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girlactionfigure · 8 months ago

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🔅ISRAEL REALTIME news update - after Shabbat updates

🔻HEZBOLLAH - Anti-tank missiles - at Mt. Dov IDF outpost.

🔻HEZBOLLAH - Rockets x 4 - at Dishon, Malkia, Ramot Naftali, Betzet, Shlomi, Menara, Margaliot, Meshgav Am, Kiryat Shmona, Hurfeish, Alkosh, Matat, Fassuta, Netua

🔻SHIA MILITIAS CLAIM.. suicide drone attack on “an Israeli intelligence base in the north of the Golan” and “the fuel terminal in Haifa”.

▪️HOSTAGES MURDERED.. Hamas announces the death of 4 hostages, another report says 7 hostages, held by them in Gaza Strip. One source lists the names Itzik Jarat, Alex Densig, Ronin Tommy Angel, Eliyahu Margalit. No confirmation or proof provided.

▪️CEASEFIRE LEAKS.. U.S. head of CIA arriving to the region in last ditch effort for a pre-Ramadan ceasefire.

.. Qatar threatens Hamas to expel senior officials from Qatar if they don’t convince the organization to agree to a deal. (Wall Street Journal)

The Mossad in a statement carried by the Prime Minister's Office says Hamas is "fortifying its position" with regard to a potential hostage deal, and instead is looking to "ignite the region during Ramadan."

▪️TERROR - CHOMESH.. Terrorists detonated an explosive device in Silat A-Dahar near Chomash, an Israeli was reported injured by the explosion, 2 more injured by gunfire. Palestinian Islamic Jihad claims responsibility.

▪️US PRESIDENT SAYS.. BIDEN: "I told him, Bibi — don't repeat this — you and I are going to have a come to Jesus meeting." HANDLER: Sir, you're on a hot mic. (For those who don’t know this American expression, it means he’s going to call him out strongly privately for his actions.)

▪️AID FIGHT.. exchange of fire in the last hour between the Hamas police and armed "bandits" who sought to loot aid trucks that entered Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip. Some of the trucks were looted when they reached the area near the Farouk Mosque in Nuseirat.

An aid truck ran over a Gazan to death, while he was trying to protect another truck driver who was attacked by Gazans (who wanted to loot the goods on the truck). Other truck drivers were beaten on the spot by the Gazans.

▪️MORE PARACHUTE MASSACRE.. Gazans report 8 killed by failed aid drops. The Jordanians claim the failure that killed Gazans by bombing by aid (aid parachutes failing) wasn’t Jordan’s fault, the US claims it wasn’t their fault. (( it’s the Jooooooos? )) A Gazan journalist claims: even today some of the parachutes of the aid packages did not open. It is not yet clear if there are more casualties among the Gazans.

Gazan, “the dishes are silly... we'd prefer a drop of a kilo of flour. This is better than the whole box of aid... this food is not good for us, we are the Arab... Palestinian people.... it is cat food for us... I exchanged the entire carton of aid with my brother in exchange for a kilo of flour. We want better assistance than this.” Others complain the instructions are not in Arabic.

▪️RED SEA HOUTHI ATTACKS.. US Central Command: Yesterday afternoon, the Houthis launched two ballistic missiles at a Singapore-owned ship. The missiles missed the ship. Early this morning the Houthis launched an attack in the Gulf of Aden area - the coalition forces and the US Navy intercepted 15 Houthi drones. The Houthis claim in an official announcement that they launched 37 drones.

🔸CEASEFIRE - Hamas’s terms basically seem to be ‘end the war, leave Gaza, release our mass murderers, and MAYBE we’ll return some hostages”. The U.S. has been PUSHING Israel very hard to come up to the edge of those terms, Israel gave a lot but it appears Hamas hasn’t budged.

Current analysis says Hamas is hoping to rile up the Arab world by keeping it going over Ramadan.

🔸JUDEA-SAMARIA (West Bank) - Hamas is already releasing Ramadan propaganda to hopefully rile up both the Arab public and the various militant groups in Judea-Samaria and hopefully cause serious attacks either into Jewish towns or into Israel proper. The IDF has been very active raiding militants in the major Arab cities for the past months, with counter-terror battles nightly - hopefully having suppressed and redirected the militants (if not outright capturing or killing them).

🔸LEBANON - increasing power tit-for-tat attacks continue, with the IDF bombing Hamas sites in southern Lebanon villages hourly, and Hezbollah firing rocket barrages of 20-60 rockets per round.

Rumor are Home Front Command wants to start a campaign to inform the public to PREPARE PREPARE PREPARE, but there is concern it will cause PANIC and possibly cause the enemy to react.

🔸GAZA - The IDF continues working through Khan Yunis neighborhoods and tunnels building by building. Hamas is primarily limited to the last Gaza Strip city of Rafah - which the IDF is somewhat leaving alone but is air striking Hamas leadership locations and operations locations, but warning to evacuate first in some cases. IDF attacks include blowing up buildings and, in some cases, neighborhoods when they’ve been used as attack platforms.

🔸HOSTAGES - Hamas says 7 were murdered. No reason, but also no evidence.

🔸AID - the aid story is getting weird. Aid protestors have successfully slowed aid, such that the US and Jordan (and others) are now air dropping aid - - which has had drop failures effectively bombing people with aid and killing them while claiming the failure is not them.

The Gazans are complaining about the air dropped aid: the instructions are in English, some is expired, it is not to their taste, the portions are too small, it’s cat food.

The US has said they are going to build an instant-port, to deliver aid by sea - and aid is prepping and loading on ships in Cyprus, but the US has also said they’re going to do this without US forces entering Gaza, by deploying 1,000 US soldiers to:

“Deploy a floating pier and causeway. The aid will be driven into Gaza by vetted U.S. partners and not American troops. The U.S. military will work to ensure proper security measures are in place on the ground and will take precautions to protect its troops offshore.”

Since security is the issue, with most aid trucks being attacked and looted or hijacked by Hamas, the goals seem impossible. And who are these ‘U.S. partners’ who are going to go into Gaza?

🔸PROPAGANDA - the new propaganda item is “Gaza children dying by dehydration” since “Gaza starvation” is starting to lose traction.

#Israel #Realtime War Updates #October 7 #Operation Swords of Iron #Hamas Massacre #Israel/HamasWar

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sgiandubh · 1 year ago

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Jottings: Season 7, Episode 5. Dinna fash, we'll sort it out

The proof is in the pudding: we don't really need to see J&C/S&C all the time on screen, to know an episode is still consistently good, in an overall unexpectedly great season, so far.

Side note: just how hypnotic Bear McCreary's Dance of the Druids must be, to immediately cut all ties to the real world, as you settle on the couch, larva style, with your ice cream (yes! again! B&J's Karamel Sutra Core - more appropriate for last week, but nobody's perfect)?

It would seem this time speed gave precedence to density and even gravitas, because neither war, nor self-assertiveness are jokes. The main theme of the mysteriously named Singapore seems to be the obvious cause and effect relationship between prejudice and miscommunication, or even lack thereof. It doesn't really matter if the year is 1777 or 1979: men will be men, women will be women and idiots will be idiots, regardless of gender or nationality. Tonight, for instance, an accomplished French idiot, which is ironic and a tad unfair to watch, seconds after Bastille Day (this comes from a place of deep love, familiarity and appreciation). But almost all of them will face authoritarian idiocy in this episode: I will let you discover (remember: nothing but minimal spoilers).

Still embarrassed for SS, whose vital signs seem to be on display only when she is a) crying and b) pissed off because of someone or something. For the pub scene with the gang of morons from the plant, she could have borrowed a wealth of JAMMF's expression tricks (for which S is the absolute ace) and I suspect she tried but, yet again, failed to persuade: the only thing that she seems remotely acquainted with is the smirk. And I will not insist on the torturous rendering of maternal love or domestic bliss. I feel merciful tonight and sometimes mercy is just about the same as oblivion (not a word about that vanishing panties scene, do you hear me?). Maybe this is also why RR still seems more relaxed, but perhaps also totally resigned about a situation that must be dealt and be done with a stiff upper lip, for the cause.

Product placement alert, with the Barbour wax jackets and shirts (long time client, here) prominently featured at Lallybroch. Nothing magic. This is a long-term partnership, maybe also S's contribution. Yes, Mordor, that peasant did it again!

