Random Thoughts: Westerners Who Set Foot in Russia

2024-08-01: "Any Westerners who set foot in Russia should always understand that they could be the next bargaining chips for some future deal." - The Atlantic
Why we won't be booking any tour of Russia any time soon.
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/...

2024-08-02: On even days, Trumpers are scaring up votes by warning, "She's BLACK!!!" On odd days, they claim, "She's really not Black at all." I remember when campaigns would strive for consisent messaging.

2024-08-02: Headline: "Kamala Harris ‘honored’ after earning enough votes to become Democratic nominee."
Kudos to her...for saying 'honored' instead of 'humbled.'

POTD: Hector Pieterson

"Sister’s tear-streaked face,
Brother carried through the smoke,
Youth's voice silenced here."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 10 23 South Africa - Part 2

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Soweto, a township of the City of Johannesburg, South Africa. Soweto "experienced civil unrest during the Apartheid regime. There were serious riots in 1976, sparked by a ruling that Afrikaans be used in African schools there; the riots were violently suppressed, with 176 striking students killed and more than 1,000 injured."

When we toured the Apartheid Museum in Soweto, we met Antoinette Peterson, a guide working at the museum. Her story is after the jump.

POTD: Soweto

"In Soweto's streets,
Memories of pain remain,
But joy still finds light."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 10 23 South Africa - Part 2

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Soweto, a township of the City of Johannesburg, South Africa. "Soweto was created in the 1930s when the White government started separating Blacks from Whites, creating black 'townships.' " The legacy of those tragic times of apartheid is still visible today. The photo above shows maybe the worst of the living conditions in Soweto. There are other neighborhoods that are better off. Nelson Mandela was from Soweto. A bonus photo, showing his small but comfortable house, is after the jump.

Council Recap: Ethics, Transparency, and Trust

The Richardson City Council reviewed its Ethics ordinance on August 26, 2024, as required by law every two years. Two years ago, the City Council found nothing to amend. This year, City staff recommends six amendments. Three of the suggestions are simple clarifications to head off potential misinterpretations. Two of the changes relax the ordinance in favor of officers. And one toughens penalties, from $200 to $500 for an officer failing to obey a subpoena. I have no objection to any of these changes, and in the interest of reducing the length of this post, I won't even summarize them. Watch the video yourselves. ;-)

Instead, I want to talk about a related subject that City Manager Don Magner rolled into this agenda item, and that's for either the Ethics ordinance or the Council Rules of Order and Procedure to add guidelines for Councilmembers meeting with property owners, developers, and other stakeholders that have action scheduled for consideration by the Council, or merely to discuss topics that may come before the Council in the future.

Book Review: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead

From Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, by Olga Tokarczuk (Author), Antonia Lloyd-Jones (Translator):

Amazon

"The door into the kitchen was ajar, and at once I saw Big Foot’s body lying on the floor. Almost as soon as my gaze landed on him, it leaped away. It was a while before I could look over there again. It was a dreadful sight."

Grade: A-