Meet Michael Morris... and his Boss

Who cares what this guy says? Oh, believe me. Eeeeverybody who knows what's what cares deeply. You can forget about mayors and city councils and state legislators and sometimes even congresspersons. Morris has way more stick than those guys.

Source: Jim Schutze.

Meet Michael Morris, the unelected bureaucrat behind many of the highway decisions in north central Texas. The Director of Transportation for the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) seems to be in the news everywhere this year, from the debate over removing IH345 in downtown Dallas to the debate over tolling US 75 through Richardson to the possibility of building a new toll road from Wylie to Greenville.

After the jump, what people are saying about Michael Morris.

Rivalry Game: Lake Highlands 37, Berkner 22

From 2014 09 26 Lake Highlands vs Berkner

It was the annual cross-town rivalry game between the Lake Highlands Wildcats and the Berkner Rams at shared Wildcat-Ram Stadium. Although the stats were more or less balanced (456 total yards for LHHS and 400 for BHS), because of some big plays on both sides of the line of scrimmage Lake Highlands came out on top 37-22. Tyler Hughes led the Wildcats with 25 rushes for 206 yards and one touchdown. Davis Steelman led the Rams, completing 18 of 26 passes for 240 yards and one touchdown.

From 2014 09 26 Lake Highlands vs Berkner

More photos after the jump.

Memorial Union Terrace on Lake Mendota

From 2014 08 29 Madison

What's your standard for excellence? How about the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Memorial Union Terrace on Lake Mendota on a Friday afternoon in summer? If there is a finer single place to be on any university campus anywhere, I haven't seen it. Add a brat and a beer and nowhere else comes close.

More photos after the jump.

Drive Through Government

Someone on Facebook asked the reason for a zoning change request for the property on West Campbell Rd where Nikki's restaurant used to be. Two people answered, saying a multi-tenant building is planned, to be occupied by Starbucks and Pei Wei.

I asked why a zoning change request was needed. What's the big deal? One restaurant is being replaced by another (or by two in one multi-tenant building).

After the jump, the answer.

Football. Lambeau. Say No More.

From 2014 08 28 Green Bay

It was the last pre-season game. The starters were going to sit out the game, resting for the season opener. Rain was in the forecast and it did start sprinkling late in the third quarter, but it didn't last long. The game was a blowout, the Packers beating the Chiefs 34-14. It would be understandable if the stands were sparsely filled. But 74,059 Packer faithful turned out for the game, with the vast majority staying until the end, enjoying every last minute. There was dancing in the stands at the two-minute warning. That's football at Lambeau Field, one of the most storied venues in pro sports in America. A fun time was had by all. But that didn't need to be said, did it?

More photos after the jump.

Urinetown at PHS

Urinetown at PHS: Drought leads to ban on private toilets. Subversive satire with music and jokes. Really talented production. Loved it.

Of Farmers, Arts and Crafts, and Fleas

The Richardson City Council is considering an ordinance regulating farmers markets. I've blogged about this before. The city didn't listen to me then (go figure ;-). Now, The Dallas Morning News picks up the story.

"It comes down to, what is a farmers market?" [Richardson Mayor Laura] Maczka said. "By the name it should focus on farmers' produce. During the non-peak growing season, if you’re not careful, you could have a weekly arts-and-crafts fair."

Source: Dallas Morning News.

I read that sentence. Then I read it again. Then I scratched my head. I wondered to myself, "and a weekly arts-and-crafts fair would be bad...how???"

Of farmers, arts and crafts, and fleas...after the jump.

Dallas Arts District Fall Block Party

From 2014 09 19 Dallas Arts District

The Dallas Arts District put on another world class Fall Block Party Friday night. The Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, and the Crow Collection of Asian Art all were open late, with live entertainment (shout out to the Mariachi Los Unicos de Griener Middle School Exploratory Arts Academy), food trucks and more, the activity spilling over into the surrounding streets.

More photos after the jump.

Making Paper at the Paper Discovery Center

From 2014 08 27 Paper Discovery Center

Long before Richardson's Telecom Corridor or even California's Silicon Valley, the Fox River Valley in northeastern Wisconsin was known as Paper Valley. The combination of Wisconsin's vast timber resources and water and power from the Fox River was ideal for making paper. The resulting paper mills created prosperous communities and wealthy paper barons with names like Kimberly and Clark. A hundred years ago, it was said that there were more millionaires per capita in Neenah, Wisconsin, than in any other city in America.

Source: The Wheel.

The Paper Discovery Center is a museum located in a repurposed paper mill on the Fox River in downtown Appleton, Wisconsin. Besides exhibits showing everything you need to know about making paper, there's a hands-on exhibit that lets you make your own sheet of paper.

More photos after the jump.

Harry Houdini's Boyhood Hometown

From 2014 08 26 Houdini

Harry Houdini grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, living there from age four until age thirteen, when his family moved to New York City. The History Museum at the Castle in downtown Appleton (next to Lawrence University) has a hands-on exhibit of Houdini tricks and artifacts.

More after the jump.