Abdullah Masood
Bio
Hi I'm a young guy looking to write on stuff I find interesting and fun so hello and enjoy!
Stories (46/0)
Why Star Wars the Rise of Skywalker Failed Us
I did not want to write this article. I was one the staunchest voices against the Last Jedi(TLJ). I wrote articles on it, I was against it on social media and I generally hated it altogether. But seeing the phenomenal bomb that was the Rise of Skywalker(ROS) I found my faith rekindled in Rian Johnson and for once I saw the light. This will not be a bashing rather a comparison between the two films and why TLJ is better.
By Abdullah Masood4 years ago in Futurism
How and Why I Left Facebook
I was your typical college guy. Fun, outgoing, social. When social media came along and everyone was on it, I continued on that path and did the same. It was fun. I posted status updates ranging from every time I had a coffee to every time I went on vacation. It gave me a great sort of validation to be the one with over fifty likes on a photo of my dog, of all things. Yet it was also the beginning of a nightmare that I barely escaped from.
By Abdullah Masood5 years ago in Psyche
What Does the Enterprise Mean for the Future of 'Star Trek Discovery'?
Star Trek Discovery has had a shaky run through its first season. From weird sounding Klingons to mutinous Starfleet captains to a war plagued Federation, this wasn't the show your mom and dad grew up watching. But the finale did give us some closure. At last, Starfleet was going to adhere to the principles enshrined in the constitution of the Federation since seasons past. At last we were going to be explorers, not soldiers. I remember an episode of TNG where Commander Riker said to an alien that wanted to conduct wargames with the Enterprise that the aim of the Federation was not war but peace. It seemed so far away and detached from what we saw in Discovery up till the very end. But at least we got a good ending. Michael Burnham was redeemed, her past record wiped clean. Fake Philipa was removed from the captain's chair (and to be fair, that whole Terran as a captain subplot was an idiotic move in the first place). And the Discovery warped to meet it's new captain. But wait, a distress signal? From a Federation starship, no less? I have to say, when I read NCC-17, something in my heart soared. To hear that music, to see that fantastic ship once more was something that touched a nostalgic chord in the hearts of all that watched. The Enterprise was back!
By Abdullah Masood6 years ago in Futurism
The Problem With 'The Orville'
The Orville is a beautiful show. It has all the makings of a wonderful sci-fi experience with enough boyish humor to keep us entertained. It doesn't take itself too seriously, it keeps us interested and arguably does a better job of staying true to the Star Trek mythos than Discovery itself.
By Abdullah Masood6 years ago in Futurism
The Hairdresser Girl: A Date Horror Story
#MyWorstDate It was a cold November evening In the Midwest, the kind of weather that brings out the mufflers and the desperate lovers. I'd just gotten off work but was pretty excited. We had been looking forward to this for several days now. Our first online interaction was on OkCupid and we found through a week of chatting that we shared quite a few common interests. Ergo the anticipation. The place I'd chosen was a quaint Indian restaurant in Omaha that served the best curry I'd had in the Midwest. Not to mention the decor and people set me right at ease making even bad dates quite palatable (not that I expected anything untoward but more on that later). I'd chosen a nice blue sports coat for this date with oxfords, they were kinda my go to kit for a semi-casual evening. Preppie? Yes. But I've always believed that first impressions are important. After all, who would like Mr Rochester or Mr Darcy if not for impeccable clothing and even more impeccable manners? However, my penchant for Victorian customs aside, onto the story. 5 PM was the time we'd chosen to meet and I was there by 5:15. Generally, I try to be early but the traffic was really bad that day. Surprise, surprise she wasn't there. Samantha worked as a hairdresser though, so sometimes she'd get clients at odd hours. I chose to make myself comfortable. Ordered a nice appetizer and got some bread to keep me busy. Unfortunately, she decided to break even the age old principle of 'fashionably late' and showed up at a whopping hour and half after our designated time. "So sorry, had this rich old hag that needed the full treatment, so how are you doing? Lovely to meet you at last." I took in her appearance. Brown chestnut hair, frizzled like crazy, an Iron Maiden t-shirt with a brown jacket, and some ripped jeans. Now, I'm sure that in any other circumstances this would have been appropriate, but evening wear at a nice restaurant, it was not. I, however, endeavored to be non-judgmental (I can hear how judgmental that sounds but we all have our faults).
By Abdullah Masood7 years ago in Humans
5 of Michael Jackson's Best Music Videos
I've always been a fan of MJ. Ever since I was a little kid, my dad used to play the songs on the radio, his old CD/casette player, or some other place. But what truly brings a person to love Michael Jackson is not just the quality of his songs but the quality of his music videos. Steve Huey of AllMusic said he was the one that brought music video into an art form and I'm inclined to agree. Here are five of a roundup of what I consider his best works. Enjoy:
By Abdullah Masood7 years ago in Beat
Is Rey a Mary Sue?
So you saw The Last Jedi and were amazed, blown away even by the awesome majesty of Rian Johnson's creation. Yet there was one glaring problem with the character of Rey. She seems a bit off, far too powerful, far too skilled in the use of a lightsaber. And here comes today's article, is Rey a Mary Sue?
By Abdullah Masood7 years ago in Futurism
Who Is Admiral Holdo?
When I first saw the movie The Last Jedi, my curiosity was immediately piqued by vice-admiral Amilyn Holdo. For those who don't know, she was the purple haired lady that takes command after Leia is indisposed and sacrifices herself in order to save the rest of the Resistance. We clearly had never seen this new character in the sequels or prequels and while she does add to the roster of strong female leads we are seeing more often in Star Wars, I couldn't help but wonder where she came from and who she was. And so comes this article. We will now look at the background of Amilyn Holdo and what she represents.
By Abdullah Masood7 years ago in Futurism
Who Is Luke Skywalker?
You've seen the movies. You've read the books. But you've always wondered. Who is Luke Skywalker? Why are all these nerds arguing about him and what does he represent? Well fret not for it is time for a lesson. I am here to explain to you in the most basic (pardon the pun) terms who Luke Skywalker is and what he represents to the Star Wars community. Part 1 will be a recounting of the tale of Mr. Skywalker from the new Disney canon and part 2 will be a recounting of the Skywalker legend from the old, non cannon expanded universe (or EU as we colloquially put it). These are two very distinct and different people so bear with me on this. This article will overlook only the Legends of Luke Skywalker book as it has still not been clarified what's myth and fact in that book. So let us begin with the origins of the humble man who would become a legend of great power...
By Abdullah Masood7 years ago in Futurism
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Review
*Warning: Spoilers In these days of remakes, reboots and sequels, it is very rare to come across a film that preserves the essence of the original while standing out on its own. However, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle does so and with flourish. I was a little skeptical of it holding up against the original masterpiece starring Robin Williams, but it certainly is a good homage to the legendary character's legacy. Now on to the review:
By Abdullah Masood7 years ago in Geeks
Are Ramen Noodles Bad for You?
We've all done it. College looming over our heads and food costs going up the budget and then getting rid of healthier options for the lovable snack called Ramen Noodles. But are these wonderful, vegan, cheap foods bad for you? I've been a fan of them my whole life but for the past 5 years I haven't consumed a single pack of these pre-processed noodles. But here's a look into what evidence is available and what the science says. Myth and fact will be debunked here and this will be my approach to the article. I will give you 5 major reasons why I left, and I think you should think over it too.
By Abdullah Masood7 years ago in Feast