A propos of the plant inspection, the tunnel scene sent powerful The Man in the High Castle vibes, from the set to the running through well, something, for lack of a better word. For those who have not seen this excellent series, here's a good Droughtlander plan. It's all about Jude Law and the Japanese guy; and also Philip K. Dick, one of my beloved science-fiction writers, truly a genius.

Spoiler: "You can thank that rotten stew". Ohai, Vandervaart, sweet summer child. Too fleeting a presence on my screen, yet you nailed your scene with Rachel Hunter, which I proclaim my favorite of this episode. The scenery helps, that pre-dawn murky, metallic light is perfect and you found the right balance between disgust, horror, an adrenaline high, fear, uncertainty and yes, unspoken (maybe even unconscious) attraction. Also, a masterful use of voice, pitch and breathing techniques - what's not to like?

A close second but enthusiastic kudos for Young Ian. John Bell is wonderful in his scene with C. which, again, gave me life imitates art vibes. And even more moving is the dense moment with the Cherokee/Scottish son, for I believe that endearing boy with a Fraser smile is Young Ian's.

These jottings are unable and unwilling to ignore S, very busy shaping Jamie's hero stature in short, effective appearances. Something we will probably see in full force next week, when I shall be out of town and not watching. Still, rejoice: the Jottings will be making it a double in two weeks.

#jottings

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southeastasianists · 7 months ago

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A set of tunnels puzzling Singapore, sparking numerous conspiracy theories about its origins since the late 20th century, has its mystery finally cracked. Located on Admiralty Road West and Marsiling Crescent, the World War II-era tunnels have remained hidden from sight since the British left Singapore.

Since the tunnels' discovery in the 2000s, multiple theories have been proposed about their origins. Some thought the tunnels led to Johor, or housed an underground facility for a nearby mental hospital. The most compelling theory was that the tunnel had been an underground oil storage facility built by the Asiatic Petroleum Company (APC) for a British Royal Navy base. A 1945 map showed the location of Woodlands North Depot, once operated by APC, on the exact location of the tunnels.

At an impressive 54 square kilometers, Her Majesty’s Naval Base occupied almost 10 percent of Singapore’s land size in the 1940s and was formerly the largest British military base in Asia. The former base is now home to Sembawang Park and Woodlands Waterfront Park.

While the evidence was compelling, the theory was slightly off. By obtaining information from disclosed documents, British Wartime Intelligence Reports, and the U.K.’s National Archives, Singapore’s National Heritage Board solved the mystery of the Marsiling Tunnels' true origin and purpose. They have been verified as a pre-WWII fuel reserve depot utilized by the Royal Air Force, not the British Royal Navy.

During their occupation of Singapore, the Imperial Japanese Army utilized the tunnels as an oil storage facility. According to a 1944 British intelligence report, the tunnels were renovated to have five large tanks, increasing their capacity by over 5,250 tons.

In 2014, on the 72nd anniversary of the Battle of Singapore, the tunnels opened to the public for the first time. The National Heritage Board offered guided tours to show how the British surrendered to Singapore to the Japanese. These tours also included important historical locations like Opium Hill and Tiong Bahru Air Raid Shelter. Today, most entrances have been sealed and are closed to the public, but a small entrance found by local explorers remains open.

#Southeast Asia #Singapore

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ohsalome · 2 years ago

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In 2022, Russia has redirected a significant portion of its energy exports to China and India.

Countries that have scaled back their trade with Russia most drastically include the U.S., the UK, Japan and Singapore. Germany continues to be the source of a large share of Russia’s imports despite significant reductions.

Sanctions have significantly reduced the trade between Russia and the US. By October 2022, Russia’s exports to the US had fallen by almost 50% compared to 2021. During the same period, US exports to Russia declined by $2.5 bln compared to the previous year.

The sanctions regime, closely coordinated by the US and EU, was able to disrupt the Kremlin’s direct access to western technology in the short term.

Russia established alternative routes fairly quickly with imports of dual-use and controlled commodities now exceeding pre-war levels.

Evasion routes can be detected with macro-data analysis, for example, by correlating the chronology of relevant events (e.g., the onset of Russia’s military assault on Ukraine in late February 2022, the western imposition of sanctions) with significant shifts in goods’ origin, volume supplied by trading partner, and their position as share of overall trade with Russia by each respective partner.

Our data shows that countries most actively facilitating circumvention of wartime sanctions by Russia include: China, Turkey, Cyprus and the UAE.

In 2022, China became Russia’s most important trade partner, receiving about 20% of Russia’s total exports and serving as the source of 35% of Russia’s total imports.

US sanctions have resulted in a significant decline in the monetary value of global transactions by designated Russian companies, but did not eliminate them.

Sanctions have not stopped Russia’s import of controlled and dual use high tech goods critical to its ability to wage war on Ukraine, such as UAV/parts and microprocessors/semiconductors.

UAV deliveries continued to Russia as late as November and December from UAE, Hong Kong, China, and Singapore.

Russia’s imports of microprocessors/semiconductors increased from $1.82 bln in 2021 to $2.45 bln in 2022 (for the year as a whole).

China has become Russia’s most important source of semiconductors and integrated circuits. In 2022, China, Hong Kong, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland led by dollar value of microchip sales to Russia; China, Hong Kong, Estonia, Turkey and Germany led by the number of transactions.

Despite sanctions, in 2022, Russia hit its highest current account surplus in history. The surplus in 2022 reached $227 billion, more than twice the previous record ($122 billion in 2021).

Russia has retained its access to vast amounts of foreign exchange, which has been critical to its ability to continue its war on Ukraine.

Sanctions have resulted in a 16% contraction of Russia’s imports in 2022 for the year as a whole.

The significant 35% contraction in the first few months of the war was followed by a recovery that we expect to be sustained in 2023.

Russia’s total exports increased by more than 30% between January-September 2022 over the corresponding period in 2021, driven mostly by oil and gas exports.

Since the start of the war, foreigners have paid Russia $190 bn for oil exports or $225 billion in the entirety of 2022 (comprising 11% of Russia’s GDP).

The delay in the EU embargo implementation and the G-7 price cap has weakened the effect of the EU embargo. For now, even data on Russian oil prices is limited. However, it appears Russian oil is selling already below the current price cap of $60

#russia #war in ukraine #world politics #sanctions #eu #china #germany #hong kong #turkey

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lethimfertilise · 6 months ago

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It was a really good and productive IFA conference. Regretfully, few European customers travelled to Singapore, but I am sure next year in Monaco they will make up for it.

My main highlights are:

1. We shall be back to pre-COVID/pre-war world consumption of fertilisers, close to 210 million tonnes per year, and possibly more, provided everything else goes well.

2. Market participants are paying more attention to water-soluble fertilisers, and it has become a hot topic of discussion.

3. Green energy, as well as green ammonia, green urea, and other green initiatives, are still at a very green stage.

4. The EU is more concerned with carbon credits than with production.

5. Urea has gained momentum, surprising many. Prices have increased by $35 per metric tonne in Egypt and $15-20 per metric tonne in Brazil. I still think a July correction is possible, but it will correct from higher levels.

Thanks, everyone, for the great communication, lots of laughs, and strong hugs.

We are a community!

P.S. A possible new motto for the industry, seen on the streets of Singapore.

#ifa2024 #imstory #fertilizers #fertilizers #singapore #eu #carbon #egypt #brazil #monaco

#agriculture #fertilizer #fertilization #urea #corn #usa #wheat #india #vessel #nola #ifa2024 #imstory #carbon

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kamenstranger · 8 months ago

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Godzilla Minus One Review: Conflicting emotions for a solid entry.

Oh boy, I can't wait to see the reaction this one gets.

This is one I was originally going to wait on reviewing when it hit Home video so I could have a fresher experience and do a more thorough covering of all that I wanted, not to mention screen grabs. I usually give much shorter reviews on theatrical release, but this one it didn't feel right to do that with. I did however see it more recently, so I figured it was finally time to gather my thoughts and finish this up.

If you want my non-spoiler thoughts, I think Minus One was a great time and one of the better Godzilla films. It is remarkably well made, with a solid structure that puts much higher budget films to shame with what it accomplishes. However I also don't believe the film takes advantage of its setting to properly explore some of complex themes and elements, nor do I believe it to be as deep as many critics have lauded. There are great emotional segments that work to ground the grandiose dread incurred by Godzilla. But I found the social commentary aspects rudimentary and entry level, even afraid to get truly mean, which I can only chalk up to nostalgic admiration for the era.

Now, if you wanna get more into my thoughts, hit the jump.

