Miscellaneous Facebook posts & comments in November 2020
When author of post or comment is not mentioned, it should be assumed that it is me (Ravi S. Iyer).
To save time, I am usually not providing my FB post links but only contents. I am also not hyperlinking links. So readers will have to copy-paste links from this post onto a browser link box and then browse to that link.
==========================================
In a non-public FB post somewhere, I wrote:
In multiple USA media channels, I saw the report about Steve Bannon publicly talking about putting heads on pikes and placing them on two corners of the White House. So I presume it to be true. I am shocked, horrified and very saddened to know that a former campaign manager of President Trump, and a former chief strategist in the White House administration of President Trump, said such words publicly.
I do hope that Bannon takes back these words, given the status that he has had in the White House in the past. I mean, nobody in his/her right mind wants USA politics talk stuff (not acts as they clearly would be criminal under USA law today with perpetrators going to jail for a long time) to go to such horrific medieval times levels.
-----------------
Interesting video published before 2020 US election: An Election Night tradition: The concession speech, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtgd7cenLG4, 7 min. 8 secs, published on 1st Nov. 2020 by CBS Sunday Morning.
----------------
Interesting movie with John Wayne being the brave guy who exposes the bad guys and brings them to justice. It has a lot of rodeo stuff, some of which is pretty impressive in terms of skill and brute muscle power.
The Man From Utah (1934) JOHN WAYNE, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALSKWuUpYK8, 51 min. 27 secs.
The movie script: https://www.scripts.com/script/the_man_from_utah_20793
Wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_from_Utah
---------------------
Enjoyed this oldie movie: Oklahoma Terror (1939) JACK RANDALL, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9sIm-H4C2Q, 50 mins.
Set in immediate post US Civil War times, the hero is an ex-Union army captain who comes to a town to investigate the death of his father. The town is under the grip of bad guys who trick new settlers and cheat them. The hero is admired by the good guys in town who are ready to band under him to take on the bad guys. A famous person is the kingpin of the scheme to cheat new settlers but that is known only to the bad guys. The kingpin cooks up a devilish scheme to trick the hero to think that an innocent guy is the bad guy. But the hero eventually figures it out. Justice is served in a harsh way to the kingpin and the good guys win over the powerful bad guys in town.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031748/plotsummary... has a short movie summary.
-------------
Cheap college lifestyle enabled them to save 80% of their income as teachers in Las Vegas ...
"Ceiling on (material) desires" is one of the great teachings I imbibed from my past association (around 1993 to 2002) with Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samithi, Maharashtra, India, and my visits to Prasanthi Nilayam then to offer Seva (free service) for around 10 days at a stretch.
Great to see a teacher couple in USA have such "ceiling on (material) desires" enabling them to retire from commercial work/salaried work before they crossed 30. BTW they have 3 kids! I do think it is a little risky for them to retire so early given that they have 3 kids to raise.
Shared article: This couple retired at 29 on an $88,000 combined salary, https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/10/how-to-retire-early-using-real-estate-investing-and-rentals.html
-----------------------
Very interesting though very sad video report on the 1st outbreak of COVID in USA (near Seattle in Washington state): "No COVID-19 tests were available": Inside the country's first COVID-19 outbreak, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPqHCcvP_cA, 13 min. 24 secs, published by 60 Minutes on 1st Nov. 2020.
---------------------
Fascinating PBS documentary on 1929 US stock market crash as it has interviews of descendants of "Wall Street insiders" then: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAZjlxWNszw, 52 mins, 13 secs. It also has views of John Kenneth Galbraith, an economist who also was US ambassador to India from 1961 to 1963 under US President John F. Kennedy's administration. In the interview clips of Galbraith one can see a framed photo in the background of Jawaharlal Nehru who would have been India's Prime Minister when Galbraith was ambassador. I think the photo may be of Nehru and Galbraith though the part of the photo that can be seen in the video obscures Galbraith. I have attached a screenshot of one such Galbraith interview clip.
In my young adult days I recall reading positive reports about Galbraith and India. I mean, even in 1980s Galbraith was a noted figure in India, and viewed positively. Galbraith's wiki page, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kenneth_Galbraith#Postwar, states, "In India, he became a confidant of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and extensively advised the Indian government on economic matters."
FB post (has pic): https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2992269024322988
----------------------
Very rough (1977) Wild West movie with lots of weird stuff. But I do think it shows the brutal reality of what life would have been in remote areas which were lawless. Over the decades, I have learned that it is effective law enforcement (police) and courts of law that keep society and communities safe. The brutal reality of human society is that if law and order is ineffective or very corrupt then society tends to break down and lots of vicious behaviour and vicious violence comes to the fore.
A boy in the Wild West is forced to go through horrific trauma of his parents being killed (and worse) by bandits and his sister being their captive. He uses his wits and his skills of living in the harsh terrain to great effect as he starts taking revenge on the bandits. Later he is helped by an African-American gold prospector.
Lee Van Cleef is the villain here and he does a great job of playing that role.
KID VENGEANCE | Vendetta | Lee Van Cleef, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrqpEQO_9R0, 1 hr. 28 mins. 44 secs.
------------------------
Nice John Wayne clip about teaching manners to a young man who has not had a good upbringing 🙂 .
"I don't tip my hat to a Squaw." - Cahill U.S. Marshal, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgQbzqK7ue4, around a minute.
---------------------
Lovely rendition in 2013 of 1970s hit Hindi film song of Mohd. Rafi: Gulabi Ankhein Jo Teri Dekhi - गुलाबी आँखे जो तेरी देखी from The Train (1970) by Javed Ali, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooeAxo1GMRw, 3 min. 2 secs.
...
Nice 2018 rendition: Gulabi Aankhen Jo Teri Dekhi | गुलाबी आँखें जो तेरी देखी from movie The Train 1970 by Sarvesh Mishra, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DESKpXS8Bo
...
Another nice 2018 rendition: Gulabi Aankhen Jo Teri Dekhi | गुलाबी आँखें जो तेरी देखी from (The Train 1970) by Aadilamin Shaikh, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuU2g2WHssI, 3 min. 11 secs.
...
Decent rendition published in 2018 (but don't know when it was rendered): Gulabi Aankhen Jo Teri Dekhi | Shoeab Ahmad | MD Rafi Song, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-MCcAhW_rw
...
Decent rendition in 2019: Gulabi Aankhen Jo Teri Dekhi - by Satish Jadhav | Original Singer- Mohammed Rafi | The Train 1970, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTOQ8I-LVIw
---------------
Great to know that Whitney Houston was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recently, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/whitney-houston-inducted-into-rock-hall-of-fame-its-something-she-always-wanted-her-aunt-says
The song of hers that I recall very well: Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Official Video), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH3giaIzONA, 5 min. 14 secs.
...
Whitney Houston singing it live: Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Live at Arista's 15th Anniversary, 1990), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSzmOKg1WIY . She was just awesome!
--------------
Even in today's age, military victories result in more control and more power to the victor. This is a brutal reality across the ages and even today. So any country that does not have a strong military force vis-a-vis its neighbouring countries, is at risk of losing territory or control of territory to militarily more powerful and aggressive neighbouring countries.
The Armenia - Azerbaijan conflict teaches us this reality of today. In national security matters, Ahimsa simply does not work, IMHO. I am sorry if some readers who strongly believe in Ahimsa are offended by what I say. But that I think is simply the truth.
A small extract from Facing Military Debacle, Armenia Accepts a Deal in Nagorno-Karabakh War, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/09/world/middleeast/armenia-settlement-nagorno-karabakh-azerbaijan.html, 9th Nov. 2020.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia signed on Monday a Russian-brokered settlement to end the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, surrendering disputed territory and bowing to other demands as he faced a battlefield defeat.
...
In response to a comment, I wrote: I think in post World War 2 era, especially after Mutually Assured Destruction in event of nuclear war resulting in nuclear arms treaties between USA and then USSR, an impression had been created that a more just world order was in place where sovereignty of nations was respected and upheld by the world order. Today in 2020 I think that impression is gone, perhaps for good. The UN Security Council is quite powerless in these matters and it is brute military power (with armed drones in case of Azerbaijan) that seems to decide territorial disputes. That is a very sad situation as the arms available today to even small armies (missiles & drones) make the amount of possible destruction just too horrendous, as compared to earlier decades.
----------------------
Terrific show of efficient and non-controversial democratic election even in COVID pandemic times in Bihar state of India
Good to see the first statewide election in India (in state of Bihar) after the COVID pandemic started (if I got that right), being conducted quite smoothly and the election results being announced quickly on or close to counting day.
