For Want of a Nail

On March 17, 2023March 12, 2023 By Rick McIn cycling, hikingLeave a comment

I’m typically the guy who says: “Why carry a nail? It’s too heavy! … We probably won’t need it on this trip.” 😀

#FamousLastWords

The proverb is found in a number of forms, beginning as early as the 13th century.

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the message was lost.
For want of a message the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

Related sayings are “A stitch, in time, saves nine” and “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.

HEY Siri – Where’s my Wallet?

On March 16, 2023March 16, 2023 By Rick McIn Apple, product endorsements, travelLeave a comment

After 2 years, I finally replaced the batteries on my AirTags. No problem. It’s easy.

I originally bought the 4 pack and currently have them attached to:

Passport Case
Bike
Wallet
… other Bike 😶

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Click PLAY or watch a review on YouTube.

The Vanished Man by Jeffery Deaver

On March 16, 2023March 12, 2023 By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

An excellent empty room mystery.

It begins at a prestigious music school in New York City. A killer flees the scene of a homicide and locks himself in a classroom. Within minutes, the police have him surrounded. When a scream rings out, followed by a gunshot, they break down the door. The room is empty.

Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs are brought in to help with the high-profile investigation. …
jefferydeaver.com

Jordan Bike Trail

On March 15, 2023March 12, 2023 By Rick McIn cycling, travel1 Comment

The pandemic ended up cancelling a bikepacking trip I’d planned 2020 to Oman.

After seeing this video, I’m thinking Jordan might be even better.

Early Spring and late Autumn are the best months.

I’d love to get back to Petra and Wadi Rum.

I found the peoples of Jordan and Syria to be friendliest of anywhere I’ve travelled.

Welcome to Jordan!

Note to self ➙ Rick, you might want a fat bike for some of this sand.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Storm Watch by C.J. Box

On March 14, 2023March 11, 2023 By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

I have to wait a year for each new novel in the Joe Pickett series.

#23 Storm Watch dropped Feb. 28th, 2023.

It went to #1 on the NY Times list as well as Publishers Weekly.

All of these books are good. And Storm Watch is as good as the best.

Fans like me love Joe and his family. Good people in the midst of rightwing, rural Wyoming.

And we are intrigued by his buddy Nate Romanowski, a rogue falconer.

When a prominent University of Wyoming professor goes missing, authorities are stumped. That is, until Joe Pickett makes two surprising discoveries while hunting down a wounded elk on his district as an epic spring storm descends upon him.

First, he finds the professor’s vehicle parked on a remote mountainside. Then Joe finds the professor’s frozen and mutilated body.

When he attempts to learn more, his investigation is obstructed by federal agents, extremists, and Governor Colter Allen.

Nate Romanowski is rebuilding his falconry company—and financing this through crypto mining with the assistance of Geronimo Jones.

He’s then approached by a shadowy group of local militant activists that is gaining in power and influence, and demanding that Wyoming join other western states and secede from the union—by force, if necessary. ..

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It’s quite surprising that a TV series based on these books has happened yet. One recent attempt was quashed by Box.

The Last of Us – season 1

On March 13, 2023March 12, 2023 By Rick McIn human rights, TV2 Comments

Fantastic. Original. Painful to watch, at times.

The Last of Us is the bravest TV production ever.

It should win all the awards for 2023.

The main script writer is Craig Mazin, best known for creating the HBO miniseries Chernobyl. Mazin was college roommates with Ted Cruz — whom he now despises.

Episode 3 was amazing. One of the greatest in TV in history.

Mazin watched if over 200 times — and cried every time.

I’m thinking Nick Offerman as Bill, a gay survivalist, and Murray Bartlett as Frank, the love interest, are the roles those actors will be associated with for the rest of their lives.

Murray is gay. But Nick’s wife had to talk him into doing the role. It worked.

I listened to an interview with the video editors. The goal of this TV series was to emphasize the relationship between the characters, and treat the zombie action sequences as secondary.

Bella Ramsey was a genius choice to play the critical role of Ellie. Quirky and potentially violent. Over 100 others were considered for the part. I’m sure her weirdly compelling role as 10-year-old Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones won her the job.

Episode 7 was partly shot at my alma matter – University of Calgary.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Coastal Elites … 😇

On March 12, 2023March 12, 2023 By Rick McIn friendsLeave a comment

Due to scheduling of dental appointments, I spontaneously booked a week long trip out to visit my parents on Vancouver Island.

En route I stopped at Chez Shew — and had perfect timing. Brian and Jane happened to be visiting the same weekend.

We enjoyed the classic beach off-leash walk. And were served up a lovely lunch by Kate … who I believe is the superior chef in the household.

The Consultant – season 1

On March 12, 2023March 5, 2023 By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

An oddball horror? Black comedy?

WEIRD is what it is.

Weird and surprising enough to keep me going.

The Consultant is based on the novel of the same name by Bentley Little. …

The series follows the employees of a mobile gaming company whose leadership is taken over by a sinister consultant, played by Christoph Waltz, the Academy Award winner for playing evil villains.

In fact, without Waltz this show wouldn’t work. He can really sell evil.

He calls himself Regus Patoff — a shortened form of Registered US Patent Office.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Shrinking – season 1

On March 11, 2023March 9, 2023 By Rick McIn humour, TVLeave a comment

Funny dialogue.

These writers must have been having a great time.

I’d give him housing in my … V or A. 😀

A therapist, Jimmy Laird, dealing with severe grief, begins to breach ethical barriers by telling his patients what he completely thinks, resulting in massive changes to his and their lives. …

Kristen Baldwin of Entertainment Weekly gave the series a B+ and described the series as “a funny, brainy grief-com about the power—and dangers—of radical honesty.” …

Writing for The Wall Street Journal, John Anderson stated, “The overall sense is a little like laughing at a funeral; the human impulses are familiar, a little perverse and somehow comforting.”
wikipedia

Harrison Ford? A comic? Who knew? 😀

I do find the show to be unnecessarily profane. In fact, I finally QUIT on episode 4. That much swearing in a TV show is simply lazy.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.