We follow Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki), a failed Kamikaze pilot who, near the end of the war, deferred to Odo Island rather than carry out his duty. There, his mortal fear results in the death of multiple other men when he is unable to take a shot at a (pre-mutated) creature the natives call Godzilla, with the only other survivor, technician Sōsaku Tachibana (Munetaka Aoki) blaming him for their needless deaths.

Riddled with survivors guilt and PTSD, Shikishima's life doesn't get any easier upon returning the burned out Tokyo, where he finds his home and family were destroyed in the fire bombing. A series of circumstances soon brings him together with Noriko Ōishi (Minami Hamabe) and the baby she rescued during the bombings, Akiko (Sae Nagatani, as a toddler), the two are taken in by Shikishima, although more so on Ōishi's choice than Shikishima's. Over the course of a couple of years, Shikishima manages to build something out of the rubble for himself, gaining employment with the Government as a Mine Sweeper aboard the Shinsei Maru. Here we're introduced to the rest of our supporting cast: Kenji "Doc" Noda (Hidetaka Yoshioka) a former Naval weapons developer; Capt. Yōji Akitsu (Kuranosuke Sasaki); and Shirō "Kid" Mizushima (Yuki Yamada) the only member not to see military service.

But soon the consequence of the US' Operations Crossroads test become apparent when the USS Redfish is sunk after pursuing an unidentified creature. Due to various geopolitical reasons, the US refuses to get anymore involved. Douglas MacArthur releases several Battleships back to the Japanese Government, who themselves remain coy to the public about the reality of the situation. The Minesweeper crew are sent near the Ogasawara to stall until the heavy Cruiser Tako makes its voyage back from Singapore. It's here where Shikishima realizes what the monster is.

Obviously, a glorified tugboat is less than ideal to go up against Godzilla, but one of two mines acquired for the mission manages to lodge into Godzilla's mouth, which upon exploding takes a chunk of its skull out, temporarily killing Godzilla before immediately regenerating. The crew are saved by the arrival of the Tako, which manages to knock Godzilla down, but it has less success than the mine; ultimately succumbing to Godzilla's Atomic Ray, but allowing the Maru to escape.

Days later, Godzilla breaks through Tokyo bay and into Ginza, laying waste to the district and attacking a train Ōishi is upon, who barely escapes. Shikishima rushes to the area and reunites with Ōishi, just as tanks engage with Godzilla, causing a retaliation with Atomic breath. Ōishi pushes Shikishima in an alley as she and other bystanders are swept up in the atomic winds, leaving Shikishima once again a lone survivor, as black rain pours down.

After Ōishi's funeral, Noda informs Shikishima of a civilian led plan to kill Godzilla, mostly formed with former naval veterans.

The plan is one of the more ingenious of the series. Two naval vessels will carry a line of Freon gas containers to entrap Godzilla over the Sagami Trough. The Freon will lower buoyancy and sink Godzilla 1,500m+ deep, presumably crushing it under the pressure. As a plan B, inflation devices will be deployed to induce rapid decompression.

Shikishima proposes getting a hold of a fighter plane to help lure Godzilla, although his actual intentions are making use of a kamikaze attack right into the mouth as a plan C. However all planes were decommissioned after the war. The one exception Noda finds being a prototype Kyushu J7W Shinden in massive disrepair. Thus, Shikishima begins the arduous task of specifically tracking down Tachibana, getting a black-eye for his trouble. Still, Tachibana arrives nonetheless and gets to work on the aircraft, while Shikishima prepares to leave Akiko in the care of his neighbor.

Things do not go according to Plan. While Godzilla sinks, it has no adverse effect. Plan B in enacted, but at 800 meters Godzilla stops ascending, having torn through the inflation devices. The ships aren't strong enough to pull Godzilla manually, but thankfully help arrives in the form of Mizushima and a fleet of tug boats. Together they manage to force Godzilla to the surface, badly damaged, but not enough. The Kaiju begins charging an atomic assault when Shikishima speeds in, flying directly into the mouth, exploding the head. The Atomic charge, with no where to go, tears through Godzilla's body, destroying it.

In the air, Shikishima descends from a parachute, thanks to Tachibana installing an ejection seat and encouraging him to let go and live.

Upon returning to land, Shikishima learns of Ōishi's survival and reunites with her badly bandaged, but alive and surprisingly intact self. Tearfully hugging, as a mysterious black mark spreads across her neck.

Deep in the ocean, Godzilla's remains sink further down, and begin regenerating.

We will be talking about the story elements here in a bit, but first I wanna front-load this with more praise before tackling that beast.

First off, a lot of attention has been given towards the CG, something which at the time of this writing has garnered an Oscar. A common clickbait buzz article around the film is "Better than Hollywood." In spite if that gaudy terminology, it's not something I disagree with. Some of the vehicle models are rougher and honestly not much different than what was seen in Shin. But Godzilla and the water are incredible. In fact, Yamazaki was so enamored with the fidelity that he rewrote the climax to be in the ocean, a choice I fully agree with. Although I am curious what the original entailed.

But while the CG quality is quite literally Oscar worthy, I think it's worth examining that it's not just a matter of graphics, but presentation. Takashi Yamazaki is above all else a talented director who knows how to make a scene exciting, capable of envisioning the finished product and what is needed every step of the way. This is by far the greatest strength of the film. Almost every scene is approached asking how to best showcase it, which is accomplished in flying colors. Suffice to say, every instance with Godzilla is harrowing and breathtaking, having quite possibly the scariest moments in the franchises 70+ year history. The attack on Ginza is largely filled with recreations from '54, but they are incredibly well done, and the original bits are worthy of the upmost praise; I cannot stress how truly great the boat chase is. Not only is it one of the best moments of the film, but it's also a demonstration of Yamazaki incorporating influences in a more original and less derivative manner compared to some previous efforts.

That said, for long time fans there are a plethora of visual nods to past material. From Gojirasaurus, to the Atomic build up in '14, a foggy blue atomic haze like in '54 and '62, Godzilla's eventual demise is reminiscent of GMK, even the model lacks muscle simulation to make it stiffer and more suit like. There are also numerous other details, my favorite of which is that Godzilla's Atomic ray causes self inflicted damage, and you will always see Godzilla's mouth healing afterwards, particularly the left side. Little touches like that go a long way for me.

Likewise, the score is impeccable. Akira Ifukube's legendary Godzilla March returns, arranged by Naoki Satō along with a few tracks from King Kong vs. Godzilla and Mothra vs. Godzilla as a new Suite. The theme is not over used, only appearing twice maybe three times in the film, plus a pre-credits scene, all very appropriate usages. Meanwhile, Naoki Satō's original score is a wonderful mixture of understated-- even atmospheric pieces, and a grandiose haunting apocalyptic orchestra. He utilizes these long drones that invoke naval horns, prop aircraft, and air-raid sirens that blend into each other. What might sound like a siren slowly builds, becoming more prolonged and pitched until it's suddenly an aircraft in a nose dive. Really spectacular stuff.

By far the stand out pieces of the Score are "Divine" and "Promise" (A leitmotif of the former) You likely heard these in the trailers, and with good reason. They are a befitting crescendo to Godzilla's rein of biblical destruction, ones that I have listened to repeatedly.

But while I do have a lot of praise for the audio visual aspects, we also need to delve a bit deeper into the story beyond just the basic plot points. And it's here where I think Minus One is at its most interesting, and also where I'm most critical. The reasons why being more thematic than structural.

In the lead up to Minus One's theatrical release there were rumblings on what exactly sort of picture the film would be thematically. Writer/Director/SFX Supervisor, Takashi Yamazaki, has a semi notorious reputation for doing conservative leaning, and to some, borderline propagandist films. That might come as a surprise if you only know his work on animated features, but he's also had his hand in many period pieces set from the 30s to 50s, mostly adaptive works like Sunset on Third Street, and The Great War of Archimedes. All this lead to speculation that Minus One could be this nationalistic throwback to imperial sentimentality. Was this simply going to be a film in which the shame of a failed kamikaze pilot finds new purpose through overcoming Godzilla to gain a win after the war; was Godzilla going to be a metaphor for not accomplishing a task in war leading a much larger and harder to kill atomic monster i.e. "the enemy" etc. etc.

The answer is more complicated than a straight yes or no. On the surface, Minus one seems like a film that could go down either the nationalist rabbit hole, or an opportunity for the nuanced exploratory personal growth of a broken veteran fighting to build a better future. At face value this isn't a problem, and there are clearly elements which work in favor of the latter. But I think it's fair to say they're never fully examined. Indeed, omission and glossing over if not outright ignoring certain key topics is the most concerning part of the film, rather than anything blatant.

