Skip to content

Youtube

Documentary 101: PBS Frontline – Boeing’s Fatal Flaw 2021

787 Dreamliner Boeing

On 14th September 2021, PBS Frontline ran an excellent documentary on Boeing’s series of shocking mishandling & process failure in the manufacturing of the new 737-Max passenger plane. The trigger point was the introduction of the new Airbus A320neo and the delay of Boeing’s next model, the 787 Dreamliner. Image source: PRNewsfoto/Boeing

There was tremendous pressure to bring the new plane into the market in time to counter Airbus’ A320Neo plane. In the end, a software glitch caused 2 major accidents that saw 346 passengers & crew died, Boeing & airlines suffered substantial financial losses due to glitch & grounded planes and caused the chairman & CEO, Dennis Muilenburg his job.

Read More »Documentary 101: PBS Frontline – Boeing’s Fatal Flaw 2021

Military 101: Royal Malaysian Air Force’s Reliable Transport Carriers

RMAF TUDM CN-235 Transport Military

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) even converted some of the CN-235 transport planes into maritime patrol roles which says a lot about the capabilities of a modern, well-designed transportation aircraft. Image source: Wikipedia.

When it comes to the air force’s mainstream inventory, one would often fancy their latest lineup of the latest jet fighters and perhaps their heavily armed & armoured attack helicopters but no one talks about the workhorse of the air force, the transport carriers.

Read More »Military 101: Royal Malaysian Air Force’s Reliable Transport Carriers

Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Mesmerising Nallavarkkellam by Great Ilaiyaraaja 1978

T.M. Soundararajan TMS Tamil Song Stamp MSV

If you look at the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s Tamil movie scenes, T. M. Soundararajan (TMS) was the top male singer, singing a reported 10,138 songs from 3,162 films and over 11 different languages. Image source: Wikipedia

However, when Maestro Ilayaraaja came into the Tamil movie industry, TMS was not keen to sing for him. Apparently, he did not think highly of this “new” music director. If not mistaken, he only sang about 7 songs for the maestro so it is rather rare to find TMS singing for Ilaiyaraaja’s composition.

Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Mesmerising Nallavarkkellam by Great Ilaiyaraaja 1978

Malaysia 101: Critical Political Satires by Sage Hero That Nails the Point

Satire Funny Parody

Cambridge defines satire as a way of criticizing people or ideas in a humorous way, especially in order to make a political point or a piece of writing that uses this style. Image source: Austin Kleon/Flickr

Read More »Malaysia 101: Critical Political Satires by Sage Hero That Nails the Point

Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Sivaji Ganesan’s Tearful & Moving Engey Nimmathi by MS Viswanathan 1964

Puthiya Paravai Engey Nimmathi Tamil Sivaji MSV Viswanathan

Puthiya Paravai (meaning New Bird) was a 1964 Tamil movie that was produced and acted by the Nadigar Thilagam, Sivaji Ganesan. It was Sivaji Ganesan’s maiden movie that he produced under his own production company, Sivaji Productions. Image source: Smule

It is reported that Puthiya Paravai is a remake of an earlier Bengali film which is itself inspired by the British film Chase a Crooked Shadow (1958).

Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Sivaji Ganesan’s Tearful & Moving Engey Nimmathi by MS Viswanathan 1964

History 101: Japanese Fascinating Tactical War in Malaya & Singapore 1941

Singapore Burning Japanese World War 2 Colin Smith Tactics Books

If one wants to read about the Japanese attack on Malaya and subsequently British stronghold in the Far East, Singapore and how they won the battle, this book titled “Singapore Burning: Heroism And Surrender In World War II” by Colin Smith is a great read.

The 620++ pages analyses in the detail the British High Command’s decisions and blunders that caused the fall of Singapore causing almost 85,000 Allied soldiers to be captured as prisoners of war.

Read More »History 101: Japanese Fascinating Tactical War in Malaya & Singapore 1941

Technology 101: Our Brave Fire Rescue Service

Fire Rescue Truck Bomba

Red has been the universal colour of fire rescue trucks all around the world whilst yellow or green is the usual colour for fire rescue trucks stationed at airports (as it is more visible in low lights). Image source: Wikiwand

Some of them are capable of carrying up to 17,000 litres of water in the truck. Given the vast types of truck manufacturers and fire fighting equipment suppliers, every country had its unique fire trucks based on the infrastructure and fire fighting missions.

Read More »Technology 101: Our Brave Fire Rescue Service

Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Mesmerising Kovil Mani Osai by Great Ilaiyaraaja 1978

Kizhakke Pogum Rail Tamil Song Kovil Mani Osai Ilaiyaraaja 1978

Kizhakke Pogum Rail (transl. Eastbound Train) is a 1978 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film, directed by Bharathiraja, starring newcomers Sudhakar and Raadhika. The film had a musical score and songs by Ilaiyaraaja and was released on 10 August 1978. Image source: Amazon

Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Mesmerising Kovil Mani Osai by Great Ilaiyaraaja 1978

Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Mesmerising Aattu Kutti by Ilaiyaraaja 1977

Aattu Kutti 16 Vayathinile Tamil Song Kamal Haasan Sri Devi

16 Vayathinile (translated as At Age 16) is a 1977 Tamil movie written and directed by Bharathirajaa in his directorial debut.

The movie included a number of big and new stars namely Kamal Haasan as retarded Chappani, Sridevi as Mayil and Rajinikanth (his famous line – ithu eppendi irruku) who often with his man, the funny Goundamani. K. Bhagyaraj worked in this movie as an assistant director to Bharathirajaa. Image source: Twitter

Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Mesmerising Aattu Kutti by Ilaiyaraaja 1977

Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Mesmerising Thaalattudhe Vaanam by Ilaiyaraaja 1981

Kadal Meengal 1981 Tamil Kamal Haasan Movie Thaalattudhe Vaanam

Kadal Meengal was a 1981 Tamil movie starring Kamal Haasan, Sujatha, Nagesh and Swapna. Kamal Haasan in a dual role as father & son on opposite sides with the younger Kamal Haasan bent on taking revenge. Image source: IMDB.

Unfortunately, this movie was not the highlight of Kamal Haasan in his string of blockbusters but stands out for Ilaiyaraaja’s classic songs.

Read More »Nostalgic Tamil Song 101: Mesmerising Thaalattudhe Vaanam by Ilaiyaraaja 1981

Special Projects 101: Part 3: New Car Makeover 2021 – Repairing Faulty Air Conditioner Switch

air conditioner switch rolling down window fuel consumption

According to this study and on the contrary, belief, rolling down your windows does save more fuel than rolling up and switching on the air conditioner. Personally, I roll up the windows not to save the fuel but to keep the cabin noise down for me to listen to the music when I am diving. Image source: Business Insider

Read More »Special Projects 101: Part 3: New Car Makeover 2021 – Repairing Faulty Air Conditioner Switch

Documentary Review 101: Excellent The Only Son by Simonka de Jong 2012

The Only Son Simonka de Jong Youtube Video Documentary

I caught this excellent documentary by Simonka de Jong, a 49 years old Dutch filmmaker based in Amsterdam, Netherlands on Youtube the other day. I was amazed by the simplicity of the storyline and yet where the characters in this documentary face some of the toughest conflicts in the daily lives. Image source: Youtube.

Read More »Documentary Review 101: Excellent The Only Son by Simonka de Jong 2012