Please Stand By

Please Stand By is a 2017 American comedy-drama film directed by Ben Lewin and based on the 2008 short play of the same name by Michael Golamco, who also wrote the screenplay. The film stars Dakota Fanning, Toni Collette, Alice Eve, River Alexander, and Patton Oswalt, and was distributed by Magnolia Pictures. After playing at various film festivals, the film was simultaneously released theatrically and on-demand on January 26, 2018.

Wendy (played by Dakota Fanning) is an autistic young woman who stays in a group home in Oakland, California monitored by her primary caregiver, Scottie (played by Toni Collette). She is fixated by Star Trek and spends her time writing a 450-page Star Trek script to enter in Paramount Pictures’ screenwriting contest in hopes of winning the $100,000 prize. Wendy is visited by her sister Audrey (Alice Eve), who shows Wendy pictures of her infant daughter, Ruby, and reveals that she is selling their childhood home. Wendy asks Audrey to take her home, arguing that she will be able to buy back the house and help Audrey care for Ruby once she wins the screenwriting contest. Audrey refuses, telling Wendy she isn’t capable of caring for a baby. Wendy has a meltdown and Audrey leaves in tears.

Wendy misses the date to submit the script via post so she sneaks out of the house early the next morning and is followed by the group home’s small dog, Pete (who is in a Star Trek themed outfit knitted by Wendy) and decides to hand it over in person to Paramount Pictures. Wendy and Pete board a bus to Los Angeles, but are kicked off and left by the side of the road after Pete urinates in the bus. She then walks into a small town and is mugged off most of her money. At a nearby store where she goes to buy some food, she is nearly tricked out the rest of her cash but an elderly woman named Rose comes to help her. Rose sympathizes with Wendy as her grandson also has autism, and lets Wendy accompany her on the senior citizens’ bus. The bus driver subsequently falls asleep at the wheel, crashing the bus. Following the bus crash, Wendy wakes up in a hospital in Bakersfield. Still determined to turn in her script, Wendy leaves Pete at the hospital, attacks a nurse, and escapes. During her escape, Wendy loses part of her script. She gathers used paper and begins rewriting the script.

While this is happening Scottie realizes that Wendy is missing and along with her son heads to find her. Audrey too joins the search, leaving her baby in the hands of her husband. The Bakersfield hospital notifies Scottie and Audrey of Wendy’s whereabouts; police continue the search from there. Sam and Scottie find the missing script pages while scouring the hospital. Wendy then attempts to buy a bus ticket to Los Angeles, but is unable as she has no money. She ultimately stows away on the next bus to Los Angeles, hiding herself inside a baggage compartment. Upon her arrival in Los Angeles, Wendy wanders around until two police officers recognize her from the missing person’s report. Officer Frank (Patton Oswalt) gains Wendy’s trust by speaking to her in Klingon. The officers take Wendy to the police station, where she is reunited with Audrey and Scottie. They bring Wendy to Paramount Pictures so she can deliver her script.

A rude mailroom worker tells her that the scripts have to be sent by post but Wendy is able to sneak past security and submit the script to the turn-in box. Satisfied that she has completed her mission, Wendy tells her sister she did it to prove that she was more capable than Audrey thought. Wendy returns back to the group home where she later receives a letter from Paramount stating her script was not chosen, but encouraging her to continue writing. Despite the rejection, she is satisfied with everything she has accomplished. Wendy visits Audrey and holds her niece for the first time and the two sisters bond again.

It’s a sweet movie ably acted by the powerhouses of Fanning & Collette & ably supported by Alice Eve and the rest of the cast. It’s a coming of age film with a Star Trek hue that will make us Trekkies very happy. I give the film an 8 outta 10 for the low budget, art & film festival type movie that it is.

Ouch! Again!

