Thoughts in and out of reason

Originally published at https://chandankarkera.blogspot.com/ on Saturday, February 9, 2013 Picture courtesy Wikipedia Saw this movie on a whim, and I am glad that I did so! I remember being interested in the movie as it was written and directed by the Coen brothers -  Ethan  and  Joel . “Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you.” ― Rashi The movie begins with this message. The next ten minutes are devoted to a sequence which happens at an age much earlier than in which the movie is shown. The connection between this sequence and the rest of the movie will lead to debates after you have watched the movie! A serious man is about Larry Gopnik, a Jewish physics professor. The story is set in the 70's in a town in the U.S. Larry's life is laden with signs, and he is trying to make sense of it all. He does not seem to get peace at work, at home, or even while he is around his home.His wife wants to divorce him for no reason. His son's...

This series is based on a book called " Darkly dreaming Dexter ", and  Dearly devoted Dexter  by Jeff Lindsay An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind, said Mahatma Gandhi . Dexter Morgan lives by a separate set of rules - "The code". This is an alternate justice system. It's not about revenge, but about clearing the dregs of society. About taking the law into your own hands. Of making the world a better place, one kill at a time. Vigilantism is a common phenomenon across the world (I guess). People have a variety of reasons to resort to this - political affliction, honour, love, madness, paranoia. For Dexter, it is about channeling a "dark passenger" One of the books Dexter Morgan's character is a complex one. He starts off (in the series) as a blood splatter analyst, a brother and a vigilante, and straddles the roles of a partner, lover, dad (and local bowling team member) eventually. Is he a good man? Or a bad one? What about s...

What can be said? It's hard to think of something that encompassed so many emotions and moments. When was the last time you delayed watching a series ending because you didn't want it to end? Because this is what I did, for the longest time, until I felt I was ready to accept that the series had ended, after avenger told me so. What is this series all about? We have six friends in their early 20's, trying to get through their lives in NYC in the 90's. Monica is the clean freak and control freak who loves to cook and host people.  Chandler is the sarcastic one and is extremely funny, and I mean roll around laughing-funny! Rachel is the fashionista who is trying to find her footing in being independent. Joey is a charming flirt, and a struggling actor. Phoebe is the quirky one, a masseuse with a rough past, and she is also into the occult. Ross is the nerd paleontologist who has a history with Rachel.  Most of the scenes are shot in Central Perk, a coffee shop, or i...

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...