I believe John Lennon would approve of this version. The song is the opening track on the Beatles 1969 album Abbey Road.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Great song. But I like this fan remix even better.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Hell or High Water by Peter Heller
Tsangpo Gorge in Tibet is likely the deepest canyon in the world. And at 504.6 kilometres (313.5 mi) is slightly longer than the Grand Canyon.
In 2002 a group of the best kayakers in the world led by Scott Lindgren set out to “paddle” the gorge.
That’s nearly impossible. But they did accomplish some first descents. And surprisingly none of the party died.
It was the most dangerous water they’d ever tried.
This is one intense book.
Peter Heller was assigned to cover the expedition for Outside and, despite having completely worn out the cartilage in one hip, he decided to go for it.
… Heller is unflinchingly honest about the hostility he faced from Lindgren and his companions, who openly attack the journalist for “getting rich” from their story, as well as the resentment that begins to well inside him at their condescension.
Meanwhile, the locals hired to carry the equipment realize they have the upper hand and start extorting more money for their services.
The drama on shore, however, is easily matched—sometimes surpassed—by the action on the river, which includes a few chilling brushes with death.
Heller nimbly blends the history of the region into his gripping modern trek, as the crew lives up to the legacy of the great explorers before them. …
China plans to build the world’s largest hydroelectric project there.
Killing Eve – season 1
Everyone loves Killing Eve. Surprising. Funny. Never boring.
I’ve always like Sandra Oh and she’s very good in this. Vulnerable. Conflicted.
But it’s Jodie Comer as the weird psychopathic assassin who steals every scene.
Stumbling, uncertain Sandra Oh taking on a super villain seems unfair. But they have some kind of mutual obsession.
All the other actors are good too.
Click PLAY or watch a trailer on YouTube.
The Shadow by Patterson & Sitts
The Shadow is a collection of serialized dramas, originally in 1930s pulp novels and later in a variety of media. …
The introductory line from the radio adaptation of The Shadow – “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!” – spoken by actor Frank Readick, has earned a place in the American idiom.
Click PLAY or listen on YouTube.
A good idea. The Shadow is reawakened in 2087 New York City dystopia.
Only two people know that 1930s society man Lamont Cranston has a secret identity as the Shadow, a crusader for justice. One is his greatest love, Margo Lane, and the other is fiercest enemy, Shiwan Khan. When Khan ambushes the couple, they must risk everything for the slimmest chance of survival . . . in the future.
Amazon
A century and a half later, Lamont awakens in a world both unknown and disturbingly familiar. The first person he meets is Maddy Gomes, a teenager with her own mysterious secrets, including a knowledge of the legend of the Shadow. …
Still, I’m quite lukewarm on this book as I am with a lot of Patterson.
Can’t particularly recommend it.
Fear Nothing by Dean Koontz
Christopher Snow is different from all the other residents of Moonlight Bay, different from anyone you’ve ever met. For Christopher Snow has made his peace with a very rare genetic disorder shared by only one thousand other Americans, a disorder that leaves him dangerously vulnerable to light.
His life is filled with the fascinating rituals of one who must embrace the dark. He knows the night as no one else ever will, ever can—the mystery, the beauty, the many terrors, and the eerie, silken rhythms of the night—for it is only at night that he is free. …
Amazon
Quite good.
Koontz does have a knack for coming up with interesting and original characters.
Yukon/Alaska – Packraft, Canoe, Bikepack
I’d love to do a trip like this.
Manuel Jutzeler put together an excellent video.
You must watch it on YouTube.
Canadians Flying SOUTH
October in Saskatchewan I’m seeing thousands of Canada geese flying south every day.
Noisy.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Body of Lies by Iris Johansen
I liked the first in a series of 28 Eve Duncan novels – Face of Deception.
So tried #2 – Body of Lies. But didn’t enjoy it nearly as much. It dragged.
Eve Duncan … is a forensic sculptor driven by a need to liberate innocence from the shroud of death.
… at the weird behest of a shady senator, Eve rebuilds the visage of the politician’s late rival, a challenge that nearly results in her murder, strains her romance with a hard-bitten detective, and uncovers a fantastic global conspiracy over energy profits and much else. …
My ACTION ITEMS system
Having a bad memory, I’ve always relied on LISTS.
Often I’ve called them “to-do lists“.
In fact, they are most often “to-don’t lists“. Most never get done. 😕
Charles Duhigg points out the obvious: Most to-do lists are actually “memory lists“. Things you MIGHT want to come back to … later. Probably not.
PRODUCTIVITY means actually completing a high priority task.
My second last list system was an app called Wunderlist. It was purchased by Microsoft and my data was moved over to “Microsoft To Do“. That pissed me off, so I switched to “Apple Reminders“.
Based on Charles Duhigg’s advice, each morning I’ll make an ACTION ITEMS list. Only the 3 highest priority items. I’ll have my Reminders app REMIND me each morning at 9am.
If this works, I’ll expand to Duhigg’s S.M.A.R.T. system. … Hmm. That might be a waste of time, though. Better I simply get the 3 things done. Then move on to whims and low priority tasks as usual. 😀
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Doors Open by Ian Rankin (2008)
I’ve read all 23 of Rankin‘s Rebus novels.
Doors Open is a stand-alone thriller. No Rebus or Fox.
The plot is good.
With a vast collection but limited wall space, the National Gallery (on the TV adaptation, a Scottish bank) has many more valuable works of art in storage than it could ever display.
The plan is to stage a heist at the Granton storage depot on “Doors Open Day” during which a selected group of paintings will be “stolen”.
The gang will then give the appearance of having panicked and fled without the works of art, but will have switched the real paintings with high quality forgeries good enough to convince anyone investigating the matter that no theft has been committed. …
Like many Rebus fans, I found the book lacking.
The screen version looks to be more entertaining.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Rick McCharles 