Yamazaki has this… bizarre obsession with nostalgia. It falls into an unhealthy combination of adoring the past simply for being the past, acknowledging that maybe there were bad things, but mainly rose tinting everything while cutting out the really bad stuff.

Quite honestly, I do think the film suffers due to those eccentricities. The film wants to be a story about our protagonist struggling alongside others also disenfranchised by the conflict, with Godzilla being a simple distillation of those challenges and a reminder of our protagonist's failure. Yet the film doesn't begin to scratch the surface of the subject material it's pulling from, nor does it allow the audience to pontificate on them. Minus One wants to be seen in the same sociopolitical light as the original '54, or at least as Shin. Yet it never reckons with the reality of the war and post war beyond very mild criticisms of leadership and Shikishima's own guilt.

I want to highlight two key points of this tangent: Yamazaki's creative talent/weakness, and the film's aforementioned criticism of Japanese leadership. The former is relatively straightforward, Yamazaki is talented. Whatever there is to say about the man, he's competent in the grammar of film, and a particularly brilliant visual story teller. While I am ragging on the film's story and narrative themes-- they're not badly told. It's a solid 3 act structure and presentation is for the most part really good. Shikishima is a compelling character who has an interesting chip on his shoulder with survivors guilt. There's a captivating set up about personal shame and a recognition of how pointless the loss of life was, only to be faced with more hardships after the war. That is a fantastic angle to start off with. Minus One also does something that I felt was lacking in Shin Godzilla, which is not sanitizing the loss of life by avoiding depictions of it. You never saw the human cost in Shin Godzilla, as the movie focused so much on the economic impact without a harsh contrast to the dry satire. But here? Carnage is on full display and used appropriately, contrasted with the more personal story of our protagonist who is just one of thousands suffering.

But this movie isn't in isolation; its scenes are not in isolation. I have to look at it as a whole and all that entails. While the story itself is not badly told, you can see weakness in the writing from the supporting characters. They're not bad, in fact I enjoy the cast, but they're not really people so much as archetypes. The elder, the smart guy, the green horn, the love interest. Characters who exist more to support Shikishima and give him drive, but that's kinda it. Noriko gets it the worst as her main purpose in the narrative to simply be ripped away from the protagonist as a driving force. The saving grace is she isn't fridged, and Minami Hamabe gives one hell of a performance for a character that's predominately "wife type". But goddamn does she make the emotional scenes she gets stand out, particularly Shikishima's breakdown and admission to the Oda Island incident. She also sells the hell out of the train sequence.

Regardless, the above is indicative of a wider issue with the side characters, and that's a refusal to simmer on most sources of conflict without immediate resolution or abandonment for our Protagonist's sake. For example, Shikishima's neighbor, Sumiko Ōta (Sakura Ando), blames him for the death of her children, that people like him was why the war was lost. Not 5 minutes later we get a scene of her taunting Shikishima for helping Noriko and Akiko, and how she's done caring about others; only to immediately give food when she realizes Noriko can't breastfeed the baby. On paper, I like this. That even the bitter and misanthropic can still have heart. But it speed runs through that conflict, and because of the time skips, we just have to accept that they're on great terms two years on, even babysitting Akiko. (As an aside, it also sucks there are only two women with speaking roles and both have their rougher edges rounded off in the first 20 minutes.) It goes beyond simply being hopeful in the face of nihilism and frankly into a degree of ignorance needed to service a plot. With the one exception outside Shikishima maybe being Tachibana, most characters aren't allowed to be complicated people. We just have vague uncaring monoliths like Government.

This brings me to the films criticism of Japan's leadership.

At a glance, it might seem like the film will engage with at least some the country's horrific wartime excursions… and it just doesn't go beyond the leaders sucking. The most we get is Noda going off about how Tanks lacked appropriate armor, the lack of ejection seats in aircraft, poor supply lines, the general disregard of Japanese lives, etc. And that sequence is mainly there just to foreshadow the climax with that mention of the ejection seat. But it's also interesting how this is as far as critiquing the war itself goes.

A common rhetoric among even the most nationalist of Japan's conservatives is that leadership during the war was bad. Not that the goals were wrong, just the fact that they hindered the war effort. It's a clever way to seem like you're being critical of the war without bringing up the rape camps or mass murdering of innocents. You get to celebrate and mourn the service men as martyrs, while condemning the higher ups for failing in strategy and equipment. This is clever, because I don't believe most people would pick up on this element. This isn't "waving an imperial flag and screaming at Korean students at school" sort of messaging. This is actually closer to what a lot of confederate apologist employ as a tactic by portraying more sympathetic scenarios. A not necessarily disagreeable humanization of the soldiers who got a shitty deal, but one that also selectively cuts around the most unsavory elements. They'll highlight the humanity of veterans wholesale, but not condemn let alone mention their role in anyone else's suffering. Lament the firebombing of Tokyo, but ignore the lives ruined by Unit 731, Rape of Nanjing, and Three Alls Policy.

Because the film never pushes super hard on the Government criticism, the above can be read as applicable to Minus One for their absence. I believe a more nuanced film would explore at least some of those aspects, be capable of self reflection while making much harsher critiques of the Japanese Government during and after the war to avoid such comparisons. Not to mention the Allies who, let's face it, cared more about their colonies being fucked over than the atrocities. Hell, the head officers of Unit 731 weren't even prosecuted for war crimes in exchange for their research.

But that isn't the point. We're here to focus on the suffering Japanese, but only in nebulous ways that may mention the food shortages in post war, or Government imposed gag orders, but we never explore them with any sort of befitting gravitas.

The narrative wants you to think-- but not too much. Don't think about the events that lead here, definitely don't think about war crimes, and certainly don't think about those occupying US forces.

To me, that last one is the most egregious of all because it was the most inescapable subject of post war Japan, an occupation that infested every single aspect of daily life for 7 years. They just gloss right over it. It's not even a visual or narrative background element, and the occupying forces never engage with Godzilla because of Cold War tensions with the Soviets.

This isn't to say that the film has to get into every facet of its setting or subject. 2001's GMK featured a Godzilla reincarnated from the souls of WWII victims, enraged that Modern day Japan has forgotten both its crimes and the horrors of the bomb. But that's just a part of what is by in large a monster brawl movie in a contemporary setting.

I then have to ask why GMO is predominantly set just 2 years after the war if they're simply going to ignore swaths of the real history of the era? It's practically negligent, even revisionist. That flagrant disregard towards very real events is done repeatedly throughout. There's a heavy emphasis on the uselessness of the post war Japanese Government, but like the occupation, it's milquetoast at best and largely used as an excuse for a civilian led effort to kill Godzilla.

All this paints a bizarre picture of a post war Tokyo as being a rough shanty town, but also full of resourceful quirky citizens able to build a living if they work hard; blissfully free from an Occupation that will force you into a union, then bust it when there's a dispute because Unions are for commies.

This is a reoccurring issue in Yamashiki's works. He often sugar coats the most damning elements and has a tendency to become overly mawkish towards the main characters and the era they reside, regardless of whatever struggles are present. There will be one or two lines that address some serious shit, but just as quickly moved past. That's fine for a Doraemon story, but it becomes pervasive in a post war PTSD picture. It gives the impression that the absence is intentional, as is often the case with toxic nostalgia. Because if one suddenly views an era as all encompassing, if you have to think of people and events as complex, nuanced, or imperfect, then you might have to confront some really challenging ideas that get in the way of one's philosophy in wanking to the good 'ol days.

Remember the past, but only the parts that matter for convenience.

But, let's be fair about this. Minus One was a very low budget film, barely 12 Million USD, if that, but certainly less than $15 mil. That puts it in the same range as something like M3GAN, which makes me question what the hell was going on with the VFX department. Still, it's worth examining that budget is a legit reason to not tackle the subject of occupation. If you can't afford a bunch of foreigners, why bother in the first place? Besides, Shin Godzilla showed that trying to direct people in a language you might not understand, and who might not understand you, can be painfully awkward. So just figure out a way to write them out, and they did. Hell, according to Yamazaki, Toho wouldn't even let him do pick-up shots, so that's pretty damn restrictive.

