text:
The Movie Review Blog
Tag Archives: A R Rahman
Jab Tak Hai Jaan
This is not how I will remember Yash Chopra
Pic source: Yashraj Films
For me Yash Chopra's cinema is not Waqt, it is not Deewar… it is Lamhe, Chandni and Darr. I grew up watching his beautifully shot romances where the protagonists holiday in Switzerland and London; women wear gorgeous chiffons in pastel colours and men love passionately. I fell in love with the movies after watching Lamhe as a kid and that love continues to grow strong till date. His films are not about logic, they are not about reality… they are about beauty, about visuals that stay with you and music that plays in your ears long after you have left the cinema. He was the master of drama and emotions… remember the scene where Pooja and Anita meet in a shopping mall and discuss the object of their affection, Viren? This is not homage to the filmmaker who recently passed away but is what went through my mind right after watching his last film, Jab Tak Hai Jaan that released in theatres today. I will miss Yash Chopra and I missed him in his last film; Jab Tak Hai Jaan is not how I will remember the master of romance.
Jab Tak Hai Jaan is about Samar Anand (Shah Rukh Khan), a man who finds his soul-mate and loses her; his undying love for her keeps him alive and also kills him every day. Meera (Katrina Kaif) loves her man more than her happiness with him and Akira (Anushka Sharma) cannot help but fall for the guy who is hopelessly in love with another woman. All three characters in the film do things that are unexplainable, of course in a Yash Chopra romance you expect people to go beyond the normal for love but situations here seem weak and unconvincing. Aditya Chopra and Devika Bhagat's screenplay is extremely weak and full of loopholes. In the hands of a lesser director, the film would have been a disaster but Yash Chopra manages to make his characters engaging and for him you stay with the film.
Katrina looks beautiful and is perfectly styled (Manish Malhotra) in true Yashraj tradition… she is presented like a dream but seems a little uncomfortable in the extensive emotional scenes. Shah Rukh is effortlessly charming and romances Katrina like she has never been loved on-screen before. He is in fact the strongest part of the film and shows he still is the best romantic heroe we have in Hindi cinema. Anushka's character is a little irritating and she does not get the dream Yashraj supporting actress role that Karisma Kapoor got in Dil Toh Pagal Hai and Rani Mukerji in Veer Zaara.
Anil Mehta's cinematography is breathtakingly beautiful but that's no surprise… Yash Chopra knew how to set up elegant scenes. Editing by Namrata Rao is not the best as the film gets tedious in the second half. The other big disappointment in the film came from the music department. With names like A R Rahman (music) and Gulzar (lyrics) attached, one expected magic but we got a mediocre album at best keeping in mind the genius of these two artists.
Overall, Jab Tak Hai Jaan disappoints which can be attributed to the sky-high expectations and the unbelievable story. Watch it for Yash Chopra but I am sure you will remember him fondly for his earlier work… jab tak hai jaan.
By Shrey Khetarpal • Posted in Hindi Movie Reviews	• Tagged A R Rahman, Aditya Chopra, Anil Mehta, Anushka Sharma, Devika Bhagat, Gulzar, Katrina Kaif, Manish Malhotra, Namrata Rao, Shah Rukh Khan, Yash Chopra, Yashraj Films
The Magic of Kapoor, Rahman & Chauhan
Ranbir Kapoor; http://www.rockstarthefilm.com
Imtiaz Ali's Rockstar features three rockstars – the leading actor, Ranbir Kapoor in his best performance till date; A R Rahman with a brilliant soundtrack and Mohit Chauhan, whose vocals infuse magic in Rahman's score and Kapoor's performance. The other thing that works and does not work in equal parts is the film's screenplay by Ali. The film has a good premise and the first half is engaging; however, the second half drags and you want it to get over quickly.
Writer-director, Imtiaz Ali knows how to handle romance well and like his earlier films (Socha Na Tha, Jab We Met, Love Aaj Kal),
Nargis Fakhri; http://www.rockstarthefilm.com
Rockstar also features confused lovers who separate and then re-discover love for each other. However, this film is as much about music, as it is a love story. The film's most memorable and impactful parts are about Ranbir's musical journey… from a young aspiring singer who is not sure what his music is lacking to the heart-broken, frustrated and bitter rockstar who does not like himself. Coming back to the love story; while there is Ali's tried & tested formula and Ranbir's passionate portrayal of someone madly in love; the romance in the film does not work, mainly because of the leading lady, Nargis Fakhri. She looks beautiful but her complete inability to act does not allow you as a viewer to feel for her character. She fails to bring alive the exuberance of a free-spirited college girl as well as the tragedy of a woman in a doomed romance.
Ranbir Kapoor as Janardhan Jakhar, a young Jat boy from Delhi is charming and endearing. His mispronunciation of English words and the Haryanvi accent highlight the character's innocence and simplicity. As an actor Ranbir soars as he makes an effortless transition from Janardhan to Jordan – a rising musician to a rebellious star. He brings in a lot of passion and sincerity in his performance, which becomes the film's biggest strength. Special mention for the film's stylist, Aki Narula who has done a brilliant job in building the character; he presents Janardhan in cheap denims and hand-knit sweaters, and Jordan in a disheveled, eclectic look.
Ranbir, Shammi Kapoor; http://www.rockstarthefilm.com
The film is full of memorable moments and most of them are linked to its beautiful soundtrack (lyrics: Irshad Kamil). True to the film's title, A R Rahman uses a lot of guitar in the score but the real magic comes alive with the use of sufi, folk and classical forms. The instrumental, 'Dichotomy of Fame' shot with Ranbir on guitar and the late Shammi Kapoor on shehnai is pure cinematic and musical genius (Balesh on shehnai & Kabuli on guitar). 'Sadda Haq' by Mohit Chauhan has already reached the levels of a youth anthem; 'Nadaan Parinde' with Rahman and Chauhan's vocals grows on you and so does 'Katiya Karun' (Harshdeep Kaur & Sapna Awasthi). However, the big music moment of Rockstar that does not leave your mind long after the film is over, is the sufi track, 'Kun Faya Kun' with Rahman, Chauhan and Javed Ali's voice and a brilliantly shot video at Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi. With nine out of the fourteen tracks featuring his vocals, it is undoubtedly Chauhan's big album; he brings alive the pain and the agony that matches Kapoor's sincere performance brilliantly.
While Kapoor, Rahman and Chauhan took the film to the next level; the film's tedious length, sloppy second half and Ms. Fakhri's acting pulled it down. Rockstar is a film that could have been great cinema but is still a great piece of art in many departments. It is a film to watch and to watch it in a theatre to experience the music in Dolby digital sound and no less…
My rating for the film: *** ½ Three and a half on five
By Shrey Khetarpal • Posted in Hindi Movie Reviews	• Tagged A R Rahman, Bollywood, Drama, Imtiaz Ali, Mohit Chauhan, Music, Nargis Fakhri, Ranbir Kapoor, Rockstar, Romance, Shammi Kapoor
Rom-Com Gone
Bollywood's Romantic Comedies fail to impress in 2010
Romantic comedies or rom-coms have worked well in Hollywood and in the recent past the trend has taken off in Bollywood also with movies like Hum Tum, Jab We Met and Love Aaj Kal. With young directors at helm, the concepts are more urbane, the look more stylish and the issues more inane in these films. They have the potential to work as they provide two things to the young audience today – relatable themes, "oh! This happened to my friend" and escapism in the form of beautiful people in designer clothes at fabulous locations; however, this year has seen a spate of disappointing rom-coms. This is what I think of Bollywood's rom-coms in 2010, starting with this week's release, Break Ke Baad:
Pic: Kunal Kohli Productions
The girl, Aaliya Khan (Deepika Padukone) is more believable than the guy, Abhay Gulati (Imran Khan)… she is independent, headstrong, enjoys attention but no intervention; the guy is sensitive, caring, packs her undergarments neatly in her bags and has no life other than her. Childhood romance wanes off for the girl but not for the guy; she dumps him but he follows her to win her back. From being every girl's dream guy, Imran's character slips into this spineless creature who is described as an ATM machine in the film as machines only give not ask for something. Deepika's character earns the title of a cold heated b*tch (courtesy: my fellow movie watchers) to a chudail / witch (courtesy: Pammi Bua played by Lillete Dubey). Both actors try hard but their limited acting abilities and a lacklustre script don't help; the fun elements in the first half appear repetitive and boring in the second.
The world is a ridiculously nice place in this Danish Aslam directed rom-com, where Abhay gets visa on arrival in Australia and stays on to build a chain of successful restaurants from scratch in a couple of months. On the other hand Aaliya comes armed with a full scholarship to the University of Goldcoast; checks into a sea-facing resort like accommodation for just 600 Australian Dollars for six months, gets noticed by a casting director in a college play and becomes an international movie star (really now!)
If the girls watching the film with me found it cute in the beginning, the climax disappointed them also in a big way. Break Ke Baad has a lot of smart lines, some good clothes (and some bad), good locations and an average music score (Vishal Shekhar); the film falters with a thread-bare script, the lack of crackling chemistry between the lead pair and the lamest ending in the recent past. The film has an interesting supporting cast featuring Sharmila Tagore, Lillete Dubey, Shahana Goswami and Yudhishter Urs but that's not good enough to hold the film together. I won't write off the film completely as the three girls who watched it with me seemed to like it but it certainly isn't a film that can make it to anyone's must-watch list.
My rating: * * ½ Two and a half stars on five
Pic: Dharma Productions
I Hate Luv Stories
Well what do I say… doesn't the film's title says enough? Boy meets girl, girl believes in candy-floss-romance and the boy hates luv stories (please note, he doesn't hate love stories, smart!) Directed by Punit Malhotra, the film was produced by Dharma Productions and worked well on the box-office, however I am yet to meet anyone who luved this film. Sonam Kapoor plays Simran, a die-hard romantic whose clothes match her boyfriend Raj's (Samir Dattani) shirts or vice-versa; she is an art director working on a big ticket romantic flick, directed by a Karan Johar like film maker. Jay (Imran Khan) hates such cinema but is still assisting on the film; he also shows off his newly acquired abs to Bruna Abdullah in a song, to make us believe that he is the new age Casanova. Opposites attract and Simran falls for Jay but Jay hates luv stories, end of chapter one. In chapter two, Jay realises his mistake as he luvs love stories but Simran goes back to Raj who buys her white gerberas daily (remember, daily one red balloon in Dil Chahta Hai?) Chapter three… you know what happens. Punit Malhotra and Sonam Kapoor's twitter squabble with Shobhaa De after she ripped apart the film in print was more interesting than the film itself.
My rating: * * Two stars on five
Pic: Cinergy Productions
It was Abbas Tyrewala's next directorial after the hugely successful, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na; John Abraham's first production with music by maestro, A R Rahman. The expectations were sky high with an interesting working title, 1-800-LOVE. The film eventually came out as Jhootha Hi Sahi and all the expectations came crashing down. The music did not work very well (though I like the Cry Cry song) and everyone wondered who this mature actress opposite John is? She turned out to be the director's wife who was also credited for the script – Pakhi Tyrewala. After all, it is all about loving your family, eh… wife. The film tried to recreate the magic of American sitcoms like Friends and How I Met Your Mother but somehow couldn't manage to get the same chilled out feel on-screen largely due to the weak screenplay. Having said that, I love the way London's beautiful summer is captured in the film.
Pic: PVR Pictures
Fantastic promos, an interesting cast, great publicity stills and a peppy soundtrack… Aisha looked like it is going to be the ultimate chick-flick to come out of Bollywood. Inspired by Jane Austen's Emma, the film ended up to be more like a documentary on the lifestyles of the rich and famous young Delhites. The film surely has great clothes on showcase but one can go to Delhi's Emporio or Select Citywalk mall to see that or can watch The Devil Wears Prada again. Sonam only looked good and Abhay Deol was wasted in this Rajshree Ojha directed film. Producer, Rhea Kapoor is now thinking of desi Alice in Wonderland with sister Sonam and more fabulous clothes. Hmm…
Pic: Eros International
Two suicidal protagonists, Aakash (Ranbir Kapoor) and Kiara (Priyanka Chopra), who decide to have some fun in the last few days of their lives and end up falling in love. They are both poor but wear trendy clothes, visit hep night clubs at New York's Times Square and Las Vegas… I quite like their lifestyle actually! They try to die by wrapping cling-wrap around their faces (now you know why it isn't a toy, keep it out of reach of children) and jumping off a bridge, but they don't. Fifteen minutes into the film, you start praying for them to die so that the film gets over but they don't; instead Zayed Khan is also unleashed by director, Siddharth Anand on us to increase the Chinese torture. Both Priyanka and Ranbir are good actors and promising stars but they should look hard at the scripts they choose. Siddharth Anand on his part is creating a library of mediocre rom-coms.
Pic: Yash Raj Films
As a policy I cannot comment on a film I haven't seen; and I could not drag myself to the theatre for this one after watching the trailers only, despite all my love for Yash Raj Films.
Band Baaja Baaraat is the last rom-com to hit the screens before the year ends, am hoping the year ends on a bright note for this genre.
– Shrey Khetarpal
PS: Don't think that I don't like romance / rom-coms as a genre; I am just a disappointed film buff. Click here to read my earlier post on the best romantic films according to me.
By Shrey Khetarpal • Posted in Cinemaaaa, Hindi Movie Reviews	• Tagged A R Rahman, Abbas Tyrewala, Abhay Deol, Aditya Chopra, Anushka Sharma, Black Comedy, Bollywood, Danish Aslam, Deepika Padukone, Fashion, Hollywood, Imran Khan, John Abraham, Karan Johar, Kunal Kohli, Love Story, Pakhi, Priyanka Chopra, Punit Malhotra, Rajshree Ojha, Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Rhea Kapoor, rom-com, Romance, Romantic, Sajid Nadiadwala, Sonam Kapoor, Uday Chopra, Yash Chopra, Yash Raj Films
For Rajni Fans Only…
Pic: Robot; Source: bollywoodworld.com
10:30 pm: Excited about watching Robot, have heard so much about the special effects and of course the Rajni mania surrounding the film…
10:35 pm: At Big Cinema's IMAX theatre in Mumbai, now super excited about watching the film on the gigantic screen…
10:40 pm: The movie begins with big alphabets appearing on screen one by one to form the words – 'S.U.P.E.R.S.T.A.R' 'R.A.J.N.I.K.A.N.T'. Though the theatre is half empty but two groups of boys are cheering… I point out that Aishwarya's full name is spelt wrong (Bachan instead of Bachchan) in the credits; get told off by a friend to stop proof-reading. Okay! Ready for ROBOT to activate.
11:40 pm: Funny, ridiculous, endearingly tacky… am having fun!
12:40 pm: Ok, another hour to go… seems like a task, can we fast forward the songs please?
1:15 am: Very nice fight, not 1, not 2, not 10, hundreds of Rajni Robots getting into a sphere formation. Wait a minute, they are in snake mode now.
1:30 am: Ok! I want to go home NOW…
1:40 am approx: Yay! Movie over, I am tired…
Pic: Robot; Source: endhiran.org
First things first, I am not a Rajnikant fan but am always game for a good film… Was pretty excited about Shankar's Robot; however, was left disappointed with what I saw last night. I was not looking for logic here and was expecting a lot of silliness but it was funny and enjoyable in parts only. The film was largely disappointing due to its tiresome length, over the top production design and special effects that get tacky and amateurish at times, patchy writing, forced songs with below average music and lyrics.
The film is about a humanoid Robot that is developed for military purposes but develops human feelings (Iron Man meets Bicentennial Man meets I, Robot). There is a lot of masala in the film with romance, action, comedy all thrown in together, unfortunately the final product is not that tasty. Rajnikant as the robot, Chitti and his creator, Prof. Vasigaran;is no doubt good but I'd like to see him in roles that suit his age and stature. I usually like Aishwarya Rai but I have nothing to say about her shockingly ineffective performance in this film; she was so much better in her debut film, Iruvar back in 1997. It was good to see Danny Denzongpa playing a baddie once again.
Robot is the most expensive film made in India, then why wasn't any attention to detail paid? Rajnikant's beard and wig look… fake! You can actually see the edges peeling slightly. The robot in the film is shown to know all languages that are programmed by his creator. I want to know how he could understand what the mosquitoes were saying, certainly no human knows that. Yes, you read it right there is a sequence where Chitti talks to a colony of mosquitoes.
Talking about the special effects, there are some impressive sequences especially in the climax where there are hundreds of lookalike robots. However, there are many poorly executed sequences that can only be termed, shoddy. The film could have been a good half hour shorter (editing – Anthony Gonsalves) as it gets really boring in the second half. Regarding make up and costumes, the less said is better; maybe going 'over the top' was the brief but it shouldn't be at the cost of making your actors look silly. Mr. Manish Malhotra didn't expect this from you…
