CHOR BAZAAR WORKSHOP

Buildings of Disaster - Hotel Taj Mahal

2009-12-22T13:51:00.002-05:00

I recently came across this replica of the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai (aka Bombay). It is designed and manufactured by a company called Boym Partners Inc. They have a series of what they call the "Buildings of Disaster".

This one in particular is called, "Hotel Taj Mahal, Mumbai, November 26, 2008. The date might sound familiar to you as it commemorates the recent Mumbai attacks. Other "Buildings of Disaster", to name a few are:

Ford's Theater, Washington D.C. - April 14, 1865

The Watergate, Washington D.C. - June 17, 1974

The Pentagon - September 11, 2001

New Orleans Superdome - August 29, 2005

Moss NYC sells them with the following description:

Souvenirs of human tragedy, even violent events, are a part of our object-history. Each year hoards of people visit the battlefield of Gettysburg and the site of the car crash which killed Diana, Princess of Wales. Perhaps we embrace horror so that we may contain it, even feel some sense of control over it.

Buildings of Disaster is a project begun by Boym Design Studio in 1998. This thoughtful project is described by the creative director, Constantin Boym:

"The end of a century has always been a special moment in human history. While we no longer expect the world to come to an end, we all still share a particular mood of introspection, a desire to look back and to draw comparisons, and a sense of closure and faint hope. Above all, the end of the century is about memory. We think that souvenirs are important cultural objects which can store and communicate memories, emotions and desires. Buildings of Disaster are miniature replicas of famous structures where some tragic or terrible events happened to take place. Some of these buildings may have been prized architectural landmarks, others, non-descript, anonymous structures. But disaster changes everything. The images of burning or exploded buildings make a different, populist history of architecture, one based on emotional involvement rather than on scholarly appreciation. In our media-saturated time, the world disasters stand as people's measure of history, and the sites of tragic events often become involuntary tourist destinations."

How about the O.J. Car Chase (pictured above)? At $125 - $150 bucks a pop, these are surely expensive paper weights. Only the savvy miniature collector would realize that you didn't buy these on Canal Street in New York City for $5 bucks. So there should be no worries of someone trying to jack them.

Desi Spotting on the NYC Subway

2009-12-09T10:27:00.001-05:00

I was standing in the subway, during my morning commute and looked up from my paper to be faced by a red nosed Desi.

The folks at "Halls" are going multicultural with their funny advertisement campaign. Nothing like a little humor during the Flu season. The campaign utilizes various mug shots of sniffling folks, conquering their colds. Who better than a Desi guy with a "beak" nose?

I actually have a cousin with a similar nose, who was forced to adopt the nick name, "Poput", which means parrot in Hindi.

Here is a close up without the advertising. Very dignified. The detail of every chest hair and 5 'o clock shadow was captured. The rendition reminded me of the close up illustrations from the famous, Wren and Stimpy cartoons (below).

Now if the folks at Halls can just create a lozenge for the H1N1 virus.

The Filmi Secret Santa Project by Beth Loves Bollywood

2009-12-04T13:53:00.000-05:00

Our friend Beth aka, Beth Loves Bollywood has come up with an excellent concept for a Bollywood (Filmi) infused, "Secret Santa".

Here is the idea from her site or just click this LINK to her site:

Filmi Secret Santa program, and the rules are thus:

Presents will be virtual - collages, videos, song re-writes, new script ideas, poetic tributes, etc.
In order to get presents, you have to give at least one. That is, to be assigned as someone's recipient, you will also get a recipient. The number of presents each Santa gives is up to them.
Keeping your identity secret for a week or so somehow that seems more fun. Obviously this could be tricky over email, but I will happily run interference if you want to send me your present and I pass it on to your recipient with the sender's details omitted :)
To participate, email me your name, email address, and website if you have one. This information will be given only to whoever is assigned your name.
I also recommend submitting a small list of your favorite films, stars, etc, so that if the person who gets your name doesn't know you well, they'll have a starting point for their presents. Otherwise you might end up with a Tusshar Kapoor fan video, and no one wants that.
I will assign names by writing them on slips of paper and drawing them out of a hat. Old school!
OPTIONAL: if you are inspired to give a 3-D present, you certainly may, but doing so is by no means required. If you would like to go into the hat for potentially getting a 3-D present, you will have to give me your mailing address and be aware that someone else whom you may not know will also be given that information.

This should be a lot of fun and present some excellent Photoshop skills. We hope that there is a massive post of the presents.

Shah Rukh and Tag Heuer

2009-11-30T09:16:00.001-05:00

With Aishwarya Rai, doing Revlon advertisements, why not Shah Rukh Khan, doing Tag Heuer ads?

I was a bit surprised to stumble upon this advertisement in a global ad by Tag Heuer. Nothing like a "rockin" Bollywood hero, clenching some 35 mm photography film, to make me want to buy a Tag. The watch is called the, "Aquaracer Grand Date". Does this mean that Shah Rukh was taking some photography on a boat and has thing for the dark room? I hope that the watch glows in the dark, so that he isn't late for his, "Grand Date".

The quote is kind of cheesy as well. "I don't set goals because if I set goals I set limits for myself". That's right! Nothing like taking photography lessons to broaden your horizons, but you may ruin that film if you practice the tough guy moves on that poor film. It wasn't the film's fault that your amature photography skills were out of focus, kind of like this ad.

We have nothing against Shah Rukh, but what was Tag Heuer trying to tells everyone? Hey Indian folks! Your Bollywood hero likes our watches and so should you. Now go buy a camera and watch and look cool.

Victims Recall Mumbai Terror Attacks

2009-11-23T10:39:00.001-05:00

An Indian woman walked past a wall pock-marked with bullet holes opposite the now deserted Nariman House-cultural and religious centre of the ultra orthodox Jewish Chabad-Lubavitch movement in Mumbai. --PHOTO: AFP

As we near the one year anniversary of the Mumbai Attacks on November 26, 2008, victims recall the horror. Link to article in Straits Times.

Facebook Choice of Name

2009-11-17T13:19:00.004-05:00

A random post but interesting choice of name.

Facebook just sent me an email to share their enhanced advertising opportunities. I couldn't help but notice the name of the person that "liked" the example advertisement, above. "Priya Gupta" and not Jon or Jane Doe. Looks like some Desi developers got their way?

Since when does Artisan cheese come in a Bento Box?

It reminded me of an old post about Sur Name T-shirts

Surname T-shirts

2007-11-14T09:28:00.002-05:00

This reminded me of an article that I had read in the Onion that brought back childhood memories of being distraught, because I couldn't find my name on a carnival key chain.

Here is the Onion article:

Indian-American Child Having Difficulty Finding Bicycle License Plate With His Name On It

March 20, 2002 Issue 38•10 (The Onion)

HAYWARD, CA— Dinesh Parekh, 9, continues to struggle to find a bicycle license plate with his name on it, the Indian-American child reported Monday. "This is the third store I've checked today," said a dejected Parekh, exiting a Toys "R" Us near his Hayward home. "Derrick, Diane, Dillon and Dylan, Dirk... no Dinesh." Parekh, who has pedaled his brand-new Schwinn to more than a dozen stores during his three-week search, said he plans to ask his mother to drive him to the KB Toys in San Leandro next weekend.

Okay wipe your tears now, here we have a company called, kissmetshirts. Another Cafepress company that allows for more confusion than clarity. I attribute this to the fact that Cafepress companies don't actually produce their shirts and can basically use any graphic they want. Production makes someone really think about their concept.

Kissmetshirts takes surnames and integrates a shamrock with you country or origin's flag colors. Here is where the confusion lies. Are these t-shirts representative of the Ireland's diverse culture or is the shamrock a universal symbol that is shared by all?

Maybe there are similarities between the shamrock and the om symbol? We might be able to attribute this to cultural symbology. Icons or symbols that represent a community. Do these logos belong on a t-shirt? Sure why not but they tend to be one liners and highly exploited. The irony in this thread are that the Irish and Indian flags share the same colors and shared issues with the British, but that might be too deep.

Maybe Dinesh Parekh, can persuade his mother to buy him a shamrock shirt with his surname and get props from his Irish friends at school?Maybe the folks at Cafepress can develop custom online bicycle license plates for personalization? Maybe we should create Om t-shirts that say, "Namaste my name is Johnson". That would be pretty whack.

Mumbai-based Kimaya to New York City

2009-11-17T11:43:00.001-05:00

Mumbai's, Kimaya, Fashion House is to plant some seeds in NYC. While places are shuttering their doors, Kimaya is seizing the opportunity.

Kimaya currently has locations in Delhi, Dubai and Mumbai.

From Mumbai to Madison Avenue! (New York Post - November 17, 2009)

Except for a few stubborn locations where landlords continue to ask for the moon, Madison's vacant storefronts are filling up one after another.

