“Be a warrior not a wokester.”

On July 17, 2021October 29, 2021 By Rick McIn ethics, human rightsLeave a comment

Professor Galloway — like many of us — is turned off by out-of-control political correctness.

People are increasingly afraid to say what they think for fear of online backlash.

Similarly, I’m embarrassed by people outraged that William Shakespeare (for example) was racist. You shouldn’t judge people in the 1500s by today’s standards.

Instead of complaining, take ACTION.

Do something REAL.

Be a warrior for social justice.

Listen to Professor Galloway‘s podcast here.

… Structural racism is real, and our economic system is tilted, if not rigged.
The most accurate predictor of your opportunities isn’t your intelligence or work ethic but where you’re born.
But playing the victim decreases your capacity to be a warrior against these injustices. …
Reacting to every slight and demanding satisfaction from every insult is what the system wants you to do. Joining a Twitter mob seizing on a hapless middle manager or an out-of-touch English professor may feel like justice, but it’s just a cheap drip of dopamine ….
Be a warrior.
Advice to Grads: Be Warriors, Not Wokesters

Michelangelo’s David

On July 16, 2021July 14, 2021 By Rick McIn Art and beautyLeave a comment

I was much affected seeing David in Florence when I was a teenager.

Ever since, sculpture has been my favourite art discipline from the past.

Unveiled 1504.

Leonardo da Vinci was the great master at the time. Michelangelo the young upstart genius. it’s said the two were very competitive.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Smoking Causes Lung Cancer

On July 15, 2021July 16, 2021 By Rick McIn anti-smoking, health & fitness, moviesLeave a comment

End of story.

See more Our World in Data smoking charts.

The best commentary on the Big Tobacco lobby was the 2005 film Thank You For Smoking.

I loved how the lobbyist played by Aaron Eckhart doesn’t smoke.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Loving my Apple Watch 6

On July 15, 2021July 14, 2021 By Rick McIn AppleLeave a comment

A significant improvement to the 5 in so far as the features I use most.

Of course it’s BLOODY expensive.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Vincent van Gogh was a Genius

On July 14, 2021July 12, 2021 By Rick McIn Art and beauty1 Comment

Though I’ve visited many of the best art galleries and museums around the world, I’m not actually much of an Arts buff.

What I like most is sculpture.

Also the Impressionists and post-Impressionists (Cézanne, Gauguin, van Gogh, and Seurat.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The Lighthouse Land by Adrian McKinty

On July 13, 2021July 12, 2021 By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

I love the McKinty books.

But his stab at science fiction young adult novels somehow doesn’t work for me.

The Lighthouse Land was first in the trilogy. I got through it — but won’t continue with the next two.

They would be great for young teens.

The Mosquito Coast – season 1

On July 12, 2021July 10, 2021 By Rick McIn books, movies, TVLeave a comment

The Mosquito Coast is based on the novel of the same name by Paul Theroux published in 1981.
It also loosely adapted from the 1986 film which starred Harrison Ford. It premiered on Apple TV+ on April 30, 2021.
The series stars Justin Theroux, nephew of Paul …

As with many of the Apple TV shows, it’s very well done.

I recommend it. But many find the plot unnecessarily confusing with too many twists and turns.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Season 2 will take the family to some place like where Harrison Ford ended up.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

In the Cart by Anton Chekhov

On July 11, 2021July 9, 2021 By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

One of the great short stories, “In the Cart” was published 1897.

The author was aware of the dire conditions which teachers had to live in rural Russia.

I listened to a lecture on the tale from a book by George Saunders, professor at Syracuse University — A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life

The Tomorrow War

On July 10, 2021July 9, 2021 By Rick McIn moviesLeave a comment

Chris Pratt summer blockbuster online?

I’m OK with that.

I typically only see 1 or 2 films / year in the theatre.

It’s dumb. It’s entertaining. It’s predictable.

MANY cliches.

I’m glad I didn’t pay theatre prices.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Sooley by John Grisham

On July 9, 2021July 8, 2021 By Rick McIn books, sport - amateur, sport - proLeave a comment

John Grisham takes you to a different kind of court in his first basketball novel.
Samuel “Sooley” Sooleymon is a raw, young talent with big hoop dreams—and even bigger challenges off the court. …

In the summer of his seventeenth year, Samuel Sooleymon gets the chance of a lifetime: a trip to the United States with his South Sudanese teammates to play in a showcase basketball tournament. …
During the tournament, Samuel receives devastating news from home: A civil war is raging across South Sudan, and rebel troops have ransacked his village. His father is dead, his sister is missing, and his mother and two younger brothers are in a refugee camp.
Samuel desperately wants to go home, but it’s just not possible. Partly out of sympathy, the coach of North Carolina Central offers him a scholarship. …
But how far can Sooley take his team? And will success allow him to save his family?
JGrisham.com

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.