Hanging onto promises and songs of yesterday
This is a partially constructed but now abandoned building in Ravipuram (Cochin, India). Due to some court case the construction was halted and stalled and it looks abandoned for now. It has been a while I guess (not sure how many months/years) and it’s begun to look like a setting for a horror film a la the “found footage” genre.
Here we go again:-
A division bench of Kerala High Court Tuesday ratified the new liquor policy of the Congress-led government, which had envisaged the closure of all liquor bars except those in the five-start category. The division bench also nullified the single bench order which allowed liquor licence for four-star and heritage hotels.
However, the court ratified the government decision to amend its liquor policy to allow beer and wine parlours in closed bars. The beer and wine parlours were allowed in the closed 418 bars to address the loss of jobs and cushion the impact of the new liquor policy on tourism and hospitality sectors. With today’s decision, the 312 three and four star hotels now operating can apply for only beer and wine parlour licences. Bar hotel owners association said they would challenge the verdict in the Supreme court.
What is wrong with these idiots in politics? Democracy is not for you to abuse your power and make decisions based on your own biases and agendas. Let people decide if they want to drink or not or eat a certain food or not. If you don’t like them don’t eat or drink them.
It’s time to get rid of these bastards who are dragging India back to the 13th century!
For my 35th food review it’s Indian Snacks – beef cutlet & Banana fritters (pazhyam porri). Pretty common snacks one has in Kerala for evening tea/coffee at local shops. May not look all that great but it can be very tasty in some places.
What Are Your Best Sleepover Memories?
I was in the 9th or 10 grade (o either 14 or 15 years old) I can’t remember which. And it was my first time ever sleeping at a friend’ house. My buddy Binju was alone for a couple of days with his parents being away for a function and his brother & sister both at college. He asked if any of his close friends could stay for a night at his place as his folks didn’t want him to be alone, even though he had two dogs, and I volunteered.
I remember that I asked permission from my dad & mom and that day I took some change of clothes and put it in a bag and took it to school with me. After class Binju and I got down at his stop (4 kms or so away from my own) and walked towards his house. He had a German Sheppard and a Pomerian loose in the yard and he went in first to get the Sheppard into his kennel (that sonofabitch looked fierce and growled at me like he want a piece of me) and then we went into the house. The Pom was more friendly and took an instant liking to me. We listened to music in Binju’s room until 8 pm (he was an INXS and Genesis/Phil Collins fanatic) when we rode to the main road on two bikes and went to a hotel to buy some food for the night. I can’t remember what he had but I think we had some beef roast.
After watching a movie and dinner we went to sleep on the twin beds in the room with the Pom sleeping next to my bed (he also gave me a scare in the middle of the night when I suddenly woke up and saw two large eyes starring at me). The next day we woke up late, quickly made some breakfast and rushed to the main road to catch the school bus. I went home that day as Binju’s parents were coming back that night. But it was a memorable sleepover.
Prompt from The Learning Network at The New York Times
How Much Do You Curse? Why?
A lot and most of the time. I can remember learning curse words as a teen and I have used them liberally and unapologetically throughout the rest of my life till now. I use all these words to let some frustration go, to put emphasis on something and to show my contempt and anger at times. Cursing is a liberating way to let go off some steam as well. I started cursing at the age of 12 and never stopped and have no intention of stopping.
I use the words fuck, shit, bloody, goddamn, asshole, fuckface, jackass, shithead, meathead, motherfucker, assbrain, asshead, dickhead, pussy, cunt, vagina licker, asshole licker, shit eater, father fucker, father’s cocksucker, cocksucker, sperm bucket, sperm drinker, piss off, holy shit etc etc a lot of times during the week. Usually when I get frustrated and angry. Mostly not directed at anyone. Sometimes I curse when watching football games. Often when my team is losing and misses a goal.
These are just words that serve a purpose. I don’t make a big deal about them and neither should you. But if you do – go fuck yourself in the arse with a baseball bat!
Prompt from The Learning Network at The New York Times
Prelude to Axanar is a 21 minute short fan film that came out online in 2014 (I dunno how come I missed watching it till last night). Funded through Kickstarter, production sought $10,000 in funding, but in gaining $101,000, received more than ten times the amount originally sought. Set in the Star Trek universe, the film stars Kate Vernon, Tony Todd, Richard Hatch, Gary Graham, and J. G. Hertzler, in a documentary-style film recounting the events surrounding the Battle of Axanar, a major clash between the Federation and the Klingons. The film’s purpose was to show that high quality ‘Star Trek‘ films can be made on a low budget. The film’s visual effects were done by Tobias Richter and Tommy Kraft, makeup was by Kevin Haney, and sound design was by Frank Serafine.
