Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Captain America: Brave New World (2025): Mostly a tired international thriller only loosely tied to the Avengers. Marvel has lost its magic. Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford have plenty of scenes together, but their charisma doesn't mesh. Are they allies or enemies? C-

Disney+

POTD: Bright Orange Roofs

"From damage to gem,
Dubrovnik doesn't forget—
It only rebuilds."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 09 08 Dubrovnik

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Dubrovnik, Croatia. "In 1991, during the Croatian War of Independence, Dubrovnik was besieged by the Yugoslav People's Army for seven months and suffered significant damage from shelling." Dubrovnik's iconic orange tiled roofs have since undergone repair and today have an orange-red shine, brighter than before. Once again, Dubrovnik is one of the Mediterranean's top tourist destinations.

POTD: Watching the World Go By

"In a rear courtyard,
Smoking grandmother keeps watch,
While clothes dry on line."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 09 08 Dubrovnik

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Dubrovnik, Croatia. Dubrovnik is heavily touristed, but as this photo shows, there are still locals behind the walls who make Dubrovnik their home.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

POTD: Dubrovnik Rebuilt

"Dubrovnik stands proud,
A jewel cupped by the coast—
Stone walls kiss the sea."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 09 08 Dubrovnik

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Dubrovnik, Croatia. Dubrovnik is a walled city on the Adriatic coast. You can explore the city on foot. You can walk the walls that surround the city. Dubrovnik is a gem from any angle.

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^*.

^* This month, thirteen restaurants are listed. Five restaurants tied for ninth place with a score of 81, which is objectively good.

Random Thoughts: US Marines invading Los Angeles

2025-06-10: US Marines invading Los Angeles shows the folly of 2nd Amendment supporters saying it's needed to oppose government oppression. It's tragic how many school kids have given their lives for a theory of the 2nd Amendment that's proven to be a fiction all along.

September 5 (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

September 5 (2024): Dramatization of ABC Sports' coverage of the terror attack in Munich at the 1972 Olympics. Not the story of the murdered Israeli athletes or the Black September terrorists, but the ABC broadcast team who never expected to be in this role. That's probably the 3rd most interesting story. B-

On airplane

POTD: Will You Marry Me?

"He said, 'Let’s elope.'
She laughed, 'We’re already here.'
Mountains held their breath."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 09 07 Korto

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Kortor, Montenegro. "The old Mediterranean port of Kotor is surrounded by fortifications built during the Venetian period. It is located on the Bay of Kotor, one of the most indented parts of the Adriatic Sea. Some have called it the southernmost fjord in Europe, but it is a ria, a submerged river canyon."

But that's not what you came to read about. Today's photo-of-the-day is a photo of a bride. I like taking photos of brides who I don't know. Sometimes you can make up a story about them.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

POTD: Corfu

"Here, history sighs
not in ruins, but in life.
Corfu ever thrives."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 09 06 Corfu

Today's photo-of-the-day is of Corfu, Greece. "The ancient city of Corfu, known as Korkyra, took part in the Battle of Sybota which was a catalyst for the Peloponnesian War, and, according to Thucydides, the largest naval battle between Greek city states until that time. Thucydides also reports that Korkyra was one of the three great naval powers of fifth-century-BC Greece, along with Athens and Corinth.

"Medieval castles punctuating strategic locations across the city are a legacy of struggles in the Middle Ages against invasions by pirates and the Ottomans. The city has become known since the Middle Ages as Kastropolis (Castle City) because of its two castles.

"From 1386 to 1797, Corfu was ruled by Venetian nobility; much of the city reflects this era when the island belonged to the Republic of Venice, with multi-storied buildings on narrow lanes. The Old Town of Corfu has clear Venetian influence. The city was subjected to four notable sieges in 1537, 1571, 1573 and 1716, in which the strength of the city defenses asserted itself time after time, mainly because of the effectiveness of the powerful Venetian fortifications. Writer Will Durant claimed that Corfu owed to the Republic of Venice the fact that it was the only part of Greece never conquered by the Ottomans"

Needless to say, with that history, Corfu offers a blend of surprises around every corner.

POTD: Olympia

"No marble remains,
yet a stride can still be felt.
The race never ends."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 09 05 Olympia

Today's photo-of-the-day is of the ancient stadium in Olympia, Greece, "where the ancient Olympic Games were held every four years throughout classical antiquity, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD." There's not much left of the stadium except the bowl itself. After the jump is a bonus photo of a modern athlete demonstrating how heroes are made.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

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+

Charter Review: The Commission Rests

Artist: John Trumbull.

