Erebus by Michael Palin (2018)

On May 19, 2019May 17, 2019 By Rick McIn books, musicLeave a comment

I’ve read all Michael Palin’s book. Always engaging and entertaining.

The audio version is particularly recommended as Palin reads it himself.

In September 2014, marine archaeologists discovered HMS Erebus, her snapped stern furred with algae, on the Arctic seabed. Palin starts there and works back. …

… September 1839, accompanied by HMS Terror, … four years on an Antarctic adventure, where the dashing James Clark Ross captained her to the Barrier, or the Ross ice shelf as it was then known. …

The two ships set the record for most southerly latitude reached under sail alone.

I actually enjoyed reading about the successful Antarctic voyages — 12 months avoiding icebergs — than the more infamous Northwest Passage attempt under captain Franklin.

… disappeared while on his last expedition, attempting to chart and navigate the Northwest Passage in the North American Arctic. The icebound ships were abandoned and the entire crew died of starvation, hypothermia, tuberculosis, lead poisoning, zinc deficiency and scurvy.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Erebus: The Story of a Ship by Michael Palin – review

The TV star’s vivid memoir of HMS Erebus and its epic polar expeditions is lively and diligent

I knew the story best from the lyrics of one of my favourite songs. “Northwest Passage” by Stan Rogers.

Palin refers to the classic in the last pages of the book.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Seven Nation Army

On May 17, 2019May 14, 2019 By Rick McIn musicLeave a comment

LOVE this song.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The Sopranos – season 1

On May 12, 2019May 11, 2019 By Rick McIn music, TVLeave a comment

“I have a semester and a half of College. So I understand Freud.”

I finally got around to watching one of the greatest TV series of all-time.

And I see the appeal. The cast is excellent. The dialogue real and compelling.

The opening credits montage and theme song are fantastic.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Still, I’m not motivated to carry on to season 2.

I get the idea.

Boomtown Rats – I Don’t Like Mondays

On April 8, 2019April 7, 2019 By Rick McIn ethics, government, musicLeave a comment

A song inspired by a 1979 school shooting in San Diego. ☹️

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Though the family was very poor, the killer’s father — Wallace — had given his daughter a Ruger 10/22 semi-automatic .22 caliber rifle with a telescopic sight and 500 rounds of ammunition for Christmas 1978.

She later said, “I asked for a radio and he bought me a gun.” When asked why he might have done that, she answered, “I felt like he wanted me to kill myself.”

The killer will die in prison.

The father, I assume, is free. If it were up to me, I’d put him in prison too.

… on male privilege

On April 7, 2019April 5, 2019 By Rick McIn ethics, government, humour, musicLeave a comment

I doubt any human has had life easier than me — a white, male, heterosexual Canadian born 1957.

Talk about privilege.

Any man calling himself victim to the women’s rights movement is an idiot. And a snowflake. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

Sun Valley Sally by Joe Cannon

On April 4, 2019April 2, 2019 By Rick McIn musicLeave a comment

Back in my University days we bought tickets for Joe Cannon every year.

In fact it was Keith Erhardt and friends who sponsored his trips to Calgary.

So far as I know Joe still lives in Sun Valley.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The Cat Empire

On March 23, 2019March 21, 2019 By Rick McIn musicLeave a comment

Sam told me this was currently his favourite band.

Next day I couldn’t recall their name … The Cow Pasture? 😀

Click PLAY or watch one of their hits on YouTube.

Amie – Pure Prairie League

On December 8, 2018December 4, 2018 By Rick McIn musicLeave a comment

The 1972 classic.

Amie what you want to do?
I think I could stay with you
For a while, maybe longer if I do …

Click PLAY or watch it LIVE on YouTube.

Click PLAY or watch a cover on YouTube.

Thanks Ron.

Bohemian Rhapsody – my review

On November 6, 2018November 4, 2018 By Rick McIn movies, musicLeave a comment

Loved it.

Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury was terrific.

I’ve been a fan of the band since 1974. Ron Shewchuk rang me up and told me to rush over to his place to listen to Queen II. I was blown away. They were so outrageous. So creative.

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

I saw it on London’s biggest Imax screen. Great sound!

The film received a mixed critical reception; its direction, screenplay and historical inaccuracies were criticized, but the Live Aid sequence and cast, particularly Malek’s performance as Mercury, received unanimous praise.

Farrokh Bulsara (5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991), known professionally as Freddie Mercury, was born of Parsi descent on Zanzibar, and grew up there and in India before moving with his family to Middlesex, England, in his late teens. He formed Queen in 1970 with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor.