The Gorge (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Gorge (2025): Two sharpshooters in watchtowers face each other across an isolated gorge. Sci-fi, Cold War, post-apocalyptic thriller zombie movie? Also it's a romance, released on Valentine's Day. WTF? Contrived and incoherent. Bad, but not so bad to be unwatchable. C+

AppleTV+

Book Review: Linguaphile: A Life of Language Love

From Linguaphile: A Life of Language Love", by Julie Sedivy:

Amazon

"At that time, Italian was to me a bewitching confusion, boiling and streaming in all directions. Its connection to the actual world was tenuous and constantly shifting. It was only now and then that I caught a word with my mind; words were like fish, solid things making sudden, unexpected appearances, flashes of substance and meaning in the liquidity of language flowing all around me. You had to be quick to snatch them before they were lost in the fast-moving stream."

Say Nothing (TV 2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Say Nothing (TV 2024): Dramatized history of IRA terrorism in Northern Ireland. Focuses on the involvement (or not) of a young Irish woman in the disappearance of an innocent (or not) young mother. This TV series changed my mind about the IRA and the violence used as a political weapon to unify Ireland. A-

Hulu

Mayor Dubey Explains Taxes

Tax Bites with Poonam.

On November 19, 2024, Mayor Bob Dubey was interviewed by Poonam Sandhu, CPA, on her podcast "Tax Bites with Poonam." In the introduction, Mayor Dubey said, "I really don't consider myself a politician. I'd like to say I'm a statesman." A politician calling himself a statesman is like a used car salesman calling himself a "Transportation Solutions Consultant." But Poonam politely let Mayor Dubey's self-aggrandizement slide. Luckily for him, she wasn't in a fact-checking mood. I guess she left that to the listeners. I listened.

POTD: The Chapel of Frederiksborg Castle

"Vaulted ceiling rises
Above stained glass saints and kings.
Crown and cross entwined."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 07 01 Copenhagen

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in Denmark's Frederiksborg Palace in Hillerød, Denmark. "It was built as a royal residence for King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway in the early 17th century...Frederiksborg Castle was the first Danish castle to be built inland. All previous castles had been on the coast or close to ports as the sea had traditionally been the principal means of travel. It was also the first to be built for purely recreational purposes rather than for defence."

The Worst Places to Eat in Richardson Last Month

Graphic by City of Richardson.

The City of Richardson is rightly regarded as having some of the best, most diverse, dining options in north Texas ("Eat & Drink"). But that doesn't mean every restaurant in Richardson exceeds in every measure. Here is a list of the ten worst places to eat in Richardson last month, based on the City of Richardson's Health Department Restaurant Scores for last month. Not all Richardson restaurants are included in this ranking. Each month, different restaurants are visited by the Health Department. Only those visited last month are ranked here. Only the bottom ten are shown.

POTD: Kronborg Castle

"There are more things
in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of
in your philosophy."

— Hamlet

From 2024 07 01 Copenhagen

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in Helsingør, Denmark. It shows Kronborg Castle, much better known as Elsinore in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. "Rendered as 'Elsinore,' it's actually the anglicised name of the surrounding town of Helsingør."

"The castle's story dates back to a stronghold, Krogen, built by King Eric VII in the 1420s. The castle is situated on the extreme northeastern tip of the island of Zealand at the narrowest point of the Øresund, the sound between present Denmark and the provinces of present Sweden." The narrowness of the sound leads to "the strategic importance of maintaining a coastal fortification at this location commanding one of the few outlets of the Baltic Sea."

A bonus photo is after the jump.

Random Thoughts: Luka Doncic Trade

2025-02-02: Musing on the Luka Doncic trade...maybe Miriam Adelson, Las Vegas real estate player and new owner of the Mavs, is trying to replicate Jerry Jones's results with the Cowboys. Don't win championships, win real estate deals and increase the value of the franchise. Maybe Adelson wants to take the money that would have gone to Luka and invest it in a casino, once Texas leg opens the door to that possibility.

2025-02-05: I am not a conspiracy theorist but if there were something that might just make me one, it could be the Luca Doncic trade.

2025-02-07: There's a major free-speech battle being fought right here in Richardson, Texas. Student editorial control of student journalism is at stake.
Inside UT-Dallas’ fight over the student press
dallasnews.com/news/education/...

