In a virtual reality game where she can fly, someone’s aiming to take her down.
Mel Mesini is a New York City restaurateur and an avid, virtual reality world traveler. But her successful life—both online and in reality—takes a swerve the night her father is seriously injured in a hit-and-run. To make matters worse, Officer Jeremy Stiles, the man who had once cut her deep with his harsh, rejecting words, is heading the investigation.
When Jeremy realizes Mel is the actual target, his plan is to protect her—whether she wants him to or not. What he wants is answers, especially about this online game she plays. Is it a harmless pastime as she says? Or is she using it to cover something up? As a faceless predator destroys the things that matter to her, Jeremy knows he’s running out of time before she loses the one thing that matters most—her real life.
Real Virtue is an engrossing story of a Mel, young woman who flees her past to recreate herself in a whole new image. The world she has made for herself—and thinks she controls—begins to unravel when her father is injured in a hit-and-run accident and Mel returns to the home she left many years before. Mel is forced to confront reality and fantasy on many levels: her own involvement with a video game, the mystery surrounding the attempts on her life, her mother’s schizophrenia, and the qualities of the man who once rejected her and is now trying to save her. This thriller kept me guessing until the end and was satisfying on many levels. The character of Mel I found to be very difficult to connect to because she basically lived in her own worlds where she saw negativity in every situation, even the most innocent. Jeremy on the other hand took everything so personally, as if he failed, and would preach about God and religion. I am not a terribly religious person so it was a little overwhelming to hear all of his speeches about his path and purpose. The progression of Mel’s understanding of the relationship she once fled from, contrasted with the world she created for herself was as intriguing as the stalker-mystery parts of the book. Real Virtue is a great read.
Zombies have infested a fallen America. A young girl named Temple is on the run. Haunted by her past and pursued by a killer, Temple is surrounded by death and danger, hoping to be set free.
For twenty-five years, civilization has survived in meager enclaves, guarded against a plague of the dead. Temple wanders this blighted landscape, keeping to herself - and keeping her demons inside. She can't remember a time before the zombies, but she does remember an old man who took her in and the younger brother she cared for until the tragedy that set her on a personal journey toward redemption. Moving back and forth between the insulated remnants of society and the brutal frontier beyond, Temple must decide where ultimately to make a home and find the salvation she seeks.
------------------------
Book Review (GR)
Over a hundred people have shelved this as a YA novel. This is not a YA novel! The prose is artful and does not condescend, there is a fair amount of (admittedly half-baked, being birthed in the brain of an illiterate fifteen-year-old) philosophy that does not bear directly on the story, but most importantly, it doesn't have a YA ending.
YA novels pretty much have to have a happy ending. Or at least a triumph. Sure, the author might kill off a kid sister or a friend or two, but ultimately the heroine is going to find some measure of peace and happiness, or at least safety. There is closure of a nature reassuring to the kids who read YA novels and the neotenous adults who prefer them to adult literature.
The Reapers are the Angels has closure, but not that kind.
Temple was born after the zombie apocalypse ended most of what passes for civilization, and doesn't remember the old world. She is a wanderer by nature, with no surviving kin, but by chance she comes across a mentally disabled man for whom, quite against her wiser inclinations, she takes up the burden of escorting on a road trip to probably no longer living family on the other side of a zombie-ravaged country. Why? She never explains this herself, but it seems she just really doesn't have anything better to do.
Along the way, they encounter any number of horrors, and a very small number of kindnesses. The "meatskins" are really the least of the dangers — Temple dispatches them quite readily with a gun or her Ghurka knife. But there are creepy ordinary folks in mansions, and even creepier Texas Chainsaw Massacre-type folks in the hills. And then of course there is Moses Todd, whom Temple irks by killing his brother. Even he admits that his brother had it coming, but now he has to kill her. That's just the way it is. And like a slightly more affable Anton Chigurh, he pursues Temple and her mute companion (whom she just refers to as "dummy") across a blighted American landscape.
It is written in Southern Gothic style, and the dialect of Temple, who was born after the zombie apocalypse ended most of what passes for civilization, has shades of McCarthy and Faulkner.
It has become something to her, that memory — something she can take out in dismal times and stare into like a crystal ball disclosing not presages but reminders. She holds it in her palm like a captured ladybug and thinks, Well ain't I been some places, ain't I partook in some glorious happenings wanderin my way between heaven and earth. And if I ain't seen everything there is to see, it wasn't for lack of lookin.
Blind is the real dead.
Plotwise, The Reapers are the Angels is derivative of Stephen King and any number of zombie novels; the story is good enough, but this is the sort of book you're likely to like, or else find annoying, because of the prose.
If you are not completely burnt out on zombie novels, The Reapers are the Angels is a short, literary take on this well-worn theme. Highly recommended for YA readers as well who might like to try something a little more upmarket.
"Pelican Bay begins in 1931, the year of the great depression, and the drowning of a young boy, Aspen Langsley. It then jumps to present day and the lives of Ethan Hodges and Morgan Olinsworth. Ethan loved the sea and at a very young age he met Captain Shelby, a fisherman whose ship was always docked off the edge of the bay. Captain Shelby was a man of some age. Just how old he was no one knew but, regardless, he was a friend to Ethan. Ethan’s first surf board was made by Captain Shelby when he was just twelve years old. As Ethan grew so did his love for the sea and for Morgan. Ethan was a writer and Morgan was a librarian with a strong love of books and research. They had been friends since they were kids and Ethan loved Morgan fiercely. Getting Morgan to admit any feelings for Ethan was virtually impossible but he never gave up hope.
Then, one day, strange things started happening and after three mysterious deaths, including the death of Aspen Langsley in 1931, everyone began to suspect Captain Shelby. While Ethan loved Captain Shelby he also knew there was something strange about him. With Morgan researching Captain Shelby and rumors about him flying around Pelican Bay, Ethan isn’t sure what to believe. Should he trust his fisherman friend or be wary of him? Is Captain Shelby nothing but an old fisherman that loves the sea or is he a mysterious figured that is literally a part of the sea? Join Ethan and Morgan on their perilous journey as they work to solve the puzzle that IS Captain Shelby.
