Not since 1869

In a human capital based economy, one'd be hard pressed to even think about "Praying for rain." But that's exactly what we need now. Granted, you see a surreal blossoming phenomena as you drive along the public works tended botany, but it has an unsettling quiet-before-the-storm feeling.

Four years is a long time. Blomkamp's earlier "from-the-ashes-of-HALO" 09' summer sleeper hit brought hope back to Science Fiction filled with allegory and social commentary, so August 15th could come a little sooner :)

Just Checking In

Been a while since the last post. Just warming up. Been slightly less verbose of late. It must be the age thing catching up.

Kernel

"Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." John 12:24
It is amazing the analogy Jesus used to describe dying to self - an act that defies logic, but yet holds the key to life eternal. What's more amazing is that Christ came to be amongst us, died as a man and rose again on the third day and ascended to heaven, that all may receive salvation-bringing to light the many parallels evident in the grain of wheat analog. As we approach Easter, I'm humbled by what my Saviour did what He did for me 2000 years back at Calvary.

Breakfast

"When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. " John 21:9
I typically welcome the prospect of an unrushed breakfast - not one of those where I wolf down a bowl full of cereal swimming in milk. I find it awe-inspiring that Jesus built a fire and reinstated Peter back into His service despite what Peter did earlier. It brings me much hope - that service of the Lord isn't about perfection - just a clear understanding of our dependence on His Mercy.
Amidst the air of uncertainty that surrounds us lately, it is comforting to know - that certainty does remain, in He who holds the key to Eternity.

Anticipation

Not sure when this will be coming to town, but I reckon the last time I was that excited about a movie was before Sharlto Copley played "Murdock" in The A-Team. This time round though, the theme's heavier in more ways than one.
Let's see what Samuel Moaz puts forth.

In Reflection

It's been a while.

Regarding Miller

"I have found in my work that people can connect over good food when so many other factors seem to divide us. Sharing a table seems to unify different races, cultures, political beliefs, religious beliefs, etc. Why do you think this is so?

Eating is one of the only socially acceptable ways we can share vulnerabilities. We would never get together with strangers and use the bathroom together, but it might have the same affect. No sense putting on airs, we’re just human. So here we are, a group of people putting foods in our mouths because if we don’t eat, we die, because we are not superhuman, we are beholden to our bodies, and our bodies need food and so much more. So I think there’s a humbling aspect to eating together. And then, seated there at the table, we are even. Nobody is taller, nobody is dominating, we are eye to eye. And we have to take our time, because we are also eating, and we have to listen, less we spit soup out of our mouths for talking all the time. And it’s such a pleasurable experience too, that feeling of comfort that we are going to stay alive another few days, that we are secure. It’s a great set up for good, honest conversation. "

Donald Miller, on why people connect over good food. I'd tend to agree with what he says. I still have fond memories of the times spent in Europe, cooking a humble meal for a couple of friends from various parts of the continent. It's been a good 8 years since I started by stint in Europe, and whilst coming back home takes a bit of getting used to, it's great to see how God takes our past experiences to speak to us about various key aspects of our relationship with Him.

District 9

I was a tad bit apprehensive having dragged G, AG, H, AL and J to catch this relatively unknown summer tail-end sci-fi offering. I'd tried to convince them of the impressive art direction and shooting style that caught my attention with "Alive in Jo'burg" back in 05', and right to the point where they streamed in filling up the 6 seats I'd booked on the opening day (13th of August) at Orchard Cineleisure, I was wondering if I'd gotten them into one grand 117 minute mess. But Blomkamp delivered - spade loads. For a lean $30 Million, the film looked like it was made for a budget a couple of times more. Copley's performance was more than convincing, as was the cast (if you'd consider Christopher Johnson part of the cast) who are relative unknowns in the movie mainstream. There were enough instances where the CGI was just indistinguishable from live action sequences. Jackson's WETA wizards did such a tremendous job with the props and costumes. From the ashes of the aborted "HALO" project comes this gem that makes me relive the magic of the silver screen. Herein lies the paradox as well - with a movie so well crafted, it's bound to raise expectations, where its success might work against it. I'd left the cinema only after the end credits finished its run. But I'd dare hazard a guess, I'd be watching it again, and quite possibly, again.