Shot to look like a documentary, Prelude To Axanar is about the Four Years War with the Klingon Empire, narrated by noted historian John Gill and featuring interviews with the various characters involved in the war. It begins 2 decades before the beginning of Star Trek : The Original Series – the Klingons, who do not see the Federation as worthy opponents in battle, attack and destroy Acranis IV, a prosperous Federation colony along the Klingon border. Under the leadership of their Supreme Commander Kharn, the Klingons continue their attack for 6 months. The Vulcans send a diplomatic delegation led by Ambassador Soval but they have little to no effect. In response to the losses suffered in the war, Starfleet appoints a new Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Marcus Ramirez, who pledges in a fleet-wide broadcast to defend “the dream of the Federation” against the Klingons’ committment to its destruction. Ramirez oversees the construction of the first warship of the Federation, the prototype USS Ares and several others in it’s class, to counter the Klingons’ mainstay, the D6 battle-cruiser.
With the introduction of the formidable Ares, the tides turn decisively towards the side of the Federation and the Klingons now change their minds about the Federation and also come to admire Captain Kelvin Garth, commander of the Ares. They then begin contruction of the D7 battle-cruisers to counteract the threat of the Ares and would restore the Klingons’ technical and military advantage. In response, Starfleet begins developing their own next-generation heavy cruiser, the Constitution-class, but construction falls behind schedule. To gain more time to finish their new heavy cruiser, Starfleet approves a plan proposed by Garth to fight the Klingons at Axanar, the planet where Kharn’s spies have reported the Constitution prototypes (revealed to be the Constitution and the Enterprise) are being built. The film ends on Stardate 2245.1, just before the battle at Axanar, when the first three D7s enter the war.
This short film is so awesome I cannot believe that it is a fan made film. It looks amazing and the acting of the cast is so good and spot on. It looks so much better than anything JJ Abrahms has done with the franchise so far. I am really surprised that I can be so excited about three fan based productions (Star Trek Continues, Star Trek Renegades and this one) that is head & shoulders above the cannon stuff that Paramount is releasing. Raising $650,000 through creation and release of Prelude to Axanar, they are now in pre-production for the feature film Star Trek: Axanar, with production slated to begin in September 2014, and filming expected to commence by December for a 2015 release. Joining the cast will be Garreth Wang.
The Star Trek universe is so vast that even if every studio in the world created their own series or film, it would still just be the tip of the iceberg. May this trend continue. I want more Trek!
Have you got a code you live by? What are the principles or set of values you actively apply in your life?
Try and do as many things that you want to do and would love to do. Try and make yourself good in some of those things. Try not to harm anyone else and do not impose your beliefs and lifestyles on anyone else. Try and be happy and make other people happy as well. Keep them smiling, make them laugh and things will be a little bit more brighter than it was.
Try and help if you can but also try not to bother. If you can donate time or money do so. Be kind to animals and older people. And little kids. Be faithful, loyal, truthful, sincere and stick to your guns and the straight path. Try not to cheat. I think that’s it!
Prompt from the Daily Post at WordPresss.com.
I dunno about you guys but I remember a lot of the details about the day that I first learned about sex. I was 12 years old and I was in school and a bunch of my classmates were hanging out in the school grounds post the lunch break because we had a free period and a lot of the kids were playing football or cricket on the playgrounds. Some of us those had another agenda in mind. One of us, George, had brought some cigarettes that he had stolen from his dad’s pocket and we wanted to try them out.
So we stood there trying to feel like men, but really 5 stupid pre-teens coughing in the smoke, and then this guy starts talking about girls and women. And the differences between us and them. He talked about boobs and va-jay-jays and what we have to do with them and the technical terms of what happens when us guys get a little too excited! The rest of us stood there like “teach me Obi Wan” and absorbed every word he had to say.
Suddenly girls weren’t icky anymore. They looked different to me. I brightened at every smile a pretty girl gave me, I wondered about what they liked and how they would smell like up close. And etc etc. LOL! And thus began an obsession!