The other reason is narrative focus. Those aforementioned subjects arguably wouldn't play much of a role within this story. Would a story that incorporates them be more interesting? Potentially. They could also just as easily be poorly handled or bog down the journey our protagonist goes through. This is squarely Kōichi Shikishima's tale of survivors guilt, to the extent that money, shelter, and food are largely waved away in time skips. Instead, this is how the war never ended for people like him and Tachibana, how the death of those men haunt them. While that could easily lead to a fairly dark and cliched "Do we get to win this time?" narrative, I think the film handles it well enough, particularly in that Shikishima doesn't commit a suicide run. I will admit not everything is perfect even here; the handling of his PTSD ranges from one of the best scenes in the film as a nightmare, to clunky, even bordering on outright comical in one instance. Still, the film mainly hits most of the major marks for his journey in a well told fashion. We have really great initial set up showcasing his personality and the start of this troubles; he finds purposes in post war Japan; builds a modest living; 40 minutes in we establish a weakness for Godzilla; Shikishima slowly begins to accept that he should be happy despite the ghosts still haunting his dreams; right at the one hour mark he has that optimism crushed by Godzilla in a gut wrenching sequence in Ginza; he's brought to his lowest point; sets out upon revenge no matter the cost; gets told to live his life by Tachibana himself; defeats the physical manifestation of his demons; is rewarded with a family and is able to finally leave the war behind.

As is, Minus One is a tight little package of a story that breezes past its 2 hour run time and never drags nor feels overly rushed. Whatever grievances I have with the supporting characters and setting, the broad strokes work very well. And I think you could make an argument that having a strong focus on a central character and their one major struggle is far better than trying to balance three characters who don't have defining characteristics. Minus One knows what it wants out of the protagonist and it hits the mark perfectly, even I don't think it's quite as deep a others have made it out to be. But it bears mentioning that it's still a success. I have and will remember Shikishima and his story far more than, well, most Kaiju film protagonists.

This then leaves us with the ending, which culminates in this "unite and overcome hardships" angle, ostensibly doing what Shin Godzilla did. But whereas Shin critiqued red tape and bureaucratic apathy from its leaders and an overbearing U.S., all while showing a willingness to work with other nations as equals; Minus One sort of implies that the Japanese population can defeat any monster if they are truly united. Which can be concerning given everything else we've discussed up to this point about dog whistles. In any other circumstance I would give a great benefit of the doubt to this narrative morsel. This could easily be a story of citizens coming together to solve problems the useless ass Government refuses to and it be as simple as that.

But knowing Takashi Yamazaki's previous work includes Eternal Zero, based on the book by war crime denier Hyakuta Naoki, and adapted without a hint of Verhoven-esque satire, well, it's hard not to scrutinize the intent in any of Yamazaki's films.

That's the crux of all this. Because a lot of elements in Minus One could be interpreted as the complete opposite of a nationalist message, and the vast majority of people have viewed it as such. I also can see this as Shikishima and others as symbolically defeating the manifestation of the atomic monster, overcoming the lingering horror that destroyed their nation in the hopes of making a better tomorrow. That despite an apathetic Government and nuking, the people can unite and rebuild from the ashes, no matter how many times they're knocked down. It's inspirational on a very basic level that carries with it a real human connection.

I would, under most instances, say it's a shame that the film doesn't fully utilize the setting; yet despite some shortcomings preventing its full potential, the film remains an enjoyable ride about learning to find family and live again, with some incredible direction and spectacle. After being bombarded with a glutton of disposable cookie cutter blockbusters with indistinguishable directors, it is refreshing just to see something earnest with some actual vision that fits the bill of "Summer Blockbuster" in a way Hollywood has more often than not failed at in recent years.

But given the director's history with brushing off real world issues for his period films, and callous disregard in approaching the work of real monsters, I can't say with a hundred percent certain there's an inherent innocence to all the choices being made.

The most charitable view point I can give is that Yamazaki is a talented visual artist blinded by sentimentality for a past that never existed; limited by his inability to portray a hopeful message while still interrogating Japanese historical subjects with the mature, honest, and critical fashion that they deserve.

Alternatively, he's incredibly disingenuous, with a truly insidious and reprehensible ideology that is barely covered by a veneer of fetishistic whimsy that softens the realities of an era he wasn't even alive in.

Do I think that he's potentially the next Hajime Isayama? Until he says some truly fucked up shit, I think that's out of the question and should not be entertained with speculation. Besides, most people have a hard time keeping their mouth shut about stuff like that. They get drunk and rant about x group or make t-shirts quoting dictators after committing fraud... But I also wouldn't be chocked if that did happen.

My intention is to make aware the thematic elements likely overlooked by those not in the know, and highlight what I believe to be, at the very least, a creative weakness. I stand by the statement that Yamazaki's likes his rose-tintend glasses a bit too much. I see a lot of potential in him, a lot of skill shining beyond his ignorant nostalgic tendencies that, if tempered, could result in a brilliant seasoned filmmaker. All the same, I don't believe you can employ the degree of ambiguity Minus One does with it's refusal to adequately engage with heavy subject material and not create a pervasive feeling of unease around the intent behind that decision.

It's not exactly what I was expecting going into Minus One. I thought, at worst, my criticism would lie with some slightly lackluster writing-- similar to another of Yamazaki's films: Lupin III:The First. Well directed, stunning work by the CG department; but story wise is too busy trying to capture the essence of other iconic works to forge it's own path, with confusing characterization masquerading as nuance. Instead, I got all this other shit.

Despite how it may seem, I'm not going to tell you that Minus One is a bad movie. It's flawed in many ways that I realize isn't the popular opinion. I didn't find it the great introspective ride many have made it out to be, but rather a popcorn flick's facsimile of depth. But there are still merits to that. It's solidly made, and it accomplishes more than a lot of higher budget films have.

Do I think you should watch it? Absolutely. I'm not going to tell you not because I think there are elements that are questionable, it's not like Yamazaki is knowingly donating to hate groups like some other creatives. However, I think it's a film which you should be very much aware of the real world topics downplayed if not outright cut around. You should be aware of the director's history of doing that very thing for much of his filmography. Once you become aware of what to look for, it's impossible not to see glaring absences in every direction.

I'm going to link several other articles below that I found compelling and immensely helpful for this review. I typically avoid other reviews to not influence my own thoughts, but I probably would've thought I was crazy in my admittedly simple analysis had I not seen others sharing in my feelings. If you'd like some further reading on Minus One and some light history of Post War Japan, definitely check them out.

Tokyo Correspondence One THE ANTI-GODZILLA By Kaisa Saarinen

Godzilla -1 Held back by misguided and trouble Nostalgia. By words Maybe Some Thoughts on Godzilla By A. Pratt.

Godzilla Minus One By Esmé Holden

#tokusatsu #review #kaiju #toho #Godzilla #gojira #godzilla minus one #minus 1 #-1

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yashvitours · 10 months ago

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Vietnam Travel Guide for Indians

Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country that boasts of a rich history, culture, and natural beauty. It is a popular destination for Indian tourists who want to experience a different and diverse side of Asia. Whether you are looking for adventure, relaxation, or exploration, Vietnam has something for everyone. In this blog post, we will give you some tips and suggestions on how to plan your trip to Vietnam, and what to see and do there.

How to Travel from India to Vietnam?

There are no direct flights from India to Vietnam, so you will have to take a connecting flight via Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Hong Kong. The flight duration will vary depending on the route and the layover time, but it will usually take around 7 to 10 hours. The average cost of a round-trip flight ticket from India to Vietnam is around Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 30,000, depending on the season and the airline.

You will also need a visa to enter Vietnam, which you can apply for online or at the Vietnamese embassy in India. The online visa is valid for 30 days and costs around Rs. 1,500. The embassy visa is valid for 90 days and costs around Rs. 3,000. You will need to submit your passport, passport-sized photos, flight tickets, hotel bookings, and a visa application form. You can also opt for a visa on arrival, which is available at certain airports in Vietnam, but you will need to get a pre-approval letter from a travel agency or a visa service provider before you travel.

What to See and Do in Vietnam?

Vietnam is a country that offers a variety of attractions and activities for all kinds of travelers. Here are some of the highlights that you should not miss:

•Hanoi: The capital city of Vietnam, Hanoi is a blend of old and new, where you can see the French colonial architecture, the ancient temples, and the modern skyscrapers. You can visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Hoan Kiem Lake, and the Old Quarter, where you can shop, eat, and explore the local culture.

•Halong Bay: One of the most scenic and iconic places in Vietnam, Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that features thousands of limestone islands and islets, some of which have caves, beaches, and forests. You can take a cruise, kayak, or swim in the emerald waters, and enjoy the stunning views of the bay.

