Sunday, February 22, 2009
It's official call sign is Cadillac One, but it will always be known as the Obamobile.
But his Secret Service agents have already been familiarising themselves with the machine they call 'The Beast', built by General Motors in Detroit and based on a Cadillac chassis.
The company refuses to give precise details of how it will perform its primary purpose - protecting the president.
But bulletproof glass and armourplatingare standard throughout and the car is hermetically-sealed to withstand chemical weapons.
As with previous presidential limos it is packed with electronic communication systems to allow Mr Obama to keep in contact with the outside world.
One personal touch will be the remote-controlled ten-CD changer on which he can play his favourite artists, said to include Stevie Wonder and Bob Dylan.
Despite the protection afforded by Cadillac One, the Secret Service will be taking no chances when Mr Obama is sworn in as the 44th president.
A three-mile security perimeter will be thrown around the U.S. Capital, with no vehicles allowed inside, to prevent a car bomb attack.
The Beast: Cadillac One, Barack Obama's new presidential limo - also known as the Obamamobile
Friday, February 6, 2009
1. Physically challenged beggars
2. Aghoris (A type of Shaivate saint of Hinduisim)
[Spoiler ~~~~ Contains the plot of the story. Those who have not watched the movie or intend to do so, don’t read further]
The film starts with an old man and his daughter from Tamil Nadu searching a man named Rudran(Arya) who was left in Kasi before fourteen years on astrolger’s advice. They find that Rudhran is no ordinary man now and he is an aghori (one who believes that He is God). Rudhran’s Guruji asks him to go with his family and return on time after shedding the bounds of family.
Meanwhile in a village called Malaikovil in Tamil Nadu there is a notorious gang which trains the physically challenged to beg. They live with the money which these beggars bring. It is a cruel world which Bala throws light upon. The dungeon like place where these people live itself showcases the pain and suffering of those people.
But those physically challenged people share some lighter moments too. Particularly the conversion between them when they are costumed as different Hindu deities. Allotting different cabinets for them was amazing! There is a kid in the film who has pulled a brilliant performance (His name was not displayed in the titles). He mentions about Ambani to his group. When a guy queries who is Ambani, he replies that he is the one who sells cell phones. There are many such rib tickling one liners in the film.
*Pichai karan kittayey pichai edukkarayey (You are begging from a beggar)
*En annana thozhilathipar aaaki heroinukku katti koddupen (I will make my bro an industrialist and marry him to an actress!)
Are just few samples...
Now coming back to the plot of the film, Amshaveni (Pooja), is a blind woman who sings old film songs to entertain people and gets money from them (yet another form of begging). She lives with people who monoact and mimic like the film actors MGR,Shivaji Ganesan and Rajnikanth. The dialogues by those artists are pretty sharp. MGR’s film songs were meaningful, which helped MGR win votes, but did people follow his advice? And MGR asks Shivaji to teach the current young actors to act(I think Simbhu was clearly the target here!).
A guy named Murugan who belongs to that notorious gang of Malaikovil sees her singing and finds her to be a good asset to their gang and takes her with him, after some drama. After few days of crying, she becomes accustomed with that group. But it’s not happy going for her still. Another guy from Kerala, pays 3 lakhs of money to hire 15 children from the Malaikovil gang. And those children are removed to kerala. The dialogue “Maatu Kari saapitaalum malaiyalathaan moolaiyey moolai” (Even though Mallus eat beef, they are brainy!) was pretty apt there.
Meanwhile Arya who returns to his hometown which is Malaikovil too, doesn’t live in his home, instead he settles in the temple where those beggars beg daily. The same man from kerala who bought the children brings an ugly looking man(he infact resembles the cannibal in worng turn movie) and asks for a blind girl so that, she need not look at him but love with him after marrying him. That ugly looking man is a very rich guy who offers 10 lakhs for the blind girl. Here again the dialogue of Kavundamani “Kozhi kuruda irunthaalum, kuzhambu rusiya irukkanum!” (even if the hen is blind it’s meat is tasty!) fits aptly. Amshaveni fits into the bill exactly thinks the leader of the Malaikovil gang. But Murugan who feels pity for her tries to save her. She takes shelter under Rudran. Rudran kills the man from kerala. He is taken into custody by the police who are afraid of him. They produce him in the court and court releases him because his crime could not be proved.
