The White Tiger (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes

The White Tiger (2021): A lower-caste Indian grows up wanting to rise above his servant caste. He talks his way into being a driver for a rich man. But a betrayal convinces him that being a loyal servant won't protect him. Hero or anti-hero? A good insight into modern India. B+

Owens Farm Redevelopment

It's been seven years since Owens Farm closed. That was plenty of time for the city and neighbors to solve the problem of what would replace it. Why we always wait until a property sells before paying attention to it is frustrating. I blogged about it in 2013. I don't think that post ages all that well (meaning I didn't set my hair on fire sounding the alarm). I guessed that developers would try to build an office building or an apartment building. I didn't guess it would be warehouses. Don't we have a whole warehouse district just to the southwest that we're trying to figure out how to redevelop? Why doesn't the left hand know what the right hand is doing?

Motherless Brooklyn (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

Motherless Brooklyn (2019): 1950s Brooklyn film noir. Detective gets whacked. His partner digs into why and turns up corruption at highest level of city govt. A study in power, urban development, and race relations. Fictionalization of Robert Moses, the master builder of NYC. B-

#VeryTardyReview

POTD: Aswan High Dam

From 2019 11 19 Aswan

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Aswan, Egypt. It shows Lake Nasser, one of the world's largest man-made lakes. It was created by the Aswan High Dam, the world's largest embankment dam built across the Nile River at Aswan Egypt. I remember when it was built in the 1960s. In my mind's eye, I saw another Hoover Dam. But it's less impressive. Instead of being built across a deep canyon, the Aswan dam is built across a broad valley. Nevertheless, it was a major engineering feat, even if it's not as photogenic as Hoover Dam.

One Night in Miami (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes

One Night in Miami (2020): Malcolm X, Cassius Clay, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke meet in Miami after Clay wins world title. Four friends, all "young, black, righteous, unapologetic, famous," but all very different. Adapted stage play gives each actor time to shine, and all do. A-

POTD: Essence of Life Perfume Palace

From 2019 11 19 Aswan

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Aswan, Egypt. When you take an organized tour, you sometimes have to go to stops whose only purpose is to sell the tourists something. In this case, perfume. You see and learn interesting things. This man is blowing glass into perfume bottles (whether or not it's merely a show is immaterial, right?).

Bonus photos after the jump.

Chernobyl (TV 2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

Chernobyl (TV 2019): Dramatization of 1986 nuclear accident. Part history, part science, part a view of dystopia. Good series on so many levels. A corner of the world whose people, failed by their leaders, have suffered so much over the centuries, but still display heroism. A-

#VeryTardyReview

Video Scoreboards - Here We Go Again

Richardson ISD trustees approved replacing the scoreboards at the district's two stadiums. Their justification included this detail: "The upgraded scoreboards will offer enhanced video capabilities...The new, digital scoreboards will allow RISD to generate increased revenue from advertisers." We've been down this road before, in 2011 when the current scoreboards were installed (without video displays). Then, I called video scoreboards for high school athletics a "dumb idea." I am still against them today.

The King of Staten Island (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes

The King of Staten Island (2020): Pete Davidson plays a messed-up tattoo artist living with his mother. When he was 7, his fireman father was killed in a fire. Movie is about him pulling his life together despite himself. Davidson really sells it. About 30 minutes too long. B-

Richardson Police, It's Time to Step Up

Local democracy can't survive if our national democracy fails. A week ago, I called on local politicians to step up and take a stand and condemn the President of the United States for inciting an insurrection at the US Capitol.

Today, I extend that call to the Richardson Fraternal Order of Police. The President of the United States incited an insurrection that resulted in the deaths of five people, including one Capitol Police officer who was beaten to death by a Trump mob. That's the same president whom the Richardson police "proudly endorsed" in November. That endorsement must be retracted. The president cannot "Back the Blue" while calling on the mob to storm the Capitol and overwhelm its police protection. The president cannot be for "Law and Order" while inciting insurrection. And the Richardson police cannot have our trust and respect unless they renounce their endorsement of President Trump. Richardson Police, it's time to "Back the Blue" yourself and admit your mistake in endorsing Donald Trump for President.