Eager

Transformers 2 was a disappointment, for a variety of reasons. But this, I'm holding out hope that this Jackson/Blomkamp collaboration will prove otherwise. If Blomkamp's work with his HALO3 short films were any indication, D-9 looks set to please. August 13th. I'll be sure to catch it.

[Mobile Post] Coronation Plaza

Having a down tempo meet up with JY, SB & Co. at the recently opened Green Mermaid Coffee joint. 2 storeys worth of concrete chill out space for the student populace. Wish I had it this good back then, but back when I was a student, shelling out $5 for a cup of coffee was considered sane probably only to Howard Schultz himself...

The Walk So Far

"I will never leave you nor forsake you”

Deuteronomy 31:8

Down Tempo Modellbau

I've been dreaming of this for quite a while: building models to the down tempo chilled beats of some present day looped Electronica. Coming back gave me a fair deal of time to contemplate, reflect, and just take stock of things. There's much in the pipeline, but for now, it's one day at a time.
Tomorrow, I meet up with the JackRabbit and TNCC for breakfast at the Golden Arches and for once, we don't have to go to some forsaken western corner of this island where the air reeks of a mixture industrial effluent, cocoa and automotive exhaust. I know, it's trans fat-laden-whachamacallit first thing in the morning, but we're attending a lecture by some subject matter experts and we're pretty content just taking the back seat for once.

Remembering

"Life at its best, is simple."

Rt Revd Rennis Ponniah

[Mobile Post] July

Out at King Albert Park Mac's. Been a day of suprises, not least of which, a lunch treat from G :) All in all, we've been taught, a grateful heart is the beginning of drawing closer to God. For all that has happened thus far, I've much to be thankful for.

Back From Cathay

So June 24th came and went, Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen (ROTF) opened in cinemas worldwide. We went, we watched, and we...lamented and the character development - or the sheer lack of. Michael Bay did a great job in giving his trademark shlow-moh takes, but somehow, with so little time from edit to the big screen, the whole feel of ROTF was all chopped-up.
Sure, there were the cantankerous 'bots, geriatric Jetfire, and Prime in his various guises, but all in all the movie left one a tad bit disappointed.
The sound (thanks to the THX certified cinema) was exceptional, the ILM effects, breathtaking, but the characters...somehow fell flat. The ending signaled a highly likely TF3, but let's hope it will be a true revenge of the Fallen Part 2 instead. Watch it on the big screen if you love the effects, but as a whole, it's easily **/*****.

On The Road

Off on a trip again, albeit unplanned. Switching to Walawalamuciwawa for now till I return.

Contemplate

The inertia was huge, but thank God it has been overcome. An eventful weekend. CG on Friday was interesting, and the Saturday mid-day coffee break before service proved therapeutic too, but the service on Sunday, as well as the chill out thereafter was even better.
Readjusting to the pace of things back here in the Tropics takes a while, but there's really no excuse not to heave myself up from bed and start plying the streets of the City once again, meeting friends and model building artisans, and just simply marveling at the wonders of God's Creation. No doubt, there's a persistent, blistering heat wave of late, but hey, it's been a while since I've enjoyed myself this much spending weekends doing stuff that's meaningful. The mini-photo essays have returned. I hope I can keep up this pace.

Back Again

It's hard to believe that this is the first post of 2009. I'd thought I'd abandoned what appears to be a waning fad of blogging, but thought I'd revisit it a tad bit since I'm back in town, and feeling a tad bit nostalgic (considering I made my first entry back in March of 2005). Not much photography of late, but there'll be some, soon.

Island 1819

After 6 years on the road, it's good to finally be back, and pretty much settled-in to this Island. They say that sometimes, it's necessary that you go out, to find out where home really is. I hope I have, here.