Music by A. R. Rahman is below average but I will not give up hope and wait for the maestro to come back with another rocking album (after Jhootha Hi Sahi of course). Lyrics by Swanand Kirkere are bizarre and I prefer 'Telephone Dhun Mein Hasne Wali' from Hindustani to his 'Neutrons, Electrons' in Robot. In true Shankar style, the songs are shot at exotic locations and the song, 'Kilimanjaro, Mohenjadaro', which incidentally is shot in Macchu Picchu, looks nice. The 'Neutrons, Electrons' song that is shot in a Brazilian desert could have looked breathtaking if the makers didn't decide to 'enhance' the visuals with so called 'special effects'.
Overall, Robot is a very average film that doesn't really live up to its promise of being a complete masala entertainer. Ask Rajni fans and they would trash this post citing the author's lack of understanding of Tamil cinema or specifically Rajni cinema. I understand their point of view as even I was criticised for overlooking My Name Is Khan's flaws and going simply by what I felt after the film in my review. Robot is for Rajni fans and they will love it. If you are not a fan, don't go with any expectations and you may like it.
By Shrey Khetarpal • Posted in Hindi Movie Reviews	• Tagged A R Rahman, Aishwarya Rai, Danny Denzongpa, Endhiran, Enthiran, Rajnikant, Robot, Sci-fi, Shankar, Special Effects
The master falters, but…
Pic: Raavan; Reliance Big Pictures
A lot is being said about Mani Ratnam's Raavan and the movie's fate has become front page news material… it almost seems like everyone was waiting for the master film maker to fall once to rip him apart. Critics and fans blamed Ratnam for losing his maverick style by focusing more on the commercial aspects and staying away of any direct political undertones. Raavan may not be what an Iruvar or Roja or Bombay or even a Guru was but it is a film that took a lot of effort to make, which went completely unnoticed. I am not saying that we should like a film because it was a difficult one to make but let's not be so harsh on a filmmaker whom we have revered for so long. Mani Ratnam is one of the finest filmmakers we have in India and that is indisputable.
Based on the Ramayana, Raavan is set in a fictitious town called Lal Maati, surrounded by dense rain forests and is unofficially ruled by a tribal leader named Beera aka Raavan (Abhishek Bachchan). Beera fights against the system and the forces for the injustice done towards the locals who worship him like a god. The conflict resembles the Naxalite movement; however the director steers clear of any direct reference. Beera abducts the local police superintendent, Dev aka Ram's (Vikram) wife, Ragini aka Sita (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) to extract revenge. While Dev embarks on a search for his wife and her kidnapper; Beera finds himself drawn towards his beautiful and brave hostage. Raavan is partly a love story and partly a story about the good and the evil that resides inside all of us. The concept is interesting, however the screenplay gets too literal at times, such as the sequence where Govinda's character (Sanjeevni Kumar aka Hanuman) is shown jumping from tree to tree.
Raavan is a visually stunning film and the two cinematographers, V. Manikanandan and Santosh Sivan have well captured the natural beauty of the locales as well as the harsh conditions faced by the actors. Music by A. R. Rahman with lyrics by Gulzar is a winner too with the songs presented in a breath-taking manner, especially 'Kata Kata…' and 'Thok De Killi…' What does not work very well is the film's editing (Sreekar Prasad) and the screenplay (Mani Ratnam) as the first half moves at an extremely slow pace and the climax not that impactful. The actors have all worked very hard and it clearly shows on screen. Abhishek is good but does not seem menacing enough that one would expect from a character based on a demon; Aishwarya emotes well, while Vikram only grunts. Nikhil Dwivedi in Lakshman's character is good and so is Ravi Kishen as Beera's brother; Govinda in Hanuman's character does not work very well but that's probably because his character is not that convincing in its modern avatar. Priyamani as Jamunia (Beera's sister) is an important find for the Hindi film industry this year; she has great screen presence and I am looking forward to seeing her more often in Bollywood.
The film may not match up to the high expectations we have from Mani Ratnam but I agree with what I read online, 'his worst is also better than the best works of some other directors'.
By Shrey Khetarpal • Posted in Hindi Movie Reviews	• Tagged A R Rahman, Abhishek Bachchan, Action, Adventure, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Bollywood, Drama, Govinda, Gulzar, Love Story, Mani Ratnam, Nikhil Dwivedi, Politics, Priyamani, Santosh Sivan, V Manikanandan, Vikram
This is no Indiana Jones…
Pic: Blue; Source: planetbollywood.com
You get foreign technicians to work on your film, give itsy-bitsy bikinis to your leading lady to wear, shoot at some breath-taking locales and spend a bomb on under-water sequences… you definitely get a good looking film (except Sanjay Dutt's paunch). Directed by Anthony D'Souza, Blue is just a good looking film, that's about it. Pegged as an underwater treasure-hunt adventure flick, Blue disappoints with its weak script. It lacks the edge-of-the-seat thrills and the mind-games expected of a treasure-hunt film.
The film starts with the one of the cheesiest lines I have heard on-screen this year, it goes something like this, 'Paisa, samunder ki macchli aur ladki ka dil… in par kisi ka naam nahin likha hota' (no one's name is written on money, fish and a woman's heart). Immediately I knew that I am not to expect anything smart from the film. Leave aside the excitement of National Treasure or Indiana Jones, the film's screenplay doesn't even match up to the 1992 treasure-hunt film, Daulat Ki Jung starring Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla.
Akshay Kumar plays Aarav, a rich businessman in Bahamas who wants his friend cum employee Sagar (Sanjay Dutt) to help him find a lost treasure in the sea. Sagar apparently knows the location of the treasure but for some reason is not willing to go and look for it. Zayed Khan plays Sam, Sagar's brother (poor guy, till when he would have to play kid brother characters) and Lara Dutta plays Mona, Sagar's love interest. All characters are poorly developed and you hardly relate to any of them. The film has a few twists in the end but all predictable, so the climax is also extremely thanda.
Akshay is quite irritating in the film as he once again reprises his Kambakkht Ishq like Casanova character; honestly, isn't he tired himself? Sanjay looks quite old and you want to look away from the screen when he appears in his diving gear with his stomach clearly outlined. I pity Lara who has a brief role with two and a half songs and maybe three dialogues, it seems that she wasn't shown the script (whatever was there); even Katrina's cameo has more importance attached to it. Regarding Zayed, he was all right in the role he had but a little too enthusiastic.
Another big disappointment in the film is A R Rahman's music; not that it's bad but certainly not Rahman standard. The title track 'Blue' is shot extremely well with some great under-water footage; while another hyped song, 'Chiggy Wiggy' with Kylie Minogue is just not up to the mark. Cinematography by Laxman Utekar is good and so are some of the action sequences.
Overall, Blue has more style than substance and I would recommend Abbas-Mastan's Race, which had both in true Bollywood masala way. Regarding the film's USP, its under-water sequences, go watch an infotainment channel instead, you'd get a better deal.
One thing that I could not understand in the film, please explain if you can. A group of angry goons enter Sanjay Dutt's house in a scene and start shooting at everything in his living room; Sanjay who is having coffee with Lara in the dining room, decides to wear his sunglasses after hearing the sound of the bullets. Any idea why?
My Rating: * * Two stars (on five)
By Shrey Khetarpal • Posted in Hindi Movie Reviews	• Tagged A R Rahman, Action, Adventure, Akshay Kumar, Bollywood, Katrina Kaif, Lara Dutta, Sanjay Dutt, Zayed Khan
Romance On Screen
Before Sunrise, Before Sunset
and some of the best celluloid romances
Before Sunrise; Picture Courtesy: http://www.movieposter.com
I watched two beautiful films today, Before Sunrise (1995) and its sequel, Before Sunset (2004) starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. 'Before Sunrise' is about an American guy, Jesse (Hawke) and a French girl, Celine (Delpy) who meet on a train in Europe. They decide to spend an evening together, exploring the city (Vienna) before going their own ways in the morning. As they spend time together, talking to each other about things ranging from the gender war, sex, family, ex-boyfriend/girlfriend and more, they fall in love. However, they realise that they have different lives in different parts of the world and only have that one evening to spend together. They do not want to end what they have started and promise to see each other after six months at the same place, the train station. That is how the film ends and it is up to the viewer to decide whether they meet or not. There are only these two characters and the whole film is about the conversations they have. That is where the brilliance of the film lays, the script (Richard Linklater and Kim Krizan) and the effortless acting by the lead pair. You almost believe that these are two people who have just met and you get to know them better as each scene unfolds.
Director, Richard Linklater returns with the sequel, 'Before Sunset' with the same mood that the first film had set, nine years earlier (Delpy and Hawke share the writing credits with Linklater in this one). Set in Paris this time, Jesse and Celine meet again and as earlier, they have a few hours before Jesse returns to America. The film retains the freshness of the first one with an equally engaging screenplay. I strongly recommend both these films to all, even those who are not big fans of romantic films.
On the topic of celluloid romance, let me list down some fine romantic films both in Hollywood and Bollywood (fairly recent ones)…
pics: movieposter.com
As Good As It Gets (1997) – It is a comedy and a romance but not like any other rom-coms that Hollywood produces. A homophobic-racist-OCD suffering novelist, a waitress who is a single mother, a gay artist and a dog… this is a weird film. Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt and Greg Kinnear give performances that light up the screen. I have only one word to describe this film: supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Shakespeare In Love (1998) – Was Shakespeare in love when he wrote Romeo & Juliet? Joseph Fiennes as Will Shakespeare and Gwyneth Paltrow as his muse are a delight to watch. Judi Dench, Ben Affleck, Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush form a brilliant supporting cast.
pic: movieposter.com
Love Story (1970) – Ok, this film is not that new but it inspired many more romantic movies, especially in India. Rich boy (Ryan O'Neal) meets poor girl (Ali MacGraw), they fall in love and marry against his parents' wishes… the girl dies of leukemia. One of most romantic and tragic films, it is scripted by Erich Segal who wrote his best-selling novel of the same name while the film was being made. Francis Lai's background score is simply outstanding.
Dirty Dancing (1987) – A girl-meets-boy story with dance as the backdrop… Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze star in this stellar film with a fantastic background score (remember the song, 'Time of my life') and dance sequences.
Pretty Woman (1990) – Ladies and gentlemen… presenting Julia Roberts. By the way, Richard Gere was also there. Everything about this film is iconic… this is the baap of so-called 'chick flicks'.
Pride and Prejudice (1995) – Not the one starring Keira Knightley, actually I am not talking about the film. I am talking about BBC's short series starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. With six hour-long episodes, the series does full justice to Jane Austen's most famous novel. The tension between Darcy and Lizzy, the witty exchanges and the feel of that era is very well captured here. CD / DVD sets are easily available at all leading music/film stores.
Pride and Prejudice; Pic: bbc.co.uk
Lamhe (1991) – This film is the reason behind me writing this blog. I watched it first when I was just eight years old. I loved the colours, the funny portions in the second half set in London; as I grew up and watched it again and again, I understood the film and the emotions. This is probably Yash Chopra's finest film till date and also one of the biggest commercial flops of his career. While it failed in India, Lamhe worked extremely well in the UK and other overseas market. Written by Honey Irani, the film has career best performances by Sridevi and Anil Kapoor. The film is about unexpressed love and has a complicated plot involving a girl who loves a much older man, who was in love with her mother. The film was even labeled incestuous at the time of its release.
Lamhe; pic: planetbollywood.com
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) – Jesse aka Ethan Hawke met Celine aka Julie Delpy on a Eurorail journey in Before Sunrise; in the same year Raj (Shah Rukh Khan) met Simran (Kajol) on a Eurorail trip again. Aditya Chopra's DDLJ changed the way Bollywood made films… NRIs came into focus and Indian values were in vogue again. Simran wanted to elope with Raj and her mother was more than willing to help; Raj on the other hand wanted her father's blessings…
DDLJ; pic: planetbollywood.com
Hum Tum (2004) – When Harry Met Sally meets Before Sunrise meets Before Sunset… there is not much original about the film apart from the chemistry between the lead pair. Rani Mukherjee dominates every frame in which she appears, sidelining Saif Ali Khan who also does a good job. It is probably the first Hindi film where the heroine does not think that pre-marital sex is a good enough reason to get married.
Hum Tum; pic: planetbollywood.com
Saathiya (2002) – What happens when Mani Ratnam (Producer, Screenplay), Yash Chopra (Producer), A R Rahman (Music), Gulzar (Lyrics, Dialogues), Anil Mehta (Cinematography) and Rani Mukherjee get together for a film? Saathiya takes an intimate and realistic look at a young married couple's life. First time director, Shaad Ali did a great job and so did the lead pair, Rani and Vivek Oberoi.
Saathiya; pic: planetbollywood.com
Silsila (1981) – Another Yash Chopra romance that failed to set the cash registers ringing. Just like Lamhe, it is one of his finest works. Amitabh Bachchan is married to Jaya Bachchan and Rekha is married to Sanjeev Kumar; yet sparks fly between Rekha and Amitabh. Fact and fiction merged with this extra marital affair saga. As a nation are we not ready to see infidelity on screen? Both Silsila and Karan Johar's recent Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna faced criticism due to the same reason.
Silsila; pic: planetbollywood.com
These are some of my favourite romantic flicks. Interestingly all Hindi ones have come out from the same production house, Yash Raj Films. Some of the other romantic movies I like include Notting Hill (1999), Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Titanic (1997), Chandni (1989; Yash Raj again), Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) and Saawariya (2007), amongst others. Do share what you think about these films and any others that you think fit the list.
By Shrey Khetarpal • Posted in Cinemaaaa, English Movie Reviews	• Tagged A R Rahman, Aditya Chopra, Ali MacGraw, Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Anil Mehta, Bollywood, Colin Firth, Ethan Hawke, Gulzar, Gwyneth Paltrow, Helen Hunt, Hollywood, Jack Nicholson, Jane Austen, Jaya Bachchan, Jennifer Ehle, Joseph Fiennes, Julia Roberts, Julie Delpy, Kajol, Karan Johar, Kunal Kohli, Love Story, Mani Ratnam, Rani Mukherjee, Rekha, Richard Gere, Romance, Romantic, Ryan O'Neal, Saif Ali Khan, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Sanjeev Kumar, Shaad Ali, Shah Rukh Khan, Sridevi, Vivek Oberoi, Yash Chopra, Yash Raj Films
Shrey's Tweets
👏🏼 twitter.com/theatlantic/st… Published	1 day ago
RT @Complex: 3 years ago, @netflix dropped the first season of Stranger Things and I still think about how iconic this scene was https://… Published	2 days ago
RT @seewhatsnext: Tahar Rahim will star as Charles Sobhraj in #TheSerpent, a new drama series co-produced by BBC One based on the true stor… Published	3 days ago
RT @Netflix_PH: SOMEBODY HOLD ME. How is it not July 4 yet??? #StrangerThings3 https://t.co/iAiwkbzoLn Published	3 weeks ago
RT @NetflixFilm: Paris Is Burning is so much more than a documentary; it's a historical record of LGBTQ folks of color telling their storie… Published	1 month ago
RT @GlowNetflix: The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling are taking Vegas, baby! Season 3 of GLOW arrives August 9. https://t.co/C8Xio11vly Published	1 month ago
Cinemaaaa (12)
English Movie Reviews (25)
Hindi Movie Reviews (71)
World Movies (3)
Beyond Movies
Aao Award Award Khelein
Band Baaja Baaraat
Barfi!
Best of Bollywood in 2012
BollyBad 2011
Bollywood Wishlist
Bollywood's Animal Heroes
Celebrating the duds – 2010
Delhi Belly
Dum Maaro Dum
Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu
Ek Thi Daayan
Ferrari Ki Sawaari
Gangs of Wasseypur 2
Good Night Good Morning
Ishaqzaade
Kambakkht Ishq
Kaminey
Karthik Calling Karthik
Khichdi – The Movie
Ladies vs Ricky Bahl
Love Aaj Kal
Lust, Caution
Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana
My Week With Marilyn
Nautanki Saala
No One Killed Jessica
Nolan made me a Batman fan
Ra.One
Raajneeti
Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year
Rom Com Gone 2010
Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster
Shaitan
Small Films Big Impact
Stanley, Kalam, Books and a Lunchbox
Tanu Weds Manu
Teen Kanya – Satyajit Ray
The Dirty Picture
The Genius of Vishal Bhardwaj
Wake Up Sid
Well Done Abba
What's Your Raashee?
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani


She's a military hero who lost her life at the Pentagon on 9/11. And today, her heroic legacy lives on. A local high school bears the name of Lieutenant Colonel Karen Wagner. Photojounalist Cliff Goyang was at the ceremony.


Taking care of your landscape is vital for business owners. It lets people know that your company pays attention to details and makes a good impression on customers. When updating your landscape, you should be aware of how pests may affect your grass.
The team at Millennium Ground & Waters recommends investing in pest-resistant grass for your landscape. For decades, scientists have been working in labs, as well as in the field, to develop grass that looks good. During this time, pest resistance was an afterthought. Modern grass breeders are now attempting to develop grasses that are resistant to nematodes, chinch bugs, and other pests you may find in Florida. Before you choose grass for your business landscape, you should see what pests are common in the area and select an option that will not be affected by these troublemakers.
Ensure that your landscape looks magnificent when you select Winter Garden landscaping services from the team at Millennium Ground & Waters. In addition to design and maintenance services, we are known for restoring grass, providing custom fertilization services, and repairing irrigation systems. Call us at (407) 347-5980 or send an email to rob@millenniumgw.com to ask any questions about the services we provide.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged winter garden landscaping on June 12, 2018 .
Keeping your landscape lush and green all year long is vital for business owners. Having a beautiful landscape makes a good impression on clients and competitors, letting people know that you care about every detail. One way to ensure the grass is green is to employ proper irrigation techniques.
Watering your landscape first thing in the morning is the best for Florida landscapes. When you use your sprinkler early in the day, you can rest assured that the grass and plants will actually benefit from the water it receives. If you water your landscape too late into the day, then you risk the water evaporating before it reaches the grassroots. Furthermore, the water can heat up on hot days during the summer and effectively burn your plants to death. When you water first thing in the morning, you should only allow about a half inch of water per application.
Count on the team at Millenium Ground & Waters to assist you with your irrigation system. You can contact us when you need a new system installed. We are also the company to call when you need a sprinkler repair in Winter Garden, FL. We will take a look at your system to confirm it is working correctly.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged sprinkler repair winter garden fl on May 15, 2018 .
The Sprinkler is Off – Have you made sure that your sprinkler system is on? If the weather has not been good for your sprinkler or you are just coming out of a rainy season, check any direct connections to make sure you turn your system back on before contacting a professional.
Parts Failure – Whether the pump has stopped working or you are not getting the proper power to the sprinkler system, a problem with individual components could be the reason why they will not work correctly. Maintaining your sprinkler system is essential. With regular maintenance, you can spot issues before they become a more significant problem.
Broken Sprinkler Heads – From being accidentally mowed down to just wearing out over time, sprinkler heads will break and stop working properly. Instead of letting the water pool up on the ground, you should have the heads repaired to stop water damage to your landscape.
Contact the team at Millennium Grounds and Waters when you need a sprinkler repair in Winter Garden, FL. Our team provides exceptional services throughout the community, including Seminole, Lake, and Osceola Counties.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged sprinkler repair winter garden fl on April 15, 2018 .
Clean Your Landscape – Simple lawn maintenance can make your landscape look very clean. A good landscaper will clean all of the walkways, make sure that none of the trees are too overgrown, and take care of any decorative plants.
Add a Little Green to Your Space – People need green spaces in their life and keeping your landscape green all year long is essential. You can make your shopping center look more appealing or keep the employees of your business happy when you invest in landscaping services.
Keep Your Property Safe – When your plants, trees, and grass are overgrown and unkempt, people will hurt themselves. Instead of taking this risk, you can hire a team to come out to your location at least once a month and clean everything up.
Inquire about our Winter Garden lawn care services today and see why business owners have trusted our business for more than 20 years. We serve companies and governments throughout Central Florida, including cities in Seminole, Lake, and Osceola Counties.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Winter Garden Lawn Care on March 26, 2018 .
Finding dependable commercial landscaping and grounds management services is simple when you come to Millennium Grounds and Waters. For more than 20 years, the landscaping specialists at our business have been providing government associations and business owners throughout Central Florida with comprehensive lawn maintenance, sprinkler repair, and custom fertilization services.
As one of the most trusted grounds management companies in the area, our business is ready to work on your landscape. We work in a vast array of environments, including multi-family communities, industrial parks, and vacation resorts, as well as condominium associations and neighborhoods with homeowners associations. Not only is our business licensed and insured, but we also feature Maxicom-certified contractors that provide unparalleled on-site supervision. These certified supervisors ensure that your landscape looks great at all times.
Contact the team at our business when you are seeking landscaping in Winter Garden, FL, as well as the surrounding communities in Seminole, Lake, and Osceola Counties. We offer free consultations for a variety of our services, including commercial lawn maintenance. It does not matter if you need us for a full landscape design and installation or are seeking government land restoration services, you can rest assured that we will work hard and make your property look magnificent.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged landscaping winter garden fl on March 15, 2018 .


