Notorious Movie: January 16 2009!

I am so excited about this movie! January 16th, the Notorious movie is released! The life of Biggie Smalls, depicted in a feature length film? Sign me the fuck up! I don't care how you measure it, he was one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century.

Golden Temple, Amritsar

The Golden Temple in Amritar is the most holy temple in the Sikh religion.

The devotion Sikh people show when they visit is seriously inspirational. I want to go there just to see that in person.

Bauls

For centuries, musicians called bauls have wandered throughout the Bengal region, entertaining locals with their distinctive musical performances, and smoking ganja. Named for the word for wind, bauls practice a form of musical mysticism which emphasizes individual enlightenment, personal freedom, and a lack of personal possessions. They borrow beliefs from Hinduism and Islam. Baul instruments include a small drum called a dugi, ankle bells called gungar, a single-stringed harp called the extara, and a multiple-stringed instrument called the dotara.

Tigerstyle

Does anyone want to doubt that outstanding bhangra music comes out of Scotland? Tigerstyle, man, give it a listen.

I am afraid of Aghoris

I can't get over these Agori sadhus, Aghoris live in the cremation grounds, eat the flesh of the dead, and use funeral pyres to worship Shiva. I have to say, they scare me.

The sound is a little messed up in these videos, but they are very much worth watching. Aghoris! Holy crap they scare me, but the guy in these videos turns out to be very sweet.

Shopping with Dharma Boutique

This guy has some excellent videos about buying textiles, crafts, and antiques in India. What a great way for him to advertise his business.

Indian used furniture



Banjara textiles



Tapestries

Varanasi silk trade

Varanasi is famous for its silk markets. This is an interesting interview with a guy in a silk shop. These are expensive though.



Maybe someone ought to just go right to the weavers. They're looking a bit broke these days.

Chomsky on 9/11 conspiracy theories

So these videos are a little shaky, but it's good to hear Noam respond to 9/11 conspiracy theories.

History is better with idiots and beer.

You know, sometimes it's just good to check in with drunken idiots to see what they think about a major historical event.

Good idea or bad idea?

Hmm. Israel wants to build a tolerance museum. What a nice idea.

Wait a minute. They're building it on a Muslim cemetery. Uh, that might make people mad...

Sarah Palin prank call

Oh my god. This is a prank phone call to Sarah Palin. It is from two Montreal Radio DJs. She thinks it is the president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy.

Has she ever talked to a person from another country? It's scary how naive our future vice president could be.

How about next time they pick a woman for vice president, it's not the female Dan Quayle.

Sarah Palin for president!

Being Republican means you never have to worry if what you say is true! What a lucky break.