The latest retail deal brings something new to the prime shopping stretch north of 57th Street -- not another Italian, French or British name, but one from India.

Kimaya, that nation's leading fashion house, has just inked for 4,500 square feet on two floors at 717 Madison Ave. between 63rd and 64th streets.

The asking rent was said to be $2 million a year, although Prudential Douglas Elliman's retail leasing chief, Faith Hope Consolo, who brokered the deal, declined to confirm that figure.

Mumbai-based Kimaya sells couture fashion, eveningwear, bridal wear, jewelry and accessories by lead ing designers from India, Pakistan, Malaysia and South Africa, as well as its own pri vate label. It will take over the ground- and sec ond-floor spaces formerly occupied by E. Braun and Jo seph Martin.

"Kimaya is poised to be one of the most exciting new entries on the New York fashion scene because it is absolutely unique," Consolo said. steve.cuozzo@nypost.com

Send a Smile Campaign - "Blue Peter"

2009-11-10T10:04:00.008-05:00

Listening to the BBC's, Asian Network, I came across an excellent campaign to collect unwanted t-shirts to be used as hospital gowns for children.

Operation Smile and the BBC have teamed up to form, the "Send A Smile" campaign, which aims to help and provide life-changing operations for hundreds of children with cleft lips and palates in India.

Here is the response from the folks at Blue Peter in regards to participation, outside of the UK (edit November 17, 2009).

If you would like to help with our appeal and want to send in gowns from outside the UK, this is the address they should be sent to:

Kate McKeand
Operation Smile UK
4th Floor, Horatio House
77 Fulham Palace Road
London
W6 8JA

(not freepost unfortunately)

If you would like more information about our Send A Smile appeal please
click on this link
.
Best wishes from all of us at Blue Peter.

Here is a link for gown making instructions.

Unload those unwanted t-shirts for something significant.

Trueroots - Tata - Call India Commercial

2009-07-16T14:42:00.005-04:00

Yes, it's another post on an Indian commercial. This one is from, Trueroots International, a calling service from Tata Communications.

It is a clever commercial on stereotypical Desi-ness (Indian). It's an exercise in defining an Indian in 90 seconds.

The famous head nod for yes and no is perfect.

Well done TATA!

High School Musical gets down to Bollywood

2009-10-23T13:02:00.001-04:00

I have not seen the movie, "High School Musical" but this is a pretty good editing job. The film editor almost seamlessly added the Bollywood lyrics of "Doom Taana" from the movie, "Om Shanti Om".

Here is the excerpt from the YouTube post, which sums it up:

High School Musical meets Bollywood. A BREN EDIT

It's really interesting that HSM is shot exactly like a Bollywood Movie. Guy meets girl, guy sings with girl, guy has inner conflict, guy loses girl... and last but not least, Guy wins girl back!

Here is the original, "Item Number", where Deepika Padukon and Shahruk Khan dance their hearts out.

Some of you may remember the Newark Airport debacle with Shahruk Khan?

President Obama's Diwali Message

2009-10-16T10:07:00.006-04:00

President Obama had recognized the Hindu in his Inaugural Address and now acknowledges one of the biggest Hindu holidays.

Here are some great photos and videos from the SAJA Forum who covered the 2009 Diwali Celebrations in the White House.

I have been reading some interesting posts on Facebook regarding the celebrations:

J.F. - Happy Diwali Actually there have been White House Diwali celebrations for the past 6 years - the George W Bush administration began the tradition in 2002...

J.F. - And according to Rediff, the Obama Diwali was something of an afterthought that came about after a lot of community pressure: Rediff Article

S.S. - The ceremony marked the first-time that Diwali was observed in The White House itself. The Bush Administration traditionally celebrated Diwali in the Indian Treaty Room in the Old Executive Office Building, next to the main White House. And, yes, that's a different kind of Indian.

Thank you Mister President and Sal Mubarak to you and your family, even if you were pressured into doing this for the South Asian Community.

HAPPY DIWALI + NEW YEAR 2066

2009-10-15T18:38:00.001-04:00

Happy Diwali and New Year to everyone!

In a selfless act, I am going to offer you spam now, buy the best Desi (Indian) inspired t-shirt on the planet. We know we would make a hot Diwali present for the cool people in your life.

Even if you don't buy a t-shirt, we still hope that you have a great Diwali and a fantastic New Year.

Thank you,

Chor Bazaar Team.