Image Title: Alcott Hill Emestine Drop Leaf Dining Table Reviews Wayfair For Decor 1. Post Title: Leaf Dining Table. Filename: alcott-hill-emestine-drop-leaf-dining-table-reviews-wayfair-for-decor-1.jpg. Image Dimension: 800 x 800 pixels. Images Format: jpg/jpeg. Publisher/Author: Rey Stark. Uploaded Date: Tuesday - October 09th. 2018 11:46:06 AM. Category: Architecture. Image Source: interior.com. Round Drop Leaf Dining Table Oak Walmart Com Within Ideas 14. Amazon Com Jofran Double Drop Leaf Dining Table In Taylor Brown Intended For Ideas 9. Amazon Com Target Marketing Systems Two Toned Tiffany Drop Leaf In Dining Table Ideas 2. What Are Butterfly Leaf Dining Tables Countryside Amish Furniture Inside Table Remodel 8. Shayne Drop Leaf Kitchen Table Pottery Barn Within Dining Plan 18. Furniture Origami Drop Leaf Dining Table With Regard To Decor 19. Trent Austin Design Cristal Drop Leaf Dining Table Reviews Wayfair Regarding Remodel 17. Alcott Hill Emestine Drop Leaf Dining Table Reviews Wayfair For Decor 1. Rubbed Black Drop Leaf Dining Table Pier 1 Imports With Designs 3. How Amish Dining Table Leaf Storage Works YouTube Intended For Prepare 16.


