The Residence (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Residence (TV 2025): A fun whodunnit in the White House during a State dinner with a large cast of suspects. The eccentric Detective Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba) is the standout character in this overstuffed murder mystery. A-

Netflix

POTD: Santorini Blue

"Domes of quiet faith,
curved against the cobalt sea.
Santorini blue."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 09 04 Santorini

Today's photo-of-the-day is the classic view of Santorini, "the largest island of a small, circular archipelago formed by the Santorini caldera." The city clings precariously to the rim of an ancient volcano. "One of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history struck the island about 3,600 years ago, leaving a large water-filled caldera surrounded by deep volcanic ash deposits." Today, it's a Greek paradise in the Aegean Sea.

POTD: At Anchor in Santorini

"High on donkey trails,
buzz of tourists fades away.
I hear only wind."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 09 04 Santorini

The curse of the Greek Island of Santorini is its popularity. It's usually packed with tourists. So for this photo-of-the-day, I had to use this photo of our Viking cruise ship at anchor in Santorini to try to tell a different story — one of aloneness. Maybe it requires a little too much imagination, but this is my memory of Santorini and I'm sticking to it.

POTD: Back in Greece

"The theater sleeps.
We walk among its old dreams.
Past lives whisper still."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 09 03 Delphi

Today's photo-of-the-day shows us back in Greece, back in antiquity, in Delphi, "the seat of Pythia, the major oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world. The ancient Greeks considered the centre of the world to be in Delphi". For fifty years, my favorite kind of travel has been time travel. The theater at Delphi was first constructed in the 4th Century BCE. It holds 5,000 people. Standing where they did and imagining all the plays, poetry and musical recitals that our predecessors saw brings the joy of travel to life.

The Eternaut (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Eternaut (TV 2025): Argentina. A toxic, apocalyptic snowfall kills millions. A group of friends sheltering at home survive and set out to get answers, but as they do, even more mysteries pile up like snowdrifts. Based on a 1950s graphic novel. The look and feel is gritty. The plot isn't resolved. C+

Netflix

POTD: Sunset over the City Fjord

"Fløyfjellet stands still,
Bergen nestled far below,
Fjord gleams like silver."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 07 10 Bergen

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Fløyen, or Fløyfjellet, "one of the 'seven city mountains' in Bergen, Norway. Its highest point is 400 m (1,300 ft) above sea level. The view of the Bergen peninsula makes Fløyfjellet a popular attraction among tourists and locals alike. The Fløibanen funicular transports passengers from the centre of Bergen to a height of 320 m (1,050 ft) in roughly eight minutes."

As the sun sets over Bergen and the Byfjorden (the City Fjord), we say farewell to Norway.

Our next stop? Greece.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

POTD: King Haakon's Hall

"Windows of thick light,
Gazing down on the bright fjord.
Sea and crown aligned."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 07 10 Bergen

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Haakon's Hall in Bergen, Norway. "It is a medieval stone hall located inside a fortress. The hall was constructed in the middle of the 13th century, during the reign of King Håkon Håkonsson (1217—1263). In medieval times, it was the largest building of the royal palace in Bergen. It is the largest secular medieval building in Norway."

Not My First Rodeo

Source: h/t DALL-E.

Project Rodeo. Project Nova. Project Journey. Project Connect. Do you know what any of these are? Even in general terms? I don't. Is that a problem? The Richardson City Council has discussed each of these...subjects, I guess I'll call them, in executive session during council meetings this year. That's all I know about them, the code names used the way code names are used in the military — to keep the enemy from knowing what's going on. In this case, the "enemy" is the public.

Your Friends & Neighbors (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Your Friends & Neighbors (TV 2025): John Hamm is a lovable rogue, a hedge fund manager who is fired and burglarizes neighborhood homes to maintain his lifestyle. Easy pickings, right? But things spiral out of control. Not quite satire or comedy, call it drama but never serious. B+

AppleTV+

The Studio (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Studio (TV 2025): Seth Rogen's satire of the head of a Hollywood movie studio. He skewers producers, directors, actors, marketers, distributors, but none too cruelly, which takes the bite out of it. Rogen himself is the sad sack butt of most jokes. C+

AppleTV+