The once-every-ten-years Charter Review Commission concluded their service with their submission to the City Council of a report of their recommendations. I've blogged about the commission meetings. Justin Neth has reported them as well. Dustin Butler of Community Impact (the closest thing Richardson has to a local newspaper) reported on the commission submitting its report to the City Council.

POTD: Bergen

"A meadow once stood,
Now a pulse of modern days.
Sea and city blend."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 07 10 Bergen

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Bergen, Norway. "As of 2022, its population was roughly 289,330. Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway after the national capital Oslo. The municipality covers 465 square kilometres (180 sq mi) and is on the peninsula of Bergenshalvøyen. The city centre and northern neighbourhoods are on Byfjorden, 'the city fjord'. The city is surrounded by mountains, causing Bergen to be called the 'city of seven mountains'...According to tradition, the city was founded in 1070 by King Olav Kyrre and was named Bjørgvin, 'the green meadow among the mountains'."

A bonus photo is after the jump.

POTD: Kjosfossen

"Falls sing to the gorge.
Huldra dances in the spray.
White thunder pours down."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 07 09 Flam

Today's photo-of-the-day shows Kjosfossen, "a waterfall located in Aurland Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The waterfall is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Norway. Its total fall is around 225 metres (738 ft)...The Flåm Line passes directly in front of and over the upper part of the waterfall, which is one of the main attractions for tourists who take the Flåm Line...During the main tourist season in the summer an actress dressed as a legendary Huldra (a seductive forest creature in Scandinavian folklore) dances and sings in front of the waterfall as the trains enter the station for the amusement of the tourists."

The Four Seasons (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Four Seasons (TV 2025): Remake of 1981 original movie. Follows the same formula: Three couples go on vacations together throughout the year, gradually exposing personal flaws and rifts in friendship. Light, fun entertainment in eight, easy-to-swallow bites. B-

Netflix

The Four Seasons (1981)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Four Seasons (1981): Original movie by Alan Alda with an ensemble cast. Story of three couples who take vacations together. Spring starts with fun and games, but as the year wears on, things get less fun as everyone gets on each other's nerves. More like a light TV movie than a serious drama. B-

Netfli

#VeryTardyReview

Mickey 17 (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Mickey 17 (2025): Satire by Bong Joon Ho. A man volunteers for dangerous missions on a long space voyage. He's expendable because his body can be 3D printed anew each time he dies. As much broad comedy as satire, the movie works on multiple levels. Maybe the satire targets a bit too much, making it a bit too long. B+

Max

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^*.

^* This month, only nine restaurants are listed. Four restaurants tied for tenth place with a score of 87, which is objectively very good. So rather than including all four, I left all four out of this report.

Random Thoughts: Lessons for Richardson, Texas?

2025-05-06: Lessons for Richardson, Texas?
"In the early 2020s, the economic model that had sustained Chinese economic growth since 2008 basically collapsed. This model was based on massive real estate investment — the biggest development boom in the history of the world. Real estate sales funded local governments, so local governments basically approved and supported any and all development that would increase the value of land."
Thoughts on Sinofuturism - by Noah Smith
noahpinion.blog/p/thoughts-on-...

POTD: Nærøyfjord

"Steep walls touch the clouds,
Mountains cradle mirrored skies.
Nature's breath is cold."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 07 09 Flam

Today's photo-of-the-day shows the Nærøyfjord in Norway. "The narrow fjord is a branch of the large Sognefjord. The 11 mile long fjord is only 500 metres wide in some parts." "The Nærøyfjord has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has also been rated by the National Geographic Society as the world's number one natural heritage site along with the Geirangerfjord."

A bonus photo is after the jump.

POTD: Undredal

"Fjord hugs quiet town,
Goats outnumber village folk.
Brown cheese slowly cures."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 07 09 Flam

Today's photo-of-the-day shows Undredal, Norway. "Undredal is a small village in Aurland Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The popular tourist destination of Undredal is located along the Aurlandsfjorden which is a branch off the massive Sognefjorden in Norway's 'fjord-country.' It sits along the Aurlandsfjorden, about 5 kilometres south of the mouth to the Nærøyfjord."

