It's coming! Tales From The Motherland.

It's Coming. Tales From The Motherland. To be released before New Year. Pre-Order your copy now! Hardcover, E book and...
Posted by Ralph Clayton on Thursday, November 19, 2015

It's almost here, pre-order your copy now! This is the story of The Majestic Man. His whole saga is about to unfold...

Posted by Ralph Clayton on Monday, November 9, 2015

He's coming

Who is The Majestic Man?

Who is the majestic man?

This guy, he's the main character in my novel, he's some kind of antihero that knows too much for his own good. A kind of super hacker that is free, running loose around the world. He likes to drink, gamble, and do all the taboo cliches. Although  he has feelings, perhaps irony and nostalgia fuel his existence. What's his purpose in life? To survive. He's already lived enough, too much for his own sake. He's permanently retired from society and mundane everyday life. He is the Majestic Man. 

Working literature!

Update!

So today I published the new short story. The Fat Boy from Tbilisi. It's a kinda funny story! Go get it while it's hot! This short story is part of a bigger work called, Memories from The Motherland. It will be a book, with short stories that take place in Russia, or related somehow. It'll be a full length book enough to keep readers busy for a while. Hopefully I'll finish this work before 2016!  So, 2 months left ahhhh!!! Sooo go read online on amazon!

Mr Pig for President

Here :D 

Film review

I've just watched this film called Youth by Paolo Sorrentino. It's really strange and beautiful at the same time. I totally liked it. It has some very particular moments that make the film seem magical.
The main character is this retired music composer/maestro, he's in some Swiss clinic improving his health. His best friend a film director is also there in the clinic, along with other very funny and interesting characters. There is the Hollywood actor, miss universe,  a retired famous football player.
I think the guy was supposed to be Maradona,  they never really say. Nevertheless this character was hilarious. I think the whole tone of the film it's kind of like ironic along with some dark humor. The plot and character development through the film is very solid and steady. Even the ending, when everything unfolds, it does so gracefully.  The film has a rating of 7.5 on imdb. it all really depends on your taste. I personally give it a 9/10, it's well done  with interesting ideas. It's really not something new, nor it even tries to reinvent cake. As it is, it's a very solid film.

Go watch it, I recommend it.   Youth

Gonna watch film!

I'm just about ready to watch this new film by Guillermo del Toro! He just makes very trippy films. Like pan's labyrinth, hell boy, also this film with the giant cockroaches I think! So I'm about to watch Crimson peak , hopefully it'll be awesome! By the way Loki from the avengers is the main male lead :D

Update 

Film was cool. Kind of old school, it's more like a slow thriller. They made the sister of the main character the super villain who can practically kick the ass  of everybody with a butter knife, Don't know if it was intentionally made to look like that. I mean the sense that it's funny, also the ghostly apparitions they all look the same, like del Toro's past films. He needs to find either new baddies or a new CGI company so that they look a bit different. 

My rating for Crimson peak is 7.5/10 not bad at all.

From the mobile!

So the format of this blog is now going to change! From right about now! Thanks to censorship from Google, I'm limited to posting text only content! Or specifically pictures/images that I'm the sole owner of. Literally I can't even post the picture of a sandwich, if I have no copyright ownership of such sandwhich! What a load of bs don't you think? Clap your hands and hail to the corporations.  Such bsssss . By the way , this is my hand and I own full copyright ownership of such picture.  :D

New on Netflix! Beasts of no nation!

It's been exactly two hours since this movie came out on Netflix. Beasts of no nation. I'm actually eating some pelmeni while I'm attentively  watching it. I'm halfway thought,  so far it's good. The main character is a young little boy, who loses his family due to civil war in his country. Then he becomes rebel soldier boy who goes around shooting people. Kind of. For some reason it has a low rating of 6.9 on imdb.com  the critics are too demanding I think. Anyways, I'll finish watching and then I'll update this :D

Finished watching it.

The film is actually quite good, don't know why it's got such low scores online. Well actually the problem is that the ending is weak. Like the whole film, from the beginning  is trying to build towards a majestic climax. Then at the end, bam nothing. You're left empty handed. The last 10 minutes were like wtf!!!!!!   This is not how it should have ended!!!!!  Such a pity, I think the director is having some issues, finishing his stories. They all start very strong yet at the end they don't deliver a satisfactory ending. The director is this guy from True Detective. Cary Joji Fukunaga. Anyways about the film. I recommended it to watch it,  just don't expect a magnificent ending.  7.4/10 

Tip of the day!

So like do you ever watch anime? From time time, something interesting and entertaining comes out. Well this time! What's hot right now is this anime called, Aldnoah Zero.  The story is super interesting, like  people went to Mars, colonized it then humanity split in to two difference nations/beings. So like there is some kind of war between Mars and Earth and all this takes place in 2015!!!  Sounds awesome right? Did I mention giant robots and spaceships are involved?  Super manly anime!  Well at least it's watchable!   The first season is on Netflix! Japanese audio with English subs. If you speak some Japanese even better! Nihongo de ii na! :D 

Movie review: The Martian

You know who this guy is right? You know Matt Damon? Well, fairly recently he made a movie. It's just about a guy, who goes to Mars and then he stays there. Eventually he wants to come back but he cant anymore, something like that! Ha Ha

The start is quite interesting, you're thrown right in to the action. Then bam it happens. He's left all alone to colonize mars! Which theoretically speaking he does, after growing some potatoes on Martian soil.

