Budget Talk by the Council

Source: City of Richardson.

On August 18, 2025, the Richardson City Council reviewed the proposed 2025-2026 budget. You can watch the whole thing on the city's website. Or you can read a comprehensive account of it or watch an AI video summary on Justin Neth's Substack. Here I'm only going to focus on a few quotes that stood out for me.

Bottom line: The total proposed FY 2025-2026 budget is $418,498,270, an increase of $12,419,51 or 3.1% from FY 2024-2025. The typical taxpayer impact will be an increase of $237/year in taxes and fees paid to the city.

POTD: Tourists Photobomb the Colosseum

From 2024 12 22 Rome

Today's photo-of-the-day is of tourists posing in front of the most photographed ruin the world — the Colosseum in Rome. I don't usually fill these pages with snapshots of tourists posing in front of tourist attractions, but it's important to me this time. You never know when it might be your last such photo.

Two bonus photos are after the jump.

POTD: Three Views of the Colosseum

From 2024 12 22 Rome

Today's photo-of-the-day is of the Colosseum in Rome. According to Wikipedia, "It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, and is still the largest standing amphitheatre in the world, despite its age. Construction began under the Emperor Vespasian (r. 69-79 AD) in AD 72 and was completed in AD 80 under his successor and heir, Titus (r. 79-81)." The Arch of Titus is near the Colosseum. So, two of the most memorable buildings in ancient Rome today are connected to the emperor Titus, whose reign lasted only two years.

Two bonus photos are after the jump.

POTD: Arch of Titus

From 2024 12 22 Rome

Today's photo-of-the-day is of the Arch of Titus in Rome. I've seen photos of this arch in travel books and history books my whole life, but I've never learned its own history. It's a history that reverberates down to today's headlines.

More text and a bonus photo are after the jump.

Exterritorial (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Exterritorial (2025): German. Mildly entertaining action thriller. Ex-soldier with PTSD hunts for her young son who vanishes inside a US consulate where the whole movie takes place. The plot is full of convenient occurrences and unexplained elements. C+

Netflix