POTD: Sydney Harbor Bridge Up Close

"Great harbor's grand link,
Bridge climb etches memories,
Ants commune with heights."

—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 20 Sydney

This photo-of-the-day was taken in Sydney, Australia. The Sydney Harbor Bridge is not only a striking landmark visible from all angles of one of the world's great harbors, it also makes for a great climb. This photo shows people (or ants) enjoying a bridge climb.

After the jump, a more distant perspective of the bridge.

Lessons in Chemistry (TV 2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Lessons in Chemistry (TV 2023): A prematurely modern woman in the 1950s deals with sexism, grief, and her own ambition. Sets and clothing capture the period well. Scripts tend to have too modern a feel for the times. Brie Larson is fantastic. A-

Fast X (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Fast X (2023): First time viewer of this aging franchise. It helps if you know the backstories, but probably not much. Lots of violence. A few contrived car races because that's its m.o. What I didn't expect was how important "family" is to this franchise. Jason Mamoa as the campy villain saves the movie. C+

Poor Things (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Poor Things (2023): Emma Stone plays a 19th century woman who grows from naively childish to experienced and worldly. Surreal sets give this quirky black comedy a fantasy feel. The subject (to say nothing of the sexually explicit scenes) will provoke conversation, with many not "getting it" and many finding it distasteful. A-

Expend4bles (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Expend4bles (2023): Sylvester Stallone leads a scruffy bunch of ex-military on a special ops mission to keep an arms dealer from getting a nuclear weapon. A buddy movie with lots of wise-cracking and lots of violence from a lot of retreads. Maybe for aging Rambo fans who never grew up. C-

Random Thoughts: I Can't Wait for the 12 Team Playoff

2023-12-03: Five schools have a strong argument. Only four can make the playoffs. I can't wait for the 12 team format that we should've had two decades ago.

POTD: Farewell to Melbourne

"Melbourne left behind.
Waves carry echoes of time.
New beginnings bloom."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 17 Melbourne

This photo-of-the-day was taken at sea as we sailed away from Melbourne, Australia, in March, 2023. Today, on this last day of 2023, this photo is also called on to say farewell to the year, full of good memories and sad. Here's hoping for a Happy New Year to one and all!

POTD: Tiddly Oggies

"Authentic allure,
Bustling spirit, markets soar,
Queen Vic, evermore."

—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 03 17 Melbourne

This photo-of-the-day was taken in Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, Australia. "Queen Victoria Market is an authentic, bustling, inner-city market that has been the heart and soul of Melbourne for 140 years. Home to over 600 small businesses, it is a great place to discover fresh and specialty produce, hand-made and unique products, great coffee and food, souvenirs and clothing." It was an old, established market when I first visited it in 1974. It's still going strong today.

Oh, I leave it up to you to discover what a Tiddly Oggie is. I'll just say Queen Vic has them for sale.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

A Haunting in Venice (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

A Haunting in Venice (2023): A ghost story turns into a classic whodunnit set in an old house in Venice with a large cast of suspects. It's watchable enough but Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot has nothing new to offer. B-

Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1 (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1 (2023): Lots of well done chases involving cars, motorcycles, trains, and speed flying. Plot, otoh, is silly, a hunt for a physical key that controls a super AI that can rule the world. No character development. Forgettable acting. But that's not why you go to an MI movie. B+