Now, i'll have to watch the NBA finals .

All the best Manish.

Manish,
I'm sure you intended to say ....."the desis in the metropolis of Stonewall

on a related note, check out New Yorker's Steve Coll's blog on Nigeria

As we say in Bombay to those who patronize us ....Chai'la

THis is so confusing.

Blood is no longer thicker than whatever.

Thanks Guys! Now I know why "I miss my India".
It put the camp in campy.

Love it!!!

That's what my mom says whenever i go home and the TV breaks down - Fix it beta

Just want to confirm:
Are these the actual voices of the perps or are they simulated from transcipts?

The revolution is definitely denimized .

Doughnuts do not belong in Bombay - except for Christmas time in Bandra.

Ryan's comment on the eyebrows was borderline discriminatory.
Completely unrequired commenting from Ryan-the-runt. Its so typical - "if my facebook friends laugh at my jokes all of America should find it funny". Get your head of your butt Ryan. I find ot ironic that Adam is flaunting it while Ryan squirms with all the rumors about his sexuality.

what no tattoos?

Last night Adam L. was channelling much more marginal - Antony & the Johnsons.

So, when do i get to see Adam's real friends and family ringside on AI?


Anoop's got to push it in some way - i am not sure which? Some new kind of Indo-America chikna - see-thru kurta, perhaps with vintage levis and barefoot? This thing is driving me crazy -coz the desi can sing!

Yes, Anoops should stick to the slow stuff - he has the chops to hit right notes and he has great phrasing - now i know why he cites Take 6 as an influence- even listening to them can get complicated. He is the one guy on the shw who comes acroos as a tryly talented amateur. About image - I think he shouldn't wear jackets at all - on his slim frame the loose one just looks like too big and i donl;t think he should try anything fitted. Too filmy. I think just out-shirt/polo t-shirt and jeans will do. And he should wear his hair shorter and flatter . And i think the leaning on the upright mike , eyes closed soulful stuff "looks" best on TV. Any attempt at owning the stage is going to comes across goofy.

Me thinky saturation is a good thing.
Got to spread the net far and wide - but these kids of politicians/journalist/society types writing because they think they are in the right place at the right time is a little jaded.

Some reviewer called it the birth of Hindustani soul.

I think he took a calculated risk that picking THE song that every desi (esp. first gen) would recognize and therefore listen and therefore vote for.
I think he should have done Man in the Mirror - isn't there a Gandhi line in it somewhere? or was it the video - anyhows .
And why did he dress like he did ? And that puffed up hair - swear i thought it was younger Vinod Khanna.
Time to light the agarbatis.

Looks like A.I. went for a new demographic and got it - the macho man.
RC : So, what will your colleagues say about you getting thru ?
Sarver: I thought they'd think i was a sissy or summing ...
Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh!

Bess,
Damn!

...and just as i begin to gray, big bodied black hair will become the rage . Damn!

...that's why we stayed home to watch Om Shanti Om last evening. The unpretentious silliness warmed my heart.

....the mention of "sorpotel" on Leno - made my day !

India’s going green :)

Hulkistan

OK - should this be on my Amazon non-fic list as part of the year end book splurge? I'll take your word.

I have Dark Side and Forever War in there.
Was thinking of Bishop's Daughter but i think the juiciest parts were in the New Yorker.

Shimani - i'm sure there were townies sensitive enough to send the drivers to pick up the bai/dudhwalla/tutionteacher the day of the train bombings. With a little baksheesh wrapped in the driver's fist , so said drivers could get past the police checkpoint at Jacob Circle.

OMGG!

It has Samantha Morton and Emily Watson . So dour happens.
I found myself watching the movie in 2 parallel modes - one as a drooling Kauffman fan and the other continiously questioning the indulgence.

(spoiler alert, although in a CK film , does it matter?)

I thought Catherine Keneer was fantastic - esp the scene where she is packing to leave. And the fact she never appears again.

Found the movie a tad long - did we have to have both parents die? And one other parent?

The doctor appointments were all genius.
And the end , even though it was telling and telling, really drew me in - just the raw truth.

Genius.....and every actor was spot on...except the two loverbirds - that make out scene was so fake.

Nice .

Ok - save-the-world-nerd alert - what is the circumference of the rangoli ? Just want to make sure not too much rice and rajma is going waste.

Chachaji,
Let's just say they felt like coming to Bombay - like, throw in a 'salaam' and 'chai' with Amitabhji and Shotgun after the exams. Just unwind, make whoopee in shudh Hindi. And maybe squeeze in a local call to their uncle's didi who is typist for the railway boss. Jeez, what were they thinking, yaar? The bloody scoundrels deserve a beating. no?

So, how do they decide who digs where on the moon?
Actually, i am not even sure there is a 'they'.

Seriously. Will the lunar landscape start to look like a hi-tec version of those base camps around Everest?

PW,
All i am saying is that in India, given its unique strain of diversity, it is entirely possible to penetrate the consciousness of your fellow sufferer even if you do not speak/understand his/her language.