The director of this film is, Ridley Scott. Which, if you  might remember. He directed the original Alien film back in 1979. He's made some quite cool films, like Gladiator! Blade Runner, and a bunch of others.

Okay to sum up, The Martian is a fairly well made film,   the situation is based on an interesting idea that's absolutely possible. The whole scenario could actually happen one of these days.

My score is 8.5/10  Go watch it! :D

Big book release this week!

Are you a fan of Game of Thrones? Well, you know the author R.R. Martin? He's just released a prequel! A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.  The story takes place 100 years before the events  in a Song of Ice and Fire. This might be indeed interesting.

I've got to get me a copy and read it! Hope it'll be interesting :P

I remember the first book of the series, it was a bit slow and boring. Though nowadays, in his books the pace is faster and the story more entertaining.

I'll give it a read then the verdict shall come :D

Incoming book review!

So, you've heard about Stephen King right? He makes really interesting books.
He's one of my favorite writers, indeed!
Soon, like around November 3, he's releasing a new book. Well kinda.
It's a collection of 20 short stories, some unpublished and some new.
The book's called,  The Bazaar of Bad Dreams.
I totally and already pre-ordered my hard copy from amazon.
As soon I get it, I'll read it then, I'll make an awesome book review!
My advice is, go buy your copy today!

Social Injustice Is Rampant

What's the difference between a human being born in Africa and another one in Europe?
Supposedly none.
Biologically speaking we  are the same, the color of our skin and race shouldn't really matter.
But apparently it does and a lot.
Right now on the news, the topic of the Syrian refugees is quite popular.  The painful and sorrowful images seen on TV of people, making the journey to Europe from their ancestral lands.
It's just heartbreaking. According to the news.
Actually all they care about is ratings and on how much money they are making.
The crisis in Syria it started maybe 3 or 4 years ago, back then  people were already being displaced and killed.  But until now, when large numbers of refugees start making their way to Europe.
Finally it became a news item worth mentioning.
Perhaps it was not politically acceptable to talk about it 3-4 years ago? Now there is a different agenda and now it's allowed?
In the end it's always the same, humans don't care much about tragedy and calamity until it personally starts to affect them.
Now that there are thousands of refugees arriving in Europe, now it became a problem that everybody has to acknowledge.
Okay what about all those homeless people, living right in front of you, in your city or town?
Can't they also be considered refugees? For what ever reason they are on the street, they also have no home and they are constantly being displaced.
The whole point of this post is, to say that. Most people are hypocrites, only willing to accept  the harsh reality when it's convenient for them.
My advice, don't be passive. Do something that really matters.

Autumn Is Coming

Got your umbrella and rain boots ready?

The season when magical red and yellow leafs fly in the air. The chilling wind blows in the night, whispering promises of a passionate winter. It's all coming to you soon!

What's good food for winter? I'm thinking of something very fatty and caloric. Winter in Russia is tough you know. Survival of the fittest, or the ones with the biggest hamburgers to eat.

Where's a good place to travel to in this season? If you want to escape to a pleasant place, I'd say Spain! It's always good! The Spa with running fountains and steamy sauna, Oh yea.



Perhaps it's not a bad idea at all. Spa in Spain, or perhaps Spa in the Alps.  That defeats the purpose of getting away from the cold. I guess it's Spain then.

Today, the magical topic is:

The very much hated, Direct Rights Management DRM.

Using DRM as a, "safe guard" for your digital content is absurd and detrimental for several reasons.

• It's usually hard to implement
• It creates a restrictive  user experience
• It's expensive for the creator to implement
• DRM does absolutely nothing to tech-savvy users
• Instead of encouraging purchases, it does the opposite. 
• It's just not cool
• Tech-savvy users, literally use DRM as toilet paper. ( This is just fun to mention.)
• DRM creates only wealth for companies, not for authors. 

Why did I decide to rant about DRM? I'll give you one very recent example, of how stupid and absurd it is. 

Yesterday I bought an ebook online.  I went to my account, I downloaded the file.  It's an Adobe DRM EPUB or .ACSM so, what happened?

I clicked on it, my computer opened the file using some adobe program. I didn't set up this program, didn't even have an account.  So I clicked, and bam, this file is FOREVER! Linked to this anonymous account.  I can only open and read this ebook on this computer , using only this adobe program with this account! No other way to fix it!

Complete doom I say, now I can't read it on my mobile nor tablet! It's a tragedy. 

Well, it would be a tragedy if, I was not tech-savvy. There is always a way around for technology. 

What's the solution? Remove the DRM and do what ever you want with your rightfully bought digital content!

You can download software, there's lots of it.  You have to transform/convert the DRM EPUB file, in to a new DRM free file of what ever kind you want, you can make it EPUB, MOBI, PDF. What ever your choice. 

The whole point of this is that,  DRM creates a very restrictive user experience that just annoys people. If people really want to get around DRM, they can do it. It's not difficult. 

That's why I personaly choose, to make all my content DRM free.  If you like it , you'll buy it. 

If you want to support artists and creators of whatever. You'll buy their product because you know that it's your obligation to support them. 

DRM is a puny attempt at babysitting adults. DRM is just digital fascism!! Throughout history, oppression has never worked. People never learn. 

Need some green tea now, to rant some more.

Be happy, be free. 

Mr. R