Oppenheimer – Book and Movie

On By Rick McIn books, moviesLeave a comment

 “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”.

Bhagavad Gita

Initially, I wasn’t all that interested in either the long non-fiction book, nor the film.

BUT finally got around to both.

The movie is better. Not perfect, but a fantastic job telling a difficult story.

I streamed it on Prime over 3 nights as it is LONG.

 Cillian Murphy would seem to be the best possible actor to play the brilliant, complicated J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Robert Downey Jr. is excellent.

Matt Damon as Gen. Leslie Groves, as well.

Kenneth Branagh as Niels Bohr is perfect. He has the gravitas to bring depth to Oppenheimer’s hero.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I read American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer (2005) by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.

Surprisingly, I was quite engaged in his early years. The beginnings of the theoretical Physics that would lead to the nuclear bomb.

Once it got to his downfall due to his security hearing in the McCarthy era. The efforts by Lewis Strauss and the FBI to undermine Oppenheimer — I got restless.

Always conflicted, I wished Oppenheimer had simply walked away from the controversy.

I also read The Oppenheimer Alternative by Robert J. Sawyer, the author being a friend of my brother.

It’s an interesting alternative history of the Manhattan Project historical figures.

Noah Kahan – Stick Season

On By Rick McIn musicLeave a comment

Stick Season was a surprise hit by American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan,

It went viral on TikTok in mid-2023 and charted internationally. It got to #1 in Australia and the U.K.

The song title refers to a term for autumn in New England, the period after Halloween before the winter snow begins, which Kahan called “a time of transition” and “super depressing” as “it just means that winter is coming soon and it creates a lot of anxiety” and “nobody really likes it”.

For me the video is super original. Fresh.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Now I am stuck between my anger and the blame that I can’t face
And memories are somethin’ even smoking weed does not replace
And I am terrified of weather ’cause I see you when it rains
Doc told me to travel, but there’s Covid on the planes

And I love Vermont, but it’s the season of the sticks
And I saw your mom, she forgot that I existed
And it’s half my fault, but I just like to play the victim
I’ll drink alcohol ’til my friends come home for Christmas

So I thought that if I piled something good on all my bad
That I could cancel out the darkness I inherited from dad
No, I am no longer funny, ’cause I miss the way you laugh
You once called me forever, now you still can’t call me back

Olivia Rodrigo did a cover. This should bring more attention to the original.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

My favourite cover version so far is by Our Last Night. Rockin’

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Snowpiercer – the movie

On By Rick McIn movies, TVLeave a comment

I didn’t watch Snowpiercer (TV series).

But finally got around to the 2013 post-apocalyptic science fiction film.

Weird.

Why and how did a billionaire build a train that could run around the world?

I can see why some consider it a cult classic. It is philosophical.

It does have a terrific cast.

Rotten Tomatoes reports that 94% of critics gave the film a positive rating.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I’m Flying to Edinburgh 😀

On By Rick McIn travelLeave a comment

Flights are expen$ive in 2024.

BEST deal I could find Vancouver to Europe one way this summer was $498.16 CAD ($364 USD). Includes one piece of luggage, cancellation insurance, and seat selection.

BEST deal was NOT to London, for a change.

Years ago I typically flew Air Transit, a charter. But for the past 4 years WestJet has had the best options to Europe.

Arriving Edinburgh June 1, 2024.

A fun tourist city. I was there in 2009. And in 2018 for Fringe.

I’ll be staying at Castle Rock Hostel under the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle. It’s considered one of the best hostels in Europe.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

James Patterson’s ‘The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians’

On By Rick McIn books, economicsLeave a comment

Nobody calls James Patterson a great novelist.

BUT he has a lot of books. They’ve sold more than 425 million copies. And he’s helped thousands of people earn a living through the book industry.

Not to mention the dozens of author’s he’s promoted by co-authoring.

James Patterson is one of the good guys.

He calls himself a left-leaning political independent — but is disgusted with his neighbour, 4-time-loser Trump.

His 2024 nonfiction title, The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians  takes us inside the lives, and livelihoods, of the everyday heroes surrounding us in the literary trenches: booksellers and librarians.

In a collection of profiles that includes professionals of all types, from school librarians to independent booksellers to big box chain employees, Patterson and his co-author, Matt Eversmann, delve into how these reading gurus inspire young and old every day.

Publisher’s Weekly review – James Patterson’s ‘The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians’

“book joy”

In November 2015, Patterson received the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation.

Patterson has donated millions of dollars in grants and scholarship to various universities, teachers’ colleges, independent bookstores, school libraries, and college students to promote literacy.