I always seem to be careless around the house with my feet. From an ankle sprain every year, to injuring my foot and getting diagnosed with Achilles tendonitis and dropping hard objects onto my foot and this time it’s getting the sole of my foot injured badly due to stepping hard on a tiny object in the middle of the night that the workers who are hear left behind (or it could be the Asianet internet guy who came to install the optic fibre connection for me as an upgrade).

I yelled out loudly as I stepped on it but didn’t think much of it for a while. It was Tuesday night that I felt it hurting and I had taken Wednesday off due to a bad cold & breathing issues. But it hurts me really badly now that I am using a pain relief spray on the sole of my foot to help me. I hope that the pain goes away in a day or so because it’s no fun at all. And I hope it’s not a fracture. Anything but a fracture.

I have my fingers crossed that it heals soon.

What Does It Take To Truly Find Happiness?

Everybody’s trying to answer that question, no matter their background or personality. Happiness is a goal for all of us, and that’s a wonderful thing. It’s something that should unite us in a world full of things which seem to divide us. Whilst we all have different objectives in life, there are certain things that can bring happiness for all of us. So, what does it take to truly find happiness? Let’s talk about that.

A healthy lifestyle.

You should try to adopt a healthy lifestyle if you want to truly find happiness. Mainly, that means eating and drinking well. This might not sound like a revolutionary path to happiness, but keeping yourself physically healthy in this way will also keep you mentally healthy. And a strong emotional state will really help you to feel happier on a daily basis. Think about the food you eat because a healthy gut leads a healthy mind. You should be focusing on eating nutritious meals; get plenty of protein, iron, calcium, and carbohydrates from your food. Fruit, vegetables, and whole grains are examples of foods that have more natural goodness than many manufactured options out there.
Sleeping well is important too. So few people seem to appreciate that their mental states could be improved if they started getting enough rest every night. Sleep deprivation can exacerbate feelings of depression, stress, and anxiety. It also negatively affects your physical health. There are some things that a cup of coffee can’t solve. If you want to improve your emotional wellbeing, then you need to start making it your priority to get a good night’s rest every night.

A core set of beliefs.

Everybody has beliefs. So, you might be tempted to tick this one off the checklist and move onto the next point. However, you should think about what this really means. Are you really in touch with your core set of beliefs? Spiritual or religious acceptance has been the path to happiness for so many millions of people throughout the world both in the past and the present. This could be the way forward for you if you have doubts about yourself and the world. It might be time to tune into your core set of beliefs. You could make it your goal to come to Radiant Church if you’re looking for a route to take. This could help to move you to where you need to be. Just remember that finding your core set of beliefs is the path to happiness, whatever that means for you.

Self-acceptance.

This is one of the most important steps towards achieving true happiness. Nobody is perfect, and we all accept that. Well, we all accept it in others. When it comes to self-reflection, however, many of us are overly critical. Self-acceptance is all about counteracting those negative feelings and learning to appreciate yourself. If you struggle with feelings of stress or anxiety, then you might want to start trying meditation or even yoga to help control your thoughts. Once you start learning to appreciate yourself and the present moment, you’ll start feeling happier.

July 12: On This Day…

On this day, July 12 :

Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 cup (240 ml) plain yogurt (full fat or low fat)

1/3 cup (80 ml) vegetable, canola, safflower, or corn oil

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour

1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated white sugar

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 – 1 1/2 cups (240-360 ml) fresh or frozen blueberries (If using frozen blueberries, do not thaw before adding them to the batter.)

Method: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Position rack in center of oven. Butter or line 12 muffin cups with paper liners. In a large bowl whisk together the lightly beaten egg, yogurt, oil, and vanilla extract.

In another large bowl whisk the flour with the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gently stir in the blueberries. With a rubber spatula fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir only until the ingredients are combined and moistened. (The batter will be thick.)

Evenly fill the muffin cups with the batter, using two spoons or an ice cream scoop. Place in the oven and bake for about 15 – 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin just comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for about 10 minutes before removing from pan. Makes 12 muffins.

