Reject!

Got my second ISD rejection letter today.

I am being optimistic about it, and noting that to reject my app they at least had to know it existed. So that's better than nothing.

Knock and Rob

RPD has said it before: answer your door if someone knocks, because their next move may be to kick in your back door.

It's happened 2x in the east half of Richardson in the last week. Homeowner was home but didn't answer the door. The knock and rob burglars then attempted to make entry through the back of the residence but were scared off when they saw/heard the occupant.

You do NOT want these people in your house. Answer the door. At the very least you get a good look at them.


RPD has these suggestions getting good actionable descriptions:

If you see a car or people in the neighborhood that you haven't seen before, take an extra couple of minutes to see what they are doing, where they are going.

Did they park at a neighbors house and have you ever seen the car or people at that neighbors before?
Did one or two people go to the door and leave someone in the vehicle?
Did anyone walk around to the back and the car leave at that same time?
Did they return to the car, drive down the block and park again, not doing anything?
Are they going door to door? Yes, it maybe solicitors, but keep an eye on them, make a mental note of the description of them and the car if there is one, call if it doesn't seem right.
Did they drive away after going to the front door and then turn down an alley?

If you notice this type of behavior, it could be considered suspicious, make a mental note or write down descriptions of people and cars. Call us and report it, if it seems unusual to you, this type of activity in the daytime in a neighborhood needs attention. [emphasis added by bloggermouse]

$20 gimme shirts

A "gimme cap" is a cap with advertising that is given away to a customer. I will borrow that term and refer to a tshirt with advertising as a gimme shirt.

Here's my rant: if you're going to sell a gimme shirt, do it at cost. The customer is doing you a favor by directly advertising your business. They will also engage in discussions with folks that see the shirt and are either like-minded or curious. Heck, you should probably be giving the shirts to your loyal customers.

Under no circumstances should you sell an uninspired, garden-variety gimme shirt for $20. Seriously. This is an admission that You Just Don't Get It.

RV1, plate scanning

I have confirmation that RV1, RV2, RV3 mean "Richardson Volunteer 1", etc.

Trivial, perhaps, but it was eating at me.

The RV traffic on the COR comm system is interesting. Some of it is businesslike and professional, and some of it sounds like your confused grandmother talking on the phone to the grocer. Seems to me that the RVs might benefit from feedback on the propriety of their radio comms. Just sayin'.

uhhh, WTH is this?

Anyone have a clue what this doodad is? I will assume it's a wind-powered turbine for generating electricity. And you thought those ham radio operators with all the antennas were odd...
Note there are cables running from the base into the bottom of the hatchback area.

Spotted in the parking lot near Twisted Root.

ISDs and the culture of poor folk

This originally started as a comment on Ed's blog, but I thought it would veer way offtopic and detract from his original posting. I'll put here instead.

"poor people with forethought *gasp*"

I should probably show my cards a little bit here so that my approach is more obvious.


My characterization of the culture of poor folk is not an outside-in condemnation. I have done my share of living in trailer parks and surviving on dirt farms in East Texas. We ate squirrel, rabbit, and frog many nights. As a boy I just thought Dad and I were having fun out there with the frog gig and the .22, but years later realized it probably wasn't a matter of choice.

I can be a little rough on the culture of poor folk because I have seen/lived that experience. I know firsthand how the entrenched culture of the poor can make it hard to make any headway against the constant, oppressive weight of poverty and ignorance.

I would gladly beat up on the culture of rich folks a bit if I had firsthand experience with their dysfunction. But I don't. So I won't."

It's a grinding, depressing existence to be poor. It's a death march. The people who could get the most value out of basic coping skills are the very people who lack them. So, yes, I am a little tough on my poor brothers and sisters. I hope my intent is pure, that I am taking a Tough Love stance rather than beating them up.

HOAs are fun!

In case you needed any more coaxing to RUN, not walk, away from any neighborhood with a dictatorial HOA....