2010 Texas and Dallas County General Election. Blogging from Richardson, Texas

First, some comments on the 2010 Texas, Dallas County (and Collin County) General Election contests.

This one is the Dallas County edition (mainly) because all but a few readers who have said anything are in Dallas County.

Not my district, but Stephen Broden the man running in US TX District 30 looks to be unendorsed now by many people due to disconcerting statements he has made recently.

As for the incumbent he is challenging, it's sick (in the bad way) that Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson passed out scholarship money to her relatives, some who didn't even live in the district.

Too bad there's not a way for voters to have an immediate do over with all this coming out right at election time. Of course, one can argue that the financial impact is minor compared to some bad policy over the years.

It is going to be hard to ever trust someone who is known to do something like that which is such an easily knowable violation (no way to squirm out of that one, Rep. Johnson). And Stephen Broden is going to have a hard time convincing people he didn't mean what he said.

It's also a shame that in the General Election, it's the more partisan of the candidates that come into it out of the two major (only two major) primaries and not necessary the best candidates.

I would like to see preference voting on election day. More candidates (qualified). Less party hacks (who would elect a dead person than vote across the isle types), more moderates. More parties (and I don't mean campaign happy hour drinking parties because there are already tons, I mean more options as in more choices that increase the chances of qualified thinking leadership).

About the open SBOE District 12 race, I am going with Amie Parsons.

The relationship between SBOE and The General Land Office as it relates to school funding (derived from the Permanent School Fund and its further reinvestments) is interesting.

For General Land Office Commissioner, the (two leading) candidates have more in common than most candidates. Both are former state senators and both have deep Texas roots. Both seem competent. While I like Jerry Patterson as an administrator, I think Hector Uribe could make more money for public schools (from The Permanent School Fund's land and land energy related investments and underwater lands [like off shore rights up to ten miles out into the Gulf too] in the long run by having additional energy production arrangements and leases (in addition to traditional oil and gas).

A time will come when Texas will wish that it had been as assertive as countries like Spain in investing in alternative and augmenting energy. While the goal is to make maximum return with the least risk, there is also a responsibility about how to maintain and source sustaining investments off the land resources and keep the money flowing in for a long time. (Portfolio diversification. And an added benefit of helping to augment traditional energy sources and reduce reliance on foreign sources of energy).

If the SBOE can invest a small portion of its subsequent spending and reinvestment in charter schools (through SBOE asset investment in commercial real estate), then couldn't it along with the Land Office support investing likewise of a small fraction each in emerging energy production off the Permanent School Fund land resources and other SBOE assets through leases?

(By the way, under the SBOE asset investment arrangement in charter schools, it has been explained by a SBOE Member that the state would hold title to the property and the charter school would not have to pay local ISD, county and city property taxes. That is an interesting note if accurate. )

In a key race in Collin County for the Commissioners Court Judge seat between Judge Keith Self and Former Plano Councilman David Smith, I would say I agree with the endorsements that have been going out to Smith and normally I think he would be better in terms of getting what needs to be done, done, and in a fiscally responsibly manner (as proven by his service) and he is a respectful politician. My only concern is if he could stand up to people who come knocking for stuff that the Collin County Commissioner's Court should not agree to. If he could express that he has a backbone, because he is a super nice guy, I would say Smith is the way to go. I say this because I would trust that Smith would give more accurate information than Judge Keith Self has on issues overall. Otherwise, it's back to contrarian politicizing (sometimes said to be downright misleading) Judge Keith Self who has created mixed results in my opinion. It doesn't mean I still don't admire some things he has done (and cringe at others).

If I were given only one gold star to give to an elected official in Dallas or Collin County, it would be (Dallas) District Clerk Gary Fitzsimmons, who understands customer service and has been working to improve District Clerk Office efficiencies. He should be re-elected for another term.

Dr. Elba Garcia's web site for Dallas Commissioner Place, above average. Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield's demeanor these days, below average. He has approached the demeanor of John Wiley. That's a shame.

By the way, all this talk about voter fraud and vote supression and voter I.D., go ahead and pass voter I.D. and people just need to be prepared, care enough about voting, plan ahead, grab that I.D., bring I.D. when voting. I understand both sides. It needs to be handled. Anyway, we should all be able to vote online at home or from work or from where we want soon (from overseas as Americans if needed/stationed there, etc.) in addition to in person (one of these days).

I know it's about party, but I didn't like the mailer Sen. John Carona sent around that I was shown that says to vote a partisan ticket. I recommend the opposite. Vote each race. It's bad advice to be told to vote straight party especially in local races where for the most part competence matters way more than any ideological frame. It is rare to find any of the politicians who don't go telling you to vote all one party, other than a few of the judicial candidates.

Speaking of judicial candidates, here is an interesting article about "resign-to-run" from Dallas News (Dallas County public defender's proposed 'resign-to-run' policy has judicial candidates in her office crying foul).


Selected Races:

Opposed races (I am leaving out unopposed races and declared elected positions, except to say that while Judge Dennise Garcia is unopposed in the general, I hope she gets many votes for re-election to Judge of Family District 303 Judicial District).

The lines drawn under a few of the races means I haven't finished making my opinion as of this posting about that race.

Several of these were very close. I have listened to candidates in 40 of the below 50+ contests. That means there are some I have never met in person but have read about, seen video of, read their statements or web sites. If I were to learn of any new verifiable information that I do not have, my opinion could change based on new information.

Speaking of which, thanks to the LWV of Texas (Richardson, Dallas); Dallas News; Committee for a Qualified Judiciary (CQJ); Dallas County Elections Department; Collin County Elections Department; Dallas Bar Association; The Parties; various other news sources and volunteer groups and individuals, and the candidates and their campaigns for the information that they helped provide now and prior.



US Rep. Dist 32
John Jay Myers

Governor
Bill White

Lt. Gov.
David Dewhurst

Attorney General
Barbara Ann Radnofsky

Comptroller
Susan Combs

Commissioner of the General Land Office
Hector Uribe

Commissioner of Agriculture
Todd Staples

Railroad Commissioner
Jeff Weems

Justice Supreme Court Pl 3
Debra Lehmann

Justice Supreme Court Place 5
Bill Moody

Justice Supreme Court Place 9
Blake Bailey

Judge Court of Criminal Appeals Place 2
Lawrence "Larry" Myers

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5
Cheryl Johnson

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 6
Keith Hampton

Member State Board of Education, District 12
Amie Parsons

Chief Justice 5th Court of Appeals District Place 4
Lana Myers

Justice 5th Court of Appeals District, Place 12
Robert "Bob" M. Fillmore


District Judge, 44th Judicial District
___________


District Judge, 116th, Judicial District
Dale B. Tillery

District Judge 191 Judicial District
Gena Slaughter

District Judge 193 Judicial District
Carl Ginsberg

District Judge 194 Judicial District
Ernest White

District Judge 203rd Judicial District
Jennifer Balido

District Judge 254 Judicial District
James Martin

District Judge 256 Judicial District
David Lopez

District Judge 265 Judicial District
Mark Stoltz

District Judge 283 Judicial District
Rick Magnis

District Judge 292 Judicial District
Larry Mitchell

District Judge 298 Judicial District
Emily G. Tobolowsky


Family District Judge, 301 Judicial District
_____________


Family District Judge 302 Judicial District
Tena Callahan

Family District Judge 303 Judicial District
Dennise Garcia

Family District Judge 304 Judicial District
William "Bill" A. Mazur Jr.

