RIFLE RANGE BOY

Mayfair Set (Documentary, 1999) Produced, Written, Directed by Adam Curtis #1 Who Pays Wins With an uninspiring name like that, I thought the documentary would deal with something related to British affairs. The only Mayfair that I knew was the most expensive property in the original 'Monopoly' game. (Dark Blue, together with Park Lane) Glad I watched it as it opened another Pandora Box of evil that lurk in what appear to be a kind gesture. Again, the dictum, 'there is no such thing as a free lunch' holds true. It narrates the concept of mercenary soldiers and arms sales business that helped to sustain and rejuvenate the British economy after being battered in the World War 2. Colonel David Stirling, a gung ho nationalistic soldier ran SAS (Special Air Services) in Northern Africa, a mercenary army during the fight with Rommel. After WW2, he led a quiet life in Rhodesia but got embroiled in its politics there at a time of Black nationalism, through the Capricorn...

Zero Dark Thirty (2012) Yet another American glorifying Muslim bashing terror slashing military procedural film which looks at American problems as world problems. Their gung ho way of handling terror is through more violence and more might and fire-power! I was quite surprised that this movie received many rave reviews and praises from critiques. Personally, it is just another lob sided depiction of terror without addressing the issue holistically but from a very miopic unintelligent view of a jaundiced American vision. I guess this type of 'patriotism' is gaining momentum of late.  History tells us that Hollywood plays its stellar 'tour of duty' role whenever the going gets tough in America. During WW2, the silver screen played its role as a morale booster when the war was heading nowhere. It cushioned the sad news of the fall of their young soldiers by trumpeting American's just fight for liberty and freedom. After its faithful duty all these while, now, o...

When Soong and Anne dropped in at my home back in November 2010, his parting line was, "I am not sure I'll be able to make for your Deepavali function next year, as my book is due to be out and it is going to be explosive (?pun intended). I don't know whether I'll be inside or out!" Listen to this podcast and you will know why. There are many intelligent people around in Malaysia. Just that they all stay away from the mainstream and are happy doing their own thing, without raising an eyelid or a hand to change the slow evolution of things around them. Others take the easy way out by emigrating. Those who stay will be stirred when their piece of the Malaysian pie shrinks and are restricted from satisfying their ever unquenchable thirst for the Money God!