole

For the zoning file concerning a proposed development at Renner and North Star, in Richardson, TX, one concern sent out via email by nearby residents who realized that a meeting was being held on the topic tonight, was the question of if it will allow only low income seniors (and not other seniors).

Another is that, like other multi-unit residential buildings that were originally meant for one type of tenant, if this is the case, it is a worry expressed that it can be used for other low income housing later on (converted), so that will need to be addressed.

Others have said that enough apartments have been built in the area, so are not in favor of the proposal.

This request or particular case has been in the works for a while it appears, and it seems to have slipped by the notice of some panhandle residents (given the very late emails and most basic of questions). Churchill Residential, Inc. is the applicant (represented in part by a recent former City Plan Commission Member and huge Bill Keffler schmoozer-- he speaks at the microphone and everywhere else about how wonderful Bill Keffler is, and I agree he is in many ways, but he carries on like Mr. Keffler needs so much defending for all his actions, I can't totally know what else he is being defended for doing that hasn't already come out or is being schmoozed about). Now I see some more information about tonight's case:

In February 2010, the City Council approved Resoultion 10-03 authorizing Churchill Resdential, Inc., to act on behalf of the City in applying for HOME (Housing Trust Funds from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs/ TDHCA) for this particular application.

Tonight's hearing is:
Public hearing, zoning file 10-05: A request by Richard Ferrara, representing Churchill Residential Inc., to amend the PD Planned development zoning and request a special conditions (sic) at the southwest corner of Renner Road and North Star Road. The property is currently zoned PD Planned Development.


There are several things going on with the agenda tonight.

On another case, I ask that the DART request for the 195 foot monopole downtown be put somewhere else. There are other more suitable options. Or if it is just insisted and has the votes to be agreed to, it be less gigantic (less thick and at a lower height) for now because it does not have to be that huge and have all antennas right there at that location. It can be tall enough and still do it's job, but it doesn't have to be that gigantic and it doesn't have to host all the antennas there. If you noticed, the shopping center at Jupiter and Belt Line was made even uglier when the CPC and City Council about in '06 approved a pole smack in the middle of the parking lot. It really made an ugly situation uglier. That one is very small compared to this proposed structure. Please do not put that monopole there down town, out of place/context, and if you think you just have to, please do not make it so gigantic and gosh ugly. It really needs to go in better locations and not there. There are other options.

If you can find all that money in the budget to freeze people's taxes, Mr. Omar, then why don't you just make it lower for EVERYONE in Richardson, TX

Well, like I told you, the senior tax freeze battle was on its way and here it is.

It's not surprising that Mr. Solomon won't say his position. I already told you about that. I predict he will be the next mayor (but not if Mr. Omar can pull it off). Bad PR is still PR. Maybe he can win the precinct (neighborhood vote) in which he lives next time.

I'm glad to see Mr. Macy has flip flopped and gone in with the others who oppose freezing taxes for some but not others. That just may be a signal that he's not going for another term and has someone picked out and is championing and wheeling and dealing (maybe someone near and dear who got a city contract, eh?). Either way, we know he will keep his finger in the pot.

It is definitely no surprise that Mr. Slagel, true to form, is slyly not stating a (today) position because he needs to not come across as throwing Mr. Omar under the bus because they need each other, big time right now. (And, don't forget about the history legacy project. "He'll go down in hissstoorrrryyy.")

I have no doubt that Mr. Omar's plan will make sense for a select group who he has to retain and who he pandered to big time, but again, if all that bling, I mean tax payers' money, can be found to freeze or exempt taxes for one group, it should be spread around to all of us. Some of us are getting real tired of subsidizing others against our wishes to such a level. We've already had to subsidize all the forever and increasing exemptions and all the school tax freezing. This is when we and our families and relatives can no better afford it than those getting the exemptions and freezes. It just isn't right.

Exemptions and freezes are never "revenue neutral," Mr. Omar. That is just not so. They have consequences. They distort, for better or worse. Why would you freeze someone's taxes, say Mr. Chuck Eisemann's or Ms. Jerri Leftwich's or Mr. John Tanner (who all helped to raise taxes in Richardson) but charge it to me and my neighbor. I realise you have not been owning real property and experiencing the paying of real property taxes in Richardson all these years and have a spankin position, but gosh. Oh, maybe I do get the two other reasons you are doing this.