Family District Judge 330 Judicial District
Marilea W. Lewis


County Defense Attorney
__________________


County Judge
__________________


Judge County Court at Law No. 1
Russell Roden

Judge County Court at Law No. 3
John Goren

Judge County Court at Law No. 5
Mark Greenberg

Judge County Criminal Court No 2
Julia Hayes

Judge County Criminal Court No 3
Doug Skemp

Judge County Crininal Court No 4
Teresa Tolle

Judge Country Criminal Court No 5
Etta J. Mullin


Judge County Criminal Court No 6
______________


Judge County Criminal Court No 7
Elizabeth Crowder

Judge County Criminal Court No 8
Tina Yoo

Judge County Crininal Court No 9
Peggy Hoffman

Judge County Criminal Court No. 10
Roberto Canas

Judge County Criminal Court of Appeals No 2
Jeffrey Rosenfield

Judge County Probate Court No 2
Chris Wilmoth



District Clerk
Gary Fitzsimmons

County Clerk
John F. Warren

County Treasurer
Joe Wells


The JP's and Constable(s) should support customer service improvements across the board but unfortunately not all of them have made sufficient strides in modernizing their offices and doing simple things like always arranging that the phone is answered when it rings (and rings). At least one of them in Dallas County curses like a sailor in front of anyone and everyone, including the media. (Do that on your own time if you wanna.) At least one of them campaigns from the bench. None of these behaviors are good law enforcement or judicial images to put forth. In some cases where there is a competent alternative or at least seemingly so, that is the one I would prefer. Some of them do not seem to know enough about the law. Have some of them become complacent and forgotten how to treat citizens? I would say more than one has.

__________________

If you are a candidate and feel I have overlooked you, then you can email me and let me know and I will print your statement or information (within reason). Like I said, in a few cases, it was a close consideration on what information and impressions I have.

If you are a candidate and want to agree with me, you can email me and let me know. I will print your statement or information likewise (within reason).

Carol Burnett, Sarah Silverman, Lucille Ball, Mike Myers, Bill Murray, Dave Chappelle, Kat Williams, Steve Martin, Jon Stewart, Tim Conway, Dat Phan

(pictionary message from one candidate for TX House 102 to opponent).

Betty White
Michael McDonald
Mo Collins
Chris Kattan
Weird Al Yankovic
Harvey Korman
Vicki Lawrence
Will Ferrell
Dana Carvey
Eddie Murphy
George Carlin
Gilda Radner
Lief Garrett
Adam Sandler
Bea Arthur
Dan Aykroyd
Johnny Carson
Carrot Top Scott Thompson
Owen Wilson
John Cleese
Rich Little
John Lithgow
Tracy Morgan
Rob Schneider
Molly Shannon
Martin Short
Red Skelton
Ben Stiller
Chris Tucker
Tracey Ullman
Christopher Walken
Jimmy Walker
Damon Wayans
Keenan Wayans
Shawn Wayans
Marlon Wayans
Laraine Newman
Stephen Colbert
Billy Connolly
Conan O'Brien
Tina Fey
...

After watching the near humorless and annoyed or irritated candidates for TX House District 102, I thought it best to begin creating an innoculation list, a vaccine of sorts.


Don Knotts
Jerry Lewis (h/t to you French)
...

What happened to Kent and Carter? That is not how they are when they are off stage. They are both socially delightful, pleasant, super likable people off stage whether you agree with their particular philosophies on a particular subject or not. Carol Kent, was that really you? Stefani Carter, I know you turned Eisemann down for running for carpet bagging it to Richardson to run for the lowly Richardson City Council (smart on you), but was that you? If that is the only exposure someone would have to the two of them, that and those awful ads, then it is no wonder ... Is this still the primaries?


Bob Newhart
Phil Hartman
Jamie Kennedy
Jack Paar

Joe Piscopo
Tim Meadows
Tom Poston
Nipsey Russell
Al Franken,
Bobby Lee
Will Sasso
Frank Caliendo
Simon Helberg...

I mean no disrepect, but neither of them came across as having that much of a plan or strategy. For pushing for anything that will improve our state's challenges and that will work and be agreeable (go beyond Texas partisan regurg.)

Stefani Carter was unpleasant and attacking trying to carve some points, which she did, which matters more in the race because she is the challenger. (And by race, I didn't mean anything having to do with skin color, and by skin color, I better not be accused of calling someone a janitor, ok? Because there's apparently something really wrong with being called a janitor. And getting kicked out of an HOA.)

Carol Kent came across as annoyed (I can see why but she needs to suck it up, up there) and didn't have her usual fiesty spirit. I might have missed it, but neither of them smiled once convincingly as in, I'm glad to be here, I'd like your vote, I'll do a good job, I can work with others even if I can't stand her, I mean them. I wonder if Fred Hill was there to encourage her or slip her some quid? She lost the "face off" or side off or whatever that was by mere fact that she was an incumbent who didn't press back as good as she was dealt, because she let herself be pushed on the ropes and aggravated, not her usual demeanor but at least she didn't keep interupting. It is her race to lose.

(I was half expecting Stefani Carter to go all like, "Knock knock, who's there, Interrupting. Interrupting wh... mooo. Ok, my bad, let's do it again. Knock knock. Who's There? Interrupting. Interruptin.... MOOO! Interrupting Cow, that's who!")

And what about high insurance rates and high utility costs? What about all the things that they didn't want to give an answer to. I would have actually liked it if they would have just said, beats me. Or dunno. Or, I didn't get around to it. Or Jane, you ignorant voter, you just don't know how hard it is to work in that bastion of a legislature and get anything good done!)


So are we now (according to partisan reviews and in some cases the candidates) supposed to know something like, Kent's a slightly peavish, forum rules tattletale, pro death penalty, hard working, neighbor's neighbor neosocialist gas tax raising top out of touch liberal in Texas with a sense of entitlement or something bipartisiany sounding. And Carter's the interrupting left end of a dark red but spotty colored wing nut cow "you can look it up for yourself" free market non endorsed by boss and unendorsed by mayor of Garland non janitorial attorney and carpetbagger. Next.

While this was not as bad as watching say Judge Sally Montgomery (D) and whoever she is bickering with at the moment, or DA Craig Watkins carrying on (however, does his opponent seriously expect us to believe Craig jacked his wheels and left his car neatly on blocks without a scratch? Get the DNA man! Prove it), at the Kent-Carter side by side it wasn't that informative or entertaining on the issues (so one has to make it so).

(About Montgomery, I really don't think Montgomery should be on the bench.)

At least Maurine and John Wiley are a little funny. Ok, a lot funny (in the laugh to keep from being incredulous way, also did Maurine seriously switch her vote to raise t..t.. I can't say it, but she nearly makes up for almost anything by how she says, "zero-scape" instead of xeriscape. It makes me grin when she does that and I like her more and also she actually knows something about it). And, at least Keith Self and whoever he is bickering with at the time are interestingly (in the fake play sort of way) dramatic.

But, this with Kent and Carter was like blah, spat, blah, moo, blah, you accidentally skipped over me, moo, huff, crouching on elbows leaning on the table, blah, moo, smirk, I thought I heard a good point no wait, yawn, huh, moo, what did she mean by that, moo, was that an answer, I'd rather be doing anything but this sigh, blah, lash, blah... Paraphrasing partially inaccurate reenactment.

If they aren't going to take their own candidacy very seriously on the issues enough to offer some meat or something, protein, starch, or leafy veggies or skillfully handcrafted item like one could find at a Richardson, Texas, Farmers and Makers Market (as opposed to being political narcisists and grouchy huffy annoyed party liners), then they can at least be entertaining. Or you know, get out of the ring.

Angie Chen Button of TX 112 just moved up a notch despite her habit of talking with her mouth full of food, letting crumbs blow out on us. Even that is more interesting than what either of the TX 102 candidates showed at the forum. (I sincerely wish Angie and alll newish reps down in Austin had better influences and guidance directly around them in the political and policy making arena. She for one has a lot to offer that's good. But there are a lot of pit...falls. She's as new as Kent when it comes to that. It seems too easy to fall into not so good things in that lege. Ask Joe Driver. Ask a lot of them. What's the deal. New reps, no matter how smart they are or think they are, shouldn't hang with people who steer then wrong there, or around Richardson City Hall for that matter. Or Garland, etc. Keeping the favor of bad people in the political arena is never worth it because it hurts good people and the new rep herself or himself who can be taken in by the big dogs. People who trusted you can't trust you anymore when you go bad. So get on the right track and stay there. Anything less is hollow even if you thought you won.)

