Vikram Roy's Blog, page 5

International Literacy Day (2015) : A Grammarly Guest Presentation!

This is a Grammarly infographic presentation on International Literacy Day September 8, 2015. Hope you will like it!

Always love!!!

Vikram

Filed under: Art, Awareness, Bangalore, Basirhat, Blog, Books, Communications, Culture, Global Issues, Global Literacy, Guest Post, Knowledge, Literacy Rate 2015, Literacy Rate According to Genders, Personal, Presentation, Reblog, Statistics

#WIN15 Blogging Award… See the Link & Vote for my Bolg by Tweet, Comment and Facebook Share!!!

Attention dear readers…I need your kind support…! I am happy to share you a NEWS that my blog has been nominated for India’s prestigious ‪#‎WIN15‬ Blogging Award in Personal Blogging Category, It is an honour for me! Now the final round is based on friends voting through social media Like, Tweet, Comments and Share. You can ensure my #WIN15 AWARD by casting your honest vote for me. Remember, voting closes on 13th September 2015, so make sure you can make it today! Thanks in advance for your support! Kindly visit this link and do the needful.

Always Love,

Vikram Roy

Filed under: Bangalore, Basirhat, Blog, Blogging Award, Books, Corporate Communications, Culture, India

Hulk (2003) : A Complete Review

After a decade and a biennium past I saw Ang Lee’s Hulk (2003) yesterday again in BlueRay DVD. The first time, I saw this movie just after the film was released in India in 2003. I liked Hulk game based on Hulk (2003) movie, which was awesome.

If I am not forgotten my past experience with this movie, I can remember there were some serious graphical damage issues I had noticed in the first released print. Yesterday, when I saw the film again I realized it was corrected may be in the later prints of the movie.

Watching Hulk (2003) again had a reason behind. Right now, I am collecting all superhero films BlueRay prints to see which films I liked most. My due respect to Mr. Sam Raimi for his direction of Spiderman Trilogy 2002-07. Hulk (2003) I had a big expectation just after Spiderman (2002)’s super success. The technology of film-making became so advanced in the 00’s.

I gathered some feelings about Ang Lee’s Hulk (2003) which I want to share in this review.

Sam Elliott as General Thunderbolt Ross is the second best character in this film, I respect his appearance. He was as expected.
Some reviewers wrote, “Eric Bana’s Hulk is not good”. I want to correct them it’s not Eric Bana’s Hulk. By the way, I am not a fan of Eric Bana but he acted very well in this movie, at least his acting is the only key that captured my attention.
According to Marvel, once Hulk becomes angry he turns into a green monster but that’s a fixed size he gets increased, but in this movie when the Hulk became angrier to angriest his size increased more and more which is a jumbo spoiler.
Hulk (2003) showed us about unknown past of Bruce Banner and his parents.
It’s hard to believe that they have had used the most advanced technology of the time but why the special effects of the film were so unreal?
I think cost and deadline could be the issues behind the unsuccess of this film.
Ang Lee is one of the respected directors in the world. I think, perhaps Hulk (2003) is his life’s the most memorable and difficult project he worked. Even the film does not stand well.

Marvel and Ang Lee’s Hulk (2003)

Filed under: Adventure, Animation, Art, Bangalore, Basirhat, Blog, Children, Comic Book, Culture, Drama, Gamma Radiation, Hollywood, Marvel, Movie Review, The Hulk

Don’t you think “Creatives should be cogent” in selling their art?

Photo: Maleficent (1959) © Copyright Disney.

Last week I met some creatives from College of Art & Craft, Calcutta (GCAC). I needed some concrete creative ideas for a social media marketing campaign. Before I met another art graduate team from Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore. My surprise was 12 out of 10 of them are not interested in the digital media revolution.

Then I called a local freelance graphic design team, they took a week and prepared a presentation. Let’s leave the creative part of it, albeit they presented well. But surprisingly I discovered the enthusiasm in them which I did not find in the Art College graduates.

Don’t you think “Creatives should be cogent” in selling their creativity?