Congratulations to the Election Commission of India, the government staff and any other staff who worked on conducting this election and the political parties involved, for this demonstration of functioning democratic election even in COVID pandemic situation.
Bihar results updates: NDA triumph in state a result of PM’s hard work, say Union ministers, https://www.hindustantimes.com/bihar-election/bihar-results-updates-nda-triumph-in-state-a-result-of-pm-s-hard-work-says-union-ministers/story-rxgurH9itsaf1OuGeihTNO.html, 11th Nov. 2020
Small extracts from above article:
The Bihar assembly election 2020 was a cut-throat battle between the National Democratic Alliance and the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance). Polling was held in a total of 243 constituencies out of which 122 were needed for majority. The final results were announced in the early hours of Tuesday.
The NDA won a total of 125 seats (BJP-74, JDU-43, VIP-4, HAM-4) and made a comeback in Bihar for a second time. The Grand Alliance, which was leading the race according to earlier trends managed to secure 110 seats (RJD-75, Congress-19, Left-16).
...
Despite the prevailing coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak in the country, the assembly election in Bihar was carried off smoothly in all three phases. Polling for first phase took place on October 28 in 71 constituencies. While polling for the second and final phase happened on November 3 and November 7 in 94 and 78 constituencies respectively. The Election Commission of India (ECI) laid several Covid-19 norms such as regular sanitising of booths, ensuring social distancing at all times among many others. The ECI also allowed those infected to exercise their franchise through the system of postal ballot.
--- end extracts ---
That's it. Elections were held (while COVID pandemic was going on) in three phases on Oct. 28th, Nov. 3rd and Nov. 7th. People voted. Postal ballot was provided for (at least some) COVID infected persons. Counting was done in one day or around one day, and results were announced.
Terrific show of efficient and non-controversial democratic election even in COVID pandemic times! As a resident and citizen of India, this gives me great joy. Note that the election was very competitive between two alliances of political parties.
Please note that I have a PUBLICLY POLITICALLY NEUTRAL role in these social media posts that I put up related to Indian political leaders which may include leaders in government currently and those not in government. I am an Indian citizen and resident of India. I do vote in Indian elections but I keep who I vote for as a private matter. I should also say that I am a grateful beneficiary, a lover and an open supporter of democracy in India.
[I thank hindustantimes.com and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above few extracts from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
--------------
At a glance view of political power of major political parties, in states in India from 2014 to now. Note that these maps do not show union/federal level political power which has been in BJP and allies hands' since mid 2014.
Please note that I have a PUBLICLY POLITICALLY NEUTRAL role in these social media posts that I put up related to Indian political leaders which may include leaders in government currently and those not in government. I am an Indian citizen and resident of India. I do vote in Indian elections but I keep who I vote for as a private matter. I should also say that I am a grateful beneficiary, a lover and an open supporter of democracy in India.
Shared post: https://www.facebook.com/TimesofIndia/posts/10159264760647139
-------------
Great rendition of hit song from 1970 Hindi film Saccha Jhutha - Yuhin Tum Mujse Baat Karti ho By Vishwanath Batunge & Sampda, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFF54du-bKQ, 3 min. 22 secs. The video is published in 2017 but it is not mentioned when this rendition was performed. The original singers are Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar, music by Kalyanji Anandji and lyrics by Indivar.
...
Another nice rendition: YUNHI TUM MUJHSE BAAT KARTI HO (HD) I SARVESH MISHRA I GUL SAXENA I BALAJI CREATORS, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ga7xQPhM-s, with video published in 2019.
...
Great 2013 rendition with singers Anil Bajpai and Shailaja Subramanian, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgIrvk3lil0, 3 min. 26 secs.
...
The original song-video from the film (the video is a little patchy). The on-screen stars are Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz. Sachaa Jhutha - Yunhi Tum Mujhse Baat Karti Ho - Mohd.Rafi - Lata Mangeshkar, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-YQkFTi1Zk
---------------
LAC: India, China to dismantle new structures built after April-May timeframe under disengagement plans,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/79191684.cms, 12th Nov. 2020
This is good news. But the big concern is that China cannot be trusted. So I think India should take a don't trust but verify approach on this matter. If the Chinese really carry out what they have agreed under the disengagement plans then it will be a very good step forward towards normalization of India-China relations. Note that this disengagement covers only part of the Ladakh border issue with China. The issue of Depsang plains is to be covered separately.
