Independents? Yes. Square? Hardly

1. What have you got in your pockets right now?

A - Organizer, keys, wallet, crumpled bits of paper, a tape of Staind's "Break the Cycle" album, cellphone (& yes I've got big pockets).

Sh - Just the basics. Wallet, keys, tobacco, matchbox. Hanky 'cos I'm feeling BoyScoutish.

OP - There's my automatic, the Swiss dagger and not forgetting the knuckle-duster.

N - A five rupee comb to keep my hair straight and my wallet which is about five years old.

Su - a)things to do list - b) calculator-c)card holder-d) keys e) - dictaphone-f)-loose change.

2. Desert Island. 1 book. 1 movie. 1 album. What would they be?

A - The Beach - Alex Garland, Star Wars, August & everything after - Counting Crows: can't imagine not having this album as it helped me go forward as a song writer plus it's a Killer record.

Sh - Midnight's Children - Rushdie, Pulp Fiction, The Bands - Radiohead.

OP - The book will be Mega Memory Power. Since I keep forgetting names & scales and locations. The movie would be Usual Suspects. The story line, the cast, what else do you need? The album would be definitely Black by Metallica.

N - Asterix and Cleopatra, The Exorcist and No Prayer for the Dying by Iron Maiden

Su - Losing my virginity by Richard Branson, Keep the Faith by Bon Jovi, Face Off-John Travolta and Nicolas Cage.

3. Which celebrity would you most like to slap?

Sh - Mariah Carey. I wouldn't stop at that. I'd tie her up and make her listen to her own music until she bursts into tears and promises never to do it again.

A - I'd take over from Shehan and show Mariah that the world ain't such a cruel place, is she fat or is she curvy that's the question. As far as slapping goes I'd have to go with the Vengaboys.

OP - Justin Timberlake. He's such a P—

N - A prominent local teledrama actress who's always crying on camera.

Su - Mike Tyson because of his fight with Holyfield. If you are losing at least lose gracefully. There will always be another time.

4. If the band played Survivor, who would you vote off first and why?

A - It'll probably be Niroshan. Something about those eyes tells me he'll outlive us. The fact that he's in better shape than the rest of us has a little something to with it.

Sh - Niroshan. With our survival skills - I'd say food would be a problem. Niroshan has the least meat on him. I'm sure I could rip a few steaks off OP's belly.

OP - Niroshan. Well he's the fittest among us. I know from the rest of the buddies one would be busy getting high, the next would be busy on his phone and the other would be too busy distributing his brochures. So therefore I think I would have better chances of winning the million dollars.

N - Shehan K. His goatee would start to smell.

Su - I'd jump off myself because I wouldn't want to vote anyone else off.

5. Favourite local band?

A - Anyone who has the guts to express themselves and be different gets my vote, Call em Krebs, Wildfire, Dejavu, Bathiya, Stigs or Indie Square we're all one big rock n' roll party. But I also miss a band called Brown Boogie Nation.

Sh - Awkward question. Don't want to offend anyone. I enjoy Krebs, De Ja and Wildfire, but personally, I'd pick an acoustic band called Voyage - who unfortunately, don't play as often as they should. I'm also a big fan of Stigmata. Did I miss anyone?

OP - All bands who play covers of Metallica & Iron Maiden.

N - Presently it's Wildfire. They have brought about a new wave of music to the Sri Lankan scene.

Su - Wildfire are a very tight band, good performers and when you watch them you know they are having a lot of fun.

6. Romesh Kaluwitharana or Kumar Sangak-kara?

A-Kumar has been a pretty good find but Kalu Kolla still rocks in my book.

Sh-Tough call. Heart says Kalu. Head says Kumar.

OP-Definitely Romesh Kaluwitharana. Short and sweet

N-Kumar S. Simple reason; he's from the next best school to S. Thomas's.

Su-I think Kalu should stay because he's a fighter. He always has a brave face on the field.

7. What will you be doing in 2035???

A - I'd be living in Sicily, writing the screenplay for my next movie - when I get a call from our manager informing me that we are to be inducted in to the rock 'n' roll hall of fame for the 2nd time.

Sh - Thanking the academy for my lifetime achievement award. Either that, or sitting on some uninhabited planet, writing my memoirs.

OP - I think I'll have my own band. The line up in mind is Kirk Hammett on lead guitar. Dave Grohl on drums. Eddie Vedder on vocals. Fleas on bass and myself on rhythm guitar.

N - One of two things. I'll either be six feet under or will be having my hair long and be listening to all the Independent Square records that we've made.

Su - I should own a state of the art recording studio producing rock bands.

8. Your greatest achievement of the last five years.

A - Ah, there are too many to mention, but in a nutshell the band, album, Spinning Unrest, not going to see the Vengaboys in concert, getting up for work everyday at 4 a.m.

