For the Planet Earth


A better environment is our need, and not just a requirement of the nature itself. It is our responsibility towards Earth rather than what the planet should do for us – after all, it is the humans who are responsible for the current situation which requires the world to go through some saving. The question remains if what was first needed, about what science should have done for nature, for it is the same field which started finding ways to exploit is in the worst possible ways.

But what people are more concerned now is to go to another planets, but don’t we have a planet here which needs saving? Is it more needed to go to another planet and exploit it too rather than making things better at the place where one was born? Is it more like an escape route for the rich people like in a number of science fiction novels and movies, including the 2013 one which could take it further – like Neill Blomkamp’s Matt Damon starrer Elysium? No, it is never late to save Earth, for nature heals better as long as humans understand the right thing.

Wake me up after saving Earth. I have had enough of you mortals :D

Wake me up after saving Earth. I have had enough of you mortals 😀

Let’s do what we can – spend some time to plant some trees along with all those things that we do. We are actually doing the same now, around our house. The space is less, but we manage with what we have, and hope to have something like a wall of green around us. There are different types of trees, from Zapota, Star Fruit, Neem, Guava and Star Apple to Jackfruit and the Alphonso Mango. There are also enough vegetables for half of the week which are produced at home.

The food waste is usually used as the compost working as the fertilizer, along with those which are bought from the outside. There is nothing like having your own materials to use for the growing trees which is regularly cared for. The compost bin is available from the Municipality itself, and you can get it without much difficulties. There is also not much space needed as this can be placed on one of the corners near kitchen.

There are not many trees around our place, except for the back-side of our home which has a nice abandoned house surrounded by a number of the bigger trees around. But we live in a town which is going through a faster pace of development, and the amount of greenery has surely come down. It is up-to us, the common people to make up-to it by planting more and more trees around our houses.

Some of our own tomatoes; something for temporary happiness!

Some of our own tomatoes; something for temporary happiness!

Let’s try to make the area around our home green, and keep it the same. A few trees will only do us good, and we have actually utilized all the available space around our house which are not paved by tiles. Our kitten, Simona loves trees and manages to stay on top of some of those already existing trees, taunting the dog which runs around the neighbourhood. Trees are not just our property, for it belongs to many.

If we grow our own fruits and vegetables, we are going to be a lot more self-sufficient than we are now. It has been shown in a number of movies including the Malayalam movies Ividam Swargamaanu and How Old Are You. We need to have our own green world with enough to sustain ourselves, and if everyone begins to think so, we will end up doing the right thing for our environment.

Let’s help Green Yatra (http://greenyatra.org/) on the same. For people from my area, there are some nice places to buy something for the contribution to your green world when you travel from Perumbavoor to Muvattupuzha, on the left side just when reaching Keezhilam, and another one when you travel from the same place to Kothamangalam, after Pattaal. Let’s try to make this world cleaner and greener, thus making the much needed difference! ***The images used in this blog post are from my home, taken on my Asus Zenfone5 and Samsung Galaxy Duos.

TeNy

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Hypocrites at Home

When someone say #ShareTheLoad, there will always be people who try to make use of the situation just to claim to have done so and show themselves to the others as bloody righteous people, but in reality, they are not doing any favours at home and are only making things worse. So never judge a family and its members by the cover, because sharing is something which should come from the heart and not for showing off.

Our nation has its own share of hypocrites who have that kind of attitude towards their wife and children, and let me assure you that I have known too many of them. They are too much worried about what the society thinks about them and keeps on pretending that they are great family men, always helping the lady when someone else has come to the house. The interest in cooking and washing just reaches a new high when someone else is at home.

#ShareTheLoad – it comes to them when someone from outside the family is looking. They also make great speeches about how women should be treated so well and why one needs to be part of the household work. It will be that kind of a speech which makes the guest feel that the lady is lucky to have this special gentleman as a husband. But no, it is just about words, and it is available without much work, and acting comes naturally to some people who deserve the Oscars of life.


Ariel hopes for you to share the load, as you can see 🙂

There are men who don’t help their wives at all with absolutely no share, some others who do help, and the last category is the most disgusting of them all – the hypocrites who wants to make everyone believe that they do, and makes an impression of a Holy Family which lives in that house. They might continue to do so as they can, but the truth is that they can’t fool everyone all the time, and sooner or later karma is going to get to them and deliver the much needed poetic justice.

One has to wonder why some people have to pretend to be what they are not. It is clear that they have no respect or care for the other family members. Well, they can continue to say that it is not their department, and still claim to do so in front of others. It is their department; actually it is the department of everyone in the house and there comes a responsibility towards making a home and it is not done by one person who do so much work when another person spends all the time in leisure.

It is not enough that they are completely useless at home and wanders around being unworthy of running a family, that they return to trouble those who do the work correctly. They even claim that the work is not done properly, but in their mind, knows that they can’t do it even in a half-good manner. Yes, they say that it is not their department, but they should try to claim some place in that department too, because home should be where the heart should be! The house is the department of everyone, even the pet cats thinks so!

Those who can’t do that will be better people if not married. They become terrible examples to people around them as well as the new generation. It is simple – if they can’t do the family any good, they shouldn’t be married. This is also applicable to those who only listens to their brothers and sisters. Better be a selfish loner or a hypocrite who lives alone rather than become someone who is a curse to the home. One won’t have claims for making a better home if all that the person can do is to bring troubles and think only about one’s own life! Don’t be a hypocrite or selfish brute, just #ShareTheLoad

I am writing for the #ShareTheLoad activity at BlogAdda.com in association with Ariel.

TeNy

Sharing the Big Load

We have heard a lot that sharing is caring. But to what extent do we do that or rather put a limit on the same? The one place where we seem to think about that more than anything else is at those torrent sites! Then there is the kind of food which can’t be finished alone and we call for help. It is where the world of sharing has thrived better than most of the other occasions, but in this world where sharing first brings Facebook to the mind, there is the need to share further, far away from the world of modernity.

Sharing the load never naturally comes, because it needs some effort especially when someone is spending some random leisure time – men have that tendency to think it not as their job. As far as marriage is concerned, the biggest thing that it has achieved is to inspire Havells advertisements which comes up with fake advertisements talking about respect, but nothing really about sharing or having concern for the other half. People just want it easy, and not share the loads – it is just selfish nature.

There is too much inequality in houses when it is about the housework, and men and women need to #ShareTheLoad especially when both are working. It is not something like Interstellar which talks about something and people have smoke coming out of brains. This is just simple and should come right out of basic love and care for the other half. It is an act of love and concern and not something which can be taught.


Check out this initiative; you can feel it from their Ad photo! 🙂

Well, marriage is supposed to be halves becoming one, but how can that happen if there are no two equal halves? A half and a quarter in not one, and so in simple terms, it is not a good reflection of married life. It is the twenty-first century and the only way to equality seems to be reservation for some people. Then some people need reminders, and this need to be reminded of equality is another ridiculous situation.

If someone has to do the whole thing alone, it is a lot of work, but sharing can be fun. When not married, help the mother or sister. The mother will need it a lot as she is getting older and the father might still belong to a generation where women were not working and they were used to doing work at home only. He might find it difficult to follow, but not us who are beyond the same. It is up-to us to show a good example to our children also.

What we need to look out for is the future, and nowadays when both the man and the wife are working, there needs to be a lot of sharing, depending on the timings of their work – sometimes it might be the male who works more and at other times, it could be the female, and they need to share according to the demands of the time as there will be days when one of them will have some extra time and can make a better use of the same in this busy world. If one of them won’t have work for a period of time, it is easier for just one – otherwise no.

