True Dat..

When God solves your problems, you have faith in his abilities.

When he does not solve your problems, he has faith in your abilities

Nuff Said

"In the closet? Dude, he's so deep in the closet, he's finding Christmas presents".

George Parr: Making sense of it all

The Last Laugh - George Parr - Subprime
by erioluk

Currently Sampling: Yuvvraaj

I'm ensconced. That's all I can say. Some of the tracks are so overwhelming and unique, that it may take a while to digest. The union of Ghai and Rahman has always yielded something unprecedented (there is yet no Bollywood parallel to Ramta Jogi or the Western Version of Taal).

So far, the stand-out track for me is "Manmohini". Rendered by new-name Vijay Prakash, who sounds like a blend of Hariharan and Shankar Mahadevan. The song is mellow yet trippy - very world lounge with a distinct classical base, and an interesting beat pattern. Seems like it would mix really well with No Letting Go by Wayne Wonder - especially the opening Dhoom Tana sample.

Very unlike conventional Rahman, as it has a very nouveau-ambient feel with touches of electronica, but I guess he's forever evolving and how. While I haven't formed a comprehensive opinion on it (and I gladly have nearly a month before I review this one), the sound is revolutionarily fresh - a real trip.

Who the heck is Joe?

Joe Six-Pack? Joe The Plumber?

Pray tell - who is Joe, and why is he so popular amongst the nominees?

Grinds My Gears...

To quote a post by Amardeep (Sepia Mutiny)

"The LA Times has a rather silly piece, where they interview “body language” experts on yesterday’s Presidential debate. The highlight for me was this little bit about pronunciation:

But Glass, who thought the debate was a draw, said Obama seemed unnatural at times. “Somebody coached him and did not do him a favor,” she said. “When he talks about an issue he’s passionate about, his gestures are fluid and real, but other times, he took his index finger and clasped it to his thumb, and it’s phony, it’s not real.”
She also thought his inflection might be a turn-off to some voters. “He’d say, ‘Pahk-ee-stahn,’ or ‘Tolly-bahn.’ You need to say Pakistan and Taliban like everyone else.” (link)

Um, is it possible he pronounces it correctly because… it’s actually the correct pronunciation?

Some bloggers over at the National Review’s “The Corner” have picked up on this as well (thanks for the tip, Sree):

The National Review’s Mark Stein, for example, said that Obama prefers the “exotic pronunciation.” He added, “[O]ne thing I like about Sarah Palin is the way she says ‘Eye-raq’.”
This came after the National Review’s Kathryn Jean Lopez posted an email that argued, “[N]o one in flyover country says Pock-i-stahn. It’s annoying.” (link)

Actually, I know plenty of people in certain “flyover countries” — i.e., in the Indian subcontinent — who pronounce it exactly that way.

Welcome to the United States of Stupidistan, folks. "

Got Digits?

1133 Sixth Avenue, New York City: The national debt clock had to add an extra digit on Wednesday, as the number inched ahead of US$10 Trillion. At least there's ONE economic metric that's growing.

Finding Humor in Havoc

Drift away...

There have been very few "Ae Ajnabi"s in Bollywood. Mellow, slow, long numbers that attain cult status. Caravan from the s/t of "Hello" is potentially one such drifter/nomadic/long drive to nowhere-type track. Voiced by the prolific Shafquat Amanat Ali Khan. Yenjoy.

Eye-Rack

In the well-globalized world that we live in, and with the clear de-centralization of America from centerstage, isn't it about time that candidates start to pronounce foreign countries and world leaders names correctly? American English is no international patois, no more.

Without doubt, Sarah Palin is the new Dan Quayle.

What a kindergarten debate!

Boy, they "dumbed" it down for her, didn't they? Where was the challenge? Why didn't anyone tell Palin that she didn't "answer" several of the questions? Palin was all gimmicks, to say the least. If only this was a debate for picking a host for "Farmer Wants a Wife: The Anchorage Edition". Not at a VP debate, for crying out loud.

In other news, why am I complaining? I can't even vote. Bah.

Go Nucular!

Debate started off pretty sober, but has picked up in its intensity once key questions (foreign policy, war spending, and I wonder why this is still a burning issue in the 21st century - but - gay marriage).

Biden's definitely coming across more "presidential". I love the questionable smile when Sarah Palin makes a directed remark.

Palin seems more like she's calming an argument at a sorority sister's reunion. Her rhetoric is so "he-said-she-said". Usage of words like "soccer moms" and "joe-six-pack" do not make you a people person, lady. She reminds me of Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde, but at least Reese came across smart at the end.

Tina Fey for Vice President!