Project Hail Mary (2026)

Rotten Tomatoes

Project Hail Mary (2026): A sci-fi, save-the-world adventure. Also, a heartwarming, buddy comedy. A Ryan Gosling star vehicle. Maybe about 20 minutes too long, but overall, it's a fun watch with thought-provoking ideas about science and the nature of heroism. B+

In theatres

POTD: Hazrati Imam Complex

From 2025 09 15 Tashkent

Come with us as we walk through the doorway. This photo-of-the-day is from the Hazrati Imam complex in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It consists of a mosque, a couple of madrasas, and a mausoleum. The complex dates back to the 16th century. It houses the Caliph Usman Quran. Written on deerskin, it's one of the oldest Qurans in the world, maybe the oldest.

Bonus photo after the jump.

POTD: Traveling the Silk Road

From 2025 09 15 Tashkent

This first photo-of-the-day from a new destination is of the tourist information desk in the Tashkent, Uzbekistan, airport. Flying into Uzbekistan might sound like the end of a long trip, but it was nothing compared to the travels of Marco Polo in the 13th Century. He traveled the Silk Road of central Asia on his epic journey lasting 24 years. And to think he did it without once coming across a tourist information desk.

The Wheel's Voters Guide (May, 2026)

Early voting for the 2026 local elections in Texas begins April 20. Election Day is Saturday, May 2. Richardson voters will find their ballots to be long — 50 City Charter amendments and 5 City bonds. Richardson ISD voters will have a choice of trustees for at-large Richardson ISD Place 6, and for RISD voters in single-member District 3, another choice for trustee. Use Vote411.org to see your personalized ballot and nonpartisan information about each ballot item. Here exclusively, read on to learn how to vote.

TRON: Ares (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

TRON: Ares (2025): 1982's AI in a video game doesn't work in 2026. AI is so much different today. Here, the humanlike AI program escapes the digital world and is on the hunt in the real world. Plot is a mess. Characters are one-dimensional. I guess the CGI is good. C-

Disney+

Euan, Me & LSD

Euan, Me & ISD

Euan Blackman, candidate for Richardson ISD trustee, opposed the district's $750 million school bond election in 2021. Joining him in opposition was Lynn Strawn Davenport (LSD), herself a candidate for trustee in 2017. She lost. Despite their efforts, the district's voters passed the school bonds. In a 2022 article ("Forever InDEBTed"), LSD wrote, "My friend Euan Blackman and I have made the rounds speaking out against the big business of school bonds." In return, Blackman hosted LSD on his own podcast ("Euan, Me & ISD"), which went pretty much like you'd expect — a mutual admiration society meeting.

Monday Night Follies at City Hall

Néro the Assassin (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Néro the Assassin (TV 2025): French. An assassin is on the run across 16th century France with his daughter who does not trust him. Everyone wants him dead—his employer, the church, a fanatical religious group, and maybe a deadly witch. Lots of myth-building with no clear lines between good and evil. Lots of violence. B-

Netflix

In Remembrance of Sydney J. Harris

Resemblance to real persons is strictly coincidental.

"I am a man of firm principles; you tend to be stubborn; he is pigheaded."

The lesson behind such I/you/he constructs is that we tend to choose words that flatter our side and diminish the other side. They remind us that our own perspective is not neutral. The same behavior, depending on our point of view, can be called thrift, penny-pinching, or greed. Or confidence, arrogance, or bullying.

POTD: Vuelva Pronto

From 2025 06 03 Oaxaca

The tourist bus says, "Traveling through Mexico is taking you towards adventure." As we leave one adventure waypoint, we are invited to "Come Back Soon" ("Vuelva Pronto"). This photo will serve as our last photo-of-the-day in Mexico, at least on this visit. Next stop: Uzbekistan.

A bonus photo is after the jump.