Book Review: The Vegetarian

From The Vegetarian, by Han Kang:

Amazon

"As far as I was concerned, the only reasonable grounds for altering one’s eating habits were the desire to lose weight, an attempt to alleviate certain physical ailments, being possessed by an evil spirit, or having your sleep disturbed by indigestion. In any other case, it was nothing but sheer obstinacy for a wife to go against her husband’s wishes as mine had done."

TIL: Manufacturing in America is Going Strong

The appeal of MAGA is an imagined past where America used to make things, before globalization took all the manufacturing overseas. Today I learned that the basis for that belief is just wrong. The graph above shows why. America is still making stuff — about ten times more today than we made in 1947, in inflation-adjusted dollars. That's stuff made right her in the USA, not in China. What gives? Why don't we have ten times more Americans working to produce those goods? That's because of a growth in productivity. While we're making ten times more, the number of Americans working in manufacturing has stayed pretty much flat from 1947 to 2025. Productivity growth through technology, not globalization, is the more important story here.

Nosferatu (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Nosferatu (2024): Remake of the 1929 Gothic horror classic. Faithful to the original, meaning it won't be scary enough for modern audiences. A dark, soulless story that marches relentlessly to its inevitable conclusion. Beautiful noir cinematography. C+

Peacock

Fountain of Youth (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Fountain of Youth (2025): Big budget, treasure hunt, adventure movie in the tradition of Indiana Jones, but with only a fraction of the wit and charm. Ignore the plot details stretched beyond plausibility and just go along for the ride and it can be fun. B-

AppleTV+

Saturday Night (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Saturday Night (2024): Dramatization of the chaos before air time of the first episode of SNL. Somehow, the show made it to air. Some actors nail their original cast roles. Lorne Michaels is portrayed as having no control. Probably best for big fans. So-so or worse for the rest. C+

Netflix

POTD: Fortun

"High above the world,
Norway carves its winding road
through the mountain pass."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 07 08 Sogndal

Today's photo-of-the-day shows Fortun, Norway, a village on the Sognefjellsvegen, the highest mountain pass road in northern Europe.

POTD: Sognefjellshytta

"Through cabin windows,
a frozen lake lies silent;
white upon more white."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 07 08 Sogndal

Today's photo-of-the-day shows the view out the windows of the Sognefjellshytta, "a serviced private tourist cabin in Lom municipality in Innlandet county, completed in 1947." The cabin is located in Norway, near the highest point of the highest mountain pass road in northern Europe.

A bonus photo showing the highway is after the jump.

The Coming Disorder of Robert's Rules

The Richardson City Council, adding to its long history of misjudgment, has just elected Ken Hutchenrider as Mayor Pro Tem. One of the main duties of Mayor Pro Tem is to chair council meetings in the Mayor's absence. What can go wrong? Richardson City Council meetings have never been a shining example of parliamentary procedure. Often things are confused, and sometimes just plain wrong.

Transparency: "The Room Where It Happens"

Part 3 of 3.

Source: Hamilton: An American Musical.

No one really knows how the game is played
The art of the trade
How the sausage gets made
We just assume that it happens
But no one else is in the room where it happens.

Source: Hamilton.

In the first two parts of this (too long) blog post (Part 1, Part 2), I congratulated Mayor Amir Omar on trying to add transparency to the council's decisions. And I applauded Jennifer Justice and Joe Corcoran for joining him in voting against moving the decision-making process into secret. And I didn't applaud Hutchenrider, Barrios, Dorian, and Arefin who all voted to continue excluding the public from witnessing the council conduct this important business.

Today, I'll examine the result of the council's closed-door session, their pick for Mayor Pro Tem for 2025-2027. I could have led with that two days ago, but I seriously think the process used (closed instead of open) was the more important story. Mayor Pro Tems come and go. The principle of transparency is forever. My mission is to rescue "transparency" from the lip service that politicians pay it, and give gravity back to the word, so people take it seriously again.

Transparency: "The Room Where It Happens"

Part 2 of 3.

Source: Hamilton: An American Musical.

No one really knows how the game is played
The art of the trade
How the sausage gets made
We just assume that it happens
But no one else is in the room where it happens.

Source: Hamilton.

Yesterday, in Part 1, I congratulated Mayor Amir Omar on trying to add transparency to the council's decisions. And I applauded Jennifer Justice and Joe Corcoran for joining him in voting against moving the decision-making process into secret. And I didn't applaud Hutchenrider, Barrios, Dorian, and Arefin who all voted to continue excluding the public from witnessing the council conduct this important business.