text:
Home / India News / Suicides increase 10% to highest since 1967, accidental deaths down 11%: National data
Suicides increase 10% to highest since 1967, accidental deaths down 11%: National data
Among those who died by suicide, students and small entrepreneurs saw the biggest jump, supporting anecdotal accounts of stress
The 2020 report; it covers the period from January to December 2020, shows that there was a sharp rise in the number of deaths by suicides.(Pic for representation)
ByAbhishek Jha, New Delhi
How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect accidental deaths and suicides in India? The 2020 National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report released on October 28 confirms intuitive wisdom on this question. While the number of road accidents and associated deaths fell sharply, suicides saw a large increase. Among those who died by suicide, students and small entrepreneurs saw the biggest jump, supporting anecdotal accounts of the pandemic's disproportionate stress on them.
The annual Accidental Deaths and Suicides (ADSI) report, which is released by the NCRB (it works under the ministry of home affairs) is the official source of statistics on the number of accidents and deaths by accident or suicides in India.
4th highest annual spike in suicide deaths in 2020
The 2020 report; it covers the period from January to December 2020, shows that there was a sharp rise in the number of deaths by suicides. In absolute terms, there were 153,052 deaths by suicides, the highest number since 1967; the earliest period for which data is available. This number increased by 10% from 2019 -- the year-on-year jump is the fourth highest since 1967. To be sure, as a share of population, rate of such deaths is not unprecedented. The number of deaths by suicide, when adjusted by per lakh population, was 11.3 in 2020. While, this is the highest rate in the last 10 years, it was 11.4 in 2010.
Did lockdown stress play a role in rise in suicides?
The answer seems to be yes, when one looks at the statistics for students and professionals. One of the biggest collateral damages of the pandemic has been education as schools and colleges did not open even after the 68-day long hard lockdown that began in March had ended.
A report released by the ministry of education, reported by HT on October 7, found that 29 million students did not have access to digital devices in India. There have been several reports of students dying by suicide because of inability to access resources to continue their education online.
The ADSI report shows that these were not just anecdotal accounts. Students, who make up 7%-8% of deaths by suicide every year, registered a 21.2% increase in such deaths in 2020, the highest among people of different broad occupations, followed by professionals or salaried persons (16.5%), and daily wage earners (15.7%).
The report also shows that small businessmen suffered more than salaried professionals. Deaths by suicide of vendors and tradesmen increased by 26.1% and 49.9% respectively. To be sure, vendors and tradesmen are a sub-category of self-employed persons, who have as a whole registered only a 7.8% increase.
All these numbers suggest that hardships in continuing education and financial losses because of the pandemic extracted a huge cost in India.
A cause-wise analysis of deaths by suicides supports such a conclusion.
Among causes of suicide that make up at least a percent of such deaths, poverty (69%) and unemployment (24%) registered the biggest increase. Drug abuse or alcohol addiction (17%), illness (16%), and family problems (14%) come next. Although students have registered an increase in deaths by suicide it was likely related to relatively longer-term prospects (perhaps inability to continue education) than exams. Deaths by suicide due to failure in examination declined by 24% but due to professional/career problem increased by 11%.
But the curbs brought down accidental deaths
Images of deserted roads and city spaces went viral during the 68-day long lockdown. This also led to a sharp fall in number of road accidents and related deaths.
According to the ADSI report, accidental deaths, of which traffic accidents are about 40%, declined by 11%, in 2020. There were 374,397 accidental deaths in 2020. This is the lowest number since 2009 when the number of such deaths was 357,021.
Compared to 2019, such deaths declined by 11.1%. Only twice has year-on-year growth rate been more negative since 1967: in 1971 and 1974.
While the number of deaths due to natural causes also declined by 9.1%, the lockdown's impact was different on different heads. While the number of deaths due to sunstroke fell by 744 between 2019 and 2020 – the lockdown was imposed in peak summer – deaths by floods actually increased from 948 to 959. Drowning, sudden deaths, and poisoning were the only big non-natural causes of accidental deaths where there was an increase in 2020 compared to 2019.
The NCRB had released the 2020 Crime in India report in the month of September, which showed a big jump in number of crimes, largely on account of people being charged for violating Covid-19 guidelines.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Kilmaar chartered bankers (KCB) - Will operate as a guild overseeing various Banking branches within the Kingdom of Tryggr. Each branch/franchise will function around purpose built vaults with storefronts serving as the main points of contact, KCB will work to improve and incorporate the latest technologies & relevant policies to ensure that the guild prospers. KCB will also maintain a neutral stance to those both deviant and lawfully inclined ensuring no player goes unserved!
We also take much inspiration from a well known banking institution that Kilmaar chartered bankers in many ways aim to emulate which is "The Iron Bank", specifically their legendary ethos and reputation when collecting debts.
The biggest perk of becoming a notary/underwriter (scribe) for KCB is first and foremost experience earned followed by a very generous compensation system, all scribes will be entitled to keep 75% of all fees charged by the guild for services they carry out. You'll be able to earn substantial amounts whilst maintaining free access to the latest equipment, unlimited resources, research and technological advancements.
Those entrusted to work within the Royal Mint will be subject to multiple safeguards in place to protect the Kingdom from theft. The Mint will be located in an undisclosed purpose built facility, All mint workers will be paid via a KCB salary for their position and title within the guild, the salary of mint workers will scale in line with their skill mastery (game mechanics pending) all workers can expect to be extremely well paid in return for their full cooperation with the guilds strict guidelines within this specialised branch of the banking service.
Only thoroughly vetted applicants will be accepted into the role. The primary resource needed to mint the Kingdoms currency remains TBD (to be determined) but sufficient EP and other resources will be set aside by the Kingdom to ensure that mint workers have what they need in vast supply and large scale deliveries made every 2nd Elyrian year direct to the mint ready to be processed.
Will all be contracted as Huskarlar and report to their own associated branch of KCB, they will be of a similar mould to that of the Varangians that form the legendary Kingsguard. Huskarlar as a minimum requirement will need at least a secondary specialization in a combat focused skill branch, this is essential for any players wishing to join the ranks of Huskarlar. The aim is to ensure adequate role fulfillment. If interested you'll be subject to a strict contractual agreement based upon services to the Kilmaar chartered bankers and most importantly the Kingdom of Tryggr interests.
The most valuable rewards for members of the Huskarlar lies with the perk being outfitted with top tier armour and weapon, all of which will be eligible for periodic upgrades and exchanges as new technologies become available. All weapons and arms will be issued from existing blacksmith/weaponsmiths in partnership with the guild. This will ensure they remain cutting edge whilst old pieces of armour or weapons will be traded back into the armoury to offset upgrade cost.
A key area of the bank is to assist in the facilitation of trade involving varying quantities of goods from approved merchants/traders, the bank more specifically it's guarded warehouses will act as secure supply sites for commodities before they are sold. Upon completion of any sale, items can be transferred to the buyer in person or via pre-arranged courier service. Alternatively purchased goods can be transferred directly to the buyers personal repository space should they also hold one with the bank.
Pre-arranged or agreed upon late payments are possible should the branch manager be contacted before reaching the third Elyrian year in which fees are due.
Failure to adhere to the terms and written conditions of all contractual agreements with KCB will result in any item(s) currently stored being declared forfeit as such they will become property of Kilmaar chartered Bankers and sold off.
All items will be held in confidence either locally or regionally by the guild. The HQ and main vault will be set within the County Capital of Myrkland, County Brânmere. As the guild expands we'll expand with smaller purpose built repositories throughout Tryggr known as branches. Each one will act as a franchise of the main guild offering at least the essential guild services. Such as family contracts, service contracts among it's banking services.
Situated in various locations throughout Tryggr territory, these scaled-down repositories will be overseen by Notaries (scribes) of the guild who will hold the title of Branch Manager and operate with autonomy provided guild guidelines are followed. In each instance branche will benefit equally from any and all enhanced features collectively.
The goal of Kilmaar chartered bankers is to provide a stable, fun and dynamic financial service to what will be a player driven economy within Elyria, KCB will aim to cover multiple areas working in collaboration with several of the other organisations in Tryggr. Our required roles offer a means for all those involved to earn substantial coin in addition to skill rewards towards a range of skill trees across the four primary positions.
Our reputation as an organisation is vital to the continued operation of the entire business venture, this means that any and all agreements are kept to the letter and ensures repeat business from PCs and NPCs alike therefore granting continued gameplay for those involved.
Guild-wide perks all guild members will receive half rate discount when using any of the guilds services or purchasing additional guild supplies regardless of their role within the guild!
Awesome structure, well thought out framework. No doubt it will be prosperous to all within the kingdom and beyond.
Glad to say Tryggr has a man of intergrity in this position.
Dont know anyone I would rather entrust with what I hold as valuable.
Looking like a well-thought-out enterprise. What more can I say.