•Sapa: A mountainous town in the north of Vietnam, Sapa is known for its terraced rice fields, ethnic minority villages, and trekking opportunities. You can hike, bike, or take a cable car to the Fansipan Mountain, the highest peak in Indochina, and admire the panoramic views of the valley. You can also interact with the local people, who belong to various tribes such as the Hmong, the Dao, and the Tay, and learn about their culture and traditions.

•Hoi An: A charming and historic town in the central coast of Vietnam, Hoi An is famous for its well-preserved ancient town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can stroll along the lantern-lit streets, visit the old houses, temples, and bridges, and sample the delicious cuisine. You can also shop for souvenirs, clothes, and accessories, as Hoi An is known for its tailors and artisans.

•Ho Chi Minh City: The largest and most cosmopolitan city in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is a hub of culture, commerce, and entertainment. You can see the landmarks such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum, and the Ben Thanh Market. You can also enjoy the nightlife, the shopping, and the street food in the city.

•Mekong Delta: The southernmost region of Vietnam, the Mekong Delta is a vast area of rivers, canals, islands, and farms, where you can experience the rural and authentic life of Vietnam. You can take a boat tour, visit the floating markets, fruit orchards, and villages, and taste the local specialties such as the coconut candy, the honey tea, and the elephant ear fish.

Tips and Advice for Traveling to Vietnam

To make your trip to Vietnam more enjoyable and hassle-free, here are some tips and advice that you should keep in mind:

•The best time to visit Vietnam is from November to April, when the weather is dry and pleasant. The rainy season is from May to October, when the weather is hot and humid, and there may be typhoons and floods in some areas.

•The currency of Vietnam is the Vietnamese dong (VND), which is around Rs. 0.0032. You can exchange your money at the airport, banks, hotels, or authorized money changers. You can also use your credit or debit cards at some places, but it is advisable to carry some cash with you, especially in rural areas.

•The official language of Vietnam is Vietnamese, which is a tonal and complex language. However, you can also find some people who speak English, especially in the tourist areas. You can also learn some basic phrases and words in Vietnamese, such as hello (xin chao), thank you (cam on), and how much (bao nhieu).

•The food of Vietnam is diverse, delicious, and healthy, with influences from China, France, and other neighboring countries. Some of the dishes that you should try are pho (noodle soup), banh mi (baguette sandwich), spring rolls, bun cha (grilled pork and noodles), and ca phe sua da (iced coffee with condensed milk).

•The culture of Vietnam is rich and varied, with elements from Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. You should respect the local customs and etiquette, such as removing your shoes before entering a temple or a house, dressing modestly, and not touching someone’s head or pointing with your feet. You should also bargain politely, tip generously, and smile often.

How to Book Your Trip to Vietnam with Yashvi Tours and Travels

If you are interested in visiting Vietnam, you can book your trip with Yashvi Tours and Travels, the best travel agency for Indian tourists. We offer:

•Customized and affordable packages, with options for flights, hotels, transfers, sightseeing, and meals.

•Expert and friendly guides, who speak English and Hindi, and who will assist you throughout your trip.

•Safe and comfortable transportation, with air-conditioned vehicles and drivers.

•24/7 customer support, with a dedicated helpline and email address for any queries or issues.

To book your trip to Vietnam with Yashvi Tours and Travels, you can visit our website to get a free quote and consultation.

Article Source : https://www.yashvitours.com/vietnam-travel-guide-for-indians/

#VietnamTravel #TravelVietnam #VietnamExploration #tourandtravelsagency #yashvitours

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icherishyou · 11 months ago

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wed, 3 jan 2024

after 3 days transferring and backing up my 2023 photos, I finally made it. I separate them all based on month, and every month is divided between Xiaomi, iCloud, and WhatsApp pictures. what a work. because of that, I'm a bit late to write about my 2023 recap, to upload my 2023 recap video on TikTok, and haven't written anything to review my latest book I read. but that's fine, let's catch up now by starting writing my 2023 recap.

I will never feel tired saying my 2023 was full of blessings. every month I had at least one reason to be grateful for, a story to remember, and a lesson to learn.

january I remember my hand was full of dreams that day. I wanted to start writing again, productive again, online-selling again, looking for a full-time job again, and working on my thesis again. even on that first day of 2023 I spent many hours writing my first review about the book I currently read that month. I also had a long list of interviews ahead as well as started to create a catalog for my shop which was still clueless about the branding.

february one of my friends told me about a program from a local company which helps us to improve our hard skills. and for the first time I finally figured out what I want to be as my career: SEO writer. so I took that certification class (but also ambitious enough to dream about the final round even though I didn't make it). this month I was also too busy fitting outfits for my brother's wedding.

march this month was my brother's wedding but all of the needs had been completed last month, so no worries. I just felt this month so hectic because a lot of activity related to my thesis (a lot of revision) and maniac shopping for make ups and skin cares during surabayaXbeauty event (which was my first time, and I met local beauty influencer). I also found out that the product I tried to sell wasn't a big enough hit, so I decided to sell preloved books which were working! I did understand how hard it is to be a seller because I had to find the cheapest supplier to sell the product at a normal price but still with good profit. the SEO class I took was already on the edge and they gave us an examination AND I PASSED IT AT THE FIRST TRY! Alhamdulillah hehehe...

april I lost my grandma this month, right at ied day. I was totally fine about it since I saw my grandma had lost interest in living because his dear son had passed before her. and I totally get it. we had multiple trips (in-state destination only) for the rest of the month since there was a lot of holiday. and I stopped selling preloved books because I need to focus on my thesis.

may there wasn't a lot happening during this month, but I finally tried to lash-lift my eyelash which was so cool! and the end of this month, my supervisor told me to go for my first seminar which was the best feeling I was waiting for all this time!

june I DID MY FIRST SEMINAR and felt half of my burden had gone! I was so near the finish line! for self-rewarding, I went to the fish market and timezone with my brother.

july can you believe I did my second and third seminar this month back to back? everything felt so hard and fast and tired but Alhamdulillah all of my weight had been lifted. I unofficially finished my master degree. this month was also supposed to be a war for the Taylor Swift Eras concert in Singapore, but I didn't survive the great war. sad but never mind, at least I finished my degree hehehehe....

august I had my fourth seminar this month, a really international seminar with a lot of international students. because of this seminar, I almost left my pre-graduation activity because the schedule wasn't aligned. but I'm glad I made it both. AND THIS IS THE BEST PART! I think from that seminar, I finally had a crush, and he (with another boy) reached out to me right after the seminar! OMG it has been a long time since I have felt butterflies.

september one of my online friends came to Surabaya to visit me right before my graduation (YES MY GRADUATION IS THIS MONTH ALHAMDULILLAH!). I took her around Surabaya, and she kept complaining about how hot the weather of Surabaya is. I couldn't blame her. I also got my first nail art this month hehehe...

october I got a visitation from my international friend whom I met last august. so after I hung out with kak tika, I visited her in her hotel. I spent a lot of my social energy! last month, right after graduation I got an interview invitation for volunteering in a Coldplay Jakarta concert, and I just got accepted Alhamdulillah! I also got a wedding invitation from one of my friend I met during international seminar last august, and guess what, IT WAS MY OPPORTUNITY TO MEET MY CRUSH BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE SAME CITY AND HE GOT INVITED OMG CAN'T WAIT TO SPEND FEW DAYS WITH HIM AAAA!!!!! I went to Bandung at the end of this month for my friend's graduation. actually my other international friend was visiting Bandung as well and we planned to meet, but I didn't make it since her schedule was different from my friend's graduation schedule.

november I went to Malang for my brother's graduation, and I just got sick, physically and mentally exhausted. I felt so tired and was thinking of canceling Coldplay Jakarta volunteering. BUT RIGHT AFTER I CANCEL EVERYTHING (train back and forth & room), another volunteer just told me we would get free entry and I had to rebook everything with doubled price SAD! this month was also my birthday, where I got a Taylor Swift Eras Tour movie ticket and a big cake as a gift from my brother. I'M BEYOND HAPPY AND GRATEFUL! I flew to Malay for the trip I had planned before. I met 2 guys from an international seminar last august. the first guy I met, he really knew how to treat girls like me. after 2 days in this 1st guy town, I flew to the second guy town which is my crush OMG OMG OMG!!!

december MY CRUSH HAS A GIRLFRIEND WTH WHY HE TOLD ME SHE IS HIS FRIEND AND I KNEW IT FROM OTHER PERSON! OMG MY FIRST HEARTBREAK THIS YEAR. this feels like Elle Woods' disappointment right after she figured out Warner had engaged while she was in Law School just for him. like, he was my crush yesterday but it faded now in a blink of an eye. but his gf is just so pretty, older than me, and just incomparable. OMG I WAS FEELING SO BLUE! but I still have a lot of things to be grateful for, I got accepted as a lecturer after a long process of recruitment for example. also, we had family trip for new year in another state hehehe... Alhamdulillah because Allah had given me a chance to be happy among the blues.

see... there were a lot of things that happened during my 2023. and I have some list of people I'm grateful for during my 2023 because they have contributed themselves to my life.

