In the SPOTLIGHT: Damien Rice

 Damien Rice is an Irish acoustic pop/rock artist. What everyone generally knows about him is that, his music is widely used in TV shows like Greys Anatomy, Misfits, One Tree Hill and even several movies. I came across his songs on one of the Grey’s episodes that featured 9 crimes in the climax sequence. I was taken aback immediately by the bare boned structure of the songs: male vocals, female vocals and piano. It simply made the scene that was being depicted; honestly it was an OK one. But the song got the right chord struck to make me as an audience feel for that moment.

Chronicles of the World’s Most Elite Fighting Heroes- US Navy SEALs

Book recommendations and review

I’ve been a fanatic for books on Navy SEALs and American Sniper was the first book I picked up. What made me pick up the book? I came across the article about the book release on the Times. 160 kills ? Wicked! But as I read on, I realized the amazing world these elite men are made to reckon with. The SEALs are by far the toughest Special Operations Forces on the planet, in line with British SAS. 

 

  Believe it or not, but for the last 2 years I have read 6 books, all of them about these elite warriors. These books are essential military action packed novels for any aficionado to pick up. Readers have realized this the world over, as each of these novels have been on the NYT Bestsellers list for weeks, as and when they were released. The following are the ones that really left their mark on me:

Review : American Sniper (2014)

This movie has been a long time coming. From being linked to rumours of who’ll take the camera to who will play the most decorated sniper in American History. The end product, Clint Eastwood delivers, is a war memoir of a hero and what his life became on returning.

In the SPOTLIGHT/ Musical Breakdowns: Reggae & The 2nd generation Marley’s

It would be unfair to address any work on the Marley’s without acknowledging the history and mystery of Rastafarianism. It originated in the heart of Africa, in the land of Ethiopia. Here came about the religion that redefined the outlook and approach of how life would be lived in Christian Africa and the West Indies. Through this came about an indigenous expression of worship and energy called the Reggae music movement. It was entrenched into the Rastafarian culture and the way the people saw life.

 It was true in every way to what the culture represents. Embodying the spirit of freedom, reflection, forgiveness, mercy and peace. A whole lot of the percussive rhythm in reggae comes from West Indian folk music meshed with popular American genres of the 60’s – Jazz and R&B.

 Enter – Reggae.

Neo Nair Choppers: Edition VIII

Welcome to the final edition of NNC. This batch constitutes 2 primitive and 3 intermediate designs of mine. These are all the designs I've had created over the last 4 years now, that you have seen over 8 editions. I shall resume designing more choppers once I find some more themes to attack. Till then, do mail or Tweet to me any themes you wish to see incorporated into chopper designs.

THE CRUISED MUSCLE

This was my attempt at creating a muscle bike equivalent of a chopper. I took cues from the Ducati monster and a few other Jap monster bikes. I think this ones turned out pretty clean and cool for a muscle chopper

Neo Nair Choppers: Edition VII

This edition is a showdown of how Neo-nair Choppers evolved over time. These are the earliest designs I came up with, while fiddling randomly on the innocuous MS Paint. Who'd have thought, It would lead to the passionate entrapment that led me to create so much more over time and evolve my creative skills.

BLUE DIABLO

This was my first chopper..ever!I know it looks pretty primitive considering the other designs here. I made it keeping in mind colors and paint elements more than design. Albeit, I always had in mind the fluidic uni-body and encased tank look ( So that the insides look like live electric sparks).

In the SPOTLIGHT: Tom Waits

Tom Waits is quite ably the most non-mainstream but influential musician of all time. He won’t be covered by the billboards of the world or rolling stones as one of the greatest song writers of all times besides Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen etc. But quite honestly, this man and his cult following have stood the test of 4 decades of musical madness.