Correction: Mayor Maczka's Stand on Tolling Central

At the September 8 city council worksession, Mayor Laura Maczka clarified her statements to the Texas Transportation Commission, denying that she or the mayors of Plano and Allen expressed support for tolling Central Expressway, contrary to an unverified report I quoted from. In the worksession she said the city has not taken a position on tolling. I was wrong to state that she was still silent on where she or the city stands. I regret the error.

The Wheel Award for Excellence in Motion Pictures

Oscar night is six months gone. "12 Years a Slave" was the Academy's pick for "Best Picture." I couldn't say at the time that it was my pick for "best" movie of 2013 because I hadn't seen all of the nominees. In fact, I hadn't yet seen "12 Years a Slave" when it received the golden statue in March. Well, now that it's September, I can finally say I've seen all of the Oscar nominees for "Best Picture" of 2013 and I can pick a winner. Call this the Netflix Oscar.

After the jump, my own pick for "Best Picture".

Is It Too Early to Talk Richardson Elections?

The Richardson City Council elections aren't until May, 2015, but if there's anyone out there who is going to challenge the incumbents, he or she has to start thinking about it now. So, let's look at the lay of the land, shall we?

After the jump, is the current city council vulnerable?

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

IMDB

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013): Over the top depiction of excess. Too campy to be serious. Not campy enough to be funny. Bad Scorsese. D+

Confluence

From 2014 08 22 Confluence

If there's a site that combines such geographic and historic importance while remaining relatively untouched by human development, I don't know where it is. I'm speaking of the confluence of two mighty rivers, the Mississippi and Missouri, a few miles north of St. Louis.

Geographically, the combined river system is the world's fourth longest, draining almost half of the continental United States. Historically, the confluence was the winter campsite of the Lewis and Clark expedition before they set off on their voyage of exploration of the newly acquired Louisiana Territory in 1804. And why is the area still undeveloped? Perhaps because the rivers are untameable, their courses changing with each year's floodwaters. Because of that, today you can stand at the historical marker and see a natural vista that must be indistinguishable from what Lewis and Clark saw.

From 2014 08 22 Confluence