The Downloaded by Robert Sawyer

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Rob is Canada’s most successful philosophical fiction writer.

The Downloaded is his 25th book. So far only available on Audible.

A print version will be available sometime 2024.

In 2059 two very different groups have their minds uploaded into a quantum computer in Waterloo, Ontario.

One group consists of astronauts preparing for Earth’s first interstellar voyage.

The other? Convicted murderers, serving their sentences in a virtual-reality prison.

But when disaster strikes, the astronauts and the prisoners must download back into physical reality and find a way to work together to save Earth from destruction …

Audio book narrated by Academy Award-winner Brendan Fraser • Emmy Award-winner Luke Kirby • Dora Award-winner Vanessa Sears • Kim’s Convenience star Andrew Phung • and Gemini Award-winner Colm Feore.

I know Rob personally and have enjoyed his books for decades. But I’m not sure I can recommend Downloaded.

I like the plot.

But the unusual format of the book didn’t work for me.

Rather than telling the story directly, it’s a series of dialogues and interviews.

Originally intended to be released as a series of audio episodes over some weeks — like Shakespeare — the final decision was to keep it together as one audio book.

Case Sensitive – season 1

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

Excellent TV.

Season 1 was on Amazon Prime Canada — but not season 2.

It’s a shame people with money can’t simply and easily pay for what they want to watch.

Case Sensitive (2011) is a British crime drama series based on the best-selling books by Sophie Hannah. 

… starring Olivia Williams and Darren Boyd, …

Zailer and Waterhouse investigate when housewife Geraldine Brethrick and her young daughter are found dead. The early view is that Geraldine killed them both, an opinion endorsed by criminologists Harbord and Hey – but her husband Mark, away on business at the time, claims she was perfectly happy and would never have taken her own life.

If It Bleeds by Stephen King

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If It Bleeds (2020) is a collection of four previously unpublished novellas by American writer Stephen King.

  1. “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone”
  2. “The Life of Chuck”
  3. “If It Bleeds”
  4. “Rat”

With Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, once again King proves he is the best of all the great story tellers.

Craig gets a job working for the retired Mr. Harrigan, who gifts Craig a winning lottery ticket.

Craig then buys Mr. Harrigan a cell phone using some of the money won from the lottery ticket.

Eventually, Mr. Harrigan dies and later, Craig leaves a voicemail on Mr. Harrigan’s old phone about a bully. The bully is later found to have died by suicide. …

I also enjoyed If It Bleeds,  a stand-alone sequel to the Mr. Mercedes trilogy, specifically The Outsider.

King is a terrific story teller. You quickly relate to his fictional characters.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Injustice (British TV series)

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Injustice (2011) is a five-part British drama television series about criminal defence barrister William Travers, who has lost faith in the legal system following a traumatic series of events. …

Quality British TV. One of the best miniseries I’ve watched recently.

The Brits treat their audience as much smarter than the Americans. 😀

Charlie Creed-Miles is excellent as DI Mark Wenborn, a rotten cop and weasel you simply want to punch out.

Script was written by Anthony Horowitz, one of my favourite authors.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

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I read only the 1st book. Won’t continue.

But I’m thinking this series will appeal to many young readers.

Throne of Glass is a high fantasy novel series by American author Sarah J. Maas, beginning with the entry of the same name, released in August 2012.

The story follows the journey of Celaena Sardothien, a teenage assassin in a corrupt kingdom with a tyrannical ruler …

Celaena is given the chance to leave the slave pits, and become the king’s personal assassin. She’d have to survive a contest with the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. …

This is the first book in a long series.

Apple AirPods Pro 2 – REVIEW

On By Rick McIn Apple, books, music, product endorsementsLeave a comment

I listen to more audio than anyone else you know. 😀

Mostly audio books and podcasts. Mostly when I am on the move or exercising.

I cursed Steve Jobs thousands of times for not promoting wireless headphones.

Steve died too young in 2011 (aged 56) — RIP.

AirPods were launched 2016 alongside the iPhone 7.

My entire life was instantly 13% 😀 improved.

I’ve used the least expensive 1st generation AirPods until 2023 and have been very happy. Amazingly, I’ve only lost two individual AirPods and kept using the rest, often syncing one AirPod at a time.

Finally I upgraded to AirPods Pro 2 in 2023. Expensive. But worth it for me.

I somewhat appreciate the improved sound quality and noise cancellation capabilities, and extended battery life — but the main reason I’m endorsing the product are the volume adjusting gestures and better Find My tracking.

The original AirPods had no physical volume adjustment.

The case has an external speaker so you can more easily located it when lost between pillow cushions.

Pausing audio by clicking is far better than the old double tap.

Maximum volume is quite a bit higher in the Pros.

Another plus is faster connection via Bluetooth.

I don’t like AirPods switching automatically. The default. But it’s easy to turn that off. AirPods stay connected to the device of your choice — unless you tell them to switch.

Of course I got the case engraved with my email address in case I leave it somewhere. 🙏

The sound has more base. Not super important for me, but it does seem to make female voices richer in podcasts.

Click PLAY or watch Justine’s review on YouTube.

Life Expectancy by Dean Koontz

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Dean Koontz has some of the most imaginative plots.

His story telling is terrific too. The drama is easy to follow. Moves quickly.

The dialogue funny and interesting.

Life Expectancy is a novel by suspense/horror writer Dean R. Koontz.

The plot centers on five pivotal moments in the life of a self-proclaimed “lummox” named James “Jimmy” Tock. …

Moments before his grandfather’s death, the old man makes 10 cryptic predictions: among them that his grandchild will be named James—but that everyone will call him Jimmy.

Josef also predicts five terrible days to come in his grandson’s life.  And announces those dates.

As the prophecies are fulfilled one by one, and he survives each, Jimmy learns many things.

A Man Called Otto – Tom Hanks

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I like everything Tom Hanks does. And I really liked this film, as well.

A Man Called Ove is a novel by Swedish writer Fredrik Backman, first published in English 2013.

An odd book, it launched Backman’s career as a major novelist.

That said, I’ve tried to read it twice and got fed up both times.

The premise is enticing:

Ove is a curmudgeon—the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him ‘the bitter neighbour from hell.’ However, behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. …”

Age-59, Ove’s wife recently died. And he’s not handling it well.

The Swedish film adaptation looks more entertaining than the book.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Tom Hanks plays the role in the Hollywood adaptation. To mixed reviews. I thought it was excellent.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.