VOX POPULI: Hoping the temple bells ring the pandemic, cheer on the artisans
The terms “ryuzu”, “ike no ma” and “koma no tsume” refer respectively to the top, middle and bottom of large bells found in Buddhist temples in Japan. Anyone familiar with these names should be fully informed on the subject. The part where a hanging beam hits the bell is called “tsukiza”. “The position of the […]
From Rijula Das to Shakoor Rather: India’s 9 Best Upcoming Authors
The year 2021 has been a difficult year for novelists to come to India. As the country has been hit by a second deadly wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has had an emotional and physical impact on most people. The constant closures kept bookstores closed for most of the year, and literary festivals were […]
China says Musk’s SpaceX satellites have approached his space station twice, endangering astronauts
In October, China sent three astronauts, including a woman. Hailed as China’s most prestigious and strategically important space project, the low-orbiting space station is said to be the country’s eye in the sky, providing a bird’s-eye view of the rest of the world. Once ready, China will be the only country to own a space […]
NFT, Web3, DeFi and Metaverse – Your Guide to the Tech Buzzwords of 2021
2021 was the year that spawned new words in our vocabulary to reflect the evolving tech scene. Here are some of the words that have emerged this year and their meanings. NFT (non-fungible token) NFT or non-fungible token was named Collins Dictionary word of the year in 2021. NFTs are certificates that show you own […]
/https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/61c833ae84e52cdb6290a841/0x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=3000&cropY1=288&cropY2=1694)
iQiyi Launches Six Original Southeast Asian Series, Amid Passionate Streaming Competition
Yu Gong (center), founder and CEO of Chinese company iQiyi (IQ), rings the opening bell on Nasdaq … [+] MarketSite in Times Square with Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman and others to celebrate its initial public offering (IPO) on March 29, 2018 in New York City. Getty Images In Asia, the global streaming giants Netflix NFLX […]
Northern Ireland Prison Guard’s Debut Novel Gets Dean Koontz Approval
Ten years tending to a prison full of hard-core criminals turned out to be ideal inspiration for a first novel. Under the pseudonym NE Shawson, the former prison guard said he had built on a decade of work in the Northern Ireland Prison Service. The result is Time Served, a gritty debut novel that takes […]
Fairytale Fantasies Meet Reality on “The Future Diary” and “The Bachelor Japan”
Looking for a love story this holiday season? Or maybe you prefer to indulge in a more complicated romantic competition? Either way, the streaming services bring you two Japanese shows that blur the line between reality and drama. Netflix’s “The Future Diary,” which premiered on December 14, aims to recreate the romance-fueled absurdity of a […]
Atrangi Re review: a messy romantic drama
Atrangi Re Online (Disney + Hotstar) Director: Aanand L Rai Actors: Sara Ali Khan, Dhanush, Akshay Kumar Rating: 2/5 The biggest problem with ‘Atrangi Re’ is that it tackles a complex and very sensitive subject without any insight or intense research. It is akin to brain surgery with a Swiss Army knife in candle light. […]
Non-fiction books and 2021: the long road to recovery
All of the best research of 2021 had something to do with COVID-19, and that was reflected in the themes that dominated non-fiction: virus, vaccine, globalization, inequality. Oxford Languages’ word of the year is vax; Merriam-Webster chose a vaccine, noting that it has become more than just medicine. With the pandemic in its second year, […]
What is reality and fiction in the romantic drama “A Journal for Jordan”
Dana Canedy, left, is played by actor Chanté Adams in “A Journal for Jordan”, directed by Denzel Washington. (Jesse Dittmar / For the Times) “A Journal for Jordan” is a story of love lost and found. Directed by Denzel Washington, the film tells the true story of former New York Times editor-in-chief Dana Canedy (played […]