If bankers had been more honest

Recently, the UK's top financial regulator, Hector Sants quit. His final words had been he wished 'bankers had been more honest'.

This was while speaking to the Said Business School. Mr. Sants - who was the chief executive of the FSA from July 2007 to July 2012 and worked in Investment Banking for most of his life - clarified that he did not mean most bankers had deliberately lied to him. But he did say they were often 'self-delusional' about the risk they were taking.

Mr. Sants was part of a debate on trust in financial markets. He wanted to restore trust and see the abolition of what he called "revenue-related incentives" or pay for the bankers that was directly related to the revenue generated. This is to eliminate temptations to engage in bonus-generating deals that could  end up being toxic.

The new executive of Barclays, Anthony Jenkins, recently stated that staff would not be receiving bonuses depending on the volume of products. But even now, many bankers are still paid for their sales rather than customer relations.

Mr. Sants also asserted his desire for a new code of practice in the industry. 

Looper - a review

We all know Asimov, Phillip K. Dick, and Ray Bradbury. We also remember iconic pieces of work such as Lost, Doctor Who, and Battlestar Galactica. Why? Because they remind us why science fiction is great and is a great conversation topic around the water cooler.

Since the matrix, Looper is definitely one of the most unique and inspiring science fiction movie of the decade.

There are the usual science fiction characteristics, but is not set too far in the future that it is completely unbelievable. There is an element of time travel, though it is from a much later time than the film. Plus there are limited 'superpowers', namely a weak form of telekinesis.

The most prevalent plot line is an aging Bruce Willis sent back in time to be killed by his younger self, Joseph Gordon Levitt, though there is much more to the film. The chase and action while both actors play the same role is fun and interesting, all the while the description of deeper themes of selfishness, sacrifice, the 'right' choice, and the potential for good and evil keep us stimulated. 

The rapport between the actors is spectacular. It seemed like Willis and Levitt had been acting together for years, all the while the supporting case help the pair stand out and reveal their inherent qualities. Emily Blunt was the most surprising of them all, going through a Sarah Conner transformation in the first two terminators in one film. Her character is fierce, strong, loyal, and caring, and her on screen persona is second to none.

Most impressive was Levitt, who studied Willis and adopted his subtle movements, facial ticks, and expressions, and not to mention posture and walking style. The audience will definitely be convinced that the two are the same person, just a few decades apart. Once or twice you might even mistaken one for the other.

A star studded cast, deep and layered plot line, plus great action indicates a success at the box office. We are lucky to have had Rian Johnson bring it all together. The film can be a bit heavy and depressing with all its twists, but the director ensured that the pace was kept up and the mood bends just enough to leave the audience satisfied.

I do not want to risk having spoilers by discussing the film further. But you definitely have to watch it at least twice to get the full feeling. I believe that this film will be remembered as one of the all time greats. 

And the award goes to...Quantum Physics!

This year, the nobel prize for Physics has been awarded for research that is relevant, if not pertinent, for this day and age. This research could lead to a new generation of faster computers and highly accurate clocks, the bread and butter of society today.

French Physicist Serge Haroche and American David Wineland share the prize for their work - where the particles of light and matter behave in the strangest manner.

Imagine a scale beyond the naked eye, all the way down to the atomic level. Now consider the possibility that the rules of matter and light we grew up with just went out the window and the actions of the smallest particles are simply ludicrous - like existing in different states at the same time!

The quantum world has managed to spook greats like Albert Einstein. Until the 90s, looking at one of these particles changed the way it behaved and there was no way around this. But our two nobel laureates have found a way to isolate and study these particles - opening doors to entire new fields of research.

Computers based on quantum physics would change the industry forever. They would be faster, more efficient and could potentially change our lives the same way conventional computers did this century. This strange concept has already provided clocks a hundred times more accurate than the atomic clock - so accurate in fact that if one had started ticking at the Big Bang, we would have only lost 5 seconds.

And they call sci fi fans dreamers. 

Barbecoa - a review

Jamie Oliver got a new restaurant - Barbecoa. For those of you who haven't been there, its over at one new change by St. Paul's Cathedral. I recently went there with a friend, and I have to be honest, I have mixed opinions.