Happy Birthday Gandhiji! Google Style

2009-10-02T09:33:00.001-04:00

Today marks the 140th Birthday of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Most people will realize this when they open Google's search engine today.

Looks like the artist got a little conceptual with the graphics.

The background stems from "Khādī", which is an Indian handspun and hand-woven cloth. The likely raw materials may be cotton, silk, or wool, which are spun into threads on a spinning wheel called a charkha. Khadi was part of Gandhi's, "Swadeshi Movement", which would free India and today's Bangladesh and Pakistan from British Cotton.

Today people can find a excellent array of Khadi wear at Fab India. I own a bunch of Fab India, Khadi Kurtas, but enough of that for now...

The other interesting aspect of the Gandhi-Google image, is letter "G" boys and girls! "G", is the letter of the day...brought to you by Sesame Street... I never thought of Gandhi's head as the letter G, but it may take a while to get out of my head.

My last observation is the Far East Asian Ink drawing style, of the G, sorry...Gandhi's head and the typography. Is there a connection between, Far East Asian, Ink Drawings and Gandhi's peaceful, "Non-Cooperation Movement? I certaintly felt peaceful, when Google's search engine popped up to reveal Gandhiji's Birthday. I wanted to grab a bottle of Sumi Ink and a paintbrush and make a Google image for, Che Guevara, who's birthday is June 14th.

All kidding aside, Happy Birthday Gandhiji! (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) No need for me to tell you what an impact he caused in this world.

Update: The design was created by someone from RISD, hence my alumni!

From the Alumni Blog:

Jennifer Hom ‘09 IL, a web designer/illustrator at Google, is responsible for today’s Google Doodle of Mahatma Ghandi - it’s Jen’s first doodle for Google. Nice work, Jen!

Red Baraat and the Chile Pepper Festival - Brooklyn

2009-10-05T18:34:00.000-04:00

The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens hosted their annual Chile Pepper Festival this past Saturday, October 3rd. There were a series of musical artists featured at the festival, but the headliners took the cake....or should I say the Jalebi?

Apart from a rain soaked event, these cats, called the Red Baraat drew everyone that was left of a dwindling crowd. Folks couldn't resist the Baraat flavor infused with Bangin' Bhangra 'n' Brass Funk, as they say on their Twitter account.

Mind you, the Bhangra beats are not for those with heart problems, try 200 beats per minute which makes the "screw in the light bulb" move in Bhangra dancing, insane! Regardless the ethnically, mixed crowd was definitely entertained and getting down. Even the staff at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens couldn't resist.

The leader of this crew was Sunny Jain, who stated that this group was inspired by his wedding four years ago. For anyone that has been in a Baraat, it is hell of a party were you will see that grumpy old auntie or uncle get down to the beat of a Dhol. One of my favorite Dhol masters are the Dhol Foundation.

I purchased their CD, which they just released, but nothing beats these guys live. I doubt that these guys would do a wedding? If you are considering a Baraat with some flavor and these guys don't do weddings, then buy their CD and drop it in the system. The Baraat procession won't know what hit them and I mean this in a good way. I wish I had known about these guys for my Brother's wedding.

The Crew:

Sunny Jain - dhol / drumset / percussion / MC
Rohin Khemani - tavil / doumbek / percussion

Tomas Fujiwara - drumset / percussion
Arun Luthra - soprano sax
Mike Bomwell - baritone sax
Sonny Singh - trumpet / vocals
MiWi La Lupa - bass trumpet
Dave Smith - trombone
John Altieri - sousaphone / rap

From their site:

Red Baraat is the first and only dhol ‘n’ brass band of its kind in the States, melding the infectious North Indian rhythm Bhangra with brass funk and expressing the human spirit through improvisation and a powerful live sound. Comprised of dhol (double-sided, barrel-shaped North Indian drum slung over one shoulder), percussion and horns, this NYC-based group plays fresh originals, as well as traditional Punjabi songs and Bollywood numbers with a dramatic stage performance and presence.

We see that they are going to be doing t-shirts, maybe we could help out?

Incredible India at Penn Station

2009-09-14T11:13:00.003-04:00

I was just at Penn Station the other day and struck by the subway entry, advertising.

Something was fitting about the Taj Mahal being pictured above the subway entry.

Was it the notion that I was reminiscing the descent into the tombs of Noor Jahan? Could the Taj's pure white marble of Makrana, Rajastan, be the analogous to the white tile of the subway stair walls? New Yorkers descend these stairs to the filthy hot and smelly train platforms and tourists descend the Taj Mahal stairs to the wafting scent of roses that could potentially knock you out.