Did Angie Chen Button seriously turn down appearing at the forum no matter what date the LWV picked? Cute. Rick. Cute.

The LWV gave them all a good opportunity.

Is there a choice that's a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll? Because if I could pick the middle half of Carol and the middle half of Stefani ... I would work for such a candidate.

Seriously, personally, I like Carol, even if I can't agree with some issues. She has done a lot of good work. Sometimes past good work isn't enough if times make more voters want to call for a candidate they think can stop the hemorrhaging (of a state budget shortfall) and not raise their taxes in the middle of a recession, whether it is a real or imagined image of a particular candidate or not or whether she has good manners or not.

New electees in the state lege have little power usually but the more worried voters are, the more they want to see a fighter, even if that fighter is borish, especially if they don't know anything about the candidates. Many will vote straight party tickets.

I don't know Stefani that well and it is mainly through seeing her at places we both happened to be. People I know who know her all seem to really like her too. I was taken aback by her behavior at the forum a little but her hand was played like her political consultants dreamed it up.

On the issues, I agree with Stefani Carter about 39% from what I can tell on the issues. I had said I agreed with Rep. Carol Kent 49% (which left 51%), but after studying it, it's more like 39%. So the tipping point is not met. If I actually had to vote or was eligible to vote for one of them, I would have to have some questions answered that neither have yet to answer clearly.

Something that happened this past week with the tea baggers makes me cringe when I was informed today that the Tea Party had endorsed Stefani weeks or months ago. I have a relative who told me that the tea baggers were having a convention in our home town and then I was sent a video in email of it because this tea bag lady woman got up and said that the place was an armpit of liberalism. Not cool to insult your audience. The tea bag speechifiers there came off as very radical. I know not all tea baggers are steeped in the same waters, but whoa.

Anyway, I give no endorsement in the Kent-Carter race. Not because of their performances at the forum. Why? Because I am a bigot. That's why. (Really not). I actually just can't vote for a woman. (Just kidding). And because I don't have to. I won't be voting for either one of them. (I actually can't.) You already know who you are voting for anyway.

But, so who is going to "win." Normally, Carol Kent would be reupped as the inc because she didn't seem to have any major scandals and she is well above average as far as candidates go, but she is new and in this time of anti inc tea flavored fervor and all the playahs and consultants, it's not a foregone conclusion. If that's the case, Stefani Carter on policy is no worse than many who represent. Just look at Pete Sessions. (I have to say Stefani floored me on her answer in the guide about the State Board of Education though). Or, if it is true that there is a come to Jesus democratic surge going on in the final countdown as I heard about on the (so called) news last night, then we know what we have gotten from Kent and it could be way worse. Just look at Pete Sessions*.

(*Despite Pete Sessions being pleasant and goofey and a good sign stealer when it comes to non office holder stuff, I can't vote for him. No, wait, make that a bad sign stealer. Good (in the bad way) sign stealers do not get caught like Pete got caught. And the reasons I won't vote for him are not about his sign stealing, but that certainly doesn't help).

Milton Burl
Jack Benny
Jack Black
Russell Brand
John Candy
Jerry Clower
Phyllis Diller
Jerry Seinfeld
Jimmy Fallon
Red Foxx

I might do a post about some of the other candidates I can or will have to vote for. (Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst; Ag Comm. Todd Staples; for RR Comm. it's Jeff Weems...)


Jamie Foxx
Mary Tyler Moore
Amy Sedaris
Julia Sweeney
Wanda Sykes
Lily Tomlin
Julia Louis-Dryfus
...

Restroom tile pictures I mentioned previously

Xeriscape the medians, or if you prefer, zero scape (h/t to Maurine) the mediums (for fiscally psychic growth).

Seriously, I know, I know. Some at the City of Richardson, Texas, will say you must water even xeriscaped medians. Not really (if you plant the right plants or trees at the best times). Just like you don't have to water native drought tolerant trees. The temperatures here rarely get below 32 F/ground and you plant in the Fall (during hurricane season basically which causes rains up here) to give the roots six or more months before the intense heat-drought (desert) conditions come with the Spring onward, which is what the heat island of a street median represents (is) for vegetation (a desert or desert like conditions for much of the year).

I have mature, beautiful trees (here and elsewhere) and have never watered them. I have never watered my xeriscape gardens, not once. It did rain right after I put them in, and that is what you want. If you feel you really need to water right after, you can of course, but you shouldn't have to do this past a very few times. If you do, then it's not the right setting to be planting whatever it is that's not going to live without all the water, attention and maintenance, which is what you want to avoid (you want low maintenance, low water need, with the good appearance and other beneficial aspects of trees and plants).

I trim and prune the trees and plants as needed in the Fall too, which is the best time (as opposed to Spring). All but the larger pieces compost.

My grandparents never watered their native trees and they are still living (the trees that is). (It had nothing to do with intentional xeriscaping. Mother Nature actually handled things from time to time without that much help back in ancient times).

You don't "mow between" a xeriscape. If done correctly in conjunction with the hardscape (the lighter the color of hardscape and any pavement, the better), and arranged well, it (median) doesn't need mowing, just infrequent grooming and even less frequent maintenance (usually tree or plant trimming or hardscape upkeep). Try an area and work on the solution that fits best and go from there.

If it can't live on its own, then it's the wrong vegetation for the situation (the location), including trying to put a giant water sucking tree on a concrete heat island. A large canopy shade tree does cool, but a tree with a big canopy uses more water during hot weather than one with a more naturally sparse, drought tolerant canopy (if that is what your conditions call for). You need to define your planting goals. It does not have to be big thirsty trees inside (on) the median to be "green" (or for someone to claim he is "green") if that is not what will work for your exact environment and local city (government) pocketbook. I have both large canopy and small canopy arrangements, but they are not of course in a road median.

If a local government can't (or refuses to) consider xeriscaping techniques or ideas, then there are intermediate options (as opposed to what is being suggested by and agreed to with the Richardson City Council and the COR staff). We do not need to add on to what we are doing. We need to go in a more conservation minded, sustainable (affordable long term) direction. Drip irrigation, which doesn't sound scary, uses up to 90% less water and can be camouflaged but should not be used to support unsustainable long-term practices nevertheless (don't plant greens that shouldn't be put there). Do not mention that this is a xeriscape technique. But it seems most anything would be better than the way it is being done now and being proposed to just continue.

If someone wants to support a City's model of

continuing to spurt resources down the storm drain (which usually happens) by creating sprinkler-watered public space landscaping arrangements that

need perpetual great watering (which isn't as much a problem short term when a place isn't in drought mode, but is a bear when it is) and

that needs significant manicuring and maintenance then

turn around and push for (sell) the need for long-term ever increasing water rate increases and

the need to flood east Texas homesteads for another reservoir (pitting district against district) and

growing the parks budget (and

hiring firms staffed by illegal workers to mow and mow, around and through configurations of trees that aren't in xeriscaped settings),

growing the electric budget (regional water supply is electricity /pump intensive),

adding to the call for selling of a giant amount of state water bonds, then

I think that is not such a good way to manage our public resources and our money for the coming decades (until technology or conditions allows us to morally use or waste all the water, and electricity, we care to, which isn't where we are today).

Today leadership on this issue at the council level, the North Texas Water Board appointee level, and TX State Water Board appointee level and from the Governor and all the appointers down is lacking in my opinion. I have not been impressed by Richardson's last three politician water board appointees. At least the cronyism is so very well attended to at all levels.

Richardson's last three water board appointees, are founding or original members of the Richardson Coalition to return Gary Slagel to the mayorship.

