Doors Open by Ian Rankin (2008)

On October 19, 2021October 15, 2021 By Rick McIn books, movies, TVLeave a comment

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.

Up Here, in Canada by Clark W

On October 18, 2021October 15, 2021 By Rick McIn humour, musicLeave a comment

Though put together for fun by UNCLE CLARK, there’s a LOT of truth in this video.

BUT personally I like Nickelback. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks Val.

The Target by David Baldacci

On October 17, 2021October 15, 2021 By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

Book 4 in the Will Robie series.

I’d hoped Robie partnering with another American black ops assassin, Jessica Reel, would make for the BEST book in the series, so far.

BUT this book is everything I don’t like about Baldacci.

Unbelievable. Predictable. Jingoistic. North Korea evil but redeemable by the USA, USA, USA.

The subplot with Reel’s father, Earl Fontaine, was the one section well done. I wish the rest of the book was that good.

Though there are two more books in the series, I’m OUT.

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Unbreakable (2000) – M. Night Shyamalan

On October 16, 2021October 14, 2021 By Rick McIn movies1 Comment

I’ve never become a Shyamalan fan, though — of course — The Sixth Sense (1999) is a brilliant film.

I finally watched the critically acclaimed Unbreakable.

For me Unbreakable was an inferior version of Sixth Sense. Another picture where Bruce Willis is quiet and subtle.

Samuel L. Jackson was excellent, however.

And the movie is skillfully done.

But too slow paced for me.

The plot reminded me of the more entertaining Fearless (1993). But Jeff Bridges as Max Klein in that film was better than Willis in this one.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The River by Peter Heller

On October 15, 2021October 14, 2021 By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

An excellent book. Wilderness survival.

Two best friends together on a long, remote canoe trip to Hudson’s Bay. Their friendship tested by forest fire, white water, and violence.

Heller knows the outdoors intimately. And writes skillfully.

He traveled the world as an expedition kayaker. Worked as a logger, offshore fisherman, river guide.

Highly recommended.

Amazon

Only Murders in the Building

On October 14, 2021November 5, 2024 By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

A fan of by Steve Martin & Martin Short, I was bound to enjoy Only Murders.

Selena Gomez? … Who? I’m not her demographic.

But having the old comedians team up with a young female singer was smart. She’s the right age to make fun of both.

As I’ve come to expect, Steve plays the straight man. Martin the comic.

And we can all make fun of true crime obsessives listening to podcasts. 😀

I’m already looking forward to the second season.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Naming of the Dead by Ian Rankin

On October 13, 2021October 10, 2021 By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

I’d not read this one Rebus book … or had I?

Happily, my memory is so BAD that it seemed vaguely familiar, but not uninteresting.

Naming of the Dead is a crime novel by Ian Rankin.
… the 16th of the Inspector Rebus novels. Set in Edinburgh in July 2005, in the week of the G8 summit in Gleneagles. …
… Rebus is nearing retirement (“nobody would blame you for coasting”), and becomes sidelined until the apparent suicide of MP Ben Webster occurs at a high-level meeting in Edinburgh Castle. …
At the same time, a serial killer seems to be killing former offenders, helped by a website set up by the family of a victim. …

Weight of BIKE not important

On October 12, 2021October 10, 2021 By Rick McIn cycling1 Comment

When I started bike touring, I carried significantly more luggage than most on a somewhat heavier bike. YET I seemed to make about average mileage each day.

It’s not a race.

AND — if this video is correct — carrying 1 extra kilogram over 100 km results in only about a 2 minute time penalty.

SO — I’ll carry all the weight I want on future trips. I have a lot of capacity volume on my new bike.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.