The Brexit Vote

Now that somewhat calm has settled down, let me give my two cents to the issue of Britain leaving the European Union. Initially I was all for Britain leaving as it would not have much impact but after reading much in detail and how the vote was done I am not sure the people who voted to opt out knew what they were getting into. There was also a signing petition to revote on the referendum which garnered more than four million signatures but it was just a case of crying over spilt milk. Once the referendum was done it was done. It was not like it came overnight, it was talked about it for so many months and many politicians campaigned for the stay movement. Most of the exit vote was supposedly done by people in the rural and small towns who were afraid of how the world around them was changing and especially the rhetoric about immigration was changing their cultures. I mean it was the old white folks who mostly voted to get out of Britain (mostly helped by exit favored politicians). I don’t know how it will be played out as many surveys and polls showing Britain to be the ultimate loser. But things are going to slowly change. I don’t believe that Britain should shut them out by restricting immigration as not all smart people live in Britain and they need people who can make Britain remain competitive. Let’s see how things are going to be played out but for now it does not look like the end of Europe as dire predictions about Brexit has not come to fruition (at least yet)

On the lighter side-Movies-Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles: Out of the shadows (2016) - Megan Fox

The ninjas are back in this action packed and some jokes movie to fight shredder their nemesis that has joined forces with a mad scientists to rule the world. Not Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Neighbors 2: Sorority rising (2016)-Seth Rogen

When a raunchy sorority is housed right next door to the first movie’s Fraternity brothers, the brothers team up with the enemy to bring it down. Sometimes funny but not at all satisfying movie. Not Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Captain America: Civil War (2016)-Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr

Interference by the government of how the avengers work creates a mega rift between the teams of Captain America and Iron Man. Good action sequences. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-The boss (2016)-Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell

A mogul who was caught doing insider trading and sent to prison, gets released and tries to make amend with the people who got burned by her not easy to forgive or forget her. Foul language and not funny. Recommended with caution

On the lighter side-Movies-The Conjuring 2 (2016)

A haunted house in London with the lead team from the first movie trying to destroy the evil entity. Recommended with caution

On the lighter side-Movies-Attack on Titan-The Movie Part 2: End of World (2015-Japan)

The continued battle of the survivors to eradicate humanoids who are hell bent to destroy humanity. Recommended with caution

On the lighter side-Movies-Attack on Titan (2015)-Japan

Human battles towering humanoids that eat humans for fun in this special effects laden movie. Fun to watch. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-I am not a serial Killer (2016)-Christopher Lloyd

A teenager in a small Midwestern town investigates a serial killer. A slow moving and sometimes bloody mystery movie. Recommended with caution

On the lighter side-Movies-Now you see me 2 (2016)-Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson

The four horsemen emerge to be forcibly recruited by a stranger to pull off a heist. Entertaining but not as good as the first one. Recommended with caution

On the lighter side-Movies-Money Monster (2016)-George Clooney, Julia Roberts

A financial TV host is held hostage by an annoyed investor in this entertaining thriller. Recommended

The French Burkini Ban

Since early last year when I switched jobs, it has been a hell of a ride as I became busier and also the transition was not as smooth as I seemed to hope as bosses were changed but not for the better and the work load was enormous. It did not help either that the IT system sucked and the outsourcing is not up to par. Any now that I have somewhat settled down (never) I will start to write my blog in more numbers as previously done. I have been looking at all the events that are happening around the world but were unable to write about it as the reasons mentioned above. I have been keenly following the French Burkini ban by some towns to stop the spread of Islamic Extremism (supposedly) and also to assert the French government official position of it being staunchly secular and does not want to promote any religious identity (read: Islamic). But despite being secular, there is a French Christmas holiday and I am sure they are not as Godless as they portray to be. But my question is will a Burkini ban will be able to assimilate the marginalized Muslim Population or will it send furthermore those Muslims on the fringes of extremism to become more isolated and resentful of the ban. I believe the later would be the case and also why so much emphasis on what women are wearing. Does the state of France stops women from wearing headgear when they are performing religious duty in the church or when they wall outside ( I am talking specifically about the nuns). Why wearing a headscarf or burkini makes me an extremist and why France considers it a threat to its society even though France is a nuclear armed nation and most of its citizens (including Muslims) are peaceful.I believe that this Burkini ban is bigotry against anyone who is wearing it and it is not what the so called values of the French state should stand for.

On the lighter side-Movies-Hard Target 2 (2016) - Scott Adkins

Sequel of sorts to the original Hard Target starring Jean Claude Van Damme as a guy is hunted by human for killing and turns the table on him. Okay Actioner and time killer. Recommended with caution

On the lighter side-Movies-Kung Fu Panda 3 (2015-Animation)

The continuing adventures of Kung Fu Panda, this time fighting another evil threat and discovering his family. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Allegiant (2016)

Continuing saga from the divergent movie series this time the divergent teams escapes the wall of Chicago to see what is beyond it. If you want to see the first of the conclusion of the series watch it, otherwise skip this one. Not Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Miracles from Heaven (2016)-Jennifer Garner

A girl falls ills to a incurable disease and through an accident is cured of it in this Christian feel good saga. Recommended with caution

On the lighter side-Movies-Barbershop: The next cut (2016)-Ice Cube

Although an unnecessary and unfunny remake of the original, this time the neighborhood around the shop has changed prompting new methods to preserve the neighborhood. Not Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Daylight’s end (2016)-Lance Henriksen

Okay horror movie about a drifter helping a group of people defend themselves from a zombie infested world. Okay time killer. Recommended with caution

On the lighter side-Movies-Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot (2016)-Tina Fey

A sometimes funny account of journalist coverage of wartorn Afghanistan. Recommended with caution