The Richardson Coaltion participate in smearing anyone who does not share that as the utmost top priority and to rid the political earth of anyone who should dare not agree to make him thus despite any concerns. Some seem to have forgotten all about silly little old water things (at least when it comes to helping the majority of residents). (And have they also forgotten about the double agent on their team waiting in the grass.) They deserve each other, but the taxpayers deserve better than the Richardson Coalition.

Under current philosophy and leadership, rates here will keep climbing at a faster rate than our average incomes. Reminds me of something else.

Water must indeed be the oil for a set of Texas tycoons of industry. Collin County Retired Judge Ron Harris was working for T. Boone Pickens for a while trying to convince our water district and Dallas' (and others) of the need to work with (buy from) T. Boone / Mesa water, a crafty plan to pipeline water from the Ogallala aquifer involving sweeping powers of eminent domain and ability to issue the new tiny but powerful Mesa employee stocked "water district's" bonds and also a plan to transmit wind produced electricity utilizing said water right of ways (Mesa Power comes in). A fantastical idea. The idea hasn't come to be for now.

Anyway, this was the time period after Ron had lost his seat to Keith Self. I remember three times ago when I had seen Judge Ron Harris. A very likable guy in passing. Gary Slagel was shopping him around up in the panhandle at HOA for votes, against the charter of the HOA. It was a blow to Gary and of course to Ron when Keith took up that seat. Judge Keith Self also complained about the subsequent powers of eminent domain that would be used by a new government (the tiny water district in deciding its water right-of-way path from West to East Texas).

There's quite a history and set of connections up there for Richardson slash Collin County slash water board players and big water users and tax payer money and appointees and relatives and contracts and former employees and with both failed and successful plans and arrangements and politicians and former politicians. Software, transportation, other contracts. The public usually doesn't know or at least can't fully track all of what goes on very well. Some overlaps and loopholes are down right disconcerting. When we learn of things we don't like, for example, hypothetically someone's son in law being awarded a no bid contract with no background of experience in such operation, the debate dies down and all gets back to "normal." Mostly. Only to be repeated in pattern again and possibly surfacing here and there, unless a substantial intervention occurs.

T. Boone Pickens / Mesa has been reported to be the largest private holder of water rights now.

I think we should invest. In infrastructure, that is. In resource management. In education. In appearances too. I'm not opposed to paying taxes that are going to be invested transparently, fairly and wisely for agreed upon common good. A lot of good is happening but more needs to happened that's good. (No, it's not that I want to pay taxes. It seems like some people just beg to pay taxes.) What I am opposed to is our governments doing the same wasteful (non investing, hard to sustain, rote) things over again, whether in awareness of it or not, AND not respecting tax payers and our resources that to this point are finite (except for ideas), AND then on top of that intentionally doing tricky things, whether it be "strategy" (against it's own citizens, like witholding public information) or hand in the cookie jar type things, against us, we, taxpayers who provide the resources (foot the bill, the ever increasing bill).

I just see that type of non-leadership as illegitimate and the opposite of fiscally responsible and the opposite of letting us keep freedom over our hard earned resources (in some cases just handing it over to someone else for their profit and receiving very little). If someone, for instance, a homeowner, or business wants to do something like pour water out on the edge of the desert, then let them pay for it, up to a certain level of allowance (they can't run the well dry during a drought or flood my farmland for their own water reservoir use to be fair about it) but don't make the rest of us pay for it if that is not what we want to do.

I know that is not what I want to do or see happen. I have higher priorities than to fork over money to see someone spend it on arranging to pour water out on the median and then do it (and as it turns out in several cases letting it run onto and down the city street) in what appears to be for perpetuity (arrangement, institutionalized wasting) when it's not necessary.

It is just not necessary to do so in order to have an attractive environment.

This (and the outdated water district contract arrangement) is especially irksome at the very times citizens are under water use restrictions and under impendng water rate increases. This on the heels of other increases. In the middle of recession and high unemployment. Even in the absense of the last two, the trend is not good.

Oklahoma, D'eux. Just got back from Okleeehomey and boy are my feets tired

It sounded funnier when my little sis said it. But for reals, have you ever noticed that there just aren't that many Indians working at the Choctaw travel stops up there and I hear (from all you sinners) that very few (Indians) work at the casinos (it's not like I would know)? I got a deal on a bag of popcorn flavored cheetos puffs at the casino travel stop place that I ate on, on the way back to Rville (Richardson, Texas), so that was good because I was starving but it was not at all nutritional but it wasn't like there was a Richardson, Texas, Farmers and Makers Market open on the highway at three a.m. that you could get in and out of in four minutes and see polished onyx tile (at least that is what I think it is) on the bathroom walls like at the casino travel stops (I'll show you a cell phone picture or two of the bathroom that alone is worth a bathroom slash fuel stop and if you were there, sorry bout the cell phone picture taking in the bathroom, ok?). What else... I will come back to my Oklahoma part II post because there were some things I feel sure that I have been meaning and wanting to share about OK, alright. Some of it sad and some interesting and good, in my opinion. Some of it could be curious.

John

This one has been sitting in my tray for a while. This is a performer I really enjoy and one of my favorite videos and songs from him. I'm sending it out today to my friend Darrell in Richardson, Texas.


Ever since the days of old
Men would search for wealth untold
They'd dig for silver and for gold,
And leave the empty holes.
And way down south in the Everglades,
Where the black water rolls and the saw grass waves
The eagles fly and the otters play,
In the land of the Seminole.

So blow, blow Seminole wind,
Blow like you're never gonna blow again,
But I know who you are.
And blow, blow from the Okeechobee,
All the way up to Micanopy.
Blow across the home of the Seminole,
The alligators and the garr.

Progress came and took its toll,
And in the name of flood control,
They made their plans and they drained the land,
Now the glades are going dry.
And the last time I walked in the swamp,
I sat upon a Cypress stump,
I listened close and I heard the ghost,
Of Osceola cry.

So blow, blow Seminole wind,
Blow like you're never gonna blow again.
I'm calling to you like a long lost friend
But I know who you are.
And blow, blow from the Okeechobee,
All the way up to Micanopy.
Blow across the home of the Seminole,
The alligators and the garr.

visit johnanderson.com

Richardson TX to do $MM flyover into "friendly" field. Did not get recommended safe ped crossover between East Side, Dart Station, hotels, trail...

The living, working, shopping, eating, playing, DART riding, trail using, hotel staying, masses just aren't as "special" (apparently according to clamouring demands that prioritized and placed that other "special" "friendship" flyover at the top of the list magically).

Naked ladies in Richardson, Texas

Where I grew up, these were called Nekkid Ladies and Spider Lillies.

"True Amaryllis"
"Belladona Lillies"
"Silent Ninjas"
"Naked Ladies"
"Red Spider Lillies"
"Surprise Spiders"

Depending on climate and conditions can come up in spring and fall, but definitely a sign of fall around here. They shoot up without foliage (hence some of the nick names). After the flowers die (last about two weeks) some grasslike foliage appears at their base. If you have these or want these, read this, Naked Ladies In My Pasture (and its links).

City Council Takes Advantage of Many Opportunities, But There Were Some Missed Opportunities for Richardson City Council on Monday and otherwise

that were not good for the people. (I use the term "the people" because that is what we were called.)

First, regarding the ethics policy and its concluding hearing (and passage, on its way to the consent agenda) for the Richardson, Texas, City Council, there were some missed opportunities and none more striking (and blown) than how the confidentiality clause was born and passed through. All sorts of descriptions spring to mind. I'll refrain because someone else has already said it better (and he actually edits his writing and checks his spelling, see below).

Many of us have expressed, discussed and tried (and tried) to tell our representative or the entire Richardson City Council how we feel about the use of that sledge hammer of a confidentiality clause (as written).

I feel Mark Steger over at The Wheel has described very capably a better way, one of several, that could be used to handle such a clause concern.

I also compliment all the speakers ("visitors") on Monday night because every speaker brought up valid points, this one and others.