I had such mixed feelings about this book. I really enjoyed the story from beginning to end and I kept finding myself wanting to know what would happen next. I did find it a little overly descriptive. Things were described with such fervor that I found it slowed my reading because I was trying to process the details, but, I DO think readers of mystery and/or fantasy will enjoy the plot. It is a book that I think would be more accepted by a young adult audience but, at the same time, I can’t in good conscience recommend it to young adults because it does contain strong language in a few places and I think the buyer needs to be aware of this in case they are purchasing the book for younger kids. Overall it was an enjoyable read.
Rating - 4/5
**A copy of this book was provided for free by the author for my honest opinion**"
भारतीय (खासकर बॉलीवुड़) और विदेशी फिल्मो की तुलना में अक्सर कई प्रशंषको की शिकायत होती है कि बिना सन्दर्भ, बजट को समझे बॉलीवुड की निंदा करना या उसे हॉलीवुड सरीखें उद्योगों से गुणवत्ता में कमतर बताना गलत है। तो पहले तो बता दूँ कि भारतीय फिल्म इंडस्ट्री से हर वर्ष कुछ बेहतरीन फिल्में निकलती है, जो दुनिया भर में सराही जाती है और विश्व की हर कसौटी पर खरी बैठती है, पर यह संख्या कुल निर्मित फिल्मो का बहुत छोटा हिस्सा है। बाकी मुख्यधारा या उन से इतर आयीं फिल्मो का स्तर साधारण / बेकार रह जाता है, खासकर कहानी-पटकथा के मामले में। बहाना यह मिलता है कि जनता का यही टेस्ट है, पर टेस्ट तो धीरे-धीरे बेहतर किया जा सकता है जिसकी कोई कोशिश नहीं की जाती। ऊपर से त्योहारो-छुट्टियों के समय अगर 1 बड़ी फिल्म दादागिरी से देश की 90-95 % सिनेमा स्क्रीन्स घेर लेगी तो दर्शकों के पास विकल्प ही कहाँ होगा कुछ और देखने का? इस से टेस्ट कैसे मापा जाये?
जैसे कथानक पर एक उदाहरण देता हूँ कहानी और दृश्यों पर। "चक दे इंडिया" (2007) में हर विपक्षी टीम की सिर्फ एक स्ट्रेटेजी थी। कोई एग्रेसिव खेल दिखाती टीम थी जो प्लेयर्स को चोट पहुँचा रही थी - टेकल कर रही थी, कोई टीम मैन टू मैन (प्लेयर टू प्लेयर) मार्किंग कर रही थी, इत्यादि। यह कोई हॉकी टूर्नामेंट ना होकर वीडियो गेम जैसी बात हो गयी, जिसमे हर स्टेज में कुछ फिक्स्ड बातें होती है। असल में एक स्ट्रेटेजी ना चले तो टीम्स के पास अनगिनत फोर्मेशंस और स्ट्रॅटजीज़ होती है जो वो तुरंत बदल भी सकती है। यह अंतर होता है मुख्यधारा बॉलीवुड और बाहर की फिल्मो में।
इसके अलावा मुश्किल में एक मुस्लमान का अपमान करने वाला पूरा ज़माना बन गया, एक बड़ा तबका जो हमदर्दी और सहारा देता है उसको नहीं दिखाया गया। फिर कोच के प्लेयर्स के अगेंस्ट होने पर सब प्लेयर्स का साथ आ जाना, जब दुनिया इतनी ढीट है की कोच चाहे कैसा भी हो कई लोग चिपके रहेंगे उस से। ऐसे ही फिल्म में कई बातों को one dimensional दिखाया गया, मैं यह नहीं कह रहा की हर चीज़ टटोलो पर बाकी संभावनाओ की एक झलक तो दिखा दो। अंत में यह बताता चलूँ की मैं इस फिल्म को बेकार नहीं कह रहा, मैं कह रहा हूँ की और बेहतर हो सकती है ऐसी अच्छी फिल्मो में छोटी बातों का ध्यान रखा जाए अगर तो। :)
- मोहित शर्मा (ज़हन) #mohitness #mohit_trendster #trendster #trendy_baba #india #hindi
"I'll have an easier time teaching a good talker / actor how to be a passable wrestler, than I would teaching a good wrestler to be a passable promo guy / actor. Everyone knows how to talk, so if your stuttering and stammering and have no confidence in your voice people are going to call bullshit real fast, and then disconnect emotionally from you. Not every wrestling fan knows quality wrestling... Infact Id say 80-90% have no clue what a TRUELY great match is. But if you suck them in with your gimmick, live your moments, they won't focus on the wrestling they will focus on the emotional struggle your character is going through.
Point is, we are in the era of entertainment ... Give an equal Focus on character speaking skills and confidence at your wrestling schools this week ... Too often you kids get sucked into a routine of bumps, basic chain, and blow up drills ... And while that's all essential, remember ... This is entertainment, and when is the last time you drilled promos and skits... When is the last time you drilled how to get your specifics characters emotion across in the ring ...
