Saturday, March 21, 2020

"Stakeholders" Over Residents, Part 411

My Facebook feed is usually an endless scroll of coyote and bobcat sightings ("Bring your pets inside!"), loose dogs ("Does anyone recognize this cutie?"), strange sounds ("Was that a gunshot?), traffic enforcement ("A black SUV just ran a stop sign!"), and, especially recently, shopping advice ("Does anyone know where to find toilet paper?").

But today was different. It's a personal appeal that shows that in a time of uncontrolled pandemic, daily life struggles go on. In this case, a tenant's fight with a landlord. This might be a warning sign of a larger issue in Richardson. Main Street in historic downtown is being repaved by the city, in part a gift to a major private redevelopment there scheduled to break ground this summer (Gateway to Core Richardson).
"Richardson lacks a walkable district where people can spend hours and be entertained," said Manasseh Durkin, president of Durkin Properties, one of several private partners in the effort to revitalize Main. "Our hope is that the Core District fills that void."
You know what "revitalization" has usually meant elsewhere. The people there already have to go. They have to make way for progress. That brings us to today's story from two blocks east of the renewal, where the evictions are apparently underway, by hook or by crook.

Friday, March 20, 2020

POTD: Little Llamas

From 2019 08 23 Puno

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Umayo Lake near Puno, Peru. This time, the attraction is little llamas. And, of course, the obligatory woman's hat. Women of Peru have the world's best hats.

Bonus photo after the jump.

Thursday, March 19, 2020

POTD: Umayo Lake

From 2019 08 23 Puno

Today's photo-of-the-day is of Umayo Lake near Puno, Peru. Umayo is an impressive sized lake by itself, but it's nowhere near the size of nearby Lake Titicaca, so no one knows anything about it. The vantage point for the photo was the pre-Inca Sillustani cemetery. What a view for eternity.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Peterloo (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes
Peterloo (2019): Cavalry massacre of a peaceful crowd petitioning for the right to vote in Manchester in 1819. Lots of speeches and too little character development, but sets and costumes and cinematography are great. Its story is important. Voting rights is our fight today. B-

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

POTD: Sillustani Chullpas

From 2019 08 18 Sacred Valley, Peru

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Sillustani, a pre-Incan cemetery on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno, Peru. The tombs are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas.

Bonus photos after the jump.