I also feel DC's blog called Just My Two Cents has been consistently bringing up things that are worth considering and I feel and understand his and everyone else's frustration, not that it matters (h/t).

Given the council behavior immediately following it's passage, it seems only the people were really interested in ethics in government.

I can see how council did what it did, council who are inside looking out, who are writing rules that apply to said council, which are claimed to be and supposed to be "the people's code" but that isn't much like the people's code. Or if staff is writing it (from one or from thirteen cities).

Seeing any government consciously follow an RIAA model that is only going to cause about thirty new and better Napster peer to peer offspring is not something beautiful (to RIAA, at least, not until they would get their act together, comparatively, for interims). Government failure to release public information (public information) in a timely matter as required by law (as required by law) only gives birth to (double edged swords) like wikileaks. The more a government unnecessarily keeps a people's business from it, the more the trust lessens that such a government has any right to hide any information even when there are valid (limited) cases to do so. The trust is already weakened via behavior that begat the call for an ethics policy.

There is a lot of ground not addressed at all by the council's code of ethics. No mention of prohibition against several of the activities that should have never happened in the past and should not be happening now or in the future. It can and will happen with even more immunity now because it can be said by council, and staff, that, "oh, well, it doesn't offend our (this) code of council ethics and protection (or staff code of ethics), therefore we can do that." This coupled with what is essentially a chilling gag order of protection for anything at all put into an executive session does not spell "People's Document."

That's what I wanted to say about that, for now.

Moving on to another item, one that essentially involved whether to require an apartment complex across from city hall to pour more concrete on the ground already planted with trees and shrubs (17 years after an agreement or obligation to do so back in the day) and help cause just a little more stormwater runoff in Rtown (like we need more of that).

The request was for a sidewalk variance on a low traffic area with a city (Richardson code) standard sidewalk directly across the street. Not that this means anything, but I have seen many cases where variances were given to others with much less fitting requests by far.

It could have gone either way on granting the request or not, I see the pros and cons, some compromise was had, I am not going to go over the details, but I wanted to say that there could be better ways of providing for increased pedestrian mobility and connectivity (mentioned, and rightly so), reduced storm water runoff, while keeping things attractive (good) and affordable and respecting good design principles. I learned of this through discussions with mainly two people plus a few others, meaning mainly a former council member who I call on as much as I can before I feel like a stalker and a suckling sponge and a Richardson assistant department manager type who is like a wizard.

Some visuals:

Permeable sidewalks, all kinds, fancy or very plain (standard look), could be used that let water pass or go through and reduce runoff and accommodate pedestrians and trees or plantings.






























Problems when traditional methods meet trees (roots)






















Rubber sidewalk example that I was told about (recycled tires). Utilizing them also helps clean up plagued areas and counties that have severe rubber tire dumping problems. Dumping of tires is such a problem not just here in Texas and so much so that a fee is charged in many areas across the country when tires are purchased to help pay to educate and clean up or combat tire dumping. Putting this and other materials to use more, in more applications where they work better than concrete could help all that and more.



























Grasscrete is used in several places around here. In certain cases, in places that are not ideal for more straight up concrete, grass pavers provide support, and green, and permeability (permeation of storm water into the ground).













Another thing is that more miles of trails, developed in a sustainable (very sound) way could be achieved sooner if even a small shift in the way of thinking was employed. Some of this has been pointed out to me in Richardson, but only some. I always say to my friends and anyone who will listen, give us more of that information and examples of what is and can work.

Overbuilding amenities as a policy reduces the pervasiveness of those amenities which could be right-built (adequate) for more users, earlier on (faster availablity and for more people). Wide is good, but length is good too.

Stormwater runoff, dealing with so much impermeable (impervious) surfaces in a city, is nothing to keep ignorning to the extent it has been and to a certain extent being ignored by some (not by all, but by some), mainly politicians, who will offer as the solution to just tax us more (fee us more) as the main, long-time coming solution without appropriate change in their thinking and in policy or in concretin', beyond appearances).

(Having to dig up a roadway and concrete every time any single one of the utilities has a problem is a problem. More on that later. )

Those are my notes and that is my time for now. Maybe someone will read this and see value in it. There are pros and cons to every thing, but sometimes it is very okay to consider different options that have not been given a fair try or much thought.

P.S. I feel that ruling on the case of the sidewalk wasn't exactly too friendly towards a good neighbor business who has done good for so long and now some greens are going to be uprooted and other mature greens put at risk of death on behalf of more concrete. Frontage road around there is already a wading pool when it rains good. Just saying. Also, seems like the city paid for drainage for the condos (their share of it) nearby outright when the development didn't build it in like they were supposed to (agreed to), but the other place has to build for itself what was called a community use amenity. Why the difference between the two? Is it because a councilman who lived at the condos pressed for city to foot their bill but at this time there is no councilman living at the apartments? Just curious how that all works and matches up. I'm not saying it does or doesn't. I'm just asking.

P.P.S. In regards to a few comments about the importance of especially the area around city hall, I wanted to say that how the city hall neighborhood looks is no more (or less) important than how our neighborhoods look (how they should be treated and regarded) and how our businesses and residents should be treated no matter where they live in our city.

New move to ban "internal electronic devices" says Richardson Texas City Council

Richardson City Council called a press conference following an executive session to announce that in addition to changes made last week to a Richardson Code of Confidentiality and Ban of External Electronic Devices, a new section has been added to the agreed upon bill.

"It only makes sense," instructed one confidential Council Member. "If all external electronic devices are banned, why not ban all internal electronic devices."

Another Member chimed in, "That is wisdom speaking. You won't find this kind of logic in very many places. So, don't tell us how to count electronic devices. We are the Telecom Corridor after all. Run us up the flagpole and see if we don't stick."

All Council Members indicated agreement through spirited, but united, body language using their heads, although two Members crossed their fingers behind their backs according to two city officials who say that under the new rules they can no longer speak to anyone but Council Members for fear of rules reprisal. One Member was seen slipping his RC rubber bracelet off and on.

When asked what the additional rules were, the following draft notes, with specificity and vagueness, were provided.

"You will need to let us know if you have any of the following:

Cardiac pacemaker

Any internal electronic device

Artificial heart valve or stents

Medical surgical clips or aneurysm clips

Intra-uterine device

Hearing aid or implants

Shunts

Neurostimulators

Artificial joints/ metal rods

Embedded shrapnel or metal fragments

Steel plates

Kidney disease

You will be asked to undress and put on an exam gown. All loose metal objects must be left outside the exam room. Such objects include jewelry, watches, hairpins and dentures. Credit cards also should not be brought in due to past unreported confidential incidents with credit cards.

In some cases, you may be given a confidential injection. This helps us see detail of your particular body parts.

You will lie on a table that positions you as we wish you to be. A large open-ended tube will surround your body while you are being scanned.

Trained, highly paid COR-RC Staff will observe you from another room, talking with you via an external communications device which has not been banned because it has a very special use permit.

While COR-RC representatives operate the session, you will hear some tapping and other noises. During this time you should lie motionless. If you feel uncomfortable, please tell the COR-RC representatives. We will provide you with ear-plugs, blinders and so on and so on.

To schedule an appointment please call the COR-RC office immediately. You have our number."

When asked what the punishments for infringing the new rules are, the official comment was, "We will all just have to wait and see. In some cases, we plan to give rewards for certain internal electronic devices, it just depends, so it is not really a ban per se, in all but some cases for only certain people. I feel we have protected our best interests. Not everyone is going to agree with us."

Three Board Members were on hand for the new rules unveiling. When asked why they thought so few apointees were there, one Arts Commission Member said, "We just found out from a text message from someone on the Council that we will be required to follow some kind of rules and you didn't hear it from me but we think a band called Fox Guarding the Hen House is going to be here so we came to see if we could catch them or at least get into the Council's after party."

An impromtu line began forming for goers of Comic Con.

