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

POTD: Uzbek Fashion Show

From 2025 09 19 Bukhara

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in the courtyard of the Nadir Devanbegi Madrasah in the old city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan. A fashion show accompanied dinner.

---

"Ancient school at dusk.
Silk glides where scholars once walked.
Tonight, color speaks."
— h/t ChatGPT

POTD: Uzbek Women

From 2025 09 19 Bukhara

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at the Bahouddin Naqshband Memorial Complex outside Bukhara, Uzbekistan. According to Wikipedia, this complex "includes the tomb of Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari, the founder of the Naqshbandi order, who died in 1389... It has een a place of pilgrimage for many generations... During the time of the Soviets, it was forbidden to visit the grave here."

Out of respect, visitors to the site wear modest clothing. Still, that leaves a lot of flexibility in clothing style.

---

"A saint rests nearby,
while bright scarves catch morning light"
along the pathway."
— h/t ChatGPT

The Sheep Detectives (2026)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Sheep Detectives (2026): Comedy/mystery for families. Lots of recognizable faces and/or voices. Adults will like solving the mystery. Kids will like the delightful sheep. Teens just might find themselves laughing a few times. B+

Prime

Book Review: Blank Space

From Blank Space, by W. David Marx:

Amazon

"Where society once encouraged and provided an abundance of cultural invention, there is now a blank space. Over the past twenty-five years, culture has prospered as a vehicle for entertainment, politics, and profiteering—but at the expense of pure artistic innovation."

POTD: The Ghosts of the Silk Road in Old Viewfinders

From 2025 09 19 Bukhara

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken on the street in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, where a pile of old binoculars and cameras was spread carelessly on a table. I wondered about all the images that appeared through their lenses in the years and decades gone by. And whose eyes had framed those images.

---

"A faded minaret—
the tourist who framed the shot
has faded as well."
— h/t ChatGPT

POTD: Bolo Hauz Mosque

From 2025 09 19 Bukhara

Today's photo-of-the-day is of the Bolo Hauz Mosque in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. According to Asian Historical Architecture, the mosque "stands opposite the Ark Fortress... Its name means 'above the pool', referring to the octagonal hauz, or artificial pond, located directly in front of it Begun in 1712, early in the reign of Abu'l-Faiz Khan (r. 1711-47), it is one of the last and finest of Bukhara's major buildings prior to the modern era."

---

"Pool mirrors the sky.
Carved wooden columns shimmer.
Ark watches silently."
— h/t ChatGPT

The Beast in Me (TV 2026)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Beast in Me (TV 2026): Psychological thriller. Author with emotional scars gets a new neighbor, a billionaire who just might be a sociopathic murderer. Claire Danes is excellent trying to figure out what makes him tick. Matthew Rhys is excellent at keeping his secrets just out of reach. A-

Netflix

Council Recap: Public Money for Private Property

Source: City of Richardson.

The Richardson City Council met June 22, 2026. One of the topics reviewed was the "FY27 Matching Fund Beautification Project Requests". According to the city, citizens, businesses, civic groups, and HOAs may partner with COR to improve the landscape on public property. COR matches partner group funds 100%. COR maintains the landscape after project completion. Improvements often are made in parks, on medians, and at neighborhood entry points. So far, so good. So what was the City Manager asking City Council to provide direction on?

POTD: Kalyan Minaret

From 2025 09 19 Bukhara

Today's photo-of-the-day is of the Kalyan Minaret in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. The minaret was built in 1127. According to Wikipedia, "About a hundred years after its construction, legend has it that the tower so impressed Genghis Khan that he ordered it to be spared when all around was destroyed by his men." The Mongols likely spared it because its height made it an incredibly valuable watchtower. "It is also known as the Tower of Death, because until as recently as the early twentieth century criminals were executed by being thrown from the top."

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"Genghis spared the bricks.
Nine hundred years later on,
The story survives."
— h/t ChatGPT

POTD: A Living City on the Silk Road

From 2025 09 19 Bukhara

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in central Bukhara, Uzbekistan. The domed bazaars are centuries old, yet vendors still sell goods beneath them. Covered markets provide shade. Thick masonry walls provide insulation from the sun. Narrow openings minimize direct sunlight. They are well adapted to a hot, dry, environment.

---

"Ancient market domes,
Children crossing sunlit square.
Centuries see all.
— h/t ChatGPT

The Worst Places to Eat in Richardson Last Month

Graphic by City of Richardson.

The City of Richardson is rightly regarded as having some of the best and most diverse dining options in north Texas ("Eat & Drink"). But that doesn't mean every restaurant in Richardson exceeds in every measure. Here is a list of the worst places to eat in Richardson last month, based on the City of Richardson's Health Department Restaurant Scores from inspections last month. Not all Richardson restaurants are inspected each and every month. Only those inspected last month are ranked here. Only the lowest scores are shown.

Random Thoughts: Another Industry Wrecked by Trump

2026-06-01: Another industry wrecked by Trump.
Alt National Park Service: "The U.S. just had its worst year for international tourism since the pandemic and it wasn’t even close. While the rest of the world broke records in 2025, America was the only country out of 184 to see a drop in foreign visitor spending."
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