Today, I'll examine the council's reasoning behind their decision to keep their deliberation secret.

Transparency: "The Room Where It Happens"

Source: Hamilton: An American Musical.

No one really knows how the game is played
The art of the trade
How the sausage gets made
We just assume that it happens
But no one else is in the room where it happens.

Source: Hamilton.

Amir Omar, when campaigning to become mayor of Richardson, wrote, "As Mayor, I envision propelling our city to regional leadership in transparency." Well, Amir Omar became mayor and on Monday night, while presiding over his first City Council meeting, Mayor Amir Omar began delivering on his promise. It came during the selection of the Mayor Pro Tem.

Wilding (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Wilding (2023): Dramatization of a real story of an English couple who decide to rewild their failing 3,500 acre estate. It's always a work in progress, but they seem to be making progress, although the movie fails to address the economics of the plan. Inspiring if not compelling moviemaking. B-

#VeryTardyReview

Korean Airlines

Charter Review: "We the People"

Artist: John Trumbull.

On May 15, 2025, the Richardson Charter Review Commission completed their review of the Richardson City Charter. Well, almost completed. They still need to come back and review the final drafts of the amendments and formally vote on what they'll submit to the City Council.

After 10 meetings and I don't know how many suggested amendments (we won't know for sure what the number is until the City Attorney packages them up in way to submit to the City Council), the commission finally added one substantive amendment that I consider to be primarily in the public interest, not the commissioners' own interest, not the city council's interest, but in the people's interest. Read all the way to the end to see what it is.

POTD: Garmo Stave Church

"Timbers soaked with time,
Withstand a thousand winters.
Strong the stave and stone."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 07 07 Lillehammer

Today's photo-of-the-day shows the Garmo Stave Church in the Maihaugen outdoor museum in Lillehammer, Norway. It "originally came from the village of Garmo in Lom. It was built circa 1150 on the site of a previous church believed to have been built in 1021 by a Viking chieftain. In 1730, it was expanded into a timber cruciform church...It was dissembled and brought to Lillehammer in sections. It was re-erected at Maihaugen in 1920—1921."

POTD: Turf Roof Above Lillehammer

"Perched where flight begins,
Watching skiers pierce the sky,
Wood and sod stand still."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 07 07 Lillehammer

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Lillehammer, Norway, site of the 1994 Winter Olympics. At the top of the ski jump stands this turf-roofed house, its firm grounding to the solid earth offering a counterpoint to the soaring skiers nearby.

My Coffee with Alan C. North

Source: RichardsonMayor.com.

It turns out that newly-elected Mayor Amir Omar is not the only candidate who has coffee with voters. This week, mayoral candidate Alan C. North had coffee with me. And now, with his permission, I'm here to answer all your questions.

The Sandlot (1993)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Sandlot (1993): Family-friendly nostalgia from the '90s about growing up playing baseball in a neighborhood sandlot — in 1962, just like I did. A Christmas Story did the nostalgia better. So did TV's The Wonder Years. But this movie comes in a close third. I don't know why it's not better known. B-

Disney+

h/t to Leo for this #VeryTardyReview

An Open Letter to Our New Mayor

Dear Mayor Amir Omar,

Congratulations on winning election to become Richardson's Mayor. You worked long and hard for this. You deserve it. Before you decided to run this year, you individually met with 200 Richardson residents for coffee. Friends, foes, and strangers. You tried to understand what the community cared about. Then, after you decided that you had something to offer, you kept on meeting with Richardson residents. Your latest count of coffee meetings is over 400. You had your finger on the pulse of Richardson. And the voters rewarded that. You were the clear choice of a majority of voters to lead our City.

Aftersun (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes

Aftersun (2022): Divorced dad and 11 yr-old daughter vacation at a beach resort in Turkey. Mostly seen from the girl's point of view as she's coming of age and trying to figure out what's going in her father's life. Requires patience and empathy from audience, as there is little action. B-

Max

#VeryTardyReview

Industry - S01 (TV 2020)

Rotten Tomatoes

Industry - S01 (TV 2020): A steaming, uh, streaming soap opera. New grads hired at an investment bank get six months to prove their worth to the firm. Instead, they spend their time on sex, drugs, and in abusive working relationships. I won't be watching seasons 2 and 3. C-

Max

#VeryTardyReview