On campus with Mr. Fair & Handsome

[This is part II in the "Mini Khan Visits Nashville" series. Part I is here.]

M.K. and I rolled by Fisk University one day after work. I made sure he had a good view of Jubilee Hall which is on a ton of historic registries and was the very first permanent building on campus, completed in 1875, just 10 years after the Civil War ended.

I was sharing this bit of history with M.K. adding how Jubilee Hall was built after the Ku Klux Klan had burnt down the military barracks that originally housed the students.

"The spire on the building was used as a watch tower to give warning in case the Klan tried to raid the---"

"Everyone here is so dark!" M.K. interrupted.

"Um, Fisk is a black university M.K."

"Why do black people need their own university? I think what they need is Fair an--"

*enter angry mob*
"THAT'S THE GUY FROM THE COMMERCIAL!"

Suddenly, our campus trip was going downhill. Who knew there was a "Colorism Across Cultures" workshop this week?! It seems a few students were aware of our hero's insensitivity to the darker skinned among us. The result:

No, I did not kick him while he was down! I was stepping in to stop the violence. You know, "Guests are as gods" and all that.

On the way home I told Shahrukh that if he needed money or something, all he had to do was ask. Geez. There's no good reason why a guy like him should be endorsing such insulting products.

[reposted here]

Suprise, suprise!

So, I'm halfway through a fairly craptacular week--'loose bowel' syndrome anyone?--and lo & behold! I arrive home this evening to see my roommate had left this in the hallway:

Shhh!!! He's still sleeping.

Oh, the places we'll go...

[Need context? Check out bollywoodbloggers.com.]

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

Apparently, that's the motto of Hollywood moneymongers these days when it comes to Bollywood.

Unbeknownst to me, prior to the reading of today's NYTimes, Sanjay Leela Bhansali will hereafter have the distinction of directing the first Bollywood film produced by a Hollywood studio. Sony Pictures is footing most of the bill for Bhansali's next flick Saawariya.

That's serious business. Studios are notoriously risk adverse. I guess they figure there's enough people in India that if even 20% of the population checks the film out they'll be ok? Naturally, if everything goes as planned, more studios will probably jump on the Bollywood bandwagon. I have only two words for that: HRITHIK ROSHAN. Recognize.

As for Saawariya, it features everyone's favorite stalker boyfriend, Salman Khan, and the smoky-voiced Rani Mukerji. If nothing else, judging by Sanjay's previous work, I expect fabulously indulgent cinematography, more than enough reason to see the film without bothering with the storyline. ; )

Talk amongst yourselves.
[Click the photo to go to the NYTimes article.]

Monday Madness - Tokyo Breakfast

Funny or not funny?

(My thoughts are in the comments.)

Oh snap!

I don't think any coincidental amalgamation has been this serendipitous since Pink Floyd & The Wizard of Oz!

Presenting Unk's Walk it Out courtesy of the great American theater choreographer Bob Fosse:
(At least fast forward 2/3 of the way through. I sware they're doing the Bankhead Bounce!)

[via]