And no, before you complain, the reason I have no problem taking swings at him and people like him who threw punches left and right is I just disagree with him on this issue, and other issues, and because they threw the punches first, mercilessly and needlessly, and made personal attacks. And they do not make amends. That reminds me of when one woman bought into his race and religion baiting. So, she walked up to this other guy and says, "oh, how could you!" Like with the Stef Carter/Murphy Turner baiting business, as in no, I've never thought Mr. Omar was a janitor, or religious cleric for that matter, or elephant trainer. And, I also liked him until I saw and heard his under belly first hand.

I do find it amusing not that Mr. Omar is chiding staff (after spending hours of their/our time, and his) and also that he is getting a taste of the medicine that if CM and Mr. Mayor and whoever has his coat tail (city resources) at the moment don't really want a proposal being heard in public that much, they try to strongly disuade it by stonewalling and ignoring. You couldn't get away with that to such a degree on some councils because they have council operating rules. I'll give Mr. Omar a clap for pushing his political (save Omar who made promises) agenda, with no style points this time. It just might pay off for him, but I hope this particular promise he is pushing does not come to be.

I am only saying what some of you are thinking and saying: If that other city had more stringent rules on credit card use and

if people didn't loan their gun off premises to an unlicensed carrier or if, rightly or wrongly surmised, antidepressants were not misprescribed or under monitored, or even if the public eye focus wasn't on keeping up with the joneses ... it still wouldn't stop some tragedies like the one in the news this week.

Maybe the following of some guidelines could help many situations however. Things don't operate in a vacuum.

As one example, if you look at our city and probably many other cities, there are insufficient checks and balances on the credit cards usage under the city manager's office. The method of having an employee, that may be hired or fired by any CM in any city, not just this one, approving (or accounting or categorizing) a CM's personal use versus city use, charged on the same cards, is not an ideal set up. Further, some of the charges are to dine the council members, among many others, and among other things, so the CC would not be an impartial overseer either. I do not know of written guidelines of the city that the city manager can spend on a council member for dining them and so forth. Also, there is not an ethics policy. This is not a fleshed out, written council rules of procedure.

I think checks and balances will finally be put into place now, with written, published policy on such matters, and the advice and request to do so will be heeded. Things like that are important for a city, although many people do not believe it. (Also, a charter review is in order.)

Along the same lines, the city should please place the city checkbook (all accounts, tracking of all funds) and all credit card account transactions (line item payee/purpose/amount/date/time) on line.

Just Think, A Council Retreat Could Be At Mayor ProT Bob Townsend's Son In Law's Ranch, Y'know the one on the TX Water Development Board, via TI way

Miles away from Richardson, Texas. That was the plan a couple of years ago but fortunately someone, who is no longer on the council, put the kibosh on it. Oh how the wise self described "council elder" sneering (and bird flipping, cursing, character assassinating, whisper campaigning, chiding and condescending) began in earnest, which wasn't a new thing because others have seen and received this treatment. You would have thought it was as if someone asked to actually meet a person before they agreed to go along and appoint someone to a city board or something. Oh, the further nerve! The same nose out of joint assuming guy attacked again on that basic request. It was very disappointing and painful to see this behavior from him against others who were (and are) doing the right things. Unacceptable that when someone doesn't want to meet away from the City Hall or wants to practice due diligence or who isn't as good Mr. Condescending #2 considers himself, they get attacked and bullied, or at minimum sneered at so others can see, by one of the so called standard bearers.

Of course, because even the non head bobbers aren't anarchist and magical enough to spin straw into gold, they get attacked by those who simply loath anyone once they get on council.

This week is budget "retreat" time and I have said and agree with the few people who are watching that it is a step backward to have the budget "retreat" not broadcast this year, 2010, when it can full well be. It is the people's business and it should be as accessible as any other council meeting. The excuse line about it being tradition to hold it away from City Hall is lame.

In 2007, the retreat was at City Hall.