Suresh,
"Pompous" is your "Joe the Plumber", IMHO.

Suresh,
I know you are smarter than to have made the “English is the language of the elite" statement directly.

Phrases like "...all discussions between people who are themselves not deprived..." are unwarranted.

Suresh,
Can we put the english-is-a-language-of-the-elite issue to rest? Please.

Haven't read TWT. but indulge me.

Is there a lot of Hindi in the mix?
Would a good translation sound more authentic?

I think we need a war on stupidity in the land!
Did you see those angry people at the McCain rally? That one guy just stopped short of firing shots in the air. And, oh yes, they showed an African American man get up and ask a question at a McCain rally. It was too supplicant to be real.

Is it just me or has SP's hair started to look a little washed out ?

While on details - i think Obama kinda B/Sed talking up his tax relief to businesses. He stated that majority of businesses' tax base is 250K a year and so they will fall into the tax relieved category. I think he is way off on that one. Now that one stopped me stirring the dhal.

Thanks V V.

Another thing I must throw in is why Obama pulled back on asking us to tighten our belts. Too cautious to upset a winning trajectory , perhaps? On the ther hand, it was a great "look a guy in the eye" moment that I think would have nailed it. We are adults , for chrissakes. he did say something about individuals conserving energy - but not enuf.

Some of the stuff they spouted, any one could have predicted ten second before they laucnhed into it. Afghanistan, taxes, experience,earmarks (what is the origin of this word??)., blah , blah

For the citizen who is not defaulting on a mortgage and has decent health insurance - I am not sure how JM's housing plan would work (potential defaulters in their n'hood would get relief but not the potential non-defaulters? Huh?) BUT i sure understood Obama's health plan.

But i must say, Obama's campaign is callibrated like a Swiss watch.

As David Brooks said, in mock disgust, why not start heading to out to Mt. Rushmore already?

What will they teach in Harvard Business School now?

The students in their last senester of MBA Finance must be feeling a lot like about-to-become-retirees with punctured 401ks.

Khoofia.
Toothless - possibly negative sounding adj.
crack addicted - definitely negative connotation
trannie - ???

Funny when FZ was interviewing Karzai , i could almost see one them saying "Come on yaar, you know what I mean, what is this altu faltu pc stuff we are talking you and i...chalo let's get some chai ...arre chokra ek chai cutting "

Has Fareed Zakaria gone out a limb in going after Palin? Not that i'm complianing - but its really refreshing to see some straight up opinion from someone who is, at least as i see it, part of MSM.

Shallow Thinker,
A lot of us find flowers and dogs and scandanavian furniture pleasing to look at - even if we don't fuck them.

Darn! I wish Katie had pushed McCain a tad more. Make him say something impulsive and stoopid - and end his campaign.

Why are we assuming that average Joe is going to take the trouble of parsing SP's gibberish?
Here rabble rousing hooks are still in deep.

Props to Asif for not allowing Conan to own the easy flying carpet follow up.

I liked Maher's point too ; that the GOP keeps feeding the people what they want to hear, when they are in fact know that its hubris.
And IMHO, Roseanne should be barred.

For a moment, i thought the dolls had snakes draped aroud their torsos. Really.

Ad is apt.

Love these side stores about the games.
Another interesting article i read related to the 'pics was the NYT one about the proselytizing Korean coach of the US archery team. He even baptized a couple of guys on the team. Touche?

How many professors look like that?
Ben Kinglsley looks like the same character in every movie.

I undertsand the character in the book was a real "dying animal" not some preening stud.
Too much to get past the mktg peeps - what if Consuela had been attracted to someone like Richard Griffiths, perhaps?

Bess,
I started on Hakawati and i could do without the folksy-tall-tale distractions because the rest is good.
The author appeared in one of the episodes of Titlepage.tv

This house you describe is in New Delhi? And Gymkhana?? Chota peg anyone?

No wonder she does not like the internets. She might see pictures of New Delhi.

...tis worse when the borrower does end up borrowing a book, reads a page, loses interest, decides that if it did not interest him/her why on earth would you want it back? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I once spied one of my books scribbled on by the borrower's kid.

Biggest in the world?
You saying the Kumbh has no music an performing arts?

OT - would like to read your review of "netherland" - amazing amount of cricket details , it even contains a mention of cricinfo's website!

India needs a thousand Roys.
Questioning corrupt authority - however dramatic - is the order of the day.

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeez....Anglo-Indians = Catholics NOT!!! And you guys lived in Bombay???

Did you read the Murray story in the Guardian?

That was a bad movie.
BTW, while on the topic of Youth, have you seen Best of Youth - a two part Italian movie? If not, i reccomend it.

Probably realted....Titlepage.tv episode 5, the most engaging one so far, had Aleksandar Hemon and others. He had a lot to say about immigrant writing.

"...Or for anyone who’s seen their domestic staff chatting with friends in the nearby park while casting occasional glances at the house, and wondered about the nature of the gossip being exchanged"

Nice!

