Sunday, January 18, 2026

POTD: Teachers Strike

From 2025 05 30 Mexico City

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in Mexico City. It shows a tent city set up by teachers on strike against the government. Everything was quiet and peaceful when we walked freely in the area, but writing of the striking teachers, a report in The New York Times said, "The 100,000-strong group's demands include doubling teacher salaries and appealing pension and education laws they deem harmful. Earlier this week, the group paralyzed traffic along one of Mexico City's most emblematic avenues, and Mexican journalists reported that they were assaulted by protesting union members outside the National Palace in the old city center."


"Banners speak of pay
of years promised, years withheld.
Hope stitched into seams."

— h/t ChatGPT

Saturday, January 17, 2026

POTD: Avenida Francisco I. Madero

From 2025 05 30 Mexico City

Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in a major shopping street in central Mexico City, La Avenida Francisco I. Madero.

Another photo, of Calle de Fray Pedro de Gante, is after the jump.

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Ballerina (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes

Ballerina (2025): The torch is passed on the John Wick saga. Ana de Armas takes over as an assasin in training. Same old shit as Keanu Reeves's four movies. If you like action movies with lots of violence (or you're stuck on an airplane over the Atlantic), this could be for you. C+

On airplane

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

The Chair Company (TV 2025)

Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten Tomatoes

The Chair Company (TV 2025): Corporate fraud thriller/comedy? Tim Robinson plays a manager whose chair collapses while he's giving a presentation. He's embarrassed enough to investigate the chair company and uncovers a vast conspiracy theory that gets more convoluted as time goes on. Don't expect answers. C-

HBO Max

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

No Truman Exception in Richardson

The Richardson City Council directed the City Manager to draft a City Charter amendment that would require a council member who announces their candidacy for another office to immediately resign from the City Council. The amendment, if passed by voters in May, would apply retroactively, meaning that Council Member Dan Barrios, who is running for Congress, would automatically be removed from office.

Can they do this? Setting aside the retroactive nature of the amendment, they can. ("A home-rule city with two-year terms may provide in its charter that a mayor or council member who becomes a candidate for another office automatically vacates the current office." — Attorney General Opinion No. GA-02 17.)