Bear Hugs

Do women still like teddy bears? Young girls atleast I think will still love them. I know kids do and maybe young girls in the late teens and perhaps in their early 20s. What about beyond those ages?

The reason I ask is I haven’t bought a romantic gift for a woman in a long, long time. Atleast not the way I used to. I have bought the teddy bear or two for my girlfriend during my ages of 17 to 23 but since then I haven’t had a lover. I have bought a teddy bear for a couple of friends and colleagues on their birthday or like a farewell gift but it isn’t with a romantic intention. It’s only because they are nice cute people and I don’t really know what to gift a girl/woman.

So I fall back on stuffed toys or soft toys and to be honest who wouldn’t love a soft teddy bear or like any other animal toy like a dog or something to have in your room. Heck, even I have been gifted a small teddy bear twice in my life and both times after I hit 30. And both times it was by girls. I think they are trying to tell me something.

Edu Officially Joins Arsenal

Edu Gaspar has left his role as coordinator with the Brazilian Football Confederation to become the first technical director at former club Arsenal. The Premier League club announced the arrival of its former midfielder on Tuesday, saying Edu will “coordinate the work of our first-team coaching group, the academy and player scouting and recruitment.” With Brazil, he helped coach Tite with logistics and scouting and was a liaison between the coaching staff and players. His last assignment was at the Copa America, which Brazil won on Sunday. Edu was a member of the Arsenal team that went through the 2003-04 Premier League season unbeaten.

The former midfielder, who joins from the Brazilian football federation, has previous experience in a technical role having worked as director of football at Corinthians before taking up his post with Brazil. Edu played under Gunners manager Unai Emery at Valencia and will be with the squad when they fly to America for a pre-season tour this week. In his role the 41-year-old will ‘coordinate the work of the first-team coaching group, the academy and player scouting and recruitment in order to oversee the constant building up and efficient strengthening of the squad.’

Edu told the club website: “Arsenal has always had a special place in my heart and I’m thrilled to be returning to this great club in this new role. We have a strong squad and some very talented young players with fantastic people at every level. I’m looking forward to helping make a difference.”

Weird Laws In Iceland

UNTIL 1989, BEER WAS ILLEGAL IN ICELAND

This one is at the very top of any list of weird laws and rules in any country. In 1915, alcohol was banned in Iceland. All alcohol remained illegal until 1921, when wine was allowed. A few years later, spirits were allowed as well. Legislators decided that since beer is cheaper than wine and liquor, Icelanders could not be trusted with it and it would cause more drinking problems. The beer ban continued until 1989 when it was finally lifted and Icelanders rejoiced.

IN ICELAND, YOU CAN’T GIVE YOUR CHILD A NAME THAT HASN’T BEEN APPROVED BY THE ICELANDIC NAMING COMMITTEE

Since 1991, Icelanders who want to name their children a name that isn’t on the list of approved names, must get permission from the Icelandic naming committee. The committee has been criticized harshly and often sparked controversy with its verdicts. Its objective is to protect the Icelandic name tradition but many people find it too strict and sometimes unfair. New names must conform to Icelandic pronunciation and grammatic rules. They may not cause children embarrassment, girls must be named girl names and boys boy names.

UNTIL 1984, YOU COULDN’T OWN A DOG IN REYKJAVÍK

If you were living in Reykjavík in the 1880’s, you had a very high chance of getting a nasty type of tapeworm (eeeuw). To diminish the spread of the tapeworm, that caused horrible symptoms and blindness, dogs were banned in Reykjavík in 1921. The ban remained up until 1984. Regulations are still strict for dog owners in Reykjavík, who need to get a permit and show proof that the dog is vaccinated, microchipped and dewormed. There are plenty of dogs in Reykjavík these days, but Icelanders still can’t legally own snakes, lizards or turtles.

BACK IN THE DAY, YOU COULDN’T WATCH TV ON THURSDAYS, OR IN THE WHOLE MONTH OF JULY!

