Navalny (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes

Navalny (2022): Documentary about a Russian dissident who was poisoned by Putin, recovered and returned to Russia where he was imprisoned and remains so. His investigation into who poisoned him (Putin's agents) is a fascinating detail, as is Putin's refusal to say his name. B+

Cyrano (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes

Cyrano (2022): Musical unexpectedly starring Peter Dinklage. A love triangle. His love is built on a lie. Her love is misplaced. Cyrano's love can't be expressed. Beautiful retelling of the classic love story. A-

POTD: Karnak Obelisks

From 2019 11 23 Luxor

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Karnak Temple in Luxor, Egypt. The two upright obelisks were erected by Thutmose I (reign c. 1520 - 1492 BCE) and Hatshepsut (1479-1458 BCE). I don't know the story of the third obelisk lying flat on the ground. Something about erectile dysfunction, I'm sure.

POTD: Great Hypostyle Hall

From 2019 11 23 Luxor

Today's photo-of-the-day is the Hypostyle Hall of Karnak Temple in Luxor, Egypt. It dates to c. 1290-1224 BCE. It covers an area of 54,000 sq ft. The roof, now fallen, was supported by 134 columns, the tallest being 79 ft. high. Despite the size, with all those columns, it felt like it would have been crowded inside.

POTD: Karnak Temple

From 2019 11 23 Luxor

Today's photo-of-the-day is Karnak Temple in Luxor, Egypt. It's a massive complex, constructed over two millennia (1900 - 30 BCE).

Come From Away (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes

Come From Away (2021): Stage musical about small town that opens their hearts and homes to passengers from 38 jumbo jets diverted to Newfoundland after 9/11. Story told through singing to the audience. Fast. Energetic. An uplifting tale out of tragedy. America needs this now. A-

POTD: Luxor Market Tailor Shop

From 2019 11 23 Luxor

Today's photo-of-the-day is from a market stall in Luxor, Egypt. No tailor was in sight.

POTD: Luxor Street Market

From 2019 11 23 Luxor

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Luxor, Egypt. Just a roadside street market.

Review: Sea of Tranquility

From Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel:

Edwin St. John St. Andrew, eighteen years old, hauling the weight of his double-sainted name across the Atlantic by steamship, eyes narrowed against the wind on the upper deck: he holds the railing with gloved hands, impatient for a glimpse of the unknown, trying to discern something—anything!—beyond sea and sky, but all he sees are shades of endless gray."
	Amazon

A time travel story in which a glitch in time brings centuries together. And sends characters from earlier novels into alternate timelines. These stories slowly weave together into a mesmerizing whole. B+

POTD: Oum Kalthoum Cafe

From 2019 11 23 Luxor

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Oum Kalthoum Cafe in a street market in Luxor, Egypt.

Oum Kalthoum was an Egyptian singer and actress and is considered to be a national icon. Upon her death in 1975, an estimated 4 million people lined the route of her funeral procession to pay their respects. We didn't know any of that before we chose to sit and relax in a hookah cafe named for her. But now we do, and so do you.