Pope Francis died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday.  He made a valiant effort to modernize the Catholic Church to make it relevant for the 21st century.  Promoted unity among Catholics and called upon the church to embrace its global diversity.    Comments are mixed about his actual effectiveness . From  Time  magazine: T he film   Conclave   begins with the death of the Pope. It then follows the chain of events from that moment to the election of a new Pope, following a few characters—portrayed by a cast that won the top honor at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. A 2024 film based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris, stars Ralph Fiennes as the cardinal who organizes the  conclave , Stanley Tucci as a liberal American cardinal candidate, John Lithgow as a moderate Canadian cardinal, sort of the villain, and Isabella Rosselini, a sister who serves as the conclave's head caterer and housekeeper.  Earned 93/86 ratings from  Rotten Tomato...

'Twas a simple day yesterday.  Only went to Din Tai Fung for an early dinner.    Have written about this Taiwanese restaurant many times here .  First one started in Taipei  in 1958, and the 181 restaurants worldwide today are still mostly fast food pick-up places.  However, the one that opened in   New York City   this summer sits 450.  The Seattle chain I went to is huge.  Showed up around 3:30PM and had to wait 15 minutes to get in.  It specializes in Shanghai Soup Dumplings, or Xiao Long Bao. Very large restaurant. Beef and pork noodles, plus pork/shrimp dumplings. Shanghai Soup Dumplings. With Johnny Walker Black and ginger/vinegar sauce. Saw two  great NCAA football games  yesterday: Oregon edged Ohio State. LSU never led until the end, and beat Mississippi in overtime.  I every two years particularly identify with this match because my Chemical Engineering Department is adjacent to  Death Valley .  If...

We yesterday again toured Manhattan, and happened to pass by the Trump hush money trial with Stormy Daniels testifying.  Here is what it looked like outside the court area. A current  summary of the trial.   There are 12 jurors and 6 substitutes.  What if even one juror votes Trump is not guilty?  Then there will be a  hung jury : A hung jury can also have an impact on the parties involved in the trial. For the   defendant , a hung jury may mean that they have not been found   guilty , but it also means that the case could be retried, leading to additional stress and cost. For the   prosecution , a hung jury means that they have failed to secure a   conviction , which can be a blow to their case and reputation. When a hung jury occurs,  it is up to the prosecution to decide if they want to retry the case or drop the charges . It's important to note that   double jeopardy , the principle that prohibits trying a person twice for ...