I would say that a certain amount of work at home can be some fun as long as the dose is kept in the right quantity, and for that, one has to be ready to #ShareTheLoad. Otherwise there would be the delay which can spoil the day for not just one person, but for the whole family. When we get the work get done faster, there will be time left to spend with each other, and the relationship only gets better – it is the success of the family as a unit! Now, lets just ask more people to #ShareTheLoad.

I am writing for the #ShareTheLoad activity at BlogAdda.com in association with Ariel.

TeNy

Liebster: Extra Soul Food

I am really glad to be presented with Liebster award for The Tea Cerebration(s). It is Gowthama Rajavelu @http://creatikaa.blogspot.com who has provided me with this wonderful award. He also blogs at http://snapometer.blogspot.in which you need to visit 😉

I accept this Liebster Award (http://creatikaa.blogspot.com/2015/04/liebster-award-acceptance-and.html) and shall nominate my choice of bloggers 🙂

What are 10 random facts about you?

  1. Whenever I search for a job, I feel like it is against all hopes.
  2. I have more doubts about life than it can be imagined by a single person, unless proven wrong.
  3. I do thinking as a part-time absurdist 😀
  4. I love the season of monsoon.
  5. I really need to play Age of Empires multiplayer; so someone should join me 😀
  6. Game of Thrones is my most recent addiction.
  7. I love my new Asus Zenfone.
  8. Simona the kitty is the best kitten that I have ever known.
  9. I wish there was more awesome dosa in the world.
  10. The win for the post The Vision has surely brought some positive opinion on the jobless me outside the blogging world for may be the first time 😀

Where does your blogging inspiration come from?
I write because of whatever comes to my mind from anywhere, at any moment of time.

Is your blogging simply a hobby? What kind of dreams do you have for it?
Yes, it is a lot like a hobby. I hope to do something good with my life and this is the only way in front of me now.

What is your support system like and who are your biggest supporters?
I think that it keeps changing.

What do you enjoy most about blogging?
That relief after writing down what I had to say.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed with too many tasks at once?
I keep doing them without thinking about anything else.

What would you do with a large sum of money given to you?
I would travel, starting the journey from Romania or Spain.

What was one of the most moving books or movies you have ever read or seen?
Dogville starring Nicole Kidman.

Where would you like to see yourself in the next couple of years?
At Dracula Castle, Romania.

Do you have a bucket list? Name 5 things on that.
Please read the recently posted Bucket List with 5 things.

What is your single best piece of advice for someone starting out in the blogging world?
Forget about everything else and just write.

And here goes my list of Nomination

Sahithya (http://sahisridhar.blogspot.in)

Roohi (http://roohibhatnagar.com)

Abhijit (http://gadgetgarrio.com)

Najm (http://angellicfrenzy.blogspot.in)

Ankita (http://makeachange1.wordpress.com)

Attention Nominees: Here are the instructions:

Nominees, it is your turn to answer the questions and award some blogs if you are willing. Answer the above questions in your own blog post and then nominate some of your favorite blogs. You can either make up a new list of questions for your nominees or just use the same.

TeNy

The Daily Celebrations

People call different days as big occasions or time for grand celebrations. Some of them have those religious festivals like Onam, Deepavali, Christmas, Vishu, Easter, Bakrid, Ramzan and a lot more while a few others try to hold on to the wedding days of their own, and also wait for the special occasions of their friends and relatives. But then one interesting question remains here: Why wait for a big event to come to our life when we can just go on and #CelebrateLife everyday?

I haven’t been a big fan of celebrations for quite some time. Almost every special day has been just another day in the last few months. Yes, the days of big celebrations were surely there, but they have faded into the emptiness which I have discovered. Now, the only thing which is left about them happens to be a certain part of the memories which can be temporarily awakened by a look at that folder in which all the old photos are stored. But I dare not to, because they are dead memories.

All these celebrations had one common thing which is the talk about others, and the worst side of the same comes from those relatives who say that I am the next candidate at a wedding function. There are actually two sides to the same. The first one is that I am sure that I am not the next, and it has been perfectly proven by younger cousins who can’t wait to fall in love and overtake. The second side is that none of these relatives who make the point that I am next will ever try to proceed with the same and help me in the process. So, once again I say – #CelebrateLife everyday and not think about any special day coming, and I would need the following for the same.

If you celebrate without me, I will find you and I will hug you.

If you celebrate life without me, I will find you and I will hug your leg. Mind it!

Simona the Valiant Kitty: Simona has been a big part of the daily celebrations. You just can’t have a day of joy without giving her the chance to be part of it. She makes her way through everything, closed doors, windows which never open and the leaps of faith which even the Devil’s hound kitten would not dare to make. She is like a legend in finding where the celebrations should be, and spreads happiness there by hugging the legs. Well, after all why should humans have all the fun? Kittens need their due because they can hug trees better.

The Great Vampire Gardens: No, the name is not official. Such a name would be devastating for mother who looks after it more than I do. Still, I call it by that name which is applied to the place whenever I am wandering through there. Well, there is a lot of happiness when there are trees and flowers around, and they play a significant part in making our lives a celebration. The first fruit to have grown at the new part of our garden is the Star Fruit, and I believe that it was just the preface to a never-ending celebration at the garden! It gets better with the beauty of monsoon!

There is no celebration like a monsoon with the green trees and plants.

There is no celebration like a nice shower with the green trees and plants.

That daily blog post: What is a celebration if there is no writing? Yes, there is the need to write something all the time. I have never desired for any escape from this part of the daily celebrations. I have doubted myself a lot, but for the past few months, never hesitated from coming up with something new and posting it on every other day, no matter what kind of troubles I had to face. It has been significant in getting this blog to twenty thousand visitors, and it is another reason for celebration!

What to read for the day: There is also the desire for daily reading. Every day, I hope to read and learn something new and make a good choice about what to read. These days, it has been mostly restricted to History, Geography and General Knowledge due to the upcoming PSC exams, but I have done that with joy and as a celebration. Reading has always been a celebration for me too – I have never complained about what I had to read and did try my best to like what was there, with the exceptions of some scientific things.

For now, the only thing that bothers me is that I need these things better, at a higher level! ***The photos used in this blog post were taken by me on my Asus Zenfone 5.

#CelebrateLifeAtIvy by owning a dream home at Ivy estate, an 85 acre estate with 34 acres of greenery and open spaces. Join the 1600 happy families already living here. Check out this walkthrough video and decide for yourself.

TeNy

Hero of the Missed Call

He had absolutely no idea why he had to do that. They said that he was selected by fate to be the hero and had to do this so that the government will learn a lesson about what happens when the demands of the leading extremist faction is rejected. They wanted a new nation out of the middle part of the existing country and they said that it was the right demand and it was also the perfect result for the people. Yes, questioning wasn’t natural for them.

“Do I really have to do that?” he asked as he chatted through Skype on his mobile.

“Yes, you have to, and you are the one selected to do that. There will be no change of plans. We always stick to what we decide together. You need to make a discovery of your faith in us and go on. You are going to be a great hero” answered the man wearing the black mask.

“But it is too extreme even for the extremist standards. So many people will die and it will be recorded in history an act of extreme cruelty” he hesitated and added.

“They have only themselves to blame. You know what all plans they have been making. We are going to be declared a terrorist faction soon. Do you know what they call me? The Black Mask. Seriously? Who do they think they are? We are just a peaceful extremist group who wants to stop people from enjoying their unnecessary freedom. We just hope to stop them from eating, drinking and wearing what they want. We even work as moral police part-time” said the Black Mask.

DSC08894

“Yes, it is a terrible name. It is like that of a comic book character. You should be called something more stylish and revolutionary so that when they make statues of you with a covered face, everyone will recognize you” he said.

“You are beginning to become some pain. Forget that. We are going to act against the government’s foolishness, and let them know that we have weapons and are ready to break away from them in any way possible. We will create this new republic out of the blood and scattered body parts of their people” the Black Mask didn’t forget to add extra power here by punching the table.

