Q&A: Take or Pay

Question: Richardson has to pay for a minimum amount of water whether it's used or not. Where is the incentive to conserve? Isn't this like the stupidest thing you ever heard of?

Q&A: Water, Water Everywhere

Question: With all the reservoirs full, why is Richardson still in Stage 2 (or Stage 3 or whatever) water conservation plan?

Why impose water restrictions at all when you have to flush water towers to keep the water from going stale?

POTD: Apsara

From 2015 03 18 Siem Reap

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Siem Reap, Cambodia. An apsara is "a female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology." "Apsaras are beautiful, supernatural female beings. They are youthful and elegant, and superb in the art of dancing."

Fifi Howls from Happiness (2013)

IMDB

Fifi Howls from Happiness (2013): Interview with aging Iranian artist Bahman Mohassess. Fascinating character and art, but not movie. C-

POTD: Fish Can Do Massage

From 2015 03 18 Siem Reap

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Siem Reap, Cambodia. After a long, hot day walking and climbing around Angkor Wat, what can be more refreshing than a cold beer ($1) and a tickly, nibbling, fish foot massage (also $1)?

Everything's a dollar in Siem Reap. And I mean actual US greenbacks, not the equivalent in the currency of Cambodia, the riel, which you only see if your purchase requires change less than a dollar.

The Rent is Too Damn High

"All-time Record High Rents." That's the headline in Dallas Business Journal. "The hot apartment market in North Texas is bringing all-time high rent as apartment occupancy continues to remain tight." Former Texas governor and GOP Presidential candidate Rick Perry understands what's going on, at least elsewhere.

In blue-state coastal cities, you have these strict zoning laws, environmental regulations that have prevented buildings from expanding the housing supply. And that may be great for the venture capitalist who wants to keep a nice view of San Francisco Bay. But it’s not so great for the single mother working two jobs in order to pay rent and still put food on the table for her kids.

Source: Rick Perry.

What's the solution?

Q&A: Financing with Bonds

Question: Do you think school districts should sell bonds to pay for capital improvements or do you think they should have a capital improvement savings fund?

POTD: Dinner Idea or Ninja Star?

From 2015 03 18 Siem Reap

Today's photo-of-the-day is from a market in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Fifty points to whomever can identify what the woman is reaching for. Hint: it is an animal, not a weapon. A bonus fifty points if you can say what it tastes like.

Knocking Down Statues Won't Change The Past

That's what Jacquielynn Floyd said in her The Dallas Morning News column after some vandal spray painted the word "SHAME" on the base of the grand statue of General Robert E. Lee on horseback in Dallas's Lee Park.

How about instead of "knocking down" statues, we just move them to a museum hall of shame? Moving from a place of honor a statue of a man who led a white supremacist army in rebellion against the United States of America won't change the past. But it does quit honoring that shameful past. If you insist on keeping our shameful history on public display, at least put up a prominent plaque explaining that shame. No one would spray paint that.

#@!% Comments

I've switched The Wheel over to a Facebook commenting system. There are some advantages, but there are disadvantages as well. For one, you have to have a Facebook account to comment (or Yahoo! or Hotmail). I hate that, but most people are on Facebook now, right? For another, the "Recent Comments" widget won't show any Facebook comments. I'll be deleting it in due course to avoid confusion.

Going forward, new comments have to be entered using the Facebook comment box. I'm leaving the old style comments visible, but if this is confusing, I might end up hiding the old comments. But I'd rather not do that. Dilemma, dilemma. I know...first world problem.

The rules for commenting remain the same. Comments are welcome, but anonymous comments are not. Keep it courteous, keep it clean, keep it on topic, and always advance the conversation. Comments in violation of that policy may be deleted from this website.