visiting Camp Borden, Ontario

Hiking the Bruce Peninsula, I happened to see Camp Borden nearby on my map.

I drove there immediately because of a family connection.

Canadian Forces Base Borden (also CFB Borden) … is home to the largest training wing in the Canadian Armed Forces. …

During the Second World War, both Camp Borden and RCAF Station Borden became the most important training facility in Canada, housing both army training and flight training …

I toured the Military Museum. Then the Camp Borden Tim Hortons.

My camera disappeared somewhere there. Otherwise I’d have more photos.

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Jar City: A Reykjavi­k Thriller (2006)

When a lonely old man is found dead in his Reykjavík flat, the only clues are a cryptic note left by the killer and a photograph of a young girl’s grave. Inspector Erlendur discovers that many years ago the victim was accused, but not convicted, of an unsolved crime, a rape. Did the old man’s past come back to haunt him?

I was interested in the Iceland setting. And had seen good reviews for this book.

Jar City was published 2000 but did not come out in English until 2005 and later.

I was a bit disappointed, actually. The plot compares poorly against the best in the genre. Ian Rankin, for example.

I’m not sure I’ll carry on with any other books in the series.

On the other hand, I’ve heard that subsequent books are better.

Jar City was made into an Icelandic film.

Stephen King – It (1986)

I can’t explain it. 

Only the 3rd Stephen King book I’ve read, It was much like the other two. Far, far too lengthy. 

… narrative bagginess … circuitous, repetitious book … a thousand sprawling pages …

Adrian Daub – Where “It” Was: Rereading Stephen King’s “It” on Its 30th Anniversary

All three King books I’ve read would have been much improved by being half the length.

The unnecessary and weird sex thing would be first to go. What’s with that?

I vow never to read King again. And that’s a shame because he’s such a good story teller.

I did not see the 1990 television miniseries and hope never to watch the new hit film adaptation nor the inevitable sequel(s).  Scary movies are not my thing.

 

 

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Andy, Barrett and I saw the best ever Spider-Man.

… based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man, co-produced by Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. It is the second Spider-Man film reboot …

Everything about this film is excellent. It doesn’t have a boring moment. Entertaining dialogue. Great casting.

Zendaya as Michelle “MJ” Jones, one of Parker’s classmates is awesome.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Viggo Mortensen – Captain Fantastic

Kelly recommended this film. I loved it.

Captain Fantastic is a 2016 American comedy-drama film … starring Viggo Mortensen. The story centers on a family that is forced by circumstances to reintegrate into society after living in isolation for a decade. …

Mortensen was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor and at the 70th British Academy Film Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role and the Academy Award for Best Actor at the 89th Academy Awards. …

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 83% …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

This American Life – Betsy DeVos

If you want a good overview of the history of Betsy DeVos, Trump’s particularly terrible appointee for education, listen to This American Life.

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is from Grand Rapids, Michigan. So is This American Life producer Susan Burton. During Devos’s nomination hearings, critics accused her of never having set foot in a public school. But it turns out that years ago she did—as a volunteer mentor. Susan returned to Grand Rapids to find out what DeVos’s experience in a public school in her hometown can tell us about her vision for education in this country. (29 minutes)

LISTEN NOW

The Bridge (U.S. TV series) – season 2

I loved season 1 and had high expectations for season 2.

Many critics liked season 2 better. I found it muddled. Disjointed. There were too many characters. Plot too fuzzy.

Still … for me it was well worth watching. But I’m not surprised there was no season 3.

I’ll next watch Bron, Broen … the Scandinavian crime television series on which this American version was based. It’s headed into it’s 4th season.