Tanna (2015)

IMDB

Tanna (2015): Tribal conflict on South Pacific island. Arranged marriage vs forbidden love. Universal tale based on true story. Lovely. A-

Regionalism and Sprawl

I am constantly adding to my collection of dirty words. These are the motherhood and apple pie virtues that I used to think were non-controversial. Virtues like tolerance and compromise and civility all have come under attack from conservatives. What I thought made American democracy great is being dismantled virtuous brick by virtuous brick. Liberals can play this game, too. Self-described "libtard" Jim Schutze of the Dallas Observer adds "regionalism" to the list of dirty words. Schutze equates regionalism with sprawl. Sprawl is bad, so regionalism must be too.

the leadership of [Dallas] is so evenly divided between the old-school champions of sprawl, which they call regionalism, and the new-school champions of cityhood.
...
During the old establishment's 20-year war for [the Trinity Tollroad], the main justification for it was that it would promote regionalism. By offering regionalism as a selling point, the old guard betrayed its utter unawareness that people on the other side of the paradigm think regionalism is the problem. And there you have it.

Source: Jim Schutze.

POTD: Playa del Carmen Beach

From 2017 01 29 Caribbean Cruise

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the beach at Playa del Carmen, Mexico, on the Yucatan peninsula. This seems a fitting photo for the first day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. As the days grow shorter and colder, it's good to remember that in the Tropics, it's always summer.

Bonus photos after the jump.

mother! (2017)

IMDB

mother! (2017): Stimulating blend of religious myths. Most intense episode of Fixer-Upper ever. Writer's block is a bitch for the muse. A-

Toni Erdmann (2016)

IMDB

Toni Erdmann (2016): German. Eccentric father inserts himself into daughter's business. Quirky at times. Original symbolism. Let's talk. B+

POTD: Cenote Multun-Ha

From 2017 01 29 Caribbean Cruise

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Multun-Ha cenote on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Multun-Ha cenote is a cave with water. Think of a sinkhole where the roof has not collapsed. There's no sunlight. There's no outside sound. The water is clear and cool. It's a refreshing escape from the Yucatan's hot sun above.

Bonus photos after the jump.

All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins

All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins (2016) is one of Yayoi Kusama's signature Infinity Mirror Rooms. It was recently acquired by the Dallas Museum of Art. Believe it or not, it's a thing. The DMA will charge non-members $16 for a special exhibition ticket, which permits the holder to 45 seconds in the infinity mirror room. That's right — 45 seconds. It's easy to make fun of this new artwork because of that, but taken all by itself, without the ridiculous price, it is kind of a cool thing to experience. It certainly would be if you just stumbled on it without any advance hype. Heck, the title alone is interesting. Anyway, I liked it. #KusamaPumpkins

BHS HOCO "GLOCO" FTW

Translation: Berkner's Homecoming (theme: "Glowcoming") For-the-Win.

The Berkner Rams won their Homecoming game against the Garland Owls 35-16 Friday night. Excitement came on the last play of the first half as the Rams stopped the Owls on a fourth-and-goal from the one yard line to preserve a 21-0 halftime lead. After stretching the lead to 28-0 in the third quarter, the Rams held on to win 35-16.

More photos from the game are after the jump.

The Magnificent Seven (2016)

IMDB

The Magnificent Seven (2016): Seven Samurai > 1960 version >> Three Amigos > 2017 version. And McQueen>>Pratt. No reason for this remake. C+

I Am Not Your Negro (2016)

IMDB

I Am Not Your Negro (2016): James Baldwin tells story of America through the lives of Medgar, Malcolm and Martin. Unresolved still today. A-