Filed under: Advertising, Anthropology, Art, Bangalore, Basirhat, Blog, Business, Business And Commerce, Corporate Communications, Culture, Editorial, Education

5 Breath Taking Moments from DC Comics Green Lantern: The Animated Series (2011-13)

Green Lantern: The Animated Series is one of the best Superheroes animated series from DC Universe. This series is about Hal Jordan, the first Green Lantern of Earth and his adventure with the Red Lantern Invasion. But at the end the story becomes bigger than just a comics book story. Here come the top 5 moments I loved to see these episodes again and again. What about you?

1. Hal Jordan wearing Orange Rings in a visit in Vega System which manipulate him into avarice or better known as “Greed” which ruin good in the soul. This episode shows how he fought against his Greed and Will and saved himself.

2. The first Blue Lantern, Sayd helping Green Lantern Kilowog. Together they are fighting against the Red Lanterns. And then comes the Mogo. I think all of the Green Lantern fans know who is Mogo?

3. Aya and Razer are fallen in love. You must know that Aya is an A.I. (Artificial intelligence). Days may near when computers will fall in love with organic emotions, “Interesting.”

4. Then comes the Mogo, an entire living planet. What do you think about our earth?

5. Ganthet found Sayd the first Blue Lantern of the universe. The Blue Lantern Power Rings are powered by the emotion of Hope. Created to bring hope to the future.

Filed under: Adventure, Animation, Art, Blog, Children, Comic Book, Culture, DC Comics, Drama, Editorial, Green Lantern, Kids, Television Series

KNIGHT OF THE BROOM, Some Indo-Cyprus Recipes by Colette Part I (A Guest Post).

Today it is 69th National Independence Day in India. It’s a national holiday and I got some time to post on my blog. Colette is a write, writing many blogs for my site as a guest. Thank you Colette for giving importance to my little blog. I wish her works will read and appreciated by all readers, food lovers and blogger friends.

Let us learn some of the delicious Indian recipes which experimented by our guest writer and culinarian Colette Ni Reamonn Ioannidou from the country of lovely beaches, Cyprus. She experimenting with the book titled THE INDIAN COOKERY BOOK THE KITCHEN IN INDIA was published by Wyman & Co., Publishers in 1879. There is an interesting story behind how she got this book. To read the preface about this guest post click here: The Anthropology & Some Indo-Cyprus Recipes by Colette.

Due to her age Collette is suffering from eye problems and I wish her good health.

Thanks!

Photo: Colette Ni Reamonn Ioannidou (Writer).

KNIGHT OF THE BROOM

(Indo-Cyprus Recipes by Colette)

Part I.

“Finally, one other suggestion is of no little importance, viz, cats, dogs, and sweepers, as a rule, have no business in the kitchen.”

Bear in mind here the ‘sweeper’ is a person. It continues: The sweeper, or, as he is elsewhere called, “knight of the broom,” should only be admitted either before the operations of the day have commenced, or after their final termination. Ninety-nine sweepers out of a hundred know that intrusions in the kitchen are against all established rule throughout the length and breadth of India; and yet, if the master or mistress be indifferent, not only the knight but his lady also will indulge their fingers in many a savoury pie. It is no uncommon thing to find them constantly in kitchens of houses of gentlemen ignorant of this rule, peeling potatoes, shelling peas, and performing other offices for the cook, in expectation of some return for such assistance or services rendered.

Can’t you almost feel the writer looking down a long aristocratic nose at the prospect of a common ‘sweeper’ daring to handle food, as that was written? I found this morsel on page 10:

1. RICE CONGEE:

Photo: Rice Congee from Wikipedia

The water in which rice is boiled should never be thrown away: it is nutritious and fattening for all cattle, horses included, and may be given daily to milch cows and goats with great advantage. That brought back a childhood in which nothing was wasted; the chicken stock was a favourite all-rounder. Mashed potatoes left over from a main meal were later mixed with sage or thyme, salt and black pepper, and fried in Irish butter till the outer layer turned rich crispy brown. Slivered onions and fresh parsley were favourite optional additions.