“But we are one nation as of now. Their people is our people. We are one nation as we know it and this would only mean that we killed our countrymen” he said while hoping for something better.

“Yes, but we get the votes only by spreading hatred. An act of violence is a boost to that hatred and will accelerate our demands. This nation has no more scope for our extremism. So we will start a new nation and it will be based on our ideas only with us as the single ruling party” the Black Mask continued.

“We can still win the elections. Can I make the explosion somewhere else, may be at a place where nobody is around so that it can go off as a warning?” he pleaded.

“You know what you need to do. As I said, you need to discover your faith in us. This discovery will only be made if you adhere to our principles. You need to obey. You need to make one missed call to the mall where we have kept the explosives from the distance which I have mentioned. It will trigger the explosives there. You will be our hero and this is you last chance” yelled the Black Mask.

Photo0096

“Well, do you know that a quarter of the explosives are left behind at your home on the left of where I am standing now?” he asked.

“Wait! What? Why are you here? You are not supposed to be here. You should be blasting that mall and bringing us glory” the scared Black Mask moved away from the window.

“I am here to say farewell, and wishing you best of luck in hell. Good luck with your discovery between the flames and by the side of the Devil” he shouted.

He walked back after pressing the button, happier than ever. He was never this happy to have broken the trust of someone, and this was completely worth it. The explosion behind him never really caught his attention because he wondered what was to happen next. He wondered how good spirituality will turn out to be in this age. He had actually begun his discovery.

“I guess I am still a hero; the hero of the missed call.” he murmured.

***The images used in this blog post are just random photos of mobile phones which were taken by me.

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

TeNy

The Kingdom of Travancore

There was the news about Kerala State Board Exam results for Tenth having published, and students given free pass marks – unlike the time when I had my tenth and we had to work hard to pass, now there are free passes to the Plus Two in Kerala – only to struggle to pass with degree and PG. So it will surely take the new generation some time to find Kerala on the map, and therefore, I will share two historical battles which happened here related to the Kingdom of Travancore which extended form Central Kerala to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. With those IIN advertisements continuing to make no sense, I am sure that the new generation will be searching on Google to study, and may be this blog post will help them a lot 😛

The red flag with silver conch shell

The red flag of the Kingdom of Travancore with silver conch shell at the centre

Battle of Colachel (1741): There are many battles that the Indian subcontinent has had against European powers, but among them, the most significant one is the Battle of Colachel and it is a case of huge and surprise victory. I am shocked that a lot of people don’t know about this which was part of the Travancore–Dutch War. But Battle of Colachel is more than just a battle, as it was decider. It was like the forces from Netherlands never really had the power to come up with another assault after this battle, and became no more threat to India almost completely disappearing from the scene.

The newly formed Kingdom of Travancore under Marthanda Varma defeated a superior Dutch force which had modern fire-arms, bringing the first complete defeat of a European power to an Indian kingdom. This was surely a twist of fate for the colonial powers in India. Eustachius De Lannoy who lead the Dutch, surrendered and served Travancore as “Valiya Kappithaan” and helped the king in later conquests, leading and modernizing the Travancore army. From here, Travancore would go on to become the best known and the most powerful kingdom of Kerala, and covered the half of Kerala along with Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari.

The Dutch surrender to Travancore

The Dutch forces surrender to the Kingdom of Travancore after the Battle of Colachel

Battle of the Nedumkotta (1789): It is interesting for a good number of people to avoid some battles and glorify only a few people of history. The case of Battle of the Nedumkotta is just the same. But nobody from Travancore can forget the great king Dharma Raja who might be one of the most likable king ever, and the man who is credited as “maker of modern Travancore” was that king who provided safety for everyone who fled for their lives during the attack of Tipu. Along with Dharma Raja’s respect for all religions, the efforts of his commanders, Raja Kesavadas and Vaikom Padmanabha Pillai to hold the fort despite being outnumbered by Tipu’s forces was an act of high valour.

Unfortunately, there is no monument for the former who was the minister, and the later who also lead rebellions against the British, and there happens to be no memorial for the valiant defence. It is a shame that we are forgetting our history and Kerala has given too less value for its heroes and its monuments – even the remains of the fort is lost. What happened at Nedumkotta was purely an effort of courage, as they managed to defend the lines and even strike a blow to the stronger and the more advanced opposition. The forces of Mysore were later denied by the monsoons and the river Periyar only to be forced to return without any gain except for spreading terror.

***The images used in this blog post are from the Wikipedia pages of the Battle of Colachel and the Kingdom of Travancore.

About two of the many great kings of the Kingdom of Travancore:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marthanda_Varma
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma_Raja

The rulers of Travancore were truly committed to their people, which is why they haven’t spent much money for building monuments, tombs or palaces. Building memories for them, their wives, parents, uncles, brothers-in-law, grand-parents and all those family members never became part of the plan. They did what the real kings were supposed to do – they ruled and they did that wisely. This is the reason why people will remember them a lot even after such a long time. They were not just kings of the territory, but kings of the people.

They were more committed to social reforms rather than luxuries. They have left marks on the hearts of the people with love rather than through the huge monuments. Spending state’s resources for personal use never really came to them and their religious and caste-related tolerance has left a mark on Kerala which has left their territories free of hatred towards “the other”. They were true devotees of Padmanabha, and were loved by all religions and castes of people in their kingdom alike.

***The Kings of Travancore give a free lesson to the intolerant new generation politicians and religious/spiritual leaders who find it impossible to live without the luxuries and can’t stop hating others. It is never about the size of a worship place, statue or monument, for it is about how good you are to others!

More on the Kingdom of Travancore: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travancore

TeNy

Horror Maketh a Vampire

Beware the Ides of May! Yes, by the half of May, a dangerous season having a wide variety of exams begin. So if anybody is planning to get married or having the idea of going to the other world during the later half of this summer month, I suggest you delay the same or manage it without any vampire presence. If you are having programs during that month, I would consider that you are intentionally avoiding me. So, plan your events carefully. In honour of the horror of May, I share six horror movies here just because I can 😛

Orphan (2009): Like a deadly evil plan coming together, Orphan manages to be a very impressive psychological horror thriller. Our child here, Esther is more than what meets the eye, but the couple who adopts her only realizes the same much later or rather too late. There is no supernatural here, and the adopted Esther is no child of the Devil, but you will soon realize that a demon child might be less dangerous. Isabelle Fuhrman is amazing as the kid, and the current good news is that she will be back for Cell, another horror movie. Well, some children are like this child in this movie, and there is no need for any explanation for that.

horr (1)

The Unborn (2009): Have you ever witnessed a Jewish exorcism for a change? Have you heard about the dybbuk which is the Jewish spirit which comes back from the dead? Well, this is something new, even though it does follow the usual cliches at a number of points. Here is some free Jewish mythology and along with the same, you have Odette Juliette Yustman whom I almost thought was Megan Fox; a sin which I won’t pardon myself, but that was some time ago. The movie does hold on to its scares, and it is always good to see Odette in a horror movie; she is a lot like Amber Heard – another suitable Lady Horror.

Drag Me to Hell (2009): In Drag Me to Hell, Alison Lohman becomes the cutest leading lady in the history of horror movies who is needed by people from hell and demons are eagerly waiting for the opportunity to drag her down to the other world. The movie deals with her frantic efforts to escape the fate that awaits her as a curse begins to work terror in her life after being attacked by a gypsy woman. Drag Me to Hell has so many interesting moments, and the opinions from the critics show that if you look at the ratings at Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, you are going to watch this without second thoughts.