Here (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Here (2024): Heartwarming story about generations of families who lived in a single house. Story keeps jumping around in time. Some families get short shrift. Too much story telescoped into short scenes to feel the emotional pull of any. Feels like a gimmick. C-

Netflix

A Catalyst, Just Not the One Imagined

Source: Google Street View.

Staycation Coffee's current home

Catalyst: "a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction"

Example usage: "I'll be honest, I think this is a catalyst type project that will spur on to bigger, better things." — Mayor Bob Dubey, speaking of Polk Street Apartments.

City leaders have a fondness for the term "catalyst project." It's a buzzword that makes them sound knowledgable about the future. Do they ever go back and measure the performance of past catalyst projects?

The Wheel Award for Excellence in Motion Pictures

Source: DALL-E.

The Academy Awards will be given out Sunday, March 2, 2025. I've seen all the nominees for Best Picture. That means my opinion means something. Right? Regardless, I've ranked the movies in order of my preference for "Best Picture."

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science uses ranked choice voting (RCV) to ensure that the winner has broad support throughout the Academy members. I wish US political elections used something similar (see proportional voting). But that's for another post.

My personal ranked choice of the Oscar nominees is based on the grades I gave the movies immediately after seeing them. In case of ties, I ordered them by my judgment today. Note this is not my prediction of which movie will win (Anora) but how I would vote, if I had a vote.

The envelope please. The winner of "The Wheel Award for Excellence in Motion Pictures" goes to...

Oscar Snubs

The 2025 Oscar nominations snub some worthy movies, as always. This year, the lowest grade The Wheel gave to a "Best Picture" nomination was a "B-". Eight movies received a better grade than that but weren't nominated for "Best Picture." The list of Oscar snubs of 2025 are...

Charter Review: Articles 5, 14

Artist: John Trumbull.

On February 20, 2025, the Richardson Charter Review Commission continued their review of the Richardson Charter, covering Articles 5 (Recall) and 14 (Initiative and Referendum).

(Still no video by the City to link you to. Mayor Bob Dubey slammed the door on that, saying, "Initially, I'll be honest, I said I don't think we even really need to discuss that." Forced to discuss it, and vote on it, he supplied the tie-breaking vote to reject video recording.)

POTD: 19th Century Tivoli Gardens

"Rollercoasters climb,
Music from a bye-gone era,
Tivoli still sings."

— h/t ChatGPT

	From 2024 07 01 Copenhagen

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark, an "amusement park and pleasure garden in Copenhagen, Denmark. The park opened on 15 August 1843 and is the third-oldest operating amusement park in the world."

A bonus photo is after the jump.

POTD: Copenhagen, a Bicycle Friendly City

"Carbon-neutral plans,
can-do spirit seen on streets.
Copenhagen thrives."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 07 01 Copenhagen

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in Copenhagen, Denmark, a bicycle friendly city. According to a 2013 Guardian article, "Everywhere, visitors are greeted by streams of bicyclists; 36 percent of trips to work or school in the Danish capital are made by bike, and more than 20,000 cyclists enter the city center at peak hours, filling Copenhagen's 249 miles of cycle tracks."

New buildings in Copenhagen must now be constructed according to Low Energy Class ratings. A Low Energy Class building in Copenhagen is likely more energy-efficient than even a LEED-certified building in America (LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Meanwhile, at home, "Richardson Says No to LEED". :-(

A bonus photo is after the jump.

A Real Pain (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

A Real Pain (2024): Dramedy. Cousins take trip to Poland to visit their Jewish grandmother's homeland. A vacation from hell: one cousin (Jesse Eisenberg) exhibits OCD and the other (Kieran Culkin) is irresponsible and lacks self-control. Culkin dominates every scene. Oscar buzz is deserved. B-

Hulu

Thelma (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Thelma (2024): 93-year-old grandma gets scammed out of $10,000. Police are no help, her family are useless, so she undertakes to get the money back herself. Like Mr. Magoo, she keeps running up against obstacles, but somehow keeps going. Light-hearted comedy for the whole family. C+

Hulu

Council Recap: No Video of Charter Review

Source: h/t DALL-E.