2. Ball Curry of Liver and Udder:

Get one pound each of liver and udder: thoroughly wash and parboil them, then cut them into pieces, put into a mortar, and pound them to a pulp; mix with pepper, salt, herbs, bread-crumbs, and an egg; make into balls, and curry them in the same manner as any other ball curries.

I’m sure there are people in India, depending on religious sensitivities, who would not dream of eating a cow’s udder. And, I think, there are quite a few Brits who wouldn’t eat one either! When we came to Cyprus there were so many delicious meals to be enjoyed and, having been a Yoga practitioner for years, I was well aware of the value given to organ meats. Cypriots too, know that value. When a true Cypriot eats a chicken, he even sucks the marrow from the bones! Years of poverty made people appreciate every scrap of food. An old man once told me of how he used to trap hedgehogs to eat.

I ate liver as an anaemic child only if it was totally disguised with onions and rich gravy cooked with all the guile my mother could bring to bear on making it taste less like bloody meat. In Cyprus, I politely declined to acquire a taste for animal testicles dressed up to look like potato cakes once I knew what they were. My young son took to them with sheer exuberance – until he found out what part of the animal he was tucking into.

3. FOOD COLOURING FOR JELLIES, CREAMS, ICES, AND CAKES

The fascinating thing about this book for me is the way it shows how much the people in charge of kitchens had to make for themselves and the utensils also show ‘age’. Boil very slowly in a gill of water, till reduced to one half, twenty grams of cochineal, and the same quantity of alum and cream of tartar finely pounded; strain, and keep in a small phial.

For yellow, use an infusion of saffron.

For green, wash well and pull into small bits, a handful of spinach leaves; put them into a closely-covered saucepan, let them boil for a sew minutes, and then press the juice.

Are there places in India where housewives still make their own colouring?

4. POOR MAN’S CHAMPAGNE

Put a pint of Scotch ale into a jug, and add a bottle of good ginger beer.

5. MANGO AMCHOOR

Peel and quarter some green mangoes; sprinkle with salt, and expose them to the sun until they begin to dry up; then rub them with dry pounded turmeric, chillies and dry ginger; sprinkle more salt and expose them to the sun again until they are quite dried up, when they may be bottled and kept for use.

Photo: Step one, collect raw mangoes. Source Wikipedia

Photo: Step two, cut mango slices and dry them. Source Wikipedia.

Photo: Step three, mash the slices, & Amchoor powder is ready to add in any recipes. Source Wikipedia

In Lefkara, the village of my mother-in-law, many years ago, they used to dry fruits on the roofs of the houses. The villagers make wonderful fig cakes by mashing the figs into fat little circles and adding chopped blanched almonds to the mix. They also make a super sweet by repeatedly dipping a string of almonds into grape juice mixed with flour and allowing it to solidify. This long sausage-like treat goes down very well as a nibble to compliment a relaxing evening drink. The village is, however, mostly famous for its handmade lace, a skill taught to the ladies of Lefkara by the ladies of the Venetian court who fled the heat of the central plain in the summer for the blissful cool of hill villages like Lefkara. That lace is still made today.

One thing is sure no matter where we live the joy of having good food to eat and the blessings of nature in their purest state. It’s a sad thing that there are people in the world today with more money hoarded in banks than they could spend in three life times and children still go hungry.

Always Love,

Colette Ni Reamonn Ioannidou

Filed under: Anthropology, Bangalore, Blog, Books, British, Colette Ni Reamonn Ioannidou, Cooking, Culture, Cyprus, Editorial, Education, Food, India, Recipes, Review, United Kingdom

5 Most Popular Superhero Television Shows Based on Comic Books

The world of entertainment has gone extremely advanced and very exciting. Today I am going a close encounter with a bunch of vigilantes and superheroes who are in action on the television screen. Already many comic book heroes are popular in animated television shows especially made for children and cartoon lovers. Superheroes are being loved by all of us today from comic books to television screens everywhere. For the last three decades, we witnessed a list of powerful Box Office superhits in the Superhero films category. Now we can see them alive on the TV screen too.

