Sweet Jesus, $47 Million? - ctd

Some people's view of the world is black and white and isn't troubled by the complexities of a case like this. Not me. My head hurts thinking about all the angles to this deal. I start with Eric Nicholson's reaction: "Sweet Jesus, $47 million?" But I end up torn. It might not be the best deal Richardson could have swung. But it might not be such a bad deal, either. I'm sorry if you've read this far and are disappointed in that wishy washy answer.

Source: The Wheel.

That's what I wrote when I first covered the topic of the $47 million tax rebate Richardson granted to the developer of Palisades. I'm back to make up for my wishy washy answer.

POTD: Taman Mini Indonesia Indah

From 2015 03 11 Jakarta

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Jakarta, Indonesia. It is a photo of the Pavilion of West Sumatra in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (literally translated, "Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park"). Think of it as an Epcot Center devoted to the various islands and cultures of Indonesia. Good times.

Review: We Are Called to Rise

Amazon

From We Are Called to Rise, by Laura McBride:

There was a year of no desire. I don't know why. Margo said I was depressed; Jill thought it was 'the change.' That phrase made me laugh. I didn't think I was depressed. I still grinned when I saw the roadrunner waiting to join me on my morning walk. I still stopped to look at the sky when fat clouds piled up against the blue, or in the evenings when it streaked orange and purple in the west. Those moments did not feel like depression."

We Are Called to Rise is this year's selection for "Richardson Reads One Book." Above is the very first paragraph. For me, it almost turned the book into "Richardson Reads One Paragraph."

After the jump, my review.

POTD: Sunda Kelapa

From 2015 03 11 Jakarta

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Jakarta, Indonesia. It will be of interest to lovers of history and the sea. It was taken in Sunda Kelapa, the old port of Jakarta. The port dates back at least 800 years and served as the main port of Batavia, the capital of the Dutch East Indies until the late 19th century.

Modern ships have outgrown the port, but it's still home to pinisi, traditional two-masted wooden sailing ships that carry cargo between Indonesia's many islands. It's still an active port. Walking down the long dock, observing the loading and unloading of ships, is like taking a step back in time, and not some historical re-creation but the real thing. Good times.

Meet the Mayor: Paul Voelker

Following a unlikely chain of falling dominoes, Paul Voelker was sworn in as Mayor of Richardson Monday night. (If you've been on Mars the last few months and don't know what all those dominoes were, tough. Here at The Wheel that's so yesterday's news.)

Voelker's selection wasn't a complete surprise. We had Bob Townsend as the slight favorite (or maybe Mark Solomon, depending on how much fight Townsend had in him), but Paul Voelker was our favorite to come out of a deadlocked executive session. And deadlocked it appeared to be, as the council took almost exactly an hour to decide on a pick. After the clock ticked away, it was no surprise when the council eventually named Paul Voelker as Mayor and Mark Solomon as Mayor Pro Tem.