More About Robert E. Lee

Amazon

Yesterday, a book that caught my eye at the Richardson ISD Council of PTAs Used Book Fair sent me down the rabbit hole in search of the real Robert E. Lee. It's been said that the South lost the shooting war, but won the PR war. Lee's reputation was burnished after the Civil War by advocates of the Lost Cause. Yesterday's book review was of Lee Roddy's 1977 book "Gallant Christian Soldier: Robert E. Lee", an example of the genre that was still going strong a century after Lee's death. Personally, I had long ago rid myself of any belief that slave owner Robert E. Lee had a flawless character, as Roddy maintained in his biography of Lee. But I was still willing to grant that Lee was a masterful strategist and tactician on the battlefield. Today, my explorations down the Lee rabbit hole rid me of that belief as well.

What I Bought at the PTA Used Book Fair

Amazon

The Richardson ISD Council of PTAs had its annual used book fair last weekend. If you've never been, you don't know what you're missing. There are thousands of books, of all genres, for sale at steep discount prices, a treasure hunt where you never know what you'll find. The book that caught my eye, the book I just had to buy, was the one with the big Confederate flag on the cover. I just had to take this one off the shelf...for review, let's say.

Women Talking (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes

Women Talking (2022): Women and girls in an isolated, traditional religious community are subjected to sexual abuse. They debate "Should I Stay (and Fight) or Should I Go?" Lots of talking, but it's not preachy. Anger, resignation, grief, despair, hope, all get aired. A fine ensemble cast. A-

Planning for Active Transportation Plan is Active

The City of Richardson has been creating an Active Transportation Plan (ATP) for most of the last year. It's intended by the City "to elevate the existing bicycle and pedestrian network to better serve non-motorized mobility, create connections to key destinations, and build upon Richardson’s efforts towards being a pedestrian- and bicycle- friendly community." It's nearing completion and a (final?) draft was presented to the City Council February 6, 2023.

POTD: The King of Medieval German Cuteness

From 2022 07 10 Rothenburg and Wurzburg

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Travel show host Rick Steves calls it "Germany's best-preserved walled town. Countless travelers have searched for the elusive "untouristy Rothenburg." There are many contenders, but none holds a candle to the king of medieval German cuteness."

POTD: Käthe Wohlfahrt

From 2022 07 10 Rothenburg and Wurzburg

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. If you're lucky enough to be in Germany in December, you probably have visited one of its town's famous Christmas markets. But even if you aren't in Germany at Christmastime, there's always Käthe Wohlfahrt year-round indoor Christmas store.

One Week to Deadline to File

With one week to the deadline to file for a place on the May ballot, here's the state of play for the elections for City of Richardson City Council and Richardson ISD Board of Trustees.

Fire of Love (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes

Fire of Love (2022): Oscar-nominated documentary about husband and wife volcanologists who died together in an eruption. Lots of pretty images of volcanoes, not much science. Not even much of a love story, unless the love is an obsession with the danger of getting too close to volcanoes. B-

Stay in Your Lanes, Candidates

It's campaign season. If you are a regular reader of The Wheel you know that I don't like political parties getting involved in nonpartisan local elections. I also don't like campaigns mixing up city politics with school politics. Stay in your lanes, candidates.

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022): Mashup of old stories (Moby Dick, Poseidon Adventure, war movies from the Old West to Vietnam). Characters are stereotypes (Marines are bad guys, parents are dumb, kids are plucky). But give it the Oscar for special effects. C-