Here I spotted out five excellent superhero television series running for last three years. Most of these superheroes are from the house of DC and Marvel Comics based on some of the greatest comic book characters.

Arrow (The CW – American Television Series) Started April 24, 2012 – Running Season 4: The CW’s Arrow is the first modern television superhero series based on DC Showcase character Green Arrow. I am a huge fan of the vigilante hero, Oliver Queen played by Stephen Amell. This show has many ups and downs but they do new experiments with the charecters that always make it interesting. How Oliver is going to protect Starling City in the Season Four?

Photo: Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen from The CW’s Arrow

Already three successful seasons of Arrow has been aired. The season four is coming soon with all new stories and many surprises.
Daredevil (Netflix – American Television Series) Started April 10, 2015 – Running Season 2: Marvel Comics and Netflix’s Daredevil, the blind lawyer and vigilante Matt Murdock played by Charlie Cox is my second favourite television show. This is a very interesting series because it shows how an ordinary orphan boy who blinded in an accident and got some superhuman skills and sixth sense. With the practice of meditation he enhanced his abilities and masters in various martial arts technique to overcome his spirit. He fights for the justice at the highest limits of his skills and protects Hell’s Kitchen, NY at night.

Photo: Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, from Netflix’s Daredevil

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC – American Television Series) September 24, 2013 – Running Season 3: Alike Marvel’s first class super heroes the Avengers and X-men, ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are a group of extraordinary men and women who fight major against the Nazi terrorist gang named Hydra and other unclassified inhumen living around the world. Agent Phil Coulson who leads S.H.I.E.L.D.’s very special team of intelligence, they investigate strange occurrences happening in the world and protect regular citizens. Two successful seasons already aired.

Photo: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season-2 Banner

At the end of Season-2 finale when solving an inhuman mystery Agent Phil Coulson lost his one hand. I am waiting eagerly for the Season-3 with a lot of excitement running through my veins. I am thinking what’s coming next?
The Flash (The CW – American Television Series) October 7, 2014 – Running Season 2: The CW’s the Flash is one of my favourite family telivision shows. This series started in collaboration with the CW’s Arrow. Forensic scientist Barry Allen in his childhood saw an impossible super speed meta human murdered his mother. That day the police did not believe in his statement and imprisoned his father. Adult Barry played by Grant Gustin was happy, despite his childhood trauma. Then oneday in an accident Barry struck by lightening and discovers super speed in himself.

Photo: The CW’s Flash played by Grant Gustin.

Barry teams up with Dr. Harrison Wells (later known as Reverse Flash), Dr. Caitlin Snow, scientist Cisco Ramon and detective Joe West to fight against the crime in Central City. The season one was cool, notable supervillain Dr. Harrison Wells played by Tom Cavanagh was an interesting charecter.
Gotham (FOX – American Drama Series) September 22, 2014 – Running Season 2: FOX’s Gotham is an experimental television drama series to dig the past of Bruce Wayne (before he becomes Batman). Commissioner Jim Gordon had promised young Bruce Wayne to catch the murderer of his parents but due to lack of evidence the case remains unsolved. Bruce runs his own investgation to know the reason and identify the murderer. On the run in corrupt city Gotham where everyday a new criminal gets birth.

Photo: FOX’s Gotham

I am surprised watching Gotham Season one. I hope Season two will be more surprising.

Filed under: Adventure, Art, Blog, Comic Book, Culture, Drama, Editorial, Education, English Film, Television Review, Top Five Television Series

Top 5 Superhero Television Shows Based on Comic Books that You Must Watch!

The world of entertainment has gone extremely advanced and very exciting. Today I am going a close encounter with a bunch of vigilantes and superheroes who are in action on the television screen. Already many comic book heroes are popular in animated television shows especially made for the kids and the cartoon lovers. Superheroes are being loved by all of us today from comic books to television screens everywhere. For the last three decades, we witnessed a list of powerful Box Office superhits in the Superhero films category. Now we can see them in action alive on the TV screen too.