Never trust the words of the Chinese government and its military. Go by their actions on the ground.
---------------
Interesting 1960s Wild West TV serial episode which is a complete story in itself. The plot is too fanciful but one does give that license to TV serial episodes. The bad guys lose out in the end, and so triumph of good over bad is upheld by the episode. However, one bad character, a female role, is not delivered justice for her crime of aiding the bad guys in committing a hold up which kills good guys (US army persons) in the initial part of the video.
I enjoyed the Scottish accent of one of the roles (Deputy MacGregor) in this video.
THE DEPUTY (1967) | WESTERN MOVIES | Free & FULL movies on YouTube | Cowboy movies, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-wTpZpeVKI, around 1 hr, 12 mins.
Some info. about the TV serial as a whole, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimarron_Strip
Cimarron Strip is an American Western television series starring Stuart Whitman as Marshal Jim Crown. The series was produced by the creators of Gunsmoke and aired on CBS from September 1967 to March 1968. Reruns of the original show were aired in the summer of 1971. Cimarron Strip is one of only three 90-minute weekly Western series that aired during the 1960s (the others are The Virginian and, for one season, Wagon Train), and the only 90-minute series of any kind to be centered primarily around one lead character in almost every episode. The series theme and pilot incidental music was written by Maurice Jarre, who also scored Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago.
The series is set in the late 1880s in the Cimarron Territory, which would become the Oklahoma Panhandle in 1890. For complex historical reasons, this rugged strip of land existed as a virtually ungoverned U.S. territory for several decades. It was sometimes called No Man's Land, with a reputation for lawlessness and vigilante activity. On the show, Marshal Jim Crown is trying to bring order to the region before its political status is finally resolved.
...
[Some info. about this episode:]
14 "The Deputy" Alvin Ganzer Hal Sitowitz December 21, 1967 0714
In 1880, at Fort Concho, Texas, an armored army wagon with the soldiers payroll is ambushed by a gang led by Tate Hansen. Hansen's man, Bo Woodard, is caught in a dynamite explosion, and is left for dead by the gang. Eight and a half years later, he swipes the papers from a Texas deputy he killed, and gets a job with Crown's group. While Crown is away in Kansas City, Woodard seeks revenge on his former partners, who have settled in Cimarron. His killings seem to be self-defense, but MacGregor is uneasy about the deaths. The episode guest-stars J. D. Cannon and Gregg Palmer.
--- end wiki extracts ---
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0541303/fullcredits lists the characters and the actors.
[I thank Wikipedia and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above extract(s) from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
---------------
Audio of another hit song from 1970 Hindi film Saccha Jhutha - Dil ko dekho chehra na dekho (See the heart, don't see the face), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnKyYksiTk4, around 4 mins, sung by the great Kishore Kumar.
The next lines in the song after the title line given above, are:
Chehron ne laakhon ko loota (Thousands have been deceived by faces)
Haan, dil saccha aur chehra jhutha (Yes, heart is true, face is false).
The lyrics seem to have been composed by Indivar, and music by Kalyanji Anandji.
...
A decent rendition with the singer being Santosh Gaikwad. The video was published in 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFfrAYOQLK0
...
Interesting 2018 rendition: DIL KO DEKHO CHEHRA NA DEKHO | ALOK KATDARE | KISHORE KUMAR | SIDDHARTH ENTERTAINERS, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efD4FMT6HrY
...
The original song-video from the film: Sachaa Jhutha - Dil Ko Dekho Chehra Na Dekho - Kishore Kumar, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoN9LbZS27E. The star-actor is Rajesh Khanna.
...
I think these are called Karaoke renditions where the original song's music is played with only the original singers' voice(s) replaced by a new singer. This Karaoke rendition is decent: Dil Ko dekho chehra na dekho By JL Bhutani, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8XscqU02sM
...
Decent 2016 orchestra rendition: Dil ko dekho chehra na dekho -Dhamaal of Kishore Kumar - Rakesh Kansara, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsKc8anikZU
...
