Thoughts in and out of reason

Image courtesy Netflix The name of this documentary is based on the Soviet- era space launch facility,  Baikonur cosmodrome . This is the 1950's, and U.S.S.R and U.S.A are at the heights of the Cold war. This is about a technology race during the cold war, and how the race had an unusual ending. The story is a truly fascinating one. At the height of the cold war (this is before the first man landed on the moon),  Sergei Korolev Pavlovic , Russia's most senior scientist is the head of Russia's OKB-1 (experimental design bureau). His most critical assignment was to oversee development of the N1 moon rocket , to beat the U.S in the space race. From http://www.russianspaceweb.com  Current rocket engine technology used an open cycle, where the exhaust gases from the pre-burner were let out to the atmosphere. Korolev and company wanted to develop a closed cycle engine, where these exhaust gases would be pumped back to the combustion chamber, thereby increas...

Image courtesy  ibnlive.in.com I picked up this book as I knew that I would surely relate to it. I love travelling, and to say that I am a tea- junkie would be an understatement! An engineer with tremendous passion for travel, photography and writing, Rishad is blessed to be in a job that involves his passions! He takes us with him along his tours through the length and breadth of the country. His encounters with various colourful characters is enumerated, and you will break into a laugh at many occasions, that is for sure. A traveller and raconteur by heart, Rishad paints the mind with vivid images, telling us the story crisply. Descriptions are apt and no words are wasted in tortuous turns. Rishad has the wonderful gift of finding the right metaphors for describing incidents. The common adage 'Thoda chaai paani' is also demystified in a hilarious incident involving him, his friend and a policeman on the edge! You will also learn about a few lesser - known places in ...

The beginning of time Clicked this on a weekend in our garden. This was the best result I could salvage after 20 odd clicks, playing around with different settings, in unfavourable lighting conditions. Yes, it has a lot of flaws. But it is a special click for me. After all, what is beauty without flaws? :)

Image courtesy wikipedia Saw this documentary of the Beatles the other day. Let it be is footage condensed from the recording sessions of the final two albums from the beatles - the iconic/timeless  Abbey road , and  Let it be . It gives us a rare sneak peek into what happens when the fab four get together to make music. Music videos were non-existent those days, and the main sources through which people would get to know about records were either by purchasing albums/ radio/ attending concerts, I guess! So to watch images of the Gods making music and to recognize these songs which drive you nuts, this is one reason why any beatle fan cannot afford to miss watching 'Let it be'. I have been listening to the Beatles , album by album these days. We also get to know the Beatles that much better, as we come to know of their personalities, and the way that they interacted with the rest of the band. All of them sport unkempt hair and beards, and we are witnessing the tr...

Image courtesy flipkart Johnny gone down is the second novel from Karan Bajaj. His first novel was the wildly amazing Keep off the grass. The book is written a non-linear way, which works here because there are a lot of twists and turns. We are introduced to Nikhil Arya, on a train ride to New Delhi. Along the journey, we get to know tantalising bits about him. He had studied in MIT, in what looks to be another lives. Or, many lives ago. He has lost an arm. He is an expert with arms. He has lightening fast reflexes. He also has the calm sageness of a monk. Nikhil cannot be just you and me. He has lived many lives in one. This we know. How he turned out to be this way is what we are fed along the way. From MIT, Massachusetts to Cambodia, Thailand, Rio, Minnesota, New Delhi, the story is definitely fast paced. But the transformations are not very well defined. Things happen too easily for comfort. The randomness factor is all pervading throughout the sto...

This is a 3 - day summer fest held in the Detroit suburb of Canton. Heritage park. Here are some images from yours truly :) http://www.cantonfun.org/924/Canton-Liberty-Fest

Here, guys ad gals, in its full form,is this labour of longing and nostalgia. Written for a dear one who was in a moment of Disillusionment with the routine of daily life. Written at a time when things were a whirlwind of emotions. An attempt to put together memories from Mysore. Here, people: Have you? Slurped yum grape juice by the juice shop near rto, on a warm afternoon? Walked around Kukkarahalli kere, admiring the pelicans? Decided to watch a movie in sterling, reached on time and got tickets, all in 30 minutes flat? Prayed feverishly, that Mysore stays the same forever and ever? Never known a traffic jam, even in the busiest times of the day? Told yourself that the shops on DD Urs road being closed on Sunday afternoon was was for something good? Planned sudden getaways out of town, as there are so many places worth going to? Had ice cream at at midnight at Arvind cool centre? Climbed betta on steps on a cool saturday morning? Sipped cool buttermilk at...

This one weekend, we had planned a visit to our cousin's place in Troy, Michigan. Little did we know that there was a huge classic car show happening, that too just a stone's throw from their place ! :) So late into the day, me, cousin and the little one walked up to the Columbia center on Big Beaver road  . There were more than 100 cars from more than the last 6 decades here! I missed my camera very much but managed to get a few pictures from the phone. Here they are, beauties in all their splendor:) Bird of prey There were lots and lots of Corvettes Couldn't take my eyes out of these lights Peeking into another era The fab four on the fifth Beatle? ;) 'You're looking at a myth' Ferrari Modena 2017 Troy traffic jam

I watched this movie during the South Korean movie watching phase, following a recommendation from a friend (dude, thanks :D ). And I watched this again, recently. I am not a sucker for romantic comedy movies, but this one is so special :) The romance is very subtle, nothing over the top, but yet, notches above what may be "normal", I guess that's why this movie is so appealing. The poster The movie is divided into Part 1, Part 2 and overtime.For the first two parts, fun and mischief are an integral part of almost every scene. The humour is quite cheeky. In the last part, things get deep and dope. Overtime will melt hearts made of stone, mark my words. There is quite a bit of philosophy here. The topics of fate, destiny, symbolism's, and letters are recurring, and that is very romantic, especially in this age bereft of reason (if you know anyone who writes letters in this age, cherish that). This is not a movie about instant gratification but rather something...

My review: I watched this movie to further my understanding of the brilliant world of South Korean movies. Life happens forward, but can be understood only by looking back (or something like this). This is a very poignant movie, about tender love, hope, fate, how innocence can be lost by the sands of time, to the point of no return, and how society can screw one up everything irrevocably. Five phases of a man's life are shown, each containing a defining moment, connecting which we understand the steps taken by the protagonist.  The sadness builds up as we unwrap the layers of the protagonist's life, layer by layer, backward. Reverse chronology of events here: Outdoor excursion (Spring 1999), Life is beautiful (Summer 1994), Confession (Spring 1987), Prayer (Fall 1984), Military visit (May 1980), Picnic (1979). Each of these phases are named based on the events that follow. What is the title about? ( Kind of spoiler alert ) It is a symbol of purity for the protagonist, ...