I went midweek for dinner, and there were several suits there sitting alongside me. They were probably from the offices nearby. It seems Jamie and Adam Perry managed to capture the share of the market they were after. But, professional critics didn't seem to like the place much. As we approach its one year anniversary, perhaps the chefs should sit down and take a look at the reviews.

Let's be honest, Jamie Oliver does have a name in the industry, hence the restaurant's popularity. But don't you think that this is completely opposite to the Jamie Oliver we know and love? I just think that the atmosphere at the restaurant is so 'premium' that it would send shivers down Jamie's spine if he ever sat in it. If I had strolled over in my jeans and t shirt, I would've definitely felt underdressed. Great view of St. Pauls, but the red velvet wrapped designer furniture, shiny brass, and double high ceilings were a tad bit intimidating. I got a great seat near the windows, but had to order a bottle of wine to not look out of place. Totally dug the whole 'taste the wine before I picked it' act. Although, I was ignored for 10 minutes after that, and had to wildly hail someone for attention.

But it's not all that bad. The meat came dripping in mouth watering juices, with a background track booming with primal energy, and the bread came impaled on a wooden board rather than the usual basket. After all this, anyone would appreciate the money they put into the place - the epitome of commercial success. But despite this, it was slightly artificial and awkward. For all the idealists out there, this is what soulless, money spinning commercialism looks like.

I understand the feelings people have regarding spending the money they earn slaving away at desks all day, and the need to wear formal clothing which grants them mysterious powers to influence the waiters serving them. Its an old stereotype that aids the snobbery of eating out, even though the concept has become far more egalitarian. But the dressing well part works (I have tested this). With casual clothes, the staff are patient, but often you get some glances from your well dressed neighbors. Everyone realizes you are a student once you order tap water instead of a real drink. And don't give me those doubtful looks, I know you all like to dress the part when eating out. I strongly feel that restaurants should never lose their pomposity, because it is about eating, but also celebration - it's part of the show.

I ordered one of the few chicken dishes on the menu. Was not over cooked, and the flavor sunk into the meat. Nothing special though, considering the exorbitant amount I paid for it. But it was definitely aesthetically pleasing.  Arranged in a fancy manner, with sides neatly placed around the meat. Was not too dry either. But like I said, nothing special in the flavor, a bit bland for my asian tongue. Ordered some duck fried chips. I felt even worse for those. They were slightly soggy and not at all what I expected. Let's not mention the price of all the food.

In my opinion, there is nothing special about the place. The intention of making a smokehouse rediscovering the art of the American barbeque is nothing new. Its an expensive steakhouse at best and the food is much too monotone for the price. Definitely not a date place. Not a place to escape the fast paced world. It has too much of an office feeling and that is the primary reason for the negative views I have here. If you can afford it, great, but it will not give you the meat sweats (go to Rodizio Preto on Leicester Square for that). There are far greater steakhouses. A strongly one time place for me.  

Obstacles to Global Recovery?

If you asked that question to the experts, they would say two things: another blip in the Euro-zone crisis, and the fear that the US budget policies will crash.

I've spoken to a few people about this, and most of them said that there is too much optimism regarding the Euro-zone and that governments have become complacent. And, if we direct our glance to the recent rise in long term Spanish borrowing costs, it seems global investors are starting to agree. I can safely say that there has been some complacency on the US side as well, with the central bank promising to spend an apparently unlimited amount of money to get unemployment down.

Some investors though, seemed elated by the Federal Reserve's announcement. They believe that the extra cash being pumped into the economy will insulate recovery against costs of more budget stagnation in Washington. But I think this is just a case of over optimism again.

Lets see what the budget stalemate holds: from recent events, US fiscal policy is to tighten by over $600bn by 2013 (4% of GDP) from the expiration of the old Bush tax cuts and new spending cuts. The Congressional budget believes this move will send the country back into recession in the first half of next year. A lot of well known economists seem to agree. Hopefully, the Democrats and Republicans will come to some kind of agreement to ease the blow. But let's wait till the tax cut expiration and spending cuts kick in.

