  We discuss aspects of generic 2-dimensional dilaton gravity theories. The
2-dim geometry is in general conformal to $AdS_2$ and has IR curvature
singularities at zero temperature: this can be regulated by a black hole. The
on-shell action is divergent: we discuss the holographic energy-momentum tensor
by adding appropriate counterterms. For theories obtained by dimensional
reduction of the gravitational sector of higher dimensional theories, for
instance higher dimensional $AdS$ gravity as a concrete example, the
2-dimensional description dovetails with the higher dimensional one. We also
discuss more general theories containing an extra scalar field which now drives
nontrivial dynamics. Finally we discuss aspects of the 2-dimensional
cosmological singularities discussed in earlier work. These studies suggest
that generic 2-dim dilaton gravity theories are somewhat distinct from JT
gravity and theories "near JT".