The House of the Devil (2009): Along with setting itself apart with a nice dosage of nostalgia which brings back those older horror movies to us, The House of the Devil has managed to be a winner with the critics. Our protagonist takes up a babysitting job in a house quite far away from the rest, and manages to be in trouble. But this one surely stands apart in the way the scares are delivered, and the homage to horror movies of the much earlier ages also works like a blessing for The House of the Devil. This is more than just a haunted house slasher horror, and Jocelin Donahue is like this perfect choice for this role.

Mirrors (2008): When another South Korean horror movies is remade, you have your doubts, but this one has managed to come up with a life of its own, with interesting changes being made even when the basic idea remains the same. Mirrors is your movie to remember each and every time you look at the mirror in your room. Wait for that moment when your mirror image is not you, and then wait to be killed by your other self from the mirror world. You don’t always need a mirror though, any reflection is enough. I do wish that Amy Smart was there for more time though. You have to love the ending of the movie – it leaves us with more thoughts.

horr (2)

The Uninvited (2009): Here is another horror flick nicely remade from a South Korean movie, and we know that is going to be good from the interesting beginnings itself; then there is the twist coming, and you have to be ready for the final big turn. Emily Browning, Elizabeth Banks and Arielle Kebbel completes the best of a nice cast, and this the movie in which you have to like Emily cent percent. This is the psychological horror thriller that you need rather than what you want. You have to love with when a horror remake comes good, and here I have given you two with the Korean originals.

***The images used in this blog post are from the Official Facebook Pages of two of the horror movies mentioned here (Orphan and Mirrors). I am actually surprised that when I made a random list, it had four out of five movies released in 2009 :O

TeNy

The Beat Photos

Here, I am sharing ten photos of my Chevrolet Beat which are among my favourites. All of them were taken between the districts of Trivandrum and Kannur in Kerala. This is the result of my realization that I could manage to drive it for only one thousand kilometres between the last two services. It is a new low and I am hoping to boost the desire for another journey in the Beat with this post. It won’t happen anytime soon due to certain cirumstances, but I would rather let the boost happen first 😀

@Muzhappilangad Beach (Kannur)

@Muzhappilangad (Kannur)

@Thattekkad (Kothamangalam)

@Thattekkad (Kothamangalam)

@Varkala

@Varkala

@Urulanthanni (Kothamangalam)

@Urulanthanni (Kuttampuzha)

@Parakkadavu (arakuzha)

@Parakkadavu (Arakuzha)

@Thommankuthu

@Thommankuthu (Thodupuzha)

@Arakuzha

@Arakuzha

@UC College (Aluva)

@UC College (Aluva)

@Calicut

@Calicut

@Chowara (Aluva)

@Chowara (Aluva)

***All the photos were taken on my camera or mobile. The number plate is blurred in case someone wants to ram their car into my Beat just because of boredom or random hatred 😛

TeNy

In the Name of Modernity

Check out the interesting video from Studio NH 47 🙂

Vampire Owl: No, it is clear that he is not a satyr, highlander, nomad…or a even known tree. I have never slept on something like this.

Vampire Bat: I think he is an Ent, a higher class citizen of the Wood Elf Lands.

Ent: Why does it matter who I am? What matters more is on all which has been done – all those atrocities which were committed in the name of advancement in science and the need for development.

Vampire Owl: He is like a war survivor, you know.

Vampire Bat: The conquests of the Dark Elves and the frequent attacks of Nomads have made such a bad influence on our forests. It is really a shame.

Ent: Are you completely out of your vampire minds? Do my injuries look like the result of a war or due to the spells from Dark Elves? Do you think Nomads will attack the nodes of life that feeds them?

Vampire Owl: I am confused. What is it about then?

Ent: It is a reflection of what has happened in the other world. I can feel the pain of fallen trees through the portals.

Vampire Bat: The Dwarves have always been like that. They and their new inventions in the underworld.

Ent: I am talking about the humans! Why are the clues so difficult for you? Stop acting like zombies! Don’t you go to that world through the portals to watch movies?

Vampire Bat: Yes, but we don’t see why it is so hard for you with situation there.

I ask humans to do one thing and they can't even do that :D

I ask humans to do one thing that is to save nature, and they can’t even come close 😀

Ent: I can feel it in me as they fall every tree there and never really think about replacing the same with another one. They run through trees with such an ease, but finds it difficult to demolish concrete buildings. They have problems when the path goes through their places of worship, but what they don’t realize is that nature is something to be worshipped too. I am a high priest and the eternal spirit of nature – I feel the pain each and every second. Why are we always the ones to suffer? Will they like us better if we were made from India Cements?

Vampire Bat: Chennai Super Kings fans are not going like that last question.

Vampire Owl: Is that a beard? I mean, I haven’t seen trees with beards. Satyrs have it, but…

Vampire Bat: He is a very old spirit. It was the coolest fashion at that time! Why don’t you go to Kerala then? There is so much of greenery there and the presence of nature tourism has been at full power. Have you seen the Kerala Tourism advertisement? I am sure that you haven’t seen something like that in your eternity.

Ent: I am not disagreeing with the same. Yes, there is so much greenery, but there is still too much modernity coming up. There are huge flats coming up and there are too many illegal constructions which affect the balance.

Vampire Owl: But there is more interest in the greener side.

Vampire Bat: On the vegetables than anything else. One actress is shown cultivating vegetables successfully and everybody is after the vegetables. Some of them don’t even touch the plant. It is not love for nature. It is just a bloody show-off.

Ent: Yes, they all wants to be part of the vegetable empowerment program. Some people just have too much money. But do they love nature? I don’t think so. A few people think that they will grow on their own, and the others have enough money to hire others to do the work. Then they call themselves “farmers” – seriously?

Even one leaf from nature is a gift of interest.

Even one leaf from nature is a gift of interest. Humans feel less about the same.

Vampire Bat: But there is the eco-tourism which has been nicely implemented in some places. It has worked very well in most cases. There is still better work that expected and it will only improve – even though there will always be some people who try to reverse the situation. There will be people who want to replace all the trees with concrete buildings when it comes to money. But things change, and people are understanding the situation better.

Vampire Owl: They don’t have the Enchanted Woods like we do, and so it is more difficult for them. Humans will learn, but it will take time. If they don’t we will unleash something through the portals.

Ent: I shall rest here until then. I have been accepted as a refugee in the New Vampire World and hope to have a better reflection from the other dimension so that I can go and be part of the Enchanted Woods again. Otherwise, I am just ruining the hallowed grounds which is more respected by the Wood Elves than anything else.

Vampire Bat: You can join us anytime. Bring a few tree minions if you need to.

Vampire Owl: A special tree for just owls alone will be a nice idea.

The Earth Day is just around the corner! Lets try to contribute to a better green world in our own way! It is up-to us to make a difference within our smaller universe and contribute to the society! Support Green Yatra on the same: http://greenyatra.org/

***The photos used in this blog post were taken by me on my Asus Zenfone 5.

TeNy

Crashing the IPL Again

Coming back to those videos which were made as part of Crash the IPl programme, there were a few which could have been made better with a few changes. There is innovation hidden right there which haven’t really come out as expected. But a few changes are sure to bring enough power to to these advertisements and they can be used by the Pepsi a lot better than their winners and finalists or their own Ads!

Crash the Pepsi IPL – “Craze for Pepsi”
Uploaded by Nikita Pagare

It is always better to go back to old model of gaining things – that is to scare people, especially when there is no scope for a civil war in the house. This is something that can work wonders. But this could have been better working with more than just the hair. The Grudge model is not that effective for everyone, and if Anniyan was intended, this is the wrong hair. A little bit more make-up would have been done a lot of favour to this advertisement. There is nothing about jumping from the top of a cliff or building – this is a simple thing to do.