Wrestling isn't just for meat heads, some of the most successful people I know in this business are truly brilliant actors as well...For the advanced wrestling student ... These acting skills quickly come in handy when it comes to dealing with all of the backstage drama and politics ... Learn to control your emotions, and manipulate others and do what's best for your, and the company's best interest ... (With this being said this is not a pass to work the boys or be a snake cancer, it's meant as a problem solving and conflict resolution statement)"
द्रोहकाल पुलिस के एक अलग तरह के संघर्ष से दर्शको का परिचय करवाती है। वैसे ऐसे विषयों को गोविंद जी तरजीह देते है और 1980 के दशक में आई इनकी फिल्म अर्धसत्य ने तहलका मचा दिया था, जिसको आज भी भारतीय सिनेमा की दिशा बदल कर रख देने वाली फिल्म के तौर पर याद किया जाता है। फिल्म पुलिस और उग्रवादियों की गुथमगुत्था की एक नयी दास्ताँ पेश करती है और उस समय के हिसाब से काफी आगे की फिल्म लगती है, जो बात गोविंद निहलानी द्वारा निर्देशित कई फिल्मो पर कही जा सकती है।
फिल्म का आगाज़ होता है अभय सिंह (ओम पुरी) और अब्बास लोधी (नसीरुद्दीन शाह) द्वारा ऑपेरशन धनुष के गठन से अंतर्गत एक प्रमुख उग्रवादी संगठन में 2 पुलिसिये मुखबिर आनंद (मनोज बाजपाई) और शिव (मिलिंद गुणाजी) को प्लांट करने से। उग्रवादियों की ताकत को कम आंकने की वजह से धीरे-धीरे उनकी मुश्किलें बढ़ती है जो उनके निजी जीवन को भी प्रभावित करने लगती है। आनंद कुछ वर्षो बाद उग्रवादियों द्वारा पकड़ लिया जाता है पर वो उन्हें कुछ पता चलने से पहले ही आत्महत्या कर लेता है जिस से शिव का राज़ बचा रहता है। शिव के प्रयासों से गुट का मुखिया भद्रा (आशीष विध्यार्थी) पकड़ा जाता है जिसके बावजूद पुलिस को विफलतायें मिलती रहती है। तब उग्रवादी गुट पुलिस स्पेशल सेल में सेंध लगाने की कोशिश करते है जो रहस्य और मानवीय विवशताओं का नया आइना दिखाती है।
द्रोहकाल के सबसे मज़बूत पक्ष है उसकी दमदार कास्टिंग और निर्देशन, कई दृश्यों को जीवंत सा करते कैमरा एंगल्स और सेट्स। फिल्म के केंद्र में है ओम पुरी (जो गोविंद की पसंद रहें है और अक्सर उनकी फिल्मो में दिखते है) जिनका अभिनय वास्तविक और किरदार अनुरूप है, उनके बाद मीता वशिष्ठ को काफी फुटेज मिली जिसको सार्थक किया उन्होंने , कहानी के मुख्य प्लाट से वो अलग रही पर अभय सिंह के निजी जीवन की झलकियों में वो ओम पुरी पर भारी दिखी। अंत में अन्नु कपूर के साथ उनका दृश्य रोंगटे खड़े वाला है। आशीष विध्यार्थी ने कमाल का नपा तुला काम किया है, कुछ जगह उनके संवाद मज़ा बढ़ा देते है। । नसीरुद्दीन शाह, अमरीश पुरी, अन्नु कपूर प्रभावित करते है हालांकि मिलिंद गुणाजी ने थोड़ा निराश किया। गोविंद जी की ख़ास बात यह है की वो समानांतर और मुख्यधारा सिनेमा के बीच में सक्रीय रहकर किसी दक्ष शिल्पी की तरह ऐसी फिल्मो का निर्माण करते है जिसे दोनों तरह के दर्शक वर्ग देख-समझ सकते है और लुत्फ़ उठा सकते है। ऊपर से उनका करियर भी काफी लम्बा रहा जो अभी तक जारी है, वैसे देव (2004) के बाद उनकी कोई फिल्म नहीं आई है पर वो अभी भी सक्रीय है जो एक अच्छा संकेत है।
फिल्म के नकारात्मक पहलुओं में पहले तो कहानी में संघर्ष को और गहरा करते एंगल्स की कमी है खासकर जब विषय इतना संवेदनशील है। उग्रवाद से जुड़ा सब कुछ सीधी रेखा पर चलता सा दिखता है। एडिटिंग में भी कुछ जगह खामियां दिखती है। कुछ अदाकारों को और कैमरा टाइम दिया जा सकता था बिना फिल्म का समय बढ़ाये। ओवरआल अर्ध सत्य से तो तुलना करना बेमानी होगा पर फिर भी एक अच्छा प्रयास कहूँगा, द्रोहकाल को मैं 7/10 रेट करूँगा।
Age - 42
Years, 6 Months (December 2013), Efforts by
Legendary Steve Tikolo, who
came out of retirement were not enough for Kenya as they failed to qualify for
2014 ICC World Twenty20 & finished 11th out of 16 teams. (Tikolo scored 236
Runs Averaging around 34 & took 12 wickets in 8 matches). After the
dismal performance Tikolo is also the interim coach of Kenyan Cricket Team. Stats - Tikolo has played 134 ODIs in which he scored 3421 runs
and took 94 wickets (345 Runs & 13 Wickets in 15 T20
Internationals), & thousands of runs in List A & First Class
Matches around the world. Leading, inspiring the Kenya squad in 90s, 2000s
& now once again in qualifiers.
*)-
Inpired generations, saved Kenya's ODI status (falling into Division
Two, Three team status) which seemed inevitable quite a few times.
Steve Tikolo
& Ryan ten Doeschate are the 2 players I want to see playing in
test matches, especially Steve but we all no thats impossible. Moving on...
"The
glory days of 2003 and qualifying for the 2003 World Cup semi-final are the
stuff of legend to most of the current crop, and a distant memory for Tikolo.
"It makes my heart bleed," he said. "We worked so hard - at one
point people were saying we could be the next Test team. And look at where we
are now." Kenya had
also failed to secure a spot for the 2015 World Cup when they were beaten by
Afghanistan in the World Cricket League, but they do have another chance at qualification
during next month's qualifiers in New Zealand, where the final two spots will
be determined among the list of contenders.
All
the Very Best Team Kenya & "The Gun" Steve Tikolo. #respect
Movie dekh to li thi 10-12 din pehle Review late de raha hun...
