Thursday, June 20, 2019

POTD: Rybinsk Lock

From 2018 08 18 Yaroslavl

Today's photo-of-the-day is of the Rybinsk Lock on the Volga River in Russia. The Rybinsk Reservoir was once the largest reservoir in the world. It's part of the extensive Baltic-Volga Waterway.

Abstract canal art after the jump.

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

POTD: Mother Volga

From 2018 08 18 Yaroslavl

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Volga River in Russia. The Volga is the longest river in Europe (2,292 miles). It's the source of life for Russia. It flows into the Caspian Sea, but with dams and canals, it's also connected to the Baltic Sea at St. Petersburg. At the locks that form the entrance to the Rybinsk Reservoir stands a 236 feet tall statue of Mother Volga. This photo-of-the-day has symbolic significance today, as today is the day I bury my own mother, who at 98 years old was every bit the life blood of her large family as Mother Volga is to Russia.

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Always Be My Maybe (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes
Always Be My Maybe (2019): Rom-com with more rom than com. Childhood sweethearts grow up only to meet again in adulthood with predictable results. Keanu Reeves steals the movie with a zany scene as the rival love interest. Do I still need to say it has an Asian-American cast? C+





Monday, June 17, 2019

POTD: Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery


From 2018 08 17 Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery on the Baltic-Volga waterway in Russia. It was founded in 1397 and was once the largest monastery and the strongest fortress in northern Russia before the growth of Moscow caused history to pass it by. The walls are 732 meters long and 7 meters thick. Like many other churches, the Bolsheviks secularized the monastery and turned it into a museum. Monks were allowed to return after the fall of the Soviet Union. Restoration of the whole site is slowly underway.

Friday, June 14, 2019

Good Omens (TV 2019)

Rotten Tomatoes
Good Omens (TV 2019): Angel and demon, on Earth since the Garden of Eden, team up to prevent Armageddon. Zany, irreverent, fast-paced, stuffed with special effects. The two leads are fun to watch but other scenes in this one-note satire can get tedious. Daring choice for VBS? C+