Yesterday I went and saw a movie called Rang De Basanti. It's Hindi, and in case you didn't know, I can't speak or understand Hindi. But I took it as an advantage in watching the movie because I was still able to understand it, and I focused on the other factors I tend to watch in movies- acting, directing, cinematography, music, etc.

You have to see this movie.

It's beautifully acted by a great ensemble cast, led by Amir Khan, who was in the Academy Award nominated Foreign Film Lagaan. Ironically, he's partially ineffective at times when he's goofy because it seems like he's trying too hard at points. However, during the drama, YOU CAN'T take your eyes off of him. There's so much charisma with him at these points that it's unflappable. But the same goes for the rest of the cast as well-- very natural and intense at the same time. There are a couple of times when the sound gets a little melodramatic, but for the most part, the director does a great job of keeping it natural and the story flowing.

Plus, I HATE the whole dance routine thing where people start singing out of nowhere, and that's not to be found in this movie. If there is some dancing, it's in context- they're partying, at a club, whatever. Normal.

Anyway, it's one of my recent faves and I highly recommend it.

Now to end on a joke. In India, there are sardar jokes. Sardar is another word for Sikh; Indians who follow Sikhism, and who traditionally wear a turban and don't shave their beards. Around here for whatever reason they have the same connotation as the Polish jokes in America. You know, they're conidered dumb. I don't know if there's any truth to it, but it's funny anyway. So here's the joke:

A sardar goes to his daughter's room and finds cigarettes..."Oh my God! She smokes!" ...He finds a bottle of rum..."Oh my God! She drinks!"...He finds condoms.."Oh my God! She has a penis!"

Peas.

So I totally got pissed off at the mall today. You see, it all has to do with a simple concept that people in India don't really get-- standing in line. You see, let's say we head to a KFC over here. In most civilized countries, you stand in a line and wait for the cashier to say, 'Next' or something.

In India, it's different. EVERYONE just rushes to the register. There's no sense of order. It's whoever can yell loudest or throw their money at the poor cashier trying to make sense of it all.

Today at the mall, I'm waiting behind this one lady who is waiting for her Coke or whatever she ordered. Another guy shows up to my right, obviously not waiting behind me (what good would that do?), and decides to grow the line laterally. "Uh uh uh," I explain, "...after me. I came here before you did." He looked at me as if he wasn't even THINKING of doing that (they always do this- it pisses me off...most of these guys are complete pussies) He started trying to say, "Hey relax man, it's okay...don't get mad, I didn't know, blah blah blah." I just ignored him. Somehow, the punk managed to get in front of me. I kept my cool.

Until the next poor sap tried it.

"Yah I vant Coke."
!!!!!!!!
"Whoa, hold the f*** on. When did you f***in get here, huh? AFTER me. So who goes first? ME. Two Diet Cokes please. Now f***in WAIT."

The poor guy never knew what hit him. I swear to anyone reading this for the first time- I'm a pretty patient guy, and nice. But the thing that pisses me off the most is lack of respect. I took this to be an example of that. Others include being late, not following up on your word, and yes, cutting lines.

But now onto some better things! After my sushi brunch this weekend, I think I'll be putting up a little beginner's guide to sushi. Just let people know one of the things I love and some of the terms associated with it. I got the idea when I was talking to my cousin and he said he'd never tried it. So yeah, that's that. Peace!

I had to go ahead and add a quote from my favorite Vice President, Dan Quayle.

[It's] time for the human race to enter the solar system.
- Dan Quayle


I guess the elder Bush really was just looking for someone just like his son when appointing a Vice, huh? They both have such a way with quotes.