Council Recap: Institutional Jealousy

Institutional jealousy: a situation where one organization competes with another because of perceived threats to its status, authority, resources, or reputation.

The Wheel's November 2025 Voters Guide

Early voting is open. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. If you live in Richardson, your ballot will have 17 Texas constitutional amendments on it, and if you also live in the Richardson ISD, it will have three RISD bond propositions for you to vote for.

In general, Texas constitutional amendments serve one of two purposes. Either they are giveaways to the rich (ask yourself if Scrooge McDuck would be for them or not), or they are panders to the GOP base. They are placed on the ballot by the legislature, which is in the firm control of business interests and/or the far right of the GOP. (Just last week, the Texas GOP voted to censure five of its own members in the Texas House for being insufficiently conservative. These included north Texas representatives Angie Chen Button, Jeff Leach, Morgan Meyer, and Jared Patterson!) Still, there are some amendments I find to be reasonable. To find out which, read on. Also, at the end, I'll have something to say about those RISD propositions.

POTD: Bang Pa-In Royal Palace

From 2025 03 17 Central Thailand

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at the gardens of the Summer Palace north of Bangkok on the Chao Phraya River. According to Wikipedia, "King Prasat Thong constructed the original complex in 1632, but it fell into disuse and became overgrown in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, until King Mongkut began to restore the site in the mid-19th century. Most of the present buildings were constructed between 1872 and 1889 by King Chulalongkorn."

A bonus photo is after the jump.

POTD: The Death Railway

From 2025 03 17 Central Thailand

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at Hellfire Pass on the so-called Death Railway, a railroad built to connect Thailand with Burma during WWII, using POWs as forced labor. I learned of the railway, as many did, from the 1957 Oscar Best Picture, "The Bridge on the River Kwai." There is still a museum and memorial to the men who were worked to death in service of the Japanese Empire's war effort.

According to Wikipedia, "More than 250,000 Southeast Asian civilians and 12,000 Allied soldiers built the railway line, including Hellfire Pass. The pass is noted for the harsh conditions and heavy loss of life suffered by its labourers during construction. It was called Hellfire Pass because the sight of emaciated prisoners labouring by burning torchlight resembled a scene from Hell."

A bonus photo is after the jump.

POTD: Bangkok Floating Market

From 2025 03 17 Central Thailand

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken on one of the canals of Bangkok, the city once called the Venice of the East. Today, the city is paved with highways and has some of the worst traffic in the world, but there are still a few places where the old way that commerce was conducted in Bangkok can still be seen. The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is one such place.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

One Battle After Another (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

One Battle After Another (2025): Former leftist terrorist (Leo DiCaprio) is hunted down by rightwing Col. Lockjaw (Sean Penn) after 15 years. Lots of explosions, gun fights, and car chases, but the broadly drawn characters keep it from being too serious. Lots of plot holes, but great acting makes it excel. A-

In theatres

Superman (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Superman (2025): An overstuffed, unfocused mishmash. Too many villains: Lex Luthor, several supervillains, and an Asian dictator. Too many characters from old comics with nothing to do: Perry White, Jimmy Olson, Ma and Pa Kent, Supergirl. Best thing about it is letting Lois Lane know who Clark Kent is and banter with him. C+

HBO Max

POTD: Quiet Spot on the Chao Phraya River

From 2025 03 13 Bangkok (1)

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, the city's busy water thoroughfare. I don't know the man's story, nor the story of the place behind him. This sight was more typical in Bangkok's past. More commonly seen today on the busy Chao Phraya River are longboats speeding up and down the river, powered by modified automotive diesel motors connected to a long drive shaft and a propeller at the rear.

A bonus photo is after the jump.

POTD: Tourist Strikes Pose at Grand Palace

From 2025 03 13 Bangkok (1)

Today's photo-of-the-day is of a Western tourist striking a pose in front of the Grand Palace in Bangkok. I think it makes a good bookend for the photo of the young Buddhist monk snapping a photo in about the same place. Both photos, taken only moments apart, bring me joy.

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"Royal palace gleams,
tourist stretches arms held wide,
snapshot of Bangkok."
— h/t ChatGPT

POTD: Monk Strikes Pose at Grand Palace

From 2025 03 13 Bangkok (1)

Today's photo-of-the-day is of a young Buddhist monk snapping a pic at the Grand Palace in Bangkok. I found it charming.

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"Shining saffron robe,
snap of joy in sacred place,
peace caught in pixels."
— h/t ChatGPT