Looking for Leadership in a Mayor

Source: Dubey for Richardson.

The mayor's race is heating up. The Dallas Morning News endorsed Janet DePuy. In its interview with her opponent, "[Bob] Dubey said Voelker’s 'micromanagement from the top down' has deterred some council members and residents from speaking at council meetings." Then, in a Facebook post, Dubey said, "I vow to show each city council person and city staff member respect and let their voices be heard." It all sounds good (if you ignore the disrespectful subtext Dubey himself shows towards Mayor Voelker), but what's really behind it?

POTD: Sacher Torte

From 2022 07 16 Vienna

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Hotel Sacher in Vienna, Austria. I'll let Wikipedia explain what makes this place special.

Hotel Sacher is a five-star luxury hotel in Vienna, Austria, facing the Vienna State Opera in the city's central Innere Stadt district. It is famous for the specialty of the house, the Sachertorte, a chocolate cake with apricot filling.

Source: Wikipedia.

Bonus photos after the jump.

The Money Race for City Council

Candidates file campaign finance reports 30 days before elections. For the City of Richardson, that means all candidates in contested races for City Council, including mayor, have filed reports. In a recent post, I looked at the money race for mayor. In this post, I'll focus on the other City Council races. We'll look at the Richardson ISD later.

Following the Money 30 Days Out

Candidates file campaign finance reports 30 days before elections. For the City of Richardson, that means candidates for City Council, including mayor, should have filed reports by now. In this post, I'll focus on the main draw on the card, the mayor's race between Bob Dubey and Janet DePuy. We'll look at the other races (and the Richardson ISD) later.

Living (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes

Living (2022): Bill Nighy, in an Oscar nominated role, plays a bureaucrat skilled at burying citizen petitions in red tape who gets a medical diagnosis that changes his life. A little story, quietly told. A heartwarming tear-jerker, in the best possible way. A Kurosawa remake. B+

POTD: Hofburg Palace

From 2022 07 16 Vienna

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, the former principal imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty.

Bonus photos after the jump.

POTD: Modern Vienna

From 2022 07 16 Vienna

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Vienna, Austria. It shows modern Vienna, maybe an unusual view of this major city of Europe better known for its rich history. Vienna was the site of a fortress built by the ancient Romans to guard the frontier against Germanic tribes. For five hundred years it was the seat of the Hapsburg emperors. That history has resulted in so many historic buildings and sites that the city center was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Morning Show - S01 (TV 2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Morning Show - S01 (TV 2019): The #MeToo movement as it plays out on a network morning program. Some scheme to get their job back, some to hang onto theirs, some to get a promotion. Stories converge to a suspenseful finale. Already seems dated. It doesn't add much, but it's fascinating to watch. A-

#VeryTardyReview

POTD: Göttweig Abbey

From 2022 07 15 Melk and Gottweig

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Göttweig Abbey on the Danube River in Austria. Founded in the 11th Century, the abbey was rebuilt in Baroque style after a catastrophic fire in 1719. The photo shows the imperial staircase, the largest Baroque staircase in Austria.

After the jump, there is a photo of the organ in Gottweig Abbey church.

POTD: Dürnstein Abbey and Castle

From 2022 07 15 Melk and Gottweig

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Dürnstein Abbey and Castle on the Danube River in Austria's Wachau region. There are many castles to see on this stretch of the Danube, but Dürnstein is a highlight of any tour. The castle ruins have a history almost anyone can relate to. I'll let Wikipedia tell the story of the castle.

Dürnstein was first mentioned in 1192 when, in the castle above the town, King Richard I of England [Richard the Lionheart] was held captive by Leopold V, Duke of Austria, after their dispute during the Third Crusade. Richard the Lionheart had offended Leopold the Virtuous by casting down his standard from the walls at the Battle of Acre, and the duke suspected that King Richard ordered the murder of his cousin Conrad of Montferrat in Jerusalem. In consequence Pope Celestine III excommunicated Leopold for capturing a fellow crusader. The duke finally gave custody of the king to Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor, who imprisoned Richard at Trifels Castle.

Dürnstein Castle was almost completely destroyed by the troops of the Swedish Empire under Field Marshal Lennart Torstenson in 1645.

Source: Wikipedia.

After the jump, a photo of the abbey, with the castle ruins above.