Sunday, October 20, 2024

POTD: Serrano Glacier. Salud!

"Blue ice, ages old,
chilled hands hold a frozen past,
soon to cool our drinks."


— h/t ChatGPT
From 2024 03 11 Chile Patagonia

Today's photo-of-the-day is from our first South American glacier, Serrano Glacier in southern Patagonia in Chile. Ellen is holding a piece of ice that calved from the glacier. Soon it will be cooling our drinks.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

Saturday, October 19, 2024

POTD: Puerto Natales, Chile

"Southward, dreams unfold,
Patagonia's heart revealed,
One step closer now."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 03 11 Chile Patagonia

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Puerto Natales, Chile. It was our first overnight stay way down south in Patagonia. The Andes Mountains stand tall, beckoning us to come closer. That awaits for another day.

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker

Adobe Photoshop

Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker.
Resident, Employer, Landowner, Developer.
Renter, ..., wait, where are the Renters?

The City of Richardson has published a draft of its long-overdue Comprehensive Plan update, the first since 2009. I noticed words like residents, citizens, stakeholders, etc., used in different contexts. Are the distinctions significant? Dunno. The Plan doesn't say. And the closest it comes to a definition for any of the terms is this: "stakeholder—residents, employers and business owners, landowners, brokers and developers, partner agencies and organizations, nonprofits, and public officials." That's pretty comprehensive. It doesn't explicitly include renters, but because renters are residents, I'd argue that it implicitly includes them. But does the City think that? Really?

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Feud: Capote vs. The Swans (TV 2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes

Feud: Capote vs. The Swans (TV 2024): The backstory behind Truman Capote's unfinished novel about New York's elite society women. No one comes out looking good, Capote worst of all. He's a drunk, manipulative whiner. The Swans are entitled and self-absorbed. The series is more exhausting than revealing. C+

Hulu

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Grading Richardson's Comprehensive Plan

The City of Richardson has published a draft of its long-overdue Comprehensive Plan update, the first since 2009. The initial grade I'd award? Incomplete. I was interested in, for example, what the recommendations would be for increasing the so-called missing middle housing in Richardson, that is, housing types like duplexes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), bungalow courts, and townhomes. I found some mushy aspirations, but nothing that commits the City to any changes.

Monday, October 14, 2024

Point North...Park?

The City of Richardson has published a draft of its long-overdue Comprehensive Plan update, the first since 2009. My eyes went immediately to how Point North Park is represented in our new plan. Point North Park is in far northwest Richardson, wedged between Canyon Creek and UT-Dallas.

Sunday, October 13, 2024

POTD: San Cristóbal Hill

"From the hill’s great height,
her hands open, blessing all,
A promise of peace."


— h/t ChatGPT
From 2024 03 08 Santiago

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the top of San Cristóbal Hill in Santiago, Chile. "On April 26, 1908, the sanctuary of the Immaculate Conception was inaugurated, with its large statue [of the Virgin Mary]. This statue, visible from much of the city, is considered a symbol of Santiago."

A bonus photo is after the jump.

Saturday, October 12, 2024

POTD: Catalina Andrea Opazo Martinez

"In Santiago,
Catalina may be gone,
but her spirit lasts."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 03 08 Santiago

Today's photo-of-the-day is from central Santiago, Chile. It shows a shrine placed at the site where 17-year-old Catalina Opazo was killed when the car she was traveling in was crushed by two buses. The tragedy occurred on November 12, 2016. Seven years later, the family still maintains the shrine. Thousands of people walk past it every day. Hopefully, more than a few pay their silent respect to this stranger and pledge to drive more safely.

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Kaos (TV 2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes

Kaos (TV 2024): Retelling of Greek mythology set in the modern day. Like the Greek myths, there are too many gods, too many stories. Only Euridice (Aurora Perrineau) stands out. Focus on Zeus's fear of a prophecy foretelling the downfall of his reign on Olympus and in the end it will all come together. B-

Netflix

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Bodkin (TV 2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes

Bodkin (TV 2024): Three podcasters go to a small town in Ireland to investigate a 20-year-old cold case, only to find the case isn't cold at all. Everyone in town seems involved in an ongoing coverup. Too many characters. Too many subplots. Too many crimes. None I ended up caring about. C+

Netflix