It worked out just fine logistically (why wouldn't it) and was very productive and transparent on the surface (as it could be without being broadcast, which was opposed by too many who were playing political games, and considering who all was there, and wasn't there, notwithstanding the missing account information and all the spin, and the "who's the mayor, no I'm still the real mayor" tension and what came after).

But sadly the overlords and the people pleaser overruled and it went back to the "Richardson Women's Club." In a recent year it went back to City Hall (purportedly because of Club parking lot reconstruction or problems, interesting that, but who does know for real, I do not know if that is what happened or is the accurate reason or not).

In years prior it was at the Club. I really didn't see the need for it there other than confusing one or two people who wanted to attend as to where the meetings were, not that more than two people bothered to sit through it all the way (or stay awake some years, including some council members who dozed. That was part of the beauty of it for some. That and the beer).

Remember when Gary Slagel, when he was not the mayor of record, and Bill Keffler, with the submission of a part of the council, conducted a non posted meeting in 2007, billing it as a celebration for just the council and city manager, but led by Gary, with the senior staff huddling expectantly upstairs, when executive sessions were suspended, to give "the high five" to signal Bill was going to get a raise and by how much (and so would the senior staff because raises roll down hill, usually). But that was broken up, again, by someone who is no longer on the council. Actually, it was a walk out. Some of those people are just not "team players" enough don't you know. It's a cultural thing.

So you see, things could be worser, couldn't they? How would you know?

A little hint, do not trust that you can get everyone to uphold and participate in such nonsense. Don't let any calls go out. Do not trust that all the senior staff and secretary have stayed put upstairs. You do not know who will hear. You do not know who will see the comings and goings. You have waited until you got rid of all the "visitors" but have any come back? (You know, that happened that other time, oopsie). Why don't you just shut down the parking lot too, you know, for extreme privacy. Now that is real privacy. Oh wait, what about the roads leading in. So many things to cover. Hey, what about holding it at UTD on Keffler Blvd or Slagels Way or Fossil Bridge that is to be built around, or whatever it all gets named. The drive access at those places will be limited too.

Of course, some other people who are not "team players" show up at the visitor's section at council meetings and say really unusual things. What is said makes people conclude things like those commenting on state law don't want to read or understand state law (either). Or check with their own neighborhood when purporting to represent them. Some of them feel that they know something is happening, but they don't know what it is. Or can't explain it. Nor do they seem to care to understand or listen or read, so they come across as slinging noodles against the refrigerator to see if anything sticks.

Are they? Mostly, but not always. Some are looking at the spirit of what they would like to see and have asked for over and over again and not necessarily the technicalities. That is not always a bad thing. It doesn't come across well though if you are an attorney or quoting law and forget to say how you can contradict what the law says (like point to another controlling line of code or something that allows you to make that certain statement, that would be helpful to the point).

I have seen at least one guy flat out make things up who has helped sue our city. I don't deny that he has some very valid points however. Nine times out of ten that mixture gets a limp pile of noodles on the floor to be picked over. Even if someone wanted to agree, with the core spirit of why someone is upset, stuff like that makes it difficult to do so, but not impossible.

I still have to agree that just because something is permitted under the law for a council to do, if it is, does not mean they should do it, especially when the Charter says they shouldn't. Or that people should defend them doing it, refusing to acknowledge the spirit of fairness that others are asking for over and over again, which is even sadder.

And for the things that are not permitted, like a non posted quorum meeting of the council to signal, before the actual posted meeting weeks later, whether the city manager's pay will be raised, you know, for his planning purposes, they shouldn't be doing those things at all outside a posted meeting.

I think Richardson is a very good city and well run in many regards, but it could be even better. Mostly it functions well despite some poor steps of government, some funny business, but it could not function without government as well as it does overall obviously. I don't like seeing its reputation or locale tarnished and people treated unfairly, especially tax payers, so I won't pretend like everything is perfect but everything isn't horrible. Some things are nearly perfect and some things are very far from it, mostly in between.

Some extremely biased but official sounding sources pronounce that citizens should complain to the state, not city council or CM about city actions on a recent matter because state law trumps. The argument basically goes that the council simply does what they are allowed to do by state law (and then some).

So gosh, where does that leave us here at home?

I don't really buy into that. It is not the best, or only, avenue. The city council members who took the actions are the ones who decided to do that.