Crash The Pepsi IPL – “Do it Abhi!”
Uploaded by Mikhail Shah

I thought that this was well shot and worked with the basic idea of getting one’s love very well even though this works on a luck based situation rather than anything else. Still, there is nothing special about it – may be they could have used the first and the last few seconds to generate the same. You have to applaud the quality of this one though, and the cast is also very good and suitable. It is just the punch which was needed, and may be if this had a very much longer version, things could have worked in a more special way.

Crash The Pepsi IPL – “Jeeto par pyar se”
Uploaded by Ayush Sapra

There is the idea of winning and then being magnanimous. It is only fair to be good after being victorious – not being like those bloody conquerors of the past. May be this one could have had more focus on the same and finally coming up with the Pepsi. More detail could have done the advertisement a lot more good, as this is more like something we have been knowing and watching other forms for quite a long time. Still, there seems to be an attempt to make it much better with this one.

Crash The Pepsi IPL – “#LiveItAbhi”
Uploaded by Sanghamitra Dasgupta

I think that it is time that Pepsi uses some animation for their advertisements. This is more like an advertisement which could have gone out of being this simple because this idea of things getting better with a drink has been used so much everywhere. But it is still good to watch as an animated alternative. May be there could have bigger twists in the desert, and Pepsi can always come up better animation if they use this. Seeing some of those advertisements which not much acting and the others with random celebrities who do more bad than good, may be this is the need for the day.

Crash The Pepsi IPL – “Meri Pepsi”
Uploaded by Sachin Barthwal

I feel that this advertisement do have the potential to be a lot better with the fight over Pepsi. A number of sequences showing the battle over Pepsi could have made this a nice treat, and a good amount of scenes could be added over there, with them ending quick enough but making the desired impact. We have seen funny fight scenes nicely done to good impact, like in the movie Angry Babies, and this needs to shift its focus to making such interesting fun with Pepsi being at the centre of all action. No, don’t go too much further, but keep it funny enough.

***This blog post is related only to those advertisements which I thought could be better, and would have worked nicely as the Pepsi Ads with changes being made. It is only about those which I have personally thought to have potential and has no relation to the best that could be. It is just an opinion and not a judgment, and so you needn’t bother about why another advertisement was not selected over one of these.

Check out the #CrashThePepsiIPL videos & participate in the activity at BlogAdda

TeNy

Religion and Love

There might be a lot of people who have achieved more, and a good number of them got the potential to reach the summit of greatness like nobody else – it is the quality of the list of people related to #WillOfSteel by JSW that makes us feel proud of our fellow countrymen at the first look. But then there is the realization about what we really want. Above all, what comes to the mind is more about what the nation needs than anything else. It is not people who make a lot of money or those who become famous for being good at a random thing – it is more.

Each and everyday that we spend on Facebook or the internet as a whole has become more of a curse, and it continues like there is no end. There are more hate messages than there is the true essence of any religion. Everyone has their own idea of bringing hatred, and they go on with the same. People hate all who spread the message of love just because they are of another religion, and we know how the venom spreads when some people opens their mouth.

Therefore, Krishnadas becomes the man whom the nation really needs and should inspire a lot more with the message “Follow your religion, love everybody”. He has spread the message for years as he stands at the centre of the busy street holding the placard having the message; also leaving something for the people who visit the beach. With a few declarations which have been made in the recent days, I would expect the intolerance to rise to a new level and people are going to be doubtful about the other religions. Some worship centres are going to be closed to others due to fear of mob violence, and some devotees are going to avoid certain places of worship due to fear of the same. This is where people like him can do wonders.

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When we wander through the dark realms of the internet, we see those high achievers and those men with lots of money, education and fame that make ridiculous speeches spreading hatred against other religions. Then we have this man who spreads love in the name of all religions to everyone alike. If your religion is not love and kindness, but hatred for other religions, you need to rethink in the name of any God which you follow – is this what your God has taught you? If hatred comes free with some people, you have to wonder what kind of devotees they are.

Some people bring the past to hate other religions, but if you do repeat what has been happening in the past in present modern age, it only gets worse in your case. It doesn’t get any better, and extremism in the modern world of globalization is plain stupid, no matter how much you can fool people. The world has changed, and it is time for people to stop going through the Dark Ages again. Yes, some people need to be reminded of love very often and may be we can have this written everywhere! This is actually with a potential for the end of religious terrorism that we have here!

What we need are people like him, not politicians who divide us in the name of religion, caste and many other things. We need educated people who understand the true meaning of religions, and spread the message of love. We don’t need the religious leaders who spend their time talking about how bad the other religions are, and we don’t need those who care about others only after looking at what has been filled in the “religion” column. Yes, love people regardless of their religion – why is it so difficult these days?

Well, all we see on the road these days are religious processions and political protesters on the roads, but it is so difficult to spread love. May this man’s #WillOfSteel be inspiration to many, and work as a device for not hating other religions just because some of those so called “leaders” say so. If anyone comes close to being a true sage these days, it is him. We need someone like him everywhere as we always see the loss of respect towards other cultures and religions. People need to know that being Indian is beyond religions. This man is more than just a sign, because his sign is the new hope. He has #WillOfSteel.

I’m voting for Krishnadas’ #WillOfSteel and blogging on BlogAdda to help him get felicitated and eventually enabled by JSW.

***The image used in this blog post is from the BlogAdda page related to the same.

TeNy

In the Waiting Room

The Vampire Bat and The Vampire Owl waited at the Old Castle Tower which faced the Bloody Waters Bay. They watched as a number of smaller ships joined the Great Vampire Armada from distant lands, and riders on dark horses arrived from the other side which formed a long path. It was transformed into the unofficial vampire waiting room. They waited and waited, and they did nothing else.

Vampire Owl: I have waited for so long. There might be no hope. Vampire Crocodile would have decided to quit very long ago.

Vampire Bat: May be we can wait a little longer. This old castle tower is abandoned anyway and we have no other job.

Vampire Owl: But she was supposed to come much earlier. This has been like an eternity.

Vampire Bat: She has to come all the way from those distant lands. We have to wait as much as we can.

Vampire Owl: I see horses approaching with black banners. Is it her?

Vampire Bat: I think that it is a funeral procession. It should be for the vampire who took a bullet or two in the name of love for that high elf girl, but forgot that it was made of silver and dipped in garlic.

Vampire Owl: There are strange things that people do for the ladies when in love, I see. Yet, we are actually doing nothing by sitting here.

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Vampire Owl: There is nothing to be done in this world.

Vampire Bat: Which is why we are waiting here to change our lives forever.

Uncle Dracula: There is no use in waiting. She is not going to come; not today and not tomorrow or day after tomorrow.

Vampire Owl: He is so pessimistic. Why is he talking like that and sending us to the void of perpetual depression?

Uncle Dracula: How is hoping for Lady Death to come, a case of optimism? Death has nothing optimistic about it. I don’t see any joy in the same. There is no glory in suicide if you are thinking about one. You have been marked by the shadows, and won’t have a good time in the other world.

Vampire Bat: But we are in love with Lady Death and her evil twin with long curly hair and bad teeth.

Uncle Dracula: Love? Is it what you people call it? You have been bored with life so much that you hope for death, and you sit here after reading the poems of Emily Dickinson. Get out there, have a Blood Milk Shake and get back to work.

Vampire Owl: But true love is beyond life and death. It is like a bridge between the two worlds. So many poets have talked about it. Even the great vampire court poet who was eaten by those zombies.

Uncle Dracula: Yes, but none of them were talking about you, which is why they are world famous poets now. Do you think that this melodrama is cool? It is not. We have work to do. There is a bloody vampire empire to run. There is hatred and there is chaos all around. There are wars and there is intolerance. In the middle of all these, we have to come up with a brighter example. And here, you are sitting at the top of the tower and personifying death as a lady. Let me tell you what I am going to do. I will put you both on the vampire matrimony website.