Here I spotted out five excellent superhero television shows running for the past five years. Most of these superheroes came from the house of DC and Marvel Comics based on some of the greatest comic book characters.

Arrow (The CW – American Television Series) Started April 24, 2012 – Running Season 4: The CW’s Arrow is the first modern television superhero series based on DC Showcase character Green Arrow. I am a huge fan of the vigilante hero, Oliver Queen played by Stephen Amell. This show has many ups and downs but they do new experiments with the charecters that always make it interesting. How Oliver is going to protect Starling City in the Season Four?

Photo: Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen from The CW’s Arrow

Already three successful seasons of Arrow has been aired. The season four is coming soon with all new stories and many surprises.
Daredevil (Netflix – American Television Series) Started April 10, 2015 – Running Season 2: Marvel Comics and Netflix’s Daredevil, the blind lawyer and vigilante Matt Murdock played by Charlie Cox is my second favourite television show. This is a very interesting series because it shows how an ordinary orphan boy who blinded in an accident and got some superhuman skills and sixth sense. With the practice of meditation he enhanced his abilities and masters in various martial arts technique to overcome his spirit. He fights for the justice at the highest limits of his skills and protects Hell’s Kitchen, NY at night.

Photo: Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, from Netflix’s Daredevil

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC – American Television Series) September 24, 2013 – Running Season 3: Alike Marvel’s first class super heroes the Avengers and X-men, ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are a group of extraordinary men and women who fight major against the Nazi terrorist gang named Hydra and other unclassified inhumen living around the world. Agent Phil Coulson who leads S.H.I.E.L.D.’s very special team of intelligence, they investigate strange occurrences happening in the world and protect regular citizens. Two successful seasons already aired.

Photo: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season-2 Banner

At the end of Season-2 finale when solving an inhuman mystery Agent Phil Coulson lost his one hand. I am waiting eagerly for the Season-3 with a lot of excitement running through my veins. I am thinking what’s coming next?
The Flash (The CW – American Television Series) October 7, 2014 – Running Season 2: The CW’s the Flash is one of my favourite family telivision shows. This series started in collaboration with the CW’s Arrow. Forensic scientist Barry Allen in his childhood saw an impossible super speed meta human murdered his mother. That day the police did not believe in his statement and imprisoned his father. Adult Barry played by Grant Gustin was happy, despite his childhood trauma. Then oneday in an accident Barry struck by lightening and discovers super speed in himself.

Photo: The CW’s Flash played by Grant Gustin.

Barry teams up with Dr. Harrison Wells (later known as Reverse Flash), Dr. Caitlin Snow, scientist Cisco Ramon and detective Joe West to fight against the crime in Central City. The season one was cool, notable supervillain Dr. Harrison Wells played by Tom Cavanagh was an interesting charecter.
Gotham (FOX – American Drama Series) September 22, 2014 – Running Season 2: FOX’s Gotham is an experimental television drama series to dig the past of Bruce Wayne (before he becomes Batman). Commissioner Jim Gordon had promised young Bruce Wayne to catch the murderer of his parents but due to lack of evidence the case remains unsolved. Bruce runs his own investgation to know the reason and identify the murderer. On the run in corrupt city Gotham where everyday a new criminal gets birth.

Photo: FOX’s Gotham

I am surprised watching Gotham Season one. I hope Season two will be more surprising.

Filed under: Adventure, Art, Blog, Comic Book, Culture, Drama, Editorial, Education, English Film, Television Review, Top Five Television Series

5 Reasons Why Sales Managers Fail in Marketing New Products?

As I worked as a Marketing Executive for more than three years and also worked on several sales assignments. From the past three years of my experience, business improvement of the SMEs depend on the leadership skills of good Sales Managers.

The Sales Managers fail in sales due to the lack of KYC and reporting the fact. Also they do not possess neat marketing knowledge and sometimes the failure they try to burden on Marketing team, that damages sales cycle for most of the new companies. Here are some of the important reasons I am pointing out that may help sales managers to justify their role.

1. A Sales Manager should be a born leader:

Leaders lead the flock. Most of the freshers and executives do not listen to their Manager. A Sales Manager should be convincing enough to educate his flock. Executives are your internal clients when they are convinced the sales will become easy.