Prakash Jha ki as a Director log bahut taareef karte hai ya izzat karte hai. Ab pata nahi aap log maanenge ya nahi is izzat ka ek bada hissa is wajah se kyoki wo serious-social issues chunte hai...arre sachchi...personal experience hai mujhe to, kai baar sambodhano mey Mohit Sir se Mohit ji....Mohit Bhai k baad Mohit tak pahuncha hun jaise jaise logo ne serious se shuru kar baaki genres ki cheezen padhi meri. Jokes apart unke career par gaur karen to usme satta, rajneeti k sangarsh aur parde k peeche k khel, antardwand par zor rehta hai.
Ab bhi unhone ek corrupt system k khilaaf khade hue ek ahinsavaadi buzurg Dwarika Anand ki kahani dikhayi hai. Yahan bhi unhone apna trademark monotonous style use kiya hai twists-angles mey. Ab ye condition to impossible hai to isme buzurg aur us elake se jude kirdaar aakar naye samikaran banate hai. Mudde ki baat ye hai ki kahani par mehnat nahi ki gayi aesa laga ki Satyagrah, Lokpaal par koi aur movie na bana de us se pehle announce karke jaldi nipta do ye subject. Kahani k angles jinke aane par lagta hai ki ab to maza aayega wo yun hi nikal jaate hai jaise Dwarika Anand k engineer bete ki maut ek accident na hokar conspiracy hona jab khula to bahut dull tareeke se....climax bhi feeka laga.
Message dena hai to dhang se dijiye aese adhpake vyanjan se jiski kahani ya scenes yaad na rahe uska message kaise goonjega? Music mey Salim-Sulaiman k alawa Indian Ocean band dekh kar achchha laga...unka sangeet achchha tha par lyrics behtar ho sakti thi.
Acting mey Amitabh Bachchan ji aur Ajay Devgn ne kasar nahi chhodi hai aur roles k saath nyay kiya hai. Kareena ne bhi apna homework achchhe se kiya hai journalist k role par. Arjun bhi Prakash Jha k favorite ban gaye hai aur Lucknow k kuch chhatr neta yaad aa gaye unhe dekh kar. Amrita Rao typecast ho gayi lagte hai ek jaise kirdaaron ki range mey...journalist agar wo banti to challenge hota (low budget mey experiments karna aur commercial movie mey movie makers ko convince karna alag baaten hoti hai).
P.S. Iske kuch adhure scenes dekh kar Shahid Kapur ki Paathshaala movie ki yaad aa gayi. Matlab movies mey achchha climax hota hai, bura climax hota hai...Paathshaala mey to climax tha hi nahi...he he. Waise Prakash Jha achchhe director hai par yahan kuch jaldbaazi dikhi unki aur production team ki...Satyagraha se kaafi better Rajneeti thi kyoki usme kum muddo par focus tha, to sabko justified weightage mila aur yahan mudde bahut zyada le liye gaye kahani mey....
2011 में अस्तित्व मे आयी फेनिल कॉमिक्स, भारतीय कॉमिक्स के एक बहुत बड़े
प्रशंषक और सूरत, गुजरात के व्यवसायी श्री फेनिल शेरडीवाला के
निरंतर प्रयासों की देन है।
फेनिल कॉमिक्स 2012 कॉमिक कॉन में भाग लेकर पाठको को अपनी प्रतिबद्धता भी
दिखायी। हालाँकि, अभी तक फेनिल कॉमिक्स की 4 कॉमिक्स बाज़ार मे उपलब्ध है पर
जल्द ही इनका अगला सेट प्रकाशित हो रहा है साथ ही फेनिल कॉमिक्स द्वारा
कुछ ऑनलाइन कॉमिक्स समयसमय पर आ रही है।
जासूस बलराम "दस का दम"
से फेनिल कॉमिक्स नए लेखकों एवं कलाकारों को मौके देने का बीड़ा उठाया है
जिसकी पहली कॉमिक 'नादान' (जासूस बलराम के सर्वश्रेष्ठ कारनामे - 1) अप्रैल
2013 मे प्रकाशित की गयी। ऑनलाइन कॉमिक्स मे फ्रीलांस टेलेंटस ग्रुप के
साथ मिलकर फेनिल कॉमिक्स मे अब तक 3 काव्य कॉमिक्स भी आयी है जिनमे कहानी
की जगह कविताओं के साथ कला का समागम कर कॉमिक्स बनायीं गयी है। वैसे
फेनिल जी ने लगभग 3 दर्जन किरदारों और सीरिज़ सोच रखी है पर निकट भविष्य
में आगामी कॉमिक्स मुख्यतः फौलाद, ओम, बजरंगी, क्राइमफाइटर और स्टंटगर्ल की
होंगी।
कॉमिक्स के अलावा इनका अगला पड़ाव एक ऐसी कंपनी का निर्माण है जो
अलग-अलग मनोरंजन के साधनों पर आना है जिसके तहत जासूस बलराम के
टी.वी. सीरीयल और फौलाद के एनीमेशन पर कार्य जारी है। वैसे अभी मुख्यधारा
के स्तर के हिसाब से फेनिल कॉमिक्स को चित्रांकन और कहानियों में काफी
मेहनत करनी है, यह भी सलाह दूंगा कि एक समय मे सीमित प्रबंधन कि वजह से कम