Prompt from The Learning Network at The New York Times.
Tandoori chicken pizza at Woods Manor’s Pizzeria. Hmmm, hmmmm!
I have a humble Youtube channel with a handful of subscriber but these guys really rock their channels with good content. These are the individually (or in some cases a small group) done videos not backed by a big production (Like Fung Bros or Buzz Feed) and in some cases are very simple with little to no editing done but they have fun, entertaining and interesting content. Therefore I watch them. I just realized that 11 is not a big enough number for me when it comes to channels I watch but for now these are the top 11.
What Do Older Generations Misunderstand About Yours?
The generation older than me have a lot of misunderstanding about mine. One – they think everything evil or bad is done because of the influence of western culture, movies, music and books! Nothing Indian is bad at all. Even when it is bad and some of the worst shit ever. They turn a blind eye against all the faults of their own culture and are oblivious about the good of others. And funny enough, this is the generation of Indians that most traveled, settled or have lived abroad! And still do!
They also can’t stop thinking of their children and the children of their brothers and sisters as anything other than kids, even when they turn 40. And they think they need guidance in handling difficult situation, money matters and raising kids – like they are the best at all of these things. They haven’t had the best parents and they weren’t the best either but they demand the best from you and will correct you in things that you are doing right but which they don’t approve off! Interference is a huge thing among them. They think their way was the best and everything else sucks. Oh and if you happen to move abroad and raise your family there then it’s “Oh the kids will never be our kids because of the influence of Western culture!”
Also the best thing ever – the women who have never worked in an office or held a job before (homemakers yes but most have had 1 or possibly maid servants to do a lot of cooking and the cleaning during their lives) commenting on the jobs that their sons/nephews have or don’t have, how much they make etc etc. Really? Fuck off!
Prompt from The Learning Network at The New York Times.
If I could pick an author to write my biography then I would pick Stephen King. Hands down my favourite author of all time and the author of my favourite novel of all time, IT, he would do an amazing job of making my miserable life seem interesting enough that people would want to pick up a book on it and read.
He would make it seem even more fascinating that it ever could be and jazz it up to a great extent that even I wouldn’t recognise it as being about my own life. He would include ghosts, goblins, evil twins, fantastic landscapes, werewolves, vampires, creepy creatures, even an alien or two and a scary ghost house. He would make you laugh at the funny bit, scare you silly at the gory, horror scenes and gross you out with describing in great detail the mess, puke, bile and shit! All made up ofcourse :D
And it will also be sad in parts; lost loves and longing, old friendships and parting ways and remorse and regret and pain. And a melancholic strain that refuses to go away. So yeah, Mr. Kings’s latest book is a sure best seller!
I love that finish!
You’re 13 again, with all of the knowledge you’ve gained since. What would you do differently?
Like I have seen in certain science fiction shows or comedy films, I get turned back to being a 13 year old me yet I am able to retain all the memories of my since since I was 13 and all the knowledge and experiences. I would make so much use of it man, I really would try and make my life so much better and make sure that I do not make the same mistakes that I made the first time around.
I would make sure that I took part in more extra-curricular activities, enjoyed my school life a lot more (not that I didn’t enjoy it but there’s always room for improvement). I would also concentrate more on my studies and make better choices in terms of what I would want to major in. I would make sure that the good friendships endure and keep in touch with the ones that matter. I would also correct a few wrongs and things that didn’t go all that well in my life at that point.
I would also make sure that my sophisticated and knowledgeable abilities make me a big hit with the teenage girls :D. Oh yes I would be smooth and suave and sweep the chickies of their feet. They would swoon all over me because I would be their age but oh so mature and “experienced” and treat them like ladies rather than girls!
It looks like I will be staying away from my home for about a month or maybe less. We have a problem in our apartment building in that our elevator is not working. It’s gone kaput! The elevator has been begging to be put to death many, many months ago and the work we had done in the building (plumbing replaced in all 14 apartments) in 2013 meant that we had a lot of equipment being pulled into and out of the elevator car several times a day and the damage was further done. Plus to be honest some of my neighbours are not careful at all, they let their kids play in the elevator – kids used to go up and down at all times of the day and there was even toddler who would only eat if his nanny took him in the elevator! Spoiled brat!!