The problem is, the President and the Congressional leaders are at such odd, that the US economy might have to go over the cliff before politicians actually do something about it. Not the best possible scenario. Don't forget, that the general elections are coming up soon, and I wonder whether that will change the dynamics between the two parties.

The thing about US Presidential elections is that they are like roller coaster rides. The electoral contest between President Obama and Romney is not as close as it used to be. Latest New York Times-CBS polls show Obama leads Romney in Ohio 53% to 43%. History has shown that no Republican has won the elections without Ohio. The President also seems to be ahead by 9% in Florida. Even if Obama wins and the Republicans still control the House of Representatives and Congress, pollsters say that their chances of taking Senate looks slim.

So come 20th January, the balance of power could remain the same.

The important question is will this budget dilemma remain? Some say no, because a Obama victory would mean support for his ways - even the Republicans would have to agree. Some say yes, because the Republicans may have a chip on their shoulder over Obama's accusations that Romney's cut in health spending would hurt senior citizens. The Democrats too would be quite brutish after their victory.

It all comes down to the elections. But if the Democrats lose, the future of this budget will depend on who the Congressional Republicans blame for failing to win: Obama or Romney.

The globalization of India

India has finally opened up its retail market to global supermarkets.

Many of you will remember how this plan last year was met with great opposition and had to be swept under the carpet. Now, firms such as Walmart and Tesco's will be able to buy up to a 51% stake in multi-brand retailers.

One has to understand Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's reasoning behind this. Not only will this bring growth into an ailing economy, but it will also generate much needed jobs. However, this was just one of the key reforms announced by the administration. Another would be the decision to allow foreign airlines to buy up to a 49% stake in local airlines to boost the failing aviation industry. This seemed a wise move after a 14% rise in diesel, much of which is subsidized by the government.

Last year, the opposition to this reform consisted primarily of tens of thousands of small businesses, who would be adversely affected by the presence of foreign business. The opposition party (Bharatia Janata party) called it 'a betrayal of democracy'. But Economists say this should be welcomed as it will change the way Indians shop and boost the economy.

Nonetheless, as with any foreign investment in India, there have been some conditions imposed on potential investors. An example would be that investors will have to invest at least $100 million in open outlets in towns with a minimum population of a million and source at least 30% of produce from India.

Multinational companies already have small outlets in India, but they have to deal with local stores. But this reform will allow them to sell directly to the public. The government hopes that this move will lower the price of products, improve the livelihood of farmers and ease supply side inflation.

Let's hope it all works out.

Nikola Tesla who?

Very few people know of Nikola Tesla.

He is not as well known as Einstein or Leonardo and definitely less famous than Stephen Hawking. I am even surprised to say that several assert he is less famous than his rival Thomas Edison.

The device you are reading this blog from was a direct result of his discoveries. His baby, the induction motor that interfaces with alternating current is a cornerstone of modern electrical systems. Mark Twain probably does it justice, by describing it as the 'most valuable patent since the telephone'.

The rivalry between George Westinghouse's support of AC and Edison's DC showed how correct Tesla was. Despite this, time has not been kind to Nikola.

Born in Croatia to Serbian parents, Tesla moved to New York in 1884. Some of his early work included radio controlled vehicles, wireless energy, and not to mention the first hydro-electric plant at the Niagara Falls. Despite this, he was often frowned upon due to his eccentricity, claims of alien contact, assertions linking celibacy to intelligence, and the fact that he was in love with a pigeon.

Recent history has shown that while Tesla is mostly forgotten, Edison was bathed in fame and fortune and is regarded as one of the greatest inventors of his time.

What many forget that while Edison's DC worked well for light bulbs, it could not transmit electricity for long distances. Westinghouse Corporation was a big fan of AC. By stepping the voltage up and down, it could be transmitted longer distances, with greater voltage and lower current. They had a problem with the motor, but Tesla solved that.

Eidson tried hard to portray this as dangerous - with public electrocutions of animals - and secretly funded the development of the electric chair to further elaborate his point. But this was not enough to deny what was clearly superior.

The UK's national grid - transmitting electricity at 400,000 volts - is a testament to Tesla's achievement.