काम उठाना चाहिये। पर अभी तक प्रयास संतोषजनक रहे है और आगे बेहतर परिणाम
आने की उम्मीद है।
**ये है मयंक शर्मा जी। कोई फोटो नहीं मिल रहा था तो इस घटना के एक किरदार की ही फोटो लगा रहा हूँ।**
आज एक अनुभव बाँटना चाहता हूँ। एक कॉमिक पब्लिशर से मेरी अच्छी बात होती थी, एक बार मैंने जो कमियाँ-बातें नोट की
थी वो एक शुभचिंतक के नाते उन्हें ईमानदारी से बताई क्योकि वो उम्र, अनुभव
मे मुझसे बड़े थे तो काफी संभल कर डिप्लोमेटिक तरीके से समझाया। उन्होंने
इसको बे सर-पैर की आलोचना कहा और मुझे बताया की मेरे सर कुछ ख़ास कॉमिक
कंपनियों का भूत चढ़ा है। मुझे ये भी हिंट दी कि अब थोडा मेच्योर होकर ही
उन्हें कोई सलाह दूँ या बात करूँ।
सच कहूँ मेरा कोई लालच नहीं था,
उनसे काफी ज्यादा बुक्स छाप चुका हूँ और अपनी मर्ज़ी से उतना कामर्शियल
नहीं हुआ अभी तक। मै बस चाह रहा था की पहले से ही इतनी कम कंपनियाँ है, जो
है वो और बेहतर हो जाएँ, काफी टाइम बिताया है इस फ़ील्ड में सबको देखते
हुए, सबसे मिलते हुए ....बात करते हुए। उसी बिनाह पर उनसे कुछ कहाl मैंने
बुरा नहीं माना पर बाद मे पता चला की इनकी इस तरह की बहस यहाँ तक की
लड़ाइयाँ हो चुकी है आर्टिस्ट्स, राइटर्स, फेंस और इंडस्ट्री से जुड़े लोगो
से, थोड़ी शान्ति मिली नहीं तो मुझे लगता मैंने कुछ गलती की होगी।
अब 2013 कॉमिक कॉन, दिल्ली गया। वहाँ वो थे (ज्यादा नहीं बताऊंगा नहीं तो
ओबवियस हो जाएगा), अच्छा लगा उन्हें देख कर, उन्होंने मुझे पहचान भी लिया।
हालाँकि, आई मस्ट एडमिट वो बिजी नहीं थे पर बन रहे थे क्योकि ये मै अक्सर
करता हूँ इसलिए पहचान लिया ...ही ही।
मुझे वहाँ मयंक भैया मिले,
उनके साथ ही घूमा। सबके साथ फोटोज लेते हुए लगा की एक फोटो तो उन पब्लिशर
के साथ भी होना चाहिए उन्होंने पैसा (चाहे पुश्तैनी ही सही), समय और मेहनत
दी है इस फील्ड में। मैंने उनसे फोटो कि रिक्वेस्ट की। अब तक सब ठीक था। पर
इसके आगे जो हुआ वो पहले नहीं हुआ। मेरी हाईट 6 फीट 1-2 इंच है जो भारतीय
एवरेज के हिसाब से ज्यादा है, ये भगवान् की दी हुई चीज़ें है किसी बन्दे को
किसी चीज़ या बात मे एडवांटेज है तो किसी बन्दे को किसी और बात मे ....ये
कोई शर्म करने वाली या घमंड करने वाली बात नहीं। ये बात मैंने क्यों बताई
.....मयंक भाई हमारी फोटो क्लिक करने वाले है और ये हस्ती जो मेरे साथ खडें
है वो उचक रहे है .... उनके जूते की हील काफी नहीं थी ....मुझे विशवास ही
नहीं हुआ की ये कर क्या रहा है बंदा ...मन तो किया मै भी उचक जाऊं फिर
क्या कुर्सी-स्टूल पर चढ़कर खिंचवायेगा?......पर उचकना ताकि एक फोटो भर में
आप एक दूसरे बंदे के बराबर आ सको। भक! मर जाओ बे तुम!!! गधे कहीं के
....वो फोटो भी कभी नहीं लगाऊंगा।
मेरी, जनवरी 2013 मे प्रकाशित हुई किताब Bonsai Kathayen से एक और पेशकश।
कक्षा 9 का छात्र शुभम कल होने वाले मैथ्स के एग्जाम को लेकर चिंतित था।
ये थ्योरम समझ नहीं आ रही नेट पर देखता हूँ। आदतन उसकी उँगलियों चली और उसने पहले,
*) - कुछ स्पोर्ट्स स्टार्स और रस्लर्स की प्रोफाइल्स चेक की।
*) - यूट्यूब पर कुछ आगामी फिल्मो के प्रोमोज़ देखे।
*)
- सोशल साइंस जिसका पेपर हो चुका था के रैंडम फैक्ट्स, हालाँकि सोशल
साइंस के पेपर से पहले इन्होने सतपुड़ा के जंगल और रेसलरस चार्ली हास और
रैंडी ओर्टन की जानकारी लेते हुए घंटो बिताये थे पर आज इन्हें सोशल साइंस
भी बड़ी रोचक लग रही थी।
इतना सब करने मे 3:30 बज गए और जब
पढाई याद आई तब तक शुभम थक चुका था, उसने सुबह 6 बजे का अलार्म लगाया और
सुबह सब जल्दी से देख लूँगा सोचकर सो गया। सुबह 9 बजे उसके भाई ने उसको
उठाया जिसको लगा की ये रात भर पढ़ा है। 10 बजे से परीक्षा थी। शुभम ने घड़ी
देखी तो वो डिप्रेस हो गया, इतनी जल्दी वो नहाये-धोये, खाए, स्कूल पहुंचे
... का जो सोचा था सब रह गया।
उसको गुस्सा भी आ रहा था
की वैसे गलती से सेट हो जाए तो बिना बात के अजीब टाइम पर बज जाएगा पर जब
ज़रुरत थी तो मोबाइल वाला अलार्म आखिर बजा क्यों नहीं? तब उसने ध्यान दिया
की मोबाइल घड़ी मे AM की जगह PM सेट था।
"अब तो भोले शंकर का नाम लेकर ही एग्जाम देना पड़ेगा।"
- Mohit Sharma (Trendy Baba / Trendster)
Apne kuch jigri doston (naam nahi likhunga) se khul kar baaten kar pata
hun. Halaki, ab Lucknow chhut gaya to ye cheez miss karunga. Unhi khaas
dosto mey se ek k saath baitha tha mai last month.
Dost - "Ye heading padh, likha hai...every man is a potential rapist..."
Mohit - "Nahi!!! Maafi sarkaar maafi de do mujhe.....yaar yahan to
baksh de TV, Internet, Akhbar, Society...sab jagah blame karoge to kisi
din bina crime kiye in blames ka hawala dekar jail mey guilty feel karta
hua life kaatunga..."
Dost - "Kaisi Life Inspector Vinay??? Fansi milni chahiye tujhe..."
Mohit - "To tu bhi marega soch lo....ya phir OMG aaj pata chala mera
dost mard nahi hai...ha ha ha...medical report k baad jail ka doctor
kahega...jaa Shikhandi ji le apni zindagi...."
Dost - "Achchha ek baat bata teri favorite actress, athletes kaun hai....matlab skip a beat...wonder woman type..."
Mohit - "Aajkal to Esha Gupta achchhi lag rahi hai, sports mey Ana Ivanovic...aur bhi hai kuch....kyu?"
Dost - "Achchha imagine kar....tu kahin ka raja hai, tu matlab us desh
ka supreme hai tujhe koi darr nahi hai, kuch bhi kar....koi nahi
pakadega tujhe...tab tujhe sunsaan sadak par koi Ana Ivanovic ya Esha
Gupta jaisi ladki mil jaaye..."
Mohit - "C grade horny movie ka hero bana de mujhe kaminey...."
Dost - "Sun to....khuli chhut hai...koi darr nahi, bandish nahi...kya tu us ladki ka rape karega?"
Mohit - "Nahi...koi chance hi nahi hai."
Dost - "Bhai ko khush karne ko mat bol sach bata....mujhse sach bol
sakta hai Bhai...chal tu nashe mey hai...dimaag mannd ho gaya hai kuch
der k liye...tab karega uska rape?"
Mai darr gaya ye sochkar,
kya karunga mai tab? Kya mai rape kar dunga us ladki ka? Maine pehli
baar khud ko kisi aur vyakti k angle se rape karte dekha...us ek second
mey hi mai bas kya bataun...hil gaya...
Mohit - "Bhai..maan li
teri baaten ki mai raja hun, mujhe koi darr nahi, mai supreme hun, koi
saza nahi hone waali mujhe, mera dimaag mand pad gaya hai....par jab wo
ladki chillayegi, royegi na to mere haathon ki pakad apne aap dheeli pad
jaayegi....aage kuch nahi karega tera bhai....ye antar hota hai mard
aur jaanvar mey..."
Dost khush hokar gale lag gaya.
Dost - "Mohit Bhai dil khush kar diya...mai yahi test kar raha tha..."
So, ye hai mera conclusion.....
"Mana India mey 1-2 Australia ki population jitne dooshit mansikta waale purush hai
par unke liye 4-5 Russia ki population jitne sahi purusho par gaaj kyu? Kyoki jab laws
banti hai to unke ghere mey kai nirdosh bhi pis jaate hai. Ye kaisi
victim mentality hai ki doosre group (is case mey gender) k har bande ko
criminal bata do. Majority of men would never rape anyone. Men don't
just rape people because they feel horny, it's not that basic. Most can
resist the lust they have....many men can see what they are doing is
wrong. Can I be swayed by my anger and turned into a murderer? Nope.
People can't just be "swayed" by emotions and turned into something they
weren't already.
Don't trust the secondary info sources to the
level that they brainwash you...understand other aspects related to the
matter and VERIFY!!!.....Every man has the ability to rape, but so
what? If a man has the ability to rape, would you call him a 'potential
rapist'? Every woman has the ability to kill a baby, does that mean
every woman is a potential child killer? Everyone (except disabled
people) has the ability to kill, does that make everyone a potential
serial killer?....Every human being has the potential to be anything.
Rape is not an act of lust nor is it gender specific. Rape is an act of
power and violence. Women rape fellow humans every day. Yes, I mean
actual sexual assault kind of rape. Men are just more associated with
rape because, as a group, they tend to be more physically violent than
women."
In sports there is a significant
amount of difference in the average performance of men and women, in same
sport. As men have natural advantage in terms of muscles, height, stamina,
etc. For example, Marathon, world record for men is 2:03:38, set by Patrick Makau
of Kenya on September 25, 2011 at the Berlin Marathon.The world record for
women is currently 2:15:25, set by Paula Radcliffe of the United Kingdom on
April 13, 2003 at the London Marathon. [Difference
– 11 Minutes 47 Seconds]. Long Jump Men’s World Record [8.95 Meters], Long Jump
Women’s World Record [7.52 Meters], and difference [1.43 Meters]. One more
interesting fact is that when we take the average performance in many sports by
males and females the difference increases significantly than the world record
figures. However, I think that there are many skill based sports where men
and women have equivalent chance like Chess, Badminton, Billiards and Golf etc.
Mixed doubles is played with one man and one woman
per team. It is one of the formats in Tennis and Badminton. Mixed Doubles (Tennis) is now part of Olympics
(2012).
I believe that Women Pro Wrestling should get more
spotlight as all over the world many amazing women performers are working for
different wrestling companies. Major wrestling promotions can introduce a
“Mixed-Tag Team Championship” as there are many underrated, underutilized
wrestlers who never get what they deserve due to the huge size of roster and
long, footage consuming and often boring storylines between/among the main
event people.
As Vince McMohan announced in late 1980s and shocked the
world (got mixed response from the wrestling fraternity, promotions) that Pro
wrestling is not a competitive sport and matches have predetermined
outcomes to heighten entertainment value.
