Suburban Christianity

Richardson is crawling with Christians. The people here are nice enough, but there's a definite social gulf between the people who go to church and the people who don't. Personally, I think the Judeo-Christian personal conscience, along with Socratic reason, forms the moral bedrock of Western civilization, and I go to church for weddings and funerals and sometimes at Christmas or Easter. However, I'm pretty sure that to the people around here my own religious beliefs would sound like a cross between witchcraft and science fiction, and are heretical enough to warrant strong disapproval or outright ostracism from Christian company. Also, while I'm not a "liberal" in the current American usage, my opinions on homosexuality, evolution, stem cell research and abortion would go over like a lead balloon at the parish picnic. Several of our expatriate Canadian acquaintances have said that going to church is the best way to make friends in Dallas, but I just can't do it.

RATING: 40%

(Image from www.andymasteroffish.com.)

Chang Jing Korean Restaurant

My wife and I have twice patronized Chang Jing on North Greenville Road in Richardson, Texas. Both times it was packed with Korean people, which we took to be a good sign. The first time we got takeout, but the second time we ate in. We met the owner/manager, who told us there would be a 30 minute wait. When our faces fell, he began laughing hysterically and said, "Just kidding! One minute, only one minute, please!" After seating us, he attacked us with a trick ketchup bottle that disgorged stream of what looked like red sauce but was actually made of some kind of textile. Hilarious, although he looked like a scary man to work for. My wife got the bulgogi lunch special and I had the dol sot bibimbap. The food was excellent, and came with an abundance of side dishes, including acorn jelly, egg, seaweed, kimchi, sprouts, and greens. The entire meal cost us $19, which was well worth it although it was rather too much food for lunch. In the future (I plan on returning as soon as my wallet and waistline can afford it) I'll probably go later in the the day.

RATING: 90%

(Image from wikipedia.)

The Richardson Public

Unlike Austinites, who would stand around making fun of your cargo shorts and rolling their eyes at the gasping noises you made as you lay dying on the sidewalk, the people of Richardson are generally very helpful and friendly. Our car broke down outside Blockbuster today, and as we were trying to push it across the street to the garage a woman offered to watch our son in his stroller, four men in a truck got out to help us push, and another guy tried (unsuccessfully) to give us a boost. As we were pushing the car back from the garage, like the broke-ass Canadians we are, another man gave us another (successful) boost and we were able to drive our Japanese rust-bucket home. Richardson may look like one giant strip mall, but I'm very impressed with the kind folks who live here (except for the sketch-bag mechanics who we think messed with our brand new alternator while they were supposed to be fixing our air conditioning earlier today.)

RATING: People of Richardson 90%
Firestone Tire and Service Center 0%

(Image from www.tutorials.com.)