So the effect is that the elevator is going to need a huge overhaul and it’s gonna take a few days to get that done. There will be a delay and counting that plus the time for the actual work, it will be about 3 weeks almost. As mom, dad & I live on the 7th floor (the top floor) we have it the hardest as climbing 14 set of stairs to get to the top is tough on the legs. Mom & dad cannot climb it at all and I manage to do so after resting every 2 floors and gasping and wheezing a lot. It is hard on these legs but I can manage as long as I only have to climb up once a day. It might even be good for me. But my folks have decided to rent an apartment just above the one my sister & brother-in-law live in with their kids. The owner of that apartment rents it out and, coincidentally, the current renters are vacating it on the 1st of April. So they want me to also join them and stay in that place until the end of April when the elevator work over here should also be done.
I am trying to stay back but my folks could need me to get them stuff – like grocery shopping, medicines etc – in between so it might be better if I stayed with them during the month away. It’s not decided or anything, as we have 8-9 days to think about it. I won’t have internet there, which is the annoying thing. But let’s see! I will keep you posted.
A Closer Look At The USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D *Star Trek Starships Collection from Eaglemoss*
Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu Birdman is an independent release American Black-comedy film starring Michael Keaton, Naomi Watts, Emma Stone, Edward Norton, Zach Galifianakis, Andrea Riseborough & Amy Ryan. The movie, made to look like it was a single continuous length shot, garnered wide acclaim from critics, with praise particularly directed to its acting, direction, and screenplay. The story follows faded Hollywood actor Riggan Thompson, famous for his role as superhero Birdman, as he struggles to mount a Broadway adaptation of a short story by Raymond Carver.
With his glory days as the superhero comic hero Birdman in 3 movies long behind him, washed up actor Riggan Thompson is attempting to resurrect his career by writing, directing & acting in a Broadway play based on Raymond Carver’s short story “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love”. Co-producing the play is his best friend and lawyer Jake and Riggan’s girlfriend Laura, and first-time Broadway actress, Lesley also co-star. Riggan is tormented by the voice of Birdman which he imagines to mock & criticize him and also imagines himself performing feats of telekinesis and levitation. During rehearsals a light fixture falls and injured actor Ralph (Riggan tells Jake that he made it happen himself in order to remove the actor from the play) and Lesley suggest that Riggan replace Ralph with the brilliant but volatile method actor Mike Shiner. In order to do that Riggan refinances his house to fund his contract.
The initial previews go disastrously with Mike breaking character over the replacement of his gin with water and attempts to rape Lesley during a sex scene. Riggan is also pissed at the younger actor as he feels that the latter is stealing his limelight with large news articles & interviews showing Mike as the star attraction. Mike is also hitting it off with Riggan’s former addict daughter Samantha, who he catches holding pot. His relationship with his daughter is strained as she accuses him of never being there for her when she was younger. On evening, during a break in the play, Riggan catches Samantha & Mike flirting and accidentally locks himself out of the theater and walks in his underwear through Times Square to get back inside; amateur videos of the incident go viral online. Later he runs into influential critic Tabitha Dickinson and though Riggan tries to be nice to her, she tells him that she hates his kind Hollywood celebrities that “pretend” to be actors and promises to “kill” his play with a negative review without having seen it. After arguing with her, he gets drunk and passes out on the streets of NY and the next day hallucinates a conversation with Birdman, who tries to convince him to do a 4th blockbuster film, and also imagines himself flying around the city.
On opening night, in the final scene which ends with his character shooting himself, Riggan uses a real gun with real bullets to shoot himself in the face. He earns a standing ovation from all but Tabitha, who leaves during the applause. When he wakes up he has had reconstructive surgery to his nose and Jake shows him rave reviews in the paper, including one from Tabitha who calls his uicide attempt “super-realism”, a new form of method acting. While Samantha is out getting him a vase for some flowers, Riggan goes to the bathroom and dismissed the hallucination of Birdman and seeing birds outside, climbs onto the window ledge. When Samantha comes back in to the room, she sees something in the sky and smiles as the movie ends.
What does she see that makes her smile? Her father flying in the sky? The ending is strange because all the feats of levitation and telekenesis is just supposed to be in his head right? I mean Riggan isn’t really a superhero? What could that ending mean? Nevertheless, it is a brilliantly directed, shot, produced and acted film one of the most unique way of telling a story I have ever seen. It is a look at Hollywood and the film industry itself and is well worth watching. Keaton is masterful, probably his best role yet. A 9 outta 10!