RALC Appreciation Luncheon

RALC Executive Director Katie Patterson welcomes attendees

The Richardson Adult Literacy Center (RALC) held its annual Volunteer and Student Appreciation Luncheon Wednesday at the Richardson Public Library. The potluck luncheon featured dishes from sixteen countries around the world. I particularly recommend the mole poblano.

The RALC provides free English as a second language (ESL) instruction to adults who live or work in Richardson or the Richardson Independent School District area. Please consider volunteering or donating.

Retirement for "L"

Ellen's upcoming retirement from the Richardson school district was celebrated by a retirement party thrown by her co-workers. She was blown away by the turnout of dozens of teachers and administrators from across the RISD, including the last three Directors of Fine Arts for the RISD. From left to right: Michael Brashear, Texas Bandmasters Association Executive Director; Brian Britt, Director of Fine Arts, Richardson ISD; Ellen; and Dr. Bradley Kent, Music Director for University Interscholastic League.

Santa's Village in Richardson (2013)

From 2013 12 12 Santas Village

More photos after the jump.

Sounds of the Season 2013 at LHHS

Attending the Lake Highlands High School Choirs' annual "Sounds of the Season" concert has become a holiday tradition. Something for all. Carols by candlelight. Pop music. Parent choir. More than Christmas shopping, more than decorating the house, the sounds of these talented young singers marks, for me, the start of the Christmas season. Make a point of attending next year and see if this concert doesn't become an annual tradition for your family, too.

S2L77: Kavala, Platamon and Thermopylae, Greece

From 1977 04 21 Greece

Kavala, Greece

The drive from Istanbul to Athens hugs the coast, affording views of the Aegean Sea, fishing villages and towns, and the ancient castles that protected Greece from invasion by sea.

More photos after the jump.

Mayor Maczka Shows Leadership on Palisades

The Richardson City Council, led by Mayor Laura Maczka, approved by a vote of 5-2 the rezoning request for the proposed pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use Palisades Village development. I applaud the vote. I support the development. This is what I said after the request was approved by the City Plan Commission and was sent to the city council for their approval:

Mayor Laura Maczka has made known her enthusiasm for this Palisades development. Getting it passed over the vocal opposition of some Canyon Creek homeowners is a test of her leadership. In the end, expect it to pass.

Source: The Wheel.

Even though I predicted council approval, I can't say I'm not a little surprised. Objections to building apartments next to the Canyon Creek neighborhood were loud and clear. Maczka not only went against the wishes of the opposition, she was in the lead of a solid majority of the council in approving the request. Her leadership style, however you want to characterize it, was strong enough to carry the day on this politically risky project.

After the jump, another tack I could have taken in reporting this.

Blackfish (2013)

IMDB

Blackfish (2013): One-sided look at killer whale living up to name. SeaWorld blames trainer errors. Keeping orcas for human fun is cruel. C+

Review: The Signal and the Noise

Amazon

From The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail -- But Some Don't, by Nate Silver:

Political news, and especially the important news that really affects the campaign, proceeds at an irregular pace. But news coverage is produced every day. Most of it is filler, packaged in the form of stories that are designed to obscure its unimportance. Not only does political coverage often lose the signal -- it frequently accentuates the noise."

After the jump, my review.

Early Winter at the Steger House (2013)

From 2013 12 06 Ice Storm

More photos after the jump.

OTBR: The Edge of Australia's Corio Bay

Latitude: S 38° 09.612
Longitude: E 144° 31.590

A child on a road trip with his family asks, "Where are we?" and the father answers, "Let's check the map. We're off the blue roads [the Interstate Highways marked in blue on the road atlas]. We're off the red roads [the US and state highways]. We're off the black roads [the county highways]. I think we're off the map altogether." It was always my dream to be off the map altogether.

After the jump, a few of the random places (and I mean random literally) that I visited vicariously last month that are "off the blue roads".