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Vampire Bat: No, not the matrimonial website! It is evil even for the human standards!

Vampire Owl: Wait, there is a ship with black sails. Why is it so bloody slow? Even blood cargo ships are faster than that.

Uncle Dracula: It is the ghost ship that haunts the Spectre Peninsula. It is not of this world, but a reflection from the other dimension of the wrong which has happened years ago at the peninsula and has to be corrected in the long run. Death doesn’t own a ship anyway.

Vampire Bat: We should wait for Lady Death tomorrow then! It will be an even better day because it is a holiday.

Uncle Dracula: You work very less. So it doesn’t really matter.

Vampire Bat: Let’s go then and hope for a better tomorrow.

Vampire Owl: Yes, with lots of love for Lady Death and her evil twin sister.

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

***The images used in this blog post are smaller cropped pictures of the originals from the Wikipedia pages of two Romanian castles, Poenari Castle and Corvin Castle meant as a support for the write-up only.

TeNy

Tea for Inspiration

It has always been about the tea. Throughout my life, I have believed in the power of tea which has worked like the elixir of life for more than one occasion. Even this blog itself is carved out of the same stone of belief. We have heard it more related to our Prime Minister than anybody else. The drink which is known to mortals as tea, has changed too many lives. It has had a very significant role in my life, and there has been so much of tea each and every day.

This brings us back to the man whom this post is all about, Vijayan – he has had more travel experience than any of us by selling tea at Kochi. He has witnessed more variety in those landscapes and has set foot in more nations than I might ever manage to visit. The first time I heard about the journeys of him and his wife, I wondered if I can ever come close to those journeys in my entire life. The story of the man also gets a mention in the Malayalam movie How Old Are You.

So, here is the man who sells tea, but is just that elixir of life that he is providing? He is giving us hope, and a direct transfer for the realization that we have to go chase our dreams no matter how much limitations are there around us. It is not the limitations which define us, but how we manage to overcome them and chase our dreams, and it is a message well provided. It is the man’s spirit that we can take home; not for today or tomorrow, but forever.

wos

Sometimes, it is all about seizing the moment and not worrying about what can happen in the future or what all factors can become the big villains in a later stage of our lives. It was never meant to be about being better than the rest each and every day, or about making the most money – it has always been about following your heart and doing what you think will be the bliss, and this man has done just that. There is no room for denial here.

People might stop travelling at an age which gets close to the seventies, but not this man for sure. There is no age for dreams; they can just fly as long as those wings are not cut off. The problem about being a dreamer in one’s own way is that people will come up with all wrong ideas about the person. They want to dream about all luxuries, but the true dreams are personal and not defined by the society. Our dreams should be ours alone, and it is to be no territory for others to do some random inception.

It might never be too late for us, and never should we be pulled back by the limitations. There is only one life and it belongs to us – as Lord Alfred Tennyson says in “Ulysses”:
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

There is something about #WillOfSteel. Sometimes, a few people are just credited with the same because it seems to be so for a certain number of people from a distance. But I would vote for Vijayan on any day. It is not because of any other reason, but for his will to go through a path which would be considered impossible by any average person at this part of the world. He decided to make the decision, and it was to make the right choice, worrying not of the limitations or any possible problem in future.

I’m voting for Vijayan’s #WillOfSteel and blogging on BlogAdda to help him get felicitated and eventually enabled by JSW.

***The image used in this blog post is from the BlogAdda page related to the same.

TeNy

Favourites of the List

I have chosen five advertisements from the Pepsi Crash the IPL videos which were made by the fans. I have taken special care not to choose any of the finalists or winners because that would surely be not fair. I had to choose the videos according to my opinion alone, and for the same, I have chosen five of them which I have shared below with the video links and small descriptions for each.

Crash the Pepsi IPL – “The Robber”
Uploaded by Ashutosh Joshi

If you use the phrase “crash the IPL” exactly as it is, I would consider this advertisement the right one to use. Whenever there is a cricket match, we see people crashing into the action from a distance like this. Yes, the climbing is a little overdone, but after seeing the advertisements for Thums Up and Mountain Dew, this is nothing – I expect people to be a lot better than I am, as far as such dangerous stunts are concerned; consider it as a result of looking at the roads all the time.

Crash the Pepsi IPL – “The fault in our Suhagraat”
Uploaded by Anshul Agrawal

This was a cute advertisement, with the need for Pepsi arising during the first night – well, we all have ur preferences, don’t we? I would be highly disappointed in the absence of tea at any moment. Well, they want it and they are going for it without jumping in front of all the available vehicles of the city (sorry, Thums Up and Mountain Dew). The cast is also a nice one, and I thought that this one did treat the idea in a clean manner rather than adding anything unnecessary and without overdoing it – there is some maturity in the treatment here.

Crash the Pepsi IPL – “Jahan Masti, Wahan Pepsi!”
Uploaded by S Bhavini

This is a simple one, but the truth has been spoken. The real truth is that Pepsi doesn’t need an advertisement at all. If advertisements decided which soft drinks we bought, the list would have gone differently – we have never had Pepsi for their advertisements. If we were to choose from them, we would all have been drinking a lot of other things. Drinking Pepsi is something which comes quite naturally related to the mall culture. A bottle of Pepsi comes quite naturally to the new generation.

Crash the Pepsi IPL – “Ahead of time”
Uploaded by Paul Joji Kokkat

I felt this was nicely directed and brought to us, from an idea which has always been there – there are some good changes in the detail made, with two girls’ teams Virat’s XI and Ranbir’s XI playing each other. Well, this is always better to watch rather than having Virat Kohli and Jacques Kallis playing at the stadium – Pepsi should try more of common people than celebrities with the same idea, because it is not the celebrities who make any man drink Pepsi; otherwise why do many other drinks also do good?

Crash the Pepsi IPL – “Hawww Pepsi!”
Uploaded by Jai Sughand

This is another video which follows the usual tactics, and the idea that one will do anything for a soft drink continues. Yes, drinking others’ Pepsi when not looking should come quite naturally, but this surely has a better premise, and this is more possible at college than anywhere else. You can’t leave anything on the table when some people are around, out of the fear for the devourers of all food. The cast is good, and they have timed this one very well. This one works quite nicely in the end.

I haven’t really liked most of the advertisements in the Crash the IPL list, but these five can surely replace those Pepsi advertisements because they have something from the makers who seems to be people with ideas rather than those who keep doing the same thing again and again without any real variety. We need good advertisements, and may be making the common man make them and putting them for vote might be a better solution for the companies considering the current situation of television commercials.

Check out the #CrashThePepsiIPL videos & participate in the activity at BlogAdda

TeNy

Addition to the Supernatural

***This is going to be quite a strange post about my thoughts on expanding the vampire universe which has been part of my writing for quite some time – lead by Uncle Dracula, Vampire Bat, Vampire Owl and Vampire Crocodile along with the other vampire team having guest appearances from werewolves, zombies, mutants and many others. I do feel that these characters and incidents could actually have a working base. So, if you feel weird already, you can skip this post.

I have been using the vampire world for the stories of this blog for quite a long time. I have been thinking about the same and realized that I had thought about a good number of creatures and lands, some of which I have already mentioned in the previous posts. This made me wonder if I could actually make a world out of those which I have already talked about in the previous posts.

So, I decided to divide the creatures into territories on a world map which I had tampered with, and gave each of them land according to what I have been thinking about. For the same, I thought about what I wanted, and realized that it was more of a balance of power. I checked which all creatures could ally with which kind, and made the territory division on that basis, making sure that there could be some alliance which can make the balance back to the continent.

map

I have filled the map with creatures which could rather be neutral or evil, rather than be on the good side as far as alignment is concerned. I have added three kinds of elves to make sure that each could take the side of their own race or according to how dark their alignment is. The witches, immortals and spirits of nature were added to make things more twisted with further scope for unholy alliances.