On February 17, 2024, the Richardson City Council discussed the potential video recording of Charter Review Commission meetings. Some questioned the need. Some the cost. Some were concerned about the fairness to Commissioners who did not anticipate being recorded. Councilmember Dan Barrios argued for recording the remaining meetings due to the Commission's significance. Councilmember Jennifer Justice made a motion to leave the current situation as it is (no video), with future Commissions informed in advance of whatever was decided at that time. The motion passed 4-3, with Mayor Pro Tem Arefin, and Councilmembers Dan Barrios and Joe Corcoran opposed. Kudos to them for taking the side of increased transparency.

Read on for details of the arguments.

Kinda Pregnant (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Kinda Pregnant (2025): Woman's dream of marriage and a baby falls apart, so she hatches a fake pregnancy plan. I don't know where it goes from there because I didn't finish the movie. Full of crude jokes and what's maybe worse, unfunny. Amy Schumer is better than this. F+

Netflix

The Substance (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Substance (2024): TV fitness instructor sells her soul for a drug promising restored youth. A satire of Hollywood's treatment of women that starts small but grows increasingly over-the-top, grotesque, even comically absurd. An instant cult classic whose last 30 minutes leave you wondering WTF. It's great but is it any good? B+

Prime

POTD: Christiansborg's Tapestries

"The Great Hall stands tall,
Home of woven history.
Myths and monarchs."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 07 01 Copenhagen

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, the seat of government of Denmark. One room is filled with tapestries. Usually tapestries in old buildings are faded and threadbare. But in the Great Hall of Christiansborg Palace are "17 quite modern tapestries, one of the greatest depictions of Denmark’s history ever made."

After the jump a bonus photo shows a dark period of recent history.

POTD: Christiansborg Palace

"Palace of power,
Three branches under one roof,
Denmark's marble halls."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 07 01 Copenhagen

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen. "The palace is home to the three supreme powers of Denmark: the executive power, the legislative power, and the judicial power. It is the only building in the world that houses all three of a country's branches of government. The name Christiansborg is thus also frequently used as a metonym for the Danish political system, and colloquially it is often referred to as simply Borgen ('the castle')."

For us, visiting "Borgen" was a highlight of our trip because we had previously enjoyed the TV series Borgen.

Fly Me to the Moon (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Fly Me to the Moon (2024): An entertaining trifle, a rom-com dramedy about the Apollo 11 mission. More fiction than fact, but presented in a way that audiences will say, "So that's how they faked it." Never saw chemistry between Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum. B-

AppleTV+

I'm Still Here (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

I'm Still Here (2024): Portuguese. In 1970, a Brazilian man is "disappeared." Movie focuses on his family's helplessness in seeking answers and his wife fighting to keep the family together. A history lesson that's powerful without sensationalism. Oscar-nominated Fernanda Torres carries the film. A-

In theatre

Council Recap: Goodbye, Downtown Street Grid

Source: h/t DALL-E.

The City of Richardson approved an application to build 279 apartments on Polk Street in downtown Richardson. The applicant requested exceptions from current zoning requirements: 1) 4-stories instead of 3-stories. 2) less open space 3) longer block length (580 ft) 4) less residential parking 5) service doors placed on street frontage. The request was approved by City Council 5-2, with Mayor Pro Tem Arefin and Councilmember Dan Barrios voting no. I applaud their votes, as I, too, would have voted no. But let's hear from the five Councilmembers who voted to approve this superblock apartment project.

Bad Monkey (TV 2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

asdf (TV 2024): A comedy set in the Florida Keys and Bahamas. Fast-talking, flippant detective (Vince Vaughn) latches onto a case of a human arm pulled up from the ocean by a fisherman and can't let go. Lots of oddball characters. Even the bad guys are fun. A-

AppleTV+

Charter Review: Articles 9,10

Artist: John Trumbull.

On February 6, 2025, the Richardson Charter Review Commission continued their review of the Richardson Charter, covering Articles 9 (Boards and Commissions) and 10 (Civil Service). (Still no video by the City to link you to.)