Texas districts' suit for Oklahoma water rejected

Tarrant County district's bid for Oklahoma water dismissed

By BILL HANNA, Star-Telegram.com, Posted Friday, Jul. 16, 2010

excerpts

Joining the district's legal fight were three other Metroplex water providers: Dallas Water Utilities, the North Texas Municipal Water District and the Upper Trinity Regional Water District.

The Tarrant water district is seeking to divert more than 130 billion gallons of water from river basins just north of the Red River and provide it to the region's growing population, which is expected to hit 4.3 million by 2060.

Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment J.D. Strong said the judge's ruling "strengthens Oklahoma's right to control the use of its most precious natural resource and enables the state to meet its interstate water obligations."

"The action is welcomed by TRWD (Tarrant Regional Water District) as the matter can now be expedited to the appeals court, which will make the ultimate decisions in the case," said Jim Oliver, general manager of the water district. "Today's ruling sets a clear path for us to continue to vigorously affirm our right to acquire water in Oklahoma."

Read more

What's up with two lead gadflys on either side getting divorces. That's sad, but not surprising. I expect more to come, unfortunately.

Some people do some even crazier things when they lose their women through death or divorce. Last year is proof of that. Things could get even crazier from these guys this season than in prior times. I just hope they do not go as far as the other two guys and their stumbling wings falling off attacker did last time. Oh and their "flying below the radar" two young whipper snapper guys. They all made a mockery of civic "affairs" with help from those they assign themselves to protect and defend, who do not deserve it.

Letterbox: A blog tip from a reader on how to open links in their own browser window, pros and cons

Before I had updated my blog template a month or so ago, I had added a simple feature that makes a link open into its own browser window. A reader noticed that I didn't have this feature, so offered the tip on how to do it. Thanks for the tip and I will consider adding it back in however the reason I had not made it a point to add it (again) is that I have kept a very basic, but interesting enough web site to come back to (at least people who have contacted me have said I do) and here is pretty much how I was thinking: here (it shows the tip)

Let me know if you know of some reasons in favor of each link opening up in its own browser other than trying to keep people on my blog. I would appreciate knowing.

Speaking of gaga for sparkle: 'National Night Out' gets a green light for fireworks, Saginaw News (Blogging from Richardson, TX)

SAGINAW TWP. — Although last year's National Night Out held at the Saginaw Township Soccer Complex was a big hit, this year it will add a big bang.Saginaw Township Board of Trustees approved a plan for a small fireworks show at the conclusion of the event scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 3. more

Stevie is one of my favorites (blogging from Richardson, Texas)

Time capsule.

One Area Biking Blog Has Picked Up On Maggie May USA Farmer's Market...He says that he got it as an idea in his new "suggestion box" (Richardson TX)

That's great. The poll count as of today is 82 to 1.

I celebrated the 4th of July w/ relatives in our big, but country rivertown and it was like the wild wild west, fireworks, shooting, the days, nights

Surreal. Roofs were threatening to catch. A few of us were sitting out on the huge covered front porch, listening to what sounded like a war zone and watching the fireworks flaring all over the place. I had the thought that the police were being called out all over town, but there would not have been enough of them to make a dent regarding complaints of roof hitting, car dinging, hair scorching rogue fireworks. So then I wondered if this was just the way it was now there and if very many people even bothered to call when amateur firework ordnance flew about the rooflines and all over the place. Everyone thought it was probably more commotion than usual in part because of the holiday falling on the weekend. It wasn't quite like that as a kid, for one, not that many could afford THAT many fireworks outside a few organized sponsored ones.

A few times, several of the family pooled together and put on a show up at one of the farms (usually my Aunt's), but they stayed clear of structures.

Oh, those were fun times as long as you got out alive and not too banged up.

Growing up, the black people at the place next door would hold Roman candles in their hands and shoot them at one another in the middle of the road. Momma wouldn't let us kids join in on that when invited. Something about putting out an eye. Now it is many Hispanic families in the area and many were having Roman candle fights that lasted a lot longer. They didn't seem to care that they were shooting them at houses.