I digress...the advertisers couldn't have been that conceptual. An old post on "Incredible India"

1-800-A-INDIAN

2009-09-01T09:06:00.006-04:00

1-800-A-INDIAN! Well it's nice to know that the producers Lindsay Gareth and Kosha Patel were able to solidify the Russell Peters' notion, that "Indian people are cheap."

This sploof, infomercial is on the kitschy side, and could be viewed as offensive to some Indian folks. Did Kosha really need to be dressed in a Sari and be bought for $19.95 with a free Slumdog Millionaire DVD?

Nothing like being bought by a perky, "Legally Blond" chick and having to teach her about all the stereotypical baggage that comes with the idea of being "Indian".

Anyway, we will let you be the judge about this video. Hell you may get a kick out of it, but there are ramifications to be felt from those, that are not so well versed on the idea of "Indian" culture.

Spain Goes Jai-Ho!

2009-08-26T11:40:00.005-04:00

Spain is rocking to the tune of "Bollywood" or should we say Slumdog? Check out the Indo/Spanish version of A.R. Rahman's Slumdog Millionaire track. Good thing the Spaniards never colonized India, because their pronunciation of Hindi is almost as bad as the British.

From NDTV:

Jai Ho! performance at OT Operación Triunfo 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Spain is the latest country to fall under Rahman's spell. At the Gala 13 finals of the Generación OT (Operación Triunfo) 2009 in July, a television reality-show talent contest that is a cross between Pop Idol, Voces en Función, Star Search, and Big Brother, Spanish contestants created a sensation by performing 'Jai Ho!'. See why this performance has become such a rage.

A while back, Chor Bazaar was featured on the Spanish T-shirt Blog 1001 Camisetas

Shilpa Shetty for Mike Bloomberg

2009-08-18T11:37:00.004-04:00

Way to get the Indian votes for Mike Bloomberg!

I really don't know if Shilpa has a clue about NYC politics but I have to hand it to the Bloomberg campaigners to solicit her help. They must have hired the graphic designers that design all those cheesy flyers for Indian events. Attention to the details is key...or maybe it's just a convenient plot because she was the Grand Marshal for the New York City, India Day Parade last Sunday?

I wonder if Bloomberg could have received praise from Shahrukh Khan after his Newark debacle? Good thing he was Chicago's Grand Marshal.

"Hindguese" - Brazil is Feeling the Desi

2009-08-18T10:56:00.007-04:00

Reuters has reported on a new wave of "Desiness" (Indian) to hit Brazil. I can't understand Portuguese, but these folks are tossing in Hindi phrase like they dropped, Yiddish phrases on a Seinfeld Episode. Unlike an Indian sitcom, these folks aren't afraid to show affection either.

Maybe this will spawn a new "Hindguese" language or a "Bollysamba" battle on the streets of Rio?

Reuters - India is cool in Brazil thanks to hot 'novela'

Monday, Aug 17, 2009 5:18PM UTC

By Stuart Grudgings

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The pink-walled palaces, shimmering saris and Bollywood dances all scream India. So why are the actors speaking Portuguese and kissing passionately?
Welcome to Brazil's latest soap opera hit, a lavish production that has sparked a mini India boom in Brazil, even while taking liberties with its portrayal of the Asian giant.

The "Caminho das Indias" (Way of the Indias) telenovela, with Hindi phrases thrown into the Portuguese dialogue, has piqued Brazilians' interest in the emerging economic powerhouse that was little-known here before.

Hindi phrases such as the exclamation "Arre Baba" (Oh my goodness!) have entered everyday speech; interest in yoga, meditation and Indian dance is on the rise and demand for Indian clothes and decorations has jumped.

On Rio de Janeiro's beaches, vendors are touting Indian-style sarongs.

"People like it because it's very energetic and very happy," said Samra Sanches, an instructor who has started giving Indian dance classes. "We try to work on moves similar to those in the novela."
The story, which like most Brazilian soaps is told in a grueling 200 or so episodes over more than six months, centers on a forbidden love between beautiful high-caste woman Maya and handsome Bahuan, a low-caste Dalit, a group formerly known as "Untouchables."

Filmed partly in India's Rajasthan, the action flits between Jaipur and Agra where tradition and religion hang in the air and the beach-side Rio of micro-bikinis.

