Random Thoughts: Dick Cheney and Dubya

2025-11-04: BREAKING: Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful vice presidents in United States history, has died.
I guess now we'll find out, once and for all, whether George W Bush can speak.

POTD: Rong Suea Ten Temple (Blue Temple)

From 2025 03 22 Chiang Rai

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at the Rong Suea Ten Temple (Blue Temple) in Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. According to Wikipedia, "Its final design was realized by Chiang Rai folk artist Mr. Phuttha Kabkaew. He gained skills and learned from Chalermchai Kositpipat while working on his famous Wat Rong Khun, just outside the city. Wat Rong Suea Ten's main building was completed on 22 January 2016. It took 11 years to complete the construction...It follows in the unconventional 'neo-traditional' style of Buddhist art pioneered by Chalermchai, employing lavishly ornamented sculptures and psychedelic visual imagery."

Bonus photos are after the jump.

POTD: Lunch in the Golden Triangle

From 2025 03 22 Chiang Rai

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken outside our lunch spot in the Golden Triangle of southeast Asia. According to Wikpedia, "The Golden Triangle is a large, mountainous region in northeastern Myanmar, Northern Thailand and northern Laos, centered on the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong rivers. The Golden Triangle has been one of the largest opium-producing areas of the world since the 1950s. Today, the Thai side of the river confluence, Sop Ruak, has become a tourist attraction with no opium cultivation."

Bonus photos are after the jump.

The Paper (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Paper (TV 2025): Spin-off to The Office, with the same mockumentary format. Instead of a Scranton paper company, it's set at a small Toledo newspaper. It's derivative, but just as good as the original. At least it's better than the last 5 or 6 seasons of The Office. B-

Peacock

Train Dreams (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Train Dreams (2025): Story of a logger's life in Idaho circa 1917. The story has love and loss, violence and tragedy, all told in a quiet, poignant way. All these things happen to Robert, but he is not the protaganist. He mostly just waits for a revelation that he'll never receive about what life is all about. B+

Netflix

The American Revolution (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

The American Revolution (TV 2025): Ken Burns has done it again, taking history we all thought we knew from elementary school and going deeper into it to reveal all of its complexity and contradictions. After six episodes and more than 12 hours, we're still the heroes, but our feet of clay are revealed as well. A+

How Plano Appoints a Committee

The Dallas Morning News.

This post isn't about upcoming elections in four cities to withdraw from DART. For that, see "DART Plays Chicken with Plano". No, this post is about how Plano is getting input from Plano's residents. According to The Dallas Morning News, "Plano is also forming a citizen's committee to look at the future of its regional transit. The Collin County Connects Committee will explore alternative transit options and providers, according to Plano's transit site. Each of Plano's eight City Council members will appoint one Plano resident to serve on the committee."

POTD: The Golden Triangle

From 2025 03 22 Chiang Rai

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at the Golden Triangle of southeast Asia. According to Wikpedia, "The Golden Triangle is a large, mountainous region in northeastern Myanmar, Northern Thailand and northern Laos, centered on the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong rivers. The name "Golden Triangle" was coined by Marshall Green, a U.S. State Department official, in 1971 in a press conference on the opium trade. The Golden Triangle has been one of the largest opium-producing areas of the world since the 1950s. Most of the world's heroin came from the Golden Triangle until the early 21st century when opium production in Afghanistan increased. Myanmar was the world's second-largest source of opium after Afghanistan up to 2022, producing some 25% of the world's opium, forming part of the Golden Triangle. Today, the Thai side of the river confluence, Sop Ruak, has become a tourist attraction, with the House of Opium Museum, a Hall of Opium, a Golden Triangle Park, and no opium cultivation."

Bonus photos are after the jump.

POTD: Choui Fong Tea Plantation

From 2025 03 22 Chiang Rai

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at the Choui Fong Tea Plantation in Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. It's a family-owned and operated tea producer founded in 1977.

Bonus photos are after the jump.

Generational Income, Wealth, and Home Ownership

When I read something that changes my mind, I sit up and take notice. In two recent posts on Facebook, I said I learned, contrary to my earlier beliefs, that younger generations in America are doing OK compared to older generations, at least as measured by income and wealth. I used the two graphs above as evidence.