If you think government interference is high now, imagine if you’d not be allowed to watch TV or go online for one day a week. This was a reality for Icelanders up until 1987. There was only one TV channel in Iceland, and it didn’t broadcast on Thursdays. Until 1983, nothing aired for the whole month of July! The reason isn’t quite clear, but it’s usually said the TV restrictions were put in place so people would go out and socialize more. Yikes. We wonder how the legislators back then would feel about smartphones.

Boxing

Iceland is the only remaining Nordic country to forbid boxing, clinging to a 1956 ban even in the face of changes of heart from Norway and Sweden, which also long opposed the sport. Boxing was originally banned because residents directly attributed an increase in violent crimes to the sport’s rise in popularity during the 1930s and 1940s. As a direct response to boxing’s ban, alternative martial arts like judo, karate, MMA, and Taekwondo have gained popularity in the country. In fact, one of the most popular figures in MMA is from Iceland: Undefeated Gunnar Nelson from Reykjavik, the sport’s poster child, has spawned the launch of several Icelandic MMA clubs.

The Benefits Of A Career In Law Are Astounding (Infographic)

For a long time now, it’s been well-known that going into law pays well. People in the profession tend to have higher-than-average remuneration per hour worked. And why the heck not? After all, applying and interpreting the law is detailed, tricky work.

But what most people don’t realize is just how lucrative a career in law can be. With all the talk of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, we sometimes forget that there are, in fact, other ways to make money.

Lawyers and other people in the legal profession can go into a wide variety of fields. Yes, there is criminal law – the most traditional area. But there’s also need for lawyers who have knowledge of tax law, securities law, intellectual property law, and, most important going forward, environmental law.

There are many paths into the legal profession, but which are the most effective?

One popular route today, as pointed out by the infographic below, is earning a Master of Laws degree, often abbreviated LLM. This degree not only helps you get work with a legal firm, but it also enables you to progress faster than you would if you had just a standard legal qualification. Data from the largest law firms in the world, for instance, suggests that having an LLM is a critical tool for getting promoted to partner in a range of global cities, including Paris, Tokyo, and Frankfurt.

Would you like a career in law? Take a look at the following infographic for all the benefits that earning an LLM could bring.


Infographic by University of Southern California

Building Wardrobes

Well it’s happening. We had termites and the kitchen cabinets as well as the wardrobe in my parents bedroom as well as mine. The kitchen cabinets were the worst affected and second was my parents bedroom and mine is the least affected.

Well the kitchen is done. That is the biggest ofcourse with all the cabinets that we need. The bottom sections on one side were the worst affects and ripped off earlier. Which is when we realized that we had a termite problem. So that is done although it’s not as nice as I would have liked it. But that’s because we went with a mix of glazed aluminum for the edges and the rest is made of the kind of material you find on switches. Termites be damned.

So this evening they will break my cupboard/built in wardrobe and take the inside measurements and hopefully by this weekend, it will all complete. I am tired of this already.

Cell Phone Useage & Politeness

What are your rules for courteous cell phone use?

Aha, one of my pet peeves! This prompt is good. I personally feel that you should be able to use your phone wherever you are and whenever you need to. But there are exceptions when it comes to disturbing other people. Just be courteous and we’re all good. I hate it when people leave their phones on full volume while in the theatre and the movie has started and you hear their stupid ring tone loud and clear.

I hate it when people let their phones ring in public for a long time. In the bus, in the mall, in the public bathroom. Pick up the damn phone, asshole! No one wants to listen to your stupid phone ring out all day! We have a lot of noise as it is. Trying to take a piss or a shit in the public bathroom stall and then your phone keeps ringing out and you do not pick up – only if you aren’t taking a piss yourself. Cause then I know your hands are busy and you may want to wash your hands first before picking up your precious phone.

