This being Easter weekend, and HMV having a sale, I ended up parting with some of my hard earned cash – acquiring in return – a few DVDs… Though the official reviews of Vin Diesel’s Babylon A.D. were mixed, I must say I was pleasantly suprised!

The movie reminds me of Vin Diesel’s best movie ever: Pitch Black – an excellent horror flick that was done on a shoestring budget.

Unlike other action heroes, when given the chance, Vin Diesel can actually act – and he deals very nicely with the grim subject matter of this movie, as well as with the transformational aspects of his own character from someone who does not give a damn, to someone who is willing to give up his life.

As is the case with many post-apocalyptic themed movies, in this movie, we are reminded, by way of allegory and imagery, of the ever growing stark gap between the haves and the have nots, and of the corruption endemic in corporate and political institutions. On a tangent, one cannot help but wonder, for example, why it is that Shreddy Freddy’s pension is a matter of contract law, while firing 9000 employees – is not…

Coming back to Babylon A.D., however, the movie does have an Achilles heel – one that most movies dealing with comic book adaptations struggle with. Of course, I m talking about the portrayal of the villain(s). In particular, should the villain be a black-and-white caricature, or perhaps a tragically flawed human being? In this respect, Babylon A.D. walks a fine line. But I m glad that the movie errs on the side of caution, and avoids exaggerated caricaturisation.

Yes! Peaches, with her electro-punk sound, was at the RFH. It was a memorable evening: her parents were in the audience, and… she began the show with the maxim, “I m gonna murder you tonight!”

To my right was a Spanish contingent of 4 girls and a guy. Perhaps it was the Spanish influence that lead me to read the Peaches logo – placed high up on the stage – as ‘Nachos’. But after a double take, I realized what it said. : ) On my left, were a couple of leathered up dudes. Then there was that ultra-tight-neon-blue-lycra-catsuit clad girl, who was wearing a transparent plexiglass teapot on her head. And, the twin albino Jimmy Hendrix look-alikes….

The start up acts included the lovely Charli XCX – dressed up in full Harajuku style, and the extravagant, sweet-voiced Jonny Woo…

Wow! What a speech! This is actually the first time to my recollection that a Western leader has come to Turkey and expressed interest and appreciation for Turkish culture and history as well as current issues. If people had doubts about Obama’s diplomatic endeavours, he has already done a whole lot more than ‘W’ did in his 8 years…

Yep, usually the Europeans come, strut about in their Louis 14th gait, look down and talk down, get wined, dined and then leave… Nor have I ever heard one of these other leaders live up to the shortcomings of their own nation – that takes real strength and courage to do. Nope, the others adorn their bejeweled cloak of ideals, and then are blinded by them.

Obama has shown us what global politics truly looks like. What a contrast to the tired old refrain of Sarkozy for example, “That the Turks are so culturally different… European Union … blah, blah, blah.” Well… Duh, Sarkozy, every culture except your own will be different than yours!

Obama has shown that in today’s globalising world, the tired old refrains from the past do not lead anywhere constructive. But is it fair to compare say Obama and Sarkozy – one a statesman, the other coasting along by virtue of the existing institutions – but without any deep insight into multi-culturalism, and the political challenges that globalisation is bringing. Probably not.

Obama is in a completely different league of politician and statesman.

Yes, the Russians are back!

Of course, I am talking about valves – in this case the Sovtek 12AX7WC – the cryo treated version.

The valve is definitely high gain – but you get a lot of high gain with comparatively little clip & distortion – producing a well-directed, strong, and punchy sound.

He’s finally here – President Obama arrived in the UK early this am – making it to number 10 Downing street for breakfast with ‘Gordy’ – along with a bunch of other officials. So I guess it was not a very private affair of wives & hubbies…

Ooops! Shevckenko just put in one for the Ukraine: it is 1-1 now…

OK, coming back to the matter at hand, I got a cup of green maté tea – tastes a lot like the Japanese Matcha variety – but a little more of a bitter taste.

Yes, we have really copped it – this time around. 8 years of ‘W’ has put us in for it – looks like it will be a tough ride for a while. Finance is essentially a scheme for transferring future wealth into the present. But the bastard Madoff’s & CEOs of the world, acting like, good ole’ fashioned dictators, found a way to scam us out of our future wealth – which they themselves have appropriated in the form of healthy bonuses. The irony of it is that, now we are forced to engage in public borrowing – which again means that we, or our children, will have to pay for it for years to come. The croooked bankers and CEOs ought to be jailed really…

So will Obama, ‘Gordy’, and the remainder of the pack find a way to eliminate the corporate and public corruption and lack of good governance that got us into this mess? I hope so.

Beckham! to Gerrard to Terry and it is… 2-1 England. I ll leave it at that!