Enjoyed this video of a collection of pics with an assortment of masks & faces, with the audio being the Dil ko dekho song mentioned in above post & comments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ToW4mQ2Hp8
----------
Smart elephant!
Hampi Utsav: Elephant stops water tanker to quench thirst, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc-E4jBzZz0, 1 min. 7 secs.
----------------
Nice rendition of 1962 Hindi film Asli Naqli hit song - Tujhe Jeevan Ki Dor Se Baandh Liya Ha -in 2015 by Anil Bajpai and Sangeeta Melekar, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTop3Aym-vc, 3 min. 21 secs. The original film song was sung by Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar. Hasraj Jaipuri was the lyricist and Shankar Jaikishen were the music directors.
...
Zulmo sitam means oppression though in the song perhaps it is used in a lighter/jocular sense, and the phrase 'sar aankhon par' means will be treated with great affection & respect.
...
A decent 2018 rendition by Ashish Shrivastava and Preethi Warrier, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-e2STY8mlo
...
The original film song-video (black and white) : Asli-Naqli (1962) Tujhe Jeevan Ki Dor Seh Bandh Liyah Hai ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwnYWxkIS8A. The on-screen stars are Dev Anand and, I think, Sadhana.
...
Decent rendition: Tujhe Jeevan Ki Dor Se Bandh Liya Hai by Vishwanath Batunge and Aanal Vasavada, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VVkrR77_gw, video published in 2020.
--------------------------
On public FB post: https://www.facebook.com/terry.reiskennedy/posts/10225231132064168 (which links to youtube video: Cattle Rancher Warns About the Meat You’re Buying, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8ioFjN7viY), I commented: Terry Reis Kennedy - Thanks for sharing this video. It was useful to know the perspective of a current multi-generational small family owned-and-run cattle rancher in rural America, about this occupation/business now. Shad Sullivan speaks very well and comes across as a honest guy - a straight shooter - telling the truth as he sees it.
...
BTW I think I should clarify that I don't eat meat 🙂 (since 1993 or so, and prior to mid 1980s) but I am interested in knowing about rural America, and so this video interested me.
---------------------
Thoroughly enjoyed these two 1982 & 1984 Vancouver Canada interviews (mostly in Hindi with little English here and there) of Rajesh Khanna and Shashi Kapoor.
Rajesh Khanna Interview - 1982, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JL-B4soCXo, around 10 mins.
Shashi Kapoor Interview, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqkPlXIKF8I, around 15 mins.
----------------------
Interesting article: Why China’s single population boom is no cause for alarm, https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3110159/why-chinas-single-population-boom-no-cause-alarm, 19th Nov. 2020
In its conclusion, the article opines that rising number of singles is "a global trend that accompanies development – the better developed a country is, the higher number of singles it usually has."
It says, "Living alone first gained traction in early industrialised countries and accelerated in the 1950s."
It gives the following current figures for adults living alone in a few countries:
17 per cent - China
42 per cent - USA
Over 50 per cent - Sweden and Norway.
-----------------------
It is foolish for young healthy people without pre existing diseases to let one's guard down about COVID thinking that it may not be problematic for them to catch COVID.
The recent experience of this 28 year old marathon runner, Emergency Room physician (doctor) who was in great health but caught COVID and had him struggling for breath on the 6th day after symptoms emerged, tells us that one really does not know who COVID can really batter and who just has mild symptoms when infected with COVID and recovers very fast.
This doctor was treating COVID patients earlier in his hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. He used to take all the standard precautions but still got it. That may be due to the much higher prevalence of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in such COVID treatment hospital settings. Perhaps the doctor also may have been exposed to a very virulent strain of COVID in the hospital leading him to become very sick.
The doctor is recovering now but his tale is a cautionary tale about how dangerous COVID can be to even some young healthy persons, even if there are many who contract it and recover very quickly with only mild symptoms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgiOlOA6m_o, 6 min. 30 secs, published by CNN on 20th Nov. 2020
An interesting aside in this matter is that somebody reported the doctor's profile on Facebook as fake (I presume, in the context of the doctor sharing his COVID experience on Facebook). These are difficult days when truth-tellers are targeted as liars and fakes!
================
We have to do our work while taking suitable precautions against COVID. The work has to go on but without taking undue risks. There is no guarantee against catching COVID but at least we should do due diligence and not be negligent.
--------------------
We are seeing good news on COVID vaccine front in USA.
