Tuesday, August 29, 2023

TIL: Taylor Swift is Underpaid

Source: New York Times

Are you in the camp of people who think celebrities (singers, actors, athletes) are overpaid? If so, I understand where you are coming from. But Paul Krugman, economics columnist for the New York Times, isn't so sure. He provides some facts that caused me to change my mind. Try changing your mind now and then. I highly recommend the feeling it gives you. Now Paul Krugman has me asking, is Taylor Swift perhaps underpaid?

Monday, August 28, 2023

Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes

Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022): Scholar of storytelling (Tilda Swinton) visits Istanbul where she frees a genie (Idris Elba) who tells her 3,000 years of his life story. A romance, kinda, that never really ignites. Mostly oral storytelling illustrated with good CGI. B-

#VeryTardyReview

Sunday, August 27, 2023

POTD: The Corinth Canal

From 2022 11 03 Athens

"Ancient dream fulfilled,
Grandiose feat is complete.
Corinth's isthmus split."

—h/t ChatGPT

This photo-of-the-day was taken at Greece's Corinth Canal. A canal there was attempted as early as the 7th century BCE but wasn't successfully built until 1893. "The canal was dug through the Isthmus at sea level and has no locks. It is 6.4 kilometres (4 miles) in length and only 24.6 metres (80.7 feet) wide at sea level, making it impassable for many modern ships. It is currently of little economic importance and is mainly a tourist attraction." Hence, our visit.

Saturday, August 26, 2023

POTD: The Neighborhood of the Gods

From 2022 11 03 Athens

"By the gods' side, dine.
Baklava's gold layers shine.
Plaka's blessings found."


—h/t ChatGPT

This photo-of-the-day, showing "L" walking away from the camera, was taken in Plaka, "the old historical neighborhood of Athens, clustered around the...slopes of the Acropolis, and incorporating labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture. Plaka is built on top of the residential areas of the ancient town of Athens. It is known as the 'Neighborhood of the Gods' due to its proximity to the Acropolis and its many archaeological sites."

Bonus photos of our dinner in Plaka at a sidewalk cafe beneath the Parthenon are after the jump.

Friday, August 25, 2023

Painkiller (TV 2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes

Painkiller (TV 2023): Dramatization of the opioid crisis, with OxyContin as the examplar of how overprescribing a legal drug to boost sales revenue is ravaging America. It's a drama. Characters are one dimensional. Richard Sackler, shown as the greedy, uncaring, CEO of Purdue Pharma, is real. So is the harm. Subtle, it's not. B-