A few retired volunteer VIP RC Members were to be found sitting in lawn chairs beside a tree near a fire engine. When asked what they thought of the rules, a spokesman-ambassador for the group yelled, "We can lie all we want about you. What you gonna do, huh, huh? Just go home! RC VIP's rule this City, suckahs!"

Council will hold its next show Monday, September 27, at 6PM at the Municipal Center. Tickets are always for sale.

So, who is pushing for the misguided, broad, poorly defined and worded "confidentiality" clause in the City of Richardson Code of Ethics anyway?

It is not non staff, non council, non city attorneys clamoring for it. No, it's not like when neighborhoods supposedly clamored for something that benefited a donator to a certain private business of a certain politician and that came ahead of so many more important things that would serve so many more people.

There is more to this story that will be revealed.

Keep in mind that non confidential public business is not confidential just because someone closes a door and claims to the public it is.

The RISD Trustees have been watchful, listening with a big ear to the rails.

They definitely didn't want or need to make waves in the wake of the superintendent and severance situation. That guy made out here like a bandit, and over yonder too. Who's in charge of things like that, eh?

They noticed a budget based tax rate increase would not be that well received. However when will they float that bond package that they had pulled back. I have heard a lot of chatter about it over the past many months. What increase in RISD taxes will be tied to it? Will it be packaged with an eye toward highest needs, efficiency and effectiveness in the final version?

I am still liking the new guy on the RISD Board of Trustees. I hope he does well.

I have been checking in with PISD too.

I am told that more news will come out about bond package ideas and drafts on what should be included and I am told to look for innovative cost cutting measures that are going to be proposed by trustees, staff, parents, students and others. It will be interesting to see what will come from all of us along those lines.

Letterbox: Two items. One says the jet lease cost was not reimbursed. The other is a flyer from Grier Raggio for Congress.

The first item reads in part,

"From your blog:

"concerns about putting non employees into the employee retirement system; leasing a private jet for personal business and bilking taxpayers for it but getting caught and paying for it after getting caught and calling a reporter and round robin council calling to cover, hypothetically;"

Thought I would point this out to you: He never did pay back...

I do have the documents on this incident from an open records request...."

Thank you for letting us know about this.



Our response to the other letterbox item:

A flyer was delivered from the Grier Raggio campaign canvassers.

Grier Raggio, I seriously think you are a nice person and very well meaning, I just don't want more of the same in Washington. (If Pete Sessions contacts us, I will blog about him, but I for sure am not voting for him). Mr. Raggio, you haven't convinced me that you aren't just going to do the same tired bad policy making, although your flyer is starting to hit on something that resembles substance ("making Washington live within its means" and "keeping jobs here at home." You should keep in mind that businesses are not the enemy, it's the abuses by government and individuals that are).

I am still leaning to voting for John Jay Myers as it stands.

I searched for Richardson Code of Conduct. I found this and it says that there is "honor among thieves" and protocol involved. Oh really.

Infidelity is an unpleasant reality that we can no longer turn a blind eye to and pretend it does not exist.

The Other Woman Code of Conduct offers detailed guidelines for what behavior is acceptable for those participating in these arrangements. Like it or not, there is "honor among thieves" and there is protocol involved in everything we do. Cheating is no exception. It is in our best interest to know all the facts so that we can make informed choices.

TheOtherWomanCode.Com

Explosive! With The Other Woman Code of Conduct...

takes off the gloves and confronts one of the biggest taboo topics in relationships today. How do you help people who find themselves engaging in behavior that is completely unacceptable in society? Where most experts run from the hard tasks...

Richardson runs to the rescue because she understands that people can only do better when they know better! It's possible that this book will begin the conversations necessary to discuss the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about. Warning: This book is Uncensored and definitely Unapologetic!

There should be an ethics commission and provision for use of independent, trained professionals as needed (investigator, accountant) (Richardson, TX)

As Monday night's Richardson City Council meeting showed, the Council's judgment alone, or even in conjunction with city attorney or paid staff, is not so good particularly when it comes to the Council (and staff) itself. If so many citizens had not become concerned and been involved this time (which is not always the case), a very bad bill would have come away last night (and it still might).

I agree with others who have been paying attention right now and with the cities over time who have had to deal with ethics issues, when they conclude that it is appropriate to have citizens and professionals as needed/called upon according to guidelines, such as an independent investigator or accountant-- some checks and balances -- involved in reviewing ethics questions and charges and not only leave it up to an ethics questioned mayor and his city council slate, manager and city lawyer, or count on enough people paying attention to what is happening at the time each thing happens, especially at times like the last Council meeting of a year, very late, where things have happened (more about those later).

It will save problems and money in the long run by letting everyone know they need to not abuse their position and our coffers, that they are held accountable even if they are the least worst candidate elected (or even if they are not), that the city accounts should be handled as transparently as possible, and to clue some others in who have had clear conflicts of interest in a matter and still tried to control the issue, like involving a certain housing development complaint, hypothetically (a word used at Monday's council session).

A first line process and review needs to be in place with people who are not directly the complainee or complaintant or slate co-politician, who is not lobbied/briefed by the CM/O, who is assigned to look at the facts as a commissioned (standing) group (and not lost track of for years at a time as described in another hypothetical senario presented). Ultimately council can make a call, but after more than just itself and direct hire/s have looked into a matter following the guidelines.

Hypothetically speaking, it has been too easy for council members (politicians) to shrug responsibility about what the other (politician) is doing. If they say something to the wrong co-politician whose coat tails they may or may not have ridden in on, or to the wrong CM, they may not get elected again, gasp. If they don't block for the grand pupah, they don't get treats. Is it really one politician's job to corral another serving in the same body when that politician may owe the fact that he is on the council thanks to the coat tails of the other politician who is his "leader" or who he blocks for or the reverse, who is knitpicking at him in public when he can even if they have the same "leader"? Monday night is evidence that the Council does need guidance from people other than itself. It also smelled like elections are on the way.

If the City Council is so able to handle everything, then might as well get rid of City Plan Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment (as "someone" had suggested finding some way of getting rid of that board any way several years ago, more than once, but really couldn't find a way to), etc. (Then of course there is state law). The ZBA had an odd occurrence itself a couple of years ago via one member which should not have happened in my opinion (I won't get into that right now unless I see that person doing more of it or up on a slate).

Often the people appointed by the council as a whole show better judgment on certain items once presented with facts than the Council and this could be true of matters involving the city council itself (or a question involving the conduct of a deliberative body itself). Of course a commission may be stacked, of course it can be highly biased, but at least there is more of a chance that the facts are examined and an attempt at a more objective recommendation is made, as opposed to what has gone on for years that is not so good that taints all the good things that do go on.

Hypothetical examples of concerns [edit: note that the concerns fall under different, overlapping areas in some cases and in other cases, completely separate areas, that need to be kept separate. They should be addressed under the applicable policy and if policy doesn't exist and is needed, it can be addressed.]

The rehiring a departed fire chief on the last couple of days of the year as a consultant to gain retiree benefits; voting in another city (not Richardson) less than a year before seeking Richardson office; approving or looking the other way while personal business is mixed with city business repeatedly and including at the expense of and ahead of projects that would serve many more citizens; issuing a contract to a relative;

unauthorized use of city logo, name, backing and property of the City; holding a non posted meeting to discuss city manager's pay; complaints of faulure to fulfill FOI requests; failing to audit a contract for over a decade;

concerns about putting non employees into the employee retirement system; leasing a private jet for personal business and bilking taxpayers for it but getting caught and paying for it after getting caught and calling a reporter and round robin council calling to cover, hypothetically;

hypothetical things like that, and oh, calling citizens nasty names in public like b _ _ _ _ _ _ s and b _ _ _ _ es and a_ _ _ _ _ es and a crazy b_ _ _ _ , giving obscene gestures to people at neighborhood meetings, etc.

Hypothetically speaking, there doesn't seem to hypothetically be a lot of evidence of a Richardson City Council's ability or willingness to substantially police itself and live up to an ethics and conduct policy, although not all of this would fall under such a policy as currently proposed.