Pfizer reports Covid-19 vaccine is 95% effective, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f7jydIonqk, 7 min. 49 secs, published by CNN on 18th Nov. 2020.
-----------------------
A Stranger in Paso Bravo | Entire Western Movie | Full Length | Spaghetti Western | Wild West, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrE4Pgf0t68, 1 hr. 32 mins.
This 1968 movie has some quirks but is still interesting. The hero (Gary Hamilton played by Anthony Steffen) and villain (Acombar played by Eduardo Fajardo) roles are played quite well. The hero allows himself to get bashed up initially besides being mocked for not carrying a pistol and drinking cider in a bar. Eventually the hero's gun skills get displayed as takes on and kills 4 or 5 bad guys single-handedly in a shootout. The hero's background as a cavalry man with the Union army in USA civil war is revealed.
But the plot was quite confusing and there were some inconsistencies and unexplained stuff that I could not figure out (e.g. Why exactly did Gary Hamilton get jailed? How come people in the town do not recognize him when he comes back to the town after many years (after release from prison perhaps)? ).
The movie, 'And God Said to Cain' which I have posted about here: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/2962054390677785, 5th Oct. 2020, has the hero and villain with same names. But that story holds together much better. There is clear explanation of how the hero was framed by the villain and ends up in prison, how the hero is released from prison before time due to his past Civil War service, and when the hero comes back to town for revenge, he is recognized by oldies in the town.
However, even this movie, 'A Stranger in Paso Bravo', has the good eventually triumphing over evil theme. The town that has fallen into dark times due to it being controlled by Acombar and his thugs, is released from that bad grip by the hero assisted by a few good guys, eliminating the bad guys.
The scene where Acombar is made to die through his room catching fire and he not being able to get away, is dramatic and powerful. That is revenge for the fire in which Gary Hamilton's wife and child are killed where Acombar's henchmen had bolted their house and set fire to it.
Acombar's weakness for his son who is a pampered and evil brat, is an interesting aspect.
-------------------------
US President Trump's cabinet member and former contender for Republican nomination for President in 2016, Dr. Ben Carson shares his experience with COVID where he was "desperately ill" (perhaps due to co-morbidities that he says he has) but has now recovered thanks, he is convinced, to the monoclonal antibody treatment he received, which was cleared by President Trump.
Shared FB post: https://www.facebook.com/realbencarson/posts/1851629955003462
----------------------------
Interesting 1965 Western Spaghetti movie. The plot is too fanciful in places but that's not unusual for this genre of movies. The hero is trying to clear his name by pursuing the person who swindled him and landed him into big trouble. That leads him to a lady who has been "violated" and left to bake in the desert sun. He saves her but gets entangled with the criminals who kidnapped and did worse to the lady, one of whom is the same person who swindled him. Lots of twists & turns in the story with a doctor and a sheriff being the good guys with the sheriff somehow overcoming the lure of the bounty placed on the hero's head (for a crime for which he is falsely accused).
And yes, the hero and the lady he saves fall in love with each other. The lady is not viewed favourably by the townsfolk as she has been "violated". Her father is a pastor (Reverend) and she says that her father also will not want to receive her given what happened to her! So the lady appeals to the hero to stay with her for at least some time as she is recuperating in the doctor's house, and which he reluctantly agrees to, postponing his objective of clearing his name from the false crime attributed to him in his town.
Giuliano Gemma does a great job of playing the hero role.
One of the bad guys is the spoilt brat of a wealthy man in the town where most of the action takes place. The sheriff finds it difficult to challenge the wealthy man but does so eventually. The wealthy man tries to use his wealth to save his bad guy brat-son, even buying most of the townsfolk to his side, to fight the sheriff and kill the hero (after framing him for the crime of robbing a stage coach), but the sheriff brings the county judge in the final dramatic scene with the county judge supporting the sheriff.
I think the part about how some wealthy people use their wealth to buy power & influence and corrupt the system to protect themselves and hurt their enemies, is depicted well in the movie.
Of course, eventually good triumphs over bad in the movie, as is the case with almost all movies of this Western Spaghetti genre.
Adios Gringo | Full Western Movie | Spaghetti Western | Cowboy Film | Free Movie on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0XSIiQbT7o, 1 hr. 31 mins.