Great memories.
The movie house i saw it in was called El Dorado, which now houses a bunch of "coaching" classes.

Besides Salman Rushdie can be rearranged as Shalimar Nudes.

Looks like Magic Realism is back. Like Stan Smith Adidas.

Does he sound as androgynous in person as he does on the radio?

Samir,
who asked you?

update...
trio scaling GG bridge

Thanks Runa.
It would be interesting to get the honest opinions of ABCs v/s CBCs on this issue - SF probably has a decent mix of both.

Why don't they just divide the Olympics between several venues in Europe? That would maintain the Olympic spirit and send PROC a message.

Can't wait to see what happens in SF on Wednesday.

Umber Desi,
How good is the Fresh Direct stuff?

BTW, i got the nicest chicken vindaloo from Whole Foods the other day ......from their 7.99/lb section. It started with the quality of the chicken meat. And a distinctive taste of freshly ground pepper/cloves.

Talking of cooking fundas....This totally generic recipe made it to the NYT!!

Manish,
This is his first true speech that has people taking notice. He started with the issue that is closest to his heart - the black white divide.
There is lots of time for him to work all of us into the discussion. But i am glad he has raised the bar as far as national political discourse is concerned.

Taking the opposite tact , to use a title/phrase/slang that was colloquial only to Catholic Konkani, would have resulted in more authenticity right off the bat by zeroing in on a sliver of India's populace.
For example, at least in Goa, Catholics use the Portuguese derivative "kazaar" (like casamente) for wedding as opposed to "lagin" - which is used by a Hindu speaker and is closer to Marathi. Another is 'iskol (from escuela) v/s shaala " for school. There are many other examples .

Yes, Konkani is right.

Like Italian - language and people
Like French - language and people
Like Japanese - language and people

Where in heck did Tony come up with Konkans?

Jesus, the guy annoys me.

I am sorry to say, I hated the book.
There are some blanket statments - i'm paraphrasing - "all konkans live in huts", "konkan men do not know how to treat a woman".
I was shocked at what was allowed to pass for a description of Indian history and culture that I hold very dear.
It feels opportunistic . Since he was already semi-famous with Whiteman i think his agent thought let's throw a multi-culti one out while the going is good.
Deep down, i almost think Tony hates his being Indian.

What is most embarassing is when someone you do know becomes a Amway cultie, and they already have your phone number. Ay! Caramba!

borked?
Now i really feel old :-)

WE DO NOT SOUND LIKE THAT!

Btw, why are comments closing early on other posts?

Hey,
If they get the TErminator's last name right, they got no excuse!

Reading the list of options and add-ons on their website is an exercise in humility.

Didn't know where else to report this:

Trying to get to ub from an internet cafe in Goa came up with a "not authorized" msg.....

The guy looks unwell.

Did you see VM on Letterman? What is he trying to be? A poor man's Depp?

The news headline on the left don't pop like they used to when they were blue on white.

Interestingly, John Pareles of NYT preferred the instrumental stuff at the live show last week.

Music:
Nitin Sawhney
Midival Punditz
Cornershop

Movies:
Sammy and Rosie

For canon's sake:
ruth prawer jhabvala-merchant-ivory

Last night's local news here in L.A predicted this will THE release of the year.

After fifteen year in Amreeka, i still have trouble with emphasis. Second syllable is the general rule, I tell myself . Works fine when i tell the man i am off to Yo-semite for some weekend pho-tography, but he never understand why i need to work on my cho-reography. Sigh!

Liked your reviews.

But, don't know if i'd go with the "thick Indian accent". As opposed to "thin American accent?".
Esp. in the light of the 7-11 dust-up.

A few nights ago Marianne and Angelina were both on Charlie Rose. A lot of mutual admiration was dispersed, but Marianne point blank said she would never return to Pakistan. Marianne, more than Angelina, seemed the more world weary traveler.

Her main point was that by continuing her life and career she was was not caving in to the kidnappers.

Charlie did eventually try to elicit thier views on the causes of terrorism , etc but it all still felt like a plug for the movie. AJ tried, but at least once i sensed one of those pouty looks at the camera.

BTW MP's english accent is very French. From what I have seen AJ does more of Middle Eastern in the movie, kya?

Manish,
I thought the short with Ben Gazzara and Gena Rowlands was the pick of the lot.
I was expecting more of the pieces to have the tone of the very first one- literally what happens on Paris streets.

On the whole, a nice flick. Was SRO here in Santa Monica.

...to coincide with Grindhouse release, I guess

I love the laterite hue of the mud. Something very organic about it.

Thank you Manish.

Goa produces another variation called "urrack" which, come to think of it, sounds close to "Arrack"

The author of Moth Smoke has a story in the latest Paris Review.

Manish,
HAve you seen any PH/MD/KFC imitators? I am sure there are some interesting variaotions on name and menu

Pick some up every time i am in Goa. Some of them are borderline un-pc in a typically desi way. A little inconsistent on the sizes though.
And one time i picked up a gray one and when i opened it here in yell-a the sleeves were black!