-Casp, for telling me about Loklok -Darm, for telling me about Undercover game -Radh, for telling me to keep writing and journaling -Kak Tik for telling me about the job I am gaining now -Kak Ro for bringing me manicure pedicure for the first time -Kak Tiq who makes me realize beauty is to fight for -Akil & Kak Thir for telling me to see good side of everything -Akil (again) for making me feel so loved -Mand & Silv for giving me first nail art

I see a lot of chances I can do and gain for my 2024. I hope 2024 will be brighter and better. May Allah ease everything we have planned. Ameen...

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brookstonalmanac · 1 year ago

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Events 12.3 (after 1940)

1944 – Greek Civil War: Fighting breaks out in Athens between the ELAS and government forces supported by the British Army. 1959 – The current flag of Singapore is adopted, six months after Singapore became self-governing within the British Empire. 1960 – The musical Camelot debuts at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway. It will become associated with the Kennedy administration. 1967 – At Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, a transplant team headed by Christiaan Barnard carries out the first heart transplant on a human (53-year-old Louis Washkansky). 1971 – Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: Pakistan launches a pre-emptive strike against India and a full-scale war begins. 1972 – Spantax Flight 275 crashes during takeoff from Tenerife North–Ciudad de La Laguna Airport, killing all 155 people on board. 1973 – Pioneer program: Pioneer 10 sends back the first close-up images of Jupiter. 1979 – In Cincinnati, 11 fans are suffocated in a crush for seats on the concourse outside Riverfront Coliseum before a Who concert. 1979 – Iranian Revolution: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the first Supreme Leader of Iran. 1982 – A soil sample is taken from Times Beach, Missouri, that will be found to contain 300 times the safe level of dioxin. 1984 – Bhopal disaster: A methyl isocyanate leak from a Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, kills more than 3,800 people outright and injures 150,000–600,000 others (some 6,000 of whom later died from their injuries) in one of the worst industrial disasters in history. 1989 – In a meeting off the coast of Malta, U.S. President George H. W. Bush and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev release statements indicating that the Cold War between NATO and the Warsaw Pact may be coming to an end. 1992 – The Greek oil tanker Aegean Sea, carrying 80,000 tonnes of crude oil, runs aground in a storm while approaching A Coruña, Spain, and spills much of its cargo. 1992 – A test engineer for Sema Group uses a personal computer to send the world's first text message via the Vodafone network to the phone of a colleague. 1994 – Taiwan holds its first full local elections; James Soong elected as the first and only directly elected Governor of Taiwan, Chen Shui-bian became the first directly elected Mayor of Taipei, Wu Den-yih became the first directly elected Mayor of Kaohsiung. 1995 – Cameroon Airlines Flight 3701 crashes on approach to Douala International Airport in Douala, Cameroon, killing 71 of the 76 people on board. 1997 – In Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, representatives from 121 countries sign the Ottawa Treaty prohibiting manufacture and deployment of anti-personnel landmines. The United States, People's Republic of China, and Russia do not sign the treaty, however. 1999 – NASA loses radio contact with the Mars Polar Lander moments before the spacecraft enters the Martian atmosphere. 2005 – XCOR Aerospace makes the first crewed rocket aircraft delivery of U.S. Mail in Kern County, California. 2007 – Winter storms cause the Chehalis River to flood many cities in Lewis County, Washington, and close a 32-kilometre (20 mi) portion of Interstate 5 for several days. At least eight deaths and billions of dollars in damages are blamed on the floods. 2009 – A suicide bombing at a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia, kills 25 people, including three ministers of the Transitional Federal Government. 2012 – At least 475 people are killed after Typhoon Bopha makes landfall in the Philippines. 2014 – The Japanese space agency, JAXA, launches the space explorer Hayabusa2 from the Tanegashima Space Center on a six-year round trip mission to an asteroid to collect rock samples. 2021 – COVID-19 pandemic: New Zealand moves into COVID-19 Protection Framework (Traffic Light System), moving Auckland out of lockdown for fully vaccinated people.

#Events

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thebestsingapore1 · 1 year ago

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Singapore is a city of many differentiations. It is little in size yet huge in shocks that are concealed everywhere. The city draws in the rich to come and play yet it is likewise endearingly guaranteed as the second home of more straightforward people. Verifiable shophouses and pre-war structures remain steadfast against the background of current high rises and design ponders. Read more at: 10 Best Amazing Things to Do in Singapore 2023 [Editor Guide] (thebestsingapore.com)

#SINGAPORE #TRAVEL #tour #tourist

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whattheabcxyz · 1 year ago

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2023-09-15

Singapore

Crazy man calls police on students after they move his belongings away from table at Tampines Hub - bugger feels he's entitled to a permanent spot at the public table

Tharman sworn in as 9th president

DBS chief Piyush Gupta says Singapore’s anti-money laundering regime is sound - suuuuuure 🙄

Tiong Bahru pre-war HDB flat with just 43 years left on lease listed for sale at $2m - but don't worry, some idiot will still buy it

New wellness garden with therapeutic & play areas opens at East Coast Park

Family of 4 needs at least $6,693/mth to afford basic standard of living here

National serviceman allegedly took intimate videos of other men at commando camp

Shop theft cases jumped 25% in 1st half of this year - overall physical crime too has risen

Beauty

Accidental injection of filler into woman’s bloodstream led to blindness, says distributor

Face-taping is now the latest trend

Society

Fraudster kicked out of top Malaysia government internship for fake claims on his qualifications

Design

^ Now there's a compilation of visual items from the Internet archives

Politics

Fatso has teamed up with Murderous Putin against Ukraine

Hunter Biden indicted on 3 felony gun charges

#singapore #beauty #society #design #politics

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zinmangaonline · 1 year ago

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The Continuum

The Continuum: One condo, two freehold plots in District 15

SINGAPORE (EDGEPROP) - When Hoi Hup and Sunway Property paid $815 million for two strips of land on either side of Thiam Siew Avenue in November 2021, many wondered what the future development would look like. Formerly, 22 pre-war bungalows and semi-detached houses sat along the quiet street. Would the future high-rise blocks be linked across Thiam Siew Avenue by a Marina Bay Sands-like SkyPark, or would the developers buy the road and amalgamate the plots to create an extensive development on a single combined plot?

None of the above. Instead, architect Kingsley Ng, director of P&T Architects, designed three blocks with 408 units on each parallel plot. The North and South plots are designed as two standalone condos with their respective entrances, basement parking and amenities such as the clubhouse, swimming pool and gym. The entrance to the North plot will be from Tanjong Katong Road and to the South, Haig Road.

An overhead bridge resembling the Henderson Waves pedestrian bridge will link the two plots. “It is going to be an iconic bridge in the Katong area that will link the two sites,” says Koon Wai Leong, director of Hoi Hup.

After all, the two sides are part of a single development, the 816-unit The Continuum, a name inspired by the word’s dictionary definition. “Continuum describes something gradually and continually changing or evolving through time,” says Koon.

The name reflects the key features of the development: The connection between the old and the new, the ground-floor landscaped gardens and the sky garden, and the North and South plots, he adds. It hints at the freehold tenure of the land too. “It can be a legacy for the home buyers’ next generation,” Koon says. The units come with flexible layouts. “This allows for slight modifications to transform the spaces for the next phase of life,” he adds. “It’s ideal for those who want to age in place.”

A piece of history

The sale of the properties at Thiam Siew Avenue for $815 million marked “the largest residential development site sold since July 2018,” comments Galven Tan, deputy managing director of investment sales and capital markets at Savills Singapore, who brokered the deal. “I had thought the developer would launch the project in two phases,” he says. “But it turned out better than what I had envisaged: It is effectively two developments, but residents benefit from the amenities of one mega-development.”

On top of the purchase price for the site, Hoi Hup and Sunway paid an estimated $284 million in development charges and $39.3 million for a 7% bonus balcony space. The final price tag was over $1.138 billion, translating to a land rate of $1,440 psf per plot ratio.

