Spring in the Steger Garden (2014)

From Flowers

S2L77: Windsor

Windsor Castle
May 21, 1977
We took a train out to Windsor Castle. "Too many tourists."

Source: Personal travel notes.

Funny how I remember the grand settings in Windsor Castle, the quaint village of Eton, the picturesque River Thames running between them, but I don't remember the tourists. Maybe I should have snapped a photo. ;-)

From 1977 05 10 England

More photos after the jump.

World War Z (2013)

IMDB

World War Z (2013): Brad Pitt fights sudden worldwide outbreak of running zombies. Even more clichés than zombies. What's not to dislike? C-

Econ 101

I'm not totally wedded to these particular numbers, but let's say for the sake of argument that the right policy is two years of fiscal expansion amounting to 3 percent of GDP each year, plus a permanent rise in the inflation target to 4 percent. These wouldn't be radical moves in terms of Econ 101 -- they are in fact pretty much what textbook models would suggest make sense given what we have learned about macroeconomic vulnerabilities. But they are completely outside the bounds of respectable discussion.

That's the sense in which we are "doomed" to long-term stagnation. We have met the enemy, and it's not the economic fundamentals, it's us.

Source: Paul Krugman.

Does it bug you that the tea party's hold on politics makes it politically incorrect to apply basic knowledge ("Econ 101") to our economic problems? It does me. It's the anti-science attitude that denies evolution and global warming carried over to economics. Except that in the former two fields, the know-nothing attitude is still being challenged. In economics, the know-nothing attitude is so dominant that "Econ 101" is "outside the bounds of respectable discussion."

By the way, if there's anyone who knows Econ 101, it's Paul Krugman. He wrote the book on it, literally.

LSWO Pre-UIL Concert Band Festival

Seventeen bands from all eight junior high schools in the Richardson ISD performed Monday at the Eisemann Center in an 8.5 hour marathon pre-UIL concert sponsored by the Lone Star Wind Orchestra. It was a pleasure seeing and hearing these talented and disciplined young musicians put on an outstanding show. Be sure to catch one of their concerts when they play again in their local schools.

The RISD owes a big thanks to the LSWO for its support of the music programs in the RISD. It is a credit to the RISD that the district maintains one of the best music programs in the state despite the budget cuts imposed on public school systems by Texas legislators.

P.S. 50 points to anyone who can name the band shown in the photo above.

Review: Naked

Amazon

From Naked, by David Sedaris:

I'm also used to pulling my pants above my navel and tightening my belt to diminish my gut. Jangling the keys in my pocket, thoughtlessly gnawing at the collars of my shirts: these things are lost to me now. It feels dangerous to drink a cup of hot coffee, and twice in the last hour I've hopped up to brush glowing cigarette ash off what I once considered to be my private parts."

That's David Sedaris describing life in a nudist camp. After the jump, my review.

Wadjda (2012)

IMDB

Wadjda (2012): Girl deals with repressive Saudi culture at home and school. She just wants a bicycle. Simple tale well told. Eye-opening. B-

S2L77: London - IV

Around town.

From 1977 05 10 England

A Kensington residential neighborhood

More photos after the jump.

Cutie and the Boxer (2013)

IMDB

Cutie and the Boxer (2013): Aging Japanese couple in NY, both artists. Their relationship, life and art. Art is a demon. Love is a roar. B-

"A Whole Bunch of Cranes"

Put it all together and you have a system easily dominated by insiders that is sometimes run for the benefit of the few, sometimes for no discernible benefit to anyone, but then there is this: Back away from it, fuzz your eyes a little, rake the skyline with your gaze, and what do you see? I see a whole bunch of cranes. I see stuff happening, some of it stupid but much of it pretty great. As long as the arrangement keeps clogging along and doesn't step too hard on the wrong toes, I don't think the vast majority of people will want to take on the sheer bother of changing it.

Source: Jim Schutze.

Writing in the Dallas Observer's blog Unfair Park, Jim Schutze is talking about the city council system in Dallas and how the city's single member districts influence how power is wielded in that city. Richardson has council members elected at large, but the general observation still holds: as long as "stuff" is happening, voters are unlikely to push too strongly for changing the system.

That set me to thinking (I know, always a dangerous practice). After the jump, unfinished business in Richardson.