"The novela shows the respect in India for the elders of a family, which isn't always the case in the West," said Tony Ramos, a 60-year-old soap opera idol who plays the conservative head of the Brahmin Ananda family in the series.

CROSSING THE LINE
He spoke between takes at Brazilian entertainment giant Globo's studios, where several Indian "towns" have been constructed complete with Hindi temples and a river Ganges.

Ramos and the other leading actors spent three weeks filming in India, on top of a two-month course to get them up to speed on yoga, Indian dance moves and language.

The impact of "Caminhos" on Brazilians' speech, fashion, and interests is the latest example of soap operas' powerful social influence in Latin America's biggest country.

Globo's prime-time novelas, often portraying a wealthy elite in Rio that is far from the everyday reality of most Brazilians, can grab more than 40 million viewers a night.

Indian Ambassador to Brazil B.S. Prakash said his embassy had seen a jump in phone calls and e-mails from Brazilians curious about India. The novela, he said, helped fill a cultural gap between the two nations that remained wide despite stronger diplomatic relations in recent years.

"The novela in that sense has opened many doors, many people are getting to have an impression about India," he told Reuters by telephone from Brasilia.

"Caminhos" has attracted strong ratings and spawned at least one spin-off program on Indian life. But the steamy demands of a Brazilian soap opera have inevitably crossed the line of what would be acceptable in India, where public or on-screen kissing is still taboo.

Some Indians in Brazil are shocked by the sexual encounters between Maya and Bahuan, saying Maya would have been expelled by her family if they had happened in real life.

Some critics also take issue with the portrayal of widespread discrimination against Dalits and a rigid caste system which they say is out of date.

But actor Ramos, fresh from a scene in which he goes head-to-head against a Dalit candidate in an election, defended the portrayal of the caste system as not so far from reality.

"It's the same when you show the Brazil of slums, or the political problems -- many Brazilians will say my country isn't like that," he said.

(Additional reporting by Julia Aquino)

Biryani Cart - Makes the Cut for the NYC Vendy Awards

2009-08-17T16:16:00.004-04:00

Meru Sikder's, Biryani Cart is one of five finalists for the 2009 NYC Vendy Awards.

What are the Vendy Awards (aka The Vendys)?

-An intense cook-off between the best sidewalks chefs in New York City for the Vendy Award trophy and the title of Vendy Award winner.
-One of New York City’s most beloved and widely anticipated food events, and its premier street food showcase.
-A festival of respect and gratitude for all vendors and everything they provide us-from your morning coffee (half-and-half, two sugars) to the $2 umbrella when you get caught in the thunderstorm.
-A fundraiser for the Street Vendor Project, a membership-based non-profit organization that stands up for vendors’ rights.

We wish Meru Sikder, the best of luck! My mouth is still watering from those Kati Roll creations.

You can find him at 46th Street and 6th Avenue, Midtown Manhattan, New York City!

Happy 62nd, India!

2009-08-16T11:12:00.002-04:00

Happy 62nd Independence Day India! August 15, 2009!

How far you have come and plenty more to go.

TATA tshirts

2009-07-06T17:57:00.005-04:00

Yet another Desi inspired t-shirt from a non-Desi inspired company.

I guess the folks at "The Cotton Factory", are not too concerned about copyright infringement? They also missed the "TATA's" if you know what I mean...and on a guy's shirt this is a little weird.

For those that don't know about TATA, here is a LINK ...oh and they own Jaguar and Landrover, so they are everywhere now.

Tripping on Desi Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

2009-08-11T10:21:00.004-04:00

I recently received this video from a family member.

I was reminded of the time my uncle in, India would sing this song to me until the ripe age of 12. Not sure why, but maybe he thought that this was like Michael Jackson to me or something?

The first segment of the video is from the Tamil, television "serial" (that's what they call a sitcom in, India) "Kasalavu Nesam", which is an out-and-out domestic middle-class comedy. The second part of the video is from the 1970's Bollywood movie, "Purab aur Pachhim".

This is some hilarious, trippy stuff.

Are We Spelling it Right?

2009-08-10T12:11:00.003-04:00

Here is another random post.

On a recent trip to Jackson Heights I noticed the Spelling of "Bazaar" as Bazar, as in "Apna Bazar Cash & Carry". Are we spelling it wrong? Could the illustrious, Apna Bazar Cash & Carry be wrong?

Hey Milk is on sale for $2.49...gotta make that homemade Paneer.