In 2013, Patterson took out ads titled “Who Will Save Our Books? Our Bookstores? Our Libraries?” in Publishers Weekly and The New York Times Book Review, which employed the text “If there are no bookstores, no libraries, no serious publishers with passionate, dedicated, idealistic editors, what will happen to our literature? Who will discover and mentor new writers? Who will publish our important books? What will happen if there are no more books like these?”

 1600 Sing Radiohead’s “Creep”

On By Rick McIn musicLeave a comment

Pub Choir in Australia. Awesome.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

“Creep” was the debut single by the English band Radiohead, released September 1992. …

It was reissued in 1993 and became an international hit, likened to alt-rock “slacker anthems” such as ”Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana and ”Loser” by Beck. …

According to the journalist Alex Ross in 2001, “What set ‘Creep’ apart from the grunge of the early nineties was the grandeur of its chords—in particular, its regal turn from G major to B major. No matter how many times you hear the song, the second chord still sails beautifully out of the blue. The lyrics may be saying, ‘I’m a creep,’ but the music is saying, ‘I am majestic.’ …

The chord progression and melody in “Creep” are similar to those of the 1972 song “The Air That I Breathe“, written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood.[82] After Rondor Music, the publisher of “The Air That I Breathe”, took legal action, Hammond and Hazlewood received cowriting credits and a percentage of the royalties. …

Click PLAY or watch the original on YouTube.

The Gentlemen (2024 TV series)

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

The Gentlemen is a big hit on Netflix.

Guy Ritchie a super skillful creator.

I wish he’d do something without having to rely on the shock value of ultra violence.

Casting is excellent.

Theo James carries the show and almost makes the absurd story believable.

Michael Vu as James “Jimmy” Chang, Susie’s chief weed grower is my favourite.

Edward Horniman has unexpectedly inherited an estate of 15,000 acres (6000 hectares) and the title of Duke of Halstead at the reading of the last will and testament of his deceased father.

He learns that the land has become part of a weed-growing empire run by Susie Glass.

He must navigate a world of eclectic and dangerous characters with nefarious agendas, whilst also trying to protect his home and stay alive.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Cycling 18,000 Miles in 110 Days

On By Rick McIn cycling, travelLeave a comment

My cycling hero — Lael Wilcox — is one of the top ultra-endurance racers of all time.

She does not have a driver’s licence. 😀

In 2008 she and a boyfriend started a trip, cycling over 100,000 miles through 30+ nations.

What’s next?

Guinness Record Attempt: Around the World

My goal is to ride the 18,000 miles in 110 days. The current women’s record is held by Jenny Graham at 124 days, 10 hours and 50 minutes.

At this point, in regards to the record, there’s no distinction between supported and self-supported rides. I’ll be carrying all of my own equipment and food and figuring out all of the logistics on and off the bike. That’s how I like to travel– with a sleep kit and winging it along the way.

I like open-ended adventures and I like competition and riding around the world as fast as I can feels like a great combination of both.

Rue will be documenting my ride and I’d love to encourage people to come out and share a few miles with me along the way.

I’ll be starting in Chicago May 26th.

18,000+ miles without a chamois: Lael Wilcox is aiming to set a world record by circumnavigating the planet in 110 days

Wilcox hopes to set a new Guinness World Record and admits that even she is “really terrified”

Breathless by Amy McCulloch

On By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

Breathless is a murder mystery set on one of the 8000m peaks.

Manaslu

Not a great mystery — but I enjoyed hearing about the challenges of high altitude climbing.

When journalist and novice climber Cecily Wong is asked to summit Mount Manaslu, the eighth-highest peak in the world, it’s a career-making opportunity. She’s been personally invited by Charles McVeigh, one of the most acclaimed mountaineers in the world, who wants her to report on the final leg of his record-breaking series of summits. But there’s one caveat: he won’t give her the interview until she’s scaled the mountain as part of his climbing party.

Amazon

Amy McCulloch actually knows what she’s talking about. September 2019, she became the youngest Canadian woman to climb Mt. Manaslu in Nepal — the world’s 8th highest mountain.

She also summited Aconcagua, in -45C and 90kmph winds, and has visited all seven continents.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Not a Sound by Heather Gudenkauf

On By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

Gudenkauf has created a memorable character in Amelia.

I do recommend this book.

After losing her hearing in a freak hit-and-run accident that also killed a woman, Amelia has struggled with alcoholism and unemployment and is finally striving to get her life together.

She finds peace on the water, kayaking or paddleboarding with her service dog, Stitch, another survivor and misfit, until the day she discovers a body left in a shallow channel. 

Shocked not only by her discovery, but also by the realization that she used to be friends with the victim, Gwen, Amelia also worries that the publicity surrounding her 911 call might lead the killer right to her doorstep. …

Come for the mystery; stay for the taut suspense, the unique heroine—and of course, the ugly, loyal dog.

Kirkus