Conclave (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Conclave (2024): The cardinal running the conclave picking the next pope uncovers one deep secret after another. An intelligent plot that sheds light on the ancient practice of Vatican politics. Informative if maybe implausible at times. It keeps you guessing who it's going to be. A-

In theaters

Council Recap: Review of Almost Final Comp Plan

On October 21, 2024, the Richardson City Council and City Plan Commission (CPC) reviewed a close-to-final draft of a new Comprehensive Plan.

My own feedback can be found here:

• Point North...Park?
• Grading Richardson's Comprehensive Plan
• Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker

I'll add that the best thing about this draft Comp Plan isn't the plan. It's the list of 77 action items. It's a better list than the list the Council came up with during their own goal-setting retreat at the beginning of their term. But there's too much latitude in it. They shouldn't leave it to City Manager Don Magner to prioritize and schedule, not if they care about what gets done and what gets kicked down the road.

POTD: Calafate Smoothie

"After the long day,
Calafate refreshment.
Mountains call me back."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 03 11 Chile Patagonia

After a long day touring the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, we relaxed at the Hotel Las Torres with a calafate smoothie. Calafate is a small, round, purple fruit with a sweet and sour taste. It's the symbol of Patagonia. A legend says if you eat calafate berries you will be sure to return to Patagonia. Sure enough, the next day we returned, this time to Argentinian Patagonia. More glaciers in store.

POTD: Torres del Paine National Park

"Horns of blue in mist,
Clouds hide the towering peaks,
Knee bends against will."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 03 11 Chile Patagonia

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Chile's Torres del Paine National Park (Towers of Blue). The park "encompasses mountains, glaciers, lakes, and rivers in southern Chilean Patagonia." From a distance of 20 miles we got our first, and least obstructed, view of the Cuernos del Paine (Horns of Blue).

A bonus photo is after the jump.

Presumed Innocent (TV 2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Presumed Innocent (TV 2024): Excellent whodunit. The plot is an intricate clockwork, full of suspects and red herrings. Based on 1987 novel. Public prosecutor is charged with murdering another prosecutor, one he has been having an affair with. Did he or didn't he? Even his wife and kids are torn. A-

AppleTV+

Salvage Yard: Gateway to Richardson IQ

At the Richardson City Council meeting of October 14, 2024, the Council approved yet another car dealer to locate in Richardson. And not just any car dealer. This was a request by AutoSavvy. Does Richardson benefit from yet another auto dealer? Especially AutoSavvy? I say no. No City Councilmember could offer a reason to say yes, except maybe as a placeholder for five years, the length of the special use permit under consideration. But they unanimously voted for it anyway.

Council Recap: Cars & Signs, Ad Infinitum

At the Richardson City Council meeting of October 14, 2024, the Council approved yet another car dealer and, in a separate action, amended the existing planned development for the Eastside development to allow the applicant to develop a "master sign plan" for the development. A master sign plan is a way of getting approval for signs that are currently prohibited by ordinance. Because of course they did. They know better, just listen to them during deliberations. But when it comes time to vote, they can't help themselves. They vote yes.

POTD: Serrano Glacier. Salud!

"Blue ice, ages old,
chilled hands hold a frozen past,
soon to cool our drinks."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 03 11 Chile Patagonia

Today's photo-of-the-day is from our first South American glacier, Serrano Glacier in southern Patagonia in Chile. Ellen is holding a piece of ice that calved from the glacier. Soon it will be cooling our drinks.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

POTD: Puerto Natales, Chile

"Southward, dreams unfold,
Patagonia's heart revealed,
One step closer now."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 03 11 Chile Patagonia

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Puerto Natales, Chile. It was our first overnight stay way down south in Patagonia. The Andes Mountains stand tall, beckoning us to come closer. That awaits for another day.

Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker

Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker.
Resident, Employer, Landowner, Developer.
Renter, ..., wait, where are the Renters?

The City of Richardson has published a draft of its long-overdue Comprehensive Plan update, the first since 2009. I noticed words like residents, citizens, stakeholders, etc., used in different contexts. Are the distinctions significant? Dunno. The Plan doesn't say. And the closest it comes to a definition for any of the terms is this: "stakeholder—residents, employers and business owners, landowners, brokers and developers, partner agencies and organizations, nonprofits, and public officials." That's pretty comprehensive. It doesn't explicitly include renters, but because renters are residents, I'd argue that it implicitly includes them. But does the City think that? Really?