The leader of the notorious gang wants to revenge Rudhran but he ends dead too.Before his death, he had tortured Amshaveni and had beaten her up heavily. Amshaveni comes to Rudran and asks him what mistake did she do? Right from her birth she had been suffering! She asks for a solution. And Rudran kills her too!
Rudran recalls his master’s words, for some people death is a boon (Siarukku maranam thaan varam). It’s an astonishing climax from Bala. Who had depicted in this film that euthanasia (mercy killing) is the only solution for such people!The story looks pretty simple. But the screenplay and the performance of the actors make it amazing!
It is a very brave attempt from Bala. The surprise in this movie was Arya’s screen performance which was very limited when compared to the promos. And his acting resembles Pithamagan Vikram (especially when police are afraid to talk with him). I believe many of his portions where removed from the film. Another surprise element was Pooja’s performance, especially in the climax where she has done a fabulous job. She is bound to get the national award.
And I nearly forgot to mention about Illyaraja’s music. He has done what is necessary for this film.
To me three people stand out in this movie.
1. Bala (for bringing out the physically challenged people into the scheme of things)
2. Jayamohan (Dialogues)
3. Pooja (Excellent acting)
I never expected Jayamohan to do such an excellent work in the dialogue department (To be honest, I didn't know much about him). Many of his dialogues resembled my thoughts, which moved me close to this film. I had read only one novel by him (Pani Manidhan). It was long time back. This movie has made me to search other works of Jayamohan!
Bala has yet again delivered. He generally disturbs people with his cinema but does not provide a solution. Here for the first time he has provided a brave solution to a problem. I would like to give it a 9.5/10.
I am waiting for the DVD version of the film which is supposed to have two climaxes for this film.
It’s definitely worth a watch. But I don’t think it would suit audience of all category. It’s strictly not for children.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
He met her on a party. She was so outstanding, many guys chasing after her, while he so normal, nobody paid attention to him. At the end of the party, he invited her to have coffee with him, she was surprised, but due to being polite, she promised. They sat in a nice coffee shop, he was too nervous to say anything, she felt uncomfortable, she thought, please, let me go home.... suddenly he asked the waiter. "would you please give me some salt? I'd like to put it in my coffee."
Everybody stared at him, so strange! His face turned red, but still, he put the salt in his coffee and drank it. She asked him curiously; why you have this hobby? He replied: "when I was a little boy, I was living near the sea, I like playing in the sea, I could feel the taste of the sea, just like the taste of the salty coffee. Now every time I have the salty coffee, I always think of my childhood, think of my hometown, I miss my hometown so much, I miss my parents who are still living there". While saying that tears filled his eyes. She was deeply touched.
That's his true feeling, from the bottom of his heart. A man who can tell out his homesickness, he must be a man who loves home, cares about home, has responsibility of home. Then she also started to speak, spoke about her faraway hometown, her childhood, her family. That was a really nice talk, also a beautiful beginning of their story.
They continued to date. She found that actually he was a man who meets all her demands; he had tolerance, was kind hearted, warm, careful. He was such a good person but she almost missed him! Thanks to his salty coffee!
Then the story was just like every beautiful love story , the princess married to the prince, then they were living the happy life... And, every time she made coffee for him, she put some salt in the coffee , as she knew that's the way he liked it.
After 40 years, he passed away, left her a letter which said:
"My dearest,
Please forgive me, forgive my whole life lie. This was the only lie I said to you---the salty coffee. Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous at that time, actually I wanted some sugar, but I said salt.
It was hard for me to change so I just went ahead.I never thought that could be the start of our communication! I tried to tell you the truth many times in my life, but I was too afraid to do that, as I have promised not to lie to you for anything.
Now I'm dying, I afraid of nothing so I tell you the truth: I don't like the salty coffee, what a strange bad taste. But I have had the salty coffee for my whole life! Since I knew you, I never feel sorry for anything I do for you. Having you with me is my biggest happiness for my whole life. If I can live for the second time, still want to know you and have you for my whole life,even though I have to drink the salty coffee again".
Her tears made the letter totally wet.Someday, someone asked her: what's the taste of salty coffee?
It's sweet. She replied.
This story was a forwarded mail from my friend Kalyani... I was deeply impressed by this story and wanted to share it with you people!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Try talking with ELIZA here...
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Like you, this man too, had a dream.
Like you, he too pushed his way into the crowded train
Like you, he too wanted to get going before he got delayed
Unlike you, he slipped and fell in the gap between the train and the platform at Kandivli station (Mumbai)
And eight bogies went over him
What happened to this man?