The zombie territories are divided too, as they are certified mindless and mostly remains without an alliance even though Lich Queen has a specific amount of control over them, more than the Vampire Lords have. Anything related to the ghosts is also a possibility of another empire even though the control of the Lich Queen as well as Dracula will always be there. The Goblins and the Orcs can work together if needed.

The Newborns, Highlanders and Nomads are added to bring another level of opportunity to the whole thing, as they are more neutral than anybody else in their approach. The Other World and the Shadow Grounds have the portals to the other dimensions. The former is a direct entry to the world of the demons which has been closed, and the latter passes one though the shadow realm which is an intermediate world which goes to many places. Then there is also the details about the vampire division in particular.

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To add to it, you have the Eldars, an ancient but advanced race, Necrons who are the most advanced of the undead, the Mutants, the Sirens and the Cyclops to add enough fury here. Draconian Reptile Order and Dark Warlords will keep thing interesting with their desire for war. Satyrs and Centaurs will also play a big role in a possible war or peace, whichever comes to the continent. There is also a lighter side to this whole continent which is not shown, and there, the races would include a team lead by the Halflings. But right now, the focus is on this world, that of darkness which has the vampire team on one end. The biggest inspiration for the same came from two computer games, Age of Wonders and Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War with their sequels.

TeNy

You Need a Zenfone

I have been a strong admirer of Zenfone for a long time, which is why I bought a Zenfone 5 about a month ago and no other mobile phone purchase has made me this happy, ever. It was the only mobile phone that I wanted without second thoughts, and I have been saving Flipkart vouchers for the same until it touched the magic figure of Rs. 8500. It has been working like a dream for me since then, and there has never been an opportunity to complain with that one!

Now, this is the time for stage two with Asus Zenfone 2 being released! I never had an idea about the release – otherwise I might have thought about waiting for the same. But a Zenfone is a Zenfone anyday. It was always a special device and the new release of another version of the same will only improve on it without losing anything which has been making the original mobile phone a wonderful product. Therefore, a lot my friends have been excited about the same and so am I. Here, you can see five reasons along with some extra points on how this new thing of joy could redefine our smartphone experience.

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Have you ever heard about a smartphone with 4 GB RAM? Well, I haven’t yet. Asus Zenfone 5 itself had 2 GB RAM and it was so good – it is not easy to imagine the strength of a 4 GB RAM, and only by using this new Zenfone that we can know the same. There is the first reason for buying this mobile phone without even going in detail though it. Just #CantWait4Zenfone2 – we ask God why we have to wait for the same. We need this wonderful phone as soon as possible.

Asus Zenfone 2 has an amazingly stylish design, and you can do nothing, but adore its beauty which is matched by none other. Yes, it goes the thin way, and you are going to love how you get to better place it in your pockets and bags. The finishing is so good that you can’t take the eyes off the product – and it is also more than what meets the eye. You have to surely love the phone with the red colour more than the others, and it is like a special device of beauty and extra power that is in your hands. This is sure to be a device that brings you a lot of pride!

Well, it is going to make even the aliens and the Devil himself so much jealous, and deeply saddened about the fact that they are not humans. But you can’t really blame them related to this case. With the RAM that we already know about and the powerful processor of 2.3GHz 64-bit Intel® Atomâ„¢ Z3580, the games are going to be too good in this one too. Everything is going to be too smooth, and anything bigger than Asus Zenfone 5 in that case is going to feel like heaven, and it should be what Asus Zenfone 2 is going to be about.

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Then there is the 13MP PixelMaster camera which will beautify our memories like never before. Even my digital camera is only of 12MP, and I have never gone that far with pixel power. I thought that I would be satisfied with the 8MP camera of Asus Zenfone 5 for now, but then there is Asus Zenfone 2 which tempts to buy another mobile phone soon enough. You have to see how good the 8MP one already looks with the current model, and you will know that the camera from Zenfone has a special superpower of looking a lot awesome. It is also going to capture the best photos in low light without flash and has no shutter lag!

The ZenUI Experience is also impressive, unlike what you can use in any other mobile phone that you know about. I have already found the same a big improvement with the Asus Zenfone 5. As they say, you see what others can’t see with that one for sure, and it is not limited to the camera power, but to the phone as a whole. It also claims to charge the battery faster, and the dual sim is going to be more useful than ever with our mobile phone here. The accessories are surely going to make things a lot better for us users of the Zenfone. You need the Asus Zenfone 2, and it is a fact. #CantWait4Zenfone2

Do check the following link: http://www.asus.com/Phones/ZenFone_2_ZE551ML/
The above link is also from where the images used in this blog post are taken. See further details about the amazing Zenfone right there.

TeNy

A Man of our Times

There have been so many movies in Malayalam with the feel-good factor provided throughout them intending to target the family audience. But among them, one flick stands apart due to being not only a feel-good movie, but also a satirical comedy which ends up being more thought-provoking than most of the other movies which have been brought to the audience of Kerala. I know that this might not that have been one of those Malayalam movies which did manage to have a place outside Kerala like Amen, Drishyam, Memories and a number of others, and so lets speak something about this movie which I can watch so many times.

As one of the movies which I watched on the first day itself standing in the queue for about one and half hours, Ranjith’s Pranchiyettan and the Saint was a movie which was worth every single moment of the wait. The Malayalam movie industry wasn’t going through good times then, and a number of mindless superstar movies were threatening to take over. But then, there was this movie all prepared to stand strong between all the superstar nonsense which were making its way to the audience, along with another good movie Elsamma Enna Aankutty.

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Some of those blind superstar fans didn’t like this movie, but this was far above their intellect. There is no stunt or overreaching romance here, as this movie tells the story of a man who is just like anybody else and also thinks like a regular person. He is a simple rich man who is troubled with one thought only; that is – what others think about him and how he can be a better person in the eyes of the others, as even with so much money that he has earned through business, he remains with very less education and even after getting so old, remains unmarried.

He has had a certain number of failures, with the school as well as his first love, and he also has that title of being a rice merchant even as he is in gold business now. What he is in urgent need of, is to have a popular face in the society. He demands that people see him as more than just an uneducated man who took over the rice business of his father and grandfather. He is ready to do anything for the same, and has got a number of advisors who keep helping him in achieving his aim of being the big name in the town, hoping that they would also be rewarded for the same.

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For the same, he attempts to run for the post of president of a club and losses, as he completely losses his focus due to a silly talk from his rival who is married to his former romantic interest. He tries sponsoring the felicitation for an Oscar award-winner, but that also fails. Then he tries to be honoured with a Padmashree, but a corrupt politician who gives him the offer for the recognition cheats him and steals his money. He is also unable to express his love towards the girl whom he admires, and believes that he is too old and has lost too much.

As our protagonist has a conversation about all this and his latest attempt to adopt a boy to Saint Francis of Assisi at the local church (fictional conversations come quite naturally to him), the saint shows the man three visuals which makes him realize that what one thinks is a loss might not be a bad thing, and that good things come to those who wait. He acknowledges that we see as success might not always be that, and a certain amount of failure doesn’t decide future lives. Whatever impression we make in the eyes of the society doesn’t define us as an individual.

Pranchiyettan and the Saint is a movie to watch for each and everyone who think that being rich and famous is everything, and also to those who are depressed that they have been a failure throughout their lives. The movie is highly inspirational and with creating the fictional conversation between the protagonist and Saint Francis of Assisi, there is the divinity and a certain amount of innovation which works in favour of the movie, and nicely brings the climax to the next level. The movie is also a lot fun! Everybody needs to watch this one! [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pranchiyettan_%26_the_Saint]

***The images used in this blog post are taken from http://www.impawards.com/

TeNy

We Have Our Favourites

It is always easy to find your least favourite advertisements, because there are more terrible or at least bad ones on the television than the good ones. It is like we don’t really have the right to watch a good advertisement and be happy enough to buy the product. No, the advertisement satisfaction is rarely there for the audience, but I am still going to share five of them which I now remember as the interesting advertisements which had caught my attention in the past.

