Leveraging AI for Local Govt Efficiency

Richardson City Councilmember Dan Barrios is attending a conference. He reports on Facebook, "My first fascinating breakout for the day! It was a packed room and the most popular one yet!"

The Boys in the Boat (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Boys in the Boat (2023): Drama based on real-life story of the University of Washington rowing team who went all the way to the Berlin Olympics in 1936. The scrappy kids face every obstacle on their way to glory. The script is filled with every sports trope, but if a feel-good sports movie is what you like, this is for you. B-

Amazon

Book: Symphony of Secrets

From Symphony of Secrets, by Brendan Slocumb:

Amazon

"It was actually happening. A piece of RED—the elusive, mysterious, impossible RED—had been found. And out of everyone on the planet, Bern himself—a poor bologna-sandwich-eating kid with a beat-up French horn—was going to actually see it. Be one of the very first people to touch it, to decipher Frederic Delaney's distinctive handwriting."

POTD: Martyr's Cemetery

"Rabat's ancient stones,
Beside the vast, tranquil sea,
Eternal, serene."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 09 17 Rabat

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Rabat, Morocco. It shows Sidi Al Khattab Cemetery, also called Martyr's Cemetery. It is located next to the thousand-year-old Kasbah of Rabat. I haven't been able to find much information about the cemetery online, but visually it's incomprehensibly large and stunningly beautiful as it overlooks the ocean. As I age and contemplate being much closer to death than birth, I find myself irresistably drawn to such scenes.

POTD: Kasbah of the Oudaias

"Ancient walls embrace,
Kasbah of the Oudaias,
Heritage preserved."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 09 17 Rabat

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Kasbah of the Oudaias in Rabat, Morocco. Dating to the 10th century, "it is located on a hill at the mouth of the Bou Regreg opposite Salé, and adjacent to the Medina quarter of Rabat. It is listed, along with other sites in Rabat, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site."

Bonus photos are after the jump.

Three-Body (TV 2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Three-Body (TV 2023): Chinese. Adaptation of same Chinese sci-fi novel as the American version, but not as well done. Character bonding is missing. On plus side, 30 episodes vs 10 means more time to explain WTF is going on. C+

Peacock

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

Godzilla Minus One (2023): Japan. Not a sequel or prequel, it's a reboot. And it's more than a monster movie. It's a melodrama with a lot of heart. A kamikaze pilot with unfinished business after WWII joins the fight against the monster. It's actually good. B+

Netflix

The Book of Clarence (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Book of Clarence (2023): Clarence, a man struggling with debt in Jerusalem in 33 AD, has a plan to solve all his problems by imitating Jesus. This could be seen as homage or as sacrilege depending on how easily offended you are. It'll probably satisfy no one. C+

Netflix

Which Brings Me to You (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Which Brings Me to You (2024): Young couple meet and dare to tell each other every romantic relationship in their past. This concept requires too much screen time for the leads to be dating others. And it shows them in unhappy relationships. Result? I never saw or cared about them as individuals or as a couple. C+

Hulu

POTD: Mausoleum of Mohammed V

"King’s legacy lives
In each deliberate craft,
Mausoleum's grace."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 09 17 Rabat

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat, Morocco. The king died in 1961. Construction was completed in 1971. "The rich materials, as well as the deliberate use of historical crafts and motifs, is meant to not only pay tribute to Mohammed V but also to evoke his own efforts to encourage traditional craftsmanship as a means of promote a sense of Moroccan identity."

Bonus photos are after the jump.