2. Never say it’s “difficult” at team meetings:

I noticed most of the sales executives and trainees come back with excuses and complaints from the failed customer. When Sales Manager says, “I know it’s very difficult, but this is your job, you have to bring results.” This sounds like a force. It also creates hesitation about the product quality in executive’s mind.

Never say “difficult” or “hard” or “you have to do sales” to a sales executive. Control your own language to motivate your team.

3. Report the truth:

Many Sales Managers do mistake in reporting. You should practice to share the truth with your boss and do not predict unnecessary target that you or your team cannot achieve. False promises may please your boss for a short time, but your boss loves results.

4. Your team is your success do not manipulate the team:

Some sales managers are very political. They come back from the board of director’s meetings and call the executives about the meeting. He tries to manipulate them from his own point of view. Once I was working in the Marketing Department, I discern a Sales Manager who always was trying to manipulate his team members against the company. He held multiple layers of colours and use them for different occasions. But seriously this attitude will lead you ashtray.

5. Mind your own business knowledge:

I see people coming with long time sales background mostly lacks Promotion and Marketing knowledge. When business growth depends on both the sales and the marketing together. Where the style of the works are totally different.

Marketing is based on human psychology, research, industry inside, knowing-you and knowing-your-customers. They do the present market research to notify the customer’s behavior. They present the marketing plans and promotional budget. Marketing leads the lead generation process for the sales team.

When Sales Managers come up with the practical field knowledge to increase sales on the ground level. But always remember both of you are good in your own areas, so please do not try to overrule each other’s work. It will crush into conflicts and hamper healthy business growth.

Filed under: Blog, Business, Business And Commerce, Corporate Communications, Editorial, Education, Marketing, Sales

Top 5 New Experimental Vampire Films You Must Watch

Let me talk about five recent vampire films which are criticized a lot. In the history of horror films, there are 100’s of Vampire movies based on Nosferatu, Vampire, the Dracula. The bloodsucker devil created panic and fear in our mind every time we watch them in the theater. The last five years we got many interesting experimental vampire films that rebirth the legend. Do not miss to watch them all.

1. Only Lovers Left Alive (2013): 

From left: Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston in Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

A mysterious couple living for centuries hiding their identity in the society. They never grow old, they are tired, lament, bore and thirsty. This film is directed by Jim Jarmusch, starring Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, is a rare vampire film, very thematic, and pensive.

2. Let the Right One In (2008):

Set in the Stockholm suburb, Oskar, a young boy of 12 loves Eli, but she can’t stand the sun. Eli needs to drink other people’s blood to live. Oskar becomes confused.

Lina Leandersson as Eli in Let the Right One In (2008)

3. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)

A bad town somewhere in Iran, people live here with many bad habits. A lonely young girl walks at night protects the good in the town and drinks the blood of those who are the spoilers and corrupting others. She falls in love with an honest young man and finally both of them decide to left the ghost town.

Poster: A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)

4. Dracula Untold (2014): 

Once upon a time when the kingdom of Wallachia is being threatened by the Turks the young prince Vlad Tepes wanted to protect his kinsmen. He sacrificed his soul to the Vampire Lord. He got the power of Dracula and became a savior of his people.

Starring Luke Evans, Charles Dance this film reveals the origin of Dracula dynasty.

Poster: Dracula Untold (2014)

5. Byzantium (2012):

Two mysterious women were living in a hotel named Byzantium. They know some secret island where they sacrificed their humanity and chosen to live vampires. Thier life have been threatened by a group of people who kill vampires. Finally the mother and the daughter faced their own fate.

Gemma Arterton in Byzantium (2012)

These are five experimental horror films took shape for the new generation of viewers. I wish all of you love them too.

Filed under: Adventure, Art, Best horror films between 2010-1015, Blog, Books, Culture, Drama, Editorial, English Film, Fiction & Fantasy, Film Review, Films, Movie, Movie Review, Top 5 Horror Films, Top five recent horror films