POTD: Mausoleum of Tamerlane

From 2025 09 22 Samarkand

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at the mausoleum of Tamerlane in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. According to Wikipedia, "Timur (c. 1320s—1405), also known as Tamerlane, was a Turco-Mongol conqueror, first ruler of the Timurid dynasty, and the founder of the Timurid Empire, which ruled over modern-day Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia. He was undefeated in battle and is widely regarded as one of the greatest military leaders and tacticians in history, as well as one of the most brutal and deadly. Timur is also considered a great patron of the arts."

Surprisinly, this photo is not of his mausoleum. It's only the gate that leads to his mausoleum, which becomes visible after you walk through the gate. The photo of his actual mausoleum is after the jump.

POTD: Waiting for the Caravan

From 2025 09 22 Samarkand

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at Registan Square in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It shows a wooden bench outside one of the madrasahs, where "L" sits at peace in a city older than time.

Bonus photos are after the jump.

The Christophers (2026)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Christophers (2026): Ian McKellen as an aging artist whose kids hire a forger (Michaela Coel) to secretly finish some unfinished canvases so they can sell them after his death as authentic. Artist and forger size each other up like cats deciding whether to fight. Superb character study of both. B+

On airplane

Are Good Things Finally in Store for Interurban?

Source: Interurban-Richardson.netlify.app.

A developer has a website featuring fancy renderings (above) of what Richardson's Interurban District could look like if all the pieces fall into place. It sounds wonderful: "A walkable district of rooftops, patios, murals, and local shops is being explored on the rail line Richardson was born on. Before anything is decided, we want to hear from the people who live here. Tell us what you would want in it." The website contains a survey that may be little more than a marketing exercise, but it's worth participating anyway.

I know what it feels like to be Charlie Brown running up to a football teed up by Lucy, only to have her pull it away at the last second. But this time, I'm more hopeful than I've ever been that good things could happen here.

Star City (TV 2026)

Rotten Tomatoes

Star City (TV 2026): Spin-off of "For All Mankind", this time from the Soviet perspective. The writing smoothly integrates sci-fi, Cold War, and alternative history. Some plot elements are too implausible to suspend disbelief. Russians are sure to hate it. So that's good, right? B+

AppleTV+

Roses and Thorns for Filling Vacancies on City Council

Source: City of Richardson and ChatGPT.

The Richardson City Council is in the process of filling a vacancy created by the resignation of Councilmember Dan Barrios. Project teams sometimes use a simple exercise called "Roses and Thorns" to reflect on a completed project and identify lessons learned. Things that went well and that we can be proud of are "roses." Things that didn't go well are "thorns." Barrios's seat isn't filled yet (and won't be filled until late September), but we can see how the process is likely to play out, so it's not too soon to hand out some roses and thorns.

POTD: Fashion Sense in Samarkand

From 2025 09 22 Samarkand

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at Registan Square in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It shows two women very fashionably dressed and posing for a photographer. For what reason, we didn't learn. We just snapped our own photos.

Bonus photos are after the jump.

POTD: Registan Square, Samarkand

From 2025 09 22 Samarkand

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at Registan Square in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. According to Wikipedia, it's "a historic public square [that] served as the heart of the Timurid Empire and later as the city's commercial, educational, and ceremonial center. The square is famed for its ensemble of three madrasas which together represent some of the finest achievements of Islamic architecture in Central Asia. Renowned for its soaring iwans, turquoise domes, intricate mosaic tilework, and geometric ornamentation, Registan is considered one of the greatest examples of Timurid and Persian-influenced architecture."

We visited the square twice, once during the day and again at night when it's the subject of a sound-and-light show.

Bonus photos are after the jump.

Council Recap: Dorian Wants A Second Bite at the Apple

Source: City of Richardson and ChatGPT.

The Richardson City Council met July 20, 2026. One of the topics was "Review and Discuss the City Council appointment process and consider approval of the application." The council had already voted 6-1 on June 8 to adopt the vacancy-filling process as part of its Rules of Order and Procedure. (The lone "no" vote was by Dan Barrios who objected to the process of awarding a Key to the City, not to the appointment process of filling vacancies on council.) Given that support, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this agenda item would be over quickly. You'd be wrong, for two reasons. First, the council had agreed on the twelve-step process, but not on the calendar. Second, Curtis Dorian. In effect, Dorian asked the council to revisit the process it had already debated and adopted just six weeks earlier.

Michael (2026)

Rotten Tomatoes

Michael (2026): Hagiography of the early life of Michael Jackson, before the ick years. Jaafar Jackson recreates the moves. Domingo Colman dominates every scene he's in. But the overall feeling is of the family still exploiting Michael, not honoring him. C+

On plane