Sh - Figuring out which one was AJ and which one was Howie B.

OP - Learning to play guitar. through my personal experiences and also seeing the great guitar legends playing, I have started to perceive the guitar in so many different dimensions and the enormous possibilities.

N - Joining Independent Square and being able to play the Hard Rock I always dreamt of. Meeting an extraordinary, inspiring human being, Mr. Janaka Rodrigo. His life was tragically cut short a few months ago. I truly miss him.

Su - My greatest achievement over the last five years was building my own house.

9. Is heavy metal evil?

A - Of course it is, it wouldn't be cool if it weren't and that's what makes the world go round.

Sh - Yes. But so is Michael learns to Rock.

OP - It's the next best thing after religion.

N - Not only Heavy Metal even Christy Lane can be evil if you think so.

Su - Nothing that makes somebody happy can be evil. If you watch people at a Bon Jovi concert for example, you can see how much joy the fans get out of being in that stadium.

10. What's the best thing about Sri Lanka?

A - It'd have to be the ladies, I mean you could look anywhere in the world but Sri Lankan women are more intelligent, stimulating and gosh are they beautiful. Oh and Kottu rottis and the beaches are pretty cool too.

Sh - Beaches, Pirated CDs, and Pilawoos. Everything else is a mess.

OP - All the violent action. You feel like you're in a Hollywood blockbuster movie.

N - Being alive man.

OP - I absolutely love Sri Lanka. I think the lifestyle here is amazing. I have lived in the UK and Spain and still prefer the life I live here. Any place is amazing if you decide to make the most of the it.

CLOTHES LINE

Global winds of change 

As the process of globalization progresses, the wind of western culture in the name of "Global culture" is blowing across every country. Consequently, sub-cultures existing in 3rd world counties are being wiped out. Because of globalization today, we have "global stars" instead of "national stars" for example, Backstreet Boys are popular even in a remote village of our island.

Today there are organizations in the world which denounce the process of globalization. The repercussions of globalization can be averted if all the world leaders arrive at a compromise about the matters which affect the whole world. I think, such a compromise will meet all the aspirations of the world community.

Namal Fernando

Identifying right and wrong

Do you know who teenagers are? Do you know who elders are? Do you know a teenager will become an elder one day?

Dear teenager, there are many differences between these two age groups. Both occupy different biological, physical and social levels in society. Their thoughts and ideals also differ. Teenagers are very susceptible to changes either towards the wrong or the right. Teenagers can easily be moulded into fine shaped structures or irregular shaped structures. Children must be guided (towards the good). You are correct about elders being wrong at times and sometimes they cannot be corrected. Because they are stbborn and cannot be moulded like teenagers. All adults who do wrong, do so because they have not had the proper guidance or love when they were young. Elders of their time kept their mouths shut. That's why wise elders pave the way for a succesfull and respectful life of children/teenagers by correcting (in your words blaming) them. What we have to do is to educate and identify what is wrong and what is right

From an Elder in Aluthgama.

Nobody's child

A handicapped child is a special blessing from God so I'm told. Do you realize that I am very special in God's sight? 

I wish my Dad had lived because he really loved me. 

Cee Jay 

Does it exist? 

Mary Anne 

Friends and friendship

Acquiring a good friend is difficult, and maintaining friendship needs wisdom and cleverness. Friendship demands understanding, tolerance and a genuine interest in the friend's welfare. Friends are fun and are the best in the world. We can judge a person's character by the company he/she has. Without friends we feel lonely, miserable and unhappy. "No man is useless, while he has a friend" - friendship offers comfort in distress, great joy in times of boredom and loneliness. Always listen to your friend and encourage him/her to talk and ask questions which he/she will enjoy answering. Appreciate your friend's achievements and share her joyous moments. Respect your friend's opinions and ideas. Loyalty is faithfulness, it means honouring confidence.

Always be there for your friend and that may lead her/him to be with you. So, let friendships last forever!!!

Farza F

He couldn't say goodbye

On my way to hospital I was planning to bug my cousin for getting us worried, but when I got to the hospital my heart sank, my stomach started rumbling. My cousin had been operated and was sent to the ICU. No one was allowed to see him. After a long night we were allowed to see him the next morning. 

On my way to the ICU I was full of hope that my cousin would talk to me but when I got there I just broke down and cried. My cousin had a tube in his mouth, so he couldn't talk to me. He was trying so hard to breathe I wish I could have helped him. He looked so stubborn I just wanted to shake him and tell him to snap out of it, stop kidding around, to wake up and talk to me. I just held him and I told him never to give up but I guess he was too tired and sleepy to listen to me. He was so cold when I held him, I just wanted to warm him up but I couldn't 'cause that evening my cousin left us without even saying a "good bye". My cousin's smile and memory will always be stored in my heart. 

Dear cousin, you will always be my tender heart and my angel. 

Veronica

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