[In response to a comment, I wrote (slightly edited):] There is an interesting scene where a Wanted poster with bounty of "5.000" dollars on the hero, is shown. The period being used as separator for thousands (instead of comma i.e. 5,000) seems to be a give-away that the movie was made at least partially in Italy, with perhaps Italy being one of the main target markets for the film.
The film's wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adi%C3%B3s_gringo , says, "Adiós gringo is a 1965 Spaghetti Western directed by Giorgio Stegani. It stars Giuliano Gemma and was co produced between Italy, Spain and France. A major success in Italy, it was the 4th highest grossing picture of the year."
I think most of continental Europe uses period (.) as a thousands separator.
[FB post: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/3003512859865271]
-------------------------
At around 3 mins. 40 secs. the host says that AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is cheaper and does not need to be stored at sub-zero temperatures (whereas the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines may need that leading to challenges in delivery in countries or areas of countries (including USA) that cannot easily provide that facility).
Note that AstraZeneca vaccine, known in India as Oxford-AstraZeneca, is being manufactured in India (in addition to other places, I think), and is one of the key vaccines that India may use for COVID vaccination. So the AstraZeneca part of this discussion is very relevant for Indian context.
Dr. Uzma Syed who is being interviewed as the expert, is an infection disease specialist at New York's Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center and director of Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence (from youtube video description). She communicates very well. Great to see a lady whose name indicates that she is a Muslim, and who is wearing a head covering, contribute in this leadership role in the science led fight against COVID pandemic.
Infectious disease specialist explains why AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine can vary in effectivene…, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYQUm9tz-o0, 7 min. 46 secs, published on 23rd Nov. 2020 by CBS News.
-----------------
Adar Poonawala of Serum Institute of India (a private company) is emerging as the vaccine manufacture hero of India for the COVID pandemic. It was really great to listen to him talk about his company's plans to supply the Oxford-AstraZeneca two-dose vaccine to Indian govt. at Rs.250 per dose and Indian private sector (distribution and sales) at MRP of Rs.1000 per dose.
The COVID vaccine news around the world as well as in India over the past few days, has been very heartening.
Covid Vaccine To Centre For Rs 250, Rs 1,000 To Pharmacies Per Dose: Adar Poonawalla To NDTV, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cb3u6Kkvd8, 15 min. 35 secs, published on 23rd Nov. 2020 by NDTV.
-------------------------
OMG! While I had some idea of the great fear that polio caused - Franklin D. Roosevelt president of USA from 1933 till very close to end of World War 2, got polio which left him with weak legs (before he became president) - I did not know about the "iron lung"!
Shared FB post: https://www.facebook.com/fred.dodsworth/posts/1881829011923629
----------------------
COVID-19: How much does RT-PCR test cost? Find state-wise price here, https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/covid-19-how-much-does-rt-pcr-test-cost-find-state-wise-price-here/686056, 24th Nov. 2020
The article reports the price to be mostly in the range of Rs. 1000 to Rs. 2000 with price varying across states, and on whether the sample collection is done at the lab. or at a clinic or at home.
The article states that Maharashtra is demanding RT-PCR negative test report for visitors from some states like Delhi and Gujarat.
I think some rural areas in India may simply not have the facility for ***privately*** getting such an RT-PCR test done and having its report on hand to show on entry to some other state(s), if they demand such a report. I think the Rapid Antigen test is now available in many parts in rural India through government health care centres but that will not provide an RT-PCR test report which is what Maharashtra govt. is demanding from visitors of some states. Note that the RT-PCR test is a molecular level test and is considered to be the most reliable test (gold standard) for detecting COVID.
--------------------------
On public post: https://www.facebook.com/jacob.mappilacherry/posts/10160787678343747 which shared article: ‘Like horse-mounted cavalry against tanks’: Turkey has perfected new, deadly way to wage war, using militarized ‘drone swarms’, https://www.rt.com/op-ed/508000-turkey-drone-swarms-war/ , I wrote: All wars involve horrific human suffering but this drone-warfare is really terrifying as it is operated remotely and chances of human casualties for the drone-warfare attacker is zero, in the area being attacked. That really skews the power equation in favour of the drone-attacker.
And then add Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence - God knows what monstrous scenarios are going to be seen in future with drone-warfare.
-------------------------
Comments
Post a Comment