Beme me up Scotty

Where would be without social media? How would you show all our friends what we had for lunch? How would people like the photo of your dog with its head stuck in a flower pot? Before you click away in disgust at my geriatric, prehistoric, anti-technology stance, this is not the case. In fact the topic of this blog is in fact a new social media app that I have been using. Beme

What is Beme? For the uninitiated, which is likely many, a quick potted history of Beme. Beme is a social media platform created by former Tumblr chief engineer, Matt Hackett, and Youtube star/filmmaker, Casey Neistat. Launched in July 2015 for iOS, with and Android version in the works, the app offers users to step back from the highly editised representations that many individuals present to the world via current social media apps. Initially the app was called Be Me, but had to change its name due to conflicts with another company, which is a shame as this is what is at the heart of the app.

‘How does Beme work?’ I hear you ask. Well, to post a beme, which is a four second video, you simply hold the screen camera of your iPhone up to something, a wall, your chest, or use your fingers. This activates the proximity sensor in you phone and switches on the front camera leaving your screen blank while you film. When you are done the video is automatically uploaded to your profile for fellow Bemers to see. There is no option to edit, or reshoot, or even frame. It is raw and real. Bemes shot in the same location or in quick succession will link together to form short narratives, similar to Snapchat Stories.

Now I know this will not be for everyone, but I am loving it. It is unobtrusive and does not interfere with what I am doing, whether that is lunch with friends or just strolling about. It is not possible to see how many followers others have or know how many views they have had, so there is no competitive nature, that is so rife with the likes of Facebook and Twitter. I for example as of writing, having been using Beme for about two weeks 609 people have watched my bemes for a total of just over 12 and half hours. I have know way of knowing if that is a lot, or how that compares to others, and I don’t care. In fact, the only way to let someone know you appreciate their stuff is to take a quick reaction selfie as you watch their feed. As a side note most of my reactions come from some crazy Swedish guy with a skull tattoo on his hand. He just smiles in them.

As for watching and following, for the most part I just watch random bemes, although I follow a few specific people whose bemes have caught my attention, and what you get is a glimpse into people’s lives. Once you have watched someone’s beme it is then gone from your feed and you cannot watch it again. It is gone and fleeting, blink at you might miss it.

And this is what I love about Beme, social media without the judging, without the time consuming process of editing and re-shooting everything, sharing snippets and moments. Sometimes I’ll just film bits of my day as I go about my business, other times I might spend a day quoting films, on one occasion I put on a puppet show. The point is it doesn’t matter what you do the pressure is off.

Unfortunately that may be the exact reason it never catches on. For the most part social media users crave the attention that likes, follows and retweets garner. Taking part in some narcissistic reality game. I don’t know that Beme will ever challenge the giants of social media, but I like it for its quirky, offbeat nature and would recommend you give it a whirl.

Don’t forget to like/share/comment/pin/follow if you enjoyed this blog.

Click to go to Beme website and find me and add at https://beme.com/anonymousjakob

Tasty Treats in Taman Desa

Like any good married couple we have designated a specific evening of the week in which to spend time with each other. As any successful couple knows, especially those with children, spontaneity is wildly overrated, and is really only something to be dabbled in by those of you who are under 30. You young people will one day look back and wonder why you ever bothered with such frivolity.

Anyway, my wife and I dutifully got spruced up, well put on some reasonably clean clothes and set off for a dinner date, heading for what is one of Taman Desa’s best restaurants, and perhaps one of the best Japanese BBQ restaurants in KL. Maruhi Sakaba is tucked away in a corner with no clear marking and only the smell of great food and the noise hustle and bustle of a busy eatery. The decor is taking minimalist to extremes, and is either stark industrial or unfinished, depending on how generous you are being. However, it all adds to the charm and the place is clean and the staff are as smiley and friendly as can be, quickly seating us on the still warm stools of leaving customers.

The menu is simple, yet intriguing, with such dishes as: Wing, Lamb, Belly and a host of Japanese dishes that I couldn’t pronounce.

Essentially though it is like a Japanese tapas with everything served on little metal dishes and ordered as individual items. There are other options, such as soups and the like, but well, we just love meat on a stick. As usual we just ordered a bunch of dishes, safe in the knowledge that they will happily keep it coming if need be. Tapas style is undoubtedly one of our favourite style meals as you get to try so many things. That said, we have been stopped by waiting staff who felt we had ordered too much food on two, yes two, occasions. First time was a traditional Spanish style tapas, where they suggested we didn’t need to add anything to our order when we realise we had forgotten to order garlic prawns. The second was in a Lebanese restaurant, where we should have known we were pushing our luck when they pulled over another table. Far from being offended, we saw this as a challenge. We had the last laugh over the Spaniards, however, we left the Lebanese with a large doggy-bag and our heads hung in shame. Anyway, I digress, back to dinner.

First up, after the obligatory Asahi, was the Salmon sashimi, beautifully fresh and every bit as good as you’d get in a traditional sushi place.

Next up, were the chicken wings, which might not look the most appetizing, but are rich in taste all the same.

This was followed up by one of the highlights, prawn skewers, these are so good.

Then for a little variety and to show we are not complete heathens we ordered some asparagus………..wrapped in bacon.

Just as we were beginning to think we might have finished we spied this tasty morsel on the table next to us. After enduring a brief political lecture from an elderly Chinese man he informed me the dish was called Tsukune, made from minced chicken and spices. Thoroughly delicious, maybe my favourite.

Finally, to finish off, we had a second helping of the pork belly, under the guise that I had forgotten to photograph it first time around.

By this point my wife was trying to pour my Asahi into her bottle, having previously insisted she didn’t need anymore. On this note we paid the bill, which came to about 70rm (15 usd), departed and headed home….via the Thai restaurant for dessert.

I cannot recommend this place enough, the food is amazing, the staff are lovely and it has a cracking ambience. Go. Eat. Enjoy.

Address: Seputeh 6A, Faber Plaza, Jalan Desa Jaya, Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia