Random Thoughts: Pre-election Musing

2024-11-02: The Lincoln Project asks, "Other than Trump, which Republicans do you REALLY want to lose this November?"
That question drew 3.5K comments.

2024-11-04: This is Texas District 112, represented by Angie Chen Button. To keep her Dallas County district packed with as many reliable GOP voters as the GOP legislature in Austin can find, Angie Chen Button is backed up against the wall (Collin County to the north, Rockwall and Kaufman Counties to the east). She is cornered. This is what they mean by politicians choosing their voters instead of voters choosing their representatives.

2024-11-04: The biggest problem with the US Constitution is due to the Founding Fathers not respecting democratic elections.

2024-11-04: "Moldova's pro-European Union incumbent President Maia Sandu won a tense presidential runoff election Sunday, beating a rival backed by a pro-Russian party in what she called as a 'lesson in democracy.'
'Today, dear Moldovans, you have given a lesson in democracy, worthy of being written in history books.... Freedom, truth, and justice have prevailed," Sandu declared.'"
Let's hope Americans can say the same thing on November 5.
cbsnews.com/news/moldova-elect...

POTD: Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

"Ancient market hums.
Treasures in a thousand nooks.
Ottoman splendor."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 06 Istanbul

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. It is "one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops." It dates back to the 15th century.

Bonus photos after the jump.

POTD: Kids are Kids all over the World

"Imperial halls,
Once power's solemn domain,
Now host kids at play."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 05 06 Istanbul

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. From the 1460s to 1856, it served as the main residence of the Turkish sultans. Today it's a museum, with the imperial treasury of jewels and the rooms of the imperial harem being the most popular tourist draws. But the photos here are of young people having fun. Kids are kids the world over.

Bonus photos are after the jump.

Replanting Richardson, Again

"A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in."
— Proverb.

I always thought this proverb said something about old men knowing they won't live long enough for a newly planted tree to mature. Now I have to think of the possibility it's about men who rip up trees and replant over and over, never giving the trees a chance to grow old.

Gladiator II (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Gladiator II (2024): Ignore history and forget that you've seen this movie before. If you go just for an epic account about reclaiming liberty, filled with action and gore and some silliness (e.g., sharks in the Colosseum), you won't be disappointed. B+

In theaters