Review: Life of Super-Earths

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From The Life of Super-Earths, by Dimitry Sasselov

Today, two efforts have placed us on the verge of completing the Copernican revolution. One is the discovery of a new Earth. The other is the era of synthetic biology. These two milestones are going to teach us about our place in the universe in ways we could never have imagined."

After the jump, my review.

In Southwest Richardson, It's Always Friday

Source: Hermansen Land Development, Inc.

Yesterday, I reported how I became owner of a hotel, namely, the aging Continental Inn in southwest Richardson, which the city bought (for $2.2 million) and has commenced tearing down.

After the jump, what the city plans to do with the property.

I Now Own a Hotel

Perhaps you heard the news: "Richardson Purchases Property On Central Expressway". That property is home to the Continental Inn. That makes you, Richardson resident, a hotel owner. But not for long. The hotel is a drag on redevelopment and is being demolished.

We can hope that the city council has a plan that's unfolding here, maybe a developer waiting in the wings to step forward and buy that property from the city (and maybe others nearby) and announce plans to build a new hotel/shopping/restaurant/residential complex that will spur a renaissance for all of southwest Richardson. We can hope that, because otherwise, Richardson just spent $2.2 million for a vacant lot and a dream.

After the jump, a few questions about the deal.

Summer in the Steger Garden (2012)

From Flowers

She loves me. She loves me not.

Overheard at Chick-fil-A

"Being against gay marriage doesn't mean I'm anti-gay."

Um, yes it does. Just like being against inter-racial marriage means you're racist. It kind of goes with the territory, by definition. Don't deny the obvious. Instead, fall back on your next defense, explain why you're anti-gay.

"I'm just trying to live my life according to the Bible."

No, not really. Or only selectively. There are dozens of outdated rules in the Bible. Why are you so obsessed with the biblical comments about homosexuality when you don't give a flip about prohibitions against eating shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, mussels, etc., or any of the many other behaviors that are supposedly abominations before the Lord? For the answer, see above.

After the jump, more conversations overheard at Chick-fil-A.

What To Do With Main Street

Richardson's Main Street is an unappreciated bit of living history, a sadly neglected town center that time passed by as Richardson grew up all around it. Maybe, just maybe, that's about to change. The city has initiated a Main Street/Central Expressway Corridor study to explore redevelopment opportunities for old downtown. The public's careabouts for the area are being gathered through public meetings and an online survey and questionnaire, available through August 30.

After the jump, my responses to the survey.

Richardson's Next Mayor: Alan North

Artist's rendering

Too soon? Hear me out. The Richardson City Council put a proposition on the November election ballot that asks voters to approve an amendment to the city charter to provide for the direct election of the mayor. Now it's up to the voters. Who's going to vote against a populist notion like letting voters choose their own mayor? So, expect the amendment to pass. That will change the May, 2013, city council elections. Instead of electing seven council members, voters will elect a mayor and six council members. Who has to be an early frontrunner for mayor? None other than the man who organized the petition that forced the council's hand -- Alan North.

After the jump, considering the chances of Richardson having a Mayor Alan North.

A City Election in November This Year

Academic politics is the most vicious and bitter form of politics, because the stakes are so low.

Source: Wallace Stanley Sayre.

Sayre was right ... with one possible exception, the politics surrounding the method of choosing the City of Richardson's mayor.

Richardson will hold a city election in November in conjunction with the presidential election. Normally, city elections are held in May, separate from the partisan bickering that dominates the November elections. But because of a petition organized by Alan North (at unknown cost), the November ballot will also ask Richardson voters to amend the City Charter to replace the current method of selecting the mayor with direct election by the voters.

After the jump, what it means.

Review: Private Empire: ExxonMobil and American Power

Amazon

From Private Empire: ExxonMobil and American Power, by Steve Coll:

"I'm not a U.S. company, and I don't make decisions based on what's good for the U.S." -- Lee Raymond, CEO of ExxonMobil"

After the jump, my review.

The Olympics: A Look Back at Beijing

With the 2012 Olympics set to open in London, I couldn't help thinking back to the opening of the 2008 Games in Beijing. John was there, outside the stadium, and even made the briefest appearance on the "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams." That's him, above, at the 1:29 mark of the video. Good times.

Three years later, Ellen and I were lucky enough to make our own visit to the site of those 2008 Games. Things were much quieter in Beijing in the spring of 2011 compared to the excitement in the summer of 2008, but the site is still impressive and worth a visit. After the jump, photos of the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube.