POTD: Autumn at Silver Falls

From 2018 09 14 Portland

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Oregon's Silver Falls State Park.

Bonus photos after the jump.

POTD: The Abstract Art of Nature

From 2018 09 11 Yellowstone

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park.

Bonus photos after the jump.

POTD: Back from the Brink of Extinction

From 2018 09 11 Yellowstone

Today's photo-of-the-day is of an American bison in Yellowstone National Park. Let's feel good that we saved the bison from extinction, but also keep in mind that by some estimates, "we're now losing species at up to 1,000 times the [natural] rate, with literally dozens going extinct every day."

POTD: Grand Prismatic Spring

From 2018 09 11 Yellowstone

Today's photo-of-the-day is of Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park.

Bonus photos after the jump.

The Great Hack (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Great Hack (2019): How Cambridge Analytica, using Facebook data, profiled millions of voters and bombarded them with fake news propaganda to sway 2016 election. Title is misnomer. Facebook freely handed over data. Zuckerberg and Trump are still in charge. 2020 is coming. A-

POTD: Steamboat Geyser

From 2018 09 11 Yellowstone

Today's photo-of-the-day is of Old Faithful's less well known relative, Steamboat Geyser. There are a few facts that differentiate Steamboat from Old Faithful. One, it's the world's tallest currently-active geyser (300 feet, compared to 185 feet for Old Faithful). Two, its eruptions are very irregular, with intervals between eruptions ranging from about three days to about fifty years. That's right. Steamboat didn't erupt at all from 1911 to 1961. But it's erupted about 50 times in the last twelve months. So see it now. When it sleeps, it really sleeps. Three, Steamboat's major eruptions can last as long as 40 minutes, followed by hours of continuous minor eruptions. The day we visited, there was a major eruption at 5 am, and what you see here is what Steamboat was still doing eight hours later, continuously. We didn't wait for it to finish. Eventually, we just left while it was still spouting.

POTD: Autumn on the Yellowstone River

From 2018 09 11 Yellowstone

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Yellowstone National Park.

The Umbrella Academy (TV 2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Umbrella Academy (TV 2019): Childhood superheroes, now grown up, reunite to save the world. But first they have to deal with lots of old family issues. Goofy, quirky fun figuring out all that's going on, the central mystery of the apocalypse, and the interrelationships. B+

POTD: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

From 2018 09 11 Yellowstone

Today's photo-of-the-day is of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

POTD: Waiting for the Show

From 2018 09 11 Yellowstone

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. An excerpt from a tourist manual from 1883: "Old Faithful is sometimes degraded by being made a laundry. Garments placed in the crater during quiescence are ejected thoroughly washed when the eruption takes place. Gen. Sheridan's men, in 1882, found that linen and cotton fabrics were uninjured by the action of the water, but woolen clothes were torn to shreds."

After the jump...the show.

POTD: Grown-Up Lincoln Logs

From 2018 09 11 Yellowstone

Movin' on. Today's photo-of-the-day is from Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park.

Nice, but not where we stayed. Where we stayed is after the jump.

POTD: Gilded Monastery

From 2018 08 22 Kremlin

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius about 50 miles outside Moscow. It is the most important Russian monastery and the spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church. It was founded in 1337, closed by the Bolsheviks in 1920, then restored to the Church by Joseph Stalin after WWII. I don't usually think of all these gilded decorations when I think of monasteries and monks and vows of poverty, but here we are.

Bonus photo after the jump.

POTD: I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke

From 2018 08 22 Kremlin

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. It shows Ellen enjoying a Coca Cola while sitting in the gardens of Bol'shoy Kremlovskiy Square, where the czars used to stroll, with the Kremlin Senate in the background.

Bonus photos after the jump.

After Life (TV 2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

After Life (TV 2019): Even if, like me, you don't care for Ricky Gervais, try this series. He's mean-spirited and rude as always, but with a reason. He's grieving the death of his wife. There is wisdom here. Supporting cast is strong. Story arc is predictable. B-

POTD: Church and State

From 2018 08 22 Kremlin

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. It shows two of the many buildings in the Kremlin. On the left are government offices. Vladimir Putin's office is in there somewhere. On the right is the Cathedral of the Annunciation. Church and state. Old and new. Side by side. All that rich history and culture.

POTD: The Kremlin's Churches

From 2018 08 22 Kremlin

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. It shows several of the many churches inside this medieval fortress. That's not to say there aren't massive government office buildings there as well, but it's the number of churches and palaces and gardens and museums and open squares in the Kremlin that surprised me.

Bonus photo after the jump.

POTD: War and Peace

From 2018 08 22 Kremlin

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. It shows the Tsar Cannon, cast in bronze in 1586, "the largest bombard by caliber in the world," according to Wikipedia, whatever that means. Behind it are the onion domes of two churches in the Kremlin. War and Peace.

Review: Underland: A Deep Time Journey

Amazon

From Underland: A Deep Time Journey, by Robert Macfarlane:
The same three tasks recur across cultures and epochs: to shelter what is precious, to yield what is valuable, and to dispose of what is harmful. Shelter (memories, precious matter, messages, fragile lives). Yield (information, wealth, metaphors, minerals, visions). Dispose (waste, trauma, poison, secrets)."

An adventurer's journal of exploring caves, mines, and vaults, covering the Earth's history from prehistoric cave paintings until the far future when landfills full of plastic and deep stores of lead-207, the stable isotope at the end of the uranium-235 decay chain, are all that's left of our stay on the planet.

POTD: Waxing Moon Over the Kremlin

From 2018 08 20 Moscow

Today's photo-of-the-day shows a waxing moon over the Kremlin wall in Moscow, Russia.

POTD: The Czars or the Communists

From 2018 08 20 Moscow

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Red Square in Moscow, Russia. Which is more Russian, the Red Star or the Double-headed Eagle? The former represents Communism and the Soviet Union. The latter, the czars of the Russian Empire. Which is more prominent today? It's hard to say. Leningrad was renamed St. Petersburg after the fall of the Soviet Union. But in Moscow, Lenin's body is still on display in his tomb in Red Square. Likewise, the double-headed eagle made a comeback after the fall of the Soviet Union, but the red star is still prominent as well. Both of these photos were taken in Red Square, which oddly enough was named that long before the Russian Revolution brought Communism to Russia.

From 2018 08 20 Moscow

The Lion King (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Lion King (2019): Sure it's an unnecessary remake, but very well done if a little long. Stunning photorealistic animation. The uncanny valley is now forever bridged for nature documentaries. And I can't help but like the new "meaningless line of indifference" philosophy. B+

In God We Trust, All Others Must Bring Data

The Richardson City Council approved rezoning for the construction of new pad site restaurants with drive-throughs at Richardson Square. The vote was 6-0. Public comment was largely in favor. Clearly, it was a popular decision. Time to move on, right? Sure. But move on to what?

The Last Czars (TV 2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Last Czars (TV 2019): Odd mix of costume drama and mockumentary. Painless way to learn some history. Nicholas is an absolute ruler oblivious of how to run a government, run a war, or how to read the mood of his people. As drama, the characters are wooden and predictable. B-

POTD: Moskva River and Kremlin

From 2018 08 20 Moscow

Today's photo-of-the-day is of the Moskva River with the Kremlin on the bank to the left. The various red brick towers mark the walls of the Kremlin. The large yellow and white office building with the green roof houses government offices, one of which is President Vladimir Putin's. To the right of it is one of the many churches inside the Kremlin, one of the things that surprised me about the Kremlin.

Why the city is called Moscow and the river is called Moskva is a question I never did figure out. In Russian, the city and river have the same name, but for some reason the transliteration into English is different for the two. I guess I'll have to go back.

Bonus photos after the jump.

The Farewell (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

The Farewell (2019): Family gathers in China when grandmother is diagnosed with cancer. A study in cultural differences dealing with universal feelings. Careful storytelling by Lulu Wang makes it heartfelt without being maudlin. Awkwafina handles a range of acting excellently. A-

Idle Thoughts: From "Never Again" to "I can't believe it's happening here."

Tweets from July, 2019:

• 2019-07-01: "How did we go from 'Never Again' to 'I can't believe it's happening here.'" -- Christopher Weyant"
• 2019-07-01: Richardson, give me one good reason not to follow Portland's lead here. (Link)
• 2019-07-01: @RepLanceGooden Thanks for noticing, at long last, that the economy was in a "boom" under Obama, in fact about twice as long as under the current Republican administration.

After the jump, more idle thoughts.