text:
Race Luke Ottenhof May 31, 2020
Desmond Cole Wants You to Know That Canada Isn't All That Nice
In his new book, 'The Skin We're In,' he clearly outlines the systemic racism that makes our neighbor to the north anything but the affable bastion of progressivism we like to think it is
One of the most mind-boggling PR feats of the last 120 years has been the playful pop-culture neutering of Canada's real identity: a white supremacist settler state propped up by extraction capitalism. As Alex V. Green puts it, "Canada is three mining companies in a trench coat, wearing a stupid hat and carrying a gun." Yet for some reason, Canada is positioned by others — and positions itself — as the affable, progressive, center-left American relative giving out gentle noogies and free health care.
Toronto-based writer and activist Desmond Cole has no patience for this message. In 2015, the local magazine Toronto Life published Cole's groundbreaking reporting on his experiences being targeted and stopped more than 50 times by Toronto police. The piece, which was titled "The Skin I'm In," forced nation-wide conversations about systemic anti-Blackness, a huge feat in a country both touted as a culturally-diverse paradise and allergic to suggestions of wrongdoing.
The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power, Cole's first book, continues this work. Each chapter is committed to one month of 2017 and the events of that particular span of time. Most chapters center on significant, usually traumatic displays of anti-Blackness, but one, the month of May, breaks from this pattern. It details quiet, nourishing moments of kinship, community and connection. They're beautiful and rare, and for Cole, they're also a reminder of what Black people in Canada don't get to enjoy.
"What those parts of the book reflect are what I wish I could be spending more of my time on," Cole tells me. "I've always been a nature lover, but I don't have time to do that as much as I want to, because going out for a walk as a Black person in Toronto can cost you your life. Being in a store where you're trying to buy something and being accused of stealing, [or] trying to get somewhere on public transit but hopping on without paying because you didn't have enough money that day, these are things that cost Black people our lives in this city and in this country."
"To paraphrase Angela Davis' book," he continues, "freedom is a constant struggle. When people like Audre Lorde talk about [how] taking time out for ourselves is an act of revolution, I've come to see that more and more in my life. Being gentle and compassionate with ourselves and with one another as Black people is truly revolutionary in a world that's always telling us we have no value."
His writing career hasn't been without its struggles either. After the original Toronto Life story ran, Cole was approached by the Toronto Star to write a weekly column for the paper. The day he started, it put him on the front page and repeatedly identified him as "activist and freelance journalist Desmond Cole." After a few months, he was told he wrote about race too often. A few months after that, he was forced out on the basis that his activism disqualified him from writing about racial issues. (White columnists haven't faced these same repercussions at the paper.)
"Why is it so easy for white storytellers in this country to say to us, 'Your stories aren't that interesting, I've heard worse from Black people'?" he asks. "Why is it so easy for them to tell us about the conditions in another country? Canada's cultural claim to fame is this naive innocence that's not really real, but that we just love to preserve about everything. Black Canadians are just told to shut up because it's not actually happening. That is how power maintains its grip. For me, the actual state of Black life in Canada today, without comparison to another country, is what matters."
This line of argument, Cole argues, is a critical deflection in maintaining the Great Canadian Lie. When ignorance fails, avoidance and denial are employed. "This country still has a legal form of racial segregation called the Indian Act. While we talk about other countries being racist, we have an act that separates you based on the notion of race that the government gets to decide. Who are we to talk to Americans or anybody else when Black and Indigenous people are the ones disproportionately in our jails, are the ones disproportionately taken away from our families by child welfare, are the ones disproportionately kicked out of school?"
"The imaginary differences between these two countries are exactly that: The border is imaginary, many of the cultural differences are imaginary," he adds.
In an interview about his book with The Tyee's Olamide Olaniyan, Cole drew a distinction between racism and the lived violence of anti-Blackness: "I don't care if you're racist. I care if you're hurting me." This difference — and the avoidance it punches through — is illustrated in The Skin We're In when Cole describes how Nancy Elgie, a white York Region District School Board trustee, referred to a Black woman as "the n***** parent" in the presence of other York School Board officials. (None of these officials called for Elgie's resignation.) "There was kind of this idea that, that word just slipped out," Cole explains. "So even if you say that word to a Black person, if your intentions are good somehow, then it doesn't really count."
"What this obsession with intentions does is that it re-centers whiteness," he continues. "White people get to say, 'It doesn't matter what's happening to you. What matters is what I'm projecting in my mind. We don't even have to talk about how you experience white supremacy in Canada, because as long as I can tell you I don't mean it, you have to forgive me, you have to continue living in whatever conditions you're complaining about.' But it should be about what we're living, and what we're living isn't acceptable."
Interestingly, the book's release coincided with the most powerful display of direct action in Canada in recent memory. After the Royal Canadian Mounted Police invaded sovereign Wet'suwet'en land and arrested land defenders on their own territory, Indigenous communities led solidarity rallies and blockades across the country.
In The Skin We're In, Cole, whose parents are from Sierra Leone, links the struggles of Black people in Canada with Indigenous people. "Knowing my own history, knowing that my parents also come from a country colonized by the British, this informs my solidarity with Indigenous peoples and makes it my fight, too."
The actions of the land defenders and their allies was perceived — as oppressed folks proactively attempting to remove a boot from their neck often is — as violent and anti-Canadian. The premier of Quebec suggested falsely that Mohawk land defenders had machine guns. "Them standing up is conceived by the country as itself being an act of violence," says Cole. "The violence of the state is simply presumed."
While on tour for The Skin We're In, Cole learned about other direct actions in Black communities across the country. In particular, he connected with a group of Black youth in Hamilton, Ontario who organized a walkout in response to cuts made to a Black mentorship program at their high school. After arbitration, the program was reinstated. Some of those students were involved at Cole's book event in Hamilton. "I'm getting to meet Black people who are doing the work all across the country, and that's really special," says Cole.
The 13th and final chapter of The Skin We're In is committed to January 2018. It shares the story of Abdoul Abdi, his sister Fatouma Abdi and his aunt Asha Ali, who together with their community organized to prevent Canada from deporting Abdoul to Somalia. The story is critical and worth celebrating, but Cole points out that this 13th chapter is structurally significant, too. "The struggle doesn't end with a year," he tells me. "The struggle is ongoing. To end in January where we started was a way to show that the cycle isn't complete, and that the work has to continue."
Luke Ottenhof
Luke Ottenhof is a freelance writer based in Toronto. He's written for The Guardian, Columbia Journalism Review and Pitchfork.


