Point and Shoot (2014)

IMDB

Point and Shoot (2014): Thrill-seeker films motorcycle ride across North Africa. Returns to fight Gaddafi. Like watching a car wreck. B-

Debt is Good

The Richardson City Council voted to hold an election in November to issue new bonds totaling $115 million. The four propositions residents will vote on:

• Public Buildings - $67,000,000
• Streets - $38,570,000
• Parks - $7,230,000
• Sidewalks - $2,200,000

I haven't studied the details, but the numbers seem to be in the right ballpark for my support. Should the total be a little more...or less? Perhaps. The total seems to be of a size that doesn't require a tax increase. That's important to many. Should buildings get less money and streets get more? Perhaps, if the money for streets goes not to building more streets but goes instead to filling potholes and reconfiguring existing streets to improve walkability. That's important to me. I'll have my ears open for discussions along these lines, but I expect that I'll support all four bond propositions regardless whether the numbers are exactly what I would have come up with myself.

There are some people who don't just want to fiddle with the numbers. They want to cut the numbers to zero. For them, debt is evil, or at least bad. This attitude provides us with another opportunity to challenge conventional wisdom. Public debt isn't evil. It's not even bad. In fact, debt is good.

POTD: Ben Thành Market

From 2015 03 21 Saigon

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Ben Thành Market, Saigon. It's a large, old marketplace popular with tourists and locals alike. Souvenirs, handicrafts, clothing, food (cooked and uncooked), all are available in this thriving market. The photo was taken in the street just outside the market building itself. Good times.

POTD: Opéra de Saigon

From 2015 03 21 Saigon

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Saigon. Sure, you're in southeast Asia. Sure, you're where a national tragedy for America played out, where so many lost their lives in a bitter war. But before that, Saigon was at heart a French city, perhaps nowhere more reminiscent of that than the Saigon Opera House, built in 1897 by a French architect in the style of Opéra Garnier in Paris. Today, here is a beautiful Vietnamese bride having her wedding photo taken in front of the theatre. Jarring images and thoughts.

Gone Girl (2014)

IMDB

Gone Girl (2014): Troubled marriage. Dickish husband. Signs of violence. Missing wife. But where's the body? Top-notch mystery/thriller. B+