A surprise hit. 96% with critics on Rotten tomatoes.
It works because the cast and dialogue is so quirky.
I laughed out loud at every episode.
In a high-tech future, a rogue security robot secretly gains free will; to stay hidden, it reluctantly joins a new mission protecting scientists on a dangerous planet even though it just wants to binge soap operas.
I wasn’t particularly impressed with the book on which this show was adapted.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I did like Death by Dumpling (2018). The author, Vivien Chien, already has 11 books in the series as I post.
The 1st is far from a brilliant murder mystery. There’s no way I could have guessed the killer from the clues.
BUT I was charmed by Lana Lee, our investigator.
It’s a short, easy read. A cozy mystery. Almost Young Adult.
The last place Lana Lee thought she would ever end up is back at her family’s restaurant. But after a brutal break-up and a dramatic workplace walk-out, she figures that helping wait tables is her best option for putting her life back together. Even if that means having to put up with her mother, who is dead-set on finding her a husband.
Lana’s love life soon becomes yesterday’s news once the restaurant’s property manager, Mr. Feng, turns up dead―after a delivery of shrimp dumplings from Ho-Lee.
But how could this have happened when everyone on staff knew about Mr. Feng’s severe, life-threatening shellfish allergy?
Now, with the whole restaurant under suspicion for murder and the local media in a feeding frenzy―to say nothing of the gorgeous police detective who keeps turning up for take-out―it’s up to Lana to find out who is behind Feng’s killer order. . . before her own number is up.
The book ends with Lana heading off on a date. There’s hope for her.
My parents lived in Parksville on Vancouver Island for the past 17 years.
I’ve spent more and more time with them there over recent years.
Sadly, Dad died in March at age-94.
Mom died suddenly and unexpectedly in May at age-96. That was traumatizing.
My brother Rob and his wife owned my parents home. It’s up for sale as I post.
We’ve packed up 243 Hickey Ave. I purged as many of my own possessions as I could as part of my philosophy of Voluntary Simplicity.
Drove the rest of the junk to Calgary on July 12, 2025.
Woke at 4am. Ferry at 6:15am. Passed North Vancouver at 8:20am. Arrived at my brother Randy’s place in Calgary 9:30pm. No delays en route.
About C$270 in fuel. Nearly that much in coffee, as well. 😀
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Weirdly, as executor, my name is currently listed as owner of Dad’s truck. (I’ve not owned a motor vehicle for much of the past 25 years.)
I still consider Calgary to be home.
Of course I’m totally disappointed with recent Provincial conservative governments. Current premier Danielle Smith is too Trump-lite for me. For example, as I post, the rate of measles in Alberta is even worse than in Texas. Smith encourages ReTrumplican misinformation on all kinds of topics.
On the other hand, born and raised in Calgary, I consider anyone NOT born in Calgary to be some kind of vermin. 😀
Unwanted immigrants.
If Trump was in charge of the 51st state, he’d spend a lot of taxpayer money to have Canadians attacking other Canadians. In Canada.
We could round up the invaders and drop them off the other side of the Alberta border. 😀
This is a good one. Son of Stone (2012) is #21 in the long Stone Barrington series.
Barrington marries his one true love, Arrington Calder, and gets to know his 15-year-old son for the first time.
Very fast paced. Lots of action.
Plenty of money.
If you read just one of these entertaining books, this is it.
Not the best of the series.
Stone Barrington has even more beautiful women than usual — throwing themselves at him.
Kisser (2010) is #17 in the series.
At Elaine’s, his favorite New York City restaurant, Barrington meets Carrie Cox, an aspiring actress and singer intent on landing a big Broadway musical part. In the meantime, she works as a lipstick model for an advertising agency.
Meanwhile, Barrington is hired to investigate artist Derek Sharpe and convince him to stay away from Hildy, a rich girl who’s soon to come into trust fund big money .
There are yet more women.
“Sapphire” by Ed Sheeran is Western pop with Indian – specifically Punjabi – musical influence.
Something completely different.
It’s the 3rd single from Sheeran’s 2025 studio album, Play
Ed has backpacker cred since he spent a year travelling the world, staying in cheap hostels, drinking cheap beer.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Click PLAY or watch Making of Sapphire (Studio Behind The Scenes on YouTube.
For some reason I downloaded a kids book ➙ Middle School: Too Uncool for School (2025) by James Patterson and Martin ‘Ed’ Chatterton.
Surprisingly entertaining. An easy read, only 3 hours on audio.
It’s #17 of the popular Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life series.
Rafe Khatchadorian has never been cool. But all that changes when he becomes the guitarist in an awesome rock band and wrangles a part-time job at Hills Village’s trendiest new coffee shop slash yoga studio. No more being at the bottom of the middle school food chain—Rafe is finally going to be popular!
He just has two teeny problems: the awesome rock band is led by none other than the school bully. And the band actually isn’t awesome—they absolutely stink, and Rafe has to whip them into shape for the Best Band Competition.
With Rafe’s newfound coolness on the line, will he find a way to hit the stage in style or is he doomed to dorkdom forever?
The CBS made for TV movie looks entertaining, as well. 😀
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Not the best King I’ve read — but very good.
Never Flinch (2025) is a crime novel by Stephen King.
A stand alone book, but one that includes fan favourite recurring character Holly Gibney.
Two stories run in parallel, then converge for the finale.
For me, the Izzy Jaynes storyline was more interesting. That bad guy truly bizarre.
Gospel singer Sista Bessie is one of those terrific King characters with whom you can truly relate.
He’s one of our best storytellers.
Hidden Nature (2025) is another of her terrific romance novels. Uplifting.
She’s one of the best storytellers.
The murder mystery is less compelling. Too drawn out. (Her fans like LOONNNGGGG books.)
I did like the bad guys, however.
I love the details she includes in every book. You always learn something. In this case, I learned much about home renovation.
Natural Resources police officer, Sloan Cooper, is the focus. An interesting job.
She’s shot. Died. And shocked back to life on the operating table.
Sloan searches online for similar cases of people who have come back from the dead — as the killers seem to be targeting them.
Rick McCharles 