Merry Christmas Pope Francis

On December 25, 2014December 24, 2014 By Rick McIn ethics, happiness, product endorsements, things getting betterLeave a comment

Finally. A reform Pope.

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I just love what he’s been doing. 🙂

David Willey – BBC Vatican correspondent:

In the course of 2014 Pope Francis consolidated his position as one of the most popular pontiffs of modern times, more popular even than the recently-sainted Pope John Paul II.

He invented a new easy style of communication at the Vatican, brought in fresh blood, and publicly lambasted power-hungry princes of the church – the cardinals and bishops who run the Catholic Church’s Rome headquarters; he also found time to play an active diplomatic role in helping the US and Cuba bring to an end 50 years of public enmity. …

Popular Pope Francis takes own path in Vatican

Boyhood – best picture of 2014?

On December 24, 2014December 18, 2014 By Rick McIn movies, product endorsementsLeave a comment

Boyhood is a 2014 American coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Richard Linklater and starring Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater and Ethan Hawke. The film was shot intermittently over an eleven-year period from May 2002 to October 2013, showing the growth of a young boy and his older sister to adulthood. …

It was declared a landmark film by many notable critics, who praised its direction, acting, and scope. …

Boyhood began filming without a completed script. Linklater had prepared each character’s basic plot points, and the ending including the final shot, but otherwise wrote the script for the next year’s filming after rewatching the previous year’s footage, incorporating the changes he saw in each actor. …

Boyhood received near-unanimous acclaim from film critics, with a “certified fresh” score of 99% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 213 reviews …

The film has a full score of 100 on Metacritic based on 49 critics, indicating “universal acclaim”. It is the highest rated of all films reviewed upon their original release on the site. …

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

Mayday.US fights corporate lobbyists

On December 23, 2014December 20, 2014 By Rick McIn government, product endorsements, things getting betterLeave a comment

Mayday.US is a nonpartisan group using the people’s money to challenge big donors and corporate lobbyists.

Click PLAY or watch a promo on YouTube.

https://mayday.us/

4 Sisters Restaurant, Gondar

On December 12, 2014December 11, 2014 By Rick McIn food, product endorsements, travelLeave a comment

Wow.

Opened July 2011, this is one of the best restaurants I’ve ever seen in the developing World.

The Four Sisters: Helen, Senait, Tena, and Eden. No foreign partners.

Staff wears traditional dress during the day, then changes to new dress for the evening.

You are welcomed at the gate by a bugle man who alerts staff that you are on your way.

I had the lunch buffet one day. And our trekking group celebrated with dinner there another.

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Fantastic.

Trip Advisor

TheFourSistersRestaurant.com

no phone? … or Wind Mobile?

On November 24, 2014November 18, 2014 By Rick McIn internet, product complaints, product endorsementsLeave a comment

Of the crappy Canadian companies, Wind Mobile comes out best value in a recent survey.

I’m most interested in “International Roaming“, especially their UNLIMITED US ROAMING ADD-ON for $15 / month.

I’ll go visit Wind Mobile when I get back to Calgary. To see if they can convince me to sign on.

If not … I’m very happy with NO PHONE. 🙂

Sapa Unique Hotel

On October 22, 2014October 21, 2014 By Rick McIn product endorsements, travelLeave a comment

This might just be my favourite hotel of all time. (I’ve stayed in thousands of hotels.)

As I’m doing constantly these days, I found the Sapa Unique Hotel on Trip Advisor.

$35 / night single is far more than I normally pay in Asia. But the Unique was well worth it.

Here’s the view from the balcony terrace.

Sapa Unique balcony

On arrival, you’ll find the bedspread and bathroom shower scattered with flower petals.

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In a tourist trap town where it’s near impossible to get information, front desk staff are helpful and thoughtful answering questions. They sent me to the most reputable trekking agency in town, unlike the official government tourist information office.

Before bed, they surprise guests with fruit or caramelized bananas drizzled with chocolate. What a treat.

If you are departing on a night bus or train, they pack you a snack for the trip.

Even better, they keep a room free so guests can take a shower at the end of day before climbing on to the sleeper bus.

Thank you Sapa Unique Hotel. 🙂

book review – Daemon

On September 18, 2014September 18, 2014 By Rick McIn books, internet, product endorsements1 Comment

I’ve decided to read this book again, something I do not often do.

It’s stayed with me, frequently coming to mind. We need this kind of technology in the future in conjunction with hardware like Google Glass.

___ original post Aug 2010:

A daemon (pronounced /ˈdeɪmən/ or /ˈdiːmən/) is a computer program that runs in the background, rather than under the direct control of a user.

Daemon (2006), the book, by Daniel Suarez, has a cult following amongst geeks. It was recommended by Leo.

Matthew Sobol was a legendary computer game designer–the architect behind half a dozen popular online games. His premature death from brain cancer depressed both gamers and his company’s stock price. But Sobol’s fans weren’t the only ones to note his passing. He left behind something that was scanning Internet obituaries, too–something that put in motion a whole series of programs upon his death. Programs that moved money. Programs that recruited people. Programs that killed.

Confronted with a killer from beyond the grave, Detective Peter Sebeck comes face-to-face with the full implications of our increasingly complex and interconnected world–one where the dead can read headlines, steal identities, and carry out far-reaching plans without fear of retribution. Sebeck must find a way to stop Sobol’s web of programs–his Daemon–before it achieves its ultimate purpose. And to do so, he must uncover what that purpose is . . .

Amazon

Loved it.

I guess I’m a geek. It’s dense, complicated and has a plot line that kept me guessing from cover to cover.

Calgary’s new $245m library

On September 10, 2014September 9, 2014 By Rick McIn books, product complaints, product endorsementsLeave a comment

Calgary must have the crappiest library in Canada for a city this size.

By crappy, I mean there are hardly any functioning toilets left in the old building. 😦

But the new library, hopefully opening 2018, does look sweet. It will include a public train line for access.

Eliminating card fees will have a relatively minor impact on the library’s roughly $54-million annual operating budget. Membership brought in $1.4 million — slightly less than Calgary branches raised in fines.

my future home?

On September 3, 2014September 3, 2014 By Rick McIn economics, good news, philosophy, product endorsements, things getting betterLeave a comment

… 150 square feet …

The architect stole design elements from ships to make this home as efficient as possible. The kitchen does double duty as a home- and work-station, and it’s naturally lit with a wall full of windows. …

The cottage, designed for year-round use, is small enough to be powered solely by solar panels. A central cast-iron, wood burning stove heats the home. Plus, building costs were relatively low (about $42,000 including all interior furnishings) thanks to the cabin’s small size and smart design.

In fact, you can buy this cottage—or one like it—for about $18,500 …

How to Design the World’s Most Efficient Tiny Home