Travel Light

Lunar Eclipse

Well apparently nobody I know gives a fuss about astronomy, since the first lunar eclipse this year has just lapsed in the sky above us. There is another total eclipse coming up on Dec 21, however it will only be visible in the northern hemisphere.

Peak Eclipse, 11:39pm, 2010A.D.

Taken with D200@ISO100, AIS300/4.5ED@F16 with 2x converter as well as heavy cropping

The stars that otherwise would not be visible at full moon.

Taken with D200@ISO800, Sigma 10-20EX@F4

I have some wonderful philosophical things to say but my time is running out.

Review: Triangle --- The Shining and Momento had a wicked baby

Triangle, 2009, First Look Studios, Australia, 99min

For obvious reasons, I am not fond of Australian films. My prejudice is further reinforced by the latest major and majorly disappointing production from across the ditch, the namesake Australia. Yes, the Australia with Nicole Kidman in it, she has transformed into the female equivalent of Nicholas Cage lately, maybe I will write a separate bashing post one day.

Nevertheless, Triangle is to sway my opinion in a good way. Created in a highly contemporary setting: a white singlet-wearing, freckled single mom and her autistic son goes on a trip that turns horribly wrong. Well, the first 10 minutes of the film is the boring part and I feel sorry for those who turned away before the ship appeared, for what happens in the remaining time is mind-blowing.

The film makes many shameless allusions to The Shining, but the actual plot is surprisingly ingenious and fresh. Slow-learning people would probably have to watch it again to grasp what is going on, and a third time to understand everything.

Certainly the main idea of the film is is not entirely new, even South Park have done it. Assuming that you have seen Momento, you would appreciate the value of intricate editing, which makes the audience feel int the same way the characters would do. Triangle is near perfect on this aspect so while the main character Jess does not really develop over time, you get to know her better and better by the minute.

Finally the heavy symbolism reminds me of Silent Hill. Instead of a foggy isolated town, Triangle takes place on a cruise ship traveling in bright daylight. However the interiors of the vessel had the same claustrophobic and eerie feeling that is in some way more consistent to the video game experience.The amount of blood and gore is also just right, not too little or too much.

Verdict: A really good horror movie that blends all elements to the right proportions. Four stars out of Five.

Man-up Meals FTW

Man-up cooking to cuisine is like German pornography to adult entertainment. Tasting good is not enough; the food has to appear somewhat revolting (think mushy peas), or at least visually unpolished to be considered manly. Another added-on advantage is that anybody sees it won't steal it due to the engrossing look.

Examples are abound

Awesome pub food, did I just mention mushy peas?

A somewhat less toxic variety with baked beans

One, two, three, four.....thirteen kranskies, on rice with miso soup, Freud would be impressed.

Something dyschezic this way comes.....

Solution: Add plenty of lubrication mayonnaise!

Rule #1: Deep fry everything and top up with curry or gravy

Another murder by the brown sauce

Man-up breakfast, made commercially

School Lunch in Japan, junior version

Traditional tea dish in the JMSDF, some officers are known to spend their entire allowance for this treat. BTW, Kimlan Soy Paste is another hidden gem, try it!

Attempt to make lemon chicken today, it tastes better than it looks, period.

 

Finally, a hearty lunch made to my definition, thank you darling. 

Slade's Ribbons

According to what was told the movie Scent of a Woman, Lt.Col. Frank Slade played by Al Pacino served in Vietnam, have been on Lyndon Johnson's staff and almost got promoted a general. What does his payslip ribbons and badges say about his service?

Should I shoot you or adopt you?

Left side contain four unit awards:
Presidential Unit Citation: Awarded for exceptional in major operations, relatively common
Valorous Unit Award: The lesser version of the previous.
Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation: Slade could have served as one of the early US military advisers, however considering his age it is more likely to have come from a later date.
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm: Frequently issued to foreign combatants by RoVN so nothing special here, nearly everyone has got it.

Right side have both skill badges and individual decoration racks, starting from the top then top-left:

Combat Infantryman Badge: Basic Group I skill badge, issued to every trooper with front line service

Basic Parachutist Badge: a.k.a. Snow Cone, awarded following at least one combat parachute jump. Slade does not appear to have served in the airborne divisions, so it is most likely that he picked this up while in Fort Benning.

Distinguished Service Cross: Highest army decoration just second to MoH. Awarded in excess of 1000 for action in Vietnam, out of those about 400 are posthumous.
Silver Star: Third-placed US service medal, Slade must have done something right...twice. John McCain also has one.

Bronze Star: Further down the hierarchy. Slade's however, bear both Valor device and oak leaves, which translate into multiple decorations for some exceptional deeds.
Purple Heart: i.e. would medal. Probably one of the most abundant medals out there because the DoD minted 500,000 for the invasion of Japan which never happened, and they still have not used up that old supply. Officers carry spares into battle and use them to plug broken femoral arteries, well, jokes.

Meritorious Service Medal: Awarded for exceptional non-combat duty.
Air Medal: Awarded for frequent fliers in warzone, no, you don't have to pilot the aircraft yourself.  
Joint Service Commendation: Lesser version of the Bronze Star.

Army Achievement Medal: Probably with oak leaves, can't see very clear. I need bluray :(
National Defense Service Medal: Blanket campaign medal for the Nam, as well as Korea, Afganistan and Iraq.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal: Supplementary campaign medal, probably for service elsewhere in Indo-China.

Vietnam Service Medal: Mostly covered however quite identifiable, created by Lyndon Johnson for service in the Vietnam theater.
Army Service Ribbon: For every member of the armed serviced in 1981 and thereafter. One of the uglier ribbons out there.
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: This is not the unit award and bears more weight.
Vietnam Campaign Medal: Universally awarded. The bar device read "1960", the year of the start of conflict. It is intended to issue a second bar when the North is defeated, however it never came.

Overall, we can see a typical route of ascension for a model soldier from the rice paddies to the war room. His personality destined him to the eventual downfall, however he could not have scored all that glory without it.

Let's watch him tango with an adorable Gabrielle Anwar again:

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I have mentioned before that sometimes luck is very important in an actor/actresses' success. Nicholas Cage is a prime example of someone repeatedly receiving flops. Anne Hathaway had her share of mistakes when she turned down the leading role of Christine in the Phantom movie due to her commitment to make Princess Dairies 2.

Al Pacino's luck is on par with Bruce Willis, they both had a down period however recovered quickly with one or two major hits. To prove the point that nobody is immune to occasional hiccups:

A young Sean Connery here, you probably wouldn't have guessed....

To make up for the shock, let's end the post with some pretty females with weapons

M4 with too many bling blings, used by a 5"2' shooter

She really knows how to aim

The End is based on a real person, you will never know...

Only hippies and hypocrites don't love the IDF

I don't want no teenage queen. I just want my M-14