POTD: Alexander Garden

From 2018 08 20 Moscow

Today's photo-of-the-day is of the Alexander Garden in Moscow, Russia. It runs for over 900 yards along the outside of the western wall of the Kremlin. It was constructed after the Napoleonic Wars, when Tsar Alexander I ordered the reconstruction of the parts of the city that had been destroyed by French troops.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019): Quentin Tarantino's take on Manson cult and Sharon Tate murders, with a twist. QT's homage to vintage music, movies, and Hollywood streets. Slow buildup to violence. Brad and Leo (Bradnardo?) make a comfortable pair. Women fare worse. B+

Period. End of Sentence (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes

Period. End of Sentence (2018): Documentary short about how menstruation is a taboo subject in India even today that suppresses girls and women. And how one village's women fight back by creating a business of making and selling sanitary pads. Inspiring. A-

POTD: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

From 2018 08 20 Moscow

Today's photo-of-the-day is of the eternal flame at the tomb of the unknown soldier just outside the Kremlin wall in Moscow, Russia.

Bonus photo after the jump.

Rolling Thunder Revue (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

Rolling Thunder Revue (2019): Martin Scorsese's mostly non-fictional documentary of chaotic 1975 tour by Bob Dylan and friends. Some glimpses into Dylan's psyche. Lots of intimate concert footage. Fascinating behind-the-scenes looks at Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez. B+

If Not This, Then What?

On Wednesday, I blogged about my opposition to the Richardson City Council's approval of a zoning change request to allow the development of pad site restaurants on the old Richardson Square Mall property at Belt Line Rd and Plano Rd. My article was criticized for not offering alternative solutions. Alternatives weren't the subject of my post, but if you read it and my previous articles linked to, you'll see that I do address just that question. Maybe this standalone article on the question will help.

Dior: From Paris to the World

The Dallas Museum of Art exhibition "Dior: From Paris to the World" showcases almost 200 runway dresses from the House of Dior, from the 1940s until the present day. That's a lot. So many that the DMA has turned over its entire barrel vault and four side galleries for the exhibition. It's pretty much just dresses and the attendance the day we went looked about 10:1 women to men, but I found it well worth the hour we spent inside the exhibit. But, confession: "Project Runway" is one of my guilty pleasures.

More photos after the jump.

Dollar Tree: The Next Generation

The Richardson City Council approved rezoning for the construction of new pad site restaurants and a partitioning of the former Sears store at Richardson Square. I've blogged my opposition to this short-sighted plan again and again. My opposition wasn't softened by the council's deliberations.

POTD: Check It Off the Bucket List

From 2018 08 20 Moscow

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Red Square in Moscow, Russia. Seeing St. Basil's Cathedral in Red Square has been on Ellen's bucket list since high school. Check it off!

Click to see St. Basil's at night.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018): Oscar winner for animated feature. Origin story for super hero; coming-of-age tale for everyone. A door to the multiverse brings variants of Spider-Man together. New hero has to save the world. Too much action. Never enough humor. C+

POTD: 31 Flavors in Red Square

From 2018 08 20 Moscow

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Red Square in Moscow, Russia. If we had any doubts about who won the Communism vs Capitalism fight, this Baskin-Robbins stand in Red Square suggests an answer. (The jury is still out on the autocracy vs democracy question, if not in Russia, maybe in ours.)

Close-up photo after the jump.

POTD: Merry-Go-Round

From 2018 08 20 Moscow

Today's photo-of-the-day is of an unknown girl in Moscow, Russia. Perhaps it's a sign that all kids grow up to the point where merry-go-rounds are no longer fun, or maybe it's a sign that smart phones are addictive even to young kids, but I like to interpret this photo as a sign that kids are kids all over the world.

POTD: Mass Transit Moscow Style

From 2018 08 20 Moscow

Today's photo-of-the-day is from a subway station in Moscow. These underground palaces were built by Joseph Stalin to be showcases of the workers' paradise that the Soviets wanted to present to the world. The USSR collapsed but the subway stations still impress visitors to Moscow today. The train service is swift, frequent, and comfortable, too.

Bonus photo after the jump.

POTD: Scenes Along the Volga

From 2018 08 20 Moscow

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Volga River in Russia near Moscow. No history lesson today. Just universal images. People are people everywhere.

Bonus photos after the jump.

Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes

Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019): Our hero saves Europe from evil Elementals...or someone else. European city backgrounds were my favorite part of movie. Also, the usual Marvel humor. And I guess the teen love story adds human interest. Full of plot holes. Overdone CGI. C+

POTD: Nikolsky Cathedral Bell Tower

From 2018 08 19 Uglich

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Volga River in Russia. When the Baltic-Volga Waterway was constructed, the network of dams, reservoirs, and locks connecting a two-thousand mile long waterway sometimes drowned villages and towns. The bell tower is all that remains of the Nikolsky Cathedral.

