The Sympathizer (TV 2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Sympathizer (TV 2024): Black comedy about the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Everyone comes out looking bad: South Vietnamese army, Communists, CIA, Hollywood, and Robert Downey, Jr, playing four roles in the same over-the-top way. B-

Max

Dark Matter (TV 2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Dark Matter (TV 2024): Bad Jason steals good Jason's identity and family. Good Jason has to find him in an infinity of universes and defeat him. Good presentation of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, but with an infinity of worlds, why care about any one in particular? B+

AppleTV+

Student Housing is At Risk Again

Rendering of ATRE Waterview Mixed-Use Development

In December, 2022, when we last checked in on the long-running saga of one Richardson man's quest to build student-purposed housing just north of UT-Dallas, things were looking up, but with a big catch ("Breakthrough in Student Housing").

The catch was that City Council insisted on starting construction on a hotel and traditional apartment along with some retail before agreeing to issue a certificate of occupancy for the first phase, student-purposed housing.

POTD: Hey, Hay

"Bales stacked skyward high,
Overloaded truck sways slow,
Endless road ahead."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 09 20 Marrakesh

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Moroccan highway somewhere between Fez and Marrakesh. That is all.

POTD: Nice Bright Colors

"Kodachrome, they give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera, I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away."
— Paul Simon

From 2023 09 20 Marrakesh

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Moroccan countryside, somewhere on the highway between Fez and Marrakesh. I don't know anything about the place in the photo. Its colors were what caught my eye then and I still think it makes for a good photo-of-the-day. All the world's a sunny day.

Fancy Dance (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Fancy Dance (2024): Set on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma, a woman goes missing and her sister can't get authorities to care, while she cares for her 13-yr-old niece who looks forward to the mother-daughter dance at the upcoming powwow. A look at indomitable human spirit. B+

AppleTV+

Shogun (TV 2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Shogun (TV 2024): Adaptation of James Clavell’s 1975 bestseller about Japan in 1600. More culturally sensitive than the novel. This one is more about power dynamics in feudal Japan than romantic liaison. It's an American production that feels like a Japanese one. Outstanding sets, costumes, and cinematography. B+

Hulu

Richardson Says No to LEED

During two meetings in which the Richardson City Council reviewed progress on building a new City Hall, the question of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification came up twice, both times in questions asked by Councilmember Curtis Dorian.

Random Thoughts: AI-Generated News

2024-06-01: Today's example of irony: A news story about elections in India from a news source that uses a fountain pen for a logo and a motto of "Dare to Write" ends with this disclaimer: "This is AI generated news with no Human interference."
greatandhra.com/politics/india...

2024-06-01: MaryAnne Doty's comment: "Maybe it's time for Tree the Town to help replace all the mature trees we lost in Richardson this week."

POTD: The Chouara Tannery

"Not just history,
Fez breathes, works, and lives today,
Vibrant, real, and true."
—h/t ChatGPT

From 2023 09 19 Fez

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Fez, Morocco. "The Medina of Fez is listed as a World Heritage Site and is one of the world's largest and oldest urban pedestrian zones." But it's not touristy like a Disney Main Street. It's real. People live there. They shop there. They work there. There's even industry there like the Chouara Tannery, whose founding is lost in history, but possibly dates back to the earliest days of Fez in the 8th Century.

Click for a bonus photo.