The man obviously has a guardian angel and supportive bystanders who told him exactly what he shouldn't do — move. And so, the man lay absolutely still as eight bogies of the train passed over him — centimeters from his head. Within seconds the 12-coach train passed and the man clambered out, unaided, unhurt, but too shocked to speak to us after his near-death experience
Untidy safety habits , can trip you up.
This Guy was Lucky,
Don't cross Railway tracks ever & make a mess of your Valuable Life
Whatever happens it happens for good!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
On the eve of new year, I was playing crimson room by coincidence, and luckily won the game too! I had known the game for the past 13 to 14 months. But I was unable to proceed after a certain position in that game. Today I broke that jinx and got the solution!
2 rings: 1 falls from the curtain (keep opening and closing it), 1 ring is on the bowl next to the stereo
2 keys (gold and silver): 1 key is on the window, 1 under the pillow
CD Case: In the drawer, you don't need it
Note: In the drawer, you don't need it, except it points to a webpage that's supposed to hint a secret code for later on.
Power-Chord: Use the keys to open the drawer
Mystery Box: Use the other key to open the drawer
Ordinary Key: Plug the power chord into CD player and open the cd slot, there is another key
Metal Rod: Lift the pillow and on the bed, there is a metal rod
Battery: On the far side of the bed
Cassette: Below the desk which supports the CD player
Fit the rings & metal rod on the mystery box.
Open mystery box, fit in cassette player and battery, play the movie.
The dancing man points to a spot on the screen. Mouse click that point. [Wait till the movie stops playing before you click!]
Open the rectangular slot. The code can be found on a special page.In some instances, you may need to visit the website, then re-start the Crimson Room.) that the note you found earlier points to, use the key open the safe.
You get a screw driver in the safe
Use the screw driver to crack the door and go out.
Solution:
The hints to solve....
There are twelve things to collect in total. Seven of them are in/around the yellow drawers. Two at the curtain, three at the bed. Nine of the items can be found without using any other item - i.e. simply by looking around the room.
Now you know how many at each location that should help you to find them all, but if you are still stuck...
The yellow drawers
The top two drawers are unlocked and contain a CD and a memo. On top is a CD player, two speakers and a bowl. In the bowl is a thin ring. On the floor, beneath the drawers is a cassette tape. You now have four items.
The curtains
Open the curtains and you will find a key on the window sill. Open and close the curtains a few times and a ring will fall onto the floor. You now have six items.
The bed
Under the pillow is another key. If you click to the left of the mattress while the pillow is raised, you will find a metal stick. At the far end of the bed, face the bare wall then click on the floor bottom left and you will be able to look down the side of the bed and find a battery. You now have nine items.
Using the keys you can now open the drawers and obtain a power supply cable and a small strange box. The power cable gets the CD player working and you can open the CD tray to find another key. You now have twelve items.
Use the rings and the metal stick to open the small strange box. Once open, use the battery and cassette and click on the lens to see a movie.
The movie contains a big clue what to do next.
Meanwhile, remember the memo? It contained a URL and you really should go take a look. [If it is difficult to read, the full URL is http://takagism.fasco-cs.com/yellow_chamber.html)
The combination to the safe is found on four cards... you can get these cards by visiting the URL on the memo you found in the dresser drawer. (In some instances, you may need to visit the website, then re-start the Crimson Room.)
Okay, back to the movie.
Near the end of the movie the dancing guy points at a small cross. The cross appears three times and each time he points at it.
When the movie ends, click in exactly the spot that the cross was three time. An opening will appear revealing a combination lock and a keyhole.
Then use the key to open the lock and reveal item number 13 - a straight driver.
Go to the door and click on it to go up close, then use the driver to butcher the handle and you are out :-)
The year 2008 had ended on a high note with me solving the crimson room! Wish you all a very happy new year :-) Hope 2009 rocks!!!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Woman 1: 1 minute to cross
Woman 2: 2 minutes to cross
Woman 3: 5 minutes to cross
Woman 4: 10 minutes to cross
For example if Woman 1 and Woman 4 walk across first, 10 minutes have elapsed when they get to the other side of the bridge. If Woman 4 then returns with the flashlight, a total of 20 minutes have passed and you have failed the mission. What is the order required to get all women across in 17 minutes? Now, what's the other way?
Thursday, December 25, 2008