There is no claim that these are the best ever in the long history of television, but there is the certainty that these are interesting, funny and making us more inclined towards the product which we would check on a day. When given a choice along with the competitors, I am sure to think about choosing one of these. I would leave the emotional ones out of this list, and do leave your love for controversies out of this post, as you are expected to be seeing these for the funny ones which they are.

5. Naukri.com – The Name Ad:

This one has our attention in the right way and also makes the point without pretensions. This was actually the first time I heard about Naukri.com, and this surely had me interested. There was a certain controversy that the name shouldn’t be used, but then, can we find a name which has no such problems? Well, as it is us who always have such problems, I am going to suggest two names which will be safe: Quetzalcoatl and Teotihuacan. I am sure that the people having problems over names can use these in their own advertisements after pronouncing them with ease. Some people will always find problems with good advertisements, and they deserve only those terrible ones.

4. Micromax – Superfone Ninja Ad:

I liked this one because it had a twist and it strikes us with just those few seconds of awesome turn which makes the advertisement something else. In the beginnings few seconds, I was wondering where this advertisement is heading to and was hoping to hate another ridiculous one which leads to some perfume or condom nonsense, but then there was the twist. At 0:37, the lady says that she is programmed for that, and then we know. I have never been interested in a Micromax mobile, but this one still had my attention. This proved that Indian mobile set companies do have better ideas than the foreign ones and could understand how to get the attention of the viewers. Then there is Gabriella Demetriades as Aisha.

3. Fevikwik – Todo Nahi Jodo Ad:

Fevikwik has had some nice advertisement campaigns and this one is sure to have a prominent place in the list. Just don’t go into the minor details, but lets understand the point, as they have used the symbol of Indo-Pak relationship which is broken and hopes that it gets mended just like it deals with the Fevikwik mends the broken things. There should be no broken things as well as broken relationships between neighbours. Spread love and not hatred, and this advertisement is right there in speaking to its viewers about the same. Well done, Fevikwik. Once again this product has our attention, and I am sure to ask for Fevikwik and not anything else when at a supermarket.

2. Motorola – MotoRokr Ad:

I remember this as a really funny advertisement at its time and this was like the first advertisement with a Youtube video downloaded by me. Forget the Idea advertisements which had the same man and had all the attention for the wrong reasons, because this is Abhishek Bachan’s best ever – at least that is how I feel. The advertisement transformed the name of this Motorola phone into something which was not to be forgotten, and I even bought a Motorola phone at that time just because of this one. The best parts of it are the Mughals and police station portions. It also ends very nicely with another Motorokr moment to go on with the fine beginning.

1. Alpenliebe Pop – Babur Ad:

When you are frustrated with learning too much history, and then Babur from the book is standing in front of you! His son Humayun and grandson Akbar are also there and they gives the girl Alpenliebe Pop to get rid of her boredom while studying as history cannot be changed, but we can make it anti-boring. In the end she even asks them if they are in Facebook, and they replies that they are only in the text book. Then you have to love Shweta Tripathi in this one, she is so good with her expressions, and this is the advertisement which has actually caught my attention for being creative. I would be interested in having this Alpenliebe while reading History!

I am joining in on all the Pepsi IPL action in my own style with the #CrashThePepsiIPL activity at BlogAdda.

This Pepsi IPL, it’s not just about cricket. It’s time to crash with your own created ad! Make your own Pepsi ad & if it’s chosen, it could play on TV during Pepsi IPL! And hey, it doesn’t end here… Even if you’re chosen as a finalist, you stand a chance of winning a prize amount of Rs.1 lakh! So what are you waiting for guys?

TeNy

The Need for Balance

Vampire Owl: Can I bite him? Can I?

Vampire Bat: It is of no use. He is the Devil.

Shadow: How many times do I have to say that I am not the Devil, but his messenger? If my king knows that I was called by his unholy name, he might decide to send me to another dimension of hell.

Vampire Owl: I think he is having an identity crisis. May be he s the messenger devil, a new form of the Devil. Somebody needs to talk to him about his existence. He is confused.

Shadow: I am not confused. You people are just too hopeless. Where is your uncle? I want to talk to the vampire lord. Call him.

Uncle Dracula: Stop teasing the Devil’s messenger. Tell me, Mr. Shadow. Why are you here? You know that you are not welcome, and none of your kind has any programme here. Your master is banned from coming within twenty five kilometres near this castle. We are free thinkers here and we have chosen to join your opposition.

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Vampire Bat: I think he was actually planning to go to the werewolf abode or the cemetery. He needs to find some souls for his master or he will be burnt in hell. Well, it is quite a natural process for him, but he would want to avoid that.

Shadow: I am here as a messenger and you keep talking without stopping. Do you mind letting me speak?

Uncle Dracula: If you have kept your master’s plans to take over the world away from our area, you can speak about your message.

Shadow: Yes, and the message is simple. We want you to stop helping the humans to be good.

Vampire Owl: This is interesting. Do you mind telling us why? Is the Devil too desperate for souls even when he has too many souls already?

Shadow: Absolutely not. There are never enough souls. There is a balance which has been maintained throughout the centuries. People can be told to be good, but forcing them to be so actually destroys that balance. It should be the result of free-will. Some of those people you forcibly turned good are actually causing problems at the purgatory, and you are shifting the balance in favour of heaven and purgatory only, which is a serious blow. There will always be humans of pure evil, but still…..

Uncle Dracula: You really can’t stand people getting any better, right?

Shadow: Why do you have to think so? There has to be darkness for the existence of light. Otherwise, what is the point? The good can thus turn more good. You can’t change the nature of man. It is just supposed to be evil, and goodness has to be taught. Your extra effort is a bonus that the evil nature of man doesn’t need. We need those souls which we deserve. We won’t take them by force, but you can’t touch the free-will. The angels have promised that, and you have to maintain your neutrality.

Uncle Dracula: So, you expect us to remain silent when evil happens?

Shadow: Your alignment is supposed to be neutral. I am pure evil, as you can see from these wings made with hell’s dark matter. The evil has to be punished, and as humans have opted for free-will, we have to allow them to choose. You just cannot ban evil. It is like banning alcohol – people have to know that it is bad for their health and stop drinking alcohol. The righteous world is possible only when people can choose to be good even when temptations haunt them. Yes, we have a full list of temptations which we supply, but we do that for the good people to survive the same and rise to an even better level.

Vampire Owl: I should have recorded this on my phone. Here is a shadow talking like he is everything except a shadow.

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Uncle Dracula: We will still choose to do good, it is a team decision.

Shadow: By all means, do good or evil. It is a decision that is left to you. But maintain your neutral nature when dealing with, when affecting humans. They should themselves choose the good and evil in the end. Only then can we function properly and do our duties.

Vampire Bat: Well, even we don’t want to see the hell going bankrupt, I guess.

Vampire Owl: There are lots of people who deserve the place, and I am sure about it. The Devil should actually take some humans early.

Uncle Dracula: Well, justice is often not served right in this world, and so the existence of hell is a much needed thing. The law of humans is in favour of the rich and those in power, and lets make sure about the better functioning of hell. We are people of the blood, and we have to do our job, but lets make sure about the existence of the good and the evil together without affecting free-will too much.

Shadow: It is much appreciated, Lord, the Count Vampire.

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

***The images used in this blog post are from the Official Facebook Page of the movie, Hotel Transylvania.

TeNy