text:
North Korea Calls Trump 'Erratic' Old Man Over Tweets
FILE - People watch a television news screen showing U.S. President Donald Trump, South Korean Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meeting at the truce village of Panmunjom in the DMZ, at a railway station in Seoul, June 30, 2019.
North Korea insulted U.S. President Donald Trump again on Monday, calling him a "heedless and erratic old man" after he tweeted that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wouldn't want to abandon a special relationship between the two leaders and affect the American presidential election by resuming hostile acts.
A senior North Korean official, former nuclear negotiator Kim Yong Chol, said in a statement that his country wouldn't cave in to U.S. pressure because it has nothing to lose and accused the Trump administration of attempting to buy time ahead of an end-of-year deadline set by Kim Jong Un for Washington to salvage nuclear talks.
On Sunday, Trump tweeted: "Kim Jong Un is too smart and has far too much to lose, everything actually, if he acts in a hostile way ... North Korea, under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, has tremendous economic potential, but it must denuclearize as promised."
He was referring to a vague statement issued by the two leaders during their first summit in Singapore in June last year that called for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula without describing when or how it would occur.
Trump added that Kim "does not want to void his special relationship with the President of the United States or interfere with the U.S. Presidential Election in November."
Kim Yong Chol said Trump's tweets clearly show that he is an irritated old man "bereft of patience."
"As (Trump) is such a heedless and erratic old man, the time when we cannot but call him a `dotard' again may come," Kim Yong Chol said.
"Trump has too many things that he does not know about (North Korea). We have nothing more to lose. Though the U.S. may take away anything more from us, it can never remove the strong sense of self-respect, might and resentment against the U.S. from us."
Kim Yong Chol traveled to Washington and met with the U.S. president twice last year while setting up the summits with Kim Jong Un.
Nuclear negotiations faltered after a February meeting between Trump and Kim in Vietnam broke down when the U.S. side rejected North Korean demands for broad sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.
Kim has said North Korea will seek a "new way" if the U.S. maintains its sanctions and pressure, and issued the deadline for the Trump administration to offer mutually acceptable terms for a deal.
Trump and Kim met for a third time in June at the border between the two Koreas and agreed to resume talks. But an October working-level meeting in Sweden broke down over what the North Koreans described as the Americans' "old stance and attitude."
Kim Yong Chol's statement came days after North Korea's first vice foreign minister, Choe Sun Hui, issued a similar threat to resume insulting Trump after he spoke during a NATO summit in London of possible military action toward the North and revived his "rocket man" nickname for Kim Jong Un.
In 2017, Trump and Kim traded threats of destruction as North Korea carried out a slew of high-profile weapons tests aimed at acquiring an ability to launch nuclear strikes on the U.S. mainland. Trump said he would rain "fire and fury" on North Korea and derided Kim as "little rocket man," while Kim questioned Trump's sanity and said he would "tame the mentally deranged U.S. dotard with fire."
The two leaders avoided such words and developed better relations after North Korea entered nuclear negotiations with the U.S. last year. Trump even said he and Kim "fell in love," but his comments on Kim have become sharper in recent weeks amid the standoff in nuclear negotiations.
North Korea in recent weeks has said it is unwilling to continue rewarding Trump with meetings and summits he could chalk up as foreign policy wins unless it gets something substantial in return. The North's stance has raised doubts about whether Kim will ever voluntarily give away a nuclear arsenal he may see as his biggest guarantee of survival.
On Sunday, North Korea's Academy of National Defense said a "very important test" was conducted at a long-range rocket facility on the country's western coast, touching off speculation that the North could have tested a new rocket engine for either a satellite-launch vehicle or a solid-fuel intercontinental-range missile.
Biden Campaign Attacks Trump Policy on Saudi Arabia, North Korea
Democratic candidate pledges reevaluation of U.S.-Saudi ties and criticizes Trump's efforts to negotiate with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un
Trump Warns North Korea's Kim on Hostile Actions
Pyongyang announces 'very important test,' while US leader says Kim must keep denuclearization pledge
By Ken Bredemeier
North Korea Reports 'Very Important Test' at Rocket Launch Site
State news agency says test will have 'important effect' on country's strategic positioning
By Kelly Kasulis


text:
Q: How can I list the uploads from a YouTube Channel? I am writing this code to search youtube channels on my website and then list their uploads after clicking on them. However currently my links all on all channels to the last channel listed's uploads and I cant tell how in my code that allows that to happen. Can someone have a look and give me an idea of what is going wrong. You can also try/see the website on www.youtubebypass.dx.am
   <!DOCTYPE HTML>

