POTD: Hofburg Palace

From 2022 07 16 Vienna

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, the former principal imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty.

Bonus photos after the jump.

POTD: Modern Vienna

From 2022 07 16 Vienna

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Vienna, Austria. It shows modern Vienna, maybe an unusual view of this major city of Europe better known for its rich history. Vienna was the site of a fortress built by the ancient Romans to guard the frontier against Germanic tribes. For five hundred years it was the seat of the Hapsburg emperors. That history has resulted in so many historic buildings and sites that the city center was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Morning Show - S01 (TV 2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Morning Show - S01 (TV 2019): The #MeToo movement as it plays out on a network morning program. Some scheme to get their job back, some to hang onto theirs, some to get a promotion. Stories converge to a suspenseful finale. Already seems dated. It doesn't add much, but it's fascinating to watch. A-

#VeryTardyReview

POTD: Göttweig Abbey

From 2022 07 15 Melk and Gottweig

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Göttweig Abbey on the Danube River in Austria. Founded in the 11th Century, the abbey was rebuilt in Baroque style after a catastrophic fire in 1719. The photo shows the imperial staircase, the largest Baroque staircase in Austria.

After the jump, there is a photo of the organ in Gottweig Abbey church.

POTD: Dürnstein Abbey and Castle

From 2022 07 15 Melk and Gottweig

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Dürnstein Abbey and Castle on the Danube River in Austria's Wachau region. There are many castles to see on this stretch of the Danube, but Dürnstein is a highlight of any tour. The castle ruins have a history almost anyone can relate to. I'll let Wikipedia tell the story of the castle.

Dürnstein was first mentioned in 1192 when, in the castle above the town, King Richard I of England [Richard the Lionheart] was held captive by Leopold V, Duke of Austria, after their dispute during the Third Crusade. Richard the Lionheart had offended Leopold the Virtuous by casting down his standard from the walls at the Battle of Acre, and the duke suspected that King Richard ordered the murder of his cousin Conrad of Montferrat in Jerusalem. In consequence Pope Celestine III excommunicated Leopold for capturing a fellow crusader. The duke finally gave custody of the king to Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor, who imprisoned Richard at Trifels Castle.

Dürnstein Castle was almost completely destroyed by the troops of the Swedish Empire under Field Marshal Lennart Torstenson in 1645.

Source: Wikipedia.

After the jump, a photo of the abbey, with the castle ruins above.

Random Thoughts: "Lab leak" is the only logical explanation

2023-03-01: Headline: "'Havana syndrome' not caused by energy weapon or foreign adversary, intelligence review finds."
That leaves "lab leak" as the only logical explanation, say conspiracy theorists.

2023-03-03: Pet peeve time: When people are awarded something, they should be "grateful and honored," not "grateful and humbled." You'd think a school board trustee would know the difference.
OK, time to get back to our normal business of arguing whether it's crazy for a husband and wife to order the same entree in a restaurant.

The Mayor Pro Tem vs. The Coach

The City of Richardson has two candidates for mayor. They have different backgrounds. Their online campaigns emphasize those, illustrating the difficulty of reinventing yourself for electoral reasons. Instead, you try to put the best spin on the resume you have to work with.

Richardson Cares More about Celebrating History than Preserving It

Four years ago, I wrote a blog post ("The Ice House Goeth") giving the history of a little, neglected, unused commercial building on Richardson's Main Street in old downtown. I didn't stop at the history. I also advocated for the City of Richardson to do something to preserve this little bit of its history. I didn't hear from the City at the time. I still haven't, but this week the City of Richardson's Facebook page dedicated to posting history for the City's sesquicentennial celebration lifted my blog post without attribution. They included the history I had researched, but left out all of my advocacy for the City to preserve that history. I conclude the City is interested in celebrating its history, at least every 150 years, but is less interested in preserving the history they extol.

Shrinking (TV 2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Shrinking (TV 2023): Jason Segal plays a grieving therapist who has increasing trouble staying detached from his patients' issues. Harrison Ford plays the therapist mentor with his own problem with aging. Nice ensemble cast. A sitcom/drama with heart. B+

POTD: Melk Abbey View

From 2022 07 15 Melk and Gottweig

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Melk Abbey in Austria. It doesn't show the historic abbey (dating to 1089) sitting high above the Danube River town of Melk, Austria. Instead it shows the magnificent view from the abbey.

After the jump, a bonus photo of Melk from the abbey.