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| From: source unknown |
Campaign finance reports are available for review on the Richardson ISD website under "Election Filings". Earlier, I reviewed reports from the first three months of 2022. Now, eight days out from the election, reports for the last month are available. The new reports tell much the same story as the earlier ones, but with a few interesting updates that caught my eye.
Source: What Girls are Made Of, by Elana K. Arnold.
During the public comment section of the April 11, 2022, Richardson ISD school board meeting, one speaker raised a concern about a book she says is in the school libraries of Berkner High School, Richardson High School, and Richardson West Junior High School. After warning audience members that they might want to leave the room, she read a long passage from the book. Or maybe it just seemed long. It was explicit. It was embarrassing.
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| Rotten Tomatoes |
The closest movie I can think of that has a similar look and feel, although it's an entirely different period and story, is 2019's The Lighthouse, also directed by Robert Eggers. These movies tend to make an impression that sticks with you.
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| Where Am I Wednesday! |
Where Am I Wednesday?
Fifty points to the first person to locate this photo.
The answer is after the jump.
Source: Lost in the Sun, by Lisa Graff.
During the public comment section of the April 11, 2022, Richardson ISD school board meeting, one speaker raised a concern about a book her third grade daughter found in her school library.
You know how I feel about keeping local city and school elections nonpartisan. I have always wanted state and national political parties to stay out of local elections. I have called out both Democrats and Republicans when I feel they are crossing the line.
Source: Adam Maida / The Atlantic.
During the public comment section of the April 11, 2022, Richardson ISD school board meeting, one speaker raised a concern about how a complaint they submitted is being handled.
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Source: Wilshire Baptist Church.
Wilshire Baptist Church hosted a panel discussion April 19 on "CRT, Book Bans and Me." It was moderated by George Mason, senior pastor. Panelists were Rev. Charlie Johnson, Founder & ED for Pastors for Texas Children, Casey Boland, US History Teacher at LHHS, and Dr. Jeannie Stone, Richardson ISD Superintendent 2017-2021. After listening to too many members of the public excoriate school leaders at too many school board meetings, for me this panel discussion was like a welcome palate cleanser. It was like, as George Mason put it, "a return to the old days of civility."
You can read a straight news story about the discussion in Baptist News Global. Or watch a replay of the whole panel discussion. All I intend to do here is randomly annotate a few of the panelists' comments with thoughts that occurred to me as I listened.
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Where Am I Wednesday?
Fifty points to the first person to locate this photo.
I didn't use the candidates' responsiveness to voters' questions and feedback as a factor in The Wheel's 2022 Voters Guide. But if I had...
Early voting for the 2022 Richardson ISD school board election starts Monday, April 25. So, too, for the Dallas College school board election, a new field for The Wheel to cover. RISD is electing trustees in three single-member districts (if you don't live in one of those districts, no RISD race will be on your ballot). Dallas College is electing trustees in two single-member districts, one of which includes [most of] RISD. Use Vote411.org to see your personalized ballot and to read how the candidates answered a questionnaire by the League of Women Voters.
There are some great candidates running. There are also some who are a risk to equity/diversity/inclusion, to social-emotional learning, to anti-racism policies, to prudent public health measures, and ultimately to effective education, which can't happen without supporting a safe and healthy environment for learning the three Rs. Use The Wheel's Voters Guide to learn one person's opinion about which candidates are which.
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| From 2019 11 22 Valley of the Kings |
Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Temple of Hatshepsut on the west bank of the Nile River opposite Luxor, Egypt. Hatshepsut (c. 1507—1458 BCE) was one of the few female pharaohs of ancient Egypt, ruling the country for twenty years. The architecture of this mortuary temple is unlike any other ancient building in Egypt, to my knowledge. It's as impressive from afar as it is from up close.
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| From 2019 11 22 Valley of the Kings |
Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Temple of Hatshepsut on the west bank of the Nile River opposite Luxor, Egypt. Hatshepsut (c. 1507—1458 BCE) was one of the few female pharaohs of ancient Egypt, ruling the country for twenty years. Egypt was never known as being particularly welcome to female rulers. I don't know how much the young women in this photo appreciate the accomplishments of Hatshepsut, but I hope they are inspired to lead Egypt in the 21st Century.
P.S. That's "L" in the middle, wearing her favorite "camel" pants, equally at home in the Temple of the Pharaoh Hatshepsut and with a group of modern girls.
Source: TASB.
During the public comment section of the April 11, 2022, Richardson ISD school board meeting, one speaker raised a concern about teacher salary compression.
Source: TOMA Handbook.
The Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA) is one of the laws that sounds good in principle, but the devil is in the details. Let's talk about how TOMA gags school boards, and then some simple steps school boards can take to better achieve TOMA's stated aims.
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#VeryTardyReview
"Tell me the company you keep, and I will tell you what you are." — Miguel Cervantes
A political faction is active in the Richardson ISD school board election. They are raising money through a political action committee and are campaigning with candidates in a coordinated fashion. That faction is the Richardson ISD Families First PAC. The candidates are Sherry Clemens (RISD District 2 candidate) and Jan Stell (RISD District 5 candidate). Oh, and they are all palling around with a certain "viral comedian."
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| From: source unknown |
Campaign finance reports are available for review on the Richardson ISD website under "Election Filings". The reports cover only the last few months. 2021 contributions aren't included. Obviously, future contributions between now and Election Day aren't included. Here are my observations from a cursory look at these partial reports.
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| Rotten Tomatoes |
Source: Airbnb.
Complaints about Airbnb, Vrbo, etc., aren't new. On Monday, the Richardson City Council reviewed options for regulating short-term rental properties in Richardson. Why did it take so long? The wheels of government turn slowly, but the wheels are turning. That might not result in the strong actions some might hope for or expect.
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The Sentinels, by Carolyn Chilton CasasHow the trees have grown
around us,
with a surplus of winter
and spring rains.
...
The trees form a sacred den,
shelter us from external elemental ravages.
Sentinels of sentient existence,
wise keepers cradling
my spirit in their limbs.Source: The Sentinels.
After the jump, more random thoughts.