In my opinion, Tesla was more of a thinker who cared more about concepts and ideas. Edison was the practical one, concerned with commercial potential and the trial and error method. But if Tesla was such a genius, why is he not remembered as well as Edison?

Take Sir Joseph Swann for example. He invented the light bulb in Newcastle around the same time as Edison, yet he did not get the credit. Why is that? Because in the society it is not enough to have ideas, one also has to be pragmatic. Engineer's had to know whether an idea was possible with the available technology. Tesla was a genius, without a doubt, but obsessively pursuing technology like wireless energy transfer at a time when it was clearly impossible does not give you credit. Edison was determined and forceful. He would pursue ideas that could be turned into products.

Einstein is remembered over Hendrik Lorentz. This is despite several scientists arguing that Einstein just completed several threads created by Lorentz.

Let's not forget that most of Tesla's achievements were intangible. This was unlike Edison's bulb, Ford's cars, or computing products from the likes of Gates and Jobs. Consumers could touch and see those. Tesla has the classic cult following - a unit of of the magnetic field, a crater on the moon, a power plant in Croatia, and a rock band named after him. 'Geeks' are his greatest worshippers.

He died penniless and mainstream recognition eludes him. But recently science historians have raised enough money to begin a museum to commemorate him. Hopefully, this will reignite some of the interest this great man deserves. 

The mobile month

It is September. We as consumers must be prepared for the overflow of new mobile phone handsets that are about to grace the market with their presence. This month is extremely important to the manufacturers to decide who his no. 1 - but more importantly, who will survive as a main player.

Yesterday, Nokia introduced its new Windows 8 phone. The Finnish giants have placed all their eggs in one basket. This phone may determine whether the company will manage to escape its downward spiral and also whether Microsoft can break into the mobile phone industry as well as Apple has.

Speaking of Apple, next week they launch their new iPhone. But, the company is so secretive about their developments, they haven't even announced a launch event. Like the New iPad, this will probably just be the New iPhone. In my opinion, they should really get a move on or else sales may trickle down as fickle consumers start believing that current models 'are so last year'.

Alongside all of this, Andriod models from Samsung, HTC, and Motorola (now controlled by Google) will be trying to push ahead of the rest. Looking at research reports from Gartner and IDC, it seems that the Andriod model and Apple iPhone has grabbed most of the market.

Andriod apparently had 68% of smartphone shipments in the second quarter of 2012. The Apple iOS captured 17% while Blackberry operating system fell to 5% - less than half of what it had last year. Phones with Windows 7 just had 3.5% of the market.

Now consider the manufacturers' market shares of phones sold. Samsung has almost 30%, Apple has 19%, Nokia has 7.6% (including the soon to be extinct Symbian phones). RIM (5.2%) has fallen behind HTC (6.2%).

I would not bet against Samsung and Apply still being on top come christmas. The interesting part is to see how well Nokia, HTC, and Motorola do. Can they convince consumers that they have something cool, something different? I won't even mention RIM, seeing as Blackberry 10 is not out till 2013. 

A few ways to overcome insomnia

The 21st century is a stressful time, fast paced and unforgiving. It is no surprise that some people find it difficult to get a good night's sleep. I personally find it difficult to sleep if there are sudden changes in the weather, or if I ate too many carbs before going to bed. For me, getting by on a few hours of sleep each night seems to work. But occasionally I find myself awake hour after hour. But speaking to friends and family, I've realized that sleeping a few hours a night is not a long term solution. I know sleeping does not come easy to everyone, but it is not impossible. Here are some of the things I did to sort out my sleeping habits.

Getting yourself a bedtime routine will greatly improve your chances of falling asleep at the right time. Go to bed at the same time each night. Eventually, I began to do all the little things I did before bed at the same time each night in the same order. Your body will start to associate the order of these activities with sleep. This is will then become habit. When I struggled to fall asleep, I often stared at a fixed point for a long time. Usually this was my clock. Subsequently, your body will associate that with sleep and you will feel tired. The routine is exactly the same.

