POTD: Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery

From 2018 08 17 Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery on the Baltic-Volga waterway in Russia. It was founded in 1397 and was once the largest monastery and the strongest fortress in northern Russia before the growth of Moscow caused history to pass it by. The walls are 732 meters long and 7 meters thick. Like many other churches, the Bolsheviks secularized the monastery and turned it into a museum. Monks were allowed to return after the fall of the Soviet Union. Restoration of the whole site is slowly underway.

Good Omens (TV 2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

Good Omens (TV 2019): Angel and demon, on Earth since the Garden of Eden, team up to prevent Armageddon. Zany, irreverent, fast-paced, stuffed with special effects. The two leads are fun to watch but other scenes in this one-note satire can get tedious. Daring choice for VBS? C+

POTD: Goritsy Market

From 2018 08 17 Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Goritsy, Russia, a small town on the Baltic-Volga waterway. The photo shows the product offerings of a small market on the banks of the waterway.

After the jump, fresh vegetables.

Dead To Me (TV 2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

Dead To Me (TV 2019): Woman whose husband is killed in a hit and run accident makes a friend in a grief counseling group. Gradually through the season both women's secrets are revealed. A murder mystery. An odd couple buddy movie. Bits of dark humor. Nailed the ending. B+

POTD: Russian Nesting Dolls

From 2018 08 17 Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Kirillov, Russia, a small town on the Baltic-Volga waterway. It features a variety of nesting dolls, a ubiquitous souvenir in Russia. This photo features heroes of Russian history, everyone from Peter the Great to Lenin to Stalin to Putin to...Donald Trump. Barack Obama has been relegated to the back row.

After the jump, more nesting dolls.

The Cards We've Been Dealt

The old Richardson Square Mall property is getting a Chipotle and a Jason's Deli. I like these chains. I drive to west Richardson frequently to eat at the restaurants there. So why am I not thrilled with the news for east Richardson? I am not thrilled because the approval process shows how Richardson is reactive, not proactive. Tactical, not strategic. Dealing with matters as they arise, not anticipating future needs, leaving us with suboptimal solutions. There are better developments for Richardson Square that could still include a Chipotle and Jason's Deli, but we aren't even considering them. Instead, we're jumping on this because the brands are popular.

Ma (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

Ma (2019): Psychological thriller with Octavia Spencer as the psychopath. Builds slowly to a climax that borders on torture porn. Spencer's performance should make a big impression on a younger generation of movie-goers, who might learn to be nicer to their classmates. C+

Rocketman (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

Rocketman (2019): Less a concert movie than a study in the personal demons that drove Elton John to rehab. A couple of big Broadway song and dance numbers add to the patchwork quality. Would have preferred more concert footage. A good behind-the-scenes look at a genius. B+

POTD: School in Kirillov

From 2018 08 17 Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery

Today's photo-of-the-day is from a school in Kirillov, Russia, a small town on the Baltic-Volga waterway and home to the medieval Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. First the school. The schoolgirl in the photo did a local cultural dance for visitors, then answered questions. Her English was excellent.

In a display on the side of the room was a patriotic flag and army helmet with holes in it, a constant reminder of the huge sacrifices the Russian people made to defeat Nazism in WWII.

After the jump, the helmet.

An Assignment for Steve Brown

Steve Brown is the real estate editor for The Dallas Morning News. I use the term editor instead of reporter because (1) that's what the newspaper uses in his byline and (2) his work often reads more like he edited a developer's press release than he did any original reporting. But once in a while, he breaks some news, even if you have to read carefully to find it. Such was the case with his recent article on the redevelopment of old downtown Richardson.