Fanaa

Amir Khan is the best Indian actor. He's my favourite.
Kajol is my mum's favourite.
Amir Khan didn't come out with any films for four years. Then came Mangal Pandey. Then Rang De Basanti. And now Fanaa. Which I just found out about today.
Imagine how excited I am. I've been watching his films since I was about 4-5, when Dil came out.

Trainspotting

Underworld's "Born Slippy". Trainspotting. TRAINSPOTTING THE FILM IS 10 YEARS OLD.

Man that's insane. When it came out I was little, about 9 or 10. I remember going to see Independence Day with my parents, and my brothers went in a different line to see Trainspotting. I had no idea how much Trainspotting, not Independence Day, would influence me.

I haven't even read the book. I think I tried but I didn't want to deal with the accents so I stopped. I don't know what it is about this film. Its well filthy and dirty. But something about it bloody intrigues me! Maybe its the plight of the characters, the grimyness of the film, its comedy - its pretty funny. Something about it has made me call it one of my favourite films. Its quite insane.

Go see Trainspotting. Then listen to the soundtracks.

Ewan Mcgregor. Now he's been in Moulin Rouge, The Island, Big Fish. And he was in Trainspotting. Mad.

mosque in Warren, Michigan

Warren should welcome new mosque -Wayne State's South End University Publication

Date Apr/17/2006 | Topic: OPINION
I had a touch of déjà vu today when I heard that the city of Warren had just approved a plan that would allow for the opening of the city's first mosque. My déjà vu was not necessarily related to the opening of a new mosque, but to the comments of some Warren residents I read in both the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News-which I have to say appalled me.

I have heard disparaging remarks like this before; I hail from Hamtramck where there has been an ongoing debate for nearly two years about the right of mosques to play a call to prayer.

I remember when the issue came to a head in Hamtramck-whether several of the city's mosques were within their legal right to play the five-times-daily Islamic call to prayer over a loudspeaker. I remember Hamtramck's newspaper was deluged with letter after letter from residents either for or against the measure, some more informed than others. Hamtramck finally permitted the call to prayer to be played, but that hasn't stopped residents from still debating whether or not it really should be allowed. Personally, I was one of the people who saw no reason why the mosques should not be allowed to play the call to prayer.

I was always glad that I grew up in Hamtramck, because it meant that I was a Polish girl who attended traditional Catholic school, but went to the parties that my Filipino neighbors threw, and yes, was used to the fact that there was a mosque down the street. I only thought that being able to hear the call to prayer would add to Hamtramck's mix of cultures and people that I found so appealing.

After the call to prayer had been approved, I remember standing on the steps of one of Hamtramck's old Polish Catholic churches during an early morning Mass, when on the wind came musical strands of the call to prayer from a nearby mosque. Some people thought it interrupted the Mass, but I thought it was beautiful. It was one of those rare moments where for a second I regained the long-lost hope that maybe, just maybe, there might be a time when we really could all just get along.

Perhaps this is why I was so shocked when I heard about the situation in Warren-the planning commission wasn't debating about anything like a call to prayer that might be disruptive, but simply on whether or not a mosque could be built. I was even more shocked to learn that this would be Warren's first mosque, so perhaps I should pay more attention when I go out into the suburbs.

But as I said before, the most disturbing aspect of this is the comments made by several Warren residents at the planning commission's meeting, as Dan Cortez of the Free Press said, there was "a series of ill-informed, fear-tinged and derogatory comments from residents and city planning commissioners." For instance, the Free Press asserts as well that there was applause when a resident demanded proof that the Islamic Organization of North America, which plans to open the mosque, didn't have connections to terrorists. And in the Detroit News, Warren resident Olga Soroka, who is concerned that the new mosque may cause noise problems if it ever broadcasts a call to prayer, is quoted as saying of her and her husband: "We don't feel too good.
We're probably going to sell our house."

So, to all the residents of Warren who are wary of the new mosque for whatever reason, whether it be noise or traffic worries or terrorism concerns, I have seen people with your fears before. And I have seen people with your fears live through them. I applaud the Warren Planning Commission for approving the plan for the new mosque even if many residents were opposed to the idea. Even in Hamtramck, where there have been mosques for many years and a call to prayer for about two years, some residents still share your fears. I am in no way any sort of expert on Islam, but I do know that my city wasn't worse off for allowing a call to prayer. So residents of Warren, welcome this new mosque into your neighborhood, and you might just see that you have nothing to fear but fear itself.

more visuals.

survey

I've never done one of these before. Not since I was probably 12. I saw this on Komal's online journal, and I think this sort of thing can be very telling about people, even though many of the questions are silly. So here we go (Komal I want a comment from you):

1.What is your occupation?
Student

2. What color are your socks right now?
Dirty white

3. What are you listening to right now?
Nothing - very rare

4. What was the last thing you ate?
Ice cream cone.

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
No - Komal was supposed to teach me ages ago.

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
The reddish-purple colour.

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
Sana Kazi baby! She's wicked.

8. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
hah no one sent it to me. I got it off Komal's site. Yes, I Like Komal.

9. How old are you today?
100

10. Favorite drink?
Probably that clementine Izze.

11. What is your favorite sport to watch?
English football. Haven't watched it in months though.

12. Have you ever dyed your hair?
No.

13. Do you wear contacts or glasses?
Contacts.

14. Pets?
No.

15. Favorite food?
Mum's cooking.

16. What was the last movie you watched?
some Brazilian film for class, forgot the name. I didn't like it.

17. Favorite day of the year?
none

18. What do you do to vent anger?
I just get angry. Probably listen to music. One time I painted, should do that more.

19. What was your favorite toy as a child?
I think it was legos.

20. Fall or spring?
Spring, hell yes.

21. Cherry or Blueberry?
mmm cherries.

22. Do you want your friends to email you back?
Huh?

23. Who is most likely to respond?
No one. Maybe Maheenie.

24. Who is least likely to respond?
Fahad.

25. Living arrangements?
flat.

26. When was the last time you cried?
Honestly don't know. Perhaps recently at a funeral.

27. What is on the floor of your closet?
Shoes.

28. Who is the friend you have had the longest?
Sakiinaa

29. What did you do last night?
Wasted time. Listened to Interpol.

30. Favorite smells?
Mum's cooking.

31. What inspires you?
Life. Injustice.

32. What are you afraid of?
Spiders. And probably still scared of rollercoasters.
FAILURE

33. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers?
Spicy, if they exist.

34. Favorite car?
Wanted a mini cooper since I was 15.

35. Favorite dog breed?
I like cats. But the little dogs are cute too; I don't know breeds.

36. Number of keys on your key ring?
7.

37. How many years at your current job?
Almost 1.5.

38. Favorite day of the week?
None. But I like the weekend.

39. How many states have you lived iN?
1. Lived in 3 countries.

40. Favorite holidays?
None.

41. Ever driven a motorcycle or heavy machinery?
No.

42. Favorite Game?
I'm bad at games. I can improve but by the next time I play, its back to square one. I used to love Uno.

43. Favorite Music?
This is an essay question.