Late Summer in the Steger Garden (2015)

From Flowers

Homecoming: Mesquite Poteet 42, Berkner 16

From 2015 09 11 Poteet vs Berkner

Mesquite Poteet spoiled Berkner's homecoming game Friday night, 42-16. :-(

Berkner's two touchdowns came on spectacular plays -- one a 71 yard pass from Kris Castillo to Kailon Fisher and the other a fumble return for a touchdown by Austin Carbone (set up by a 75 yard punt by Tanner Lange that pinned Poteet back near their own goal line), but other than that, Poteet was in control the whole game.

All the action, including the game, cheerleaders, drill team, colorguard, marching band and all the rest that make high school football the best value in sports entertainment, can be seen on Google Photos. Remember, without the band, it's just a game.

POTD: Fishing in Hoi An

From 2015 03 22 Hoi An

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Hoi An, Vietnam. It shows a man fishing on the Thu Bon River. Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll entertain the tourists for a lifetime.

Voters Guide: City Charter Amendments 1-10

It's election time. It's an off-year election, but be prepared to spend more time than usual in the voting booth this November. Besides Texas constitutional amendments and city bond proposals, there are 83 propositions for amending the Richardson City Charter. Even if you don't bother to read them, it'll take a while just to check 83 boxes "YES" or "NO." But you shouldn't just willy-nilly check all "YES" or all "NO" or mix it up and try to make creative cross-stitch patterns out of your X's on your ballot. I'm here with a voter's guide to tell you how to vote. You're welcome.

First in a series.

• City Charter Amendments Nos. 1-10
• City Charter Amendments Nos. 11-20
• City Charter Amendments Nos. 21-30
• City Charter Amendments Nos. 31-40
• City Charter Amendments Nos. 41-50
• City Charter Amendments Nos. 51-60
• City Charter Amendments Nos. 61-70
• City Charter Amendments Nos. 71-83

I divide the propositions into several categories: cosmetic changes (affecting spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc., but not meaning); cleanup changes (where outdated or confusing language is changed but not the meaning); minor changes (substantive changes to the powers of government but of a minor nature); and substantive changes (changes to the powers of government of more significant nature). I can't decide how to categorize some propositions. In some cases, I don't have enough information to decide whether a change really only "simplifies" and "clarifies" the charter, as a proposition might claim, or whether it hides substantive changes. You'll see what I mean.

With 83 propositions, it's going to take more than a single cheat sheet -- more like eight or so. So let's get started. Here are my recommendations for Propositions Nos. 1-10. Recommendations for the rest will be coming in due time.

Clouds of Sils Maria (2014)

IMDB

Clouds of Sils Maria (2014): A study in aging. Play within a play. Life imitates art. Who is playing which part? Great women's roles. B-

POTD: Vietnam in One Shot

From 2015 03 22 Hoi An

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Hoi An, Vietnam. What can I say about it? One shutter snap captures so much of modern Vietnam, including touches of traditional Vietnam. There's the communist flag. There's the touristy cyclo (three-wheeled bicycle rickshaw). There's the affluent young couple with the woman in a stunning fuchsia silk dress. There's the woman in the traditional Vietnamese style conical hat. And there's the cell phone in her hand. There's not much about modern Vietnam that's missing from this photograph. It's said that all photos lie, but I like the lie this one tells.

Increased Density Spurs Retail Revival

The wedge that cleaves Richardson politics is development. On one side are those who want to see the city stop the construction of apartments and do something to breath life back into dying shopping centers. On the other side are those who rally behind multi-use developments like CityLine and Palisades with their apartments, offices and retail. It turns out that maybe, just maybe, the key to reversing the decline of older retail in Richardson is the success of new multi-use developments.

OTBR: Vanishing View in Las Vegas

Latitude: N 36° 10.596
Longitude: W 115° 21.936

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".

Rowlett 44, Lake Highlands 21

From 2015 09 04 Rowlett vs Lake Highlands

The Lake Highlands Wildcats lost their home opener to Rowlett, 44-21, Friday night, dropping to 0-2 on the season. The Wildcats jumped to a quick 7-0 lead on a 78 yard touchdown pass less than two minutes into the game, but from then on Rowlett contained Lake Highlands and showed their own offensive strength. Rowlett finished with 20 first downs to just 7 for Lake Highlands.

All the action, including the game, cheerleaders, drill team, colorguard, marching band and all the rest that make high school football the best value in sports entertainment, can be seen on Google Photos. Remember, without the band, it's just a game.

Overtime: Berkner 33, Naaman Forest 30

From 2015 09 03 Naaman Forest vs Berkner

Wow! What a game! This one game had more thrilling plays than a fan has a right to expect in a whole season. When was the last time you saw two safeties in a single game? Berkner pulled that off. Or how about two turnovers at the goal line? One an interception, one a fumble recovery. Naaman Forest pulled that off, killing two Berkner drives. Then, most improbably of all, with 36 seconds left in the fourth quarter and Berkner down by a touchdown, Berkner blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown to tie the score and send the game into overtime. Berkner scored first in overtime with a field goal, taking their first lead of the whole game, then sealed the win with an interception on a desperation fourth down pass by Naaman Forest. With this Thursday night win, the Rams move to 2-0 on the season. It's a great time to be a Ram!

All the action, including the game, cheerleaders, drill team, colorguard, marching band and all the rest that make high school football the best value in sports entertainment, can be seen on Google Photos. Remember, without the band, it's just a game.