The mixed tag experiments were done in the past but not properly executed and promoted, “such
matches features mixed-sex teams, but differs from an “Inter-gender match” in
that only wrestlers of the same sex may be in the ring at the same time. For
example, if a woman tags her male partner, both women leave the ring and both
men enter. This label is also used for other unusual pairings, such as a normal
sized wrestlers teaming with midgets, when the differing wrestlers are not
allowed to face one and other.”
Now, the question and challenge is how performers will convince
audience if a male and female are in ring against each other. Writers can frame
some basic rules to make such contests realistic and entertaining.
Firstly, I know the ‘wrestling’ I am talking about is
scripted. Secondly, pro wrestling is hybrid of acting, performance and
wrestling….and only few gifted “artists” can do this. So, read on…..
Shawn Michaels
(Michael Shawn Hickenbottom)
Born
July 22, 1965 in Chandler, Arizona,
USA
Brought
up
Berkshire, England & San Antonio,
Texas, USA
Trainer
Jose Lothario
Active
Wrestler
1984-1998, 2000-2010
Promotions
UWF, AWA, CSW, WCCW, WWE, TASW, TWA
Nicknames - Heartbreak Kid, Showstopper, Headliner, The Icon, The Main Event, Sexy Boy, Mr. Wrestlemania.
Shawn is 5
feet 10 Inches (Billed 6’1” :p), he never got satisfactory grades in school and
college, his only passion was wrestling. He is a college dropout (Southwest
Texas State University). Till early
nineties average main event wrestlers were humongous, complimented by
steroids. Shawn shared his ambition with
his family, obviously hard time convincing his near ones…this is the hardest
step when you want to pursue career in an unconventional field. First you have
to convince yourself and then your family that you want to live your passion….and
yes you are gambling with your future at stake.
Early Career & Struggle
Then Shawn
met many agents, promoters, bookers and send his tapes to many others. Got
ordinary response because of his normal build, for quite some time and finally began
his career with American Wrestling
Association (AWA) and Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF), 1984. He competed
as a jobber in singles but the Tag Team Divisions in couple of promotions
provided some scope, he formed 2 tag teams in separate promotions American Breed/American Force (with Paul
Doamond) [TASW] and The Midnight Rockers (with Marty Jannetty) [CSW, AWA]. Won
tag team titles in CSW and AWA.
The Midnight
Rockers were popular in children and ladies soon received contract from WWF and
now renamed “The Rockers” performed there from 1988-1991. Although, they were
popular (Declared Tag Team of the Year
1989 by Wrestling Observer Newsletter, #33 Tag Team of PWI Year by Pro
Wrestling Illustrated, 2003) and fan favorites but at that time many
wrestlers refused to “job” for them because of their size. They often lost and
despite being one of the top tag teams for long time in WWF they never won the
titles. Once, they won against Hart Foundation but due to change in contract
and script the match was never televised citing the breaking of top rope as not
counting the match as legitimate.
Trendy Baba Faltu Trivia : In a song of (then Hit bollywood movie)
“Waqt Humara Hai” (Sunil Shetty and Akshay Kumar dressed as and even dancing
like The Rockers).
Singles Career
Finally, his
wrestlingcapability overshadowed
his build. He started his singles career as cocky, self obsessed “The
Heartbreak Kid” (midcard). The top level-main event and mid card WWF roster was
very dense because of the collapse of many regional and national promotions
like WCCW, but after few months Michaels won the Intercontinental Championship
and had a great feud with his ex-tag team partner Marty Jannetty, (Won Match of the Year, 1993 by PWI).
He competed
in classic Ladder Match at Wrestlemania X (1994) against Razor Ramon for
Intercontinental Championship again winning the Match of the Year Award. As a
face he won 2 Royal Rumbles (1995, 1996…later giving him title shot against WWF
Champion Bret “The Hitman” Hart). He won
WWE Championship at Wrestlemania XII in an epic ‘overtime’ sixty minute Iron
Man Match.
Two
incidents The MSG Curtain Call Incident (where the wrestlers broke the fourth
wall) and the Montreal Screwjob are also inseparable part of Shawn Michaels
career.
Affiliates : The Kliq group, DX, The
Corporation, NWO.
He suffered
back injury during a Casket Match against Undertaker which forced him to retire
and take non-wrestling roles (1998-2000). Then made his
comeback to active wrestling in 2002 and soon won WWE Heavyweight Championship,
though, he was a transitional champion. Since then he promoted talented
mid-card wrestlers until his retirement in 2010.
What Makes Shawn
Michaels Great?
1)- Return:
Nobody in the history of wrestling returned to the same
level, with same athleticism, reflexes and stamina after the kind of injuries HBK
sustained. Michaels competed in hundreds of matches and made regular
appearances on RAW from 2002 to 2010.
P.S. – He completed
a 20 Minute main event of Wrestlemania XIV (1998) with severely injured back and helped
a lot pushing Steve Austin.
2) – Titles after Return:
HBK became
transitional Heavyweight Champion just after his return in the first ever Elimination
Chamber Match. After that WWE management tried to make him solo IC, WWE,
American, Champion on several occasions but Michaels refused and backed young talents
even losing to them in the initial phase of their mainstream career (in #1
contender matches, tournaments, even PPVs, etc) for their push (Randy Orton,
Carlito, Chris Masters, Jonathan Coachman, Spirit Squad, Edge, Daivari, Abdullah,
etc). He held few tag team titles for developing stories, feuds.
Around the
same time few talented wrestlers like Edge surpassed the number of title reigns
by HBK within 3-4 years but still……even if he defeated such wrestlers they were
obviously non-title matches. His excellent win-loss record dropped below 70%
due to him working for other wrestlers.
3) – Trainer and Mentor:
During his
first retirement HBK opened Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy (now Texas
Wrestling Academy) training many young wrestlers as HBK thought his career was
over. Popular wrestlers among them are –
*) – Paul London
*) – Daniel Brian
*) – Lance Cade
*) – Matt Bentley
(Michael Shane)
*) –
Veronica Stevens
4) – Charismatic & Inspiring
Figure:
WWE.COM : "Ask
any Superstar on the WWE roster who the most gifted sports-entertainer of all
time is and nearly everyone will have the same answer — Shawn Michaels."
