WAIW: Saigon Central

Where Am I Wednesday!

Fifty points to the first person to identify where this photo was taken.

Answer is after the jump.

Bones of Crows (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes

Bones of Crows (2022): Canada. Life story of a Cree woman who was removed from her parents and raised in Canada's abusive residential school system. Elements of her life deserve a whole movie of their own. Some acting is stilted. Many images are beautiful. Overall, it's moving. B+

Council Recap: More Housing for UTD

At the September 11 City Council meeting, the Council approved a request (ZF 23-06) to rezone 36 acres on Waterview Parkway north of UT-Dallas from technical office use to a transit-oriented, mixed-use, planned development. The vote was 5-1 (Dan Barrios voted no; Jennifer Justice was absent.) What makes this case complicated is that the property is owned by two different entities — UTD and a private developer. What makes this case simple is that one of the applicants is UTD. Usually, UTD gets what UTD wants. This case was no exception. I have two reactions.

Morocco Earthquake Aftermath

Earthquake damage in Marrakesh medina

We are on location in Marrakesh, Morocco. Life here has recovered from the recent earthquake. Some serious building damage is visible in the medina, but most buildings show nothing more than the expected wear and tear on thousand year old buildings. We didn't go into the nearby Atlas Mountains where the earthquake was centered and damage was more widespread. Recovery there will take much longer. We were thanked several times by Moroccans for coming to Morocco despite the earthquake. Tourism is important to the local economy. We are having a great visit throughout the country. Don't hesitate to make Morocco your vacation destination.

Irma Vep (1996)

Rotten Tomatoes

Irma Vep (1996): French. Movie about moviemaking. Fading director remakes a silent movie classic, with the sexy cat burglar played by Chinese star Maggie Cheung (played by Maggie Cheung herself). Confused? Very meta. Very arty. Both homage and satire. C+

#VeryTardyReview

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society (2018): Part love story, part WWII historical drama, part mystery movie, all heart (even a Nazi). I can't think of a movie with a better constructed plot where all the pieces fit just right and go in place at just the right time. A-

#VeryTardyReview

Hypnotic (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Hypnotic (2023): Police detective's daughter is kidnapped. The search to find her uncovers a web of people with power of instant mind control. Silly premise but the movie invests itself wholly in it as the web expands to ever wider reach. C-

POTD: The City of Light at Christmas

From 2022 12 25 Paris

"Louis's power play,
In Place Vendôme's grand display,
Paris's heart today."

—h/t ChatGPT

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Place Vendôme in Paris. Place Vendôme was built by Louis XIV as a grand setting to embody absolute power in the heart of Paris. The Vendôme Column was erected by Napoleon I to commemorate the Battle of Austerlitz.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

POTD: Paris at Christmas

From 2022 12 25 Paris

"Champs-Élysées' charm,
Arc de Triomphe in the night,
Christmas memories."

—h/t ChatGPT

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Paris, France. Christmas in Paris: dream vacation or cliché? Regardless, our whole family gathered last year for Christmas at the home of surplus vowels and accent marks for five days of seeing as many sights as we could fit in.

Bonus photos are after the jump.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023): Miles and Gwen join an elite team of Spider-Persons in the multiverse to fight Spot, the villain of the week. A coming-of-age tale in which adults really can't understand or help. Great animation and energy. B+