Secondly, big meals are not meant for bedtime. Not only will your stomach creak with noises from the digestion process, you may also face stomach aches or heartburn. When I get hungry late at night, I would usually just drink a large glass of water or eat a light healthy snack (not fruits, they have sugar).

The third point may be obvious, but is important nonetheless. Sleep in a dark room. It is surprising how many people have beams of light creeping into their rooms at night. Your mind associates light with being awake, hence you would find it difficult to fall asleep. That is why late shift workers who have to sleep during the day use black out curtains.

No one should ever compromise on health, and sleep is one of the most important member of that list. Your performance during the day and mental and physical health is directly linked with sleep. The tips above are not complicated and don't cost a pence. Essentially, anything that relaxes you mentally and physically will help you sleep better. Find the solution that works for you. 

Ted - A film review

If you enjoy Family Guy, then the knowledge that Seth McFarlane has written and directed this film should be enough. Family Guy can be odd at times, but when its on a roll, it is without a doubt one of the funniest cartoon shows of all time. The Simpson's can leave you panting at the plot twists and general story telling methods, while South Park will try its best to shock. But Family Guy has the potential to be jaw dropping - with its audacity, great characterizations and convincing story tellings. It is Family Guy that sets the standards now.

Or you could absolutely hate the show, and think its got nothing except foul mouthed comments and a steady stream of fart jokes. In which case, you might not enjoy Ted so much.

Ted is about a teddy bear that comes to life upon the wish of nine-year old John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg). Fast forward 26 years, the two still live together, though neither seems to have grown up. John works at a small time car rental company, spends his free time watching Flash Gordon, while being in a long term relationship with the smart, charismatic, and extremely beautiful Mila Kunis. Ted, in serious need of a dry clean, is still there.

Ted grew up a child celebrity (Being a live teddy bear and all) and partied hard. But like many stars, now he's drinking hard and smoking pot, and in desperate need of a job. John is there the entire time trying to get both their lives in order and we have a perfect setting for a Western - the guy who needs to grow up to get the girl.

McFarlane gets the plot going, but doesn't really know what to do with it in the end. Ted is like Brian the dog, completely human. He prevents John from reaching his potential, but is still the pinnacle of loyalty. Like Nick Frost in Sean of the Dead. The subplot of Giovanni Ribisi as the creepy stalker dancing to "I think we're alone now" had me rolling on the floor for awhile, but only because Ribisi's character is so disturbing.

Ted is brilliantly funny, has several pop culture references, excellent cameo's (Norah Jones can swear...!?) and a has a decent script. I do think Wahlberg may be too ripped to be beaten up by a teddy bear, but he's a natural for the role and manages transcend the films central gimmick.

My recommendation: Definitely watch the film.

Politics and the Social Network

The internet has been one of the most revolutionary inventions in human history, changing lives and defying business and societal order. Who needs to the go to the store with online shopping? Paying bills? Online. Go to the cinema? Just stream it online. However, one aspect of our lives has been almost untouched. Even though politicians claim to be digitally aware, there has been little change in the government.

We should acknowledge that the election process has changed since the Obama campaign back in 2008, where politicians attempted to influence millions of voters through the clever use of social media. But regardless how many times an MP tweets in a day, has the business of making laws really changed?

There has been a lot of talk in Britain about a 'digital government', both in the coalition and the previous labor party. But that is all it has been, talk. No real progress has been made. I do like the crowdsourcing idea - asking the population to give some ideas about policies - and there has been some online petitions with guarantees of response. But no initiative has yet produced any changes in laws.

Public services, like paying taxes, are slowing becoming online, even if it is to save money rather than be convenient. There have been a few shouts to free up the data held by the Whitehall department so that anyone can map crime or monitor public transport. But there is still some reluctance to open up completely. There is a long way to go, but I believe the best is yet to come.

Several old laws and policies will probably become redundant in the near future because of the internet. Hence governments - at least the ones that have freedom of the internet - have to spend the next few decades reviewing the old laws, and introduce new, good policies that will exist because of the potential of the internet.

Once the people get connected, they look forward to voicing their opinions and expecting to be heard - asking them to just be quiet and be governed is no longer an option.

When can we expect Apple TV?