Back then (and still today) some of the boys around there would use pop bottles to shoot off bottle rockets or just light them and throw them up in the air. It didn't have to be no 4th of July. It wasn't unusual to hear of eyes being put out. The only thing I knew about directly was a white boy who hung around some relatives on the mountain knocked a big chunk of bone and flesh off his elbow and back side of his arm one summer that involved fireworks and pop bottles. It was not something the weak of stomach would have appreciated seeing. (There was a cigar puffing man with a glass eye who walked around town giving nickles out to little girls, but I don't know how he came by losing it, his eye. There was also a one armed man, but that was from electrocution, his missing arm, up to the shoulder. I might tell later about him and the time he came to our house. He was a nice and very productive person).

I hear a few firecracker pops in Richardson during and surrounding the holiday, but other than the organized displays, not much, until you hit down south and east of Buckingham.

We went to the organized display and sat right by the river listening to the band. Stuff like Mustang Sally and Chicago's 25 or 6 to 4 . It was all very impressive and romantic and made us happy to be in the USA. It wasn't very crowded because it had sprinkled and wasn't, isn't a metroplex, and apparently it was more fun to just about everyone to do their own displays.

Since the whole world there was banging, into the night the whole weekend, we decided later to dig into our sparkler stash that we had put together.

These sparklers with the woodstick handles blew. Does anyone remember the pretty ones, the ones on little somewhat floppy metal sticks that would burn your fingers as they progressed? You had to be old enough (have long enough arms to keep it away from your face) and brave (and tough) enough to handle a chemical coated spark spitting glowing, getting hotter by the second, metal stick. You would have to be careful not to get too many spark bites on your arms or legs and not step on the hot spent sticks after you let go of them. One of the thousand rites of passage. Oh safety, sometimes you are a damper. I still haven't come up with an equally exciting passage for the wee ones as that. You had to make sure at the stand that you didn't get charged full price for the ones that had half the spark caked off the metal stick.

We had some small fountain fireworks that were very nice that we set off in the back. Muggy night, one dud, but the mosquitos had turned in for the night which was good.

We all helped a relative on a home project.

It was a fun, disconcerting at times, interesting, family oriented, patriotic, romantic and productive couple of days before scrambling back home to Rland and the salt mines.

Here is a Franz Ferdinand song. I like their Take Me Out one better, but this below video reminds me of this post regarding fireworks, and a previous post about S.O.B.'s, about neccesary and unnecessary beaurocrats, about people meeting behind closed doors manipulating a city or others, about the envelope that all the Richardson, Texas, city council candidates last time reported getting in the U.S. mail with no return address (more about what I heard about that later), and a creepy post on another blog about burning things down (hopefully that was someone's warped and sick sense of humor and not for real, but there are some super sicko people in the world and they actually do want to poke your eye out, so listen to your Momma).

The bling (diamond, used for hypnosis) at the beginning of the video reminds me of that mailer from a councilman candidate last time in Richardson, Texas, that had all the bling on the front of it. It was filled with scare and bling bling promises, but it is one of those things you can't help but think was a joke or trick when you got it, it was ridiculous, but something like that needs to be taken seriously because so many people believed it.

25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago.

Ducks At Duck Creek in Richardson, Texas, December 2005

This photo was taken about during the time that a woman in poor health living nearby (over)fed the ducks profusely and reliably for a good while, and wasn't convinced to stop for a good while either, with the help of her husband who would bring her out to the creek, as one of her enjoyments in life, but it caused challenges. Please do not feed the urban wildlife. Do not teach others to feed the ducks. It nearly always leads to problems, especially when it is done too much, too often. (If you feed them, think of the others who might be doing the same, but like in 50 lb bag quantity. It can add up).

They quacked and seemed to enjoy posing. Well, they thought someone had come to feed them again probably. Or maybe they wanted a drink of cleaner water. (The sparkle on top of the water captured by digital camera is chimerical).

This reminds me. I have one neighbor who feeds the squirrels and the neighbor across the street shoots them with his little pellet gun because he says we have so many and he gets mad when they get into his garden. I told him if he was going to kill them he should learn how to dress, cook and eat them (except the brains). He said he was guilty over it and I haven't heard or seen him doing it this month. He stands in his front yard and shakes his head when he sees the other guy come out to fill up the feeder, who apparently despite being asked by the other guy, like the duck feeding lady did, sees it as his enjoyment in life.