On the lighter side-Movies-Love & Friendship (2016)-Kate Beckinsale

A recent British widower visits her in-laws in the hopes for finding her and her daughter a suitable husband. British lords and British attitudes not my cup of tea. Recommended with caution

On the lighter side-Movies-Before I wake (2016)-Kate Bosworth

Foster parents adopt a boy whose dreams are sometimes sweet and sometimes deadly and they are soon fighting for their lives when the dreams become increasingly nasty. Okay movie but not recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-How to be single (2016)-Dokata Johnson

Singles in New York as a recent graduate dumps her boyfriend to experience a singles life in New York with mixed results. Recommended with caution

On the lighter side-Movies-Keanu (2016)

Two guys search for their cat after it is stolen from them by some drug dealers. Stupid enjoyable movie. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-DeadPool (2016)-Ryan Reynolds

An Ex Military guy is subject to an experiment which gives him super powers in this highly entertaining and action packed adult oriented movie. Highly Recommended. Not for kids

On the lighter side-Movies-Ip Man 3 (2015-HK)-Donnie Yen

Ip Man the martial arts grand master fights against gangsters trying to take over a school in this action packed modern martial arts movie. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Mojin-The lost legend (2015-HK)

Three grave robbers are drawn back from retirement in the U.S. to explore the mystery of a girl dead long time ago. Forget the plot and enjoy the action. Recommended with caution.

On the lighter side-Movies-Green Room (2016)

A rock band fights for its survival after witnessing a murder in a bar. Bloody and gory but a good watch. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Wild City (2015-Hong Kong)

A bar owner helps a drunken woman evade her former boyfriends and his thugs. Action movie and entertaining. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Monster Hunt (2015)-Chinese

In Mediaeval China, a baby monster born of a human father and monster mother is hunted by monsters and humans alike for different reasons. It was cute but nothing more than that. Recommended with caution

On the lighter side-Movies-The Danish Girl (2016)-Eddie Redmayne

The story of one of the first sex change surgery done in the world. Interesting and entertaining. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-The Chronicles of Evil (2015-Korean)

A famous detective supposedly kills a guy and tries to cover up his crime with unexpected results. Interesting crime mystery. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-The Walk (2015)-Joseph Gordon-Levitt

High Wire Artist Philippe Petit Dreams of walking across the twin towers of New York and with the help of a few select people, he dares to complete the unthinkable. Great movie. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Midnight Special (2016)-Michael Shannon, Kristen Durst

Government and religious fanatics pursue a boy who has special powers. Slow moving but gripping movie. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Finding Dory (2016-Animated)

Sequel to the Finding Nemo in which Dory tries to find her long lost family with the help of her friends. Highly entertaining, but I still believe Finding Nemo was much better. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Me & my mates vs. Zombie Apocalypse (2015-Australian)

Three people find themselves trapped in a telephone exchange during a zombie outbreak. Some special effects and gore. Nothing to recommended.

On the lighter side-Movies-Into the Forest (2016)-Ellen Page, Evan Rachel Wood

After a massive power outage, two sisters try to survive in their isolated wooded cabin. Slowly moving but enjoyable movie. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Friend Request (2016-German)

A girl deletes an unwanted friend and faces evil who wants to make her as lonely as she was. Intriguing premise for the social media age. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Criminal (2016)-Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman

A complete memory and skills of a dead CIA agent is implanted into a death row criminal in order for him to complete a deadly mission. Aging actors with echoes of past similar movies. Not Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Puerto Ricans in Paris (2016)-Luis Guzman, Rosie Perez

Two New York City detectives head to Paris to track a stolen handbag. Hilarious movie with ethnic jokes. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-13 Hours: The secret soldiers of Benghazi (2016)

A security team tries to protect a U.S. Embassy in Libya from insurgents attacks. Good action sequences. Based on a true story. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-The brothers Grimsby (2016)-Mark Strong, Sacha Baron Cohen

A spy has to team up with this football fanatic brother in order to complete an assignment. Completely gross out movie. Not Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Triple 9 (2016)-Casey Affleck

Corrupt cops and criminals try to initiate the murder of a cop in order to pull a heist. Good action sequences. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-The Huntsman: Winter’s War (2016)-Chris Hemsworth, Emily blunt

Two warriors in love serve in the army of a woman who despises love and try to survive her and her sister’s rule. Recommended for special effects.

On the lighter side-Movies-10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)- John Goodman

A man and a woman are kidnapped and held captive by a man in a bunker who tells them they have been saved from an alien attack. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Bastille Day (2016) - Idris Elba

A con artist and a CIA agent fight terrorist in France on Bastille Day. Passable action movie. Recommended with caution

On the lighter side-Movies-Gods of Egypt (2016)-Gerard Butler

In order to save Egyptian Empire, a mortal teams up with a god to defeat the god of darkness. Apart from some special effects, nothing much to offer. Recommended with caution

On the lighter side-Movies-London Has Fallen (2016)-Gerard Butler

At the British Prime Minister’s Funeral, terrorists attack London and it is upto the Secret service agent, British agent to thwart the assault. Exciting action sequences. Recommmended

On the lighter side-Movies-Joy (2015)-Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro

Movie about a woman who rose to lead a business dynasty. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Risen (2016)-Joseph Fiennes

A skeptical roman tries to find the body of a person believed to have risen from his death. A movie with religious undertones. Okay time killer. Recommended with caution

On the lighter side-Movies-Anacleto: Agente Secreto (2015)-Spain

A loser in life discovers that this father is a secret agent and tries to help him a bad guy. Not bad Spanish spy movie. Recommended

On the lighter side-Movies-Spectre (2015)-Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz

James bond is back in another of his exciting adventures uncovering a mysterious but deadly organization. Recommended