Blocked on Twitter

The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a New York judge's ruling and found that [President Donald] Trump "engaged in unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination by utilizing Twitter's 'blocking' function to limit certain users' access to his social media account, which is otherwise open to the public at large, because he disagrees with their speech." ... The judges on the appeals court concluded that "the First Amendment does not permit a public official who utilizes a social media account for all manner of official purposes to exclude persons from an otherwise-open online dialogue because they expressed views with which the official disagrees."

Source: CNN.

After the jump, my own experiences being blocked on Twitter.

POTD: Cruising the Volga

From 2018 08 19 Uglich

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Uglich Reservoir lock on the Volga River in Russia. The bow of our cruise ship is just visible as we enter the lock behind another cruise ship. The Baltic-Volga Waterway is a network of dams, reservoirs, and locks connecting a two-thousand mile long waterway. The whole is an amazing feat of engineering.

POTD: My Uglich Watch

From 2018 08 19 Uglich

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Uglich, Russia. There's a story behind it. I haven't worn a wrist watch in years. But I was in Uglich. How could I resist buying a watch in Uglich? Uglich was known as a watch-making center in Russia. Nikita Khrushchev, while attending the 1955 Geneva Summit, bragged that Uglich watches were better than Swiss watches because, as the joke goes, Russian watches run faster. So I decided I'd buy an Uglich watch, as long as the price was cheap. I set a price limit of $30. I found a souvenir stall where the seller, when he learned my price limit, just happened to have a large supply of watches right at that price of $30. Who could have guessed my luck? I picked out the perfect watch at this souvenir stand. It featured "President of Russia" on the face, along with a tsarist double-headed eagle and Vladimir Putin's signature. Later that day, Ellen said it was time for dinner. I said we still had an hour. She said no we didn't. I double checked my new watch and noticed it had stopped running. So much for my Uglich watch.

Close-up after the jump.

Review: The Soul of America

Amazon

From The Soul of America, by Jon Meacham:

For many, the fact that we have arrived at a place in the life of the nation where a grand wizard of the KKK can claim, all too plausibly, that he is at one with the will of the president of the United States seems an unprecedented moment. History, however, shows us that we are frequently vulnerable to fear, bitterness, and strife. The good news is that we have come through such darkness before."

The bad news is that the same shit keeps happening, generation after generation. It's not Meacham's thesis, but like playing Russian roulette, eventually the bad shit is going to kill us.

An Ad that Didn't Age Well

Younger readers may need an explanation. It used to be that to make a long-distance telephone call, you'd have to use an operator. (And if you're too young even to know what long-distance means, or what an operator is, use Google.) It was an exciting innovation when direct long-distance dialing was introduced. In the UK and Australia, the feature was called "subscriber trunk dialing," abbreviated STD. STD was still a big thing in telephone service when this ad appeared in Australia in 1976. Now you know. Hopefully, I don't have to explain the other meaning of STD.

The Time to Travel is NOW

This article was originally published in "Richardson Living" magazine. Read it on that website or read it here. Or read it in print. In mail boxes now.

I don't want to talk about why you should travel. If the delight of seeing new places, undertaking new adventures, meeting new people and cultures and, in the process, learning more about yourself, if that doesn't appeal to you, well, turn the page. For those of you who are still with me, let me tell you why the time to travel is NOW.

Young and Just Starting Out

"I always knew that you would take yourself far from home
As soon as, as far as you could go."
— 10,000 Maniacs

POTD: House Hunting in Uglich

From 2018 08 19 Uglich

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Uglich, Russia. It shows a representative house of the area. The owner is a school teacher who likes gardening — flowers and vegetables.

A look inside the house is after the jump.

POTD: Grace

From 2018 08 19 Uglich

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Uglich, Russia. The church is the Church of the Transfiguration, which dates to the early 1700s, replacing an earlier church on the same site that dated to the 1400s. Uglich itself dates back a thousand years. History is rich here. In 1591, according to Advantour, the original church's "bell ringer announced the death of Tsarevich Dmitry to the Uglich people by a peal of bell. Later this ill-fated bell, which brought bad news, was given a flogging with a whip just like humans and, like a criminal, exiled to Siberia."