Wednesday, July 19, 2023

WAIW: Neighborhood Mural

WAIW

Where Am I Wednesday?

Fifty points to the first person to identify where this photo was taken. This fence is a great improvement over the usual, boring, weathered fences seen all over Richardson. To this homeowner, I say "Well done."

Answer will be given on Thursday.

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Platonic (TV 2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes

Platonic (TV 2023): Two old friends, one newly divorced and the other in a stale marriage, reconnect, platonically. A broad, slapstick comedy of middle-aged people getting drunk and doing stupid things that get them in trouble. Not my kind of humor. For Seth Rogen fans. C-

Monday, July 17, 2023

ACFR: Christmas in July

Source: DALL-E

For city finance wonks, Christmas comes twice a year: once in August when the city budget is set and again in February when the city financial audit is published. The budget specifies the city's cash flow (its planned revenues and expenses). The financial audit details the city's assets (the value of city property, bank accounts, etc.) and its liabilities (outstanding debt, pension obligations, etc.).

For some reason, Christmas is coming late this year. The Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for fiscal 2022 is being published in July, not February as before. I'm sure there's a good explanation, but I don't know what it is. Fire??? The public will see it when it's presented at the July 17 City Council meeting.

Sunday, July 16, 2023

POTD: Alleyways of Chania

From 2022 11 01 Chania

This photo-of-the-day is from Chania, Crete, Greece. It shows a random door in a random alleyway. The old city is a delight to wander.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

Saturday, July 15, 2023

POTD: Relaxing in Chania

From 2022 11 01 Chania

This photo-of-the-day is from the Greek port of Chania in Crete. Chania is sometimes called a Venetian port, not because of any canals or anything, but because the walls date back to the Venetians, who bought Crete for 100 silver marks in 1252. The site itself has been occupied since Neolithic times, too far back to document (7000 BCE). Now you can count us among the many, many people who have come through Chania, Crete, in its unimaginably long history. I doubt any had a more relaxing time than we did sitting on a bench in the old harbor.

Friday, July 14, 2023

65 (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes

65 (2023): Survival tale in a jungle with dinosaurs. Astronaut and child crash land on Earth 65m yrs ago. Gee, what happens next? Unimaginative and predictable. Only astronaut speaks English, so all action, not dialog. A Quiet Place did that better. A waste of Adam Driver. C-

Thursday, July 13, 2023

Transatlantic (TV 2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes

Transatlantic (TV 2023): True WWII story. A non-profit in southern France in 1940 works to get Jews to America. Opponents everywhere: Gestapo, Vichy France police, and even the American consul. Low budget (it shows). Too many characters. And, I'm afraid to say, too few Nazis. B-

#NoCasablanca

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Council Recap: Food Truck, Police Radios, Massage

Source: h/t DALL-E

The Richardson City Council held a five hour marathon session Monday night. The first 90 minutes of it were taken up by a topic not even on the agenda: a possible NRA move to Richardson. I've covered that in "Richardson, Guns, and the NRA". Here I want to focus on the intended agenda, presentations, and Councilmembers' questions, comments, and policy suggestions. Oh, and one important fact check at the end.

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Richardson, Guns, and the NRA

The Richardson City Council held a 5 hour marathon session Monday night. The first 90 minutes of it were taken up by a topic not even on the agenda: a possible NRA move to Richardson. That story was exaggerated in one direction before the meeting (that the NRA is coming to Richardson) and then exaggerated in the other direction afterwards (that the NRA is not coming to Richardson). In fact, according to the NRA itself, "Texas remains a preferred choice for a future HQ. That said, the NRA Board of Directors has not made any decision." For its part, State Farm issued a statement saying that they "are not actively marketing space for sublease at City Line." So, is the NRA coming to Richardson? Probably not, but nothing said by anyone rules out the possibility that it could still happen.

Sharper (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes

Sharper (2023): A caper movie where every time a new character is introduced, the caper changes, with a new villain and a new mark. By the end, it's anyone's guess who is going to come out on top. Plot gets more and more implausible, but it's a fun ride anyway. B-