This doesn't even get into hypothetically taking money from a developer with an open specific case in front of council, being a founder of a PAC and endorsing yourself and the "PAC" claiming "it" didn't financially support candidates, filing late, getting slapped with a fine, hypothetically, all the while pointing a finger at others who took fireman and realtor PAC money and reported it right away, hypothetically.

I wonder what happened to the young guy who came to the town hall meeting and described being alledgedly raped by the former fire chief and from the audience a former councilman and RC'er yells from the "open town hall" audience, "sit down, shut up!" Now that is complaint transparency RC mentorship legacy pillary for us.

The attitude has been from many, "what you don't know about city issues won't hurt you."

"Don't tell them how to count cars."

Learning about what we don't know about city issues will be as engaging as if the RC and its special members and founders fire up the old slate machine and lie about all the candidates who "won't play footsie with the pillars." Oh, but come on, they can come up with better lies than to lie about flyers on windshields, or can they?

I use the word "pillar" because it was used at Monday's night Council meeting by one of the council members. Do "pillars" get city car allowances and special permanent parking passes to the Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts too? "I was just curious." Totally unrelated, but have you ever noticed that the pillars at Eisemann Center are a little skewed (concrete stacks don't exactly line up, probably intentionally), look at the "look" of the pillars for yourself.

I would rather have a process, and the chance at some objective organized feedback rather than counting on this council or any other council or board to monitor itself or hoping enough people show up to scare politicians into doing the right things. "Doctor heal thyself" and "we'll handle it don't worry about it," is the exact thinking and cajoling and dismissing that has caused the calls for an ethics policy in the first place.

Regarding complaints about use of "cellular devices," I personally do not care as much about who is tweeting, twiddling and fidgeting as I do about other things and that they are not repeated (repeatedly) and swept under the council rug (unless they are roving quorumming right in front of us). There are things equally or more off putting than someone quietly tweeting under the desk and not making eye contact. (Some of those kids can do more than one thing at once I heard. Some councils have those typer machines right on the shiney contraptions in front of them. In France, they wear those things at meetings in their ears that tell them what hamburger means.)

This would also include ending the end runs around citizens in issuing substantial debt like for a performance center or other things outside of and on the heels of bond election(s), things that were conveniently not prominently featured so citizens would know what was coming. Or funding certain things with taxpayer money outside of any vetting process that allows all interested (not just "friends") to apply if Council and CM is set on doling out, dealing out taxpayer dough, which isn't such a good idea many times, especially in those closed door sessions.

Not all organizations, non profits and otherwise, and people are treated fairly in my personal opinion as to access in Richardson with the use of city resources. Look at the numbers and arrangements, if you can get them and decipher them. Good luck with that, since the City is all transparent and everything and audits a city account and arrangements when multiple complaints have been received. Oh wait. Nevermind. They don't.

By the way, I have seen every one of these councilmen and all senior staff fiddling during council sessions. With "cellular devices." So the public remarks from the one councilman are him taking the shot to nitpick on A-dude (again) in public, which is their call to do that while representing the public, and trying to get at each other, that's nothing new with them, although it doesn't necessarily prove they all know how to actually operate the "cellular device, beeper," or city that they are fiddling with, while.

Their personal (own) belly scratching and fidgeting and bathroom leave is only mildly interesting, although it was funny in a non ha ha way when I had to show one of them that there was a another bathroom on the first floor of City Hall following him being handed the key and pass to City Hall Offices. If we want to go there, it should be mentioned that a couple of people complaining about personal fidgeting reek of cigarette stench and it is offensive when you sit next to people who still posses olfactory senses because I have heard them say so, although it does not really bother me personally about that or the failure to wear deo (I've been to Turkey, and to Amish country).

Also, for those hard of hearing, your unnecessary shouting and loud clapping hurts some peoples' ears, because I have heard them say so, so there are hearing aids that can help all of us with that. You shouldn't be embarrassed about wearing one, or two. Nothing else seems to embarrass Council that much. Then again, two of you need to learn how to lean forward from a reclined position (one of you) and speak a little louder into the microphone because we never know which way you are going to go until we hear it (and then it changes the next week, so nevermind). I know, I know, (more than) one of you particularly likes arranging results ahead of time with CM to suit your needs, but that doesn't always work out as you saw Monday night.

Oh, and your mother dresses you funny. And you are too fat, so stop profusely eating the double bag M&M's where you open one and pour the other one into it that you get from the Council snack basket during the meeting after dinner and dessert. And crunching so loudly. Ex'pecially Cheetos. And talking. And talking with your mouth full. Oh my, what big nostril and ear you have. Why doesn't it match the...

But seriously, I hope one day we shall get a mayor and a council that doesn't have their fingers and their special friends' and their family's fingers in our city coffer or seat fillers who uphold the nonsense and go out of their way to attack others who are different because they tweet, or don't and won't uphold the serious nonsense played behind the scenes or have a different religion, or country accent, or know how to speak French, or don't want flyover bridges to friend's parking lots, or who wear skirts, or know how to use a cellular device, or beeper.

The French Lesson In Health Care

here

Flashback: French ban on Red Bull (drink) upheld by European Court (blogging Richardson, Texas)

here

Lisztomania

In France, You Can Pump Your Own Wine by the Liter, Gas Station-Style

Geekosystem.com, here

I communicated strongly with "representation" about the pitiful proposed ethics policy. Funny they saw how many had concern with it,

more than a misspelled word, and more than a couple of worms finally started turning. Why should it have come to that, to that extent? I won't get into the original lame answer I was given. Astonishing. Staff should not say they put the six months limitation idea in there or the "confidential" clause either.

Renewing car tag registration online should be rewarded, not charged the mail-in fee plus the online fee. You are charged less if you get into your

car, drive to the tax office, wait in line, use clerk time, and your time, and pay in person, instead of using the automated system. It all costs money, but is the policy to keep cars on the road and reduce productivity? Buy more fuel? Or what. "I was just curious."

Was talking to a barber I know. He cuts his shop hours down so he won't lose any of his social security money but says he would like to work more.

"social security"

Nearly half of US households escape fed income tax (blogging from Richardson, TX)

here

France hits back at criticism on Gypsy roundups (deportation of Gypsy / "Roma") (Blog Richardson Texas)

"France has a generous social welfare and is a defender of liberty, but we cannot accept that flow of people without any means to support themselves and their scandalous trafficking coming into our country"...

here

Twitterverse links France burqa ban and Eiffel Tower bomb threat. The French senate approved a ban on full Muslim veils, the AP reports. The bans will

go into effect next spring. The French police reported that.... more in Washington Post

France shouldn't ban burqas

One of the slogans of the Ministry of Truth in the novel "1984" was "Freedom is Slavery." George Orwell, meet Nicholas Sarkozy. The French president has led a successful effort to get his parliament to outlaw burqas and other garments that cover the entire body, including the face. Why? Because the burqa is "a sign of enslavement." He claims to be expanding freedom by taking away the right to dress as one chooses. Steve Chapman writes in Chicago Tribune.

Worker suicides at France Telecom

Five suicides of France Telecom employees in two weeks have raised concern in the partially state-owned company where 58 workers have taken their own lives since 2008. ... Not clear if related to working conditions at the telecom giant, which has 100,000 employees (in Paris). article

TX 32 Congressional Candidate: John Jay Myers says "Stop Stealing My Stuff" (Blogging from Richardson, TX)

Stop Stealing My Stuff by John Jay Myers


to view larger, click four way video arrow above


Half ridiculous, but half not. That is a high percentage for a politician, so he's in the running.

I just discovered this video and wanted to share it with you.

French Unions Set New Protests Over Higher Retirement Age (Blogging from Richardson, Texas)

Shortfall has government planning to cut (edit: "cut" is not the right word, change) retirement age from 60 to 62. People living longer, along with recession, has strained the system (according to) WSJ article.

