Richardson's Interurban District: "Coding the Vision"

Source: City of Richardson (2016).

I recently wrote about Clay Cooley VW repeatedly coming to the City of Richardson to ask for waivers, variances, and changes to the zoning on their property ("City Council Waits for a Sign"). Besides a 2022 request to expand the auto dealership, there are two outstanding requests for rezoning. One is to build a 39-foot pole sign and the other is to add a repair shop, a body shop, and a vehicle storage lot on the property. I'm back to add an important consideration that I neglected to mention in my post.

POTD: Pretty as a Picture

"From Table Mountain
Down to Cape Town's ocean blue,
New paths lie ahead."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 10 23 South Africa - Part 1

It's time to move to a new part of the world. Today's photo-of-the-day is from Cape Town, South Africa. That's Cape Town's famous landmark, Table Mountain, in the picture frame...and, of course, "L", pretty as a picture as always.

POTD: A Mosque Rises Out of the Atlantic Ocean

"Gathering of faith,
A hundred thousand hearts pray.
Moroccan splendor."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 09 22 Casablanca

Today's photo-of-the-day is of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco. It's a building of superlatives. From Wikipedia, "It is the second largest functioning mosque in Africa and is the 14th largest in the world. Its minaret is the world's second tallest minaret at 210 metres (689 ft). Completed in 1993, it was designed by Michel Pinseau under the guidance of King Hassan II and built by Moroccan artisans from all over the kingdom. The minaret is 60 stories high topped by a laser, the light from which is directed towards Mecca. The mosque stands on a promontory looking out to the Atlantic Ocean; worshippers can pray over the sea but there is no glass floor looking into the sea. The walls are of hand-crafted marble and the roof is retractable. A maximum of 105,000 worshippers can gather together for prayer: 25,000 inside the mosque hall and another 80,000 on the mosque's outside ground."

As the mosque rises out of the Atlantic Ocean, the sun begins to get low. With that, we bid adieu to Morocco.

The Worst Places to Eat in Richardson Last Month

Graphic by City of Richardson.

The City of Richardson is rightly regarded as having some of the best, most diverse, dining options in north Texas ("Eat & Drink"). Feeling a bit like "Opposite Man," I thought I'd offer a list of the ten worst places to eat in Richardson last month. It's based on the City of Richardson's Health Department Restaurant Scores for last month. That is, each month features a different list.

Random Thoughts: Absolute Immunity

2024-07-01: "Supreme Court says Trump has absolute immunity for official acts only." -- Texas Standard
Remember when Trump said, "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters, OK?" I guess the part about not losing MAGA voters is still true. The only thing left in question is whether this Court would side with Trump that any shootings on Fifth Avenue are "official acts." But with this MAGA Court, is even that in question?
texasstandard.org/stories/supr...

2024-07-13: Headline: "Joe Biden avoids further gaffes at Detroit rally."
It's a low bar.

City Council Waits for a Sign

The bug infestation shows no sign of being exterminated. In fact, the big bug is being catered to. In 2013, it was AutoNation VW asking for a zoning change to allow them to expand their auto dealership in Richardson's Interurban District ("Lemon"). The City Council complied. For some reason, AutoNation didn't go through with their plans, but in 2022, the dealership, now Clay Cooley VW, was back again, asking for approval to expand the car dealership. Again the City Council complied. Now in 2024, Clay Cooley VW is back yet again, this time with two different requests. On August 12, the City Council will hear a request for Clay Cooley VW to add a repair shop, a body shop, and a vehicle storage lot on the property. Separately, they are asking for a variance on the height of their business sign, wanting to erect a 39 foot pole sign, despite an ordinance limiting pole signs to 20 feet.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024): Comedy requires novelty to elicit laughter. There's a new family living in the fire station, but they get overshadowed by the original characters who are still around, too, making for a too-crowded movie. Show your kids the original instead. D+

Netflix

City Council Lays an Egg

The World War I poster proclaims: "Uncle Sam expects you to keep hens and raise chickens...In time of peace a profitable recreation; in time of war a patriotic duty."

A century later, the Richardson City Council spent over an hour discussing updating the City's animal ordinances, much of the time spent on setting a limit on how many chickens one household can keep.

POTD: Beach Tricks

"Casablanca's shore,
In the air, a fleeting flip,
A moment to soar."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 09 22 Casablanca

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Atlantic Ocean beach in Casablanca, Morocco. Just a young man doing a back flip in the sand. That is all.

POTD: Palm Grove of Marrakesh

"The camel has a single hump;
The dromedary, two;
Or else the other way around.
I'm never sure. Are you?"
— Ogden Nash

From 2023 09 20 Marrakesh

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Palm Grove of Marrakesh, Morocco, which dates back more than 1,000 years. The grove is "a palm oasis of several hundred thousand trees outside of Marrakesh, Morocco. Situated at the edge of the city's northern section, it measures 5 miles (8.0 km) in length, and covers an area of 54 square miles (140 km2). It is known for its eponymous palm trees and resorts and camel rides."

In case it's not obvious, that's "L" ahead of me on a camel ride in the desert.