POTD: Richardson's Budget Workshop - Day 1

Source: City of Richardson.

The Richardson City Council is holding a two day budget workshop to set the 2025-2026 budget. The City summarizes the global economic environment as: "Conflicts, trade restrictions, and geopolitical rivalries are disrupting global supply chains. Political instability and shifting international policies contribute to an unpredictable policy environment, making businesses more hesitant to invest in expansion, new hiring, or infrastructure upgrades. Wars, sanctions, and diplomatic tensions may cause energy price spikes and commodity shortages, possibly leading to inflationary pressures."

The City had three more slides calling out risks and threats to Richardson's economic situation. "Tariffs and Tariff Driven Inflation." "Labor Market Challenges." "Slowing Revenue Amid Rising Costs."

I am pleased that City government, if not the State or Federal governments, knows the answer to the question, how is MAGA working out for us?

And that's before the City gets to what our Texas legislature is up to. "SB 924 reduces FY2026 franchise fees by ~($260,000)." "HB9 will reduce FY2027 property tax revenues by ~($1,500,000)." "SB9 would reduce FY2027 property tax revenue by ~($1,500,000)." We can be sure the impact of that will be cuts to city services. How much of those cuts will show up as more money in in your wallets is much less certain.

Stick (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Stick (TV 2025): Owen Wilson stars as a former pro golfer who mentors a teen golfing phenom. It's just another sports movie with a full cast of stereotypes, but somehow the show works. It grows on you and you come to care more about these characters than how the big golf match turns out. B+

AppleTV+

Opus (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Opus (2025): Creepy satire/thriller about celebrity cults. John Malkovich is the eccentric pop star surrounded by his cult. Ayo Edebiri is the young writer who finds herself at his isolated ranch. Watchable, but "The Menu" and others did it better. C+

HBO Max

POTD: San Giorgio Maggiore from Doge's Palace

"Framed through palace glass,
marble rising from the sea.
Bells ring over waves."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 09 11 Venice

Today's photo-of-the-day is of the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice, Italy. The photo was taken through the windows at the Doge's Palace. The island of "San Giorgio is now best known for the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, designed by Palladio and begun in 1566. The belltower has a ring of 9 bells in C#."

This view makes a good bookend to the opening POTD of Venice (Venice by Sea). With that, we say ciao to Venice. Next stop, Rome.

POTD: St. Mark's Basilica

"Gold mosaics shine,
stories looted from the East,
Faith wrapped in conquest."
— h/t ChatGPT

From 2024 09 11 Venice

Today's photo-of-the-day is from St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy. "It is dedicated to and holds the relics of Saint Mark the Evangelist, the patron saint of the city...The present structure is the third church, begun probably in 1063 to express Venice's growing civic consciousness and pride. Like the two earlier churches, its model was the sixth-century Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople...Middle-Byzantine, Romanesque, and Islamic influences are also evident, and Gothic elements were later incorporated. To convey the republic's wealth and power, the original brick façades and interior walls were embellished over time with precious stones and rare marbles, primarily in the thirteenth century. Many of the columns, reliefs, and sculptures were spoils stripped from the churches, palaces, and public monuments of Constantinople as a result of the Venetian participation in the Fourth Crusade. Among the plundered artefacts brought back to Venice were the four ancient bronze horses that were placed prominently over the entry."