Agatha All Along (TV 2024)

Rotten Tomatoes

Agatha All Along (TV 2024): A spinoff to WandaVision. The Marvel Universe is now so cluttered that only dedicated enthusiasts can keep all the characters straight. This one is about a coven of witches who follow a road, where Agatha is seeking to regain all her lost powers. For a movie about witches, it lacks any suspense. C+

Disney+

Democrats Have an Image Problem

Democrats seem to have the advantage on the issues. But Republicans have the advantage on messaging. Let's consider Missouri. Voters there voted like Democrats on the issues. But they voted for Republicans for office. They passed some pretty liberal Constitutional amendments while voting by a 19% margin for Donald Trump for President, and by a 14% margin for Josh Hawley for Senate.

Lessons from November 5th

It's now one week since Election Day. Mark Leibovich in "The Atlantic" goes all the way back to Hillary Clinton's close loss to Donald Trump in 2016 to explain the source of the Democrats' defeats in 2024.

Leibovich: "Democrats engaged in no real reckoning after 2016. Essentially they became a party that defined itself in opposition to Trump, just as Republicans have been defined in submission to him."

Standing with Public Schools

On November 7, the Richardson ISD Board of Trustees adopted a set of legislative priorities for the upcoming 2025-2026 legislative term.

Greatest Political Comeback

Jim Jordan: "This election was the greatest political comeback we've ever seen."

Well, maybe not. Nixon's win in 1968 was arguably bigger after Nixon's defeat in 1962 and pledge to the press, "You don't have Nixon to kick around any more, because, gentlemen, this is my last press conference." Biggest comeback and, later, biggest eventual collapse. Maybe something still to look forward to.

The Forest Was Shrinking

"The forest was shrinking
but the trees kept voting for the axe.
Because his handle was made of wood,
he convinced them he was one of them.”
— Turkish Proverb

POTD: The World's Most Beautiful Bookstore

"Readers in box seats.
Books fill up the former stalls.
Cafe on the stage."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 03 14 Argentina Patagonia

Today's photo-of-the-day is from The Grand Splendid Athenaeum, a bookstore in Buenos Aires. In 2019, it was named the "world's most beautiful bookstore" by the National Geographic. It gets no argument from me. It's located in a former theater called Teatro Gran Splendid. Customer seating exists in the still-intact theater boxes. A cafe serves food and drinks on the former stage. Over a million people visit annually, including "L" and me. We didn't buy any books (the vast majority are in Spanish), but we did eat lunch. Beautiful.

Another photo after the jump.

POTD: Buenos Aires on Saint Patricks Day

"Beneath city lights,
Buenos Aires sports Kelly Green,
For St. Paddy’s cheer."

— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 03 14 Argentina Patagonia

Today's photo-of-the-day is the view from our hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Saint Patrick's Day in 2024. Across the street is the most famous Irish Pub in Buenos Aires, The Kilkenny.

After the jump, The Kilkenny.

My Instant Election Analysis

My instant election analysis:

Same Space, Different World

Same Space, Different World, Part a Jillion