'Bob Dylan in America' by Sean Wilentz, hardcover, Sept 7, 2010. (Browsing new releases, in Richardson, TX)

As Stadiums Vanish, Their Debt Lives On (Blogging from Richardson, TX)

article (Ken Belson, New York Times, Sept 7, 2010).

DEAR C.E., GAS, BURGER KING, etc: Please release the tapes and prisoners from R-City Hall Underworld so they can move on with their lives by Halloween

Or the end of Ramadan (tomorrow). Or Christmas. But preferably Hall'oween. Since some people with tattoos in town are pagan or wiccan or something like that.

Richardson, Texas.



I'll bet since certain people won't have group voice mail to tell them what to think before all the certain meetings, they will be like accidentally somewhat banning things (as seen previously, live) or approving all kinds of scary imaginable unimaginable anticipated stuff.

Wasting Ramadan by Abdel-Moneim Said. Op-ed points to increased consumption with the fasting.

His commentary is here.

Le French flag

In all seriousness, I met both Gov. Rick Perry and Mayor Bill White several times and they are very likable people especially in direct conversation

Blogging from Richardson, Texas.

Bill White came across as more serious on the issues and challenges, and I am not just talking about who winked the most or showed off his seriously gorgeous boots or said clever or funny things, which both of them did as to the last part. White seemed more reasoned in general without being dispassionate. For them to have come this far in the political food chain means they are both cunning, in addition to being hardworking, but I have weighed what I know to this point about both of them (publicly available information) and their policies and performance and if the vote were today, I would vote for White.

I think both of them have a lot going for them and both of them have some baggage.

Ads.

I saw the ad that was run about Gov. Perry trying to have mandatory anti HPV vaccination of girls and I think that one ad will help quite a number of votes go to White because what Perry did is so the opposite of what he says he is for (or against). That and the handling of the Trans Texas Corridor idea. And remarks about Texas succeeding from the U.S. It's like a box of chocolates. (Hey, maybe chocolate can get you pregnant after all, or maybe just shot up with a govmint mandated pharm). Some complain he is predictable. Some delight he is conservative. I think that is only half it. (It's really like when you heard that Collin County Judge Keith Self voted for eminent domain but you just don't want to believe it's true. So it's all like when Ludacris finds out there's no Cognac left in France when he lands there for a party.)

I saw the real time equivalent of an ad that Gov. Perry did very well, whether that was his intentions or not, by meeting the POTUS on the tarmac and giving VJ standing behind the POTUS this letter about border security, a very serious issue. This contrasted with, well, not White. He wasn't there.

So much politiking to do, so little time.

I haven't seen any anti-White ads but I am sure they are out there or on their way. I have seen one of White's ads and I think it will be effective with only some people whose top worry is that he will help to go haywire on government spending and government growth. That is a worry I do have about him (and all politicians).

Contrasting that with Gov. Perry I feel Gov. Perry has taken a lot of power and put it all under his gumbrella that I feel has changed the nature of the Govoffice (Govrole) in Texas, which is also a contradiction to what he has said about what he stands for.

Gov. Perry has also not come through with offering more workable ideas to Texas' biggest challenges. Of course, I guess the same could be said when it comes to certain aspects of Mayor White's performance in Houston. In fairness, I'm not saying any single leader can do all that or should do all that. It's like they can make a positive dent, or peck. But if you are going to grab or seek power, you need to take an equal amount of responsibility for it according to how much you grab or seek. Some things don't need to be grabbed at all.

If I were a one or two or three issue voter, I would vote for Gov. Perry because I think he has the right stand on them, but they are issues that he doesn't have that much leverage on overall because already enough people support it to secure the issue well enough or the issue isn't what he is spending his time on anyway (not his focus). And he cancels them out to a large degree with me because of what he has said about gay people (they should just "leave" the state) when he didn't have to go there (regardless of his or anyone's position on gay marriage).

(That reminds me, I might want to blog about Mel Gibson and his consecutive rants against what some people think are different "classes of people.")

If Gov. Perry was actually politically who he claimed he was politically, I would vote for him to be governor again. The dime seems run out. For giving the governorship a go-go.

I think Gov. Perry will still probably win the race. I base this on two areas. The first is on image, coupled with his stated philosophy (whether he always practices it or not). Gov. Perry's image and stated philosophy just fits more with what more of the people who go out and vote think Texas was and is supposed to be, whether he is that image or whether Texas is that. It would feel like disloyalty to Texas to some voters to not vote for Perry. I like Rick Perry as a Texan. I love Texas. I don't think they are the same thing. The second reason is that his political machine and game is more organized, in power and focused than White's. He shows that at the beginning, with every primary.

(I liked George Bush as governor somewhat more than I like Rick Perry as governor. George Bush didn't act like an actor as much. Like he would go mountain bike riding on his ranch but it was just in a t-shirt and whatever and he wasn't so rehersed about these set up photo ops so it all seemed more real than when they put on all the logo swamped gear and ham for the cameras. George Bush as governor versus George Bush as president seemed like two different guys part of the time. The influence of political machinery is real strange sometimes.

That reminds me about something when I was trying to watch Glenn Beck and hear his review of his own rally that drew an incredible number of people, the one that it seemed most of the media was trying to make fun of and that hurt the feelings of some people who thought he picked the date and location as a swipe, which I think he probably did, but the rally can't be reduced to merely that. It was a big rally. It also reminds me of the Confederate Flag debate. I may blog about all that later. This all may seem disparate, but it isn't.)

Not with regard to this particular gubernatorial race, I usually find myself voting for the candidate I feel will be the least worst for now and for later (legacy impact). There have been a few times I have really wanted to vote for someone because I wanted to and not because they were the only choices of not that great a field. I have been pleasantly surprised a couple of times when someone has outperformed general expectations while in office. I also respect those who take political hits when they know it can potentially take them down with voters or with other politicians in the club who can break them politically but they do it because it is the right thing to do. Why can't those be the norm and who wind up staying a while.

I might blog about the Pete Session/whoever his opponent is contest next (edit: I mean Grier Raggio. edit: I mean and John Jay Myers.). Or the Kent/Carter contest. Edit: or Johnson/Lingenfelder or Self/Smith.

Freedom Potatoes

Seen About The Town Shed (Richardson, Texas)

feminine beard (blogging from Richardson, Texas)

She was when last I saw her five minutes ago. (Edit: okay, so you actually have to read through the linked article to get that. I hope that answers your question, J? If not, let me know.)

Are you feminine or masculine? I'm 60% feminine, 40% masculine according to this.

Bonnaroo (blogging in Richardson, TX)

Four day arts and music festival
Tickets start at over $200
100,000 people attend
camping, dirt, mud, heat
Tennessee

from the French "bon" meaning "good," and "rue" from the French "street"
the best on the streets
in the Louisiana musical tradition of many styles of live music.

Phoenix.

A million letters, they couldn't make me change my mind

Business calls me, trouble down the waterfront
You know, I tried to, now I'm running outta lies
It's a clear view, when all you are is gettin' paid
No more favors, I know what we can do about it

I think I'd better run, run, run, run
I think I'd better run, run, run, run
You didn't catch me fallin', fallin', fallin', fallin'
Fallin', fallin', fallin', fallin'

Contradictions get me everything I want
I'll let you know but I think it's gonna take a while
It's a clear view, noone's waiting at the door
A million letters, they couldn't make me change my mind

I think I'd better run, run, run, run
I think I'd better run, run, run, run
[You] didn't catch me fallin', fallin', fallin', fallin'
Fallin', fallin', fallin', fallin'

How you want it to be, sittin' by the waterfront
[I know] I should be drifting far enough to reach the shore
It's a clear view, don't you underestimate me
No more flavor I know that I can live without it

I think I'd better run, run, run, run and leave those things for someone else
But I liked it
I don't even care
If you got to play the game you got to do it well