POTD: Farewell to Turkey

"Two weeks through Turkey,
Friendship in every smile,
Bridges, not walls."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 19 Ephesus and Izmir

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken along the seafront of Izmir, Turkey at sunset on our last night in Turkey. That's a warship, Turkish I believe, but I note that Turkey is a US ally, a member of NATO since 1952. Its membership was prompted by aggressive moves by the Soviet Union after WWII. It's perhaps instructive to note that Ukraine does not have NATO membership. Alliances are important. Enough said about global politics. For what it's worth, on our two weeks of travel through Turkey, we were met with nothing but friendly interactions with locals in all places.

Next stop: Copenhagen, Denmark.

POTD: Strolling the Aegean Esplanade

"Seafront in Izmir,
Sila's voice warms the cool night,
Joy flows through the square."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 19 Ephesus and Izmir

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken along the seafront of Izmir, Turkey. The Kordon esplanade runs along the Aegean Sea for 1, 3, 5 miles, or more, depending on who you ask. It's a great place to dine, stroll, and people watch. At night, you might be lucky enough to see a local festival, like the free Sila concert that was on at Gündogdu Square on the night of our stay in Izmir, the Turkish holiday known as "May 19th Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day".

Bonus photos after the jump.

The Worst Places to Eat in Richardson Last Month

Graphic by City of Richardson.

The City of Richardson is rightly regarded as having some of the best, most diverse, dining options in north Texas ("Eat & Drink"). But that doesn't mean every restaurant in Richardson exceeds in every measure. Here is a list of the ten worst places to eat in Richardson last month, based on the City of Richardson's Health Department Restaurant Scores for last month. Not all Richardson restaurants are included in this ranking. Each month, different restaurants are visited by the Health Department. Only those visited last month are ranked here. Only the bottom ten are shown.

Nickel Boys (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Nickel Boys (2024): In the 1960s, a wrongfully convicted Florida teen gets sentenced to an abusive boys reform school. With first-person POV, closeups, handheld camera shots, quick cuts, it feels immediate. Fictional but based on a real story, it's a tragedy that ought to madden you. A-

In theatres

Compare with the original novel: Nickel Boys.

One of These is Not Like the Others

Consider four different streets, four different apartment buildings. One of these is not like the others.

Source: Belt+Main.

The others are after the jump.

A Blockhouse Two Football Fields Long

Source: Planned Development Main Street Form Based Code.

On February 10, 2025, the Richardson City Council is scheduled to hear a zoning application to build a 275 unit apartment building smack dab in the middle of downtown. Some people might be opposed to this because it's yet another apartment building. Not me. I'm OK with the use. It's the form of the apartment building that I think is a disaster for future development of downtown.

Richardson Now Has a Three-Way Race for Mayor

Source: Ketomed.com.

Richardson will elect a new Mayor and City Council on May 3, 2025. The mayor's race will have three candidates on the ballot: incumbent Mayor Bob Dubey, former City Councilmember Amir Omar, and outsider Alan North.

Charter Review: Articles 1,2,17,18

Artist: John Trumbull.

On January 30, 2025, the Richardson Charter Review Commission started their review of the Richardson City Charter, article by article, beginning with Articles 1, 2, 17, and 18. (Only the five visitors in attendance saw what happened. Maybe someday, someone will invent something that could record government meetings for the convenience of people who can't attend in person.)

The Commission was looking for changes to the Charter to suggest to the City Council to put before voters in November. The City Council has the last word about what goes on the ballot. The citizens, at the ballot box, have the last word about what goes in the Charter. In three hours of deliberation, there was only one substantive change that was deliberated.

POTD: Street Life in Izmir

"Street food delights.
Dress shop filled with modern flair.
Sweet Danger Menu."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 19 Ephesus and Izmir

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in a shopping district of Izmir, Turkey, "a city on the west coast of Anatolia, the third most populous city in Turkey, and the largest urban agglomeration on the Aegean Sea."

Bonus photos after the jump.

Random Thoughts: My CFP Bingo Card

2025-01-01: On my CFP bingo card I didn't have Ohio State blowing out Oregon and Arizona taking Texas to two overtimes. Crazy day of football.

2025-01-03: Georgia lost to Notre Dame by 13 points. National reaction: Notre Dame is good.
Indiana lost to Notre Dame by 10 points. National reaction: Indiana is bad.