HBK is
favorite wrestler and one of the idols of Jeff Hardy, Chris Jericho, Triple H, Chris
Masters, C.M. Punk, Hardcore Holly, Cody Hall, The Undertaker, Steve Austin and
many more. Many wrestlers (with a good number of women wrestlers) quoted : “I started
wrestling because of Shawn Michaels.”
5) – Promos:
One of the
best wrestlers when it comes to cutting promos. Serious and giving a message as
a Face, Comical, Mocking (DX), Villainous-Heel (after split of The Rockers,
after Montreal Screwjob, and as a part of Attitude era Corporation’s
Commissioner, etc making him most hated as character and person within a
month). He is still hated in Canada.
6) – Storytelling:
Involved in
multiple memorable months-long feuds right from the beginning of his career. Like
for example, a face against jealous Kurt Angle (who won Atlanta Olympics Gold
in 1996 but HBK got all the limelight as he won the WWE Championship around the
same time). After promo HBK continues the story in match, he is defeated in WM
match but he wins the re-match and story goes on for another N/C Iron Man Match
for next PPV. That’s why HBK won :
*) – WWE Slammy Award (Record 11
times again).
*) – 3 Feud of the Year Awards by PWI
& Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards.
7) – Match Quality & Duartion
*) – PWI Match of the Year Award
(Record 11 Times, consecutive 7 times from 2004 to 2010).
*) – 6 Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Awards for his Matches.
HBK is one
of the best in art of selling. He makes his opponent look good and had some
great matches against wrestlers with limited move-sets like Khali or non-wrestlers
like Vince, Jonathon Coachman, Shane Macmohan. The average duration of match is
also very high. His stamina..... its like he can perform non-stop high flying action with technical wrestling for days.
Marty
Jannetty says – “Irrespective of the outcome people remember one thing…..Shawn
Michaels was in the match.”
*Must Watch* the Fans reactions on every move of wrestlemania 25 Match (HBK vs. The Undertaker)
8) - Trendsetter
HBK was part
of first match of following major televised innovative match types introduced in recent years
*) – Ladder Match
*) – Iron Man Match
*) – Hell in a Cell Match
*) – Elimination Chamber Match
Let me tell
you one thing, it’s very difficult to make something memorable when there are no
prior standards, example set. You can complete formality as a senior
wrestler and just give an appearance or you can moonsault, frog splash, fall
from the Cell’s top, unexpected "flying" entrance, become a crimson mask in your very first match after 4
years, etc. HBK nailed every new match type and created few benchmarks for
others. He started the attitude era with DX and played a significant role in
building the stardom of Steve Austin. Also adapted to PG Era in his own style
with couple of heel turns.
Officially rated #1 of top 50
Superstar all time (2011) by WWE.
9) – Actor
I think HBK
is one of the gifted actors. There is some voice issue but other than that he
is amazing. I remember him imitating Hulk Hogan *ROFL*, DX
stunts, Interviews. Imitated Macmohans and others.
Appeared in few episodes of these TV series - South Beach,
Baywatch, Pacific Blue. Presently, he is hosting Macmillan River Adventures (now soon in
its second season) I seriously think in his prime he could have done few
blockbuster movies. Even now he can play a character actor or a multistar movie
hero. He sang his theme song...so maybe once in a while....
"You don't even know enough to know,that you don't know.... you know !"
10) – Loyal:
Appeared in
the very first RAW, Shawn Michaels is the second superstar after The Undertaker
in terms of number of years with WWE as an active wrestler (1988-2010) with a
gap of 4 years but was active in non-wrestling roles and now works as an
ambassador for WWE. Like others he also got an offer from WCW in 1990s.....we can only imagine....
10) – Role Model:
He is a born again Christian and a Bible Teacher at a San
Antonio Church. Since his return (2002), he refrains from smoking, drinking alcohol.
He motivates viewers through his speeches and online messages, is into charity
and a true family man.
Notes for Critics -
*) – Shawn was average Draw for WWE
during his Push.
Nope! If we
calculate his WWE Championship reign and his actual dominance its 1996-1998, cut
short by his injury, that too shared with Bret Hart, The Undertaker, Sid, Steve
Austin, British Bulldog, etc. It is a coincidence that WCW was strongest during
this time and it was trying new, unique things and buying top stars like
anything….so for few years WCW got attention and even surpassed WWE for many
weeks in Nielsen ratings (Monday Night Wars). This divided the target audience.
He won his
first WWE Championship at almost 31 years. ("The Boyhood Dream for Shawn Michaels has come true!") There are so many independent
promotions that till the time you reach thirties….you have so many
championships, palmares but as I mentioned Shawn’s youth was an era of 6 feet 5
Inches Steroid backed musclemen reducing the number of pushes he got in the
singles division till 1996. His actual push in WWE was limited to less than 18
months in total. Compare with today’s Sheamus, Punk, Cena, etc.
He did so
much in rest of the 20 years of his active wrestling career. Careers of
wrestlers are never dependent on one promotion that too within the window of 2-3
years of Shawn’s mainstream appearances. Bret Hart was already established main
event wrestler. Honestly, Bret was also responsible for Montreal Screwjob, he
refused to drop his title to HBK and was going to WCW, Vince only worked
according to the probability and consequences of Bret showing WWE belt on WCW
(it was a gamble). Whatever happened in past, at that moment you were
unprofessional given you were at the top in 2 companies. Everybody is into politics....those who succeed are always blamed.
*) – Drugs, Steroids and Violence?
Yes! 2
decades ago. Look at few of his close friends then like Razor Ramon, Chyna….and
even others, you know what I mean...
"I am going to give you a show that you have never ever seen before why?...... because I can !"
