$5 trillion COVID relief mostly gone to the RICH

On January 16, 2021January 15, 2021 By Rick McIn ethics, GOP USA, government, health & fitness, things getting worseLeave a comment

American taxpayers are throwing around money like drunken sailers.

WHY have the outcomes been so lousy?

Just 400 wealthy families provide about half the funding for presidential campaigns, and they speedball their influence through think tanks, legal advocacy groups, and friendly media.
Rupert Murdoch, the Mercer family, Michael Bloomberg, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos all shape our views and influence national policy. …
… $3 trillion in new money and historically low interest rates have been the nitro and the glycerin, respectively, of the stock market’s ascent.
The dirty secret is that there are two pandemics. While a quarter of America is food insecure and behind on rent, the shareholder class has experienced an explosion in net worth …
Professor Galloway

Full Metal Jack by Diane Capri

On January 16, 2021January 12, 2021 By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

Many — like me — are frustrated that we’ve read all the Jack Reacher books written by Lee Child.

At a cocktail party in New York in 2009, Lee and author Diane Capri discussed a great question: Where is Jack Reacher?

With Lee’s blessing, Capri began writing a series of “Hunt For Reacher” books. This one is #13.

FBI Special Agent Kim Otto is tasked with finding the ever elusive wandering Jack Reacher.

Though not as good as the Lee Child books, Full Metal Jack kept me going.

I do recommend it for Jack Reacher fans.

Definition of STUPID

On January 15, 2021January 14, 2021 By Rick McIn ethics, government, human rightsLeave a comment

Professor Galloway has it exactly right.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Superstore – seasons 1 & 2

On January 15, 2021January 14, 2021 By Rick McIn humour, TVLeave a comment

Love it.

What a genius concept. Making fun of stores like Walmart and Target. 😀

I’m definitely going to keep watching.

My favourite character by far is Canadian comedian Lauren Ash who plays Dina Fox.

Excellent too is comedian, actor, writer, and producer Colton Dunn as Garrett McNeil, a vet who’s in a wheelchair.

Sandra is pretty fantastic too.

… and Brett. Brett steals every scene.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Long Road to Mercy by David Baldacci

On January 14, 2021January 10, 2021 By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

The first book (2018) in the Atlee Pine series.

I picked this book from dozens of similarly popular current fictions because the lead character is based close to the Grand Canyon.

The premise is interesting. The tale less engaging than I anticipated.

I could take it or leave it.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Tulum – my FAVOURITE beach

On January 13, 2021January 8, 2021 By Rick McIn travel, travel MexicoLeave a comment

Tulum, Mexico, 130km south of Cancun.

I was there in 2006.

At the time it was $6 / night to tent. $12 / night for a concrete cabana.

The only time I ever enjoyed Yoga.

The highlight for me was daily walks to the pre-Columbian Mayan walled city.

Cenotes are another local highlight.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

In the Morning I’ll be Gone by Adrian McKinty

On January 12, 2021January 10, 2021 By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

I’ve become a huge McKinty fan over the #COVID months.

This is book #3 in the Sean Duffy series.

In Belfast, September 1983, in the middle of The Troubles, Sergeant Sean Duffy, one of the few Catholics in the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), is drummed out of the RUC on trumped up charges.
At the same time, Dermot McCann, an IRA master bomber and ex-schoolmate of Duffy’s escapes from the Maze prison and becomes a prime target for British Intelligence.
MI5 drags Duffy out of his drunken retirement to track down McCann.
Wikipedia

Here’s a 2015 interview with the author. Quite a character. Roller coaster of a life.

He didn’t really get famous until his 2020 book The Chain.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.