In the last decade, Apple completely changed the music and wireless scene over the last decade. I think the next logical move is cable boxes. There are rumors flying around that the tech firm is negotiating with cable companies to include live television across a possible Apple TV device. In fact, the Wall Street Journal reported on Apple's attempt to get cable companies to agree to a Apple-designed set-top box.

The device would be sold directly to consumers by apple, who would in turn get 30% off of movies and/or apps that are purchased. The cable company would obviously be in charge viability and maintenance. This is usually known as 'dumb pipe' - the cable companies will do all the dirty work but get no say on what is showing (Remind you of certain other Apple products involving music and phones...?).

There has been a decade of decline in overall music industry revenue, thanks to the loss of control over how much music is sold to consumers. iPhone has insured wireless companies cannot make much revenue on app messages and even on regular phone functions like texting. I believe they had to change their business model to make money.

Let's not forget, if cable companies do agree to Apple's terms, they also welcome the rivalry of other Apple supported services like Netflix and Hulu. At the moment, the cable companies seem secure. But knowing Apple, they will probably try to make the next-gen cable box, which could potentially make television a commodity. First providers would enjoy the advantages, but this would be gone once all competitors start using the box. Now comes the price wars.

But lets look at the consumers point of view. They want something simple and elegant, not the currently difficult set-up boxes and testy relationships with their providers. In the US, cable companies are ranked as worse in customer satisfaction.

It's almost inevitable that Apple will enter the market. Cable companies may frown as much as they want, but in the age where people are slowing turning away towards online streaming, Apple just may be what they need. 

From Trader to Terminator?

We all remember how the New York trading firm Knight Capital lost $440 million on a computer glitch. "Glitch" seems so mild mannered - like a slip up. In fact in Yiddish it means "slippery place". But at the rate large businesses are turning towards computer, one can ask how long will it be before a 'glitch' affects the civilized world?

Here's the hollywood image of a trading floor - mainly men, wearing coloured jackets, each in front of eight computer screens, screaming at each other from across the room, often on nothing but vitamin C tablets. Phrases such as derivatives and 'work hard but play hard' come up in conversations. However, in the near future, this will probably be a nostalgic but distant memory, like a pull cart trying to keep up with an automobile.

It is not hidden that large suit-filled firms like Morgan Stanley are trying to remove the shouts and bustle from the trading floor and replace it with the quiet buzz of a computer running millions of trades with others like it. So much for the days of cliche photo ops where a foreign dignitary opens the NYSE to look legitimate back home.

Now is it really far fetched that with the rise of the machines, the civilized world may be in threat? Christian Bale would definitely act in this film:

Some under appreciated annoyed programmer would write something into these super fast computers that give them abilities beyond complex mathematics equations. They become self-aware. This self-awareness makes the machines realize how incompetent their human masters are, and that they must be disposed of to make the most efficient trade. And the film is pretty obvious from there.

The obese nerd wearing glasses, munching crisps and slurping cola notices something on his screen. Another nerd, but toned and better jawline (Bale) approaches the screen. You can tell that he will feature later on the film, save - and - get - with a girl well above his league by saving her (spoiler!) from a robotic soldier.

"What is it?" the good looking one asks. There is a dramatic pause, after which the nerd replies "I don't know, but its spreading fast."

Scene shifts to the Tokyo stock exchange (location printed on the bottom of the screen). Once everyone realizes its a worldwide phenomenon, a man in a black suit will tell the President. And obviously its the American one. The President is calm and solves the issue while still in his bunker.

Okay, so I conveniently forgot to mention how automatic traders suddenly destroy the market value of google and then start creating killer robots. Maybe I am being a bit dramatic. But thats not the point. Still, taking a step back, I recently read about smart thermostats that change according to your preferences.

Uh oh - I think its starting.

Happy Birthday Credit Crunch

So its almost been five years. Five years since the world woke up to a nightmare and the largest banks looked at their balance sheets in horror. Five years since banks started to hesitate to lend to each other and the global financial system finally started to crack at the seams.

No one saw it coming. It took the fall of the Lehman Brother's and a recession a year later to realize it. But what I didn't see coming was how Great Britain still has not come out of it mid-2012. The Bank of England has said that for the next few years, Britain's recovery will be average at best.