POTD: Walkable Ephesus

"Columns line the way.
Gentle slope and stone beneath
Worn by countless feet."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 19 Ephesus and Izmir

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in the ancient Roman city of Ephesus, Turkey. It shows Curetes Street, which is "one of the three main streets of Ephesus. It runs between the Hercules Gate and the Celsus Library. The street was an archaic Processional Way, an important sacred route that lead to the Temple of Artemis. Therefore, it takes its name from the priests that would walk the street during religious ceremonies."

One Hundred Years of Solitude (TV 2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

One Hundred Years of Solitude (TV 2024): Spanish. Adaptation of Gabriel García Márquez's classic, multi-generational, 1967 novel (or at least part one). The magical realism makes it surreal. The family stories make it a soap opera. The revolution makes it a war movie. All together, it's an epic. B+

Netflix

Lonely Planet (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Lonely Planet (2024): Romance at a writers' retreat between an unlikely couple. The Morocco setting drew me to this movie, but the plot put me off. Laura Dern isn't given enough to work with. And if Liam Hemsworth was cast for anything other than his looks, he never shows it. A trifle. C+

Netflix

No Good Deed (TV 2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

No Good Deed (TV 2024): Couple wants to sell their house. Audience first wonders what's wrong with the house, then what's wrong with the couple? Show morphs into an absurd black comedy murder mystery that eventually finds its way to a more or less satisfactory ending. C+

Netflix

The Brutalist (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Brutalist (2024): Hungarian architect who is a traumatized Holocaust survivor rebuilds his life in America. He gets a major commission for a community center. Are we seeing an immigrant success story? Or a story of an arrogant, obsessed, artistic genius? Deeper study reveals it may really be a love story. A-

In theaters

City Charter: Ending Pretext Stops

On December 2, 2024, the Richardson City Council appointed eleven members to a Charter Review Commission, as required by law every ten years to review and suggest changes to Richardson's City Charter. Here, in a series of posts, I am presenting my own suggestions.

POTD: Lunch on the Turkish Riviera

"Sun and turquoise sea,
Relaxed lunch by quiet waves,
A perfect escape."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 16 Bodrum

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at the Flamm hotel on the beach in Bodrum, Turkey.

Bonus photos after the jump.

POTD: Doner Kebab and Pide

"Sizzling doner meat,
Lamb and herbs in harmony,
Bodrum's bustling streets."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 16 Bodrum

Today's photo-of-the-day is of doner kebab in Bodrum, Turkey. "Doner kebab is a dish of Turkish origin made of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie. Seasoned meat stacked in the shape of an inverted cone is turned slowly on the rotisserie, next to a vertical cooking element. The operator uses a knife to slice thin shavings from the outer layer of the meat as it cooks."

After the jump, another Turkish savory treat.

TIL: The "Migrant Crisis" is Self-Inflicted

Source: Carlos Barria / Reuters.

I learned more about the so-called "migrant crisis" from an article in "The Atlantic" from almost a year ago than I've learned from anything else since.

A Gentleman in Moscow (TV 2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

A Gentleman in Moscow (TV 2024): The story of the Soviet Union from revolution to Stalin's death as seen through the life of one man and one hotel. A Russian count is sentenced by Bolshviks to a lifetime of house arrest in the elegant Metropol Hotel. Ewan McGregor is charming. B+

Paramount+

---

Compare with the original novel: "A Gentleman in Moscow".

Drones are Ready. Red Tape Is Also

Source: City of Richardson.

On January 7, 2025, the Richardson City Plan Commission (CPC) approved, but only with a special permit, ZF 24-33, "a City-initiated PD Amendment to the Collins/Arapaho TOD and Innovation District Form Based Code Planned Development to allow a 'Drone Operations and Maintenance Center' as a permitted use in the Employment Sub-District."

Do you even know what a Drone Operations and Maintenance Center is? I didn't. And, judging by the discussion by the CPC members, neither did they. I have three comments.

Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Joker: Folie à Deux (2024): Joker on trial for murders committed in earlier movie. Is he criminally insane or just evil? Critics hated it. Audiences avoided it. But I liked it. It was a powerful depiction of how our criminal justice system fails the mentally ill. And...it's a musical! B+

Max