Also speaking very loudly while in public. Please stop doing that. It’s so fucking rude. Other than that we are good. Have your phone, speak to people, use the apps. Just be courtesous.

Prompt by 31 Days Of July Writing Prompts at the SitsGirls

Galitos Restaurant Review

Founded by Louis Germishuys in the sleepy town of (then-named) Nelspruit in 1996, Galito’s has been consistently expanding in South Africa as well as opening international markets. They say their unique flame-grilled, fiery, bold African flavour is their claim to fame. They serve 100% flame-grilled chicken, marinated with only the best ingredients, in a range of flavours – lemon and herb, mild, hot, and extra hot piri-piri. They have one outlet here in Cochin, which is in Lulu Mall on the 4th floor next to the food court.

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My cousin Sujith and I have been there a couple of times together and I have been there a few times alone and once with a friend. Last night we started with the excellent drinks that they have. I ordered my usual Peach Lemon Ice Tea, which pictured here, almost looks like a frothy amber beer. He had a green apple spritzer.

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Then came our starter dish which was the chicken wings. These are amongst the best wings in town and certainly the biggest I have seen. A plate of 4 is more than enough since these are the full wings. And they are delicious! We choose the mild spiced sauced on the chicken wings.

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The main dish we chose were chicken quarters with a side dish each. He picked the potato wedges and I went for the regular french fries. Again we went with the mild sauce that you see dripping on the huge pieces. So good! I could go one spicy level up but beyond that is crazy. You would not, or I would not atleast, enjoy the meat if all I can taste is the higher spices levels.

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Spider-Man: Far From Home is a 2019 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man, co-produced by Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. It is the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and the twenty-third film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film is directed by Jon Watts, written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, and stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man, alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Zendaya, Cobie Smulders, Jon Favreau, J. B. Smoove, Jacob Batalon, Martin Starr, Marisa Tomei, and Jake Gyllenhaal.

In the movie we see Maria Hill & Nick Fury in the Mexican desert investigating a an unnatural storm and encounter the Earth Elemental. A super-powered man, Quentin Beck, arrives to fight the creature and defeats it and then speaks to Fury & Hill. It’s been 8 months after the events of EndGame and Peter and his fellow students who came back are still adjusting to life. The school organizes a two-week summer field trip to Europe, where Peter Parker, still distraught over Tony Stark’s death, plans to confess his growing feelings for classmate MJ and avoid heroics. He attends a fundraiser arranged by Aunt May but when he comes out to meet the press, he quickly eaves after being overwhelmed by questions about Stark. Meanwhile Fury has been trying to reach him but Peter is dodging his calls, even if Happy warns him that he will be in contact.

In Venice, during the trip, Parker and his friends are among those attacked by the Water Elemental, which proceeds to wreak havoc on the city. Beck arrives and destroys the creature, while Parker attempts to help. Fury meets with Parker and gives him Stark’s glasses, which were meant for his successor. The glasses are equipped with the artificial intelligence E.D.I.T.H., which has access to all databases of Stark Industries and commands a large orbital weapons supply. Beck claims the Elementals killed his family and that he hails from a different reality, one among many in the Multiverse. Peter rejects Fury’s mission and rejoins his class but Fury covertly redirects the school trip’s itinerary to Prague, where the Fire Elemental is projected to strike. It appears at a carnival, but Beck, with Parker’s help, destroys it. Fury and Hill invite Parker and Beck to Berlin to discuss the formation of a new superhero team.

Peter feels that Beck is perfect as the next Iron Man and gives him the glasses and leaves and we see that Beck is revealed to be a former holographic-illusions specialist at Stark Industries who was fired for his unstable nature, now leading a team of disgruntled ex-Stark employees and using advanced projector drones created by William Ginter Riva to simulate the Elemental attacks. MJ meanwhile has followed Peter and deduces that he is Spider-Man. They discover that a piece of debris she retrieved during the carnival battle is a projector that presents a simulation of the Air Elemental, leading the two to realize Beck is a fraud. When preparing for another illusion, Beck discovers MJ took evidence of his deception. Parker travels to Berlin and meets with Fury, only to realize that the version before him is an illusion created by Beck. He battles multiple illusions and is hit by a train and Peter is badly injured and falls asleep. He is taken to a jail in the Netherlands where he escapes and contacts Happy.