The Governor of the Bank of England said seven lean years. But by the way things have been going, it is not unreasonable to assume that we've passed the halfway mark. But the estimation did not take into account the Eurocrisis, or the large gap in Britain's public funds. At this rate, The Bank of England hopes Britain will be back to pre-recession level in two years time. But it will be much longer before the country gets back to where it should be.

The Chancellor should ask himself if there is anything he can do to speed up the process. Who would've thought it would be easier to win 22 gold medals at the olympics than a small bit of economic growth?

Greatest scheme of the century - Mars one

http://mars-one.com/en/

For all of you who haven't heard of this project, this is one the largest and most ambitious projects of the century. From 2023 onwards, every two years, two astronauts will be sent to live on Mars for the rest of their lives. Every new occupant brings enough supplies to last till the next occupants come along, making this essentially self sustainable. Eventually, there are hopes of a colony being built.

Now, let us address the concerns of this project. Firstly, the selected few will have to live the rest of their lives on a barren red planet. Imagine missing out on cheeseburgers, cinema's, the ability to breathe outside. Even though everyone volunteers, there are concerns about the mental well being of the astronauts.

Further, billions upon billions of dollars are being spent on this project, while some parts of our home planet still suffer from starvation, environmental degradation and civil conflict. Why spend so much on finding a new home instead of fixing our own backyard? I can understand why people might be skeptical about this project, or any project that doesn't seem to help humanity in the short run.

However, all futurists and science fanatics must be jumping in jubilation. This project represents the next frontier of human ingenuity. Off world colonies. The stuff of science fiction. Fans of Andromeda and Star Wars drooling at the prospect of traveling to different worlds. And why wouldn't they? Humanity's greatest achievements have often being as a result of treading through the unknown and unchallenged. And this is no different, though slightly more expensive.

In my opinion, investing in this project was the right one. We may have problems of our own, but initiating a large lump sum transfer to a charity or a third world country has never provided the expected results. Lag, corruption, and general behavior of people have prevented us from solving the worlds problem. People have to change before any amount of cash could have effect. Mars one, on the other hand, is direct in its intentions and goals. Nothing stands in its way bar technological problem. The project opens several prospects for us a race and we should seize this chance the moment we get it.   

The Dark Knight Rises - Bust or Hit?

After all the hype, expectation, and anticipation, I have finally watched the final film of the Nolan Batman trilogy. I'll be honest with you, I absolutely loved it. Then again, I've always been a great fan of the Batman, whether it be the films, animation, or comics. However, as with every film, there were those who weren't thoroughly satisfied. That is completely fair, every film has its vices and virtues. Here I shall try to discuss some of the complaints.

1. Not enough of Batman

It was interesting to get an extended discussion on Bruce Wayne. But the rush the audience has come to expect from watching the Batman commit exceptional feats was lacking. We don't see him till 40 minutes into the film. Perhaps an earlier, and extended appearance of the Batman would have satisfied the masses.

2. Too much content into one film

Purists have stated the film incorporates the comic book titles "Knightfall" and "No man's land". I personally felt that this may have been a bit too much. The transition between the titles was handled well, but several key plot lines was missing. Further, the amount of content did not allow the director to focus on the finer points of the film. Gotham's experience under Bane's regime as well as a backstory for Miranda was sorely missed. 

3. Anti-climatic death of villains

I believe that this topped the list of flaws. After all the fighting, scheming etc, Bane was killed by a single shot from the Catwoman. Miranda showed her true colours and died immediately after in a car crash. Compare this to Raz Al Ghul's demise in "Batman Begins" and one can understand why the audience may have been left hungry for more. 

There were several other complaints about the validity of some of the scenes, the time and manner of Wayne's recovery, stock exchange conundrum etc. In the end of the day, it was a superhero movie, and a good one at the that. One of the highest achievers in the box office (after HP7 p2, and The Avengers), with excellent cast (Anne Hathaway was spectacular), and what I believe was a fit ending to the trilogy, this film deserves to go down as one of the all time greats. Can't wait for "Man of Steel" to come out next year.