Culper Ring trilogy by Brad Meltzer

On October 21, 2023October 15, 2023 By Rick McIn books, governmentLeave a comment

The Inner Circle
The Fifth Assassin
The President’s Shadow

I’m not much of a fan of thrillers, especially political thrillers.

And didn’t manage to get through all 3 books.

Beecher White is an interesting character, however. A government archivist in Washington D.C.

I did enjoy enjoy reading about the archives and historical anecdotes.

Author Brad Meltzer is interesting, too.

His novels touch on the political thriller, legal thriller and conspiracy fiction genres, …

… Meltzer counts former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush as fans, and both have helped him with his research. …

The Culper Ring books imagine that a secret spy ring, founded in real life by George Washington, continues to exist today.

Though they didn’t work for me, many others really enjoy these books.

Of the 3 books, I felt the first — Inner Circle — was best. And I did finish that one. 😀

You could try it and see if you want to continue with the trilogy.

The Taylor Swift Economy

On October 21, 2023October 20, 2023 By Rick McIn economics, GOP USA, musicLeave a comment

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is the biggest in history.

… Kanye who? 😀

Business students will study how she built this music empire.

If you are a Republican strategist, your worst nightmare is Taylor Swift campaigning for Biden. Her fans are even more fanatic than Trump’s deplorables.

I’m a fan girl myself, but wouldn’t pay to see the show LIVE. Too expen$ive.

I will see the movie.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Photographer Steve McCurry

On October 20, 2023October 15, 2023 By Rick McIn photos, travelLeave a comment

Some call Steve McCurry (born April 23, 1950) the greatest photographer all time.

You might not know the name, but you’ve seen his photos in National Geographic.

For example, Afghan Girl, a 1984 photographic portrait of Sharbat Gula, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan during the Soviet–Afghan War.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen

On October 20, 2023October 18, 2023 By Rick McIn books, moviesLeave a comment

Not a bad book, actually.

Copenhagen Deputy Detective Superintendent Carl Mørck returns from vacation to discover that his tiny cold case unit, Department Q, has been reshuffled, and a citizen’s complaint has reopened a 20-year-old case on which all the relevant documents have disappeared. …
Kirkus

Six rich students are suspected of killing Lisbet Jørgeneon and her twin brother two decades ago.

But they were never seriously investigated as a young man admitted he had murdered the two. And is still in prison.

Reluctantly at first, Carl (the jerk) and his likable Syrian assistant, Hafez el-Assad, AND his new secretary, Rose Knudsen start building a case against the students, some of whom are now rich and influential.

A popular Danish film was adapted from the book.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The River we Remember by William Kent Krueger

On October 19, 2023October 16, 2023 By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

William Kent Krueger (born November 16, 1950) is an American novelist and crime writer, best known for his series of novels featuring Cork O’Connor, which are set mainly in Minnesota.

I’ve read them all. Excellent.

In addition, he’s written several books of historical fiction. More ambitious and literary than the Cork O’Connor series.

His 2023 book — The River we Remember — is very good. A bit slow for my liking.

Memorial Day (or Decoration Day, as it was still called in 1958) takes on new meaning for the residents of Jewel, Minnesota, when its wealthiest—and least-liked—citizen is murdered and a war veteran is suspected of the crime.

The brutish victim, Jimmy Quinn, is found floating in the Alabaster River, shotgunned and chewed up by catfish.

Suspicion immediately falls on Noah Bluestone, a veteran who is doubly persecuted for being a Dakota Sioux and married to Kyoko, a Japanese survivor of Nagasaki.

The sheriff, Brody Dern, a highly decorated and traumatized war veteran who spent time in a Japanese prison camp, thinks about letting whomever killed Quinn, destroyer of people’s lives, go free. …
Kirkus Reviews

FICTION: The latest from the Minnesota author may be his best work yet.

Review: William Kent Krueger’s ‘The River We Remember’ takes us back to 1958 Minnesota

The Future of Video

On October 18, 2023October 15, 2023 By Rick McIn videoLeave a comment

Since the pandemic, my #1 hobby has been videography.

In 2023 there are two obvious trends:

Expensive cameras no longer needed. You can do anything 4K or lower resolution using phones, drones, and action cameras.
Artificial Intelligence will become increasingly important in editing. Soon.

Increasingly I find TV and movies too slow. Too boring. I like watching short videos with quick cuts. Like this.

This masterpiece in Tunisia uses no AI.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

As cost drops and technology is available to everyone, storytelling will be what separates the best from the rest.

That video is by Erik Hedenfalk, a young guy from Sweden who joined YouTube 2017.

By 2023 Apple is using his video. #respect

He’s done work for Mazda, Marriott, DJI, and more.

WHY Bikepacking ?? … 🚲

On October 17, 2023October 16, 2023 By Rick McIn best bike rides, cycling2 Comments

For me bikepacking was a logical extension of hiking.

Cycle to the hike.

It’s easier, as well, and I’m not getting any younger.

My favourite cycling vlogger is Ryan Van Duzer. This short video explains better than any other exactly the attraction of multi-day cycling trips.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Planet Earth III coming 2023

On October 16, 2023October 14, 2023 By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

I love all the David Attenborough shows.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson

On October 15, 2023October 15, 2023 By Rick McIn booksLeave a comment

Good Girl, Bad Blood (2021) is the second novel in the three-part A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series of young adult crime fiction.

The first book in the series, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2020), became a multimillion-copy New York Times bestseller. …

the novel explores the themes of The Use and Abuse of Social Media, Questions of Identity, and The Pursuit of Truth and Justice. …c
SuperSummary