Happy brings a jet to pickup Peter and flies him to London and reveals a suit-manufacturing machine left behind by Stark, which Parker uses to synthesize a customized costume. In London, Beck orchestrates an Elemental Fusion, seeking to kill MJ and any others to whom she might have revealed his secret. Parker breaks through the illusion, regains control of E.D.I.T.H., and defeats Beck, who dies by a misfired drone gunshot. Riva escapes with the drone files and recordings, while Parker returns to New York City and begins a relationship with MJ. After Peter takes MJ on a web swinging trek across NYC, he is stunned to see news where reporter J. Jonah Jameson of the DailyBugle.net blames Spider-Man for the Elementals’ attacks, broadcasting doctored footage of the incident filmed and recorded by Beck, in which he incriminates Parker for his death and reveals Spider-Man’s secret identity. In a post-credits scene, the Skrulls Talos and Soren are revealed to have been masquerading as Fury and Hill the whole time as directed by the real Fury, who commands a Skrull spaceship.

The movie is a fantastic rush with awesome, mind blasting (not mind blowing! Anything can blow your mind, this blasted my mind) special effects scenes. This is a fun, thrilling and sweet ride where you see Peter come into his own as a superhero and wanting to live up to the expectations that Tony Stark had for him. It’s a really good sequel to Homecoming and at times outdoes the original. I give it an 8.5 outta 10!

Becoming And Remaining An Informed Citizen

It’s important to achieve many things in life. Staying true to your word, working hard, and being able to manage your finances are all essential virtues that we can all benefit from acquiring. However, it is also very important to become an informed citizen. We might not hold much expert knowledge regarding the current flows and tides of our current political system, but it’s important to understand who the major players are, how policies might affect you, and a range of other essential insights that can help you live more securely and safely in the world.

However, remaining an informed citizen can be difficult. This can be a full time job for the best of people, let alone trying to fit this in outside of your standard career and family responsibilities. With enough effort though, it is possible, and can be achieved through sustained and reasonable dedication. Let us see what that might look like, and how you might fair better from the jump:

Automate Your Consumption Of News

Reading the news can be a difficult process. It’s hard to gain the most context possible from one single source. This is why it’s essential to read those you trust. For example, The Media Line can be your one stop shop for Middle East news, keeping you abreast of all the latest topics. We would recommend taking sources like this and automating your consumption of them. You might set up an RSS feed through the RSS reader app of your phone, and also place many blogs you follow within that same feed. This can help you ensure that all your favorite sources are read, preferably at the same time of day. You might choose breakfast to keep up on all the latest topics. When this becomes a habit, you will be much more able to stay on top of things, as usually one story can inform the next.

Get In Discussions!

It can be worthwhile to test your knowledge of recent goings on, to express your opinion, or to debate with others online. We would recommend using Reddit or other dedicated discussion forums to help you discuss things that interest you, and also those things you might need to know as an informed citizen. For example, someone keeping up on the Brexit drama might choose to comment in the United Kingdom subreddits, discussing policy changes and predicted outcomes. When you are able to test your own knowledge, you can question or reinforce what you believe through justifying your opinions.

Don’t Sweat It

It can be quite worrying to know that you’ll likely never have a full, complete picture of world events. This can sometimes make you think that trying in this direction is a waste of time. But it rarely ever is. Understand that no one can keep a full understanding of everything on Earth, but what matters is keeping abreast of topics and doing your part to try and absorb the things that matter. If you can do this, then you can feel much more comfortable in the news cycle.

With this advice, we hope you’re much better able to become an informed citizen.