Ken Low, managing partner of SRI, regards The Continuum as “the first private condo in Singapore developed on two separate plots”. While Thiam Siew Avenue will remain a public road, the developer has made it part of The Continuum, he notes. “Imagine driving through the street with trees and landscaping on either side and the sky bridge in the backdrop. The feeling will be very different from the rest of District 15. While intangible, such feelings help hold up a project’s resale value.”

The joint developers have kept the road's name and selected one of the pre-war bungalows for conservation. “The name Thiam Siew will not be lost in history,” says Koon.

The conserved bungalow-turned-clubhouse on the North plot will be named Thiam Siew House. The function room will be a grand dining hall with an Oriental-style round table. In contrast, the clubhouse on the South plot is a double-storey glass structure. The function room on the second floor will have a long table for Western-style dining with gourmet kitchen facilities.

Evolution of space

“Over the years, we have seen how Hoi Hup has evolved from a developer of executive condos (ECs) with practical and functional units, to a developer of luxury projects, with Terra Hill and The Continuum,” says SRI’s Low. He sees the Signature and Prestige units, first introduced at Terra Hill and now at The Continuum, as “hallmarks of Hoi Hup” in its luxury projects.

Hoi Hup’s Koon agrees. “We don’t do cookie-cutter units and projects but believe in innovating,” he says. The developer invested nearly $6 million in a double-storey sales gallery to showcase The Continuum. There is a main hall with a double-volume ceiling to showcase the scale model, two showflats on the first level showcasing the Signature units, and two showflats depicting the Prestige units on the second floor. There is also a generous lounge area with ample seating for prospective home buyers and agents. “The aesthetics and feel of the sales gallery will be reflected in the new development,” according to Koon.

The Continuum has a wide range of units. The Signature units are the typical one-bedroom-plus-study of 560 sq ft to four-bedroom units of up to 1,518 sq ft. The Prestige units are the three-bedroom-plus-study, four-bedroom-plus-utility and five-bedroom units, ranging from 1,227 to 2,282 sq ft. The Prestige units are larger than the typical units and have private lift access.

One-bedroom-plus-study accounts for just 68 units (8.3%) out of the 816 units, says PropNex’s Gafoor. Two-bedroom and two-bedroom-plus-study range from 647 to 722 sq ft and make up 306 units (37.5%).

Meanwhile, three-bedroom to five-bedroom units make up 442 units at The Continuum. “That is 54% of the units,” says PropNex’s Gafoor. “The developer has right-sized the units for owner-occupiers.”

Prices start from $2,583 psf

Prices of the Signature units at The Continuum start from $1.448 million ($2,586 psf) for a 560 sq ft one-bedroom-plus-study; $1.671 million ($2,583 psf) for a 647 sq ft two-bedroom; $1.82 million ($2,600 psf) for a 700 sq ft two-bedroom-plus-study; $2.3 million ($2,638 psf) for an 872 sq ft three-bedroom; $2.759 million ($2,588 psf) for a three-bedroom-plus-utility; and $3.207 million ($2,614 psf) for a 1,227 sq ft four-bedder.

The Prestige Collection has prices starting from $3.32 million for the three-bedroom-plus-study; $4.57 million ($2,688 psf) for a 1,700 sq ft, four-bedroom-plus-utility; and $5.35 million ($2,808 psf) for a 1,905 sq ft, five-bedroom unit.

Therefore, the starting prices for units at The Continuum are in the $2,500 to $2,600 psf range. “Generally, freehold projects command a 15% premium over leasehold projects in the same location,” says PropNex’s Gafoor. “A 15% discount from $2,500 to $2,600 psf is about $2,200 psf, below the average selling price achieved by recent launches of 99-year leasehold projects.”

For instance, the 638-unit Tembusu Grand achieved a 53% take-up rate on launch weekend (April 8–9) at an average transacted price of $2,465 psf. The 298-unit Liv @ MB, located just off Mountbatten Road and launched in May 2022, is already 86% sold at an average price of $2,413 psf. Both are 99-year leasehold condos in District 15.

“The starting prices of the three- and four-bedroom units at The Continuum present a value proposition for home buyers as there is less than a $100,000 price difference compared with new 99-year leasehold condos in District 15,” says Gafoor.

Price of prestige

Prestige units will have private lift access, timber flooring in the bedrooms and marble flooring in the living and dining area. Master bathrooms will also be fully tiled with marble. All the units at The Continuum come with high-end specifications: Kitchen appliances from V-Zug, Samsung refrigerators and washer-dryers and bathroom fittings and accessories from Laufen, Gessi and Tece.

All units will come with a built-in storeroom and a ceiling fan. The development targets a BCA Green Mark Platinum rating, the highest accolade in sustainability. “Even the two-bedroom units will have a storeroom, good-sized kitchen and living space,” says Koon. “While the traditional buyers of two-bedroom units are investors, we don’t want to forget the actual residents of the units.”

Gafoor expects the average selling price to be above $2,700 psf, especially for the smaller units and those on the high floors. “If the developer can achieve a 35% take-up rate — above 285 units — it would be a credible performance because the development has more than 800 units,” he says. “We expect this development to have positive traction.”

Hoi Hup’s Koon agrees. “The sign of a good launch in 2023 will be sales in the 30% to 50% range on the opening weekend, with a steady take-up in 2024 and 2025,” he says.

Prices of future projects are likely to be higher, given that land and construction costs have increased over the last three years. Efficiency has also been reduced by about 7%, notes SRI’s Low, with the harmonisation of strata area and gross floor area. He points to the tender for the government land sale (GLS) of the second site at Jalan Tembusu, which will close in July. The site is located opposite the upcoming Tembusu Grand, City Developments’ (CDL) 638-unit condo that was 53% sold at an average price of $2,465 psf at launch on the weekend of April 8-9. CDL had purchased the 99-year leasehold GLS site in January 2022 for $768 million, or $1,302 psf per plot ratio. Low estimates that the future selling price of the new development at the second site on Jalan Tembusu will likely be above $2,600 psf. (See potential condos with en bloc calculator)

Koon notes that the Continuum is “unlikely” to set benchmark prices in District 15. The 200-unit, freehold Meyer Mansion has already seen units surpass $3,000 psf, with a 484 sq ft one-bedroom sold for a high of $3,293 psf in September 2021. MeyerHouse hit a high of $2,800 psf for a 2,110 sq ft, fifth-floor three-bedroom unit.

Meanwhile, Amber Park’s 4,392 sq ft penthouse achieved a top price of $13 million ($2,960 psf) in August 2021.

District 15 allure

“The Continuum is the only new freehold project launched with a land area above 200,000 sq ft in District 15 in 2023,” says Lee Sze Teck, senior director of research, Huttons Asia. “The robust sales numbers for Tembusu Grand indicate pent-up demand for a large project.”

Marcus Chu, CEO of ERA Realty Network, observes that many home buyers see large freehold sites as “prized investments as they hold value over time”.

The condo blocks at The Continuum are a mix of 17 and 18 storeys. The roof terrace offers unblocked views of the surroundings — from the Singapore Sports Hub and the CBD to the west, says Hoi Hup’s Koon.

Within a 1km range are schools such as Haig Girls’ School, Kong Hwa School and Tanjong Katong Primary School. Nearby are also Chung Cheng High School, Dunman High School and Tao Nan School. “This is an area for families to settle down and stay for the long term,” notes Koon. “In District 15, many families have lived there for many years and do not want to move,” he continues. “So we have this catchment of home buyers looking to buy for the next generation.”

The Continuum sits near future growth areas, such as Paya Lebar Airbase, which is relocating in 2030. SRI's Low says the entire neighbourhood could see an uplift in plot ratios. Nearby, Geylang Lorong 4 to 22 will see the old residential blocks rezoned for commercial use and could benefit from enhanced plot ratios, too, reckons Low. The government could also release more sites around Paya Lebar Central. “These events will take place in the coming years and are likely to impact projects in District 15, like The Continuum, positively,” he adds.

Besides the neighbourhood's future growth, District 15 has an “aspirational element”, notes Hoi Hup’s Koon, seen primarily in prime Districts 9 and 10.

Indeed, “after the Core Central Region, which includes Districts 9 and 10, District 15 is the most sought-after residential address,” ERA’s Chu adds. “The main appeal is the East Coast lifestyle – heritage, food, the sun and the sea. And best of all, District 15 is near the city and Changi Airport.”Website: https://the-continuum-at-thiam-siew-avenue.com/

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