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>YouTube</title>

<link href="style.min.css" rel="stylesheet">

A: Once you have the channel_id, change the highlighted letter as is shown:

Channel: Microsoft Hololens
Channel_id: UCT2rZIAL-zNqeK1OmLLUa6g
Uploads (playlist): UUT2rZIAL-zNqeK1OmLLUa6g

Once you have the uploads playlist, you can use this request for get the uploaded videos:
https://www.googleapis.com/youtube/v3/playlistItems?part=snippet%2CcontentDetails&playlistId=<UPLOAD_PLAYLIST_ID>&fields=items(contentDetails(videoId%2CvideoPublishedAt)%2Csnippet(publishedAt%2Ctitle))&key={YOUR_API_KEY}

And these are the results:
{
 "nextPageToken": "CAUQAA",
 "pageInfo": {
  "totalResults": 61,
  "resultsPerPage": 5
 },
 "items": [
  {
   "snippet": {
    "publishedAt": "2019-02-24T17:38:51.000Z",
    "title": "Industry Partner Solutions for Microsoft HoloLens 2"
   },
   "contentDetails": {
    "videoId": "FWYcuHUgcng",
    "videoPublishedAt": "2019-02-24T17:38:51.000Z"
   }
  },
  {
   "snippet": {
    "publishedAt": "2019-02-24T17:32:14.000Z",
    "title": "Introducing Microsoft HoloLens 2 (Audio Description)"
   },
   "contentDetails": {
    "videoId": "NtRGESjKT6M",
    "videoPublishedAt": "2019-02-24T17:32:14.000Z"
   }
  },
  {
   "snippet": {
    "publishedAt": "2019-02-24T17:31:30.000Z",
    "title": "Introducing Microsoft HoloLens 2"
   },
   "contentDetails": {
    "videoId": "eqFqtAJMtYE",
    "videoPublishedAt": "2019-02-24T17:31:30.000Z"
   }
  },
  {
   "snippet": {
    "publishedAt": "2019-02-24T17:39:08.000Z",
    "title": "PACCAR is exploring Dynamics 365 Guides and HoloLens 2 to improve employee onboarding"
   },
   "contentDetails": {
    "videoId": "OQDhTtDgir0",
    "videoPublishedAt": "2019-02-24T17:39:08.000Z"
   }
  },
  {
   "snippet": {
    "publishedAt": "2019-02-24T17:41:16.000Z",
    "title": "Introducing Dynamics 365 Guides for HoloLens 2"
   },
   "contentDetails": {
    "videoId": "V8c3pDKdHEc",
    "videoPublishedAt": "2019-02-24T17:41:16.000Z"
   }
  }
 ]
}

This is the Google API Explorer demo I made.
N.B, this channel has 61 uploaded videos and the maximun results per page are 50.
This is the entire working jsfiddle.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Stanford women's lacrosse team saw seven Cardinal honored with All-MPSF accolades, including a Rookie of the Year award for Anna Salemo as announced by the conference this week.
Salemo, a redshirt junior, returned to lacrosse this season after a three-year break and has proven to add an immediate impact and huge presence to the Cardinal attack. She currently ranks ninth through the regular season in goals per game (1.94), and 10th in points per game (2.60), both MPSF-highs among first-year players.
She owns 31 goals and eight assists for 39 points. She leads Stanford and shares an MPSF-best of four game-winning goals, and is second on the Cardinal in goals and points to help lead the team to a national top-10 ranking and No. 2 seed in the MPSF Tournament.
Salemo has three different four-goal outings this year, including a game-high six points (4G, 2A) in a win over No. 16 Ohio State (Feb. 21). She was named MPSF Offensive Player of the Week following that effort, and would later be named rookie of the week (Mar. 21). Salemo is Stanford's third MPSF Rookie/Newcomer of the Year recipient (Anna Kim, 2011; Karen Nesbitt, 2008).
Stanford first-team selections are senior defender, Adrienne Anderson, senior defender Meg Lentz, sophomore midfielder Kelly Myers and redshirt sophomore attacker Kelsey Murray.
Anderson is Stanford's primary man-to-man marker against opponents' top offensive threats. She held huge threats from Colorado (Fusco and Behrins), Oregon (Pyne), Harvard (Romeo) and Penn State (Lazo) scoreless in Stanford's wins over all four.
Lentz, a fast and athletic team captain, leads the team in ground balls and caused turnovers while holding Julia Glynn of Harvard scoreless. Lentz has proved to be integral on the draw control as well, winning nine in Stanford's win over San Diego State.
Myers, the team's primary draw taker, which the Cardinal has led the NCAA in throughout the season. She leads Stanford in both draw controls with 43 and third in goals and caused turnovers.
Murray, the lynchpin of the Cardinal's offense, leads Stanford in goals, assists and points as well as ranks second in the MPSF in goals per game and fourth in assists per game. Murray has collected at least a point in every single game this season and scored five goals on three separate occasions.
This is the third All-MPSF honor for Anderson and Lentz and first for Myers and Murray.
The Cardinal also saw three more selected to the All-MPSF second team with Salemo, Allie DaCar and Dillon Schoen all being named. The honor is the second for DaCar and first for Salemo and Schoen.
The Cardinal returns to action Friday as it sets to host the MPSF Championship semifinals at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium. Stanford will face Colorado, an 11-3 winner over Oregon, at 7 p.m.


text:
package com.arjuna.ats.jta.recovery;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.ObjectInputStream;

import javax.transaction.xa.XAResource;

/**
 * This is an additional recovery helper that allows clients of the transaction
 * manager to provide a deserializer for their Serializable XAResources. We need
 * this as otherwise the transaction manager may not be able to see the
 * transports classes, for instance in an application server environment.
 */
public interface SerializableXAResourceDeserializer {

	/**
	 * Can this {@link SerializableXAResourceDeserializer} handle the specified
	 * classname.
	 *
	 * @param className
	 *            The name of the class to deserialize.
	 *
	 * @return A flag to indicate where the deserializer is aware of the
	 *         Serializable XAResource.
	 */
	public boolean canDeserialze(String className);

	/**
	 * Deserialize the XAResource.
	 *
	 * @param ois
	 *            The input stream to read from.
	 * @throws IOException
	 *             If the ObjectInputStream.readObject() fails.
	 * @throws ClassNotFoundException
	 *             If the ObjectInputStream.readObject() fails.
     * @return An {@link XAResource}
	 */
	public XAResource deserialze(ObjectInputStream ois) throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Nestled in Victoria's acclaimed Yarra Valley, Boat O'Craigo is a second generation, boutique vineyard renowned for producing some of Australia's finest hand-crafted wines.
Over 50 acres of vines, spanning across two diverse sites, enable Boat O'Craigo to produce outstanding, single vineyard, estate grown fruit across a range of noble varieties. Their Black Spur range of white wines come from the high altitude vineyard at Healesville, whilst the reds are grown within the rich volcanic soils of Kangaroo Ground.
The Cellar Door is located at Black Spur Vineyard, just 2km north of Healesville. With views across the vineyard and Yarra Ranges, you'll be amazed that you're still in Healesville. In a relaxed atmosphere, the friendly and knowledgeable staff can take you through a wine tasting guided by you.
The Kitchen is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 3.30pm with a menu designed to share. Charcuterie boards, a selection of pizzas using house made dough and the freshest local ingredients and salads are amongst the offerings.


Barcelona's Alex Alarcon immersed himself in electronic music after learning to be a enthusiast of bands want My Bloody Valentine and Seefeel. Having currently understand the synthesizer and your guitar, he bought a sampler and an Atari and started making his very own productions. In 2003, he released his initial full-length as Sustainer for Stefan Schwander's Cologne-based Italic label.