POTD: Windsurf

Today's photo-of-the-day is of unidentified riders on the Windsurf ride on the Midway at the State Fair of Texas in Fair Park in Dallas. Despite appearances, the photo is upside right.

If you haven't caught the State Fair yet, you have only one more day to do so. It closes today.

All photos from the 2022 State Fair of Texas can be found on Google Photos.

POTD: Midway Rides

Today's photo-of-the-day is of the Midway at the State Fair of Texas in Fair Park in Dallas.

Angie Chen Button Equates Public Schools with Mao's China

During the recent Richardson ISD school board election, I wrote a lot of blog posts (a lot) about the incendiary and false charges being leveled by extreme right-wing candidates against public education. But I have to say, nothing they wrote compares to this outrageous claim in a mailer by Angie Chen Button.

Catherine, Called Birdy (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes

Catherine, Called Birdy (2022): Coming-of-age tale by Lena Dunham. In 1290 England, Catherine, a spirited, independent girl, sabotages the suitors her father tries to marry her off to. It might work for the 13-yr-old girl market, but neither the satire nor comedy work for me. C+

The Empress (TV 2022)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Empress (TV 2022): German. Costume drama of 16-yr-old Elisabeth's marriage to Habsburg Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria. Lots of court intrigue, international jostling for leadership, and revolution afoot. As good as "Victoria" or "The Crown" but in Vienna. B+

Prey (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes

Prey (2022): Prequel to six Predator films. Set on the Great Plains in 1719. Comanche girl wants to become a hunter and stalks a hostile alien. More a coming-of-age tale than a sci-fi monster movie. Amber Midthunder is fantastic as Naru. She's brave, smart, and persistent. A-

The Hamlet Syndrome on Richardson City Council

Source: The Hamlet Syndrome.

Between the May public hearing and the June codification into ordinance, one Council Member flip-flopped his vote from "yes" to "no", denying a special use permit for a smoking establishment in Richardson. Now, in October, the Richardson City Council voted 6-1 to approve a special use permit for a smoking establishment for the same restaurant, reversing that 4-3 vote in June. This time, three Council Members flip-flopped their votes from "no" to "yes." The codification of this latest vote into ordinance will follow, assuming the Council is now done flip-flopping. Armchair psychiatry is stupid, but here I go anyway. What's with this Hamlet Syndrome on Richardson City Council?

POTD: Caricature Artists

Today's photo-of-the-day is of a caricature artist at the State Fair of Texas in Fair Park in Dallas.

POTD: Youth Market Livestock Show

Today's photo-of-the-day is of a steer entered in the Youth Market Livestock Show at the State Fair of Texas in Fair Park in Dallas.

Bonus photo is after the jump.

Book Review: The Pursuit of Italy

From The Pursuit of Italy: A History of a Land, Its Regions, and Their Peoples, by David Gilmour:

Amazon

  I was astounded by the next words of Signor Rossi, who twenty years earlier had been minister of education. ‘You know, Davide,’ he said in a low conspiratorial voice, as if nervously uttering a heresy, ‘Garibaldi did Italy a great disservice. If he had not invaded Sicily and Naples, we in the north would have the richest and most civilized state in Europe.’ After looking round the room at the other guests, he added in an even lower voice, ‘Of course to the south we would have a neighbour like Egypt.’ "

Cramming 2,500 years of history and culture into a dense 400 pages, this book focuses on Italy's divisions. It's a wonder that Italy ever came together into a single modern state. That didn't happen until the 1860s. Maybe it hasn't happened yet. B+

After the jump, my full review.