I did not bring up the raccoons. I didn't want those two feeding and shooting on them too.

Garden netting. Chicken wire.

I better manage letterbox bunny to steer clear.

I was reading about estimated census results on USA Today yesterday. And, is this the way of it?

Texas cities are emerging as the growth leaders, according to the July 1, 2009, estimates. Four of the 10 fastest-growing — including No. 1 Frisco — and 11 of the top 25 cities that have populations above 100,000 are in Texas.

Sunbelt not so much.

Minorities leading growth.

Richardson Texas 103,201 12.7% (percent change 2000 to 2009)

Here's one exchange:

Jackov (67 friends, send message) wrote: 6/23/2010 10:44:45 AM
"pedalit (4 friends, send message) wrote: 1h 37m ago
boom cities=booming crime, sprawl, traffic, expense and last but not least, booming disconnect in the community. i like these articles 'cause i can cross them off my list of places to move to (i've moved a lot) without making a visit or even a phone call"

=====Only useful advice for families & seniors.. I love boom towns like Vegas. MORE DEATH=LESS RENT. I have no interest in community, churches or schools. I rate cities on sleaze & cheap luxury rentals.The majority of adults are now SINGLE.
m [Jackov]

USA census article (last week).

What does this week's SCOTUS ruling say about guns that is common to what is generally held regarding sexually oriented businesses?

You can regulate, but can't ban them.

I agree with that.

Speaking of which, Richardson's S.O.B. ordinance has a flaw worse than the uproar it was trying to plug with that rewrite.

I guess the plan in Rtown is to just keep things crossed real tight that more Zone d's don't visit upon here. (Or Fuzzy's type places either, in my opinion). I think they will and Rtown is not that prepared.

(At least one councilman exclaims, "This place is so cool!" I will let you do your own research regarding which place he was promoting.)

Some people think none of this is any big deal, it is just life, sex is. Let's not be hypocrites, let's be more ____ (fill in the blank. European. Open-minded?) I feel differently, so call me non cosmopolitian, call me a gun toting NIMBY, or what you will. I recently visited my birth town. It was a sad sight to see that it had a triple ex adult shop as you rolled into town, with blazing giant cartoonish displays pointing the way (which was obvious because it was right on the main road). It is not like you can immediately turn off the channel or close the browser when you and your family have to pass by to get to where you need to go, or worse, by where you stay or live. The two towns on the way in had been hit too. I am sad to see it, and more sad when a five year old says, "what is that? what's the x's spell? can we go there? ooooh, those are preetttyyy lightss!"

In balance, it doesn't make up in taxes what it costs. It doesn't add a good element or a good reason for speaking well of a town, in my opinion.

I support concealed handgun right to carry and I support concealing adult sex clubs and shops too from being left out on the public's main streets in front of our kids and those of us who don't want that "gentlemen's club" or strip club or porno shop in our faces when we use our main streets and entry portals (to speak the city planning lingo). (I definitely don't want to see it subsidized, like one club that seems okay with that type of thing in town.)

What is the deal with soccer players anyway?

We were hanging out with three FC Dallas players and they could not stop with the incessant, simultaneous, chatter. I mean, it went on for like hours. I had to ask, does soccer do that to your brain or what? I never noticed it before. The answer was, yes, yes, yes. It does!
Okay, so it was great fun, you should notice I wasn't forced to stay (NIMLR=not in my living room), and we will do it again (NIMLR style, so I can leave when my head or eardrums threaten to explode), but I am considered warned (when you get above the count of one obsessed soccer player, all bets are off. I'm not so sure that wouldn't be the case with just one obsessed soccer player all by himself. Sorry, yes, I said that. Or maybe just one obsessed fan. Yeah, I said that too. I'm serious, you people are obsessed).

Happy Birthday USA

Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illness

here. We lost a neighbor in Richardson, Texas. Prevention is important.

Designers I Like: Jean Luc Cornec. Sheep and Telephones. (Blogging from Richardson, Texas)

rotary dial

telephone sheep

by Jean Luc Cornec